Playoff picture ~ 3 teams still alive in district tournaments

LHS sophomore Landon Vile slides into second with a stolen base during Friday's game with Clarke. The Bulldogs battled all game and held a 7-4 lead heading into the seventh, before giving up seven runs in the final inning and dropping the regular season finale to Clarke, 11-7.

~ PVN staff report

LURAY, May 25 — As local high school teams head into post-graduation playoffs this week, four teams have already been eliminated in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round of the Bull Run District Tournament in their respective sports. Three others remain alive, with one winning a quarterfinal, one receiving a bye, and another rescheduling yesterday’s quarterfinal to this afternoon.

Here’s a breakdown of where we stand, with only two days of school left, but potentially two more weeks of spring sports:

SOFTBALL

The Page County Panthers clinched the regular season Bull Run District title in softball with a 4-2 win over Strasburg on May 17. Finishing the season at 12-2 in the district (13-7 overall), Page earned a bye in the first round of the district tournament this week, as Rappahannock is not participating and Luray did not field a team this spring (leaving seven teams in the Bull Run tournament).

In Tuesday’s SOFTBALL district quarterfinals:

• East Rockingham (#2) defeated Mountain View (#7), 19-1

• Clarke (#3) beat Strasburg (#6), 11-0

• Central of Woodstock (#4) defeated Madison (#5), 6-5

In the semifinal round, top-seeded Page County (12-2) will now host #4 Central (10-5) at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 26. The other district semifinal will feature Clarke (10-4) at East Rock (12-3). The higher seed will host the Bull Run District championship on Friday, May 27.

Regardless of how the district tournament turns out, the Panthers are already scheduled to host Strasburg in the quarterfinal round of the Region B tournament at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 30.

GIRLS SOCCER

The Luray High School girls soccer team finished second in the Bull Run District during the regular season after dropping its finale, 3-1, to district-leading Clarke on Friday. The Bulldogs played the undefeated Eagles tough last week — only trailing 1-0 at the half — after dropping an 8-0 slaughter-rule decision at Clarke on April 20, the only two district loses for Luray this season. The two teams battled for the district title last year, with the Eagles coming out on top.

In Tuesday’s GIRLS SOCCER district quarterfinals:

• Clarke (#1) defeated Page County (#8), 8-0

• Luray (#2) beat Madison (#7), 2-1

• Strasburg (#3) defeated East Rock (#6), 6-2

• Central (#4) beat Mountain View (#5), 2-0

In the semifinal round, #2 Luray (13-3) will host #3 Strasburg (13-4) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 26. The other district semifinal will feature top-seeded Clarke (17-0) hosting #4 Central (5-10-2). The higher seed will host the Bull Run District championship on Friday, May 27.

BASEBALL

After and up and down season, the Page County Panthers finished the regular season among the top four teams in the Bull Run District and were scheduled to host a district quarterfinal on Tuesday. Wet weather pushed the game to this afternoon (Wednesday), when the #4 Panthers (10-10) will host the #5 Generals of Mountain View (13-7) at 6 p.m. Weather also forced the rescheduling of #8 East Rock (3-17) at #1 Madison (14-5) to today as well.

In Tuesday’s other BASEBALL district quarterfinals:

• Strasburg (#2) defeated Luray (#7), 8-0

• Central (#6) beat Clarke (#3), 9-3

Thursday’s semifinal round will be set after this afternoon’s action, with higher seeds hosting through the Bull Run District championship on Friday, May 27.

BOYS SOCCER

Both the Luray and Page County boys soccer teams fell in the first round of the Bull Run District tournament on Tuesday. The #6 Bulldogs (6-10-1) dropped their quarterfinal, 2-1, at Strasburg, while the #8 Panthers (1-15-1) got shut out 15-0 at Clarke (17-0).

While the Panthers conclude their season, the Bulldogs are already scheduled to travel to Clarke for the first round of the Region B tournament at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 30.

TRACK

As the Region B track and field championships meet get underway this afternoon at East Rockingham, here are local Top 5 finishers from the 2022 Bull Run District Track and Field Championships held at Strasburg High School on May 18:

GIRLS

• 2ND — Jaidyn McClung (LHS), triple jump (33’7″) and long jump (16’7″).

• 3RD — Jaidyn McClung (LHS), 200 meter dash (27.94); Alyson Shores (LHS), 400 meter dash (1:07.06).

• 4TH — Megan Davis (PCHS), 100 meter hurdles (19.33).

• 5TH — Jaidyn McClung (LHS), 100 meter dash (13.62), PCHS 4×100 meter relay team (59.69) of Megan Davis, Brooke Johnson, Marta Milam and Maddie Murphy; PCHS 4×400 meter relay team (5:12.93) of Cari Aleshire, Kiera Heiston, Summer Kite and Marta Milam.

Strasburg was the overall girls team winner with 143 points, while East Rockingham finished second with 134. Luray and Page finished seventh and eighth, respectively, as a team at the district meet. The Female High Point winner was Margo Fox of East Rockingham.

BOYS

• 1ST PLACE — Jacob Martz (PCHS), high jump (5’10”); Drayvin Stevens (LHS), 400 meter dash (52.98); LHS 4×400 relay team (47.73) of Davey Johnson, Austin Lam, Hunter Breeden and Drayvin Stevens.

• 2ND — Stephon Hawkins (PCHS), 100 meter dash (11.83); Davey Johnson (LHS), 800 meter run (2:06.79); Jacob Martz (PCHS), 110 meter hurdles (16:18) and 300 meter hurdles (44.02); LHS 4×800 meter relay team (9:10.03) of Josh Nuckols, Jacob Bowman, Austin Lam and Davey Johnson.

• 3RD — Blake Turpen (PCHS), discus throw (128’5″); Brett Paul Campbell (PCHS), 110 meter hurdles (17.23); PCHS 4×100 meter relay team (47.73) of Brett Paul Campbell, Stephon Hawkins, Malachi Davis and Kanaan Breeden.

• 4TH — Drayvin Stevens (LHS), 100 meter dash (11.85); James Farrow (LHS), 800 meter run (2:14.98).

• 5TH — Brett Paul Campbell (PCHS), triple jump (37’3″); AJ Shifflett (PCHS), shot put (40’9″); PCHS 4×400 meter relay team (3:45.98) of Stephon Hawkins, Logan Heiston, Brett Paul Campbell and Jacob Martz.

East Rockingham ran away with the boys team title with 159 points, compared to runner-up Clarke with 92. Page and Luray finished 4th and 6th as a team, respectively. The Male High Point winners were Dain Booker of Clarke County and Stuart Pirtle of Mountain View.

For full schedules, rosters and standings — check out the Bull Run District website.

•••

RELATED ARTICLES

Panthers split final two games, but should host district quarterfinal on Tuesday

Panthers clinch regular season district title with 4-2 win over Strasburg

Bulldogs improve to 10-1 with win over East Rock, boys play to 1-1 draw, baseball gets walk-off win

Panthers chew up Mt. View, 18-4

Umberger to continue softball career at EMU

Luray moves to 7-1 with win over Page

Bulldogs pick up first win over rival Panthers, 6-3

Luray still searching for first win after 5-0 loss to Madison

Bulldogs remain undefeated after season’s third shutout with 6-0 win over Mountaineers