Sports

No SVU Sports Before January

Published on Wed, 09/16/2020 - 12:00am

In conjunction with an announcement by the Capital Athletic Conference on Friday, Southern Virginia University stated that it was suspending winter sports competitions through the end of the 2020 calendar year due to the continued impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Gale Given Dual Roles

Published on Wed, 09/16/2020 - 12:00am
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The Rockbridge County High School boys basketball team is getting an experienced coach to lead the program. New RC athletic director Mike Gale was officially named the school’s head boys basketball coach at the Rockbridge County School Board Meeting on Tuesday of last week. Gale, 42, replaces Darrell Plogger, who was the Wildcats’ head coach for the last 10 years before stepping down to focus on his job for the Rockbridge Area Recreation Organization Plogger, 55, also wanted to be able to watch his son Aaron, a senior guard, from the stands. On July 1, Gale replaced Rick Lollis at RC’s athletic director, taking on the new role for in the fourth month of the coronavirus pandemic. At this point, Virginia High School League sports are scheduled to resume in mid-December, with the first official practice for basketball on Dec. 7, followed by a shortened season, with 14 regular-season games.

Gale Named New RC Boys Basketball Coach

Published on Wed, 09/09/2020 - 5:01pm

 

Youths Learn Basketball And Softball Skills

Published on Wed, 09/09/2020 - 12:00am
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The Rockbridge Area Recreation Organization held youth clinics last week at Fox Field, teaching baseball skills on Tuesday and softball skills on Thursday. Among the instructors were James Clark (below, right photo) and RARO baseball program director Brian Smith (bottom left). RARO interim executive director and senior program coordinator Darrell Plogger said some of the older boys (ages 11-12) are going to play in the South Augusta Baseball League this fall, and the girls are weighing their options for softball. RARO will hold youth football clinics next Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m., with Lexington youth at Brewbaker Field and Buena Vista youth at Camden Field. There will be enough coaches there to keep everyone socially distanced, Plogger said. Instead of preregistering, youths are encouraged to show up early. For RARO updates, visit www.rarorec.org. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photos)

Leprechaun Leap Goes Virtual

Published on Wed, 09/09/2020 - 12:00am

For the past three years the Lexington Rotary Club has sponsored the Leprechaun Leap 5K run/walk to raise funds for the Rockbridge Christmas Baskets program.

Chessie Races Go Virtual

Published on Wed, 09/09/2020 - 12:00am

Friends Of The Chessie Trail has announced that their 2020 fall races will be run in a virtual format. Runners and walkers can still sign up to run the marathon, half marathon, and 5K races, but will run their race at a time and place of their own choosing, any time between Oct. 17 and Nov. 1. If permitted, FOCT will set up course markers on the Chessie Trail for the duration of the races.

YMCA Golf Tourney Sept. 11

Published on Wed, 09/02/2020 - 12:00am

The Rockbridge Area YMCA will hold its ninth annual Tee Up for the Y Golf Tournament next Friday, Sept. 11, at the Lexington Golf & Country Club, with a 1 p.m. shotgun start.

Teaching Baseball During Pandemic

Published on Wed, 09/02/2020 - 12:00am
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Local youths took part in a baseball clinic held by the Rockbridge Area Recreation Organization on Tuesday of last week at Fox Field. There were four boys in the minor league group (ages 9-10) and 12 boys in the Cal Ripken group (ages 11-12). Helping teach baseball skills were RARO baseball program director Brian Smith (pictured, wearing cap) and Darrell Plogger, RARO interim executive director and senior program coordinator. Plogger said it looks like local youths will be on teams in the South Augusta Baseball League, starting next week, since RARO’s fall sports programs were canceled. RARO will hold a soccer clinic for boys and girls next Tuesday, Sept. 8 at the Brewbaker Field annex. There will be a session for 8-10-year-olds from 6-7 p.m., followed by a session for 11-13-year-olds from 7-8 p.m. Because of social distancing, capacity is limited, so those wishing to participate should register ahead of time by calling the RARO office at 463-9525 or by emailing Smith at bsmith@rarorec.org. For RARO updates, visit www.rarorec.org. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photos)

Socially Distanced Softball

Published on Wed, 08/26/2020 - 12:00am
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The Rockbridge Area Recreation Organization held a softball clinic Thursday at Fox Field, with four girls taking part in the junior group (ages 7-9) and 12 girls in the senior group (ages 10-13). Helping at the clinic were RARO interim executive director and senior program coordinator Darrell Plogger (below, orange shirt) and Brian Smith (at far right, gray shirt), RARO baseball program director. The instructors wore masks, and they and the youths maintained social distancing while doing various drills. RARO’s baseball clinic that was scheduled for Tuesday of last week was rescheduled for last night, and Plogger said he’ll try to get some local youths on teams in the South Augusta Baseball League since RA- RO’s fall sports programs were canceled. RARO will hold another softball clinic this Thursday at Fox Field, with the junior group from 6-7 p.m., followed by the senior group from 7-8. Registration will begin 30 minutes before the clinic starts, and participants with their own helmets are encouraged to bring them. For RARO updates, visit www.rarorec.org. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photos)

Tourney Raises Funds For Youths

Published on Wed, 08/26/2020 - 12:00am
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Twenty teams took part in the 27th annual Chris Wheeler Softball Tournament last weekend in Buena Vista and Fairfield, raising money for the Virginia Bandits youth softball team of Glasgow and the Rockbridge Bombers youth baseball team of Buena Vista. The teams, shown competing Saturday at Glen Maury Park in Buena Vista, were mostly from the Shenandoah Valley, with one from North Carolina. They raised money for the youth teams to travel to the Ripken Experience this fall in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Winning the high, more competitive bracket of the tournament was Drumheller’s Towing from Augusta County. The winning team of the low, recreational bracket was Can’t Stop the Flop from Buena Vista. The tournament was named after Chris Wheeler, a two-time allstate quarterback for Parry McCluer High School who was killed at age 23 in a car wreck in 1994. The directors of the tournament were Jeff Conner and Randy Mohler. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photos)

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