THE SPORTS DESK
HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK: Pioneers sign local softball standouts
After Chancellor softball standout Johnni Tillman committed to Glenville (W.Va.) State in September, the Pioneers were still in need of players.
Lisa Tillman, Johnni’s mother, knew exactly where to find additional talent—the Battlefield District.
Pioneers coach Mandy Sansbury told Lisa Tillman she was seeking an outfielder, a pitcher and a catcher.
So Lisa Tillman recommended Courtland outfielder Briana Jackson, Culpeper pitcher Miranda Cropp and Spotsylvania catcher Casey Sheaffer.
Jackson and Sheaffer recently signed national letters of intent with the Division II Pioneers. Cropp orally committed to Glenville State and is expected to sign next month.
All played under Lisa Tillman at some point with the Vipers, a Spotsylvania County-based travel team.
“They’re absolutely excited,” Lisa Tillman said of the quartet playing together in college. “That was their hope all along, especially for Johnni and Briana.”
Lisa Tillman said Sansbury didn’t simply take her word regarding the players’ abilities. They worked out for Sansbury after Tillman brought them in for visits.
BENEFIT LAX GAME SET
Massaponax will host two benefit lacrosse games at its football stadium on Saturday starting at 5 p.m. The Panthers’ girls club team will play Lee–Davis at 5. The Massaponax and Lee–Davis boys teams will square off at 7.
Admission is $6. Proceeds will benefit two families in the region whose children are suffering with brain cancer and leukemia, respectively.
The Massaponax lacrosse club is sponsoring the event and is asking attendees to wear gray or orange.
Gray is the color for brain cancer awareness. Orange represents leukemia awareness. Buffalo Wild Wings will provide catering and a portion of its proceeds will go to the cause as well.
For more information or to donate, contact Suzanne Callan at suziecallan@apta.org or Ronda Cornell at rcornell@hs.spotsylvania.k12-.va.us.
A CHARITABLE PANTHER
Massaponax junior soccer player Michael “Bo” Barry is a member of the Northern Mariana Islands men’s national soccer team.
Barry recently returned from Kathmandu, Nepal, where he played in the Asian Football Federation 2014 Challenge Cup Qualifiers earlier this month. NMI played national teams from Nepal, Palestine and Bangladesh.
With the help of the Panthers’ boys and girls soccer programs and RARE Soccer Academy/FC Milan, Barry delivered 50 pairs of cleats as well as other equipment to Shelter For Change, a street soccer program.
CHARGER IN DEMAND
Chancellor sophomore football standout Matt Burrell has picked up scholarship offers from Connecticut, Maryland and Virginia in recent weeks.
Burrell, a 6-foot-5, 265-pound offensive tackle, previously collected scholarship offers from Clemson, North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.
The 2012 first-team all-Battlefield District selection has no plans to make an immediate commitment.
ONE LAST STAND
Several Fredericksburg-area football standouts are set to conclude their careers at the Virginia High School Coaches Association all-star game in Hampton in July.
North Stafford head coach Joe Mangano will serve as an assistant for the West team. Courtland coach J.C. Hall and Essex’s John Fulks are East assistants.
Tyus White (Brooke Point), Justin Field (North Stafford), Nathan Camden (North Stafford), Cody Farrell (North Stafford) and Connor Hilland (Brooke Point) will play for the West.
Chris Carpenter (Courtland), Sammie Harper (Chancellor) and Wyatt Teller (Liberty) will suit up for the East.
COUGAR STAYS HOME
Courtland volleyball standout Emily Jordan has committed to play at the University of Mary Washington. The 6-foot middle blocker helped lead Courtland to the Battlefield District championship in 2012.
Jordan was named first-team all-district last season. She was honorable mention all-Region I and All-Area.
TWO EAGLES HONORED
Two Colonial Forge volleyball standouts have received recognition from the VHSCA. Hope Kelley and Brooke Sanders were both honorable mention all-state selections. They were also first-team all-Commonwealth District, all-Northwest Region and All-Area in 2012.
Taft Coghill Jr.: 540/374-5526
