State gold abounds for area teams in spring jubilee

SW Virginia claims baseball, lacrosse, soccer and tennis titles

SALEM, Va. –   It was a banner year on the baseball diamonds for southwest Virginia teams, as they claimed three titles. Auburn blanked Stonewall Jackson 6-0 for the Group 1A title. Dan River recorded a 5-4 walk-off win over John Battle in the 2A ranks. Liberty Christian Academy jumped on Hanover early and held on for an 8-5 win in the Group 4A title tilt.

  Girls soccer saw an all-southwest Virginia battle in 4A go to Jefferson Forest over Salem in penalty kicks 4-1. The two teams finished regulation and overtime tied at 2 goals each. 

   Boys soccer saw Blacksburg finish as a runner up for the fourth consecutive season. They fell 1-0 to Riverside. Giles undefeated season ends in the state final with a 3-2 loss to Maggie Walker. And in another battle of area teams, Galax won its third title in four seasons with a 5-3 penalty kicks victory over rival Radford. The two teams were knotted at three after regulation.

   In lacrosse, Patrick Henry won the 5A lacrosse title with a 10-9 decision over Atlee--it's the program's first state title. EC Glass fell victim to undefeated Riverside in the 4A final by an 8-6 decision.

   In softball, Brookville and Warhill played an 18 inning marathon that went to Warhill 1-0. Warhill repeats as state champions, while Brookville finishes as the runner up for the second consecutive year after winning back to back titles in 2014 and 2015. 

  In team tennis, Radford's girls repeated as Group 1A state champs. Cave Spring's girls and Blacksburg's boys finish with state silver.