Heritage's Briyonna Tune competes in the triple jump in March at the combined Class 3 and 4 state track and field championships. On Thursday, Tune was named the Region 3C female athlete of the year as Heritage captured its 12th regional title on the girls side since 2019.
Ben Cates
Not all region tournaments are created equal. Thursday's events, held as baseball and softball postseasons got underway, ran the gamut: notable feats, epic blowouts, narrow victories and at least one example of continued dominance.
If regional play continues with so much drama, leading into state tourneys, high school sports fans across the area will be in for a treat over the next couple weeks.
Tough to beat
It's impressive to consider the track and field program that head coach Don Alexander and jumps/sprints coach Shawn Webb have built at Heritage High in recent years.
The Heritage girls claimed the Region 3C title Thursday by garnering 125 points. It was the 12th regional title for the girls program since 2018, indoor and outdoor seasons combined.
While that's a remarkable feat, consider too that the Lady Pioneers have done a good job of backing up those region titles by claiming eight total state team championships in the last eight years. Next weekend, they will try to sweep the indoor and outdoor state titles for the calendar year, and attempt a state three-peat, going back to last spring's outdoor championship.
They are led currently by state champ Briyonna Tune, who was named the Region 3C athlete of the meet Thursday. And the Pioneers also have plenty of youth in freshman Elaina Bradner, who has plenty of upside.
Perfect, no-no, and oh so close
Thursday's regional events produced one perfect game, two no-hitters and two one-hitters.
At Appomattox, Chloe Vaughan continued her impressive season by throwing a perfect game and striking out 14 of the 15 batters she faced in an 11-0 win over Gretna in the Region 2C quarterfinals. That's quite a way to start the postseason, one in which the Raiders appear destined for a long run.
That performance lowered Vaughan's season ERA to 0.38. She has allowed just four runs and struck out 143 batters in 73.1 innings.
William Campbell's softball team received a combined no-hitter from Peighton Francis and Estella Short, who struck out all 15 batters they saw.
It was an absolutely romp for the Generals. They won 23-0 over Sussex Central, needing just five innings to do that damage, and pounding out 29 hits. Arnesia Dews homered twice, Francis smacked three doubles as part of a 4-for-4 day at the plate, and eight Generals had three or more hits.
Now coach Chris Smith's team (13-9) is one win away from notching an automatic state berth.
Playing at Heritage High School, the Altavista baseball team used five pitchers to post a no-hitter in a 15-0 stewing of Brunswick County. Jake McCorkle, the pitcher of record, also hit an inside-the-park home run and went 3 for 4.
The Colonels are the type of team that could make a long playoff run, because they have a few solid arms and an offense that can be potent. They, too, can notch a state berth with a win Tuesday.
Two 1-hitters also took place Thursday.
Appomattox pitcher Owen Chavis, imposing with his 6-foot-5 frame on the mound, struck out 10 in a region first-round 2-0 win over James River (Buchanan). He logged a complete game, struck out 10 and didn't issue a walk as the Raiders are now one win away from a state berth in Class 2.
And Brookville's Riley Smith silenced Rockbridge County in a 1-0 victory, giving up one hit, not issuing a walk and fanning six.
A disappointing end
The E.C. Glass and Rustburg baseball teams saw their seasons come to a close after battling in a tough top tier of the Seminole District.
Glass (13-8) had some pieces to make a long playoff run, but the Hilltoppers, which suffered from low numbers much of the season, ran into a tough Halifax County squad that will seek to challenge top-seeded Jefferson Forest next week.
No. 10 Rustburg (9-10) was overcome by No. 7 seed Turner Ashby in the Region 3C first round. It was a sudden end for the Red Devils, who played tough against district opponents like E.C. Glass, LCA, JF and Brookville this season.
The Rustburg softball team also suffered a first-round loss in 3C, and East Rockingham pitcher Adalyn Good racked up 14 strikeouts in the 5-4 win. A 13-strikeout performance from Laila Bigham and a grand slam by Samiyah Jackson couldn't save the Red Devils, who have become a postseason fixture in recent years.
One surprise
One of the biggest surprises from a wacky Thursday came via the William Campbell baseball team. The Generals, seeded sixth in the Region 1B tournament, bashed past No. 3 Surry County (11-6) 9-2.
William Campbell has struggled at times, and Thursday marked the team's fifth win. But Landon Elder was dealing. He allowed three hits across six innings, struck out 14 of the 24 batters he faced, and went 3 for 5 at the plate with two runs scored.
Now the Generals can earn an automatic state berth. They'll play the winner of No. 2 Sussex Central and No. 7 Cumberland on Tuesday in the region semifinals.
All those performances from across the area took place in one night. And the playoffs are just beginning.
Ben Cates, (434) 385-5527
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