Area drivers at FCS
Despite a gloomy forecast for rain and thunderstorms in the region, the weather held off long enough for Franklin County Speedway to begin its 50th season of racing Saturday night, May 5.
Dennis Holdren of Roanoke topped qualifying trials and drove a Ford to victory in the 50-lap Late Model main event. The winning Holdren car was decorated in the colors of former FCS star Rodney “Six Pack” Cundiff, who passed away in March.
Butch Nolen of Vinton finished second and, Ryan Collins of Christiansburg finished third.
Brittany Cockram of Floyd wrestled the lead away from eventual runner-up Andrew Holden of Roanoke for victory in a 25-lap event for Modified Four-Cylinder machine.
Glen Collins of Hiwasse inherited victory for the Stock Four-Cylinder division when the car of Anna Housman was disqualified for a rule violation.
Late Model Results:
1) Dennis Holdren, Roanoke, Ford; 2) Butch Nolen, Vinton, Chevy; 3) Ryan Collins, Christiansburg, Chevy; 4) Jerry Godbey, Blacksburg, Chevy; 5) Eddie Gibson, Madison Heights, Chevy; 6) Calvin Brooks, Bassett, Chevy; 7) Dan Martin, Roanoke, Chevy; 8) Wes Thomason, Roanoke, Chevy; 9) Josh Taylor, Callaway, Chevy; 10) Paul Caldwell, Radford, Chevy.
E&H outline athletic director search
Emory & Henry College President Jake Schrum and Chair of the Director of Athletics Search Dr. Rebecca Buchanan have publicized a timeline for the upcoming director of athletics search.
The College will receive help from professional consultants in this very important search. Once the candidate pool has been identified, the search committee consisting of members of the faculty, department of athletics staff and alumni will evaluate résumés and schedule preliminary interviews.
Finalists will be invited to campus during the fall semester with the anticipated start date for the next Director of Athletics set for the spring semester of 2019.
Anne Crutchfield will continue to serve as Interim Director of Athletics during this time in addition to leading the women’s basketball program.
Eberle second team All-ACC
After a standout regular season in the pitcher’s circle and at the plate, sophomore Carrie Eberle has been named second-team All-ACC, the conference office announced Tuesday.
Eberle, whose selection to the team was voted on by the ACC’s head coaches, is the only player in the conference to lead her team in both ERA and home runs.
Her 1.65 ERA ranks third in the ACC and her eight home runs ranks in a tie for 12th. Virginia Tech has had a player voted on at least one of the all-conference teams every year since its first season in the ACC in 2005.
An All-ACC Freshmen Team selection last season, Eberle carried the positive momentum over to her second campaign. Her .272 batting average, eight long balls, 16 RBI, 55 total bases and her team-best .534 slugging percentage are all career-highs. Eberle became the first ACC player to earn at least a share of both conference weekly honors since at least 2011 when she was named ACC Player of the Week and Co-Pitcher of the Week back in April. The Charlotte native’s five home runs in conference play are tied for sixth among ACC players.
Hokies add two more track and field recruits
Virginia Tech track and field and cross-country director Dave Cianelli announced Tuesday that Chauncey Chambers and Laurel Miller will join the Hokies for the 2018-19 season.
The Hokies’ staff has added two more athletes to one of the best recruiting classes in school history. Track and Field News will release its top recruiting classes in its annual summer magazine.
A native of Springfield, Chambers comes to Blacksburg as a two-time state champ in the VHSL’s triple jump event. In addition to his two state titles at Robert E. Lee High School, Chambers owns the No. 1 mark in the state of Virginia in the triple jump and is a two-time New Balance National Championships qualifier. His personal best in the triple jump is 14.87 meters (48 feet, 9.75 inches).
Miller joins Tech following a state title in the 2017 WVSSAC high jump event. Miller, from College of Charleston, owned the No. 1 mark in the high jump in the state West Virginia in 2017.
Miller also was a qualifier at the 2017 New Balance National Championships. The Ripley, West Virginia native’s top mark in the high jump is 1.75 meters (5 feet, 9 inches).
Harless Big South Freshman of Week
For the second consecutive week, the Big South Freshman of the Week resides in the New River Valley as Will Harless earned the honor Monday afternoon for his efforts against Georgia Tech.
The conference weekly award is the first of Harless’ career and the fourth by a Highlander this season. Harless joins Garrett Matheny in donning the freshman honor as Radford is the third Big South team to earn the award in consecutive weeks.
Harless went 3 for 8 with two runs and two RBIs in three games at Georgia Tech. The Abingdon native started two games as the designated hitter and one behind the plate. The two runs scored and two RBIs came in Saturday’s 11-8 loss in 10 innings. Trailing 7-2 after six innings, Harless helped aid Radford’s comeback, knotting the game at seven in the eighth on an RBI single. He earned a team-high four walks in the three games, walking twice on Saturday and Sunday.
