Sports

Former Knight making his way through pro ranks

By Josh Mathews on April 30, 2019 Baseball, Sports

After making his debut in professional baseball last year, Nathan Eaton got word of a promotion after this year’s spring training. He started the year in the South Atlantic League with the Lexington Legends. The former Thomas Dale Knights standout was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 21st round of the June amateur draft. He did something most 21st round picks don’t do: he hit .354 in over 260 at-bats with 20 doubles, 12 triples and five home runs while driving in 53 runs and stealing 19 bases in just 66 games for the Idaho Falls Chukars, the…

Run the Rocks 5K: Soldiers help with annual community event

By Ellie Browning on April 30, 2019 Community, Cross Country, Events, Sports

Students set off at the beginning of Saturday’s 5K race. Sergio Perez won the race. More than 400 people competed in the Run the Rocks 5K on Saturday at Elizabeth Scott Elementary School. Carrie Coyner, a former Parent Teacher Association president at the school, organized the event the previous five years, but this year handed the reins to Rebecca Hall. Coyner lauded Hall for a smooth transition. “I noticed that most of the fundraising and events we held centered around unhealthy food and selling things in our community,” Coyner said. “So I got this idea of eliminating sales and fundraisers,…

Jones transfers to Chowan

By Josh Mathews on April 30, 2019 Basketball, Sports

Former Thomas Dale High School standout Monique Jones made the next step in her basketball and academic career by committing to Division II Chowan University last week. Jones played two seasons at Louisburg College in North Carolina with excellent results, especially last season. She averaged 14.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Both ranked second on the team in those categories. Louisburg finished the season 18-10. Chowan competes in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Conference with schools such as Virginia State and Virginia Union. The Hawks finished their season 13-15 and are looking to replace another Richmond area player, forward…

Williams gets offer, Walker commits

By Josh Mathews on April 23, 2019 Football, Sports

Thomas Dale High School got word of yet another Division I offer for athlete Jasiah Williams when he picked up an offer from Army, his second. Williams played all over the field for Kevin Tucker and the Knights this past year, at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, defensive back, kick returner and punt returner. The athletic junior picked up an offer from Kent State earlier this school year. Despite an injury-shorted season, Williams totaled 442 yards of production and three touchdowns. Defensively, he averaged seven tackles per game and defended six passes. After moving to the area from Dinwiddie –…

Brown reels in second ACC offer

By Josh Mathews on April 23, 2019 Football, Sports

L.C. Bird High School got more good news on the recruiting front, as freshman running Ramon Brown received an offer from the University of Maryland. Despite his youth, Brown has already attracted two Atlantic Coast Conference schools, the first being Virginia Tech back in January. Brown caught the attention of the Hokies after strong showings in two showcase bowl games: the All-American and International bowls. “Brown is a gifted athlete, and he works hard,” L.C. Bird coach Troy Taylor said. “He was able to start as a corner this year and carried the ball at tailback. Having him and sophomore…

L.C. Bird alum re-signs with Vikings

By Josh Mathews on April 23, 2019 Football, Sports

L.C. Bird High and University of Virginia alum Anthony Harris will continue his NFL career in the 2019 season. He was tendered a $3.095 million contract by the Minnesota Vikings last week, and he will play for his fifth season in Minnesota. Harris had been a restricted free agent, meaning that Minnesota had rights to sign him first, but had they not, he could have signed with any team in the National Football League. The former L.C. Bird Skyhawk seized an opportunity to start last season at safety when incumbent Andrew Sendejo was injured. Sendejo was not offered a new…

Lady Monarchs soccer program flourishing early

By Josh Mathews on April 16, 2019 Soccer, Sports

Although Meadowbrook High School girls soccer has shown the spirit needed to win games, it’s been a process to build a winner for coach Joseph Farrell. This year, perhaps, is the one they make the jump. The Monarchs have gotten off to a blistering start, outscoring their opponents 31-8 in their first five games of the season. “We have already scored more goals this season than we did last year,” Farrell said. “We are also on track to concede substantially fewer goals than we did last year.” That improvement on offense and defense has resulted in a 4-1 record as…

Johnson, Williams to play pro football in Europe

By Josh Mathews on April 16, 2019 Football, Sports

For most athletes, athletic careers start, and often end, in local youth sports organizations. For Gerard Johnson and Lionel Williams, their time together at Beulah Elementary School ended up being a springboard all the way to pro football. Johnson, a Meadowbrook High graduate, and Williams, a L.C. Bird High alum, are preparing to travel to Europe to play professionally in Finland’s Maple League. This will be Johnson’s second season in the league, while Williams will be entering his rookie year. Under coach Troy Taylor at Meadowbrook, Johnson was one of the area’s best quarterbacks, leading the Monarchs to a Central…

Pickleball is game of choice among many seniors

By Caleb M Soptelean on April 2, 2019 Seniors, Sports

Jared Dieffenbach and Kevin Sutton play Friday, March 29. If you ever find yourself in a pickle, you might just be having fun. A group of 33 or so mostly senior citizens regularly join to play pickleball. The game was invented on Bainbridge Island west of Seattle in 1965 and has begun to catch on locally, said Chester resident Daryle Hurt, who helped organize pickleball games at his church, Swift Creek Baptist, five years ago. The game – which features a paddle made of graphite, fiberglass or a composite material and a ball similar to a wiffle ball – has…

Burgett, Conaway make college choices

By Josh Mathews on April 2, 2019 Basketball, Sports

Mack Burgett Recently, L.C. Bird High School basketball has seen two more young men commit to play in the college ranks. Mack Burgett, a 6-foot 8-inch senior, is headed to Anderson University in Indiana. “Before all, I want to thank the ‘man upstairs’ for giving the opportunity to play the game I love,” Burgett said in a statement where he thanked his friends, family and the L.C. Bird staff. As a freshman, Burgett was skinny and around 6 foot 1 inch. By his senior season, he grew and transformed his game into a double-double machine in points and rebounds with…

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