|  | | All eyes are on first-year school Cosby as they start things off for the Central Region at 11 a.m. Friday. |
Cosby, Boys Soccer vs. Osbourn Park, 11 a.m. at Christopher Newport
Stephen Lewis: Can you describe the atmosphere at your first-year school with your first-year team setting all kinds of precedence?
Mike Anderson: The atmosphere here at Cosby is electric. Our fans have been incredible; the pride in our new school is very gratifying.
SL: What has been the key to your run?
MA: I'm not entirely sure, but the team chemistry of this group is fantastic. Everyone has been focused and working for each other.
SL: How has the loss to Hanover in the region final helped? Or not?
MA:
I don't think it helped losing to Hanover. It was the region final, and
we know that a game like that doesn't happen every year. We wanted to
win, but when we didn't we started making plans for the state
tournament.
SL: What do you know about semifinal opponent Osbourn Park?
MA:
I grew up in Prince William County, so I know the schools up there
fairly well. OP is great program with a strong tradition. But I
honestly have not kept up with things as much this year; I just wanted
to concentrate on developing our sense of pride here at Cosby.
SL: In one word, describe your team right now?
MA: Proud of their new school. Sorry, I know that's more than one word.
James River, Baseball vs. Forest Park, noon at Christopher Newport
SL: Is this the best hitting group that you have ever been around?
Pete Schumacher:
Yes. This is the best team that I�??ve ever been around at James River.
This is my eighth year in the JR program we haven�??t had anything like
this team. This is by far the best group of kids and the best hitting
group and just all around.
SL: What does it say to have Deep Run, another Central Region team, and James River vying for Saturday�??s final?
PS:
I think it�??s great. I really do. We really respect Deep Run. They�??ve
had an unbelievable season. We had a great game against them. I thought
they played well. I thought we played well. I think it�??s really good
baseball in the Central Region.
SL: How have the two losses at the end of the season helped the team? Or not?
PS:
I understand why people say that. That makes sense, but I still don�??t
think it�??s ever a good thing to lose. Maybe with this team I don�??t feel
that way. They work hard everyday. They don�??t carry themselves in an
arrogant way. There was probably a little extra pressure to go
undefeated. That might be one thing that kind of helped us. That one
loss got them thinking that we need to remember why we�??re playing this
game. We�??re playing to be playing on June 9.
SL: Have you seen Forest Park? If so, what worries you about them?
PS:
I don�??t have any film. I did learn a little bit about them. They�??re a
good club. That goes without saying. If you get to the final four of
the state you have to be a great baseball team. They�??ve had some real
exciting games. They�??ve got two good pitchers. So we�??re really
expecting a close, hard fought game tomorrow.
SL: In one word, describe your team right now?
PS:
Character and confidence. They�??re really character guys, class guys.
They play baseball the right way. They�??ve got an air of confidence
right now about them, which is nice.
Hanover, Softball vs. Robinson, 1 p.m. at Stoney Park
SL: You have to be ecstatic about your lineup, 1-9. Amanda Woolard
came up huge in the state quarters, proving your whole lineup is truly
capable. Is this a better hitting lineup than last year�??s state
champion?
Chris Pace: Yes, we are hitting a lot better than last year. Allison Worley has raised her average 150 points (.348) and added doubles and homeruns to her game. Lauren Brummell is up 125 points (.525), Courtney Long is up 175 (.488) and Jessie Atkinson is up 225 (.450). Add that to Julie Smith and the rest, we are a hitting machine. Amanda Woolard's HR made our seniors cry. Lauren Brummell said, "Thanks for saving our season," with tears in her eyes!
Long
SL: What do you need to do to repeat?
CP:
Play Hawks Softball. Pitch to our spots, defense, execute the game plan
without errors and execute the short game on offense to score early,
and pile on the runs the third or fourth time through the order
by making good adjustments at the plate as the game goes on. Seniors
Atkinson, Brummell and Smith (88-16 career record) need to continue to
lead and step up to deliver the big hit in the big moment.
SL: Has the road to the state tournament been tougher than last year? Why?
CP: Yes. Julie was injured and couldn't catch. Brittany Sutherland
tore her ACL and had to be replaced. Courtney has learned TWO new
positions (C/SS), and our pitching relies more on our defense than on
blowing batters away like last year.
SL: What presents difficulty with Robinson, your semifinal opponent?
CP: BATS. Their top four are great hitters, two All-Metro in D.C. About 20 HR in the 2-4 slots.
SL: In one word, describe your team right now?
CP: Ready.
Deep Run, Baseball vs. South County, 3 p.m. at Christopher Newport
SL: How has having star football players from Deep Run�??s region champion, like Deck McGuire, Daniel Astrop and Matt Snyder, helped the team reach this point?
Grant Odell:
Obviously, anytime you have players who are playoff seasoned it is an
advantage. Both the football team and baseball team have dual players
throughout both programs. There are more than just those three. Lenny Pritchard
and I are convinced that it is not what the baseball/football programs
have brought out in these boys, but rather what these unique young men
have brought to us. It has helped us by having kids who do not quit,
who understand what they want and go deliver the mail. The parents
deserve credit also. They allow us to coach and make sure the boys do
the right things off the field.
McGuire
SL: What does it say to have James River, another Central Region team, and Deep Run vying for Saturday�??s final?
GO:
Central Region baseball is very competitive. Always has been. It is a
credit to the area youth leagues and the dedication of young boys and
parents. If a rematch does occur, it will make for good fan
conversation and make our region very proud.
SL: Have you ever been no-hit and still won the game before?
GO: Never. Never seen it. Never heard of it. It is totally backwards. What irony.
SL: Have you seen or heard about South County? If so, what worries you about them?
GO:
They are a young program with something to prove. They come from a
baseball rich area and have some talented kids. They have some quality
pitching and get timely hitting. Hey wait a minute�?�sounds like DR.
SL: In one word, describe your team right now?
GO:
Cool, calm, collected, loose, focused and they possess a singleness of
purpose. We are one ball of wax headed in the same direction.
Mills Godwin, Girls Soccer vs. Lake Braddock, 4 p.m. at Christopher Newport
SL: The play of region POY Lindsey Rowe
(GK) showed up big in the 2-1 state quarterfinal victory over First
Colonial. Is it possible to describe her importance to the team?
Rob White: Lindsey
is our coach on the field. As a keeper, she�??s positioned to see
everyone and everything. She has a deep knowledge of tactics for
someone so young and through gifted communication she is able to
provide guidance for her teammates throughout a match. In addition, she
scored our first penalty kick in the shootout [Tuesday night].
SL: This is your fifth straight tourney appearance, correct?
RW: We�??ve
played in the states for five straight years. We�??ve made it to the
semis twice before. First back in 1998 and then again three years ago
when senior Kelsey Billups was a freshman. But we�??ve never gotten to the state final.
Billups
SL: How has the loss to Atlee in the region final helped? Or not?
RW: The loss in the regional finals was very tough to take. We felt like Katie Anderson
was clearly taken down in the box when we were up 1-0 with six minutes
left. A successful penalty kick would have put us up by two goals with
six minutes left. Instead, they stormed right down and tied things up
at 1-1. Atlee was a strong, fit team that played outstanding soccer
and we give them credit for battling back, but it was a tough loss to
take. The only good news coming out of Friday was that we were healthy
and ready to refocus ourselves for the states. After Tuesday�??s
fantastic match, the regional final loss is a little easier to
take. But it still hurts.
SL: What do you know about semifinal opponent Lake Braddock?
RW: They are the most storied program in Virginia girls�?? soccer. Mia Hamm
is an alum. And they are the defending state champs. The game time was
moved from 8 p.m. to 4 p.m. so that they could attend their prom.
SL: In one word, describe your team right now?
RW: Cohesive. |