Thursday, March 30,  2006

sports-page 2-online edition

FREE Classified Ads
in the
Mountain Market!
(regular and online editions)
(must qualify)

Wise, VA/
Pikeville, KY

(click for forecast)

by Lloyd Combs
Sports Reporter
         Few teams can lose as many good hitters as Haysi lost to graduation and still make a run at a district title.
          But few teams possess two starting pitchers as good as Ryan Jones and Kevin Viers. The two senior righthanders lead a group of 11 returnees for Haysi, which fell one run short of the Group A playoffs last season.
         The Tigers will rely heavily on the hard-throwing Jones, who struck out over two men per inning last season, and the savvy Viers, after losing three of its top hitters, leadoff man Jesse Yates, cleanup man Blake Stanley and all-around standout Jake Colley.
          Either Jones or Viers would be the top starter on virtually any other pitching staff.
          “A lot of people have one good pitcher,” Haysi Coach Dewayne Stanley said. “It’s a luxury to have two number ones. They’re both very, very efficient, but they’re very, very different.
           “Ryan is a power pitcher. Kevin, I wouldn’t call him a finesse pitcher, but he gets a lot of movement on the ball and he puts the ball where he wants to.”
          The Tigers have four other starters back. Four-year standout Adam Hill returns behind the plate. Junior Justin Stanley is a solid hitter and one of just two returnees in the infield. Seniors Cody Edwards and Elijah Owens give the Tigers two capable and experienced outfielders.
           When they aren’t on the mound, Jones and Viers will start at shortstop, while Stanley moves from third base to second. Senior returnees Jordan Newsome and Tim Puckett are vying for the third base job, while another senior letterman, Lucien Patton could see time at first.
            Junior returnee Lance Compton is available to pitch or play first base, while another experienced junior, Justin Kiser, is looking for work in the outfield.

For more of the story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now.  For more information on how to subscribe to the Mountaineer, call 276-935-2123 today.

Honaker Lady Tigers Eyeing Another Playoff Run; Slate Returns to Handle Pitching Duties

by Lloyd Combs
Sports Reporter
          It’s a familiar scenario for Honaker in the BDD and Region D.
          The Lady Tigers and the Haysi Lady Tigers have pitching aces to match any in the area, and one of the two clubs will probably find defending Group A state champion Gate City standing between them and a run at state.
          Honaker has some eight or nine returnees with starting experience, including five seniors who figure to battle Haysi for first place again in the BDD. The two teams tied for the regular season crown last season, with Haysi winning a playoff.
          One of the five seniors is pitcher Raeanne Slate, who, like Whitney Compton at Haysi, gives Honaker a good chance at a 1-0 win every time she enters the circle.
          Other senior returnees include Cynthia Stevens at first base and Amanda Hess second. Whitney Miller and Katie Howard return in the outfield. One key loss to graduation was catcher Julie Robinson.
          “Our strong suit should still be pitching and catching,” Honaker Coach Donovan Helton said. “We have Samantha Garrett taking over catching duties for us this year. And our five returning seniors give us strong senior leadership.”
          One difference for Honaker this year, Helton says, should be its ability with the bat. He thinks the Lady Tigers will be able to give Slate more run support.
           “Our bats are more lively at this stage, in comparison to the last couple of years,” Helton added.
           “And, as usual, we’re expecting another great year out of Slate. She has a great work ethic and tremendous dedication.”
            On the left side of the Honaker infield, Brittany Croson returns at shortstop, while sophomore Lyndsey Newberry and freshman Paige Tiller are battling for playing time at third base.
            “Brittany Croson has with good hands and even better arm,” Helton said. “Lyndsey Newberry and Paige Tiller are locked in a good battle at this time at third.”
 

For more of the story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now.  For more information on how to subscribe to the Mountaineer, call 276-935-2123 today.

          Haysi standout Whitney Compton was named to the VHSCA All-Group A girls basketball First Team for the 2005-2006 season.
           The 6-foot-1 senior is joined on the first unit by Gate City’s Brittany Rogers, Kallie Hovatter of Stonewall Jackson, Clarke County’s Taylor Warner and Franklin’s Ashley Key.
           Compton’s senior teammate, LaRae Boyd, and Twin Valley senior Brittany Maxwell, received Honorable Mention All-Group A nods.
           The teams are selected by a committee of coaches from each region who are members of the Virginia High School Coaches Association Rogers, even though Compton topped her in player of the year voting in Region D, shared Co-Player of the Year honors in Group A with Hovatter.
           Hugh Godsey, who guided Gate City to a state title, was named Group A Coach of the Year.
           Despite VHSCA bylaws, which reportedly stipulate that each regional player of the year is to get a first team nod, Region C Player of the Year Kari Jackson of Lebanon was put on the second team.
           The 2005-2006 VHSCA All-Group A Girls Basketball Team:
           First Team:
         Whitney Compton, Haysi; Brittany Rogers, Gate City; Kallie Hovatter, Stonewall Jackson; Taylor Warner, Clarke County; Ashley Key, Franklin;
           Second Team:
           Kari Jackson, Lebanon; Patricia Price, Middlesex; Tonya Wright, Bland County; Adrienne Womack, Floyd County; Lindsay Thompson, Floyd County;
           Honorable Mention:
           Brittany Maxwell, Twin Valley; LaRae Boyd, Haysi; Shannon Lewis, Northumberland; Kelly White, King William; Kalen Collins, J.J. Kelly; Tiffany Austin, St. Paul; Ashlee Samuels, George Wythe; Ashton Bishop, Gate City.
         Co-Players of the Year: Brittany Rogers, Gate City; Kallie Hovatter, Stonewall Jackson.
           Coach of the Year: Hugh Godsey, Gate City.
 

For more of the story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now.  For more information on how to subscribe to the Mountaineer, call 276-935-2123 today.

     Subscribe to the Mountaineer today and don't miss out on all the Buchanan County news!
    Call 276-935-2123 for information or write to: P.O. Box 2040, Grundy, Va., 24614-2040 to get your subscription started. Pricing information may be found on the Advertising page of this site.