Regional Briefs: Hill Thrills At Volunteer Motor Speedway

BULLS GAP, Tenn. — Vic "The Thrill" Hill of Morristown, Tenn., a four-time track champion, used the Pizza Plus "Spring Fling" Saturday night at Volunteer Speedway for a springboard.

Hill, after clocking fast-time during qualifying by running a quick lap of 12.385 seconds to earn the pole position for the "Gateway Ford" Super Late Model feature, launched into the lead on the opening lap over fellow front-row starter Jeff Maupin. Once out front, it was all clear sailing for Hill, as he set a blistering pace en route to leading from green-to-checkers, never seriously being challenged for the lead during the race.

With Hill on cruise control out front in the lead over Maupin, Bryan Hendrix was feeling pressure from Bobby Mays for the third position. Fifth-running Mike Smith had a rearview-mirror full of Shane Roberts and Dale Ball. On the ninth lap, both Roberts and Ball got around Smith between the third and fourth turns to settle into the fifth and sixth spots, relegating Smith back to seventh in the running order. Ball passed Roberts to move into fifth place on lap 13 racing off turn two.

With Hill holding right at a three-quarters straightaway advantage over Maupin, the event’s first caution waved on lap 24 when John Tweed spun. Using the Delaware Double-File restart, Hill was all alone out front going back green, with Maupin and Hendrix side-by-side behind the race leader. Back up to speed, Mays got under Hendrix in turn two to take over third. The yellow waved once again on lap 26 when Brian Smith slowed after breaking a driveshaft on the high-side of turn two.

Monday wins at Wythe

Doug Monday of Max Meadows took the checker in the Pro Mini division Saturday at Wythe Raceway.

Monday and Randy Kincer of Rural Retreat battled from the drop of the green flag until the checkered flag and the race saw no cautions. Kincer held his lead up until the closing laps when Monday got a run going into turn four.

COLLEGE BASEBALL

Bucs’ woes continue in sweep by Florida Gulf Coast

East Tennessee State University’s baseball team fell to Florida Gulf Coast 15-2 Sunday at Swanson Stadium in Fort Myers, Fla., as they were swept by the Eagles in the series.

ETSU (18-35, 9-21) was outhit by the Eagles 21-8, while the Bucs stranded ten runners. FGCU starter Casey Coleman stymied ETSU’s bats as he gave up two runs and spread out seven hits over six innings.

The Eagles jumped on the board first in the bottom of the third, as they plated three runs on a two-run double by Stephen Rassel and an RBI single by Vinnie Scarduzio to make the score 3-0 FGCU.

The Bucs answered in the top of the third as Paul Hoilman (Johnson City, Tenn.) doubled to right center scoring Bubba Herbold (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Troy Mendez to cut the FGCU lead to 3-2.

In the bottom of the third, the Eagles scored three more runs on a Ozzie Borrell double to right center and a two-run home run by Scarduzio to give the Eagles a 6-2 lead.

FGCU added to the lead in the bottom of the fourth as the Eagles scored four more runs on RBI singles by Josh Upchurch, Jason Peacock and Sacrduzio and a grounder to short by Mikel Alvarez to make the score 10-2 FGCU.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Eagles scored five runs on six hits.

Hoilman and Herbold led the Bucs with two hits apiece, and Hoilman finished with a double and two RBIs.

MEN’S TENNIS

ETSU falls to Buckeyes

The Bucs’ men’s tennis team fell to the second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes 4-0 Sunday afternoon at the Ohio State Varsity Tennis Center.

The Bucs end their season with a 24-4 overall record, while the Buckeyes advance to the Round of 16 in Tulsa with a 34-1 record.

rdo fell to Matt Allare, 6-1, 7-6.