PREP SOCCER: Gate City sweeps Battle for regional titles

While Gate City is known for a lot of things on the local sports scene, it is first and foremost a football school.

Don’t look now, but it is fast becoming a futbol school as well.

The Blue Devils flexed their muscles Thursday night in what America calls soccer, adding to near-perfect seasons by bringing home both the boys and girls Region D championships with dual victories over John Battle at Bristol’s Sugar Hollow Park.

After the Gate City girls outlasted the stubborn Trojans 3-1 for their 16th win in 17 outings this spring, the Blue Devil boys kept their scoresheet flawless by defeating Battle 2-0 in the nightcap.

The Gate City boys, who finished third in the Clinch Mountain District a year ago, are now 16-0 this season as they head into Group A play next week.

Rookie head coach Eric Baker tried to explain his club’s remarkable season to date.

“We knew coming into the season that we had the talent,” Baker said. “We knew we had the speed and better athleticism than anybody we were going to be playing. We just had to keep our heads focused and keep the guys wanting it and keep them hungry.

“We’ve got some guys with some heart who have been willing to fight all season long, and we’ve got a great community that backs us like no one else. And that’s how we are 16-0 to this point.”

Logan Byrd made sure the Blue Devils would stay on track for an unbeaten season by getting his club quickly out of the gate.

A senior, Byrd collected passes from Levi Herron and Freddie Hicks and blasted his way to a pair of goals in the game’s first 20 minutes.

“We preach to come out and make a statement in the first five and 10 minutes of each game,” said Baker. “We’ve done a good job of that all year.

“Nothing official has been released, but I am thinking Logan is going to be named player of the year in the Clinch Mountain. He certainly deserves it.”

Byrd was also a key member of Gate City’s 2010 state championship football team, starring as a super-reliable placekicker.

“It’s hard to compare the two sports,” Byrd said. “They both have a special place in my heart.”

Battle coach Mike Posey, who will take his 11-4 club on the road for Tuesday’s Group A quarterfinal, tipped his hat.

“Byrd and Herron are pretty tough,” said Posey, whose Trojans won the Region D title a year ago. “They are the two that we had to stop tonight and we weren’t able to do that.”

Posey, who lost standout Derek Maiden to a knee injury a month ago, offered no excuses.

“It’s hurt not having Derek, sure,” he said. “But we’ve played much better without him than we showed tonight.”

Gate City was quite impressive defensively, with sophomore goalkeeper Micah Bledsoe collecting the shutout behind a unit that gave the Trojans and former CMD player of the year Matt Fleenor few openings. Speedy Austin Gibson was particularly outstanding on the back line for the Devils.

“We have a bunch of hard-nosed kids back there,” said Baker, whose club contains a half-dozen or more Blue Devil football players.

GIRLS

Gate City 3, John Battle 1

 The Blue Devils made it a clean sweep behind the two-goal game of Tori Bowen.

A senior, Bowen scored the clinching goal with less than 10 minutes to play to thwart Battle’s attempt at an upset.  Bowen also scored the equalizer in the first half after the Trojans had gotten out to a quick advantage on a goal by sophomore Emily Mullins.

Anna McClung scored the 62nd goal of her sophomore season in the first half, giving Gate City a 2-1 lead at intermission.

Gate City will take a 16-1 record into state tournament play, but must compete hereafter without McClung, who will opt to play in the 18 & Under Nationals instead of shooting for a VHSL crown.  The Blue Devils will host their state quarterfinal game Tuesday at Sugar Hollow.

“It’s bittersweet,” McClung said.  “It’s what I’ve been working for my entire life - it’s just too bad it coincides with our run at a state championship.

“But this team will be OK.  We have a lot of talent.”

John Battle, which will travel for its state quarterfinal game, fell to 8-5-2 with its third loss this season to Gate City.