BRIEFS: Danville Wins Appy League Title

BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

DANVILLE, Va. – The Danville Braves are the champions of the Appalachian League.

Ace Matthew Crim threw a complete-game four-hitter, and the Braves topped the Elizabethon Twins, 5-0, Thursday night at Dan Daniel Memorial Park to complete a sweep of the best-of-3 playoff series.

The Braves won, 7-1, Wednesday night in Elizabethton, Tenn.

Crim, the Appalachian League’s pitcher of the year who was 10-2 during the regular season, struck out five and walked one in his only complete game of the season.

Loser Edgar Ibarra gave up four runs in six innings, but only one was earned. He struck out three and walked three.

Danville designated hitter Osman Marval knocked in two runs with a pair of singles.

Elizabethon had won the Appy League title the previous two seasons.

Gate City 3, John Battle 0
In a battle of Clinch Mountain District powers, Gate City swept the Trojans 25-13, 25-15, 25-23.
Brittni Altmann led Battle with 14 assists, while Ashley Bryant supplied six kills, 13 digs and three aces. Abbey Davis (nine digs) and Kelsey Griffitts (11 kills, 8 digs, 2 aces) also played well for Battle, now 3-1. 

J.J. Kelly 3, Castlewood 0
Andrea Hopkins and Allison Mullins each recorded six kills to lead the Indians (2-2) past the Blue Devils 25-21, 25-18, 25-11 in Wise on Thursday night.
Courtney Brooks added 10 assists.
Castlewood was led by Ali Ring’s three blocks and two kills.

Northwood 3, Marion 1
Kristen Dean had eight kills and 11 digs, Kelsey Smith had eight kills and 10 digs and Beth Wright had 12 assists and three aces to lead the Panthers past the Scarlet Hurricanes 25-16, 23-25, 26-24, 25-22 in a non-district contest.
McKenzie Demaree led Marion (1-4) with 11 digs, while Savannah O’Keefe recorded nine digs and 10 assists.

Coeburn 3, Clintwood 1
Coeburn earned a 22-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-6 non-district road win over Clintwood.
Michaela Conley and Whitney Baker combined for 29 digs for Clintwood, while Maggie Stanley (10 blocks, eight kills) and Taylor Stanley (10 kills, eight blocks) were also strong in defeat for Clintwood.

Science Hill 3, Tennessee High 2
The Science Hill Hilltoppers rallied for a 23-25, 20-25, 25-22, 25-21, 15-9 Big Eight Conference win over Tennessee High.
Carson Widener had 23 digs for THS (3-7, 1-3), while Emma Fidal dished out 29 assists. Kaitlyn Fabbri (11 kills), Erica Fabbri (eight kills) and Judy Matheson (seven kills, two blocks) played well at the net for the Vikings.

Chilhowie 3, Grayson County 0
Brittany May had a strong all-around performance – 15 service points, four kills, four blocks and three aces – as Chilhowie cruised to a 25-15, 25-8, 25-19 non-district win.
Krystal Patton added 14 kills and 10 blocks for Chilhowie (3-0), while Shannon Howell dished out 16 assists. Haley Shupe added four kills for the Warriors, while Heather Sage recorded nine service points.

Rural Retreat 3, Tazewell 1
Jenna Dix collected 14 kills and Laura Stamper added six as Rural Retreat posted a non-district win.
Aaron Worrell supplied 13 assists for Rural Retreat, while Jett Hagy added six aces.

Carroll County 3, Patrick County 1
Maleah Neely did it all for Carroll County, recording 20 service points, 20 assists, 10 digs, five kills and four blocks as the Cavaliers collected a 23-25, 25-13, 25-11, 25-19 win.
Autumn Fink added 25 service points for Carroll, while Dianna Reece notched 16 kills.

Lee High 3, Virginia High 0
Morgan Miles and Morgan Provence each had eight kills in Lee High’s 25-18, 25-20, 25-22 Clinch Mountain District victory.
Tara Owens and Taylor Rasnick combined for 17 service points for Lee. Kendra Smith (four kills, three service aces) and Lydia Hayes (12 assists) led the way for VHS.

Council 3, Grundy 0
A strong effort by Laken Hurley carried Council to its first win, 25-14, 25-19, 25-14. Hurley had 14 service points, eight aces and 11 kills.
Also strong were Kelsey Geary (9 service points, 10 kills, 3 blocks), Kara Fuller (8 service points, 7 assists), and Chelsea Mcglothlin (9 service points, 9 assists).

Avery (N.C.) 1, Providence Academy 1
Providence Academy and Avery (N.C.) High School battled to a tie. Johnson City-based Providence trailed 1-0 at the half, but knotted the score 15 minutes into the second half on a goal by Chad Clendenon. Vincent Johnson assisted on the goal.

Bluefield 3, VI 0
Lauren Elsworth’s 10 kills weren’t enough as Virginia Intermont fell 25-16, 25-17, 25-18 to Bluefield College Thursday in Appalachian Athletic Conference play.
Jesse Blevins had 17 digs and Tricia Dygert had 24 assists for the Lady Cobras, who fell to 0-2.

King 3, Tenn. Wesleyan 0
In Athens, Tenn., Gate City’s Kaitlyn Musick led the Lady Tornado with eight kills and Sarah Van Goethem joined Whitney Turner with six kills each as King College picked up a 25-12, 25-21, 25-13 win over the Bulldogs.
Katie Fleming dished out 29 assists in the win and Daria Wilson scrapped up 14 digs in the winning effort.
The Tornado remains on the road Friday, travelling to Atlanta, Ga., to play in the Emory College Classic.

King 5, Belmont Abby 2
King senior Andy Kimball scored a pair of goals and freshman Jessus Ebanks added one of his own for the host Tornado.
Matt Kilgus notched an assist and a goal of his own in the win and Tom Winspear would round out the scoring. Sophomore keeper Justin Morrell corralled eight saves in the win.
The Tornado are back in action Saturday at home against Lenoir-Rhyne at 3 p.m.