CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – On a night where Henry Godbout and Jacob Ference each homered twice, the Virginia baseball team (27-16) downed Towson (19-31) 19-1 at Disharoon Park on Wednesday night (May 7). With their two-homer performances, Godbout and Ference became the first Cavaliers to hit two home runs in the same game since Ference […]
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – On a night where Henry Godbout and Jacob Ference each homered twice, the Virginia baseball team (27-16) downed Towson (19-31) 19-1 at Disharoon Park on Wednesday night (May 7).
With their two-homer performances, Godbout and Ference became the first Cavaliers to hit two home runs in the same game since Ference and Henry Ford did it against Louisville on April 12, 2024. The pair is also the first UVA duo to hit back-to-back blasts this season.
UVA starter Chris Arroyo surrendered one run in two innings of work but did not factor into the decision. Evan Blanco picked up the win on Wednesday by striking out four Tigers over the three scoreless innings in relief.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The visiting Tigers opened the scoring in the top of the first with an RBI groundout that was set up by a Cavalier error.
Towson’s lead didn’t last long as Virginia plated three runs in the home half of the second inning. Godbout’s first home run of the night tied the contest at one before back-to-back RBI singles from Luke Hanson and Aidan Teel put Virginia out front for good.
Virginia added a pair of runs in the third as Godbout and Ference teamed up for back-to-back solo home runs to make it a 5-1 ballgame.
UVA added a one run in the fourth on a Tiger error and one run in the fifth on a James Nunnallee RBI single to extend its lead to 7-1 with five innings in the books.
In the sixth, the Cavaliers exploded for four more runs on back-to-back RBI doubles from Arroyo and Godbout before Ference put an exclamation point on his night with a no-doubt two-run blast to left center.
The Cavaliers added six more runs in the seventh when the Towson pitching duo of Alex Comwell and Leo Simpson hit three straight Virginia batters and issued a walk with the bases loaded before Walker Buchanan delivered a two-run single to right to push the UVA advantage to 17-1.
Virginia’s final two runs on the night came in the bottom of the eighth when Will Broderick worked a bases-loaded walk, which led to a Trey Wells sacrifice fly that plated Antonio Perrotta.
The bullpen duo of Michael Yeager and Joe Colucci each threw a scoreless inning to seal the 19-1 Virginia victory.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Virginia improves to 17-5 when Aidan Teel bats leadoff.
Dating back to the April 6 contest at NC State, the Cavaliers have hit at least one home run in 14 straight games.
Henry Godbout tied his career-high with four RBIs on the night.
Virginia’s 19 runs on Wednesday is the second-most runs scored by the Cavaliers in a game his season.
UVA improves to 25-4 on the season when scoring six or more runs.
The Cavaliers now lead the all-time series with Towson 25-2 and have won 19 straight games against the Tigers dating back to 2009.
UP NEXT
Virginia returns to ACC play on Friday as the Cavaliers are set to host Miami for a three-set at Disharoon Park. The series opener on Friday (May 9) against the Hurricanes is set for 6 p.m. The middle game is slated for a 4 p.m. start on Saturday (May 10) followed by the finale on Sunday (May 11) at 1 p.m. All three games will be broadcast on ACCNX and can be heard on WINA (98.9 FM/1070 AM).
Four El Dorado track and field athletes signed to compete at the collegiate level Friday afternoon at Wildcat Arena. Zyron Brock signed with Ouachita Baptist University. Brianna Ferrell signed with UA-Pine Bluff. Asia Caver and Zachary McMillon both signed with Southern Arkansas University. “We are very proud of the accomplishments of all four of those […]
Four El Dorado track and field athletes signed to compete at the collegiate level Friday afternoon at Wildcat Arena. Zyron Brock signed with Ouachita Baptist University. Brianna Ferrell signed with UA-Pine Bluff. Asia Caver and Zachary McMillon both signed with Southern Arkansas University.
“We are very proud of the accomplishments of all four of those kids. I was able to set out four state championship trophies for the signing that was representative of each kid,” said El Dorado coach John Koonce. “We have had a lot of success as a program these four years and it’s because of kids like Zyron, Brianna, Asia and Zach. They have made us proud throughout their entire high school career. And I believe that they will continue to make our program, the community of El Dorado and their families proud as they continue their academic and athletic careers in college. OBU, SAU and UAPB just got better.”
Brock, Ferrell and Caver led the Lady Wildcats to the 5A State Championship. They were all members of the Meet of Champs and state championship 4×100 relay. Brock won the triple jump at the Meet of Champs and the long jump at the state meet.
McMillon competed on the boys’ team. Also a cross country runner, he finished fourth in the 1,600 at the 5A South Championships.
Highlights from 2025 state track and field meet in La Crosse Track and field athletes from across Wisconsin gather in La Crosse to compete at the 2025 WIAA state meet. Michael Whitlow, Zac Bellman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel The Arrowhead Warhawks girls track and field team won their second consecutive Division 1 state title. Junior […]
Highlights from 2025 state track and field meet in La Crosse
Track and field athletes from across Wisconsin gather in La Crosse to compete at the 2025 WIAA state meet.
Michael Whitlow, Zac Bellman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Arrowhead Warhawks girls track and field team won their second consecutive Division 1 state title.
Junior Avery Bott led the Warhawks with top-three finishes in the 100m, 200m, and 400m races.
Elise Schroeder, the defending pole vault champion, won her second straight state title.
LA CROSSE — For Arrowhead girls track and field coach Bradley Clark, it’s simple.
Put the names on the sheet. The girls will take care of the rest.
“It’s just nice to watch them work,” Clark said. “I mean, people asked me, they’ve told me congratulations and I’m like, ‘They do all the work.’ I just write their names down and helped them with workouts. They put in all the work they all had the competitive drive to do what they did.”
For the second straight season, the Warhawks won the Division 1 state team track title with 51 total points to fend off a pesky Neenah bunch in search of its first team title in program history.
Arrowhead’s second straight title marked the first time since 2017 (Milwaukee King) that a D1 girls program won back-to-back titles. Fellow Classic 8 Conference member Muskego also won titles in 2019 and 2021, but the 2020 meet was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s the best,” Clark said on the back-to-back team title run. “That’s why you get into coaching. Seeing them be happy is all I need.”
The Warhawks scored points in seven total events over the weekend with 34 of their team points coming from stars Avery Bott in her triple sprint title quest and defending pole vault state champion and current statewide record holder Elise Schroeder, who won the state title for the second straight season.
“It’s amazing,” Bott said on being a part of the Warhawks program. “The team is great. The environment around everyone is just amazing. Everyone’s really supportive. I have some really great friends on the team that I did relays with in the past and some individual events, but it’s amazing to be a part of.”
Bott worked her way up the podium with a third-place finish in the 100, a runner-up finish in the 400 and then finally stood on the top step after winning the 200 that clinched the team crown for the Warhawks with one running event to go.
Along with Bott’s three top-three finishes, junior Emily Corteen picked up a pair of key points with a seventh-place finish in the pole vault with Schroeder in a meet where the point differential between champion and runner-up was just five points.
“The depth,” Clark said on what made the 2025 version of the Warhawks stand out. “A lot of our coaches pointed out that we were the only team across the state that scored in every event at sectionals. I think the depth is just there and we got people that are good at everything. It makes coaching easy sometimes.”
Schroeder, Josie Bularz, Giselle Huggett and Payton Eicher stood second on the podium in the 4×100-meter relay final, coming just .19 seconds short of dethroning conference rival Mukwonago as state champion. Eicher also contributed early on Day 2 with five key points of her own thanks to a fourth-place finish in the long jump finals that was won by Neenah’s Celia Gentile.
“We have so many juniors, which, I mean, helps a lot,” Schroeder said with a laugh. “We’re all in classes together, supporting each other. The seniors are so supportive of us as well. We always help the younger classmen and I think every single person helps them, showing them around and they even know stuff that we just don’t even need to tell them. They know what to do.”
The Arrowhead boys fell two points short of a fifth straight team title, but it’s clear Arrowhead’s dominance is stretching beyond boys coach Chris Herriot’s program. Each of the individual scorers for the Warhawks in their team title triumph are juniors, including the 4×100-meter relay quartet that won runner-up medals on Day 2.
“It’s unreal,” Schroeder said. “It’s like almost bittersweet because it’s junior year, you know, only one more year, hoping to maybe end it with another.”
When asked about a potential three-peat in 2026, Schroeder shot a smile, a laugh and simply said, “Maybe.”
Track and Field: Area athletes litter Class 1A and Class 2A – Brainerd Dispatch
ST. MICHAEL — Pequot Lakes knows how to jump. The Patriots will send five different athletes in field events to the Class 2A State Track and Field meet June 11-12 at St. Michael-Albertville High School. Oliver McKenna, Bode Eggena and Becker Lipke all qualified for the high jump. McKenna won the section title by clearing […]
The Patriots will send five different athletes in field events to the Class 2A State Track and Field meet June 11-12 at St. Michael-Albertville High School.
Oliver McKenna, Bode Eggena and Becker Lipke all qualified for the high jump. McKenna won the section title by clearing 6-foot-3, while Eggena and Lipke cleared the state standard of 6-1.
Senior Reese Laposky returns to state in the long jump and adds the high jump to her list this year. Laposky cleared a state standard of 5-1 in the high jump and a state standard of 16-7.25 in the long jump. He placed 21st at state last year with a 16-2.25.
Grace Knutson also cleared the state standard of 5-1 in the high jump.
“Five out of our six high jumpers are going to the state track meet, which is pretty cool,” Pequot coach Brian Homan said. “Oliver is a young freshman who broke the section record and then Bode and Becker are both returning. Reese is another high jumper and also returns in the long jump. The trick for her will be managing her time as they both go on at the same time.”
On the track, Pequot’s Brooklin Hansen qualified for the 100-meter hurdles and three girls’ relay teams made it, too.
Chelby Wothe
“Grace is a seventh grader, so she comes with very little experience,” Pequot coach Jeff Brever said. “We moved her up from junior high halfway through the year and she blossomed. Brooklin is a ninth grader and it’s the same concept, just try to get into the finals.”
Ashley Slaybaugh, Josie Taylor, Lila Nordby and Ava Merta make up the 4×100 relay team. Slaybaugh, Taylor and Merta and joined by Chelby Wothe for the 4×200 relay team. While Slaybaugh, Taylor and Wothe team with Carlie Eggert in the 4×400 relay.
“We have a lot of the same girls back and we are bringing the experience to state,” Brever said. “We need to touch up some things, but right now we are the third best in the state and we want to make the finals for our relays.”
Malin Youngberg
The Little Falls Flyers will send five to state in Noah Cameron (300 hurdles), Elise Ballou (pole vault), Madeline Chisholm (high jump), Kobi Cameron (pole vault) and Malin Youngberg (3200 run).
Youngberg won the section title in the 3200 in 11:09.32.
Pierz’s Aiden Jones highlights the multiple area athletes in the Class 1A State Track and Field meet June 10-11 at St. Michael-Albertville High School.
Jones will compete in three events. He won the Section 5-1A title in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and teamed with Brayden Foust, Paul Nieman and Kyle Stangl to qualify in the 4×100.
Foust placed second in the 100 dash to reach state, while Kaleb Poser (300 hurdles) and Wyatt Betsinger (1600 run) also qualified.
Aitkin’s Isaiah Baker will compete in two events after winning the Section 7-1A title in the triple and high jumps.
Pillager’s Violette Metz advanced in three events by winning the Section 6-1A title in the 200 dash, 300 hurdles and teaming with Veronica Metz, Sophie Schlosser and McKenna Camacho in the 4×100 relay. Camacho qualified in the triple jump.
Audrey Brownell
submitted photo
Staples-Motley’s Audrey Brownell is one of the favorites in the 1600 and 3200 runs at state.
“She’s going to be ready,” S-M head coach Bruce Fuhrman said. “I think she has a good chance. The one she really wants is the two-mile and she seems like she’s at full strength.”
S-M’s Avandre Brandt is back at state in the 200 dash and high jump. Sawyer Ferdon qualified in the triple and long jumps. Turner Beachy is a section champ in the pole vault, Noah Larson won the 110 hurdles and Adrian Gomez qualified in the shot put.
“I’m hoping Noah can make it out of the prelims,” Fuhrman said. “He should be in the hunt for a medal. If Turner can turn it up like he has, I think he has a chance of winning. Avandre’s best chance is going to be in the 200 and Sawyer has a chance to medal in the triple jump.”
Pillager’s Andrew Brown (100 dash) and Frank Brown (high jump) will compete along with the 4×100 and 4×200 relay teams of Dawson Weihandl, Dru Hutchinson, Tyson Becker and Frank Brown.
“Andrew had a great showing at sections,” Pillager head coach Jim Bentson said. “He’s been consistently under 11 seconds all year. That leads into the relay teams and he and Tyson are inseparable. We moved Dawson from the 400, 200 to the 100, 200, so we had him coming off the blocks, which helped. Frank has always been consistent for us and he knows that we’re starting at six feet and he’s been there.”
Wadena-Deer Creek’s Amber Collins won the section title in the 400 dash to return. WDC’s Grant Nelson returns in the 800 run. Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale’s Brady Rach qualified in the 800 and 1600 runs.
Callie Norman (triple jump) is the lone Pine River-Backus Tiger at state.
Crosby-Ironton’s AJ Westin made state in the 800 with a section title. C-I’s 4×100 relay of Evan Ryberg, Michael Anderson, Braylon Kannell and Jeremy Hanson placed second at sections to qualify.
Lucy Lewandowski
Lucy Lewandowski returns to state in the pole vault. C-I’s 4×400 relay (Margaret Ringhand, Sammie Hachey, Anna Westin, Maria Ringhand) and 4×800 relay (Maria Ringhand, Madeline Lacerte, Margaret Ringhand, Westin) teams also qualified.
Pierz’s Quinn Gruber (800 run), Beverly Rentz (shot put) and Payton Stangl (discus) reached state along with the 4×100 (Avery Gruber, Claire Gruber, Aurora Walberg, Lydia Prokott) and 4×800 (Chloe Lochner, Morgan Litke, Sophie Leidenfrost, Quinn Gruber) relay teams.
CONRAD ENGSTROM may be reached at 218-855-5861 or conrad.engstrom@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/the_rad34.
In a much-rumored move, the Cubs promoted right-hander Jostin Florentino to Low-A Myrtle Beach from the ACL Cubs. Left-hander Burl Carraway joins the ACL Cubs from the Development List. Iowa Cubs The Iowa Cubs were lightning-struck by the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 6-5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All six Omaha runs came off of starter Peter […]
In a much-rumored move, the Cubs promoted right-hander Jostin Florentino to Low-A Myrtle Beach from the ACL Cubs.
Left-hander Burl Carraway joins the ACL Cubs from the Development List.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were lightning-struck by the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 6-5.
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All six Omaha runs came off of starter Peter Solomon, who gave up the six runs on eight hits over 3.1 innings. Solomon walked two and struck out two.
Lefty Riley Martin continued to make his case with a perfect inning in the bottom of the eighth. He struck out one. Martin has a 1.30 ERA with 42 strikeouts over 27.1 innings this year.
Iowa could only manage one hit and one unearned run over the first six innings against 45-year-old former Cub Rich Hill.
First baseman Carlos Pérez got Iowa to within a run with a two-run home run in the top of the eighth. It was his tenth home run this year. Pérez went 2 for 4 and scored twice.
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Second baseman Ben Cowles had a two-run single in the seventh inning. He went 1 for 4.
Cowles two-run single.
The Pérez home run.
Knoxville Smokies
The Knoxville Smokies split a doubleheader to the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), losing game one 3-0 and winning the second one 4-3.
Nick Dean started game one and got the loss after giving up three runs on four hits over five innings. Dean struck out six and walked no one. Two of the three runs came on a home run in the fifth inning by Austin Hendrick.
The Smokies had just three singles and no walks in game one. In their defense, they faced Chase Burns, who was the second-overall pick in last year’s draft. Burns threw a seven-inning complete game.
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Sam Armstrong started and won game one. He went 5.1 innings and allowed three runs on five hits. All three runs came on a home run in the sixth inning, after which both he and manager Lance Rymel were ejected from the game. Armstrong struck out four and walked no one.
A.J. Puckett took over after the ejection and went the final 1.2 innings for the save, allowing no runs and one hit. Puckett walked one and struck out two.
Second baseman Pedro Ramirez hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth, his second. Ramirez went 1 for 3.
Shortstop Eriandys Ramon drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single in his first Double-A game. Ramon went 1 for 2 and scored on the Ramirez home run.
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Right fielder Parker Chavers was 2 for 3 with a double. He scored on the Ramon single.
Catcher Pablo Aliendo went 2 for 3.
Here’s some nice defense by Ramirez.
And here’s his home run.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs dropped both ends of a doubleheader to the Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers), losing the continuation of yesterday’s suspended game 2-1 and the regularly-scheduled game by the same 2-1 score.
Erian Rodriguez started game one yesterday and took the loss after surrendering two runs on four hits over 4.1 innings before the rains came. Rodriguez walked four and struck out four.
The game was 2-1 Loons when the rains came yesterday and that’s how it ended. South Bend’s only run came on a Carter Trice home run to lead off the bottom of the first inning. It was Trice’s third-straight game with a home run and second-straight one to lead off the bottom of the first. Trice went 1 for 4.
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Ryan Gallagher gave South Bend a good chance to win in game two, but he took the loss after giving up two runs on three hits over five innings. Gallagher struck out seven and walked just one.
First baseman Brian Kalmer singled home right fielder Ivan Brethowr with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to prevent the shutout. Kalmer went 1 for 3 and Brethowr was 0 for 2 with a walk.
Center fielder Carter Trice went 1 for 2 with a double and a walk.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were blasted by the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (White Sox), 4-0.
Jostin Florentino got the loss in his Pelicans debut, giving up three runs, two earned, on six hits over 4.2 innings. Florentino walked four and struck out four.
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First baseman Cameron Sisneros went 2 for 4.
ACL Cubs
Beat the Guardians, 6-5.
DH Eli Lovich hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth. He was 2 for 4.
