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By James J. Lidington

Isle of Wight Academy

 

BASEBALL

The No. 7-ranked Isle of Wight Academy varsity baseball team pounded The New Community School, of Richmond, 10-2 at home Friday, April 14.

The Chargers were ranked seventh in the inaugural state rankings, issued April 11.

The rankings of Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II, which is for medium-sized private schools in the state, had IWA ranked behind future opponents Atlantic Shores Christian School (sixth) and Greenbrier Christian Academy (fourth).

The New Community School, nicknamed the Sabers, is the No. 3-ranked team in Virginia in Division III, which is for the smallest private schools in the state. Broadwater Academy, IWA’s opponent Thursday, April 20, received votes in the first Division III poll.

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Peninsula Catholic High School’s Charlie Tuzzolo, Austin Muth and Brady Williams were the only Peninsula Catholic players to get hits off IWA pitchers, but those were enough as the Chargers fell 4-3 at home Wednesday, April 12.

Tuzzolo had a double among his two hits; Muth had a homer to left field that plated two runs.

IWA was paced by Ashton Rogers’ two hits, among the five the Chargers achieved off Knights pitching. Rogers was the final batter of the game, with two runners on and two outs and trailing by a run, before lining out to center field to end the contest.

Muth, the Peninsula Catholic starter, tossed 102 pitches over 6 1/3 innings, scattering five hits and allowing three runs, one of those earned.

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Jackson Cofer had three hits and drove in a pair as IWA beat visiting Norfolk Collegiate School on April 11.

Pitcher Cody Thomas retired the final Oaks hitter with the visitors trailing by three, 11-8, with two outs in their final at-bat with the bases full and the go-ahead run at the plate.

Jake Wells earned the win, pitching five innings, allowing three hits and five runs — three of them earned — while walking three and striking out eight Collegiate hitters. 

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Cofer, Jason Chapman and Drake Williams each had two hits as home-standing Isle of Wight routed Fredericksburg Christian School 11-0 on April 10.

Cofer also drove in four runs for the Chargers. Wells pitched four innings for IWA to earn the win, allowing only three hits, walking five and striking out four Eagles.

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IWA dropped its game April 5 against visiting Southern High School, from Louisville, Kentucky, 7-3.

Cofer, Wells and eighth-grader Chase Darden, in his first varsity at-bat, were the only Chargers to collect hits versus the Trojans. Cofer scored a run, and Wells was credited with an RBI.

The road-tripping Trojans boast noted athletic graduates including former NFL quarterback Phil Simms and former WNBA player Lisa Harrison.

GOLF

The Charger varsity golf team won with a 169-stroke total versus Williamsburg Christian Academy (220 shots) on Thursday, April 13.

The IWA junior varsity squad also won 226-275 versus WCA. Spencer Conrad was medalist with a 38 and sank a memorable birdie chip-in on Cypress Creek Golfers Club’s No. 3, the toughest-ranked hole on the course. 

On April 6, IWA defeated Greenbrier Christian 179-190 at the Suffolk Golf Course.  

In its first match of the year, IWA defeated Atlantic Shores by 20 strokes March 16, with junior Owen Saunders earning the medalist honor.

SOFTBALL

The Isle of Wight softball team won two of its last three games to start the season at 2-4.

The Lady Chargers lost Friday to Nansemond-Suffolk Academy 4-0 but won their previous two contests on the schedule, trouncing Norfolk Collegiate 23-0 on Thursday and routing Norfolk Christian 15-1 on April 11.

COMING UP

Tuesday, April 18

Varsity baseball: at Christchurch School, 4:30 p.m.

Varsity softball/JV baseball: at Southampton High School, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 20

JV golf: vs. Norfolk Academy at Cypress Point Country Club, 4 p.m.

Varsity baseball/softball (doubleheader): vs. Broadwater Academy, 3:30/5 p.m.

JV softball/middle school baseball: at Broadwater Academy, 4:30 p.m.

Friday, April 21

Varsity softball/varsity baseball vs. Portsmouth Christian School, 4:30 p.m.