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By James J. Lidington

Isle of Wight Academy

The Isle of Wight Academy varsity baseball team suffered its first defeat of the season but otherwise continued its dominance of the Virginia Colonial Conference with three wins during the week of April 17.

On April 20, IWA played against its stiffest competition of the year to date in Walsingham Academy, the No. 1-ranked team among Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division III schools. The Chargers lost 9-2 at home.

But Isle of Wight defeated Amelia Academy, Brunswick Academy and Richmond Christian School the same week.

Walsingham wasted no time in jumping on Charger pitching, putting four runs on the board before the home team could even bat.

After a lead-off walk by starting pitcher Trevor Mason, a two-run homer scored the game’s first two runs. Two more walks and a hit batsman loaded the bases, and another base on balls made the score 3-0. A sacrifice fly with one out made the score 4-0.

IWA dominated visiting Amelia Academy on April 22, winning 15-0. Mason led the way on offense, going 3-for-3, driving in six runs, scoring twice and slamming two round-trippers. Dustin Moon was 2-for-3, scoring twice and driving in a run.

Trent Holland was 2-for-3, scoring three runs; Christian Biernot was 2-for-2, scoring twice and driving in a trio; and starting pitcher Alex Holt went three innings, allowing four hits and striking out four.

Jake Lineberry was 2-for-3, scoring and driving in a run, and he ended the game with a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning, putting IWA up by an insurmountable 15 runs.

IWA ran its record to 15-1; Amelia dropped to 4-5.

The Chargers dropped a spot to sixth in last week’s VISAA Division II state poll. Division II is for medium-sized schools.

On April 21, IWA run-ruled Brunswick, the No. 2-ranked team in VISAA Division III, which is for small private schools. The Chargers won 12-4 in Lawrenceville.

Moon had three hits in four at-bats, and Jacob Chapman went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs.

Moon was 2-for-2 with a double, scoring twice and driving in another two runs April 19 as IWA topped Richmond Christian 15-0.

Payton Shipman was 1-for-1 but scored two runs, drove in two and stroked a double.

Mark Thompson went the distance for IWA, pitching two innings and earning the win, allowing a hit, walking two and striking out seven.

IWA’s varsity soccer team won 4-1 with two goals scored on penalty kicks by Parker Jones and Reuther Haden on April 19 against previously undefeated Greenbrier Christian Academy.

Haden also had another goal as did teammate Paul Serna Alan. Senior goalkeeper Bradley Davis had 11 saves.

IWA hosted Brunswick Academy on April 21, defeating the Vikings 3-0 at Nike Park with goals scored by Haden, senior Tyler Collie and Alan.

The Chargers are 8-0 with four games left until state tournament play begins. Only two goals have been scored on Isle of Wight this season.

The Isle of Wight Academy varsity softball team has run its record to 5-4, 4-2 in the VCC, with wins against Brunswick and Amelia.

The Lady Chargers defeated the Vikings 4-0 on April 21 and Amelia 18-0 on April 22.

IWA is ranked third in VISAA Division II behind only Nansemond-Suffolk Academy and St. Margaret’s School.

Coming up:

• Wednesday, April 27: Junior varsity softball at Southampton High School, 4:30 p.m.; varsity softball/baseball vs. Fuqua, 4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, April 28: Varsity softball/baseball vs. Kenston Forest School, 4:30 p.m.; JV softball/middle school baseball at Kenston Forest, 4:30 p.m.; varsity soccer vs. Greenbrier Christian, 4/5:30 p.m.; golf at Kenston Forest, 3 p.m.; JV baseball at Southampton Academy, 4:30 p.m.