UVa., JMU play to 4-4 tie
The Virginia baseball team played James Madison to a 4-4 tie Saturday night in miserable conditions at the Caravelle Resort Tournament at BB&T Field in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The final four innings were played in a steady rain, and the game was called in the top of the ninth inning because of poor field conditions.
There were only seven hits in the game, with UVa finishing with four and JMU three. Virginia committed its first three errors of the year, leading to a pair of unearned runs for JMU (0-2-1). Continue reading “UVa., JMU play to 4-4 tie” »
King’s three-run homer rallies UVa. past Coastal Carolina
The Virginia baseball team exploded for nine runs during its final four trips to the plate in a 9-3 win at Coastal Carolina Saturday afternoon in the Caravelle Resort Tournament at Watson Stadium/Vrooman Field in Conway, S.C. The overflow crowd of 1,635 was a regular-season record for Coastal.
Because of incoming inclement weather, UVa (1-1) is currently playing James Madison at BB&T Coastal Field. That game originally was scheduled for noon Sunday. Continue reading “King’s three-run homer rallies UVa. past Coastal Carolina” »
Boston College 8, JMU 5
Boston College struck for eight runs in the first four innings and repeatedly silenced any rally attempt by James Madison with five double plays while recording an 8-5 triumph in the second game of the Caravelle Resort Tournament on Saturday morning at Coastal Carolina’s Watson Stadium.
JMU fell to 0-2 to start the season while BC improved to 2-0 after winning the first meeting ever between the programs.
The Eagles took advantage of free bases early as five walks, a wild pitch, a balk and an error factored largely in BC scoring two in the first and four in the second to grab a 6-0 lead. Continue reading “Boston College 8, JMU 5” »
Coastal Carolina 7, JMU 1
Starter Tyler Herb limited James Madison to one run over seven innings and Coastal Carolina struck for six runs spanning the fifth and sixth en route to a 7-1 victory on Friday afternoon at the Caravelle Resort Tournament in the 2012 baseball opener for both teams.
JMU dropped its season opener for the seventh time in the last eight years, including the second time in the last three years starting with a loss at Coastal Carolina. Continue reading “Coastal Carolina 7, JMU 1” »
UVa. baseball drops season opener
The Virginia baseball team opened its 2012 season Friday afternoon with a 5-3 defeat against Boston College in the Caravelle Resort Tournament at Watson Stadium/Vrooman Field in Conway, S.C. BC bounced back from an early 3-0 deficit, scoring four runs in the fourth inning to take the lead for good.
UVa starting pitcher Branden Kline (Jr., Frederick, Md.) worked into the fifth inning Friday and was credited with the loss. In 4.0 innings he allowed five runs (one earned), seven hits and two walks while striking out three. Reliever Kyle Crockett (So., Poquoson, Va.) was brilliant out of the bullpen, tossing 5.0 shutout innings to keep the game in reach. Continue reading “UVa. baseball drops season opener” »
UVa. baseball opens this weekend
The Virginia baseball team starts its 2012 campaign this weekend as it travels to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to compete in the Caravelle Resort Tournament, hosted by Coastal Carolina. UVa is slated to play three games over the weekend.
Live audio of all three contests will be available through Cavaliers Live at VirginiaSports.com. GameTracker links for every Virginia baseball game also will be available throughout the season at VirginiaSports.com. Continue reading “UVa. baseball opens this weekend” »
ACC announces scheduling plans
Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford announced on Friday the future scheduling formats as approved by the ACC’s Faculty Athletic Representatives and Athletics Directors.
The announcement was made following the annual ACC Winter Meetings and will go in effect once Pittsburgh and Syracuse become playing members in the conference.
“We have been engaged in discussions on the various options for integrating Pitt and Syracuse since early fall,” said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. “It’s a tremendous tribute to the leadership at our schools that we will be able to seamlessly add Pitt and Syracuse at the appropriate time when they become full playing members.” Continue reading “ACC announces scheduling plans” »
UVa. bounces back, bests Boston College, 66-49
#21 Virginia got 18 points from Mike Scott and two big late threes from senior guard Sammy Zeglinski to pull away from pesky Boston College to post a 66-49 win Thursday night.
UVa. (16-3, 3-2 ACC) led 31-23 at the break and pushed the lead to 11 on an early second-half three by Joe Harris. BC (7-13, 2-4 ACC) rallied to tie the game at 44 on a three from the left corner by Danny Rubin with 10:29 left.
The Cavs’ vaunted defense took over from there, limiting the Eagles to just a pair of field goals over the final 10:29, the second coming in garbage time when Ryan Anderson hit a turnaround jumper from the left elbow with 26 seconds left. Continue reading “UVa. bounces back, bests Boston College, 66-49” »
UVa. women get bounceback win over BC
Behind 21 points from sophomore guard Ataira Franklin, the Virginia women’s basketball team beat Boston College 69-58 Saturday at John Paul Jones Arena. Franklin (Bowie, Md.) was one of four Cavaliers in double figures.
Virginia improved to 15-6 overall and 3-4 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Boston College fell to 5-14 and 0-6 in the league.
Junior guard Lexie Gerson (Fort Washington, Pa.) had a solid night with 13 points, eight rebounds, six steals and five assists. Junior forward Telia McCall (Marietta, Ga.) added 12 points off the bench while senior forward Chelsea Shine (Wayne, Pa.) chipped in 11 points and matched Gerson with a game-best eight boards. Continue reading “UVa. women get bounceback win over BC” »
ACC to expand hoops schedule
Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford announced today that beginning in the 2012-13 season the league will play an 18-game conference schedule in men’s and women’s basketball.
“Our member institutions have been talking about this increase for awhile and knowing our league will be expanding to 14 in the future, we’ve decided to move to an 18-game conference schedule next year, regardless of our membership number,” Swofford said. “The additional conference games create a more equitable schedule and we’ve received significant feedback from our fans for more conference games.”
Minnifield leads UVa. All-ACC selections
Five Virginia football players were named either first-or-second-team onthe All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team, announced by the leagueon Monday. Three other players were named as honorable mention selections. Thefive selections are the most first-and second-team honorees for UVa since the2004 team garnered seven accolades over the two teams. The eight overallmembers on the All-ACC team are the most by a UVa team since the 2004 team alsohad eight players represented.
Senior defensive tackle Matt Conrath, senior cornerbackChase Minnifield and senior offensive guard Austin Pasztor were named to thefirst team, the most honors UVa has earned since the 2005 team placedD’Brickashaw Ferguson, Connor Hughes and Kai Parham on the first-teamsquad. Junior offensive tackle OdayAboushi and junior linebacker Steve Greer were named to the All-ACC secondteam. Junior tailback Perry Jones,senior safety Rodney McLeod and senior center Anthony Mihota garnered honorablemention honors.
Minnifield (Lexington, Ky.) earns his second career All-ACC first-team honor,becoming the first Cavalier to win multiple first team honors in his careersince Ferguson in 2004 and 2005. Minnifield is the first UVa defensive back to have multiple All-ACCfirst team accolades since current UVa safeties coach and special teamscoordinator Anthony Poindexter earned three career nods (1997, ’98, ’99).Minnifield is No. 2 nationally among active career leaders with 13interceptions. He is a finalist for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award and asemifinalist for the Thorpe Award & Lott IMPACT Trophy. Minnifield was named the Thorpe AwardDefensive Back of the Week after helping limit then-No. 12 Georgia Tech to 24yards passing and its lowest rushing total at the time (272).
Conrath (Oak Lawn, Ill.) earns his first career All-ACCselection and becomes the first UVa defensive tackle to garner first teamhonors since Nate Collins in 2009. Conrath was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week twice, followingwins over then-No. 12 Georgia Tech and Duke. Along with Minnifield and Greer, he helped anchor a defense that is No.31 in the nation and No. 3 in the ACC, helping UVa improve from No. 78 and No.10 respectively in 2010. Conrath led UVawith three blocked field goals, all in separate games and all UVa wins. Conrath is third on the team and No. 3 in theACC among defensive linemen with 64 tackles.
Pasztor (Langton, Ontario) earns his first career All-ACC selectionand becomes the first UVa offensive guard to receive first team honors sinceBranden Albert in 2007. He has helpedUVa rush for 1,984 yards, the most by a UVa team since the 2004 season. Pasztor has allowed zero sacks and in 781offensive plays has given up only two QB hurries. He was named ACC Offensive Lineman of theWeek after grading out at 93 percent as UVa rolled up 527 yards of total offenseat Maryland.
Aboushi (Staten Island, N.Y.) earns his first career All-ACCselection and becomes the first UVa offensive tackle to be placed on eitherteam since Eugene Monroe was a first team selection in 2008. Aboushi was named ACC Offensive Lineman of theWeek following road wins at Indiana and Miami.
Greer (Solon, Ohio) earns his second career All-ACCselection after being named to the honorable mention team in 2009. Greer leadsUVa and is seventh in the ACC with 103 tackles. Greer is the first UVa linebacker to be named to either the first orsecond team since Clint Sintim also took home second team honors in 2008. Greer was named ACC Linebacker of the Weekfollowing his two sack performance at then-No. 23 Florida State and has led UVain tackles in 8-of-12 games.
Jones (Chesapeake, Va.) earns his first career All-ACCaccolade and becomes the first UVa tailback to be named to any All-ACC squadsince Cedric Peerman was also an honorable mention honoree in 2008. He is on track to become UVa’s first 1,000-yardrusher since 2004 and is No. 2 on the team with 41 receptions for 416 yards.
McLeod (Oxon Hill, Md.) earns his first career All-ACChonor. The senior was named nationaldefensive back of the week and ACC Defensive Back of the Week after grabbingthree interceptions in UVa’s road win at Maryland. The three INTs tied anational high for the season and tied a program record with eight others.
Mihota (Fredericksburg, Va.) earns his first career All-ACChonor and becomes the first UVa center since Zac Yarbrough was named to thesecond-team in 2004. Mihota was the onlycenter in the ACC to earn multiple offensive lineman of the week honors.
2011 All-ACC Teams
FIRST TEAM
Offense
QB-Tajh Boyd, Clemson (71)
RB-David Wilson, Virginia Tech (90)*
RB-Giovani Bernard, North Carolina (66)
WR-Sammy Watkins, Clemson (86)
WR-Chris Givens, Wake Forest (69)
OT-Blake DeChristopher, Virginia Tech (86)
OT-Zebrie Sanders, Florida State (46)
OG-Austin Pasztor, Virginia (49)
OG-Omoregie Uzzi, Georgia Tech (45)
C-Dalton Freeman, Clemson (44)
TE-Dwayne Allen, Clemson (78)
K-Dustin Hopkins, Florida State (75)
Spec.- T.J. Graham, NC State (45)
Defense
DE-Andre Branch, Clemson (79)
DE-Quinton Coples, North Carolina (64)
DT-Joe Vellano, Maryland (68)
DT-Matt Conrath, Virginia (55)
LB-Luke Kuechly, Boston College (90)*
LB-Sean Spence, Miami (82)
LB-Zach Brown, North Carolina (48)
CB-David Amerson, NC State (86)
CB-Chase Minnifield, Virginia (47)
S-Matt Daniels, Duke (80)
S-Josh Bush, Wake Forest (41)
P-Shawn Powell, Florida State (85)
SECOND TEAM
Offense
QB-Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech (49)
WR-Dwight Jones, North Carolina (58)
WR-Conner Vernon, Duke (34)
RB-Lamar Miller, Miami (62)
RB-Andre Ellington, Clemson (26)
OT-Oday Aboushi, Virginia (43)
OT-James Hurst, North Carolina (30)
OG-Jaymes Brooks, Virginia Tech (35)
OG-Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina (31)
OG-Joe Looney, Wake Forest (31)
C-Tyler Horn, Miami (32)
TE-George Bryan, NC State (29)
K-Chandler Catanzaro, Clemson (37)
Spec.-Sammy Watkins, Clemson (33)
Defense
DE-Brandon Jenkins, Florida State (51)
DE-James Gayle, Virginia Tech (25)
DT-Brandon Thompson, Clemson (43)
DT-Nikita Whitlock, Wake Forest (30)
LB-Terrell Manning, NC State (44)
LB-Julian Burnett, Georgia Tech (34)
LB-Steve Greer, Virginia (23)
CB-Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech (36)
CB-Kyle Fuller, Virginia Tech (34)
S-Eddie Whitley, Virginia Tech (33)
S-Lamarcus Joyner, Florida State (23)
P-Alex King, Duke (22)
Honorable Mention: Jeremiah Attaochu, lb, Georgia Tech (16); Brandan Bishop, s, NC State (19); Nigel Bradham, lb, Florida State (20); Audie Cole, lb, NC State (19); J.R. Collins, de, Virginia Tech (17); Everett Dawkins, dt, Florida State (18); Antone Exum, s, Virginia Tech (15); Demetrius Hartsfield, lb, Maryland (11); Cooper Helfet, te, Duke (25); Perry Jones, rb, Virginia (16); Cody Journell, k, Virginia Tech (10); Rodney McLeod, s, Virginia (17); Anthony Mihota, c, Virginia (21); Merrill Noel, cb, Wake Forest (30); Greg Nosal, og, Virginia Tech (10); Tydreke Powell, dt, North Carolina (17); Phillip Price, ot, Clemson (12); Greg Reid, spc., Florida State (27); Rod Sweeting, cb, Georgia Tech (13); Bruce Taylor, lb, Virginia Tech (11); T.J. Thorpe, spc., North Carolina (22); Landon Walker, ot, Clemson (29); Bjoern Werner, de, Florida State (13); Earl Wolff, s, NC State (12); Dawson Zimmerman, p, Clemson (15).
Chris Graham: My All-ACC Ballot
I have as a member of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association a vote on the All-ACC teams.
At the risk of my sanity, here’s how I filled out my ballot for the 2011 season.
Last time I posted my ballot, at the end of the 2010-2011 basketball season, I was pilloried by North Carolina fans for not voting for more of their players for the various postseason honors.
I’m sure there will be other groups of fans upset with these selections. I’m OK with that.
Here we go …
Coach of the Year: Mike London, Virginia
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Sammy Watkins, Clemson
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Merrill Noel, Wake Forest
Offensive Player of the Year: Tajh Boyd, Clemson
Defensive Player of the Year: David Amerson, N.C. State
Overall Player of the Year: Tajh Boyd, Clemson
First-Team Offense
| Pos | First Name | Last Name | School |
| WR | Sammy | Watkins | Clemson |
| WR | Chris | Givens | Wake Forest |
| OT | Oday | Aboushi | Virginia |
| OT | James | Hurst | North Carolina |
| OG | Harland | Gunn | Miami |
| OG | Austin | Pasztor | Virginia |
| C | Jay | Finch | Georgia Tech |
| TE | Dqayne | Allen | Clemson |
| RB | David | Wilson | Virginia Tech |
| RB | Giovani | Bernard | North Carolina |
| QB | Tajh | Boyd | Clemson |
| PK | Dustin | Hopkins | Florida State |
| SP | Greg | Reid | Florida State |
Second Team Offense
| WR | Dwight | Jones | North Carolina |
| WR | Conner | Vernon | Duke |
| OT | john | Wetzel | Boston College |
| OT | Blake | DeChristopher | Virginia Tech |
| OG | Omoregie | Uzzi | Georgia Tech |
| OG | Garrett | Faircloth | Florida State |
| C | Anthony | Mihota | Virginia |
| TE | Cooper | Helfet | Duke |
| RB | Lamar | Miller | Miami |
| RB | Perry | Jones | Virginia |
| QB | Tanner | Price | Wake Forest |
| PK | Chandler | Catanzaro | Clemson |
| SP | T.J. | Graham | N.C. State |
First Team Defense
| DE | Andre | Branch | Clemson |
| DE | Brandon | Jenkins | Florida State |
| DT | Joe | Vellano | Maryland |
| DT | Nikita | Whitlock | Wake Forest |
| LB | Luke | Kuechly | Boston College |
| LB | Sean | Spence | Miami |
| LB | Terrell | Manning | N.C. State |
| CB | David | Amerson | N.C. State |
| CB | Merrill | Noel | Wake Forest |
| S | Josh | Bush | Wake Forest |
| S | Eric | Franklin | Maryland |
| P | Shawn | Powell | Florida State |
Second Team Defense
| DE | Cam | johnson | Virginia |
| DE | Kareem | Martin | North Carolina |
| DT | Matt | Conrath | Virginia |
| DT | Everett | Dawkins | Florida State |
| LB | Julian | Burnett | Georgia Tech |
| LB | Jermiah | Attaochu | Georgia Tech |
| LB | Bruce | Taylor | Virginia Tech |
| CB | Chase | Minnifield | Virginia |
| CB | Jayron | Hosley | Virginia Tech |
| S | Matt | Daniels | Duke |
| S | Cyhl | Quarles | Wake Forest |
| P | Dawson | Zimmerman | Clemson |
