The Hill

  To recap, the goal in the Springtime is to try my best to be there when the final game / match / meet is concluded. Adding back Girls Junior Varsity Soccer ⚽️ back this season pushed the number up to 12.

Tonight it was the final match for the Boys 👦 Varsity Soccer over at Smith River Soccer Park.

Please remember that both the Tennis teams and both Track 👣 and Field teams have forks in the road, where individuals can go down a separate path. With that said, we can get caught up.

1. Girls Junior Varsity Soccer – Brittany Kinney. Announced her final game in a driving rain 🌧.
2. Boys Junior Varsity Soccer – Jeremy Puckett. Announced his final game.
3. Alexis Dalton and her Junior Varsity Softball team. When their final game was canceled after Patrick County didn’t bring their JV team, we held a ceremony for the team at Cavalier Park.
4. Junior Varsity Baseball ⚾️ – Adam Nester. Was able to announce his NEXT to last game, the one that clinched his Three Rivers District crown 👑.
5. Varsity Softball – Rick Nester – Announced the final game of the season.
6. Girls Tennis 🎾 – Final match of the season took place after our Senior Day Ceremony.
7. Varsity Boys Soccer – Forrest Johnson – covered their Final match Wednesday night.

  Here’s what we have left – Boys Tennis and individual Tennis 🎾. Thursday at Cave Spring as a team at 2:30

  Martin McKenzie is awaiting word on his #1 Singles and #1 Doubles team qualified for Regional play.

  Girls 👧 Soccer ⚽️ – Adrienne Harris travels to William Byrd High School Thursday night at 6pm

Boys and Girls Track 👣 and Field heads to Regionals Thursday afternoon at Christiansburg High School. Brendan Farris and Corrie Delp will be heading to Lynchburg on June 6th and we find out if anyone else can join them.

The team I like to call the Burcham Bunch, Varsity Baseball ⚾️ hopes to start their Regional tournament on Friday night at Bill Worrell Field . First, they need Lord Botetourt and Cave Spring to play their #7 versus #10 game.

Tomorrow will be the final time that a number of CCHS Student Athletes compete. Some for the season and some for good.

Christiansburg High, Cave Spring and William Byrd will host a boat 🚢 load of Cavaliers tomorrow. Hopefully, we will have plenty to chase at this time tomorrow night 🌙!

Smith River Soccer Park : The scoreboard read Bassett High 4, Carroll County High 2 at the end of the 80 minutes in the Regional opener for both teams. The story must start with the fact that the Cavaliers gave Head Coach Forrest Johnson everything they had until the clock struck 0:00.

  The speed of the match was enhanced by the artificial turf and Carroll County (9-7-2) relied on their finesse against a bigger and stronger Bengals squad and when Daniel Torres Lopez found the back of the net early in the second half to tie the match 1-1, there was energy in the air.

The Cavalier defense tightened up after a tough start that allowed Bassett to net a goal before the first minute had ticked off the clock. Christian Hernandez kept the deficit at 1-0 by making a pair of point blank saves at just under 30:00 remaining. This allowed Carroll County to head into the break with the game still within reach.

DTL followed up his own shot at 37:30 remaining in the match, allowing the Cavaliers to complete a long uphill climb to tie the match at 1-1. The energy level picked up immediately for both squads. Sadly, it was only 0:48 later when Bassett reclaimed the lead.

The following 5:11 of match play will haunt Carroll County for the off season as Bassett found the back of the net three times, with the final one taking place at 31:31 remaining.

What happened over the remaining 31 plus minutes defied logic. A Senior heavy squad was suddenly down 4-1 on the road against a more physical team in a win or go home match.

Hernandez, Harper Parnell, Julian Magana, Samuel Collins, Mazen Mansour, Landon Puckett, Giovanni Lopez, Thomas Payne, Oliver Lopez and Torres – Lopez went at it with everything that they had as their High School playing careers were coming to and end.

Just under 24:00 remained when Judah Collins had a bang – bang play in front of the net and two minutes later, Oliver Lopez sent a deep shot just over the bar.

At 16:49, Magana took a pass off a corner kick and fired a great shot on goal that was turned away. Hernandez stonewalled another big shot at 15:22, keeping the dream of a comeback intact.

Magana finally found the back of the net at 6:59 after collecting a pushed ball from Lopez. Now the lead was down to 4-2 and the Cavaliers kept charging. Oliver Lopez fired from point blank range at 2:55 but once again Bassett came up with a great save. Oliver Lopez would generate another great look in the final two minutes.

Bassett High won the match and now advances to the quarterfinal round but the Bengals knew they were in a match.

Carroll County ….  0.  2   – 2

Bassett High     …. 1.  3    – 4

______________________

From the Coaches :

Assistant Coach and Head Junior Varsity Coach, Jeremy Puckett reflected on the state of the Union for the program.

” Over the last four years Carroll county soccer has seen some of the best talent to ever come through this school. Alot of these guys that played tonight are the reason.

    Most of the players leaving have been part of this program for the last 3 or 4 years. In my mind it’s hard to imagine a game without them in it. Regardless of the result tonight, there should be zero doubt that they loved playing together and spending time with each other and trying to make this program special.”

From Forrest Johnson :

” This years team was another special one. We have had many special teams over the last 4+ years. Like Coach Puckett has said, it will be tough to think of this team without the ones who have graduated these last few seasons.

    But if this season has taught this program anything, it’s that no matter what happens, we find a way to perform at a high level and we are never out of the fight. We are so thankful for our seniors, and we look forward to next seasons challenges already!

  This team/program has always proved the doubters wrong. We did it this season, and we will be back to do it again!”

Carroll County High School 🏫 is going places !

 

6:00 First Touch for the Carroll County Boys 👦 Soccer ⚽️ team.

Quick Recap of the Spring Sports :

Jeremy Puckett, Alexis Dalton, Brittany Kinney and Adam Nester have each completed their respective Junior Varsity seasons.

Varsity Softball and Head Coach Rick Nester missed out on their Regional tournament by one spot.

Martin McKenzie and his Girls Tennis 🎾 team did not qualify as a group but Coach is still hopeful that his #1 Singles player and his #1 Doubles team will play in the separate event held in conjunction with the team competition.

That leaves us six teams and the group is set to play across the next three days. Ģame #1 is today and is a stand alone contest.

Thursday is slated to see four teams in action 🎬 and Friday night will have our lone team playing on The Hill, baseball ⚾️ hosting the winner 🏆 of the 7-10 contest.

Coach Johnson is down a couple of players and has one under the weather but is ready to face the Bengals !

Quick Note 📝 – this facility is 100% Top Shelf !!!

6:41 – HALFTIME, Bengals 1, Cavaliers 0

Christian Hernandez made back to back point blank saves at 29:00 and 27:00 to keep it at 1-0 after Bassett scored in the opening minute of the match.

40:00 more minutes to play ▶️ after the 10 minute break.

Final Score – Bassett 4, Cavaliers 2.

Story to follow..

We can officially start the process of getting ready to head across Lover’s Leap and past the Wendy’s in Stuart. It’s time to go over to support the efforts of Coaches Johnson and Jeremy Puckett as they face the Bengals in a win or go home match, tonight at 6pm.

Today is the 43rd Birthday for God’s own Wingman and if you see Mr Burress today, please let him know that you appreciate him and his disposition !

Hope you and the Mrs have a great day planned out for you two and your Kiddos!

I am a better person today because I crossed paths with Kevin Burress !