Month: May 2016

Results for May 23

BASEBALL

Pulaski Co. 10 Wm.Fleming 0 – 5 inns.

Chilhowie 4 RuralRetreat 2

Blacksburg 6 Cave Spring 4

Auburn 12 Eastern Montgomery 2- 6 inns.

Galax 11 Bland Co. 1 – 5 inns.

Giles 11 Martinsville 6

Bath Co. 10 Narrows 1

Tazewell 4 Graham 3

Richlands 6 Marion 0

Abingdon 11 Patrick Co. 0 – 5inns.

Va. High 18 Grundy 1 – 5 inns.

Wm. Byrd 2 Bassett 0

SOFTBALL

Pulaski Co. 5 Salem 2

Fort Chiswell 4 Rural Retreat 3

Hidden Valley 4 Christiansburg 3 – 8 inns.

George Wythe 13 Bland Co. 0 – 5inns.

Northwood 9 Council 2

SOCCER

Radford 8 Giles 0 – girls

Glenvar 2 Floyd Co. 0- boys

James River 8 Galax 0- girls

Marion 4 Geo. Wythe 1- girls

TENNIS

Marion 5 Galax 2 – boys

Blacksburg 5 – Lord Botetourt 0 – Boys- 3A West First Round

Blacksburg 5 – Lord Botetourt 0- Girls Region Semi’s

 

Results for May 21

BASEBALL

Wm.Byrd 6 Carroll Co. 0 – Conf. 24 -First Round- ( Carroll Co. Coach Joe Tompkins to retire) Byrd to play @ Bassett Mon. 23rd.

SOCCER

Bassett 2 Pulaski Co. 0- Conf. 24 first round – girls

Carroll Co. 10 Wm.Fleming 0- Conf. 24 first round- Girls

Wm. Byrd 8 Carroll Co. 2 – Conf. 24 first round – Boys

Two Pulaski Co. Cougars make 4A West Tournament /Cougar boys tennis advances

Pulaski Co. Cougar tennis double partners Jake Clary and Bailey Hager finished as the runners up in the Conference 24 tennis tournament. They will advance to to the 4A West Tennis Tournament that will be held at Handley High School in Winchester ,Va. on Monday May 23rd at 1pm. Congrats to the doubles runners up..

The Pulaski Co. boys tennis team finished as Conference 24 runners up. They will now advance to play Thursday at Liberty University in the 4A West tournament. They will take on Liberty Christian Academy( LCA) at 4 pm.

Baseball Playoff Update

The Radford Bobcats Conf. 45 game versus Covington HS Monday May 23 at 5pm has been moved from Radford to Virginia Tech. Same Time…

Wm.Fleming at Pulaski Co. game scheduled for today ( Saturday) has been rescheduled for Monday May 23 at 5pm .

Results for Conf. 47 & 48 Group 1A West

Conf 48 – First Round

(5.) Rye Cove 5 -( 4.) Castlewood – 4 – Rye Cove plays ( 1) Eastside Tues. 5-24 Semi’s 7 pm @ Eastside

(6) Twin Springs 6 – (3) Thomas Walker 3- Twin Springs plays (2) JI Burton 5-24 Semi”s 4:30 @ Eastside

Conf. 47-First Round

(4) Northwood 12 – (5) Twin Valley 2 – Northwood plays (1) Honaker 5-24 Semi’s 4:30 @ PH-Glade Spring

(3) PH-Glade Spring 18 – (6)Hurley 0 – PH-Glade Spring plays (2) Holston 5-24 Semi’s 7 pm @ PH-Glade Spring

Tom Harding gets record win

The following appeared in the Bristol Herald Courier:

Honaker’s Harding gets record win No. 632

Tim Hayes | Bristol Herald Courier | Updated 16 hours ago

Photo courtesy Davic Crigger/BHC Sports
Photo courtesy Davic Crigger/BHC Sports

SALTVILLE, Va. – Tom Harding stood near the entrance to the dugout on Thursday afternoon and watched as sophomore pitcher Chris Marshall struck out Northwood’s Austin Frye for the final out.

Assistant coach Scotty Boyd gave Harding a pat on the back – which as always was adorned with his No. 17 jersey – and a smile soon appeared on the face of the man with the gray beard.

For the 632nd time in his career Harding was a winner and Honaker’s 3-1 victory over the Northwood Panthers was a record-setter.

Harding became the Virginia High School League’s all-time winningest baseball coach as Harding’s triumph meant he surpassed the old record of 631 established by Mack Shupe, another Southwest Virginian, who won his games at J.J. Kelly and J.I. Burton.

Photo courtesy Jeff Harding
Photo courtesy Jeff Harding

Each player on Honaker’s roster – from freshman second baseman Brett Boyd to senior outfielder Avin Parrott – lined up to hug Harding after the game.

A plaque recognizing the accomplishment and a piece of artwork his daughter Susan Harding-Cullum helped design were also presented to the 74-year-old coaching icon.

Richard M. Nixon was President, the Vietnam War was not over and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was still known as Lew Alcindor when Harding earned his first career victory at Honaker.

What if somebody would have told the skipper back in 1971 he would one day reach this monumental milestone?

“Are you kidding?” Harding said with a big smile. “I wouldn’t have believed it. It’s hard to believe now.”

Sophomore Blake Stinson was the winning pitcher and had two RBIs for Honaker on Thursday and he was glad to contribute on a day that belonged to Harding.

“Growing up I always came to Honaker baseball games and watched and after seeing all the success I always hoped that I would get to play for him,” Stinson said. “It worked out and I just feel so honored to be part of his 632nd win.”

Harding has been the one constant on the ever-changing Southwest Virginia sports landscape. How important is he to Honaker?

“He’s everything,” Avin Parrott said. “He’s a great coach, a great person and he’s a great man.”

Northwood coach Tommie Hopkins was among those impressed by what exactly 632 wins means when put in perspective.

“That is amazing,” Hopkins said. “He’s been around the game for a long time. Many years ago, I was an umpire and umpired a lot of his ballgames and he’s a fantastic guy. I have the utmost respect for him.”

Northwood principal Stan Dunham began his teaching and coaching career at Honaker in 1977 and the first person he met at the school was Harding. He paid a nice tribute to Harding over the public address system following the contest.

Three of Harding’s assistant coaches played for him in high school and his pupils have included everybody from future Super Bowl champion Heath Miller to the stars on the 2011 VHSL Group A, Division 2 state title team.

While Harding has battled some health issues over the last few years, his passion for the sport has never waned.

“Tom is the first person in a lot of players’ lives besides a parent to truly believe in you more than you believe in yourself,” said assistant coach Scotty Boyd, who played at Honaker in the mid-1990s. “That’s what makes him special. He gives everyone confidence because he truly believes you will succeed.”

As the boss received thanks from a gang of well-wishers, Harding’s team lingered on the field long after the final out had been made.

This was cause for a big celebration since the Tigers had clinched the Crooked Road Conference regular-season title and their coach had made history.

“It’s great to be a part of it,” said Honaker shortstop Hartley Hilton. “Coach Harding’s a great man and coach and will do anything in the world for us. We love playing for him.

“It’s hard to even think about that many wins. I’m glad he got the record and I’m happy for him.”

thayes@bristolnews.com | Twitter:@Hayes_BHCSports | (276) 645-2570

Results May 20

BASEBALL

Wm. Fleming @ Pulaski Co. tomorrow Sat. May 21- PPD.- Moved to Monday May 23- 5pm.

Va. High 10 Marion 0

Union 16 Ridgeview 4

Rye Cove 5 Castlewood 4

Lebanon 9 Gate City 6

Twin Springs 6 Thomas Walker 3

SOFTBALL

Carroll Co. 5 Tazewell 3- (Carroll Co 19-0)

Chilhowie 8 Galax 7 – 8 inns.

 

TENNIS

Richlands 5 Grayson Co. 4- Conf. 39 Semi’s – girls

Glenvar 5 Appomattox 1- tennis

Auburn 5 Parry McCluer 4 – girls – Conf. 45 -Semi’s

Baseball Playoffs – Schedules for Conf. 24, 38, 39,45 & 46 playoffs.

BASEBALL

Wm. Fleming at Pulaski Co.- ppd.tomorrow Saturday May 21- moved to Monday- May 23 @ 5pm ( Conf. 24)

Carroll Co. @ Wm. Byrd- Sat. May 21- (Conf. 24)

Semifinals- Monday & Tuesday- May 23 – May 24- @ Higher Seeds- Conf. 24( Bassett, Salem, Pulaski Co. Wm. Bryd, Carroll Co. Wm.Fleming)

Final- Wednesday May. 25- @ Higher Seeds

Conf. 39- Q-Finals @ Higher Seeds- Monday May 23

Conf. 39- Semi’s – Wed. 5-25- @ Tazewell ( Richlands, Tazewell, Graham, Grayson Co.,Va. High,Marion,Grundy)

Conf. 39- Final – Thurs. 5-26 – @ Tazewell

Conf. 46- Q-finals @ Higher Seeds – Monday May 23

Conf. 46- Semi’s – Wed.-5-25- @ Bland Co. Sports Complex- (Bastian) -5pm & 730 ( Fort Chiswell, Geo. Wythe, Galax, Chilhowie, Rural Retreat, Bland)

Conf. 46- Final – Thurs.- 5-26-@ Bland Co. Sports Complex -( Bastian)- 6 pm.

Conf. 45- Covington at Radford- Monday 5 pm- May be moved to Va. Tech !

Conf. 45- Semi’s- Wed. 5-25 – @ Covington ( Casey Field) -( Radford, Auburn, Bath Co. Parry McCluer, Covington,East. Mont.)

Conf. 45 – Final- Thurs. 5-26- @ Covington ( Casey Field)

Conf. 38- Mon. May 23- Martinsville @ Giles- 4:30 pm

Conf. 38- Semi’s- Wed. May 25- @ Va. Tech( Giles, Floyd Co.,Glenvar, James River, Martinville)

Conf. 38-Final- Fri. May 27- @ Va. Tech

 

Cougars lose to Salem

Salem… The Pulaski Co. Cougars lost their last regular season game to Salem 5-3. They couldn’t come up with the big hit when they needed it. They left 11 men stranded, with eight of those in the last three innings.

Senior Grant Osteen pitched a complete game for the Cougars giving up all five runs but only three of those were earned. He surrendered nine hits, walked one and struck out four.

With the game being scoreless going into the bottom of the third, Salem struck for two runs. Trevor Austin led the inning off with a sharp single, and then Brendon Carroll laid down a perfect bunt to third. He would beat the play out but Cougar third baseman threw the ball wildly for a two base error that scored Austin and Carroll winding up at third. Carroll would then score on a wild pitch. Salem would strike for three more in their half of the fourth as they collected three hits. Riley Fox’s single drove in two and Austin fielder’s choice produced another.

The Cougars (8-10-1) would score two runs in the top of the fifth when a pitch hit Dylan Danner, Tyler Waddell singled, and Jon Osteen drew a walk to load the bases. Big brother Grant then would hit a double down the left field line driving in Danner and Waddell. They would leave the bases loaded though as they couldn’t get that one more big hit. They had another chance in the sixth with one out. Braeden Blevins walked, and Danner doubled. The next two hitters would strike. A fly out to center stopped the rally, leaving two on. They would threaten again in the seventh when Grant Osten singled to lead off and Camden Underwood walked with one out. Nathanel Remington hit a single to left to load the bases. Hunter Shrewsbury would then strike out, but Kam Hall walked to make it 5-3 and the bases still loaded. This time Danner would hit a sharp grounder to third for a force out to end the game, as the Cougars would leave three more on base.

Coach Jared King said, ”We had our chances in this game. We just didn’t get the big hit when we needed it. I’m proud of how our team battled and Osteen (Grant) just battled on the mound.” Coach then added, ”We gave them a couple runs there. We had a couple mental lapses on the bases and on the infield too. When you do those things against a good club its hard to overcome. I’m proud of the kids for competing and giving us a home playoff. “

Salem got two hits apiece from Carroll, Austin and Jacob Chambers. Carroll scored twice and Fox had two RBI.

The Cougars got two hits from Grant Osteen. He scored one run and knocked in two in the loss.

Pulaski Co. will play William Fleming Saturday at home. First pitch his scheduled for 2 pm. If the game is rained out, it will be held Monday at 5 pm.

 

 

 

R H E LOB

Pulaski Co. 3 8 2 11

Salem 5 9 0 5

 

Pulaski Co. -LP- Osteen ( 3-1)

Salem – WP- Persinger