Publications by Andy Hayes

Broad Run Named 2009 Athletic Program of the Year

We try to spread the love around when it comes to coverage, and our staff often gets into arguments about who should make All Gameday, or who should be selected to the All Star Team.

However, in a very strange twist to this column, nobody at Gameday had any issues with Broad Run being named the best again in 2009. The reason is simple–they dominated the headlines in every season, and in nearly every sport.

Fact or Fiction: Your Football Fix

Andy Hill

In a recent poll, we asked our visitors what they were looking forward to more. Their options were vacation, time at the pool, or football season. Eighty-four percent of those that voted said football was the most prominent thing on their minds.

Broad Run's Peeler Makes It Official

We have learned today that Broad Run senior tailback T.J Peeler has made a decision on the three offers he had received prior to this summer. The talented Peeler helped Broad Run storm to the Division 4 State Championship last winter, and was rewarded this past spring with offers from N.C State, Pitt and West Virginia.

Bladel Outlasts Tobin To Win Home Run Derby

The stage was set for some excitement with sluggers from all over Northern Virginia competing to be the first Derby Champion. When it was all said and done, Stone Bridge's Johnny Bladel was the only hitter left standing.

Soroka's Hit In The 11th Seals State Title

The only thing hotter than the sun at Veteran's Park on Sunday was Jenn Soroka's bat. The Spartan first baseman was less than 24 hours removed from coming through with the big hit against Orange to put Broad Run back in the title game, but as the Tunstall Trojans found out, that was just the beginning.

Lady Spartans Kings Of Region II.....Again

The Broad Run Lady Spartans knew they needed to win Saturday's Regional II championship game in order to host the first round of the state playoffs on Tuesday. They also knew that their opponent, Orange County, would bring their best game with them when they arrived.

Chantilly Gets Revenge, Downs Stone Bridge 3-2

Earlier this season, the Stone Bridge Bulldogs sent Chantilly home for their first loss of the spring, 4-2. In that game, Chantilly stranded 15 base runners, and Stone Bridge exploded for a big inning to finally pull away. On Friday night, the Chargers got some revenge when it mattered most, and advanced to the second round of the Northern Region tournament with a 3-2 victory.

Battlefield Rallies, Beats Loudoun Valley 12-7 For Title

Arguably two of the hottest teams in the Northwest Region squared off in a win-or-go-home championship tilt at Battlefield High School in Haymarket on Thursday night. Loudoun Valley had won 12 straight games after starting the season 3-7 for Head Coach Wayne Todd, and Battlefield entered the game 12-10, but having just knocked off the top-seed Osbourn Park in the semifinals.

Understanding This Lacrosse Mumbo Jumbo

When I told my baseball buddies I was broadcasting lacrosse recently, the look I got was similar to the one my son Jack gave me when his mother made him eat his vegetables at the dinner table. I'm not going to lie, one year ago I gave the same look when my colleague Derek LeComte said we needed to broadcast more lacrosse on the Gameday Radio Network.

Vikes Win On Reed's RBI Single In Ninth Inning

After more than a week of rain, the boys in green-and-gold were back on the diamond in the friendly confines of Fireman's Field. In extra innings, the Loudoun Valley Vikings defeated the Battlefield High School Bobcats in a nail biter, 2-1. The Vikings have won seven straight games improving to 10-7 and 6-5 in the Cedar Run District. The Bobcats fall to 9-9 and 7-5 in the district. This was a key district win for the Vikes, as they hit the home stretch of their regular season.

Point After: Bad Judgment by Both Umpires

Nobody wants to play a game more than the kids and the coaches, but in all of my years of playing, coaching, and watching baseball, I have never seen one played in the conditions we witnessed on Wednesday at Langley.

On Tuesday night, we televised the Langley and Thomas Jefferson Lacrosse game, and the conditions were wet and poor. But Wednesday's weather was worse. The rain was heavier, and most importantly, every baseball player's safety was put in jeopardy.

Larsen Leads Vikings to Sixth in a Row

The Loudoun Valley Vikings continued their winning ways, defeating the Robinson Rams 4-1 in a non-district game. This was the Vikings sixth straight win.

Viking's Rinek Pitches 4 Hitter Beating Eagles 4-1

The Loudoun Valley Vikings baseball team beat the Liberty Eagles 4-1 on Friday night at Purcellville’s Fireman's Field to snap a three game slide. Senior Kevin Rinek started on the hill for the Vikes throwing six complete innings. Rinek allowed only one run on four hits. Senior Daniel Burke pitched the final inning to preserve the win.

Buckley Pitches McLean Past Stone Bridge

Stone Bridge traveled to McLean on Monday night in a face-off of the first and second place teams in the Liberty District. McLean ended the night with a two game lead over Stone Bridge as they face off with Madison tomorrow night with the district lead on the line. Junior Denis Buckley pitched a complete game four hitter and struck out eight. Senior Nick Fialdini pitched a solid game for Stone Bridge, but ran out of gas in the bottom of the sixth when McLean scored three runs. Fialdini pitched 5.2 innings giving up 4 hits and striking out eight.

Mullins Fills New Football Staff At Freedom

The spring of 2009 has already been a positive one for the Freedom Eagles as they hoisted their first state championship in girls' basketball this past month. The excitement and momentum generated with Jason Eldredge's program has carried over into other sports as well, including football.