Sports roundup: Gap softball duo announce college choices; Wilson girls soccer takes district title; more
Gap's Alger, Talley celebrate college choices
SWOOPE — Two Buffalo Gap High School senior softball players will be headed separate ways next year to continue playing their sport in college.
On Friday afternoon in the school's auditorium, there was a celebration for Bailey Talley and Caroline Alger as they officially announced their decisions. Talley will be attending Randolph-Macon College in Ashland while Alger is going to Christopher Newport University in Newport News.
"Your unwavering work ethic and determination through years of dedication to the sport from little league to travel ball have been a driving force behind your achievements as softball players," Buffalo Gap softball coach Holly Desper told the two students.
The coach talked about Talley's resilience. The senior has been through not only some heartbreaking losses that kept both her basketball and softball teams just short of their ultimate goals, but some physical problems as well. Talley had to overcome an ACL tear in 2022 that happened late in the basketball season. That kept her out of softball that spring.
"Honestly, it's just keeping your head clear and always knowing what you want," Talley said about dealing with setbacks. "I want to get there and I'm going to try my best to get there with the help of others."
The Bison have lost in the state semifinals the past two years. They are hoping to get over the hump this year and send Talley and Alger — the only two seniors on the roster — out on a winning note.
"We've talked about how, if you're not there to win, just don't show up," Alger said. "I know I've been a person to tell players to pick it up, we're going to win, we're going to win a state championship. Everybody is coming together."
On Friday, both seniors had a chance to forget about this season just for a few moments and celebrate what the next chapter of their lives will look like.
"The second I got there it just felt like home to me," Alger said of Christopher Newport.
Christopher Newport is currently the third ranked team in Division III in the most recent NFCA poll and entered this weekend's Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference tournament as the top seed. Alger's sister, Kate, is a pitcher on the team and a former Buffalo Gap standout herself. Kate Alger is a junior.
"She's definitely the one who pushed me to go there the most," Caroline Alger said. "It means a lot to play on a team with her for a year."
Alger hopes to pitch, but she realizes that may not happen right away. If it doesn't, she'd like to play some outfield and hit next year.
As for Friday's celebration, Alger loved getting to experience the announcement with her friends and teammates.
"It means everything," she said. "It makes me really happy to see how many people came out to support me."
The Randolph-Macon coaches invited Talley for an overnight stay on campus to get to know the school and team better. That sold the Buffalo Gap senior.
"I fell in love with it," she said. "I love the atmosphere. I love the campus. Everybody is just amazing there. And, of course, Coach (Kevin) Proffitt and Coach Chip (Bailey) are just great people."
As a freshman, Talley said she expects to get some playing time, but it could be at any number of positions, wherever the team has a need.
"After that I hope to strictly catch," Talley said.
Randolph-Macon, which plays in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, is having a successful season, currently ranked 11th in the NFCA Division III poll. Talley hopes to help continue that success.
Talley will study biology with plans to be a physical therapist or athletic trainer after college.
Gap, Riverheads softball win
Shortly after their celebration, Talley, Alger and their teammates took to the field to beat Fort Defiance 7-1 in a Shenandoah District softball game Friday.
The Bison scored all of their runs in the second inning, getting home runs from Alger and Cadence Spradlin. Alger pitched a complete game two-hitter, striking out 13 in the win.
Gap has won eight of its last nine games and plays at Riverheads Monday.
Meanwhile, Riverheads won for the sixth time in seven games, beating Waynesboro 6-2 Friday. Cheyenne Bottenfield pitched a complete game, facing 31 batters and striking out seven. The Riverheads pitcher scattered nine hits in the win.
Bottenfield also went 3-for-4 with an RBI in the win. Payton Patterson and Hattie Croft both had a pair of hits for the Gladiators.
Wilson girls soccer claims district title
FISHERSVILLE — Wilson Memorial’s girls varsity soccer beat Staunton 2-0 Friday to claim the Shenandoah District regular-season title. Wilson is now 13-0-1 on the season and 11-0 in district play
Freshman Bree Kindig was the first to score for the Hornets assisted by Asia Knight right before the end of the first half. Nearing the end of the second half, Kindig sent a perfectly weighted through ball to senior Adelie Condra who found the back of the net to score the Hornets' second and final goal.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this team for how far they have come and how much they have improved in the last few months," Wilson coach Brandon Fern said. "It’s been a team effort all the way through. Our coaching staff has noticed that our decision making when we are in possession and out of possession has improved significantly and that’s what I’ve been looking to see. Really proud of our seniors for leading this team. I am incredibly thankful I have gotten a chance to work with these fantastic people.”
Fern said that Kindig deserves recognition for something she did that made a huge difference for the Hornets.
"Not only did she have a goal and an assist to win the game, but the intensity that she played defense as a center forward was on another level," the coach said. "Bree hunted down every ball that was anywhere near her when our team lost possession no matter how far she had to sprint back. It led to her winning the ball back as a forward on numerous occasions, and I absolutely love that mindset.”
Shenandoah District track
WAYNESBORO — Waynesboro's boys team and Fort Defiance's girls team won Shenandoah District title at the district's track meet Wednesday.
Fort scored 159 points on its way to the win. Mia Alexander scored 30 points and was named the overall girls MVP. Alexander won the long jump and triple jump. Other Individual district champions for Fort were Lia Herr in the 300 hurdles and Jenna Townsend in the shot put. Abby Lane was a double district champion in the 1600 and the 800. Herr and Lane each contributed over 20 points to the team effort.
Wilson Memorial's girls finished second with 133 points and Riverheads was third with 82.
On the boys side, Waynesboro won with 117 points, beating second-place Stuarts Draft (96) and third-place Riverheads (95).
Waynesboro's individual champions included Amari Carter (100 meter dash), Grayson Norris (1600), Dylan Colander (3200) and Qua'ran Patterson (110 hurdles).
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— Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Gap softball duo announce college choices; Wilson girls soccer wins district
