By James J. Lidington

Isle of Wight Academy

 

Eleven Isle of Wight Academy student-athletes signed letters of intent to play college sports in a Monday morning, April 11, ceremony in Jester Gymnasium.

The school’s student body, as well as parents, administrators and coaches, were on hand to celebrate the students’ moving on to play collegiate athletics, as well as IWA’s largest-ever signing ceremony.

The athletes, along with remarks by their coaches, are as follows:

• Abigail Byrum, softball, Bridgewater College

“She’s a great girl to be around, and I’m so glad I got the opportunity to coach her,” IWA Softball Head Coach Jill Edwards said.

• Andrea Savage, softball, Bridgewater College

“Third base is a tough corner to play, and Andrea is a ‘Savage’ at it,” Edwards said.

• Tyler Ricks, football, Ferrum College

“Tyler was a tremendous asset to the football program, and his ability to adapt to new challenges here will always be appreciated,” IWA Athletic Director and Football Head Coach Dale Chapman said.

• Dustin Moon, baseball, Camp Community College
• Christian Biernot, baseball, Camp Community College
• Trent Holland, baseball, Camp Community College

“We’re very excited to keep these three quality student-athletes close to home,” Camp Baseball Head Coach Daniel Rollins said.

• Trevor Mason, baseball, Hampden-Sydney College
• James Thompson, baseball, Bluefield College

“It’s an exciting day because these players’ dreams are coming true,” IWA Baseball Head Coach David Mitchell said.

• Kody Kosiorek, football/baseball, Bridgewater College

“He was a tough guy for us and played hard defense,” Chapman said.

• Hannah Willman, golf, Christopher Newport University

“She was and is self-motivated to do better every time, and she has the ability to do it,” IWA Golf Head Coach Gene Milburn.

• Brianna Digby, swimming, Emory & Henry College

“To succeed at the college level, athletes should have honesty, curiosity and commitment. Bri has all three,” IWA Swimming Head Coach Kristian Ramkvist said.

In recent games:

Mason drove in three runs and went 2-for-4 with a home run as the Chargers varsity baseball team topped Southampton Academy 15-0 in six innings in Courtland on April 8.

Mason and Payton Shipman homered for the Chargers, who rapped out 17 hits against the Raiders. Biernot, Jacob Chapman and Thompson each contributed three knocks for the Chargers.

Jake Lineberry earned the win for IWA on the mound, pitching two scoreless and hitless innings in relief of starter Zach Rusinak, who allowed only two hits in four frames.

The win raised the Chargers’ record to 8-0. They are ranked fifth in the inaugural Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II State Poll.

Mason and Chapman homered as Isle of Wight Academy handled visiting Brunswick Academy 18-3 on April 5.

Chapman’s round-tripper was the first of his career. He finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs and scored once. His towering fly ball to center field appeared headed for a defender’s glove, but the Brunswick player jumped to make the catch, falling over the outfield fence and landing out of play.

Chapman rounded first and stopped momentarily as the officiating crew initially signaled out before ultimately ruling his big fly a home run. Chapman sprinted around the bases to find a throng of teammates gathered to help him celebrate.

Kody Kosiorek was 3-for-3 with four RBIs and scored two runs. Shipman was 3-for-3, driving in and scoring three times.

Shipman and Biernot tied with six total bases in the contest. Holland pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win.

The Chargers recorded 12 hits in defeating host Kenston Forest School 9-2 on March 29.

Jackson Cofer was a perfect 4-for-4 against the Kavaliers, driving in a run. Moon, Holland and Biernot each had two hits for IWA.

Lineberry collected the win in relief, pitching 1 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and a run, walking two and striking out another.

Isle of Wight hosted The Hill School of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, on March 28, defeating the Blues 20-10 in six innings.

IWA jumped out to a 6-0 lead against the visitors in the bottom of the first. Holland homered with a man aboard and no outs, and Thompson doubled on a liner to center, scoring two runs. Lineberry drove in a run, and Moon plated Cofer with a sacrifice fly with one out.

Though the Chargers were ahead 9-0 after two innings, the Blues were not to go quietly. They scored 10 runs over the next three frames to take a 10-9 lead to the bottom of the fifth inning.

After a pair of walks, a wild pitch and a hit batter, IWA had the bases loaded with none out.

Holland was hit in his at-bat, plating a run to tie the score at 10. Mason followed and was also plunked, scoring another run. Shipman followed suit to make the score 12-10, and Rusinak walked in another run to make it 13-10.

Thompson earned the win in relief for IWA, pitching an inning, allowing two hits and walking one.

 

The IWA varsity soccer team defeated Blessed Sacrament Huguenot School 2-0 on April 6 and dropped Fuqua School 7-0 on March 30.

IWA’s varsity softball team walloped Southampton Academy 8-0 on April 5 but succumbed to Brunswick 7-3 the next day. The Lady Chargers fell 3-0 to Kenston Forest on March 29 and 1-0 to Hickory High School on March 16.

Coming up:

• Wednesday, April 13: Varsity baseball at Broadwater Academy, 4:30 p.m.; middle school baseball vs. Broadwater Academy, 4:30 p.m.; varsity soccer at Kenston Forest School, 4:30 p.m.; golf at Christchurch School, 4 p.m.
• Thursday, April 14: Varsity baseball vs. Blessed Sacrament Huguenot School, 4:30 p.m.