College notebook: Locals help Hofstra reach softball Super ...

BY STEVE DeSHAZO

Hofstra is headed to the NCAA softball Super Regionals for the first time, with some help from two former local standouts.
The Pride (41?13) will visit South Florida (48?11) on Friday at 7 p.m. in the opener of a best-of-three series, with the winner advancing to the Women?s World Series May 31?June 6 in Oklahoma City.
Hofstra went 3?0 at last weekend?s regional tournament in Los Angeles. Senior catcher Courtney Crews (North Stafford) went 3 for 3 in Hofstra?s opening 7?2 upset of 10th-ranked UCLA Friday. She and senior outfielder Michelle Lavagnino (Riverbend) each scored twice in the game.
Crews has started every game this season and is batting .267 with two home runs and 18 RBIs. She has been hit by 26 pitches, second-most in the nation. Lavagnino is batting .265 and is a perfect 9 for 9 in stolen base attempts.
TRACK AND FIELD
Six area track athletes have qualified for the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round May 24?26 in Jacksonville, Fla. The top 48 ranked athletes in each event qualified. Top finishers will advance to the NCAA championships June 6?9 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Clemson graduate student April Sinkler will compete in three jumping events in Jacksonville. She is seeded fourth in the women?s triple jump, 12th in the high jump and 13th in the long jump.
Other area representatives include East Carolina senior Brittany Copeland (Brooke Point) in the women?s 5,000); Indiana senior Olu Olamigoke (Mountain View) in the men?s triple jump; North Carolina junior Reynaldo Radlin (North Stafford) in the men?s 400 hurdles; George Mason junior Travaughn Baker-Johnson (Stafford) in the men?s long jump; and Virginia sophomore Thomas Porter (Mountain View) in the men?s 5,000.
Senior Dira Hansen (Culpeper) helped Christopher Newport win the women?s 1,600 relay (3:53.51) at Friday?s College of New Jersey Last Chance Meet and qualify for the NCAA Division III meet, which begins Thursday in Claremont, Calif. Hanson will also run the 800 at the meet.

BASEBALL
In his final college appearance, senior Adam Lopez (Stafford) pitched 2 relief innings to earn the victory in VMI?s 7-6 win over VCU Friday.
Junior outfielder Ryan Brown (Stafford) went 7 for 14 and scored seven runs in William & Mary?s three-game weekend series against Hofstra to finish with a .302 average and a team-high 17 stolen bases.
Senior second baseman Levi Hyams (Colonial Forge) went 3 for 4 in Georgia?s 6?4 loss to Alabama Saturday. The Bulldogs (31?24) will face Vanderbilt Tuesday night in the Southeastern Conference tournament in Hoover, Ala.
Sophomore first baseman Ryan McBroom (Courtland) had three hits, including a homer, in West Virginia?s 6?3 win over South Florida Thursday. He finished with a .302 average, six homers and a team-high 41 RBIs.

Steve DeShazo: 540/374-5443
sdeshazo@freelancestar.com

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