Charlottesville’s Payne signs with Eagles

After garnishing little attention over the last two years from big-time schools, Charlottesville senior Shawntae Payne is heading to a Division-I program Coppin State to continue her basketball career.  The first team all-state guard officially signs to play for the Eagles today.
“It took me a while,” Payne said.  “Throughout my career I didn’t get any looks, but after playing with my AAU team, my coach David Fowler put together a YouTube highlight tape and put it up online.  The next day 12 colleges were calling me asking where I was going.”
Payne cited her size as an issue for some schools, but was sold on Coppin State because of the program’s success and the Eagles’ willingness to get her on the court.
“I like the enviroment, the players, the coaches,” Payne said.  “Everyone is really nice there.  They stuck with me and be-lieved in me when nobody else did.”

BASEBALL: Western moves on in Region II
Western Albemarle benefited from a huge opening inning en route to an 8-5 win at Brents-ville in the Region II quarterfinals.
Peter Hurley had a big day, leading off the game with a double, part of a five-run first inning that featured a 2 RBI double by Sam Reidesel and a 2-RBI single for Wade Hughes.
Brentsville rallied and cut the Warriors’ (17-3) lead to 5-4 after four innings, but Ryan Hughes hit a bases-loaded fly ball that a Tiger outfielder dropped in the sixth inning to score Nick Kuzjak. A pitch then hit Nick Pegan, and Matt Jensen hit a sac fly to center to score two more runs and seal the victory.
Western will now travel to Potomac Falls on Wednesday in the semifinals.

SOFTBALL: Buckingham County 3, Gretna 2
Buckingham County improved its record to 14-3 and advanced to the Region B semifinals with a one-run win on Mon-day. Jessica Shumaker, Marci Christian and Daniella LeSueur each went 2 for 3 to pace the Knights.
Pitcher Libby Morris struck out five batters, and Katie Adams drove in two runs in the third inning, which proved to be enough for the win for coach Missy Shores.
The Knights will play at Page County at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.