RCHS spring sports
The first day of the flowering season saw spring sports action at Rapp, with Varsity Boys and Girls Soccer along with Varsity Baseball all getting in games.
Varsity Softball takes the lead story this week on the strength of their season opening win last Saturday at home over George Mason. Bolstered by the no-hit pitching of freshman Aby McClary. the Panthers showed some offensive prowess en route to an 11–1 victory over the 3A Mustangs. McClary finished the day with ten strikeouts (Ks in the parlance of the game) with just one walk to keep the Mustangs corralled
the Panther prowled the base paths all the way to the win. Softball has struggled at Rapp in the past few years but the program’s fortunes may be looking up and hopes are high that last Saturday’s victory is but the first sign of a Rapp resurgence.
Over on the baseball diamond the hardballers also took on George Mason last Saturday but the results were not quite so thrilling. The Panthers did put up three runs in the outing but gave up far more to drop their home opener against the Mustangs. Coach Mike Atkins has the largest team in recent years and, while he is still searching for the winning combination, fans are unlikely to be disappointed by the hustle and grit that our baseball Panthers will be showing.
Over on the pitch both boys and girls varsity soccer scratched out 3-3 ties with local opponent Luray High School in their only pre-season scrimmage.
On Wednesday Coach Cecil Beeler’s boys’ squad took on conference opponent Northumberland, results again too late for this article, and they travel to William Monroe on Tuesday March 28 and then to Madison on Friday March 31.
Coach Rich Hogan’s Varsity Girls’ Squad return to the home pitch next Tuesday March 28 to take on the Dragons of William Monroe and then follow that with another home match on Friday March 31 when they take on Madison County’s Mountaineers. JV Girls’ Coach Cindy White, returning to the Panther’s coaching fold after an absence of a few years, will be assisting Coach Hogan with varsity duties and leading her own team in a schedule that matches varsity.
On the Junior Panther pitch Coach Seth Wyatt returns for his fourth year and has his teams’ sights set on
another Valley Middle School Conference trophy.
Varsity Track, led by Head Coach Scott Stephens and assisted by Coaches Kenny Burt and James Sharpe, has Invitationals coming up Saturday April 1 at Strasburg and then Saturday April 8 at Page County, where players will have the chance to post district, conference, region, or even state qualifying performances. Coach Stephens has another large and talented team this year and looks to continue his fifteen plus year streak of qualifying Rapp Track Athletes for the State Championship Meet.