<b>Yorktown Softball Puts Up 24</b>
Yorktown overwhelmed Falls Church 24-1 in a game played at Falls Church on April 25. Olivia Merrion was the starting and winning pitcher, with a five-inning complete game. She gave up only one hit and one run, with six strikeouts.
Yorktown pounded out 23 hits, led by Kristen Soroka, with five singles and four runs scored. Emily Panyard and Kelsey Patterson each had three hits, followed by Annie Blaine, Stehanie Severn, Caroline Clements and Katie Roberts, with two hits each. Kimmi Oldham, Laurie Pinkerton, Olivia Merrion and Sammi Dowdell also had hits for Yorktown. The team followed that up with an 18-2 win over Edison Monday afternoon.
The Patriots are now 9-4 this season with a perfect 7-0 record in district games this year. They play four games this week, including an Arlington rivalry matchup with perennial softball power O’Connell on Saturday night.
<b>Weekend Track Results</b>
Both the Yorktown and Wakefield track and field teams were on hand for this weekend’s Cassels XBC Track Experience in Chantilly this weekend and despite limited numbers — thanks to a band trip to Atlanta — each had some impressive performers.
Yorktown was led by sophomore Lena Negri’s fourth-place finish in the 400-meter dash. Junior distance runner Lindsey Hunt was also impressive, securing a fourth-place showing and a state-qualifying time in the 3200-meter run. Senior LaNia Charity also came in fifth place in the women’s discus throw.
For Wakefield, it was freshman Miriam Novotna who had a quality showing, finishing in sixth place in the long jump.
<b>Yorktown Tennis Wins Three in a Row</b>
The Patriots beat rival Washington-Lee 5-4 in a crucial National District match on Thursday, April 23. The Patriots also defeated Mt. Vernon 9-0 on Wednesday, April 22, and edged out George Mason High School 5-4 in non-district play on Friday, April 24. That winning streak brought the Patriots' overall record to 10-2 and its district record to 8-2 for the season.
Against W-L, coach Dave Barton cited junior Matt Karvelas (No.1) and freshman Aidan Papavizas (No. 5), who won both their singles and doubles matches, as key components behind Yorktown's victory. All three Yorktown doubles teams won their matches: Karvelas and Matt McDonnell at No. 1; Papavizas and Ben Martindale at No. 2; and Sky Leyden and Jonathan Ammirati at #3 doubles. The Ammirati/Leyden doubles win gave the Patriots the fifth and deciding win of the match.