Brinson Paolini, a 19-year-old player from Virginia Beach won his third straight Virginia amateur golf championship at Belle Haven Country Club on July 3. The rising sophomore at Duke won the 36-hole title match on the last hole, 1-up over Mike Kirby, 25, of Falls Church.
Paolini became the first player in the 97-year history of the tournament to three-peat as champion. Even the likes of Curtis Strange, Lanny Wadkins, and the great Vinny Giles can’t boast of winning three in a row.
"So many great players have come through Virginia," Paolini said afterward. "I feel very blessed be able to do what I did today."
The back-and-forth match came down to the final hole, with Paolini 1-up. Both players hit their approaches into greenside bunkers, but each left his sand shot about three feet from the cup. Slightly away, Paolini calmly sank his, and Kirby could only pick up his coin.
In addition to his three amateur titles, Paolini also won the 2007 Virginia junior championship. This past spring, the ACC named Paolini the conference Freshman of the Year.
— Michael K. Bohn
<b>Aces Drop Six Straight</b>
The Alexandria Aces dropped six consecutive games during a nine-day span, including a 7-0 loss to Silver Spring-Takoma on July 5. The losing streak dropped the Aces into last place in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League at 9-17.
Despite the team’s struggles, the Aces lead the league in four individual categories. Nick Allen leads the league in batting average at .373. The George Mason sophomore has 25 hits in 67 at bats.
Will Davis is atop the RBI leaderboard with 18. The Pennsylvania senior recorded four in a June 27 game against the Baltimore Redbirds. Left-handed pitcher Max Knowles, the only three-year member of the Aces, leads the league with four wins and 38 strikeouts. The North Carolina Wesleyan senior has allowed fewer than two earned runs in four of his six starts.
Alexandria travels to face Rockville at 7 p.m. July 9. The Aces host Youse’s Orioles at 7 p.m. July 10.
<b>Running Club on Sundays</b>
The Mount Vernon Milers running club meets at 8 a.m. on Sundays. The group usually meets along the Potomac River, but the exact location is listed in an e-mail sent every Wednesday for the coming week. Distances vary but runners can expect between four and eight miles.
To join the Mount Vernon Milers, send Lee Britton an e-mail at lbritton7@yahoo.com to be put on the e-mail list.
<b>Summer Basketball Camp at Whitman MS</b>
The Mark Vincent Annual Summer Basketball Camp will be held at Walt Whitman Middle School. The camp session will be held from July 19-23. Camp tuition is $200 per camper. Camp hours are from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. each day except on the last day; it will end at noon. Boys and girls ages 7-15 are welcome to attend. Boys and girls campers will be grouped in separate gyms. Campers will also be grouped by age, size and skill level. There will a 10-1 camper to coach ratio. The camps are instructional and skill based. The camp features include local college coaches or players as guest speakers, camp shirts, written evaluations, lectures and demonstrations of offensive and defensive strategies, daily competition and awards, 3 on 3, and 5 on 5 league play. Lastly, concessions will be sold daily throughout the day. Pizza will also be sold during lunch time. Campers will be responsible for their own lunch if they don’t order pizza. Staff members will consist of local high school coaches and players.
Contact markvincentbasketballcamps@gmail.com for more information.
<b>Alexandria Titans Youth Tackle Football</b>
The Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities; Centers, Playgrounds and Youth Sports Division is accepting registrations for the Alexandria Titans Youth Tackle Football program. Teams are formed in the following weight divisions and participate in the Fairfax County Youth Football League: Anklebiters, 75 lbs, 85 lbs, 95 lbs, 110 lbs, 125 lbs, and 150 lbs. Participants will be weighed and assigned to teams according to their weight and age. This program is for participants ages 7-16. Registration fee is $25. All participants must have a Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Identification Card upon registration. For more information, call the Sports Office at 703-746-5402 or go on the Youth Sports website at www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.
<b>Youth Basketball Fundamental School</b>
The Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities is now accepting registrations for the Youth Basketball Fundamentals School for boys and girls ages 5-12. The school will run on Saturday's from July 10-31 at George Washington Middle School located at 1001 Mt. Vernon Avenue. Participants will learn the fundamentals of ball handling, shooting, passing, dribbling and rebounding. Registration fee is $40 per child. Register early: deadline is June 30 or as soon as sessions are filled. For more information, contact the youth sports office at 703-746-5402 or go on the youth sports website at www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.
<b>Washington Mystics Fundamental Camp</b>
The Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities conjunction with the WNBA Washington Mystics is accepting registrations for the Mystics Summer Basketball Camp for boys and girls ages 7-16 year old. The camp will run July 12-16 at the William Ramsay Recreation Center, 5650 Sanger Avenue. Participants will receive professional instruction emphasizing the proper technique of individual skills and development of fundamentals. Campers will receive a camp t-shirt, camp photo, drawstring backpack, certificate of appreciation and much more. The registration fee is $210 per child. Register early, the deadline is soon or as soon as the camp capacity if filled. For more information, contact the class program office at 703-5414 or the sports office at 703-746-5402 or go on the recreation department website at www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.