The Alexandria Lacrosse Club’s U11A boy’s team took home the championship for the Northern Virginia Youth Lacrosse League on June 13. The Alexandria team entered the playoff tournament as the second seed after a regular season finish of 6-0-2. Alexandria won its first two playoff games by scores of 8-3 over Vienna and 8-0 over Great Falls. In the finals, Alexandria faced the No. 1-seeded team from Manassas, which finished the regular season 8-0.
As expected, the Manassas team was the strongest team Alexandria faced all season. The Manassas players were fast, skilled, and well coached. Manassas took a 3-2 lead into halftime after scoring consecutive goals toward the end of the half. Alexandria started the second half strong by scoring two quick goals and grabbing the momentum. As the third quarter wore on, Alexandria added another goal to take a 5-3 lead, but the Manassas team was not ready to give up. Alexandria looked in trouble toward the end of the third quarter as Manassas started to win the ground balls and take control of the field. By the fourth quarter, Manassas had tied the game at 5.
But the Alexandria defense led by Austin Plaster dug in and shut down the Manassas attack. With less than two minutes to play in the game, coach Bruce McCulloch called a time-out after a Manassas penalty. Alexandria took the field with a player advantage. Timothy Saunders started the play from midfield. He quickly passed to Riley Larsen, who ran toward the goal and found Connor McCulloch on the left side of the goal. McCulloch, who had been smothered all day by the Manassas defense, was looking to shoot but found David Volz breaking free from behind the goal. McCulloch laced a pass to Volz who bounced the score in from just outside the crease to give Alexandria the 6-5 lead. With less than a minute to play, Larsen added a security goal on another feed from McCulloch to seal Alexandria’s 7-5 win. Saunders, Brody Dickson and John Colucci also scored for Alexandria on the day, while goalies West Shaw and Jack Siegel combined for nine saves.
The championship is a milestone for the Alexandria Lacrosse club. The Northern Virginia Youth Lacrosse League is the premier league in a geographic area that covers counties as far south as Spotsylvania and as far West as Loudon. The A-level league represents the highest level of play available in all Northern Virginia.
<b>Aces Snap 2-Game Losing Skid</b>
The Alexandria Aces rebounded from consecutive losses to defeat the Southern Maryland Nationals 6-5 on Monday at Mann Field. The win improved the Aces’ record to 7-10.
Alexandria produced the winning run with a two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth. With two down and nobody on, Nick Allen (George Mason) singled and David Wood (Elon) reached base on an error. Ran Ravnaas (Georgetown) followed with an RBI single, scoring Allen for a 6-5 lead.
Chris McNulty (Penn) picked up the win in relief for Alexandria. The left-hander allowed two hits and one earned run in 2 1/3 innings while striking out two. Kyle Wigmore (High Point) earned the save, pitching two hitless innings.
Through 17 games, Ravnaas leads the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League with 12 RBIs and is tied for the league lead with two home runs. Alexandria’s Will Davis (Penn) is fourth in the league with a .371 batting average. Allen is seventh at .349.
On the mound, Alexandria’s Max Knowles (North Carolina Wesleyan) leads the league with 23 strikeouts and is tied for the lead with three wins. The left-hander is 3-1 with a 1.45 ERA in four starts. He’s allowed 20 hits and seven walks in 31 innings.
Kyle Zimmer (San Francisco) is fourth the league in ERA at 0.66.
Alexandria hosts the Bethesda Big Train at 7 p.m. June 24.
<b>Mark Vincent Basketball Camp</b>
The Mark Vincent basketball camp will be held at Walt Whitman Middle School. First session will be held from July 12-16. Second session will be held from July 19-23. 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 welcomed to attend.
For information regarding summer basketball camp, e-mail at markvincentbasketballcamps@gmail.com
<b>Youth Coaches Needed</b>
The Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities is seeking volunteers to coach youth track and field, football, tennis, swimming and rugby. Criminal history background checks are required. Interested persons should call the youth sports office at 703-746-5402-4345 or e-mail mac.slover@alexandriava.gov.
<b>Wahoos Swim Team</b>
The Wahoos Swim Team Program offers youth ages 6-18 of all abilities the opportunity to develop their own potential. The Wahoos swim program will promote individual achievement and team camaraderie in an atmosphere of friendly competition. Developing and experienced swimmers alike can refine their freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly, turns and starts with an experienced coaching staff. Swim meets are scheduled every Saturday morning from mid-June through early August. Practices for the participants are held beginning June 1 until the Alexandria City Schools are out for the summer break at Chinquapin Center from 5:15 - 6:15 p.m. Monday-Friday. Beginning June 28, the participants will have the option of practicing at Chinquapin Center from 7:15-9:15 a.m. or in the afternoons at Old Town Pool from 5:15 - 6:15 p.m. The cost for the program for City residents are $125 for the first child and $100 for each additional swimmer. The non-resident fees are $150 for the first child and $125 for each additional child. Swimmers must be able to swim 25 meters continuously. For more information on the clinics or the summer basketball league, call the sports office at 703-746-5402 or visit the youth sports website at www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.
<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>National Junior Tennis League</b>
The Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities is accepting registrations for the National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) for boys and girls ages 8-16. The program will run June 28 through July 27 at the tennis courts at George Washington Middle School, Patrick Henry Recreation Center and George Mason Elementary School. Participants will learn the fundamentals of tennis in a fun and exciting environment. Participants will meet new friends, expand their minds and get important exercise. Registration fee is $25 per child. 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.
<b>House of Hoops Basketball Camp</b>
The House of Hoops Basketball Camps offers basketball fundamental-centered camps for children between the ages of 7-14 years old. All of The House of Hoops coaches have playing and/or coaching experience on higher levels of basketball ranging from high school to the NBA.
The camp will run 9 a.m.-4 p.m., June 28-July 2 and July 6-July 9. The cost is $160 per child. 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.