Eventually, the weather will change for the better this spring and being outdoors will bring consistently sunny and comfortable temperatures instead of the cool and rainy scene we seem to so often endure in Northern Virginia at this time of the year.
When it does make that turn for the better outside, local sports fans will still have a good six weeks or so to trot out to their local high schools to enjoy any number of athletic events.
One of the area's highlight track and field events, participated in by many of our local schools, is the annual T.C. Williams Track and Field Invitational, held on the Alexandria school's beautiful state-of-the-art athletic facility. Some of the metropolitan area's top high school athletes will be on hand for the late season, postseason tune-up event scheduled for May 7.
The annual showcase meet is nearly 30 years old and draws teams from all over the local area and beyond.
Other high school springtime sports held during the final months of the school year include baseball, girls' softball, and boys' and girls' lacrosse, soccer, and tennis.
At Langley High the Saxons sport big time winners on both of their lacrosse teams. The Langley boys are two-time defending state champions while the Langley girls qualified for the state AAA tournament last spring. The Saxon boys, under head coach Earl Brewer, have an upcoming home game on Thursday evening, April 14 at 7:15 against Liberty District foe South Lakes. The visiting Seahawks, who qualified for the Northern Region tournament for the first time ever last year, have one of the better up-and-coming programs around. Langley and Robinson Secondary girls' lacrosse fans will have a chance to watch the two talented region squads compete in a non-district meeting on Tuesday evening, April 26 at 7:15 in Great Falls.
<b>FOR THOSE</b> who love some highly competitive high school baseball, several upcoming ball games involving some of the region's top outfits will be taking place in the weeks ahead. The Lake Braddock Bruins, always one of the top tier region teams, will play at Patriot District rival and defending state AAA champion West Springfield on Friday, April 15 at 6:30. And for a fun rivalry meeting, Concorde District teams Westfield and visiting Centreville will meet on the diamond later this month on Friday, April 29.
Girls' softball is one of the most riveting, passionate sports that take place during the school year. There are so many high quality teams across the region, all of whom play quality ball with fire and a heart-felt enthusiasm. The drama intensifies for the postseason. Top, upcoming late season regularly scheduled games include an improved Herndon High team, looking to qualify for the region playoffs for the first time in four years, playing Concorde games versus host Chantilly on Tuesday, April 26 and at home versus the talented Cougars of Oakton on Friday, April 29.
IN LIBERTY DISTRICT action, McLean, the defending state AAA champions, will be at home versus arch rival Madison, the defending district and region champion, for a late season softball contest on Tuesday, May 3. The two locals met in both last year's district and region finals.
The high school soccer seasons are warming up as well. The Chantilly High girls team, just two seasons removed from its 2009 region title, has upcoming road games at respected opponents Lake Braddock on Monday, April 11 and cross-town rival Westfield High on Thursday, April 28. One of the top cross-town rivals anywhere is in the McLean-area where boys' teams McLean and Langley will be prepping for region title runs when they meet on Tuesday, May 3 at McLean High School in a late-season affair. The two squads met in last year's Liberty District title game with the Highlanders coming out victorious.
On the tennis courts, there will be lots of winners scored when the South County girls play a 4 p.m. match at home versus the Lee High Lancers on Thursday, April 28. Or check out the Fairfax boys in a Liberty District home match against the Bulldogs of Stone Bridge High on Monday, April 25 at 3:30.
Anywhere you look around the region at this time of year, the high school sports action is at a fever pitch. Come on out and cheer on your favorite teams competing in any of these sports.