Baseball's Elite Eight Dwindles to Final Four

ALEXANDRIA, VA. –  On the local high school front, the Baseball Elite Eight has been dwindled to the Final Four in the Northern Region as: Lake Braddock defeated Washington-Lee 11-0*, Madison defeated Centreville 4-2*, West Springfield defeated Fairfax 7-6 (nine innings) and W.T. Woodson defeated McLean 13-11 (nine innings) - on Memorial Day action. (* denotes regulation seven innings).
 
Alexandria public school T.C. Williams did not qualify for this year's Tournament out of the Patriot District.

In addition, the Softball Elite Eight has also been dwindled to the Final Four in the Northern Region as: South County defeated Stone Bridge 3-0*, Madison defeated Centreville 3-0*, G.C. Marshall defeated W.T. Woodson 2-1* and McLean defeated Westfield 5-4* ( * - all regulation seven innings). (Alexandria public school T.C. Williams did not qualify for this years Tournament).

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On the college scene, in the prestigious Division One Men's Lacrosse Tournament - Duke University won their first ever National Title by defeating the University of Virginia 14-13 in the semi-finals (May 29th) and then edging the University of Notre Dame 6-5 (OT) (May 31st).

Both games were played at M@T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Md.

Duke finished the season 16-4 overall, whereas upstart Notre Dame finished the season 10-7 overall.

In both the semi-finals and the Title contest, Duke scored the final goal to edge the Cavaliers (16-2 overall) as well as the Irish.

It was Dukes first ever lacrosse title and is interestingly the alma mater of www.localkicks.com CEO Mr. John Arundel.

Though none of the Final Four participants were from Alexandria, six Blue Devils were from either Virginia or Maryland: senior midfielder Steve Schoeffel (Charlottesville), junior defenseman Joe Tkac (Gaithersburg, Md.), junior midfielder Brandon Allen (Bethesda, Md.), senior defenseman Tom Clute (Potomac, Md.), freshman attack Josh Offit (Bethesda, Md.) and sophomore attack Stephen Coyle (Kensington, Md.).

In addition, 13 Fighting Irish were from either Virginia or Maryland: freshman defenseman Matt Miller (Warrenton), sophomore midfielder Max Pfeifer (Crozet), junior long stick midfielder Andrew Irving (McLean), freshman goalie John Kemp (Potomac, Md.), junior midfielder Billy Maloney (Bethesda, Md.), senior midfielder Grant Krebs (Annapolis, Md.), junior midfielder Patrick Maloney (Bethesda, Md.), freshman midfielder Tyler Kimball (Phoenix, Md.), freshman midfielder Pat Cotter (Olney, Md.), sophomore midfielder Eric Keppeler (Baldwin, Md.), senior defenseman Chip Lanser (Parkton, Md.), sophomore defenseman Jake Brems (Kensington, Md.), freshman attack Andy Will (Olney, Md.) and junior defenseman Kevin Ridgway (Kensington, Md.).

Virginia, which dropped the semi-final to Duke, by the aforementioned 14-13 score was represented by 11 players from either Virginia or Maryland: senior midfielder Mikey Thompson (Richmond), freshman defenseman Howie Long (Ivy), sophomore attack Matt Kugler (Fairfax Station), senior goalie Will Bolton (Charlottesville), junior midfielder Chris Clements (Baltimore, Md.), freshman defenseman Harry Prevas (Towson, Md.), sophomore attack Steele Stanwick (Baltimore, Md.), senior midfielder Kevin Carroll (Towson, Md.), freshman defenseman Chris Landon (Chevy Chase, Md.), freshman defenseman Bray Malphrus (Chevy Chase, Md.) and senior midfielder Brian Carroll (Towson, Md.).

In addition, Cornell dropped a 12-7 contest to Notre Dame in the other semi-final of May 29th and the Big Red had five players from either Virginia, Washington D.C. or Maryland: senior long stick midfielder Pierce Derkac (Keswick), junior defenseman Max Feely (Washington, D.C.), junior midfielder Jack Dudley (Baltimore, Md.), senior midfielder Austin Boykin (Lutherville, Md.) and senior defenseman Courtney Baker (Bethesda, Md.).

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On the professional baseball scene, the Washington Nationals currently weigh-in at .500 overall (26-26) following a Memorial Day 14-4 victory versus the Houston Astros in the Lone Star State.

The Nats are tied with the Florida Marlins for fourth-place in the very competitive National League East standings. (The only Division in Baseball in which all the teams are .500 or better).

The red-hot Atlanta Braves currently lead the NL East with a record of 29-22 (having won eight of their past 10). The Philadelphia Phillies are in second with a record of 28-22 (having only won three of their past 10) and the New York Mets are currently in third with a record of 26-25 (having won seven of their past 10).

After playing June 1, 2 and 3 on the road versus Houston, the Nats will return to D.C. and will host the Cincinnati Reds (June 4, 5 and 6) as well as host the Pittsburg Pirates (June 8, 9 and 10).