Byrd well-represented on All-Region, All-Blue Ridge District teams; Taylor, Mitchell-McCroskey are top district coaches
By Sports Editor Brian Hoffman
The Virginia High School League All-State sports teams were recently announced and William Byrd had three athletes recognized in Class 3. Byrd was represented in softball, baseball and boys’ soccer.
In softball, recently graduated senior Maddy Tuck was named to the All-Class 3 second team in the outfield. Tuck was a first team selection on the All-Region 3D team and was joined on the first team by Byrd teammate Haleigh Vaughan, a junior who was selected for an “at large” position. Second team all-region went to Sydney Blewett in the outfield, and Logan Pekala was Honorable Mention at second base.
Tuck was the Player-of-the-Year in the Blue Ridge District and a first team outfielder while Vaughan was first team at third base. Second team All-BRD honors went to Blewett in the outfield and Pekala at second base.
In baseball, junior James Purcell was named to the Class 3 All-State team in an “at large” position. James was a catcher for the Terriers and he’ll be playing for former Byrd player and coach Rodney Spradlin for the West team in the Commonwealth Games the weekend of July 15.
Purcell was also a first team “at large” selection on the All-Region 3D baseball team, and senior lefty Hunter Sipe was also named to the first team as a pitcher. Senior Ethan Hairston made the second team all-region at shortstop and senior Trenton Sayers was deemed Honorable Mention.
Purcell, Sipe and senior secondbaseman Matthew Scavelli all made first team on the All-Blue Ridge District team. In addition, Sipe was named BRD Pitcher-of-the-Year and Byrd coach Jason Taylor was named the BRD Coach-of-the-Year. Second team All-BRD Terriers were Sayers on the mound, Hairston as an at large, senior Ross Divers in the outfield and junior Devon Foutz at designated hitter.
In boys’ soccer senior Landon Niday was named to the Class 3 All-State second team at forward. Landon was also a first team selection in Region 3D, only at midfield. Terriers Dylan Hughes and Braden Crossan, both juniors, were named second team all-regional–Crossan as forward and Hughes on defense.
Niday, Crossan and Hughes were all named to the All-Blue Ridge District first team. Sophomore forward Dexter Gaines and freshman midfielder Ian Sigmon were selected to the all-district second team.
There were no Byrd girls on the all-state soccer team but two girls made first team All-Region 3D, junior Maddy Simmons at forward and senior Anna Milliron at midfield. Junior defender Maci Glass was an all-region second teamer.
Simmons, Milliron, Glass and senior at large selection Riley Firebaugh all made the All-Blue Ridge District first team. Junior defender Ella Ashworth and sophomore forward Addisyn St. Clair made the all-district second team.
In girls’ lacrosse two Terriers made the All-Region D second team, senior Ashlyn Stover at midfield and freshman Annika Hylton at attack. Honorable Mention went to senior Trinity Hylton and junior Oliva Hurd at midfield.
Byrd was also represented on the All-Blue Ridge District boys’ and girls’ tennis teams. Sophomore Ryan Carista was on the all-district boys’ team while senior Alexis Aquino and sophomore Makenna Jacobsen made the girls’ team. Byrd coach Kayla Mitchell-McCroskey was named the BRD girls’ Coach-of-the-Year.