Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By James J. Lidington

Isle of Wight Academy

Trevor Mason was 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a homer as the Isle of Wight Academy varsity baseball team completed the season sweep against visiting Kenston Forest School 9-1 on April 28.

Payton Shipman was 2-for-3 with five RBIs, including a homer and a triple, and scored two runs for IWA (17-1).

IWA maintained its sixth-place standing in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association’s Division II state poll, according to the most recent standings.

After this week, the Chargers have only one more regular-season game to play: May 9, a make-up game with Richmond Christian School in Chesterfield.

That week is the Virginia Colonial Conference Tournament, for which IWA is not an eligible participant by agreement when IWA joined the conference two years ago; beginning in fall 2022, IWA will be a full participant in the VCC.

Play begins in the VISAA Division II State Tournament on May 16, with a play-in game between the ninth and eighth-ranked teams. First-round games begin May 17 at the higher-ranked schools. Subsequent rounds in Divisions I-III will be played at Shepherd Stadium in Colonial Heights, with championship games scheduled for May 21. The rain date is May 22.

IWA’s Trent Holland punctuated a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate April 27 with a grand slam in the third inning as IWA defeated Fuqua School 20-5 at home.

Holland drove in seven runs on the day, scored three and walked once. He also pitched three scoreless innings, allowing four hits and four earned runs, striking out five and walking three.

Dustin Moon, Alex Holt, Shipman and Jake Lineberry had two hits each for the Chargers.

The IWA varsity softball team ran its record to 7-4 with convincing wins against visiting Kenston Forest, 16-6 on April 28, and visiting Fuqua, 15-0 on April 27.

IWA is ranked third in the latest Division II state poll. The top eight teams in each division will make the state tournament. Quarterfinal play will commence on May 17 at the home field of the higher-ranked team. 

Semifinal games will be played May 19 at the Dinwiddie Sports Complex in Sutherland. Championship games are set for May 20, with a rain date of May 21.

The IWA varsity soccer team continued its dominating ways, defeating Greenbrier Christian Academy for the second time this season, 5-0 at home on April 28.

Paul Serna led the way for Isle of Wight with two goals. Reuther Haden, Connor Lantern and Grant Liddycoat each had a goal. Bradley David was a veritable stone wall in goal for the Chargers, saving seven shots.

IWA also defeated host Brunswick Academy on April 25 by a score of 7-1. Haden led the way for Isle of Wight with four goals.

The IWA Golf Tournament will be Saturday, May 7, at 1 p.m. at the Sleepy Hole Golf Course in Suffolk.

The tournament will feature team prizes, the Red Cup Challenge, ball drop, ribs and tenderloin tips afterward.

There is a cost to participate in the tourney. All proceeds directly benefit IWA Athletics. Sign up by text, at 757-618-2447, or by email, at matt_baranak@yahoo.com. Pay the day of or at iwacademy.com/golf-tournament.

Coming up:

Monday, May 2: Varsity soccer vs. TBA at Nike Park

Tuesday, May 3: Varsity baseball and softball at Fuqua; junior varsity softball and middle school baseball vs. TBA; golf at Brunswick. 

Wednesday, May 4: Varsity soccer vs. TBA at Nike Park

Thursday, May 5: Middle school baseball/JV baseball at Norfolk Academy; varsity baseball vs. TBA; varsity softball at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy; golf at Banner Christian School; JV softball vs. TBA.

Friday, May 6: Varsity baseball at Norfolk Christian School

Saturday, May 7: Athletic Association Golf Tournament at Sleepy Hole, 1 p.m.

All events are at 4:30 p.m., unless otherwise stated.