Notebook: Atlantic Shores starts hot in baseball

A year after stumbling out of the gates, Atlantic Shores has hit its stride early this season.

The Seahawks improved to 6-0 with a victory over Isle of Wight on Monday.

“A few transfers have filled in some gaps, and we’re swinging the bats real well,” said coach Joe Agreste, whose team began 1-4 last season. “This year our approach is a little bit more aggressive.”

Transfers have boosted Atlantic Shores’ lineup and pitching staff. Trent Ehret, an outfielder/pitcher who transferred from Hickory, headed into this week batting .470; Zach Mayer, who played previously at Kempsville, is the Seahawks’ starting at shortstop.

Two players who transferred from Greenbrier Christian last season – Michael Johnson and Josh Healey – also are playing key roles.

Johnson, headed to Longwood, won his first three starts on the mound and headed into the week with a .692 batting average. Healey, who has signed with Liberty, threw four hitless innings and struck out 12 in his first start.

“Last year we didn’t have depth at pitching,” Agreste said. “This year we can go to the bullpen and get some productivity there.”

Tennis

Eighth-grader Zapatero gives Cape Henry a boost

The rich keep getting richer at Cape Henry Collegiate, where eighth-grader Zack Zapatero has given the Dolphins yet another stud for what was already the top team in South Hampton Roads.

Despite the presence of stars Tanner Baine and Eric Smith, Zapatero battled his way to the Dolphins’ No. 1 singles slot. At least Baine could relate – he played No. 1 for Cape Henry as an eighth-grader last year.

Last weekend, Zapatero, who trains at the Davidson Tennis Academy, placed third in the USTA Mid-Atlantic 14-and-under L-1 Championships, one of the Grand Slams of region tennis. The performance boosted his Mid-Atlantic ranking from 14th to sixth.

Two other Davidson Tennis Academy prodigies, Shannon Hudson and Olivia Large, also excelled at the L1 championships. Hudson won the girls 14s title, with Large coming in fourth.

Princess Anne and Cox set to clash next week

A shakeup in the Beach District boys tennis standings could be in store next Tuesday , when preseason favorite Cox and surprising Princess Anne resumed their rain-delayed match. The teams were deadlocked at two matches apiece when play was halted.

“I knew Princess Anne was good, but they’re even better than I thought,” Cox coach George Schwenk said. “We could lose this.”

Cox played without No. 1 Ian Fraser, who was suspended for unspecified reasons. Fraser also sat out Cox’s 7-2 loss to Cape Henry on Monday.

Girls basketball StoneBridge’s Unsworth named state’s top player

StoneBridge’s Caitlyn Unsworth, who led the Cavaliers to a private-school state championship, has been named Division III state player of the year.

Unsworth was joined on the all-state first team by StoneBridge’s Ashlea Foster, Carlisle’s Jelena Ciric and Shantya Hairston, Amelia Academy’s Jasmine Spence and Tandem Friends’ Kai Washington.

Norfolk Collegiate’s Markell Smith was named first team all-state in Division I. The other first-teamers were Trinity Episcopal’s Jillian Brown, St. Anne’s-Belfield’s Sarah Imovbioh, Bishop O’Connell’s Kelly Horvath and Paul VI’s Blair Koniszewski. Liberty Christian’s Jelena Antic was named Division I state player of the year.

In Division II, Norfolk Christian’s Galaisha Goodhope and Latric Hunter were first-team selections, joining Eastern Mennonite’s Katy Bergey, Covenant’s Ellen Smethurst and Virginia Episcopal’s Jessica Watkins. Hampton Roads Academy’s Adrienne Motley was the Division II state player of the year.

Girls soccer

Norfolk Academy ranked No. 2 in first Division I poll

Norfolk Academy, Bishop Sullivan and Norfolk Collegiate landed in the top five of the Virginia Independent Schools’ first Division I poll of the season.

The top five: 1. Collegiate (Richmond); 2. Norfolk Academy; 3. Bishop Sullivan; 4. Trinity Episcopal; 5. Norfolk Collegiate.

The top five in the Division II poll: 1. Covenant; 2. Eastern Mennonite; 3. North Cross; 4. Norfolk Christian; 5. Richmond Christian.

– Paul White and Jami Frankenberry