VHSL releases master football schedule

Every local team except James Wood will play one night Thursday night game this season as part of the Virginia High School League master football schedule released Thursday.

This is the second year of a two-year scheduling cycle, so the opponents are the same as last year. The difference is that teams will play at the opposite site of where they played each other last year. Clarke County and Handley will only have four home games each after playing six last year.

Millbrook and Clarke County will each open their seasons on Thursday, Aug. 29. The Pioneers will host Harrisonburg and Clarke County will travel to Rock Ridge, with both games at 7 p.m. The other Thursday night games involve Handley traveling to Harrisonburg at 7 p.m. on Sept. 5 and Sherando hosting Fauquier at 6 p.m. on Sept. 19. The Judges will have a quick turnaround for the Blue Streaks game since they open with Musselman (W.Va.) on Saturday, Aug. 31.

The following are the complete schedules for each area team:

Clarke County: Aug. 29 at Rock Ridge, 7 p.m.; Sept. 6 at King William, 7 p.m.; Sept. 13 vs. Buffalo Gap, 7 p.m.; Sept. 20 at Warren County, 7 p.m.; Sept. 27 off week; Oct. 4 vs Catoctin (Md.), 7 p.m.; Oct. 11 at Central, 7 p.m.; Oct. 18 at Page County, 7 p.m.; Oct. 25 vs. Strasburg, 7 p.m.; Nov. 1 vs Luray, 7 p.m.; Nov. 8 at Madison County, 7 p.m.

Handley: Aug. 31 vs Musselman (W.Va.), 1 p.m.; Sept. 5 at Harrisonburg, 7 p.m.; Sept. 13 at Kettle Run, 7 p.m.; Sept. 20 at Brentsville, 7 p.m.; Sept. 28 vs. James Wood, 1 p.m.; Oct. 4 off week; Oct. 11 at Fauquier, 7 p.m.; Oct. 18 at Warren County, 7 p.m.; Oct. 26 vs. Liberty, 1 p.m.; Nov. 1 at Millbrook, 7 p.m.; Nov. 9 vs. Sherando, 1 p.m.

James Wood: Aug. 30 at Warren County, 7 p.m.; Sept. 6 vs. Brentsville, 7 p.m.; Sept. 13 at Skyline, 7 p.m.; Sept. 20 vs. Kettle Run, 7 p.m.; Sept. 28 at Handley, 1 p.m.; Oct. 4 at Meridian, 7 p.m.; Oct. 11 at Sherando, 7 p.m.; Oct. 18 vs. Fauquier, 7 p.m.; Oct. 25 off week; Nov. 1 vs. Liberty, 7 p.m.; Nov. 8 vs. Millbrook, 7 p.m.

Millbrook: Aug. 29 vs. Harrisonburg, 7 p.m.; Sept. 6 vs. Warren County, 7 p.m.; Sept. 13 at Brentsville, 7 p.m.; Sept. 20 at Skyline, 7 p.m.; Sept. 27 off week; Oct. 4 vs. Kettle Run, 7 p.m.; Oct. 11 vs. Liberty, 7 p.m.; Oct. 18 at Jefferson (W.Va.), 7 p.m.; Oct. 25 at Sherando, 7 p.m.; Nov. 1 vs. Handley, 7 p.m.; Nov. 8 at James Wood, 7 p.m.

Sherando: Aug. 30 at Brentsville, 7 p.m.; Sept. 6 at Jefferson (W.Va.), 7 p.m.; Sept. 13 vs. Lightridge, 7 p.m.; Sept. 19 vs. Fauquier, 6 p.m.; Sept. 27 at Liberty, 7 p.m.; Oct. 4 at Warren County, 7 p.m.; Oct. 11 vs. James Wood, 7 p.m.; Oct. 18 vs Kettle Run, 7 p.m.; Oct. 25 vs. Millbrook, 7 p.m.; Nov. 1 off week; Nov. 9 at Handley, 1 p.m.

VBL: Cardinals 8, Royals 7

FRONT ROYAL — Winchester's ninth-inning rally came up one run short in a Valley Baseball League loss to Front Royal on Thursday at Bing Crosby Stadium.

The Royals (7-15) trailed 8-5 going into the ninth inning against the Cardinals (10-11). Connor McGinnis (1-2, run, RBI) had one one of his three walks and Jayson Gonzalez (1-for-4, RBI) singled to put runners on first and second, then McGinnis scored on a 3-6 fielder's choice off the bat of Jack Mosh (two walks, run) to make it 8-6.

Shanley Wall singled and Brock Kuehler (two runs) had one of his four walks to load the bases. Mikel Pryor (2-for-3, run, three RBIs) hit a sacrifice fly to make it 8-7, but then Broc Parmer (3-for-5, double, run, RBI) flew out to center field to end the game.

Winchester trailed 3-0 after two innings and 4-2 after three innings, but tied the game 4-4 with two runs in the fourth. Front Royal scored three runs in the seventh inning for a 7-4 lead, and each team scored one in the eighth to make it 8-5.

Dutch DeProspero started for the Royals and pitched six innings. He allowed four runs (all earned), eight hits and no walks and struck out five batters.

— Compiled by Robert Niedzwiecki