Here is the second half of the softball pictures from Eva Burns:
Junior Emily Hollen
Sophomore Sarah Phillips
Junior Heather Vaccaro
Junior Lucy Showalter
Sophomore Rebecca Crist
Here are some pictures from the girls' softball season- courtesy of Eva Burns.
Junior Anna Berkshire
Freshman Joslyn Vaccaro
Sophomore Leigh Jackson
Senior Erica Lehman
Junior Jordan Burns
Here are some leftovers from the soccer team's win in the first round of the state tournament against Denbigh Baptist. All photos are courtesy of Sunday Club Productions!
Junior Kristen Myers
Freshman Angelina Pardini
Sophomore Kierra Stutzman through the trees
Senior Keeper Julia Johnson
Freshman Leah Jacobs
Junior Becca Suter
Sophomore Kara Lofton's game winning goal
Yesterday afternoon, three EMHS sports teams were engaged in state tournament contests: boys tennis, girls softball, and girls soccer. Writeups:
Boys Tennis
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 3:30 PM, the EMHS Boys Tennis Team spun the racquets to begin the State Quarterfinals. EMHS, seeded #4, took on seed #5 Norfolk Collegiate School. Going into the match, the guys knew that it would be a tough match, and it turned out to be an excellent day of tennis. In singles, Junior Vincent Morra (1) overtook his opponent 10-6. Almost two hours later and despite the pressure of being the last singles playing, Freshman Christophe Langouet claimed the Flames' 2nd victory with a 10-4 win to move to doubles.
After a small break with strawberries, bananas and brownies, the guys went back out on the courts to play doubles. During doubles, many of the guys like to have some competition that slightly makes fun of the girls team. Whenever they hit a "slama-jama," in other words, an amazing overhead that goes over the fence, they yell "It's cookie time!" Although most people don't understand this phrase, when the girls team is there to support the guys, much laughter will be heard because in girls tennis, this is a rarity, but for the guys, it's a daily occurrence.
Doubles 1 (Vincent Morra and Senior Lucas Schrock-Hurst) and Doubles 3 (Senior Eric Brodersen and Freshman Michael Poynter) pulled out two more wins for the team. Although Langouet and Freshman Nathaniel Morra didn't win their doubles, they fought an injury during their match and had a great comeback.
Yesterday's match is one to be proud of because all seven players played their hearts out and never gave up hope. Although the end result was a 4-5 loss, the team was pleased with how they played this season and are anticipating next year.
- Special Correspondent Amy Leap
Girls Soccer
"5! 4! 3! 2! 1!" went the chant from the soccer team supporters in front of the Booster Club trailer. They were counting down each minute, starting at minute 16, to the end of the game.
Yes, this game was a type of countdown, as it was the last home game for the team's seniors, but the team will continue its season on Friday in the State Final Four after holding on for a 2-1 victory against #6 Denbigh Baptist.
The #3 Flames jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 6 minutes in when Senior J.J. Hostetter hit a left-footed shot just over the outstretched hands of Denbigh's keeper. The goalie tried to push the ball over the bar, but missed. Denbigh answered at 29 minutes with a misplayed cornerkick that slipped past the near post, leading to a 1-1 halftime score.
In the second half, the Flames answered with an emphatic goal from Sophomore Kara Lofton on a corner kick from Hostetter. Lofton drove the ball over the goalie with a strong header, giving the Flames all the goals they would need.
The defensive crew for EMHS played an excellent game, with Sophomore Kierra Stutzman, Juniors Malia Hostetter and Kristen Myers, and the rock in the middle, Lofton, shutting down the Minutemen attack.
Coach Sherman Eberly thought the team played pretty well, saying, "It wasn't our best technical game of the year, but we had stretches when we looked very good... We controlled the game. [Denbigh] came to play, and played hard, but overall we had the better speed."
Now the countdown begins for the school's second soccer Final Four appearance of the school year, as the 14-3 Flames take on the 17-1 Atlantic Shores Seahawks.
- John Leonard
Girls Softball
EMHS softball, seeded #7 in the state, travelled to play #2 Brunswick Academy in Lawrenceville.
The girls were hanging tough in the game, down 2-0, when the floodgates opened in the bottom of the 5th inning, when Brunswick scored seven runs, aided by 4 Flames errors. "We were doing great, but then we had [the really bad inning]," said Junior Jordan Burns. EMHS coach Greg Michael said, "It's very disappointing because we were in the game. Our girls were making plays, but in the fifth inning, we had four errors, and that just took the game out of reach." (Daily News Record)
Despite the tough loss, the Flames had a successful season, ending the year at 13-10. Burns and Junior Heather Vaccaro were named to the Blue Ridge All-Conference first team, Senior Erica Lehman and Junior Lucy Showalter were named to the All-Conference second team, and Coach Greg Michael was named BRC Coach of the Year. Congratulations to all for an excellent year!
- John Leonard
From the looks of things, the EMHS girls soccer team is hitting its stride at the perfect time.
On a rainy, cold Saturday afternoon, the Flames dominated North Cross to win their third straight Blue Ridge Conference championship. North Cross came in with a strategy: pack their defense in tight to attempt to stymie EMHS's offense. This meant that they had very few, if any, scoring chances as the ball was on North Cross's defensive end almost all game.
Even with this strategy, they couldn't stop Junior Vaughn Strickler and 8th Grader Emily Myers (pictured left). Just 2:06 into the contest, in a driving rain, Emily slid a pass to her right to Vaughn, who tucked in an easy shot for a 1-0 Flames lead. In the second half, at 44 minutes, Emily showed her superior quickness when she chased down a Senior J.J. Hostetter cross in the box just right of the goal, and slipped a shot pass the keeper. In the 68th minute, Vaughn found Emily with a cross, and Myers ripped a left-footed shot in to finish the scoring for the afternoon. All that was left was a soggy, muted
celebration. Most of these girls have been here before, after all.
Except for Emily Myers. How did everything go right in this game? Emily said, "I don't know... Things just worked out!" Indeed. Senior Julia Johnson now has three championships in her time at EMHS. "It feels good," she said. "We worked hard, and we were solidly undefeated in the conference."
Flames with all-tournament honors are Junior Emma Beachy, Vaughn Strickler, Sophomore Kara Lofton, and Emily Myers. First team all-conference Flames are Julia Johnson, Vaughn Strickler, Kara Lofton, and Emily Myers.
The girls' season is not yet over: the state tournament looms with a possible home game on Tuesday afternoon.
Congratulations, ladies!
Collision! Malia and Kara mixing it up
J.J. Hostetter's throw-in
Leah Jacobs
(Pictures courtesy of Sunday Club Productions)
Under ominous storm clouds, EMHS girls varsity soccer ripped Grace Christian, 5-0, in the Blue Ridge Conference semi-finals Thursday afternoon in Park View.
The Flames, 11-0 in conference play, set the tone right from the opening kick-off. Just 30 seconds into the game, Junior Vaughn Strickler (left) just barely missed a shot left of the goal. Thus began the afternoon of domination.
The Lady Flames were far more aggressive than Grace, winning most 50/50 chances and controlling the midfield. After several close chances, EMHS finally broke through with a goal at 13:26 with a crisp give-and-go between Strickler and 8th Grader Emily Myers, with Strickler tucking the ball in the left side of the goal.
While a Grace midfielder exhorted her teammates that "One goal doesn't matter," EMHS almost immediately added a second. Just thirty-four seconds later, Junior Becca Suter blasted a shot from outside the 18 through the outstretched hands of Grace's goalie. "I take a lot of shots from outside the 18," Suter said. "I try not to crowd the forwards too much."
Emily Myers (right)added her name to the scoring list when she ripped the left side-net at 18:39, while also 
giving the Flames a seemingly insurmountable 3-0 halftime lead (which incidentally, was Senior Manager Kendra Miller's prediction for the final score).
EMHS continued outplaying and outhustling Grace in the second half. A strange play happened in the 44th minute, as Senior J.J. Hostetter's corner cross was "stomached" in by a Grave defender for an "own goal." J.J. also scored the last goal of the afternoon at 47:28 when she slipped a rebound shot past the right of the keeper.
Heroics remained, however, when Sophomore Caitlin Bucher replaced Senior Julia Johnson in goal. After a foul in the box, Bucher stopped a Grace penalty kick by diving to her left. "I know her because I've played with her before," Bucher said of the opposing player. "I just focused on the ball." Coach Eberly added, "Last night [in practice], she had four or five saves like that." Bucher saved the shutout again a few minutes later when she stopped a Grace breakaway with another dive.
The Lady Flames next play Saturday afternoon against the winner of the other semi-final match between North Cross and VES. Suter said, "It should be another good game. I'm feeling confident for it!" Coach 
Eberly feels like the team is on the right track, saying, "In the last month or so, we've played our best soccer. We're seeing each other well, and we have a great spirit right now."
Sounds like a must-see game on Saturday, and the state tournament beyond!
(All pictures courtesy of Sunday Club Productions)
On a dreary, soggy Tuesday afternoon, EMHS girls varsity soccer ripped conference foe Chatham Hall 4-0, improving the team's record to 6-3 (6-0), while dropping Hall's to 5-2-1 (4-2-1).
Expecting a tough, physical battle, EMHS jumped out to a quick lead when freshman Leah Jacobs started the scoring with a goal at the four minute mark. Junior Becca Suter followed with her own at 18:00, sophomore Emma Beachy put the game out of reach at the 36:00 mark, and fellow sophomore Caitlin Bucher blasted a shot past Chatham's goalkeeper to finish the scoring at the 71 minute mark. EMHS goalkeeper, senior Julia Johnson, was tested only three times.
The soccer team travels to Virginia Episcopal on Thursday.
Becca controlling the middle
Freshman Leah Moore on D
Junior Aaron Zook and his track teammates have a double vision problem: they receive very little attention, both from EMHS itself and the local media. Part of EMHS's lack of attention is due to the size of the team, and part to the fact that the team hosts only one track meet a year. As to the DNR's lack of attention, with the preponderance of local public high schools (Spotswood, Harrisonburg, Turner Ashby, Lee, Fort, Broadway), it makes covering sports events here at the smaller EMHS difficult.
Today, however, that double vision has been corrected: Zook is a feature in the DNR's sports section. Mostly due to the fact that Zook came in second in the 1600 meters at the Turner Ashby Invitational back on April 12, the article also covers a wide range of topics, including quotes from Coach Lester Zook (also Aaron's father), former EMHS student Dan Nafziger, and a quick history of the Zook family tree of runners here at EMHS.
While much of Dustin Dopirak's article focused on the lack of opportunities for EMHS runners, Aaron remained positive about his experience here, saying, "I've got opportunities here. I was third in the state for cross country. I was third in the state, I was third in the conference. Then on Saturday at the TA meet, I went out and I could still run with these public school guys. I've thought about [leaving], but I really wouldn't be any place else than EMHS."
To see the rest of Dopirak's article, click the "feature" link above.
EMHS showed an impressive performance at the track meet last Tuesday. Although the team lost by 2 points, this is due to lack of participation in some key events, including all of the throwing events (Javelin, Shot-put, etc.). EMHS dominated in the distance events, but was beaten out in the shorter distance events. A somewhat notable exception was the 4x400 relay, which the EMHS team won by a fair margin. Not bad for a bunch of Mennonite distance runners! Still, the impression was that they weren't really racing each other, but just trying to top themselves, which made it very relaxed. Overall, a solid meet.
Boys results
3200m Relay
1st-Team A 9:00
2nd-Team B 10:13.4
100m
1st-Blosser, L. 24.3
1600m
1st-Zook, A. 4:49
2nd-Shenk B. 5:22
4th-Bender, J. 5:51
6th-Yoder, A. 5:59
7th-Eshleman, T. 6:07
800m
1st-Akerson, N. 2:21
2nd-Souder, J. 2:35
3rd-Yoder, A. 2:42
1600m Relay
1st-EMHS 3:59.3
Girls Results
100m
4th-Rimer, S. 16.9
200m
4th-Rimer, S. 36.1
3200m
2nd-Hampton, R. 21:23
1600m
2nd-Hostetter, B. 6:02.8
800m
4th-Clymer, V. 3:34.6
5th-Pusey, J. 3:57.6
Unisex Results
400m
2nd-Hostetter, B. 58.5
6th-Oberholtzer 105.5
- Joe Phillips
