ABB Expansion Project Coming In Under Budget

ABB’s expansion project is coming in $682,365 under-budget, IDA members were informed during their meeting Friday morning.
“We’re comfortably under the $16,263,174 that I was instructed not to go over,” said Mike Blankenship as he updated the IDA board on the ABB expansion that is nearing completion.
“We are just about finished. Rather than highlighting items that are complete, we are now highlighting items where we expect some further activity,” Blankenship said.
He noted that B & B Consultants is being hired for $800 to digitalize the as-built site drawings, and the project ended up with only $246,000 in change orders that were unanticipated additions to the total project.
“The bulk of that is in the parking lot and the additional building space, with the costs being split 50/50 with ABB,” he further explained. “We’ve been very diligent with the change orders.”
Blankenship said that during his career, he has only seen two projects come in under their budget, and both of them were with Hurt and Profitt of Lynchburg, one being the ABB expansion.
According to figures presented in the final construction budget, Hurt and Profitt had estimated special inspections would cost $38,000 but were able to perform the work for $18,000.
“These guys are very diligent,” Blankenship added. “It’s a good project, and they’re finishing up very quickly now.”
He then asked IDA members if he would be receiving the same bonus as the last project he brought in under budget.
“We’re thinking about doubling it,” quipped William Kelehar.
“Double zero is zero,” said John Bosiger. “It’s a job well done.”
“And your bonus is well-deserved,” Kelehar added.
Interim Director Patsy Vaughan noted that since March 11, the IDA has received two lease payments from the ABB expansion project.
Following the meeting, IDA members toured the almost complete ABB expansion.
Blankenship also updated members on demolition of the Georgia Pacific project completed in February.
Last month the IDA awarded a contract to low bidder Walter Lea Thomas of Milton, N.C. for a post-demolition appraisal of the former Georgia-Pacific site.
Thomas’ appraisal of the demolition project came back at $14,000 per acre which amounts to $1,460,340, rounded to $1,500,000.
The post-demolition appraisal is $200,000 less than the pre-appraisal of $1,700,000, according to Vaughan.
The IDA is now waiting on the Department of Housing and Community Development to make a determination on the amount of funds, if any, owed on the $700,000 grant/loan.
“If this one (post appraisal) had been more than the pre-appraisal, we would have been on the hook for the difference, but since this one was lower, we’re not on the hook for anything,” Kelehar summarized.
Also Friday, the interim director notified members that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) accepted the IDA’s counter offer of $14,000 to purchase the remaining abandoned Sandy Beach Road right-of-way at Riverstone Technology Park.
The Commonwealth Transportation Board approved the sale to the IDA asking $15,600 for the .52 acres running northwest from the entrance to Riverstone to the new right-of-way of Sandy Beach Road.
However, VDOT right-of-way staff has the leeway to approve counter offers of 90 percent of the asking price, so IDA members offered $14,000, which was 89.7 percent of the asking price.
The Tobacco Commission currently holds $27,500 in unspent funds from the original Riverstone Park grant and has granted the IDA permission to use these funds to acquire the right-of-way, develop the summary plat, publish and file the covenants and restrictions and other related matters, Vaughan explained. However, these funds must be spent by June 30 or the IDA will lose the allocation.
Also Friday morning, Vaughan updated the board on AVID LLC’s lease terms.
Earlier this month, the aircraft design consulting and software design company announced its intentions to locate in the Riverstone Technology Building with plans to occupy 773 square feet of upstairs office space.
Halifax County native Sam B. Wilson III, AVID president and chief visionary officer, plans to locate his regional office at Riverstone, initially employing four people with plans for future expansion.
Former (IDA) Executive Director Eades said earlier this month AVID has agreed to pay $14 per square feet that did not include any of the atrium common area.
O’Brien Atkins, engineers for the Riverstone Building, instructed IDA members that legally they could not exclude the full atrium due to code compliance for circulation and air flow.
Acting on a motion by John Bosiger, the IDA board voted to modify the common area calculations to include a small portion of the common area in AVID’s lease.
Headquartered in Yorktown with a research center located in Blacksburg, AVID specializes in aircraft design consulting, creation, dissemination and maintenance of open-source aircraft analysis and design software.
AVID provides design and software support for U.S. Government agencies and aerospace companies – both military and commercial sectors.
In other IDA business Friday, members took the following actions:
n Were informed of a groundbreaking planned for April 24 for the hotel to be built in Riverdale and a ribbon cutting ceremony set for June 10 at the ABB expansion project;
n Agreed to invite an existing business or industry in the county to attend an IDA meeting each quarter or hold one meeting each quarter at an existing business or industry in an effort to become more acquainted with businesses and industries; and
n Invited W. W. “Ted” Bennett to make a presentation on an industrial development initiative in the county.
The IDA will hold its next meeting on Friday, May 16.

IDA Unveils Objectives, Goals For New Director

Measurable objectives and goals for the new Industrial Development Authority (IDA) executive director were unveiled Friday morning but will not be discussed by IDA members until next month’s meeting.
A committee composed of IDA members Lisa Kipps-Brown and William Kelehar were tasked last month with determining benchmarks and drafting a list of specific measurable goals and objectives for the IDA director to accomplish.
On Friday, they presented their findings which expanded on the director’s duties and responsibilities related to planning, public relations and coordination, outreach and marketing, finances and administration.
Kelehar explained that he and Kipps-Brown had started making a list of measurable objectives when they discovered that such a list of performance directives already existed on the IDA computer system.
“There are some perfectly written performance objectives on the computer explaining what the IDA director should be about,” he said.
IDA members did not approve this list of duties, opting instead to discuss it next month after all board members had received a copy and had time to review its contents.
Originally composed by a committee of John Cannon, Carlyle Ramsey, Joe Morgan and William Royster, the performance objective included such planning strategies as developing short-range and long-range plans to create jobs and economic growth by exploring what other communities are doing, developing strategies, advertising and marketing the area and setting quantifiable goals.
The plan also calls for the director to work with towns and owners of property designated for economic development and to market the property, as well as to develop, implement, and regularly evaluate a marketing strategy in concert with the IDA Board and the Halifax County Board of Supervisors for economic development.
Under public relations and coordination responsibilities, the IDA is searching for a director who will work closely with the IDA chairman and board of directors advising them of potential prospects and how they can be attracted to the county.
Maintaining a close working relationship and providing information to the supervisors on the progress of economic development on a quarterly basis also will be part of the director’s duties.
The director also will be expected to maintain close working relationships with local officials such as mayors, town councils, chamber of commerce executives, bankers, school and college administrators and others to develop a spirit of cooperation.
In addition, maintaining a good working relationship with the management of the area’s existing industries and assisting them to be successful and ensuring continued jobs also is important.
The objectives call for a director to keep fully informed of taxes, utilities, labor supply, housing and other data regarding business activity, as well as promoting and encouraging citizens’ involvement in economic and industrial growth through public contacts and area media.
The director also should be able to represent the IDA in speaking engagements and other public events to foster positive visibility of the organization and Halifax County, according to the performance objectives.
Concerning outreach and marketing, the list of objectives require the director to maintain an excellent relationship with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and other state entities and develop and maintain marketing and advertising materials such as web sites, resource surveys and brochures and fact sheets about Halifax County.
The objectives also cite traveling on behalf of the IDA to various home offices of economic prospects to market the county as part of the director’s duties.
Attending lectures, seminars and schools to keep current with trends in economic recruitment and economic development activities also is a requirement included in the list.
In addition the director will be asked to advise the IDA board of relevant local, state and federal legislations and keep current and accurate economic development files for prospects, projects and associated entities as well as collaborate with regional economic development groups which will strengthen the economic vitality of the region.
Under the list of financial and administrative duties, the director should prepare, submit and manage the IDA’s annual budget, review expenditures monthly with the board, keep minutes, policy statement and financial and accounting statements, as well as encourage staff members to update their knowledge and skills through seminar and special training.
And the list concludes with the director being responsible, within budgetary allocations, for the purchase and maintenance of all equipment and office space.
“There was no sense in us reinventing the wheel when you’ve already got it here,” Kelehar told IDA members.
He noted there is nothing quantifiable in the list.
“No where does it say you have got to produce x amount of jobs. If this board desires to put that quantifiable number in there, then that needs to be done in the concept of these parameters,” Kelehar added.
At the next IDA meeting, Kelehar suggested members will have an opportunity to offer “all the modifications and the numerical measurements” desired to the official list of objectives.
As the board prepares to search for a new executive director to replace Eades, Chairman Garland Ricketts suggested the IDA board come up with an outline of the process for searching for and interviewing and hiring a new executive director.
He urged each IDA member to forward their comments and suggestions to him including who should be involved in the recruitment plan and search.
“We need to get rolling on this,” Ricketts said, with a goal of advertising for a director by the next board meeting to be held Friday, May 16.

South Boston To Begin Work On 2008-09 $8.9 Million Budget

South Boston councilmen are expected to receive a proposed total General Fund budget of $8,937,457 tonight, one carrying the same 19 cents per assessed $100 real estate tax reflected in last year’s budget.
However, with the recent reassessment, the reduced tax rate would reflect 17.3 cents per assessed $100.
A public hearing will be scheduled for May 12 on the real estate tax rate if Town Council supports the 19-cents rate.
The personal property tax rate remains at $2 per assessed $100.
No other tax rate or fee increase is proposed in the 2008-09 budget, according to a budget summary prepared by Town Manager Ted Daniel.
The town manager noted the basic operating budget for 2008-2009 is proposed at $7,493,836 as compared to $7,353,986 for 2007-2008, or $139,850 more which represents a 1.9 percent increase.
The budget also proposes implementing the 2006-07 Springstead Inc. Classification and Compensation Study increases to the General Fund salaries totaling 5.9 percent. The actual pay percentage increase for individual employees will vary due to bringing each individual onto the new pay scale chart designed by Springstead, according to town officials.
The council meeting will get under way at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at 502 Yancey Street.
The total operating budget reflects the three following additions to the budget for 2008-09:
n While the town no longer has a water/sewer budget, the Service Authority will make debt service payments to South Boston in the amount of $734,221 during the fiscal year to cover the w/s portions of the town’s general obligation bonds.
The town pays the general fund portions of those existing bond issues, said Daniel in a prepared summary.
n The town received a $640,000 Community Development Block Grant for the Community Health Center that remains in the planning stages. Daniel said those funds are included in the budget since they have been awarded to the town and might be used in the coming fiscal year.
n The town has applied for $114,400 in grant money to replace the South Boston Fire Department’s first responder vehicle. That funding is reflected in the budget in anticipation of receiving the federal grant.
In other business, council is expected to approve a resolution supporting the establishment of a local veterans’ health clinic. Retired physician Roger Browne, in a letter to Mayor Carroll Thackston, last month suggested creation of a Southside VA Clinic, noting area veterans must often travel to Salem or Richmond VA centers.
The president of the Halifax County Vietnam Veterans spoke in favor of the proposal at last month’s council work session.
In his letter Browne explained that he was seeking support from town council before taking his request to VA officials.
Council is also expected to take action on an Adopt-A-Street program. Jenny Hochstein of the Improvement Council is seeking support from council for the program which was once active in the town. Councilmen were advised during their April work session that some South Boston residents were interesting in reviving the program.

Obituaries

Eugene Vernon Ballou
Eugene Vernon Ballou, 84, of 1235 Sinai Road, South Boston died April 8, 2008, at his home.
Mr. Ballou was born in Halifax County on December 10, 1923, the son of the late Edward Ballou and Melissa Ballou, and was married to the late Gladys Berry Ballou.
Survivors include one brother, Herbert Ballou Sr. of Halifax; numerous nieces and nephews including the devoted Brenda Ballou, Thelma Wood Dean; and a great niece, Pamela Lacks.
One sister, Lola C. Wood and one brother, Prunious Ballou, also preceded Mr. Ballou in death.
Funeral services were held April 13, at 2 p.m. at the Crawford House Chapel in Halifax with the Rev. Dr. William Carr officiating. Burial followed in Banister Hill Baptist Church Cemetery with Military Rites by American Legion Post 99.

William Leon Morton
William Leon Morton, 58, of Washington, D.C., formerly of Halifax County, died April 5, 2008.
Mr. Morton was born on March 10, 1950, the son of William B. Morton and the late Mattie L. Collins. He was a United States Air Force Veteran.
Survivors include one son, William Leon Morton II of Nathalie; his father of Clover; three brothers, Sam Morton of Hampton, Clement Morton and Clinton Morton, both of Baltimore, Md.; two sisters, Pamela Morton and Cheryl Johns, both of Baltimore; three granddaughters, Kristina, Brooklyn and Ayanna Morton; one daughter-in-law, Crystal Boyd-Morton; two sisters-in-law, Elaine and Melissa Morton; and one brother-in-law, Tyrone Johns.
Funeral services for Mr. Morton were held April 12, at 3 p.m. at the Crawford House Chapel in Halifax. Burial followed in Bethel Grove Baptist Church Cemetery with Military Rites by American Legion Post 99.

John Allen Lee
John Allen Lee of Jeffress Boulevard, South Boston, died April 10 at the Woodview Nursing Home. He was 85.
Born in Halifax County on Nov. 11, 1921, he was the son of the late Matthew Lee and the late Alberta Hayes Lee and was married to Mary Hunt Lee.
He was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church and was a retired employee of Elliott’s Electric Company.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Shirley Jones and husband Jimmy of Rochester, N.Y. and Gladys Frierson of South Boston; one son, James Benjamin Lee Sr. and wife Jamie of Rochester, N.Y.; 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; one sister, Mamie Lee Link of South Boston; and a number of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Matthew Douglas Lee; one grandson, James B. Lee Jr.; two sisters, Jessie Morgan and Louise Meadows; and one brother, Andrew J. Lee.
Funeral services for Mr. Lee will be held Monday, April 14 at 11 a.m. with services Mt. Olive Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. James M. Crowder officiating. Burial will follow in the Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the residence, 1904 Jeffress Blvd., South Boston.

Robert Wayne Perkins Sr.
Robert Wayne “Bozo” Perkins Sr., 79, of Bill Tuck Hwy., South Boston, died Saturday, April 12, 2008, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
He was born in Halifax County on September 14, 1928, to the late Robert W. Perkins and the late Ethel Dunaway Perkins and was married to Margaret Seate Perkins.
Mr. Perkins was a retired dry wall contractor and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving in World War II and the Korean War. He was a member of Mt. Cana United Methodist Church, American Legion Post 8, VFW Post 8243 and Woodmen of the World Camp 106.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Robert W. Perkins Jr. of Virginia Beach and Jerry L. Perkins of South Boston; two granddaughters, Kristie M. Perkins of Alton and Amanda B. Perkins of South Boston; one great-grandson; two brothers, Earl A. Perkins of South Boston and Steve W. Perkins of Stuarts Draft; three sisters, Thelma P. Daniel and Mary P. Redd, both of South Boston, and Mabel P. Perkins of Halifax; one sister-in-law, Betty Ann Seate Reda of Chester, N.Y.; and a number of nieces and nephews.
A graveside service for Mr. Perkins will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, April 14, at Mt. Cana U.M.C. Cemetery with the Rev. Randy Holmes officiating.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Mt. Cana U.M.C., c/o Frances Perkins, 1048 Sweet Gum Road, South Boston, VA 24592.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@embarqmail.com.

Allen Lee Moorefield Sr.
Allen Lee Moorefield Sr. of Little John Court, South Boston, died Friday, April 11, 2008, at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was 86.
Born in Halifax County April 3, 1922, he was the son of the late Joseph Henry Moorefield and the late Ruth Edwards Moorefield and was married to Mae Daniel Moorefield.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the battles of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe and was one of the last surviving member of Company “F.”
He was a member of McCanless Memorial United Methodist Church, VFW Post 8243, American Legion Post 8, Woodmen of the World, and was a former member of Hyco Road Ruritan Club.
He was a retired partner and owner of Vernon’s TV and Appliance.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Moorefield is survived by one son, Allen Lee Moorefield Jr. of Auburn, Ind.; one step-son Kay Stark of Oxford, N.C.; one sister, Edith M. Talley of Alton; three grandchildren, Aaron, Rebekah and Seth; and five step-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five brothers, Charlie, Robert, Dan, Joe and James Moorefield; and one sister, Frances Riddle.
A funeral for Mr. Moorefield will be held Monday, April 14 at 11 a.m. at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Tommy Reynolds, Phil Showers and Jack Stewart officiating.
Burial will take place in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
The family will be receiving friends at the home, 100 Little John Court, South Boston.
The family requests that those wishing to give memorials please consider McCanless Memorial United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 876, South Boston, VA 24592.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@embarqmail.com.

Four Inducted Into HC-SB Sports HOF

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
Four individuals, the late H.A. “Dude” Austin, Lawrence Carter, Robert D. “Frosty” Owens and Dr. Jim Priest were honored for their athletic endeavors Saturday night with their induction into the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall Of Fame.
The induction of Austin, Carter, Owens and Priest swelled the number of inductees into the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame to 67. Twenty-three of the 67 inductees are deceased.
Austin, who died in 1989, grew up in the Mt. Laurel area, attended Clover High School and was a noted basketball and baseball player.
Ken Britt, who presented Austin for induction, called Austin “a good-fielding, good-hitting first baseman.”
Austin played semi-pro baseball in Halifax County and was also a noted player in the realm of fast-pitch softball.
“Some said he should have been playing in the big-leagues,” Britt noted.
Austin became heavily involved in Dixie Youth Baseball while living in Brookneal and did much for the league. He served as league president for six years, served six years as District 6 Director and was elected to serve as a national director for Dixie Youth Baseball, a post he held until his death.
Britt, noting Austin’s extensive work in Dixie Youth Baseball, said. “he worked very hard for the youth of Virginia. He also called Austin “a man of integrity and a man of high morals.”
Austin’s son. Steve Austin, told the audience, “I appreciate your inducting dad into the Hall of Fame. It means a lot to us. I know it would have meant a lot to him.”
One of the projects that his father took a lot of pride in, Austin said, was the Dixie Youth Baseball Scholarship Fund.
“He was always working to try to raise more money so that they could give more money to more kids,” Austin remarked.
“In 1971, they gave out six scholarships,” he noted.
“This year they will give out 65.”
Carter starred for the Halifax County High School varsity boys basketball team in 1972 and 1973 when the Comets made it to state Group AAA Final Four and made it to the state finals one of those two years.
Noted as one of the best pure shooters to have ever donned a Halifax County High School uniform, Carter went ton to have a stellar basketball career at Lees-McRae Junior College and at Belmont-Abbey College where he earned numerous honors.
Carter continues to be involved in basketball, having conducted basketball camps for 20 years for the Lincoln County, N.C. Recreation Department and having officiated basketball on the youth, AAU, high school and college levels for 20 years.
In a first for the Hall of Fame, Carter’s 13-year-old son, Lorenzo Carter, presented the former Comets basketball star for induction into the Hall of Fame.
After telling a series of stories about his experiences here, the elder Carter noted that he learned basic basketball fundamentals from Elon University coaches Bill Morningstar and Bill Miller.
“They were tough,” Carter said, “ but fundamental skills is what I teach.”
In concluding, Carter thanked those involved in honoring him and noted, “life is too short to be mean and hateful. Laugh and sing, love truly and forgive quickly.”
Owens, a football star at Halifax County High School, participated in football, basketball, baseball and track during his high school years. He went on to have a stellar football career at Hampden-Sydney College where he lettered for four years.
He returned to Halifax County and returned to Halifax County High School as a coach in 1978. His Comets baseball teams won five district championships and won the Group AAA state title in 1984.
Former Comets varsity football coach Coleman Starnes presented Owens for induction, noting that “Frosty’s accomplishments in sports is statistically unbelievable.” He also pointed out that Owens “has taken the best of what Halifax County has had to offer and turned it around by giving back to his community.”
In his remarks, Owens noted that teaching young men and women to play a sport is challenging.
“Spending time with them as they grow physically and emotionally on the practice field or the game field, is indeed a special time,” Owens said.
“I would like to thank all of the young men who dedicated their time to learn the game of baseball and football that I coached when I was here at Halifax County High School.”
He also pointed out that the most important thing he gleaned from all of the many practices and games was the friendships that were forged.
“The most significant outcome of those practices, those home games, those away trips, picking up lines, running sprints, the most significant thing in my life, is the wonderful friendships that began in childhood and then grew through our teenage years and is stronger today than ever,” Owens said.
Priest played football, basketball and baseball in youth sports programs in Scottsburg and played football, basketball and baseball at Halifax County High School.
After completing medical school and returning to the community, he became involved in local sports by coaching various youth baseball teams, including coaching the former South Boston American Legion Post 8 baseball team.
Priest has served as an assistant coach for the Halifax County Middle School baseball team for several seasons and is doing so this season.
Former Comets baseball coach Scooter Dunn presented Priest for induction into the Hall Of Fame.
Dunn, who had the opportunity to have Dr. Priest as a teammate in baseball, noted that his biggest attribute was the fact that he was always hustling and always trying his best.
“He wasn’t a great player, but his hustle was unbelievable,” Dunn pointed out.
“His name could have been Mr. Hustle.”
Dunn concluded his remarks by quoting a note from his son, Hunter.
“To quote my son, Hunter,” Dunn remarked, “in my life I have never known anyone that is so willing to give of himself so unselfishly for the betterment of his family, friends and community as Dr. James H. Priest.”
Priest thanked those that were responsible for his induction and, referring to Austin, Carter and Owens, remarked. “I’m not even in their class.”
He noted that while he has been fortunate to have had success as a coach and a teacher of the game of baseball, “it’s not the awards that are important, it’s those people I have been involved with.”
Scholarships Presented
In addition to honoring the inductees, four Halifax County High School seniors, all of whom are outstanding student-athletes, received scholarships.
Senior Justin Bagbey, a stand-out football and baseball player, was named as the recipient of the Buck Williams Scholarship. Michael Ferrell, a stand-out in both baseball and golf, received the Matze Family Scholarship.
Amey Totherow, a senior who has had an outstanding career in indoor and outdoor track as well as cross country, was named as the recipient of the Hugh M. Moore Memorial Scholarship.
Mary Beale, who has excelled in basketball, soccer and also participated in cross country for one season, was named as the recipient of the Don Thompson Memorial Scholarship.
Bagbey was named to the Second Team of the All-Western Valley District Team as both a tackle and a punter and has lettered in football for the past two years.
This season Bagbey is participating in his fourth year of baseball after having lettered the past three seasons. He received all-district and All-Northwest Region accolades last season as a first baseman for the Comets baseball team.
Academically, Bagbey carries a 90.3 grade average.
Ferrell has accomplished much in both baseball and golf. In golf, Ferrell qualified to compete in the Northwest region Tournament in each of the past three years.
A starter at second base for the Comets baseball team, Ferrell has lettered in baseball, was honored as one of the top players on the HCHS jayvee team in 2006 and, in recreation baseball, has participated in seven state Dixie Baseball tournaments and two World Series tournaments.
Ferrell, who has a 90 grade average, will continue his education and baseball career at Ferrum College.
Totherow, who has a 92.6 grade average and plans to attend Virginia Tech and study to become a veterinarian, lettered in cross country for four years and was named as the winner of the team’s Most Valuable Runner Award in 2005 and 2007. She also ran distance events for the Comets girls indoor and outdoor track teams for three years.
She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Future Farmers of America club and the Ecology Club.
Beale has received team and district honors as a stand-out athlete in both soccer and girls basketball and participated in cross country for one season.
She is president of the senior class, vice president of the National Honor Society, does volunteer work at Halifax Regional Hospital and is a math tutor.
Beale, who has a 94.4 grade average, has been accepted by several colleges but has not made a decision on where she will continue her education.

Lady Comets Beat Fleming Once, Heritage Twice

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
Betty Rose had a perfect five-for-five day at the plate and three others were a combined seven-for-seven, as the Comets varsity softball team improved to 2-0 in the Western Valley District with an easy 17-1 win Friday at William Fleming.
Friday’s district win followed a double-header sweep of Heritage on Thursday, the Comets winning by 8-0 and 5-1 scores.
Halifax County, now 8-1 on the season, hosts district opponent E.C. Glass tomorrow.
Halifax County 17 William Fleming 1
Rose finished with five base hits, Ally Thompson was three-for-three with three base hits, Katie Barnett two-for-two with a double and single, and Amber Bowman two-for-two with two base hits for the Comets in a 17-1 rout of the Lady Colonels.
Whitney Womack had a three-run triple and four RBIs, Kim Snead a two-run double, Lauren Daniel two hits and two RBIs, Stephanie Clark two hits and two RBIs, Lyndsay Lawter two base hits, and Lashunda Davis a RBI single, while Christine DeGeorgis added a base hit to the 22-hit attack.
Womack had four RBIs, Clark, Snead, Paige Rickman, Daniel and Barnett two apiece, and Rose and Davis one each for Halifax, which used two pitchers in a game called after five innings due to the mercy rule.
Womack’s triple capped a five-hit, five-run first inning that gave the Comets the early advantage and Daniel’s two-run single, along with Barnett’s RBI double, RBI hits from Davis and Clark, two hits each from Thompson and Rose, and RBIs from Rickman and Womack helped make it 12-0 after two innings.
Hits from DeGeorgis, Bowman, Lawter, Clark and Rose helped plate three runs in the third, before Fleming scored its lone run on a solo homer in the fourth.
Two Comets runs in the top of the fifth helped seal the deal.
Lawter singled, Clark reached on an error and Snead doubled them both home for the final margin.
Stephanie Clark hurled the first three innings and Lyndsay Lawter came on for the final two frames, each pitcher allowing one hit.
Clark finished with seven strikeouts and Lawter two.
Halifax County 5 Heritage 0
The Comets scored five runs in the first inning and went on to an 8-0 win over Heritage in the first game of a double-header.
Rose had two base hits to lead Halifax, while Davis (double), Clark (RBI), Rickman, Daniel (two RBIs), Barnett (two RBIs) each added a hit.
Barnett’s two-run single, RBI singles from Daniel and Clark, along with a base hit from Rose helped Halifax take a 5-0 lead after one inning.
Davis was stranded after a second inning double, but hits from Clark and Rose, walks to Lawter and Melissa Morris and a RBI flyout from Daniel made it 8-0 after three innings of the five-inning game.
That was more than enough for Comets pitchers Clark and Lawter, Clark hurling the first three innings and Lawter the fourth and fifth frames.
Clark gave up no hits in three innings, finishing with five strikeouts, while Lawter gave up one hit and struck out one batter in two innings.
Halifax County 5 Heritage 1
Clark slugged two doubles, Rose (RBI) and Barnett (RBI) two singles, and Lawter (RBI), Womack and Thompson each added a base hit as the Comets completed the sweep.
A double by Clark, and singles by Thompson, Rose and Barnett highlighted a three-run first inning. Clark was stranded after a leadoff double in the second, but Halifax added its final two runs in the third on base hits from Barnett and Lawter, along with two Heritage errors.
Heritage plated its only run on a Comets’ error and RBI double in the third to account for the final score.
Rickman and Womack shared pitching duties for Halifax in the nightcap, Rickman going the first three innings and Womack the final two.
Rickman gave up one run on two hits, while striking out four batters, and Womack gave up no runs on one hit in two innings of work.

Comets Pound WF

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
The Halifax County High School varsity baseball team needed a good outing to help it re-establish its momentum after a tough loss last week to Franklin County High School in its Western Valley District opener.
A struggling William Fleming team opened the door Friday night to give the Comets the opportunity they needed.
The Comets pounded William Fleming hurlers for 17 hits including four home runs, two of which came from Justin Bagbey, in a 24-0 pasting of the Colonels in a game stopped after four and a half innings under a slaughter rule.
Nine of Halifax County’s 17 hits went for extra bases and the Comets exploited the Colonels’ seven errors to score multiple runs.
It was a game Comets coach Kelvin Davis said he hopes will get his team back on track as it faces a three-game week which starts tonight with a road game against Amherst County, continues on Tuesday with a Western Valley District game on the road against E.C. Glass and concludes here Friday with a tough non-district game against Tunstall High School.
“It (the William Fleming game) was a game we needed,” Davis said.
“After the loss here the other night (to Franklin County) we really needed a win. Throughout all that has happened through the last week or so, it was a much-needed game for us in terms of getting our spirits back up.”
Davis said he hopes his team will be able to carry the momentum from Friday’s win over to this week’s trio of games.
“These are three big ballgames,” Davis noted.
“We definitely need to go up there (to Amherst County) and play well. Amherst has always had a good quality, fundamentally sound baseball team. E.C. Glass is always going to be scrappy and is going to be right in the thick of our district race. And, you can’t say enough about Tunstall. Their record speaks for itself.”
Bagbey led the Comets with a 3-4 day at the plate that included two home runs, a double and six RBIs. Dale Trent, who had one of the Comets’ home runs, was 2-3 at the plate with five RBIs, two of which came with his second-inning homer. Jeremy Foster, who had the other homer for the Comets, was 2-4 at the plate with three RBIs from his first-inning round-tripper.
Bill Wooding and Daniel Wilborn joined Foster and Trent among the players that had two hits in the game. Courtney Ervin, Eric Brandon, Chris Sizemore, Tyler Lewis, Josh Williams and Michael Owens all had a hit each.
On the mound, starting pitcher Tyler Lewis and relievers Foster and Trent combined to hold the Colonels to two hits and a pair of walks. Lewis fanned eight batters while Foster struck out two and Trent struck out one.
Halifax County took a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with half of the runs coming from Foster’s homer over the right centerfield fence.
In the second inning, the Comets scored 12 runs and expanded their lead to 18-0. Two home runs and four RBIs from Bagbey and a two-run round-tripper from Trent were the big hits in that inning.
The Comets finished the game by adding a run in the bottom of the third inning to go up 19-0 and scoring five more times in the bottom of the fourth inning, three of which resulted from a William Fleming error on a long fly ball that Trent launched to centerfield.
While William Fleming offered the Comets no competition, Davis said it was still a good day in that everyone got an opportunity to play and get at least one or two trips to the plate.
“The key thing is that everybody played,” Davis remarked.
“Everybody had an opportunity to get a couple of at-bats and play in the field. This a good bunch of guys. Anytime I can let everybody have a chance to play, I’m going to do that. We were fortunate be able to do that tonight.”
Davis noted that he sympathizes with William Fleming’s plight and hopes that the program will grow and become more competitive.
“I understand they (William Fleming) have just gotten the (baseball) program going again,” Davis said.
“The coach has some work to do up there, but he’s told me he has got some plans as far as what he wants to try to get accomplished. My hat goes off to him. I hope they keep strong because every school needs a quality baseball program.”

Bagbey Swinging Hot Bat

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
Justin Bagbey hasn’t gotten the notice from college baseball scouts and recruiters that some of his Halifax County High School teammates have received over the past two years.
If he keeps putting up the numbers he has posted through the season’s first eight games, the Comets’ senior first baseman won’t be flying under the radar for very long.
Bagbey had a big day at the plate Friday in the Comets’ 24-0 win over William Fleming High School, going 3-4 with two home runs and six RBIs. In games here on March 21 against Garden City, N.Y. and Loyalsock (Pa.) Township High School, Bagbey had a combined 4-7 day with three home runs and seven RBIs.
The big day Friday against William Fleming boosted Bagbey’s batting average to a team-high .666. Seven of his 18 hits to date have been home runs and his RBI total has swelled to 22.
Friday, Bagbey said, was a redemption of sorts from last week’s 6-4 loss to Franklin County High School in his team’s home Western Valley District opener.
“Earlier this week, we played Franklin County and we were all still sad about the tragedy that happened to Tyler Hunt,” Bagbey pointed out after Friday’s game.
“I went 0-3 in that game and felt like I didn’t help my team well enough. I felt like I should try to do something today to help them out.”
Bagbey’s effort definitely helped his team. The Comets improved to 5-3 overall and 1-1 in Western Valley District play with the win over William Fleming and gave the team a shot of momentum heading into this week’s busy three-game week.
The 3-4 day against the Colonels also thrust Bagbey into the best start to a season he has had in his high school baseball career.
“I came into this year not having had many looks from colleges,” Bagbey said.
“I really want to play college baseball, so I figured I needed to make a statement and start off big. I’ve just been doing what I can and have been working really hard, hoping to have a good year and it’s happened so far.”
Bagbey said one of the keys to his success has been his sense of confidence.
“The last two years I didn’t have a very good start, but, this year, I just feel real confident,” Bagbey said.
“I’m seeing the ball real well, swinging the bat well. I’m not trying to do too much. I’m a lot more patient than I was last year. Last year I was too impatient and it messed me up a lot. This year, I’m a lot more patient and swinging at good pitches. I’m just trying to hit the ball solid.”
Comets coach Kelvin Davis says the big thing about Bagbey this season is his focus.
“He’s really focused,” Davis pointed out.
“He had been talking to me prior to the season as far as how ready he was for the season. It shows me he had the heart and did some things to prepare himself for this season. It’s showing now. I hope he keeps hitting.”
Along with Bagbey’s hot start has come instances in which some opposing pitchers are choosing to pitch around Bagbey, not give a close pitch that he could potentially knock out of the park.
“I take it as a sign of respect, but it can get frustrating,” Bagbey said of the notion that pitchers are beginning to try to pitch around him.
“I go up to the plate expecting to see a good pitch. I want to hit the ball well every time. It’s a sign of respect to show they don’t want to pitch to me. I have a lot of confidence in my teammates backing me up. That’s why I don’t get too frustrated.”
Davis noted that he has seen opposing pitchers trying to keep the ball away from the heart of the plate and away from Bagbey’s “zone.”
“I know teams are going to start recognizing his strength and will start pitching around him,” Davis said.
“Our job as coaches is to try to protect him and try to keep him calmed down as far as not swinging at bad pitches and things like that. We’re constantly talking to him about the mental approach he has to take at the plate.”
Bagbey has a tremendous amount of confidence in his Comets teammates, the coaching staff and in what the team is capable of doing this season.
“I believe we’re capable of going to the Final Four in the state,’ Bagbey said.
If he and his teammates can get into and stay “in the zone,” anything is possible.