Search Suspended

Emergency search and rescue personnel spent Monday night and most of the day Tuesday scouring the Turbeville community for a missing 32-year-old man.
According to Halifax County Sheriff Jeff Oakes, Christopher Mark Clay of Mercy Seat Road apparently wandered away from his brother’s Melon Road residence around 11 p.m. Monday night.
A family member called E-911 that night to report Clay as missing. Oakes said his department was contacted around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday; deputies and fire department personnel immediately began their search for the missing man.
The search continued all night, with assistance from the Sheriff’s Department’s K-9 unit and the Virginia State Police helicopter.
The search continued throughout the day yesterday with search and rescue personnel from the state assisting in the effort. The Life Flight helicopter and an air-scent dog from Tidewater were brought in yesterday to assist local rescuers. The search was suspended late in the afternoon yesterday after officials said they had exhausted all resources.
Clay is described as a 32-year-old white male, 5’10” tall, 135 pounds, brown hair, and green eyes. Clay was still missing as of press time Tuesday.
Anyone with information about Clay is asked to contact the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office at (434) 476-4273.

Lottery Scam Circulating

Three county residents in the past two days have received fraudulent lottery checks and letters claiming they are grand prize winners, according to Commonwealth’s Attorney Kim S. White.
A fraudulent letter sent to a Nathalie resident reads: We are pleased to inform you through this letter that our network shows you as the lucky winner of unclaimed prize money in the amount of $72,000.
A sponsor’s check of $2,996.57 is enclosed to assist you in financing your international clearance fee, the letter states.
White warned residents not to cash the fake checks.
“Citizens who attempt to cash or deposit the checks could end up with fees from their banks and overdrafts from their accounts when the checks are returned as fake,” White said.
Residents should also not share personal financial information with anyone associated with the letters, White added.
“The letters request that they be contacted immediately so that the winner can claim his or her winnings,” White said. “This absolutely should not be done.”
If the thieves obtain the information they can withdraw funds from the victim’s bank account or commit identity theft and open new accounts in the victim’s name, according to White.
The three fraudulent letters obtained by the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office were sent from Lotter, claiming the represent the Australian Lottery; Bernards Financial Group of California; and Ameriprise Financial of Chester, W.Va.
Anyone who receives a suspicious letter or check can contact his local law enforcement agency.

Man Sentenced For Identity Theft

A 51-year-old South Boston man was sentenced Thursday in Halifax County Circuit Court to 74 years in prison, with all but three years, 360 days suspended, for 12 driving and identity-theft related offenses.
Judge William L. Wellons sentenced Charlie Calvin Barksdale to ten years each in prison for six public record forgery convictions, with all suspended but three years.
Judge Wellons also sentenced Barksdale to 12 months each in jail for three separate convictions for a third or subsequent offense of driving on a suspended/revoked operator’s license, with all suspended but 360 days in jail.
The court additionally sentenced the defendant to one year in jail for misdemeanor identity theft and five years each for a subsequent offense of identity theft and a second/subsequent offense of identity theft, with all time suspended.
The court ordered the suspended portion of Barksdale’s sentence be conditioned on his good behavior for 50 years, and ordered him be placed on probation for two years following his release.
In addition, the court ordered the defendant to abstain from illegal drugs and submit to random drug tests.
Other Court Cases
• Joseph Thomas Eggleston Jr., 41, of South Boston, was sentenced Thursday to a total of 16 years in prison, with all but one year suspended, for credit card theft, misdemeanor credit card fraud and forging/uttering a credit card.
The court sentenced Eggleston to 10 years for credit card theft from Welford Lee Harris III, five years for forging/uttering a credit card and one year for misdemeanor credit card fraud, with all suspended but one year for the credit card theft conviction.
The court ordered work release for the defendant.
The court ordered the suspended portion of Eggleston’s sentence be conditioned on his good behavior for 15 years and ordered him be placed on probation for one year following his release.
The court also ordered Eggleston to abstain from illegal drugs and alcohol, submit to random drug tests and to have no contact with his victim.
• Terrence Demond Dixon, 20, of Halifax, was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in prison, with all but three suspended, for the robbery of Jacqueline Green using a firearm, simulated firearm, or other deadly weapon.
The court ordered the suspended portion of Dixon’s sentence be conditioned on his good behavior for 30 years and ordered him be placed on probation for three years following his release.
The court ordered Dixon to abstain from illegal drugs, submit to random drug tests and drug treatment, to have no contact whatsoever with his victim and not to enter the property of or enter any Valero convenience store.
The court additionally ordered Dixon to pay $69 restitution both jointly and severally with his codefendants.
• Wendy Dawn Francis, 30, of Nathalie, was sentenced Thursday to five years each in prison for a single conviction for prescription fraud and two separate convictions for possession of a Schedule I/II controlled substance.
The court also sentenced the defendant to one year in jail for possessing marijuana.
The court suspended the entire sentence to time already served for the prescription fraud offense, conditioned on Francis’ good behavior for 15 years, and ordered her be placed on probation for one year.
The court additionally ordered Francis to submit to random drug tests and drug treatment, as well as suspended her operator’s license for two years.
• Robert Aaron Garner, 50, of South Boston, was convicted Thursday of cocaine possession and also of two separate probation violations.
Sentencing for Garner was continued to a date later in the current court term.
• Margie Marie Lester, 41, of South Boston, was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison for a third or subsequent offense of DUI and 10 years for cocaine possession, with all but 90 days suspended.
The court ordered the suspended portion of Lester’s sentence be conditioned on Lester’s good behavior for 15 years and ordered the defendant be placed on probation for two years following her release.
The court ordered Lester to pay a $1,000 fine, to abstain from illegal drugs and alcohol, and to undergo counseling and treatment.
The court additionally suspended Lester’s operator’s license indefinitely for the DUI conviction and six months for the drug possession offense.
• Shirley Terry Majors, 44, of South Boston, was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison, with all suspended but time served, for cocaine possession.
The court ordered Majors’ suspended sentence be conditioned on her good behavior for five years, starting immediately, and ordered her be placed on probation for one year.
The court additionally ordered Majors to abstain from illegal drugs and submit to random drug tests, as well as suspended her operator’s license for six months.
• James Edward Boulden Sr., 65, of South Boston, had a charge against him for the attempted malicious wounding of James Boulden Jr. nol prossed Thursday on a motion by the Commonwealth.
• Bernard Orlando Bradsher, 43, of Alton, was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison, with all time suspended, for cocaine possession.
The court ordered Bradsher’s suspended sentence be conditioned on his good behavior for five years, and ordered him be placed on probation for one year.
The court ordered the defendant to abstain from illegal drugs and submit to random drug tests, as well as suspended his operator’s license for six months, restricting it for travel to and from work and the probation department.
• Brandi Marie Hazelwood, 24, of Alton, previously on first offender status for possession of marijuana, had that charge dismissed Thursday upon payment of court costs.
• John Murphy Morris, 41, of Virgilina, was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison, with all but ten months suspended, for felony eluding police.
The court authorized work release for Morris in addition to suspending his operator’s license for 90 days.
The court ordered Morris be placed on probation for one year upon his release and to submit to random drug tests.
The court also sentenced Morris to pay a $110 fine plus court costs for speeding 77/55 MPH zone.
• The court found evidence sufficient Thursday to convict Anthony Nguru Mwarua, 31, of Raleigh, of speeding 41/25 MPH zone, in a misdemeanor case appealed from a lower court.
The circuit court continued the case to the September court term in order to allow the defendant to complete a safe driving school course.
• Jeffrey Lynn Webster, 44, of Bedford, had his first offender status for possession of a Schedule I/II controlled substance revoked Thursday.
The court subsequently convicted Webster of the drug charge, sentencing him to a suspended five-year jail term.
The court ordered Webster’s suspended sentence be conditioned on his good behavior for five years and ordered him be placed on probation for six months.
The court additionally ordered the defendant to abstain from illegal drugs, submit to random drug tests, and to a restricted operator’s license for six months.
• Jonathan Kennard Williams, 23, of Nathalie, was sentenced Thursday to ten years in prison, with all time suspended, for a subsequent offense of cocaine distribution.
The court ordered Williams’ suspended sentence be conditioned on his good behavior for ten years.
The court ordered the defendant be placed on probation for two years, suspended his operator’s license for six months and ordered him to pay $250 restitution to the Halifax County Sheriff’s Department.
• Chavias Antoine Talley, 26, of Richmond, pleaded guilty Thursday to cocaine possession and marijuana possession.
The court found evidence sufficient to convict Talley of the drug possession charges, but withheld its finding of guilt, placing Talley on first offender status and continuing the case for one year.
The court ordered Talley to submit to random drug tests and perform 100 hours of community service, as well as suspended the defendant’s operator’s license for six months, restricting it for travel to and from work, court services and testing.

Grady Bratcher Kent
Grady Bratcher Kent died July 1, 2007, in Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Kent was born in South Boston on February 14, 1914, to the late James and Sophie Bratcher, and was formerly married to William A. Kent. She retired from St. Luke Hospital in New York City, and was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church where she sang in the Senior and Mass choirs, was a Sunday school teacher, a member of the Missionaries and of the Dorcas Club. She was also active in the Rose Garden Club as well as a Past Worthy Matron of Electa Chapter #14 Order of the Eastern Star of New York.
Survivors of Mrs. Kent include her daughters, Jean Faulkner and husband, Theodis, and Wilhelmina Ballou and husband, James, all of South Boston; four grandchildren, Marvin Ballou and wife, Starann, and Juanita Anderson, all of South Boston, Dr. Karen Ballou-Hunt and husband, Tracy, of Roanoke Rapids, N.C., and Taia Hicks of Lexington, Ky.; seven great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Shirley Bratcher of Williamsburg; and other relatives and friends.
One daughter, Juanita Kent, also preceded her in death.
Funeral services will be July 5, at 2 p.m. at Mt. Olive Baptist Church with the Rev. Charles Barnes officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Garden Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Mt. Olive Baptist Church Building Fund.

Earl Philip Saunders
Earl Philip Saunders, 66, of 5068 Cody Road, Nathalie died July 2, 2007, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Saunders was born in Halifax County on January 6, 1941, to the late Joseph William Saunders and Mildred Anderson Saunders and was married to Rachel Chaney Saunders. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Republican Grove.
Survivors of Mr. Saunders include his wife of the home; one daughter, Cheryl Saunders Booker and husband, David Jr., of Nathalie; one son, Bruce Edward Saunders of Nathalie; four brothers, Louis William Saunders and wife, Linda, of Evington, Clyde Allen Saunders and wife, Rita, of Gladys, Larry Thomas ‘Tom’ Saunders and wife, Bonnie, of Long Island, and Harold David Saunders and wife, Mary Vernon, of Midlothian; one sister, Betty Arlene Saunders Riddle and husband, Carson, of Nathalie; and one grandson, Cole Wyatt Booker of Nathalie.
Funeral services will be held July 5, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Republican Grove with the Rev. Shelton Miles III officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall following the service.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, 24592, or First Baptist Church of Republican Grove Building Fund, c/o Margaret Anderson, 2201 Leda-Grove Road, Nathalie, 24577.

Clinton Wayne Culley
Clinton Wayne Culley, 65, of 528 Berry Hill Road, South Boston died July 2, 2007, at his home.
Mr. Culley was born August 1, 1941, in Halifax County to the late Annie Russell Culley and the late John L. Culley Sr. He was a retired driver with Martin Trucking.
Funeral services will be held July 5, at 11 a.m. at Brooks Funeral Home with the Rev. Coy Terry officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Brooks Funeral Home this evening, July 4, from 7:00 until 8:30.
Survivors of Mr. Culley include a daughter, Robin C. Johnson and husband, Wayne, of Southbury, Ct.; his grandchildren, Matt and Mandi Johnson; his devoted friend, Nancy Stevens; six sisters, Lena C. Yancey of Henderson, N.C., Gloria C. Russell of Randolph, Ethel C. Everhart of Scottsburg, Iris C. Redd of Slover, Nancy C. Matthews of South Boston, and Sharon C. Church of Halifax; one brother, Larry Culley of South Boston; and numerous extended family members.
Two sisters, Marie C. Snead and Grey C. Dunkley; and four brothers, John L. ‘Pete’ Culley Jr., Allen and Jimmy Culley, Marshall Grant Culley and Roy Glenn Culley, also preceded Mr. Culley in death.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax County Cancer Association, PO Box 875, South Boston, 24592.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@earthlink.net

John Randolph Duffer
John Randolph Duffer, 80, of South Boston died July 2, 2007, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Duffer was born June 11, 1927, in Charlotte County to the late Percy and Linda Duffer, and was married to the late Bessie King Duffer. He was a member of Dan River Baptist Church.
Graveside services will be held July 4, at 2 p.m. at Oak Ridge Cemetery with the Revs. Melvin Bradshaw and Doug Gibson officiating.
Survivors of Mr. Duffer include three sisters, Mildred Jones of Farmville, Nellie Newcomb of Saxe, and Louise Edwards of Burkeville.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@earthlink.net

HCS Holds On For Sub-District Title

By Doug Ford
G-V staff writer
Halifax County South defended its Dixie Youth Baseball AAA District 2 West Sub-District Tournament title Monday with a heart-stopping 8-7 decision over Halifax.
HCS starts the best of three series for the district title and a berth in the state tournament Friday at Cluster Springs with a 7 p.m. game against the District 2 East Sub-District winner.
HCS held a seemingly safe 8-4 lead going into the top of the sixth inning before Halifax rallied, a bases loaded walk plating a run with one out.
A groundout produced another run to make it 8-6, and the ball was thrown into center field on an attempt to get the Halifax base runner at second.
One run scored on the overthrow to make it 8-7, but HCS outfielder Noah Seate recovered the ball and threw home to nip Halifax base runner Keyshawn Johnson for the final out of the game.
Halifax, which had defeated Scottsburg 14-8 on Sunday to reach the championship round, took 2-0 lead in the top of the first on walks to Tylik Powell, Zack Terry and Aubrey Jordan, followed by an error on a ground ball by Tyler Duffer.
HCS recovered with three runs in its first at-bat, Tristan Howerton smacking a leadoff double, Drew Link reaching on an error, and Eddie Chaney knocking another double.
Seate singled, and Halifax got a force at home for the first out and a Johnson strikeout for the second out.
Luke McCann walked to load the bases, but Johnson got a comebacker to the mound and threw to first for the third out.
Walks to Stevon Jones and Andrew Abbott, followed by Evan Hardy’s RBI single evened the score in the top of the second, but three more HCS runs made it 6-3 going into the third inning.
Peter Gasperini started the inning with a single, Zach Holt drew a walk, Howerton reached on a fielder’s choice and Link walked to help HCS take a three-run lead.
Seate singled in the third and Howerton got a base hit in the fourth inning for HCS, while Kameron Screen and Trevon Brandon drew walks for Halifax in the fourth, but neither team scored again until the fifth.
Johnson singled for Halifax with one out in the inning and Terry walked, before a HCS fielding error plated Johnson to make it 6-4.
HCS added two runs in the fifth to make it 8-4, Woltz reaching base on an error and Seate following with a fly ball that hit the wall in left field for an extra base hit.
Woltz scored and Seate came home on an error on the play to give HCS the cushion it needed to withstand a final rally by Halifax.
Screen walked, Andrew Abbott was hit by a pitch with one out, and Powell and Johnson drew walks to make it 8-5.
Terry hit a RBI groundout to make it 8-6, setting up the final sequence that saw Powell score from third base and Johnson tagged out at home by HCS catcher Link to end the game.
Howerton went the distance on the mound for HCS, while Johnson did the same for Halifax, Howerton finishing with 13 strikeouts and Johnson with five.
Halifax 14 Scottsburg 8
Halifax used two big innings to defeat Scottsburg, scoring six times in its first at-bat and seven more times in the fourth inning.
Scottsburg had taken a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Dustin Crews singled, Colby Grissom reached on a fielder’s choice and Tripp Bennett smacked a two-run double.
Halifax responded with walks to Powell, Johnson and Jordan, an RBI groundout by Duffer, a two-run triple by Adrian Moran, a walk to Screen, RBI single by Brandon and RBI double by Jones to make it 6-2.
Scottsburg got a single by Arthur Joe Watts in the second, before rallying for five runs on four hits in the third to lead 7-6.
Tyler Blackstock singled, Crews walked, Farson singled and Grissom reached on an error. Bennett hit a two-run double and Erik Ferrell singled to complete the rally.
Halifax tied the score at 7-7 in the bottom of the third before adding seven more runs in the fourth, the third inning tally coming on a Jordan base hit, fielder’s choice and double by Screen.
Thirteen batters came to the plate for Halifax in the fourth inning, with two singles by Johnson, base hits by Terry and Duffer, and walks to Powell, Jordan and Brandon helping plate seven runs.
That offset a final tally by Scottsburg in the top of the fourth, that coming on singles by Watts and Crews (RBI).
Grey Henderson singled for Scottsburg in the fifth and Moran added a base hit for Halifax in the fifth, but that was it for the scoring.
Terry pitched the first four innings for Halifax against Scottsburg, while Farson, Layne Shiflet, Crews, Bennett and Henderson shared pitching duties for Scottsburg.

Halifax, Charlotte To Play For Title

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
The Halifax County Dixie Boys 14-year-old all-star team is battling to stay alive in the District 4 Dixie Boys Tournament at the Day Complex in South Boston.
Halifax County downed Prince Edward 13-4 Monday night in an elimination game and advanced to last night’s championship round where it was to face undefeated Charlotte County.
The Halifax County squad needed to defeat Charlotte County last night in order to extend the tournament to a seventh game tonight and have a shot at winning the district championship.
If a game is needed tonight, it will be played at 6:30 p.m.
Halifax County and Charlotte County have faced each other once already in the tournament with Charlotte County downing Halifax County 4-3 Sunday in a second-round contest.
All four of Charlotte County’s runs in that game were unearned runs.
Halifax County fell behind early in Monday’s game against Prince Edward County with the visitors taking advantage of a Halifax County error and three straight hits including a two-RBI double by J.J. Brandt to take a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
A five-run outburst by Halifax County in the bottom of the second inning put Halifax County up 5-3 and the host team never trailed again.
A single from Josh Rogers, and walks to Nick Rouse and Casey Wade loaded the sacks with two out. Kelvin Davis was struck by a pitch to force in the first run. A two-RBI single from J.R. Short tied the game and a two-RBI ground-rule double by Tyler Hoy put Halifax up 5-3.
Prince Edward scored its final run of the game in the top of the third inning when Bob Agee led off with a single and scored when Josh Sibold grounded out for the second out of the inning. That run closed the gap and made it a one-run game.
Halifax County pulled away with two runs in the third inning when Shawn Conner singled and moved to third base on a single by Rogers. Rogers stole second base and a two-RBI single from Rouse put Halifax County up 7-4.
Rouse moved to second base on the play as Prince Edward attempted to nail Rogers at the plate and advanced to third base on a passed ball. Unfortunately for Halifax County, Rouse was caught up in a rundown between third base and home plate later in the inning and tagged out to end the inning.
Halifax County pushed its lead to 8-4 in the fourth inning when Zack Clem smacked a triple with two out and later scored on a passed ball. Another run was added by Halifax County in the fifth inning when Travis Goode singled with one out and scored when Kelvin Davis reached base on an error.
Up 9-4, Halifax County padded its lead further with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning including one on a solo homer by Clem that put Halifax County up 10-4.
Halifax County had 11 hits with Clem, Hoy and Rogers leading the way with two hits each. Short, Conner, Turner, Rouse and Goode had one hit each.
Prince Edward County had seven hits in the contest.
Clem, Turner and Hoy shared the pitching duties with Clem and Turner recording five strikeouts each and Hoy fanning one batter. Each of the three pitchers yielded one walk.
Charlotte County 4
Halifax County 3
After having defeated Clarksville 30-0 in Friday’s opening-round game, Halifax County struggled in its second-round game against Charlotte County on Sunday.
A two-RBI double by Clem put Halifax County up 2-0 in the top of the first inning but Charlotte County used a walk, a hit and a Halifax County error to score twice in the bottom of the frame and tie the score at 2-2.
A walk and a Halifax County error allowed Charlotte County to score another run in the bottom of the second inning to take a 3-2 lead. In the bottom of the fourth inning, a Halifax County error followed by a pair of hits gave Charlotte County another run and a 4-2 lead.
Halifax County tried to get out of the jam in the top of the sixth inning with a leadoff triple from Clem. A hit from Adam Hammock plated Clem to make it a 4-3 score but that was as far as Halifax County got as it left two runners stranded on the sacks when the inning ended.
Offensively, Halifax County had a pretty good day with eight hits. Conner had a big day at the plate going a perfect 3-3 to lead the team with Clem chipping in two hits. Hoy, Thomas Logan, and Hammock each had one hit.
Defensively, it was another story as Halifax County committed four errors in the contest.
Hoy, Turner and Rogers shared time on the mound with the trio combining to hold Charlotte County to four hits while giving up only two walks.
Turner fanned seven batters in his three innings of work while Hoy struck out three batters in his three-inning stint. Rogers fanned one batter in his one winning of work.

Halifax National Ponytails Unbeaten In District
By Doug Ford
G-V Staff WRiter
The Halifax National Ponytails all-stars remained unbeaten in the Dixie Softball District 7 Tournament with a 14-3 rout of Altavista on Monday.
Halifax American, saddled with a first-day loss to Brookneal, stayed alive Monday with 11-0 no-hit shutout against Motley to set up a showdown with National last night.
Altavista and Brookneal, each with one loss, also played last night, with the loser eliminated from the tournament.
Halifax National 14
Altavista 3
National overcame an early 2-0 deficit with seven first-inning runs on the way to a 14-3 win against Altavista in three and a half innings.
Kelsy Williams led the way with two hits and three RBIs for the game, Abby Woltz and Samantha Moser each had two hits and two RBIs, and Cori Campbell finished with a double and two RBIs.
Arica Matthews and Victoria Evans each had an RBI single, Miyana Ross an RBI, and Brooke Thaxton a base hit for National.
A triple and two walks helped Altavista take a 2-0 lead in its first at-bat, but National struck for seven runs in the first inning.
Campbell’s double, singles by Woltz, Williams and Moser, along with walks to two walks to Evans, and free passes to Matthews, Ross and Thaxton helped produce a 7-2 lead.
Woltz hit a leadoff single in the second, Williams and Moser hit RBI singles and Ross an RBI groundout to give National a 10-2 advantage, and four runs the next inning ended the game under the mercy rule.
Another leadoff hit, this one by Thaxton, started the rally, and Lauren Albertson was hit by a pitch, Evans hitting a RBI single, Campbell getting an RBI on a fielder’s choice, and Woltz an RBI on a groundout.
Matthews hit a RBI single to finish the scoring.
Albertson went the distance on the mound for National, allowing only two hits in three innings, while striking out nine batters.
Halifax American 11
Motley 0
Kendall Lloyd, Courtney Epps and Shannon Smith hurled a combined no-hitter and American scored all its runs in the first three innings to rout Motley.
Smith had a triple, single and two RBIs, Ashley Watson a single and RBI, and Taylor Mosley, Lloyd, Emily Nester and Megan Comer each an RBI in the win, while Megan Puckett and Shelbie Taylor added base hits.
Mosley and Lloyd (RBI) reached on errors, Smith hit a RBI single, Nester reached on an error, Autumn McFadden walked, Puckett reached on a fielder’s choice and Watson singled to help give American a 4-0 lead after one inning.
Taylor singled, Mosley reached on an error to score a run, and Mosley scored on a ball hit to the outfield by Lloyd to give American a 6-0 lead after two frames.
Five more runs in the third made it 11-0, a walk to Meg Bane and RBI triple by Smith starting the rally. Nester reached on an error to plate a run, McFadden walked, Puckett singled, Watson hit a RBI groundout and Comer reached on an error to score another run.
That was more than enough run support for Lloyd, Epps and Smith, who struck out a combined six batters in four innings, with only two Altavista batters reaching base.
Halifax National 18 Brookneal 2
The Halifax National Ponytails all-stars scored ten second-inning runs on the way to a 18-2 rout of Brookneal in three innings.
Williams had three base hits and an RBI, Moser a double and three RBIs, and Peyton Myers a single and four RBIs and Thaxton a two-run base hit.
Woltz and Matthews each had a RBI hit, while Cassie Puryear accounted for two RBIs and Campbell and Albertson one RBI apiece.
Evans had two base hits and scored twice from her leadoff position, and Ross added another base hit for National, which took a 6-2 lead after one inning.
Brookneal plated two runs on a error, walk and two-run triple in the top of the first, but National responded in its first at-bat.
Campbell walked and Woltz reached on a fielder’s choice, Campbell scoring on an error and Woltz on a RBI hit by Matthews. Williams hit a RBI single, Moser reached on a fielder’s choice for another run, Ross reached on a fielder’s choice, Myers hit a two-run single and Puryear reached on an error for another RBI.
National scored ten runs in the second and two in the third, Evans starting the second inning rally with a single and Woltz following with a RBI hit. Matthews reached base on an error for a RBI and scored on a wild pitch, Williams hit a single and scored on a Moser hit, and Ross singled, before a RBI its by Myers and a two-RBI hit by Thaxton.
Puryear reached on a fielder’s choice for an RBI, Albertson hit a RBI groundout, Evans singled and Campbell hit an RBI single to complete the rally.
Williams hit a single and Moser a RBI double in the third, before Myers reached base on an error to make it 18-2, and Brookneal was retired in order the top of the fourth to end the game.
National used two pitchers in the win, Ross starting and hurling the first two innings, before Woltz came on to pitch the final two frames.
The pair combined for four strikeouts, while the National defense backed them up with only two errors for the game.
Halifax American 7
Charlotte County 3
Bane and Smith each hit an RBI triple and Lloyd reached on a fielder’s choice for two RBIs, as Halifax American staved off elimination with a win over Charlotte County, bouncing Charlotte County from the tourney.
Watson reached base on an error to score a run and Puckett accounted for another run, as American built a 7-0 lead and held off a last ditch rally by Charlotte County in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Nester and Hannah Saunders added base hits for American, which broke through for three runs in the third inning of a scoreless game.
Watson singled and scored after a wild pitch, stolen base and another wild pitch and Comer, Epps and Taylor walked before Lloyd reached base on a fielder’s choice for two runs.
Nester walked and McFadden reached on a fielder’s choice in the fourth, Nester scoring on a flyout by Puckett and McFadden when Watson reached base on an error.
That made it 5-0 and American added its final two runs in the top of the sixth, when Lloyd reached on an error, Bane smacked a RBI double and Smith a RBI triple.
Charlotte County rallied in the bottom of the sixth with three runs on two walks, a single and two-run double for three runs, but a strikeout ended the game.
Bane and Lloyd shared pitching duties for American against Charlotte County, Bane finishing with ten strikeouts.

American Belles One Win Away From District Title
By Doug Ford
G-V Staff WRiter
The Halifax American Belles all-stars are one win away from defending their District 7 tourney title, after a 10-0 win over Brookneal on Sunday.
American needed to win one of a final two-game set against Brookneal Tuesday night to secure the district title and a berth in the Dixie Softball Virginia State Tournament starting July 13 in Botetourt.
Brookneal reached the tournament championship series by scoring three times in its last at-bat to edge Halifax National 4-3 on Monday.
Brookneal 4 Halifax National 3
Brookneal plated three runs on three hits, a walk and Halifax National error in the top of the seventh for a 4-3 win that eliminated National from the tournament.
Brookneal finished with six hits for the game, compared to four for Halifax National.
Each team scored in the first inning, Brookneal plating a run on a walk, groundout and two-out single, while National scored twice.
Katie Barnett reached base on an error for Halifax National in the bottom of the first and scored on Lauren Daniel’s one-out double, Daniel stealing third and coming home on another error to give National a 2-1 lead.
National had one base runner in each of the next two innings on a error and a walk, before scoring its final run in the fourth.
Megan Day hit a leadoff double and Erica Wilson a one-out RBI base hit to give National a 3-1 lead.
Halifax National’s Emily Conner was stranded after a sixth inning single and Brookneal broke through for three runs in its final at-bat to win the game.
A leadoff single, followed by a walk, put Brookneal base runners at first and second, and a National error plated one run to make it 3-2.
An RBI single tied the score and a two-out RBI double gave Brookneal the 4-3 lead.
Halifax National went down in order in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Brookneal the win.
Lauren Marstin went the distance for Brookneal, recording five strikeouts in seven innings, while National sent three pitchers to the mound.
Daniel started the game and pitched three innings, followed by Melissa Blanks, who pitched innings four through six, and Day, who hurled the final inning.
Daniel finished with six strikeouts and Blanks with one.
Halifax American 10 Brookneal 0
Sara Stewart and Kate Bane pitched a combined no-hitter, and the American Belles all-stars stayed unbeaten with a 10-0 shutout of Brookneal.
American finished with nine hits for the game, Dalyn Hall with a double and single, Kim Snead, Corrina Aguilar and Jennifer Lacks with each with a single and RBI, Caitlin Lawhorn with a double, and Christine DeGeorgis, Bane and Miranda Conner with base hits.
American also took advantage of a number of Brookneal errors to score runs, including two in the first inning, when Lacks reached base on a Brookneal miscue and Hall singled, both coming home on another error.
Lawhorn doubled and Sharilyn Walton reached on an error in the second inning, both advancing on a wild pitch, before Snead’s RBI sacrifice fly made it 3-0. Walton stole third and came home on Aguilar’s RBI hit to make it 4-0.
Johanna Spencer walked, stole second and scored on a Lacks base hit to make it 5-0 after three innings, and Bane singled, Lawhorn reached on an error and Walton walked in the fourth, Bane scoring on a wild pitch and Lawhorn and Walton on errors to make it 8-0.
Two more American runs in the sixth inning ended the game under the mercy rule, Hall getting a leadoff single and Bane reaching base on an error, with tow more Brookneal miscues plating them both.
Stewart and Bane combined to strike out five batters, and only six Brookneal batters reached base during the game, five on walks and another on the only American error of the contest.
Halifax National 20
Charlotte County 2
Barnett and Daniel each had a double, single and three RBIs, and Day had two singles and two RBIs, while hurlers Lyndsay Lawter, Blanks and Day held Charlotte County to three hits in a 20-2 rout, eliminating Charlotte County from the tournament.
Six other players contributed an RBI for National, Jill Trickey with a double (RBI) and single, Lawter, Brittany Cole, Brittany Long and Emily Conner with RBI singles and Erica Wilson an RBI when she reached base on an error.
Sydney Puryear added a base hit for National, which scored six runs in the first, seven in the second and seven in the fourth.
Barnett and Day walked to start the first for National and Daniel hit a two-run double. Trickey and Cole walked, each scoring on wild pitches and errors, and Long reached base on an error and scored on Conner’s single.
Blanks and Strange walked in the second, and Puryear reached on a fielder’s choice before a two-run single by Barnett, RBI hit by Day and RBI groundout by Daniel. Lawter reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on Trickey’s double to make it 13-0 after two innings.
Charlotte County used two base hits and a National error to plate two runs in the top of the fourth, but National responded with seven more of its own in the bottom of the inning.
Puryear singled and scored on Barnett’s double, and Day hit an RBI single. Daniel singled and scored when Wilson reached on a fielder’s choice, and Lawter knocked a RBi single.
Trickey singled and Cole and Long added RBI singles in the rally that made it 20-2.
Charlotte County was retired in order the top of the fifth to end the game under the mercy rule.
Lawter hurled the first two innings for National, Blanks the next two and Day the final inning, the trio combining to strike out five batters.