Morgan To Testify Today

Six Witnesses Remain As Capital Murder Sentencing Hearing Concludes

The sentencing phase of Xenia Uzella Morgan’s capital murder trial is expected to conclude today as Morgan takes the stand in her own defense.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Kim White characterized Lillian Beatrice Taylor’s 2003 murder as a “cruel, vicious and vile attack” by a neighbor who had turned to Taylor in the past for help.
Throughout the day of testimony that will determine whether she receives life in prison or the death penalty, Morgan looked straight ahead, expressionless.
White described Lillian Taylor as the “neighbor we all wished we had.”
“Her house was neat as a pin. She drove her neighbors to town and always listened when they came to her for advice.
“She was also the mother and grandmother we all wished we had.”
All that changed on May 9, 2003, when Taylor was “discovered in her home mutilated and slaughtered by her neighbor,” continued White.
“Her home was no longer neat as a pin, there was blood everywhere. Most horrific was the condition she left Taylor.”
White provided a graphic Powerpoint presentation with numerous photos taken at Taylor’s autopsy by Dr. Marcella Fierro, Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Fierro pointed out some of the 78 cuts and stab wounds inflicted on Taylor, all while Morgan sat impassively with defense attorneys R. Clinton Clary Jr. and Joseph Teefey, never once glancing at the photos.
Fierro told the court that those stab wounds, found on virtually every part of the victim’s body, in combination with blunt force injuries to the head and chest areas, were the cause of death.
Some of the cuts were consistent with the victim trying to fight off her attacker, added Fierro.
In perhaps the most heart-wrenching testimony of the day, Taylor’s daughter, Sherry Hyler said she had discussed Morgan with her mother just days before the attack.
“The last time we were up there (at Taylor’s home), we discussed her because she had asked to use the phone to call the police after an altercation with a man," she said. “I told mom it wasn’t a good idea to let her into her home."
Through her tears, and the tears of family in the gallery, Hyler described the day the family was let back into the home.
“When we were first allowed to go in there after a week, there was a black garbage bag in the middle of the floor," she said. “We had to hire a cleanup crew to come in and clean up the home.
“I bought a pair of dishwashing gloves and opened the bag and there was blood on all of the photographs.
“The blood was still wet inside a photo album," she said, sobbing. “I had to cut around the blood to salvage the faces of my family."
“I miss her kindness," said her son William Arnold, who lived on the farm with his mother approximately 30 yards from where the attack took place. “I was at home when (Taylor) was attacked.
“You can’t take back a day in the past, all I can do is speculate about what I did wrong not hearing anything," he added.
Arnold testified that he had even had an intercom system installed between his home and his mother’s.
“I wish I had been able to help her," he said. “She wasn’t able to call me or to get to the intercom button."
He further testified that during the attack, a loaded rifle was sitting by the front door of the Quarles School Road home.
“A week later, when we were allowed to go back in to scatter Mom’s ashes, the rifle was still there by the door," Arnold said.
“No matter what you did wrong, you’re never wrong in your mother’s eyes," he added. “But she was like that with everyone. I miss her because of who she was – because of the kind of woman she was."
The court earlier heard testimony from three individuals who were incarcerated along with Morgan, and from two records custodians from institutions which housed Morgan.
One inmate described Morgan as a bully, likely to start arguments, make threats and intimidate people, while another described Morgan as someone who “just never got along” with some inmates.
Both testified that Morgan was less than cooperative with authority figures, especially jailers in both institutions.
Although not denying that Taylor’s murder was a tragic event, defense attorney Clary told the court to take into consideration Morgan’s mental state at the time of the murder.
“Morgan grew up in a dysfunctional family in an environment of extreme substance abuse,” said Clary.
Defense witness Dr. James Thomas, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at the Medical College of Virginia supported that testimony.
“(Morgan) didn’t have a consistent educational support system at home," he said, adding that numerous standardized tests indicate that Morgan is between nine and 30 percent of the national average.
“I look for things that would suggest cognitive problems," Thomas added. “In this case, her (Morgan’s) prolonged history of alcohol and substance use by itself is enough to have me look for a neuropsychological evaluation. And her educational background is spotty or erratic."
Thomas pointed out that Morgan was moved back and forth as a child between a father who abused drugs and her mother. “What I saw was a very unstable family environment.
“There is a history of substance abuse and depression.
“I really think this is a double whammy," Thomas added. “Biologically being more prone to substance abuse and the living environment."
At the time of the murder, she [Morgan] was under the influence of alcohol, according to Clary, who pointed to previous expert testimony which indicated Morgan was suffering from frontal lobe damage, which impaired her decision-making ability and her judgment.
Alcohol aggravated that condition, he emphasized.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Evan Nelson testified that his examination of Morgan, along with examinations performed by other psychologists, presented a picture of someone unable to perform adequately in a social setting, one who can go from extreme anger to calm within moments.
He theorized that Morgan’s past actions were more consistent with a personality disorder than frontal lobe damage.
“One clear trigger is alcohol," said Nelson. “Virtually every legal problem she has is precipitated by alcohol, recalling Morgan’s criminal history.
“She received no positive emotional messages on a regular basis, and has a history of substance abuse and anti-social behavior," he added.
While the Commonwealth pointed to incident records of Morgan’s behavior while incarcerated as indicative of future dangerousness in a prison setting, Nelson cited statistics which, across the board, indicated violent acts in a prison setting (such as murder) run less than half of those for society at large.
Nelson added, however, that acts of aggression in prisons are significantly higher than society at large.
One needs to look at both those statistics and the incident reports on Morgan while incarcerated to get a more accurate picture of her future behavior.
“Odds are her behavior will be better judged by prior statistics, but her history in jail is much worse," noted Nelson.
“But she hasn’t followed through with that aggression, and there’s no reason to think that will change. I can’t guarantee she won’t repeat violent behavior in prison, but the odds are in her favor."
Thomas agreed.
“Clearly, her consuming alcohol given her frontal lobe problem is a very bad factor that needs to be controlled," he said. “The best way to do that is to put her in an environment without access to it. I would recommend substance counseling to address and try to minimize that risk."
When questioned by Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Michelle Gowdy about whether Morgan’s drug abuse could have lowered her test scores since they were taken, Thompson said he was being asked “to compare apples and oranges."
“Many times when she has been offered substance abuse treatment, she refused to take it," he said when asked. “She will always have a propensity for impulsive behavior. The potential will not go away."
“But can we predict when they will occur?" Gowdy pressed.
“My experience would suggest we can develop information about what situations will make that occur," Thomas said. “By observing her.
“The frontal lobe problem isn’t going to go away," he added. “She’s still going to have problems controlling her emotions. But I’m more concerned about actions that present a danger to other people."

 

 

Was Danville Motorist A Road Rage Victim?

 

Shooter Drives Alongside, Fires Pistol At Car

A Danville man returned to his home yesterday following a Friday night U.S. 360 incident in Charlotte County that left him with a single gunshot wound to his head, a destroyed vehicle and police wondering if he may have been a “road rage” victim.
Because of the nature of the crime, State Trooper Jodie Wilborn withheld the 54-year-old victim’s name saying only that he was an employee of Goodyear in Danville. In fact, added Wilborn, “a pretty good one”.
Wilborn said the victim was shot once in the head with a pistol. The bullet first struck the rear passenger door glass and continued though the car before striking the victim in the head. He was transported by ambulance to Halifax Regional Hospital and later airlifted to Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C.
According to police, doctors at Duke recovered the bullet from the victim whose injuries, remarkably enough, were not life threatening. Wilborn called the victim “very fortunate”.
The victim was operating a 2005 Nissan, red in color, when the incident occurred on U.S. 360 near Wylliesburg in Charlotte County. A second unknown vehicle was traveling east in the same direction – “pretty much side-by-side” – when the shooting occurred around 9:30 p.m.
The vehicles “came together” before crossing the median, both westbound lanes and striking an embankment. The victim’s Nissan then traveled an estimated 2,300 to 2,500 feet across a field before entering a wooded area.
Wilborn said that, from evidence taken at the scene, it appears the victim may have been trying to “get away” from the shooter.
The shooter is believed to have been driving a white or light gray auto of unknown make. According to Wilborn, the assailant then drove away from the scene.
Police say the vehicle would have sustained heavy damages to the front and passenger side and would be “traced with red paint” from the Nissan it made contact with.
Wilborn declared the Nissan a total loss.
A resident living near the scene told reporters that barking dogs lead him to discover the victim who had gotten out of the vehicle and walked a short distance to his front yard. The witness said that he found the victim dazed and bleeding from his head but assumed that his injuries were accident-related.
So did police apparently.
Hours later at Halifax Regional Hospital, doctors discovered that the victim had been shot.
The victim, said Wilborn, had only provided a sketchy account of what had happened but did recall being followed closely by another vehicle that was moving from lane to lane.
Wilborn said that the victim had health problems and he assumed that those conditions might have contributed to what was believed an accident at first. A closer examination of the victim’s vehicle produced solid evidence of bullet fragments.
The victim, according to investigators, was on his way to visit relatives in Richmond and stopped at Sheetz in South Boston for fuel around 9:00 p.m. Friday evening.
Wilborn said that he had examined tapes from video recorders mounted at Sheetz and obtained “some information” but wants anyone who may have seen the described Nissan vehicle or the victim, perhaps in conversation with someone at the time of the fueling, to come forward.
Wilborn said that there were no other passengers at the scene when he arrived approximately 15 to 20 minutes after receiving the call.
Anyone having information is asked to call (434) 476-1887 and speak with Special Agent Troy LaRue.

 

 

Supes Get First Look At Edmunds Park Plans

If Fully Implemented, Four-Phase Plan Would Cost $3,448,250

Following a brief joint meeting with town councils, the Halifax County Board of Supervisors got their first look at a preliminary implementation plan for the Paul C. Edmunds Jr. Memorial Park.
Assistant County Administrator Jerry Lovelace told supervisors that despite improvements to date, it was time to come up with a future plan for the park, located off Dan River Church Road.
“We’ve done a lot of things at the park," he said, citing the existing pavilion, bridges, fences and disc golf course. “But we’re at the point now that it’s appropriate that the Board look at the long-term objective.
“It’s going to be an expensive matter, but it can be a good thing for our county’s citizens," Lovelace added.
He told the Board that county residents are regularly using the park.
“I don’t think a Saturday or Sunday has gone by that the park hasn’t been used," he said. “But it can be so much more."
Introducing the plan, which must be approved by supervisors before implementation, Blaine Keessee of engineers Draper Aden Associates told the Board the goal of the plan is to set a vision for the park.
“I think we’ve come up with something workable," he said. “We’re trying to look at the features and place them in groups."
The groups include passive recreation facilities like trails, parking facilities, an entry sign and volleyball courts.
The planned trails include both handicap accessible and hiking trails.
The estimated costs for the passive recreation facilities are $330,500.
The second grouping is a heritage village totaling an estimated $260,500.
Keessee said he initially worked with the concept of a heritage farm that would highlight the county’s agricultural past, but found people willing to donate old buildings.
“All of a sudden, our heritage farm took on the identity of a heritage village," he said. “This will help to celebrate the heritage of the region."
The village will feature walkways and a tobacco lot.
“As this moved forward, we had the opportunity to create a demonstration plot for ornamental plants as an alternative crop," Keessee said. “You’d have the opportunity to show crops of the past and potential agricultural features of the future."
A third grouping – the most expensive at $1,085,000 – calls for a visitor’s center located at the site of the existing silo on the property.
“This could be expanded to include a multipurpose facility used for banquets," Keessee said.
A fourth grouping calls for the addition of a Sports Hall of Fame and banquet center, at a cost of $964,500.
“We think it should be a reception and welcome center for the park," said architect Glen Reynolds. “We came up with a two-phase building that can be built with a budget that is determined pretty close to the time of construction. This needs to be a building that will house restrooms and at the same time be an attraction that will incorporate the sports hall of fame. There is sports memorabilia around the county that needs to be housed in one place."
Planners said the welcome/visitor’s center would be an estimated 6,600 square feet, with an additional 6,400 square feet allocated for the banquet center.
Other features that could be considered include festival grounds, at a cost of $267,750 and a “splash park" of water features costing $200,000.
If all groups were implemented, the total estimated cost for the park facilities is $3,108,250, with an additional $340,000 estimated for utilities at the site.
Following the presentation, County Administrator Bryan Foster told the Board that it was time to consider the concept of what the park should be.
“We can’t afford to do this sort of ad hoc development without knowing what the long-term plans entail," he said. “The Board needs to make some conceptual decisions with regard to Edmunds Park."
“We have volunteers who want to do things out there, but they don’t know what to do," added Supervisor James Edmunds.
Joint Meeting
During their joint meeting with the town councils of South Boston and Halifax, Board members received an update on the county’s water/sewer master plan study.
Foster told the group that while the original completion date for the study was August, it would be late December before the study was complete.
“Because it’s taken longer (than expected) to get some of the data, we’re looking at a final plan completion December 30," he said.
Foster said he expects the process to move more rapidly now that the initial data is on hand.
“We’re looking at August 12 for an analysis of the system as it is now (in the Town of Halifax," he said.
Addressing the planned regional landfill, Foster said the public service authority is focusing on the permitting process.
“Although January, 2008 sounds like a long time away, the time it takes to get the permits and do the construction will take some time," he said. “We’re still keeping our options open, but we’re moving forward with the proposed site in Mecklenburg County."
Locally, Foster said officials are exploring options available for the collection and transportation of the county’s waste.
“Now that we have the disposal options in mind, we need to think about how to collect it and get it there," he said.
Supervisors passed a motion authorizing the county to act as the fiscal agent for the Town of Halifax in applying for $30,000 in matching VDOT funds for improvements in the town’s Downtown Project.
Foster told the Board that the funding will be used for improvements at the intersection of Mountain Road and Main Street, curb and gutter improvements and a pedestrian sign at the intersection of Mountain Road and Main Street.
On a motion by Supervisor Doug Bowman and a second by Supervisor Lottie Nunn, the Board approved the resolution “subject to (the Town of) Halifax approving the grant and matching funds.
Supervisors William Fitzgerald, Bryant Claiborne and R.E. “Dickie" Abbott were absent at Monday’s meeting.

 

Obituaries

Willie Marshall Crews

Willie Marshall Crews of 1041 State Shed Road, Nathalie died July 19. He was born in Halifax County on September 7, 1923, and was married to Betty Dalton Crews. He was a retired construction superintendent.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Jeannette Crews Hamlette of Appomattox; one son, Kenneth M. Crews of Nathalie; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Mr. Crews was preceded in death by one son, Michael L. Crews.
Funeral services will be held at Childrey Baptist Church tomorrow, July 21, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Andy Ferguson officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The remains will lie in state at the church for one hour prior to the service.
The family will receive friends at the home.

John Crawley

John Crawley, 73, of 1108 Pine Height Trail, Halifax, died July 16 at McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center in Richmond.
Mr. Crawley was born in Halifax County on June 1, 1932, the son of the late Joseph David Crawley and Annie Clay Crawley Cowans, and was married to Pearlean White Crawley. He was a member of Dan River Bethel Baptist Church, was a Korean War Army Veteran, and was retired from Georgia-Pacific Plywood Company.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Bobbie C. Howerton of South Boston and Shirley Crawley of Halifax; two grandchildren, Siobhan and Jaleesa Howerton; one son-in-law, Calvin L. Howerton. Mr. Crawley was preceded in death by one son, John Crawley Jr.
Funeral services will be held July 23, at 1 p.m. at Dan River Bethel Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery with Military Honors by American Legion Post 99.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

Dora Williams Francis

Dora Williams Francis, 95, of L.P. Bailey Memorial Highway, Nathalie, died July 18 at Halifax Regional Hospital. She was twice married, first to the late George T. Anderson and secondly to the late Walter Francis.
Mrs. Francis was born in Halifax County on August 10, 1909, the daughter of the late Joseph Richard Williams and Alice Powell Williams. She was a member of Clover Bottom Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sons, George W. Anderson and wife, Viola, and Joseph D. Anderson; one daughter, Linda A. Anderson and husband, Bob, all of Nathalie; six grandchildren, Dale Anderson of Michigan City, Ind., Marcella Brown and Carol Connett, both of LaPorte, Ind., Donna Francis of Nathalie, Donna Harris of Roxboro, N.C. and Tim Anderson of N.C.
Mrs. Francis was preceded in death by one son, Linwood Edward Anderson; and two brothers, Edward and Joseph Williams.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow, July 21, in Clover Bottom Baptist Church Cemetery with the Revs. Shelton Miles and Randall Johnson officiating.
The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 7:30, this evening, July 20, at Henderson Funeral Home, Brookneal.

Elizabeth Cliborne Reaves

Elizabeth Cliborne Reaves of Greensboro, N.C. died July 17.
Mrs. Reaves was born in Halifax County the daughter of Henry and Virgie Brown Cliborne, and was married to the late Frank Reaves. She was a member of Lawnside Baptist Church and had retired from Sears, Roebuck and Company.
Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Rita and Steve DeBusk of Greensboro, N.C.; one granddaughter, Meredith Elizabeth DeBusk of Nantucket, Mass.; one grandson, Zachary Theodore DeBusk of Raleigh, N.C.; two sisters, Nancy Overstreet of Halifax and Lelia Byers of Blue Ridge, Ga.; and one brother, Lawrence Cliborne of Goose Creek, S.C.
Graveside services for Mrs. Reaves were held July 19, at 2 p.m. at Lakeview Memorial Park in Greensboro.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Lawndale Baptist Church, 3503 Lawndale Drive, Greensboro, 27408.

Jean Sydnor Stephens

Jean Sydnor Stephens, 58, of 200 Hamilton Boulevard, South Boston, died July 15 at Danville Regional Medical Center.
Mrs. Stephens was born in Halifax County on March 13, 1947, the daughter of the alte Winston Sydnor and Florene Jennings Sydnor. She was a member of Apostolic Body of Christ Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Deronica Stephens of South Boston; one son, Kevin Stephens of South Boston; one grandchild; two sisters, Ada Barksdale of Halifax and Mary Byrd of Alexandria; two brothers, Carl Sydnor of Halifax and Willie Sydnor of Alexandria; three sisters-in-law, Rosa, Shirley and Agnes Sydnor; and her devoted friends, Brenda Sims and Doris Williams. Mrs. Stephens was preceded in death by two brothers, Herman and Winston Sydnor.
Funeral services will be held July 22, at 2 p.m. at Ellis Creek Baptist Church with Minister Donna Foster conducting the service. Burial will follow in Brown’s Memorial Holiness Church Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

Mark Arthur Foster

Mark Arthur Foster, of Mount Vernon, N.Y., formerly of Clover, died July 14 at the age of 60.
Mr. Foster was born March 2, 1945 to the late James Robert Foster and Savannah Wooden Foster and was married to Helen Foster.
Mark Foster is survived by his wife, Helen Foster of the home; one son, Arthur Foster of Pennsylvania; one daughter, Loretta Foster of Connecticut; one sister, Phyllis Carden of Scottsburg; two brothers, Lewis Foster of Washington, D.C.; William Foster of Clover; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mark Arthur Foster will be held tomorrow, July 21 at 11 a.m., with services at Camelot Funeral Home, 174 Stevens Ave., Mount Vernon, New York.

 

Errors Doom Halifax County South In District Title Bid

Errors Foiled Halifax County South’s Bid For A Second Straight Dixie Youth Baseball Major League District 2 Title Monday Night As Brunswick County Topped HCS 6-5

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

For the second year in a row Halifax County South and Brunswick County needed three games to determine the District 2 Dixie Youth Baseball Major League title.
But Halifax County South was unable to repeat the magic of last year’s title win.
Foiled by errors and miscues, Halifax County South saw its bid for the district championship slip away in a 6-5 road loss to Brunswick County Monday night.
With the District 2 title in hand, Brunswick County will begin play in the Virginia Dixie Youth Major League State Tournament this weekend in Rustburg.
“We just gave it away," said Halifax County South coach Harold Carmichael.
“We just didn’t play smart. We didn’t play Halifax County South baseball."
Halifax County South committed seven errors in the game and five of the six runs Brunswick County scored in the contest were unearned runs. Brunswick County’s only earned run was a two-run homer by Dequan Seward in the fifth inning. The runner that scored with Seward had reached base on an error.
Along with the defensive errors, Halifax County South had its share of miscues on offense as well as two runners were thrown at third base as a result of what Carmichael called “base running blunders."
“We had our chances," Carmichael said.
“Mistakes hurt us all night."
Halifax County South had seven hits in the game with Dylan Sons, Ryan Puryear, Dillion Shotwell, Nicholas Rouse, Dominic Henderson, Randy Snead and Travis Lipscomb each getting one hit. Sons had two RBIs and Puryear and Henderson had one RBI.
Halifax County South took the initial lead, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third inning to grab a 2-0 lead on back-to-back hits from Rouse, Henderson and Snead.
Brunswick County answered by scoring three runs in the top of the fourth inning, all of which were unearned runs spiked by Halifax County South errors.
Three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning put Halifax County South back on top 5-3.
Lipscomb reached base on a hit and Tyler Long reached base on a walk with one out two put two runners on the bases. A two-RBI double by Sons put HCS on top and a run-scoring hit by Puryear gave the team a two-run cushion.
A three-run rally in the top of the fifth inning keyed by Seward’s homer put Brunswick County on top 6-5.
Halifax County South saw Puryear reach base on a walk with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning but was unable to plate a game-tying run.
Monday night’s third game was made necessary after a grand slam homer by Scott Rickman with two out in the bottom of the sixth inning lifted Halifax County South to a 10-6 win over Brunswick County in the second game of the series which was played Sunday at Cluster Springs.
The big round-tripper by Rickman was his second homer of the day and gave him seven RBIs in the contest. His three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning allowed Halifax County South to take a 5-4 lead in the game, a lead that evaporated when Brunswick County took advantage of a Halifax County South error to score twice and retake the lead at 6-5.
Brunswick County won Saturday night’s opening game, rallying from an early 4-0 deficit to snare a 10-6 victory at its home field.
Sunday’s game at the Halifax County South complex in Cluster Springs was a close one all the way with Halifax County South getting 11 hits and Brunswick County getting eight hits.
While Aron Puryear led Halifax County with three hits, there were no hits any bigger than Rickman’s pair of homers, round trippers that left him with seven RBIs in the game. Long had two hits as did Ryan Puryear and Dillion Puryear.
Brunswick grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning and Halifax County South countered with a run in the bottom of the frame to deadlock the game at 1-1.
Halifax County South’s inning opened with a leadoff single from Aron Puryear followed by a single from Long. A two-out single by Ryan Puryear scored Aron Puryear to tie the game.
A bases-loaded walk with two out allowed Brunswick County to add a run in the top of the second inning and take a 2-1 lead. Dylan Lewis’ two-RBI double with two out gave Brunswick County two more runs in the top of the third inning and a 4-1 lead.
Halifax County South rallied for four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to grab a 5-4 edge.
Austin Thaxton walked to open the inning, stole second base and scored on a hit by Dillon Puryear. Aron Puryear reached base and Rickman’s three-run homer put Halifax County South on top.
A Halifax County South error allowed Brunswick County to score two runs in the top of the sixth inning and regain the lead at 6-5.
The Brunswick County lead did not last long as a run-scoring double by Dillon Puryear deadlocked the game at 6-6 and Rickman’s grand slam homer with two out gave Halifax County South the win.
Brunswick Co. 10 Halifax Co. South 6 (Saturday Game)
In Saturday night’s opening game, Brunswick County had 10 hits with Halifax County South getting six hits with Rickman, Sons and Ryan Puryear each getting two hits.
It appeared to be Halifax County South in control early in Saturday night’s game as Halifax County South scratched up four runs in the first inning to take a quick 4-0 lead.
Walks to Aron Puryear and Kyle Long started the inning with Rickman and Sons following with run-scoring back-to-back singles. Ryan Puryear followed with a two-RBI double to stake HCS to the early lead.
Brunswick County rebounded with five runs in the bottom of the third inning with the help of a three-run homer by Robert Comley to take a 5-4 lead. Halifax County South regained the lead with two runs in the top of the fourth inning with a two-RBI double by Sons putting HCS up 6-5.
The see-saw battle continued in the bottom of the fourth inning with Brunswick County staking advantage of three Halifax County South errors and five hits, two of which scored runs, to plate five runs and take a 10-6 lead.
Halifax County South had an opportunity to counter in the fifth inning but failed to score while leaving the bases loaded.

 

 

DYB AAA State Tourney Down To Three Teams

Host Halifax County South Was Eliminated Sunday; Vinton, Madison Heights And Blacksburg Were Still Alive Last Night With The Title Game Set For Tonight

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

With host team Halifax County South having been eliminated from the Virginia Dixie Youth Baseball AAA League State Tournament Sunday night and Blackstone being eliminated Monday night, three teams, Vinton National, Madison Heights and Blacksburg were left last night to continue the battle for the state crown.
Blacksburg needed seven innings to defeat Blackstone 5-4 in Monday night’s opening game and bump Blackstone out of the tournament. Vinton, with the help of a sixth-inning rally, downed Madison Heights 7-5 in the nightcap winner’s bracket game.
With Vinton, Madison Heights and Blacksburg all left with one loss, Blacksburg got the lucky draw for a bye from last night, leaving Vinton and Madison Heights to square off for a second time last night in an elimination game.
The winner of last night’s Vinton-Madison Heights contest will face Blacksburg tonight at 7 p.m. for the state championship.
Halifax County South was eliminated from the state tournament with a 10-4 loss to Blacksburg on Sunday.
Blacksburg out hit Halifax County South 10-6 with Halifax County South being led by Seth Elliott with two hits. Jacob New, Tyler Holt, Michael Watts and Ryan Puryear each had one hit. Watts had two RBIs in the game and Puryear had one.
Halifax County South stranded six base runners during the game and committed three errors on defense.
It was Halifax County South jumping on top early with Jacob New reaching base on a bunt single and scoring later in the inning to put HCS on top 1-0.
Blacksburg countered with leadoff batter Michael Wolforde reaching base on a Halifax County South and scoring later in the inning on a hit by Colin Ball to tie the game at 1-1 after one inning of play.
Halifax County South took the lead for a second time in the top of the second inning when Elliott walked and scored on a double from Puryear to take a 2-1 lead.
Blacksburg countered by scoring five runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 6-2 lead.
Two Halifax County South errors allowed two of the first three Blacksburg batters in the inning to reach base. Ball followed with a two-RBI double and a three-run homer by Todd Dunbar with two out put Blacksburg up by four runs.
Blacksburg added four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning with the help of run-scoring hits from Ball, Dunbar, Cody Minnox and Tyler Barry to take a 10-2 lead.
Halifax County South scored a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning to try to get back into contention but it was too little too late.
Holt reached base on a hit and Dunn reached base on an error to give Halifax County South two baserunners with one out. Watts followed with a two-RBI double but that was as far as Halifax County South got as Blacksburg retired the next two Halifax County South batters to end the inning and the game.

 

Angels Inch Closer To State Title

The HC American Angels Are In The Final Four And Are Two Wins Away From The State Title

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

The Halifax County American Angels all-star team has made its way into the Final Four in the Virginia Dixie Angels State Tournament being played in Botetourt County.
Halifax County made its way into the Final Four by downing host Botetourt American 13-0 Monday night.
Monday night’s win set up a match-up last night between the undefeated Halifax County American team and Floyd County. Halifax County defeated Floyd County 11-0 Saturday night.
Amherst County and Botetourt American were to face each other last night.
A win by Halifax County in last night’s contest would set the stage for a state championship game tonight.
Halifax County American made quick work of host Botetourt American Monday night, scoring nine runs in the first inning and adding four more runs later in the game to seal the win.
Nine of the 12 Halifax County American players that batted in the first inning scored runs for the team.
Kendall Lloyd, Meg Bane, Brianna Pierce, Shannon Smith, Autumn McFadden and Emily Nester all had hits and bunts in the first-inning rally.
“We can’t play any better than we’ve been playing,” said Halifax County American coach Woody Bane.
“We’re beating good teams by slaughter rule. These are very good teams we’re beating and we’ve been seeing some good pitching. Our girls are hitting the ball hard and are playing very well. I hope we can continue to play this well the rest of the tournament.”
Halifax County American had 11 hits in the game and were aided by a handful of walks and miscues by Botetourt American.
Smith led Halifax County American with two hits. Lloyd, Bane, Pierce, McFadden, Courtney Epps, Emily Nester, Ashley Watson, Olivia Kavanaugh and Meagan Puckett all had a hit in the game.
Lloyd and Epps combined to spin a two-hitter and fan seven Botetourt American batters in the game that was shortened to four innings under a slaughter rule. Lloyd pitched the first two innings and Epps pitched the third and fourth innings.
The only hits for Botetourt American were a bunt single in the first inning and a hit in the fourth inning.