Sports

Berkeley Springs allowed one goal in two games last week, helping the Indian soccer team finish the week with one win, one loss and a tie.

"I think our defense has played well all year," said Berkeley Springs girls soccer coach Rocky Riffle. "They have kept us in a lot of games and have done a very good job. It is a tough job, because you usually don't get recognized for it, but make no mistake these girls take a lot of pride in being good at what they do."

The Berkeley Springs boys soccer team started last week with an 8-2 over Petersburg, before the injury-ridden team dropped a pair of games, losing to Mercersburg Academy, 5-0, on Wednesday, September 26 in Mercersburg, Pa. and to St. James Academy, 5-1, in Hagerstown, Md. on Saturday, September 26, 5-1.

The Tribe invaded Petersburg on Monday, September 24, and disposed of the Vikings 8-2, outscoring their Grant County rival 4-1 in each half.

The Berkeley Springs High School volleyball team played two matches last week, losing in three games to both St. Maria Goretti on September 24 and to Hedgesville on Wednesday, September 26.

The Indians opened the week at home against Goretti with the Gales prevailing 25-16, 25-14 and 25-22.

Berkeley Springs finished fifth in the Region II, Class AA golf Tournament, played on Monday, September 24, at Tygarts Lake Golf Course in Grafton.

Grafton, led by low medalist Adam Ware's 76, easily defeated the Region II field. Their total of 319, was 29 strokes better than runner-up Frankfort's 349 total. Petersburg finished third with 353, followed by Philip Barbour 378, Berkeley Springs 379, Braxton County 380, Lincoln 387 and Keyser 390.

Bull!

For the second season in a row West Virginia University's football team has fallen to the South Florida Bulls. The Mountaineers' fading hopes for a national championship game are dashed. The likelihood of a BCS bowl appearance by WVU has taken a serious blow.

On Saturday, September 29, Berkeley Springs High School traveled to Hereford, Maryland for the Bull Run Invitational Cross Country Meet. This is the largest meet the Indians have competed in this year and provided a stern test for all involved. The meet featured four divisions: small school, medium school, large school and elite.

Junior Lenny Roach continued his impressive season, winning the small school division comprised of 26 teams and 197 runners. Roach's winning time of 16:46 was 15 seconds better than that of Kyle Andrews of Oakland Mills. Roach's time was only bettered by one runner in all four divisions combined.

Six graders at Paw Paw Elementary sat in the dark for more than an hour last Wednesday, learning the difference between a helpful ghost and a restless ghost.

Their lesson – one in folk-lore and West Virginia ghost stories – came from professional storytellers Jo Ann Dadisman and June Riffle who visited Morgan County schools for three days.

Amanda Waltman has done a great job in goal this year for the Berkeley Springs High School girls soccer team. Indian coach Rocky Riffle has described her as having the best hands of any goalie in the state and she lived up to the billing on Monday, September 24, stopping 14 shots, as the Indians defeated Petersburg 1-0, in Petersburg, for her fifth shutout of the year.

"Our defense was outstanding," Riffle said. "We have been shuffling the lineup because of injuries and the girls have played well. In fact, against Petersburg, we had to play shorthanded for much of the game because of a red card. This was our second win of the year over Petersburg and will help with our sectional seeding. I am glad we got out of there (Petersburg) with a win."

Berkeley Springs traveled to Ridgley on Friday, September 21, for a showdown with longtime rival Frankfort. The Indians rolled the dice in overtime and escaped with a three-point victory, 26-23.

After Frankfort kicked a successful 22-yard field goal in overtime to take a 23-20 lead, Berkeley Springs, facing a fourth down from inside the Falcon one yard line, decided to forgo the tie and go for the win. Cody Reed, who had 151 yards rushing, took the handoff from Matt Colwell and leaped into the end zone for the win.

The Berkeley Springs High School Volleyball Team picked up an important win on Monday, September 17, when they beat Petersburg in straight games by scores of 25-22, 25-18 and 25-20, respectively, for their third win of the year.

"This was a huge sectional win for us," said coach Phil Hofe. "Our hitting is becoming more effective, and Courtney (Jones) had a great night with 21 kills. We needed that win for our confidence."