Author: Dave Facinoli

Dave Facinoli grew up in Prince George’s County, Md. and attended Friendly High School. After attending Prince’s George Community College and James Madison University, where he covered sports on both college papers, he launched a local newspaper career that included roles as the sports editor of the Alexandria Gazette, the Arlington Sun Gazette and GazetteLeader, and other local papers.

Sports

W-L, Yorktown baseball teams each win close road contests

By Dave Facinoli
Grayson McCarthy got a big save for Yorktown (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

In extra-inning road games played the same night, the Washington-Liberty Generals and Yorktown Patriots continued their winning ways in high-school baseball action.

In 10 frames, W-L (13-7, 7-4) nipped the Langley Saxons, 6-5, in a Liberty District contest. Yorktown (12-7, 6-4) rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the final two innings to top the South Lakes Seahawks in non-league action.

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Sports

Wakefield novice four among Va. crew champions from Arlington

By Dave Facinoli
Members of Wakefield's novice four (courtesy of Wakefield crew)

On the first of two weekends of Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association competition, the Wakefield Warriors had a champion in what is known as the novice states regatta.

The Wakefield girls novice 4 finished first in 6:29.1, coming in ahead of five other shells in the race on the Occoquan Reservoir. In the finals, Battlefield finished second in 6:35.7.

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Sports

Former O’Connell girls basketball coach remembered for work on, off the court

By Dave Facinoli
Jim Spiridopoulos coaching at George Mason HIgh (courtesy of the Spiridopoulos familiy)

In addition to his vast success as a high-school basketball coach throughout the metro area, the late Jim Spiridopoulos is being remembered for his unique, passionate and tireless involvement and dedication to the sport and to his players.

Spiridopoulos, known to many as “Spiro”, died April 29 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 80.

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Sports

Arlington players help Colonials enjoy a winning softball season

By Dave Facinoli
Josie Whitaker pitches for Jefferson (courtesy of Jefferson softball)

A couple of Arlington residents are significant contributors on the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Colonials softball team that is enjoying a winning season.

The girls high-school squad finished the regular season with a 9-5 record.

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Sports

Arlington high-school sports schedule for May 9-15

By Dave Facinoli
The Yorktown girls lacrosse team will be in action (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

The high-school regular-season sports schedules for Arlington’s teams wrap up this week and early next as postseason competition begins.

For the private-school Bishop O’Connell Knights, postseason action already is underway with conference and district action.

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Sports

Wakefield boys soccer team enjoying solid start to season

By Dave Facinoli
Wakefield enjoys win over Yorktown (photo by Gzel Rodriquez)

The Wakefield Warriors continued a solid boys soccer season with a recent 2-1 victory over the Yorktown Patriots in an all-Arlington clash.

That victory, coupled with 4-1 win over Marshall in another recent match then a 2-1 loss to the Washington-Liberty Generals in another all-Arlington match, gave Wakefield an overall record of 7-4-2.

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Sports

Marymount women’s flag football team wins league championship

By Dave Facinoli
The Marymount flag football champs (courtesy of Marymount athletics)

Perfect in a couple of significant ways — that’s how the Marymount University Saints finished their second championship women’s flag football season.

The top-seeded Saints capped their undefeated 15-0 spring campaign by winning the Atlantic East Conference tournament with a 2-0 record.

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Sports

O’Connell baseball team has strong finish to its regular season

By Dave Facinoli
Bishop O'Connell was spring-break champs (courtesy of O'Connell baseball)

With an 11-game winning streak, the Bishop O’Connell Knights baseball team finished the regular season very strong.

Now the postseason begins for the 20-4 high-school team as the No. 2 seed in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference tournament, followed by the Division I private-school state tourney.

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Sports

Three runners from Arlington win races at track-and-field meet

By Dave Facinoli
Yorktown's Ellen Malloy ran in the meet (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Two seniors for the Washington-Liberty Generals won boys races and a freshman for the Yorktown Patriots was first in a girls event at the Cassel’s XBC Track Experience meet at Chantilly High School.

For W-L, Carson Owens sprinted to victory in 10.78 seconds in the 100-meter dash and Emmett Engelhardt won the 1,600 in a speedy 4:13.47.

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Sports

Annual car show raises funds for Wakefield High scholarships

By Dave Facinoli
A collection of classics (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

A light morning rain reduced the number of entries in the third Wakefield High School Car Show, but some 25 classics were still on site in the school’s parking lot for the Saturday (April 26) event.

A number of the entries were graduates of Wakefield, with a number of current students on hand observing the various cars and trucks.

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