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.

News

W-L grad Eisenberg makes most of chance to lead basketball program

By Dave Facinoli
Alex Eisenberg, back, right, was the Oakcrest head coach (courtesy of Oakcrest athletics)

After years of being involved in basketball at many levels, Arlington native Alex Eisenberg finally received the opportunity to be a high-school head coach this past season.

The Washington-Liberty High School graduate was in charge of the private-school Oakcrest School Chargers girls team in Vienna as first-year head coach.

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Sports

Three Arlington boys soccer teams enjoying strong starts this spring

By Dave Facinoli
Wakefield's Erik Vasquez Ayala has the ball (courtesy of Wakefield athletics)

With early-season victories each, Arlington’s three springtime boys high-school boys soccer teams are off to solid starts.

Through three games, the Washington-Liberty Generals and Yorktown Patriotst had 2-1 records while the Wakefield Warriors were 1-1-1.

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Sports

O’Connell softball win streak hits 61 after 7-0 win against Paul VI

By Dave Facinoli
O'Connell holds a huddle (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

With with a trio of convincing victories and a tight one-run win, the Bishop O’Connell Knights (7-0) extended their four-season girls softball winning streak to 61 games.

The single-run triumph was by an 8-7 score over the host St. Paul VI Catholic Panthers for the multi-time defending Division I state and Washington Catholic Athletic Conference private-school Knights.

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Sports

Wakefield wins big in opening game of baseball season

By Dave Facinoli
Wakefield batters had some big hits (courtesy of Wakefield athletics)

The Wakefield Warriors recently did something the team last accomplished in the 2021 season: winning its opening game.

Wakefield blanked the visiting Marshall Statesmen, 10-0, in that five-inning 10-run slaughter-rule high school Liberty District contest.

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Sports

Arlington Commandos win regional basketball championship in Fairfax

By Dave Facinoli
The champion Commandos (courtesy of ATB)

After a standout regular season, the Arlington Travel Basketball League’s Division I fifth-grade Commandos boys team capped its winter campaign by winning a championship in the Fairfax County Youth Basketball League playoffs.

The team finished with a 16-1 overall record, including winning its final 14 contests. The top-seed Commandos were 3-0 in the playoffs.

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Sports

Arlington Bulldogs soccer team places in 4-H Ignite tournament

By Dave Facinoli
The Bulldogs soccer team (courtesy of the Bulldogs)

The Arlington Bulldogs, a recreational boys youth soccer team, finished fifth in its age division in a national 4-H Ignite tournament competition in March.

The Bulldogs participated in the age 14 and 15 division and played against teams with older players.

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Sports

Longtime Yorktown girls hoop coach steps down after 123 wins

By Dave Facinoli
Devaughn Drayton coaches (courtesy of Yorktown athletics)

For 13 years, Devaughn Drayton was a fixture as the head girls varsity high-school basketball coach of the Yorktown Patriots, winning 123 games in those seasons.

Drayton’s tenure as coach ended in recent days, when he stepped down from that position.

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Sports

W-L baseball team again delivers winning performance at Norwood Classic

By Dave Facinoli
W-L players celebrate a victory (courtesy of W-L baseball)

With an exciting dramatic victory followed by a blowout win, the host Washington-Liberty Generals defended their title in the second annual Norwood Classic baseball tournament.

Washington-Liberty finished 2-0 in the one-day, four-team event held on its home field at Quincy Park. The Generals also won last year’s inaugural event with a 2-0 record and two shutouts.

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Sports

Marymount baseball team extends its double-digit string of victories

By Dave Facinoli
Marymount's Ryan Wright (courtesy of Marymount athletics)

By recently winning its 10th game this spring, the Marymount University Saints baseball team has achieved double-digit victories for 11 straight seasons.

The only year the Division III squad did not reach at least 10 wins was in the program’s inaugural campaign in 2014, when the Saints finished 8-26.

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Sports

Travel-basketball team caps impressive run, wins league title

By Dave Facinoli
The eighth-grade champs (courtesy of ATB)

A four-year stretch of success culminated in a big finish for an Arlington girls basketball team.

The Arlington Travel Basketball (ATB) eighth-grade A Division squad won the season-ending Fairfax County Youth Basketball League tournament title with a 3-0 record — each time in convincing fashion.

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