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

Arlington high school sports schedule for March 28-April 3

By Dave Facinoli
Players watch action from the Washington-Liberty baseball dugout (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

As April approaches, the spring sports season is underway in full with regular-season action taking place for all of Arlington’s high school teams.

Baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse and track-and-field teams are in action, wtih the spring crew season beginning soon, as well.

Go to Arlington high school sports schedule for March 28-April 3 Read more
Sports

Wakefield girls lacrosse team begins season with a road victory

By Dave Facinoli
Emily Schimmel shoots for Wakefield (courtesy of Wakefield athletics)

After just one match, the Wakefield Warriors already are ahead of last season’s results — when the girls high-school lacrosse team finished without a victory.

Wakefield opened its 2025 spring campaign with an 11-6 road win over the Jackson-Reed Tigers in non-district action.

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Sports

W-L plays Madison close in season-opening baseball game

By Dave Facinoli
Jon Keane pitches for W-L (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

It was a tall order for the Washington-Liberty Generals to defeat the host and perennial baseball power Madison Warhawks in the opening game of the squad’s 2025 high-school season.

So it was no real surprise when W-L came up short in the Thursday (March 18) non-district contest, 2-0, and got just one hit out of the experience.

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Sports

O’Connell softball team opens season with dominating victories

By Dave Facinoli
Abby Bond is a top O'Connell player (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

As expected, the Bishop O’Connell Knights have been enjoying a strong and dominating start to the girls high-school softball spring season.

After two games, the Knights had a 2-0 record with wins over Elizabeth Seton by an 8-1 score and Holy Cross, 14-0, in a five-inning no-hitter.

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Sports

County baseball, softball sees some new head coaches for 2025

By Dave Facinoli
Chris Berset is O'Connell's new baseball coach (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

The head coaches of many high-school sports teams in Arlington have been in place for years. That is not the case, however, for the spring season in baseball and softball.

With the exception of two people, there have been a number of coaching changes in those positions recently.

Go to County baseball, softball sees some new head coaches for 2025 Read more
Sports

Retrospective: Arlington golfer was a lifelong contributor to the sport

By Dave Facinoli
Henry Kerfoot's Washington-Liberty Hall of Fame plaque (courtesy of W-L Hall of Fame)

Golf in Arlington County can’t be discussed for long until Henry Kerfoot‘s name is mentioned.

From the 1940s until his death in late January, Kerfoot was a pioneer in the sport, even during his senior years.

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Sports

Drought of reaching Siegel Center continues for county hoop teams

By Dave Facinoli
The Siegel Center court (courtesy of VCU athletics)

For nearly 20 years, the Siegel Center in Richmond has hosted championship games of the Virginia High School League girls and boys state public-school basketball tournaments.

In that time, the Wakefield Warriors boys varsity team has been the only squad from Arlington to ever participate in any of those contests.

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Sports

Marymount’s women’s golf team has potential again this spring

By Dave Facinoli
Marymount's Noelle Jensen (courtesy of Marymount athletics)

With three top players back from last spring’s Centennial Conference championship women’s team, the Marymount University Saints are in a good position to have another strong season.

The Saints opened their 2025 spring campaign by winning the Shenandoah University Spring Fling in Bradenton, Fla., at Heritage Harbour Golf Club.

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Sports

Arlington hoop teams earn final rankings in Va. MaxPreps polling

By Dave Facinoli
The W-L girls team huddles (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Of Arlington’s eight varsity high-school basketball teams, the Bishop O’Connell Knights on the girls and boys sides received the highest final rankings in statewide polls compiled by MaxPreps.com.

The polls include public- and private-school teams and rank all of the teams in the commonwealth.

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Sports

Three softball pitchers from Arlington schools enjoying college success

By Dave Facinoli
Emily Doty pitches for Smith College (courtesy of Smith athletics)

Three standout pitchers from girls high-school softball teams in Arlington are continuing their success during the early season among the college ranks.

On the Division I level, Bishop O’Connell High School graduate Katie Kutz has a 7-2 record with a 2.58 earned run average for the women’s team at Oklahoma State University.

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Sports

W-L blanks Yorktown in hockey’s annual Battle of Arlington faceoff

By Dave Facinoli
The winning Washington-Liberty Generals (photo by Rich Vizard)

With yet another shutout, the Washington-Liberty Generals capped their ice-hockey season with a second big accomplishment.

The high-school team’s fifth straight shutout triumph was a 3-0 win over the Yorktown Patriots at a packed MedStar Capitals Iceplex in the season-ending match between the Arlington rivals.

Go to W-L blanks Yorktown in hockey’s annual Battle of Arlington faceoff Read more
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