Today's Sports

Wiffle balls and batting cages are great, but there’s no substitute for actually being on the dirt doing the real thing.

Hampered by a conspiracy between basketball and Mother Nature that has kept Galax indoors most of the young season, the Maroon Tide dropped its season opener Wednesday, falling 9-3 to Alleghany, N.C., in a nondistrict game at Mountain View Park.

Alleghany was playing its fourth game, while Galax has been outside fewer than five times altogether in coach Verl Brown’s estimation.

INDEPENDENCE -- Carroll County opened the 2009 softball season in fine form, getting solid pitching, timely hitting and making some tough defensive plays. Once the Cavaliers master the routine pop fly, they should be okay.

A couple of misplayed pop-ups were the only thing between the Cavaliers and a spotless start to the year Wednesday as they took a 4-1 nondistrict win over Grayson County at B.A. Rhudy Fields.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Caleb Burris is boldly going where one Burris has gone before.

Burris, a fourth-grader at Gladeville Elementary School, will represent Galax Elks Lodge #2212, the Southwest District and the Commonwealth of Virginia at the Regional Hoop Shoot Contest in Frederick, Md., on March 21. Burris qualified for the honor by winning the 10-11 age group at the state contest, held at St. Anne’s Belfield School on March 1.

Burris is the son of Ricky and Sarah Burris. His brother, Seth, was a state champion last year and advanced to the regional contest.

Being out of position on a basketball court can lead to a lot of bad things, like missed rebounds, defensive breakdowns, offensive confusion, etc. Being out of position, or in this case, being in a different position, turned out pretty well for Cameron Frazier.

Moving to shooting guard in his senior season after years as Galax’s point guard, Frazier apparently felt right at home in his new position, having a strong enough season to earn the Mountain Empire District’s player of the year award.