Norfolk State takes MEAC men’s all-sports award

COLLEGES

Norfolk State was awarded the MEAC Talmadge Layman Hill Men’s All-Sports Award Thursday night.

The award is an indicator of the overall strength of the conference’s men’s athletics program, per a release.

Points are awarded in descending order, beginning with nine points for championships or first-place regular-season finishes.

Norfolk State’s men tallied 47 points, thanks to a regular-season championship in basketball and title wins at the cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field championships. NSU was presented a $20,000 check for winning the award.

“Congratulations to Norfolk State University, including President Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston, Director of Athletics Melody Webb, and the entire athletic department for winning the 2024 Talmadge Layman Hill Men’s All-Sports Award,” MEAC Commissioner Sonja Stills said in a release.

Norfolk State finished second, behind Howard, for the Mary McLeod Bethune Women’s All-Sports Award. The Spartans tallied 44 points after MEAC championship wins in cross country and basketball, as well finishing as runners-up in indoor and outdoor track and field.

Maryland Eastern Shore was honored for posting the MEAC’s highest Academic Progress Rate. For its efforts, the Hawks’ athletic department received a check for $10,000.

Coppin State was recognized for the MEAC’s highest Graduation Success Rate (GSR), 83%. Coppin State received a check for $25,000 from the conference.

COLLEGE WOMEN’S ROWING

No. 14 UVA sends boat to NCAA’s A/B semifinals

No. 14 Virginia’s Second Varsity Eight advanced to the A/B semifinals to highlight action at the NCAA Rowing Championship on Friday at Harsha Lake in Bethel, Ohio.

The Cavaliers’ Varsity Eight and Varsity Four placed fourth in their respective heats and will race in the C/D semifinals Saturday.

The 2V8 held off Rutgers, posting a time of 7 minutes, 8.050 seconds, compared to the Scarlet Knights’ 7:08.096, to earn a third-place finish and place in tomorrow’s A/B semifinal. Stanford won the heat in 7:00.982, followed by Princeton at 7:06.553. Northeastern and Jacksonville placed fifth and sixth, respectively.

Virginia’s Varsity Eight placed fourth in heat two in 7:04.387. Stanford won the heat at 6:50.372, followed by Yale (6:55.875), Washington (6:56.019), Virginia and Northeastern (7:14.784).

The Cavaliers’ Varsity Four placed fourth behind Yale (7:41.231), Brown (7:50.616) and Rutgers (7:52.854) with a time of 7:56.928. SMU and Rhode Island placed fifth and sixth, respectively.

LOCAL BASEBALL

Chili Peppers end Pilots’ winning streak

The Peninsula Pilots (3-3) squandered a four-run lead and saw their three-game Coastal Plain League winning streak end with a 10-7, 10-inning loss to the Tri-City Chili Peppers (3-4) before 2,972 at War Memorial Stadium in Hampton.

The Pilots went ahead 7-3 by scoring seven runs in the second inning, thanks in large part to Henry Garcia’s three-run triple and Chris Martinez’s two-run homer, but Tri-City worked its way back into the game.

Jacob Lee’s three-run homer in the eighth got the Chili Peppers even at 7, and they plated three runs on just one hit the 10th.

Danny Estrada led Tri-City by batting 4 for 5 with two runs and an RBI, and Alex Christie was 2 for 3 with two runs and an RBI.

Reliever Luke Craytor shut out the Pilots for three innings to gain the victory. Drew Stanley gave up six runs, four earned, and five hits in four innings for the loss.