By Owen Gotimer
LoCoSports Editor-in-Chief
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(February 21, 2016) — As high school student-athletes in Loudoun County make their decisions on what to do with their futures, many choose to continue pursuing an athletic career in college. LoCoSports is here to tell you about Life After Loudoun.
If you have any notes about LCPS graduates in college or beyond, please reach out through our contact form or email us at locosportsnews@gmail.com.
- In his Liberty baseball debut, Loudoun Valley High School graduate Jack DeGroat (2015) tossed 3.2 innings of scoreless relief earning his first career collegiate win against South Florida. In the win, DeGroat stuck out four while allowing just two hits and two walks. The Division I Flames — who have started their season 1-1 — are back in action on February 21 to wrap up their season opening series with the Bulls.
- Flame-throwing right-hander and Stone Bridge High School graduate J.B. Bukauskas (2014) started game two of No. 16 North Carolina’s season against No. 9 UCLA taking the no decision after departing in the fifth inning with a career-high nine strikeouts. Over his 4.2 innings pitched, Bukauskas allowed just one hit while surrendering four runs as the Division I Tarheels fell, 6-5, to the Bruins. UNC is back in action on February 21 against UCLA in an attempt to win the season opening series.
- Redshirt freshman and Freedom High School graduate Kyle Wrighte (2014) made his debut with the William & Mary baseball squad over the weekend. Wrighte started at shortstop for the Division I Tribe going 1-6 at the plate with a run scored and a pair of hit-by-pitches while leading William & Mary to a 1-1 start on the season, splitting the first two games of a three game series against UNC Charlotte. The Tribe are back in action on February 21 against the 49ers in an attempt to win the season opening series.
- As a true freshman, Wrighte’s high school teammate Garrett St. Laurent (2015) started in the first two games of his collegiate career for the Virginia Military Institute. St. Laurent — who started at DH in his first game and at catcher in his second — went 2-6 with a run scored and an RBI as the Division I Keydets split their two-game series with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The Keydets are back in action on February 21 against Wake Forest to wrap up the Wake Forest Tournament in Winston-Salem, N.C.
- Tuscarora High School graduate Bernie Mayflower (2012) picked up a win in his opening day appearance for the University of Mary Washington baseball team. Mayflower — who relieved Gabe Togna in the fourth inning — allowed just two runs on four hits while striking out four over his four innings of work as the Division III Eagles beat Maine Presque Isle, 8-2. Woodgrove High School graduate Hank Biggs (2015) pitched an inning of relief for the Eagles striking out one in a blowout, 18-1, win over Penn St. Altoona just a day later. Mary Washington — who has started its season 4-0 — are back in action on February 24 against central Virginia foe Bridgewater.
- The No. 16 Christopher Newport University women’s basketball team is off to a 22-3 start thanks in part to Woodgrove High School graduate Brooke Basinger (2015). In her freshman campaign, Basinger is averaging 4.4 points per game while shooting 41-percent from distance for the Division III Captains. Sitting at 15-3 in the Capital Athletic Conference, CNU will enter the CAC tournament as the No. 2 seed and will play the winner of the quarterfinal game between Mary Washington and St. Mary’s in as semifinal on February 25. The last time Basinger met St. Mary’s — she dropped a career-high 17 points.