Leesburg, Va. — Over the last five years, the Riverside High School girls lacrosse team has lost just a handful of games. But one loss, in particular, has been on the top of their minds: a 16-14 loss to Douglas Freeman in the 2021 VHSL Class 5 State championship game. Fast forward nearly 365 days, and the Rams are ready for redemption. But the road back to the state tournament in 2022 was rockier for Riverside than it was in past years as the Rams put together a more daunting schedule in hopes of better preparing themselves for a chance…
Author: Owen Gotimer
Owen Gotimer
Owen Gotimer is an award-winning journalist and small business owner from Leesburg, Virginia. After graduating from Heritage High School, Owen spent his college years at Syracuse University, where he studied broadcast and digital journalism in the renowned Newhouse School of Public Communications, before earning a Masters degree in social media, culture, and society from the University of Westminster. Owen owns OG Media, a full-service marketing partner specializing in website design & development, content creation, and graphic design & print. Additionally, Owen is the president of of the Jeffrey C. Fowler Memorial Scholarship.
Ashburn, Va. — Trailing 1-0 in the top of the sixth inning, Riverside High School sophomore right fielder Hailey Peterson stepped into the box with three things in mind: slow down, head in, and be aggressive. All three of those things paid off as Peterson kept her head down on the first pitch she saw, moved her hands through the zone, and drove the ball over the centerfield fence as the Rams tied the game at 1-1. “We know [Kayla Fekel] doesn’t walk people, and she likes to get ahead in the count, so Hailey went up there looking for…
Leesburg, Va. — With senior starter Steven Trone in complete control, the Rams knew it wouldn’t take much to scratch out a win over Woodgrove in a pivotal Potomac District matchup. A costly, two-out error by the Wolverines and a fifth-inning, two-run home run off the bat of Riverside junior centerfielder Kyle “KJ” Johnson was all the Rams would need as they completed the season sweep of Woodgrove, 3-0, on May 9 in Leesburg. “With how Steven was pitching, we knew it was going to be a low scoring game,” Riverside head coach Sam Plank said. “But we made plays…
Ashburn, Va. — When hitters hunt fastballs early, pitchers attack the zone, and fielders make routine plays, most baseball teams will be successful. Getting all three of those to come together on the same night can be challenging for high school baseball teams, but for a Heritage High School squad that was looking to avenge an early-season, 18-0 loss to Broad Run, they shined in all three facets of the game. Heritage senior ace Nick Harris allowed just two hits over his seven innings of work while striking out nine to earn the win. Eight of the nine Heritage starters…
Purcellville, Va. — After sitting Riverside down in order in the top of the first, Woodgrove High School sophomore pitcher Abbey Lane put on her helmet, picked up her bat, and stepped into the box against one of the most respected pitchers in the Potomac District. On the second pitch she saw, Lane blasted a leadoff double off the top of the centerfield fence and the Wolverines were in business. “We’ve had a little trouble getting behind early,” Woodgrove head coach Joe Spicer said. “We talked about getting off to a better start tonight and Abbey answered right there. She…
Leesburg, Va. — With one out in the top of the second inning, the Loudoun Valley High School softball team loaded the bases. Even with an early 3-run lead, Tuscarora did not hesitate to make a move as junior ace Lindsey Mullen entered the circle to get the Huskies out of the jam. Two batters later, Mullen had eliminated the Vikings’ threat with a pair of strike outs. Then over her next five innings of work, Mullen continued to carve up the Vikings’ bats. When all was said and done, Mullen struck out 17 of the 19 batters she faced—walking…