Leesburg, Va. — Issuing back-to-back walks to start the state championship game probably would’ve had most pitchers in panic mode. But Connor Hale was in complete control. Giving up a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth in the state championship game probably would’ve had most pitchers stressed out. But Connor Hale was in complete control. Allowing a baserunner to reach on an error on your 110th pitch with two outs in the top of the seventh in the state championship game probably would’ve had most pitchers in a sweat. But as he jogged out to right field,…
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.
Leesburg, Va. — It took the Riverside High School boys lacrosse team just 10 seconds to get on the board. Fifteen seconds after that the Rams had a 2-0 lead. And before three full minutes had elapsed, Riverside had extended its lead to 3-0. For the Rams, there was no looking back. Riverside had been here before. A state championship environment was nothing new to them having won VHSL state titles in both 2017 and 2019. But this year was different. Like everyone else Riverside missed its 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and as recently as three months…
Leesburg, Va. — After striking out six of the first seven batters she faced, it was shaping up to be a big night for Tuscarora High School sophomore ace Lindsey Mullen. In her first high school postseason, Mullen had already tossed a perfect game—and while a hit by pitch in the second stopped any hopes of a second one—Mullen was in complete control throughout the night, no hitting Amherst County through seven complete innings. Trailing 1-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth, Mullen also provided the Huskies with their big spark offensively, blasting a line drive solo home run…
Ashburn, Va. — For the spring sports teams at Independence High School, COVID-19 meant not donning their school uniforms for another full year. After opening their doors in the fall of 2019, like everyone in the VHSL, the Tigers missed out on their spring 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic. So when the Independence girls soccer team finally got the opportunity to put on their red, white, and blue kits, they were going to make the most of it. In 2021, the Tigers navigated a daunting Dulles District schedule—falling just three times in the regular season to three of…
Ashburn, Va. — On the heels of a district regular season championship, the Broad Run High School baseball team had its eyes set on the region crown, which included a berth into the VHSL 4A State tournament. In front of a hometown crowd, the Spartans used a sturdy defense, a patient lineup, and a brilliant start by senior southpaw Connor Hale to dominate the Colonels, 13-3, and claim the VHSL Region 4C title on June 16 in Ashburn. “Our seniors were hungry to get back here and prove themselves [after losing in the region championship in 2019]. They worked their…
South Riding, Va. — 500 career strikeouts, a no-hitter, and a region championship. For Morgan Hess, June 15 was a night to remember. With a 1-run lead in the fourth, the Freedom High School ace headed back out to the circle where she would face the heart of the Stone Bridge lineup with a state tournament berth on the line. Hess delivered a 2-2 pitch to the first batter of the inning which was swung on and missed as she picked up her 500th career strikeout. The next Bulldog batter reached on an error by Hess before she retired the…