GOLF
Defending champ Beck in Mid-Am match play
Defending champion Evan Beck of Virginia Beach earned his way back into the 64-man match-play field at the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Beck, 35, a Norfolk Academy and Wake Forest graduate, won this tournament last year when it was at Kinloch Golf Club near Richmond, giving him spots in the 2025 U.S. Open and Masters.
He shot a 71 and 70 over the weekend for a 1-over-par 141, putting him safely among the top 64 in the field of 263. Match play begins Monday.
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Squirrels play final game at The Diamond
The Eastern League’s Richmond Flying Squirrels played their final game Sunday at The Diamond, a ballpark that has stood since 1985. An overflow crowd of 9,810 came to the final contest, a 5-2 loss in 10 innings to the Hartford Yard Goats.
According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Flying Squirrels mascots Nutzy and Nutasha took a ceremonial jog around the bases following the game, getting an ovation. Thousands of fans walked from their seats onto the field, invited by the team to gather, socialize and take pictures in the outfield. Some fans played catch near the outfield wall.
CarMax Park, located adjacent to The Diamond, is well under construction and will be the Squirrels’ home next season. The Diamond was the Triple-A Richmond Braves’ home from 1985-2008, replacing Parker Field, and the Squirrels’ stadium from 2010 until now. Nearly 17 million fans attended games during 40 years at The Diamond.
Richmond’s average home attendance this year was 6,768. The Flying Squirrels led Double-A in average home attendance for the fourth consecutive year.
COLLEGE MEN’S SOCCER
CNU deals first loss to Hampden-Sydney
Christopher Newport (4-0-2) got goals from Caleb Jones, Manzi Siibo and Ryan Buckon to earn a 3-1 home victory over Hampden-Sydney (4-1).
Meanwhile in Virginia Beach, Virginia Wesleyan (4-1-1) won 1-0 over Rutgers-Camden (3-1-1) on Warwick High graduate JaMarhe Wills’ penalty kick in the 52nd minute.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S SOCCER
Hampton gains fifth victory of year
Makayla Wade, Taryn Goodwin and Nylah Jennings scored as Hampton University (5-3-1) defeated South Carolina State 3-1 at Powhatan Field in Norfolk.
The Pirates, who have won two matches in a row, already have set their single-season victory record before they start Coastal Athletic Association play.
Old Dominion (4-1-2) began its Sun Belt schedule with a 1-1 home draw Saturday night against Appalachian State (4-3-1). ODU’s Brooke Edwards opened the scoring in the 75th minute, but ASU’s Kyli Switalski countered with a free kick in the 86th.
COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY
No. 4 CNU extends shutout streak to 4
Riley Iasiello scored twice as CNU (6-0), ranked fourth in Division III, beat Denison 3-0 in Granville, Ohio. It was the Captains’ fourth consecutive shutout, equaling the second-longest streak in school history.
Saturday, CNU won 6-0 at Ohio Wesleyan as Lily Kerr improved her career record to 50-7, joining Bailey Lien (54-15 from 2013-16) as the only Captains goalkeepers with at least 50 victories. Emily Evans scored two goals.
