SONTAG -- Franklin County finally solved the tennis riddle that was Riverbend, one that had perplexed the Eagles three times before.

And in the process, the Eagles, the Western Valley District runner-up, have earned a return trip to the Group AAA state girls' team tennis tournament.

Thursday, FCHS (14-4) won five of six singles matches en route to a 5-1 decision over the Bears (16-5), the runner-up from the Commonwealth District, in the Northwest Region semifinals at the Franklin County Recreation Park.

Franklin County's Logan Barbour says she's more accustomed to being on the giving end when the Eagles file out of the dugout and celebrate home runs that are hit at home plate.

In those celebrations, it appears that the home-run hitter is nearly beaten into submission by her teammates.

Wednesday, Barbour, the Eagles' sophomore shortstop was on the receiving end of all the physicality after belting her first career home run -- a solo shot in FCHS's 9-0 shut-out victory over Patrick Henry in the semifinals of the Western Valley District softball tournament at Benjamin Franklin Middle School.

The victory by FCHS (14-8) is its third this season over the Patriots and its second by shutout.

DANVILLE -- Seven proved to be Franklin County's lucky number in its Western Valley District baseball tournament semifinal-round contest against reigning league champion George Washington-Danville Wednesday.

The Eagles, the No. 4 seed, scored seven runs in the top of the seventh inning, then hung a zero on Danville's scoring ledger in the bottom of the frame for an 11-8 come-from-behind victory at Dan Daniel Memorial Park.

With the win, FCHS (11-10) advances to today's championship game against No. 3 seed Patrick Henry, which bested No. 2 seed Halifax County, 13-8, Wednesday in the other tournament semifinal.

DANVILLE -- No. 2 seed George Washington-Danville netted the match's first three goals, then held of a rally by No. 3 seed Franklin County for a 5-4 victory Wednesday night in the semifinals of the Western Valley District boys' soccer tournament at J.T. Christopher Stadium.

With the win, Danville moves into tonight's finals against seven-time reigning district champion Patrick Henry at Patriots Stadium-Merrill Gainer Field.

PH, the top tournament seed, shut out No. 4 seed William Fleming, 3-0, in Wednesday's other semifinal match.

FCHS (9-6-1), which suffered its second loss this season to Danville, faces William Fleming in the tournament's consolation match at C.I. (Cy) Dillon Stadium-Fred M. Brown Memorial Field. today at 6 p.m.

Franklin County with its scoring Tuesday as the Western Valley District champion Eagles concluded regular-season play with an 11-0 girls' varsity soccer rout of league rival William Fleming at C.I. (Cy) Dillon Stadium-Fred M. Brown Memorial Field.

The Eagles (8-0 in the WVD, 11-4-1 overall) completed a perfect district campaign with the victory, their second over William Fleming this season.

The match was stopped with 20 minutes remaining because of the slaughter rule.

Propelled by a five-run second inning and multiple-run rallies in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, Patrick Henry edged Franklin County, 12-11, in a Western Valley District baseball slugfest Tuesday night at W.W. Naff Jr. Field.

The two teams combined for 23 runs, 25 hits, six errors and 22 runners stranded on base.

A combined eight pitchers toed the rubber in the contest that almost reached the three-hour mark.

HENRY -- The team of Mike Martin and Tim Martin took top honors in the second annual Special Olympics Charity Bass tournament staged by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office at Twin Ridge Marina on Philpott Lake.

Martin and Martin won the tournament with a total weight of 14.72 pounds.

Placing second was the duo of Gary Jones and David Jones with a total weight of 13.59 pounds.

Jerry Foley landed the big fish in the largemouth category, one that tipped the scales at 5.02 pounds.

Brian Shelton caught the big fish in the smallmouth division, one that weighed 3.55 pounds.

Twenty-one boats competed in the tournament held Saturday, May 4.

The tournament raised approximately $2,636 for Special Olympics.

OAK LEVEL -- Rocky Mount's Satch Worley will return to seek his second consecutive win when the Virginia National Guard of Virginia presents the 14th annual RaceSaver Nationals Saturday night at Fork Mountain Raceway (FMR), a banked 3/8-mile dirt oval.

RaceSaver drivers expected to enter hail from North Carolina, eastern, western and central regions of Pennsylvania, the central region of New York, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, Louisiana and Virginia.

FMR owner/promoter French Grimes said that judging from pre-race interest he expects "the biggest field of cars we've ever had.

"And I expect Satch and the car's co-owner and mechanic Alfred Hamblin to have their car running at its best," Grimes said.

Brown takes first for Darlington race

FCHS jayvees tie PH in finale

SONTAG -- The following events are sponsored or co-sponsored by the Franklin County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Call 483-9293 or the number listed for information.

Also, information and/or registration forms can be obtained by visiting www.franklincountyva.org/parks.