SPRING 2025 RECAP

Spring 2025 Provided a Wild Ride for BHS Fans, all the way to the VHSL Class 3 Softball State Championship
By: Ben Elliott

Dedication: The entire Broadway community. 
Everyone who knows me personally knows I love a good dedication. It brings an opportunity for me to thank important people in my life who support not only me but athletics as a whole here at BHS. This spring, there were about 100 different people I considered for this dedication. But at the end of the day, too many people I want to honor with my words here today that one single dedication wouldn’t do the trick. So, I came to the big brained conclusion that I’d dedicate this article to the people I love the most. You. The reader. Your love and support for our programs is why we’re able to be consistently successful. Broadway is my home. My parents moved here in the year 2000, from Worcester/Fall River Massachusetts. My sister and I were born in 02’ and 05’ respectively. This is all we’ve known. This blog has been a wonderful way to communicate with all of you, over our shared love for BHS athletics and most importantly, the success of our student athletes. 

It wouldn’t be possible without you, so thank you from the bottom of my heart. 
With that being said, the spring 2025 season is one I’ll never forget. So much has happened since we last spoke back in February (I think). We had just come off a winter season in which my beloved Lady basketball Gobblers made a region playoff run, securing a bye and winning a home playoff game, beyond my wildest dreams, truthfully. Since then, the spring season has brought emotions out of me that I haven't had in the better part of a decade, since I was a child if you will. Introspection, passion, grief and unimaginable joy would best sum up the 2025 spring season through my eyes. Without further ado, buckle in, it’s time for our 2025 spring season recap! 

Over the three years he’s been employed/coached at BHS, Coach Laase has become invaluable to my family. He’s quickly become a lifelong friend of mine. I’d do anything for him, anytime, anywhere. So when he approached me about giving weekly speeches to his baseball team, I jumped at the opportunity. I’m all about philosophy when it comes to sports, (and everything else, I’m a nerd). Sports are mostly mental. Once your body performs a task over and over again, it becomes second nature, something you can do virtually with your eyes closed. But your brain, on the other hand, is something you have to try to control when it comes to performing. There’s a lot of pressure we can put on ourselves in every aspect of the game. My speeches focused on altruism, putting the team first if you will. Being willing to sacrifice personal gain for team glory. The ultimate goal. Over the course of the season, I got the pleasure to know every player on the 2025 varsity baseball team. Tremendous personalities on every spot of the roster. Watching them go from being too timid to speak up as leaders at the beginning of the season, to beating TA in extras, speared by loud vocal leadership from every class on the roster. Leadership is like water and air, can fit anyway it needs to. Leading by example, by being an orator, or keeping a general positive attitude for your teammates. 

These speeches affected my perception of this season for the baseball Gobblers. I saw a different side to the team than I ever have before. I saw growth in ways that the naked eye wouldn’t have been able to see. They started the year looking for leadership to replace the senior class that had just graduated, as teams do every year, part of the game. It took them a few games to find their voice, and their own style of leadership. They found it on April 15th, winning an extra inning tilt against TA on the road. In that game, players emerged as vocal leaders, and it showed the rest of the season. That night was a genesis of what was to come, even in an unexpected way. Despite the high, the next two game stretch saw the team get beat pretty bad by Spotswood and East Rock, both at home. It hurt to see them go through that because you want to see the kids succeed and at the time, those were tough losses to endure. However, I’ve been alive long enough now to know that in order to be great, you have to undergo adversity, it teaches you who you are, and how far you can be pushed.
It’s the allegory of the experience pyramid, which I love to reference. At the bottom of the pyramid when you start out, the blocks are huge. The experiences hurt more, the wins are celebrated perhaps too much, not allowing the bigger picture to be seen. Yet, as you get further and further up the pyramid, the blocks get smaller and smaller. You learn from the failures and successes of the past, in order to operate better in the future. 

A couple weeks later, the team rattled off two wins, at home, and in the rain soaked Eagle Field at JMU, against TA and Spotswood respectively. It was truly a full circle moment. A moment where the team learned from their mistakes, and made better on their end of the bargain for success. They ended the regular season with a 16-5 record, and a chance to host a playoff game. Rain stopped us from doing so, but our friends at JMU allowed us to play our matchup with Alleghany on their glorious turf field. A full team effort, and some clutch hits from the pitcher, led the team to a 5-4 victory, advancing them to Fluvanna to play the Flucos. 

In 2019, we lost to Fluvanna, it was my sophomore year of high school. The loss hurt. The Flucos were really good that year, we were 6 outs away from moving on, yet fate had other plans, the cards fell a different way. So when the team got to go back, I had a lot of mixed emotions about it. One of the toughest losses in my career happened on that field, and some 6 seasons later, we were back. The pyramid came in handy for this game. We played a dazzling 8 inning bout that ended with a walk off bunt, 1-0 final. 

Baseball is a game of inches, literally. The hitter from Fluvanna executed a perfect bunt, nothing you can do but tip your cap, as disappointed as we were in the moment. The loss hit everyone hard, as postseason exits tend to do. Yet, I tried to take it as a learning moment. Although I witnessed the game as a fan, my proximity to Coach Laase and the team made me take it differently. I learned the hard lesson of luck and execution. Answering the call when it rings, not backing down from anything. It was a wonderful season, that I was grateful to be a proxy to. I learned more about myself funny enough, through those speaking engagements then I would have otherwise. It was a fulfilling experience and I’m counting down the days till we get the opportunity to all be together on the diamond.
 
Before we move on to our triple crown winner, here’s the list of honors the boys took home this year.
ALL VALLEY TEAM
FIRST TEAM: 
Sy Crider, C
Jackson Plogger, OF
Zechariah Stuhlmiller, DH

SECOND TEAM: 
Ty Sharpe, P

ALL REGION 3C TEAM
FIRST TEAM:
Sy Crider, C
Jackson Plogger, OF

SECOND TEAM:
Colby Fesler, P
Zechariah Stuhlmiller, DH

ALL STATE TEAM
FIRST TEAM: 
Sy Crider, C
Jackson Plogger, OF

    The 2025 season for the softball Lady Gobblers started off with a hitch. It was the home opener, packed as far as the eye can see, with high expectations filling the air once again for Becky Cantrell and co. Then, the rather unexpected happened. The team lost their opener to Fort Defiance. Now, let me be clear, no disrespect to Fort by any means. You always want to, and expect to win your home opener in front of a packed crowd, especially with how successful the program has been over the last couple years. The loss completely took the air out of the sails at BHS on that day. Coach Cantrell was asked after the game, what could have possibly gone wrong?? She gave an answer that now looking back, foreshadowed what was to come. 

She simply answered something to the effect of, “I want to see what we’re made of,”. 

Over the course of the season, we’d more than find that out. 

The 2025 team was dominant to the tune of a 23-4 record, however, the year didn’t come without its roadblocks. If you’ve been reading this blog long enough, you know I’m interested in learning from mistakes. Making mistakes is a wonderful way to get better, to grow and move on. In those four losses, three of them came at home, which has the effect I spoke of earlier. Taking the air out of the place, hearing a pin drop as fans shuffle to the parking lot. Those losses taught lessons to the team. The lesson that despite the star power all over the roster, it’s a team game at the end of the day. It takes every single person in that locker room regardless of role, to be bought completely into what the coaching staff is trying to accomplish. 

Safe to say they did it. 

During the regular season, 1 of the four losses came against TA, and you might’ve guessed it, at home. But this time around, the atmosphere was different. I talked to many of the players after the game and they all uttered the exact same message. On to the next one. They wouldn’t dare to let that loss derail their season, and overall goal of reaching a state title game. 

The Gobblers rolled through the rest of the regular season, winning the regular season district championship for the first time since 2018. A third of the triple crown checked off. The playoffs finally began after an opening round bye, followed by a rain delayed tilt with Fluvanna at the aforementioned JMU softball complex. 10-3 victory, onto the next. The next was a not so close location in Alleghany, through the windy mountains, which I’m happy I didn’t have to fight my motion sickness to attend. 10-0, onto district title.

Now, remember the team I mentioned earlier? The moment in which I felt an unshakable attitude coming from the team, despite the home loss. Turner Ashby. In Bridgewater for the region title. The winner would host a state playoff game. Now, it wasn’t win or go home, but, the stakes were still as large as ever. 

It was as tension packed of a moment as I can remember. Playing a Valley District rival for a chance at playing host for a state playoff game. 

The bell rang, and was emphatically answered by the Gobblers. 3-0, onto states, two-thirds of the way through the triple crown with the highest prize still in play with nothing left but the VHSL state 3C playoffs. The first opponent of which was Staunton River. In front of a packed crowd, in temperatures that felt like the face of the sun (not being dramatic), the team gave us a show. 8-1, locked in focus, onto the next, two away from the ultimate glory. 

We had a wonderful basketball camp filled schedule week of the state semi-finals. I couldn’t attend the state semi final game against New Kent, and I was heartbroken. Yet thanks to my fellow Orioles diehard Bobby Wolfe, the GameChanger broadcast was a life changer. As we were competing on the beautiful courts at my future alma mater EMU, against teams from and not from the valley, Janna Grandle and I nervously followed the stream of the game, from the bench nonetheless. Each pitch is more nerve wracking than the last. Getting closer to the finish line, the game was knotted at 5 runs apiece. As we were set to take the floor for our last game, we got a collective cheer. Maddie Wolfe walked the game off in the bottom of the 7th, leaving the team within reaching distance of the ultimate goal, one a lifetime in the making for Coach Cantrell and the team. 

The win over New Kent happened on Friday, that next Saturday morning on the campus of Fluvanna high school, again- hotter than the surface of the sun, the girls were ready for a matchup with none other than valley foe, Turner Ashby. Something you dream about as a child, finally in front of you, once and for all. 

For all the marbles, under the scorching sun, (which gave me devastating sun burns because despite being a 22 year-old man, I forgot sunscreen), the first pitch was thrown, and we were off, in front of a standing room only crowd. 

A pitchers duel ensued, leaving us with a low scoring game late. After a few bloops and close calls, the Gobblers were down 3-2 late. My favorite bench spark plug, Maddie Wolfe, comes up to the plate with runners on, and laces a ball to the outfield, giving the lead to the Gobblers, 4-3. Lilah Deavers, pitched a customary complete game, finished off by a dribbler to the mound, flipped to first for all the glory. 

The triple crown was completed once and for all. After decades in the coaching circuit, Becky Cantrell lifted a title, cementing an already unreal resume.

The scene was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. People hugging and crying, so many faces from all over the Broadway sports community from every sport, different era’s, etc. It was wonderful. I’ve gotten the pleasure of coaching a good portion of the softball roster through basketball. Great kids, who deserve the championship. It was more than well earned. 

Before we finish things off, besides the title, here are the individual honors for the softball ladies this spring. 
DISTRICT COACH OF THE YEAR:
Becky Cantrell

DISTRICT PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Lilah Deaver

ALL VALLEY DISTRICT
FIRST TEAM:
Lilah Deavers, P
Brooklyn Spitzer, SS

SECOND TEAM:
Kaleigh Harper, OF
Savannah Janzen, 1B
Emma Morris, P
Maddie Wolfe, C

REGION 3C COACH OF THE YEAR:
Becky Cantrell

ALL REGION 3C TEAM:
FIRST TEAM:
Lilah Deavers, P
April Gingerich, OF
Maddie Wolfe, C

SECOND TEAM:
Brooklyn Spitzer, SS

VHSL CLASS 3 COACH OF THE YEAR:
Becky Cantrell

VHSL CLASS 3 ALL STATE TEAM
FIRST TEAM:
Lilah Deavers, P
Maddie Wolfe, C

A huge congratulations to the softball team on their State Championship victory. It’s been an honor of a lifetime to cover this team over the past couple of years. Always consistent, always in the mix, and it’s finally paid off. I couldn’t be any prouder of you guys! To Coach Cantrell, we love you very much over here at the blog. Thank you for always being as kind as can be to my family and I, I was over the moon for you and your team! Here’s to many more!

The state title victory also marked the end of an era for BHS AD Ryan Ritter. He announced at the end of the school year that he was stepping down, in order to spend more time with his family. While we’re sad to see him go, we’re grateful for everything he’s done for us. He hired me at 14 years old, fresh out of middle school. I’ve worked for him ever since and enjoyed every minute of it. He’s been unbelievable to my family and we’ll miss him dearly. With that being said, we’d also like to extend a huge welcome to resident Dallas Cowboys fan, and our brand new AD, Dale Shifflett! We are so fired up to have him on board! Just through talking with him a couple times, he’s incredibly kind, and will be wonderful for our programs!  My father, Micah, Brae and I are excited to get to work with you! 

Lastly, the hardest thing I’ll ever have to write on this blog. 

As many of you know, former BHS baseball coach Tim Turner, announced back in March that he was diagnosed with ALS. This announcement rocked the sports family here at BHS. As you all know, I have a deep love for Tim, he gave me my first shot to be a part of a high school sports team, and treated me with utmost kindness, love and respect. Which to this day, means a lot to me. I learned more from him than I could ever express. I modeled my coaching ethos after him, because everyone who knows me knows, I have the passion and intensity of Kevin Garnett and DMX, which isn’t inherently a bad thing, but when you’re a coach, you can’t always be that. I learned to be even-keel from him. Helped me so much in my coaching journey. Watching him get a surprise induction into the athletic hall of fame during our senior night baseball game, was a moment I’ll never forget. The road ahead will be challenging, but, if there’s anything I know about Tim, it’s this. 

He’s a smooth operator, cool in the face of pressure. So cool, that it’d make Joe Montana flinch. He always tells me how much he loves me, and how much he loves this blog. Those words have helped me in the toughest of times. So I ask you, the dear reader today, please give anything you can, anything helps. And if you can't give monetarily, tell someone close to you you love them. To me, that is what coach Turner is all about. Very good at telling his loved ones how much they mean to him. That’s the number 1 lesson I’ll take from him. If you get one thing out of reading this, I would hope it’d be a reminder, to tell someone you love them today.