Sports

Blake Hall, 14, won first place last year in a national competition, which put him in the running to compete on the U.S. team that fished in Bosnia.

Zack Kelly will pitch three times during Salem’s homestand starting Sept. 5 and then hopes to be back in the majors.

Declining population has driven the change. The populations of Alleghany County/Clifton Forge and Covington have dropped nearly 50% from their respective peaks.

This year 20 players with Virginia connections are playing north of the border. Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia each have more players there than power schools such as Alabama.

Liam Carroll grew up in a country where soccer and cricket dominate, but he’s spent his life learning the quintessential American sport.

A pitcher, Abbott has a 4-1 record after seven starts to go with a 2.38 earned-run average.

Darrius Bratton, who went to William Fleming High School and the University of Virginia, is one of 20 CFL players this year with Virginia ties.

He has highest winning percentage of any active Division I college baseball coach.

The 1940s baseball team was part of Roanoke’s version of the Negro Leagues. They were remembered at a recent Salem Red Sox game.

Plus: Virginia Tech football lands a big commitment. Danville football star picks Boston College.