Down the Line: Hampton native Jake Cave thriving in spring training with Phillies
Hampton native Jake Cave, a 30-year-old outfielder who played 335 regular-season games with the Minnesota Twins over the past five years, is making a strong bid for a spot on a loaded Philadelphia Phillies roster.
In his first 15 exhibition games of spring training, he has batted .442 (19 of 43) with an OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of 1.350. He has three home runs, three triples, three doubles, 10 runs and 12 RBIs.
Thursday’s serious knee injury to starting first baseman Rhys Hoskins might mean more playing time for Cave, though the former Hampton Christian Academy and Kecoughtan High star has just a .614 OPS over the past three regular seasons.
Bobcats on the “beach”: Beach volleyball hasn’t become a widespread sport in college yet, but Bryant & Stratton’s season is nearing its close.
The Bobcats were 5-6, 2-3 in National Junior College Athletic Association Region 10, heading into two matches this weekend against Spartanburg Methodist of South Carolina.
Local freshmen and sophomores are all over the roster: Brianna Macias (Tabb High), Isis Romine and Gianna Cancela (Kellam), Darien Short (Deep Creek), Kaydence Fitz-Gerald (Great Bridge), Alexandra Hurtado (Denbigh), Victoria Mills (Greenbrier Christian), MaKayla Wills (Warwick), Jacqmea Britt (Booker T. Washington) and basketball standout Joscelyne Meyers (Salem).
In many cases, the sand is brought indoors, and five tandems per school compete against their counterparts from another school.
Trade’s aftermath: Statistically, Dorian Finney-Smith has been slightly less productive since Dallas dealt him to the Brooklyn Nets in the deal that sent Kyrie Irving to the Mavericks — mainly because the 29-year-old Portsmouth native hasn’t shot as well.
In 40 starts before the trade this season, Finney-Smith was averaging 9.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 32.2 minutes. In 19 games as a Net, he has averaged 6.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 28.1 minutes.
With Dallas, the Norcom High alum shot 41.6% overall, including 35.5% from 3-point range. But with Brooklyn, Finney-Smith has hit just 31.6% overall and 26.1% from beyond the arc.
Unlike his former team, which is in danger of missing the Western Conference playoffs, the Nets have all but wrapped up at least a spot in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament (seeds 7 through 10). But they’d like to pass Miami or New York to reach the East’s top six, which would move them directly into a playoff series.
He’s No. 3: Sports Illustrated considers Taylor Heinicke the third-best backup quarterback in the league, according to a story this week by Matt Verderame and Gilberto Manzano. The only two guys rated ahead of the Old Dominion record-setter also are new acquisitions by their teams: The Panthers’ Andy Dalton at No. 1 and the Commanders’ Jacoby Brissett at No. 2.
HRA continues tourney tradition: Junior Eric Wei defeated sophomore RJ Winfield 8-3 in a clash of Hampton Roads Academy players in the 23rd annual Mary V. Bicouvaris Memorial Tennis Tournament. The teammates for the Navigators played on the HRA courts in Newport News, continuing a tradition that began to honor one of the Peninsula’s most revered teachers.
What’s coming up
Monday: William & Mary’s golf programs are at home for two-day tournaments, with the men competing at Golden Horseshoe and the women at Kingsmill.
Tuesday: Pfeiffer comes up from North Carolina to take on Christopher Newport in baseball at 3 p.m., while Randolph-Macon visits Virginia Wesleyan for another 3 p.m. game. ... The W&M baseball team meets Campbell at 6 p.m. at Plumeri Park.
Wednesday: Liberty plays at Old Dominion in men’s tennis at 1 p.m. ... CNU’s men’s lacrosse team, a national title contender, entertains Williams at 2 p.m.
Thursday: Track and field’s Colonial Relays begin a three-day run at W&M’s Zable Stadium.
Saturday: At noon on CBS Sports Network, CNU and Transylvania compete in a clash of unbeatens at 20,000-seat American Airlines Arena in Dallas for the NCAA Division III women’s basketball championship. ... The nationally ranked ODU women’s tennis team plays host to Arkansas State at 10 a.m.
