Zimmerman Earns All-Star Nod

Former Virginia baseball star Ryan Zimmerman has earned his first Major League Baseball All-Star nomination as a member of the Washington Nationals. Zimmerman is the first UVa player to ever make the All-Star team. Read the Virginiasports.com release.

Playing third base, he joins New York's David Wright as the only two third basemen currently on the East All-Star roster. Fellow Cavalier Mark Reynolds, who plays third base for the Arizona Diamondbacks, could still make the squad as part of MLB's "final vote" promotion where a player is selected only by online fan voting. Five players from each league, including Reynolds, are competing for the final roster spot. You can vote at this link.

The Washington Post has this story about Zimmeran's selection; he earned his spot on the team through balloting from players, managers, and coaches. Here's an excerpt:

For several years now -- but especially since he signed a five-year, $45 million contract extension in April -- Zimmerman has stood as the central piece of the Nationals' rebuilding plan. Zimmerman's status as an all-star, the organization feels, helps validate his worthiness of that role.

"The kid has been recognized now, and I hope this is the start of a stretch of maybe 10, 15 years for him," Nationals Manager Manny Acta said.

Meanwhile, the The Arizona Republic carried a Bob Young column on Reynolds in this story. Here's a piece of that article as well:

Reynolds helped his own candidacy Sunday, launching his 24th home run of the season, a three-run shot that increased his RBI total to 61.

More important, that three-run home run led to a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies and helped Dan Haren get his eighth victory. That, in turn, bolsters Haren's case to start for the National League in the All-Star Game. So Reynolds is getting it done on several levels.

This Week In Recruiting
By Chris Horne

Virginia football's 2010 class commitment run began last Sunday night with a pledge from 6'3", 190-pound Belen Jesuit (Miami, FL) cornerback Pablo Alvarez, a first-team all-Dade county selection last season as a junior. It ended on Friday night, when the Cavaliers received a commitment from 6'1", 255-pound outside linebacker prospect Chris Brathwaite, a rising senior standout out of Holy Cross High School (Flushing, N.Y.). In between, on Thursday of last week, Virginia scored its first two in-state commits of the class in Bayside (Virginia Beach) inside linebacker prospect Henry Coley and Deep Run (Glen Allen) offensive lineman Conner Davis.

UVa now boasts nine commitments in the 2010 class. My projection is for the staff to take 15-17 prospects in total, though I wouldn't be shocked if the number was a little higher. But assuming Al Groh accepts around 20 commits, having nine commits means the Hoos are about halfway finished.

In addition to the four prospects listed above, Virginia has received commitments from:

• QB Tyler Brosius, Tuscola (Waynesville, N.C.)
• RB Kevin Parks, Jr., West Rowan (Mount Ulla, N.C.)
• WR E.J. Scott, Good Counsel (Wheaton, MD)
• ILB Ryan Cobb, Don Bosco Prep (Wykoff, N.J.)
• DB Kyrrel Latimer, DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD)

With respect to its latest commits, UVa beat out in-state rival Virginia Tech for the 6-5, 270-pound Davis, an offensive line prospect that has only played one season of varsity football on the line. He also considered offers from Boston College, Duke, Maryland, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest and West Virginia.

Coley, a 6-2, 230-pound prospect, was a first-team All-Beach District performer as a junior and had also earned offers from Navy, Louisville and Temple. He racked up 93 tackles as an outside linebacker last season but will play in the middle this upcoming season. He is being recruited by Virginia as an inside linebacker.

Brathwaite brings versatility, toughness and athleticism to the class. Despite not being a heavily recruited in terms of scholarship offers, he has performed well on the combine and camp circuit this offseason. This included a top performance at UVa's camp, where he impressed Al Groh enough for UVa to extend a scholarship offer days later. Likened to former UVa standout Clint Sintim by primary recruiter Ron Prince, Brathwaite, who ran the 40 in under 4.7 seconds this spring, is being recruited by Virginia as an outside linebacker. He plays offensive guard and defensive tackle for head coach Tom Pugh but is confident he'll be able to transition to linebacker at Virginia.

So will the commitment roll continue? At least two other Virginia targets may pick their college destination this month. Green Run (Virginia Beach, VA) outside linebacker recruit Jamal Wallace told TheSabre.com last month that he may decide in early July. We'll catch up with him for the latest this week. Late in June, top defensive end target Henry Anderson told TheSabre.com that he would like to decide by the end of July. Georgia Tech, Stanford and Virginia seem like the top contenders for Anderson, who has narrowed his list to eight schools.

Chris Horne, our resident recruiting expert, provides updates throughout the week for Edge subscribers about UVa's commitments and recruiting targets in football and men's basketball. To sign up for an Edge subscription, please check out the Sabre Edge Sign Up and Information Page. If you're already on board as an Edge subscriber, click the links below to catch up on recruiting.

Sabre Edge recruiting updates from the past week ...

Profile: New UVa Commit Chris Brathwaite
Prior to his standout performance at UVa's camp in late June, Chris Brathwaite had already turned in impressive performances on the combine circuit. The 6-1, 255-pound Holy Cross (Flushing, N.Y.) linebacker prospect has shown off impressive athletic skills all year, running a 4.65-second 40 at a combine in Connecticut, posting a 28-inch vertical leap and bench-pressing 185 pounds 21 times. At UVa, he posted a 4.4-second shuttle time and impressed while performing at linebacker.

UVa Wins In-State Battle for Conner Davis
Deep Run (Glen Allen, VA) offensive lineman Conner Davis committed to Virginia on Thursday, choosing the Hoos over offers from Boston College, Duke, Maryland, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and West Virginia. The decision came down to an in-state battle, though, and the Cavaliers won out over the Hokies for the 6-5, 270-pound rising senior.

NBAPA Top 100 Player Capsules
In viewing the NBAPA Top 100 Camp earlier this month, I had the opportunity to get a first-hand glimpse at some of the nation's elite prospects as Division I teams across the land try to form their rosters for years to come. I took down a ton of notes on players from point guard to center in an effort to familiarize myself and Sabre EDGE subscribers with some of the recruits' skills.

More recent recruiting updates on The Sabre ...

• Richardson Awaits UVa Offer
• Another Commitment on Board
• Cavs Score Two In-State Commits
• The Latest on Dynamic LB/DE Kareem Martin
• UVa's Latest Recruit a Dynamic Athlete
• CB Rijo Walker Leads Bethel Into 2009
• Top DE Cuts List to 8, Eyeing July Decision

eSportsonline is the ultimate one-stop-shop for coaches, sports enthusiasts and weekend warriors of all ages. Save 20% Plus FREE Shipping now on 10,000+ sporting goods, games and fitness products. We carry top brands like Nike, Reebok, Rawlings, Spalding, Wilson and hundreds more at discount prices! eSportsonline offers safe, secure online ordering and live customer support. We stock over 90% of our products and most ship within 24 hours.

UVa's Recruiting Class Ranked No. 1 in the ACC

UVa Athletics Media Relations Official Release

Virginia's men's soccer recruiting class was rated No. 1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference by TopDrawerSoccer.com, the publication recently announced. The class, which includes Will Bates, Shane Cooke, Marcus Douglas, Sean Murnane, Ahkeel Rodney and Will Whorton, will play for the Cavaliers this fall.

TopDrawerSoccer.com rated UVa's recruiting class as the best in the league, followed by defending national champion Maryland, Wake Forest, Boston College and Clemson.

"This class is well-balanced from top to bottom in terms of attacking players, defensive players and a goalkeeper," Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch said. "Technically and athletically, there is a lot of versatility in this group."

Bates (Chester, Va. / Thomas Dale), a 6-0 forward, has competed with the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-18 US National Teams from 2005-09. He played club soccer for the Richmond Strikers and was a four-year starter for two-time state champion Thomas Dale High School. Bates finished his high school career with 47 goals and 46 assists and was named to the first team all-state, first team all-region and first team all-central district teams.

"Will is a powerful, athletic forward with national team experience," Gelnovatch said. "He comes from a very well-coached Richmond Strikers club team and is one of the top players in the state of Virginia."

Cooke (Warrenton, Va. / Liberty), a 6-2 forward, is a product of DC United Academy and was a member of the Under-18 US National Team. He holds Liberty High School's record for most goals in a game and season, and was nominated as the 2007 DC United Youth Player of the Year.

"Shane is another top player in the state of Virginia," Gelnovatch said. "He is a left-sided, lanky player who is technical and has size."

Marcus Douglas (Washington, D.C. / Gonzaga), a 5-11 forward/midfielder/defender, played for the DC United Youth Team and Potomac Cougars as the club level. For Gonzaga High School, he was a two-time first team all-conference (WCAC) selection and second team all-metro selection. Douglas also co-captained the Virginia state team that traveled to Germany.

"Marcus is an athletic, skillful player," Gelnovatch said. "He has the potential to play several different positions for us."

Murnane (Centreville, Va. / Westfield), a 5-11 forward/midfielder/defender, earned first team all-state, all-metro, all-region and all-district honors throughout his high school career. He led Northern Virginia in goals scored his junior year, en route to being named a Virginia State Gatorade Player of the Year nominee. Listed on TopDrawerSoccer's Players To Watch in 2009, Murnane was captain of the Under-18 DC United Academy team.

"Sean is extremely versatile and can probably play any position on the field," Gelnovatch said. "He is another one of the top players in the state of Virginia."

Rodney (Elmont, N.Y. / Elmont), a 6-1 forward, was a 2008 All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and ESPN RISE. A first team all-state and all-region selection on Long Island, Rodney was chosen as Newsday's Player of the Year in 2007 and 2008. A member of the Under-20 US National Team that competed in Mexico, Rodney finished his high school career with 74 goals and 52 assists.

"Ahkeel is a powerful, athletic forward out of Long Island," Gelnovatch said. "He has experience with some of our youth national teams and is also very versatile in that he can play several different positions."

Whorton (Atlanta, Ga. / Northview), a 6-1 goalkeeper, played for the Norcross Fury on the club level. He was a member of the 2008 Georgia State Under-17 champion and Region III semifinalist team. His team is currently ranked No. 1 in the state of Georgia.

"Will is a technically sound, athletic goalkeeper out of Atlanta, Ga.," Gelnovatch said. "He comes from a very good club team."

Advertise With The Sabre!

Our advertising approach is different in that we make it abundantly clear in a direct and honest way that your company's commitment of sponsorship dollars is what enables the site to continue existing and improving into the future.

To learn more, please contact [email protected].

To view a list of our sponsors, please visit our Sponsors Page.

Around the World of Wahoo Sports ...

• Men's Soccer Announces 2009 Schedule: Highlighting the Virginia men's soccer 2009 schedule will be a season-opening tournament in Portland, Ore., at least 13 home contests in Klöckner Stadium, including two preseason exhibitions, and match-ups with six opponents that advanced to last year's postseason, coach George Gelnovatch announced.
• Vittese, New Jersey Squad Claim National Championship: Five members of the Virginia field hockey team and one alum recently competed in the USA Field Hockey Women's National Championship in Virginia Beach, Va. Sophomore midfielder Michelle Vittese, playing on the New Jersey High Performance Center team, won the crown after a 4-1 victory over the South HPC.
• Men's Lacrosse Recruits Shine in All-Star Game: Dom Starsia's men's lacrosse program was well represented this past weekend in the Under Armour High School All-America Lacrosse Classic at Johnny Unitas Stadium on the campus of Towson University. Six future Cavaliers played in a contest that saw the South pull out a 19-16 win over the North for its first win in the four-year history of the event. Midfielder Chris LaPierre was named the game's MVP after scoring two goals and assisting on four others to lead his team to victory. He also took the majority of the South's faceoffs, winning eight of 15, and snared a team-high six ground balls.
• Inglot, Singh Named Co-State Players of the Year: Virginia men's tennis players Dominic Inglot and Sanam Singh shared the honor of State Player of the Year as the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) announced the 2009 University Division Men's Tennis All-State team. Inglot and Singh were among four Cavaliers honored on the all-state teams, while Brian Boland was named the State Coach of the Year. Michael Shabaz and Houston Barrick were also recognized.
• Robison Claims Gold at World University Games: Virginia junior swimmer Scot Robison claimed gold as part of the United States 400-meter freestyle relay team at the World University Games over the weekend. The United States touched in 3:14.17, setting a World University Games record, to finish in front of second-place Italy (3:16.07) and third-place France (3:16.57). Robison swam anchor and clocked a time of 48.42.
• Cavaliers Release Cross Country Schedule: Virginia coach Jason Vigilante has released the schedule for the 2009 men's and women's cross country teams. The season features four home meets for the back-to-back men's ACC Champions and 2008 NCAA Southeast Women's Champions, in addition to the conference meet, the regional championships and the NCAA Championships.

For more Hoo news or to read full releases, check out Virginiasports.com.

#5 Nike Retro Jersey
Regular: $60.00, Sale: $40.00!

The #5 Nike Retro Jersey takes you back to the days of George Welsh, Shawn and Herman Moore. This orange jersey features the #5 imprinted on the front and back with the "Block V" logo on the sleeves and the Nike Swoosh on the left shoulder.

Issue No. 283 - March 12, 2007

Cavaliers Hire Receivers Coach

Virginia football coach Al Groh today announced the hiring of Wayne Lineburg, a 1996 UVa graduate, as the Cavaliers new wide receivers coach. Lineburg replaces John Garrett who was recently named tight ends coach for the Dallas Cowboys.

"We are very pleased to have Wayne join our staff and make his return to the University," Groh said. "As a Virginia graduate, he has a great love and passion for the University and he brings with him a firsthand knowledge of what it takes to successful here as a student-athlete. That's an invaluable combination for us."

Check Out SabreMail #283.

Coming Soon

The Sabre has you covered when it comes to Hoo news. Here are a few of the articles to expect on the site soon:

• JHoo's Summer Reading JHoo's Summer Reading Series continues this week.
• Bennett's Beginning: Editor Kris Wright takes a look at the early months of new basketball coach Tony Bennett.
• Jed Williams: Jed Williams is working on his next column about the Hoos.

In Case You Missed It ...

Sabre articles since the last SabreMail

JHoo's Summer Reading '09: Offensive Line
The story is the same every year: by the time I finish writing the Summer Reading column on the offensive line, my eyes are exhausted from watching games from the past year or two and my fingers are sore from typing. This year, I have no doubt the story will be repeated … and perhaps, your eyes will be tired, too, by the time you find the end of this column. So let's get right to the discussion.

Get your Wahoo fix. Subscribe to Sabre Edge!

Every week, Sabre Edge provides you with exclusive articles, columns, special features, interviews and recruiting news, including daily recruiting updates. There's even a special message board just for subscribers. And to top it off, you get 10 percent off all of your UVa Bookstores purchases during your subscription.

All of the great Sabre Edge content can be yours for the price of $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year. Try it for a month and cancel if you like. But we think you'll get hooked on the Edge and find out for yourself why the most knowledgeable Cavalier fans are Edge subscribers.

If you're a true Wahoo, then the Sabre Edge is right for you. Check it out!

• Sabre Edge Info and Sign Up