Local Briefs

Nationals make moves for Double-A affiliate Harrisburg
Randy Tomlin will be the pitching coach for the Washington Nationals’ Double-A affiliate, the Harrisburg Senators.
Tomlin served as the Potomac Nationals’ pitching coach in 2007 and 2008.
The move was announced on Wednesday as Washington player development officials named Harrisburg’s staff for the 2009 season.
Tomlin worked with high ceiling pitchers John Lannan, Ross Detwiler, Garrett Mock, Jordan Zimmermann, Zech Zinicola and Shairon Martis during his time at Potomac.
Four of those pitchers have already pitched in the major leagues.
John Stearns returns for his second year as Harrisburg’s manager.
Troy Gingrich, Potomac’s hitting coach from 2005-07, will serve in that role for Harrisburg in ‘09. Gingrich spent his first year as the Senators hitting coach in 2008 and the Senators led Washington’s full-season affiliates with 138 home runs and a .342 on-base percentage.

Golf tourney held at Generals Ridge
The winners of the First Tee Benefit Golf Tournament conducted recently at the Generals Ridge Golf Course in Manassas Park have been announced.
Capturing the top prize were Peter Kim, Nate Pratt and Jack INge. Second place went to Melody and Buddy Behringer, Joseph Boivin and Phil Chambers. Coming in third were Chet Char, Tom Sydes, Kevin Knitter and Johnny Thomas.
As with most tournaments, there were the longest drive and closest to the pin competitions.
Brenda Barry won the longest drive for women, while Brad Rossa won for the men.
Lesli Mangeri won closest to the pin for women and decisively edged out the men’s winner by three feet.

Group of runners participate in Jr. Olympics
The Running Store Running Club in Gainesville took a small group of runners to the USA Track & Field Jr. Olympics Virginia State Cross Country meet on Saturday, November 15th.
In the Sub-Bantam Division for kids born in 2000 or later, Anthony Zervoudis claimed the Virginia State title by winning the boys division in a time of 9:33 for the 2,000 meter (1.2 mile) race. Mack Mulhall finished in third place with a time of 10:01. In the girls Sub-Bantam race, Gwynivere Newcomb finished 5th with a time of 11:21. All three advanced to the USATF Jr. Olympics Regional meet, which will take place Saturday, November 22nd
In the Bantam Division for kids born in 1998 or 1999, Kristina Zervoudis finished second in a time of 14:47 for the 3,000 meter (1.8 mile) race, while Karina Grant finished fourth in a time of 15:24. Both advanced to the National Jr. Olympic Meet to be held December 13th.
In the Midget Division for kids born in 1996 or 1997, Erin Sonnenburg advanced to the national meet finishing 12th in a time of 15:00 in the 3,000 meter race. Damian Grant just missed qualifying for the national meet placing 23rd overall with a time of 15:27.
Other local runners competing in the meet included Patrick Palmero-Re, who finished 5th (12:11) in the midget boys, and Joe Monfort, who finished 7th (12:34) in the midget boys. Both will be competing in the national meet. Nick Bussian finished 24th in the Youth 4,000-meter race.