Arts, Leisure and Sports
Cardinal Bicycle is hosting a charity bike ride on the Greenway called “20k for Greenway” this Saturday at 10am. WFIR Intern Reporter Alex Powell has more:
A lineup that includes headliners like Melissa Etheridge, Trampled by Turtles and Old Crow Medicine Show isn’t the only notable aspect when FloydFest 2022 “Heartbeat” launches a week from Wednesday – its also the last hurrah for the music and outdoors festival at its current location. Details from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
Third-year sophomore outfielder Gavin Cross was drafted 9th over all tonight by the Kansas City Royals, becoming the Hokies’ highest all-time MLB Draft selection.
(Earlier from Hokiesports.com) Third-year sophomore outfielder Gavin Cross will be chasing Tech program history on Sunday night as he seeks to become the Hokies’ highest all-time MLB Draft selection – a mark currently held by left-hand pitcher Joe Saunders (2002, No. 12 overall). Cross is widely coveted as a top-10 draft prospect, placing No. 5 on Perfect Game‘s final big board (July 14) and No. 10 on MLB Pipeline‘s list of the top 250 prospects (June 29). Among collegiate prospects, Cross improved to No. 4 on D1Baseball‘s latest and final reveal of its top 150 draft rankings, leapfrogging LSU outfielder Jacob Berry. Cross is looking to become the sixth Tech player to be taken during the first round of the MLB Draft and join the elite company of first baseman Franklin Stubbs (1982), right-hand pitcher Brad DuVall (1987, 1988), right-hand pitcher Denny Wagner (1997; compensatory) and southpaw Joe Saunders (2002). Stubbs holds the record for the highest selection by a Tech position player, No. 19, which stands in jeopardy to fall during Sunday’s opening round.
Justyn Mutts. G Marrano photos
Virginia Tech student-athlete Justyn Mutts will return for one final year this Fall and play basketball for the Hokies while working on a third degree. Social work may be in his future and this morning he was at the West End Center for Youth, hooping it up with summer campers. His message for the West End Center Kids – work hard to overcome any obstacles standing in your way – nothing substantial comes easy. Mutts is also hoping one more year at Tech will enhance his NBA draft status next year.
GoCross at Fallon Park. File photo.
Over the past 5 years a cycling event organized by Roanoke Outside has helped enhance the Roanoke Valley’s growing reputation as a center for biking. Now a “move up” for the Virginia’s Blue Ridge Go Cross event that returns in mid-September could add to that momentum. A follow up story from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
Jim Sears and Tara Marciniak Center in the Square G Marrano photo
A changing of the guard at Center in the Square – Jim Sears has retired as the President after 30 years; he will stay involved as a board member. Center’s former Director of Development – Tara Marciniak has now stepped into the President’s role. They sat down recently with WFIR’s Gene Marrano – and here is a “Longer Listen.”
