Patriots

SMITHSBURG -- The Smithsburg Leopards scratched out a win over the Thomas Johnson Patriots 25-20, 21-25, 25-19, 25-22 in high school volleyball action Thursday night. "Coming into tonight, we knew that it was going to be a battle," Smithsburg coach Rachel Brashear said. "They were state runners-up in 4A last year. Thomas Johnson elevated our level of play tonight and our girls rose to the occasion. It says a lot about a team to battle back after being down. " With the match tied at one game apiece, Smithsburg (2-0)

It didn't take long for Thomas Johnson to show off its explosive offense. Fourteen seconds, to be exact. Ryon Lynch connected with Marquis Woodyard for a 74-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage, giving the Patriots an early leg up on their way to a 38-12 victory over North Hagerstown in the season opener for both teams Friday at Mike Callas Stadium. It was a result that could have had the Hubs hanging their heads, but North coach Dan Cunningham would have none of that.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. -- Zach Layhew scored three touchdowns on Friday for Hedgesville, none bigger than the final one that gave the Eagles a gritty 26-20 victory over Washington in overtime. The Eagles, who have won three straight games dating back to last year, bolted to an early lead and watched Washington roar back before landing the victory. "It was certainly one of those games you hate to see a team lose but I'm glad it was us that won," said Hedgesville coach Paul Plott.

PREP GOLF Hedgesville 184, St. Maria Goretti 186 at Beaver Creek, par 36 Hedgesville: Ben Adams 45, Eric Grove 45, Cody Euler 47, Zach Van Gersdorff 47. Goretti: Christian Grosh 44, Emily Steiner 46, Dan Rost 47, J.R. Everett 49. BOYS SOCCER Washington 5, Berkeley Springs 1 BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. -- Tanner Robison scored three goals and added an assist to lead the Patriots past the Indians on Tuesday. Blake White and Brandon Truiett scored the other goals for Washington.

JONES SPRING, W.Va. -- A dedication ceremony was held recently at the new bronze marker on the grave of Revolutionary War patriot Jacob Stuckey, who died on Jan. 17, 1844. Attending the ceremony were nearly 80 Stuckey family descendants from numerous states as well as Daughters of the American Revolution members from the Conococheague and Antietam chapters in Maryland, Shenandoah Valley, Va., William Henshaw and Pack Horse Ford from West Virginia and Urbana from Ohio. The Stuckey family cemetery is in Jones Spring in Berkeley County, W.Va.

HANCOCK -- It all began with an idea that Charlie Hudson saw in a children's magazine: A Fourth of July bike parade.  Charlie is the son of Judy and Dennis Hudson, the owners of the C&O Bike Shop in Hancock. In a small town with limited resources that has been trying to weather a bad economy, the "simple things are the best," and that proved correct on the Fourth of July.  More than 20 children -- infants to 12 years old -- gathered in front of the bicycle shop in Hancock to decorate their bikes in red, white, and blue streamers, small American flags and flowers.

WILLIAMSPORT -- Grayson McCleaf spotted a faded and tattered American flag hanging at a Williamsport pharmacy many months ago. He had been learning about the proper care and retirement of Old Glory in his Cub Scout pack. So his father, Williamsport Mayor James G. McCleaf II, was not all that surprised when Grayson, 8, said he wanted to talk to the store manager about the dingy flag. One day, when McCleaf went to pick up a prescription, Grayson -- who had been persistent about the flag -- again requested his father's permission to speak with the store manager.

U.S. Navy Reserves Cmdr. Kelley Castell presented to Kelley Everetts, senior vice president of global customer service operations for First Data Corp., a Patriot Award from the national committee of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. The award is given to employers and supervisors who go above and beyond in support of employees who are members of the National Guard or military reserves. Bob DeRodes, chief technology officer at First Data, also received a Patriot Award.

HAGERSTOWN -- It wasn't the first time David Brodka had received a mailer containing a key from Hoffman Automotive in Hagerstown. But when he went to the dealership Thursday to see what he had won, Brodka was amazed when he left in a 2008 Jeep Patriot. "I always go in, but I usually get the low prize," Brodka said Friday. After the number on his key/mailer was checked, he was told to wait while the Hoffman staff verified some things. A short time later, Brodka, 44, of Hagerstown, was told he was the winner of a vehicle with an estimated value of $20,000, said Doug Stahl, general sales manager of the dealership on Edgewood Drive.

FREDERICK, Md. -- North Hagerstown found out Friday night that execution is sometimes inferior to bad fortune. North's main objective in the final seconds against Thomas Johnson was to keep the ball from guard Victor Walker. The Hubs did a fine job of that, but a deflection directed the ball right to the Patriots junior on the right wing, where he drained a buzzer-beating 18-footer to give his team a 66-65 victory on Senior Night. The off-balance jumper touched nothing but net, sending Walker sprinting to the other end of the court where he was swarmed by his home crowd.