by DAVE FACINOLI

Staff Writer

* With two regular season games remaining when this week began, the Madison Warhawks have already clinched at least a tie for the Liberty District regular season championship. The high school team began this week with an 11-1 district record, a 16-2 overall mark, and a 16-game winning streak.

BASEBALL ROUNDLUP

The W.T. Woodson Cavaliers (12-6, 9-3) began the week in second place in the district. Madison and Woodson were scheduled to play this week.

Last week Madison defeated the McLean Highlanders, 7-6, in nine innings; blanked the Fairfax Rebels, 5-0, behind a three-hitter by freshman left-hander Jason Farley one night later; and rallied to beat the Lee Lancers, 5-3, on Saturday. Matt Riffee went 3 for 4 with a homer and four RBI for Madison against McLean. One of his hits was the game-winner in the ninth. Johnny Ayers was the winning pitcher in relief. Kevin Clinton, Justin Wilkins and JB Oldenburg all had two hits each for McLean.

Farley (3-0) did not walk a batter against Fairfax and struck out five. Ayers had two hits, including a homer, for Madison. He has five home runs this season.

“The team was a little tired from the night before so we needed Jason to come through with a big effort and he did,” Madison coach Mark Gjormand said.

Against Lee, Riffee (7-2) was the winning pitcher and Andrew Eck earned the save. Joe Canova went 2 for 3. Madison scored five runs in the fifth inning.

McLean (10-7, 7-5) lost to South Lakes, 7-4, and Fairfax, 5-4, in other district games last week.

NOTES: Madison seniors Matt Riffee and Chris Wimmer will play for the West team this summer in the Virginia High School League’s all-star baseball team. Gjormand will coach that team . . . Gjormand began this week needing one more victory for 150 in his coaching career. He has been a head coach since 1996, all at Madison.

* The Langley Saxons (12-6, 7-5) defeated Fairfax and Marshall last week and lost to Lee, 4-2. In Langley’s 4-1 win over Fairfax last week, Russell Blankinship (5-1) tossed a complete game. Nick Zahra hit a solo homer for Langley and Kyle Fraser drove in two runs. Chuck Eller had two hits for the Saxons. Jimmy Saris took the loss against Lee. Langley had three hits.

Blankinship got the win in relief against Marshall and Alex Dadisman belted a solo homer. Blankinship also had two hits and drove in a run during the game. Saris and Adam Hoffer also had run-scoring hits.

* The Oakton Cougars (13-4, 4-3) had a 2-1 record last week. In a 7-3 loss to Herndon Hornets, Chris Despins homered and had two hits and Bryan Kidwell had two hits. In a 4-3 win over Hayfield, Kidwell had two more hits and drove in the winning run. Preston Madden belted a two-run homer and Colin Michael (2-0) was the winning pitcher.

In Oakton’s 8-2 win over Robinson, Brian Scott (3-0) got the win in relief, Kidwell went 3 for 4, Matt Butler was 2 for 4 and John Marlette drove in two runs. Oakton had 10 hits, all singles.