SEASON REVIEW

        Shenandoah District Tournament runner-up to Luray
        Qualified for Region B Playoffs for 11th time in the
        Past 12 seasons.

DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT
12-Mar	at Stuarts Draft	Lost 0-14
17-Mar	at Nelson County	Won 10-8
25-Mar	PARRY McCLUER	Won 12-2
27-Mar	at Parry McCluer	Won 11-7
31-Mar	ROBERT E. LEE	Won 5-1
2-Apr	STUARTS DRAFT	Lost 1-4
7-Apr	at Robert E. Lee	Lost 0-11
8-Apr	NELSON COUNTY	Won 20-19
15-Apr	RIVERHEADS	Lost 3-5
16-Apr	at Waynesboro	Lost 5-10
18-Apr	at Buffalo Gap	Lost 3-13
24-Apr	at Page County	Won 6-3
30-Apr	LURAY	Lost 2-10
2-May	at Riverheads	Won 4-2
6-May	BUFFALO GAP	Lost 3-15
7-May	vs. Stonewall Jackson	Won 6-4
7-May	at Stonewall Jackson	Won 9-8 (9)
13-May	at Luray	Lost 3-8
14-May	PAGE COUNTY	Won 5-4

	SHENANDOAH DIST. TOURNAMENT:	at Harrisonburg
16-May	STONEWALL JACKSON	Won 6-4
19-May	vs. Buffalo Gap	Won 1-0
22-May	vs. Luray	Lost 2-4
	REGION B TOURNAMENT:
27-May	at Strasburg	Lost 4-5

	STATE GROUP A TOURNAMENT:

	2008 Final Overall Record:	12-11

Hornet Diamond Wrapup:
2008 Season Saw Hornet Baseball on the Rebound....

After a subpar '07 season, Wilson Memorial used a combination of youth and veterans to fashion a 12-11 record, reach the Shenandoah District tournament title game and qualify once again for the Region B playoffs for the 19th time since the 1985 season, which likely is unsurpassed by any other region team with the exception of possibly Randolph-Henry.
The Hornets, under the leadership of new head coach and alumnus Derek McDaniel, suffered some ups and downs during the season, but stunned the entire league by knocking off co-regular-season champ Buffalo Gap 1-0 in the tourney semifinals behind Alex Fisher's 1-hitter and D.J. Curry's solo HR in the 1st inning. Wilson then battled once-beaten Luray in the championship, and despite an early 2-0 advantage, fell to the Bulldogs, 4-2, but earned a spot in the regional quarterfinals.
After being rained out on Monday, Memorial Day, the Hornets again traveled the next day to Bull Run District and reigning Group A state champion Strasburg. Before a large crowd at First Bank Park, Wilson grabbed a 3-0 lead entering the bottom of the sixth - extended on Roberto Pugliese's 2-run homer. Fisher was cruising along, blanking the Rams on 2 hits, but could not finish on the mound. The Rams promptly scored twice with 2 outs, and while Wilson added another run in the 7th on Curry's double and Weston Cash's RBI single, the victory was not meant to be.
The Rams rallied for 3 in the bottom of the 7th to snare the win. Luray later defeated Strasburg 12-7 in the finals as both teams advanced to state play, the first time ever for the Bulldogs. Luray reached the state semifinals at Radford before falling to eventual state champ J.J. Kelly and ending up 26-2.

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Wilson's home diamond was officially named "Bo Bowers Stadium" and dedicated on May 12, 2005 in honor of former coach Charles "Bo" Bowers' 30+ years of service to the WMHS baseball program, including 29 as head coach (1972-2000) when he guided the Hornet varsity to over 350 wins. He was honored by the VHSL and Va. High School Coaches Association for induction into the state High School Hall of Fame in October 2006 taking his place among the state's elite. He was also selected the next year for the Athletic Hall of Fame at Virginia Commonwealth University. Now retired, coach Bowers lives in Harrisonburg.

The facility received a much-needed facelift for the first time since 1988. New aluminum bleachers that seat 300-400 fans were installed in 2005 on concrete pads, and the two infield light poles were moved behind the spectators. An upgraded sound system was added as well as a paint job to the dugouts and press box/concession stand. A new batting cage and dual home warm-up mounds were built by the coaching staff. This project was spearheaded by community leaders Wendell Coleman and Jeff Moore.

Prior to the 2007 season, the Hornets had 14 straight winning seasons since an 8-11 record in '92. During a 17-year span (1990-2006), Wilson teams had earned 270 victories and lost only 104. Wilson Memorial remains one of only three Group A schools to have won the state baseball championship more than twice since 1970. (J.J. Kelly-Wise has nine) and fellow Region B school Goochland won its third in 2006. Under the long-time tenure of coach Bowers, the Hornets captured the titles in 1977, 1980 & 1990. They also qualified for state play in '91, '98, & '99 and again in 2002.

For the Record...
Hornets voted to 2008 All-Shenandoah District Teams:
1B - Bryce McClamroch (1st team)
C - Alex Fisher (1st team)

Hornets voted to the 2008 All-Region B Teams:
1B - Bryce McClamroch (2nd team)
C - Alex Fisher (2nd team)

Former Players Currently On the College Diamond...
Chase Hutchinson is a red-shirt freshman pitcher for Div. I Virginia Military Institute... Brooks Cullen is a junior starting outfielder and pitcher playing at Div. II Concord University in Athens, W.Va. ... .