Virginia
Blanco Deals, Virginia Baseball Homers Three Times to Beat Virginia Tech 7-3
In need of a reset in their final regular season series after suffering a disappointing series loss last weekend, the Cavaliers got just that and did so with a combination of excellent pitching and power hitting.
Evan Blanco allowed only two unearned runs in 7.1 innings and UVA hit three home runs as No. 18 Virginia (38-14, 16-12 ACC) got back in the win column with a 7-3 victory over Virginia Tech (32-18, 14-14 ACC) in the Commonwealth Clash series opener on Thursday night at Disharoon Park.
For Blanco, who has been responsible for most of UVA’s quality starts in what has been a difficult season from a pitching staff perspective, Thursday’s outing was the longest of his career and the longest by any UVA pitcher since Brian Edgington tossed a complete game in the Super Regional against Duke last June. He allowed only five hits, issued only four walks, and the two runs the Hokies scored on his watch were unearned due to an error.
After a scoreless first inning, Virginia gave Blanco some early run support as Harrison Didawick drew a one-out walk and then Eric Becker drilled a two-run home run off the scoreboard in right-center field.
𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗥 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗞!!!
Eric Becker off the scoreboard and its 2-0 HOOS!
📺: ACCNX | #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/CltcB1tU6j
— Virginia Baseball (@UVABaseball) May 16, 2024
The Cavaliers kept it coming in the third and did so again with the long ball as Henry Ford reached on a single and then Jacob Ference went yard with a hard-hit line drive that cleared the fence in left field for a two-run homer.
Name: Jacob Ference No. 1️⃣6️⃣ on the year, its 4-0 UVA 📺: ACCNX | #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/36MZgeDR7X
— Virginia Baseball (@UVABaseball) May 16, 2024
Hometown: Smashville, USA
Harrison Didawick followed that up with a double down the right field line and he scored on a Henry Godbout grounder that found the gap in the right side of the infield for an RBI single to make it 5-0.
The lone blemish on Blanco’s brilliant outing came in the top of the fourth. After giving up a one-out single, he appeared to have gotten out of it with a routine grounder to third base, but Becker airmailed the throw to first base, turning the final out of the inning into a scoring play to get Virginia Tech on the board. Blanco then issued a walk and an RBI single to Christian Martin before inducing the inning-ending fly-out with UVA still ahead 5-2.
Virginia answered in the bottom of the fifth with its third homer of the day and an historic one for Harrison Didawick, who smashed a solo shot into the bullpen in right field to become just the third Cavalier to ever hit 20 home runs in a single season, joining Brian Buchanan (1994) and Jake Gelof (2022, 2023).
𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘!
Harrison Didawick becomes UVA’s third-ever 20-homer man!
📺: ACCNX | #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/Ghoz3Im0MR
— Virginia Baseball (@UVABaseball) May 16, 2024
After a 1-2-3 frame from Blanco in the top of the sixth, the Cavaliers scored their seventh and final run of the game in the bottom half, as Luke Hanson hit a leadoff single, moved to second on a Bobby Whalen bunt, and scored on a two-out single from Casey Saucke to make it 7-2.
Blanco worked around a single in the seventh and retired the first batter of the eighth before exiting to a well-deserved ovation from the crowd of 4,275 at Disharoon Park.
Tip of the 🧢 to @EvanBlanco27
Longest outing of his career, longest by a Cavalier this season.
👏👏👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/q1jQHhThE9
— Virginia Baseball (@UVABaseball) May 17, 2024
He was replaced by Chase Hungate, who gave up a run on a pair of singles, but got UVA to the ninth still leading 7-3. Angelo Tonas closed it out in the final frame, retiring the Hokies in order to secure Virginia’s 7-3 victory.
Blanco was the player of the game, giving up zero earned runs over a career-high 7.1 innings pitched. Though nine different Cavaliers recorded a hit in the game, Harrison Didawick was the only batter with multiple hits, going 3 for 3 with three runs scored, including his 20th home run of the season.
🗣️ POSTGAME REACTIONS: Coach O’Connor, Evan Blanco (7.1 IP, 0 ER), Harrison Didawick (3-for-3, HR, RBI), Eric Becker (1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI). pic.twitter.com/xk3gx7JEae
— Virginia Baseball (@UVABaseball) May 17, 2024
Virginia will look to take the series in Friday’s game 2, which has an adjusted start time of 12pm due to expected inclement weather on Friday evening. The game will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Virginia
Man shot, killed by Virginia trooper ID’d after crash ends in deadly stabbing attack
FAIRFAX, Va. (7News) — Virginia State Police have identified the man who was shot and killed by a trooper after a crash ended in a stabbing attack on Interstate 495 Sunday afternoon.
Jared Llamado, 32, of McLean, died at the hospital on Sunday after he was shot.
RELATED | 2 dead, dog killed after stabbing spree, trooper shooting on I-495 in Fairfax County
Investigators said Llamado was confronted by the trooper who opened fire around 1:17 p.m. The trooper was responding to a report of a road rage incident and found Llamado with a knife, according to a news release.
Four stabbing victims, all women, were also found at the scene, along with a dog that was also stabbed.
Michelle Adams, 39, died from her injuries. The dog also did not survive. The three other women were all taken to the hospital with serious injuries, according to VSP. 7News is not identifying the surviving victims.
Investigators said the stabbings stemmed from a crash in the southbound lanes of I-495.
The trooper who opened fire was not hurt and is on leave pending the outcome of the investigation into the use of force.
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Investigators said they do not believe the attack is connected to terrorism.
Virginia
Two dead after I-495 road rage incident leads to stabbing, Virginia State Police shooting – WTOP News
A road rage incident led to a shooting involving the Virginia State Police on Sunday on Interstate 495. Four individuals were also stabbed.
Two people are dead Sunday in Annandale, Virginia, after a road rage incident led to a shooting involving Virginia State Police on Interstate 495.
A release issued by the Virginia State Police said a trooper fatally shot a man after responding to a report of a road rage incident on the southbound lanes of I-495 just before 1:30 p.m. at exit 52, near the Little River Turnpike.
The man, transferred to a hospital with serious injuries, has been pronounced dead. VSP said the trooper shot in self-defense after the man confronted him with a knife.
The trooper did not suffer any injuries during the altercation.
Officials found four stabbing victims at the scene, but only identified a 39-year-old woman and a dog. Both the woman and the dog died.
Early findings suggest the stabbings took place after a crash on the Capital Beltway. The crash remains under investigation.
The VSP’s release comes after the main lanes of the Capital Beltway Outer Loop, before Little River Turnpike, were closed to traffic for several hours, only recently opening the express lanes. Main lanes between Arlington Boulevard and the Little River Turnpike remain closed.
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Virginia
Virginia Huffman Obituary February 27, 2026 – Ott & Lee Funeral Homes
Mary “Virginia” Huffman, 82, of Pelahatchie, Mississippi, passed away on February 27, 2026.
Born on February 28, 1943, in Morton, Mississippi, she was the daughter of Carl and Nannie Mae Bradshaw. She married the love of her life, Jimmy Lavell Huffman, on June 14, 1963, and together they built a life rooted in faith, family, and hard work. Virginia devoted nearly 50 years to teaching high school math, beginning at Morton High School and later serving at East Rankin Academy. Generations of students were shaped by her steady guidance, high expectations, and deep belief in their potential. Many would say they entered college prepared because they had learned from “Mrs. Huffman.” Her students knew the famous “Mrs. Huffman look,” but no one understood it quite like her children and grandchildren. To many, she was more than a teacher—she was a mentor, encourager, and second mother.
A faithful member of Cross Roads Baptist Church, Virginia was a true matriarch and prayer warrior whose life was anchored in her love for the Lord. She woke each morning to study the Word of God and carried that faith into every conversation, classroom, and season of life. She played piano and organ, sang in the choir, and on Sunday mornings could often be found at home practicing the piano before church—something her family dearly loved listening to. She served her church and community with quiet devotion. Whether tutoring students during the summer, helping families in need, or visiting church members, she consistently lived out a servant’s heart.
She loved farm life—raising chickens and cows, cutting hay, tending her flower beds, and cooking for the people she loved. She was especially known for her strawberry pies, egg custard, and caramel cake (see Cheryl Moore for the recipe). She faithfully attended her grandchildren’s sporting events and found her greatest joy in cheering on her family. She loved deeply and wholeheartedly, treating not only her own children and grandchildren as treasures, but embracing many others in her community as if they were her own.
She is survived by her husband, Jimmy Lavell Huffman; her children, Connie Goodman (Mike), Karen Jones, and Jade Huffman; her grandchildren, Christin (Colby) (Candace), Christopher (Victoria), Dillon, Marley, Halle (Elijah), Kyla Kate, and Eli; her great-grandchildren, Autumn, Titus, Sophia, Liam, Scarlett, Luke, and Ava; and her siblings, Paul (Joyce) and Delilah.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Nannie Mae Bradshaw; her in-laws, Clyde Sr. and Zora Huffman; her son, Scot Huffman; and her sisters, May Erving and Maxine Strong.
Virginia will be remembered as a woman of unwavering faith, steadfast strength, and extraordinary love. Her legacy lives on in the family she nurtured, the students she prepared, and the countless lives she covered in prayer.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – until on Sunday, March 1, 2026 at Cross Roads Baptist Church in Pelahatchie and again on Monday, March 2, 2026 from 12 pm – 1 pm.
Services will be held at 1pm Monday, March 2, 2026 at Cross Roads Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery.
Bro. John Vaughn, Bro. Gary Morris and Bro. Steven Platt will officate the services.
Pallbearers will be Tim Wolverton, Colby Boyd, Christopher Wilson, Dillon Pettigrew, Eli Huffman and Elijah Moore.
Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Morton is honored to serve the Huffman family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Cross Roads Baptist Church Building Fund.
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