Virginia
Virginia Colonial-Era Garden Yields Clues to Enslaved Workers
Archaeologists in Virginia are uncovering one of colonial America’s most lavish displays of opulence: An ornamental garden where a wealthy politician and enslaved gardeners grew exotic plants from around the world. Such plots of land were the 18th-century equivalent of buying a Lamborghini. The garden in Williamsburg belonged to John Custis IV, a tobacco plantation owner who is perhaps best known as the first father-in-law of Martha Washington. She married George Washington after Custis’ son Daniel died. Historians also have been intrigued by the elder Custis’ botanical adventures, reports the AP. And yet this excavation is as much about the people who cultivated the land as it is about Custis.
“The garden may have been Custis’ vision, but he wasn’t the one doing the work,” says Jack Gary, executive director of archaeology at Colonial Williamsburg, which now owns the property. “Everything we see in the ground that’s related to the garden is the work of enslaved gardeners, many of whom must have been very skilled.” Some finds:
- A pierced coin that was typically worn as a good-luck charm by young African Americans. Another is the shards of an earthenware chamber pot that likely was used by enslaved people.
- Animals appear to have been intentionally buried under some fence posts. They included two chickens with their heads removed, as well as a single cow’s foot. A snake without a skull was found in a shallow hole that had likely contained a plant. “We have to wonder … are they West African traditions?” Gary says. “It’s features like those that make us continue to try and understand the enslaved people who were in this space.”
- The garden disappeared after Custis’ death in 1749. But the dig has determined it was about two-thirds the size of a football field, while descriptions from the time reference lead statues of Greek gods and topiaries trimmed into balls and pyramids. In letters, Custis referenced one of the earliest known references in America to growing “apples of love”—ie, tomatoes.
In recent years, the museum has boosted efforts to tell a more complete story about the Black Americans who lived in Williamsburg. It plans to reconstruct one of the nation’s oldest Black churches and is restoring what is believed to be the country’s oldest surviving schoolhouse for Black children.
(More Williamsburg stories.)
By the time the final out is logged in the Women’s College World Series on Monday, the 2024 WCWS championship series will be set.
And, win or lose, Mike White, Reese Atwood and Texas softball will have a say in who makes the best-of-three series.
REQUIRED READING: Watch Texas softball vs. Stanford live with Fubo (free trial)
The Longhorns to this point have looked every bit the part of the No. 1 national seed, giving up zero runs through two games in Oklahoma City. They got started with a 4-0 victory over Stanford, the No. 8 national seed, led by pitching phenom NiJaree Canady. They then turned around and thrashed No. 4 national seed Florida 10-0 in five innings. Perhaps more impressively, they allowed just one hit per game in those two victories.
Now Texas will look for one more victory to cement its spot in the WCWS championship series, again against Canady and the Cardinal. Stanford rebounded nicely from its opening loss to the Longhorns, downing Oklahoma State 8-0 in six innings on Friday and UCLA 3-1 on Sunday to get another crack at the Longhorns.
Should Stanford manage to get one back vs. UT, it will need another victory against the Longhorns to secure a spot in the championship series. Texas, meanwhile, needs just one win.
REQUIRED READING: Inside WCWS reunion of OU softball star Tiare Jennings, UCLA’s Maya Brady
With that, here’s how to watch Texas vs. Stanford in the WCWS semis, including time, TV and streaming info and more:
What channel is Texas vs Stanford softball on today?
Texas’ game vs. Stanford will air on ESPN. Should the Cardinal down the Longhorns, the winner-take-all game between the two will air on the same channel.
Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app, ESPN+ and Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Texas vs Stanford softball start time
- Date: Monday, June 3
- Time: 6 p.m. CT
First pitch for Texas and Stanford’s first game of the day is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT. If Texas loses the first game, the second will be scheduled for 8:30 p.m.
REQUIRED READING: Can pro softball learn from WNBA? How WCWS stars could grow Caitlin Clark-level success
Texas softball schedule 2024
Below is Texas’ postseason schedule. For the Longhorns’ full 2024 college softball schedule, click here.
Texas Regional
- Friday, May 17: Texas 5, Siena 0
- Saturday, May 18: Texas 14, Northwestern 2 (five innings)
- Sunday, May 19: Texas 7, Northwestern 0
Texas Super Regional
- Friday, May 24: Texas A&M 6, Texas 5
- Saturday, May 25: Texas 9, Texas A&M 8
- Sunday, May 26: Texas 6, Texas A&M 5
Women’s College World Series
- Thursday, May 30: Texas 4, Stanford 0
- Saturday, June 1: Texas 10, Florida 0 (five innings)
- Monday, June 3: Texas vs. Stanford
- Monday, June 3*: Texas vs. Stanford
* If necessary
Stanford softball schedule 2024
Below is Stanford’s postseason schedule. For the Cardinal’s full 2024 college softball schedule, click here.
Stanford Regional
- Friday, May 17: Stanford 8, Saint Mary’s 6
- Saturday, May 18: Stanford 2, Mississippi State 1
- Sunday, May 19: Cal State Fullerton 8, Stanford 1
- Sunday, May 19: Stanford 4, Cal State Fullerton 2
Stanford Super Regional
- Friday, May 24: LSU 11, Stanford 1 (five innings)
- Saturday, May 25: Stanford 3, LSU 0
- Sunday, May 26: Stanford 8, LSU 0 (six innings)
Women’s College World Series
- Thursday, May 30: Texas 4, Stanford 0
- Friday, May 31: Stanford 9, Oklahoma State 0 (six innings)
- Sunday, June 2: Stanford 3, UCLA 1
- Monday, June 3: Stanford vs. Texas
- Monday, June 3*: Stanford vs. Texas
* If necessary
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Call her Kali Clutch.
When Alabama softball’s bats have needed a boost in the weekend’s Tuscaloosa Regional, Kali Heivilin has had the answer. After sparking the Crimson Tide’s offense in an opening win against Jackson State on Friday night, the senior second baseman was back at it again Saturday, providing the go-ahead home run in Alabama’s 4-3 victory over Virginia Tech on Saturday.
“I kind of just go out there and understand that, ‘Hey, it’s your time to do something,’” Heivilin said following the win. “I just told myself put the ball in play, Audrey [Vandagriff’s] fast, something will happen.”
Alabama, which earned the No. 15 national seed in the NCAA Tournament, is now one win away from reaching its third straight super regional. The Tide will look to clinch the regional on Sunday as it plays either Virginia Tech, Belmont or Jackson State. Whichever one of those opponents ends up playing Alabama will need to beat the Tide twice to advance.
They’ll also need to solve Heivlin, something Alabama’s first two opponents have been unable to do this weekend.
Heivilin went 1-for-1 with a pair of walks against Virginia Tech, belting a two-run home run over the centerfield fence to give Alabama a 3-2 lead in the bottom third. Through two games in the regional, the senior is 3-for-4 with three walks, two runs and four RBIs.
During Friday’s win over JSU, Heivilin legged out a two-out infield single to score Alabama’s first run in the bottom of the third. That prompted a four-run rally, which ultimately led to a run-rule win over the Tigers.
Saturday’s victory over Virginia Tech required a bit more drama.
Alabama spotted the Hokies a pair of runs in the first inning as starting pitcher Jocelyn Briski struggled with her control. The Tide ace walked the first two batters of the frame before ultimately giving up a pair of earned runs on three hits.
Virginia Tech appeared to take a 3-0 lead on a two-run single to left with three outs. However, upon review, it was determined that left fielder Lauren Johnson’s throw to the plate beat Virginia Tech’s Bre Peck to the plate for the third out of the inning.
Heads-up baserunning allowed the Tide to get a run back in the bottom of the third as Brooke Ellestad scored from second on a dropped third strike with one out.
“That was all her,” Alabama head coach Patrick said of Ellestad’s decision to bolt for home. “She read the dropped third strike, and then she was past third andd on the throw, she took off. Seriously, it was all her. Very aggressive, and she made it easy. It wasn’t even close.”
With Alabama trailing 2-1, Audrey Vandagriff led off the bottom of the third with a walk before stealing second and advancing to third on a throwing error. The stolen base was Vandagriff’s 50th of the year, making her just the third Alabama player to achieve the feat in a single season.
Virginia Tech challenged the steal, arguing Vandagriff left first base too early. However, the call on the field was upheld, setting up Heivilin’s heroics two batters later.
“The challenge about her leaving early, she said something to me at third like, ‘I never leave early,’” Murphy said of his conversation with Vandagriff during the challenge. “I was like, ‘Please God, not this time.’ But that’s what you need from a baserunner — no fear at all of getting thrown out, and whatever happens happens.”
After a tumultuous first inning in the circle, Briski rebounded to pitch around trouble for the remainder of the game. The Alabama ace went a full seven innings, giving up three earned runs on seven hits while striking out five batters
Briski forced Virginia Tech to strand runners in scoring position in the first, second, fourth and seventh innings. After allowing the Hokies to cut Alabama’s lead to 4-3 with a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning, she retired eight of the final 11 batters she faced to close out the win.
“A lot of time, when I get into that trouble it’s the walks and everything,” Heiviln said when asked about her ability to rebound in the circle. “So being able to throw strikes, get ahead of the batters is the key in those kind of situations. Just trusting the defense to work. It’s just first-pitch strikes, second-pitch strikes and getting in the 1-2, 0-2 counts definitely allows me to use more of my chase pitches and everything. So I think that definitely made a big difference.”
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