by Brian Hoffman
Three Salem teams and one Glenvar team are still alive as the Sandlot Super Bowl tournaments head into the semifinals this Saturday. Games will be played at Spartan Field in front of Salem High School and Bogle Field behind Cave Spring Middle School.
In the 8U Division two Salem teams played in the first round last Saturday and Bobby Johnson’s team beat Neil Conner’s team in a close one, 6-0. The Glenvar 8U team also survived with an 18-13 win over North Roanoke. This Saturday Johnson’s Salem team will play Vinton at 10:30 am at Bogle Field, followed by Glenvar against Franklin County at noon.
In the 10U Division two Salem teams are still alive. The team coached by Bubba Sowers is the second seed and they defeated Glenvar, coached by Chad Phillips, 30-0 in last week’s quarterfinal round. The other Salem team, coached by Gary Abbott, is the fourth seed and they downed fifth seeded Botetourt, 22-0. This Saturday at Spartan Field the Sowers team will play third seeded Vinton at 10:30 am, followed by the Abbott team against eighth seeded Franklin County at noon.
Both local teams lost games in the 12U Division last Saturday. The eighth seeded Salem Spartan team, coached by Mike Jones, ran into a buzz saw with top-seeded Vinton in a 44-9 loss. The Glenvar team, coached by Corey Willis, was the third seed and they were upset by sixth seeded Hidden Valley, 8-0. This Saturday’s games are both at 9 am with Vinton against Franklin County at Spartan Field and Hidden Valley against Cave Spring at Bogle.
All championship games are at Salem Stadium on November 5.