Football in July is the norm for the Virginia High School Coaches Association's annual lineup of coaches clinics and East-West all-star games. This is the 37th year coaches from across the commonwealth have gathered in the summer.

What isn't usual is this year's football game date: July 4.

The schedule of events stays the same, but everything is a week earlier.

The girls and boys basketball games at the Hampton Coliseum start the week off July 1. Girls volleyball and the boys and girls soccer games are Wednesday at Christopher Newport University in Newport News.

Softball and baseball take center stage Thursday at CNU.

Football at Darling Stadium in Hampton always winds up the action. The game often produces offensive fireworks, just not of the exploding variety.

Team rosters consist of graduated seniors from all three Virginia High School League classifications. Richmond area athletes compete for the East.

The metro area will have representation in six of the eight games. No players are on the initial rosters for girls volleyball and girls soccer.

The boys soccer roster includes state Group AAA player of the year Brian Ownby of state champion Deep Run and teammate Zach Summers.

The football roster includes Times-Dispatch player of the year Ju-Ju Clayton of Hermitage. T-D softball player of the year Courtney Long of Hanover is set to play, too.

LOCAL PARTICIPANTS

 

Baseball : Dustin Galbraith, Douglas Freeman; Travis Lane, Mills Godwin; Jake Lowery, Cosby; Paul Nice, Powhatan; Ronnie Shaban, Cosby; Jordan Walton, Lee-Davis. Coaches: Gregg Conner, Powhatan; Grant Odell, Deep Run.

Boys basketball : Ibn Rassoull, Petersburg; Andre Williamson, Prince George. Coach: Bill Russell, Prince George.

Girls basketball : Beth Ann Boyce, Colonial Heights.

Football : Jayvon Brownlee, John Marshall; Torrean Crowell, Meadowbrook; D.J. Coles, Goochland; Leonard Smith, Manchester; Emmett Brown, Powhatan; Ju-Ju Clayton, Hermitage; Taron Hampton, Powhatan; Ryan Smith, Patrick Henry; Justin White, Hermitage; Dwayne Whyte, Huguenot; Jabrel Mines, Caroline; B.J. McLaughlin, Goochland; Billy Fudella, West Point; Andrew Belcher, L.C. Bird; Byron Overstreet, Patrick Henry; Jamel Davis, Hermitage. Coaches: Patrick Kane, Hermitage; Mark Fischer, Louisa.

Boys soccer : Colin Fitzpatrick, Cosby; Patrick Innes, Thomas Dale; Ben Jessee, Cosby; Brian Ownby, Deep Run; Zach Summers, Deep Run; Ryan Taylor (keeper), Midlothian; Chris Vonier, James River. Coach: Mike Anderson, Cosby.

Softball : Laura Bauer, New Kent; Jordan Beadles, Monacan; Casey Clarke, Lee-Davis; Whitney Haller, Cosby; Courtney Long, Hanover; Caitlen Manning, Prince George. Coaches: John Earley, Atlee; Chris Pace, Hanover.

VHSCA ALL-STAR GAMES