While the high schools are out, there's still plenty to keep us busy, especially area minor league baseball, Little League and Dixie baseball and softball, golf and tennis tournaments, swimming, the Coventry Commonwealth Games and more.  In fact, the preseason ACC Football Kickoff in Greensboro this year is July 26th and 27th. Like I said, football will be here before you know it!

Kudos to the Hillcats for winning the first half title and securing their first playoff spot since 2005, and to Myrtle Beach pitcher Jacob Thompson out of Danville.  The former Tunstall High and UVa standout pitcher put on quite a show June 26th in Lynchburg, throwing seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits and striking out eight. He told me afterwards he was a little nervous early with lots of family and friends in the stands. But he settled in quickly and got the job done, did he ever!

Hope you had a chance to catch some of the U.S./Brazil Confederations Cup Soccer Final. Even if you're not a big soccer fan, there was plenty of excitement. True, the U.S. couldn't hold a 2-0 halftime lead and lost to Brazil 3-2. But American soccer made a big statement in my opinion. They're no longer a weak link internationally, these guys can play with the best. They gave the five-time World Cup champions all they wanted!

Central Virginia has a new baseball team this summer. They're called the Central Virginia Blue Sox, a college summer baseball team that plays in the Great South Collegiate League. Rustburg's Barry Godsey is the head coach. I had a chance to see them play last weekend. They're talented and definitely worth a look this summer.

The person who tells you he or she has NEVER had a day when they didn't want to go into work has got to be lying or downright crazy. Surely there are days for everybody, myself included, when you'd rather be playing golf or tennis or just doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.  But I will tell you, it's great coming to work and doing something you love every day, something you're passionate about. And working with people you respect and genuinely like, that's just icing on the cake.  I'll be the first to tell you, I'm a very lucky guy.

Dennis Carter

ABC 13 Sports Director