It’s a brand new season

It seems like school just started, but it's already late October and that means the postseason is here for some high school sports. That includes field hockey, Culpeper County High School's best shot at making an impact in the state tournament this fall.

The Blue Devilettes (13-2, 9-1) are the top seed in the Cedar Run District Tournament and begin their postseason run this evening at Liberty against the winner of the Battlefield-Liberty quarterfinal. CCHS dominated the district for much of the season, but lost to No. 2 seed Osbourn Park last week before closing out the regular season with an 8-0 victory over last-place Stonewall Jackson.

After putting the beating on the Raiders, the Devilettes put together some solid practices heading into the postseason. But CCHS coach Peggy Allen wasn't 100 percent sure her team was back to its dominating mid-season form. She'll find out soon enough.

"It's really hard to gauge if they have overcome the letdown against OP because when we played Stonewall we moved a lot of people around and started all the seniors," Allen said. "We had people out of position so it was kind of hard to judge how they were. It's going to be one of those situations where Battlefield [or Liberty] will be the test as to whether or not they will spring back."

As the regular season Cedar Run champs, Culpeper is guaranteed a spot in the Northwest Regional tournament and next Monday will play host to the No. 3 team out of the Commonwealth District. But before the Devilettes begin to think about the regionals, they are focused on adding another district championship to their list of accomplishments.

"I said this afternoon that now they are in a new season," Allen said. "The bad thing is now it's a single elimination. But they are smart kids and they know what's in front of them and they know what's going to happen if they lose.

"They know that if they keep winning they can win another district championship."

One thing CCHS fans won't have to worry about is the coach letting down her guard with so much on the line.

"I'm on their case a lot," Allen said. "I want to push them all the time."

Shane Mettlen can be reached at 825-0771, ext. 127 or smettlen at starexponent.com.