John O'Connor

Richmond

Staff Writer at Richmond Times-Dispatch

staff writer, Richmond Times-Dispatch, [email protected]

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Articles

On Fathers Day, Flying Squirrels receive tie for first time in franchise history

1 day ago | richmond.com | John O'Connor

The official scorer at Richmond Braves’ games 1976-2006, Leonard Alley, explained that one of the reasons he found baseball captivating was the unpredictability threaded through each inning. “You never know when you’re going to see something you’ve never seen before,” said Alley.
In Alico Dunk, VUU hired women's coach who already won name game

4 days ago | richmond.com | John O'Connor

There seems to have been no doubt that Alico Dunk would enter the basketball industry. The last name demanded a hoops life, Dunk suggested Friday afternoon at Virginia Union’s Barco-Stevens Hall, where he was introduced as the Panthers women’s coach. “What else can you do?” he said. “And all I can say it’s just truly destiny for me to be a basketball coach, and I don’t take that task lightly.
Think '360-degree fan experience' at CarMax Park

4 days ago | richmond.com | John O'Connor

Sit opposite Todd Parnell in his office at The Diamond and over his right shoulder is a window. The blinds are closed on this sunny afternoon. Except one. That selected outlier is tilted, allowing Parnell to turn in his chair and see the progress of CarMax Park, being built adjacent to The Diamond on North Arthur Ashe Boulevard, and opening next season. “I stare at it all the time,” Parnell said.
Squirrels salute Richmond Virginians (1954-64), orphans born with Parker Field

5 days ago | richmond.com | John O'Connor

The owner of the Triple-A Richmond Virginians, Harry Seibold, wrote a letter to Richmond residents on Aug. 19, 1954, the Virginians’ first season in Richmond, and Parker Field’s opening year. “We wish to thank the 186,258 fans who have seen our club play here in International League competition.
Journey of gifted infielder Sabin Ceballos is odd, Double-A struggles are not

6 days ago | richmond.com | John O'Connor

Richmond Flying Squirrels third baseman Sabin Ceballos is from Puerto Rico and played at the University of Oregon (3,729 miles away from his San Juan home). Though only 22, he already knows that peculiar feeling of being traded. This uncommon journey to The Diamond distinguishes him. In terms of struggling to find offensive footing at Double-A, however, Ceballos has company among Flying Squirrels. He’s batting .195 on the Eastern League’s least-productive team, scoring-wise.
Manager takes fall for close losses contaminating Squirrels' season

6 days ago | richmond.com | John O'Connor

Dennis Pelfrey with his left hand stroked his salt-and-pepper beard Tuesday when asked about nettlesome close losses contaminating his team’s season. “I’ve got a lot of gray hairs now,” said the Richmond Flying Squirrels manager. There are sleepless nights, Pelfrey added, during which he tries to figure out what he can do to repair his 17-41 Flying Squirrels, tied for the worst record among 120 teams in the minors.
VUU's Alvin Parker pruning bucket list with upcoming graduation speech

1 week ago | richmond.com | John O'Connor

Alvin Parker this week will check an item off his bucket list. The Virginia Union football coach on Friday delivers the keynote graduation address at his alma mater, Ballou High School, in Washington, D.C.“I’ve wanted to do this, and it just kind of connected,” said Parker.
Spiders, Tribe arrive at revenue-sharing revolution on different ramps

1 week ago | richmond.com | John O'Connor

The University of Richmond formalizes. William & Mary analyzes. Those are the contrasting approaches of the Spiders and Tribe as revenue sharing – schools directly paying student-athletes for the first time - commences on July 1 following Friday night’s House settlement approval by U.S. Judge Claudia Wilken. UR in February announced it would opt in to the revenue-sharing model, and will pay men’s and women’s basketball players.
RMC's Gracie Ellis (New Kent) leaves circle as D-III's premier pitcher

1 week ago | richmond.com | John O'Connor

Off her left foot Gracie Ellis popped when delivering pitches. Airborne she went and landed much closer to the first-base line than where her windup began. That was the basis for much of Ellis’ velocity. The rest was repetition and savvy. Change-ups, breaking balls, fastballs were sequenced in a way, and thrown in locations, that kept batters guessing.
RMC earns spot among softball elite

1 week ago | richmond.com | John O'Connor

It was unclear whether Gracie Ellis spoke of Randolph-Macon’s five-game stay in the NCAA Division III softball championships, the team’s 16-game postseason run, or her four-year career. Maybe she meant to summarize the totality Sunday night. “It’s been a fun frickin’ ride,” said Ellis, a senior from New Kent High. With her pitching as centerpiece, the Yellow Jackets (42-14) finished third nationally after entering the eight-team championships in Bloomington, Illinois, as the eighth seed.