Former Front Royal Cardinal helps Italy to upset over USA

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Italy upset the United States 8-6 in pool play of the World Baseball Classic Tuesday night and batting clean-up for the Italians was former Front Royal Cardinal Dominic Canzone.

The right fielder has had a strong World Baseball Classic including a 3-run homer against Brazil.

Canzone joined the Cardinals in 2017 after a strong freshman year at Ohio State where he led the Buckeyes with a .343 batting average and carried that momentum into his lone Valley Baseball League season in Front Royal.

He finished the 2017 summer season 2nd in the VBL in batting average and was named 1st Team All Valley.

After concluding his career at Ohio State and earning 1st Team All Big Ten, he was selected in the 8th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

He made his MLB debut in 2023 for the Diamondbacks before being traded to the Mariners later that season.

Canzone looks to have a great chance at making the Opening Day roster after playing in 11 of the Mariners postseason games last year and due to his play in the World Baseball Classic.

The Valley Baseball League season resumes this summer so don’t miss your chance to see some of the stars of tomorrow right here in your own backyard.

For a throwback interview from Dominic Canzone’s time with the Cardinals, click here.

Fun Fact: Sports Director Ryan Rutherford was one of the broadcasters for the Cardinals that season and behind the camera for that interview by Matt Harvey!

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Handley Alum turned Hoosier wins CFP National Championship

John Handley High School Alumni Stephen Daley and the Indiana Hoosiers won the College Football Playoff National Championship game on Monday night, 27-21 over Miami.

Daley began his college football career at Kent State before transferring to Indiana for his senior year.

Last season, his Kent State team went 0-12 while this year’s Hoosiers went 16-0.

He led one of the top defenses in the country and ranked 3rd in all of college football in tackles for loss with 19.

The 6’1” 273 pound defensive end also had 5.5 sacks, 35 tackles and 2 forced fumbles on the year along with a sack and three tackles against Ohio State in the Big Ten title game.

Daley suffered a season ending knee injury while celebrating the Big 10 Championship game and was unavailable for the playoffs.

According to his Instagram, he did travel to Miami and was able to celebrate the National Championship win with his team.

Before the injury, Daley entered the radar of NFL scouts and could hear his name called on Day 3 of the Draft in April.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.