Potomac News Online | Sports and Recreation

PROFESSIONAL SPORTS

Baseball

? The Potomac Cannons: Fans who want to see professional baseball without driving to Baltimore need only plan for a cozy outing at Prince William County Stadium.

The Potomac Cannons are the Class A farm club of the Cincinnati Reds. Prior to their affiliation with the Reds, the Cannons also produced players in the Cardinals, White Sox, Yankees and Pirates organizations.

Now in the midst of the 140-game Carolina League schedule, the Cannons play their home games in G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium, a clean, well-maintained facility that seats around 6,000 fans. The stadium is on the Prince William Parkway.

Current major league stars such as Barry Bonds, Mike Cameron, Bernie Williams and Andy Pettitte have played in Prince William in recent years.

For ticket and schedule information, contact the Cannons at (703) 590-2311, or see their Web site at?http://www.potomaccannons.com.

? The Baltimore Orioles: Those who prefer the excitement of major league baseball can travel north to Baltimore’s Oriole Park at Camden Yards, where the Orioles are managed by Mike Hargrove.

Oriole Park is a stadium designed with the quirks and nuances of an old-time baseball park and all the amenities of a modern park.

For ticket information, call (888) 848-BIRD (2473).

The drive to the stadium takes less than 90 minutes, and group buses can be arranged. See their Web site at?http://orioles.mlb.com.

Football

? Virginia Monarchs and Virginia Mutiny: If you are interested in semi-pro football, Prince William is home to the Virginia Monarchs and the Virginia Mutiny. Their seasons run from July to October. More information can be obtained by calling (703) 855-4909 for the Monarchs, and for the Mutiny, visit their Web site at?http://www.virginiamutiny.com.

? The Washington Redskins: The NFL’s Washington Redskins play their home games at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.

The Redskins don’t sell tickets for individual games. But for information on season tickets, call (301) 276-6050.?http://www.redskins.com.

Basketball

? The Washington Wizards: The NBA’s Washington Wizards play at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. To get tickets for the Wizards, call (202) 661-5050 or go to?http://www.nba.com/wizards.

? The Washington Mystics: The WNBA’s Washington Mystics play at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. Tickets can be obtained by calling (202) 661-5050, or got?http://www.wnba.com/mystics.

Soccer

? There is professional soccer with the Northern Virginia Royals (men) and Northern Virginia Majestics (women). For information on both teams, call (703) 680-6562 or visit?http://www.northernvirginiasoccer.com.

? The Washington Freedom of the Women’s United Soccer Association play at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. For ticket information, call (202) 547-3137 or go to?http://www.washingtonfreedom.com.

? D.C. United: For fans interested in professional soccer, the D.C. United of Major League Soccer also play at RFK Stadium. For ticket information, call (703) 478-6600 or go to?http://www.dcunited.com.

Hockey

? The Washington Capitals: For NHL action, the Capitals play at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. To buy tickets, call (202) 266-CAPS (2277), or see?http://www.washingtoncaps.com.

Auto racing

If NASCAR stock car racing is your thing, go watch ’em scrape bumpers at Old Dominion Speedway on Va. 234 just south of Manassas. ODS features drag racing and stock car events every Friday and Saturday night from early April to mid-October.

The Late Model Stock Car class showcases a talented crop of local and state NASCAR stars who race more for the fun than the money on the 3/8-mile oval asphalt track.

Old Dominion also hosts demolition derby events and car shows during the racing season.

For ticket and scheduling information, call (703) 361-RACE. The track’s Web site is at?http://www.olddominionspeedway.com.

COLLEGE SPORTS

George Mason University competes on the NCAA Division I level in basketball, baseball, soccer, softball, track and field, volleyball and many other sports.

The Fairfax-based school features the 10,000-seat Patriot Center to house its basketball teams and a 5,000-seat soccer stadium for its men’s and women’s squads.

Call (703) 993-3270 for ticket and schedule information. Check local listings for radio coverage. Comcast SportsNet will provide coverage of selected games as part of a league-wide contract with the Colonial Athletic Association. Check local listings for more information.

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

Football is king of the prep sports in Prince William, with Friday night games consistently drawing large crowds. Basketball, both boys and girls, is generally played Tuesday and Friday nights during the winter months before large crowds as well.

Soccer is another top high school sport in the area. Baseball is a big draw, too. Other sports played on the high school level include cross country, field hockey, golf, girls’ gymnastics, indoor and outdoor track and field, soccer, softball, swimming, volleyball, lacrosse, crew, tennis and wrestling.

RECREATION

Tennis

Public tennis courts are located at various parks operated by the Prince William County Park Authority. These include Locust Shade Park in Triangle, Ben Lomond Park and Byrd Park in Manassas, Cloverdale Park and the Dale City Recreation Center in Dale City, Veterans Park and Marumsco Acre Lake Park in Woodbridge and Garrison Park in Dumfries.

Lighted courts are available at Northern Virginia Community College campuses in Manassas and Woodbridge.

Most high schools and middle schools also have courts open to the public, free of charge, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Racquetball

Two racquetball facilities are open to the public: the Chinn Aquatics and Fitness Center and the Dale City Recreation Center. For details, contact the Chinn Center at (703) 730-1051 or Dale City Recreation Center at (703) 670-7115.

Golf

Prince William County has numerous public golf courses: Prince William County Public Golf Course and Bristow Manor in Nokesville, The Golf Academy in Bristow, Bull Run in Haymarket, Lake Ridge Golf Course, Manassas Park Public Golf Course in Manassas Park, Manassas Hills Golf Course on Davis Ford Road, Virginia Oaks in Gainesville, the Ospreys in Woodbridge, Forest Greens in Triangle and the Stonewall Golf Club in Gainesville.

? Prince William County Public Golf Course is located four miles west of U.S. 29 on Vint Hill Road. It is a 6,453-yard, par-70 course. The course also has a driving range, a pro shop offering a variety of equipment and clothing and a snack bar. For further details, call (703) 754-7111.

? Bristow Manor is a 7,049-yard, par-72 course. For more information, call (703) 368-3558.

? Manassas Hills is a par-27, 9-hole course. For further information, call (703) 368-2028.

? Bull Run is a par-72, 18-hole course. For more information, call 866-BULL-RUN.

? The Golf Academy at Broad Run is a par-35, nine-hole course. For more information, call (703) 365-2443.

? Lake Ridge is a par-27, 9-hole course. For more information, call (703) 494-5564.

? General’s Ridge in Manassas Park is a 6,651-yard, par-72 course. For more information, call (703) 335-0777.

? Virginia Oaks is a 6,928-yard, par-72 course. For more information, call (703) 754-7977.

? The Ospreys Golf Club is a 4,967-yard, par-66 course. For more information, call (703) 497-1384.

? Forest Greens is a 6,839-yard, par-72 course. For more information, call (703) 221-0123.

? The Stonewall Golf Club at Lake Manassas is a 7,002-yard, par-72 course. For more information, call (703) 753-5101.

? Stafford County has one public golf course: Augustine Golf Club, a 6,810, par-71 course. For more information, call (540) 720-7374.

? Prince William County also has three private courses: Montclair Country Club in Montclair, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club and Evergreen Country Club in Haymarket. All are open only to members and their guests.

Fishing

The waters of the Occoquan River, the Occoquan Reservoir, Lake Manassas, Aquia Creek, Aquia Reservoir and the Potomac River are filled with largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish, carp and pike.

Fish are also plentiful in the Lunga and Breckenridge reservoirs on the Quantico Marine Corps base, but a base permit is required.

Most types of fishing require a state-issued license, which is available at many sporting goods stores and tackle shops. Licenses can also be purchased online through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Web site at?http://www.vipnet.org/horf.

Freshwater inland licenses cost $12.50 for state residents, $5.50 for county or city residents in that particular jurisdiction. A five-day license, covering five consecutive calendar days, is available to residents for $5.50 and to non-residents for $6.50. Residents of Virginia under 16 do not need a license to fish nor do non-residents under 12 accompanied by a licensed fisherman. An inland license for people 65 or older costs $1.50. People 65 and older also do not need a license for salt-water fishing. Fishing in the Chesapeake Bay requires a license that costs $7.50.

For more information, call (804) 367-1000.

Hunting

Private lands in the county offer plentiful hunting grounds, but owner permission is a must. Deer, rabbit, squirrel, quail, grouse, wild turkey, woodcock and doves are among the animals most commonly hunted.

All hunters are subject to licensing and to bag-limit requirements set by the state, even if hunting on privately-owned lands.

To hunt small game (rabbit, squirrel, etc.), the license fee is $12.50 for state residents and $80.50 for non-residents. If you are a non-resident and wish to hunt for three consecutive days, a license can be obtained for $40.50. For large game (deer, bear, turkey, etc.), a separate big-game license is required. It too costs $12.50 for residents and $60.50 for non-residents.

Junior licenses are available to Virginia residents ages 12-15 for $8.00 each. Also for juniors, a combination license is offered for small and big game, archery and a muzzle-loader. The cost is $15.50. For more information, call (804) 367-1000.

Boating

Boating and water skiing are plentiful in the Occoquan River and Belmont Bay regions. Canoeing is popular in the Occoquan Reservoir.

Sports clubs

Prince William County offers more than 75 sports organizations to athletically oriented youth and adults. Activities range from Little League baseball to adult softball to travel soccer.

For more information on sports clubs and activities, call the Prince William County Park Authority at (703) 792-7060.