June 7 wasn’t a typical spring day on the athletic fields of Radford University in Radford, Va. Not for the Powell family, anyway.

Adrian and Sue Powell, formerly of Ashtabula, started the day at the softball field, watching their daughter, senior first baseman Karla Powell, help the Broad Run High School Spartans win their second straight Virginia state AA championship. Karla recorded the final putout in the 4-0 victory over Tunstall.

After taking a moment to celebrate, the family moved to the soccer field and watched junior Valerie Powell and the Broad Run girls soccer team complete their 24-0 season with a state championship. The Spartans beat Courtland, 1-0, to capture the state AA crown.

Also on hand that Saturday to share the moments were Adrian’s father, Gus Powell, and Sue’s mother, Audrey Calavancia. It was an unforgettable day for the Powell family.

“It was really great,” Karla said of the state softball crown. “I love all the girls on the team, and it doesn’t happen very often, winning consecutive state championships.”

For the Spartans, however, winning happens quite often. With its win in the state championship game, the Broad Run softball team ran its winning streak to 57, and it has now won 83 of its last 84 games.

Besides being the top AA team in Virginia, the Spartans, who outscored the opposition, 231-1 this year, also finished the season ranked No. 1 in the country by USA Today.

Valerie had quite a ride of her own with the Broad Run soccer team, which was ranked 14th nationally by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

“It was so exciting,” Valerie said. “We didn’t expect it. We just took it one game at a time and kept working to win. We never really paid attention to being undefeated until the season was over. To win the state championship, we had to beat Courtland, which beat us in the quarterfinals last year. Then we enjoyed it.”

The book has been closed on the 2008 softball and soccer seasons, but the Powell girls are still busy.

Karla is playing softball this summer for the Virginia Shamrocks Gold 18-and-under team. She was in the Denver airport, en route to a softball tournament, when contacted for this interview. In the fall, she will enroll at the University of Wisconsin and play softball for the Badgers.

“I made the decision to go to Wisconsin just about a year ago,” Karla said. “I really like the school, and it’s not too close to home. I really like the coach and the girls; they’re the ones that made me like the school so much.”

Purdue, Virginia Tech, Miami of Ohio and Penn State also looked at her, and with good reason. Karla finished her high school career as the second leading RBI producer in Virginia scholastic history, and her hit total is third in state history, just four hits short of the record holder.

“Just keep your eye on the ball,” Karla said of hitting. “Don’t give up, just hit the ball. Hitting is a lot of fun, getting a hit, driving in a teammate and getting everyone pumped.”

While Karla would rather be in the batter’s box, she enjoys her defensive duties at first base.