Local sports digest

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 13, 2005 2:00 PM

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Five Aycock tennis players headed to regionals

SNOW HILL -- Charles B. Aycock qualified five of its six starters for next week's N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A Eastern Regionals during Wednesday afternoon's Eastern Carolina Conference tournament.

Top-seeded Raychel Batts, the reigning eastern regional champion, emerged the lone Golden Falcon to qualify in singles. Teammates Carlyn Claiborne-Laine Purcell and Nicole Taylor-Lizzie Sodoma each qualified in doubles.

Eastern Wayne's duo of Lauren Bynum-Casie Musgrave and Southern Wayne freshman Tara Hirsch also advanced next week's tournament play at Barton College in Wilson.

Claiborne-Purcell, the top seed, rallied from a 4-3 deficit to defeat Bynum-C. Musgrave 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. They'll face Beddingfield's Wendy Letchworth-Danielle Narron for the championship this afternoon at the Snow Hill Tennis Complex.

Letchworth-Narron advanced with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 victory over Taylor-Sodoma.

Batts lost just three games combined in two straight-set wins. She opened tournament play with a 6-0, 6-1 win over the Saints' Kasey Powell, and stopped another Saint -- Katlyn Thornton -- 6-1, 6-1 in the quarterfinals.

Hirsch cruised past Hunt's Mary Hardison 6-2, 6-1 in the first round. She upset fourth-seeded Brandi Butts of Eastern Wayne 6-2, 6-1 in the quarterfinals.

Batts faces third-seeded Rainey Wallace of Hunt in one semifinal today. Hirsch (14-2) tackles second-seeded Andrea Michalak of Hunt in the other semifinal.

2005 Class 3-A

Eastern Carolina Conference

Women's Tennis Tournament

(at Snow Hill Tennis Complex)

Singles

First round: Raychel Batts (CBA) d. Kasey Powell (SW) 6-0, 6-1; Katlyn Thornton (SW) d. Alarie Yelverton (Bedd) 6-2, 6-0; Rainey Wallace (Hunt) d. Yesenia Rentaria (Bedd) 6-3, 6-2; Katie Wilson (Hunt) d. Ashley Smith (EW) 4-6, 7-5, 6-1; Tara Hirsch (SW) d. Mary Hardison 6-2, 6-1; Brandi Butts (EW) d. Cameron Liner 3-6, 6-3, 6-4; Kristen Prosser (CBA) d. Beth Brown 5-7, 6-3, 6-1; Andrea Michalak (Hunt) d. Zolly Riveria 6-0, 6-0.

Quarterfinals: Batts (CBA) d. Thornton (SW) 6-1, 6-1; Wallace (Hunt) d. Wilson (Hunt) 6-2, 6-1; Hirsch (SW) d. Butts (EW) 6-2, 6-1; Michalak (Hunt) d. Prosser 6-1, 6-1.

Doubles

Quarterfinals: Lauren Bynum-Casie Musgrave (EW) d. Leslie Barrow-Whitli Thornton (SW) 6-1, 6-1; Nicole Taylor-Lizzie Sodoma (CBA) d. Mollie Musgrave-Sami Abrahamson (EW) 6-0, 6-0; Wendy Letchworth-Danielle Narron (Bedd) d. Anna Strader-Madison Cauley (Hunt) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.

Semifinals: Carlyn Claiborne-Laine Purcell (CBA) d. Bynum-C. Musgrave (EW) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4; Letchworth-Narron (Bedd) d. Taylor-Sodoma 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.

Rams capture

12th EPC crown

SNOW HILL -- Tarboro High's Mara Leigh Evans and Greene Central's doubles of Meredith Rouse-Brittany Horton claimed championships as the Class 2-A Eastern Plains Conference women's tennis tournament concluded Wednesday afternoon.

Evans, the No. 1 seed in singles, turned back Greene Central's Michelle Jernigan 6-1, 6-0. Jernigan, who rallied for a three-set win in semifinal-round play, endured just her fourth loss in 23 matches.

"Evans turned in a dominating performance today," said Greene Central coach Donald Clark. "I was pleased with Michelle's effort in the match, but Evans just hit great shots throughout the match.

"She is one of the most-talented freshmen to ever play in our conference."

Rouse-Horton, the top seed in the doubles draw, stopped teammates Christi Murphy-Ashley Harrell 6-4, 6-2 in the title match. Rouse-Horton remained unbeaten in 16 outings, while Murphy-Harrell lost for the first time in 15 tries.

"Both of my doubles teams played extremely well in the first set," said Clark. "I was really pleased with the toughness that Murphy and Harrell displayed at the end in the first set.

"But Meredith and Brittany really took control of the net halfway through the first set and cruised from that point on."

Greene Central clinched its 12th consecutive EPC tournament title.

The Rams (19-1) begin defense of their N.C. High School Athletic Association eastern regional dual-team crown next Tuesday afternoon against the Mid-State Conference runner-up.

2005 Class 2-A

Eastern Plains Conference

Women's Tennis Tournament

(at Snow Hill Tennis Complex)

Singles

Semifinals

Mara Leigh Evans (Tarboro) d. Elizabeth Cooper (G. Central) 6-3, 6-2; Michelle Jernigan (GC) d. Jasmine Burroughs (Tarboro) 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3).

Championship

Evans d. Jernigan 6-1, 6-0.

Doubles

Semifinals

Meredith Rouse-Brittany Horton (GC) d. Miranda Spain-Genelle Wilson (Tarboro) 6-2, 6-1; Christi Murphy-Ashley Harrell (GC) d. Minta Dupree-Katie Hogart (Tarboro) 6-2, 6-2.

Championship

Rouse-Horton d. Murphy-Harrell 6-4, 6-2.

Soccer

Hawks collect

lopsided victory

FARMVILLE -- Alex McGalhy notched four goals and two assists as North Lenoir dumped Farmville Central 9-1 in an Eastern Plains 2-A Conference match Wednesday afternoon.

Tyler Smith added a hat trick (three gaols) and one assist. Ricky Jarman and Cameron Beamon each collected one goal.

Israel Huerta led the Hawks with three assists, while Brian Smith contributed one.

North Lenoir (7-6-1, 3-1 EPC) travels to Greene Central on Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at the James R. Fulghum Athletic Complex.

Gators seize

third straight win

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Spring Creek extended its program-best winning streak to three matches with a 3-1 conquest of Louisburg in Carolina/Tar-Roanoke 1-A Conference play Wednesday evening.

Leonardo Morrero, Tyquan Best and Mario Velasquez each scored a goal for the Gators.

Keeper Manuel Moreno earned the victory in goal.

"He did a great job and had several big saves toward the end of the match for us," Spring Creek coach Gordon Crocker said of Moreno.

Spring Creek (4-3-1, 3-2 C/TR-C) travels to North Johnston next Monday.

Cross country

Aycock second,

So. Wayne third

Dalton Denning finished second overall and helped Charles B. Aycock capture second overall in a three-team, Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference meet at historic Waynesborough Park.

Denning ran the 3.1-mile course in 19 minutes, 11 seconds -- nearly a minute behind meet winner Christopher DeWalt of Wilson Hunt. The Warriors' Bobby White claimed third, followed by Southern Wayne's Allen Bennett and Aycock's Daniel Pennington.

The Golden Falcons placed five runners among the top 10 en route to 34 points. Hunt scored 29, while the host Saints amassed 71 points.

Aycock's Rebekka Katko and Megan Hales took second and third, respectively, during the girls' portion of the meet. The top-three performances helped the Golden Falcons defeat Wilson Hunt 23-38.

Danielle Sealey added a sixth-place time of 25:07 for the Golden Falcons. She was followed to the line by four teammates -- Jasmine Dobbins, Taylor Forbis, Angel Keerbs and Duna Gylfadottir.

Hunt's Astin Barnes emerged the meet winner with a time of 20:23.

Boys

Wilson Hunt 29

C.B. Aycock 34

Southern Wayne 71

1. Christopher DeWalt, Hunt 18:22

2. Dalton Denning, C.B. Aycock 19:11

3. Bobby White, Hunt 19:16

4. Allen Bennett, So. Wayne 19:24

5. Daniel Pennington, CBA 19:29

6. Preston Deanhart, Hunt 19:37

7. Michael Prafka, Hunt 20:10

8. Alan Toler, CBA 20:17

9. David Williams, CBA 20:18

10. Trey Benton, CBA 20:19

Girls

C.B. Aycock 23

Wilson Hunt 38

1. Astin Barnes, Hunt 20:23

2. Rebekka Katko, CBA 22:08

3. Megan Hales, CBA 23:45

4. Skylar Zee, Hunt 24:40

5. Danielle Sealey, CBA 25:07

6. Jasmine Dobbins, CBA 26:22

7. Taylor Forbis, CBA 26:46

8. Angel Keerbs, CBA 26:50

9. Duna Gylfadottir, CBA 26:55

10. Brett Taylor, Hunt 27:17

Volleyball

Princeton drops

league road match

AYDEN -- Stephanie Daughtry provided a team-high six kills in Princeton's 22-25, 15-25, 25-22, 25-27 loss at Carolina 1-A Conference rival Ayden-Grifton.

Daughtry added seven digs and two aces for the Bulldogs, who had their four-match win streak snapped.

Brittany Rose and Brittany Davis dished out 10 and five assists, respectively. Rose collected four digs and one ace, while Davis concluded the four-set match with five digs and two aces.

Sarah Gibbs complemented Daughtry's net play with four kills and four blocks. Cynthia Peedin chipped in five kills and three blocks.

Princeton concludes regular-season play this afternoon at unbeaten Rosewood.

Cougars still

seek first win

LaGRANGE -- North Lenoir dealt Goldsboro a 25-12, 25-13, 25-12 loss in their Eastern Plains 2-A Conference match at Wooten Gymnasium.

First-year Cougars coach Marquita Raynor said that Shaconda Johnson and Tiffany Burden emerged the team leaders in blocks, spikes and assists. Lavenia Lipford served well and contributed a few assists.

Goldsboro (0-20, 0-9 EPC) concludes regular-season play at home today against North Pitt. Game time is 5 p.m.

Golf

Webber, Archer

lead Spring Creek

Paula Webber earned medalist honors with a nine-hole round of 47 and Spring Creek remained unbeaten overall with a 101-118 victory over Princeton at Walnut Creek.

Jenell Archer added a 54 for the Gators, who improved to 8-0 overall and 6-0 against Carolina 1-A Conference opposition.

Tara Myers and Cortland Stanfield carded scores of 57 and 61, respectively, for the Bulldogs.

Spring Creek returns to action this afternoon at Willow Springs Country Club in Wilson.

Walnut Creek Ladies Golf

Brooke Eason emerged the Bingo-Bango-Bungo tournament contested at Walnut Creek. Novella Zambelli and Evelyn Rose won low gross and low net, respectively.

Charlotte Campbell claimed low putts.

The Club Championship is scheduled for Oct. 29-30. Players can register in the pro shop for the two-day tournament.