March 2009 archives

View Archive

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Local digest

WILSON -- State-ranked Charles B. Aycock showed no signs of weakness in a 9-0 pasting of Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference foe Wilson Beddingfield on Monday afternoon. Blake Vail notched a 6-0, 6-0 victory at No. 1 one singles and...

Gators have Whitfield feeling young again

Heath Whitfield shows up to practice everyday and suddenly he feels like a kid again. The third-year Spring Creek head baseball coach has been rejuvenated by an energetic squad short on varsity experience, but full of passion for the game....

Prep boxscores

C.B. Aycock 000 000 0 -- 0 2 0 Eastern Wayne 110 022 x -- 6 10 2 Leading hitters -- C.B. Aycock -- Will Edgerton 1-3; Jonathan Taylor 1-2. Eastern Wayne -- Walker Gourley 1-3; Colton Fulghum 2-3, RBI;...

MOC sports wrap

MOC Sports Information WINGATE -- Riley Boyette and Scott Woodard finished among the top-10 leaders and Mount Olive recorded a third-place effort after the opening round of the J. Ralph Hargett Invitational hosted by Wingate University. Boyette carded an 18-hole...

Golden Falcons roll to 8-0 win

Charles B. Aycock began a tough stretch of Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference games with a convincing 8-0 victory over county rival Eastern Wayne on Monday evening in New Hope. The Golden Falcons play three ECC foes in a four-day span...

Eastern Wayne tops C.B. Aycock 6-0

Eastern Wayne pitcher Josh Frederick didn't just hold the Charles B. Aycock offense in check Monday evening. He made it nearly nonexistent. A left-hander, Frederick allowed just one hit with seven strikeouts in five scoreless evenings during the state-ranked Warriors'...

Warriors earn 1-0 win over Golden Falcons

Another classic. County soccer archrivals Eastern Wayne and Charles B. Aycock staged an overtime thriller at Little Big Horn on Monday evening, and the Warriors avoided the ambush. Reserve Amber Miller delivered the game-winning goal in the 97th minute in...

MOC splits double header with Belmont Abbey

MOC Sports Information BELMONT -- Dylan Holton ignited a six-run, sixth-inning uprising and Kyle Jones stymied a seventh-inning rally as Mount Olive upended Belmont Abbey 7-6 in game one of their Conference Carolinas doubleheader on Monday afternoon. The Crusaders took...

Monday, March 30, 2009

Local digest

WILSON -- Brooke Norris tallied the game-winning goal in the second half as Wayne Country Day tripped up Halifax Academy 3-1 in The Brittany V girls' soccer invitational on Saturday. The No.1-ranked Chargers remained unbeaten in four outings this...

MOC round-up

MOC Sports Information EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. -- Jose Lanier collected 17 kills, six blocks and five service aces as Mount Olive College dropped a five-set, non-conference decision to East Stroudsburg (Pa.) on Sunday afternoon. Pedro Penate supplied a double-double --...

MOC earns split with Coker

MOUNT OLIVE -- Robbin Kennedy picked the perfect time to join Mount Olive's home run club this season. The freshman catcher swatted a fifth-inning, three-run blast as the Trojans upended Coker (S.C.) College 7-4 in game two of their Conference...

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Goldsboro native Hill will bowl in U.S. Open

When sports fans think of the term "U.S. Open," a few moments stand out. For some, it's Tiger Woods hobbling to a major tournament victory on an injured leg. For others, it's Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi trading forehand winners...

Friday, March 27, 2009

prep baseball box

Greene Central 000 200 0 -- 2 4 2 C.B. Aycock 320 310 x -- 9 10 3 Leading hitters -- Greene Central -- Will Bynum 1-3; Alex Brann 1-3; David Stallings 2-3, RBI. C.B. Aycock -- Tyler Farmer 1-3;...

White lake home to many perch species

Many of the coastal plain's lakes have both white and yellow perch. It seems logical that White Lake should be home to white perch. But it is home to the other species. Yellow perch are widely distributed, all the way...

Early goal hurts Wayne Christian

Wayne Christian started slow, surrendered an early goal and never recovered in a 1-0 loss to Carolina Christian 1-A Conference soccer foe Northwood Temple on Thursday afternoon. Less than 60 seconds into the game, Northwood forward Kosandra Hernandez collected a...

Local Preps Digest

CALYPSO --Wallace Rose-Hill handed North Duplin a 9-3, non-conference loss on the baseball diamond. Marcus Kornegay went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and three stolen bases for the Rebels. James Kornegay provided a hit, two RBI and...

ECU athletic facilities will undergo facelifts

Passers-by won't recognize the corner of Charles Boulevard in Greenville by 2012. Athletics officials from East Carolina unveiled a schematic plan that will drastically change the tree-filled area, which is the current golf-disc field. A three-phase project is scheduled to...

Falcons' Kearney records five strong innings

PIKEVILLE -- Two unlikely heroes turned in big-time performances for Charles B. Aycock on Thursday afternoon. Reliever Jimmy Kearney tossed five solid innings in a starting role and JV call-up Travis Musselman provided two hits in the Golden Falcons' 9-2,...

CBA tennis routs Fike

PIKEVILLE -- Second-seeded Addison Westbrook and fifth-seeded Rawad Alawar each posted a straight-set shutout during Charles B. Aycock's 9-0, non-conference thrashing of Wilson Fike on Wednesday afternoon. Top-seeded Blake Vail, the two-time defending Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference singles champion,...

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Local digest

LaGRANGE -- Eastern Wayne picked up a non-conference win with a 9-8 decision over perennial 2-A baseball power North Lenoir on Wednesday night. The Warriors belted three home runs during their 16-hit outing. Cambric Moye blasted two home runs...

Saints fend-off Dawgs in nine innings

DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne put the game-winning run on base in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings on Wednesday evening. Princeton's defense denied the Saints each time. The fourth attempt ended in different fashion. Southern Wayne loaded the bases and...

Rosewood earns rare win over North Lenoir

Gabby Cornman turned, pumped her fist and yelled as an enormous sense of frustration lifted from Branch Pope Field. Cornman collected a loose ball off a defender and buried the game-winning goal in the back of the net in the...

Prep boxscores

Softball: North Lenoir 303 410 0 -- 11 16 3 Eastern Wayne 000 310 0 -- 4 3 2 Leading hitters -- North Lenoir -- Cayla Letchworth 1-5, 2B; Mandy Stallings 3-5, 2B, RBI; Kendale Letchworth 4-4, 2B, RBI; Kristen...

Hawks too much for Warriors on softball diamond

North Lenoir proved to be too much for Eastern Wayne on the softball diamond in New Hope on Wednesday night. Each Hawk starter recorded at least one hit as the visitors captured an 11-4, non-conference win. A slow start doomed...

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Local Preps Digest

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning and held off Wilson Hunt 5-4 in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference softball action on Tuesday afternoon. Autumn Pittman led the Golden Falcons offensively with...

Opinion -- Blazers program more than just hoops

Leonard Compton Sr. stood on the sidelines, his arms folded and a whistle around his neck as he barked out instructions at a recent practice. Compton, the head coach of the AAU Wayne County Blazers welcomes the privilege of molding...

MOC softball team splits twinbill

MOC Sports Information PEMBROKE -- Kat Cahoon ignited a sixth-inning uprising as Mount Olive dumped in-state rival UNC Pembroke 3-1 in the opening game of a non-conference, softball doubleheader Tuesday afternoon. The Braves won the nightcap, 5-3. Trailing 1-0 after...

Comeback: Spring Creek offense comes alive in fifth

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Greene Central couldn't put out the fire. Spring Creek scored nine runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and held on for a dramatic 12-9, non-conference win over the Rams on Tuesday afternoon. Greene Central led...

prep baseball boxes

Greene Central 030 303 0 -- 9 13 2 Spring Creek 000 291 x -- 12 9 2 Leading hitters -- Greene Central -- Alex Brann 2-4, RBI; Zack Chase 3-5, RBI; Jasper Jones 2-3; Wes Sowers 2-3; Trent Murray...

Errors prove crucial for Trojans

MOC Sports Information SALISBURY -- Errors and base-running miscues proved crucial throughout the afternoon as Mount Olive College dropped a baseball doubleheader against in-state rival Catawba College. The Trojans committed four defensive miscues in the fourth inning and watched its...

Sac fly caps So. Wayne rally

DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne needed some late-inning heroics -- in its final at-bat -- to upend Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference rival Kinston 6-5 on Tuesday night. Scott Holloman started the Saints' seventh inning by reaching on a Viking error. With...

Warriors swat three HRs against Falcons

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock's players constantly stared at the scoreboard and watched as the run total kept climbing on the "guest" side. Another set of numbers -- pitch count -- concerned Golden Falcons head coach Charles Davis. His bullpen...

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Wayne Country Day stops Wayne Christian

Injuries either galvanize a team or have a crippling effect on the roster. Despite losing two starters to injuries, No. 1-ranked Wayne Country Day plugged the holes in its lineup and scored three second-half goals to defeat county archrival Wayne...

Local digest

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Spring Creek pounded out 15 hits in a 14-4, non-conference baseball victory over county foe Wayne Christian on Monday evening. Chris Boseman batted 4-for-4 and tallied four RBI. Corey Howell, Steven Best and Paul Hayes each...

North Lenoir tops Rosewood on softball diamond

North Lenoir played with aggression. Rosewood didn't. Kendale Letchworth delivered three hits and four RBI as the Hawks invaded the Eagles' nest and claimed an 8-2, non-conference softball victory Monday afternoon. A perennial 2-A power, North Lenoir evened its worksheet...

Hawks hand Eagles first loss

Perennial 2-A baseball power North Lenoir pounded out 16 hits and grounded previously-unbeaten Rosewood 10-1 on Monday evening. The Eagles suffered their first loss in six outings this season. "I was pretty happy with how well we hit the ball...

Prep boxscores

Baseball: North Lenoir 021 410 2 -- 10 16 1Rosewood 000 000 1 -- 1 2 5 Leading hitters -- North Lenoir -- Dejuan Gray 2-4, RBI; Tyler Potter 1-2, RBI; Mike Wetherington 1-3, 3B, 2 RBI; Wes Brantley 3-5,...

Monday, March 23, 2009

Local Preps Digest

Sting soccer Victor Ortiz-Alvarez supplied the game-winning goal in the 64th minute as the Goldsboro Sting claimed a come-from-behind, 2-1 victory over Chapel Hill. Adrian Thompson scored off Bryan Johnson's assist in the 60th minute to forge a 1-1 tie...

Infield miscue aids MOC rally

MOC Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE --Airlon Vinson scampered home on a ninth-inning error as Mount Olive College upended Shepherd (W. Va.) University 5-4 on Sunday afternoon at Scarborough Field. Trailing 4-3 after 81/2 innings, Jesse Lancaster doubled to start the...

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Goldsboro, North Duplin split doubleheader in baseball

CALYPSO -- Donald Lewis delivered two RBI and Marquis Dance notched nine strikeouts as Goldsboro upended North Duplin 3-0 in game two of a non-conference, baseball doubleheader Friday. Dance permitted one hit and walked two in a four-inning stint....

Spartans capitalize on Eagles' youthful mistakes

Roger Longwell scribbled onto his pad as he watched every defensive play unfold against Kerr-Vance Academy on Friday afternoon. "The learning curve continues," he thought to himself while the Spartans capitalized on his young Wayne Christian team. Kerr-Vance manufactured a...

C.B. Aycock-Kinston baseball box

prep baseball C.B. Aycock 304 013 4 -- 15 12 0 Kinston 000 120 1 -- 4 10 3 Leading hitters -- C.B. Aycock -- Connor Narron 1-1, HR, 3 RBI; Tyler Ruffin 2-4, 2B; Jonathon Taylor 2-3, 2B,...

Trojan spikers, Trojan softball split weekend affairs

MOC Sports Information EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. -- Christiaan Rombaut recorded 17 kills as Mount Olive College dropped a 30-26, 30-27, 28-30, 20-30, 14-16 loss to East Stroudsburg (Pa.) University on Saturday afternoon. The Trojans (10-6 overall) started the weekend with...

Mount Olive diamond nine sweep doubleheader from Shepherd University

MOC Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- Reliever Ryan Williams shut down a third-inning, bases-loaded rally and Rich Racobaldo delivered a two-out, two-RBI double in the fourth as Mount Olive spanked Shepherd (W. Va.) 18-4 in the opening game of a...

Hannah, Amber Wood deliver for Princeton

Offense was hard to generate, but frustration abounded in limitless supply Friday afternoon. Princeton and Eastern Wayne struggled to create offense, but the Bulldogs manufactured a fourth-inning run that held up in their 1-0, non-conference softball win at New Hope....

Unbeaten Eastern Wayne hammers Hunt in ECC

WILSON -- Desperate to find the "off" switch to Eastern Wayne's offensive onslaught, Wilson Hunt paraded arm after arm to the mound Saturday afternoon. Nothing worked. The visiting Warriors pushed across seven third-inning runs and added eight seven-inning runs in...

Narron's homer sparks CBA in 1st inning

KINSTON -- Charles B. Aycock's offense erupted for the second consecutive day as the Golden Falcons churned out 12 hits in a 15-4 romp over Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference foe Kinston on Friday. Twenty-four hours earlier, the Golden Falcons claimed...

Friday, March 20, 2009

Belle's RBI double lifts Aycock past Bruins

PIKEVILLE -- Missed opportunities almost spelled disaster for defending Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference softball co-champion Charles B. Aycock on Thursday evening. The Golden Falcons stranded 12 base runners, including eight in scoring position, and barely fended off Wilson Beddingfield 3-2....

Runions' buck earns Dixie Classic award

Several big-antlered bucks were entered for judging at the Dixie Deer Classic, which was sponsored by the Wake County Wildlife Club in early March. Cody Runions, a student at North Johnston in Kenly, harvested one of the deer. At 15...

Local Preps Digest

Wayne Country Day pushed across six runs in the second inning and cruised past Rocky Mount Prep 11-1 in five innings on Thursday. Cameron Ford went 3-for-3 with three doubles and five RBI for the Chargers. Jack Scott contributed...

Golden Falcons claim ECC lead

Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference tennis king Charles B. Aycock claimed sole possession of its throne Thursday afternoon. The reigning league champion seized control in singles play and upended county archrival Eastern Wayne 6-3 in breezy, warm conditions on the Warriors'...

Falcons soar

PIKEVILLE -- If only they were all this easy. Charles B. Aycock strung together a pair of five-run innings and cruised past Wilson Beddingfield 13-1 in 41/2 innings on Thursday afternoon. It was the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference opener for...

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Local digest

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock continued its hot start on the softball diamond with a 5-1, non-conference victory over Greene Central on Wednesday night. Cynthia Burroughs led the Golden Falcons at the plate with a double and an RBI....

MOC hammers Chowan 14-6

MOC Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- Senior Alex Vertcnik swatted a sixth-inning, grand slam as Mount Olive College thumped in-state rival Chowan University 14-6 at Scarborough Field on Wednesday afternoon. The Trojans (16-12 overall) swept the two-day series and returns...

GPRD teams headed to Nation's Capital

A "friendly return game" has turned into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all-star basketball teams from the Goldsboro Parks and Recreation Department. Even Jeff Winbush, the GPRD athletics supervisor, is a little giddy. One year ago, two all-star teams from the...

Southern Wayne takes conference opener

Southern Wayne began defense of its co-Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference championship with a 7-1 victory over county rival Eastern Wayne on Wednesday. Lauren Darden dominated in the circle and the Saints showed uncharacteristic power at the plate. Morgan Davis homered...

Prep boxscores

Baseball Southern Wayne 000 200 0 -- 2 5 2 Eastern Wayne 000 003 x -- 3 5 1 Leading hitters -- Southern Wayne -- Keenan Winn 2-3, HR, 2 RBI; Scott Holloman 1-3; Kevin Wise 1-3; Michael Douglas 1-3....

Warriors hold off Saints in ECC opener

One game doesn't make or break your season. Southern Wayne head baseball coach Trae McKee delivered that post-game message to his team Wednesday evening. But one inning certainly made a difference against county rival Eastern Wayne. A defensive miscue fueled...

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Local Preps Digest

Despite holding a 24-2 shots on goal advantage, Eastern Wayne narrowly slipped past Southern Wayne 1-0 on Tuesday evening in New Hope. It was the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference opener for both teams. Lily Herlihy scored for the Warriors...

Chargers warm up

Wayne Country Day launched its 2009 girls' soccer campaign in vengeful fashion on a cold and breezy Tuesday afternoon. But the Chargers needed 40 minutes to get warmed up. After a jittery opening half, No. 1-ranked Wayne Country Day erupted...

Upward Bound

Basketball players and cheerleaders from First Pentecostal Holiness Church completed their winter sports program with a banquet Monday evening. Former Oakland Raiders quarterback Roman Gabriel III was the guest speaker for the athletes, who ranged from 4 years to...

Trojan duo earns honors

MOC Sports Information HIGH POINT -- Mount Olive College infielder Airlon Vinson, who batted .636 in three games last week, has been selected the Conference Carolinas baseball player of the week. Vinson, a redshirt junior first baseman, reached base nine...

Dail, Jones ground Hawks

MOC Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- UNC transfer B.J. Dail and Kyle Jones combined for a two-hitter as Mount Olive stopped in-state rival Chowan University 5-1 at Scarborough Field on Tuesday evening. Dail (5-0) logged nine strikeouts and permitted one...

DeRatt, Bruins turn back Golden Falcons

PIKEVILLE -- A poor start doomed Charles B. Aycock in its 3-2 loss to Wilson Beddingfield on Tuesday evening at Hardy Talton Stadium. It was the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference opener for both teams. The Bruins dominated the game's opening...

Opinion -- NCAA has darkhorses that could spoil party

A year ago, a tiny school from a sleepy town outside of Charlotte led by the son of a former NBA sharpshooter captured the heart of America with its run to the Elite Eight. Davidson slayed Gonzaga, Georgetown and Wisconsin...

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

WCDS soccer set for big year

Baron Heinemann does not want to hype his team too much. But the second-year Wayne Country Day girls' soccer coach knows this year's squad has the chance to surpass last season's success. The Chargers reached the semifinals of the N.C....

SC girls enjoy first ever playoff birth

Spring Creek is getting better and keeps leaving room for improvement on the basketball court. The Gators' varsity girls basketball team recorded its highest regular-season finish in Class 1-A Carolina Conference play in 2008-09 and earned its first-ever playoff berth...

Trojans in middle of the pack for Hawn Cup

HIGH POINT -- Mount Olive College is sixth overall in the Joby Hawn Cup standings after the completion of the winter sports season. The Trojan men's basketball team earned a share of the Conference Carolinas regular-season championship, while the...

Monday, March 16, 2009

MOC volleyball earns split

MOC Sports Information LORETTO, Pa. -- The Mount Olive College men's volleyball team started its season-ending, eight-match road swing with a weekend split against Pennsylvania schools Lancaster Bible College and St. Francis University. Senior outside hitter Pedro Penate pounded out...

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Local Digest

Local golf Walnut Creek LGA Betty Edwards emerged the play-of-the-day winner as the Walnut Creek Ladies Golf Association teed off their 2009 season. Gaye Bryant won low putts. Faye Franklin and Mary Ann Sutton took low gross and low...

MOC round-up

MOC Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- Kendrick Easley has earned yet another postseason honor. The Mount Olive College guard has been selected to the NABC Division II men's basketball all-Southeast Region District first team. Easley has become eligible for All-American...

Chenier headed to "sprint mecca"

Who would turn down a chance to churn through the waters where former and current Olympians have trained? Mason Chenier certainly wasn't about to say "no." Now he's headed to the "sprint mecca of the world" -- Auburn University. The...

Williams passion shows on the court

A self-described quiet person off the basketball, Ki'Ana Williams' demeanor changes on game day. Her style of play and passion for the sport turns her into a roaring Cougar. Especially this season. Williams averaged 17.5 points and seven assists a...

Jackson excelled in new role for Cougars

Opportunity knocks in life and athletics when it is least expected. Tyrelle Jackson is a perfect example. The Goldsboro High forward emerged as the Cougars' offensive leader, helped the team compile 19 wins and advance to the sectional semifinals for...

Perry adds name to coach of the year ranks

Not long after watching his team lose a quarterfinal-round game in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A playoffs last season, Eric Perry had a vision. Changes had to be made, thought the second-year Wayne Country Day girls' basketball coach....

Cherry earns coach of the year honors

Winning is the common tie during Chris Cherry's coaching career. But he had to battle the odds this season. A soft-spoken floor general who constantly brims with enthusiasm, Cherry inherited an injury-plagued roster and churned out 19 wins in his...

Friday, March 13, 2009

Challenge awaits North Lenoir alum

LaGRANGE -- Calvin Sutton is back home. And the North Lenoir alum couldn't be happier. A three-sport star for the Hawks in the late 1990s, Sutton has been named the new head football coach at the Eastern Plains 2-A Conference...

Local Preps Digest

Lindsey Frederick's game-winning RBI double scored Casey Mitchell as Eastern Wayne outlasted West Carteret 3-2 in 12 innings on Thursday afternoon in New Hope. Frederick finished 4-for-6 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. Morgan Smith...

County outdoor activities planned

A full schedule of outdoors activities will take place in Wayne County this weekend. The weekend begins with the District 3 hunter's safety tournament on Saturday at Camp Tuscarora in Bentonville. The day-long event is presented by the N.C. Wildlife...

Sea grant forum is scheduled

Research on spiny dogfish, southern flounder, turtles and blue crabs will be among the topics highlighted at the annual North Carolina Fisheries Forum on March 17 in New Bern. The event -- sponsored by North Carolina Sea Grant --...

Trojans sweep LMC in conference action

MOC Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- Sarah Saunders and Sasha Snyder each threw a complete game as Mount Olive College swept in-state rival Lees-McRae 2-1 and 1-0 in a Conference Carolinas softball doubleheader Wednesday afternoon. Saunders scattered five hits and...

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Local digest

KINSTON -- North Lenoir scratched out a 3-2 win over Kinston on Wednesday afternoon. Wes Bratley and Will Sutton led the Hawks' offense with one hit and one RBI apiece. Dajuan Gray, Tyler Potter and Benji Harris each added...

Mount Olive roundup

MOC Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- Alyssa Bradshaw's pinch-hit, RBI single capped a three-run, sixth-inning uprising as Mount Olive College defeated Barton 4-2 in the opener of their Conference Carolinas softball doubleheader Wednesday afternoon. The Dawgs claimed the nightcap 2-1....

MOC drops pair to Francis Marion

MOUNT OLIVE -- Murphy's Law is the best way to describe Mount Olive's back-to-back, non-conference losses to Francis Marion (S.C.) University on Wednesday afternoon. Everything that could go wrong, did for the No. 22-ranked Trojans. The Patriots claimed 11-8 and...

Graham gets one last chance

Jimmy Graham doesn't mind the reputation he's developed with his Miami teammates. He's treated like a big brother. He's called an aggressor. He's a hustle guy with a lunch-pail mentality who doesn't gripe about handling the dirty work off the...

ECU football schedule released

East Carolina is scheduled to play seven 2008 bowl participants, including a home contest Atlantic Coast Conference and FedEx Orange Bowl champion Virginia Tech in 2009. The Pirates will travel to North Carolina and West Virginia, and make three regular-season...

CBA downs Rosewood soccer

PIKEVILLE -- Possession. It isn't always about how much you have but rather what you make of it. Charles B. Aycock capitalized on its possession while playing "bend-but-don't-break" defense in a 2-0, non-conference victory over county rival Rosewood on Wednesday...

Prep boxscores

C.B. Aycock 000 94 -- 13 12 2 Princeton 100 10 -- 2 3 2 Leading hitters -- C.B. Aycock -- Will Edgerton 1-3; Tyler Ruffin 2-3; Connor Narron 1-2, 2B, 2 RBI; Nicholas McGee 2-3, RBI; Adron Hollowell 1-3,...

C.B. Aycock upends Princeton

PRINCETON -- History almost repeated itself. For the second consecutive season, Charles B. Aycock labored through mistakes and missed scoring opportunities on Princeton's baseball diamond. But unlike a year ago, the Golden Falcons recovered this time. State-ranked Aycock (4-1 overall)...

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Local Preps Digest

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Paul Hayes allowed just one run over four innings to pick up the win on the mound as Spring Creek defeated non-conference foe South Lenoir 9-3 on Tuesday afternoon. Lucas Potter went 3-for-4 at the plate...

Trojans' Woodard takes Barton tourney crown

MOC Sports Information WILSON -- Mount Olive College sophomore Scott Woodard emerged the lone under-par scorer at 2-under 142 and claimed the Barton College Intercollegiate men's golf tournament, which concluded Tuesday. Woodard, a Princeton High School graduate, fired a 2-under...

Southern Wayne sweeps Greene Central series

DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne bested Greene Central for the second time in a five-day span with a 4-1, non-conference victory on Tuesday afternoon. Pitcher Madison Davis earned the victory in her varsity debut. Davis tossed five shutout innings, allowed two...

Warriors dominate SW

Eastern Wayne launched its Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference men's tennis campaign with a 9-0 triumph over archrival Southern Wayne on Tuesday afternoon. The Warriors, unbeaten in four outings this season, swept the singles matches. Second-seeded Aaron Dunmire and...

Falcons strand runners

PIKEVILLE -- Cynthia Burroughs had to wonder what else she could do to get a win. The Charles B. Aycock hurler recorded 10 strikeouts, allowed two runs (one earned) and helped her cause offensively with an RBI double. But it...

Opinion -- ACC allure not that of Big East

The pageantry. The drama. The intensity. The must-see matchups. All these ingredients have made the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament arguably the most anticipated and entertaining conference tournament over the past 25 to 30 years. This isn't "most years." As the...

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Wayne County track and field championships

It's all about numbers. Putting competitors in every event and racking up points along the way, Charles B. Aycock and Eastern Wayne emerged the men's and women's team champions, respectively, during the 2009 Wayne County Track and Field Championships on...

Two-time state champs will have youthful look

The best year yet? Are you kidding? Despite losing two all-state performers off back-to-back state championship teams, Wayne Christian softball coach Roger Longwell says he will put his youngest -- but maybe his best -- team on the diamond this...

Local digest

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock avenged a season-opening loss to North Lenoir with a 9-1 victory on Monday afternoon. Eric Dubose stymied the Hawks for five innings en route to the pitching win. Adron Hollowell tossed two perfect innings...

Trojans take wild affair

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive College sophomore Tyler Smith swatted his first-ever collegiate grand slam in the first inning against Post (Conn.) University on Monday afternoon. But the Trojans needed more offense. Kyle Hinrichs and Jonathan Smith broke a...

Another shutout

All John Wooten needed was a little run support and he felt like a starting pitcher all over again. Wooten, who embraced the closer role last season, tossed a three-hit shutout for fivae innings during a 5-0, non-conference victory over...

Hunt seizes control early in ECC

MOUNT OLIVE -- Uncertainty and cautious optimism hung heavy in the warm spring air during the season-opening, Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference men's golf match at Southern Wayne Country Club on Monday afternoon. Defending champion Wilson Hunt grabbed a firm...

Monday, March 9, 2009

Anderson turns back Trojans, earns crown

MOUNT OLIVE -- An official's whistle blew. Tomeka Prichard bent over and buried her head in her hands. The all-time leading scorer in Mount Olive College women's basketball history had just fouled out. She was suddenly struck with the harsh...

Frederick hurls two-hit gem in six-inning stint

CARY -- Welcome back Josh Frederick. After missing two-thirds of last year's high school season with a hand injury, Frederick returned to the mound in masterful fashion Saturday afternoon. The junior left-hander permitted two hits in a six-inning stint as...

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Local Preps Digest

DUDLEY -- Greene Central came out swinging and never slowed down in a 15-4, non-conference win over Southern Wayne on Friday. Jasper Grant provided the power in the middle of the Rams' lineup with a two-run home run. Derek...

Trojans take two of three from Fleet

MOUNT OLIVE -- Ryan Kussmaul pitched a complete game shutout as Mount Olive earned a split of their Conference Carolinas double header against Erskine on Saturday at Scarborough field. The Trojans claimed game two of the twin bill 3-0 and...

Mount Olive moves closer to second straight regional berth

MOUNT OLIVE -- Gut it out. Play with poise. Rely on experience. Mount Olive did all three Friday evening. Senior forward Tomeka Prichard poured in 18 of her team-leading 20 points in the second half as the Trojans upended Belmont...

Warriors' offense comes alive in first two innings

Eastern Wayne's offense finally showed up one day later. The Warriors scored nine runs in the first two innings and Lani Fricks recorded nine strikeouts in the pitcher's circle during an 10-0, non-conference thumping of Jones Senior on Friday afternoon....

Prep box scores

prep baseball Princeton 103 001 0 --5 8 1 C.B. Aycock 136 100 x -- 11 8 1 Leading hitters -- Princeton -- Sean Carpenter 2-3, 2B, RBI; Kameron Harrison 1-4, RBI; Dillon Daughtry 1-2, 2B; Tyler Baker 2-2;...

C.B. Aycock collects eight extra-base hits against Dawgs

PIKEVILLE -- The offensive outburst continues for Charles B. Aycock. The Golden Falcons pounded out eight extra-base hits and dealt Princeton an 11-5 defeat on Friday afternoon. It was the third game in three days for each team. "We started...

Friday, March 6, 2009

Saints fall in nine to D.H. Conley

DUDLEY -- Half a step. That's all that separated Southern Wayne and D.H. Conley, which staged a nine-inning, non-conference baseball thriller Thursday evening on the Doyle Whitfield Athletic Complex diamond. Beneficiary of a bang-bang infield play, the Vikings pulled out...

Prep baseball boxes

Fike 203 010 3 -- 9 11 1 C.B. Aycock 000 215 3 -- 11 11 1 Leading hitters -- Fike -- Trip Sauls 3-4, RBI; Michael McLawhorn 2-4; Russell Ward 2-4, 3 RBI. C.B. Aycock -- Tyler Ruffin 2-4,...

Team ABC cleans up at Southern Classic

The Southern Classic Duck, Goose and Swan Calling Championship is an annual event sponsored by the East Carolina Wildfowl Guild. This year's calling contest was held in early February in conjunction with the East Carolina Wildlife Arts Festival and the...

Cahoon selected Osborne finalist

MOC Sports Information HIGH POINT -- Mount Olive College softball student-athlete Kat Cahoon is among 11 finalists selected for the Murphy Osborne Award, the most prestigious honor awarded by the Conference Carolinas. A senior from Columbia, Cahoon is involved in...

Local Preps Digest

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock erupted for 14 runs in the first two innings and routed Wilson Fike 16-1 in 41/2 innings on Thursday afternoon. Torie Benton paced the Golden Falcons with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate including...

Walk-off thriller: Ruffin's homer lifts C.B. Aycock

PIKEVILLE -- Refusing to quit doesn't appear in a boxscore. But it goes a long way toward winning ballgames. Charles B. Aycock rallied from a early five-run deficit, watched a late lead disappear and celebrated when Tyler Ruffin delivered a...

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Local digest

DUDLEY -- Gabby Cornwall notched the hat trick (three goals) as Rosewood opened its women's soccer season with a 4-0 victory over county rival Southern Wayne on Wednesday. Cornman scored twice in the opening half and added a second-half...

Tusculum takes two from Trojans

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. -- Tusculum plated two first-inning unearned runs and eased past No. 18-ranked Mount Olive 5-3 on Wednesday afternoon. The Pioneers swept the two-day series. Rich Racobaldo batted 2-for-4 and collected two RBI for the Trojans, who fell...

MOC women advance to semifinals

MOUNT OLIVE -- Hungry and eager for redemption. Still smarting from a season-ending, 34-point loss at archrival Barton College nearly one week ago, Mount Olive took out its frustration on weary Lees-McRae on Wednesday evening. The Trojans held the Bobcats...

Triton soccer tops Eastern Wayne

Future league opponents met on the pitch Wednesday evening as Eastern Wayne opened its women's soccer season with a 3-1, non-conference loss to Triton. The teams will battle as Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference foes next season when the new realignment...

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Trojan women home today

Mount Olive College begins defense of its Conference Carolinas women's basketball championship at home today against in-state rival Lees-McRae. Tip-off is 7 p.m. at Kornegay Arena. The 10th-seeded Bobcats turned back No. 7 Limestone 64-62 on Tuesday. The second-seeded Trojans...

Pioneers stop No. 18-ranked Trojans

MOC Sports Information GREENEVILLE, Tenn. -- Tusculum erupted for five second-inning runs and held off No. 18-ranked Mount Olive College 6-2 on Tuesday afternoon. Dylan Holton accounted for both Trojan runs, delivered two hits and stole three bases. Will Rodriguez...

Opinion -- This is chance for redemption

The roster read like a Hall of Fame ballot and yet the outcome felt like a well-timed punch to the gut. The pieces were seemingly in place from the talent on the roster to favorable matchups for the United States...

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

MOC men shocked by Erskine

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive's players gathered at midcourt, said their customary game-ending prayer and walked to the locker room in disbelief. Their NCAA tournament bubble had burst. Seventh-seeded Erskine (S.C.) College allowed the Trojans to convert just five field...

Monday, March 2, 2009

MOC splits softball contests

MOC Sports Information ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Mount Olive College softball team concluded first-day action 1-1 in the annual Rebel Spring Games, which began Sunday. Allison Czerski and Kat Cahoon each ripped a two-out, two-RBI single in the Trojans' 5-1...