May 2009 archives

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Sunday, May 31, 2009

Challenges await Reaves' club

Emphasis on succeeding in Area I play this summer takes on a new meaning for perennial American Legion baseball powerhouse Wayne County Post 11. A state-tournament fixture each of the past two seasons, coach Brad Reaves' squad faces a different...

Kinston storms past Post 11

KINSTON -- Kinston pushed across four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and held on for a 4-3 win over Wayne County Post 11 on Saturday night. Trey Beamon's three-run tied the game at 3-3 in the...

Local group puts together organization

Future gridiron stars in Wayne County, a new day has dawned. Pop Warner Football is coming to Goldsboro thanks to a few enterprising pigskin enthusiasts who saw a need for a county-wide football program that encompasses more than the basics....

Quick thinking saves crew

TOPSAIL ISLAND -- Three local fishermen experienced a Memorial Day holiday they're not likely to forget anytime soon. Stan Matthews and his two sons, Derek and Tony, were spending a peaceful afternoon at the New River Inlet. But the outing...

Right-hander 'Mo'ws down Knights' batters

RED OAK -- The buzz around the Northern Nash ballpark wasn't about the final score or the Knights' inability to escape another Wayne County team in the regional finals. The skinny was about Zack Mozingo. "A freshman beat us?" quipped...

Warrior 'unknowns' lead program to state finals

RED OAK -- Eddie Loesner's strategy drew jeers and cheers. The Northern Nash coach intentionally walked John Wooten on four occasions and issued one free pass to Walker Gourley. He wasn't about let Eastern Wayne's two "top guns" knock around...

Golden Falcons refocus after rain delay

PIKEVILLE -- Time to book a trip to the "Creek." Charles B. Aycock upset No. 1-ranked D.H. Conley 6-2 and earned a berth in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A softball final four at Walnut Creek next weekend....

C.B. Aycock-D.H. Conley boxscore

D.H. Conley 100 001 0 -- 2 3 2 C.B. Aycock 006 000 x -- 6 10 2 Leading hitters -- D.H. Conley -- Sarah Langley 2-4; Kaitlyn Anderson 1-2. C.B. Aycock -- Torie Benton 2-2, 2B, RBI; Cynthia Burroughs...

Friday, May 29, 2009

Wayne County eases past Apex, 5-2

MOUNT OLIVE -- Wayne County Post 11 opened its 2009 Senior American Legion baseball season with a solid 5-2 victory over Apex Post 124 on Thursday night at Scarborough Field. The game featured appearances by 32 different players as both...

Post 11 boxscore

Apex 100 000 010 -- 2 6 2 Wayne County 000 004 01x -- 5 8 2 Leading hitters -- Apex -- Kyle Hackney 1-3; Jonathan Polak 1-3, 2B; Parker Harrell 1-1, 2B; Jordan King 1-1. Wayne County -- Tyler...

Paddlers get up-close view

SEVEN SPRINGS -- A group of nine travelers set sail from the boat launch in Seven Springs for a day of fun in the sun as part of the 2009 Tour de Neuse on Friday. Led by Neuse Riverkeeper Larry...

Preferred or required, shotgun slugs prove effective for hunters

Over the past few seasons, I've been participating in an increasing number of deer hunts where the use of certain firearms is prohibited. For example, at Bladen Lakes State Forest Game Land in Bladen County, handguns and centerfire rifles are...

Frederick keeps his poise

The errors piled up. The "guest" number constantly changed on the scoreboard. But Josh Frederick refused to let Northern Nash see him sweat. "You can't let the other team see your frustration because that will get them (fired) up on...

EW-No. Nash box score

(5) Eastern Wayne 6 Northern Nash 5 No. Nash 000 500 0 -- 5 7 0 E. Wayne 000 040 2 -- 6 9 5 Two outs when winning run scored. Leading hitters -- Northern Nash -- Steven Moore 2-4,...

Another heart stopper: Different heroes spark 7th-inning rally

A different night, a different hero. Jose Ponce's walk-off RBI double scored Robert Faucette and capped Eastern Wayne's two-out rally in a 6-5 comeback win over Northern Nash on Thursday night. The Warriors claimed their fourth straight come-from-behind victory and...

Cherry leaves after one seaason

Goldsboro High needs a new boys' basketball coach. Chris Cherry, who guided the Cougars this past season, accepted the head coaching position at South Central in Winterville on Wednesday. Less than a year ago, Cherry considered Goldsboro his "dream job"...

Davis did not give up dream

Bobby Davis never saw the curveball coming and felt his two-year dream seemed far from reality. In 2008, Davis began organizing a Men's Senior Baseball League 18U team for players in the Wayne County area. His efforts proved futile when...

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Local digest

DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne launched its 2009 American Junior Legion Baseball campaign with a 13-6 rout of Wilson on the Doyle Whitfield Athletic Complex diamond Wednesday evening. Will Broadwell surrendered just two hits in a three-inning stint. Keenan Winn...

OPINION - Hurricanes ran out of ammo

The Carolina Hurricanes ran out of stones for their slingshot. After slaying the greatest goalie in NHL history and the Eastern Conference's top seed, the Hurricanes suffered a four-game sweep against 2008 Stanley Cup runner-up Pittsburgh. That silver lining might...

Warriors' Gourley embracing leadership role

Walker Gourley understands that with great talent comes great responsibility. A lead-off hitter and shortstop, Gourley has embraced his leadership role and thrived in key moments during Eastern Wayne's playoff run this season. During the postseason, including the Eastern Carolina...

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Eastern Wayne-West Brunswick box score

West Brunswick 001 300 0 -- 4 8 0 Eastern Wayne 300 030 x -- 6 8 2 Leading hitters -- West Brunswick -- Ryan Hill 1-3; Wally Kamfolt 1-4; Josh Powell 1-2; Jay Gause 1-4; Logan Tripp 1-4; Alex...

Cardiac kids: Wooten's sixth-inning home run caps comeback

John Wooten continues to show his leadership this spring. And his teammates are riding his broad shoulders. Wooten belted two three-run home runs and threw five innings of relief as state-ranked Eastern Wayne claimed a 6-4, comeback victory over West...

CBA-Washington softball box

Washington 000 000 0 -- 0 0 1 C.B. Aycock 000 001 x -- 1 1 0 Leading hitters -- C.B. Aycock -- Cynthia Burroughs 1-2, 2B, RBI. LOB -- Washington 5, C.B. Aycock 3 IP H R ER BB...

C.B. Aycock 'Burroughs' through Washington

PIKEVILLE -- It was a near-perfect revenge plot. One year after enduring a 14-inning, season-ending defeat, the Charles B. Aycock softball team made amends Tuesday evening. Cynthia Burroughs tossed a complete-game no-hitter and provided the game-winning hit in a 1-0...

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Eastern Wayne and West Brunswick ready to clash

Two state-ranked teams who have each won 20-plus contests battle for a spot in the eastern regional championship series tonight on the New Hope diamond. No. 5-ranked Eastern Wayne entertains West Brunswick in a fourth-round, N.C. High School Athletic Association...

C.B. Aycock set to battle Washington

PIKEVILLE -- Long-term memory is a good thing. Charles B. Aycock softball coach Brad Matthews certainly hasn't forgotten the disappointment of last year's second-round loss to perennial power Washington in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A playoffs. Matthews hopes...

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Class 1-A baseball playoffs: Rosewood eliminated from postseason by Topsail

Rosewood's second attempt at a second consecutive, seventh-inning rally never materialized Friday evening. Topsail used a final-inning rally of its own. The Pirates manufactured three runs off defensive miscues and claimed a 14-11, third-round victory in the N.C. High School...

A coaching legend: Goldsboro gym named in honor of late Norvell T. Lee

Norvell T. Lee's legacy isn't measured in numbers and statistics. Family, friends, co-workers and former players proved that Friday morning. Each spun their own story of the revered coach who bellowed at players during practice, constantly worked referees to a...

Class 3-A baseball: Gourley's walk-off HR propels Eastern Wayne into eastern semifinals

One swing erased a year of bad memories. Walker Gourley's walk-off, eighth-inning home run capped Eastern Wayne's come-from-behind, 4-3 victory over South Central on Friday evening. The homer propelled the Warriors into the eastern semifinals for the first time in...

Class 3-A baseball playoffs: E. Wayne-S. Central box

prep baseball S. Central 020 100 00 -- 3 7 3 E. Wayne 001 011 01 -- 4 10 1 Leading hitters -- South Central -- Adrian Sharpe 1-3; Jordan Oakley 2-4; Harrison Bonner 1-3; Corey Boland 2-3, HR,...

Class 3-A softball playoffs: C.B. Aycock-South Central box

South Central 000 001 0 -- 1 7 1 C.B. Aycock 204 020 x -- 8 9 0 Leading hitters -- South Central -- Shayla Churchill 2-4; Jackie Kamzar 1-2; Shaquinia Edwards 2-2, RBI; Kim Boltinhouse 1-3; Lauren Cale 1-3....

Class 3-A softball playoffs: Sullivan swats two HRs for Golden Falcons

PIKEVILLE -- Anna Sullivan and Charles B. Aycock made sure a new state 3-A champion will be crowned at Walnut Creek in 2009. Sullivan swatted a first-inning home run and finished with a career-best six RBI as the Golden Falcons...

Friday, May 22, 2009

Vail cops league's top accolade

To no one's surprise, Charles B. Aycock junior Blake Vail earned the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference men's tennis player-of-the-year award for the third consecutive season. Vail claimed his third straight ECC singles championship and made his third straight appearance in...

Fishing report

Northern District Ocean: Offshore catches remain good, with anglers catching yellow and blackfin tuna, dolphin, greater amberjack, and some very large wahoo. Billfish catches continued to improve, sailfish in particular. Assorted groupers and blueline tilefish were caught out of the...

Deer kill numbers increasing

When sportsmen around the Tar Heel state began anticipating the 2008-09 white tail deer season, all of the environmental and biological signs pointed to a banner year in the making. It turned out to be a spectacular season, indeed. North...

Oak Island saves former Yaupon Pier

The future of Yaupon Pier was once in jeopardy. Residents of the town of Oak Island, other parts of North Carolina and visitors from out-of-state were worried that it would suffer the same fate as Long Beach Pier, which was...

Local golf

Walnut Creek LGA Hiromi Sueki emerged the play-of-the-day winner during Weekly Ladies Play Day on the Walnut Creek Country Club links. Faye Franklin and Charlotte Campbell claimed low gross and now net, respectively, in first flight. April Ellis and Betty...

Warriors await rematch

Time for the rematch. Nearly 53 weeks after having a banner season end in the 2008 N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A baseball playoffs, Eastern Wayne gets a chance at revenge today. The No. 6-ranked Warriors entertain South Central,...

CBA-So. Nash tennis box

2009 N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A Dual-Team Eastern Regional Championship Southern Nash 5 C.B. Aycock 2 Singles: No. 1 Blake Vail (CBA) d. Julian Paulsen 6-2, 6-4; No. 2 Jordan Hagler (SN) d. Addison Westbrook 7-5, 5-1 (ret.);...

No. 3-ranked Firebirds successfully defend title

STANHOPE -- Charles B. Aycock can't seem to solve the Southern Nash enigma. Is it confidence? Is it athletes? Or is it mental toughness? The No. 3-ranked Firebirds successfully defended their eastern regional dual-team championship with a 5-2 victory over...

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Goldsboro's Williams wins award

Her application for one of the state's most prestigious athletic awards may have been last minute, but the resume submitted by Goldsboro's Victoria Williams more than spoke for itself. Williams recently received the Pat Gainey Award from the N.C. High...

Jordan Williams signs with Chowan

Messenger Sports Writer DUDLEY -- Innocent conversations sometimes lead to life-changing opportunities. Jordan Williams is proof. While weeding through a maze colleges he considered attending, the Southern Wayne catcher learned about Chowan University during a conversation with one of his...

OPINION - Michael Vick deserves second chance

We live in a nation that loves underdogs, relishes the comeback story and awards second chances. We love our heroes and we're notorious for turning a cold shoulder to the misdeeds of our icons off the field. Former Atlanta Falcons...

Ki'Ana Williams signs with Broncos

Ki'Ana Williams is leaving Goldsboro High School, but her example will exist for many years. A modest, but fiery point guard known for pin-point passes, Williams will continue her basketball career at Fayetteville State University. The senior turned heads at...

Warriors' Turner heading to MOC

The gradual rebuilding process of the Eastern Wayne softball program continues and Caitlin Turner is undoubtedly a cornerstone in the foundation for future winning seasons. A four-year varsity player, Turner extended her career Wednesday afternoon. She signed a letter of...

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Wednesday preps

KENLY -- Oh so close. Spring Creek (12-12) led 1-0 with one out in the bottom of the seventh before North Johnston mounted a rally on Tuesday night. The Panthers pushed across a pair of runs for a 2-1...

Rosewood turns back Midway

SPIVEY'S CORNER -- Rosewood staged a seventh-inning rally and turned back Midway 3-0 in their second-round, N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A baseball contest Tuesday evening. The Eagles broke a scoreless tie in their final at-bat. Scott Pate collected...

prep baseball box scores

Orange 022 004 0 -- 8 10 1 Greene Central 100 000 2 -- 3 6 6 Leading hitters -- Orange -- Jeff Watkins 1-4, RBI; Scott Jarvis 1-4; Jake Manzulich 2-3, 2 RBI; J.T. Pope 1-2, 2 RBI; Joe...

Uncharacteristic errors hurt Rams

SNOW HILL -- A reliable defense anchored Greene Central's vessel all season. The anchor gave way Tuesday evening and the Rams' ship sank in an 8-3, second-round loss to Hillsborough Orange in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 2-A...

Golden Falcons head back to eastern final

PIKEVILLE -- Play smart and confident. Charles B. Aycock executed those two goals to near perfection and earned a second consecutive trip to the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A dual-team eastern regional on Tuesday afternoon. Addison Westbrook and...

Aycock earns shutout

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock finally got in "game mode." Playing just their third game in the month of May, the Golden Falcons eliminated Greensboro Dudley 6-0 from the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A softball playoffs Tuesday evening....

C.B. Aycock-Eastern Wayne tennis box

C.B. Aycock 5 Eastern Wayne 1 Singles: No. 1 Blake Vail (CBA) d. Russell Turner 6-2, 6-1; No. 2 Addison Westbrook (CBA) d. Aaron Dunmire 7-6 (5), 6-0; No. 3 Ben Nichols (CBA) d. Eric Barnes 6-3, 6-2; No. 4...

CBA-Dudley softball box score

Dudley 000 000 0 -- 0 1 2 C.B. Aycock 002 004 x -- 6 4 0 Leading hitters -- Dudley -- Peterson 1-3. C.B. Aycock -- Brooke Bell 1-4, RBI; Anna Sullivan 1-3, RBI; Connor Davis 1-3; Jessica Hare...

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

WCDS recognized as National Champions

Bridgette Briggs searched for a quiet spot. The Wayne Country Day senior settled into a chair, pulled out her cell phone and sent a quick text message to a friend. While she waited for the response, Briggs held up her...

Wolfpack Caravan rolls into Walnut Creek

North Carolina State fans mingled with administrators and coaches as the annual Wolfpack coaches caravan rolled into Walnut Creek Country Club on Monday evening. New women's basketball coach Kellie Harper, men's basketball coach Sidney Lowe and softball coach Lisa Navas...

Prep boxscores

West Carteret 000 300 0 -- 3 7 1 Eastern Wayne 101 021 x -- 5 5 0 Leading hitters -- West Carteret -- Mason Gamola 1-3; Dalton Knight 1-3; Josh Thomas 1-3; Michael Robertson 1-3; Brian Favorite 1-3; Robert...

Eastern Wayne slips past West Carteret

All season long the phrase "Elmer's glue" has served as a constant reminder of the importance sticking together and trusting one another for Eastern Wayne's baseball team. The Warriors put those words into action during a fifth-inning rally in a...

Monday, May 18, 2009

Sasser, Glover play strong on 1-A scene

WILSON -- Woody Sasser and Daniel Glover combined to capture three silver medals as Wayne Christian tied for fourth overall during team competition in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Class 1-A men's tennis championships. Sasser finished runner-up at...

Bogle, Wilson bring home gold

GREENSBORO -- Princeton's Jania Bogle and T.J. Wilson combined to claim three gold medals during the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A women's and men's track and field championships contested Friday. Bogle emerged the state champion in the...

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Local Preps Digest

HOLLY RIDGE -- Freshman Duane Gurganus stroked a two-RBI, seventh-inning single as Spring Creek upset Dixon 5-4 in opening-round action of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A baseball playoffs. Dixon, the Coastal Plains champion, seized a 3-0...

Third-seeded Cyclones oust Chargers in semis

WILSON -- Defending state champion Community Christian picked the right moment to exact revenge against perennial soccer power Wayne Country Day. And once the Cyclones scored, they didn't stop. Three Community players accounted for goals in a 4-1 conquest of...

Warriors' Turner advances to quarterfinals in NCHSAA 3-A tournament

BURLINGTON -- Eastern Wayne freshman Russell Turner advanced to the quarterfinal round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A men's tennis championships at the Burlington Tennis Center. Turner, the east regional runner-up, posted a 7-5, 6-3 victory...

Three Eagles hurlers combine for no-hitter

Cody Richards and Will Beasley each swatted a home run and Rosewood dismantled Weldon 16-0 in their opening-round, N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A baseball contest Friday evening. Richards, Matt Neal and Steven Bostic combined for a no-hitter...

Warriors pound out victory

It doesn't get any better than this. State-ranked Eastern Wayne pounded out 11 hits and Josh Frederick recorded seven strikeouts in an opening-round, 15-2 rout of Northeast Guilford on Friday evening. The Warriors (20-4) entertain West Carteret in a second-round,...

Fike's Prince feels like king after upset

PIKEVILLE -- A little-known starter smarting from a hard-luck loss, Wilson Fike hurler William Prince felt like a king Friday evening. The diminutive right-hander threw a complete-game, one-hit gem as the Golden Demons upset Charles B. Aycock 6-0 in their...

Friday, May 15, 2009

Gryphons oust Saints

ROCKY MOUNT -- No. 2-ranked Rocky Mount successfully began defense of its 2008 state 3-A championship Thursday evening. The outcome, however, remained in doubt until the late innings. Upstart Southern Wayne kept the Gryphons from running away in their opening-round,...

Southern Wayne-Rocky Mount box

Southern Wayne 000 001 0 -- 1 6 1 Rocky Mount 000 022 x -- 4 10 1 Leading hitters -- Southern Wayne -- Tyler Edwards 1-2, 2B; Zach Grantham 2-3; Jordan Williams 1-3, 2B, RBI; Keenan Winn 1-3; Cody...

Bulldawgs get key hit, deny Eagles' title bid

Pride and bragging rights are on the line whenever Princeton and Rosewood meet in any sport. The archrivals played for bigger stakes Thursday afternoon -- a share of the Carolina 1-A Conference softball championship. And the Bulldawgs emerged the victor...

Princeton-Rosewood softball box

Princeton 000 020 2 -- 4 3 1 Rosewood 000 120 0 -- 3 8 1 Leading hitters -- Princeton -- Hannah Wood 1-4, RBI; Ashley Braswell 1-2, 2B; Tylan George 1-3. Rosewood -- Caitlin Armer 2-2, 2B, RBI; Kayla...

Day of deep-sea fishing ends with unexpected big prize

During my 26 years on God's green Earth, my mother has taught me a lifetime worth of lessons including the immeasurable value of patience, perseverance and forming lasting memories with the best of friends. Last weekend, on a deep-sea fishing...

Local golf

Lane Tree LGA Linda Newsome claimed first low net in championship flight play during the two-day, East Carolina Ladies Golf Association finals contested at Lane Tree Golf Club. Libby Newsome took second low net in second-flight competition. Donna Adams had...

Rams trio heads to next level

SNOW HILL -- Dressed in the colors of their future teams, three Greene Central seniors extended their respective baseball careers Thursday afternoon. Two opted to stay close to home. The other, although he'll live hours away from home, knows his...

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Local digest

SPIVEY'S CORNERS -- Kaitlyn Conger netted a hat trick (three goals) as Rosewood dominated Midway 5-0 in the opening round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A women's soccer playoffs on Wednesday. Conger opened the scoring off an...

Prep boxscores

Southern Wayne 000 040 0 -- 4 9 1 C.B. Aycock 000 000 0 -- 0 2 1 Leading hitters -- Southern Wayne -- Madison Davis 3-4; Tara Hirsch 2-3; Morgan Davis 1-2, RBI; Lauren Darden 1-4, 2B, RBI; Christina...

Saints hand Golden Falcons second loss

PIKEVILLE -- The third time was a charm. Southern Wayne pounded out nine hits en route to a 4-0 victory over state-ranked Charles B. Aycock in the semifinals of the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference tournament on Wednesday night. The fourth-seeded...

NCSSM ousts Princeton

PRINCETON -- Give it your all. Fourth-year Princeton head coach Tim Besel offers that single phrase of encouragement each time his team steps onto the soccer pitch. The Dawgs certainly gave their best effort Wednesday evening. Brush notched a phenomenal...

Eastern Wayne falls to Northern nash

It isn't the two soft goals his team let up or the missed scoring opportunities that Eastern Wayne head coach Jorg Wagner will remember about his team's season-ending loss Wednesday evening. The Warriors dropped a 2-0 decision to Northern Nash...

OPINION -- Steroid era ruining baseball

There was a time when baseball left me in awe and reverence for the men who played the game I grew to love. In recent years my passion for the sport that played such a vital role in my childhood...

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Local Preps Digest

RALEIGH -- Taylor Gray and Woody Sasser emerged the top singles performers in their respective flights and Wayne Christian claimed the 2009 Carolina Christian 1-A Conference boy's tennis tournament title on the Lions Park courts Tuesday. Gray bested the...

Chargers control 2nd half

Wayne Country Day observed -- and practiced -- the Golden Rule to perfection during second-half action against Statesville Christian on a pleasant, sun-splashed Tuesday afternoon. The eighth-seeded Lions passed the ball well, controlled the tempo and dominated possession during first-half...

Princeton-Spring Creek box score

Princeton 012 211 0 -- 7 9 2 Spring Creek 021 240 x -- 9 7 3 Leading hitters -- Princeton -- Benton Myers 3-3, 3B; Dillon Daughtry 2-4, 3 RBI; Matt Leverette 1-3, RBI; Patrick Jacobs 1-2. Spring Creek...

Spring Creek turns back Princeton in 'play-in' game

MOUNT OLIVE -- Spring Creek survived a strong offensive effort from Princeton claimed a 9-7 victory Tuesday afternoon at Scarborough Field on the Mount Olive College campus. The two Carolina 1-A Conference rivals met on a neutral diamond to determine...

Dougherty becomes fan of hockey again

Messenger Sports Writer RALEIGH -- Most traditional fans would not classify the state of North Carolina as a hockey hot spot. John Dougherty says otherwise. The former Southern Wayne student has spent the last season working in the Carolina Hurricanes'...

EW-CBA box score

C.B. Aycock 000 020 0 -- 2 7 2 Eastern Wayne 000 004 x -- 4 5 0 Leading hitters -- C.B. Aycock -- Tyler Ruffin 2-3; Connor Narron 2-3; 2 RBI; Adron Hollowell 2-3; Jordan Quinn 1-3. Eastern Wayne...

Warriors end county rival's three-year reign

Eastern Wayne's offense squandered scoring opportunities for five innings, which kept a glaring zero illuminated on the scoreboard. One swing of the bat changed the Warriors' fortune. Walker Gourley's towering three-run homer erased the goose egg and changed the game's...

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Local digest

PINE ISLAND -- Nearly one week later, Eastern Wayne finally claimed an opening-round victory in the N.C. High School Athletic Association men's dual-team tennis playoffs. The Warriors eliminated Northeastern Coastal champion Currituck County 9-0 on Monday afternoon. Severe weather...

Spring Creek upsets state-ranked North Johnston

KENLY -- Duane Gurganus pitched a complete-game shutout as Spring Creek upset state-ranked North Johnston 6-0 in the Carolina 1-A Conference regular-season finale for both teams Monday evening. Gurganus, a freshman, kept the Gators' season alive. Spring Creek (10-11...

Rosewood captures Carolina 1-A Conference title

CALYPSO -- Rosewood overcame early offensive woes and battered North Duplin 10-0 in the Carolina 1-A Conference regular-season finale for both teams Monday evening. The Eagles' win, coupled with Spring Creek's upset of state-ranked North Johnston, captured their first conference...

Rosewood downs North Duplin on softball diamond

CALYPSO -- Haile Meadows threw a one-hit shutout and Rosewood remained on course for its first Carolina 1-A Conference regular-season softball championship since 2001 on Monday evening. Meadows logged 10 strikeouts in the pitcher's circle as the Eagles upended...

Prep boxscores

Boxscore: Rosewood 005 23 -- 10 13 0 North Duplin 000 00 -- 0 4 2 Leading hitters - Rosewood - Taylor Price 1-3, RBI; Matt Neal 2-3; Steven Bostic 2-4; Cody Richards 2-3, HR, 3 RBI; Will Beasley 2-3,...

Monday, May 11, 2009

Wayne Christian softball falls to Cape Fear

WILSON -- Unbeaten Cape Fear Christian erupted for nine third-inning runs and rolled past Wayne Christian 10-0 in the Carolina Christian 1-A Conference softball tournament championship game. The middle-inning outburst induced the 10-run mercy rule after the second-seeded Eagles...

Wilson shines at Mideast 1-A track regional

PRINCETON -- T.J. Wilson turned in a memorable performance during his final home meet Saturday afternoon. The Princeton track star claimed three gold medals and a silver, and helped the Dawgs claim the men's team title during the Class...

Faith narrowly misses fourth title

Trinity Christian-Greenville benefited from several defensive miscues and upended Faith Christian 8-1 to claim the 2009 N.C. Christian Schools Association 2-A softball championship on Saturday. The victory ended Faith Christian's three-year reign as state champion. Lauren Moore logged 12...

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Spring Creek softball team snaps 27-game skid in Carolina 1-A Conference play

SEVEN SPRINGS -- How sweet it is! Winless each of the past two seasons on the Carolina 1-A Conference softball scene, Spring Creek finally posted a long-awaited victory Friday evening. Janna Price delivered an eighth-inning, game-winning single as the...

Greene Central reigns supreme as EPC 2-A baseball champion

LaGRANGE -- Greene Central swatted four home runs and captured its first Eastern Plains 2-A Conference championship since 2002 with an 8-6 conquest of archrival North Lenoir. Justin Everette went "yard" twice on the Hawks' diamond and collected two...

Rosewood-Princeton baseball box

Princeton 002 210 000 00 -- 5 6 2 Rosewood 210 002 000 01 -- 6 10 1 Leading hitters -- Princeton -- Adam Peedin 1-4, RBI; Dillon Daughtry 1-5, 2B, RBI; Matt Leverette 2-4, RBI; Phillip Mitchell 1-4. Rosewood...

Rivals stage 11-inning classic on Rosewood diamond

Will Beasley hardly wasted time during his sixth plate appearance Friday evening on the Rosewood High baseball diamond. A utility player, Beasley wanted to erase getting caught in an eighth-inning rundown and hitting into an inning-ending, bases-loaded groundout in the...

Hunt-C.B. Aycock boxscore

Wilson Hunt 010 010 0 -- 2 8 0 C.B. Aycock 210 010 x -- 4 10 3 Leading hitters -- Hunt -- Zach Houchins 1-4, HR, RBI; Sam Strickland 1-3; Kyle Pittman 1-3; Jerom Richardson 1-2; Seth Wiggs 2-2;...

C.B. Aycock secures opening-round, home playoff game

PIKEVILLE -- Ready for round three. Charles B. Aycock punched its ticket to the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference tournament championship with a 4-2 victory over Wilson Hunt on Saturday evening. The semifinal-round win sets up a third meeting with county...

Warriors advance to ECC tournament final

Eastern Wayne advanced to the Eastern Carolina 3-A Confernce tournament championship game with a 5-3 win over Southern Wayne on Friday evening. The county rivals staged a nail-biter from start to finish. Tied at 3-3 after 5 1/2 innings, the...

Rogers takes Walnut Creek Championship

Chris Rogers will never forget his final round at the Walnut Creek Championship. The Ole Miss graduate fired a final-round 68 and sealed his first-ever career victory on the eGolf Professional Tour at Walnut Creek Country Club on Saturday afternoon....

Eastern Wayne-Southern Wayne boxscore

Southern Wayne 020 010 0 -- 3 6 3 Eastern Wayne 300 002 x -- 5 4 3 Leading hitters -- Southern Wayne -- Tyler Edwards 2-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI; Keenan Winn 1-4; Kevin Wise 2-2, 2B; Cody Davis...

Friday, May 8, 2009

Walnut Creek Championship continues today

An early-morning thunderstorm delayed second-round play of the Walnut Creek Championship and several golfers couldn't complete their 18-hole round on the Ellis Maples-designed course Thursday. Those golfers returned to the Walnut Creek links this morning in hopes of making the...

Rain storm washes out play in seventh inning

PRINCETON -- Moments before the rains came, Ayden-Grifton opened the floodgates Thursday evening. The Chargers erupted for six seventh-inning runs and led 9-3 when umpires suspended play on the Fred Bartholomew Athletic Complex diamond. The teams will complete the Carolina...

Daily storms prompt changes

Maybe they'll get a reprieve since calm weather is expected for today. Southern Wayne (12-13 overall) travels to county rival Eastern Wayne (17-4) for a semifinal-round game in the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference baseball tournament. In the other half of...

Annual month-long journey planned

Kayaking and canoeing enthusiasts can get a different perception of a familiar body of water during May. The annual Tour de Neuse is a month-long journey down the length of the Neuse River that attracts paddlers of all experience levels....

Fishing reports

Northern District Ocean: Offshore anglers are starting to catch a mixed bag of species after a slow winter. Bluefin tuna catches were fair the last few weeks but the fish have moved northward and catches are now almost non-existent. Moderate...

Erskine quickly halts Trojans' regional run

MOC Sports Information FLORENCE, S.C. -- The Mount Olive College women's tennis team penned its final chapter in possibly its most-historical season Thursday afternoon. Erskine (S.C.) University triumphed in three of four singles matches and eliminated the Trojans 5-2 from...

eGolf Tarheel Tour agate

Egolf Tarheel Tour Walnut Creek Championship Thursday Second Round (only players who have completed 36 holes) Matt Mincer 67-63--130 -12 Michael Henderson 68-64--132 -10 Travis Perkins 66-66--132 -10 Brian Anderson 71-62--133 -9 Andy Bare 71-62--133 -9 Kyle Reifers 68-65--133 -9...

Thursday, May 7, 2009

W. Christian takes CCC tournament

WILSON -- MVP Kyle Harrell scored the game-winning run on a seventh-inning error as Wayne Christian edged Trinity-Durham 17-16, and claimed its fourth consecutive Carolina Christian 1-A Conference baseball tournament crown Wednesday afternoon. "What a game ... unbelievable," said...

Walnut Creek Championship

Courtesy eGolf Tour Goldsboro native Andy Crain is tied for 57th overall after opening-round play Wednesday during the Walnut Creek Championship on the eGolf Professional Tour. Crain is among a group of golfers who completed the picturesque and challenging Walnut...

Thursday preps

Eastern Wayne held off pesky Spring Creek squad and earned a 6-4, senior night victory Wednesday. Casey Mitchell paced the Warriors with a three-hit effort. Lyndsey Frederick, Caitlin Turner and Morgan Smith recorded one hit and one RBI apiece. Lani...

SW-Kinston baseball

DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne pounded out 19 hits and took one step toward an Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference tournament title with an opening-round, 13-8 victory over Kinston on Wednesday evening. The fourth-seeded Saints travel to reigning league champion Eastern Wayne...

Princeton-Rosewood soccer

A four-year plan paid its biggest dividend Wednesday evening. Princeton tallied an early first-half goal and relied on its defense to defeat archrival Rosewood 1-0 on the Branch Pope Field pitch. The Dawgs seized their first-ever Carolina 1-A Conference regular-season...

Aycock-Southern Lee

Singles: No. 1 Blake Vail (CBA) d. Alonso Velarde 6-0, 6-0; No. 2 Addison Westbrook (CBA) d. Jeffrey Cardinas 6-1, 6-1; No. 3 Ben Nichols (CBA) d. Johnathan Burchette 6-1, 6-2; No. 4 Dylan Quinn d. Daniel Macias 6-0, 6-4;...

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Local Preps Digest

WILMINGTON -- Eastern Wayne completed its regular season with a 2-1, non-conference loss against New Hanover on Tuesday. The Warriors (17-4 overall) tallied a second-inning run. The Wildcats answered with a two-run, fourth-inning homer. Eastern Wayne had multiple chances to...

Chargers repeat as Champions

HENDERSON -- State-ranked Wayne Country Day repeated as the Coastal Plains Independent 1-A Conference women's soccer champion with a 2-1 decision over Kerr-Vance on Tuesday evening. The Chargers (15-1-0 overall, 9-1-0) seized the automatic bid and opening-round bye for...

Trojan women grab at-large bid to NCAAs

MOC Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- The Mount Olive College women's tennis team has received an at-large berth in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional. The Trojans drew the No. 10 seed and oppose league rival Erskine (S.C.) College in...

MOC takes fourth place for cup

HIGH POINT -- Mount Olive College finished fourth overall in the annual Joby Hawn Cup, which is awarded to the top Conference Carolinas athletic program for overall excellence in league-sponsored sports. During the spring, the Trojan women's tennis finished...

Saints golfer steadily improves game

Jeremy Joyner recalled one particular round of golf during Chris Best's freshman year. Best hit triple digits on that day and immediately looked for Joyner. "He kept asking me how do I get better, coach?" said Joyner, who directs the...

Storms wash out games

Weather permitting, tennis archrivals Charles B. Aycock and Eastern Wayne will see action in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A dual-team playoffs. The Golden Falcons (12-1 overall) entertain Southern Lee, while Eastern Wayne (11-3) travels to Currituck County. On...

Opinion -- Local teams prepare for ECC tournament

For some teams, it's a second chance at earning a playoff berth. For others, it's simply an opportunity to build on an already solid campaign while gaining momentum for the postseason. Whatever a club's agenda may be entering the Eastern...

Aycock bounces SW in quarterfinals

PIKEVILLE -- Nichole Casto provided the wake-up call. C.B. Aycock responded. Midway through the second half, Casto raced through the Golden Falcons' defense and beat keeper Courtney Sheeks to give Southern Wayne a 1-1 tie. The Golden Falcons tallied three...

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Local digest

WILSON -- Wayne Christian pounded out 11 hits en route to an 11-8 victory over Northwood Temple in the semifinals of the Carolina Christian 1-A Conference baseball tournament on Monday. The Eagles face Trinity of Durham in the championship...

Rosewood handles North Johnston

Stay in the hunt. With a rematch with Princeton for a share of the Carolina 1-A Conference title looming on Wednesday, Rosewood took care of the task at hand Monday evening. The Eagles used solid defense and a pair of...

Prep boxscores

North Lenoir 000 022 -- 4 14 1 Eastern Wayne 103 341 -- 12 13 2 Leading hitters -- North Lenoir -- DeJuan Gray 3-4; Tyler Potter 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI; Wil Sutton 3-4, HR, 2 RBI; Spencer Bass 1-3,...

NCHSAA 3-A East golf regional

PINETOPS -- Ryan Lake started well. The Eastern Wayne junior birdied the opening hole during the 2009 N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A eastern golf regional on a breezy, sun-splashed Monday morning. Lake lost his momentum four holes later...

Local golfers take part in Handy Mart tourney

MOUNT OLIVE -- Sun-soaked fairways lured players to Southern Wayne Country Club this weekend, but treacherous pin placements greeted them during the 23rd annual Handy Mart-Mount Olive College Invitational golf tournament. The tandem of Jay Joyner-Chris Eaves claimed the tournament...

Warriors enjoy senior night

Eastern Wayne's trio of seniors made the most of their final regular-season, home game Monday evening. John Wooten belted two home runs and drove in seven runs. Walker Gourley reached base four times and scored four runs. And Andrew Martin...

Monday, May 4, 2009

Local Preps Digest

Wayne Christian concluded its regular-season varsity softball slate with a 13-9, non-conference loss against Wilson Christian on Friday afternoon. The Eagles owned a decisive 13-2 edge in hits. However, Wilson Christian benefited from 13 walks and plated 11 unearned...

Joyner-Eaves win annual Handy Mart event

MOUNT OLIVE -- Sun-soaked fairways lured players to Southern Wayne Country Club this weekend, but treacherous pin placements greeted them during the 23rd annual Handy Mart-Mount Olive College Invitational golf tournament. The tandem of Jay Joyner-Chris Eaves claimed the tournament...

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Local digest

Wayne Country Day enjoyed its senior night with a 5-0 victory over Oakwood on Friday night. Brooke Norris got the Chargers on the board in the 10th minute off an assist from Mack Thompson. Rebecca Thompson stretched the lead to...

Rosewood rally upends Spring Creek

Rosewood only notched six hits against Spring Creek on Friday night. The Eagles made the most of their limited opportunities. Will Beasley belted a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Eagles bested the Gators...

Prep boxscores

Kinston 200 10 -- 3 3 4 Eastern Wayne 1310 4x -- 18 9 3 Leading hitters -- Kinston -- Josh Lovick 1-2; Landon DeBruhl 1-2, RBI; Will Mills 1-2. Eastern Wayne -- Walker Gourley 1-2, 2 RBI; Camrbic Moye...

Eastern Wayne wins second straight conference title

Take care of business. Eastern Wayne bounced back from a sluggish effort against New Hanover on Wednesday and throttled Kinston 18-3 in 4 1/2 innings on Friday evening in New Hope. The Warriors concluded Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference play and...

Friday, May 1, 2009

Prep softball boxscore

So. Wayne 010 000 0 -- 1 7 3 C.B. Aycock 201 321 x -- 9 8 1 Leading hitters -- Southern Wayne -- Jordan Coor 1-3; Tara Hirsch 1-3; Morgan Davis 2-3, 2B; Lauren Darden 1-3, 2B; Brittany Pate...

Prep baseball boxscores

So. Wayne 010 021 0 -- 4 8 2 C.B. Aycock 302 002 x -- 7 10 2 Leading hitters -- Southern Wayne -- Tyler Edwards 2-3, HR, RBI; Zach Grantham 1-3; Scott Holloman 2-4, HR, RBI; Jordan Williams 1-4;...

State parks system getting overhaul

SEVEN SPRINGS -- The 93-year-old state parks system is getting a high-tech overhaul. This week the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation launched an advanced Web-based reservation system which will allow campers and outdoorsmen to book their camp sites,...

Tar Heel state park offers more than picturesque views

Last weekend my wife Carol and I visited our son at UNC-Charlotte. Since I once lived and worked nearby, I knew the area. We decided to stop at Morrow Mountain State Park before riding back home. Morrow Mountain State Park...

Local Preps Digest

KENLY -- Rosewood picked up its second signature win of the season in a three-day period, defeating reigning Carolina 1-A Conference champion North Johnston 7-1 on Thursday evening. The Eagles bested the Panthers 1-0 on Tuesday. "It was an...

Westbrook-Nichols collect doubles title

SNOW HILL -- Blake Vail stepped into the ball and mishit an overhead shot wide of the baseline. "Oh, no," groaned the Charles B. Aycock junior. Match point had been wasted. Energized by the break, Russell Turner applied more pressure....

ECC golf results

Team standings Thursday Final Hunt 313 2275 E. Wayne 334 2431 Beddingfield 351 2446 Kinston 341 2449 S. Wayne 331 2482 C.B. Aycock 366 - Individual Scores Mathew Ellis (B) 72 Paul Howell (H) 73 Ryan Lake (E) 73 Jesse...

E. Wayne clinches regional bid

WILSON -- Southern Wayne saved its best round for last and Eastern Wayne clinched a regional berth during the season-ending Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference golf championships at Wedgewood Golf Club on Thursday afternoon. The Warriors carded a four-player total of...

Aycock strikes early vs. Saints

PIKEVILLE -- The drama never surfaced. Charles B. Aycock made sure of it. The Golden Falcons posted runs in five of six innings and dispatched county rival Southern Wayne 8-1 in a battle of top-10 softball teams Thursday evening. Ranked...

C.B. Aycock edges So. Wayne

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock is headed in the right direction at the right time. The Golden Falcons plated every run with two outs and slipped past county rival Southern Wayne 7-4 on Thursday evening. Aycock claimed its fourth straight...