August 2009 archives

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Monday, August 31, 2009

Early opponents will test Trojans

Cole Tallman is convinced Mount Olive College will succeed on the women's college volleyball scene this season. To survive, they must navigate a brutal and challenging non-conference schedule. The Trojans are off to a rough start after logging an 0-4...

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Andre the giant: Goldsboro's Montgomery rushes for 4 touchdowns

Held without an offensive touchdown one week ago, Goldsboro High finally navigated its way into the end zone Saturday evening. A bruising 222-pound junior, Andre Montgomery plowed his way through the Eastern Wayne defense for 207 yards as the Cougars...

Wayne Christian spikers remain unbeaten in 7 outings this season

Wayne Christian improved to 4-0 in Carolina Christian 1-A Conference play with a 25-16, 25-18, 24-26, 25-17 victory over Norlina on Friday afternoon. Summer Braithwaite recorded a career-high 10 kills, while Britney O'Hara provided nine service aces and seven...

Moore's fourth-quarter TD seals Tigers' home win

WARSAW -- Brian Moore's 7-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown run gave James Kenan all the cushion its stout defense needed in a 14-0, non-conference triumph over Jones Senior on Friday night. The Tigers held the Trojans to 113 yards of offense,...

Week 2 prep boxscores

prep football box scores Greene Central 0 7 0 6 6 -- 19 Ayden-Grifton 7 0 0 6 7 -- 20 First quarter AG -- Whitaker 42 yard run (Angel kick), 1:07 Second quarter GC -- McPhail 23 yard...

Golden Falcons soar past Eagles

PIKEVILLE -- Victorious in their respective season-opening games, county foes Charles B. Aycock and Rosewood renewed their rivalry on a soggy Hardy Talton Stadium turf Friday evening. But the wet track didn't ground the Falcons' attack. Aycock rushed for 491...

Rosewood-C.B. Aycock box

Rosewood 0 6 0 0 -- 6 C.B. Aycock 28 14 13 6 -- 61 First quarter CBA -- Cobb 34 run (kick failed), 11:31 CBA -- Cobb 1 run (Pitt pass from Farmer), 6:25 CBA -- Bryant 52 run...

Princeton-N. Moore boxscore

North Moore 6 8 0 0 -- 14 Princeton 0 7 13 13 -- 33 First quarter NM -- Gilmore 72 pass from Scotton (kick failed), 3:07 Second quarter NM -- J. Brower 18 run (Gilmore run), 7:00 P --...

Gurganus has record-setting night for Dawgs

PRINCETON -- The old Princeton High football ghosts hung around and wreaked havoc for nearly one half Friday evening. Penalties, dropped passes and inconsistent blocking served as haunting reminders for a program that has experienced much success during the past...

North Duplin-Lakewood box

Lakewood 0 0 6 0 -- 6 North Duplin 0 0 0 0 -- 0 Third quarter LW -- Sellers 28 run (Simpson kick failed), 54.3 LW ND First downs 7 8 Rushes-yds 32-156 26-102 Passing yds 37 50 Total...

Lakewood shuts out North Duplin

CALYPSO -- Multiple quarterbacks, good field position or even assistance from a solid defense couldn't provide North Duplin with the offensive rhythm it needed Friday evening. The Rebels committed four turnovers, were 0-for-7 on third-down conversions and had just two...

Trojans' Maloney, Moore record top times in cross country meet

MOC Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- Kerry "Bear" Maloney and Melissa Moore emerged the top male and female runners, respectively, during Mount Olive's season-opening, cross country triumph over in-state rival Barton College. One of 23 competitors, Maloney covered the 5K...

Goldsboro-Eastern Wayne boxscore

Goldsboro    8    6    6    6    --    26 Estrn. Wayne    0    0    0    8    --    8 First quarter G -- Montgomery 5 run (Montgomery run), 4:11 Second quarter G -- Montgomery 49 run (pass failed), 10:39 Fourth quarter G -- Montgomery...

Friday, August 28, 2009

Gators hand Greene Central road loss.

SEVEN SPRINGS --  Coming off a successful season that ended with a Carolina 1-A Conference championship and a postseason berth, the Spring Creek boys' soccer team could not wait to get on the field for 2009. They couldn't even wait...

Local Preps Digest

Wayne Christian rolled past Grace Christian 9-0 on the John Allen Farfour Courts at Herman Park on Thursday afternoon. Brooke Barfield, Faith Sutton, Savannah Sutton, Samantha Reaves, Blake Govan and Taylor Willman were all singles winners for the Eagles....

Goldsboro resident gets rare lesson

Richard Cooke and his fishing companions had an interesting learning experience in early August. While fishing aboard Cooke's 29-foot Regulation, the captain's cousin, Rad Holton, reeled in a 27-inch dolphin. The catch doesn't sound too impressive stature-wise, but it proved...

Fishing report

Northern District Ocean: Offshore fishing slowed a bit, but there were still some good catches of dolphin, wahoo, greater amberjack, king mackerel, Atlantic bonito, little tunny, barracuda, yellowfin, blackfin and skipjack tuna. Billfish catches also slowed, but anglers are still...

MOC drops opener

MOC Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- Faye Corbett broke a scoreless tie in the 27th minute and No. 21-ranked UNC Pembroke posted a 2-0 shutout over Mount Olive College on the women's college soccer scene Thursday evening. It was the...

Bears take three-setter from EW

Opportunity knocked and Eastern Wayne simply couldn't answer. Down one set, the Warriors held a commanding 18-10 lead in the second set. But visiting New Bern rallied and eventually claimed a 25-17, 26-24, 25-21 non-conference victory Thursday afternoon. Emily Sparks'...

Gryphons take battle of state-ranked teams

PIKEVILLE -- Perennial powerhouse Rocky Mount simply overwhelmed Charles B. Aycock in a battle of state-ranked teams on a sweltering Thursday afternoon. The Gryphons rolled to a 9-0, non-conference victory. "They're good," said second-year Golden Falcons head coach Brad Matthews....

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Local digest

Goldsboro started strong and fended off Rocky Mount Prep 25-13, 25-21, 22-25, 10-25, 15-4 on the high school volleyball scene Wednesday afternoon. Sterling Simmons paced the Cougars with three service aces. Natalia Dungee added six kills. Yusely and Yunely...

Cougars, Warriors look to revamp rushing attacks

A sound running game can be a young quarterback's security blanket, help head coaches sleep at night and is the engine that makes most high school offenses go. Running the football with consistency was something both Goldsboro and Eastern Wayne...

Eastern Wayne dashes past Hunt

Eastern Wayne picked up the pace just in the knick of time. As the team's second race of the season came down to the final half mile, it looked as though Wilson Hunt was going to out-pace the host Warriors...

OPINION - Local gridiron plots thicken

The opening act led to an enticing, dramatic plot as the high school football season kicked off Friday. Here are the Week 1 storylines: * Transfers -- New Princeton quarterback David Gurganus, a starter at Charles B. Aycock last season,...

C.B. Aycock tops Greene Central soccer

PIKEVILLE -- The channel hasn't changed. Episodes of the "Rodriguez Show" continue to run at Charles B. Aycock. Jose and Chama (also called Jose) Rodriguez combined for four goals in the Golden Falcons' home-opening, 6-3 victory over Greene Central on...

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Dogs capitalize on Aycock mistakes

PIKEVILLE -- Princeton played its typical match. Charles B. Aycock struggled with consistency. The Bulldogs served strong, scrapped defensively and claimed a 25-12, 25-18, 25-21 victory in the Falcons Nest on Tuesday afternoon. Princeton recorded 20 service aces and transitioned...

Local Preps Digest

WILSON -- Jose Rodriguez collected the game-winning goal with 20 minutes remaining as Charles B. Aycock nipped Wilson Fike 2-1 on Tuesday evening. The teams entered halftime tied 0-0. Tyler Lynch started the Golden Falcons' scoring with a second-half...

Trojans face test in season opener

A culture of understanding is what Mount Olive College head women's soccer coach Matt Hisler is trying to build within his youthful program.. A big step in the team's development will come Thursday night when the Trojans battle No. 21-ranked...

Eastern Wayne spikers snap three-match skid

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Spring Creek got off the mat twice, but couldn't answer the bell when it mattered most. The Gators forced a decisive fifth set, but watched Eastern Wayne control the tempo and claim a 25-20, 19-25, 25-13, 17-25,...

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

W. Country Day shuts out Wayne Christian

Wayne Country Day scored four goals in a span of 20 minutes and picked up a 4-0, non-conference win at county rival Wayne Christian on Monday afternoon. The Chargers dominated possession throughout the first half, but couldn't convert on three...

Local digest

Wayne Christian improved to 5-0 on the season with a dazzling 25-5, 25-9, 25-23 win over Bethel Christian on Monday afternoon. Hanna Kaler led the Eagles attack with 20 assists, four service aces and four kills. Kaitlyn Kosuda added...

Saints top Rosewood in season opener

Messenger Sports Writer Southern Wayne opened its boys' soccer season with an impressive 4-0 performance over county rival Rosewood on the Doyle Whitfield Athletic Complex pitch Monday afternoon. Saints head coach Mario Aguilar saw his team dominate possession in the...

MOC men's soccer preview

What some may see as a slight against the program, Jerry Riggs sees as justified and a healthy source of motivation. The Mount Olive College men's soccer team was picked to finish seventh in the 2009 Conference Carolinas preseason poll....

Monday, August 24, 2009

Local digest

WILSON -- Gregory Alexander notched his first hat trick (three goals) of the season as Wayne Christian hammered Community Christian 5-1 in The Brittany Willis Memorial Soccer Scholarship Showcase. It was a Carolina Christian 1-A Conference match. Chase Darden...

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Local digest

WILSON -- Wayne Country Day scored three times in the second half and earned a 3-0 win over Franklinton at the Brittany on Friday night. Tyson Pearson's goal on an assist from brother Tucker five minutes into the second...

Prep football wrap-up

NEWTON GROVE -- Charles B. Aycock transfer David Gurganus threw for 271 yards and a touchdown and Princeton held on for a 19-12 win at Hobbton on Friday night. After a scoreless first quarter Gurganus found Javontae Davis for...

So. Wayne - West Craven boxscore

West Craven 6 13 7 6 -- 32 Southern Wayne 7 0 0 8 -- 15 First Quarter WC -- Murphy 9 pass from Hardy (Kick missed), 7:51 SW -- Cobb 7 run (Whitman kick), 4:09 Second Quarter WC --...

Spring Creek-S. Lenoir boxscore

Spring Creek 13 6 0 0 -- 19 South Lenoir 0 30 8 6 -- 44 First quarter SC -- Jones 5 run (Sandoval kick) SC -- Hatem 1 run (Kick failed) Second quarter SC -- Jones 70 run (Kick...

Rosewood - Wake Christian boxscore

Rosewood 7 0 0 6 -- 13 Wake Christian 0 0 6 6 -- 12 First Quarter RW -- Beasley 4 pass from McGill 3 run (Harris kick) Third Quarter WC -- Pittman 27 run (Kick failed) Fourth Quarter RW...

N. Lenoir - East Duplin boxscore

North Lenoir 0 0 0 13 -- 13 East Duplin 37 14 13 6 -- 70 First quarter ED -- Pickett 7 run (Williams kick), 9:36 ED -- Fisher recovered blocked punt in end zone (Williams kick), 7:53 ED --...

James Kenan - Clinton boxscore

James Kenan 0 13 15 7 -- 35 Clinton 0 8 0 8 -- 16 Second quarter JK -- Carlton 34 pass from Smith (Bautista kick), 3:34 C -- 47 pass (Conversion good), 1:36 JK -- Smith 95 kick return...

Hunt tops Eastern Wayne in opener

The Guy Williams era opened at Eastern Wayne with a lesson learned and a disappointing 42-14 loss to Wilson Hunt at Little Big Horn on Friday night. The visiting Warriors started fast behind a potent ground game and one big...

Hunt - Eastern Wayne boxscore

Wilson Hunt 20 7 7 8 -- 42 Eastern Wayne 0 0 14 0 -- 14 First quarter HUNT -- Loften 44 pass from Vinson (Lamm kick), 10:13 HUNT -- Bass 8 run (Lamm kick), 6:50 HUNT -- Williams 2...

Goldsboro - New Hanover boxscore

New Hanover 7 21 7 7 -- 42 Goldsboro 6 0 0 0 -- 6 First quarter GHS -- Hammonds 25 interception return (Montgomery run failed), 6:42 NH -- James 54 pass from Betts (Esquire kick), 3:27 Second quarter NH...

Goldsboro learns lesson in loss

Don't let one game define your season, but make sure you learn from it. That was Goldsboro head coach Eric Reid's post-game message after Wilmington New Hanover scored 21 second-quarter points and rolled to a 42-6 win in both teams'...

Aycock drops soccer opener

WILSON -- Charles B. Aycock started strong. Hickory finished stronger. Junior forward Michael Delong supplied two goals and one assist as the No. 15-ranked Red Tornadoes sloshed their way to a 3-1 victory over the Golden Falcons on a...

Golden Falcons rally for win

PIKEVILLE -- Who would've thunk it? Down three touchdowns barely 18 minutes into its 2009 football campaign, Charles B. Aycock somehow ... some way ... emerged victorious in its season-opening contest Friday evening. Thank God for the tip drill. A...

Aycock-Bunn boxscore

Bunn 6 16 16 0 -- 38 C.B. Aycock 0 12 19 8 -- 39 First quarter B -- Harrison 6 run (run failed), 7:36 Second quarter B -- Dunston 70 pass from Cooke (Davis run), 11:40 B -- Cooke...

Friday, August 21, 2009

Chargers' offense clicks early against Cougars

This one ended quickly. Bryce Creger scored in the first 30 seconds, finished with a hat trick (three goals) and Wayne Country Day crushed Flora MacDonald Academy 8-0 in a non-conference boys' soccer match Thursday afternoon. It was the season...

Archery season fast approaching

The key to consistent shooting is perfect practice. No apparatus highlights the truth in that theory quite like a bow and arrow. The archery season in North Carolina begins in less than a month. The planning for successful hunts must...

Fishing report

Northern District Ocean: Offshore fishing was good. The high volume dolphin catches dropped off just a bit but more of the larger specimens were caught. Anglers caught yellow and blackfin tuna, wahoo, greater amberjack, king mackerel, Atlantic bonito, little tunny...

Topwater lure drums up its own business

There are plenty of fishing guides across the state. While most of them fish high-profile waters, Capt. Jeff Cronk of Fish'n 4 Life Charters fishes the secretive backwaters of Swansboro. Their solitude is deceptive because these waters are home to...

Special dove hunt set for Sept. 5

RALEIGH -- The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will conduct a special dove hunt for youth on opening day, Sept. 5 at Mountain Island State Forest. The hunt is limited to 20 youth, ages 12 to 15 years old, who will...

Local preps digest

BEULAVILLE -- Harley Howard and Katie Gurley earned a pivotal point at No. 3 doubles and Charles B. Aycock escaped with a 5-4 win at East Duplin on Thursday. The two teams split the six singles matches before the...

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Local digest

ROCKY MOUNT --Lauren Carraway claimed a victory at No. 1 singles, but it wasn't enough to propel Greene Central past Rocky Mount on Wednesday afternoon at Sunset Park. The Gryphons cruised to a 7-2 victory. Samantha Taylor earned the...

Fike drops Eastern Wayne tennis

Wilson Fike set the tone in singles play and Eastern Wayne never recovered during its 7-2, non-conference tennis loss on Wednesday afternoon. The Golden Demons captured five singles points including an impressive win at the No. 1 position by Mary-Katherine...

OPINION - Some teams destined to underachieve

Preseason optimism about the upcoming football season arrives on nearly every college campus like hoards of incoming freshmen this time of year. Often that optimism is warranted by returning starters, a favorable schedule and an experienced head coach. However, on...

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Wednesday Preps

PIKEVILLE -- Greene Central won all three doubles matches to rally for a 5-4 victory at Charles B. Aycock on Tuesday afternoon. The Rams trailed 4-2 after singles play before the tandems of Elizabeth McLawhorn-Lauren Carraway, Samantha Taylor-Abby Sugg...

EW-Fike

The tension mounted as the seconds ticked away. Eastern Wayne clung to a 1-0 lead as Wilson Fike intensified its offensive attack, but the Warriors stood tall for a 1-0 victory Tuesday evening in New Hope. The thriller was the...

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Local digest

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock opened its 2009 girls' tennis campaign with a 7-2 victory over Greenfield on Monday afternoon. Greenfield claimed the number one singles match as Annie Nowell topped Abby Strickland 6-4, 6-2. However, the Golden Falcons...

MOC softball inks recruiting class

MOC Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- A pair of junior college transfers help comprise a five-player list of recruits who will join the Mount Olive College softball team this fall. Mandy Hensley and Ana Cooke, who each played on the...

Saturday, August 15, 2009

The hunted: Goldsboro picked to win Carolina 1-A football title

The new kid on the block is getting a lot of attention. Carolina 1-A Conference newcomer Goldsboro is undoubtedly the favorite to capture the 2009 league title. The Cougars received four first-place votes and 24 points during an informal poll...

Friday, August 14, 2009

Local golf

DAVIDSON -- Goldsboro native Andy Crain survived the second-round cut in the eGolf Professional Tour's River Run Championship. Crain is tied for 46th overall at 3-under par after 36 holes on the River Run Country Club and NorthStone Club...

Aycock's Narron selected to All-Star Game

PIKEVILLE -- Connor Narron's dream became reality sooner than expected. Born in a baseball family, he's always fantasized about playing in a Major League stadium someday. Now, he gets his chance. Narron, a rising senior at Charles B. Aycock, has...

Thursday, August 13, 2009

EPC 2-A poll ranks Rams fifth

BETHEL -- Ken Grantham called it a decent assessment. His fellow coaching peers picked Greene Central to finish fifth in the preseason Eastern Plains 2-A Conference football poll, which was voted upon Wednesday at North Pitt High School. The Rams...

OPINION - Several teams face up-hill battles

Being successful requires accepting and overcoming every challenge that comes your way, not just the ones that seem feasible. A handful of college football teams have taken that philosophy to heart this season by piecing together schedules that present one...

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

ECC 2009 preseason football poll

Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference newcomer Triton was a unanimous favorite to win the league at Monday's preseason meeting. The Hawks received 25 points and five first-place votes. Coach Joe McCullen's team returns 23 seniors from a squad that went 8-4...

Monday, August 10, 2009

YMCA Sprint Triathlon results

Team, overall and age-group results from the 24th annual Goldsboro YMCA Triathlon contested Saturday at Walnut Creek Country Club: Team Male 1. Alyea-Kaspar 1:51.08 2. Team HD 1:51.28 3. Cardenas-Piner 1:53.06 4. Kenny-Crandell 2:20:19 Female 1. Tri Divas 1:43.06 Mixed...

Sasser promoted to Tennessee

Pikeville native Dustin Sasser has been promoted to Tennessee, a Class AA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. A left-hander, Sasser compiled a 5-4 record and 1.60 earned run average (ERA) with High-A Daytona. He surrendered 11 earned runs in 62...

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Nearly 90 participants turn out for YMCA event

Nearly 90 participants turned out for the 24th annual Goldsboro Family YMCA Sprint Triathlon on Saturday at Walnut Creek Country Club. A total of 88 participants competed in the 1/2 mile swim, 20 mile bike ride and the 5K...

Hurricanes finish national runners-up

PANANA CITY BEACH, Fla. -- The preparation paid off. A tradition-rich, fast-pitch softball program, the Wayne County Hurricanes 12-Under squad reaped numerous rewards for their hard work this season. The 12-player team battled through injuries, sickness and even a...

Setting sail: East Carolina looks ahead to upcoming season

GREENVILLE -- Sailing into different ports and ravaging opponents of victories won't be easy excursions for East Carolina this season. Fellow swashbucklers are undoubtedly aware of the Pirates' thievery. "We won't be able to sneak up on people this season,"...

Friday, August 7, 2009

Paddling survey released

Courtesy NCDPR RALEIGH -- The Neuse, Cape Fear and Nantahala are the most popular rivers in North Carolina for the fast-growing sport of paddling, according to a study released by the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. The principal concerns...

Part-time hobby turned passion

SWANSBORO -- Kent Hood's hobby turned into a pastime. Then it became an obsession. Two years ago, the Wayne County native picked up a duck decoy at a friend's house and decided that he could create a similar stand-in. Based...

Stars finally align for summer specks

While freshwater anglers say the muskie is the fish of a 10,000 casts for saltwater fishermen, the old saying perfectly describes the speckled trout. Call it the spotted sea trout -- long or speck for short -- but the beautiful,...

Local golf

CONCORD -- Wesley Simmons extended his lead on the final day and emerged the 11-Under division winner in the 2009 Dogwood Junior State Championships. Simmons, who hails from Goldsboro, carded a 27-hole round of 112 -- eight strokes better...

Pinkowski happy with players

PIKEVILLE -- Eight returners on each side of the ball, a new quarterback and a team that reported to practice in shape has given Charles B. Aycock head coach Randy Pinkowski plenty to feel good about. Like every other team...

Thursday, August 6, 2009

MOC women's basketball signs four

MOC Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- Two guards and two post players comprise the latest recruiting class to sign with the Mount Olive College women's basketball program. Veteran Trojans coach Wendy Lee signed Shaniqua Clay, Andrea Jones, Alyssa Luebs and...

Local digest

CONCORD -- Goldsboro's Wesley Simmons collected a second-day, nine-hole round of 38 and is the overall leader in the 11-Under division at the 2009 Dogwood State Junior Championship. Simmons holds a four-stroke advantage over Gastonia's Drew Jurs. Meanwhile, Tara...

OPINION - College football's can't miss games of 2009

Part of college football's unmistakable allure is the anticipation that begins in the months leading up to the season and continues each week during the fall as fans patiently wait for Saturday afternoons to arrive. Helping to fuel that anticipation...

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Riggs welcomes 11 new freshmen into men's soccer program

MOC Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- Four all-state selections are among 11 players who each signed a national letter-of-intent with the Mount Olive College men's soccer program this fall. Preseason practice begins next week. All but one recruit hails from...

Area teams continue preaseason practice in humid temps Tuesday

The optimism that accompanies the arrival of a new season and the realization of work yet to be done have been fresh in the minds of three area coaches as football practice has officially begun. Third-year Goldsboro head coach Eric...

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Prep football roundup

SEVEN SPRINGS -- The first day of fall sports practice began on Saturday and every local gridiron squad has taken advantage of the opportunity to get on the field. Second-year Spring Creek head coach Aaron Sanders was happy to see...

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Saints start year with Midnight Madness

It was almost a normal season-opening practice. Players received their football equipment, walked through drills and cracked open the playbook. The only thing missing was the heat and humidity. Southern Wayne officially kicked off the high school football season with...

County teams open football practice

Rhythmic clapping, shrill-sounding whistles and shouts of "are you ready?" filled the air early Saturday morning in Wayne County. That annual ritual is back. More than 200 athletes climbed out of bed, shook off the cobwebs from a night of...