July 2012 archives

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Saturday, July 28, 2012

High school football season opens Monday

The annual rite of fall -- high school football -- officially kicks off for schools in the News-Argus readership area and throughout North Carolina on Monday morning. Most teams conducted mini-camps during the spring, while a few squads participated in...

Duane Gurganus will play baseball at Wake Tech CC

One school's interest wavered, so Duane Gurganus kept looking on the junior college baseball circuit. Guilford Tech seemed promising. Then Gurganus discovered Wake Technical Community College, a ruddy program in its infant stages that had just what he needed to...

Friday, July 27, 2012

Marsh: When out in the field, watch out for snakes

Whenever I check out the field I planted with millet in hope for a September mourning dove hunt, I do so with caution. Wading through knee-deep brown-top shod to the knees with snake boots, I was remembering the time my...

Hood touched hearts, souls through his craft

Kent Hood stood behind his mother's couch one recent afternoon and told her "I love you" moments before he walked out the door. Little did Doris Hood know how much those precious words from her son would eventually mean to...

Frederick, Bynum help lead Royals to Northern Division championship

It has been said that good things come in pairs, and for the Winchester (W. Va.) Royals, that good thing is a duo of Mount Olive College Trojans. Outfielder Will Bynum and relief pitcher Josh Frederick have helped guide the...

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Tob's Moye soaking up the game

If baseball has taught Cambric Moye anything it is that things do not always go as planned. But, there is always tomorrow. Moye has been reminded of that lesson constantly this summer while playing with the Wilson Tobs of the...

Sanderson back at ECU as an assistant coach

Not a spring afternoon drifted by without Ben Sanderson slipping behind his computer and checking baseball scores at his alma mater -- East Carolina. Now, he'll see the results up close again -- this time as an assistant coach. The...

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Transfers join Trojans

MOC Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- The roster for the inaugural season is taking shape. Mount Olive College head women's lacrosse coach Grant Kelam announced four transfer students have joined the program -- Alanna Bauche, Alex Crawford, Rebecca Dow and...

Local golf

Walnut Creek LGA * Charlotte Campbell emerged the low putts winner during weekly play on the Walnut Creek Country Club links. Hiromi Sueki and Linda Cannon seized low gross and low net, respectively....

Storm washes out possible DH, Pitt County awarded title

DUDLEY -- Wayne County Post 11 certainly didn't expect this surreal ending. A late-afternoon thunderstorm canceled a possible doubleheader in the Area I East championship series, and washed away Post 11's aspirations of extending its season at least one more...

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Wayne County 8U softball team takes 5th in SE Regional

Fifth overall in the Southeast? TJ Smothers will gladly accept the accolade. And he, along with his Wayne County 8-Under All-Star softball team, won't soon forget how it all transpired during a two-town journey on a soggy weekend. Wayne County...

Post 11 contest rained out

staff reports DUDLEY -- Wayne County Post 11 and Pitt County Post 39 played three complete innings before Mother Nature washed out Game 3 in the Area I East championship series Monday evening. The teams will start from scratch today...

Monday, July 23, 2012

Wayne County-Pitt County box Game 1

Pitt County    408    302    1    --    18    14    1 Wayne County    004    000    0    --    4    4    6 Leading hitters -- Pitt County Post 39 -- Dalton Britt 3-5, HR, 5 RBI; Zach Holton 1-4, RBI; Bryant Battle 3-5,...

Pitt County takes command

WINTERVILLE -- Wayne County Post 11 just can't seem to shake the "big inning" ghost that has haunted it all season. Pitt County Post 39 hopes the worrisome spirit hangs around at least one more game. A disastrous defensive second...

Wayne County-Pitt County box Game 2

Wayne County 010 100 000 -- 2 11 3 Pitt County 081 000 00x -- 9 5 4 Leading hitters -- Wayne County Post 11 -- Tyler Gainey 2-5, 2B, RBI; Ashton Cox 3-5; Hunter Barnett 2-4. Pitt County Post...

Pitt County cruises to mercy-rule win in series opener

DUDLEY -- Take the loss. But certainly don't forget it. Dalton Britt smashed a third-inning grand slam and Pitt County Post 39 claimed an 18-4, mercy-rule victory over Wayne County Post 11 in Game 1 of the Area I East...

Friday, July 20, 2012

Wayne County 8U softball team goes 1-1 on Day 2 of Southeast Regional

WINTERVILLE -- Just a few hours after a mercy-rule loss, Wayne County's 8-Under softball team regained its composure Thursday evening. Three players cranked out four hits apiece in a lopsided, mercy-rule triumph over Andalusia (Ala.) in the final South Division...

Post 11 in Area I East finals

Wayne County Post 11 begins defense of its Area I East championship at home today against Pitt County Post 39.Game 1 in the best-of-five series, which alternates between each team's home field, is 7 p.m. on the Doyle Whitfield Athletic...

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Area I East Semifinals: Sasser delivers game-winning RBI double

DUDLEY -- Jacob Sasser's teammates call him "Sasquatch." He was "Mr. Clutch" on Wednesday evening. Sasser lined a two-strike RBI double that accounted for the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, and Wayne County Post 11 earned a series-clinching, 4-3...

Wayne County Post 11-Kinston box

Kinston 000 010 110 -- 3 6 0 Wayne County 201 000 01x -- 4 4 0 Leading hitters -- Kinston Post 43 -- Chastin Radford 3-5, 2 RBI; Mikal Batts 1-3; Grant Tyndall 2-2; Jeremiah Lanier RBI. Wayne County...

Southeast Regional: Wayne County 8Us rally in 5th, 6th innings to defeat Washington

WINTERVILLE -- Their backs turned toward their parents and sweat streaming down their faces, the Wayne County North's softball players huddled around their three coaches in the bottom of the fifth inning. Head coach TJ Smothers spoke calmly. Relax. Take...

Gourley embraces role with State College Spikes

Walker Gourley understands focusing on the destination rather than enjoying the journey can often lead to a road to nowhere. A former shortstop at Eastern Wayne, Gourley was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 13th round of the 2009...

Walnut Creek LGA

Walnut Creek LGA * GREENVILLE -- Jewel Ivey emerged the low putts winner in first flight play during an East Carolina Ladies Golf Association match contested on the Ironwood Golf Course links. Evelyn Rose took second gross in third flight....

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Wayne County Post 11-Kinston box (Game 2)

Wayne County 210 000 100 -- 4 11 2 Kinston 040 000 10x -- 5 10 6 Leading hitters -- Wayne County Post 11 -- Collin DuBose 1-3; Zack Mozingo 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI; Jacob Sasser 2-5; Tyler Gainey 2-5,...

Area I East Semifinals: Game 2 -- Kinston turns back Post 11, evens series at 1-all

KINSTON -- South Division rivals Wayne County Post 11 and Kinston Post 43 face the same dilemma -- it's a one-game season -- when they square off again tonight at the Doyle Whitfield Athletic Complex. And the stakes couldn't be...

Wayne County Post 11-Kinston box (Game 1)

Kinston    002    310    030    --    9    12    4 Wayne County    100    008    45x    --    18    13    4 Leading hitters -- Kinston Post 43 -- Ryan Cobb 3-5, RBI; Josh Harris 2-5, 2 RBI; Brian Hardy 2-5, HR, 3 RBI; Grant...

Area I East Semifinals: Game 1 -- Barbour's grand slam turns tide in Post 11's favor

By RUDY COGGINS News-Argus Sports Editor DUDLEY -- One swing of the bat turned the tide in favor of Wayne County Post 11 and sucked the life right out of nemesis Kinston Post 43 on Monday evening. Justin Barbour mashed...

Monday, July 16, 2012

Wayne County 8Us win state championship

LAURINBURG -- The cameras hadn't stop flashing to immortalize Wayne County's district championship when TJ Smothers made a bold prediction -- the Wayne County 8-Under softball team wouldn't stop there and that a state championship was in the future. He...

Wayne County-Edenton (Game 2)

DUDLEY -- One series down. Next up, Kinston. Wayne County Post 11 hurler Jeremy Taylor hurled a complete-game five-hitter and Collin DuBose cranked out four hits during a 7-1, series-clinching victory over Edenton Post 40 on a warm, Sunday afternoon...

Post 11-Edenton (Game 1)

EDENTON -- Pitching and defense. Wayne County Post 11 shook off the rust from a nine-day layoff and three pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts in a 5-2, come-from-behind victory over Edenton Post 40 on a humid, Saturday evening at venerable...

Lane Tree LGA

Lane Tree LGA * Lou Ellen Flowers claimed game-of-the-week honors during play on the Lane Tree Golf Club links. Linda Watson shot an 87 to win low gross. Nan Jarrell and Novella Zambelli secured low net and low putts, respectively....

Wayne County-Edenton box

Sunday's game Edenton 100 000 0 -- 1 5 1 Wayne County 210 130 x -- 7 9 0 Leading hitters -- Edenton Post 40 -- Kendrick Jackson 2-3; Alden Lawrence 1-3, 2B, RBI; Billy Kretzer 1-1. Wayne County Post...

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Sleepy Creek Golf Course open under new management

DUDLEY -- Mike Rose has a vision. Rose wants Sleepy Creek Golf Course to become a place that people want to visit again and again. It is a vision that began in May when Rose and his family leased the...

Local opinion: Penn State must pay high price

We reside in a society without consequence and are too willing to give second, third and even fourth chances to lawbreakers -- particularly the rich and powerful. Michael Vick spearheaded a dog-fighting ring. Barclays Bank manipulated lending rates. The Catholic...

Wayne County drops Edenton in playoff opener

Three Wayne County pitchers combined to tally 17 strikeouts as Post 11 dropped Edenton 5-2 in Area I East playoff action on Saturday night. Zack Mozingo got the mound win with 11 strikeouts. Bryant Stafford earned the save. Stafford lasted...

Friday, July 13, 2012

Wright faring well with Cedar Rapids

 A few weeks has made a big difference in Zach Wright's life. On June 5th, the East Carolina graduate relaxed at home as he casually followed the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft on the Internet. One month later, Wright is...

NCISAA makes playoff changes beginning with 2012 fall season

By RUDY COGGINS News-Argus Sports Editor The times are a-changin'. Especially on the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association scene. Proposals for reduction in playoff-qualifying teams for all sports, except softball, and abandoning the flight system in the state tennis tournament...

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Rob Wooten pitching in Brewers' organization

There was time when Rob Wooten wondered if he would ever pitch again. Now, he's patiently waiting for his chance to pitch on baseball's grandest stage. A former standout at Charles B. Aycock and the University of North Carolina, Wooten...

Wayne County to face Edenton

DUDLEY -- Wayne County Post 11 opens defense of its Area I championship in unusual fashion Thursday evening. Instead of playing at home, it has to travel. Edenton Post 40 requested the schedule change since it shares Hicks Field with...

Walnut Creek Ladies Golf

Walnut Creek LGA * Evelyn Rose emerged the 2012 Walnut Creek Cup champion, while Hiromi Sueki finished runner-up during play on the Walnut Creek Country Club links. Rose shared 2012 State Play Day honors with Jewel Ivey. Ivey captured low...

Local Digest

Junior Legion White Oak 12, North Duplin 5 * CALYPSO -- Boone McNeil cranked out two hits in North Duplin's rain-shortened, 12-5 loss to White Oak in a Junior American Legion game Tuesday evening. Officials called the game after five...

Stevens: ACC, Conference USA teams have work to do for playoffs

Fans have cried out for years for change to college football's postseason format. The announcement of that change arrived on June 27 when a presidential oversight committee formally approved a four-team playoff model that begins in 2014. Fans of the...

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Lane Tree Ladies Golf

Lane Tree LGA * Cathy Garris emerged the game-of-the-week winner during play on the Lane Tree Golf Club links. Theresa Shearin captured low net and low gross. Nan Jarrell took low putts....

John Wooten enjoying life in New York-Penn League

There is no finer place in the United States to spend a summer than in the hills of Vermont. The scenery is beautiful, the weather is pleasant and the people are friendly. And the baseballs fly through the light air...

Connor Narron finding his groove in Baltimore organization

Quite a bit has changed for Connor Narron since his days as a slick-fielding shortstop at Charles B. Aycock. His address, his position, his daily routine, his uniform and his teammates are all different. One thing that hasn't changed --...

Monday, July 9, 2012

Close defeat motivates Open champ Rose down the stretch

Call it a redemption story. After watching a late lead slip away in the 2011 Wayne County Men's Amateur golf tournament, Clark Rose looked back and analyzed his mistakes. He made sure that there would be no such tale to...

WCMA results

Wayne County Men's Amateur at Walnut Creek Country Club Sunday Top 20 Open Division Clark Rose 68-72-74 -- 214 Bradley Jones 68-73-75 -- 216 Jeremy Joyner 71-70-76 -- 217 Dustin Smith 68-73-79 -- 220 Dane Jones 70-72-79 -- 221 Lionel...

Narron starting to soar with Shorebirds

Quite a bit has changed for Connor Narron since his days as a slick-fielding shortstop at Charles B. Aycock. His address, his position, his daily routine, his uniform and his teammates are all different. One thing that hasn't changed --...

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Rose leads WCMA after two rounds

Second chances come along very rarely on the golf course. Clark Rose has a golden second chance today in the final round of the Wayne County Men's Amateur. Rose grabbed a one-shot lead after the second round of the three-day...

MOC hires stength coach

Aaron Craft has been named Mount Olive's first-ever head strength and conditioning coach, it was announced by director of athletics Jeff Eisen. Craft will also serve as assistant director of the Pope Wellness Center on the MOC campus. "We are...

North Duplin downs Dixon in junior legion

North Duplin 14, Dixon 8 CALYPSO -- North Duplin got the bats going early and often in a 14-8 win over Dixon on the junior legion baseball scene on Friday night. Mitchell Thigpen led the Rebels with three hits and...

Friday, July 6, 2012

Wayne County clinches South Division title

DUDLEY -- Cross one goal off the list. Wayne County Post 11 swept both games of a doubleheader from New Bern Post 24 on Thursday evening and clinched the Area I East South Division championship. "We knew we had to...

Wayne County-New Bern boxes

Game 1 New Bern 000 000 0 -- 0 1 1 Wayne County 000 040 x -- 4 9 0 Leading hitters -- New Bern -- Chandler Seagle 1-3. Wayne County -- Cameron Taylor 2-4, Zack Mozingo 2-4, Collin DuBose...

Thursday, July 5, 2012

County's best prepare to tee it up

There are a lot of reasons to believe that the 2012 Wayne County Amateur will be the most hotly contested event in the tournament's history. And the soaring summer temperatures have nothing to do with it. All three champions from...

Kinston dumps Wayne County

DUDLEY -- Timely hitting, sound defense and reliable been pitching have been staples of Wayne County Post 11's season all summer. Those characteristics were nowhere to be found on Tuesday evening. Post 11 stranded 12 runners on base, committed four...

Wayne County-Kinston box

Kinston 012 000 340 -- 10 7 1 Wayne County 001 001 100 -- 3 8 4 Leading hitters -- Kinston -- Ben Brann 1-3, RBI, Josh Harris 2-4, 3 RBI, Brian Hardy 1-4, Trent Murray 1-4, RBI, Caleb Kearney...

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Local Digest

Junior Legion C.B. Aycock 12, Spring Creek 6 * SEVEN SPRINGS -- Charles B. Aycock scored five runs in the final three innings of a 12-6 American Junior Legion victory on Monday evening at Spring Creek. Logan Runyon led the...

Wayne County walk-off winners

DUDLEY -- Duane Gurganus picked up his first mound win of the senior American Legion season as Wayne County rallied for a 7-6 victory over Wilson County on Monday night. Wayne County improved to 9-5 overall (4-2 division). "We have...

Senior Legion box

Wilson County 001 120 101 -- 6 13 2 Wayne County 100 110 211 -- 7 13 3 No outs when winning run scored Leading hitters -- Wilson County -- Cory Nygard 2-4, 2B, RBI; Spencer Boykin 2-5, 2 RBI;...

Monday, July 2, 2012

North Duplin tops Dixon in junior legion

North Duplin improved its record to 6-1 overall with a 6-4 victory over Dixon on Saturday night. Mitchell Thigpen tallied a complete game on the pitcher's mound and struck out 11 batters en route to the victory. "Mitchell pitched really...