July 2008 archives

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Thursday, July 31, 2008

Clayton rocks Post 11

DUDLEY -- Perhaps the lone silver lining from Wayne County Post 11's performance on Wednesday night is that it won't have to wait long to turn things around. Post 11 lacked life, struggled to find the strike zone and...

Mudcats up-end Jacksonville

Brett Sinkbell pitched into the eighth inning for the first time this season and Carolina dumped Jacksonville 5-2 at Five County Stadium. Sinkbell carried a four-hit shutout into the eighth before leaving with the bases loaded and one out. Todd...

MOC golfers playing at Walnut Creek CC

MOC Sports Information Five Mount Olive College golfers will compete in Sectional Qualifying today and tomorrow at Walnut Creek Country Club with spots available for the U.S. Amateur Golf Championship. Competing in the 36-hole event are Goldsboro natives Jonathan Greene...

K-Tribe dropped by Pelicans

Myrtle Beach cranked out 22 hits and blew away Kinston 16-4 at historic Grainger Stadium on Wednesday evening. The Pelicans plated a run on three consecutive first-inning singles. In the second inning, the visitors sent 10 men to the plate...

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Road Survival: Post 11 seizes series lead

SMITHFIELD -- Clayton Post 71 staged a furious ninth-inning rally and nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback Tuesday evening. But the cooler head prevailed. Faced with a bases-loaded dilemma, Jay Rose delivered a game-ending strikeout as Wayne County Post...

Mudcats rally past Jacksonville

Carolina spotted Jacksonville a three-run lead, but rallied for a 6-3 decision at Five County Stadium on Tuesday evening. It was the Mudcats' fifth straight win. Bryan Petersen, who provided a game-tying single in the first inning, scored the go-ahead...

Walnut Creek ladies golf

Walnut Creek LGA Novella Zambelli emerged the play-of-the-day winner during weekly tournament play on the Walnut Creek Country Club links. Mary Ann Sutton seized low gross. Linda Cannon and Faye Franklin took low net and low putts, respectively....

Kinston dumps Myrtle Beach

Newcomer Carlos Santana and Beau Mills provided first-inning fireworks as Kinston dumped Myrtle Beach 7-2 at hsitoric Grainger Stadium on Tuesday evening. Matt McBride, also a newcomer, added a fourth-inning RBI single. Mills added a three-run home run later in...

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Post 11 prepared for Clayton

DUDLEY -- Don't expect Wayne County Post 11 to change its philosophy when it begins defense of its Area I Division championship today. You don't fix something that isn't broke. Despite losing 90 percent of its offensive production and...

Wayne County 9U's win Regional

From staff reports STAFFORD, Va. -- Wayne County benefited from a fourth-inning uprising and claimed the 2008 Babe Ruth 9U Southeast Regional title with a 6-2 victory over Glen Allen (Va.) on Monday afternoon. Wayne County, directed by head coach...

K-Tribe shut out by Pelicans

Myrtle Beach erupted for three first-inning runs and cruised to a 4-0 shutout over Kinston at historic Grainger Stadium. The K-Tribe bullpen allowed just one run over the next 8 1/3 innings. Beau Mills led Kinston with two hits and...

Memories made on a priceless day

Too often in life we measure success by results and not by experience. I was reminded of this valuable lesson during a morning of fishing on Saturday with three buddies at a private pond in Mar Mac. We arrived around...

Monday, July 28, 2008

Southeast Regional Champions!

Wayne County claimed the 2008 Cal Ripken 9U Southeast Regional championship with 6-2 victory over Glen Allen (Va.) on Monday afternoon. Wayne County compiled a 9-0 record in the postseason, including a 4-0 run in the regional. For details...

Mudcats turn back Jacksonville

Carolina took over the second-half Northern Division lead with a 5-1, series-opening victory over Jacksonville on Sunday afternoon. The Mudcats managed three hits on the afternoon. John Raynor batted 1-for-3....

K-Tribe top Wilmington

Kinston capitalized on two seventh-inning balks and turned back Wilmington 4-3 on Sunday afternoon. Tied at 3-3, Nick Weglarz drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on the balk call. Matt McBride singled to put runners on the corners,...

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Post 11 repeats as Area I East champion

MOUNT OLIVE -- Wayne County Post 11 has cleared one more hurdle on its long road toward redemption. Post 11 wrapped up its second straight Area I East Division championship with a 15-1, 6 1/2-inning victory over New Bern Post...

Wayne County overcomes game two errors

NEW BERN -- Wayne County Post 11 moved within one victory of earning its second consecutive trip to the American Legion state tournament. Post 11 capitalized on a sixth-inning RBI groundout and passed ball, and claimed a 3-2 decision over...

Wayne County 9Us advance in Southeast Regional

STAFFORD, Va. -- Hunter Burt's sixth-inning hit helped keep Wayne County alive in the winners' bracket during the 2008 Babe Ruth 9U Southeast Regional on Saturday afternoon. Wayne County claimed a 10-5 decision over Union City (Tenn.) and opposes Glen...

Wayne County South: Young, underclassmen-led squad amasses 16 wins

DUDLEY -- A youth-laden roster -- four rising ninth-graders mixed with high school underclassmen -- kept Wayne County South baseball coach Trae McKee on his toes. Thus, it was a summer of learning. "I feel like the kids learned a...

Wayne County North: Coach Fulghum's have fun philosophy perfect remedy

Jabo Fulghum might have a future in psychology. Wayne County North compiled a 7-9 record through its first 16 games when Fulghum, the team's head coach, knew exactly what his team needed to hear. "I told them 'let's quit worrying...

K-Tribe falls on road at Wilmington

Wilmington plated three eighth-inning runs and turned back Kinston 5-2 on Saturday evening. Kinston tied the game at 2-2 in the seventh on Beau Mills' single and back-to-back walks to Carlos Rivero and Ryan Goleski. Armando Camacaro followed with a...

Friday, July 25, 2008

Douglas dominates: Post 11 right-hander tosses complete game

MOUNT OLIVE -- It was an Area I East finals showdown three days in the making, and in the end the action did not disappoint. After rain claimed the first two scheduled dates, Wayne County Post 11 picked up...

K-Tribe knocks off Cannons

Carlton Smith claimed his eighth mound win as Kinston knocked off Potomac 7-5 on Thursday. Smith tied bullpen mates Josh Tomlin and Hector Rondon for the team lead in pitching wins. Neil Wagner and Vinnie Pestano combined for three-plus innings...

Wayne County's Gentry handcuffs South Florida

From staff reports STAFFORD, Va. -- Chandler Gentry tossed a complete game and Tanner Bradley drove in three runs as Wayne County hammered South Florida 10-0 in opening-round play at the Babe Ruth 9U Southeast Regional. Gentry allowed three hits,...

Thursday, July 24, 2008

K-Tribe downs Potomac 6-4

Kinston pounded out five first-inning singles and knocked off Potomac 6-4 on Wednesday afternoon. Jared Goedert, Carlos Rivero and Niuman Romero each had RBI hits in the opening inning. Goedert and Rivero (two RBI) concluded the outing with three...

Mudcats streak snapped

Carolina's franchise-record streak of 120 consecutive home games without a rainout ended Wednesday evening. The Mudcats and Huntsville will make up the game as part of a doubleheader today. First pitch is 6 p.m. Carolina's last home rainout was...

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Hernandez leads Mudcats past Huntsville

Gaby Hernandez scattered six hits in a six-inning stint and provided the game-winning RBI as Carolina slipped past Huntsville 3-2 at Five County Stadium. Three Mudcat hurlers combined for three innings of scoreless relief and Chris Mobley notched his...

Potomac blanks K-Tribe

Former East Carolina standout Trevor Lawhorn smashed a three-run homer as Potomac bombed Kinston 8-0 on Tuesday evening. Lawhorn's fifth homer of the season broke a scoreless tie. Kinston's Niuman Romero finished 0-for-3 and had his 21-game hit streak...

Wayne County Dixie Youth 13-14's season comes to a close

SOUTHPORT -- Wayne County's Dixie Youth 13-14 year-old All-Star team had its season come to a close with an 8-3 loss to Clinton in the Dixie Youth State Tournament on Tuesday. Wayne County starting pitcher Cody Neal allowed just...

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Post 11 ready for New Bern

MOUNT OLIVE -- Wayne County Post 11 head coach Brad Reaves had a short and simple message for his team at their final practice before today's Area I East Divsion championship series gets underway. "You are three wins away...

Potomac pounds K-Tribe

Brian Finegan's eighth-inning sacrifice fly capped a late-game rally as Potomac eased past Kinston 7-4 on Monday evening. Beau Mills recorded his team-leading 64th RBI with a first-inning single. Jared Head's fifth-inning, three-run homer put the K-Tribe ahead 4-1....

OPINION - NFL needs to refocus

Look no further than to NFL Europe, Super Bowls in cold weather cities and making select games only available on NFL network and it's clear to see the National Football League has had plenty of well-intended ideas that worked...

Monday, July 21, 2008

Mudcats tumble on Sunday

Carolina's sixth error of the game ignited an 11th-inning rally as Missisippi edged Carolina 8-7 on Sunday evening. Quentin Davis' RBI sacrifice fly capped the four-hour marathon as Carolina (15-15) fell three games behind Southern Division-leading Tennessee. The Mudcats'...

Junior Legion teams fall at state tournament

CARY -- Road-weary Wayne County North simply ran out of steam Sunday afternoon. Playing its sixth game in a seven-day span, the North dropped a season-ending 13-3 decision to West Brunswick in the N.C. State Junior Legion baseball tournament...

Babe Ruth wrap-up

HOLLY SPRINGS -- Wayne County's run in the Eastern N.C. Babe Ruth 14-year-old state tournament came to an end Sunday afternoon. Greenville tallied seven of the game's final eight runs and claimed an 8-2 victory. Wayne County, directed by...

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Ultimate vacation: Goldsboro's Crain, King compete on reality TV show

Andy Crain got invited to take the perfect vacation -- and he just couldn't leave his good buddy Parker King behind. A semi-retired golfer on the Tar Heel Tour, Crain had tried out for the latest "Big Break" TV reality...

Area I East semifinals: Post 11 wraps up series on road

GREENVILLE -- Wayne County Post 11 is going back to the Area I East Division championship series. Post 11 gained momentum as the game progressed and eliminated South Division rival Pitt County 39 by a 9-4 count on the Minges-Overton...

Area athletes to play in annual East-West All-Star games

GREENSBORO -- Three area athletes will get a chance to show off their skills on one of the state's biggest stages this week when they participate in the annual N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-star games. Eastern Wayne product Brittani Billups...

Wayne County 9U baseball team triumphs

WILSON -- Chandler Gentry, Derek Neal and Hunter Burt contributed two hits apiece as Wayne County defeated Winterville 12-9 in the Eastern N.C. Babe Ruth 9U state tournament on Saturday. Wayne County (4-0) remained the lone unbeaten team in the...

Trojans add two more signees

MOUNT OLIVE -- Montreal's Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ayden's Tanner Carnes have signed national letters-of-intent to play men's basketball at Mount Olive College. A 6-foot-7 forward from Archbishop Carroll (D.C.) High School, Mitrovic averaged 11 points and eight rebounds per game...

Friday, July 18, 2008

Wayne North, 14s pick up victories

SHALLOTTE -- Missing several starters and facing a Southwest Brunswick squad which hammered it just two days earlier, Wayne County North perservered to earn a 10-7 victory on Thursday night. Starting pitcher Josh Frederick pitched 61/3 innings before giving...

Richards effectively uses curveball, fastball

DUDLEY -- Trae McKee couldn't have asked for a more complete effort. Wayne County South pounded out 15 hits, played sound defense and got solid pitching from three different arms in a 10-0 rout of D.H. Conley in six...

Pate's safety-squeeze bunt caps late-game rally

WILSON -- Future stars shined bright on the Toisnot Park softball diamonds Thursday afternoon as the Babe Ruth Southeast Regional got underway. Especially Wayne County. The 10U Thunder claimed a come-from-behind, 2-1 victory over perennial powerhouse Oviedo (Fla.) and...

Hardee shuts down Wayne County offense

MOUNT OLIVE -- Wayne County Post 11 hadn't experienced defeat in six consecutive postseason series until Thursday evening. Pitt County Post 39 used its ace to trump Post 11's bid for a sixth consecutive series sweep on the Scarborough...

N.C. fishing report

Northern District Dare, Hyde, Currituck & Beaufort Counties Ocean: Offshore catches improved from last week's slow activity. Blackfin, yellowfin, bigeye and even a few bluefin tuna were caught this week along with a few dolphin and wahoo. Billfish catches...

Uniform deer season gets proposed

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's Big Game Committee has hunters across the state talking. During a recent meeting of wildlife commissioners in Raleigh, the group raised some eyebrows and ruffled some feathers with multiple proposals and discussion points. Among...

Edgerton says 'yes' to UNCW

Will Edgerton, a rising senior at Charles B. Aycock, verbally committed to play baseball at UNC Wilmington. An All-Area selection this past spring, Edgerton helped Aycock claim its third consecutive Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference tournament championship. He played an...

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Local digest

Wayne North JL NEW BERN -- Wayne North got five solid innings out of starter Jordan Quinn and held on to defeat New Bern 10-6 in Junior Legion baseball action on Wednesday. Jimmy Kearney pitched the final two innings...

Post 11 seizes 2-0 lead in semifinal-round series

GREENVILLE -- Wayne County Post 11 escaped ninth-inning trouble and captured an 8-5 decision over Pitt County Post 39 on Wednesday evening. With the victory, Post 11 seized a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-five, semifinal-round series in the...

Pirates selected second in CUSA East

IRVING, Texas -- Conference USA coaches have predicted Hawai'i Bowl champion East Carolina to finish second in East Division play in 2008. The Pirates picked up 60 of a possible 72 points in ballots submitted by the league's 12...

Narron verbally commits to UNC

Connor Narron, a rising junior at Charles B. Aycock, verbally committed to play baseball at North Carolina on Wednesday afternoon. Narron is ranked as the fourth-best high school player in the country by Perfect Game USA. He helped lead...

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Wayne County South captures playoff victory

DUDLEY -- It was not pretty, but it was entertaining. Wayne County South outlasted East Carteret by a 4-3 final in a back-and-forth, Junior American Legion playoff game that featured nearly as many errors as hits. "We definitely didn't...

Moye's timely hit helps Post 11

MOUNT OLIVE -- A slight adjustment during batting practice paid off for Cambric Moye on Tuesday evening. And the clutch base knock proved critical for Wayne County Post 11. Moye delivered a pinch-hit, two-RBI single in the eighth inning...

K-Tribe endures another defeat

Niuman Romero continued his current hot streak at the plate, but Kinston -- again -- dropped another home decision to Winston-Salem on Tuesday evening. Romero hit safely for the 20th consecutive game as the K-Tribe fell 10-2 on the historic...

OPINION - Hamilton's performance incredible

In a stadium known for its historic moments, a guy with a storybook tale of his own etched yet another memorable chapter on Monday night. Josh Hamilton's performance in the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium left fans chanting...

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

K-Tribe drops home contest

Niuman Romero extended his Carolina League-hitting streak to 19 games, but Kinston dropped a 7-3 decision to Winston-Salem at historic Grainger Stadium. Romero batted 2-for-4 and recorded his fifth consecutive multiple-hit outing during his current streak, which began June...

Babe Ruth softball

HENDERSON -- Three Wayne County Babe Ruth softball teams begin their quest for Southeast Regional championships later this week after strong performances on the Eastern N.C. state scene. The 8U squad reeled off seven consecutive victories after an opening-round,...

Monday, July 14, 2008

K-Tribe

Jason Denham mashed a three-run homer as Kinston upended Winston-Salem 7-5 at historic Grainger Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Nuiman Romero's RBI double and Denham's three-RBI shot capped a four-run, third-inning rally. Romero batted 2-for-4 with three RBI. Alex Castillo...

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Post 11 dispatches Edgecombe County

From staff reports Mission accomplished. Wayne County entered the Area I East playoffs with two goals: Get through the first round against Edgecombe County, and do it in impressive fashion. Post 11 rolled into the semifinals with a 15-1 win...

Kinston tops Winston-Salem

The Kinston Indians won their third game in a row, beating the Winston-Salem Warthogs, 6-2, at Historic Grainger Stadium, dethroning the team who had first place in the Carolina League South coming into the day. The Indians go to within...

Former Trojans finding their way in minors

Seven former Mount Olive College baseball players all on separate rosters and playing in different minor league ballparks this summer remain held together by one common goal -- making it to 'the show.' Southern Wayne product Erik Lovett, along with...

Friday, July 11, 2008

Post 11 rolls past Edgecombe County

If Thursday evening's contest is any indication Edgecombe County has its hands full. Left-hander Adron Hollowell took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and Wayne County Post 11 erupted for 10 runs in the third inning and hammered Edgecombe County...

Sam Mitchell nominated for NCAA award

MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. - Mount Olive College volleyball and track and field student-athlete Samantha Mitchell has been selected as the Conference Carolinas' nominee for the 2008 NCAA Woman of the Year Award, as selected by conference officials. Mitchell's selection marks...

K-tribe splits twin bill

Kinston split a double header with Lynchburg, winning game two 9-2 after the Indians dropped the opening game of the double dip 7-1. Kinston jumped all over the Hillcats in game two, scoring five runs in the first inning helped...

Mudcats win second straight

Grant Psomas doubled and tripled, while Willie Glen pitched seven strong innings against his former team as the Carolina Mudcats defeated the Birmingham Barons 4-3 at Regions Park on Thursday night. With their second straight win, the Mudcats remained four...

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Post 11 ready for playoffs

DUDLEY - Tonight the second season gets underway for Post 11 and head coach Brad Reaves. A time that the skipper hopes will bring out the best in his top-seeded group of talented young players. "I really like the playoffs,...

K-Tribe rained out

Due to heavy rains the Kinston Indians game at Lynchburg on Wednesday evening was postponed. The K-Tribe will play a double header starting at 6:05 p.m. today at Lynchburg's City Stadium. Kinston currently trails Winston-Salem by 11/2 games in the...

Mudcats pick up late win

Chris Coghlan singled in the tie-breaking run as part of a two-run ninth as Carolina defeated Birmingham 3-1 at Regions Park on Wednesday afternoon. Entering the ninth tied 1-1, John Raynor singled, stole second and was bunted to third by...

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Wayne South rallies to victory

Wayne County South used some seventh inning heroics to beat Farmville Central 3-1 on Tuesday night in Junior American Legion baseball action. Trailing 1-0 Keenan Winn came through in the clutch with a go-ahead three-run blast. The home run proved...

Mudcats

Stefan Gartrell hit his second homer of the game in the eighth inning to snap a 3-3 to lift Birmingham past Carolina 6-3 before 3,853 fans at Regions Park on Tuesday night. Gartrell hit a two-run shot in the first...

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Barden remembered

WARSAW -- The community of Warsaw and the James Kenan football program lost more than just a football player in the early hours of last Thursday morning. In Derrick Barden's sudden death, a leader by example, a friend, a quiet...

WC South dominates West Craven

VANCEBORO -- Wayne County South locked up a first round bye in the Area I/II Central Conference playoffs with a 14-3 victory at West Craven on Monday night. Jordan Hood, Scott Holloman (RBI), Kevin Wise (RBI) and Dontay Boseman each...

Smokies hold off Mudcats

Tennessee built a six run lead against Carolina before holding off the Mudcats 8-7 in 10 innings in front of 3,912 fans Monday afternoon at Five County Stadium. Tennessee (13-7) scored three runs in the top of the first inning,...

Monday, July 7, 2008

Post 11 secures home playoff contest

KINSTON - Wayne County Post 11 head coach Brad Reaves challenged his players following a disappointing loss to Durham last week. On Sunday in Kinston the team responded with their most complete effort of the season, and defeated Post 43...

K-Tribe, Warthogs can't beat rain

Sunday's K-Tribe game at Winston-Salem is postponed because of heavy rain. Kinston will play a double header (two seven inning games) with the Warthogs at 6 p.m. tonight. in Winston-Salem. With a 9-7 record in the second half of the...

Mudcats shutout by Tennessee

Mitch Atkins pitched seven and a third scoreless innings to lead Tennessee past Carolina 8-0 Sunday afternoon in front of 2,881 fans at Five County Stadium. Tennessee (12-7) was scoreless until the sixth inning when they were able to score...

Sunday, July 6, 2008

K-tribe fall to Winston-Salem

Nick Weglarz went 4-for-4 with two home runs, but it wasn't enough as Kinston fell 6-5 to Winston-Salem Saturday night in the Triad. Weglarz also had a single and double, falling just a triple shy of the cycle. It...

Mudcats hold off Smokies

Chris Coghlan finished a home run short of the cycle, going 3-4 with two RBI to lead the Carolina Mudcats past the Tennessee Smokies 5-2 in front of 5,870 fans Saturday night at Five County Stadium. Carolina (10-8) scored two...

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Post 11 overpowers Garner

GARNER -- One streak ended, while one continued on the Garner High School baseball diamond Wednesday evening. Wayne County Post 11 tallied at least one run in seven of nine innings and cruised to a 17-7 victory over long-time nemesis...

Kinston loses third straight

Kinston's losing streak reached three games with a 2-0 loss against Carolina League rival Wilmington at historic Grainger Stadium on Wednesday evening. Cody Strait's solo home run and Anthony Seratelli's two-out, RBI double accounted for the Blue Rocks' sixth-inning runs....

Mudcats split twin bill

Cameron Maybin cranked a two-out, run-scoring in the eighth inning as Carolina salvaged a doubleheader split against Jacksonville on Wednesday evening. The Mudcats (46-39 overall) won the nightcap 3-2, while the Suns took the opener 4-3. Carolina managed six hits...

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Mudcats pick up road victory

Despite hitting into a triple play and getting victimized on four double plays, Carolina turned back Jacksonville 4-1 on Tuesday evening. Cameron Maybin, Manuel Mayorson and Gaby Sanchez each had two hits for the Mudcats. Chris Coghlan provided the game-winning...

Wayne County North upends North Lenoir

Josh Frederick pitched six shutout innings as Wayne County North defeated North Lenoir 5-3 on Tuesday evening. Jose Ponce, Zach Beachum (2 RBI), Jeff Carmel and Robert Faucette (RBI) each had hits for Wayne County. Wayne County (14-9, 9-7 Area...

Rose's rescue: Hurler shuts down North Raleigh in fifth

DUDLEY -- Serving as designated hitter most of this season, Jay Rose might have earned some quality pitching time Tuesday evening. Working in relief, the smooth-as-silk southpaw saved Wayne County Post 11 in the fifth inning. Rose supplied two-plus innings...

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Goldsboro Boys Basketball - New search begins

Pat Burden's phone is already ringing. Just days after Tod Morgan resigned as the boys' basketball coach at Goldsboro High School to take the same position at Chapel Hill High School, Burden has received phone calls inquiring about the position....

South Junior Legion

Wayne County North kept itsplayoff hopes alive with a thrilling 7-6 victory over South Lenoir on Monday night. Tied 6-6 in the final inning Wayne North rallied. Jose Ponce singled and was advanced on a Zach Beachum sacrifice. Two batters...

ECU

East Carolina's Seth Maness picked up his school-record, sixth All-American honor on Monday. Baseball America selected the right-handed pitcher for its first-team, Freshman All-American squad. Maness posted a 9-2 record with a 3.27 earned run average and collected 81 strikeouts...

K-Tribe

In a battle of division leaders, Northern front-runner Potomac cranked out five home runs in a 17-3 rout of Southern top dog Kinston at historic Grainger Stadium on Monday evening. Former K-Triber Brian Finnegan and former East Carolina standout Trevor...

Mudcats

Heavy rains postponed Monday's series opener between Carolina and Jacksonville at the Baseball Grounds. The contest has been rescheduled as part of a doubleheader for Wednesday....