March 2015 archives

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Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Boxscore: Rosewood-Princeton tennis

Rosewood 9 Princeton 0 Singles: Jordan Price (R) d. Austin Chanmanivon 6-1, 6-0; Jeremy Lintner (R) d. Celso Santiago 6-0, 6-1; Jake Smith (R) d. Calvin Santiago 6-0, 6-0; Lucas Parrish (R) d. Ian Rowe 6-0, 6-0; Chase Bartlett (R)...

Eagles hold experience edge over Bulldogs

[email protected] A pair of first-year head coaches -- Rosewood's Daniel Baynes and Princeton's Christy Klein -- remain in "teaching" mode each time they put their respective boys' tennis teams on the court. It's due to lack of practice time. Baynes'...

D.H. Conley soccer blanks C.B. Aycock

D.H. Conley invoked the mercy rule 15 minutes into the second half and handed Charles B. Aycock a 9-0 loss in Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference play Monday. The Golden Falcons (1-6-0 overall, 0-4-0 ECC) face South Central today. Kickoff is...

Burt has 2 hits, 2 RBI in Wayne Christian loss

Hunter Burt doubled in a two-hit, two-RBI performance during Wayne Christian's 7-3, non-conference loss to Oakwood on Monday afternoon. Austin Howell, Holden Foster, Ted Suggs (two RBI) and Tanner Rose provided one hit apiece. Howell and White each had a...

Hall shoots 1-over 72, Cougars win ECC 2A meet

Matt Hall fired a 1-over-par 72 and earned medalist honors in the next-to-last Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference regular-season tournament contested Monday afternoon. Hall three-putted on the 17th. "It is only a matter of time before he attains (an under-par round)...

Monday, March 30, 2015

UMO completes league series sweep of Emmanuel (Ga.) College

UMO Media Relations MOUNT OLIVE -- Jason Morozowski swatted two home runs and No. 22-ranked University of Mount Olive completed its three-game sweep of Conference Carolinas newcomer Emmanuel (Ga.), 13-9, on Sunday afternoon. Morozowski has 11 home runs and 48...

Cam's Challenge: Final 4 update

Hey, everyone. Seems like it was just yesterday when we last talked, just yesterday that some of us still had a chance at winning this bracket challenge. The Elite Eight takes no prisoners, however, and it's safe to say some...

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Trojans' chemistry carried them to special season

[email protected] MOUNT OLIVE -- They hung out together everywhere on campus, ate together in the cafeteria and seemed inseparable from day one. Joey Higginbotham hadn't seen that early-season camaraderie from any of his previous teams. He knew -- at that...

Middle school wrestling needed to boost high school programs

The sound of tape being ripped from the wrestling mat filled the air. Soon, a loud "boom" erupted when the long tubes, some worn from constant use and age, were pulled from the storage room. Still in their wrestling gear,...

Cam's Challenge: Terry Jordan leads the way

On paper, Fred the dog went 6-2 in the Sweet Sixteen rounds. Not bad. Could be worse. I went 4-4. It'd be perfectly normal to think, "gee, I bet Cam's bummed losing this round to his archrival." Joke's on Fred,...

Friday, March 27, 2015

1-on-1 with Spring Creek senior Chad Spurgeon

The News-Argus conducted a 10-queston Q&A with senior baseball standout Chad Spurgeon after Spring Creek's practice on a wet Thursday afternoon. Of course, Spurgeon returned to the batting cage to get in some more swings once the interview had ended....

Golden Falcons' Warner sprints to three first-place finishes

Courtney Warner, as usual, continued her dominant outdoor season with three individual first-place finishes in four-team, Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference meet Thursday afternoon. The Charles B. Aycock senior won the 100-meter dash (12.00 seconds), 200 dash (26.56) and 400 (1:01.62)....

Cougars' Hall earns medalist honors on Lane Tree links

Matt Hall earned medalist honors with a 76 and Goldsboro emerged as the top team with a 374 during a non-conference meet contested at Lane Tree Golf Club on Thursday afternoon. Eastern Wayne, led by Willis Underwood (80) and Victor...

Wayne Country Day romps past KVA

HENDERSON -- Lance Davis rallied from an opening-set loss and Wayne Country Day earned a 9-0, non-conference victory over short-handed Kerr-Vance on Thursday afternoon. Davis, the No. 4 seed, turned back Daniel Adkins 4-6, 6-2, 10-7. Sam Dively, Hunter Hawkins...

Aycock nets shutout of county foe Southern Wayne

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock posted three straight-set shutouts in singles play and handed county rival Southern Wayne a 9-0 loss. The Golden Falcons improved to 2-0 against their 3-A opponents in the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference. Chas Hooks, Stanton...

Wayne Christian quartet combines for no-hitter

ERWIN -- Ted Suggs, Austin Howell, Tanner Rose and Holden Foster combined for a no-hitter on the mound during Wayne Christian's 18-0, mercy-rule win over Carolina Christian 1-A Conference foe Cape Fear Christian on Thursday. The quartet combined for eight...

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Burlington School claims 2-0 shutout of WCDS

[email protected] The Burlington School girls' soccer team had more than enough reasons to be pessimistic about Wednesday's game. They were coming off of an 8-0 loss the day before and only just 11 players in uniform against Wayne Country Day....

Women's team players wear T-shirts to honor men's players

[email protected] Donning her decorative T-shirt dedicated to her best friend, Shy'lia Buie took a seat front and center in the University of Mount Olive cafeteria as the Trojans' men's basketball team played in their Elite Eight game against Tarleton State...

No. 7-ranked Tarleton State ousts UMO from Elite 8

[email protected] EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- Timely outside shooting and scrappy work against taller defenders on the boards had been University of Mount Olive's two strengths during the postseason. They proved, along with foul trouble, to be the Trojans' downfall Wednesday afternoon....

Preps digest: JV, middle schools

JV Baseball: Charles B. Aycock 10, Greene Central 4 -- The Golden Falcons scored four runs in the fourth inning to gain control against the Rams. The fourth-inning rally came by way of a passed ball, a two-RBI single...

Rosewood, Spring Creek duel on tennis courts

Rosewood's Jordan Price dropped the first singles match to Spring Creek's Carter Cipiti, but the Eagles went on to win eight straight matches to seal the Carolina 1-A Carolina victory. Jeremy Lintner won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 singles. His...

Rebels stay perfect on Carolina 1A softball scene

It was the kind of game Rosewood coach Shay Campbell loves. He just didn't love the result. North Duplin capitalized on five errors and handed the Eagles a 5-3 loss in Carolina 1-A Conference play Wednesday evening. "A retired coaching...

Panthers double up Cougars

Goldsboro scratched out nine hits, but couldn't hold down North Johnston in a 12-6, non-conference loss on Wednesday. Isaiah Core and Ray'Quan Griffin each had two hits for the Cougars. Core, Thomas Vick and Sterling Dodson each drove in a...

Knights defeat Chargers on baseball diamond

Greenfield cranked out 15 hits and defeated archrival Wayne Country Day, 17-4, on Wednesday afternoon. The Chargers used four different pitchers in the five-inning affair, but none proved to be able to shut down the high-powered Greenfield attack. All nine...

Saints fall to Hawks in non-conference play

Chad Ginn and Orlando Cannon combined for a two-hit shutout as North Lenoir beat non-conference foe Southern Wayne 8-0 on Wednesday. The duo combined for eight strikeouts. Braxton Greene led the Hawks with two hits and two RBI. Ethan Pittman,...

Coor, Spurgeon, Sawyer spark Gators on the road

PRINCETON -- Spring Creek's three, four and five hitters -- Allen Coor, Chad Spurgeon and Sawyer Smith -- combined for nine of the Gators' 16 hits in an 11-5 victory over Carolina 1-A opponent Princeton on Wednesday. Smith doubled and...

Baseball: Eastern Wayne-D.H. Conley box

D.H. Conley 000 004 4 -- 8 7 1 Eastern Wayne 000 403 0 -- 7 8 2 Leading hitters: D.H. Conley -- Bryant Packard 2-3, 2B; Holton Ahlers 2-2, HR, 3 RBI; Kevin Wrought 1-2, 2 RBI. Eastern Wayne...

Warriors cruise through 5-plus innings, Vikings battle back to win

[email protected] Tanner Wells was on cruise control. The Eastern Wayne left-hander held D.H. Conley scoreless and to a pair of hits in five-plus innings on the bump. His defense made four highlight-reel plays behind him, including Zack Smith's U-4-6 inning-ending...

Beddingfield earns regular-season sweep of CBA softball

[email protected] PIKEVILLE -- Beddingfield softball coach Jeremy Howard sits back and thinks about his record against Charles B. Aycock in his career. "Uh, coming into this year I think I was 1-18," Howard said. Well, now he's 3-18. The Bruins...

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Preps digest: JV, middle schools

JV * Baseball: C.B. Aycock 5, D.H. Conley 2 -- The Golden Falcons scored three runs in the sixth inning to pull away from the Vikings. Zack Mott's two-RBI double put the Golden Falcons ahead for good. Trey Jordan...

Baseball: UMO-Catawba box

Tuesday's game At Newman Park (Salisbury) UMO 442 010 010 -- 12 14 2 Catawba 201 012 211 -- 10 15 7 Leading hitters: Mount Olive -- Zak Orrison 3-3; Kilgore Gailmard 1-5, 2B, 2 RBI; Jason Morozowski 1-3, RBI;...

UMO's Lancaster notches 1,000th career win

[email protected] SALISBURY -- Justin Manning flashed the sign. Jose Serrano nodded. Catawba pinch-hitter Austin Stilley watched as the pitch popped into Manning's glove. The umpire called "strike three," and Manning and his University of Mount Olive teammates had finally done...

Boxscore: Lakewood-Rosewood baseball

Lakewood 000 000 0 - 0 3 2 Rosewood 310 300 x - 7 9 1 Leading hitters: Rosewood - Derek Neal 3-4 2B RBI, Boone Moody 1-4 RBI, Blake Dean 1-3 2B 2 RBI Bryce McKeel 1-3 2B RBI...

Gurley tosses 3-hit, shutout gem

[email protected] Jordan Gurley knew he was in a rhythm from the first pitch. It didn't take much longer for the Rosewood crowd -- and Lakewood -- to realize the same thing. Gurley was masterful on the mound with a three-hit,...

Thornton's homer wakes up Rosewood

[email protected] After two innings of stranding runners in scoring position, Rosewood head softball coach Shay Campbell wondered if the bats were going to come alive. The Eagles were too impatient. They weren't squaring up many balls. But then Callie Thornton...

Walnut Creek Ladies Golf news

Kathy Woodard recorded a hole-in-one on No. 13 during play on the Walnut Creek Country Club links Tuesday....

Wayne Christian's Floars emerges as top finisher in meet

WILSON -- Blake Floars earned medalist honors with 40 and Wayne Christian defeated runner-up Freedom Christian 197-221 during a five-team played at Wilson Country Club. Ethan McKenzie complimented Floars with a 9-hole score of 43. Teammates Michael Singletary and Drake...

JK's Pridgen claims medalist honors

KENLY -- James Kenan's Cole Pridgen earned medalist honors during a six-team Carolina 1-A Conference meet contested on the Cardinal Country Club links. The Tigers had a 404 team score. Jeremy Mercer logged an 81 and Dylan Champion carded an...

Vikings blank Saints in ECC 3A/4A soccer

D.H. Conley upended Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference foe Southern Wayne 9-0 in a mercy-rule victory on Tuesday....

Golden Falcons continue struggle in conference play

GREENVILLE -- J.H. Rose handed Charles B. Aycock a 9-0, mercy-rule loss in Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference play Tuesday. The Golden Falcons (1-5-0 overall) face D.H. Conley on Thursday....

Rebels dealt first defeat on soccer pitch

Kimberly Rodriguez' herculean 22-save effort in goal, wasn't enough during a 4-0 loss to Carolina 1-A Conference foe James Kenan on Tuesday. The Rebels fell to 2-1 overall this season....

Mozingo punches in 4 goals, EW routs Goldsboro

Angelina Nacca put Goldsboro ahead in the 14th minute, but Eastern Wayne came back with a vengeance and scored seven straight goals in a 7-1 non-conference win Tuesday. Nacca's goal came on a direct free kick from 20 yards out....

Bell raps out 3 hits in Warriors' softball loss

GREENVILLE -- A solid offensive performance wasn't enough to get Eastern Wayne past J.H. Rose during an 18-8 loss in Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference play. Trisha Bell drove in three runs and had a triple during her two-hit night. Britni...

Princeton softball dismantles Hobbton

Princeton throttled Carolina 1-A Conference foe Hobbton 18-0 in three innings on Tuesday evening. The Bulldogs cranked out 16 hits and took advantage of eight Hobbton errors. Princeton (6-0 overall, 3-0 CC) visits North Duplin today....

DHC defeats C.B. Aycock in ECC 3A/4A softball

HOLLYWOOD CROSSROADS -- The Golden Falcons pounded out nine hits, but fell to 5-2 to D.H. Conley in an Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference game Tuesday.. Allison Shingleton drove in both runs during her two-hit performance. Connor Vinson had three hits...

Griffin has lone hit in Cougars' loss

Goldsboro mustered just one hit in an 11-0, non-conference loss to Jones Senior on Tuesday. Ray'Quan Griffin had the lone hit for the Cougars. Jared Howard endured the loss for Goldsboro. The Cougars (1-5 overall) play host to North Johnston...

Baseball power Lawrence Academy blanks WCDS

MERRY HILL -- Wayne Country Day scratched out six hits, but couldn't push across any runs in a 9-0, non-conference loss to Lawrence Academy on Tuesday afternoon. Mitch Turnage, Amane Godo, Zach Barfield, Jacob Magera, Jon Bryant and Drew Barnes...

Golden Falcons handed first defeat of season in baseball

HOLLYWOOD CROSSROADS -- Charles B. Aycock dropped from the unbeaten ranks with a 5-1 loss to Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A opponent D.H. Conley on Tuesday. The Vikings scored four fifth-inning runs on four of their seven hits as a team. The...

WCDS blanks Oakwood in tennis

Wayne Country Day handed Oakwood a 9-0 loss on Tuesday afternoon. Top-seeded Sam Dively, Preston Edwards, Hunter Hawkins, Young Wang, Lance Davis and Nolan Davis each won in singles play. The duos of Dively-Edwards and Wang-Nolan Davis both swept their...

Warriors' tandem of Sasser-Davis earn match-clinching point

WINTERVILLE -- Gray Sasser and Walker Davis accounted for three points, including a match-clinching win at No. 3 doubles which lifted Eastern Wayne past South Central, 5-4, on Tuesday afternoon. Le Solomon and Nathan Fleming also earned a singles point...

Gaster named new head football coach at Princeton

[email protected] PRINCETON -- After almost eight weeks of interviews, Princeton High School finally has a new football coach -- Travis Gaster. Gaster's hiring ended two-month search and interviews with 20-plus applicants. It's the first head coaching job for Gaster, who...

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Higginbotham: Trojans need to 'keep it simple' at Elite 8

[email protected] EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- Stick to the basics. Do the little things. Just keep it simple. That could be easier said than done. But its the gameplan University of Mount Olive plans to execute during its quarterfinal-round game against perennial...

Preps digest: Middle schools

Middle schools * Girls' soccer: Greenwood 5, Grantham 1 -- Alana Kazar provided a hat trick (three goals) for the victorious T-birds. Alliyah Mabry and Taniyah Oates scored one goal apiece. Mabry contributed an assist. Greenwood (4-1-0 overall) faces...

Softball box: Spring Creek at Princeton

Spring Creek 100 002 0 -- 3 4 0 Princeton 020 103 x -- 6 9 1 Leading hitters: Spring Creek -- Ashley Marriner 1-4; Sarah Ford 1-3; Rachel McCollum 1-2, RBI; Alanna Price 1-3. Princeton -- Charley Cox 2-3,...

Edwards' double sparks Dogs past Gators

[email protected] PRINCETON -- Princeton's Taylor Carroll stood on first base and told teammate Kortney Edwards "she could do this." Hitless in her previous three at-bats, which included two strikeouts, Edwards faced another two-strike count with the bases loaded. She just...

Hawley has two goals, two assists for Bulldogs on soccer pitch

PRINCETON -- Chelsea Hawley delivered a two-goal, two-assist performance as Princeton knocked off Spring Creek, 6-4, in a Carolina 1-A Conference battle Tuesday evening. Jessica Brush provided one goal and one assist. Kassandra Velasquez, Madison Adkins and Amber Johnson scored...

Bailey notches, goal assist in Chargers' win

WAKE FOREST -- Allison Bailey tallied one goal and assisted on another goal as Wayne Country Day blanked Neuse Christian, 2-0, on Monday afternoon. Margaret Tanner punched in a goal for WCDS. Goalie Langley Barnes earned the shutout between the...

North Duplin slips by Lakewood, 2-1

SALEMBURG -- North Duplin continued its unbeaten start with a 2-1 triumph over Lakewood in Carolina 1-A Conference play Monday. Diana Saucedo and Priscilla Saucedo each scored a goal for the Rebels, who improved to 2-0 overall and 2-0...

Lane Tree Ladies Golf news

Teresa Shearin, sidelined by a rib injury, seized game-of-the-week honors and low gross (79) on the Lane Tree Golf Club links. Linda Watson earned low net. Shelley Leder claimed low putts....

Hall, McAlduff lead Goldsboro in ECC 2A golf meet

AYDEN -- Matt Hall carded a 2-over par 74 and Goldsboro claimed first-place honors in an Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference match contested on the Ayden Country Club links Monday afternoon. Luke McAlduff and Ruben Quiroz each contributed an 80. Ty...

Eagles dominate track meet

James Madison University football signee Tyree Chavious won the discus and helped Rosewood dominate a three-team Carolina 1-A Conference meet Monday afternoon. Chavious logged a throw of 116 feet, 2 inches. Marquail Almontaser won the triple jump (37-0) and 110...

Weeks, Tyndall combine for no-hitter; Thornton nearly hits for the cycle

WARSAW -- Callie Thornton just missed hitting for the cycle in Rosewood's 16-0, mercy-rule conquest of Carolina 1-A Conference foe James Kenan on Monday afternoon. Thornton doubled, tripled and swatted a home run for the Eagles. Sophomore Hailey Weeks and...

Greenfield handcuffs Wayne Christian

WILSON -- Wayne Christian mustered just four hits in a 10-0, mercy-rule loss to perennial independent 1-A power Greenfield on Monday at historic Fleming Stadium. Austin Howell, Holden Foster, Ted Suggs and Ryan Kennedy each had one hit in the...

Smitherman, Aycock 'steals' victory over J.H. Rose

PIKEVILLE -- Hank Smitherman stole home with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, and Charles B. Aycock upended J.H. Rose, 2-1, in Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference play Monday afternoon. Down 1-0 through 51/2 innings, the unbeaten Golden...

Blount made right decision to attend UMO

[email protected] Heading back to the locker room, JaQuan Blount knew the messages would be there. He just didn't know what they would say. The junior had just played nearly a flawless game, dropping in 19 points, dishing out five assists...

County teams improve scores on GMGC links

Wayne County golfers walked away from Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course with a mixture of emotions on a breezy, sunny Monday afternoon. Four players posted their lowest 18-hole rounds of the season. Two teams shot their best scores after three tournaments...

Monday, March 23, 2015

UMO seniors Hargrove, McCain provide versatility on court

[email protected] Just 47,500 feet separate C.D. Hylton and Potomac High Schools. Roughly nine miles of rural highway that twisted and turned along the outermost edges of Prince William Forest Park, separated Kendall Hargrove and Jordan McCain. Now, after four years...

Koehler's homer helps UMO salvage league series against King (Tenn.)

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Joe Koehler mashed a three-run, seventh-inning homer and No. 14-ranked University of Mount Olive rolled past Conference Carolinas foe King (Tenn.), 12-3, on Sunday afternoon. The Trojans (20-9 overall) avoided a three-game sweep in the series. Jason...

Aycock soccer drops two games at The Brittany

WILSON -- Charles B. Aycock dropped a pair of games in The Brittany contested on Saturday. The Golden Falcons fell 5-0 to West Brunswick and 4-1 to East Carteret. Sabrina Johnson scored the team's lone goal. Aycock (1-4-0 overall) plays...

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Preps digest: JV news

JV * Girls' soccer: Wayne Country Day 3, Faith Christian-Rocky Mount -- Langley Barnes delivered the eventual game-winning goal in the seventh minute for the Chargers. Janae Jones and Ally Willman provided one goal apiece. WCDS (3-0-1 overall) entertains...

Elite 8: Trojans' ball movement is team's forte

[email protected] MOUNT OLIVE -- Dontrell Brite never thought he would play this way. Dominique Reed played the exact same way in high school. No matter the background, the University of Mount Olive basketball players come to campus and play the...

Trojans' Corkin sets career high against Converse

[email protected] MOUNT OLIVE -- Candace Corkin unpacked her "magic stick" and had a fantasy-like game that most lacrosse players dream about on Saturday afternoon. Corkin posted a natural hat trick (three consecutive goals) within the first six minutes and punched...

Boxscore: Spring Creek-Hobbton baseball

Hobbton 000 001 0 -- 1 6 1 Spring Creek 003 024 x -- 9 11 1 Leading hitters: Hobbton -- Brandon Rogers 2-3; Greg Herring 1-3, 2B; Michael Bass 1-3; Justin Adkins 1-3; Mason Wilson 1-3, RBI. Spring Creek...

Gators start slow, cruise past Wildcats

[email protected] SEVEN SPRINGS -- Sawyer Smith sighed in relief when Spring Creek teammate Kane Geelen scooped up a grounder and tagged first base for the final out of the first inning. He tapped gloves with Geelen as the two headed...

Boxscore: Southern Wayne-D.H. Conley box

Saturday's game At Dudley D.H. Conley 242 22 -- 12 11 1 So. Wayne 100 10 -- 2 3 0 Leading hitters: D.H. Conley -- Bryant Packard 4-4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI; Travis Cross 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI; Jake Pollard...

Packard's home run sparks Conley past Southern Wayne

[email protected] DUDLEY -- Bryant Packard was already rounding first base by the time the ball landed. Packard, Conley's third hitter in the lineup and starting third baseman, wasted no time, sending the second pitch he saw from Southern Wayne pitcher...

PUT ME IN COACH -- Leave team down by 1 shot, but make amends in clubhouse

Hey guys, I'm actually good at something. Let me start by saying I'm not usually good at golf. And I'm not good in the sense that Bubba Watson is good. I'm good in the sense that I didn't make myself...

LOCAL OPINION: Players stop game, approach bully in stands

There are some afternoons where boredom just sinks in. You either scan Twitter, Facebook or some other social media to find something that could bring a smile to your face, make you laugh or even shed a few tears. After...

Chargers drop CPIC opener in 8 innings

FAYETTEVILLE -- Wayne Country Day launched its 2015 Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference campaign with a 12-11 loss to defending N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A state champ Freedom Christian on Friday afternoon. "What an ugly game ... not good...

Friday, March 20, 2015

Preps digest: JV, middle school news

JV * Charles B. Aycock 3, J.H. Rose 0 -- Luke Frederick had two doubles and threw six innings of shutout ball in the Golden Falcons' win on Thursday. Jordan Gay picked up the save. Bradley Pate and Chris Turner...

Golden Falcons' Davis tosses sterling six innings against Hunt

Kyle Davis threw six innings and gave up an unearned run as C.B. Aycock knocked off Hunt 4-1 on Wednesday. Davis improved to 2-0 on the year, and Jacob Sanford got his third save of the season for CBA, which...

EW's Johnson throws five-inning shutout

Brock Johnson went the distance on the mound as Eastern Wayne beat Nash Central 11-0 in five innings via the mercy rule. Johnson threw 53 pitches gave up three hits, one walk and struck out three on just 53 pitches....

Eastern Wayne falls to Farmville on softball diamond

Chelsea Wynn, Tommaria Smith and Trisha Bell pounded out two hits apiece in Eastern Wayne's 18-8, non-conference loss to Farmville Central on Thursday afternoon. Britni McAlduff, Chloe Smith (RBI) and Elizabeth Sutton provided one hit apiece. Bell and Emily Uzzell...

Aycock homers twice, beats Rose by mercy rule in softball

PIKEVILLE -- Madison Walton and Taylor Puetz both homered during Charles B. Aycock's 24-1 shellacking of Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A conference opponent J.H. Rose on a rainy Thursday afternoon. Georgia Parnell and Allie Phillips each batted 3-for-3 at the plate and...

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Boxscore: WCDS-Oakwood baseball

Oakwood 100 210 04 -- 8 WCDS 001 200 10 -- 4 Leading hitters -- Wayne Country Day: Mitch Turnage 1-5, HR, RBI; Amane Godo 2-4; Zach Barfield 3-4 RBI; Jon Bryan 2-4. Oakwood -- Charles Corey 2-4, 2B, 3...

WCDS drops 8-inning heartbreaker in baseball

The ball launched off the bat of Mitch Turnage toward right field in the bottom of the seventh inning. He flipped his bat toward the dugout and pointed toward the sky in celebration as he jogged around first base. Less...

Southeast Regional champs return home

MOUNT OLIVE -- A team with a "refuse-to-lose" demeanor had the Trojan Nation on the edge of its seat Tuesday evening. Jazmine Montgomery was worried. Emil Cekada wondered if the shots would ever fall. William Bellos prayed the Trojans would...

UMO-Franklin Pierce baseball

UMO Media Relations MOUNT OLIVE -- No. 7-ranked Franklin Pierce built an eight-run advantage through five innings and upended No. 14-ranked University of Mount Olive, 10-1, at Scarborough Field on Wednesday evening. The teams split their two-game series. Charles B....

Preps digest: JV news

JV * Baseball: Hunt 5, Charles B. Aycock 3 -- The Golden Falcons mustered just four hits and scored three runs in a non-conference defeat against Wilson Hunt. Ty Daniels doubled for Aycock. Zach Brewer suffered the pitching loss....

Jones Senior upends Goldsboro

Isaiah Core and Jared Howard each had three hits, but Goldsboro couldn't shut down Jones Senior's offensive attack in a 10-4, non-conference loss on Wednesday. Core scored twice and drove in a run. Howard doubled. Sterling Dodson, Ti'wuan Hardy, Michael...

Saints' Holland hurls complete-game shutout

Matt Holland threw a complete-game shutout to lead Southern Wayne past non-conference opponent Greene Central, 8-0, on Wednesday. Holland struck out five, walked one and scattered five hits. Dallas Graham went for 1-3 with 2 RBI and scored twice. Hunter...

North Lenoir cranks out 22-0 softball win over Eastern Wayne

North Lenoir needed just 2 1/2 innings to finish off non-conference foe Eastern Wayne in a 22-0, mercy-rule victory Wednesday afternoon. Janna Moore led the Hawks high-powered attack, going 3-for-3. Allison Montague, Roxie Stallings, Megan Lanier, Kaci Letchworth, Madison Allen,...

Bruins rally past Golden Falcons on softball diamond

Charles B. Aycock scratched back from four runs down to tie the game, but in the bottom of the sixth inning, Beddingfield drove in two runs to seal the 7-5 victory. None of the Golden Falcons players had more than...

Warner captures 3 events in ECC 3A/4A track meet

NEW BERN -- Courtney Warner won the 100-, 200- and 400-meter races and helped guide the 1,600-meter relay team to a first-place finish as Charles B. Aycock defeated New Bern and Southern Wayne in an Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference meet...

Morrow, Mooneyham combine for three individual victories

NEW BERN -- TJ Morrow finished first in the 400-meter dash and helped Charles B. Aycock beat New Bern and Southern Wayne in an Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A three-team meet on Wednesday. Joseph Mooneyham finished first in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter...

Aycock serves up 6-0 win over Eastern Wayne

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock swept the singles courts and handed county archrival Eastern Wayne a 6-0 defeat in Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference play Wednesday afternoon. The Golden Falcons received singles points from Chas Hooks, Stanton Head, Nick Coston, Broc...

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Preps digest: JV news

JV * C.B. Aycock 4, Southern Wayne 1 -- Trey Jordan picked up the win for Charles B. Aycock after scattering five hits and striking out two. Jordan Gray picked up the save. Josh Grady endured the loss for...

Indiana bound! UMO captures Southeast Regional men's basketball crown

But UMO's regional title hopes seemed in doubt when Ibrhaim Johnson gave Montevallo its biggest lead, 48-35, with 14:27 remaining in the second half. Higginbotham called timeout. "I told the guys if we can all play as hard as Kendall...

UMO diamond 9 hand Franklin Pierce 1st loss of season

UMO Media Relations CARY -- Jordy Farthing and Jose Serrano combined for five-hitter as No. 12-ranked University of Mount Olive upended previously-unbeaten Franklin Pierce, 6-5, at the USA National Baseball Training Complex on Tuesday afternoon. Farthing scattered four hits, retired...

Chargers net 9-0 shutout of Kerr-Vance in tennis

Wayne Country Day earned three default points in a 9-0, non-conference triumph over short-handed Kerr-Vance Academy on Tuesday afternoon. The Spartans had just four players. Sam Dively, Preston Edwards, Hunter Hawkins and Lance Davis each emerged victorious in singles for...

Lane Tree Ladies golf news

Betty Jean Gurley captured game-of-the-week honors during play on the Lane Tree Golf Club links. Novella Zambelli won low net, while Nan Jarrell took low putts. Linda Watson secured low gross....

Walnut Creek Ladies golf news

Kathy Woodward claimed low gross in first-flight play as the Walnut Creek Ladies Golf Association launched their 2015 season under sunny skies on the picturesque Walnut Creek Country Club links. Gaye Bryant seized low net in first flight. Mary Morris...

Langston, West lead Aycock in ECC 3A/4A golf meet

Mitchell Langston and Noah West each carded identical 18-hole rounds of 79 as Charles B. Aycock finished second in the second Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference meet of the season. Blake Bartlett and Brice Jones added scores of 80 and 84,...

Bruins score in each inning, defeat Cougars in baseball

Beddingfield scratched across runs in every inning on its way to a 17-4, five-inning win over Goldsboro on Tuesday. Five Goldsboro players had one hit each. Michael Eltz and Jared Howard each drove in a run. Chandler Patrick, Ray'Quan Griffin,...

North Duplin dominates Neuse Charter in baseball

Caleb Cashwell, Kaleb Brock and Cedrick Kornegay each had three hits as North Duplin demolished Carolina 1-A Conference foe Neuse Charter 31-1 on Tuesday. The Rebels had 14 players drive in runs. A 19-run second inning set the game on...

Miller, Coor, Spurgeon power Spring Creek's attack

Spring Creek starting pitcher Logan Miller collected four hits and scored three runs in the Gators' 16-7 romp over Carolina 1-A opponent Lakewood. Miller got the win on the hill with 3 2/3 innings and four strikeouts. He allowed four...

Warren swings hot bat, EW baseball prevails

The bats came around just in time for the Warriors as they upended Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A foe New Bern 8-4 on Tuesday. Ryan Warren drove in two runs during his two-hit performance to lead the offensive charge. "Ryan swung the...

Eastern Wayne drops ECC 3A/4A softball opener

Eastern Wayne couldn't overcome a high-powered New Bern attack in an 18-6 loss on the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A scene on Tuesday. Emily Uzzell endured the loss in the pitcher's circle for the Warriors. Emily Newsome had three hits for Eastern...

Ford almost hits for the cycle, McCollum homers ... again ... for Gators

Rachel McCollum launched her fifth home run of the season and struck out 12 batters in the circle as Spring Creek dominated Carolina 1-A opponent Lakewood 20-0 in five innings on Tuesday. Sarah Ford had three hits and was a...

Thornton mashes HR, Eagles thrash Wildcats

Callie Thornton had three hits including a home run as Rosewood defeated Carolina 1-A opponent Hobbton 16-3 in a five-inning, mercy-rule victory Tuesday. Freshman Macy Tyndall and sophomore Mackenzie Little each were a perfect 3-3 at the plate. Carrie Ann...

Bulldogs dominate Tigers on softball diamond

Princeton scratched out 12 hits and drew 10 walks on its way to 17-0 mercy-rule victory over Carolina 1-A Conference opponent James Kenan on Tuesday. Kasey Johnson, Logan Pace, Hailey Wood, Casey Mitchell and Beth Braswell all had two hits...

Golden Falcons fall to Bears in ECC 3A-4A girls soccer

NEW BERN -- Charles B. Aycock managed one shot on goal in a 9-0, mercy-rule loss to Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference foe New Bern on Tuesday. The Golden Falcons (1-2-0 overall, 0-1-0 ECC) play host to county rival Southern Wayne...

Reid scores Gators' lone goal in conference-opening win

Rheanna Reid punched in a goal in the final 40 seconds to give Spring Creek an exhilarating 1-0 victory over Carolina 1-A foe Lakewood on Tuesday. The Gators (3-0-0 overall, 1-0-0 CC) entertain Hobbton on Friday....

Saints, Cougars battle to 1-1 draw

Goldsboro tucked away a penalty kick in the second half to salvage a tie against undefeated Southern Wayne on Tuesday. Dixie Ramirez scored the lone goal for Southern Wayne in the 38th minute. The tie comes less than a week...

Unbeaten Princeton rolls over James Kenan in soccer

Five Bulldogs scored as Princeton routed Carolina 1-A Conference foe James Kenan, 10-1, on Tuesday. Kassandra Velasquez scored four goals and added one assist. Chelsea Hawley had two goals and four assists. Altheia Belageo had two goals. Jessica Brush added...

Warriors' Mozingo logs hat trick

Eastern Wayne head coach Jorg Wagner told his girls after a 9-0 blowout of South Lenoir to expect a completely different story when they matched up with Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A foe South Central. It was different in the sense that...

Fulghum's first-inning HR wakes up Golden Falcons' offense

[email protected] PIKEVILLE -- Someone in Fremont might have found a yellow softball in their front yard this morning. Keeley Fulghum put it there. The Charles B. Aycock junior couldn't resist the pitch. Southern Wayne right-hander Rachel Grady wished she had...

Boxscore: C.B. Aycock-Southern Wayne baseball

Southern Wayne 000 01 -- 1 5 3 Charles B. Aycock 70(14) 00 -- 21 11 1 Leading Hitters - Aycock: Jake Naughton 1-2, 2B, 3 RBI; Bobby Hampton 1-1, 2 RBI; Hank Smitherman 2-2, 2 RBI; Braxton Leeper 1-2,...

Aycock puts bat on the ball, also benefits from 12 walks

[email protected] PIKEVILLE -- Putting up 10 unanswered runs in less than five innings -- the standard guidelines for invoking the "mercy rule" that ends the game early -- is impressive. Doing it twice seems unfair. That's what Charles B. Aycock...

Boxscore: C.B. Aycock-So. Wayne softball

Southern Wayne 000 00 -- 0 4 1 C.B. Aycock 58(10) 0x -- 23 20 0 Leading hitters: Southern Wayne -- Haley Warren 2-2, 2B; Alyssa Tart 1-2, 2B. C.B. Aycock -- Hannah Carter 1-2, 2 RBI; Allison Shingleton 2-3,...

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Fifth-inning errors spell trouble for Wayne Christian

[email protected] "We allow the big inning." That's the message Curt Hinton delivered to his Wayne Christian baseball team after its 12-11, non-conference loss to perennial Christian schools power Wilson Christian Academy on Monday evening. But the Eagles gave the Chargers...

D2 Southeast Regional: Montevallo presents challenge for UMO

[email protected] HARROGATE, Tenn. -- University of Mount Olive enjoyed its day of rest Monday during the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional. The Trojans slept in late. They conducted an afternoon practice. They even enjoyed a good team meal. Today, it's...

Preps digest: JV, middle school results

JV * Girls' soccer: Wayne Country Day 7, Sally B. Howard 0 -- Langley Barnes registered the hat trick (three goals) for the victorious Chargers. Jasmine Jones, Janae Jones, Isabel Vigneault and Abby Skinner each supplied one goal. Jennifer...

Lanier has 4 hits in North Lenoir's mercy-rule win

La GRANGE -- Megan Lanier batted 4 for 4 as North Lenoir dominated Rocky Mount, 24-3, in a five-inning, non-conference contest Monday afternoon. Alison Montague cranked out three hits. Janna Moore, Kelsie Stocks and Kacie Letchworth had two hits apiece....

Hawks prevail in walk-off fashion

La GRANGE -- Daron Gray delivered the game-winning, walk-off single during North Lenoir's 6-5, non-conference triumph over West Carteret at Alphin Field on Monday evening. Jacob Baird hustled home on Gray's decisive base knock -- his second hit of the...

Wayne Country Day blanks Wayne Christian in tennis

Wayne Country Day logged shutouts in six of eight contested matches and handed county rival Wayne Christian an 8-0, non-conference defeat on the John Allen Farfour Courts at Herman Park. Sam Dively, Hunter Hawkins, Lance Davis, Nolan Davis and Young...

Golden Falcons net 1st win of the season

Charles B. Aycock finally stepped into the win column with a 9-0 triumph over South Central in Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference play Monday. Chas Hooks, Allen Best, Nick Coston, Broc Painter, Matt Hare and Blake Stephens each picked up a...

Ramirez notches 6 goals, Saints rout Rams

SNOW HILL -- Dixie Ramirez continued her early-season scoring assault with a six-goal performance during a 9-0, mercy-rule romp over Greene Central on Monday evening. Maryore Munez scored twice, while Makayla Tyndall added one goal. The Saints (5-0-0 overall) face...

Eagles dominate cross country meet

Rosewood's boys and girls combined to win 18 events during a six-team meet contested on the Eagles' track Monday afternoon. On the boys' side, Marquail Almontaser emerged victorious in three events -- triple jump (36 feet, 4 inches), 110-meter hurdles...

Hall, McAlduff lead Cougars at Cutter Creek

SNOW HILL -- Matt Hall and Luke McAlduff each recorded an 18-hole round of 82 and led Goldsboro to a first-place finish in an Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference meet contested at Cutter Creek on Monday. Ty West added an 89...

Rosewood places 2nd in Carolina 1A golf meet

[email protected] When Rosewood's top three golfers -- all juniors -- walked up to the 18th tee, each one talked to head coach Rick Grantham about their struggles on the course. Grantham told each one to put their past struggles behind...

Monday, March 16, 2015

Division II SE Regional: Moore scores 26, Trojans advance to finals

UMO Media Relations HARROGATE, Tenn. -- Junior forward Mike Moore dropped in 26 points and fourth-seeded University of Mount Olive ousted top-seeded Lincoln Memorial, 75-55, in semifinal-round play of the 2015 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional on Sunday evening. Moore...

UMO's Justice hurls 136-pitch, complete-game outing

UMO Media Relations MOUNT OLIVE -- Derek Justice threw 136 pitches in a complete-game performance, and No. 2-ranked University of Mount Olive defeated Barton, 6-2, to avoid a three-game Conference Carolinas sweep Sunday afternoon. The Bulldogs won the first two...

Sunday, March 15, 2015

News-Argus dodgeball falls hard

As soon as me and the rest of the News-Argus dodgeball team turned the corner in W.A. Foster gymnasium, there he was. Goldsboro basketball coach Russell Stephens was standing there -- smiling as always. "You're playing in this?" I asked...

Mozingo leads young group of Warriors to second win

[email protected] As she dribbled around two and then a third defender, Megan Mozingo found herself 18 yards away -- and one-on-one -- against the goalie with an almost wide-open net. Mozingo could have easily scored. Instead, she dropped a pass...

Hampton shines on mound vs future roommate

[email protected] PIKEVILLE -- If the saying "chicks dig the long ball" is true, then it's a good thing the poor weather drove away most of the fans from Charles Davis Field on Friday afternoon. The play was as sloppy as...

Cam's bracket challenge: Sportswriter vs Cocker spaniel vs ballerina and others

Do you like the NCAA Tournament? I like the NCAA Tournament. It allows me to stop pretending I care about Spring Training. Do you like bracket challenges? I like bracket challenges. I'm a twin and the youngest of three kids,...

Ramirez scores nine goals, one shy of state record

Girls' soccer Southern Wayne 9, North Lenoir 0 * DUDLEY -- Dixie Ramirez punched in a single-game school-record nine goals during Southern Wayne's 9-0, non-conference triumph over North Lenoir on the Doyle Whitfield Athletic Complex pitch. According to the N.C....

CB Aycock vs New Bern box score

New Bern 100 000 0 -- 1 2 5 C.B. Aycock 001 025 x -- 8 6 0 Leading hitters: C.B. Aycock -- Hank Smitherman 1-3; Ashton McGee 2-4, 2B; Trent Herndon 1-2, RBI; Bobby Hampton 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI....

Friday, March 13, 2015

NCAA D2 Southeast Regional: Hungry Trojans eager to get bounce back

[email protected] HARROGATE, Tenn. -- Failure, loss and defeat are just mile markers on the road to success. University of Mount Olive unwillingly took that exit five days ago in the 2015 Conference Carolinas men's basketball tournament championship game. A 68-66...

Greene, Champion lead Rosewood in golf meet

Dylan Greene and Dylan Champion shot a 79 and 78 to lead Rosewood to a low score of 335 as the Eagles placed first in the Carolina 1-A match on Thursday. Lakewood had the second low score of 348, followed...

Hawley leads Bulldogs on soccer pitch

Chelsea Hawley scored three goals and dished out three assists as Princeton defeated Goldsboro 6-0 in non-conference action. Jessica Brush, Madison Adkins and Kassandra Velasquez each had a goal apiece. Princeton (4-0-0 overall) plays host to James Kenan on Monday....

Goldsboro nets victory over ECC 2A tennis foe Kinston

Goldsboro swept singles play and won the third doubles match to defeat Eastern Carolina 2-A foe Kinston 7-2 on Thursday afternoon. Sam D'Aruojao, Vincent Spagnuolo, Devin Collins, Xan Pate, Kenny Archibald and Calab Whitted each won their singles matches....

North Lenoir triumphs on softball diamond

Janna Moore held West Craven to one run as North Lenoir won their first game of the year on Thursday. Moore contributed two hits offensively, including a double. Roxie Stallings also had two hits. North Lenoir travels to Rocky Mount...

Newsome, Sutton each provide two hits in Warriors' softball loss

Emily Newsome and Elizabeth Sutton provided two hits apiece in Eastern Wayne's 11-8, non-conference loss to Nash Central on Thursday. Trisha Bell, Tamarria Smith, Jaela Parks, Emily Uzzell and Jeanice McCullen each had one hit. Uzzell started inside the pitcher's...

McCollum belts pair of home runs, Gators hammer Clinton

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Rachel McCollum belted two home runs including a grand slam as Spring Creek smashed Clinton 24-1 in five innings. Ashley Marriner and Alanna Price each had three hits, including a triple apiece. Daisy Martinez and Samantha Crouch...

CBA softball wins slugfest against North Johnston

PIKEVILLE -- Madison Walton and Tanika Powell each cranked out three hits to lead Charles B. Aycock to a 10-7 win over North Johnston on Thursday. Mackenzie Wheeler had a two-run home run for her lone hit. Walton had two...

North Lenoir snaps 2-game skid

North Lenoir snapped its season-opening, two-game skid with an 11-3, non-conference win over Wilson Fike. Chad Ginn got the win on the mound. Luke Jackson struck out seven during his relief appearance. Braxton Greene had three hits to lead the...

North Duplin earns mercy-rule win on baseball diamond

North Duplin scratched across three or more runs in four innings as the Rebels dominated Northside Jacksonville in a 15-4, six-inning mercy-rule victory in non-conference action. North Duplin cranked out 12 hits, including two apiece from Cedrick Kornegay, Bryce Best,...

Wayne Christian defeats Spring Creek

Wayne Christian overcame four defensive miscues and scratched across the game-winning run in the top of the seventh inning to edge Spring Creek, 4-3, in non-conference action. Holden Foster led the Eagles with three hits and one RBI. Tanner Rose...

Smith's homer helps power Warriors past Nash Central

Zack Smith crushed a fifth-inning, two-run homer and Eastern Wayne handed Nash Central a 7-5, non-conference defeat Thursday afternoon. Braxton Lewis provided three hits for the Warriors, who are 2-0 overall heading into today's Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference opener at...

CBA's Davis, Sanford combine for road shutout

RED OAK -- Kyle Davis and Jacob Sanford combined for a four-hit shutout as Charles B. Aycock knocked off Northern Nash, 3-0, on Thursday afternoon. Davis yielded four hits and retired two Knights on strikeouts in five innings for his...

Goldsboro triumphs in walk-off fashion

Trailing Princeton 6-3 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, Ti'wuan Hardy capped a four-run Goldsboro rally with a walk-off line drive to right field to win the game for the Cougars, 7-6. Isaiah Core reached base on a walk...

Gators upend Golden Falcons, 2-1, on soccer pitch

[email protected] SEVEN SPRINGS -- Some of the Spring Creek players sat around in a circle after the game, laughing with one another. As both teams filed off the field, a group of them stayed on, receiving additional medical attention. Even...

BASEBALL TAB COVER STORY -- Road to recovery: Neal talks about long journey of healing

[email protected] For a brief moment, sunlight beams down on home plate as the boy in the all black catcher's gear crouches behind the plate. Clouds are moving in and out, but the sun is shining and it is finally warm....

BASEBALL TAB -- Taylor says future looks bright for WCDS diamond men

[email protected] Wayne Country Day head coach Mike Taylor watched as freshman pitcher Amane Godo toed the rubber and went into his windup. He reared back and fired a strike to the catcher, who was crouched 60 feet and six inches...

BASEBALL TAB -- 'Premature' playoff loss fuels Wayne Christian in offseason

[email protected] Wayne Christian's players broke the huddle one last time, trudged to the dugout and picked up their gear. Their parents hugged them as they walked off the baseball diamond at J.P. Riddle Stadium. Not a single player shed a...

BASEBALL TAB -- Tschetter compiling history of Wayne County baseball

[email protected] Hidden among the rows of dusty wooden shelves and behind glass doors sits a history just waiting to be discovered. There's tales of Jackie Robinson, 'Joltin Joe' Dimaggio, Honus Wagner and Ted Williams. You'd never be able to find...

BASEBALL TAB -- Late-season league loss not a forgotten memory for Gators

[email protected] SEVEN SPRINGS -- Spring Creek knocked on the door for its first Carolina 1-A Conference baseball championship since 2004 last spring. North Duplin denied the Gators entry on the final day of regular-season play. The Rebels won 2-1. Although...

BASEBALL TAB -- Pair of transfers catch attention of Southern Wayne's head coach

[email protected] DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne coach Jackson Massey is often weary of putting a young freshman on the varsity squad. But after what Faith Christian Academy transfer Jack Casbarro showed him this summer, Massey knew he had to keep the...

BASEBALL TAB -- Carolina champ Rosewood seeks to defend crown

Gurley and Chapin are expected to eat some considerable innings. Dean, DuBose, Anthony McKinney and sophomore Tanner Bradley should see action out of the bullpen. "If our pitching comes around and we have some guys who want the baseball and...

BASEBALL TAB -- Merritt anxious to see what season holds for Goldsboro

[email protected] Don't call Danny Merritt a first-year coach. Merritt, a Goldsboro lifer, is anything but. The Goldsboro High School baseball coach, who has spent time at several county schools throughout his coaching tenure -- including a previous stint at Goldsboro...

BASEBALL TAB -- Faith Christian upperclassmen must lead younger players

[email protected] Faith Christian Academy teammates Rich Sasser and Carter Hudson couldn't help but laugh at each other from across the hall. Tall and soft-spoken, Hudson stares at the floor while he shuffles his feet. Ten feet away stands Sasser, shorter...

BASEBALL TAB -- EW's Fulghum notices a fire in the Warriors' belly

[email protected] The players on the Eastern Wayne varsity baseball team saunter down a hallway in one of the portable classrooms on campus. Each player sits in an empty seat. Practice is about to begin. When the weather is bad like...

BASEBALL TAB -- Golden Falcons work to improve mental game

By ALLEN ETZLER [email protected] PIKEVILLE -- On the door of the baseball locker room at Charles B. Aycock High School hangs a new sheet of paper each day. It outlines that day's practice schedule. At the bottom of the...

SOFTBALL: Capsule previews on 7 county teams

C.B. Aycock High School Location: Pikeville Mascot: Golden Falcons Conference: Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Head coach: Emily Burke 2014 record: 21-5 Returning players: 9 -- Allison Shingleton (U/DH), Mackenzie Wheeler (IF/P), Madison Walton (SS/1B), Abbie Walton (C/2B), Connor Vinson (OF), Michaela...

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Fike netters defeat C.B. Aycock

PIKEVILLE -- Perennial 3-A power Wilson Fike handed Charles B. Aycock a 9-0, non-conference loss on the Luke Vail Tennis Courts on Wednesday afternoon. The Golden Demons swept the regular-season series. Aycock fell to 0-3 overall....

Ramirez helps Saints take pair from S. Johnston in soccer

Southern Wayne continued its unbeaten start with a 2-1, non-conference triumph over South Johnston Wednesday evening. Dixie Ramirez scored twice for the Saints. One night earlier, SW beat South by the same score. Ramirez and Hope Best each found the...

Rosewood baseball scratches in win column

Jordan Gurley scattered five hits over a five-inning stretch and recorded four strikeouts as Rosewood turned back South Lenoir, 5-2, in non-conference play Wednesday. Ethan Chapin earned the save with two innings of one-hit, one-strikeout relief. Offensively, Chapin batted 2-for-3...

New Hanover claims regular-season sweep of Saints on baseball diamond

WILMINGTON -- Jacob Hollingsworth delivered two hits, scored two runs and stole two bases in Southern Wayne's 9-7, non-conference loss to New Hanover on Thursday evening. Dallas Graham contributed two hits and two RBI. Tyler Brock doubled and drove in...

Lane Tree Ladies Golf news

Mary Ann Sutton emerged as the game-of-the-week winner during the season-opening meet contested on the Lane Tree Golf Club links. Betty Jean Gurley seized low gross. Linda Watson captured low putts....

Preps digest: JV, middle schools news

JV * Baseball: C.B. Aycock 11, North Lenoir 3 -- Sophomore Bradley Pate batted 3-for-4 and Luke Frederick drove in a team-high three runs for the Golden Falcons. Freshmen Nick Aycock (RBI) and Blake Gipson cranked out two hits...

Jones shoots 81, Aycock finishes 2nd in ECC 3A/4A golf match

Brice Jones carded a team-low 81 and helped lead Charles B. Aycock to a second-place finish during the season-opening, Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference meet contested at Lane Tree Golf Club. Senior Noah West posted an 84. Mitchell Langston turned in...

Spring Creek softball team flexes muscle, hits two balls out of the park

SEVEN SPRINGS -- A preseason contender for the Carolina 1-A Conference regular-season softball title, Spring Creek flexed a little bit of its muscle Wednesday afternoon. Rachel McCollum and Alanna Price each drove a ball out of the park and eight...

Boxscore: Spring Creek-Eastern Wayne softball

Eastern Wayne 000 04 -- 4 5 6 Spring Creek 218 6x -- 17 11 2 Leading hitters: Eastern Wayne -- Trisha Bell 1-2; Emily Uzzell 1-2; Emily Newsome 1-2, RBI; Tamarria Smith 1-3, RBI; Jaela Parks 1-2, RBI. Spring...

Warner qualifies for east 3A regional in 100-meter dash

WINTERVILLE -- Three-time state champion Courtney Warner raced to first place finishes in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes during a three-team, Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference meet contested at South Central. Warner qualified for the east regional with a time...

Aycock's Mooneyham sets school record in 3,200

WINTERVILLE -- One week after tying the school record in the 3,200-meter run, Joseph Mooneyham finally became the soul owner of the mark Wednesday afternoon. Mooneyham completed the race in 10 minutes, 43 seconds. The Golden Falcons posted a 1-2-3...

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Boxscore: C.B. Aycock-N. Lenoir baseball

North Lenoir    001    001    0    --    2    5    0 C.B. Aycock    300    000    x    --    3    6    3 Leading hitters: North Lenoir -- Luke Jackson 1-4; Garrett Letchworth 1-3; Will Braxton 1-1, RBI; Allen Sutton 1-3; Orlando Cannon 1-3; Jacob...

Walnut Creek Ladies golf news

Hiromi Sueki emerged low gross winner during the season-opening Walnut Creek Ladies Golf Association tournament contested on the WCCC links. Faye Franklin and Gaye Bryant shared low net. Evelyn Rose secured low putts....

Cougar golfers fire team score of 318

Goldsboro posted a team-best score of 318 in a non-conference match on Tuesday afternoon. Matt Hall led the Cougars with an even-par 72. Ruben Quiroz shot a personal best 79, and Luke McAlduff shot a season-best 81. All five Cougars...

Harkay scores twice for Gators on soccer pitch

Madison Harkay scored twice and the Gators turned back non-conference foe South Lenoir, 3-0, on Tuesday. Griselda Vazquez added the third goal for Spring Creek. The Gators host Charles B. Aycock on Thursday at 5 p.m....

Bulldogs blank county rival S. Johnston

Beth Braswell turned in a two-hit performance as Princeton upended county rival South Johnston, 3-0, on Monday afternoon. Braswell had the Bulldogs' lone RBI. Taylor Carroll and Hailey Wood provided one hit apiece. Wood and Braswell combined for six strikeouts...

McCollum dominates in circle, belts HR

Rachel McCollum struck out 10 batters and hit a home run during Spring Creek's 9-1 throttling of Greene Central on Tuesday. Sarah Ford added two hits for the Gators. Sydney Ocker had a double and Rebecca Coor had a hit....

Rosewood nets pair of non-league wins

Rosewood won five of six singles matches and rolled over Wayne Christian 7-2 on Tuesday afternoon. Jordan Price set the tone with a three-set 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 victory over the Eagles' top-seeded Matt Jackson. Jake Smith and Chase Bartless swept...

Wayne Christian offense breaks loose in 5th inning

Wayne Christian broke the game open with a four-run outburst in the top of the fifth inning and went on to beat Arendell-Parrott Academy 14-6 in non-league action on Tuesday afternoon. Hunter Burt led the way with four hits, three...

Game of inches: Aycock slips past pesky North Lenoir

[email protected] PIKEVILLE -- One inch. That turned out to be all Charles B. Aycock's defense needed in a 3-2, non-conference triumph over North Lenoir at Charles Davis Field on Tuesday afternoon. Down 3-1, the Hawks put pressure on the Golden...

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Preps digest: Middle schools

Middle schools * Girls' softball: Grantham 21, Eastern Wayne 0 -- Mackenzie Bryan retired eight EW batters on strikeouts in a three-inning stint. Bryan singled and tripled at the plate. Teammate Amber Pfennig connected on a single and a...

Parrott Academy nets win over WCDS

KINSTON -- Sam Dively claimed Wayne Country Day's lone singles point in a season-opening, 7-1 loss to perennial 2-A independent power Arendell-Parrott Academy on Monday. Dively defeated the Pats' William Brechtalsbauer 7-5, 6-3. Preston Edwards, Hunter Hawkins, Lance Davis, Nolan...

Chargers struggle with runners in scoring position

Wayne Country Day struggled with runners in scoring position and dropped a 6-2 decision to former independent 1-A state champion Lawrence Academy on Monday afternoon. "We took too many good pitches yesterday and we have to be able to take...

Bethel Christian doubles up Faith Christian

KINSTON -- Faith Christian opened the conference portion of its N.C. Christian Schools Association 2-A schedule with a 10-5 loss to Bethel Christian on Monday afternoon. Landon Ginn scattered four hits and posted two strikeouts in a seven-inning stint. Richard...

Creech scores twice, Rams upend Spring Creek

Will Creech drove in two runs and Greene Central managed just four hits in a 5-3, non-conference triumph over Spring Creek at "The Swamp" on Monday afternoon. Creech, Bailey Ormond, Justin Lee and Tyler Jones each had a hit for...

New Hanover shuts out Southern Wayne in baseball

DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne managed three hits in a 10-0, non-conference loss to Mideastern 3-A/4-A Conference member New Hanover on Monday afternoon. Chase Horton, Carter Jones and Jack Casberro each had a hit for the Saints. Southern Wayne fell to...

Golden Falcons' softball team falls to Triton in 9 innings

PIKEVILLE -- Triton scored a pair of ninth-inning runs and handed Charles B. Aycock a season-opening, 3-1 loss on Monday evening. Sophomore Tanika Powell paced the Golden Falcons' offense with two hits. Connor Vinson, Mackenzie Wheeler (double), Maddie Walton, Allie...

Aycock's Johnson has 5-goal outing against Beddingfield

PIKEVILLE -- Sabrina Johnson notched a first-half hat trick and finished with five goals in Charles B. Aycock's season-opening, 8-0 thrashing of Wilson Beddingfield on Monday evening. Hannah Vernon, Ariel Stricklan and Kennedy Sherman each had one goal. Johnson dished...

EW's Brennan Dove has career day on soccer pitch

Brennan Dove punched in a career-high five goals, including two in the first five minutes, during Eastern Wayne's season-opening, 9-0 conquest of Goldsboro High on Monday afternoon. Dove also scored in the 20th, 46th, 62nd and 67th minutes. Megan Mozingo...

McKeel delivers 4 hits in Warriors' season-opening win

[email protected] If Andrew McKeel and his Eastern Wayne teammates were worried about not seeing enough live pitching before their first game on Monday afternoon, it sure didn't show. After weeks of cold weather that wreaked havoc on preseason preparation, the...

Monday, March 9, 2015

UMO earns at-large bid to Southeast Regional

By RUDY COGGINS [email protected] MOUNT OLIVE -- Conference officials, through conversations with the NCAA selection committee, assured Joey Higginbotham that his team had satisfied "body of work" criteria to earn a postseason bid. Higginbotham remained skeptical after his University...

North Greenville shocks Trojans in Conference Carolinas tournament final

MOUNT OLIVE -- Jordan McCain received the pass, lined up his feet and swished a game-tying 3-pointer that brought a pro-University of Mount Olive to its feet Sunday afternoon. Silence soon followed. North Greenville freshman guard Spencer Reaves gained possession...

UMO baseball completes conference sweep of Limestone

UMO Media Relations MOUNT OLIVE -- Justin Manning batted 2 for 3 and swatted a home run as No. 4-ranked University of Mount Olive pounded Conference Carolinas foe Limestone, 12-4, at Scarborough Field on Sunday afternoon. The Trojans swept the...

Trojans' Brite named league's player-of-the-year

[email protected] MOUNT OLIVE -- To the victors go the spoils. Regular-season champion University of Mount Olive captured three of Conference Carolinas' top four awards on the men's basketball scene this winter. Junior Dontrell Brite earned the player-of-the-year award, while Kendall...

WCDS diamond 9 defeat Faith Christian, Greenville Christian

GREENVILLE -- Wayne Country Day launched its 2015 campaign with a 13-0 triumph of county foe Faith Christian and 3-1 conquest of Greenville Christian on Saturday. Amane Godo delivered three hits and drove in two runs against Faith Christian....

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Preps digest: JV news

JV * Boys' basketball: Asheville Trailblazers 46, Goldsboro Heat 41 -- Josiah Simmons earned all-tournament accolades with 14 points as the Heat fell in semifinal-round play of the NCHEAC state tournament Friday. Gavin Portela contributed 10 points, five steals...

Moore's hot start carries Trojan men past Pfeiffer

[email protected] MOUNT OLIVE -- University of Mount Olive gave in-state rival Pfeiffer University a little "Moore" than it could handle Saturday afternoon. That's Mike Moore, to be exact. The junior forward pumped in a career-high 27 points as the No....

Boxscore: Rosewood-Riverside girls

2015 N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A East regional final (at Crown Arena, Fayetteville) Rosewood 10 12 16 9 -- 47 Riverside 26 16 14 11 -- 67 MARTIN RIVERSIDE (23-5) Takwana Bland 6 1 3-8 18, Sunterea Highsmith...

East 1A finals: Riverside wins rematch against Rosewood

[email protected] FAYETTEVILLE -- Lexi Mercer stood underneath the basket, hands on her hips and wondered what had just happened. After fouling out with 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Mercer and her teammates were left looking for answers. It...

Put Me In Coach: Etzler avoids any catastrophies during UMO men's volleyball practice

For the first time in my life, I walked into a gym completely and utterly clueless. Volleyball is a foreign sport to me. As far as my knowledge of sports goes, volleyball is somewhere between NASCAR and cricket. You want...

Wild pitch helps Aycock upend Rosewood

WILSON -- Ashton McGee scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch and Bobby Hampton recorded 12 strikeouts during Charles B. Aycock's 3-1 triumph over Rosewood during the Tobs Classic contested at historic Fleming Stadium. Scoreless through 21/2 innings, Lenoir-Rhyne...

Barwick doubles twice, Saints top Gators in season opener

DUDLEY -- Junior Hunter Barwick rapped out two doubles in a three-hit performance, sparking Southern Wayne to a season-opening, 7-5 win over Spring Creek on the Doyle Whitfield Athletic Complex diamond Saturday afternoon. Jack Casbarro (two RBI) and Chase Horton...

Boxscore: Eastern Wayne-Chapel Hill girls

2015 N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A Eastern semifinals (at Crown Coliseum, Fayetteville) Chapel Hill 17 4 19 17 -- 57 Eastern Wayne 8 17 11 11 -- 47 CHAPEL HILL (23-2) Tamia Eatmon 7 0 6-8 22, Helen...

East 3A semifinals: Defending state champ eliminates E. Wayne girls

[email protected] FAYETTEVILLE -- Jasmine Covington leaned over, wrapped her arms around teammate Tianna Christopher and hugged her. Christopher buried her tear-stained face in Covington's shoulder. Shontel Monk stared toward the back of the near-empty, silent press room. Megan Mozingo choked...

Friday, March 6, 2015

Trojans find extra incentive for men's conference tournament

[email protected] MOUNT OLIVE -- Nationally-ranked University of Mount Olive carries a target on its back and a chip on its shoulder heading into the Conference Carolinas final four Saturday. The top-seeded Trojans (27-2 overall) are hunted by three opponents --...

Eagles grind out upset of top-seeded Gates County

[email protected] FAYETTEVILLE -- Division I recruits Lexi Mercer and Kaila Ballard, who have combined to score more than 3,400 points during their respective prep careers, more than lived up to their billing Thursday evening. Each turned in a phenomenal performance...

Boxscore: Rosewood-Gates County girls

Rosewood    14    10    20    12    --    56 Gates County    13    9    17    15    --    54 ROSEWOOD (23-3) Lexi Mercer 11 2 7-8 35, Krystal Yelverton 5 0 1-1 11, Callie Thornton 0 0 0-0 0, Jordan DuBose 0 0 0-0...

Eastern Wayne girls hope there are no tears in Fayetteville

[email protected] During his time at Eastern Wayne, Phil Gray has been to three eastern regionals. "They've all ended with tears all over the place," Gray said. It's time for that to change. The top-seeded and unbeaten Warriors (26-0 overall) head...

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Rosewood girls scratch off one more goal

[email protected] LAKE WACCAMAW -- Wearing his normal backpack and holding a bottle of water, Rosewood head basketball coach Rick Grantham exited from the noisy locker room. He grinned once the creaking door closed and drowned out the celebration. Another goal...

Darkness falls, Rebels-Blue Devils play to 8-inning, 2-2 tie in softball

DEEP RUN -- North Duplin and perennial Class 2-A juggernaut South Lenoir played to a 2-2, non-conference tie after eight innings Wednesday evening. The lights at South Lenoir wouldn't work. Courtney Brock paced the Rebels' offense with two hits and...

Golden Falcons open season with loss to Fike

WILSON -- Charles B. Aycock launched its 2015 campaign with a season-opening, 8-1 non-conference loss to perennial Big East 3-A power Fike on Wednesday afternoon. The tandem of Chas Hooks-Allan Best claimed the Golden Falcons' lone point at No. 1...

CBA's Mooneyham ties school record in 3,200 run

WINTERVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock distance specialist Joseph Mooneyham emerged as the top finisher in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs contested during a three-team Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference meet at South Central on Wednesday afternoon. Mooneyham tied the school record...

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Boxscore: Rosewood-East Columbus girls

Rosewood 13 14 15 13 -- 55 East Columbus 16 13 9 11 -- 49 ROSEWOOD (22-3) Lexi Mercer 6 3 4-6 25, Krystal Yelverton 0 1 0-0 3, Callie Thornton 2 0 0-2 4, Hannah Daniels 3 0 1-2...

Role players spark Rosewood girls in 2nd half

[email protected] LAKE WACCAMAW -- Understudies hardly find the spotlight on the stage and their efforts are hardly recognized without any fanfare. Not this time. Rosewood's Hannah Daniels, Alyssa Garrison and Jala Holloman probably discovered some floor burns and bruises this...

Farmville Central denies Goldsboro's regional bid

[email protected] FARMVILLE -- Rasheen Artis had nothing left. No one looked more worn down by the physical and emotional toll of two nail-biting playoff games in 24 hours than the senior, whose last shot as a Goldsboro Cougar fell a...

Boxscore: Goldsboro-Farmville Central boys

Goldsboro 14 16 12 18 -- 60 Farmville Central 12 12 19 23 -- 56 GOLDSBORO (21-5) Rasheen Artis 6 1 1-1 16, Myron Carmon, 6 1 0-0 15, Joe Baker 1 0 2-2 4, Jaylin Thomas 6 0 0-0...

Boxscore: E. Wayne-Northwood girls

Northwood 18 8 12 18 -- 56 Eastern Wayne 13 13 15 19 -- 60 NORTHWOOD (22-6) Jazanae Billings 1 1 4-4 9, Bryn Aydt 3 0 0-0 6, Kristian Eanes 6 0 1-3 13, Jazmine Atkins 3 0 1-3...

Eastern Wayne girls outlast Northwood, headed to east 3A regional

[email protected] Naheria Hamilton emerged from post-game handshakes with tears welling up in her eyes. Whether it was from the happiness or the pain was unclear. All the tears and emotions had melded together. Just minutes before, Hamilton walked back onto...

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Eastern Wayne opens tennis season in victorious fashion

Eastern Wayne launched its 2015 season with a 6-3 triumph over South Central in the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference opener for both teams Monday afternoon. Ethan Quinn, Le Solomon, Gray Sasser and Walker Davis each prevailed in singles play...

Spring Creek's season ends in overtime

[email protected] SEVEN SPRINGS -- It's a play Spring Creek runs in practice almost every day. Four seconds on the clock. Tre Hammonds gets the inbounds pass, counts his steps and launches a 3-pointer. Sometimes, it's "bank." Sometimes, the teller window...

Boxscore: Spring Creek-South Creek boys

South Creek 15 16 8 22 14 -- 75 Spring Creek 13 11 14 23 7 -- 68 SOUTH CREEK (16-8) Aaron Little 3 4 5-6 23, Rondrell Andrews 4 0 1-6 9, Brandon Battle 0 4 0-1 12, Cole...

Boxscore: Rosewood-Plymouth girls

Plymouth 14 10 25 11 -- 60 Rosewood14 27 21 15 -- 77 PLYMOUTH (17-7) Janazia Dixon 2 0 4-14 8 Tyrah Currey 3 1 0-1 9 Marsaedees Carter 3 0 3-6 9 Daneya Rouson 6 0 0-1 12 Daijah...

Mercer starts slow, finishes with career-high 44 points

[email protected] At the end of the first quarter of Rosewood's second-round matchup with Plymouth, the Eagles were in trouble. Tied at 14, the Vikings had shut down the Eagles' high-paced offense and limited Lexi Mercer to just two points. Three...

Boxscore: E. Wayne-Jacksonville boys

Jacksonville 21 16 8 23 -- 70 Eastern Wayne 20 8 7 8 -- 43 JACKSONVILLE (19-6) Tavion Cooley 2 3 0-0 13, Davis Morgan 1 0 2-2 4, Jeffrey Jordan 4 0 6-8 14, Billy Bodette 5 0 3-3...

Boxscore: E. Wayne-C.B. Aycock girls

C.B. Aycock 10 12 17 17 -- 56 Eastern Wayne 20 21 19 14 -- 74 C.B. AYCOCK (18-8) Mookie Powell 3 0 2-6 8, Lexie Edmundson 0 0 3-4 3, Myleah Jones 6 0 9-16 21, Taylor Daniels 5...

Cardinals fly by Warrior boys

[email protected] The final 11/2 minutes summed up the night. Eastern Wayne had the ball and an open lane on a fast break. A pass was bobbled and trickled out of bounds. Then the Warriors stole the inbounds pass, but a...

No. 6-ranked Eastern Wayne girls oust C.B. Aycock

[email protected] After squeaking out victories in the first two games against their archrival Charles B. Aycock, Jasmine Covington and Eastern Wayne wanted to leave no doubt this time. A team that has become a slow starter late this season,...

Monday, March 2, 2015

Rosewood boys suffocate Roxboro Community's offense in 2nd half

ROXBORO -- Dennis Mitchell pumped in a team-high 18 points and Rosewood's second-half defense suffocated Roxboro Community, 59-45, in opening-round action of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A boys' basketball playoffs Saturday. The 17th-seeded Eagles (15-7 overall)...

Today's NCHSAA playoff basketball schedule

Round 2 -- Girls • 6 p.m. -- Plymouth (17-6) at Rosewood (20-3). Eagles seek fifth straight playoff win at home. • 6:30 p.m. -- C.B. Aycock (18-7) at Eastern Wayne (24-0). Warriors swept regular-season series and have won five...

Boxscore: E. Wayne-Cedar Ridge boys

Cedar Ridge 14 18 14 24 9 8 -- 87 E. Wayne 19 17 14 20 9 14 -- 93 CEDAR RIDGE (13-12) Peyton Pappas 8 0 21-24 37, Khalil Barnett 0 2 0-0 6, Marquez Hunter 4 0 3-6...

Warriors survive double-OT thriller against Cedar Ridge

[email protected] Micah Smith never once flashed the "tired" signal Sunday afternoon. He couldn't afford to spend a few precious seconds on the bench. Especially when frontcourt mate Malik Richard fouled out with two-plus minutes remaining in regulation. Smith, instead, took...