Byrd, EB boys dominate host track meet

The Cavalier boys collected four other event wins, once apiece from Kolby Byrd (shot put, 51’5”), Ossie Burkeen (110 hurdles, 15.92), Kendale Cook (300 hurdles, 45.94), and the 4x800 relay of Elijah Baker, Cavin Bishop, Marc Denton, and Grant Mauldin (9:28.31).

Kolby Byrd (discus), Burkeen (300 hurdles), Brady Bostain (shot put), and the 4x400 relay of Baker, Mauldin, Kendale Cook, and Daniel Cook all took second-place finishes.

The EB girls’ fifth-place effort included a first-place mark from Cadence Willis (3200 meters, 13:01.64) and a runner-up finish from Geraldine Ramos (shot put).

Freedom got a victory apiece from Ava Cooke (girls 400 meters, 1:04.55) and Tiras Walker (boys triple jump, 43’2”). Patton’s lone win came via Austin McGuire (boys 800 meters, 2:01.07), while the Panthers’ Charlotte Rigsbee and Gabe Wykle placed second in the girls and boys 3200 meters, respectively.

The Patriots this week then competed in a meet hosted by Alexander Central on Wednesday as Cooke (1:02.03) and Walker (42’1”) won the same two events. Freedom also picked up two wins from KeAndre Davis (boys long jump, 20’3½”; 200 meters, 23.33), who in addition took second in the 200 meters. Also placing second were Cooke (200 meters), Cynica Caldwell (girls 100 meters), and Emily Kania (girls 1600 meters), while Adarian Surratt was third in both the boys shot and discus.

Draughn and NCSSM-Morganton were also in action recently. The Wildcat boys and girls both placed third in a seven-team meet at Avery County on Tuesday.

Draughn winners included Ambria Blalock (girls 100 meters, 13.23), Lyrical Edwards (girls shot put, 26’7”), Jerome Ramseur (boys 110 hurdles, 17.10), and Ethan Miller (boys long jump, 18’6”). 

Finishing second for the Wildcats were  Edwards (girls discus), Ramseur (boys 300 hurdles), Miller (boys high jump), Bailey Mozeley (girls 100 hurdles), Maria Medrano (girls long jump), Audrey Pace (girls triple jump), Jakob Phillips (boys 1600 meters), and Tray Powell (boys 3200 meters).

And the Dragons participated in a meet at Foard on April 10, with Zoe James collecting NCSSM-Morganton’s lone win of the day in the girls 100 meters (13.98). Finishing second were Samantha Nosalek (girls long jump), Ava Hiatt (girls shot put), Jack Lyons (boys 400 meters), Lucas Nagel (boys 3200 meters), and Noah Lawrence (boys 110 hurdles) as well as the girls 4x400 and girls and boys 4x800 relays.

BASEBALL

McElyea scoreless streak continues

Two-time defending champion Draughn (14-2, 8-0) stayed in control of the Western Highlands 1A/2A Conference race by mowing down two more league foes, topping Rosman 7-0 on the road Tuesday after defeating Madison at home by a 6-3 margin on April 12.

The Wildcats’ latest win was dominated by senior right-handed starting pitcher Blake McElyea, who ran his scoreless innings streak to 41 this season and 45 total as he pitched his third complete game of the spring.

McElyea struck out 14 and allowed just two hits and a walk to run his record to 7-0 in seven appearances. He has struck out 71 batters and walked two.

Junior left-hander Tate Jensen, whose ERA is also under 1.00 for the season, provided the offensive highlights as he finished 3 for 4 with two doubles, two runs, and two RBIs. Jacob Mull (2 for 4, two runs, two RBIs, SB), Hunter Cody (two hits, SB), Griffin Stephens (run, RBI, SB), and Logan McGee (double, run) also paced the lineup.

In the team’s previous win, Draughn scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and never trailed as Jensen allowed two runs with 13 strikeouts in five innings and combined with Stephens (2 IP, 3 K) on a one-hitter. 

Jensen also connected on a solo home run, his county-best seventh of the season, and walked twice at the plate. Other hitting leaders included Cody (two hits, RBI, SB), Mull (run, RBI), McGee (two SBs, run), and Gavin Johnson (two runs).

East Burke (7-9, 6-5 Catawba Valley 2A Conf.) also won on April 12, taking down Newton-Conover at home, 9-4, but the Cavaliers followed with losses to league-leading Bandys at home Monday (7-0) and at Bunker Hill on Tuesday (3-2).

EB’s Gabe Wittenberg (three RBIs, SB) and Mason Mosteller (double, three runs) led the way with three hits apiece against the Red Devils, while Landon Shroyer and Barger Shook (triple, SB) scored twice each and Cannon Morrison drove in two runs.

Lefties Colt Butcher (4 IP, 0 ER, 3 K) and Shook (3 IP, 2 ER, 6 K) dominated from the mound. 

The Cavs managed only one hit against Bandys and fell behind 3-0 after an inning against the Bears and couldn’t recover. No more details were available from either game.

Patton (7-10, 2-5 Mountain Foothills 7 1A/2A Conf.) dropped two straight games against the top teams in its league and has now lost five of its last six after climbing above .500 briefly, and Freedom (3-14, 0-7 Northwestern 3A/4A Conf.) also lost its latest three.

The Panthers fell 12-1 against East Rutherford at home on April 12 and 10-0 in five innings at R-S Central on Tuesday. 

Patton and East were tied early until East plated seven runs in the top of the third. Cole Attaway had two hits, and Cohen Christian drove in Jace Duckworth with the tying run, while Christian (2 ER) and Brady Davis (3 ER, 3 K) pitched three innings each.

PHS’ Chandler Rutherford doubled at R-S, one of the team’s three total hits. Attaway (4 IP, 2 H, 4 K) was hurt by five errors behind him in the loss.

The Patriots fell 14-4 in five innings at Hibriten on April 12, 10-0 in six innings to Alexander Central at home April 13, and 16-6 to South Caldwell at home on Tuesday. No more details were available from those games.

SOFTBALL

Three county teams nab victories

The Lady Wildcats (12-5, 7-1 WHC) also held serve, staying in a tie with Owen atop the league after run-rule wins over Madison at home on April 12 (14-4 in six) and at Rosman on Tuesday (13-3 in five innings).

Draughn scored eight runs in the bottom of the second to blow things open and tacked on four more in the fourth against Madison.

Katie Hamm (CG, 2 ER, 3 K) shined in the pitcher’s circle, and Braylen Clontz (double, two runs, four RBIs) and Cydnee Deal (double, two runs, three RBIs) both had a team-high three hits. Also for Draughn, Maddie Crouch (two doubles, two RBIs, four SBs four runs), Ava Aldridge (two walks, two runs, RBI), and Laney Winebarger (run, three RBIs) added two hits apiece.

Draughn also enjoyed two big innings Tuesday, plating five runs in the third and six in the fourth. Hamm struck out six in a one-hitter, Winebarger (two runs) and Kadence Clontz (double, two runs, four RBIs) had three hits each, and Crouch finished 2 for 3 with a walk, triple, run, two RBIs, and two stolen bases.

In between the wins, Draughn also fell 10-0 Monday at nonconference McDowell as Clontz and Lindsey Hensley had the team’s only hits.

East Burke (8-9, 3-7 CVAC) also won two of its last three. The Lady Cavs trounced Newton-Conover 12-0 in five innings at home April 12, then lost 9-2 at Bunker Hill on Tuesday, but bounced back to avenge last week’s one-run home loss to Watauga with a 6-5 road triumph Thursday in Boone.

Grace Hammack (double, two runs, two RBIs, two SB), Kyndal Morrison (two doubles, two runs, SB), Amanda McLean (double), and Hayden Lowman (run, two RBIs) had two hits each against Newton, and Heaven Waycaster struck out three while yielding just two hits over all five innings.

Katherine Greene and Sarah Angel also scored two runs apiece, and Ally Boyette drove in a pair.

Morrison (2 for 4, double, two RBIs) led the way at the plate against Bunker, Angel scored twice, and Addy Fortenberry (5 IP, 4 ER, 4 K) started and pitched most of the way. 

EB led 2-1 early Thursday and held on as both teams scored four runs over a wild final two frames. No individual statistics were available.

Freedom (7-11, 2-5 NWC) also won big on April 12, taking down host Hibriten by a 12-0 margin before losses at Owen on Monday (2-0) and to league-leading South Caldwell at home Tuesday (16-0).

The Lady Patriots got big games from Abigayle Gibson (double, two runs, three RBIs), Lani Campbell (two hits, two runs), Daniell Robinson (single, two walks, two RBIs, three runs, SB), Kadence Ward (two walks, two runs), and Kaylee Skinner (two hits, three RBIs) to end last week, and Robinson (5 IP, 3 H, 4 K) tossed the shutout.

Campbell supplied two of FHS’ three total hits, and Robinson (6 IP, 2 ER, 5 K) was solid in pitching the whole way Monday before Robinson added two hits and Campbell doubled the next day against South.

And Patton (6-12, 2-5 MF7) lost three straight, 2-0 at East Rutherford on April 12, 7-0 at league-leading R-S Central on Tuesday, and 16-1 in four innings at West Lincoln on Wednesday.

Marleigh Carswell (6 IP, 0 ER, 7 K) kept Patton in the game against East, and Lindsey Devine’s double was the lone extra-base hit as part of PHS’ four total hits. Ellie Shuping, Kara Redwine, and Carswell each singled against R-S, with Carswell going the distance again and striking out three while allowing four earned runs, and Carswell drove in Katie Lail with Patton’s lone run Wednesday.

GIRLS SOCCER

NCSSM-M sets up showdown for 1st

NCSSM-Morganton (8-3-1, 7-1 WHC) ran its win streak to five and set up a showdown with Owen next week, as with another win, the first-year Lady Dragons can move into sole possession of first place late in the season. The Warlassies edged NCSSM-M, 1-0 in overtime, in the first meeting.

The Dragons’ recent hot stretch included wins over Draughn at home April 11 (3-0), versus Avery County on Monday (2-0), and versus Mountain Heritage on Wednesday (5-1). NCSSM-M was tied at the half in both games this week before outsourcing the opposition, 6-0. 

Colette Stokas (two goals, assist), Zoe James (goal, assist), and Sofia Poingue (assist) supplied the offense against the Wildcats; James (assist) and Lauren Yu added a goal apiece with Poingue adding another assist Tuesday; and Stokas had two goals and an assist, James, Yu, and Hannah Woodard had one goal each, and Anandamaya Verling had an assist against the Cougars.

Goalkeeper Mallory Newton earned shutouts in the first two contests and had three saves Wednesday.

East Burke (3-9, 3-5 CVAC) won twice – 1-0 at West Lincoln on April 11 and 3-0 at West Caldwell on Tuesday – before a 2-0 loss Thursday at Maiden.

The Lady Cavs got a goal each from Piper Chapman, Kalyiah Hill, Macy McNeil, and Ashley Hernandez in the wins, with Hernandez (two), McNeil, and Gracie Stamey adding assists. Keeper Cayden Robinson had 18 saves over the three contests, including 10 in her back-to-back clean sheets.

Freedom (6-6, 1-2 NWC) notched its first league win at Ashe County on Tuesday, 1-0, on a Malia Withrow goal assisted by Ana Angel Ortiz after a 2-0 home loss to South Caldwell on April 12.

Draughn (5-4-2, 2-4-1 WHC) and Owen battled to a scoreless tie Monday after regulation and two overtimes before the Lady Wildcats lost 5-2 at Avery County on Wednesday.

And Patton (4-8-1, 1-6 MF7) fell by 9-0 and 4-1 margins at first-place Hendersonville and Polk County, respectively, on April 11 and on Tuesday, with Lorely Tzul scoring PHS’ lone goal in that span and Michelle Beckmann posting 11 saves against the Wolverines.

BOYS TENNIS

Dragons (11-0) chasing perfection

NCSSM-Morganton is aiming for a second WHC title this spring and second tennis title this school year after the Lady Dragons won this fall.

Its two most recent victims were Avery County on Monday in Newland and Mountain Heritage at Freedom Park on Wednesday.

NCSSM-M (11-0, 8-0 WHC) did not drop a game over nine matches versus the Vikings, with six 6-0, 6-0 singles wins and three 8-0 doubles wins. They came from No. 1 Davin Hyche, No. 2 Julian Monzavifar, No. 3 Joshua Banchik, No. 4 Savith Tata, No. 5 Luke McManaman, No. 6 Logan Dellinger; and No. 1 Hyche/Tata, No. 2 Monzavifar/Banchik, and No. 3 McManaman/Dellinger.

Hyche then highlighted Wednesday’s win by dropping just one game in a straight-set No. 1 singles win.

East Burke (9-4, 5-2 CVAC) also got hot at season’s end, downing host Lincolnton 5-4 on April 12, West Lincoln 9-0 at home Monday, Bunker Hill 5-4 at home Wednesday, and host West Caldwell 9-0 on Thursday. That stretch included handing the Bears their first league loss and kept the Cavaliers’ NCHSAA 2A dual-team state playoff hopes alive, as the team had a chance to finish as high as a second-place tie.

EB’s Luke Borders won three times by 6-0, 6-0 margins at No. 1 singles and dropped just two total games in singles over the team’s four-match win streak, also going 2-0 in doubles matches. No. 6 Adan Lopez also won all four singles matches.

Patton (2-7, 2-5 MF7) defeated Brevard, 6-3, at home Wednesday as Jiarui Ji, Will Evans, and Ryan Maney won in both singles and doubles. The Panthers also fell 9-0 to Hendesonville on April 12 and 8-1 to R-S Central on Monday, with the No. 2 doubles team of Ji/Louie Skelly taking the lone win, 8-4.

Draughn (1-12, 1-7 WHC) lost 7-2 at South Caldwell on April 12 and 6-3 at home to Madison on Monday despite two singles and two two doubles wins from Corey Powell.

And Freedom (0-10 NWC) dropped matches at Watauga on Monday (8-1) and Alexander Central on Wednesday (7-0) as the No. 2 doubles team of Noah Hawkins/Phifer Settlemyer had the lone win in that span, 8-6.

BOYS GOLF

Bock takes 4th win, Freedom 5th

Senior Alex Bock earned medalist honors twice as Freedom won both NWC matches at Cedar Rock Country Club this week.

Bock shot a 3-under par 69 on Tuesday and 2-under 70 on Thursday to move to four individual wins in five total matches (all Freedom team wins) this spring. He’s also now 9-under through three 18-hole league matches.

The Patriots (300 on Tuesday; 312 on Thursday) won big both times to up their season-long advantage to a whopping 110 strokes.

FHS’ Lawson Biggerstaff shot 75 for third place Tuesday, and Braxton Reinhardt (77) and Michael Cates (79) also finished ninth or better before Biggerstaff shot 77, Reinhardt 81, and Colby Lackey 83 two days later.

East Burke’s Nick Newton also found red figures this week, carding a 2-under 69 at Lenoir Golf Club for CVAC 2A medalist honors on Monday. The Cavs were sixth as a team, also getting a 90 from Levi Coble and 96 from Mason Chapman.

And Draughn (181) placed fifth and NCSSM-Morganton (193) sixth in a WHC nine-hole match Monday at Silver Creek Golf Club. The Wildcats were led by Dylan Rhoney and Malachi Silver’s matching 44s, while Cash Baker shot 45 and Emery Clark 48. The Dragons’ scoring included: Jai Yalla (47), Lawson Taylor (48), Wenimar Salvador (48), and Judson Ohmstead (50).

LACROSSE

Patton teams play two matches 

The Panthers (0-10) and Lady Panthers (0-11) remained winless for 2024 as the girls lost 9-4 at Asheville on Tuesday and 17-3 at home versus Hickory on Thursday, and the boys lost 22-1 to Asheville on Tuesday. Individual statistics for both teams as well as Thursday’s boys final score were unavailable at press time.

Paul Schenkel can be reached at 828-445-8595 or paul@thepaper.media.