Saturday, May 31, 2008

Congrats to the Mount Olive Trojans

Mount Olive College, located in eastern North Carolina in southern Wayne County, captured its first ever national championship in any sport on Saturday afternoon. The Trojans' baseball team, directed by 32-year head coach Carl Lancaster, defeated Oachita Baptist (Ark.), 6-2, at Sauget, Ill. to claim the ultimate prize.

Before I moved back to Shelby, I worked for the Goldsboro News-Argus and had the pleasure of covering my fair share of Mount Olive games. I was also at the Trojans' Scarborough Field a lot in the summer as the Wayne County Post 11 American Legion squad played their home games at that venue.

With almost 700 wins, Lancaster is one of the best in the business and was always great to work with. I have to admit, it was awesome turning on the TV today and recognizing the familiar faces of players I covered in high school and at MOC like Erik Lovett, Jesse Lancaster and Airlon Vinson.

Great job Trojans ... live it up!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Live from Forbush at Shelby

The teams are about to kickoff the 2A Western final at Blanton Stadium. Here are the starting lineups ... I'll have updates every 10 minutes - or when there is a goal.

Shelby
Megan Cantu
Lauren Burton
Blair Jaynes
Morgan McDaniel
Maggie McDaniel
Courtney Nickle
Danielle Brinton
Sara Horn
Anna Keeley
Patience Smith
GK - Julia Kiser

Forbush
Bella Cochran
Katelynd Caudle
Kelly Wood
Lindsay Lineberry
Krystle Mathews
Laticia Patino
Audrey Niemeyer
Kayla Cline
Jessica Baity
Cari Beck
GK - Courtney Phillips

First half
Three minutes in, Shelby's Maggie McDaniel scores from the right wing with a shot into the far left corner past Forbush goalie Courtney Phillips to make it 1-0.

10 minutes in - Forbush is winning its fair share of balls in the middle of the field, but the Lions have yet to break down deep in the defensive third of the field. Forbush has one corner kick.
Shelby's McDaniel posted another shot on goal near the 10 minute mark, which was saved by Phillips.

20 minutes in - The Falcons are outshooting the Lions, but most of their shots have been from long range and easily collected by Julia Kiser or wide of the goal. Shelby's Blair Jaynes just made a nice defensive play to poke a ball out of bounds to force a corner kick.

Forbush's Jessica Baity scores two goals within about a two-minute stretch to give the Falcons a 2-1 margin. Baity was open in the middle of the field on both goals as Forbush is doing a solid job of working the ball around the Shelby defense and midfield.

Audrey Niemeyer scores for Forbush about 25 minutes into the match to make it 3-1. The ball got through the Shelby defense as Niemeyer had a 1 vs. 1 with the keeper.

Shelby's midfield and defense has turned in improved play over the past few minutes and helped fuel several deep attacks by the Lions. Maggie McDaniel just had a shot saved by Phillips as the score remains 3-1 in favor of Forbush.

I'm headed down to the field for the last few minutes of the first half, and I'll be back with some first half stats.

Forbush goalie Courtney Phillips made a flurry of saves in a wild sequence. First, she made a diving save on a penalty kick by Danielle Brinton, then saved the follow shot out of bounds. On the ensuing corner kick, Phillips dove to save a header by Patience Smith to force another corner.

First half score - Forbush 3, Shelby 1

Stats: Shots - Forbush 15, Shelby 13; Shots on frame - Forbush 8, Shelby 5; Saves - Phillips 7; Kiser 2.

Second half under way at 6:54 p.m.
Shelby gets two early corner kick and seems to have found more of a rhythm all over the field against a stout opponent. Patience Smith had a near miss on a cross from Morgan McDaniel five minutes into the half.

A little over 15 minutes into the half, Shelby still trails, 3-1. Both teams have had a handful of deep attacks but both defenses are doing a solid job of recovering.

Shelby continues to turn in improved play all over the field in the middle stages of the second half, but can't break through against the Falcons' defense to get within striking distance.

Julia Kiser with a nice save from close range on a 1 vs. 1 against Kelly Wood to force a corner kick with just about five minutes left.

Niemeyer boots in her second goal with a leftfooted shot from the corner to make it 4-1. Niemeyer had very little angle on the shot but still found a way to get it past Kiser.

Final score - Forbush 4, Shelby 1. The story on this game will be available online at www.shelbystar.com later tonight.

Forbush will face either Cardinal Gibbons or Kill Devil Hills First Flight in the State Championship Saturday in Raleigh.

Blogging from Forbush at Shelby soccer

I'll have a live blog today at the 2A Western final match between Shelby and Forbush at Blanton Stadium. Game time is 6 p.m. The winner advances to Saturday's State Championship in Raleigh ... the Lady Golden Lions are looking for their second straight trip to the title game.

Halves are 40 minutes long, and I'll try to have updates at least every 10 minutes - or when someone scores.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Live from Shelby at Hibriten

dBA little late getting things set up, but I'll be posting updates from Shelby High's third round playoff game at Hibriten High.

Top 1st - Brett Mabry just crushed a two-run home run to left to give SHS a 2-0 lead against Hibriten starter Bryan Tuttle. Tuttle gets two straight outs to end the inning.
Shelby 2, Hibriten 0

Bottom 1st - Lefthander and Wingate signee Andrew White on the mound on two-days rest for the Golden Lions. Hibriten strikes for three runs on four hits with Joel Woods providing an RBI double and Trent Reynolds bringing in one with an infield single. The Panthers get an unearned run when a ball was misplayed on a force out attempt at 2nd, allowing a runner to score. White escapes further damage when Ben Huff cuts down a runner trying to steal third for the second out, then White picks off a runner at first for the third out.
Hibriten 3, Shelby 2

Top 2nd - Shelby goes down 1, 2, 3
Hibriten 3, Shelby 2

Bottom 2nd - Jon Easton leads off by reaching on an error, then Matt Edwards follows with a single to right to chase White from the game. SHS head coach Tommy Wease calls on righty submarine-style pitcher Andrew Harnage in relief. Edwards looked to be caught at second on a fake throw to third pickoff attempt, but he was ruled safe. Tuttle is hit by a pitch to load the bases, then Thomas Mabe knocks in Easton with a sacrifice fly to make it 4-2 with one out. Harnage escapes further damage by recording two straight outs.
Hibriten 4, Shelby 2

Top 3rd - Austin Trice reaches on a one-out single, but Tuttle records two straight outs to get out of the inning unscathed.
Hibriten 4, Shelby 2

Bottom 3rd - Shelby commits three errors, leading to an unearned run. Howard scores from third to make it 5-2 when Harnage fields a squeeze bunt attempt but throws wildly to the plate.
Hibriten 5, Shelby 2

Top 4th - Shelby strands K.J. Dotson and Ben Huff are left at 2nd and 3rd. Dotson reached on an error and Huff reached on a bunt single. Cody Whisnant lines out sharply to third for the third out.
Hibriten 5, Shelby 2

Bottom 4th - Hibriten held scoreless for the first time tonight as Harnage pitches around two hits to get out of the inning with no damage.
Hibriten 5, Shelby 2

Top 5th - Mabry flies out to deep left for the third out with a runner on base (Julian Bridges, walk) for the third out as Tuttle has three-hitter through five.
Hibriten 5, Shelby 2

Bottom 5th - Trent Reynolds reaches on a single to center to chase Harnage from the game. Cody Whisnant on in relief for SHS. Mabry catches a pop fly in shallow right, then turns and guns down Brad Banks trying to tag and reach second for the 2nd out. Whisnant fans Tuttle for the 3rd out.
Hibriten 5, Shelby 2

Top 6th
Ryan Duncan and Ben Huff post back-to-back doubles as Huff knocks in Darren Fowler (pinch-running for Duncan at 2nd) to make it 5-3. Tuttle gets Whisnant to pop to 2nd for the 3rd out.
Hibriten 5, Shelby 3

Bottom 6th
Thomas Mabe singles to right and Billy Copper draws a walk as Wease pulls Whisnant and comes with lefty K.J. Dotson in relief. Joel Woods (1B, RBI) and Jack Howard (2B, 2 RBI) post consecutive hits to put the home team up 8-3. Dotson recovers to record three straight outs, including two strikeouts, to escape further damage.
Hibriten 8, Shelby 3

Top 7th
Austin Huffstetler drives in Austin Trice, who doubled, to make it 8-4. Tuttle goes on to strike out the side to finish off the win.
Final score, Hibriten 8, Shelby 4

Friday, May 2, 2008

Live from South Point at Crest

It's Senior Night here at Crest and the pregame ceremony to honor the 2008 graduating class is under way. The Chargers' seniors are Kyle Kendrick, Corey Cline, Adam McFarland, Patrick Allen and Blake Fitch.

Here are tonight's starting lineups for this crucial Big South 3A/4A Conference finale:

South Point
1. Jordan Edgerton, 3B
2. Ryan Honeycutt, SS
3. Zach Horne, P
4. Chris Lane, CF
5. Weston Lawing, 1B
6. Cam Evans, DH - Evans DHing for Daniel Rogers, LF
7. Matt Darnell, 2B
8. Chris Harkey, LF
9. Nick Demarsico, C

Crest
1. Kyle Kendrick, C
2. Corey Cline, SS
3. Jacob Tisdale, P
4. Adam McFarland, 3B
5. Jordan Harris, 2B
6. Caleb Clark, DH - Clark DHing for Blake Fitch, RF
7. Jonathan Cooper, 1B
8. Patrick Allen, LF
9. Julian Ridings, CF

Game updates
Top 1st - Jordan Edgerton starts the game with a single to right. Ryan Honeycutt bunts Edgerton over to second with a sacrifice for the 1st out. Zach Horne flys out to left for the 2nd out. Chris Lane (to center) and Weston Lawing (to left) post back-to-back home runs to put South Point up 3-0. Cam Evans added a single before Matt Darnell grounds out to second for the 3rd out.
South Point 3, Crest 0

Bottom 1st - South Point lefthander Zach Horne strikes out the side in the top of the first. On all three "K's," Red Raider catcher Nick Demarsico scooped up the last strike out of the dirt and fired to first for the putout.
South Point 3, Crest 0

Top 2nd - Edgerton provides a two-out single before Honeycutt flys out to right to end the inning. Tisdale recorded his first strikeout for the first out.
South Point 3, Crest 0

Bottom 2nd - Caleb Clark reaches on a two-out, infield single, then Horne gets Jonathan Cooper to fly out to center to end the inning.
South Point 3, Crest 0

Top 3rd - Lawing reaches on a single to left, then Cam Evans flys out to left to end the inning.
South Point 3, Crest 0

Bottom 3rd - Patrick Allen draws a walk to open the inning. Horne records his fifth strikeout before getting two outfield flyouts to end the inning.
South Point 3, Crest 0

Top 4th - Nick Demarsico singles in Matt Darnell to make it 4-0. Darnell reached on wild pitch after the third strike, then raced to third on a throwing error on Chris Harkey's sacrifice bunt. Horne helps his cause with a grand slam to left centerfield to push the Red Raider lead to 8-0. Harkey, Demarsico and Edgerton scored on the blast.
South Point 8, Crest 0

Bottom 4th - Crest gets on the board as Jordan Harris singles to right center to bring in Tyler Wray to make it 8-1. Wray was running for the pitcher Tisdale, who started the inning with a double to left center.
South Point 8, Crest 1


Top 5th - Darnell and Harkey post singles to right with one out and Demarsico sacrifices Darnell to third, but Tisdale escapes any damage in the inning as Edgerton flys out to center.
South Point 8, Crest 1

Bottom 5th - Julian Ridings singles to right, then Kyle Kendrick follows with a single to right. Kendrick makes a wide turn at first, and gets caught in a rundown between first and second for the third out.
South Point 8, Crest 1

Top 6th - Sophomore Jay Robinson in on the mound for Crest. South Point tacks on three unearned runs including two on an infield error with two outs. Honeycutt, Derek Treffinger and Chris Lane score in the inning to make it 11-1. Robinson strikes out the side.
South Point 11, Crest 1

Bottom 6th - Crest goes down 1,2,3 in the sixth. Horne finishes with 9 strikeouts in a complete game effort.
Final score - South Point 11, Crest 1

Crest will now turn around and play East Gaston Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Ashbrook High with the No. 1 4A playoff berth from the Big South Conference at stake. If the game is rained out, the Chargers will play East Gaston at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Ashbrook. Both East and Crest will make the state playoffs regardless of the outcome.

South Point finished in a tie for the top 3A spot with Forestview. On Thursday, the Red Raiders won a coin flip that gives the Red Raiders the right to choose either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed.

Blogging tonight from South Point at Crest baseball

I'll be posting live updates from tonight's South Point at Crest baseball game.

Here's the Gaston Gazette's Phil Gardner's story on the tiebreaking process heading into tonight's battle.

Should any Big South 3A/4A baseball teams finish in a tie for playoff berths, the conference has a plan.
Crest can lock up the No. 1 4A playoff spot from the conference with a win over the Red Raiders.
If Crest loses to South Point tonight, East Gaston and Crest would face each other 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Ashbrook for the league’s top 4A playoff seed. The rainout date would be 7 p.m. Tuesday at Ashbrook.
If South Point beats Crest tonight, forcing a first-place tie with Forestview, no tiebreaking game will be held for the top 3A playoff seed.
South Point on Thursday won a coin flip that gives the Red Raiders the right to choose either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed should they finish in a tie with Forestview.
Hunter Huss can wrap up the league’s third and final 3A playoff spot with a win at Ashbrook tonight. If the Huskies lose, though, they would tie North Gaston for the playoff spot, requiring a tiebreaking game between the two. That game, if needed, has been scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at Hunter Huss, with a rain date set for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Hunter Huss. The Huskies won a coin flip for the right to host the game.