Madison freshman Savannah Rice.

Sixteen and counting.

As of Friday, Madison has the longest active winning streak in Western North Carolina softball.

The Western Highlands Conference champions polished off visiting Polk County, 6-5, in the second round of the NCHSAA 2-A playoffs in Marshall.

As was the case in the teams’ previous two meetings, the final score was decided by one run.

Likewise, Patriots freshman Savannah Rice was the winning pitcher once again. The right-hander threw a complete game, scattering five earned runs, three hits and a walk. Rice had three strikeouts.

She was also 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs for Madison (22-1). Ashley Hamlin went 2-3 with an RBI and Alexis Nix went 2-4.

Brooke Vilcinskas and Alexis Baker also had doubles. Sabrina Moorefield added an RBI. The Patriots took the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Patriots are a No. 3 seed in the 2-A playoffs and will be back home Tuesday to face sixth-seeded West Wilkes (23-3).

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Brevard junior Joseph Schrader won the NCHSAA 2-A tennis championship Saturday in Apex.

APEX – Second place wasn’t going to cut it a third time for Brevard junior Joseph Schrader.

The two-time defending Citizen-Times All-WNC Player of the Year finally got his first career state championship Saturday at Middle Creek Park. Schrader shook off some early nerves to topple Ryen Reid of Newton-Conover, 6-7, 6-1, 6-2, in the finals of the NCHSAA 2-A singles tournament.

Schrader had been a state runner-up in 2014 and 2015.

“I was really nervous and I started out the match with the wrong mindset,” Schrader said.

“I wasn’t really focused about taking it point-by-point. I was thinking to myself that this is the state final and I definitely don’t want to lose again. I regrouped and took care of business.”

Schrader lost the first set tiebreaker, 7-2.

Earlier on Saturday, he had breeze through a semifinal match with Depei Yu of the N.C. School for Science and Math in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.

Schrader came into the two-day state tournament with a 14-0 record after previously winning 2-A Western Regional and Western North Carolina Athletic Conference championships.

“It’s an awesome feeling. I’ve been waiting three years for this,” Schrader said.

“I feel like I definitely played really well on Friday. (Saturday) was good, but there was definitely some stuff that needed improving.”

Schrader was joined on the 2-A all-state team by Brevard’s doubles pairing of Cameron Wilson and Liam Baer.

More from the NCHSAA:

2A Individual Men’s Tennis Championships conclude: Carrboro duo, Brevard’s Schrader take titles

APEX, N.C. – The North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s 2A Individual Men’s Tennis Championships concluded with a fantastic final two rounds at Middle Creek Park in Apex. The Carrboro pair Brian Freiburghouse and Jason Wykoff clinched the doubles title while Joseph Schrader from Brevard captured the singles championship.

After falling in their opening set of the day in a semifinal match against Liam Baer and Cameron Wilson from Brevard, Freiburghouse and Wykoff did not lose another set on the day. The pair responded in the next two sets with 6-1 and 6-3 wins to down Baer and Cameron and advance to the finals. The Jaguar duo then swept straight sets from Spencer Storey and David Derrick from Salisbury in the Championship round, winning 6-2 and 6-3 respectively.

Joseph Schrader lost a tie-breaker in the first set of the Championship round, 7-2 in the tie-breaker before regrouping to knock off Newton-Conover’s Ryen Reid. Schrader played with laser-like focus in the final two sets, winning the second set 6-1 and the decisive third set 6-2. His semifinal round match with Depei Yu from NCSSM was a straight-set victory, 6-2 and 6-4.

2A Tennis Singles 

Friday, May 13, 2016

at Cary Tennis Park

First Round

Thomas McCorkle (Central Academy) def. Jack Brady (First Flight), 5-7, 6-3, 6-2

Ryen Reid (Newton-Conover) def. Nick Kuzma (NCSSM) 6-1, 6-0

Landon Church (West Wilkes) def. Drake Lanier (East Duplin), 6-0, 6-2

Zach Anderson (Carrboro) def. Kenji Price (Shelby), 6-2, 2-6, 6-4

Depei Yu (NCSSM) def James Mabry (Shelby), 6-0, 6-0

Brett Moore (West Davidson) def. Nailah Ortega (Greene Central), 6-1, 6-3

Joseph Schrader (Brevard) def. Andre Javen (Carrboro), 6-0, 6-0

Ethan Elliott (West Stokes) def. Cole Bryant (East Duplin) 4-6, 7-6(9-7), 6-3

Second Round

Ryen Reid (Newton-Conover) def. Thomas McCorkle (Central Academy) 6-1, 6-0

Zach Anderson (Carrboro) def. Landon Church (West Wilkes) 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-5)

Depei Yu (NCSSM) def. Brett Moore (West Davidson), 6-2, 6-2

Joseph Schrader (Brevard) def. Ethan Elliott (West Stokes) 6-0, 6-0

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Semifinals

at Middle Creek Park

Ryen Reid (Newton-Conover) def. Zach Anderson (Carrboro) 6-0, 6-1

Joseph Schrader (Brevard) def. Depei Yu (NCSSM) 6-2, 6-4

Championship

Joseph Schrader (Brevard) def. Ryen Reid (Newton-Conover) 6-7 (2-7), 6-1, 6-2

 

2A Tennis Doubles 

at Cary Tennis Park

First Round

Holt McKeithan & Ben McKeithan (Washington) def. Seth Whitley & Tyler Mills (Forest Hills) 6-4, 6-1

Vishal Naik & Mrinaj Janampalli (NCSSM), BYE

Spencer Storey & David Derrick (Salisbury) def. Zach Pagnani & Mac Skillen (Washington) 6-0, 6-4

Ashvin Warrier & Tejas Dalvi (NCSSM) def. Aaron Hamm & Henry Cox (Newton-Conover) 6-3, 6-1

Brian Freiburghouse & Jason Wykoff (Carrboro) def Will Clifton & Griffen Benfield (Shelby) 6-0, 6-1

Trey Speight & Austin Eury (West Stanly) def. Mitchell Wright & John Guarino (Croatan) 6-2, 6-3

Liam Baer & Cameron Wilson (Brevard), BYE

Koty Wojeski & Julian Quintero (Kinston) def. Hunter Jordan & Dakota Massucco (Wilkes Central) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

Second Round

Holt McKeithan & Ben McKeithan (Washington) def. Vishal Naik & Mrinaj Janampalli (NCSSM) 7-5, 6-3

Spencer Storey & David Derrick (Salisbury) def. Ashvin Warrier & Tejas Dalvi (NCSSM) 3-6, 7-5, 6-2

Brian Freiburghouse & Jason Wykoff (Carrboro) vs. Trey Speight & Austin Eudy (West Stanly) 6-1, 6-1

Liam Baer & Cameron Wilson (Brevard) vs. Koty Wojeski & Julian Quintero (Kinston) 6-1, 6-0

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Semifinals

at Middle Creek Park

Spencer Storey & David Derrick (Salisbury) def. Holt McKeithan & Ben McKeithan (Washington) 6-2, 7-6 (7-2)

Brian Freiburghouse & Jason Wykoff (Carrboro) def. Liam Baer & Cameron Wilson (Brevard) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3

Championship

Brian Freiburghouse & Jason Wykoff (Carrboro) def. Spencer Storey & David Derrick (Salisbury) 6-2, 6-3

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Courtney Pearson pitched Enka to a 13-1 win in Saturday’s second round of the NCHSAA 3-A softball playoffs in Candler.

CANDLER – Enka softball players had a strict curfew on prom night.

And they were up bright and early the morning after for a session in the batting cages. None of this surprises senior Courtney Pearson, not even remotely.

“Whether there was a curfew or not, everyone would have done what their supposed to,” Pearson said.

“It’s great to have fun at the prom, but we all know what’s most important.”

The Sugar Jets definitely looked to be on the same page Saturday. They showed no ill effects from the social outing the night before. On the contrary, the defending state champs plated six first-inning runs to rout Reynolds, 13-1, in the second round of the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs.

Payton Trantham’s grand slam in the fifth inning ended the third game of the season between the two Mountain Athletic Conference teams.

Fifth-seeded Enka (20-3) will be back home either Tuesday or Wednesday against No. 13 Cox Mill (19-6) out of Concord.

“It’s about time our bats woke up,” Sugar Jets coach Jennifer Kruk said.

“We still left some baserunners out there, but a lot of kids stepped up today. We’ve been working on some things with our hitting and the girls have taken it to heart.”

The top of Enka’s order got the job done. Leadoff Kloyee Anderson and No. 2 batter Claire Crout each had three hits. Trantham, Danielle Harris, Mariah Foxworth and Whitney Fletcher added two apiece.

Fletcher’s two-run double was the biggest blow in the first inning. Crout and Addison Harris also contributed two RBIs each. Trantham’s grand slam was the fourth homer of the season for the Sugar Jets third baseman. She turned on an inside fastball to trigger the 10-run mercy rule.

“Starting the game the way we did gave everyone some confidence,” Trantham said.

“It means a lot to know we’re going to be home again (for the third round). We love our fan support.”

Pearson carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning and struck out five Rockets (15-7). The last of those strikeouts came with the bases loaded in the top of the fifth.

Pinch hitter Jessica Utter drove in Reynolds’ only run with an RBI single in the fourth inning. Cami McLaughlin, Maitland Moore and Callie Harris also had singles.

“The bottom line is you can’t give a good team as many runs as we did today,” Rockets coach Larry Brow said.

“You have to play flawless ball to beat a team like Enka. It was a great year for us, especially our seniors. We’ve won 60-something games together and we wish them the best.”

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Scoreboard

Coaches, please report your scores by calling (828) 232-5863. Box scores may also be e-mailed to apearson@citizen-times.com.

BASEBALL

Smoky Mountain 19, East Lincoln 15

Shelby Crest 4, North Henderson 3

SOFTBALL

Enka 13, Reynolds 1

Brevard 11, East Burke 3

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Satorrius Uddyback and Asheville High won the 3-A Western Regional boys championship on Saturday at Reynolds.

Note: The top-four athletes in each event qualify for next week’s state meets in Greensboro.

4-A Western Regional track meet

BOYS

Team scores (WNC teams)

16. Roberson 19.

Individual results (WNC athletes in top-four)

Discus – 3. Pete Szelwach (TCR) 145-10.

Triple jump – 4. E.J. King (TCR) 44-5

Pole vault – 2. Jacob Davis (TCR) 13-6.

GIRLS

Team scores (WNC teams)

2. Roberson 77.

Individual results (WNC athletes in top-four)

Long jump – 1. Michelle Cobb (TCR) 18-1; 2. Elyse King (TCR) 17-11.

Triple jump – 1. Michelle Cobb (TCR) 38-8; 3. Elyse King (TCR) 37-1.

Pole vault – 1. Chesley Krug (TCR) 11-0.

800-meter run – 1. Elise Wright (TCR) 2:19.54; 4. Ashlyn Blakely (TCR) 2:21.06.

1,600-meter relay – 2. Roberson 4:03.46.

3,200-meter relay – 1. Roberson 9:28.67.

3-A Western Regional track meet

Saturday at Reynolds

BOYS

Team scores

1. Asheville 107.5; 2. Ashbrook 87; 3. Reynolds 67.5; 4. North Henderson 52; 5. North Buncombe 40; 6. Tuscola 38; 7. East Henderson 35; 8. Patton 33.5; 9. (tie) Hibriten, West Henderson and Forestview 26; 12. St. Stephens 23; 13. Hickory 21.5; 14. (tie) Enka and East Gaston 18; 17. (tie) South Point and North Gaston 12; 19. Crest 11; 20. (tie) Freedom and Burns 10; 22. (tie) Erwin and Foard 4; 24. Pisgah 3.

Individual results (WNC athletes in top-four)

Discus – 4. Bradley Barham (WH) 136-0.

Shot put – None.

High jump – 1. Blake Mathews (NB) 6-3; 4. Sean Jones (ACR) 6-2.

Long jump – 1. Sean Jones (ACR) 21-7; 2. Miguel Lammons (NH) 21-7.

Triple jump – 1. Satorrius Uddyback (Ash) 44-8; 2. Tucker Evans (Ash) 42-3.75; 3. Joe Napert (Tus) 42-3.

Pole vault – 1. Josh Glynn (EH) 13-6; 2. Spencer Shade (ACR) 13-0; 4. Logan Anderson (NB) 12-6.

110-meter hurdles – 2. Caleb Ferguson (Tus) 15.26; 4. Patrick Johnston (ACR) 15.63.

300-meter hurdles – 4. Patrick Johnson (ACR) 41.36.

100-meter dash – 2. James McGee (ACR) 10.96.

200-meter dash – 1. James McGee (ACR) 22.43; 3. Satorrius Uddyback (Ash) 22.78.

400-meter dash – 3. James McGee (ACR) 51.36.

800-meter run – 1. Noah Shore (Ash) 1:59.70; 2. Sage Turner (En) 2:01.51; 3. Terry Young (Ash) 2:01.96; 4. Dylan Shamburger (WH) 2:02.49.

1,600-meter run – 1. Noah Shore (Ash) 4:27.72; 2. Sage Turner (En) 4:29.73; 3. Davis Turner (Ash) 4:31.60; 4. Dylan Shamburger (WH) 4:32.64.

3,200-meter run – 2. Noah Shore (Ash) 9:57.04; 3. Jacob Franklin (Tus) 9:57.75; 4. Haven Honeycutt (Ash) 9:58.51.

400-meter relay – 2. Asheville 43.74; 3. North Henderson 44.15.

800-meter relay – 4. North Buncombe 1:33.08.

1,600-meter relay – 1. North Buncombe 3:26.71; 4. North Henderson 3:33.57.

3,200-meter relay – 1. Asheville 8:22.15; 2. North Henderson 8:23.80; 3. North Buncombe 8:31.54.

GIRLS

Team scores

1. Ashbrook 122; 2. Reynolds 115; 3. West Henderson 66; 4. North Buncombe 50; 5. Tuscola 46; 6. Pisgah 36; 7. Erwin 33; 8. (tie) South Point and East Gaston 28; 10. St. Stephens 24; 11. (tie) East Henderson and Hibriten 20; 13. Kings Mountain 18; 14. Freedom 17; 15. North Henderson 16; 16. Hickory 14; 17. (tie) Burns and Crest 12; 19. Asheville 10; 20. Enka 6; 21. (tie) Patton and Fred T. Foard 3.

Individual results (WNC athletes in top-four)

Discus – 2. Bre Myers (NB) 97-6.

High jump – 1. Madison Conner (WH) 5-1; 3. Rachel Fender (En) 4-10; 4. Shelby Voss (ACR) 4-10.

Long jump – 2. Rebecca Schlotterbec (ACR) 17-0.25; 4. Sha’Jaia Grant (Er) 15-10.

Triple jump – 1. Rebecca Schlotterbec (ACR) 35-10; 2. Sha’Jaia Grant (Er) 33-4.5; 4. Kendall Gilliam (WH) 33-2.5.

Pole vault – 1. Delaney Taylor (NB) 10-0; 2. Maria Alamo-Worley (NB) 9-6; 3. Sydney Morgan (EH) 9-6; 4. Rylee Williamson (Pis) 8-6.

100-meter hurdles – 2. Anu Frempong (ACR) 15.86; 3. Samantha Ward (EH) 16.59; 4. Gracie Tate (WH) 16.78.

300-meter hurdles – 2. Rylee Williamson (Pis) 48.58; 3. Anu Frempong (ACR) 48.65; 4. Gracie Tate (WH) 48.65.

100-meter dash – 4. Callie Rhea (NB) 12.76

200-meter dash – 2. Odyssey Gaines (NH) 26.27.

400-meter dash – 2. Lilly Blankenship (EH) 1:00.07.

800-meter run – 1. Anna Vess (ACR) 2:15.57; 2. Brooke Turner (Tus) 2:16.94; 3. Naomi Cartier (Ash) 2:19.57; 4. Colbie Williamson (Pis) 2:25.19.

1,600-meter run – 1. Anna Vess (ACR) 5:20.75; 2. Brooke Turner (Tus) 5:20.87.

3,200-meter run – 1. Anna Vess (ACR) 12:08.41; 2. Lydia Cagle (Tus) 12:08.55; 3. Emma Himelein-Wachowiak (ACR) 12:16.53.

400-meter relay – 2. West Henderson 50.92; 3. Erwin 51.21; 4. Reynolds 51.54.

800-meter relay – 2. West Henderson 1:48.26; 4. Reynolds 1:51.78.

1,600-meter relay – 1. West Henderson 4:12.45; 2. Tuscola 4:13.17; 3. North Buncombe 4:17.40; 4. Pisgah 4:18.04.

3,200-meter relay – 1. Tuscola 10:13.10; 2. Reynolds 10:19.27; 3. North Buncombe 10:26.74; 4. Pisgah 10:28.35.

2-A Western Regional track meet

Saturday at Polk County

BOYS

Team scores

1. Bunker Hill 120; 2. (tie) Chase and Shelby 59; 4. Polk County 44; 5. Stuart Cramer 43; 6. Lincolnton 38; 7. Hendersonville 37; 8. Brevard 36; 9. Lake Norman Charter 34; 10. Maiden 32; 11. Draughn 25; 12. (tie) Hunter Huss and Smoky Mountain 24; 14. East Lincoln 22; 15. Franklin 21; 16. (tie) Newton-Conover and East Rutherford 15; 18. (tie) West Caldwell and Bandys 12; 20. Owen 9; 21. (tie) Mountain Heritage and Madison 5; 25. R-S Central 1.

Individual results (WNC athletes in top-four)

Discus – 2. Josh Logan (SM) 139-9.

Pole vault – 2. Troy Lieberman (PC) 13-0; 3. Jake Justice (PC) 12-06; 4. Joseph Deluca (Hen) 11-6.

110-meter hurdles – 4. Connor Moore (SM) 15.57

800-meter run – 1. Sean Doyle (PC) 2:01.68; 2. Noah Graham (Br) 2:02.27.

1,600-meter run – 1. Noah Graham (Br) 4:25.94; 2. Sean Doyle (PC) 4:27.74.

3,200-meter run – 1. Andrew Robinson (Br) 10:08.99; 2. Noah Graham (Br) 10:16.23; 4. Nathan Richards (Fr) 10:23.22.

400-meter relay – 4. Owen 44.57

800-meter relay – 4. Hendersonville 1:31.44

1,600-meter relay – 3. Hendersonville 3:33.61.

3,200-meter relay – 1. Polk County 8:22.73; 4. Smoky Mountain 8:32.79.

GIRLS

Team scores

1. Hendersonville 86.5; 2. Lake Norman Charter 79; 3. Polk County 69; 4. Stuart Cramer 48.5; 5. Smoky Mountain 48; 6. Franklin 42; 7. Brevard 36.5; 8. (tie) Maiden, Shelby and Lincolnton 31; 11. Newton-Conover 29; 12. Bandys 27.5; 13. East Lincoln 25.66; 14. (tie) R-S Central and Bunker Hill 21; 16. Owen 17; 17. Hunter Huss 13.33; 18. Draughn 12; 19. West Lincoln 11; 20. Chase 10; 21. West Caldwell 7; 22. East Burke 5.

Individual results (WNC athletes in top-four)

Discus – 1. Amy Yarborough (Hen) 118-9.5; 2. Chesney Gardner (Ow) 107-10.

Shot put – 1. Amy Yarborough (Hen) 38-5; 2. LesLeigh Tabor (Fr) 37-6.5; 4. Michaela Nelon (PC) 34-8.5.

High jump – 2. Kennedy Conner (Fr) 4-10; 3. Samantha Hess (Hen) 4-8.

Long jump – 4. Marissa Longshore (PC) 15-9.

Triple jump – 1. Kennedy Conner (Fr) 33-2.5; 2. Emma Wagoner (PC) 33-2; 4. Gracie Hornsby (Fr) 32-6.

Pole vault – 2. Emma Laughter (Hen) 8-6.

100-meter hurdles – 2. Gina Clayton (Hen) 17.25.

100-meter dash – 2. Micaiah Darity (Hen) 12.98; 4. Avion Williams (Hen) 13.22.

200-meter dash – 4. Xzavia Shoate (SM) 27.73.

400-meter dash – 1. Aleshia Tisho (SM) 1:00.74; 2. Izzy Jackson (PC) 1:01.39; 3. Mariah Overholt (PC) 1:02.32.

800-meter run – 1. Aleshia Tisho (SM) 2:23.35.

1,600-meter run – 2. Eliza Witherspoon (Br) 5:27.62; 3. India Godlock (PC) 5:34.56.

3,200-meter run – 2. Eliza Witherspoon (Br) 12:06.93; 4. Evan Goff (Hen) 12:17.25.

400-meter relay – 2. Hendersonville 51.11.

800-meter relay – 1. Smoky Mountain 1:47.71; 2. Hendersonville 1:48.54.

1,600-meter relay – 2. Polk County 4:18.00.

3,200-meter relay – 2. Polk County 10:00.24; 3. Smoky Mountain 10:04.94; 4. Brevard 10:21.29.

1-A Western Regional track meet

Saturday at Cherokee

BOYS

Team scores

1. Hayesville 132; 2. Murphy 109; 3. Swain County 71; 4. Bessemer City 53; 5. Mountain Island Charter 49; 6. Avery County 41; 7. Thomas Jefferson 39; 8. Mitchell 35; 9. Andrews 32; 10. Community School of Davidson 25; 11. Robbinsville 21; 12. Rosman 19; 13. Cherokee; 14. Pine Lake Prep 15; 15. Highland Tech 14; 16. Cherryville 13; 17. Hiwassee Dam 4; 18. Lincoln Charter 3; 19. Highlands 2.

Individual results (WNC athletes in top-four)

Discus – 1. Dalton Kent (Mur) 134-3; 2. Chase Teesateskie (Mur) 133-1; 3. Ross Ensley (SC) 123-7; 4. Logan Thurmond (Hay) 120-11.

Shot put – 1. Cameron Debty (And) 46-2.75; 2. Alex McKinney (Mit) 44-6.5; 3. Tyler Holloway (And) 44-0.75; 4. Caleb Woodard (SC) 44-0.

High jump – 1. Jacob Lewis (Rob) 6-4; 3. Andres Dominguez (AC) 6-0.

Long jump – 1. Tyler Leek (Hay) 22-3.75; 2. Hunter Reaux (Hay) 20-10.75.

Triple jump – 1. Hunter Reaux (Hay) 43-7; 3. Tyler Leek (Hay) 41-9; 4. Cole West (Mur).

Pole vault – 1. Cooper Reinert (SC) 12-6; 2. Tanner Wiggins (SC) 11-6; 3. Brodie Bowman (SC) 11-6; 4. Reece Postell (Rob) 11-6.

110-meter hurdles – 1. Myles Heavlin (Mit) 15.77; 2. DeAndre Jackson (Mur) 15.91; 3. William Fulford (Hay) 15.94.

300-meter hurdles – 1. Grant Lindsay (Mur) 40.41; 2. Myles Heavlin (Mit) 42.61; 3. DeAndre Jackson (Mur) 43.26; 4. Subin Park (Mur) 43.28.

100-meter dash – 2. Brian Smith (Hay) 11.04; 4. Tyler Leek (Hay) 11.38.

200-meter dash – 3. Brian Smith (Hay) 22.82; 4. Myles Heavlin (Mit) 23.21

400-meter dash – 1. Jaxon Roberts (AC) 52.16; 2. Hunter Reaux (Hay) 52.39; 4. Jonathan Wheaton (Mur) 53.31.

800-meter run – 1. Adam Urbaniuk (Hay) 2:03.61; 2. Ethan Murray (Mur) 2:05.62.

1,600-meter run – 1. Adam Urbaniuk (Hay) 4:38.60; 2. Darius Lambert (Che) 4:47.14.

3,200-meter run – 3. Parker Chatham (SC) 10:32.03; 4. Gavin Morgan (Hay) 10:33.42.

400-meter relay – 2. Hayesville 45.24; 3. Swain County 45.73; 4. Murphy 46.27.

800-meter relay – 2. Hayesville 1:36.16; 3. Swain County 1:36.97; 4. Murphy 1:37.02.

1,600-meter relay – 1. Avery County 3:31.57; 2. Murphy 3:32.18; 3. Hayesville 3:36.01.

3,200-meter relay – 1. Murphy 8:37.07; 4. Rosman 8:49.77.

GIRLS

Team scores

1. Swain County 140.5; 2. Robbinsville 77.5; 3. Murphy 74; 4. Bessemer City 68; 5. Hayesville 63; 6. Andrews 58; 7. Community School of Davidson 23; 8. Lincoln Charter 29; 9. (tie) Mitchell and Highlands 24; 11. (tie) Pine Lake Prep and Thomas Jefferson 20; 13. Highland Tech 18; 14. Cherryville 16; 15. Mountain Island Charter 13; 16. Avery County 9; Hiwassee Dam 6.

Individual results (WNC athletes in top-four)

Discus – 1. Kathryn Brown (SC) 110-11; 2. Kimonta Lloyd (Hay) 105-7; 3. Tiffany Holloway (And) 101-1; 4. Madi Crisler (Hay) 90-9

Shot put – 1. Kimonta Lloyd (Hay) 38-2.25; 2. Tiffany Holloway (And) 38-0.75; 3. Carly Hopkins (HD) 33-4.5.

High jump – 1. Montana McElroy (Hig) 5-2; 2. Emma Stroup (Mur) 5-0; 4. Eden Phillips (Mit) 4-8.

Long jump – 2. Claire Hendrix (Hay) 16-4; 3. Nadallee Beasley (Rob) 16-0; 4. Erika Griggs (And) 15-3.

Triple jump – 1. Claire Hendrix (Hay) 33-7.25; 2. Morgan Mashburn (And) 33-1.25; 3. Emma Stroup (Mur) 33-1; 4. Ashlyn Rowland (And) 32-6.

Pole vault – 1. Sarah Hyatt (SC) 8-6; 2. Ashley Winchester (SC) 8-0; 3. Brylee Parham (Rob) 6-6.

100-meter hurdles – 1. Emma Stroup (Mur) 16.83; 2. Erika Griggs (And) 16.94.

300-meter hurdles – 1. Grace Cabe (SC) 50.29; 2. Peyton Wood (Mur) 51.16; 3. Morgan Mashburn (And) 52.03; 4. Kesha Garland (AC) 52.30.

200-meter dash – 2. Emma Cox (Hay) 26.89.

400-meter dash – 1. Maleeah Langstaff (SC) 59.25; 2. Eden Phillips (Mit) 1:01.17.

800-meter run – 1. Emma Pindur (SC) 2:26.99; 2. Lynsey Hicks (SC) 2:29.66; 4. Morgan Dudley (Hay) 2:30.34.

1,600-meter run – 1. Shawnda Martin (Rob) 5:29.55; 3. Blakely Moore (Hig) 5:36.57.

3,200-meter run – 1. Shawnda Martin (Rob) 12:02.40; 2. Blakely Moore (Hig) 12:12.15; 4. Shelby Hyatt (SC) 12:32.08.

400-meter relay – 1. Swain County 53.31; 3. Murphy 54.04; 4. Robbinsville 54.18.

800-meter relay – 1. Swain County 1:49.86; 3. Robbinsville 1:54.00; 4. Andrews 1:54.38.

1,600-meter relay – 1. Swain County 4:11.63; 2. Mitchell 4:20.19; 3. Murphy 4:23.01; 4. Robbinsville 4:35.95.

3,200-meter relay – 1. Swain County 10:03.92; 2. Robbinsville 10:32.40; 3. Murphy 10:40.01.

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Baseball

Coaches, please report your scores by calling (828) 232-5863. Box scores may also be e-mailed to apearson@citizen-times.com.

Crest 4, North Henderson 3

WP: Dylan Izzi 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO.

LP: Ivann Rodriguez 2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1 HBP.

Leading hitters: NH, Kyle Decker 1-2, R, BB, SAC; Riley Johnson 1-2; Reese Mercer 1-3, 2 RBIs. SC, Riley Cheek 3-3, RBI, 3 Rs, 1 HBP; Luke Scism 3-3; Luke Patrick 3-4, 2B, 2 RBIs.

Records: North Henderson, 14-12; Crest 23-2.

Smoky Mountain 19, East Lincoln 15

WP: Cole Hooper 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 SO.

Leading hitters: Tyler Waliezer 2-4, 2 RBIs; Bryce Junaluska 2-4, 2B, SB, 4 RBIs, Kevin Allred 4-5, 2 2Bs, 4 RBIs; Parker Williamson 3-4, HR, 2 RBIs; Jacob Gass 4-4, 2B, HR, 4 RBIs.

Records: Smoky Mountain 19-6.

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Softball

Coaches, please report your scores by calling (828) 232-5863. Box scores may also be e-mailed to apearson@citizen-times.com.

Enka 13, Reynolds 1

WP: Courtney Pearson 5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO.

LP: Josie Harris.

Leading hitters: ACR, Jessica Utter 1-1, RBI. En, Kloyee Anderson 3-3, Claire Crout 3-4, 2 RBIs; Whitney Fletcher 2-3, 2 RBIs.

Records: Enka 20-3.

Brevard 11, East Burke 3

WP: Casey Gilbert 7 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO.

Leading hitters: Brev, Brooke Nanney 4-4, 2 2Bs, 2 RBIs; Lauren DuBreuil 2-3, 2 RBIs; Makayla McNeill 2-4, 2 2Bs, RBI.

Records: Brevard, 15-10.

Friday’s late scores

Madison 6, Polk County 5

WP: Savannah Rice 7 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO.

Leading hitters: Mad, Rice 2-3, 2B, 3 RBIs; Ashley Hamlin 2-3, RBI; Alexis Nix 2-4.

Records: Madison, 22-1.

Pisgah 3, Fred T. Foard 0

WP: Madison Whitted 7 IP, 0 BB, 9 SO.

LP: Morgan Smith 6 IP, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO.

Leading hitters: Pis, Becca Rhea, 2-4, 2B; Kalei Mull 1-3, RBI; Jordan Taylor 1-3, RBI; 2B, Emma Sorrells, 2-3, RBI, HR.

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Cole Hooper was the winning pitcher for Smoky Mountain on Saturday.

Saturday was not for the faint of heart or earned-run averages.

Not with 34 combined runs and 32 hits between two high school baseball teams.

Smoky Mountain scored 13 combined runs in its final two at-bats to overtake visiting East Lincoln, 19-15, in the second round of the NCHSAA 2-A playoffs in Sylva.

Jacob Gass was 4-for-4 with a double and a home run.

Kevin Allred matched him with four hits, two of which were doubles, and four RBIs. Parker Williamson went 3-4 with a home run and two RBIs for the Mustangs (19-6), while Tyler Waliezer and Bryce Junaluska added two hits apiece for the Mustangs (19-6).

N.C. State recruit Cole Hooper came on in relief to get the win, pitching-wise. Hooper allowed one earned run and two hits in two innings. He struck out two East Lincoln batters.

Smoky Mountain has earned the right to continue the playoffs at home — the sixth-seeded Mustangs host No. 14 Mount Pleasant (17-9) on Tuesday.

Smoky Mountain is making this postseason run under first-year coach Jeremy Ellenburg.

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The WNC Lady Royals 10th grade basketball team won the Under Armour Southeast regional tournament earlier this month in Greensboro.

The WNC Lady Royals 10th grade basketball team won the Under Armour Southeast regional tournament earlier this month in Greensboro.

The Lady Royals went 5-0 in the event.

Their roster consists of the following players:

Carolina Day 

Annabelle Schultz 8th grade

Nautica Smiley 9th grade

Zaria Joyner 10th grade

Rabun Gap

Josie Earnhardt 10th grade

Erwin 

Kaitlyn Messer 9th grade

Amber Redmond 9th grade

Hendersonville 

Alexis Peterson 9th grade

East Rutherford 

Kendra Ross 10th grade

West Henderson 

Jaia Wilson 9th grade

Smoky Mountain 

Aleshia Tisho 10th grade

Reynolds 

Dani Sweeney 10th grade

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Papers

Re: All-WNC teams

SPRING SPORTS COACH:

The Asheville Citizen-Times is ready to put together our All-WNC teams for spring sports with your help.

Please take a moment to nominate as many of your deserving athletes as you can.

For each athlete, we need their name, grade and any pertinent statistics or awards (all-conference, etc).

We also require a head shot-type photo (which can be returned or sent digitally) with each nomination.

The deadline for all nominations is June 3.

Nominations may be e-mailed (apearson@citizen-times.com), faxed (251-0585) or mailed to me at Andrew Pearson, Citizen-Times, P.O. Box 2090, Asheville, N.C., 28802.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions (232-5863).

Kind regards,

Andrew Pearson
High School Sports Coordinator
Asheville Citizen-Times 
(828) 232-5863

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Hiwassee Dam’s Kameron Forrister is the Smoky Mountain Conference Softball Player of the Year.

Here are the all-conference selections for Smoky Mountain Conference softball, as voted on by the coaches. We will continue to release more all-conference teams as we receive them.

Savannah Sutton and Kenzie Gunter (Andrews)

Maddie Payne and Kaitlyn Edwards (Hayesville)

Kameron Forrister, Haylie Shope, Maci Sena and Allisha Floyd (Hiwassee Dam)

Abigail Knight, Lauren McGuire, Jacey Underwood and Haley Kennedy (Robbinsville)

Marissa Henson, Christa Galloway and Alex McNeely (Rosman)

Sydney Call, Shayne Catolster and Bryar Buchanan (Swain County)

Coach of the Year: Shannon Helton.

Pitcher of the Year: Haylie Shope (Hiwassee Dam).

Player of the Year: Kameron Forrister (Hiwassee Dam). 

HONORABLE MENTION

Tiffany Andrews, Erika Griggs and Bethlyn Jones (Andrews)

Anna Stewart (Blue Ridge)

Latika French and Kaley Locust (Cherokee)

Jacquelyn Stewart, Lindsey Davis and Emily Faggard (Hayesville)

Lauren Allen, Elesha Rider and Avery Satterfield (Murphy)

Hannah Rhodes, Kaylie Wiggins, Savannah Wills, Megan Golden, Samantha Willingham and Erica Campbell (Hiwassee Dam)

Mikayla Morgan, Kinsley Orr and Jerri Ann Roper (Robbinsville)

Alicia Guinn, Paiton Reese and Alicia Lewis (Rosman)

Grace Cabe and Caitlyn Dills (Swain County)

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Christ School’s lacrosse team is home for Tuesday’s NCISAA playoff game.

The NCHSAA and NCISAA playoffs continue Tuesday for these Western North Carolina teams. This post will be updated with game times as we receive them. Athletic directors and coaches, please report your game times to apearson@citizen-times.com.

Tuesday’s games

BASEBALL

NCHSAA 3-A

No. 7 Reynolds at No. 2 Marvin Ridge, 7 p.m.

NCHSAA 2-A

No. 14 Mount Pleasant at No. 6 Smoky Mountain, 5 p.m.

NCHSAA 1-A

No. 5 Uwharrie Carter at No. 4 Murphy, 7 p.m.

SOFTBALL

NCHSAA 3-A

No. 14 Sun Valley at No. 6 Pisgah, 5 p.m.

No. 13 Cox Mill at No. 5 Enka, 6 p.m.

NCHSAA 2-A

No. 9 Brevard at No. 1 West Stanly, 6:30 p.m.

No. 12 Owen at No. 4 West Lincoln

No. 6 West Wilkes at No. 3 Madison

SOCCER

NCHSAA 3-A

No. 9 Asheville at No. 1 Weddington

No. 15 Reynolds at No. 7 South Iredell, Wednesday, 6 p.m.

NCHSAA 2-A

No. 8 Franklin at No. 1 Forbush

No. 21 Madison at No. 13 East Lincoln

NCISAA 2-A

No. 7 Cape Fear Academy (10-6-2) at No. 2 Asheville Christian Academy (13-2-1), 4 p.m.

TENNIS

NCHSAA 2-A

No. 1 Brevard (14-1) at No. 1 Shelby (10-0)

NCISAA 3-A

No. 6 Christ School (14-1) at No. 3 Durham Academy (19-3)

​LACROSSE

NCISAA Division I

No. 3 Charlotte Country Day (18-3) at No. 2 Christ School (13-4)

NCISAA Division II

No. 6 Asheville School (5-4) at No. 3 Cape Fear Academy (14-7), 5 p.m.

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West Henderson senior Tanner Bullock won the Mission Health Spotlight Performance of the Week award last football season.

West Henderson senior Tanner Bullock has committed to play football for Brevard College.

Bullock was an All-Western North Carolina Athletic Conference selection in 2015 and the leading rusher for the Falcons (9-4) with 214 carries for 1,325 yards and 19 touchdowns. He averaged 6.2 yards per attempt, and was hence named West Henderson’s most valuable offensive player at the season’s end.

Tanner Bullock

He won the Mission Health Spotlight Performance of the Week award after running for 213 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-14 win at Co-Western Highlands Conference champion Hendersonville. It was West Henderson’s first victory in the series since 2006.

On defense, the linebacker made 25 tackles (19 solo and three for a loss), a sack and a fumble recovery. Bullock was a team captain as a senior and a two-year starter.

West Henderson plans to hold a signing for Bullock and teammate Tristan Thomas (Carson-Newman) on Thursday at the high school.

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Rylee Dean helped West Henderson come in second in the 400-meter relay (50.92) at Saturday’s 3-A Western Regional track meet.

West Henderson senior Rylee Dean has committed to run college track for Western Carolina University.

Her personal records are as follows — 100-meter dash (12.97 seconds), 200-meter dash (27.64), high jump (4 feet, 6 inches) and long jump (15-5).

Dean was one of the legs on a pair of second-place relays at Saturday’s 3-A Western Regional meet. She and the rest of the 400-meter relay ran 50.92 and the 800-meter relay’s time was 1:48.26 on Reynolds’ track.

Rylee Dean.

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Football

In case you missed it last week, Pop Warner said it will ban kickoffs in its three youngest age divisions starting next fall.

More from The Associated Press

LANGHORNE, Pa. — Pop Warner said Thursday it is eliminating kickoffs in its three youngest football divisions, another safety-focused rules change sure to be noticed and discussed at higher levels of the game.

The ban will begin this fall. Instead of kickoffs, the ball will be placed at the 35-yard line to start each half and following scores in the Tiny Mite (ages 5-7), Mitey Mite (7-9) and Junior Pee Wee (8-10) divisions.

The organization, which began in 1929 and has 225,000 athletes enrolled in football ages 5-15, said it will review the results of the rules change after next season as it considers implementing the same ban in older age divisions.

Pop Warner also announced a further reduction in contact time during practice, meaning the players will not be hitting, blocking or tackling each other as much. The 33 percent rule that was implemented in 2012 is being lowered, to 25 percent, for all divisions.

“We are constantly working to make the game safer and better for our young athletes, and we think this move is an important step in that direction,” said Jon Butler, Pop Warner’s executive director. “Eliminating kickoffs at this level adds another layer of safety without changing the nature of this great game.”

The NFL has wrestled with kickoffs as well in hopes of reducing high-speed collisions by players that can lead to injuries. In 2011, kickoffs were moved from the 30 to the 35-yard line, dramatically increasing the number of touchbacks, where the ball was not returned by the receiving team. Earlier this year, the NFL approved a one-year trial in which the ball will be placed at the 25-yard line after touchbacks on kickoffs instead of at the 20, added incentive for the receiving team.

The Pop Warner moves come about a month after the organization settled a lawsuit brought by a Wisconsin woman who alleged her 25-year-old son’s suicide in 2012 resulted from brain injuries he suffered while playing youth football. Debra Pyka was seeking at least $5 million from the Langhorne, Pennsylvania-based Pop Warner Little Scholars, the Pop Warner Foundation and their insurance company.

The federal lawsuit alleged Joseph Chernach suffered from a degenerative brain disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, and also had post-concussion syndrome. The suit alleged the conditions were caused by playing in a Pop Warner league from 1997-2000, beginning when he was 11.

Earlier this week, 18-year-old Donnovan Hill died at a California hospital of complications from surgery related to management of his injury, a family attorney said. Hill was largely paralyzed from an injury he suffered during a 2011 Pop Warner game when he was 13. He and his mother reached a seven-figure settlement with the organization after filing a lawsuit claiming the league had promoted a dangerous headfirst tackling technique.

In 2010, Pop Warner implemented a youth sport concussion policy that said any player removed from a practice or game due to a head injury may not return until evaluated and cleared by a licensed medical professional. Two years later, Pop Warner banned full-speed, head-on blocking and tackling drills in which players are lined up more than three yards apart.

The organization has a total enrollment of 325,000 including football cheer and dance, and its enrollment number of 225,000 in football has been flat since 2012.

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Brevard softball players presented the Desmelik family with a check for $3,900 on Saturday.

BREVARD – Every twist and turn of this softball season has been tinged with a little extra emotion for Brevard.

The No. 9 Blue Devils (15-10) will go into Tuesday’s third round of the NCHSAA 2-A playoffs at top-seeded West Stanly (24-4) with the same mindset.

They are recording outs and scoring runs this spring for the 7-year-old son of Brevard spanish teacher Clare Desmelik, who has an inoperable brain tumor.

“Get Home for Holmes” was the fund-raising movement dedicated to Holmes Desmelik during the regular season, and it worked like this. Fans were asked to pledge a dollar amount for every run that Brevard scored.

The Blue Devils presented a check for $3,900 to the Desmelik family prior to Saturday’s second-round playoff game against visiting East Burke (the Transylvania County team won, 11-3).

On the spot, East Burke also pledged a $100 donation which brought the total up to $4,000. Brevard coach David McNeill said that Franklin and Pisgah have given similarly in recent months.

“We’re playing our best ball of the season right now and that’s what you want,” McNeill said.

“But I’m happier about this (fund-raising drive) than anything else. The girls are the ones who came up with this idea, thought about it, and then bought in.”

Tuesday’s playoff game between the Blue Devils and West Stanly will start at 6:30 p.m. in the town of Oakboro.

Anyone who is interested in making a donation to the Desmelik family is asked to contact McNeill at david.mcneill@transylvaniacounty.org.

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Pisgah senior Jeremiah Royer, far left, has signed to wrestle for Greensboro College.

Pisgah senior Jeremiah Royer has signed to wrestle for Greensboro College.

Royer (41-4) wrestled at 182 pounds for the Black Bears last winter and was the 3-A Western Regional and Western North Carolina Athletic Conference champion before going on to place fourth at the NCHSAA 3-A tournament. He also won the (Cherokee) Chief Osley B. Saunooke and North (Henderson) Knight tournament titles.

Royer was a Citizen-Times All-WNC selection.

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Reynolds senior Kyle Cagle.

REYNOLDS – No matter the level, pitchers are still what gets it done in postseason baseball.

Senior ace Kyle Cagle and sophomore Josh Dotson fooled their share of hitters in the Mountain Athletic Conference this season, and now they are doing their part for Reynolds (19-7) in the third round of the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs.

The Rockets (19-7) are the league’s last remaining team in the NCHSAA playoffs. The MAC 3-A champions will travel to Marvin Ridge on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. first pitch.

Sophmore Josh Dotson (8-2), senior Kyle Cagle (5-3), senior Tyler Lawwill, junior Chris Banks (2-0), and their catcher, junior Chad Treadway (1-1) have figured into wins this season for the Mountain Athletic Confenrece 3-A champions.

“Our pitchers have done a great job, the whole staff has,” Reynolds coach Bryan Craig said.

“They give us a chance to win every night. And any time you make it to the third round, it’s special.”

Dotson is 8-2 with a 1.53 earned-run average and 80 strikeouts in 59 1-3 innings. Cagle, who is a Carson-Newman (Tenn.) recruit, is 5-3 with a 0.77 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 54 2-3 innings.

Dotson also has more RBIs (19) than any other Rockets hitter.

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Mitchell alum Eve Duncan was named the N.C. USA Wrestling Volunteer of the Year over the weekend.

Special thanks to Mitchell wrestling for this information and the photo:

Eve Duncan was honored recently as the NCUSA Wrestling Volunteer of the Year for 2015. Duncan was recognized for her service as the organization’s Secretary as well as the organization’s pairings director. Duncan helped coordinate over thirty events in North Carolina, as well as volunteering at Regional and National Championships. She also assisted with the  2015 World Championships last fall in Las Vegas. Eve is currently a senior at East Carolina University, and was a 2012 graduate of MItchell High. She is the daughter of Ed and Carole Duncan. 

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Brevard tennis players Cameron Wilson, Joseph Schrader and Liam Baer.

BREVARD – Back-to-back wins at Salisbury and Shelby have confirmed it — Brevard is an undefeated team’s worst nightmare in these NCHSAA 2-A dual team tennis playoffs.

The Blue Devils (15-1) once again didn’t need doubles to win Monday’s quarterfinal match at Shelby, 5-1.

Brevard got individual victories in singles from 2-A state champion Joseph Schrader, Liam Baer, Cameron Wilson, Charles Kang and Cullen Duval to sully the season of the 10-1 Golden Lions. The Western North Carolina Athletic Conference champions did the same a week earlier at Salisbury (16-1).

Brevard advances to host Newton-Conover (11-4) in Wednesday’s 2-A Western Regional championship match. The site for the 4 p.m. match depends on the weather. It will be either outdoors at Brevard College or indoors at the Brevard Racquet Club, which is owned by Blue Devils coach Mike Vandegrift.

“It all ends Saturday (with the NCHSAA 2-A championship match) and there is a lot of pressure coming down to this final week. All of our players seem to be handling it well so far. We just need to take care of business,” Vandegrift said.

“Our top-four is about as good as I’ve had in 20 years. We’re very confident about what we can do there and there’s a couple of young, first-year players who are getting better every week.”

The Blue Devils’ only loss came in nonconference play to Christ School (5-1 on March 24). The program has never won a NCHSAA championship in dual team tennis, but has been a state runner-up the past two years.

WNC’s last title in the sport was won four years ago by Hendersonville (NCHSAA 1-A).

All four of the NCHSAA championship matches will be played Saturday at the Burlington Tennis Center.

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