After helping Catawba Valley Community College reach the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series a year ago, 2022 Freedom High School graduate Mason Mozeley is off to a hot start at UNC Pembroke this spring.
Mozeley
Primarily used as a designated hitter but also having seen time at catcher and first base, Mozeley has appeared in eight games for the Braves (8-1, 2-1 NCAA Division II Conference Carolinas) over the first few weeks of the season. Thus far, the Valdese native is batting .357 (fourth on team) with 10 hits (T-third) including a home run — he’s one of six Pembroke players to go deep — and two doubles (T-fourth).
Mozeley has also knocked in four runs, scored five times, and walked seven times (T-second) while striking out just twice. Furthermore, the redshirt junior has thrown out one of two attempted base stealers from behind the plate.
Pembroke hosted a doubleheader against Emmanuel (Ga.) on Friday before completing the three-game series today (Saturday, Feb. 21) at 3 p.m.
Jensen at L-R
Jensen
Trey Jensen (Draughn 2023) has appeared in four games (two starts) for Lenoir-Rhyne (6-1, 2-1 NCAA D-II South Atlantic Conference) as a redshirt sophomore outfielder, reaching base via a double and a walk while also scoring a run.
The Bears are currently in the midst of their first road series of the season, having faced Carson-Newman on Friday before playing a doubleheader against the Eagles today beginning at noon in Jefferson, Tenn.
SOFTBALL
Crouch at Southern Wesleyan
Crouch
Currently in her second season as the starting shortstop for the Warriors (5-4), sophomore Maddie Crouch (Draughn 2024) has four hits including a homer, which accounted for her only RBI.
Crouch has also reached via a walk and a hit-by-pitch, and her five runs scored are tied for third on the team entering today’s home doubleheader against Lincoln Memorial. The opening game of the twin bill will start at 2 p.m.
Carter, Campbell at Surry CC
Carter
Campbell
Raegan Carter (East Burke 2025) and Lani Campbell (Freedom 2025) are both freshmen at Surry Community College (1-5) this spring, with Carter listed as an outfielder on the Knights’ roster and Campbell listed as a pitcher.
Carter has two singles in three at-bats across two games, and she also has a walk and two stolen bases, the latter of which is tied for the team lead. Carter has scored four runs (T-second) as well.
Campbell has also played in two games, registering a single, three RBIs, and a run scored while walking once. And in her only pitching appearance, she lasted 5 1/3 innings and had one strikeout.
Surry hosted a doubleheader against USC Union on Friday before hosting another twin bill — this time against CVCC — today starting at 1 p.m.
Ward at CVCC
Ward
Speaking of CVCC, Campbell’s former high school teammate, Kadance Ward (Freedom 2025), is a freshman utility player for the Red Hawks (0-4), who will be looking for their first victory of the year during today’s twin bill.
Ward has yet to receive an at-bat, but she did appear in the field during a road game against Gaston College on Feb. 10.
Cozort at L-R
Cozort
Lenoir-Rhyne (5-5) has won its first four home games this season, with Katie Cozort (Draughn 2023) making four appearances (two starts) for the Bears as a junior outfielder but having yet to reach base.
L-R travels to Young Harris today for a doubleheader that is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
Winkler at Brevard
Winkler
Regan Winkler (Draughn 2022) is back with the Tornados for her senior season as a first baseman after being one of their most productive players in 2025, when she batted .381 (second on team) and was the team leader in hits (32) and RBIs (13) while being the only member of the squad to appear in and start all 29 games.
Brevard starts the regular season with a home doubleheader against Johnson and Wales University in Charlotte on Sunday, with first pitch of Game 1 set for 1 p.m. (Statistics were unavailable from either of the Tornados’ exhibition games at Spartanburg Methodist on Feb. 14.)
GOLF
Bock at UNC Charlotte
Bock
After making his collegiate debut in October at The Bryson Invitational at the Daniel Island Club in Charleston, S.C. — where he shot a three-day total of 3-over-par 219 thanks to a 74 in the opening round, a 69 in the second round, and a 76 in the final round to tie for 51st individually — sophomore Alex Bock (Freedom 2024) also participated in the 49ers’ first tournament of the spring season.
After tying for eighth out of 15 teams at the aforementioned tournament, UNC Charlotte finished fifth out of 18 teams at the Gator Invitational, which consisted of three rounds played over two days from Feb.14-15 at Mark Bostick Golf Course in Gainesville, Fla. Individually, Bock tied for 67th after totaling a 10-over-par 220 (75, 72, 73).
The next tournament on Charlotte’s schedule is The Hayt at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. The three-round event will be played March 7-9.
OTHER SPRING SPORTS ATHLETES
The rest of the former Burke County high school student-athletes who are expected to be competing in sports at the collegiate level this spring include …
Baseball: Draughn 2024 graduate Blake McElyea (James Madison); Draughn 2025 grad Tate Jensen (Appalachian State); and East Burke 2025 grads Cannon Morrison (Brevard), Barger Shook (Brevard), and Mason Mosteller (Pfeiffer).
Softball: East Burke 2025 graduate Kyndal Morrison (Pfeiffer); Freedom 2025 grad Daniell Robinson (Montreat); and Patton 2025 grad Marleigh Carswell (Montreat).
Who did we miss? Let us know! If you know of another former Burke County high school graduate currently participating in a spring sport at the collegiate level, email that information to josh@thepaper.media or paul@thepaper.media.
