Cavaliers clinch WPC 3A/4A tennis regular-season title, program’s 1st in 51 years

The East Burke boys tennis team celebrated a historic Wednesday afternoon in Icard, defeating R-S Central by a 9-0 score to clinch the outright Western Piedmont 3A/4A Conference regular-season title, its first such title since its inaugural season of 1975.

The Cavaliers also remained undefeated at 9-0 in WPC action and 12-0 overall, setting a new school record for total wins in a season.

Sporting a current state RPI ranking of No. 5 in the 4A classification, East Burke has won each of those 12 dual-team matches by margins of 7-2 or greater.

EB did not drop more than two games in any of Wednesday’s nine matches. In singles play, No. 1 Luke Borders kept his perfect season intact with a 6-0, 6-0 victory. The two-time state-qualifying junior is now 12-0 on the No. 1 singles line to go with a 3-0 No. 1 doubles record.

Other Cavalier singles winners were No. 2 Braxton Kirkland (6-0, 6-0), No. 3 Haiden Dale (6-1, 6-0), No. 4 Noah Ramsey (6-1, 6-1), No. 5 Kevin Lee (6-0, 6-0), and No. 6 Yingchi Yang (6-1, 6-1).

EB was equally dominant in doubles, with No. 1 Dale/Ramsey, No. 2 Kirkland/Lee, and No. 3 John Snow/Michael Rodriguez winning by identical 8-1 scores.

The Cavs also won 9-0 on Monday at West Caldwell, gaining five forfeits. On-court winners included (singles, in order) Borders (6-0, 6-0), Dale (6-0, 6-0), and Ramsey (6-0, 6-0) as well as the No. 1 doubles team of Yang/Rodriguez (8-5).

Patton (5-3 WPC) also won twice to remain in third place in the league, slipping past host R-S Central, 5-4, on Monday before a 9-0 triumph over visiting West Caldwell on Wednesday.

The Panthers nabbed singles wins Monday from No. 1 Bryant Arrowood (6-0, 6-0), No. 2 Ethan Beall (6-3, 6-2), No. 3 Carter Johnson (6-2, 6-3), and No. 5 Dev Patel (6-0, 6-0) before the No. 2 doubles squad of Johnson/Beall won 9-7 to seal the team victory.

Two days later, only Arrowood at No. 1 singles played a complete match, winning again by a 6-0, 6-0 score. Beall led the first set at No. 2 by a 5-1 score and Johnson won his first set at No. 3, 6-2, before both Warriors opponents retired.

Patel, Liam Bradshaw, and Landyn Marks gained forfeit singles wins before Arrowood/Beall, Johnson/Patel, and Marks/Bradshaw did so in doubles as well.

NCSSM-Morganton (6-1, 5-0 Catawba River 1A/2A/3A Conf.) won its only recent match to stay on track for a third consecutive league championship, sweeping Queen’s Grant 9-0 at home on March 26.

The Dragons’ singles wins came via No. 1 Nicholas Levine (6-0, 6-0), No. 2 August Cook (6-0, 6-4), No. 3 Nash Taylor (6-1, 6-1), No. 4 Riley Mearns (7-5, 6-4), No. 5 Akarsh Kadapi (6-4, 4-6, 10-5), and No. 6 Aarav Patel (6-0, 4-0 ret.).

In doubles, No. 1 Andy Quach/Akshaj Puttoju won 8-5, No. 2 Taylor/Kadapi won 8-2, and No. 3 Prahas Ramidi/Aarav Mehta won 8-6.

And Freedom (0-6 Northwestern 6A/7A Conf.) lost twice more but gained its first match won in league action this spring as in an 8-1 home loss to St. Stephens on Monday, Ezra Scott lost just 5-7, 6-4, 8-10 at No. 1 singles and teamed with Jafet Vasquez at No. 1 doubles for a forfeit victory.

In a 9-0 loss at Watauga on March 26, the No. 1 doubles team of Scott/Vasquez claimed a team-high three games in a loss.

BASEBALL

All four county teams pick up wins

Patton (9-4, 5-2 WPC) was denied a season sweep of R-S Central in walk-off fashion late last week in a 7-6 road loss but rebounded quickly to win twice more and extend its best start to a season in five years.

In the loss on March 27 in Rutherfordton, the Panthers led 3-0 and 5-2 but were outhit by a 12-9 margin and committed the game’s only two errors as the Hilltoppers tied them for second place in the league.

Trevor Throneburg led Patton, going 2 for 3 with a walk and a pair of home runs to go with his four RBIs. Brady Davis also enjoyed a fine day at the plate, finishing 3 for 4 and scoring a run while driving in another.

Other PHS offensive leaders were Gavin Johnson (two hits, run), Reece Irvine (hit, RBI), Wyatt Hullette (hit, run), Cohen Christian (two walks, run), and Landry Duvall (two walks). Duvall (5 1/3 IP, 5 ER, K) started on the mound before Davis (IP, H) got some work in relief.

The Panthers then topped host Mitchell, 5-3, on Monday and jumped back into league play with a 10-1 home victory over West Caldwell on Tuesday.

At Mitchell, Throneburg smashed his third homer in two games, driving in three runs in a two-hit day. Laine Barrier also shined both with his arm — throwing three innings and allowing one earned run while notching his 100th career prep strikeout — and with the bat, supplying two hits and two RBIs while also scoring a run.

Davis also stayed hot with three hits and a run while pitching four innings, striking out four, and yielding two earned runs.

Christian added a single and a walk, Reece Irvine and River McCrary (walk) both scored a run, and Colsyn Queen also reached base on a walk.

Christian then took the mound for Tuesday’s start and delivered his latest gem. In his fifth complete game already this spring, the senior right-hander struck out 11 to move within one of the PHS career record, allowing five hits, one walk, and one earned run. He also recorded an “immaculate inning,” striking out three batters in nine pitches.

Christian also put in work at the plate, where he finished a single shy of hitting for the cycle with a double, triple, and his first career homer, driving in three runs and walking once.

Davis was also at it again, with two hits including a double, plus a run and an RBI. Other PHS hitting leaders included Duvall (two hits, RBI, two runs, two SB), Throneburg (double, run), Hullette (walk, two-run single), Johnson (two walks, SB), Queen (SB), Landon Harris (run), and River McCrary (run).

The other three Burke County diamond teams also picked up a win apiece over the past week, with Draughn breaking through, 8-4, at Mountain Heritage on March 26, East Burke winning by a 6-2 margin the following day at West Caldwell, and Freedom edging nonconference Enka on Monday at home, 2-1.

The Wildcats (1-10, 0-7 WPC) pulled out of a 2-2 tie with five runs in the top of the fifth inning as they gained their first win of 2026 in Burnsville.

Tyler Lange (2 for 3, two RBIs) and Reagan Gragg (two runs, three RBIs) both hit home runs in the victory, while Nolan Ballard (7 IP, 5 H, BB, ER, 7 K) earned the win. Other DHS hitting standouts were Ian Meadows (two hits including a double, RBI), Liam Dalmas (single, run, RBI), Caden Barker (single, run), Wyatt Bonorden (two runs), Ballard (single, RBI), Chase Yambor (hit) and Bryson Seagle (hit, SB), and Nolan Russ (run).

Draughn then lost 14-0 in five innings at home to East Rutherford the next day before losing 11-2 at home to Hibriten on Tuesday.

Meadows had the Wildcats’ lone hit against East, while Yambor and Lange both pitched. Lange doubled and drove in both runs against Hibriten, while Yambor (single) and Barker drew a walk and scored a run each and Bonorden and Gragg added a hit apiece. Barker (2 1/3 IP, 0 ER) and Ballard both pitched in the loss.

Freedom broke through against the Jets after a pair of one-run losses at Shelby on March 26 (4-3) and at home versus rival McDowell the following day (8-7).

Alex Wall silenced the Enka bats to the tune of 10 strikeouts in the complete-game win, scattering two hits and four walks and not allowing an earned run. The Patriots were led at the plate by John Maybry (two hits, walk, RBI), Zaydrin Hausley (single, RBI), Carson Wells (single, run, SB), and Luke Miller (single, run, two SB).

Miller (3 for 3, two runs, RBI) paced Freedom against Shelby, with Wells adding a walk, stolen base, and run, and Hausley doubling and stealing a base. Kaden Michaels (3 IP, 2 ER, 8 K) and Wall (3 IP, 0 ER, 5 K) both pitched effectively in the narrow loss.

Freedom (5-8, 0-5 NWC) was then undone by nine errors in the loss to McDowell as the hosts rallied for two seventh-inning runs but fell just short.

Puckett Hudson (2 for 3, two runs, two RBIs) homered for the Patriots, Miller (run, RBI) and Michaels (run) supplied three hits each, and Hausley (2 for 4, double) and Wells (single) had two RBIs apiece. Wells (2 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 3 K) and Miller (4 1/3 IP, ER, 6 K) gave Freedom solid work from the mound in that contest as well.

And East Burke (5-6, 4-3 WPC) won in Gamewell as junior left-hander Colt Butcher pitched five innings and earned the win before Jonas Weidner worked two innings in relief. Maddox Mosteller and Demarcus Ault then both pitched in a Cavs’ 10-0, five-inning setback at R-S Central on Tuesday. No more EB stats from either game were available.

SOFTBALL

First-place Draughn enjoys 3-win week

The league-leading Lady Wildcats (10-2, 7-0 WPC) are now halfway to running the table en route to the title after they beat East Rutherford by a 6-2 margin at home on March 27 in a key contest and followed that with a 9-1 home win over Mountain Heritage on Monday and a 3-2 win in eight innings at West Caldwell on Tuesday.

Draughn led East, 1-0, after a run in the bottom of the first and never trailed, pulling away late with one run in the fifth and two in the sixth. Senior Avie Helton kept the guests down for the win as her complete game from the circle included three strikeouts while allowing six hits, four walks, and no earned runs.

At the plate, DHS was led by Lindsey Hensley (2 for 4, HR, two runs, SB), Ava Aldridge (2 for 2, walk, double, three RBIs, run), Braylen Clontz (double, walk, three runs, SB), Bailey Winkler (two hits, SB), Cydnee Deal (RBI double), and Helton (RBI single).

Deal then notched two hits with a team-high three runs scored and one RBI against Mountain Heritage, while Clontz (double, run) and Maria Medrano (run) also had two hits apiece, Aldridge scored two runs, and Hensley stole a pair of bases and scored once. Makenzie Powell (7 IP, 5 H, BB, 0 ER, 3 K) excelled in earning the pitching victory.

And in Gamewell as Draughn narrowly stayed perfect in conference action and nabbed an eighth straight win overall, Helton was back in the circle, striking out 11 as she scattered five hits and two walks with one earned run in the extended complete-game effort. She also led Draughn with two hits including a double.

Other Lady Wildcat statistical leaders in the win were Hensley (RBI double), Aldridge (single, walk, run, SB), Clontz (single, run, SB), Deal (RBI single), and Reagan Webb (run, SB).

East Burke (2-8, 1-6 WPC) and Freedom (5-10, 1-4 NWC) also won once apiece over the past week.

The Lady Cavaliers gained a 10-6 home win over Chase on Tuesday, breaking out of a 3-3 tie thanks to seven runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Hermione Garro singled twice, leading EB with three runs scored and adding an RBI, while Linda Crawford (two runs), Lillian Brittain (RBI), and Alyssa Shoemaker (double, two RBIs) also added two hits each.

Other EB hitting leaders included Amanda McLean (single, walk, run, two RBIs), Ally Boyette (single, walk, RBI), and Ava Bivens (single, run, RBI), while Boyette (3 IP, 3 ER) and Braleigh Carswell (4 IP, 3 ER) split time in the circle.

EB also lost 8-1 at West Caldwell on March 27 despite a McLean solo home run. Brittain had a team-high two hits, Crawford doubled, and Boyette (2 IP, 2 ER, K) and Carswell (4 IP, 2 ER) pitched in that contest as well.

The Lady Patriots stepped out of league play for an 11-1, six-inning win at Avery County on Monday but sandwiched that with losses to McDowell at home on March 27 (5-1) and at North Iredell on Wednesday (8-2).

In Newland to open this week, Freedom scored at least one run in each of its final five half-innings at the plate, highlighted by four runs in third, three in the fourth, and two in the sixth to end the game early via run rule.

Kaylee Skinner (2 for 4, four RBIs) hit two homers, and Rhiley Buchanan (two RBIs) went yard as well, with the Lady Pats also led offensively by Addison Webb (three hits, two runs), Abigayle Gibson (two hits, walk, team-high three runs, two RBIs) and Hallie Ollis (hit, two RBIs). In addition, Rumi Campbell (2 for 4) and Kaitlyn Hagmann doubled and scored a run each, and LeMaster (6 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, ER, 11 K) gained the win from the circle.

Buchanan (2 for 3, double, RBI) led the way against McDowell, with Campbell hitting a double and LeMaster (7 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 2 ER, 3 K) pitching well despite the loss.

And Skinner stayed hot Wednesday with her third homer of the week, recording two hits and driving in both FHS runs. Gibson and LeMaster each singled, Cheyenne Cooke scored a run, and Ollis and Buchanan drew a walk each. Kayleigh Woody (4 IP, ER, 2 K) and LeMaster both pitched.

Patton (4-7, 1-6 WPC) lost twice, 10-0 in five innings at R-S Central on March 27 and 11-2 at East Rutherford on Tuesday.

Hayden Carlson supplied two hits and Jolann Buff had one hit at R-S, while Heaven Waycaster (3 ER) and Annaliese Cochran (4 ER) both pitched 2 1/3 innings.

Offensive leaders on Tuesday — when Patton led 2-0 but never scored again — included Carlson (single, run, RBI, SB), Alex Maines (single, run, two SB), Buff (single, RBI), and Desirae Smith (single), while pitchers Kayden Maines (2 1/3 IP, ER) and Ady Moorefield (3 2/3 IP, 3 ER, K) were hurt by four errors in the field behind them.

GIRLS SOCCER

Patton slips into 2nd-place tie; EB wins

The Lady Panthers (9-1-1, 4-1-1 WPC) traveled to face two of the teams in the upper half of the WPC standings over the past week, gaining a 2-1 win over R-S Central on March 27 before playing to a scoreless tie at East Rutherford on Tuesday as the host Lady Cavaliers crept into a second-place tie with Patton.

Sophomore Becca Velasquez supplied the game-winning goal at R-S, her county-best 17th of the season, while adding an assist to Brenda Lopez-Ortiz on PHS’ first goal.

Keeper Jincy Gibby was in goal for both matches, aided in Tuesday’s shutout by defenders Claire Przywara, Adisyn Smith, Nataly Morales-Sale, and Kacey Mendoza.

Freedom (3-7-1, 1-2 NWC) and East Burke (2-6-1, 2-4 WPC) also won over the past week, with the Lady Patriots gaining their first league win at home over McDowell by a 3-1 score on March 27 and the Lady Cavaliers making it two straight with a 1-0 victory at West Caldwell the same day.

Freedom led 1-0 at halftime after Jessenia Chavez scored via an assist from Jessica Gomez-Francisco. Then after the rival Titans tied things at 1-all, the Lady Patriots got a goal each from Jessielen Morales-Beccera and Yoselin Rodriguez (assisted by Morales-Beccera) in the final 2 minutes to earn the win. Freedom also fell versus league-leading Watauga at home Tuesday, 9-0.

No statistics were available from EB’s win. The Lady Cavs’ streak then ended with a 1-0 home loss against Chase on Tuesday.

And Draughn (1-5-4, 0-4-2 WPC) played to a 2-2 tie at West Caldwell on Tuesday as Genesis Becerra and Bailey Mozeley scored a goal each. The Lady Wildcats had previously lost, 9-0, at home against East Rutherford on March 27.

BOYS GOLF

Patton wins league match, county title

Patton last week claimed its first two team triumphs of the season, winning a WPC 3A/4A match at Cedar Rock Country Club on Monday before ending rival Freedom’s three-year reign by claiming the Burke County championship match on Wednesday at Silver Creek Golf Club.

Wednesday’s match marked the first time that all five county programs have competed against one another as NCSSM-Morganton made its event debut.

The Panthers (333) were led by Matthew Piercy’s individual runner-up round of 79, while Jackson Zook shot 81, Mason Brown shot 84, and Noah Krogel shot 89 to complete the team total.

Freedom (340) placed second, East Burke (350) was third, and Draughn (392) was fourth, while NCSSM-Morganton was missing two of its top four golfers as the school is currently on spring break and did not record a team total.

Grey Snipes’ 80 paced the Patriots, who also got an 85 from Timothy Cope, 86 from Cooper Price, and 89 from Charlie Walker. Conner Kerley shot 83 to lead EB, while Blake Turner shot 87, Cash Wittenberg 88, and Trevor Fraley 92.

Draughn was led by Ethan Cline’s round of 87, and Daniel Spottswood (97) was his only teammate to break 100.

NCSSM-M’s Davis McColley shot 78 to win the individual title by one stroke, and Lance Morgan (94) was the Dragons’ only other golfer to finish the round.

Patton’s Brown and Freedom’s Cope were the only two golfers to repeat as all-county performers by virtue of their top-eight finishes.

In PHS’ win Monday in Lenoir, Piercy carded an 81 to place third, Brown shot 82 to tie for fourth, Marshall Keathley shot 88, and Krogel shot 90 for a team total of 341. Fifth-place EB (357) was led by Turner’s round of 83 (tied for sixth) and Kerley’s 88, and Cline shot 88 to lead eighth-place Draughn (403).

Freedom (361) was also in action Tuesday, placing sixth in an NWC 6A/7A match hosted by Brushy Mountain Golf Club. Price led the way with an 83, while Cope shot 86, Snipes shot 91, and Trenton Smith’s 101 rounded out the team total.

TRACK & FIELD

EB routs three county foes in host meet

East Burke hosted county foes Draughn, Patton, and NCSSM-Morganton as part of a seven-team meet on March 26. The Cavaliers won both team portions, with the girls posting 160 points and the boys 183 points.

The NCSSM-M girls placed fourth, Draughn was fifth, and Patton seventh, while on the boys side, Draughn was fifth, NCSSM-M sixth, and Patton seventh.

EB got two wins apiece from four different athletes: Sarabeth Bradley (girls long jump, 15’1”; triple jump, 32’3”), who also placed second in the 300-meter hurdles; Kendale Cook (boys 110 hurdles, 15.67; 300 hurdles, 42.99), who also placed second in the 200 meters; Kendall McFalls (girls 100 meters, 12.74; 200 meters, 26.46); and Gracie Smith (girls 100 hurdles, 18.01; 300 hurdles, 52.55).

The Cavs’ other individual event winners were Jesiah Rees (boys 100 meters, 11.02), Brody Torres (boys pole vault, 9’), Harrison Shook (boys discus, 113’1”), and Gabe Metcalf (boys shot put, 42’1”).

The EB girls’ McFalls, Winter Hicks, Juleighanah Parker, and Emmonie Haith also claimed the 4x200 relay title in a school-record time (1:48.21), and EB won the girls 4x400 relay as well, while the boys set their own program record via a runner-up finish in the 4x100 relay (43.93).

Draughn got wins from Adelei Morrow (girls high jump, 4’10”), Anna Cape (girls pole vault, 8’6”), and Paxton Brown (boys pole vault, 9’), while Jerome Ramseur placed second in both the boys 110 hurdles and long jump.

Elisabeth Sawdy (girls 1600 meters, 2:26.73; 3200 meters, 5:26.30) claimed Patton’s only wins, with the boys team led by David Lipscomb in fourth in the 400 meters.

Stella Friedman (girls 3200 meters, 13:14.16) claimed the lone NCSSM-M win of the day and also placed second in the 800 and 1600 meters, and other Dragons runners up were Lola Wilson (girls high jump) and Brayden Tody (boys 400 meters).

County squads were also in action in four other recent meets.

In a nine-team meet hosted by McDowell on March 26, Freedom won 12 events, led by two apiece from sprinters Aniah Queen (girls 100 meters, 13.08; girls 200 meters, 26.87) and Trent Davis (boys 100 meters, 10.99; 200 meters, 22.13).

Other FHS winners were Ava Cooke (girls 400 meters, 1:03.22), Brody Powell (boys high jump, 5’10”), Daivyon Feaster-Hicks (boys shot put; 39’3¾”), and Micah Phasiname (boys triple jump, 40’8”), and the Patriots also won the girls 4x100 and 4x200 relays and boys 4x100 and 4x800 relays.

Freedom then participated in the J. Alan Peoples Invitational at Polk County on March 28, paced by the performances of Frank Harrelson (second, boys 3200 meters), Cooke (third, girls 400 meters), and Kaylin Norman (third, girls 100 hurdles).

Draughn and EB both participated in the Porter Relays at Hibriten on Monday. EB’s Jordan Auldredge won the girls pole vault (8’), and the Cavs also claimed the girls 4x100, 4x200, and 4x400 relays plus boys 4x100 shuttle hurdle relay and 4x200 and 4x400 relays.

Morrow claimed the girls high jump (5’2”) for Draughn, whose boys were led by Van Teague in seventh in the boys pole vault.

And Freedom, Draughn, and the North Carolina School for the Deaf all competed in a meet hosted by Alexander Central on Wednesday. The Patriots led the way locally as Queen won the girls 100 meters (13.07), Harrelson won the boys 1600 meters (5:02.72), and FHS claimed the girls 4x200 relay in addition to seven second-place finishes.

Draughn’s Morrow finished second in the girls 1600 meters, and teammate Noah Thomas was second in both the boys 400 and 800 meters, while NCSD was led by Rivka Vincent (10th in girls discus, 11th in shot put) and Christian Paul (15th in boys long jump).

LACROSSE

Panther squads drop matches at home

Both Patton squads fell at home against conference foe North Lincoln on March 26 before the boys team also lost at home against Watauga on Tuesday.

The Panther boys (1-8, 0-7) lost 19-1 to North Lincoln and 24-5 to Watauga, while the Patton girls (1-6, 1-5) fell by a 16-4 score against North Lincoln. No statistics were available from any of those three matches, and no details were available from Tuesday’s girls match, in which Patton sought a season sweep of Watauga.