Patton baseball blanks EB to open conference play

The Patton baseball team continued a hot start to the season over the past week as it won two of three games, including Tuesday night’s Western Piedmont 3A/4A Conference opener at home over East Burke.

Senior right-hander Cohen Christian tossed his third consecutive complete game and second straight shutout in the latest win for the Panthers (4-1, 1-0 WPC) as he struck out 10 Cavaliers while scattering four hits to cross the 200-K milestone from the mound for his prep career.

“Cohen pitched great tonight,” Patton third-year coach Matt Baker said. “He’s doing everything we’re asking of him — throwing strikes, not walking people — and our defense played well tonight. We made a couple errors but made some big plays at the end of the game to finish it out.”

Patton scored one run in the bottom of the fourth inning and tacked on its final two runs in the sixth.

Landry Duvall had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Panthers, and Wyatt Hullette also drove in a run. Cole Attaway (two SB), Trevor Throneburg (run), and Jack Hester also had one hit apiece, and Colsyn Queen and River McCrary (three SB) scored a run each.

Patton is off to its best start since the COVID-condensed spring 2021 season, also tying the program’s best five-game start over the last dozen years.

“When we swing the bats and put the ball in play, we put pressure on the other team. That’s the big thing for us,” Baker added. “As long as we can eliminate our strikeouts and put the ball in play, we can do some things. We have some speed, create some chaos on the bases. It’s just a matter of getting the bat off our shoulders.”

There was a bit of bad news, however, as Attaway re-injured the same shoulder he hurt last year in the win, and his arm was in a sling afterward.

For East Burke (0-4, 0-1 WPC), Jonas Weidner, Colton Ward, Rhett Houston, and Cayson Mooneyham had a hit apiece, and Maddox Mosteller (4 IP, 2 H, BB, 8 K) and Weidner (2 IP, H, BB, 4 K) combined to not allow a single earned run.

Patton had previously downed visiting Bunker Hill, 6-0, on March 5 before suffering its lone loss to date the following day at McDowell, 6-4.

Against Bunker, the Panthers scored in all but one inning, putting up two in the bottom of the first and one run apiece in the third through sixth innings. They also outhit the Bears by a 5-4 margin and were error-free on defense.

Christian struck out 13 and yielded just four hits in his complete game, and PHS’ Trevor Throneburg and Gavin Johnson (walk, SB) both doubled and drove in a run. Other PHS offensive leaders in the win were Laine Barrier (single, walk, two SB, run), Brady Davis (double, SB, run), McCrary (two runs), Christian (walk, RBI), and Attaway (walk, run).

In the loss in Marion, Patton led 1-0 after scoring a run in the first, but the Titans answered back to tie the game 1-all in the bottom of the frame, and Patton never led again, committing four errors.

Attaway launched his third home run in four games to start the season, finishing 2 for 4 with two stolen bases and two runs scored. He also pitched and struck out eight while allowing only one earned run over 4 2/3 innings before Johnson (perfect 1 1/3 IP, 3 K) closed the game.

Throneburg was 2 for 2 with a walk and an RBI, Christian and Hullette both walked and scored a run, and Barrier and Duvall (walk) had a hit apiece.

The Cavaliers also fell at Cherryville on Wednesday, 16-0, in five innings. EB only managed one hit and committed four errors in the setback.

Freedom, meanwhile, won its own recent cross-county showdown with a 2-0 home victory over Draughn on March 6.

The Patriots (3-2) scored twice in the bottom of the first, and that proved plenty of run support for senior Kaden Michaels, who struck out 13 and walked four, allowing just one hit over six innings to earn the win. Alex Wall (perfect IP, 3 K) picked up the save.

Michaels (RBI) and Carson Wells (double, run, SB) had two hits apiece to pace the Freedom bats, and other standouts were Brooks Snipes (walk, SB, run) and Puckett Hudson (RBI).

Chase Yambor (6 IP, 6 H, BB, 2 ER, 9 K) was also solid on the mound, keeping the Wildcats (0-4, 0-1 WPC) in the contest throughout, and Draughn’s offense was led by Nolan Ballard (double) and Ian Meadows (two walks).

Both teams dropped their next game as Freedom fell by an 8-6 score at Bunker Hill on Wednesday, and Draughn lost its conference opener at R-S Central on Tuesday, 5-2.

The Patriots led 2-0 after the top of the first, but the Bears scored in each of the first five innings. Freedom individual statistics were not available.

Draughn scored its first runs of the season in Rutherfordton but was outhit, 6-5, and committed three errors to the Hilltoppers’ two. Both Wildcats’ runs came in the fourth to tie things briefly before three R-S runs in the bottom of the frame capped the scoring.

Wyatt Bonorden (2 for 3, double, run, SB) paced Draughn at the plate, while Meadows (walk), Ballard, and Caden Barker also had a hit each, and Nolan Russ scored a run. Ballard (4 IP, ER, 4 K) and Tyler Lange (2 IP, 0 ER, 2 K) both pitched for the Wildcats.

SOFTBALL

Draughn nabs run-rule win in WPC opener

The Lady Wildcats (2-2, 1-0 WPC) opened league play emphatically on Tuesday by scoring 11 times in the second inning of a 13-3, run-rule home win over Hibriten.

Seven Draughn players recorded hits in the victory, led by Lindsey Hensley (3 for 4, double, two RBIs, two runs) and Ava Aldridge (2 for 3, double, three RBIs, run, SB).

Other DHS offensive standouts included Maria Medrano (single, RBI, three runs, SB), Aubrey Childers (single, two RBIs, two runs), Cydnee Deal (two walks, two runs, SB), Braylen Clontz (walk, RBI, run), Bailey Winkler (single, RBI, run, SB), Makenzie Powell (single, RBI, run), and Piper Ellis (single).

Draughn’s Avie Helton scattered six hits and two walks over five innings to earn the shortened complete-game win.

The Lady Wildcats then fell at home against nonconference West Lincoln on Wednesday, 7-6, after leading the whole way but allowing six runs in the top of the seventh.

Medrano (3 for 4, two doubles, three runs, SB), Hensley (2 for 4, two double, two RBIs, two runs, SB), and Deal (2 for 4, three RBIs) paced the ’Cats at the plate, with Clontz adding two walks and a run, Aldridge driving in one, and Winkler reaching on a single and a walk.

Powell (6 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 2 ER) and Helton (IP, H, 3 BB, 0 ER) both pitched, and DHS was undone by four errors in the field.

In other local action, Freedom (2-4) run-ruled East Burke (1-3, 0-1 WPC) for a second time already this season, 10-0, in five innings in Morganton on Monday.

The Lady Patriots scored in each inning, plating four runs in the first and three in the second to pull way ahead early. Freedom outhit EB, 13-1, with the Lady Cavaliers also committing the game’s lone error.

Madelyn LeMaster (5 IP, H, 2 BB, 8 K) was dominant in earning the win from the circle and also finished 2 for 3 with two doubles and two RBIs at the plate.

Rumi Campbell (2 for 3, two runs, two RBIs) homered for Freedom, and Hallie Ollis, Rhiley Buchanan, and Kaylee Skinner (two runs) also had two hits and one RBI apiece. Abigayle Gibson (hit, two walks, RBI, three runs, SB) and Addison Webb (RBI double) also stood out for Freedom in the win.

Linda Crawford had the only hit for EB, with Karlie Micol and Emily Shoemaker walking once each. Braleigh Carswell (2 IP, 4 ER, K), Ally Boyette (IP, 4 ER, K), and Micol (IP, 2 ER, K) each pitched for the guests.

Freedom suffered losses on either side of that contest, however, falling 10-6 at Hibriten on March 6 and 16-0 at home to West Caldwell on Wednesday.

The Lady Pats led Hibriten 3-0 early, and the game was still tied 6-6 through five innings, but Freedom fell late. Gibson (3 for 5, double, run, RBI) and Webb (3 for 4, run, RBI) shined on offense, aided by Caylyn Taylor (two runs) and Bella Creegan (walk, run, RBI) with two hits each. LeMaster (5 IP, 3 ER, 3 K) and Creegan (2 IP, 5 ER) both pitched in the loss.

Freedom then committed six errors in losing to West. Ollis doubled, and Taylor, Buchanan, and LeMaster each singled, with LeMaster (4 IP, 2 ER, 6 K) the most effective of three FHS pitchers in the game.

EB also lost, 8-0, at R-S Central in Tuesday’s league opener. The Lady Cavs managed only two hits, singles by Boyette and Amanda McLean, while McLean, Shoemaker, and Makenzii Nguyen each drew a walk. Micol (6 IP, 8 ER, K) pitched the whole way for EB.

And Patton (2-1, 0-1 WPC) defeated host Avery County, 4-0, on March 5 before a 17-7 home loss to West Caldwell in the league opener on Tuesday.

Last week’s road win in Newland was shortened to five innings due to rain. Kayden Maines (5 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 11 K) earned the win from the circle and added a double, and Ady Moorefield (2 for 3, double, triple, run, two RBIs) helped carry the offense.

Patton’s Alex Maines (SB), Hayden Carlson (single, RBI, two SB), and Heaven Waycaster (single) scored a run each, while Lila Hudson and Jolann Buff both singled and walked.

The Lady Panthers then struggled early at the plate on Tuesday but scored two runs each in the fourth, fifth, and sixth to trail just 11-7 entering the final inning, when West enjoyed its biggest inning of the night to pull away en route to the win.

Patton committed eight errors in the loss. Carlson (3 for 5, double, two runs, SB) was PHS’ top offensive player, aided by Ida Miller (two hits, two runs) and Lydia Patton (two RBIs). Moorefield (4 IP, 3 ER, 4 K) and Annaliese Cochran (3 IP, 2 ER, K) both pitched for Patton.

GIRLS SOCCER

Patton continues torrid start to year

The Lady Panthers (4-0) won their only game over the past week in dramatic fashion, 2-1, at nonconference West Iredell on March 6 to remain undefeated.

Patton’s Becca Velasquez added to her team-leading total by scoring the first goal, her 13th already this season, and Ana Sic added the game-winner in the second half.

It’s the second straight season that Patton has started at least 4-0 ahead of the team’s trip to rival Freedom late Thursday.

Freedom (2-3-1), meanwhile, topped Draughn (1-1-1) at home by a 5-1 count on March 6, suffered a 3-1 road loss to Burns on Monday, and rebounded to crush host West Caldwell, 9-0, on Tuesday.

The Lady Patriots scored all of their goals in the opening half against Draughn. Freedom’s Jessenia Chavez supplied a hat trick, and Yoselin Rodriguez and Dulce Rodriguez each added a goal, while Eliana Cline had DHS’ lone goal.

Rodriguez scored FHS’ lone goal Monday in the first half via an assist from Lucy Jones, and Drew Rogers notched a hat trick on Tuesday, with no other FHS statistics available from the win.

In other games, NCSSM-Morganton (1-1, 1-0 Catawba River 1A/2A/3A Conf.) gained a forfeit win over Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy on Monday, and East Burke (0-1-1) fell 2-0 at home against McDowell on Monday as the Titans scored twice in the opening half.

BOYS TENNIS

Cavaliers up to 6-0, leading conference

East Burke’s scorching start to the 2026 season continued as it took the show on the road to nab recent convincing victories over Bandys on March 5 (7-2), R-S Central on Monday (9-0), and Bunker Hill on Wednesday (7-2).

First against Bandys, East Burke (6-0, 4-0 WPC) collected singles wins from No. 1 Luke Borders (6-0, 6-0), No. 3 Haiden Dale (6-0, 6-0), No. 4 Noah Ramsey (6-1, 6-1), No. 5 Yingchi Yang (6-2, 6-2), and No. 6 Daniel Capps (6-2, 6-0). Dale/Ramsey won 8-4 at No. 1 doubles, and Michael Rodriguez/Jackson Wall won 8-0 at No. 3 doubles.

In the Cavs’ sweep of R-S, singles scores were as follows (in ladder order): Borders (6-0, 6-0), Braxton Kirkland (6-1, 6-1), Dale (6-0, 6-0), Ramsey (6-0, 6-0), Yang (6-2, 6-2), and Kevin Lee (6-0, 6-0). In doubles, No. 1 Dale/Ramsey won 8-0, No. 2 Kirkland/Lee won 8-1, and No. 3 John Snow/Landon Yang won 8-2.

And on Wednesday in Claremont, EB’s singles winners included Borders (6-0, 6-0), Ramsey (6-4, 6-3), Lee (6-7, 6-3, 10-2), Yingchi Yang (4-6, 6-2, 10-6), and Landon Yang (6-2, 6-4). Dale/Ramsey won 8-5 at No. 1 doubles, and Lee/Daniel Capps were victorious, 8-5, on the No. 3 line.

Patton (3-1 WPC) recently won twice to remain in second place in the league behind EB, whom its lone loss came against. The Panthers blew past host West Caldwell, 8-1, on Monday before scraping by for a 5-4 home triumph over East Rutherford on Wednesday.

Patton’s No. 1 Bryant Arrowood (6-0, 6-0) and No. 3 Carter Johnson (6-2, 6-1) cruised in singles in Gamewell, while Henry Carlson, Dev Patel, and Landyn Marks gained forfeit wins. Arrowood/Johnson then won 8-3 at No. 1 doubles, with Carlson/Ethan Beall and Patel/Liam Bradshaw were awarded forfeit doubles wins on the lower lines.

Wednesday’s PHS singles victors were No. 1 Arrowood (6-0, 6-0), No. 2 Beall (6-4, 7-5), and No. 3 Johnson (6-4, 6-0), before No. 1 Arrowood/Carlson (8-1) and No. 2 Beall/Johnson (8-5) nailed down the key doubles matches in the narrow win.

NCSSM-Morganton (2-1, 1-0 CRC) topped Hibriten on the road, 9-0, on March 5 before gaining another 9-0 win at Queen’s Grant on Tuesday.

Dragons’ singles winners in Lenoir were No. 1 Andy Quach (6-0, 6-1), No. 2 Nash Taylor (6-2, 6-2), No. 3 Aneel Gupta (6-0, 6-2), No. 4 Akshaj Puttoju (6-2, 6-1), No. 5 Quincy Stanley (6-2, 6-1), and No. 6 Aarav Patel (6-0, 6-0). In doubles, No. 1 Quach/Akarsh Kadapi won 8-3, No. 2 Taylor/Gupta won 8-0, and No. 3 Jonathan Truesdale/Aarav Mehta won 8-3.

And Freedom (0-1 Northwestern 6A/7A Conf.) opened the season on Tuesday with a 9-0 home loss to Watauga, with the No. 1 doubles team of Ezra Scott/Jafet Vasquez winning the team’s lone game.

TRACK & FIELD

EB, NCSSM-M combine for 11 victories

East Burke participated in the Bunker Hill Spring Kickoff meet on March 4, winning six events and nabbing 21 finishes of third place or better.

EB’s Kendale Cook won both the boys 400 meters (52.97) and 110 hurdles (15.32), also placing third in the 100 meters. Teammate Jesiah Rees won the 100 meters (11.07), Josh Hicks won the boys triple jump (37’11”), and Bryson Church won the boys shot put (45’).

Ossie Burkeen placed second and Hicks third behind Cook in the 110 hurdles in an EB podium sweep, while Gabriel Metcalf was second in the shot, and RJ Williams was third in the 400.

Also for the EB boys, Elijah Baker was second in the 1600 meters (4:51.85) and third in the 800; Harrison Shook placed second in the discus; and Luke Demiter was third in the high jump.

Kendall McFalls won the girls 100 meters (12.79) and was second in the 400, one spot ahead of teammate Juleighanah Parker.

Aubrey Sanders was second in the girls 3200 meters (15:40.91), Airah Burkhalter was second in the girls triple jump (28’9½”), and Maliena Smith (1600 meters), Jordan Auldredge (pole vault), and Kinsley Ingle (discus) each placed third in their events.

The next day, NCSSM-Morganton was in action at a seven-team Pre-CRC 1A/2A/3A meet hosted by Mountain Island Charter, with the Dragons boys placing second as a team and the girls tying for third place.

NCSSM-M’s event winners were Max Vaughan (boys 3200 meters, 10:41.32), Owen Howard (boys pole vault, 12’), Emery Miller (girls pole vault, 7’6”), Lola Wilson (girls high jump, 4’10”), and the boys 4x800-meter relay squad.

Vaughan also finished second in the 1600, and other NCSSM-M runners up were Brayden Tody (boys 800 meters), Alexandra Hexemer (girls 1600 meters), Will Evans (boys 3200 meters), and the girls 4x800 and boys 4x400 relays.

And finally, two Freedom athletes took part in the Tony Waldrop Memorial meet at Polk County on March 6, with Jolaina Operato finishing fourth (5’6”) and Abigail Call fifth in the girls pole vault.

OTHER SPORTS

Panthers place 2nd in Mimosa golf match

The Patton boys golf team (358) placed second in a WPC 3A/4A match for a second straight week to open the spring on Monday at Mimosa Hills Golf Club in its host match.

Mason Brown shot an 84 to lead Patton, while teammates Matthew Piercy and Noah Krogel both carded rounds of 89. Jackson Zook’s 96 rounded out the team total, and Reid Buchanan shot 98.

East Burke (370) finished fourth, paced by Brody Simpson’s 18-hole score of 82 as he placed third individually. Rounding out the Cavs’ team total were Conner Kerley (93), Blake Turner (97), and Cash Wittenberg (98).

Draughn (436) was last out of eight teams, paced by Ethan Cline’s 92.

And in lacrosse, Patton suffered a pair of road losses to T.C. Roberson on March 5, with the girls team (1-2) falling by a 15-4 score and the boys team (0-3) losing, 12-2. No PHS statistics were available from either contest.