High Country Sports

Author: David

  • App State’s Tolley signs pro baseball deal with Missoula

    BOONE, N.C. – App State outfielder Banks Tolley has signed his first professional contract with the Missoula PaddleHeads.

    The PaddleHeads are a member of the Pioneer League, an independent professional baseball league that operates as one of Major League Baseball’s partner leagues.

    Named a second-team All-American by ABCA/Rawlings and a third-team selection by D1Baseball, Tolley put together one of the best seasons in App State history in 2024.

    Editor’s Note: Missoula is the second most populous city (approx. 80,000) in Montana, near the state boundary with Idaho. 

    The senior center fielder led the Sun Belt Conference in home runs (26), slugging percentage (.781) and OPS (1.265) while ranking second in batting average (.379) and RBIs (77), fourth in on-base (.484), fifth in runs scored (70) and tied for seventh in hits (85) on his way to being named the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and a first-team all-conference selection.

    Banks Tolley launches a ‘missile’ in the 6-run 8th inning for App State vs. Marshall on March 29. Photographic image by David Rogers

    Tolley, Georgia’s Charlie Condon and Austin Peay’s Lyle Miller-Green were the only Division I players in the country with at least a .375 batting average, 25-plus home runs and 75-plus RBIs. Tolley tied for 13th nationally in home runs and 17th nationally in RBIs while also ranking in the top 50 for highest batting average.

    The Ole Miss transfer set the single-season program record with 26 home runs, blowing past the previous record of 17.

    Tolley tallied five multi-homer games and registered the second three-homer game in program history, culminating with a walk-off blast in the 10th inning for a win over Georgia Southern on May 16 to secure the Mountaineers a top-six seed in the Sun Belt Tournament.

    In Montgomery, Ala., Tolley went 5-for-16 with a double, a homer and six RBIs in four games and was selected to the Sun Belt All-Tournament team.

    He also posted 27 multi-hit games and 21 multi-RBI games, hitting safely in 29 of his final 35 contests. Tolley set the App State single-season record for home runs (26), RBIs (77) and total bases (175). He ranks second in single-season history for runs scored (70) and slugging (.781).

    Tolley joins Austin St. Laurent (Seattle Mariners), Drew Holderbach (Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Florence Y’alls) and Dante Chirico (Florence Y’alls) as members of the 2024 squad to sign professional contracts.

  • HiToms chop Bigfoots, 20-6, on ‘Cobra Kai Night’

    By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Looking for a new dojo may be the order of the day for the Boone Bigfoots. The local Coastal Plain League franchise got schooled, 20-6, by the visiting High Point-Thomasville HiToms on July 24 at Smith Stadium, on an entertaining “Cobra Kai Night” for the more than 1,100 fans in attendance.

    The night started out with a bang for fans, quite literally, as a stunt demonstration team from the Cobra Kai TV show performed, breaking blocks of wood and demonstrating various fighting skills and assorted other weapons.

    Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

    Pushing across a run in the bottom of the first inning and three more in the second, Boone led 4-2 after three full innings of play, but a 6-run explosion by the HiToms in the fourth inning erased the deficit and gave the visitors a lead they would never relinquish. Although the Bigfoots added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, the HiToms piled on in the top of the sixth and seventh innings, scoring 12 unanswered runs to trigger the CPL’s “mercy rule.”

    Actor Martin Kove plays the ‘villain’ in the Cobra Kai TV show but on July 24, he was the good guy who threw out the first pitch for the Boone Bigfoots game vs. the High Point-Thomasville HitToms and patiently took scores of photos with players and signed autographs for fans. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

    HPT’s middle reliever Royce Aurderhar, a Lexington, N.C. native playing collegiately for Catawba College, was credited as the winning pitcher while giving up two runs on three hits in 2.1 innings. Boone’s middle reliever, Ian Squires, picked up the loss, giving up five runs on five hits in 2.0 innings of work.

    Altogether, three Bigfoots pitchers (Jacob Lauderdale, Squires and Evan Long) gave up 17 earned runs on 17 hits in their combined seven innings of work. Will Papciak started on the mount for the HiToms, but was pulled after 2.2 innings. The Davidson College righthander threw 85 pitches in just 2.2 innings of work, facing 19 batters over that span. Dylan Christensen closed out the game for HPT, giving up one hit while shutting out the Bigfoots over the final two innings.

    Zan Von Schlegell (26) is off and running July 24 on a pitch by High Point-Thomasville’s Will Papciak at Smith Stadium. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

    KEY OFFENSIVE PERFORMERS

    • HPT – Davis Halstead: 3-3, 3 runs, 2 RBIs, 3 walks, 2B
    • HPT – Jake Kernodle: 3-4, 2 runs, 3 RBIs, 3B, SB
    • HPT – Jackson Owen: 2-3, 2 runs, 5 RBIs, 3 walks
    • HPT – Josh Foulks: 2-5, 2 runs, 3 RBIs, SB
    • HPT – Brantley Truit: 3-6, 3 runs, 3 SBs
    • HPT – Brantley Willis: 3-4, 3 runs, 2 RBIs
    • BBF – Tristan Salinas: 2-3, 2 RBIs
    • BBF – Jake McCutcheon: 1-3, 3 runs, 2 RBIs, HR, 2 walks
    • BBF – Carter Bergman: 1-3, 1 RBI, 2B, walk, SB

    BONUS PHOTOS

    (all photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports)

    Actor Martin Kove plays the ‘villain’ in the Cobra Kai TV show but on July 24, he was the good guy who threw out the first pitch for the Boone Bigfoots game vs. the High Point-Thomasville HitToms and patiently took scores of photos with players and signed autographs for fans. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
    Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

  • Football dominates, but new opportunities adding to high school sports participation rates

    By David Rogers. RALEIGH, N.C. — Not surprising given the number of athletes on a team and the popularity of the sport, Football headed the list of high school sports for the number of participants in North Carolina’s 2023-24 academic year, according to data obtained from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

    The NCHSAA reported that 29,075 student athletes competed in football during the most recently completed academic year, up from 27,809 in 2022-23, an 0.26% increase. The participants were spread among 383 high schools in 2023-24, one more than in the previous year.

    Men’s Track (15,932 participants/409 schools), Men’s Soccer (12,916/407), Men’s Basketball (11,409/434) and Women’s Track (11,409/409) rounded out the top five high school sports in North Carolina with the highest participation.

    Data courtesy of NCHSAA; Graphic presentation by High Country Sports. Click on chart to enlarge to full view on laptop or PC.

    New to the lineup of athletic opportunities in North Carolina high schools in 2023-24 was Women’s Wrestling, offered in its first year by 248 schools with 1,432 participants.

    The highest rate of growth for the number of students participating in a sport was in the Spirit squads, cheerleaders and dance teams, which saw a 20.15 percent increase as the number of schools offering the opportunities increased from 354 to 414.

    Women’s Indoor Track (5,912/306) realized a 16.47 percent increase, followed by Men’s Indoor Track (7,331/304) with a 12.82 percent increase, Women’s Golf (1,573/282) at 12.04 percent growth, Men’s Cross Country (5,821/395) with 9.60 percent growth, and Men’s Soccer (12,916/407) at 9.31 percent.

    Of the 26 athletic endeavors offered by North Carolina high schools, only Baseball saw a decline in participants, -1.43 percent, while Men’s Track and Women’s Lacrosse were almost flat for the year.

    In addition to general population growth as well as social and cultural trends promoting physical fitness, the participation numbers are largely influenced by the number of schools offering a particular sport.

    The largest number of schools offering an individual sport was in Men’s Basketball, offered by 434 North Carolina high schools, closely followed by (Women’s) Volleyball (432). Rounding out the top five in terms of the number of schools offering a sport were Women’s Basketball (429), Spirit squads (414) and Baseball (414).

    In total, North Carolina high schools saw 208,722 students participating in NCHSAA sanctioned athletics during the 2023-24 academic year, a 5.40 percent increase over the prior academic year. Winter sports experienced the highest growth rate, at 9.30 percent.

     

  • Aguilar tabbed as Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, App State picked by coaches as East favorite

    By Bret Strelow and Joey Jones. NEW ORLEANS, La. — With App State Football being voted the preseason favorite in the Sun Belt Conference’s East Division and quarterback Joey Aguilar being named the league’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, the Mountaineers had nine players selected for the preseason All-Sun Belt teams announced Monday.

    App State led East Division teams with 96 voting points and 12 first-place votes from the league’s 14 coaches, followed by James Madison with 79 voting points and two first-place votes. Texas State paced West Division teams with 92 voting points and nine first-place votes, with Troy receiving four first-place votes and Louisiana picking up one.

    Wide receiver Kaedin Robinson and tight end Eli Wilson joined Aguilar as first-team selections from the offensive side, while App State defensive players on the first team were defensive lineman Santana Hopper, outside linebacker Nate Johnson, safety Jordan Favors and cornerback Ethan Johnson.

    App State’s second-team selections were kicker Michael Hughes and running back Kanye Roberts.

    App State, Arkansas State and Georgia Southern tied for the most selections across the two preseason teams, and the Mountaineers led the way with seven first-team selections.

    Aguilar’s 33 touchdown passes during the 2023 regular season allowed him to rank fifth nationally for the entire season, which he finished with additional school records of 3,757 passing yards and 4,002 yards of total offense. Robinson tied for the Sun Belt lead with 10 touchdown catches during a season in which he compiled 905 receiving yards, the highest total in App State’s FBS era, and Wilson ranked in the top three among Sun Belt tight ends in catches (34), yards (350) and touchdown catches (five).

    Hopper and Johnson both received Freshman All-America recognition, as Hopper made a late-season surge while contributing 3.5 sacks among his 7.5 tackles for loss and Nate Johnson tied for first nationally among true freshmen with 7.5 sacks. Favors tied for the Sun Belt lead with four interceptions, and Ethan Johnson had 11 pass breakups to go with 56 tackles.

    The College Football Network named Hughes a second-team All-American following a season in which he made 19 of 22 field goals, including a game-winning kick from 54 yards, and Roberts was App State’s top rusher five times in the last nine games of a 696-yard season that included seven rushing touchdowns.

    Sun Belt Media Days begin Tuesday in New Orleans, with the App State contingent of head coach Shawn Clark, Aguilar and Robinson appearing on the main stage at noon ET (11 a.m. CT). Those interviews will be available live on ESPN+. The Sun Belt will also host studio shows each day, and those will also be available via ESPN+.

    2024 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL

    East Division

    1. App State – 96 Points (12)
    2. James Madison – 79 Points (2)
    3. Coastal Carolina – 67 Points
    4. Georgia Southern – 50 Points
    5. Marshall – 49 Points
    6. Old Dominion – 32 Points
    7. Georgia State – 19 Points

    West Division

    1. Texas State – 92 Points (9)
    2. Troy – 68 Points (4)
    3. Louisiana – 66 Points (1)
    4. Arkansas State – 65 Points
    5. South Alabama – 54 Points
    6. Southern Miss – 31 Points
    7. ULM – 16 Points

    2024 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON AWARDS

    Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Joey Aguilar, App State (Sr., QB – Antioch, Calif.)

    Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (Sr., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)

    Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Offense^

    QB – Joey Aguilar, App State (Sr., QB – Antioch, Calif.)
    QB – Jordan McCloud, Texas State (RS Sr., QB – Tampa, Fla.)
    RB – Jalen White, Georgia Southern (5th Yr., RB – Daleville, Ala.)
    RB – Ismail Mahdi, Texas State (Jr., RB – Murphy, Texas)
    OL – Jacob Bayer, Arkansas State (Sr., OL – Grandview, Texas)
    OL – Makilan Thomas, Arkansas State (RS Jr., OL – Little Rock, Ark.)
    OL – Cole Potts, James Madison (Sr., OL – Johnstown, Ohio)
    OL – AJ Gillie, Louisiana (RS Sr., OL – Natchitoches, La.)
    OL – Daniel King, Troy (Sr., OL – Cairo, Ga.)
    TE – Eli Wilson, App State (Sr., TE – Piedmont, S.C.)
    WR – Kaedin Robinson, App State (RS Sr., WR – Asheville, N.C.)
    WR – Derwin Burgess Jr., Georgia Southern (Sr., WR – Riverdale, Ga.)
    WR – Joey Hobert, Texas State (Sr., WR – San Clemente, Calif.)

    Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Defense

    DL – Santana Hopper, App State (RS So., DL – Shelby, N.C.)
    DL – Nate Martey, Arkansas State (Sr., DL – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
    DL – Justin Rhodes, Georgia Southern (5th Yr., DL – Durham, N.C.)
    DL – Isaac Walker, Georgia Southern (RS Jr., DL – Greensboro, N.C.)
    LB – Nate Johnson, App State (So., LB – Gaffney, S.C.)
    LB – Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., LB – Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    LB – Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (Sr., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
    LB – Ben Bell, Texas State (Sr., LB – Cedar Park, Texas)
    DB – Jordan Favors, App State (RS Jr., DB – Griffin, Ga.)
    DB – Ethan Johnson, App State (Jr., DB – Huntersville, N.C.)
    DB – Gavin Pringle, Georgia State (RS Sr., DB – Baltimore, Md.)
    DB – Jaden Voisin, South Alabama (RS Sr., DB – Crestview, Fla.)

    Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Special Teams

    K – Mason Shipley, Texas State (RS Jr., K – Liberty Hill, Texas)
    P – Ryan Hanson, James Madison (RS Sr., P – Elgin, Texas)
    RS – Zylan Perry, Louisiana (RS So., RS – Franklin, La.)
    AP – Ismail Mahdi, Texas State (Jr., AP – Murphy, Texas)

    Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Offense^

    QB – Jaylen Raynor, Arkansas State (So., QB – Kernersville, N.C.)
    RB – Kanye Roberts, App State (RS So., RB – Wallace, N.C.)
    RB – Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS Jr., RB – Hampton, Ark.)
    OL – Chandler Strong, Georgia Southern (RS So., OL – Warner Robins, Ga.)
    OL – Pichon Wimbley, Georgia Southern (Jr., OL – Newnan, Ga.)
    OL – Tyshawn Wyatt, James Madison (Sr., OL – Richmond, Va.)
    OL – Logan Osburn, Marshall (RS Sr., OL – Ona, W.Va.)
    OL – Eli Russ, Troy (Jr., OL – Ardmore, Okla.)
    TE – Kendall Karr, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., TE – Belmont, N.C.)
    WR – Courtney Jackson, Arkansas State (RS Sr., WR – Monroeville, Pa.)
    WR – Corey Rucker, Arkansas State (RS Jr., WR – Bentonia, Miss.)
    WR – Jamaal Pritchett, South Alabama (Sr., WR – Jackson, Ala.)
    WR – Kole Wilson, Texas State (Jr., WR – Katy, Texas)

    Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Defense

    DL – Will Whitson, Coastal Carolina (Gr., DL – Cincinnati, Ohio)
    DL – Eric O’Neill, James Madison (RS Jr., DL – Staten Island, N.Y.)
    DL – Jordan Lawson, Louisiana (RS Jr., DL – Brandon, Miss.)
    DL – Denzel Lowry, Old Dominion (RS Jr., DL – Virginia Beach, Va.)
    DL – Wy’Kevious Thomas, South Alabama (RS Sr., DL – Riverdale, Ga.)
    LB – Charles Willekes, Arkansas State (RS Sr., LB – Rockford, Mich.)
    LB – Kevin Swint, Georgia State (Sr., LB – Carrollton, Ga.)
    LB – KC Ossai, Louisiana (Sr., LB – Conroe, Texas)
    DB – TJ Smith, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., DB – Atlanta, Ga.)
    DB – Chauncey Logan, James Madison (Jr., DB – Salem, Va.)
    DB – Tyrone Lewis Jr., Louisiana (RS Sr., DB – Hammond, La.)
    DB – Kaleb Culp, Texas State (Sr., DB – Dallas, Texas)

    Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Special Teams

    K – Michael Hughes, App State (Sr., K – Charleston, W.Va.)
    P – Robert Cole, Troy (Sr., P – Coral Springs, Fla.)
    RS – DeAndre Buchannon, Georgia Southern (So., RS – Atlanta, Ga.)
    AP – Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS Jr., AP – Hampton, Ark.)

    ^ Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team & Second Team Offense Expanded Due to Ties in Voting

  • Five Mountaineers gain ITA Scholar-Athlete recognition

    By Jacob Plecker. BOONE, N.C. – For the third time in the last four years, App State tennis earned All-Academic Team honors from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) while five student-athletes were named ITA Scholar-Athletes. App State’s five honorees are the most since the 2021 season.

    Brooke Gruber, Brooke Demerath, Olwyn Ryan-Bovey, Taya Powell and Maggie Pate were the five Mountaineers named ITA Scholar-Athletes. For Gruber, it’s the second time she has earned the award, while the other four are first-time honorees.

    App State has had 24 consecutive semesters of at least a 3.0 GPA for all athletes.

    As a team, the Mountaineers earned a 3.49 semester GPA and a 3.44 cumulative GPA, helping continue App State’s streak of 24 consecutive semesters with at least a 3.0 GPA for all athletes.

    Academic recognition is nothing new for head coach Hannah Fetters and the Mountaineers as six student-athletes were named to the Spring 2024 Chancellor’s and Dean’s List this past semester. In her first year at App State, she has seen 90 percent of her student-athletes receive either Dean’s List or Chancellor’s List distinction.

    A total of 1,573 Division I women’s student-athletes were named an ITA Scholar-Athlete in 2024, while 255 programs earned All-Academic Team distinction.

    To be named an ITA All-Academic Team, programs must have a grade-point average of 3.2 or above (on a 4.00 scale).

    For student-athletes to be named an ITA Scholar-Athlete, they must be a varsity letter winner and have a grade-point average above 3.5 (on a 4.00 scale).

  • Split Decision: West women’s all-stars win, 1-0, while East men’s all-stars prevail, 3-2

    By David Rogers. GREENSBORO, N.C. — Watauga High School alum Kyle Painter recorded six saves as goalkeeper for the West in the North Carolina Coaches Association (NCAA) East-West All-Star Soccer Game, but it was not quite enough to overcome a barrage of close-range shots by the East, who prevailed with a 3-2 win on July 16.

    Kyle Painter, a Watauga HS alum, was kept busy July 16 in the East West All Star Game by a potent offensive attack displayed by the East. Photo by David Rogers

    Meanwhile, another Watauga alum, Katie Durham, helped lead the West All-Stars to a 1-0 victory over the East in the curtain-raiser, with both matches hosted by the NCCA at Grimsley High School.

    With temperatures nearing 90 degrees and a thunderstorm brewing on the western horizon, the women’s game looked to be electrifying when the West’s Kylee Thompson (Hough HS) drove down the left wing, deftly turned the ball inward, then skipped it past a lunging East goalkeeper, Lauren Hollis ((Millbrook HS), for what turned out to be the game’s only score just two minutes after the opening whistle to start play.

    Katie Durham (4) on attack in the NC East West All Star Game on July 16. Photo by David Rogers

    For much of the match, the East seemed to dominate possession in their offensive half of the field, but each time the West defenders successfully turned their adversaries away. The starting West goalkeeper Rees DeJong (Cox Mill HS) made one save in the first half, then when the East turned up their offensive attack a notch or two in the second half, the West’s second goalkeeper, Elizabeth Navola (Christ the King HS), helped salvage the shutout with four more saves.

    The East goalkeeper Lauren Hollis (Millbrook HS) dives to make a save on a shot attempt by the West’s Trinity Robinson (Wheatmore HS). Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

    Although she did not score from her attacking midfield position, Durham played a critical role in most of the West’s other offensive assaults. In what she described as her favorite near-goal of the night, the former Pioneer now committed to play for Wingate University received a long pass over the top from a fellow midfielder, then pushed the ball ahead in the left-center part of the field and sprinted in pursuit, racing past two defenders. Only a brilliant play by Hollis (the East goalkeeper) and a third East defender prevented Watauga’s 2024 MVP from scoring on this particular play.

    Two other notable runs by Durham, one down the right wing and another down the right-center of the field also threatened, making for some exciting, highlight reel type action.

    Thompson was named the game’s MVP.

    NC Men’s All-Stars: East 3, West 2

    Where the women’s game featured strong defensive efforts, the men’s all-stars traded offensive punches and counterattacks aplenty.

    The West’s Aaron Zhu knocked the ball from 14 yards out just 4:07 into the match, a low shot around the East goalkeeper who had stopped the first touch.

    Watauga alum Kyle Painter gathers in a shot by the East for a ‘save’ during the first half of the 2024 East West All Star Game on July 16, hosted by the North Carolina Coaches Association at Grimsley High School. Photo by David Rogers

    From the 25-minute mark until just about the last 10 minutes, the East dominated the scoring, starting with Irvin Guiterrez’s (Lee County HS) unassisted blast from 24 yards out on the left side to clean up a loose ball. At the 43:30 mark, the East’s Adam Trusky (Chapel Hill HS) scored from close range thanks to a deft thru ball from Patrick Dion (Apex Friendship) for the assist. The East finished off their scoring barrage for the night at the 45:04 mark when Finn Peters (Junius H. Rose HS) and Trusky found a 2-on-1 opportunity that allowed Peters to finish it off, Trusky being credited for the all-important assist.

    The East and West are converging onto the ball on July 16 in the North Carolina Coaches Association East West Men’s All Star Game featuring newly minted high school graduates. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

    After a long scoring drought in the second half, the West’s Zhu brought the deficit to just a single goal with a successful penalty kick after teammate Justin Ortiz (Hickory HS) was fouled inside the penalty box at the 71:13 mark.

    But that is as close as the West could get in front of the almost 700 patrons who attended, even with rain and lightning threatening. The East’s Trusky was named MVP of the men’s all-star match.

  • Watauga eliminated from Tar Heel League 15U tourney by Wilkes County, 14-5.

    By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Wilkes County had a 2-out rally get runners in scoring position in the bottom of the second inning on July 15, but couldn’t get them across. They made up for that failure and then some just an inning later, manufacturing eight runs on six walks, six passed balls, three stolen bases and just two singles in the third frame, en route to a convincing, 14-5 win over Watauga. For the Boone boys, it was the final elimination game this year in the Tar Heel League 15U double elimination tournament, played at Watauga High School.

    The 8-run scoring outburst in the third inning followed a single run in the first, then Wilkes added one more run in the fifth inning before completing their scoresheet with four additional tallies in the sixth. The game was stopped after the sixth inning due to the 2-hour time limit imposed by the THL rules.

    Watauga 15U shortstop Isaiah Shreve fields a ground ball cleanly in the second inning on July 15 vs. Wilkes County, then comes up to throw the runner out at first base. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

    All but one of the Wilkes County rostered players crossed the plate for at least one run, led by leadoff batter Layden Dyer’s three runs scored, going 1-1, but getting on base with two walks and an error through the course of the six inning affair. He took advantage of his on-base opportunities with two stolen bases while also advancing on four passed balls and a wild pitch.

    Maverick Griffith’s hitting line noteworthy, going 1-2, but also drawing a pair of walks and adding a stolen base in scoring two runs on the day.

    Quinn Cashwell (23) gets a big jump while attempting to steal second against Wilkes County on July 15. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

    Victor Olvern also took advantage of Watauga miscues, credited with an 0-2 day at the plate, but was issued a walk and reached first on an error before stealing a base and leveraging three passed balls to score two runs.

    A notable performance at the plate and on the basepaths for Watauga were by second baseman Jonathan Bouboulis, going 2-2, including a double while scoring two runs. He alertly advanced on two Wilkes County errors.

    Hustling to first base on a ground ball error by the Wilkes County first baseman, Watauga’s Jaxtin Norris beats the diving tag attempt on July 15 in a Tar Heel League 15U game. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

    Watauga third baseman Joseph Hemrick also smacked a double during the game, going 1-3 and advancing on an error by the Wilkes County rightfielder on his way to scoring a run. Other runs scored were by Caden Morsette and Quinn Cashwell.

    With the win, Wilkes County advances to a second game on July 13, another elimination game, this time vs. Hickory, which lost earlier to Alexander County.

    BONUS PHOTOS (for best viewing on PC or laptop, click on any image for Slide Show mode)

    All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports

    Scout Hamby was the starting pitcher for Wilkes County on July 15, going well into the final, 6th inning before giving way to Layden Dyer, who earned the save. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

     

  • Have to Share: App State Football’s SAVVY award-winning video

    SPECIAL REPORT. — Gotta watch this as the 2024 college football season approaches. Inspiring video featuring former App State Mountaineers and now NFL players, Jalen Virgil and Darrynton Evans as narrators.

     

  • Blowing Rock’s Vestri places No. 2 at USATF Women’s 6k Championship

    By David Rogers. CANTON, Ohio — It is summertime in Canton, Ohio, but the NFL Hall of Fame enshrinement was still 19 days in the future. All the attention on July 13 was about the 22 elite women’s runners competing in the USA Track & Field (USATF) Women’s 6k Championship — and Blowing Rock’s ZAP Endurance was well represented.

    USATF 6k Championship course. Graphic courtesy of Women’s 6k Festival. Click on image to enlarge.

    Closing out her first remarkable year as a professional runner, ZAP Endurance member Amanda Vestri completed the 3.73-miles course (with 13 twists and turns from Malone University to downtown Canton) in 18 minutes, 16 seconds (18:16), finishing No. 2. She was just 13 seconds behind first place Annie Rodenfels, a 27-yearold athlete from Newton, Mass., representing the Boston Athletic Association/adidas. Rodenfels is one of the nation’s top 3,000-meters Steeplechase performers, qualifying for the finals of the U.S. Olympic Trials in the event where she finished No. 8. Similarly, Vestri also qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials, in the 10k, where she finished No. 5.

    Vestri went out strong in the Women’s 6k Championship event (held in conjunction with the larger, Women’s 6k Festival, with almost 300 athletes competing), leading the race as they neared the first mile marker.

    The official scorer has Vestri in third place at the end of the first mile, with Rodenfels at No. 5. The Blowing Rock runner finished the first mile in a blistering 4:49 in near 90-degree heat.

    Blowing Rock’s Amanda Vestri approaches the finish at No. 2 in the USATF Women’s 6k Championship on July 13 in Canton, Ohio. Photo courtesy of ZAP Endurance

    Rachel Smith, of Flagstaff, Ariz., was credited with the No. 1 finish of the first mile, with an identical time as Vestri, in 4:49. With Rodenfels’ first mile also recorded as 4:49, it would be accurate to say that the early leaders were tightly bunched.

    At some point during the second mile, Rodenfels took command of the race, surging to the lead for good and crossing the second mile marker in 9:41. The field was still bunched, however, as Vestri completed the second mile in 9:42, recorded to be in the No. 5 position, with Emma Grace Hurley of Zionsville, Ind., listed at No. 2 but with the same time as Vestri. Abby Nichols of Flagstaff, Ariz. was also in the 9:42 group, as was Smith.

    Photo courtesy of ZAP Endurance

    In the last 1.73 miles, Rodenfels expanded her advantage over the rest of the group, while second-place Vestri finished four seconds ahead of No. 3, Hurley.

    In addition to Rodenfels (3000 Steeplechase) and Vestri (10k), Nichols (5k), Allie Ostrander (3000 Steeplechase) and Natosha Rogers (5k and 10k) competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials.

    The top eight finishers collected prize money, including Rodenfels ($6,000) and Vestri ($4,000). The top three finishers, including Vestri, also picked up a $2,500 bonus for running under 18:30.

    Afterward, ZAP Endurance head coach Pete Rea had high praise for his newest team member.

    “Amanda had an excellent first year as a pro,” said Rea. “She improved exponentially on both the track and in road racing. On the track, she improved her 10,000 meters time by a full minute (placing No. 5 at the U.S. Olympic Trials in late June) and on the roads as well. She was No. 10 at the U.S. 20k last September, No. 7 at the U.S. Road 5k, No. 4 at the Road 10k and now runner-up in the 6k to close out her year. She is young, just 24, so I believe she’ll see international success in the coming years.”

    TOP 10 FINISHERS IN USA TRACK & FIELD WOMEN’S 6K CHAMPIONSHIP

    Place Athlete Hometown Time
    1 Annie Rodenfels Newton, Mass. 18:03
    2 Amanda Vestri Blowing Rock, N.C. 18:16
    3 Emma Grace Hurley Zionsville, Ind. 18:20
    4 Abby Nichols Flagstaff, Ariz. 18:36
    5 Rachel Smith Flagstaff, Ariz. 18:37
    6 Emily Durgin Flagstaff, Ariz. 18:47
    7 Natosha Rogers Concord, Mass. 18:54
    8 Annika Reiss Johnson City, Tenn. 18:58
    9 Steph Bruce Flagstaff, Ariz. 18:59
    10 Amaris Tynnismaa Durham, N.C. 18:59

     

  • Hickory FC upsets No. 1 seeded Appalachian FC, 3-0, in front of season’s biggest crowd

    By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Dominating play for much of the first half but unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities, Appalachian FC’s 2024 season came to an end on July 13 in “The Valley” (Ted Mackeroll Soccer Stadium), falling to Hickory FC, 3-0.

    In front of the season’s largest crowd filling the grandstands and on the surrounding ridges, with drums banging and chants echoing across the playing field relentlessly, the first half was scoreless until the 39th minute when Hickory’s John Osadolor capitalized on an Appalachian defender’s miscue and zipped the ball past the Sasquatch goalkeeper to take a still nervous, 1-0 lead into the intermission.

    Hickory striker John Osadolor (18), a native of Madrid, Spain who plays collegiately for Francis Marion College, helps thwart an Appalachian FC attack in the first half by heading the ball out after a corner kick. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports.

    The second half was more of the same until Hickory was awarded a penalty kick in the 80th minute. The PK was blocked, but Hickory’s Ivan Rubio alertly jumped on the rebound and punched it forward into the net.

    Appalachian — which came into the game as the Conference tournament’s No. 1 seed and ranked as high as No. 4 overall in the National Premier Soccer League (comprised of more than 90 teams across the United States) — never gave up after going down 2-0 with just over 10 minutes to play. Unfortunately, the High Country’s favorite Sasquatchers were unable to convert while No. 2 seeded Hickory found the net yet again in the waning moments of stoppage time with a goal by Bjarne Renner.

    After the match, Hickory head coach Carlos Rubio, who is also the men’s soccer head coach for Lenoir-Rhyne University, was understandably enthusiastic about his team’s upset win over the No. 1 seeded Appalachian FC.

    Appalachian FC on counterattack, July 13 against Hickory in the conference playoff finals at Ted Mackeroll Soccer Stadium. Hickory prevailed, 3-0, against the No. 1 seeded Appalachian team. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

    “This was a fantastic night,” said Rubio. “The guys have (bought into) our method, our way. They succeeded today and did a fantastic job.

    If anyone is going to beat us make sure it is them that beating us and not us losing the game, that we don’t beat ourselves.

    “We did exactly what we wanted to do,” Rubio added. “We wanted to take the ball away from them. (Appalachian is) a really good team. We made a few adjustments. It was a really good game of soccer and I am proud of our defensive effort.”

    If there was a common thread of attributes for both teams in the match, it was counterattacking, quickly stymying the opponent’s attack and just as quickly reversing the momentum of the game, going on attack back up the field.

    “Yes,” said Rubio. “Both teams have fantastic players.”

    Hickory goalkeeper Humberto Tapia disrupts an Appalachian FC attack on July 13, to preserve an eventual, 3-0 shutout for the No. 2-seeded visitors. Photographic image by David Rogers

    On the other side of the outcome, Appalachian head coach Dale Parker was more sanguine.

    “Of course we are disappointed,” said Parker, “as I try to wrap my head around what just happened. The way we conceded the first goal was very disappointing. From that point on, we were pushing too hard almost to try and find an equalizer and ended up giving up the second goal (on a penalty kick). At that point, well…

    “The 3-nil score flatters them a little bit but you have to credit Hickory. They came in with a game plan and when they got their opportunity, they took it and we were not able to bring them down tonight, unfortunately.”

    In the first half, Appalachian seemed to dominate the game on the offensive end but unable to convert.

    Hickory had a large, enthusiastic and loud legion of supporters for the July 13 match against top-seeded Appalachian FC. Photographic image by David Rogers

    “The chances we created were enough to win the game for us,” said Parker, “if we had converted. But when you give the opponent a goal like we did and shift the momentum… It is something we spoke about before the game: if anyone is going to beat us make sure it is them that is beating us and not us losing the game, that we don’t beat ourselves.”

    Unfortunately, we want to still be playing at this point in the season and now we are not.

    Reflecting on the entire season, Parker said, “In the moment, I am really proud of our season. We had a team here that could go on and do good things in the national tournament but, unfortunately, in these knockout games you have to be prepared for the unexpected. So I am really pleased with the team that we built and really please with our performance (8-0-2) to this point. Unfortunately, we want to still be playing and we are not now.”

    Sasqiatch (at bottom), leads the Appalachian FC faithful on July 13 in the conference playoff finals vs. Hickory FC. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

    Parker was especially complimentary of the community’s embrace of high quality soccer in the High Country, including the ongoing partnerships of the business community as well as those of Appalachian FC, App State Athletics, High Country United Soccer Association and Watauga High School.

    “Soccer has not always been so popular in these parts,” said Parker, “… the growth of the game in the last four years has been really amazing. On a night like tonight, you wish we could have given our community a little bit more than we did. It is disappointing that we didn’t see it through.”

    With the win, Hickory advances to the NPSL Regionals, opponent yet to be named.

    BONUS PHOTOS (For best viewing on laptop or PC, click on any image for Slide Show mode)

    All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports

    Hickory had a large, enthusiastic and loud legion of supporters for the July 13 match against top-seeded Appalachian FC. Photographic image by David Rogers
    Sasqiatch (at bottom), leads the Appalachian FC faithful on July 13 in the conference playoff finals vs. Hickory FC. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports