By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — The Boone Bigfoots got off… well, they got off on the wrong foot June 8 and could never quite recover, losing to the division-leading Forest City Owls, 16-8, in a Coastal Plain League matchup.
With what looked more like a football score than a baseball result, the game was long on offense and short on pitching but an entertaining affair for the 200-plus fans in attendance at Smith Stadium on a cool, breezy, mid-week evening.
This ball is outta here! J C Navarro connects for a home run in the 2nd inning of game vs. Forest City Owls on June 8. Photographic image by David Rogers
The visiting Owls scored 16 runs on 20 hits, including nine doubles, a triple and two home runs. They were helped by a pair of Bigfoot fielding errors.
Scoring eight runs on nine hits, the Bigfoots were a bit more efficient in capitalizing on their offensive production. They just needed to get more guys on base if the game was going to be a slugfest.
Two of the Owls’ nine doubles happened in the first inning, beginning with shortstop Matthew Heavner’s leadoff rip to the gap in left field. He plated the game’s first run of the evening just one batter later when Owl right fielder G. Allen singled, the speedy Heavner not pausing as he rounded third (see cover photo) and headed home, standing up. Allen later scored on third baseman Brady Jeffcoat’s double to left, accounting for the Owls’ second earned run of the opening frame.
Runner! As Boone Bigfoots’ pitcher Dante Chirico delivers, the Forest City Owls runner is off to the races on June 8 at Smith Stadium. Photographic image by David Rogers
The Bigfoots’ starter on the mound, Dante Chirico (App State), wriggled out of any further damage but the the foreshadowing of a potential slugfest had been set.
The Bigfoots were unable to respond in the first inning but got things started in the second. First baseman J.C. Navarro lofted a home run to left to lead off the inning and guaranteed there would be no shutout. Then, the Bigfoots took advantage of a hit batter, a single, and a walk to load the bases with nobody out, setting up second baseman Brayden Simpson’s 2-RBI single to center. A bit later, catcher Braxton Church (App State) put up a long sacrifice fly to left, scoring third baseman Zach Weaver, who had walked previously and advanced to third on an earlier throw to the plate.
That 4-2 Bigfoot advantage at the end of the second inning was the last they would see as the Owls exploded for four runs each in the third and fourth innings on more doubles and home runs. Meanwhile, Forest City’s starting pitcher, Austin Hunley, kept the Bigfoot bats silenced, retiring the side in order in the bottom half of the third and fourth innings. He made it through the 5th inning, but after the Bigfoots scored three runs in the frame he was replaced by reliever Cooper Sain.
Out! Boone Bigfoots catcher Braxton Church pegged the ball perfectly to get the Forest City Owls runner attempting to steal second on June 8. Photographic image by David Rogers
Offensively in the bottom of the fifth, the Bigfoots took advantage of Hunley’s perceived tiring on the mound. A single to center by shortstop and leadoff hitter Carlos Amezquita, followed by a towering fly ball over the centerfielder’s head off the bat of Church that bounced over the wall for a ground rule double put Boone runners on second and third. Cleanup batter Caden Wagner was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting up Navarro’s RBI single that kept the bases loaded. Justin Reed was hit by yet another pitch, forcing Church home before Boone centerfielder Nadir Lewis advanced on a fielder’s choice that scored Wagner from third.
By this point, the Owls were leading 13-7, though, and were running out of innings in which to tally runs. They added one more run in the 6th inning but Forest City plated two more and then three more over the final three frames while keeping the Bigfoots scoreless.
Hunley was credited as the winning pitcher, Chirico the losing pitcher, while Sain picked up the save.
With the win, the Owls strengthen their hold atop the CPL West Division at 5-1. The Bigfoots fall into a tie for the No. 4 spot in the division, matching the Macon Bacon’s 2-4 record.
CPL West Division Standings
Forest City Owls (5-1)
High Point/Thomasville HiToms (3-1)
Lexington County Blowfish (4-2)
Boone Bigfoots (2-4)
Macon Bacon (2-4)
Martinsville Mustangs (0-2)
Asheboro Zookeepers (0-4)
TOP INDIVIDUAL PERFORMERS FOR JUNE 8 GAME
BIG – Carlos Amezquita: 2-5, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, HR
BIG – Braxton Church: 1-2, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 2B, sac fly
BIG – J C Navarro: 2-4, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs, HR
BIG – Nadir Lewis: 2-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI
FC – Matthew Heavner: 1-5, 1 run scored, 2B
FC – G. Allen: 4-6, 5 runs scored, 2 RBIs, 2B (2), SB (2)
Matthew Heavner of the Forest City Owls rounds the corner at third base, heading home for the first run of the June 8 game against the Boone Bigfoots. Photographic image by David Rogers
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — For the better part of five innings on June 4, the Boone Bigfoots couldn’t get anything going offensively, all but caged by the Asheboro Zookeepers. The scoring drought came to a decisive end in the sixth and seventh innings, however, powered by home runs off the bats of Boone third baseman Nick DiPietrantonio and first baseman Caden Wagner.
Trailing 5-1 entering the bottom half of the sixth inning, Wagner — having just arrived in Boone from the University of Northern Colorado — led off the Bigfoots’ half of the 6th with a single. The next batter was DiPietrantonio (Princeton University) and he promptly powered a 1-2 pitch over the 385-foot marker on the fence in left field for a 2-RBI home run, narrowing the deficit to 5-3.
Nick DiPietrantonio (9) had a double as well as this 6th inning home run that helped power a 7-5 comeback win for the Boone Bigfoots over the Asheboro Zookeepers on June 4. Photographic image by David Rogers
After holding the Zookeepers scoreless in the top of the 7th inning, the Bigfoots had a statement inning in the bottom of the 7th: they would not be denied their first Coastal Plain League win of the young season.
Boone catcher Blake Hale (from Murray State) and shortstop Carlos Amezquita (UNC-Pembroke) got the inning started with consecutive singles. Three batters later, Wagner hammered a 3-RBI home run over the left field fence, putting the Bigfoots ahead to stay. Boone added an insurance run later in the inning when DiPietrantonio smacked a double to the warning track in right center and crossed the plate with the Bigfoots’ final run one batter later.
Although he only pitched 1.1 innings, Zach Lewis (an Appalachian State reliever) was on the mound at the right time for when the Bigfoots surged into the lead and was credited with the win. Asheboro’s Loy Hickman picked up the loss. Boone’s Cord Butler earned the save.
TOP INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES
BIG – Nick DiPietrantonio: 2-4, 2 runs scored, 3 RBIs, 2B, HR, stolen base
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Rebounding from a frustrating first half, Appalachian FC rallied to score two goals against Alliance FC (Knoxville, Tenn.) in the second half to win the night, 2-1.
It was the fifth match of the young National Premier Soccer League season and the Sasquatch crew left with a 2-1-2 record. After tying a strong Apotheos team (3-0-2) on the road a week earlier, Appalachian FC head coach Dale Parker suggested after the June 3 tilt vs. Alliance that his side expects to come into every match here on out as the favorite.
“It was a bit unlucky that our schedule matched us with Apotheos in two of the first four games of the season,” said Parker, “but our guys rallied after that first loss and did what they had to do last week in Atlanta. Apotheos is a good side but we also came close to winning that match.”
Against Alliance, Appalachian FC played like they were the favorites, controlling possession an estimated 70 percent of the first half, mostly in the attacking half of the field. The just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net on multiple scoring opportunities but a lot of credit must go to a courageous defensive effort by the Knoxville, Tenn.-based opponents.
Unfortunately, in addition to not scoring, Appalachian conceded a goal to Alliance in the 35th minute when a shot caromed off the goal post and was headed into the net by a follow-up Alliance frontline player.
“Down 1-0 at halftime, I really didn’t have to say anything to the guys at halftime,” said Parker. “They knew what they had to do. We were disappointed to concede the goal like we did but you have to move on — and make the next goal.”
And it didn’t take long for them to do it. In the 51st minute, Rashawn Kellman, a native of Barbados and played soccer at Chicago State University, found the back of the net. Roughly 10 minutes later, British national Max Bolton scored to put Sasquatch & Co. up, 2-1.
“I think in the end the better team won, which is always nice,” said Parker in assessing how the night unfolded for Appalachian. Alliance is a good team with some good players. In the first half we played exceptionally well but couldn’t put them away. When you don’t score at this level, you leave yourself open. We made one mistake in the first half and they capitalized on it. So halftime was massively important. We could not afford to just let up. We had to make sure got out there in the second half and carried on, doing what we needed to do.”
Good, competitive play on both sides was marred by a number of yellow cards, mostly awarded to Alliance team members after bringing down an Appalachian player dangerously.
“Physical play does not bother us,” said Parker, later. “When we are the favorites coming in, you expect the opposing team to try and knock you around a bit as part of their game strategy. Of course, we are always concerned for our players’ safety.”
On June 10, Appalachian FC travels to McDonough, Ga., to take on the Georgia Revolution, currently listed in the NPSL Southeast Division standings at No. 2, with a 3-2-0 record.
The next home match for Appalachian Fc is June 13 in a non-conference challenge by DC United Under 20, with kickoff slated for 7 p.m. at Ted Mackeroll Stadium.
By David Rogers. ALBANY, N.Y. — Over hill and dale, Tristin Van Ord of Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance won the historic Freihofer’s Run for Women on June 3, finishing the arduous road race course in 15:54.00 and ahead of second place Jessie Cardin of Rochester Hills, Mich. by six seconds. With the win, Van Ord took home $3,000 in first place prize money.
Although Van Ord faced stiff competition from a large number of female athletes representing professional race teams looking to earn prize money, the 45th annual event celebrating women and raising money to support breast cancer research greeted almost 2,500 competitors. The youngest was 7-yearold Natalie Newton (27:01.00) of Cohoes, N.Y., while the oldest was Nancy Gerstenberger, 93 (1:22:23.00), of Albany.
According to ZAP Endurance head coach Pete Rea, Van Ord’s net time was only 12 seconds slower than her personal best for a 5K run on a track.
“Running this distance in a road race, especially on a course like the won in downtown Albany, is a lot more challenging than running the entire distance on a flat track oval in a stadium,” said Rea. “That Tristan was able to run this 5K just 12 seconds off her personal best on the oval says a lot about where she has progressed in her training.”
For Rea, he admits that Van Ord’s win at the Freihofer’s event is an emotional moment — for him.
“Growing up in Connecticut, my mother is responsible for getting me into competitive running,” Rea said, reflectively, about what turned out to be a career decision for him, a career that included a stellar four years running in high school and then on to compete for the University of Connecticut . “When I was a kid, she belonged to a running club in our hometown, Farmington. For over 30 years, she and several of the club members would go over to Albany to run in the Freihofer’s Bakery Run for Women race that brought attention to breast cancer research.
“When Tristin got invited to compete in this race,” Rea added, “I told her she should go because it really is an historic event that attracts some really top notch athletes and they have pretty good prize money for the professionals. You can tell by the big smile as she crossed the finish line that she is happy she made the decision to make this trip.”
Next Up for Van Ord
As it turns out, Van Ord will stay in New York and race on June 10 against even tougher competition at a longer distance, running in the Mastercard New York Mini 10K For Women in, around through Manhattan’s iconic Central Park, including a sweep by the Guggenheim Museum and finishing near the famous Tavern on the Green Restaurant.
The first edition of the New York Mini 10K was in 1972, and won by the USA’s Jacqueline Marsh Dixon in 37:01.7. Organized by the New York Road Runners, the race has been run every year since except for a one-year hiatus in 2020 because of COVID-19. The 2022 edition of the race was won by Senbere Teferi of Ethiopia in 30:43. The course record of 30:28.6 was set by Morroco’s Asmae LeghZaoui in 2002. The last American to win the race was Sara Hall in 2021 (31:33). Hall also won the 2019 race (32:27).
Officially, Van Ord’s personal record (35:35) for 10-kilometers (on a track oval) was back in 2018, in Charleston, S.C., when she was competing for Appalachian State.
“That was so long ago,” said Rea, “and a bit outdated for where Tristin is now because while she has not competed in a 10K race since then, she has been well under that mark in just the first 10K of a full marathon. For anyone who has been to Central Park, they will know that while it is a beautiful venue, there are elevation changes and sharp turns in several places so it is a challenging course. We are looking for Tristin to run 16:15 for each half of the race, so that would put her into the finish at around 32:30.”
The New York Mini is advertised by the New York Road Runners as “the world’s first women-only road race.” According to the NYRR website, “… event founder Fred Lebow named the race after the miniskirt, which back then was in vogue.”
The first event was called the Crazylegs Mini Marathon, reflecting the sponsorship of a Johnson Wax women’s shaving gel product branded as Crazylegs. Through the years, other companies and their products have carried the title sponsor banner, including Bonne Bell cosmetics, Oakley, and Advil that we could find. Now and for the forseeable future, the event bears the Mastercard name.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Scoring early and late, the Boone Bigfoots tallied 14 runs on just eight hits May 30, rushing by the Carolina Disco Turkeys in run-rule fashion, 14-1.
It was not the intended home opener for the Boone nine but rain canceled the scheduled Coastal Plain League home openers on May 27 and 28, so good weather for a non-league game — and an even better result — made for a happy beginning to the High Country’s summer baseball season and the estimated 150 fans braving the relatively brisk temperatures.
SEE BONUS PHOTOS: For best photography viewing on desktop or laptop monitors, please click on any image for Slide Show mode.
The weather may have been cool but not the Bigfoots’ bats or baserunning, using “small ball” to take advantage of Disco Turkeys control problems on the mound and assorted fielding errors. Holding the visitors to just one run scored in the top of the 4th inning, the Bigfoots left the bases loaded in the top of the first but made up for it in the second frame with three runs. Then they scored four runs in the bottom of the 6th inning and exploded for seven more in the bottom half of the 7th to win the day.
Game stats were not available at press time, but here are a few captured moments. All photographic images by David Rogers, High Country Sports.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Athletic competitions are not decided until you cross the finish line — or every second has ticked off the clock.
Bonus photos at bottom
That was clearly evident in Appalachian FC’s thrilling, come-from-behind, 3-1, soccer win over the Georgia Storm on May 20, before an enthusiastic crowd at Ted Mackeroll Soccer Stadium.
The two National Premier Soccer League rivals battled back and forth to a 0-0 deadlock for most of the match until, in the 85th minute, Georgia Storm attacker Akinni James found the back of the net to thrust the visitors into a 1-0 lead with little time remaining.
Photographic image by Davie Rogers
A desperate Appalachian team was repeatedly turned away by Storm goalkeeper Jose Palacios until, suddenly, there was an opening in the 88th minute and Nabil Homssa punched in App FC’s first goal, along the ground on the left side to tie the game. Jeremiah Luoma was credited with the assist.
When the clock ticked to 90 minutes, marking the end of what would normally be regulation time, that is the way the battle stood, deadlocked at 1-1. But there were at least four minutes of stoppage time being added by the referee and Appalachian FC had momentum, heartened by the late goal and invigorated by an energized home crowd.
Barely two minutes into the extended play, Appalachian’s attacker Michael Eberle found himself with the ball some 10 yards outside the left goalpost and roughly seven yards inside the field of play. He sent the ball whizzing across the face of the goal, past the goalkeeper where it was met, perfectly timed, by the foot of defender Alex Render, who had moved up into the fray just outside the right post. In a word, Render pummeled the ball past Palacios, who had little or no chance to react before Render’s rocket nearly tore a hole in the back of the net.
Photographic image by David Rogers
Now 2-1, Georgia Storm was looking to tie before the end of the added stoppage time. They sent everyone into attack mode, including Palacios the goalkeeper, storming (to coin a phrase) the Appalachian half of the field. Mayhem ensued, the Storm threatening, until suddenly an Appalachian FC defender sent a clearing kick over the heads of everyone, down the left sideline. The speedy Luoma caught up with the ball, pushed it ahead a couple of times with desperate Georgia players bearing down on him from behind. Then Luoma calmy sent the ball forcefully along the ground and into the open net for the Squatchy-led crew’s third and final goal.
Bedlam among the already boisterous crowd ensued and got louder as the referee blew his whistle for full time, just moments later.
“For us, this was a bit more back to basics,” said Appalachian FC head coach Dale Parker afterwards, in front of grandstands where the crowd seemed reluctant to leave. “It was working hard, outrunning them and putting the ball in dangerous areas, hoping our top players could score goals if they had chances. For a long period that wasn’t the case. I thought the other side defended pretty well and they got what they came for by scoring that late goal. With five minutes to go there was a sense of doom and gloom, but what we have done this week in training is build an attitude and a team character of fight and desire. That got us back in the game and then with those two more in stoppage time, it was icing on the cake.
Photographic image by David Rogers
“This was a true team win,” Parker added. “There wasn’t necessarily one standout player, but a true collective effort. We stuck in there and worked hard. We had too many errors in the first half that cost us the flow of the game. In the second half, Jeremiah Luoma gave us the lift we needed. Credit to the guys who came off the and got massively involved. We have not really had that in the past but we had it tonight.
“It is difficult to score goals in soccer,” Parker concluded by putting the game in perspective. “You have 22 guys on the field and 11 of them are trying to stop you.”
BONUS PHOTOS
Photographic image by Davie Rogers
Photographic image by David RogersPhotographic image by David Rogers
Photographic image by David Rogers
By David Rogers. NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — Racing came to the outskirts of the High Country on May 17, with a tripleheader of late model competition at the iconic and recently renovated North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Although NASCAR Cup regulars were sprinkled throughout the opening races of the All-Star Race week, late model veterans Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, Bubba Pollard and Augie Grill emerged victorious in the CARS Tour Late Model Stock Window World 125, the ECMD 150, and the Crossroads Harley Davidson 75 events, respectively.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. competed in the CARS Tour Window World 125 race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 17. Photo courtesy of North Wilkesboro Speedway
The Window World 125 race included NASCAR Cup regulars Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, Kevin Harvick, Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain, and the “unretired” Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Queen started the race on the pole and held on for the win, leading the opening stages and staying in the hunt throughout. A multi-car crash on Lap 31 took seven cars out of the field, including those driven by Keselowski and Suarez, although both rebounded to take the No. 12 and No. 15 finishing positions, respectively.
Brenden Queen won the CARS Tour Window World 125 race at North Wilkesboro on May 17. Photo courtesy of North Wilkesboro Speedway
None of the NASCAR stars could catch Queen. The driver of the No. 03 Toyota remained in command through the final 25 laps, pulling away and beating Ryan Millington to the checkered flag by 4.78 seconds.
Queen was all smiles after the race.
“Man, as a driver you dream of winning races like Martinsville, Hampton Heat, places like that. This is exactly like that,” said Queen. “I knew when I won the pole that I had my work cut out for me. Anything can happen. Our car was so good early on, I was trying to not get over-anxious and race the track, not the other drivers. That last pit stop, putting on some fresh tires helped. I didn’t want to rough anybody up and we were so good at getting off Turn 4 well that once we got the lead, I felt good about it. This is something that, I can look at 40 years from now and say, ‘Man, I won at North Wilkesboro.’”
ECMD 150
Pollard held off NASCAR stars William Byron and Chase Elliott over the final 40 laps of Wednesday’s nightcap, the ASA STARS National Tour ECMD 150, to score an emotional win.
The owner and driver of the No. 26 Ford had Byron, Elliott, Sammy Smith and Daniel Suarez staring him down as the thrilling, 150-lap feature drew to a close. None of the NASCAR quartet were Pollard’s equal on Wednesday night, though, as the Senoia, Georgia, native sped to the point, negotiated lapped traffic and never looked back.
Byron was second with Elliott, Smith and Suarez completing the top five. Caden Kvapil, Casey Roderick, Cole Butcher, Derek Thorn and Ty Majeski rounded out the top 10.
Fans from all around packed the stands on May 17 at North Wilkesboro Speedway for the opening races of NASCAR All-Star Week. Photo courtesy of North Wilkesboro Speeday.
“We took off there and we were pretty good, but I let William (Byron) by me for a while to see if he was any better,” said Pollard, after the race. “We started the race tight – I wanted to start the race tight – but we made the right adjustments on the last break (at Lap 100) and after that, we were good. It’s so great to be here with the history of this place and with it coming back, I’m just glad to be a part of it.”
In his post-race interview, Byron analyzed the track and the competitors, as well as had complimentary observations about the victor, Pollard.
“I had a lot of fun out there. The race track was abrasive on tires. You could feel it through the wheel and how the tires just didn’t grip the road,” said Byron. “… It’s fun any time you can race with Bubba (Pollard). He’s probably the best in these cars. I thought Chase (Elliott) was maybe the best on old tires — he had a lot of grip — but when we put tires on, Bubba was the best. I didn’t have anything for him. We’d get to lapped cars, but I couldn’t really catch him. He was good… It’s going to be interesting on Sunday (for the All-Star Race). The facility looks amazing and the place is really cool. The atmosphere here is pretty perfect for an All-Star Race.”
CROSSROADS HARLEY-DAVIDSON 75
A spate of early caution periods gave way to a frantic race to the finish in the CARS Tour Pro Late Model Crossroads Harley-Davidson 75. Augie Grill and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series regular Corey Heim fought for the lead and the win in the closing laps of the night’s opening race.
When the checkered flag flew, though, it was Grill out front and Heim – who will also compete in Saturday’s Tyson 250 – second. Connor Zilisch was third with Tristan McKee fourth and Katie Hettinger fifth.
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar champion Jordan Taylor made his oval-racing debut in an E33 Motorsports-owned Chevrolet painted like NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon’s iconic DuPont scheme of the 1990s.
Taylor – racing under the name of his alter ego, Rodney Sandstorm – avoided trouble and finished 20th in the 40-car field.
“I’d come back and race here again, for sure,” Taylor said. “This is all about seat time for me. I was just glad to make the race. Hopefully, we can build from there.”
The race winner, Grill, summed up his night.
“I was really wanting to ride a bit more than I did. I felt like Corey (Heim) and I were pretty even, and whoever was going to be up front (at the end) was going to win.” said Grill. “Luckily, I was able to keep it up front and now I get to take the trophy home. It was nerve-wracking (toward the end). He was so close to me that if I made a mistake, he was going to pass me. Luckily, the mistakes I made were minute enough that they didn’t matter. All in all, it was a pretty good race that I put together. I’m emotional now. Any race that I win is special, because they’re hard to come by these days. This is definitely a top-three win for me. It’s such a cool place to race at, and a cool race to win.”
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Credit COVID-19 for being the disrupter that led two men to find each other and give Sasquatch life — a life that Jason O’Keefe and Michael Hitchcock suggest has taken on a life of its own.
Enthusiastic community support and a passionate fan base that extends well beyond the natural borders of the High Country helped propel Appalachian FC on and off the field the past two startup seasons. With an NPSL division title in 2022, including “Coach of the Year” honors for head mentor Dale Parker, and a first round win this year in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, some might call it an improbable beginning.
In a classy display, the Appalachian FC team went to the stands after their 2-0 loss to Charlotte independence on April 5 in to thank the fans. Photographic image by David Rogers
It has resulted in a new reality: the Sasquatch-led crew has a target on their collective backs. Those opponents vanquished, perhaps even embarrassed previously by the upstart club of 2021 and 2022 are gunning for payback. For Appalachian FC, what is their encore performance in 2023 going to be?
Appalachian FC plays its first home game of the 2023 season on May 13, 7 p.m., at Ted Mackeroll Soccer Stadium on the western outskirts of Boone. In the May 6 season opener, Appalachian FC tied the Georgia Storm, 1-1, in a tight battle played on the campus of the University of West Georgia (Carrollton, Ga.).
With a core group of returning players, Appalachian FC management assembled a carefully constructed, 34-man roster for the 2023 season. The list is dominated by American-born athletes, but the international flavor is certainly there: England, Wales, Ireland, the Netherlands, Argentina, Scotland, France, South Africa and Barbados. A total of 15 players, almost half the roster, have international origins. They grew up with a ball at their feet and have the skill to prove it.
Appalachian FC goalkeeper Jake Agnew dives for penalty kick by Charlotte Independence’s Khori Bennett, just missing the save opportunity on April 5. Photographic image by David Rogers
Many of the players on the roster currently play for college teams or are recently graduated. There is a sprinkling of large school, NCAA Division I athletes, like from NC State, Old Dominion, Liberty, UNC-Greensboro, Memphis and Appalachian State, but there are a great many schools not known for their gridiron football exploits that have high level “futbol” reputations, including Lander, Mars Hill, Chowan, Lees-McRae, Shawnee, Harding, Oberlin, Emory & Henry, and Evansville.
Reinforcing the club’s ties to the local community, Appalachian FC’s roster also includes players who grew up in the High Country, played at Watauga High School, and went away to college but are returning this year to compete for the fans of Squatchy and Co. Others have strong local or regional ties, perhaps having relocated to the area. Tucker Chasteen, Matthew Taubman, Kevin Arguello, Kevin Rios, Thomas McComb, Jair Alvarez, and Jordan Kinder are among those.
What is unique about NPSL-level soccer: many, if not most of the athletes are rising stars competing with ambitions of playing at the next level. Some have already been to the highest professional levels and are looking to get back there by showing what they can do in NPSL. It all makes for fun, high quality soccer and delightful entertainment.
Photographic image by David Rogers
What is unique about Appalachian FC: a lot of those rising stars love what is happening in the High Country where the crowds of 1,000-plus are much more exciting to play for than the 100 or so in other locations. It is culture, community, and fun.
Appalachian FC was born in 2021, after the pandemic prompted Appalachian State’s athletics department to make severe cutbacks in its sports offerings given the uncertainty that dominated any ideas about the future of college sports at the time. A highly successful and popular men’s soccer program was one of the sports cut by the university.
Could something beautiful rise from the ashes?
“Appalachian FC was created out of a negative, really, for the community,” said Jason O’Keefe, former App State men’s soccer coach and now a consultant with Youth.College.Pro Management, based in Denver, North Carolina. “There were a lot of people affected adversely by the pandemic, but it came down to this area being left without an outlet for high level men’s soccer. I have known ‘Hitch’ (Michael Hitchcock, Playbook Management International) for quite awhile and when I first discussed our situation, he almost immediately asked what I thought about forming an NPSL (National Premier Soccer League) club.”
While O’Keefe had to do a lot of research before getting his arms around the idea of an NPSL team in Boone, things came together. O’Keefe warmed up to the idea and Hitchcock brought an extensive background and skillset in “right-size” soccer club development and administration. He has been a senior executive with Major League Soccer. He has built soccer stadium. He owns other soccer teams in the USA and elsewhere around the world.
The first season, 2021, Hitchcock and O’Keefe built the team around a core group of former App State men’s soccer players.
Photographic image by David Rogers
“COVID-19 forced everything to come to an end so suddenly,” O’Keefe recalled. “As players and coaches and even fans, we didn’t get to have a ‘last practice,’ a ‘last match’ or even a ‘last meal’ together. So there was a lot of pent-up interest among the men’s team for coming back and playing high level soccer in the High Country.”
In the second year, 2022, the roster was built not so much around the former App State players, but around a nucleus of players returning from the entire 2021 roster, and adding to that nucleus.
“For 2023, we have had to simultaneously build two rosters. One was special for the U.S. Open Cup tournament’s first round in March and the other was for this NPSL season,” explained O’Keefe. “There isn’t as much overlap between the two as you might hope.”
Scraping together high level players who are fit enough to compete against even lower level professional teams in the U.S. Open Cup is a challenge, to be sure. Appalachian FC did well enough in that task that they defeated a highly competitive North Carolina Fusion side in the first round. Two weeks later, they lost to Charlotte FC in Matthews, N.C., a professional team that is in the middle of its regular season and paying healthy salaries to its players for their fitness, skills, and athletic ability. This week, Charlotte advanced to the Round of 32 (fourth round) after a 1-0 victory over Orlando City Soccer Club, a Major League Soccer franchise.
Photographic image by David Rogers
In constructing the Appalachian FC roster for the 2023 regular season, management is careful to stay true to organization values. In a Zoom call with Michael Hitchcock from his headquarters in Dallas, Texas, the Playbook Management International principal emphasized that at the NPSL level of soccer in the United States, there has to be a great emphasis on making it part of the community.
Appalachian FC has built its brand in the marketplace around the legendary “Bigfoot” character, AKA “Sasquatch.”
One of the very first steps in club development was getting local community partners involved, not just attracting sponsors but also leveraging what they knew to be a growing, passionate fanbase of soccer enthusiasts in the High Country.
“App State men’s soccer may have been the foundation,” said O’Keefe, “because we were getting over 1,000 people in the stands for some games before we were shut down.”
Hitchcock added, “And then you have the very successful High Country United programs for youth and adult soccer, as well as Watauga Parks and Recreation leagues. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world and we can see evidence of that, at least in part, by how robust the community-based programs are here.”
Photographic image by David Rogers
Another important step in club development has been being very intentional about growing the club’s brand.
“We took Sasquatch and emblazoned his caricature in gold on baseball caps and other apparel and merchandise items,” said Hitchcock of his mythical character. “Of course, people in the local community are drawn to Sasquatch and so many, young and old, have become members of our SquatchGuard, the large group of fans that before our matches march from Booneshine, down through the woods to the road leading to the stadium, and on to the grandstands. They are chanting, drumming, making all kinds of noise and having fun. This is one of the most successful community development efforts around soccer of all the teams in the NPSL.”
But there is more to the brand than inciting local community passion.
“We may well be in a relatively small market with limitations on actual spectator development,” said Hitchcock, “but there are people now all over the world buying and wearing these caps and shirts bearing the Appalachian FC and Sasquatch logo. Merchandise sales are expanding our actual market well beyond the High Country. For instance, there were some 17,000 viewers streaming our recent game against the Carolina Fusion in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup.”
That market appeal is not lost on the players, either, nor on the team managers in their efforts aimed at roster development.
Head coach Dale Parker told High Country Sports in a March interview that guys want to come play here in the summer because of the relatively cool weather compared to other locations off the mountain. Hitchcock and O’Keefe added that they also want to come because of the community and fan support, which was clearly evident by the number of Appalachian FC fans that made the 2-hour trek to Mathews in early April, for the second round of the U.S. Open Cup. Appalachian FC had nearly as many supporters as the host, Charlotte FC.
Saturday night for the first home game of the 2023 season, against Apotheos FC, is sure to be special. Seven days later, May 20, Squatchy & Co. will welcome the Georgia Storm for a rematch. If you see smoke curling over the horizon and hear drums on those days, don’t think the local Native Americans are preparing to go on the warpath. More than likely it is just Squatchy getting his young men revved up to play.
By David Rogers. WALNUT, Calif. — It was just three weeks ago (April 15) that Ryan Ford won the Men’s Elite 5,000m race against stiff professional competition at the Mt. Sac Relays. On May 6, he doubled the distance, finished No. 4 in another elite field of 18, and posted a time that likely qualified him to run in the USATF nationals later this year.
And he set a new ZAP Endurance club record for the event. ZAP Endurance is the professional running team based in Blowing Rock, competing worldwide with a team of elite athletes.
“I guess Ryan really likes running here in Southern California on this Mt. San Antonio College track,” said ZAP Endurance head coach Pete Rea. “And what is not to like about snow-capped Mt. Baldy in the background while running in 70-degree weather just a few miles away? We are very impressed with the work Ryan has put in and his progression toward nationals.”
Of course, Mt. Baldy was not visible during the running of the 10,000 meter races since they were conducted at about 11:00 p.m. at night on May 6 for the On Track Fest, produced by Sound Running and sponsored by the On athletic footwear and performance sportswear company based in Switzerland.
“Some might wonder about the time of day for this event,” said Rea, “but for a long distance race like the 10,000m, this is actually perfect because the temperature have cooled off.”
The top finishers in the 10,000m race were:
Adrian Wildschutt, Hoka NAZ Elite, 27:23.10
Alex Masai, Hoka NAZ Elite, 27:51.68
Thomas George, Roots Running Project, 28:06.26
Ryan Ford, ZAP Endurance, 28:09.53
Eric Hammer, Boston Athletic Association, 28:21.39
Noah Schutte, unattached, 28:25.23
Andre Waring, Brooks Running Australia, 28:31.10
Other runners represented Asics, NIke, China, London (UK) Western Track Club, U.S. Army, Puma, and India, among others.
Schaffer runs another sub-4 minute mile at Penn Relays in stacked field
Ford’s performance comes on the heels of another ZAP Endurance athlete’s elite performance just a week earlier, on May 2.
Middle distance specialist Dan Schaffer finished No. 6 in an elite field running 5,000 meters at the historic Penn Relays, barely one second behind the first place finisher, Geordie Beamish, of New Zealand in the Olympic Development Men’s Benjamin Franklin Mile Run Elite. Beamish stopped the clock at 3:57.68, while Schaffer finished in 3:58.86. Ten elite athletes from the U.S., Puerto Rico, Kenya, New Zealand, Spain, GHANA and Great Britain were entered in the race. Nine finished and all clocked under a 4-minute mile.
By Joey Jones and Bret Strelow for App State Sports. BOONE, N.C. — Six App State Football alums officially joined the NFL on Saturday, two as draft picks and four as free agent signees.
An eventful day began with the Los Angeles Rams selecting pass-rushing standout Nick Hampton in the fifth round with the 161st overall pick and continued with the Jacksonville Jaguars taking offensive lineman Cooper Hodges, who is from nearby Glen St. Mary, Fla., in the seventh round with the 226th overall selection.
In the hours immediately after the draft ended, four Mountaineers signed with NFL franchises: CB Steven Jones Jr. (Tennessee Titans), TE Henry Pearson (Green Bay Packers), RB Camerun Peoples (Carolina Panthers) and OL Anderson Hardy (Kansas City Chiefs). There are multiple published reports stating that quarterback Chase Brice will participate in rookie minicamps with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Commanders.
App State led Sun Belt programs last season with 14 alums on NFL rosters, and eight of those players entered the NFL as undrafted free agents. Wide receiver Jalen Virgil (Denver Broncos) and defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor (Detroit Lions) made 53-man rosters in 2022 as undrafted rookies, and cornerback Shaun Jolly played for the Rams last season after being a rookie free agent.
In the last four years, App State and Louisiana are the only Sun Belt programs with at least one pick in each of the NFL drafts and more than one pick in two of those four years. Hampton and Hodges became the 32nd and 33rd different App State alums to be selected in the NFL Draft, dating back to 1942, and the Mountaineers have had 17 players picked in the last 16 drafts.
DRAFT CAPSULES
NICK HAMPTON, EDGE RUSHER
With 26.5 career sacks, including 7.0 in nine games during his final year at App State, ranked No. 5 among full-time FBS players who were active during the 2022 season … According to NCAA statistics and PFF College data, also finished his FBS career with 133 QB pressures, 175 tackles, 40 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries … Began 2022 season with 2.5 sacks against North Carolina and ended opening month by adding two more against James Madison … Despite missing the final three games, in addition to his sack total, accumulated 39 tackles, 25 QB pressures, 9.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 2022 … Reese’s Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine participant … At the combine, had high-level measurements among edge rushers in the 40-yard dash (4.58), vertical jump (35.5), 10-yard split (1.65) and broad jump (10.0).
COOPER HODGES, OL
Ended 2022 regular season with starts in all 51 of his FBS game appearances … Became four-time All-Sun Belt selection as a right tackle and played guard in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl … Overall blocking grade of 85.3 from PFF in 2022 ranked fifth overall among starting FBS offensive tackles and No. 1 among starting right tackles at the FBS level … Run-blocking grade of 86.2 was also fifth nationally among starting FBS offensive tackles and No. 1 among starting right tackles … The two-year captain allowed just one sack and two quarterback hits in 428 pass-blocking snaps during the 2022 season.
FREE AGENT CAPSULES
ANDERSON HARDY, OL
Played in 44 career games and made 29 career starts, including 28 in a row at left tackle to end his career … All-Sun Belt first team in 2022 … Hula Bowl participant … According to PFF, had the third-best overall blocking grade and fourth-best run-blocking grade among starting offensive tackles in the Sun Belt in 2022, when he started all 12 games … Allowed just two quarterback sacks in 2022 … Weighing 301 pounds, had time of 4.96 seconds in the 40-yard dash at App State’s Pro Day … Knocked out 30 reps on the 225-pound bench press … Vertical jump of 31-5 inches.
STEVEN JONES JR., CB
First-team All-American in 2021 from the Football Writers Association of America, Phil Steele and Pro Football Network, with a second-team honor from the Walter Camp Football Foundation … Played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl … 2022 second-team preseason All-American via the Walter Camp Football Foundation and PFN … Seven career interceptions included five during breakout season in 2021 … Totaled 34 passes defended in FBS career, including 28 over his final two seasons … Career totals included four INT returns for TDs, five total TDs (counting the end zone recovery of his own punt block) and 131 tackles. … In 2021, broke or tied school records for single-season INT return TDs, career INT return TDs, single-game INTs (five-way tie for first) and single-game INT return TDs (four-way tie for first) … Played in 64 career games and made 27 starts at cornerback … Two-time All-Sun Belt defender (first team in 2021, second team in 2022) … In 2022, tied for the Sun Belt lead in the regular season with 15 passes defended … Tied for 14th nationally in the regular season with 1.2 passes defended per game in 2022 … Had time of 4.47 seconds in the 40-yard dash at App State’s Pro Day … Vertical jump of 35-0 and broad jump of 10-4.
HENRY PEARSON, TE
Played in 59 career games and made 43 starts at tight end … All-Sun Belt second-team as a senior … Totaled 58 catches for 897 yards and 11 touchdowns in his career … Full-time starter in his final three years after starting eight games in 2019 and making three starts as a true freshman in 2018 … In 2022, led App State and tied for the Sun Belt lead among tight ends with five touchdown catches during the regular season … Second among league TEs in catches (25) and receiving yards (329) in the regular season … Among starting Sun Belt tight ends, had the second-best overall blocking grade, according to PFF … Scored a tiebreaking touchdown on 9-yard reception late in third quarter of 17-14 win at Texas A&M … Knocked out 30 reps on the 225-pound bench press at App State’s Pro Day — the high among tight ends at this year’s combine was 23.
CAMERUN PEOPLES, RB
In 36 career games (15 starts), totaled 2,830 rushing yards, 33 rushing TDs, nine 100-yard games and a school-record 6.22 yards-per-carry average … Capped a 1,124-yard rushing season in 2020 with 317 yards and five touchdowns in the Myrtle Beach Bowl — a performance that set NCAA’s single-game bowl record for rushing yards, broke the school record for single-game rushing yards, tied the NCAA bowl record for rushing TDs and tied the school record for rushing touchdowns … Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award candidate in 2020 after scoring a 63-yard TD as a (redshirting) true freshman in 2018 bowl win but suffering a torn ACL in his right knee on a 17-yard run in the 2019 opener … Appeared in nine games and made six starts in 2022 … Rushed for 593 yards on 101 attempts (5.9 average) and five TDs … Had three 100-yard games, with 168 yards (with two TDs on 23 rushes) against Georgia State, 112 yards (on 19 attempts) at Texas A&M and 102 yards (with a 73-yard TD) on four carries against The Citadel … Had a 48-yard run on the final drive to help clinch the win at No. 6 Texas A&M … Helped tie UNC game with 38-yard touchdown run … Reese’s Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine participant … At the combine, had measurements of 4.61 in the 40-yard dash, 37-0 in the vertical jump and 10-1 in the broad jump … His 19 reps on the bench press at App State’s Pro Day would have tied for fourth place among running backs at the combine.
