High Country Sports

Category: Recreation Leagues

  • Equip Sports 9u advances to quarterfinals of WNC Cal Ripken State Tournament with two Saturday wins

    By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — High Country-based Equip Sports’ 9-and-under baseball team opened the June 24-25 Western North Carolina Cal Ripken 9U Minors State Tournament with a flourish, winning both Saturday games in dominating fashion at the Watauga High School facilities.

    BONUS PHOTOS AT BOTTOM

    Playing in back to back games, Equip defeated Davidson County, 19-1, in the mid-afternoon opener, then came right back to upend South Park, 13-3, in the nightcap.

    Eauip Sports 9u runner takes off for second base on June 24. Photographic image by David Rogers
    Eauip Sports 9u runner takes off for second base on June 24. Photographic image by David Rogers

    At 2-0, Equip Sports leads the State Tournament’s 3-team Central Division. As the No. 3 seed, they will face No. 6 Matthews at 2 p.m. June 25.

    In an early Sunday morning tilt, No. 9 South Charlotte defeated No. 10 Davidson County, 10-7. in a consolation contest.

    The final tournament bracket of teams vying for the championship include the following June 25 games:

    QUARTERFINALS

    • B1 – 12:00 – No. 1 Sandhills vs. No. 8 Park Sharon @ Watauga High School
    • B2 – 12:00 – No. 7 South Park vs. No. 2 Surry County @ Equip Optimist Park
    • B3 – 2 p.m. – No. 3 UC Waxhaw vs. No. 5 Alexander County @ Watauga High School
    • B4 – 2 p.m. – No. 6 Matthews vs. No. 3 Equip Sports # Equip Optimist Park

    SEMIFINALS

    • B5 – 4 p.m. – B1 Winner vs. B2 Winner
    • B6 – 4 p.m. – B3 Winner vs. B4 Winner

    CHAMPIONSHIP

    • 6 p.m. – B5 Winner vs. B6 Winner

    Game statistics were not available as this story was going to press, but we were able to capture a moments during the Equip Sports vs. South Park matchup of teams.

    BONUS PHOTOS

    Equip Sports is in the semifinals of the WNC Cal Ripken State Tournament after winning both Saturday games.
    An Equip Sports runner slides head first into home plate after a wild pitch sent the South Park catcher to the backstop to retrieve the ball on June 24. Photographic image by David Rogers
    Eauip Sports 9u runner takes off for second base on June 24. Photographic image by David Rogers
    Eauip Sports 9u runner takes off for second base on June 24. Photographic image by David Rogers

  • Another Rec Center doubleheader split, this time with Phillies and Rockies

    By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Another Rec Center junior baseball doubleheader, another split decision when it comes to diamond supremacy. On May 24, the Wendy’s Phillies defeated the Bridgeman Dentistry Rockies, 8-3, in the curtain raiser. The Rockies prevailed in the nightcap, 9-4.

    Game 1 Notes

    • Early pitching proved a factor in this game, keeping the game all but scoreless through the first three innings-plus. In the top of the 1st inning, Daniel Jones was on the mound for the Phillies and struck out three of the four batters he faced. The only blemish was a walk to his Rockies’ counterpart, Jack Bridgeman.
    • After striking out the first two Phillies batters he face in the bottom half of inning No. 1, Bridgeman, the Rockies’ starting pitcher, gave up a double to Jones, walked Luke Rothrock, and hit the next batter to load the bases — but was able to wiggle out of the inning without the Phillies scoring a run by getting a popup out to the shortstop for out No. 3.
    • In the Rockies’ top half of the second inning, John Wilson-Mills rapped a one-out double, stole third base and came home on a Phillies’ fielding error to score the game’s first run. Jones hit the next batter, Noah Brown, who then stole second base, but was left stranded when Jones struck out the next two batters to end the scoring threat. In the bottom half of the 2nd inning, Bridgeman had only a little trouble in retiring the side.
    • Jones racked up three more strikeouts in the top half of the third inning, the Rockies unable to get much going. Eli Lee was able to reach first base on an Phillies’ fielding error and stole both second base and third base, but was left stranded when Jones got out of any trouble by striking out both Thomas Dieters and Bridgeman to get out of the inning.
    • The bottom half of the third inning looked promising for the Phillies, who had two of their first three batters get on with a walk and a hit-by-pitch, but Bridgeman was able to pickoff Gabe Pruess at first base for the first out, struck out Wyatt Luna for the second out, and then got a force out at second to end the inning.
    • It was three up and three down for the Rockies in the top half of the 4th inning, but they added a pair of runs in the top half of the fifth when Lee and Dieters sliced a single and a double, respectively, after Brown and Eli Relder had taken advantage of a fielding error and a walk. Unfortunately for the Rockies, two runs in the 5th inning were not enough to offset the eight-run explosion by the Phillies in the bottom of inning No. 4, highlighted by a triple off the bat of Wyatt Luna and an earlier double by Luke Rothrock.
    • In total for the game, the Phillies were able to reach first base with six walks, four hit-by-pitch and five fielding errors. They only stole one base, but also advanced runners with three passed balls or wild pitches.
    • In total for the game, the Rockies recorded four stolen bases, but the Phillies’ pitchers, led by Jones, demonstrated overall better control with only two walks, one hit-by-pitch, and one passed ball.

    Game 2 Notes

    • Holden Watson started on the mound for the “home team” Rockies in the nightcap, allowing only one run in the first inning after walking Daniel Jones. After getting on, Jones promptly stole both second base and third base, then scored on a fielding error.
    • The Phillies pushed across another run in the second inning, then two more in the third when Daniel G. and Daniel Jones rapped consecutive singles ahead of a triple to the fence by Luke Rothrock.
    • Those four runs did not prove enough, however, as the Rockies erupted for eight runs in the third and fourth innings. Eli Lee ripped a run-scoring double in the third inning and John Wilson-Mills followed with a bases-loaded single to bring home two more. In a wild 4th inning, the Rockies manufactured four more runs on four stolen bases around a passed ball and three fielding errors by the Phillies, highlighted by triple off the bat of Thomas Dieters.
    • In total for the game, Phillies pitchers threw four passed balls and hit one batter while walking six batters. The Rockies took advantage with five stolen bases.
    • In total for the game, the Rockies’ pitchers issued six walks, had only one passed ball, picked off a runner at first, while the Phillies managed just three stolen bases.

    The next Rec Center junior baseball action at Field No. 3 will be Tuesday, May 30, 5:30 p.m, when the Wendy’s Phillies take on the Oil Exchange Cardinals, then on Wednesday, May 31, 7 p.m., Ashe County will face the Bridgeman Dentistry Rockies.

     

  • Rec Center Junior Baseball: Cardinals, Blue Jays split doubleheader

    By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Scoring two runs in the 1st inning and four more in the 2nd was not quite enough for the Blue Jays in Game 1 of a doubleheader vs. the Cardinals on May 23. The Cardinals rallied with seven runs in the last three innings while silencing the Blue Jays’ bats after the first two frames to win, 7-6.

    The Blue Jays got their comeuppance in the nightcap, rolling over the Cardinals, 6-1, in Game 2.

    Game 1 Notes: Cardinals win, 7-6

    • The Blue Jays were issued 11 walks in Game 1. Two of those walks were to Everett Gryder, one intentionally
    • The Blues Jays stole five bases, including four by Kwame Carter
    • The Cardinals’ pitchers had better control than in previous outings, with only two passed balls
    • The Cardinals scored all of their seven runs in the last three innings. Micah Tooley and Ryland Brinker each scored two runs over that period, both getting on base by walks, fielding errors by the Blue Jays or, in the case of Brinker, being hit by a pitch.
    • The Blue Jays’ pitchers had some control problems, with five passed balls, three walks and two hit by pitcher.
    • The Cardinals’ base runners recorded seven stolen bases, including two by Garrett Mcintuff.

    Game 2 Notes: Blue Jays win, 6-1

      • Pitching for the Blue Jays, Everett Gryder was effective, striking out the side in both the first and second innings.
      • Blue Jay pitchers recorded 14 strikeouts in holding the Cardinals to one run, that by Cardinal first baseman Garrett Mcintuff after walking, stealing second, advancing to third base on a passed ball, then racing home on an error by the catcher.
      • The Cardinals’ Coy Johnson smashed a triple in the 5th inning, but the Cardinals were unable to bring him home.
      • The Cardinals’ pitchers only issued three walks to the Blue Jays but the latter took advantage of five passed balls.
      • The Blue Jays also tallied seven stolen bases.
      • The Blue Jays’ shortstop, Jonathan Boubolis ripped two doubles, in the first and third innings.
      • Kwame Carter hit a pair of singles and stole two bases to go along with his two runs scored.

  • Phillies outlast Cardinals, 11-9

    By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Wendy’s Phillies starting pitcher Luke Rothrock gave up five runs to the Oil Exchange Cardinals, then found his groove in striking out the next three batters. He held the Cardinals scoreless for the next three innings.

    Bonus Photos at bottom of article

    Meanwhile, the Phillies offense exploded for four runs in the bottom half of the first inning and added five more in the second inning to secure a lead they would never relinquish, winning the run-fest, 11-9.

    Luke Rothrock gave up five runs in the top of the first inning, but then struck out three in a row and carried that momentum into the next innings as the Phillies defeated the Cardinals, 11-9. Photographic image by David Rogers

    After the five-run first inning, the Cardinals did not score again until a four-run sixth inning but it was not enough to catch the Phillies.

    The Phillies benefited from 12 walks, eight fielding errors by the Cardinals, and six passed balls. They also manufactured runs with the help of 13 stolen bases.

    ‘Judd’ scores the first run for the Phillies in the bottom of the first inning on May 19, just beating the throw and tag attempt. Photographic image by David Rogers

    At the plate, Rothrock aided the Phillies’ cause with a single, a double, and a walk, scoring three runs and collecting a pair of RBIs. Gabe Pruess and Daniel Jones scored two runs each, both shimmying around the bases with three stolen bases each.

    Next up for the Phillies is May 24 doubleheader vs. the Bridgeman Dentistry Rockies. The Cardinals have a May 23 doubleheader vs. the H&T Chair Co. Blue Jays.

    Bonus Photos -all photographic images by David Rogers

    Daniel Jones (8) slides into home plate ahead of the throw and tag in the first inning vs. the Cardinals on May 19. Photographic image by David Rogers

    ‘Judd’ scores the first run for the Phillies in the bottom of the first inning on May 19, just beating the throw and tag attempt. Photographic image by David Rogers

    Luke Rothrock gave up five runs in the top of the first inning, but then struck out three in a row and carried that momentum into the next innings as the Phillies defeated the Cardinals, 11-9. Photographic image by David Rogers

     

     

  • Blue Jays edge Rockies, 7-6

    By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — A late innings rally by the Bridgeman Dentistry Rockies was not quite enough to overcome an early scoring barrage by the H&T Chair Co. Blue Jays on May 19 at the Watauga Recreation Center’s Field 3.  The Blue Jays held on to defeat the Rockies, 7-6.

    Bonus photos at bottom of article

    The Blue Jays’ starting pitcher, Everett Grider was throwing heat during his time on the mound, tossing nine strikeouts in his first three innings of work. The only blemish he suffered was giving up a single to the Rockies’ center fielder Mikey Portante leading off the top of the third. The opportunistic Portante stole both second base and third base, then hurried home on a passed ball.

    Photographic image by David Rogers

    The Rockies scored their second run in the top of the fourth inning when leadoff hitter Eli Lee rapped a double, stole third base and then was forced home on two successive walks and a hit batter.

    Rockies third baseman Jack Bridgeman knocked in a pair of runs in the top of the 6th inning with a double, helping his team to a 4-run inning that brought the result closer.

    The Blue Jays’ offense scored five runs early, two in the first inning and three in the third, then added two more in the bottom half of the fifth inning to close things out.

    Righthander Thomas Dieters started on the mound for the Bridgeman Dentistry Rockies on May 19. Photographic image by David Rogers

    The Blue Jays manufactured runs with 13 stolen bases, and benefited from six walks, six passed balls and four fielding errors by the Rockies.

    The Rockies stole six bases and benefited from five walks, four fielding errors by the Blue Jays, and one hit batter.

    On Tuesday, May 23, the Blue Jays take on the Oil Exchange Cardinals at 5:30 p.m and 7:30 p.m. in a doubleheader, while the Bridgeman Dentistry Rockies have a doubleheader matchup with the Wendy’s Phillies on Wednesday, May 24.

    Bonus Photos

    Everett Grider pitched three near-perfect innings on May 19, giving up one run while striking out nine. Photographic image by David Rogers

    Photographic image by David Rogers
    Righthander Thomas Dieters started on the mound for the Bridgeman Dentistry Rockies on May 19. Photographic image by David Rogers

  • SNAPSHOT: Parks and Rec season underway

    By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Delayed only a little bit by a late afternoon rain shower, the Watauga Parks and Recreation 15 and Under baseball season got underway on May 9, with a pair of games for the four teams in the division.

    The Oil Exchange Cardinals got a strong pitching performance from Micah Tooley, leading his team to 12-7 win over Wendy’s Phillies in the first game, while the H&T Chair Blue Jays turned back the Bridgeman Dentistry Rockies, 10-3.

    We’ll have more coverage in the weeks ahead.

    Next Games: Friday, May 12 at WCRC Complex Field 3

    • 5:30 p.m. – Wendy’s Phillies vs. H&T Chair Blue Jays
    • 7:30 p.m. – Bridgeman Dentistry Rockies vs. Oil Exchange Cardinals

  • Boone Dermatology runs away from Next Home Mountain Realty, 49-15

    By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — All but one of Miller Hankins’ 22 points were scored in the first half as Boone Dermatology leapfrogged into the Watauga County Recreation Center’s 6th-7th-8th grade championship game on March 2 with a dominating, 49-15 win over a work hard, but outmatched Next Home Mountain Realty team on March 1.

    ‘Float like a butterfly, sting like a…’ Zeb Gersonde (10) lifts off, headed for the basket in Boone Dermatology’s semifinal win over Next Home Mountain Realty at the Watauga Rec Center. Photographic image by David Rogers

    Once Hankins all but retired for the night, Boone Dermatology got steady offensive production from Ed Reed (8 points), Zeb Gersonde (8) and Oliver Lewis (7).

    With the win, Boone Dermatology advances to meet Cutlip Golf Design in the 6th-7th-8th division championship match.

    SCORING SUMMARY

    • BDM Miller Hankins (22 points)
    • NHM John Wilson Mills (8)
    • BDM Ed Reed (8)
    • BDM Zeb Gersonde (8)
    • BDM Oliver Lewis (7)
    • NHM Cullen Sukow (3)
    • BDM Avery Westphal (2)
    • NHM Lucas Cash (2)
    • NHM Carson Morris (2)
    • BDM Ethan Reed (2)

  • Cutlip Golf Design rallies to win boys Rec Center semifinal, 41-40

    By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Midway through the second period, the 6th-7th-8th grade Watauga Recreation Center team of Cutlip Golf Design was down by 13 points to Appalachian Pressure Washing. The boys never folded up their proverbial tents, however, and rallied to defeat their league semifinal rivals by a point, 41-40, in a nail biter that went down to the last possession in the last second.

    Louie Winger (2) looks to drive the lane for his Cutlip Golf Design team against Appalachian Pressure Washing on March 1, in the Watauga Rec Center semifinals for 6th-7th-8th graders. Photographic image by David Rogers

    Although all of the Cutlip players who saw court time contributed, it was point guard Fletcher Farris who proved to be a one-man offensive wrecking machine, scoring 37 of his team’s 41 points in the win. Remarkably, he was 15-for-15 from the free throw line, including 2-for-2 from the charity stripe with just 6 seconds left on the game clock and his team behind, 40-39. After he sank both free throws to put his team ahead, the Cutlip defense forced the Appalachian counterattack wide, which led to more time being taken off the clock and a desperation attempt falling well short of its mark.

    Cutlip Golf Design now advances to play Boone Dermatology on March 2, for the league championship.

    SCORING SUMMARY

    • CUT Fletcher Farris (37 points)
    • APW Jaden McInnis (13)
    • APW Wyatt Luna (12)
    • APW Chauncey Garvin (11)
    • CUT Louie Winger (4)
    • APW Jackson Combs (2)

  • High Country Soccer accepting Youth program registrations

    Special Report. BOONE, N.C. — High Country Soccer Association is accepting registrations for youth players ages U4 (under 4) to U15 (under 15) for the spring 2023 season. The U4, U6, U8, and U10 Academy programs are designed to teach kids the fundamentals of soccer and prepare them for travel soccer.

    All Academy Soccer programs will be held at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex on Brookshire Road in Boone. Each team will be assigned a licensed, paid coach. HCSA, which opened in 1986, offers soccer training to youth ranging from U4 to U19 and competes in the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association. HCSA also operates adult leagues, winter futsal youth training, and summer camps. In all, HCSA has more than 600 youth players and more than 300 adult players from Avery, Ashe, Caldwell, Wilkes, and Watauga counties.

    2022 SPRING ACADEMY AND CHALLENGE FEES

    • U4 Happy Feet Academy: $50, 1 session (Fridays) per week, 4-week program, begins April 21.
    • U6 Academy: $75, 2 session per week, 6-week program, begins March 4.
    • U8 Academy: $125, 3 sessions per week, 8-week program, begins March 21.
    • U10 Academy: $205, 3 sessions per week, 10-week program, begins March 6.

    U4 Academy is a 4-week program consisting of one weekly 30-minute session on Fridays. Sneakers or soccer cleats are appropriate footwear. Each player needs to wear shin guards and should bring a size 2 soccer ball and water bottle to each session. Practice begins April 24.

    U6 Academy is a 6-week program consisting of two weekly 45-minute sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sneakers or soccer cleats are appropriate footwear. Each player needs to wear shin guards and should bring a size 3 soccer ball and water bottle to each session. Practice begins March 4.

    U8 Academy is an 8-week program consisting of two weekly practices (Tuesday and Thursday) and a weekly house game (Friday). Soccer cleats are appropriate footwear. Each player needs to wear shin guards and should bring a size 3 soccer ball and water bottle to each session. Practice begins March 21.

    U10 Academy is a 10-week program consisting of practice twice per week (Monday & Wednesday) and a weekly house match (Fridays). There will also be games against academy teams from clubs in our region of the state (four Saturday mornings) in Statesville – March 25, TBD, Conover – April 22, Boone – May 13.

    Other HCSA Upcoming events

    • Adult League spring games start March 8
    • Queen of the Mountain Soccer Tournament (Girls), April 29 & 30
    • King of the Mountain Soccer Tournament (Boys), May 6 & 7

    For more information or to register a child in HCSA Academy or Challenge soccer, please visit www.hcsoccer.com or call 828-386-1215.

  • Sky Hookers lose, but win vs. Boone Basketball Club

    By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It was a thrilling, 3-point shot at the buzzer made by the Boone Basketball Club (BBC) to tie the game vs. the Sky Hookers, 74-74, at the end of regulation. BBC went on to win in overtime, 81-77, but then was discovered to have used “ringers” — players not on their official roster just for this game — so was disqualified from advancing to the Dec. 20 final of the Watauga Community Recreation Center’s Adult Basketball League tournament championship.

    Regardless of the illegal rostered players, it was an exciting basketball game. Multiple lead changes, the jump ahead and then catch-up scoring from both teams propelled by long distance perfectos as well as acrobatic attacks at the basket from inside the paint. The Sky Hookers were successful on seven 3-pointers, the BBC had eight.

    Caleb Bryson (20 points), Joe Keys (13), Seth Moore (16) and Cam Baker (14) were all in double figures scoring for the Sky Hookers.

    All photographic images by David Rogers