By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Dominating possession in soccer is an important first step towards winning, but you still have to be successful in the attacking third of the field — and score goals. Watauga had the ball a majority of the time on May 1 at Jack Groce Stadium. It was Hibriten, however, who took advantage of fewer opportunities to win, 1-0, and remain in a tie for first place atop the Northwestern Conference.

BONUS PHOTOS @ BOTTOM OF ARTICLE (All photos by Jared Everett for High Country Sports

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Sequence

With the setback, Watauga drops out of what was a 3-way tie for top honors in the NWC standings with Hibriten and Alexander Central. In order to earn a playoff bid with a higher seeding, decisive wins against Freedom on May 5 and Freedom on May 7 are a must in closing out the regular season. Currently ranked No. 31 in the North Carolina 4A West with an 8-5-1 record, the Pioneers are likely on the proverbial “bubble” in making the playoffs, assuming it will be another 32-team bracket.

The visiting Panthers broke open the intense, defensive battle with just under 15 minutes to play, when sophomore forward Raegan Watts broke free down the left sideline and punched a well-place shot just past the outstretched arms of a diving Watauga goalkeeper, Rylee Mitchell.

Up to that point, both teams’ defensive units proved “stingy” as they turned away attack opportunities.

Watauga head coach Chris Tarnowski acknowledged the reality of high-level, high school soccer after the match.

“It was a tough game because our players really executed the game plan well and controlled possession for the majority of the game,” said Tarnowski. “We were able to move the ball well and the energy and effort were there, but that’s how these games sometimes go.

“As coaches, we’re really proud of the way our team played tonight and stuck together until the end. There’s a lot of parity in the conference this season, which makes for exciting games and bodes well for the sport across our part of the state,” he added. “So we’re going to take the last few games one at a time and see where that lands us for playoffs. We’re excited to compete against anyone, and as coaches we know that this group will always put in their best effort.”

The Pioneers will be home against Freedom on May 5, then will close the regular season on the road, at Ashe County on May 7.

BONUS PHOTOS

By David Rogers. GRANITE FALLS, N.C. — When the top half of a baseball team’s batting order is in full punch mode, good things can happen. Led by first baseman JT Cook’s 3-for-3 night that included a 3-run home run to break a 5-5 tie in the top half of the sixth inning, that’s exactly what happened in Watauga’s 10-8, upset win over the tournament’s No. 1-seeded South Caldwell.

Cook’s power was also the difference-maker the previous game vs. Alexander Central, when his 3-run shot to centerfield in the top of the 7th inning on April 29 vaulted the Pioneers to an 8-7 win over the Cougars — and earned the High Country’s finest a berth in the May 1 Northwestern Conference championship game against South Caldwell.

In defeating South Caldwell, Watauga claims the Northwestern Conference tournament championship and breaks a 5-game losing streak to the Spartans. Their last wins against the Hudson, N.C. school were in the 2022-23 season.

Cook reached base in all five trips to the plate and was credited with scoring one run and three RBIs, all thanks to the 6th inning dinger.

But at the top of the batting order, Cook wasn’t alone in his offensive production. Shortstop Maddox Greene was 4-for-5 on the night, with two runs scored, 2 RBIs and 3 stolen bases, while third baseman Cade Keller went 2-for-4, including one run scored and 3 RBIs. Second baseman and leadoff hitter, Evan Burroughs was 1-3, with three runs scored. Like Cook, Burroughs drew a pair of walks in his evening’s work.

Everett Gryder was credited with being the winning pitcher, allowing just one run on one hit, striking out four. His outing was marred by issuing four walks and hitting two batters, but he was able to work his way out of jams with minimal damage. After pitching four innings, Gryder gave way to reliever Brett Vannoy, who South Caldwell touched up for 7 runs on 5 hits in two innings of work. Dillon Zaragoza came on in the 7th inning to get the final out, a strikeout.

Zaragoza went to the mound with the bases loaded, Watauga leading 10-7, but with South Caldwell trying to rally some more with the winning run at the plate.  A brilliant defensive play by the Pioneers allowed a run but disposed of two runners when third baseman Keller fielded a ground ball, stepped on third, then whirled to get the Spartan runner advancing to second base. Then Zaragoza finished cleaning up the jam with the final strikeout.

Watauga has now won their last eight games and nine of their last 11. At 16-11 overall and 6-4 in Northwestern Conference play, the Pioneers are getting hot at just the right time, looking ahead for a 4A West bracket berth in the North Carolina state playoffs.

TOURNAMENT MVP: JT Cook

ALL-TOURNAMENT: Dillon Zaragoza, Maddox Greene, Everett Gryder

KEY CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PERFORMERS

• WAT – JT Cook: 3-3, 1 run scored, 3 RBIs, HR, 2 walks
• WAT – Maddox Greene: 4-5, 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs, double, 3 stolen bases
• WAT – Jake Blanton: 2-5, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base
• WAT – Evan Burroughs: 1-3, 3 runs scored, 2 walks, 2 stolen bases
• WAT – Cade Keller: 2-4, 1 run scored, 3 RBIs, 1 walk
• WAT – Everett Gryder, 4 innings pitched, allowed 1 run on 1 hit
• SC – Nate Hall: 1-5, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, double
• SC – Chase Cardwell: 1-3, 1 run scored, stolen base
• SC – Walker Hartley: 1-3, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 1 walk, sacrifice fly, stolen base

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Visiting Ashe County struck first on April 27, scoring a run in the first inning of their Northwestern Conference first round playoff game against Watauga. The home side countered with three runs in the second and third frames, but that proved just a warm-up for the Pioneers’ 9-run explosion in the bottom of the 4th inning. It was a run-rule win after five, 12-1.

Brett Vannoy’s 3-RBI home run in the bottom of the 4th inning was icing on the cake — after Dillon Zaragoza’s 2-run triple with two outs put some distance between the Pioneers and the Huskies on the scoreboard earlier in the inning.

Vannoy led off the decisive inning by drawing a 1-out walk but it looked like he would be stranded after Ashe County’s junior righthander Gavin Eller retired Chase Gillin with a strikeout. But with two outs, Evan Burroughs kept things alive, ripping a double to the centerfield fence, with Vannoy advancing from first to third. Pioneer shortstop Maddox Greene extended the inning with a 2-RBI single to right, then promptly stole second base to put himself in scoring position.

Watauga centerfielder Jake Blanton took advantage, lining a single to left to score the speedy Greene. The Huskies’ third baseman, Jordan Eller, mishandled a ground ball off the bat of his Pioneer counterpart, Cade Keller, allowing the multi-sport athlete to reach first base.  First baseman JT Cook followed with yet another single, scoring Blanton with Keller stopping at third base.

Now ahead, 7-1, it turns out Watauga was just getting started. Zaragoza rapped his 2-run 3-bagger, then after a walk issued to Walker Ransdell, Vannoy put the game on ice with his dinger.

Everett Gryder picked up the win on the mound, allowing just one run on five hits.

With the win, the Pioneers advance to the NWC semifinals, most likely facing Alexander Central, which finished second in the regular season standings behind South Caldwell. The next round was not set as of press time.

KEY PERFORMERS

• WAT – Brett Vannoy: 1-2, 2 runs scored, 3 RBIs, HR, walk
• WAT – Dillon Zaragoza: 2-3, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs, double, triple
• WAT – Maddox Greene: 1-2, 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs, walk, stolen base
• WAT – Jake Blanton: 1-2, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, walk
• WAT – Evan Burroughs: 2-3, 2 runs scored, double
• WAT – Everett Gryder: 4 innings pitched, allowed 1 run on 5 hits, 2 strikeouts, 3 walks
• WAT – Cade Keller: 2-3, 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs
• WAT – JT Cook: 1-3, 1 run scored, 1 RBI

By David Rogers. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Being the high school alma mater of “King James” didn’t help St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) on April 24 at The Ripken Experience baseball complex. Listed as the visiting team in the tournament format, Watauga defeated Lebron James’ high school, 9-2.

Brett Vannoy pitched four innings for the Pioneers, surrendering just three hits and one run, including two strikeouts and just one walk in earning the win from the pitcher’s mound.

Watauga got on the board in the top half of the first inning with one run, but were held scoreless from then on until exploding for five runs in the fifth frame and three more in the sixth inning.

Meanwhile, Vannoy, Dillon Zaragoza and Bryce Scheffler combined to shut down the Fighting Irish, limiting SV-SM to 2 runs on five hits, striking out 4 and walking just one, also reflecting a strong defensive effort by the Pioneers.

The Pioneers once again proved to be speed demons on the basepaths, with six stolen bases, including two each by Evan Burroughs and Cade Keller

WATAUGA’S KEY PERFORMERS

• WAT – Maddox Greene: 2-4, 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs, stolen base
• WAT – Jake Blanton: 2-3, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, 1 walk, stolen base
• WAT – Evan Burroughs: 1-3, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, 2 stolen bases
• WAT – Cade Keller: 2-4, 1 RBI, 2 stolen bases
• WAT – Walker Ransdell: 1-3, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI,
• WAT – Brett Vannoy: 4 innings pitched, 3 hits, 1 run, 2 strikeouts; as batter, hit by pitch, 1 walk

By David Rogers. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — It was another high-scoring, 1-run ball game for the Watauga Pioneers at The Ripken Experience baseball complex on April 23 — and once again the High Country’s favorite sons survived a late opponent’s rally in taking a 9-8 win over the Proctor Raiders of Utica, N.Y.

Just like the day before against Fort Mill (S.C.), the Pioneers took an early lead, scoring four runs in the first inning. Proctor battled back to push ahead, 5-4, after the third inning, but the Watauga rallied with five runs in the fifth and sixth frames. As the home team in this round of tournament play, holding the New Yorkers to only three runs in the top of the 7th inning secured the win for the Pioneers.

KEY WATAUGA PERFORMERS

• WAT – Maddox Greene: 2-4, 3 runs scored, 1 RBI, double, 4 stolen bases
• WAT – Evan Burroughs: 0-3, 1 run scored, hit by pitch, 2 stolen bases
• WAT – Cade Keller: 2-4, 2 runs scored, 3 RBIs, triple, stolen base
• WAT – JT Cook: 1-3, 2 RBIs, 1 walk
• WAT – Dillon Zaragoza: 3-4, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, double, stolen base
• WAT – Brett Vannoy: 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 walk
• WAT – Walker Ransdell: 1-1, 1 RBI, double
• WAT – Jake Blanton: 0-3, 1 run scored, hit by pitch, stolen base
• WAT – JJ Everett: 1-3, 2 stolen bases

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — A bright, sunny day greeted golfers from host Watauga and visiting South Caldwell high schools on April 16 at Boone Golf Club. Temperatures were still a bit brisk for a mid-Spring day but then, this is the High Country.

Random photos here, all thanks to Jared Everett shooting for High Country Sports, capturing a few moments.

By David Rogers. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Jumping out to an early, 8-run lead is a good start to winning a baseball game. That is exactly what the Watauga High School varsity team did on April 22, at The Ripken Experience baseball complex in Myrtle Beach, en route to tournament-opening 10-9 win over the Fort Mill (S.C.) Yellow Jackets.

The Pioneers’ Evan Burroughs almost single-handedly manufactured a run for Watauga in the first inning, drawing a leadoff walk, advancing to second base on an error by the Fort Mill pitcher, then stealing third base. He then capitalized on the opening alertness by racing home by the Yellow Jackets’ catcher. Cade Keller ripped a 2-out double later in the inning, but the Pioneers were unable to get him home.

Watauga’s starting pitcher, Everett Gryder, gave up a 2-out double in the bottom of the first inning but recovered to get the third out before Fort Mill could do anything more, offensively.

Watauga exploded for five runs in the top of the second inning, jumpstarted by Fort Mill junior righthander Caleb Stevens’ early control problems, walking JJ Everett to open the inning, then hitting Brett Vannoy with a pitch. A sacrifice bunt by Walker Ransdell put both runners in scoring position and Burroughs responded by lacing a double to the right field fence shortly after JJ Everett scored on a passed ball.

Stevens’ control problems continued, walking Watauga shortstop Maddox Greene ahead of a run-scoring single by Pioneer centerfielder Jake Blanton. Keller rapped another single to score Greene, Blanton stopping at third base.

Fort Mill brought in another pitcher, sophomore righthander Sullivan Townley to get the final out, but the damage had been done with Watauga leading, 6-0.

Gryder again avoided trouble in the bottom of the second, only facing four batters and holding the Yellow Jackets scoreless. His adversary on the mound for Fort Mill, Townley, duplicated that effort in the top of the third inning, but while Gryder was shutting out the Yellow Jackets in the third and fourth innings, the Pioneers added two more runs in the top of the 4th to increase their advantage to 8-0.

Fort Mill finally chased Gryder in the bottom half of the fifth inning, scoring three runs, then added three more in the 6th inning off of Pioneer reliever, Burroughs. The High Country visitors added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh and that proved fortuitous because the Yellow Jackets scored three more runs in the bottom of the inning before Watauga’s second relief pitcher, Keller, closed out the game.

With the win, Watauga’s overall record improves to 11-11, 6-4 in Northwestern Conference play. They play again on April 23 against the Proctor Raiders of Utica, N.Y., at the Ripken complex.

KEY WATAUGA PERFORMERS

• WAT – Evan Burroughs: 1-3, 3 runs scored, 1 RBI, 2 walks, double, 2 stolen bases
• WAT – Maddox Greene: 1-4, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs, 1 walk, triple
• WAT – Jake Blanton: 3-5, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, 2 doubles, stolen base
• WAT – Cade Keller: 2-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, double, hit by pitch, stolen base
• WAT – JT Cook: 1-3, 2 RBIs, sacrifice fly,
• WAT – JJ Everett: 0-2, 1 run scored, 2 walks
• WAT – Brett Vannoy: 1-2, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 1 walk, hit by pitch