By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — High drama marked Watauga’s baseball home stand vs. Northwestern Conference 4A rival South Caldwell, right until the very end. With two outs in the bottom of the 7th inning, the bases loaded and having cut their deficit to the visiting Spartans to just a single run, the Pioneers couldn’t quite get the job done for a walk-off win.

Jake Blanton, Watauga’s best hitter this season made contact but his long, fly ball to centerfield fell into the waiting glove of the visitors’ Kori McCall for the third and final out, sealing South Caldwell’s 7-6 victory.

Each team committed three errors and Watauga rapped out a total of 12 hits compared to South Caldwell’s five, but the Spartans were more proficient in capitalizing on their scoring opportunities.

McCall hit a shot in the top of the 6th inning that cleared the left field fence for a 2-run home run and the Spartan cause was aided by timely, run-scoring doubles by junior catcher John Paul Smith and senior right fielder Walker Hartley to take advantage of opportunities.

With South Caldwell leading, 7-4, when the Pioneers came to the plate for their final at-bats, things started to look promising for the home team fans when Dillon Zaragoza and JJ Everett put runners on first and third with back-to-back singles.Then successive singles by Pioneer catcher Chase Gillin and second baseman Evan Burroughs scored Zaragoza and Everett, closing the deficit to 7-6. Senior shortstop Maddox Greene promptly lined a single to left, loading the bases. A single would have at least brought in the tying run, and possibly even the winning run, but on this night it was not to be.

KEY PEFORMERS

• SC – Kori McCall: 1-2, 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs, 1 walk, HR
• SC – John Paul Smith: 1-2, 4 RBIs, double, hit by pitch, sacrifice fly
• SC – Walker Hartley: 1-2, 3 runs scored, 2 walks, double, 2 stolen bases
• WAT – Daniel Jones: 4 innings pitched, 2 runs on 2 hits, 4 strikeouts, 1 walk
• WAT – Chase Gillin: 3-3, 2 RBIs, 1 walk
• WAT – Dillon Zaragoza: 3-4, 1 run scored, 2 stolen bases
• WAT – Jake Blanton: 1-4, 1 RBI, double, sacrifice fly
• WAT – Maddox Greene: 1-3, 1 run scored, 1 walk, hit by pitch, 2 stolen bases
• WAT – JT Cook: 0-4, 2 RBIs
• WAT – Evan Burroughs: 1-5, 1 run scored, 1 RBI
• WAT – JJ Everett: 1-3, 1 run scored, stolen base
• WAT – Cade Keller: 2-4, 1 run scored, double

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It was a warm and clear sunny day on April 1, but there was a storm brewing at Jack Groce Stadium. The Watauga women’s soccer teams blew past Northwestern Conference rival South Caldwell, 7-0 (varsity) and 7-1 (junior varsity).

VARSITY – No foolin’ around

It might have been April Fool’s Day for the mainstream world but the Pioneers weren’t foolin’ around in this one. By the time 12 minutes had ticked off the game clock, Watauga had already scored three goals and were dominating play, maintaining possession largely in their attacking third of the field.

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Just minutes into the game, the Pioneers were awarded a penalty kick and sophomore  Sammy Morgan lived up to her jersey number (10) to rip the ball perfectly past the Spartan goalkeeper to draw the proverbial first blood for the home team. By the time senior forward Morgan Flynt laced a shot across the face of the Spartan-defended goal and under the outstretched arms of a diving goalkeeper for the Pioneers’ third goal, the outcome was all but decided if only Watauga would keep up the pressure and attack.

Which they did, including with plenty of valuable field time for starters and reserves alike.

“It was great to pick up our first conference win last night and get the back half of our season started on the right foot,” said Watauga head coach Chris Tarnowski after the game. “Spreading the scoring around to six different players really showcases just how hard the entire team has been working over the past few weeks, and highlights their unselfish play. This group is so supportive of one another and really focused on the important aspects of the sport: empathy and trust for their teammates, integrity on and off the field, and a team-first attitude. We’re really proud as coaches of their progression since the start of the season.”

Goals Scored:

• • Savannah Rogers (2 goals scored)
  • Savannah Duvall (1)
  • Sammy Morgan (1)
  • Morgan Flynt (1)
  • Chloe Weigl (1)
  • Emma Raymond (1)

Assists:

• • Savannah Rogers (3)
  • Morgan Flynt (1)
  • Emma Raymond (1)
  • Chloe Weigl (1)

JUNIOR VARSITY – Still got it

Not having played a game in the preceding two weeks because of weather and varsity-only scheduling decisions, the Watauga Junior Varsity head coach Jamie Raymond wondered how her charges would respond in the Northwestern Conference opener in hosting the South Caldwell JVs. Call the Pioneer JVs’ 7-1 curtain-raiser win a precursor for the 7-0 varsity performance that followed.

“The improvement that we have seen in these young athletes is both startling and gratifying,” said Raymond. “Some of our players have never played soccer before, so their lack of understanding the importance of moving the ball around early in the season was understandable. But the progress they have made as a team is remarkable and I have to give a lot of credit to the time we have spent watching film and with the varsity players explaining in their own words how they move the ball around to keep possession and attack.”

Goals:

• • Lilly Wilson (3)
  • Lindsay Wade (3)
  • Emma McKibbin (1)

Assists:

• • Lilly Wilson (2)
  • Parker Strickland (1)
  • Marlene Alcaraz (1)

Watauga Varsity is now 4-3-1 overall, 1-0 in Northwestern Conference play. The Pioneer JVs are 3-2-1 overall, 1-0 in NWC. Next up for both teams are home matches vs. 4A rival Alexander Central on Friday, April 4. The JV curtain-raiser is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., with the varsity nightcap to follow.

By David Rogers. MORGANTON, N.C. — Allowing just one run on four hits while striking out eight Freedom batters over five innings, Watauga pitcher Daniel Jones did his part in the Pioneers’ run-rule win, 14-1, over the Patriots on March 28. Four-hit batting performances each by Jake Blanton and Cade Keller led a multi-faceted, offensive barrage that did the rest.

Freedom got on the board in the bottom half of the first inning to draw the proverbial first blood, but the Pioneers pulled even at 1-1 in the top of the third, then exploded for 13 runs in the fourth and fifth innings while Jones kept mowing down the Patriot batters.

After Dillon Zaragoza grounded out to first in the top of the fourth inning, the Pioneers got three consecutive singles from JJ Everett, Keller, and Brett Vannoy ahead of a double to left by Walker Ransdell. Everett scored on Vannoy’s single and Keller crossed home plate on Ransdell’s two-bagger. A sacrifice ground out by Evan Burroughs pushed David Pastusic (a courtesy runner for Vannoy) home and moved Ransdell to an even better scoring position at third base. Ransdell then scored on a wild pitch with Maddox Greene at the plate before the senior shortstop eventually drew a walk. Greene advanced to third base on a Blanton single, then scored on another wild pitch by the Patriots’ sophomore hurler, Alex Wall.

Wall got out of the inning without further damage, but after four innings the visitors from Boone had a comfortable lead, 6-1.

Three consecutive strikes by Jones cooled off any Freedom thoughts of retaliation in the bottom of the fourth, setting the stage for a final 8-run outburst by the Pioneers in the top of the fifth. Consecutive singles by Everett, Keller and Vannoy produced one run, then a brilliant sacrifice bunt by Watauga catcher Chase Gillin moved Keller and Vannoy to better scoring position at 3rd base and 2nd base, respectively. A walk to Burroughs loaded the bases and yet another walk issued to Greene forced home Keller, extending the Pioneer lead to 8-1.

But with the bases loaded and only one out, Watauga wasn’t done. Blanton ripped the ball up the middle for a single, scoring Burroughs and Vannoy. Then JT Cook lashed a double to the centerfield fence, scoring Greene for an 11-1 Pioneer lead. Zaragoza piled on with an RBI single to left, scoring Blanton, before Everett lofted a sacrifice fly to right for only the second out of the inning, with Cook tagging up at third base and jogging home. After Zaragoza alertly stole second base to put himself in scoring position, Keller sent a fly ball through the gap in right field for a double, Zaragoza taking advantage for the 14th and final run of the game.

Jones finished off the Patriots in the bottom half of the fifth, the 13-run lead triggering the NCHSAA run-rule win after five innings are in the books.

On Saturday, March 29, Watauga travels to Davie County for a 1 p.m. tilt, before another road trip on April 1 to challenge Ashe County.

KEY PERFORMERS

• WAT – Jake Blanton: 4-4, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs, 3 stolen bases
• WAT – Cade Keller: 3-4, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, double
• WAT – Brett Vannoy: 2-4, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs
• WAT – Walker Ransdell: 1-1, 1 run scored, 1 RBI. double
• WAT – Dillon Zaragoza: 2-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, stolen base
• WAT – JT Cook: 1-3, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 1 walk, double
• WAT – Maddox Greene: 0-1, 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs, 2 walks, sacrifice fly
• WAT – Evan Burroughs: 1-3, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, 1 walk, 2 stolen bases

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — A week out from Northwestern Conference play, the Watauga women’s soccer team seems to be “gelling” at just the right time. A 9-0 shellacking of visiting Ledford on March 28 at Jack Groce Stadium is proof positive.

Savannah Rogers’ “hat trick” (three goals scored) led a trio of Pioneers with multiple goals in the match, a group that also included Rebekah Riley (2 goals) and Savannah Duvall (2). Morgan Flynt and Scarlett Rupp also found the back of the net for Watauga, with one goal each. Keaton Wuest was credited with two assists, with additional assists contributed by Savannah Duvall and Mary-Flynn Sevensky.

After a tough and demanding non conference schedule, including TC Roberson, Asheville, and Saint Stephens, it’s nice to see our team coming together as we enter our conference schedule next week.” said Watauga head coach Chris Tarnowski. “It’s a talented and young team that is really learning how best to work together on the field, but as coaches we’re most proud of how positive and supportive they are of one another. It’s a team of caring individuals who want the best for the entire group and their teammates, which makes them an absolute dream to coach. We always say we want to help develop good people before we develop good players, and this group has really taken that message to heart.”

The Pioneers will have no time to fool around with three Northwestern Conference tilts within a week’s time beginning on Tuesday, April 1, vs. South Caldwell (6-2-1 overall, 0-0-1 in conference), then Friday, April 4 vs. Alexander Central (1-3-4, 0-0-1) before going on the road to face an always tough Hibriten (5-3-2, 0-0) on April 8.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Both teams got 10 hits, but one capitalized more than the other. Hibriten centerfielder Karli Pelfrey and left fielder Adriana Figueroa each rapped out three hits in four plate appearances on March 25, powering the Panthers to a 7-4 win over the host Watauga Pioneers.

Among the hits by the Hibriten outfielder duo were triples by each. Pelfrey put herself into scoring position to score two runs on the night while Figueroa’s offensive performance included one run scored and one RBI.

While Hibriten jumped on Watauga starting pitcher Katie Matheson for a run in each of the first two innings, the first four innings were largely a pitcher’s duel. The Pioneers got on the board in the bottom of the third inning when third baseman Jayden Arnette singled and eventually scored on a passed ball, narrowing the deficit to 2-1.

Even though Figueroa smashed a 2-out triple to the right field fence in the top of the fourth inning, Matheson was able to get herself out the jam by getting the Panthers’ first baseman Sydney Turnmire to ground out to second, ending the inning.

Matheson went the full seven innings in the circle for the Pioneers, but it came at a cost to her ERA (earned run average). The Panthers exploded for five more runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take command with a 7-1 lead.

Pelfrey ripped a 1-out single in the fifth inning after freshman teammate Claire Rotting reached first on an error. A walk to Parker Boggs loaded the bases for junior catcher Presley Smith, who promptly doubled to the gap in center, scoring all three of her teammates.

Figueroa led off with a single in the sixth, then was brought home by a Turnmire double to the centerfield fence. Turnmire later was brought home with an RBI groundout.

Watauga was able to narrow the big deficit with two runs in the bottom of the 6th. Chloe Moretz led off with a line drive single to center, then advanced to 2nd base on a hard ground ball through the infield by Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute-bound Jordin Greene. Watauga catcher Chloe Wilson — who will join Greene at Caldwell next season — drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Ansleigh Watson lofted a sacrifice fly to left that saw all baserunners tagging up and advancing, including Moretz crossing the plate. The Pioneers loaded the bases again when Julie Matheson reached first base on an error, with Wilson holding up at second and Greene at third. Rotting, the Hibriten pitcher, helped herself by throwing out Greene at home on a grounder back to the circle. But that still left the bases loaded. The Pioneers took advantage when Wilson scored on a slow roller single back to the pitcher by Presli Wood, shrinking the deficit to 7-3.

Watauga scored one more time in the bottom of the 7th on consecutive 1-out singles by Moretz and Greene, then another walk awarded to Wilson, loading the bases for yet another time for the Pioneers. Moretz scored for the game’s final run but the scoring threat was squashed on a pop-up double play to end the game.

Next up for Watauga (2-7 overall, 0-3 Northwestern Conference) is a trip to East Bend, N.C. (Yadkin County) to challenge Forbush High School (8-3) on March 26.

KEY PERFORMERS

• HIB – Karli Pelfrey: 3-4, 2 runs scored, triple
• HIB – Presley Smith: 1-4, 3 RBIs, double
• HIB – Adriana Figueroa: 3-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, triple
• HIB – Sydney Turnmire: 1-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, double
• WAT – Chloe Moretz: 2-4, 2 runs scored, stolen base
• WAT – Ansleigh Watson: 0-2, 2 RBIs, 2 sacrifice flies
• WAT – Presli Wood: 2-3, 1 RBI
• WAT: Chloe Wilson: 1-2, 1 run scored, 2 walks
• WAT – Katie Matheson: 2-4

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — “Blustery” was a good way to describe the March 25 weather for Watauga’s Northwestern Conference baseball game against visiting Hibriten. A better way to describe the Panthers’ hitters? “Flustered” by the Pioneers’ starting pitcher, Everett Gryder. The versatile junior threw seven strong innings, allowing just one run on  four hits and striking out seven Hibriten batters in Watauga’s 3-1 win.

Both teams were held scoreless through the first three inning, knotted at 0-0 going into what became the decisive fourth frame. Hibriten remained scoreless in the top of the fourth inning, even though they threatened with a leadoff double by senior catcher Micah Greer. Gryder was able to wriggle out of the inning unscathed, setting up the Pioneers to take a 2-run lead in the bottom half of the frame.

Pioneer first baseman JT Cook jumped on Hibriten senior hurler Jon Spears’ first pitch for a line drive double to right. The big senior represented the game’s first run when consecutive singles followed off the bats of right fielder Dillon Zaragoza and left fielder Walker Ransdell.

With one out, Pioneer third baseman Cade Keller was credited with an RBI, knocking a slow roller to Hibriten second baseman, sophomore Maddox Marley, for a ground out that allowed Zaragoza time to score from third base, giving Watauga a still tenuous, 2-0 lead after four innings of play.

Hibriten responded with a run in the top of the fifth inning thanks largely to a line drive triple to the centerfield fence by outfielder Tanner Moore. Some alert baserunning by the talented junior allowed him to cut the deficit to just a single run before Gryder could extinguish the Panther rally.

Speedy Watauga second baseman Evan Burroughs smashed a one-out double to left to get things going in the bottom of the fifth inning, then promptly stole third base on Spears’ second pitch to Maddox Greene. The Pioneers’ senior shortstop capitalized, lofting a sacrifice fly to center that brought Burroughs home for the game’s final run.

The top of the sixth inning was another three up, three down pitching performance by Watauga’s Gryder and Hibriten’s Spears responded in kind, his inning only marred by an outfielder’s error that allowed Pioneer pinch hitter JJ Everett to reach second and put himself in scoring position. But the threat was to no avail when Spears got the final out when shortstop Julius Martin cleanly fielded a sharply hit ground ball by Watauga catcher Chase Gillin to end the inning.

Gryder finished the game on the mound for Watauga in the top of the seventh. He gave up a leadoff single to Hibriten right fielder Braxtyn Conn, but a game-ending double play got him out of any potential jam two batters later. Burroughs fielded a sharply hit grounder off the bat of the Panthers’ Moore, stepped on second base and whirled to throw the ball to first baseman Cook to complete the double play.

With the win, Watauga’s overall record improves to 4-7 and 1-2 in Northwestern Conference play. They travel to Morganton on March 28 to challenge Freedom (6-6, 0-3).

KEY PERFORMERS

• WAT – Everett Gryder: 7 innings pitched, 1 run allowed, seven strikeouts, 58 of 75 pitches were strikes, 1 walk
• WAT – Evan Burroughs: 1-3, 1 run scored, double, 2 stolen bases
• WAT – JT Cook: 1-2, 1 run scored, 1 walk, double
• WAT – Maddox Greene: 0-2, 1 RBI, sacrifice fly
• WAT – Dillon Zaragoza: 1-3, 1 run scored, 1 stolen base
• WAT – Cade Keller: 0-3, 1 RBI
• HIB – Braxtyn Conn: 2-3, double
• HIB – Tanner Moore: 1-3, 1 run scored, triple
• HIB – Micah Greer: 1-3, double