Hickory’s Nexson throws no-hitter; Draughn freshman drives in 7 runs
By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
Newton-Conover High is off to a solid start in baseball after beating West Iredell 15-2 on Thursday on the road.
Coming off being no-hit by Hickory on Wednesday, the Red Devils had 10 hits from eight different players to down the Warriors.
Newton-Conover (2-1) led 7-2 going into the seventh inning and scored eight runs.
Freshman Owen Cannon gained a victory and was relieved by Jorgie Blasdel and Noah Cannon (Owen’s twin brother). They all combined for nine strikeouts.
Newton-Conover opens its Catawba Valley 2A Athletic schedule on Tuesday, playing West Caldwell (6 p.m.) in Newton.
West Iredell’s opener in Western Foothills 3A play is Friday at 4:30 p.m., facing visiting St. Stephens.
Alexander Central 12, South Iredell 2, 5 inn.
J.D. Little pitched a complete game, limiting the Vikings to two hits while walking one and striking out nine as the Cougars won at home.
Alexander Central had nine hits, led by three by Caleb Williams and two each by Mason Chapman and Dyson Lewis. Williams drove in three runs and Jaret Hoppes added two RBIs.
Tyler Hughesman had both of South Iredell’s hits.
Braxton Provenza took a loss after going 1 2/3 innings and allowing five hits and six runs (five earned). South Iredell starter Gage Tomlin allowed seven hits, six runs (five earned) with two walks and five strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings.
Alexander Central plays a home game on Saturday at 4 p.m. against Western Harnett.
Hickory 13, Newton-Conover 0 (Wednesday)
Red Tornadoes right-hander Sammy Nexson threw a no-hitter as Hickory improved to 2-0 and gained career win No. 485 for head coach David Craft.
Hickory scored nine runs in the second inning and won with just six hits.
Nexson needed only 73 pitches to subdue the Red Devils.
Newton-Conover, after winning its season-opener 6-5 over Statesville on Monday, missed a shot at posting back-to-back wins for the first time since May 2015 when it won at Bandys and at Maiden.
Hickory plays its Western Foothills 3A opener at home on Friday (6:30 p.m.) against East Lincoln.
Craft has 465 victories at HHS.
St. Stephens 12, Bunker Hill 2 (Wednesday)
Senior Silas Isenhour struck out seven as the Indians picked up a home victory.
Drew Moore Moore and Graham Hollar each had one hit for the Bears.
St. Stephens begins its Western Foothills 3A schedule on Friday (4:30 p.m.) at West Iredell.
The Bears start Catawba Valley 2A Athletic play on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Lincolnton.
Draughn 12, South Caldwell 8, 8 inn. (Wednesday)
The Wildcats scored four runs in the eighth inning to win on the road after trailing 5-0.
Freshman Jacob Mull led Draughn, going 3-for-5 with a home run and double and driving in seven runs. He was the winning pitcher, working 2 1/3 innings and allowing one hit and one earned run. He walked three and struck out five.
Draughn scored five runs in the fifth inning but the Spartans posted two runs in the bottom of the inning to lead 7-5.
The Wildcats went up 8-7 with three runs in the top of the seventh inning, and South Caldwell score a run in the bottom of the inning to force extra innings.
Draughn outhit South Caldwell 12-6. The Wildcats had four errors and the Spartans had five.
Brayden Schutt went 3-for-5 with one RBI for Draughn.
Patton 14, East Burke 2 (Wednesday)
The Panthers scored nine runs in the sixth inning, rolling to a win in Icard.
Reid Pons had a triple and drove in three run for Patton while Braxton Hensley went 2-for-5, scored three runs and added two RBI.
Patton had 14 hits, including one by Jack Powell (three RBI).
Brayson Buff was the winning pitcher, throwing five innings. He gave up three hits, two runs (one earned) walked one and struck out nine.
Patton is at home against Avery County on Tuesday (6:30 p.m.).
East Burke plays at Freedom on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Lincolnton 10, Highland Tech 9 (Wednesday)
The visiting Rams led 6-2 early before the Wolves scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Ewing Sosa drove in two runs, Paxton Ballard had two hits and drove in two runs and Liam Fulbright took the loss for Highland Tech. Fulbright pitched 3 1/3 innings, giving up three runs (all earned) and he struck out three.
Lincolnton plays at R-S Central on Friday.
Watauga 17, Davie County 15 (Wednesday)
Davie County jumped to an 11-0 lead at home before the Pioneers rallied to win
Watauga scored two runs in the third inning, was down 11-9 after a seven-run fourth inning and went up 15-11 with six runs in the fifth inning.
Wesley Mason had two hits and three RBI and freshman Cory James went 3-for-5 with a home run and a double and three RBI for Davie County.
Caleb Adkins took the loss for the Pioneers after relieving starter Jaydon Holder (3 1/3 innings, five hits, seven runs with five earned).
Watauga faces West Wilkes on the road on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
East Lincoln 9, Bandys 3 (Wednesday)
Garrett Michel homered twice, driving in four runs, as the Mustangs won on the road.
Gavin Houser also homered and had two hits and Trey Spees scored three runs for East Lincoln, which scored three runs in the first, fifth and sixth innings.
Hunter Henson picked up a win, going three innings. Kaden Scott pitched three innings for the Mustangs allowing two runs (one earned) and striking out six.
Terrick Bumgarner, Parker Stybroski and Zach Barnett each had two hits for Bandys.
Bumgarner worked 4 1/3 innings for Bandys, allowing five runs (all earned). He walked two and struck out nine.
East Lincoln plays its Western Foothills 3A opener on Friday (6:30 p.m.) at Hickory, while Bandys plays on Friday at 7 p.m. at South Iredell.
Ashe County 13, North Wilkes 3 (Wednesday)
Hayden Jenkins had three hits and drove in two runs, leading the Huskies to a home victory.
Ashe County scored five runs in the first inning and added three in the second inning.
The Huskies had 10 hits, including two each for Colin Estes and Kaden Burgess.
Sophomore Cohen Richardson pitched a complete game for Ashe County, allowing two unearned runs. He struck out three and issued no walks.
Ashe County was scheduled to play at Elkin on Thursday and will play at West Wilkes on Saturday.
West Rowan 3, North Iredell 2 (Wednesday)
Luke Graham had two hits and joined Casey George and Matthew Connelly with an RBI each as the Falcons won on the road.
George was the winning pitcher in relief of Graham, going five innings. George allowed three hits, no runs and struck out nine.
Thomas Shumaker had one hit and drove in two runs and Kohen Ponder had two hits for the Raiders.
Landon Lowtharpe was the losing pitcher, going six innings. He allowed six hits, walked one and struck out three.
North Lincoln 8, Forestview 1 (Wednesday)
Maddox Warner went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs, sparking the Knights’ home win.
Timmy Schafer was 3-for-4 and had two RBI for North Lincoln with Landon Reeves picking up a pitching victory.
North Lincoln scored twice in the second inning and three times in the third inning.
Austin Parker had two hits for Forestview and was the losing pitcher. He threw 3 2/3 innings allowing six hits, seven runs (two earned) with three walks and two strikeouts.
North Lincoln begins Western Foothills 3A play on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Statesville.
Burns 2, West Lincoln 0 (Wednesday)
The Bulldogs scored a run the first inning and one in the seventh inning to turn back the visiting Rebels.
West Lincoln is at home Friday at 7 p.m., facing Cherryville.
SOFTBALL
Bandys 15, Fred T. Foard 3
The Trojans exploded for 11 runs in the sixth inning en route to a victory on the road.
Bandys begins its Catawba Valley 2A Athletic schedule on Tuesday at 6 p.m. against West Lincoln.
Fred T. Foard starts its Western Foothills 3A schedule on Friday at North Iredell (6 p.m.).
Patton 7, Freedom 3 (Wednesday)
At Patton, Cierra Lail led the Panthers to a win by going 3-for-4 with a home run and driving in two runs.
Hailey Snodgross was 3-for-4 with one RBI, Katie Lail went 3-for-4 and Bridget Patrick was 3-for-4 for Patton, which had 15 hits.
Freshman Marleigh Carswell was winning pitcher for the Panthers, going seven innings. She allowed seven hits, three runs, walked two and struck out three.
Sarah Armenfront hit a home run and had two hits and two RBI for Freedom.
Mikhayla Lingafelt had two hits and was the losing pitcher for Freedom. She worked 5 2/3 innings, gave up 13 hits, eight runs (five earned), walked one and struck out six.
Freedom plays at Bunker Hill on Friday (5 p.m.) and Patton is at home for a 5 p.m. game against East Burke.
West Caldwell 10, Hickory 9 (Wednesday)
The Warriors score five runs in the seventh inning and won a non-league game at home.
Hickory scored five runs in the fourth inning to lead 6-2 before the Warriors got within a run with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Chy’anne Bryant went 2-for-3 with two RBI, Kami Bolick went 2-for-4 and Mackenzie Hammons went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs for Hickory.
Hickory faces Hibriten on the road on Friday at 5 p.m. while West Caldwell is at home for a 4:30 p.m. game against Watauga.
Wilkes Central 5, Watauga 3 (Wednesday)
The Eagles scored three runs in the fifth inning, breaking a 1-all tie, en route to a home victory.
Watauga plays at West Caldwell on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Lincoln Charter 6, Newton-Conover 0 (Wednesday)
Lincoln Charter had four first-half goals at home and was led by two goals each by Chloe Biondi and Miranda Beauford.
Bryana Mora Brown had two saves and Lilly Kahler had one for Lincolnton Charter. Both are freshmen.
Newton-Conover plays Hibriten in Newton on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.,
Freedom 6, East Burke 1 (Wednesday)
Skylar George had two goals and Kaylee Ollis made two saves as the Patriots won at the Catawba River Soccer Complex.
East Burke plays at Patton on Friday 5 p.m. with Freedom facing Draughn on Tuesday at the Catawba River Soccer Complex.
West Lincoln 5, Hunter Huss 0 (Wednesday)
Trista Primmer scored twice and Leslie Rameriz and Shelby Westbrook each had two assists, leading the Rebels’ home victory.
Olivia Ledford had one save for West Lincoln.
