HobbsDailyReport.com
A set of Hammers lowered the boom on Watauga High’s bats on Friday night.
Zach Hammer and Bryson Hammer combined on a 1-hitter as Alexander Central High nipped the Pioneers 4-1 in Northwestern 3A-4A baseball in Taylorsville.
The victory kept the Cougars (6-1, 3-1) within a half-game of South Caldwell and Freedom, both 4-0 in the league, in the early conference standings.
Zach Hammer (2-1) worked 6 1/3 innings, allowing a hit, a run (earned) with three walks and 13 strikeouts berfore Bryson Hammer gained his first save by getting two outs (no hits, one walk, two strikeouts).
Alexander Central had 12 hits, three by Dawson Elder batting seventh in the order and two each from Byron Younts and Josh Jacobs. Jacobs, Jacob Bebber and Elder each drove in a run for the Cougars.
Jonathan McClannon, the losing pitcher (five innings, 10 hits, four runs, no walks, four strikeouts), had the only hit for Watauga (2-4, 1-3).
The Cougars scored two runs in the first inning, added another in the fourth inning and another in the fifth inning.
Alexander Central plays a non-league game on Saturday at Mooresville (2 p.m.). Watauga is at home on Tuesday to play a conference game against Hickory.
McDowell 6, St. Stephens 3
Dylan Poplin singled in two runs, breaking a tie at 2, in the sixth inning as the visiting Titans won a Northwestern 3A-4A game.
Josh Maddux was hit by a pitch with two outs in the sixth inning and a single by Nathan Watkins put runners at first and third for Poplin.
Watkins went 2-for-2, walked twice and scored three runs for McDowell (4-5, 2-2) and Poplin had two hits.
St. Stephens outhit McDowell 9-8 with Matt Walker, Chance Benfield, Jordan Lavelle and Cole Chapman each getting two hits. Walker, Lavelle and Chapman each drove in a run for the Indians (2-3, 1-3).
Brycen Seymore threw two innings, giving up two hits and striking out three, to gain a win for the Titans.
J.D. Everett, the Indians’ starter, worked five innings. He gave up four hits, two runs (one earned), walked four and struck out 10.
McDowell is at home Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. against unbeaten South Caldwell in a conference game while the Indians play Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., facing West Caldwell on the road in a league game.
Lincolnton 3, West Lincoln 1
Robbie Cowie had two hits and threw a complete-game two-hitter, sparking the Wolves (5-1, 3-1) to a road win in the South Fork 2A.
Cowie gave up an unearned run, walked four and struck out 13 — throwing 68 of his 99 pitches for strikes – as Lincolnton won to share third place in the league with Lake Norman Charter.
Mack Bowden doubled and had two RBIs and Karson Williams drove in a run for the Wolves.
Dylan Smith and Brandon Lail had hits for the Rebels (4-3, 2-2) and Smith drove in a run.
Nathan Beam, West Lincoln’s starter, took the loss after going 3 1/3 innings. He gave up five hits, three runs (two earned), walked one and struck out two.
The game was tied at 1 until Lincolnton scored twice in the third inning.
Lincolnton is at home Tuesday at 4 p.m. to play Lake Norman Charter in a league game while West Lincoln goes to Bandys on Tuesday for a conference game at 7 p.m.
South Caldwell 10, West Caldwell 0, 5 inn.
Trent Black checked the visiting Warriors on three hits – walking none and striking out 10 – as the Spartans won a Northwestern 3A-4A game and remained undefeated.
South Caldwell (8-0, 4-0) shares first place with Freedom.
Austin Reynor, Austin Blevins, Ian Moretz, Owen Foxx, Kenin Anderson and Tyler Wike each drove in a run for the Spartans, who had five hits.
Dwason Garrett, Thomas Melton and Shawn Hendrix each had a hit for West Caldwell (1-6, 0-4).
Cy Smith took the loss for the Warriors, going 3 1/3 innings. He gave up three hits, eight runs (three earned), walked seven and struck out four.
South Caldwell led 4-0 after one inning and scored two runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
South Caldwell plays Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in a league game at McDowell while West Caldwell is at home on Tuesday for a conference game against St. Stephens (6:30 p.m.).
SOFTBALL
East Lincoln 2, Bandys 0
The Mustangs scored their runs in the sixth inning, winning a South Fork 2A home game despite being outhit 4-2 by the Trojans.
Katelynn Crowe doubled in a run and scored one, Kyle Thress had a single and scored a run and Haley Erwin drove in a run for East Lincoln, 3-1 in the league and tied for first place with Maiden, North Lincoln, Newton-Conover and West Lincoln.
Payton Baker was the winning pitcher and McKenzie Deal took the loss for Bandys, 1-3 in the conference.
East Lincoln plays a league game at Maiden on Tuesday at 6 p.m. while Bandys has a non-league game Tuesday at 6 p.m. at St. Stephens.
Maiden 8, North Lincoln 3
Morgan Bohemier threw a complete game, allowing six hits and striking out 11, as the Blue Devils won a South Fork 2A game at home.
Jaiden Kiser went 3-for-3 with two doubles and drove in four runs for Maiden, part of a five-way tie for the league lead at 3-1 in the South Fork 2A.
Lashayla Thompson added two hits, one a double, and scored three runs for the Blue Devils, and Addyson Ikard had a double among her two hits and drove in two runs.
Makayla Watts took the loss for the Knights, also 3-1 in the league.
Maiden is at home Tuesday for a 6 p.m. conference game against East Lincoln while North Lincoln goes to Newton-Conover on Tuesday for a league game at 5 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
East Lincoln 2, Lincolnton 1 (Thursday)
Sierra Gilley had two goals, including a game-winner on a free kick, as the Mustangs (3-3, 1-1) won a South Fork 2A match on the road.
Evelyn Kinsch had an assist and made six saves in goal for East Lincoln.
Brittny Cabalceta scored for the Wolves and Leah Tweed had an assist.
BOYS GOLF
Lake Norman Charter 5, Charlotte Country Day 1 (Thursday)
The Knights won in a match play format over nine holes and by 16 strokes over nine holes at River Run Country Club.
Nine holes were match play and the other nine holes were stroke play.
MATCH PLAY
Carter Busse d. Blake Cunningham 4&2; Ian Johnson d. Timmy Gannon 3&2; Jace Arko d. Davis Moise 4&3; Sam Reavis d. Markland Whitaker 3&2; Brandon Spinks d. Kent Carroll 2&1; David Norris d. Thomas Stanley 4&3.
STROKE PLAY
Lake Norman Charter 171
Charlotte Country Day 187
Timmy Gannon 41; Jace Arko 42; Carter Bussee 43; Ian Johnson 43; Brandon Spinks 42; David Moise 50; Kent Carroll 53.
GIRLS LACROSSE
West Forsyth 19, Lake Norman Charter 4 (Thursday)
Freshman goalie Abby Rollins had eight saves for the Knights in a loss to the Titans.