HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL: Blanton retires at Hibriten, former player to replace him

Coach exiting after 17 seasons, conference title in his final year   By CHRIS HOBBS HobbsDailyReport.com LENOIR – Hibriten High announced a change in girls’ varsity softball head coaches on Wednesday. In a press release, athletic director Derek Reeves said Jim Blanton has resigned after 17 seasons, effective immediately, and the new Panthers head coach is former player Brittany Morton. …

HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL: Unbeaten Hibriten seeded No. 1 in West 2A playoffs

E. Lincoln, Alex Central, S. Caldwell also earn first-round home games   By CHRIS HOBBS HobbsDailyReport.com Six teams from the Greater Hickory area’s three conferences begin pursuit of a state softball championship on Monday. There are five rounds in the postseason with three playing dates this week – Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Four of the area teams are in the …

HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL: Friday’s results, final regular season standings

HobbsDailyReport.com HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY SOFTBALL STANDINGS (Conference games only through April 30) SOUTH FORK 2A (Final regular season) a-E. Lincoln 13-1 b-Bandys 10-4 Newton-Conover 9-5 N. Lincoln 9-5 W. Lincoln 7-7 Maiden 6-8 Lake Norman Charter 2-12 Lincolnton 0-14 a-league champion, earns No. 1 state 2A playoff bid; b–earns league’s No. 2 automatic state playoff bid. Monday’s results Newton-Conover 5, …

HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL: Thursday’s results, current standings

HobbsDailyReport.com HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY SOFTBALL STANDINGS (Conference games only through April 29) SOUTH FORK 2A x-E. Lincoln 13-1 Bandys 9-4 N. Lincoln 9-5 Newton-Conover 8-5 W. Lincoln 7-7 Maiden 6-7 Lake Norman Charter 2-12 Lincolnton 0-13 x-clinched league championship, No. 1 state 2A playoff bid Note: League will not play a conference tournament, receives two automatic state 2A playoff bids…. …

HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL: Wednesday’s results, current standings

HobbsDailyReport.com HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY SOFTBALL STANDINGS (Conference games only through April 28) SOUTH FORK 2A x-E. Lincoln 12-1 Bandys 9-4 Newton-Conover 8-5 N. Lincoln 8-5 W. Lincoln 7-6 Maiden 6-7 Lake Norman Charter 2-11 Lincolnton 0-13 x-clinched league championship, No. 1 state 2A playoff bid Note: League will not play a conference tournament, receives two automatic state 2A playoff bids…. …