April 2009 Archives

Buzz Peterson, who led Appalachian State University men's basketball to three Southern Conference regular-season championships and an NCAA Tournament appearance from 1996-2000, has returned to Appalachian to once again serve as the school's men's basketball head coach. Peterson met with his Mountaineer players Monday night, according to GoASU.com. Peterson led the Mountaineers to a 79-39 record, including a 47-12 mark in SoCon play, in his first four seasons at ASU. His .669 overall winning percentage and .797 winning percentage in conference play are both tops among head coaches in program history (minimum three seasons). After orchestrating a turnaround from an 8-20 season in the season prior to his arrival to a 14-14 record in 1996-97, Peterson coached the Apps to three-consecutive 20-win seasons, SoCon North Division titles and appearances in the SoCon Tournament championship game. The 1999-2000 squad went 23-9 and defeated College of Charleston, 68-56, in the SoCon title game to give the program just its second NCAA Tournament appearance in school history (the first since 1979). In his four years at ASU, he was twice named SoCon Coach of the Year (1998 and 2000) and mentored seven all-conference honorees. Following the 1999-2000 campaign, Peterson accepted the head-coaching position at Tulsa. Then he coached a single season at Tennessee and also coached at Coastal Carolina. He left the college game in 2007 to become the Director of Player Personnel for the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Bobcats. Due to scheduling conflicts, there will not be press conference right away, however Appalachian ISP Sports Network's David Jackson conducted an interview with the new Mountaineer coach and MTN hopes to have at least a piece of that interview to share with you soon, perhaps as early as Thursday night. 

Mountaineer baseball took a 14-3 non-confenerce win over Radford Tuesday at Smith Stadium, and in the process, Isaac Harrow set new school records for career hits and doubles. Harrow's single to right field in the first inning was the 239th hit of his career, which tied the ASU record set by Chris Behne from 1997-2000. Harrow's two-run double down the left field line an inning later not only put him alone atop the school's all-time hits list, but also gave him 62 doubles in his career to break the school record that he shared with former teammate David Rubinstein. The senior third baseman later added an infield single and finished 3-for-5 on the evening, raising his season batting average to .422. The Mountaineers jumped out to a 9-0 lead after two innings en route to their 14-run, 19-hit performance. The damage could have been far worse, but the Apps stranded a season-high 14 base-runners in the rout.
Up next for the Mountaineers, UNC-Asheville Wednesday, then on Thursday the Apps host North Carolina Central. Next weekend, the Mountaineers travel to UNCG for their final conference games before the SoCon tournament May 20-24. But before then, the Apps will travel to NC State and will host Longwood.

Mountaineer softball committed four errors in a 7-6 loss to Virginia Tech Tuesday in Blacksburg. The Mountaineers scored two runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game, but then gave up a run to the Hokies in the bottom half of the inning. With a walk in the first inning, Katie Boyd broke the Southern Conference single-season record with her 60th walk of the season. Boyd walked twice more in the game and scored her SoCon leading 44th run of the season. Brittany Gaston had three hits and stole three bases, while Andrea McIntyre had two. The Mountaineers end the regular-season on Sunday with a single game at North Carolina State at 1 p.m. 

Watauga Pioneer baseball beat up on Alexander Central Tuesday taking a 13-9 win and securing at least a share of the Northwest Conference regular season title. Watauga got 13 hits in the contest, while Jon Sharpe picked up his seventh win of the season on the mound, and struck out 8 on the night. Cal Hardee secured the win with his first save of the year. The Pioneers are done with their regular season games, South Caldwell, who also has a share of the title, has one more conference game Friday against Central. Watauga is 15-6 overall, 10-2 in the conference, while South Caldwell is 16-3 overall, 9-2 in conference play. If Alexander manages to beat South Caldwell, Watauga will be the out and out regular season champ. Even if South wins, Watauga will be the number one seed in the conference tournament, having swept South Caldwell earlier in the season. Watauga will be the leagues number 1 seed in the state playoffs no matter what South does Friday. It is the first time Watauga has won a league championship in baseball since 2001.
The Watauga JVs also downed Alexander Central 1-0, Pioneer womens soccer won 6-0 in the varisty match, and the JVs won 2-0. Alexander Central defeated Watauga in softball 12-0.
Pioneer track and field finished first in the meet held Monday. The boys finished with 80 points, McDowell with 67, South Caldwell 63 and Alexander Central with 57. Watauga took 4 individual first place finishes. In the womens competition, Watauga came in first wth 120 points, Alexander Central was second with 76.5, South Caldwell with 43 and McDowell with 22.5. The Lady Pioneers had 9 first place finishes. 

Avery Lady Viking Soccer got back to the high output offense against Mitchell Tuesday night, winning 8-0. Avery's goals came in batches of two in the first half, scoring at the 11th and 14th minutes. Elyse Perry crossed to Rachel Buchanan for the first goal, the second one came after a Mary Chestnut Smith corner kick to the front of the goal, where a crowd scuffled for it, Perry was one of many who got a foot on it, but it a Mitchell player deflected her kick and put it in the goal for Avery. In the last four minutes of the half Smith crossed to Katelyn Eudy for a tap in at the 36th minute, then Eudy got the ball to Mary Chestnut Smith for a goal in the last minute of the half to give Avery the 4-0 lead. Avery scored early in the second half, with Emily Banner scoring in the 44th minute from a Melinda Eggers pass, then got a second one fourteen minutes later off a Hannah Washburn pass. In the 76th minute Eudy got her second goal of the game off a Smith assist in the 76th minute, and Smith scored the 8th goal for Avery off an assist from Washburn. The Lady Vikings took 30 shots on goal, while keeper Cailan Callaway secured the 9th shutout of the year. the Lady Vikings improve to 13-2-1 overall, and 9-1 in the conference. Avery hosts the Watauga Lady Pioneers Friday night at McDonald Stadium, and MTN will record that match for airing Saturday and Sunday nights at 830, then host Hendersonville Monday May 4th for Senior Day, followed by a match at Polk County on Tuesday the 5th.

The Avery Viking baseball game vs Madison scheduled for Thursday was moved to Wednesday afternoon due to concerns about the weather. The Vikings hope to bounce back from a 7-0 loss to Polk on Tuesday, and perhaps get the series sweep over Madison, we'll have results on Thursday night.  

The Watauga Pioneers baseball game with East Burke that was suspended from Friday due to storms was resumed Monday evening in Icard, and the break did not help the Pioneers, as they fell 10-5 to East Burke. The Pioneers fall to 9-2 in the conference, followed by South Caldwell at 8-2, and McDowell at 7-3. AC Reynolds is at South Caldwell and McDowell travels to Freedom Tuesday. The Pioneers final regular season conference game is against Alexander Central Tuesday, then the conference tournament begins next Tuesday May 5th. The Pioneers will play North Davidson in a non-conference game at home on Saturday at noon. Pioneer soccer and softball are also hosting Alexander Central Tuesday. Pioneer softball hosts Wilkes Central Wednesday.

Lady Viking Soccer only got one goal against Mountain Heritage Monday night, but one was all they needed. Mary Chesnut Smith passed to Emily Banner for the games only score in the 52nd minute, and the Lady vikings won it 1-0. The Lady Vikings attacked often enough, with 20 shots on goal in the contest, but most were just wide or just over, and a couple even hit the goal post. In a low scoring game, defense becomes even more important, and the Lady Vikings kept Heritage away from the goal. Cailan Callaway had two saves in Avery's 8th shut-out of the season. Avery improves to 12-2-1 overall, 8-1 in Western Highlands Conference play. Additionally, Avery has moved up in the EuroSportScoreboard.com state rankings, now at number 9 in the state in 1-A. Polk has dropped to number 5 and Hendersonville remains at number 6. The Lady Vikings take on Mitchell Tuesday evening, then will host Watauga on Friday at McDonald Stadium, and MTN will be on hand to record that game and air it on Saturday and Sunday nights at 8:30. So come out and support your teams, then tune in and watch it again this weekend. 

Avery Senior Morgan Yackey has signed a national letter of intent with Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio. Muskingum is a private, liberal arts university with a long tradition of athletic success, and is a member of the Division III Ohio Athletic Conference. Muskingum has become one of the top programs in the nation, winning numerous regional titles and a national title in 2001. Donna Newberry is the coach at Muskingum and has recently been inducted to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame. 

Mountaineer baseball hosts three non-conference games this week at Smith Stadium. The Apps host Radford Tuesday evening, UNC Asheville Wednesday evening and North Carolina Central on Thursday afternoon. Appalachian is one of the nation's hottest teams. They've won 13-of-14, and 20-23 overall, and 12-straight at Smith Stadium. Leading the way for the Mountaineers is third baseman Isaac Harrow, who went 7-for-8 in a three-game sweep over Wofford this past weekend to up his batting average to .417. If he can maintain that average the rest of the way, it will be the highest by a Mountaineer in nine seasons and the second-highest at ASU in the past two decades. Harrow is just one hit shy of matching Appalachian's all-time hits record of 239. After this week its exams, then the final SoCon series of the season May 8-10 at UNC Greensboro. 

ASU softball is at Virginia Tech to take on the Hokies in the final regular season game, with hopes of finishing over .500 for the first time in school history, as well as avenging an eight-inning 5-4 loss to Tech back in February's Kickin' Chicken Classic. ASU has already broken numerous school records this season, single-season team records for runs scored, walks, and sacrifice flies. Individuals have broken or tied records for the Apps this year as well. Katie Boyd has eclipsed school single-season records for runs, home runs, RBI, total bases and walks. She is just one walk away from breaking the SoCon single-season record for bases on balls. Kayla Richardson broke the single-season ASU record for wins and is just seven strikeouts from breaking the single-season record. She has also broke the Appalachian career mark for wins and strikeouts. After the game with the Hokies, ASU heads to the Southern Conference tournament May 5 in Chattanooga. The Mountaineers have to wait while the rest of the league finishes their schedules to determine where they'll stand. The Apps can finish as high as second and no worse than fourth. 

ASU police are looking for information about a break-in at Varsity Gym that occurred at or around midnight Monday night. Several things were taken from ASU Athletics offices including laptop computers and audio/video equipment. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the ASU police department at (828)262-2150. 

The Lees-McRae Lady Bobcats track and field team had three first place winners on their way to a second place finish at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship Meet held at Lenoir-Rhyne in Hickory. Erin Tyler won the javelin throw with a 31.28 meter toss, Candice Corbin won the pole vault with a height of 2.75 meters, and April Harris won the 3000m steeple chase with a time of 12:46.96. There were 12 Lady Bobcats with top three finishes in various events, and the team finished second with 112 points. UNC-Pembroke won the event with 147 points.
Among the men, Bobcat John Arthur won the pole vault with a height of 4.65 meters. The Bobcats also had six top three finishers in the regional meet; Joe Daher was second in the hammer throw, Michael Davis third in the 1500 meters, Brad Tanis was second in the 400 hurdles, in the 4x100 meter relay Bobcats Jesse Hoots, Alonzo Clark, Adam Phillips, Chris Glenn finished third, and in the 4x400 relay it was Hoots, Tanis, Steve Mostella, Ryan Oaks in third place. UNC Pembroke took first place in the mens competition as well. The Bobcat men finished fourth. 

The Avery Lady Viking Soccer match against Hendersonville was not played on Friday due to thunderstorms in the area, and the match is set for Monday May 4th, next Monday afternoon at 5. The rest of the Lady Viking schedule will see Mountain Heritage at McDonald Stadium this Monday evening, then the travel to Mitchell on Tuesday evening, and the Lady Vikings will host the Watauga Lady Pioneers on Friday May 1st. The rescheduled match with Hendersonville next Monday will be Senior Day. Then there is one more match on the road Tuesday May    5th at Polk. Playoffs begin May 13th.

GoBlueRidge.net reports that an Avery Baseball coach was struck by lightning Friday. Daniel Jimenez, an assistant coach, was struck by lightning while in the dugout. Jimenez was taken to Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville and stayed the night for observation and was released Saturday morning. As for the game itself, the Vikings were 13-3 winners in five innings. Lady Viking softball defeated the Lady Bearcats by a score of 6-3. 

The Watauga Pioneer baseball game was also affected by weather on Friday. Storms in Icard forced a stop to the contest with the Pioneers trailing East Burke 3-2 in the top of the third inning. The game will resume Monday evening. The Pioneer JVs got their game in, it was a 10-2 win over East Burke.
Watauga Softball fell to East Burke 3-0. Lady Pioneer Soccer downed East Burke 5-0, and Watauga men's tennis continues to win, dropping McDowell 7-2, and improving 12-0 in the Northwestern Conference, 17-2 overall.
The Pioneer Track team hosted a conference meet at Pioneer Stadium Monday and Pioneer golf hosted a conference match at Boone Golf Club, we'll have results on Tuesday. On Tuesday, Watauga baseball, softball and womens soccer all host Alexander Central. 

Aubrey Edens cruised through the first seven innings, allowing four runs on just five hits and Wes Hobson's 4-for-4 performance at the plate put the finishing touches on an ASU series sweep over Wofford this weekend. The Apps took game one on Friday 13-9, shutout the Terriers Saturday 5-0, and took the 3rd game Sunday 11-6. A five-run second inning highlighted the Mountaineers' 11-run, 14-hit showing in Sunday's finale, and Hobson's day included a triple, two RBIs and three runs scored. Appalachian hosts three non-conference games at Smith Stadium this week, beginning with Tuesday's 7 p.m. match-up against Radford. The Apps will host UNC Asheville on Wednesday and North Carolina Central on Thursday. They'll be on the road this weekend at UNC Greensboro. 

Mountaineer softball hit five home runs and swept North Carolina Central 18-1 and 8-0, getting both wins in five innings Saturday afternoon at Southern High School in Durham. Lindsay Whitlock hit her first career home run and drove in four runs in game one. Ashley Gaston had a homer in the opener as well. In game two, Yancy Moose hit her first career homer and drove in three runs, Katie Boyd belted her 16th homer, and Morgan Price got the third one and three RBIs. The 26 combined runs in the doubleheader are the most the Mountaineers have ever scored in a doubleheader and also set the single-season record for runs scored at 228. Appalachian finishes the regular season with a single game at Virginia Tech on Tuesday. The SoCon Championships begin May 6th in Chattanooga

ASU Women's Track and Field won their 16th Outdoor conference title this weekend down in Statesboro Georgia. The Apps posted 210.5 points in picking up their first outdoor title since 2006. Western Carolina was runner-up with 177 points. Meghan Gaffney earned all-SoCon honors, Shea Snow won her second consecutive title in the pole vault, Danielle Thorpe won the SoCon triple jump title for the second consecutive year, Lily Tallent captured her first ever SoCon title winning the javelin throw on day one, then picked up the shot put title and the discus title on day two, Whitney Smyre captured her first-ever outdoor title in the hammer throw, Jen Povick earned all-SoCon honors in the 1500m run, placing second overall. Coach John Weaver collected yet another Coach of the Year award.
The Mountaineer men came up just half a point short of getting the men's team outdoor title, as the Black and Gold totaled 253.50, while Western Carolina took the crown with 254 points. Tim Daly won his first-ever outdoor championship in the hammer throw, Mark Sturgis captured the second triple jump title of his career and qualified for the NCAA Regionals, Jerod Gardner captured the shot put title, and Daniel Neal earned all-SoCon honors taking home the runner-up spot in the 400m hurdles. After the Apps and the Cats, the next highest scoring team was the Citadel, with only 70 points. After a week off for final exams, the Mountaineer men head east to Chapel Hill for a May 8 meet at North Carolina.  The women return to action May 16 at Georgia Tech for the last chance meet.

ASU wrestlers Jacob Earp and Austin Trotman earned All-American honors over the weekend at the University Nationals in Akron, Ohio. Jacob Earp, a former Watauga Pioneer, finished sixth at 63 kilograms to earn the honor, Trotman won four matches on the day in picking up his award.

The Hickory Crawdads got the 3-1 win over Lexington on Friday to split the series 2-2 with the Legends, then did the same thing with Kannapolis over the weekend, taking Saturday's game 4-3, but falling on Sunday 2-4. The 'Dads took Monday off and will resume with the Intimidators in Kannapolis for games on Tuesday and Wednesday. Hickory returns to LP Frans Stadium Thursday to begin a four game home stand against Lakewood through Sunday. 

Watauga is the Northwestern conference champion in tennis. Pioneer mens tennis shut out AC Reynolds on Wednesday 9-0, to finish the conference season undefeated 11-0, and taking the regular season title. Coach Scott Taylor congratulates his players and thanks everyone for supporting the team this season. Watauga has one more regular season match at home against McDowell Friday, then the Regional Qualifier on Monday at South Caldwell. Then its off to the state playoffs, with the first round of the Dual Team Playoffs at Watauga Tuesday May 5th.
Watauga Pioneer softball defeated McDowell Wednesday 6-1, with a five run fifth inning making the difference.
Pioneer baseball, softball and womens soccer all travel to East Burke on Friday, the soccer match is varsity only.

Avery Viking baseball bounced back from a 9-1 loss to Hendersonville on Monday with a 15-3 win over Mitchell Wednesday, and blasted five home runs in the process. Avery was up 3-0 when Mitchell scored three in the the top half of the third inning to tie the game. When Avery got to the plate, they responded big time, with Steven Daniels knocking a two run homer, Chris Childress followed that with a grand slam. Adam Pate then got his two run homer, and Zach Hall got a solo shot, all in the bottom of the third. The Vikings scored 9 runs in the frame and found themselve up 12-3. In the Vikings half of the fourth inning, Sutton Stanley got a two run homer, and the Vikings got one more run in the inning to put Avery up 15-3, and the ten run rule ended the contest. Adam Pate got the complete game win for the Vikings. The Vikings host Hendersonville Friday.

Lady Viking softball took a 6-0 victory over Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy on Tuesday, Morgan Yackey pitched a complete game 3 hit shut-out for Avery, while on offense, the Lady Vikings got 3 runs in the bottom of the first, and two more in the bottom of the third, and picked up the final run in the sixth inning. Five of those six runs were earned, Jusitna Rieger recorded three hits and had three RBI's and Sam Shook had two hits. Then on Wednesday Avery took a 3-2 win over Mitchell, with Jusitna Rieger and Samantha Shook each getting an RBI, and Morgan Yackey again going the distance and recording 9 strikeouts and only giving up one earned run. The Lady Vikings host Hendersonville Friday. 

In just the second start of his career, sophomore Taylor Miller allowed only one run in five innings of work to lead Mountaineer baseball to a 6-4 victory over High Point Wednesday at Williard Stadium. Its the 12th win in 13 games and 17th win in the last 20 for Appalachian, who are now at 23-17 on the year. Miller matched a career-high with six strikeouts in moving to 3-2 on the season. The Mountaineer offense exploded for single runs in the second and third innings, and three runs in the fourth to grab a 5-1 lead, and added an insurance run on Nick DeRose's RBI infield single in the ninth to make it 6-4. Zach Quate retired three of the four batters he faced in the bottom of the ninth for his 10th save of the year, which ties him for third nationally. Freshman Ryan Arrowood led the Apps' 13-hit effort with a career-best 3-for-4 performance. Wes Hobson and Rand Smith added two hits apiece. Smith has now hit safely in 38-of-40 ballgames this season. The Mountaineers host Wofford at Smith Stadium this weekend, first pitch is 7 p.m. Friday, then games are set for 4:30 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday.

ASU softball fell to Tennessee 8-0 Wednesday night in Knoxville.  The eight run rule loss is the first of the season for the Mountaineers. Sarah Rappe had the only hit on the day for the Mountaineers, Kayla Richardson suffered the loss allowing five hits and three runs while strikiing out two and walking two, and Katie Boyd walked twice, upping her season total to 57 and is just three walks away from breaking the single-season SoCon record. Appalachian returns to action Saturday when they travel to North Carolina Central for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. 

ASU field hockey was honored with an NCAA Public Recognition Award for its latest Academic Progress Rate (APR) score. Teams honored by the NCAA earned multiple Academic Progress Report (APR) scores in the top 10 percent for the past four years. The Mountaineers have ranked in the top 10 percent of all field hockey squads to earn the distinction. The Apps were one of just 11 field hockey teams in the country to be honored and the lone squad from the NorPac. ASU was one of eight Southern Conference institutions to have a team honored. 

ASU athletics has teamed up with the High Country March of Dimes to host the 2009 March For Babies Sunday at Kidd Brewer Stadium starting at 3pm. The March For Babies is the March of Dimes' largest annual fundraising event. This year's version in the High Country will feature fun for the whole family, including games and inflatable rides for kids, food and the opportunity to walk, run or play on the KBS track and playing surface. ASU student-athletes, coaches and cheerleaders will be on hand for the event. The entire community is invited to join in on the fun by making a $20 donation per family to the cause. Donations will be collected at all three Mountaineer baseball games versus Wofford this weekend at Smith Stadium as well as at the gate on Sunday. Families can also sign up and/or donate in advance at goasu.com.

The Hickory Crawdads ninth-inning comeback attempt came up just short Wednesday, and the 'Dads fell to Lexington 4-3. Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the ninth, David Paisano belted a ball to deep left-center, driving in two runs. The hit just missed being a game-tying homer. But after that, Lexington's pitcher retired the next Crawdad batter and the rally was halted. The Dads fall to 7-7 and play game three of the four game series with the Legends Thursday night, game four is Friday, then Kannapolis comes to Hickory for Saturday and Sunday games, the 'Dads will then go to Kannapolis to return the favor Tuesday and Wednesday next week. 

Pioneer baseball got a big win over Freedom Monday, winnig 19-2 over the Patriots and improving to 13-5 overall and 8-1 in the Northwestern Conference. They remain in first place in the conference. Watauga's 19 runs came off 17 hits, with Adam Church and Jake Wallace each getting 4 RBIs. The Pioneers are at AC Reynolds Tuesday. 

After 11 days off from game action, the Vikings had to face the Western Highlands Conference leader in their first game back after the break. The Lady Vikings scored the go-ahead goal at the 54-minute mark and the defense held Polk County at bay for a 2-1 victory Monday evening at MacDonald Stadium. Avery scored on goals by Emily Banner and Mary Chestnut Smith. The win puts Avery in a three-way tie with Polk and Hendersonville at the top of the Western Highlands Conference. The Lady Vikings will be back in action at Madison on Thursday evening, then return to MacDonald Stadium for a pivotal rematch with Hendersonville on Friday. While the Viking victory creates the tie at the top of the conference, technically Hendersonville is in the lead with an 8-1 conference record. Polk and Avery each have 6-1 records. But each team has beaten the other for their only conference losses, thus the tie for first place. 

JohnMark Bentley, an assistant coach the past three seasons, will become Appalachian State University's head wrestling coach for the 2009-10 season. Bentley arrived at Appalachian in 2006 after spending three years as the head coach at Watauga High. In his final season with the Pioneers, he led the squad to a third-place finish in the state championship and coached three individual state champions. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Davidson in 2002-03. Bentley was a three-time Atlantic Coast Conference champion wrestler at North Carolina from 1997-2001. He was the ACC Wrestler of the Year as a senior and a University Nationals freestyle all-American as a junior. Bentley replaces Paul Mance, who spent the past 33 years as ASU's head coach. Under Mance's direction, ASU won eight Southern Conference championships, the last coming in 2003. 

ASU softball will play USC Upstate for the first time on Tuesday, it will be the final home game of the season for the Mountaineers. The Mountaineers enter the game with a 22-23 overall record and a school-record 14 Southern Conference wins. USC Upstate comes in at 26-13 and 9-7 in the Atlantic Sun. After Tuesday's game, the Mountaineers will travel to Knoxville to take on Tennessee on Wednesday. Then back to Durham to play North Carolina Central in a doubleheader Saturday. Then one last game on Tuesday the 29th at Virginia Tech, before the SoCon Championships beginning May 6th in Chattanooga. 

ASU men's golf has dropped to 11th place with a team score of 611, +35, after 36 holes of the SoCon Championship match in Florence South Carolina. Casey Johnson carded a 76 (+4) on Monday to lead the Apps. Johnson has a 150 (+6) and stands in 30th with one round remaining. Chattanooga is leading the tournament, Georgia Southern is in second.
The Mountaineer women are in ninth place after Monday's second round, with a two-day total of 665 (+89). Mary Kate Bowman had the best round of the day for the Mountaineers, shooting a 9 over 81. Furman leads the women's tournament, with Chattanooga in second place. Final round action began Tuesday morning.  

The Southern Conference tennis tournament begins Thursday in Spartanburg South Carolina, and the Mountaineer men earned a No. 7 seed and will play No. 10 The Citadel. The Mountaineers finished the regular season on a three-match winning streak and posted a record of 14-9 overall including a 5-5 SoCon mark. On the women's side, Appalachian earned a No. 8 seed and will play No. 9 Chattanoogaa in the first round. The women are 9-15 overall, 3-7 in the conference. 

A couple of ASU baseball game times have been changed for this week. Because of the potential for rain and snow, Tuesday's game with North Carolina A&T will start at 4pm in hopes of getting it in before the weather turns, and due to ASU athletics hosting the High Country's March of Dimes March For Babies event, Sunday's series finale against Wofford will begin at noon.

Lady Bobcats Softball season ended on day two of the Conference Carolinas Softball Tournament Saturday after a 3-1 loss to Belmont Abby. The Lady Bobcats finished the year with a 22-20 overall record, the first winning record in ten seasons. Junior Amanda Dodson was awarded First Team All-Conference honors.
The No. 2 seed Lady Bobcats tennis team fell in the semifinals 5-1 to No. 3 seed Erskine. The Lady Bobcats fell behind early after dropping all three of the doubles matches. Lees-McRae managed to get a point from Christine Vanard before Erskine could close out the match.  
Bobcats mens tennis advanced to the finals with a 5-3 win over Barton on Saturday, but then fell in the championship match to Anderson 5-1. The Bobcats are the regular season champions. Sophomore Nandor Solymosi was selected Conference Carolinas Men's Tennis Player of the Year and First Team All Conference, teammates Shaun Sumner and Alek Mojski received Second Team All Conference, and fourth year head coach Paul Goode was named Coach of the Year.
The Lady Bobcats Freshman Gabriela Celi earned womens tennis player of the year and First Team All Conference. Christine Vanard also earned first team honors, and Ashley Mayers earned Third Team honors. Paul Goode was named Coach of the Year amoung the womens teams as well.
And in women's lacrosse, Sophomore Desiree Cox of Hendersonville, Tennessee was named to the Conference Carolinas All Conference Second Team.
Bobcats men's lacrosse fell to Queens in the conference semifinal Friday 18-6. Lees-McRae will play their final game of the season Friday, April 24th at 7 p.m. against Catawba. 

The Hickory Crawdads lost both ends of a doubleheader to the Asheville Tourists on Monday, falling 10-3 in game one, and 3-1 in the nightcap. The 'Dads won the first game Saturday 4-0. Hickory returns home to begin a six game homestand Tuesday evening against Lexington. 

Lees-McRae College hosted the inaugural Conference Carolinas Track and Field Championships Friday and Saturday. It was a good weekend to be a Bobcat, as the Lees-McRae men took the team championship and a number of other top awards. The Bobcat men dominated the team competition, winning with 218 points, with Limestone at second with 101 points, and St. Andrews finishing third with 93 points. Bobcats head coach Ley Fletcher was honored with the Coach of the Year award, and Bobcat runner Chris Glenn shared Track Athlete of the Year honors with Mitch Cooper of St. Andrews. Glenn and Cooper finished with 22 points each to split the award. Glenn had three top three individual finishes and a top three team relay finish. Glenn and teammates Jesse Hoots, Adam Phillips and Corey Alexander won the 4x100 relay with a time of 42.57, he finished second in the 100 meter dash and second in the 110 hurdles, and third in the 200 meter dash. The Bobcats also took second in the 400 relay. Another notable finisher was Brad Tanis with a new school record in the 400m hurdles with a time of 55.37, Nathan Smith was second. Jesse Hoots was first in 400 meter dash, Craig Simpkins was second in the 10thousand meter, Jonathan Arthur was first in the pole vault, with Ryan Oakes second, Corey Alexander finished second and Joseph Brown third in the long jump, Alexander got second in the triple jump. Joe Daher was first in the discus and first in the hammer throw.
In the womens championships, Limestone won the team title with 158 points, Anderson was second with 154 points, and the Lady Bobcats third with 139 points, a very close finish amoung the top three. April Harris took first place in the 3000 meter steeplechase, with Katheryn Smith right behind in second place. The Lady Bobcats finished 1-2-3 in the pole vault, led by Hannah Trimble in first, Candice Corbin second and Michelle Jonas third. Erin Tyler took second in the Javelin, Rebecca Foard had a third place finish in the 400 meter dash, while Shantra McCoy was third and Erin Tyler fourth in the 100 hurdles. The Lady Bobcats also took third place in the 4x400 relay. 

The Avery Lady Viking soccer schedule has changed. The match against Madison has been moved from Wednesday to Thursday and the location has changed. Its still an away match, but will be played at Mars Hill College Stadium and is set for 7pm. The Lady Vikings were scheduled to host Polk on Monday weather permitting, and will welcome Hendersonville to McDonald Stadium on Friday.

Watauga Pioneer baseball was scheduled to host Freedom Monday, weather permitting, with the varsity playing first and the JV after if the weather holds. The Pioneers came up just short against Providence on Saturday, losing 6-5. Watauga mens tennis hosts South Caldwell and Pioneer Track at Avery, details on Tuesday night. Lady Pioneer Soccer hosts AC Reynolds at the Ted Mackorell Complex on Tuesday, with Pioneer golf at Asheville Municipal course in a conference match with AC Reynolds, Pioneer baseball and softball will also be at Reynolds Tuesday. 

ASU's Rand Smith got a single with two outs in the top of the seventh inning to set a school-record 26-game hitting streak and spark a late rally that gave the Apps a 7-3 win over College of Charleston  Saturday. The Apps took the weekend seires two games to one, and have now won 15 of their last 18 games. ASU is now 21-17 overall, 10-12 in the SoCon. The Mountaineers host North Carolina A&T Tuesday at 6pm. 

Michelle Lighton scored the winning run in the second inning and hit a home run in the sixth, while Kayla Richardson threw a one-hitter to give ASU softball a 3-0 win over Furman. Richardson threw her 19th complete game of the season and with the win, broke the ASU single-season record with her 12th win of the season and broke the career wins record with her 32nd career win. The Apps swept the Paladins in the weekend series and improves to 22-23 overall and 14-9 in the SoCon. The 14 conference wins on the season are the most in school history. 

After the first of three rounds at the Southern Conference Championship, ASU Mens golf stands in ninth place with a 300 (+12) Sunday score. Dustin Hudson led all players with 16 pars on the day and is tied for 23rd with teammate Casey Johnson at 74 (+2). ASU women's golf shot a 324 (+36) on Sunday to tie College of Charleston for sixth place. Mary Kate Bowman shot a 79 (+7) to tie for 13th place while Kerri Dice was just one stroke behind at 80 (+8) for 16th. Competition was to continue Monday in Florence South Carolina.

The Avery Lady Vikings soccer team have a number of players among the region's leaders in goals, assists, and goalkeeping. Sophomore Mary Chesnut Smith is second in the region in scoring with 17 goals in 11 games, sophomore Emily Banner is fifth with 14 goals in 12 games. Melinda Eggers also makes the list with six goals, Katelynn Eudy and Rachel Buchanan have three goals each. Smith is also second in assists regionally with 15 in 11 contests, Rachel Buchanan and Melinda Eggers are tied with seven assists each in 12 games. Emily Banner and Katelynn Eudy both have five over 12-games. Senior goalkeeper Cailan Calloway ranks among the region's leaders as she has surrendered only 13 goals in 12 games, and that includes six shutouts. 

Watauga Pioneer baseball is next in action Saturday in Charlotte against Providence. The next conference game for the Pioneers is Monday when Freedom comes to Boone. Lady Pioneer softball will travel to AC Reynolds next Tuesday, while Lady Pioneer soccer will host AC Reynolds on Tuesday, Watauga men's tennis and golf teams will host South Caldwell on Monday.

Mountaineer baseball wins again, its the eighth straight win for ASU, this time, over Gardner-Webb. The Apps found themselves down 4-0 but just like the last few games, came back to pull out the 12-10 win over GW. Gardner-Webb scored those four runs in the top of the first inning. Appalachian erased the deficit and then some with an eight-run second inning. The first eight batters of the inning reached base, highlighted by a three-run home run by Jerod Faggart and a grand slam by Isaac Harrow. Rand Smith extended his hitting streak to 24 games - one shy of the ASU record - with an RBI single in the frame. The Mountaineers added three more runs in the third to extend their lead to 11-4. Wes Hobson drove in a run with one of his four singles on the evening and Chris Alessandria drove a two-run double to right center field to account for the scoring in the third. Gardner-Webb rallied for five runs in the fifth and added another run in the sixth to cut the deficit to 11-10. Appalachian added an insurance run when Harrow led off the eighth with a double and came around to score on a wild pitch. Taylor Miller came on with two outs in the bottom of the first and held GWU scoreless over the next three frames to earn the win. ASU relievers Nick Daniels and Chris Patterson combined to keep the Bulldogs off the scoreboard for the final three innings. Appalachian travels to perennial SoCon-power College of Charleston for a pivotal three-game series this weekend at Charleston's Patriots Point Park.

Mountaineer softball got everyone involved on Wednesday. Every starter had at least a hit or an RBI as the Mountaineers completed the doubleheader sweep with a 5-1 victory over Western Carolina Wednesday evening, after taking game one 4-2. The Mountaineers scored all five runs in the fourth inning, including a home run by Katie Boyd, her 13th of the year, while on the mound, Kayla Richardson earned her single-season career high 10th win of the season, allowing just four hits and one unearned run. ASU improved to 16-6 when they score first and the 11 SoCon wins ties the most in school history. In the first game, Andrea McIntyre drove in three runs and Ashley Stubbs stranded 11 Catamount base-runners to lead the Apps to the 4-2 win. ASU improves to 19-23, 11-9 in the conference, and returns home this weekend to host Furman in the final SoCon series of the season. There are still a number of nonconference games left on the schedule before the SoCon Championships in May.

Lees-McRae Bobcat men's golf had their second round play at the Independent Collegiate Invite suspended at the Etowah Valley Country Club following a severe rainstorm, and that gives them a 14th place finish with a score of 378. Only the first round results were counted because of the stoppage in play. Mike Corboy paced the Bobcats with 75. The Bobcats will play the Conference Carolinas Tournament at Tanglewood Golf Course in Clemmons, N.C. beginning Monday. 

Bobcat men's lacrosse goalkeeper Andy Nesdill has earned All-Conference second team honors from Conference Carolinas. The sixth seeded Bobcats upset third seeded Pfieffer on Tuesday, and move on to play No. 2 seed Queens. Conference Championship semifinal games are set for Friday and the championship final Sunday in Charlotte's American Legion Memorial Stadium. 

Lady Bobcat softball secured the seventh seed in the Conference Carolinas Tournament with a doubleheader split with Queens University Wednesday afternoon. The Lady Bobcats had an 11-1 win and an 8-2 loss in the regular season finale. In game one, Amanda Dodson threw a complete game three-hitter to earn the win for Lees-McRae. Dodson struck out eight batters and only allowed one walk. Game two was a different story with Queens scoring eight runs on ten hits. The Lady Bobcats finish the regular season 20-18 overall and 8-10 in conference play. This is the first winning season for Lees-McRae softball since the 1998-1999 season. The Lady Bobcats will play their first game against tenth seed Anderson University Friday morning at 10 in Hartsville, S.C.

The Lady Bobcats Lacrosse season came to an end in the first round of the Conference Carolinas Tournament with a 19-8 loss to Pfeiffer Wednesday afternoon. Desiree Cox and sister Cheryse Cox scored three goals in the game. Desiree finishes the season currently ranked second in the nation in goals per game with 64 in 15 contests for an average of 4.27 per game. She is fourth in the nation in points with 76, 64 goals and 12 assists. Those numbers good through April 12th. The Lady Bobcats end the season with a 6-12 overall record and a 2-10 conference record. Both the overall win total and the conference win total are new school records in a season. 

The Hickory Crawdads cruised to their third shut out win of the season, with an 8-0 victory against the Greenville Drive. The Crawdads hit two home runs, two triples and two doubles, as part of their season-high 13-hit barrage. The Crawdads go for the series split in the finale of the four-game set in Greenville Thursday evening. 

The Watuaga Pioneer West Forsyth baseball game Friday was rained out, and as it was a non-conference game, it most likely will not be made up. Watauga is participating in the IMPACT Spring Classic in Cary NC Monday and Tuesday, again, weather permitting. After that, another non-conference game this coming Saturday at Providence, then the Pioneers return to Northwestern Conference action next week when they host Freedom in a make up game on Monday April 20th.  

Mountaineer baseball hosted Samford this weekend. The Friday game was rained out but was made up in a double header on Saturday. The good news is the Mountaineers won them all, sweeping the Bulldogs and improving to 17-16 overall, 8-11 in the SoCon. In Saturday's first contest, Appalachian won 6-4 with help from Wes Hobson who went 4-for-4 with four RBIs. David Towarnicky and Nick DeRose chipped in with two hits apiece. In the nightcap, the Mountaineers took the 4-3 victory over Samford, with the win coming on Rand Smith's RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Smith has extended his hitting streak to 21 games. Then on Sunday, the Apps completed the sweep with a 6-3 win. Isaac Harrow drove in four runs in the win, three of them on a homer in the third inning, and a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Aubrey Edens worked seven innings on the mound and surrendered only three runs on five hits. Appalachian closes out a five-game homestand when they host former SoCon-rival East Tennessee State on Tuesday night and Gardner-Webb on Wednesday. Rain is still in the forecast Tuesday, so stay tuned for possible schedule changes. 

The first game of the ASU Chattanooga softball series in River City was cancelled on Friday due to severe weather in the area, but they played on Saturday, and the Mocs took both games of the double header, winning game one 3-2 and shutting out the Mountaineers in game two 4-0. Brittany Gaston tied the opener with her first home run of the year, but the Mocs got the win in the bottom of the 9th. The Mocs scored in just two innings in game two, but it was enough for the 4-0 win. Appalachian returns to action on Tuesday night weather permitting when they play Western Carolina in the first game of a three game series.

Mountaineer men's tennis capped off its final home match in style as the Mountaineers grabbed an impressive 6-1 win over SoCon foe Chattanooga Saturday afternoon at the Grandfather Mountain tennis courts, winning two of three doubles matches, and all but one singles match. The Apps have their final regular season match at Davidson Thursday.

Mountaineer Sophomore track and field athlette Rebecca Hazeltine had one of the strongest performances at the Sea Ray Relays in Knoxville at the University of Tennessee Saturday, as she qualified for NCAA Regionals in the high jump, leaping a new personal best of 5-8.75. The performance also moves her into third on Appalachian's all-time list in the event. And she was not alone, as sophomore Tim Daly qualified for regionals in the hammer throw, coming in fifth in the event with a throw of 185-11. ASU returns to action Friday April 17 as they host the Appalachian Invitational at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Additionally, jumper Danielle Thorpe was named the Southern Conference field athlete of the month for March. Its Thorpe's first award for the outdoor season and second for the team. At the Wake Forest Invitational, Thorpe captured a first place finish in the triple jump, leaping a solid 40-00.75. To close out March, the junior swept the jumping events at the Beach vs. Mountains meet, winning both the long and triple jump. 

The Southern Conference has decided to relocate the postseason basketball tournament to Charlotte. The 2010 tournaments for men and women will be held March 4-8. The first three days will take place at Bojangles Coliseum, a 10,000-seat venue on Independence Boulevard. The semifinals and finals will be held at Time Warner Cable Arena, home of the Charlotte Bobcats. The move to Charlotte was aimed at reducing travel costs for the majority of the conference's institutions. The league's postseason tournament will return to Chattanooga in 2011.

Bobcats men's tennis clinched their first Conference Carolinas regular season title and their first undefeated conference record since 2001 with a 7-2 win over Pfeiffer Wednesday afternoon. The Bobcats took two of the three singles matches and went on to win five of the six singles matches to earn the win. Recently ranked No. 18 Nandor Solymosi continued his tear with a 6-2, 6-2 win at his number one singles position for the Bobcats. Solymosi ended the conference season with a 7-1 record. On Friday, the men blanked Mars Hill in nonconference action. The men's next match is scheduled for Tuesday, hosting Gardner-Webb.

The Lady Bobcats clinched a guaranteed share of the conference regular season title with their 9-0 win over Converse Saturday. Gabriela Celi finished her freshman conference season undefeated with her 6-0, 6-0 win at number one singles. At number two, Christine Vanard also finished the conference play undefeated with her 6-0, 6-1 win at number two. The Lady Bobcats can win the title outright if Mount Olive drops their final conference match of the season to Limestone April 15th. Currently there is a three-way tie between Mount Olive, Erskine and Lees-McRae, and Lady Bobcats hold the tiebreak over Erskine. The LMC women also got the non-conference win over Mars Hill on Friday, 5-4. The Lady Bobcats were scheduled to travel to Ashville to take on UNCA Monday.

In other LMC Sports...
Lady Bobcats softball was swept by Erskine this weekend, falling 2-1 in the opener and 9-1 in the night cap Saturday. LMC drops to 19-17 overall, 7-9 in the conference. The Lady Bobcats were scheduled to host Queens Monday afternoon, but it was washed out, no word yet on a make up date.

Both Bobcat lacrosse teams fell over the weekend. The Lady Bobcats fell to Pfieffer 20-9 and the men lost to St. Andrews 10-8.     

The Hickory Crawdads began the 2009 season Thursday, and lost the season opener to the Bowling Green Hot Rods, and Friday's game was rained out, but the Dad's got into the swing of things Saturday with with a 5-0 no-hitter in game one and a second shutout, 4-0, in game two. Then on Sunday, they added a third win, a 7-2 victory, with five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to cruise to the win and claim the Opening Weekend series against the Hot Rods, three-games-to-one. The Crawdads hit the road for Greenville South Carolina for a four-game series against the Drive, Monday through Thursday, then go to Asheville before returning to Hickory April 21st to host Lexington.

Despite the earlier snow, the field at McDonald Stadium was clear and dry by game time and Avery Lady Vikings soccer hosted Owen High School Wednesday afternoon, the third game in three days for Avery. Even so, the Lady Vikings had few problems with Owen. Melinda Eggers scored two goals for Avery, both in the first half. The first off a cross from Emily Banner at the 20th minute, and the second goal 6 minutes later off a pass from Mary Chesnut Smith. The Lady Vikings led 2-0 at the half. In the second half, Avery was able to convert one of their seven corner kicks into a goal two minutes into the action, Emily Banner headed Smith's corner kick. The final goal of the game came in the 75th minute, Teddie Jablonski got her first goal ever, with the assist from Rachel Buchanan. Final score Avery 4-0 over Owen, and keeper Cailan Callaway recorded her 6th shut out in 12 games. The Lady Vikings improve to 9-2-1 overall, 5-1 in conference play. 

Watauga Lady Pioneer soccer got their game in with Freedom, but it ended in a scoreless tie and will go in the books that way. Watauga is now 3-7-4 overall; 3-2-1 in Northwestern Conference action. Their next match is April 21st against AC Reynolds.
Lady Pioneer Softball fell 6-1 to Freedom. Watauga drops to 4-9 overall, 1-5 in conference play, they too are idle till April 21st against AC Reynolds.
Watauga men's tennis was a 5-4 winner over Newton-Conover. Steve Lake and Michael Smith got tough wins, both have to win a 3rd set tie breaker. Brian Geldmeier continued his undefeated streak winning in straight sets. Kevin Ashline got a big singles win and he and Geldmeier got the number two doubles win for the Pioneer victory. Watauga improves to 14-2 Overall, and remian 9-0 in conference play.
Watauga baseball will take on McDowell at home Thursday evening. Both teams are tied for first in the conference with identical 6-1 records. South Caldwell is just half a game back at 6-2. McDowell is 10-2 overall, Watauga 9-3. We'll have results on Friday. 

Mountaineer women's tennis eeked out a win Wednesday afternoon, a 4-3 victory over Presbyterian at the ASU Tennis Courts. The Apps swept through doubles action winning all three matches. The Blue Hose rallied in singles play, getting three wins. But Lindsay King at number 2, Caroline Mauch at the number three, and Gisela Fernandez at number six singles put the win in the App's column, and ASU improves to 8-13 on the season. The women host UNC Greensboro next Tuesday afternoon. 

Lees-McRae Bobcat track athlete Brad Tanis has been selected as the Conference Carolinas men's track Athlete of the Week during week number four in the 2009 outdoor season. The junior led the Bobcat men at the Aggie Relays at North Carolina A&T this week, posting a time of 56.08 in the 400m hurdles, putting him in first place in the Conference.
Lady Bobcat Erin Tyler has been selected as the Women's Tack Athlete and Field Athlete of the Week. Tyler's outstanding performances this week resulted in being awarded both track and field athlete of the week honors, the first time one athlete has received both awards. In the 100m hurdles she ran a 16.78, which earned her a rank of second in the Conference. Her 200m time of 27.71 placed her fourth in the conference, her javelin throw distance of 91'09" was good enough for first place in the conference. Overall she finished seventh with a total of 3,585 points. Tyler now owns the school record by 285 points.
Bobcat tennis stand out Travis VanHoy has earned men's tennis athlete of the week honors for week 8 of the season. VanHoy delivered the game clinching point as the No. 39 Bobcats pulled their fifth upset of the season over Conference Carolinas' No.31 Limestone Saints. VanHoy and partner Shawn Sumner won their doubles match 8-2 to give the Bobcats a 2-1 lead heading into singles play. VanHoy clinched the match with his 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win at the four position. In the teams final match of the week, VanHoy contributed with an 8-4 win in doubles and a 6-4, 4-6 (10-6) win in singles as the Bobcats blanked No. 36 Tusculum for the sixth upset of the season. The Bobcats are guaranteed at least a share of the Conference Carolinas regular season title with a 7-0 conference record. It will be the team's first title since 2001.
And Gabriella Celi has been named Conference Carolinas womens tennis athlete of the week. The freshman sensation has led the Lees-McRae women's tennis team to a 3-0 week with all three wins coming over ranked teams. Against Limestone, Celi won her singles match 6-1, 6-2 to give the Lady Bobcats a 7-2 win over the No. 37 Lady Saints. Celi and partner Christine Vanard won their doubles match 8-3 to score the team's first point.  In singles Celi took down her opponent 6-4, 7-5 as the team broke No. 24 Erskine's 57-conference match win streak with a 6-3 win. In the team's final match against No. 27 Tusculum, Celi and Vanard swept their doubles match 8-0.  Celi won her singles match 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 and delivered the game-winning point as the team won 5-4. Celi is unbeaten Conference Carolinas singles play this year.

Weather changed the school schedules, which changes the sports schedules...
Watauga Pioneer baseball against Freedom has been rescheduled for April 20th. The Lady Pioneer varsity soccer match at Freedom and the Lady Pioneer softball game at Freedom and the Watauga Track and Field meeet at West Caldwell and the Pioneer mens tennis vs Newton Conover were all held as scheduled.
Thursday's Women's soccer vs. Ashe-CANCELED, and will not be made up due to conference schedules. Men's Golf at Willow Creek in High Point, Watauga will not attend due to missed class time. Make-up dates for men's tennis at AC Reynolds and vs. McDowell have not been announced yet but will be soon.

Tuesday's snow did NOT prevent the Lady Vikings from going off the mountain for their scheduled match with Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, and did not prevent the Avery win. The Lady Vikings kept the ball on the Gryphon's side of the field for most of the game, and the game was never really close in the non-conference match-up, with the Lady Vikings winning it 5-2. The scoring came in spurts, with Avery's two goals in the first half coming in the 9th and 12th minutes. Mary Chesnut Smith crossed to Melinda Eggers for the first score; the second came when Emily Banner passed the ball back to Smith who scored the second goal. The Gryphons scored in the 28th minute off a corner kick, and at the half it was Avery with a 2-1 lead. Second half saw Avery score another 2 goals at the 61st and 68th minutes. Eggers got a second goal, off an assist by Elyse Perry. Smith got a second assist, when she crossed to Banner, who scored. Four minutes later, the Gryphons got their second goal, and Avery got on the board again 4 minutes after that, in the 76th minute when Eggers assisted Noelle Henline on her first goal of the season. Keeper Cailan Callaway had one save in the second half. The Lady Vikings are now 8-2-1 overall, and 4-1 in the Western Highlands conference. The Lady Vikings host Owen Wednesday night. 

Mountaineer baseball overcame a disastrous first inning to top Tennessee 9-7 Tuesday evening at blustery Lindsey Nelson Stadium Knoxville Tennessee. Appalachian trailed 5-0 after one inning but outscored Tennessee 9-2 the rest of the way to claim its first win over UT in 18 years. A series of miscues in the first inning and a three run homer put the Vols up 4-0. An unearned run on an RBI single made the score 5-0 Tennessee. The Mountaineers began to chip away at the deficit in the third inning when they scored three times without the benefit of a hit to cut the UT lead to 5-3. Appalachian tied the score at 5-5 with two more runs in the top of the fourth, courtesy of an RBI single by Wes Hobson and a run-scoring error committed at second base by UT. Tennessee regained the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth but ASU made it 7-6 in the fifth on an RBI single by Jerod Faggart. ASU completed the monumental comeback with three runs in the top of the eighth. Jerod got the rally started with a solo homer to left center to tie the score at 7-7. Then, after back-to-back two-out singles by Wes Hobson and Isaac Harrow, Vols pitcher Stephen McCray walked three batters in a row, the final two forced in runs to give the Mountaineers their first lead of the game 9-7. The Apps would hold in the final inning to improve to 14-16 overall. Nick Daniels, Chris Patterson and Zach Quate would combine to hold the Vols to just three hits over 5.1 scoreless innings to close out the ballgame. The Mountaineers open a five-game homestand with a three-game series versus Southern Conference-newcomer Samford Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Smith Field.

ASU men's tennis came up just short Tuesday falling 5-2 to the number 66 Elon Phoenix at the Yonahlossee Raquet Club. ASU posted a strong effort in doubles action, but was unable to come up with the point, notching just one win, Trent Constance and Peter Jacobs taking their number two doubles 8-2. At number one singles, No. 125 Bobby Lake, grabbed ASU's most impressive win of the day, as he downed No. 69 Damon Gooch in two sets, picking up a 6-2, 6-4 victory. Freshman Alain Humblet got the other singles win for the Apps, who fall to 11-9 and 3-5 in league action. ASU steps out of SoCon play Thursday to take on Gardner-Webb at 2:30 p.m. at the ASU Tennis Courts on Rivers Street.
Davidson Wildcats women's tennis proved to be too much for the ASU women, as they defeated the Mountaineers 7-0 at Davidson. With the loss, the Apps fall to 7-13 on the season and 2-5 in the SoCon. The Apps were to host Presbyterian Wednesday afternoon. 

Mountaineer men's golf battled windy conditions to shoot a 309 Tuesday to finish in seventh place at Charleston Southern's Spring Kickoff Tournament. The Mountaineers shot +62 during the two-day competition. Former Pioneer Jacob Eggers led the Mountaineers with a 13th-place finish. The junior shot a five-over 76 Tuesday to finish with a three day score of 228 (+13) tied for the best par-three average out of the 67 golfers. Eggers scored 10 pars over his 54-holes of play. Campbell defeated College of Charleston in the first hole of a playoff to take the team title. The Apps are off the course until the Southern Conference Championship April 19-21 in Florence, S.C.
Brooke DeHart shot a 77-79=156 to lead ASU women's golf to a fourth place finish at the Mimosa Hills Intercollegiate. DeHart finished in a tie for eighth to lead ASU. Kerri Dice shot an 79-81=160 to finnish tied for 17th. Augusta State won the team tournament, edging out Elon by one stroke.

Bobcat women's softball scheduled for Thursday against King College have been canceled due to field conditions. The Bobcat's resume Conference Carolinas play Saturday against Erskine College in Due West, S.C. 

With five upsets of ranked teams this season, the Bobcat men's tennis team has vaulted 19 spots on the ITA Division II Men's Tennis Rankings to the No. 20 spot. Its the first time the Bobcats have been in the top 20 since February 25th of 2004. The team has run through the Conference Carolinas season with an impressive 7-0 record with their final match Wednesday at Pfeiffer. With a win, the Bobcats will clinch their first regular season title since 2001. We'll have results of both the men's and women's matches Thursday night. The Bobcat men have also moved up to seventh in the ITA Southeast Regional Rankings. The marquee win of the season for the Bobcats came on February 28th over then ranked No. 17 Anderson 5-4. The win snapped the Trojans 43-conference match win streak. The Bobcats also have upset wins over Queens, Tusculum, Limestone, Augusta State and Mount Olive. After Pfieffer, both the men and women host Mars Hill Thursday in Banner Elk. 

The No. 3 Limestone Lady Saints downed the Lady Bobcats, 22-4 in Conference Carolinas Lacrosse action Tuesday. With the loss, the Lady Bobcats fall to 6-8 overall and 2-7 in the league. The Bobcats host Pfeiffer Friday at 1 p.m. in Banner Elk.
Bobcat men's lacrosse is in Gaffney against Limestone Wednesday.

Our spring snow cancelled all Watauga High athletic events for Tuesday - The baseball game is rescheduled for Wednesday at Watauga. Varsity will play first at 4:30. JV will follow, weather pending. The women's soccer match with Freedom is also moved to Wednesday in Morganton, and again, varisty plays first at 5pm, JV after weather permitting. Watauga will host Freedom on May 8. And tje softball game is moved to Wednesday in Morganton, varsity first at 430, JV after. And Lady Pioneer softball will host Freedom May 8th. The Pioneer men's tennis match is postponed, but no make up date as of yet. Up next on the schedule is Pioneer mens tennis hosting Newton Conover and Pioneer track visits West Caldwell, both of those scheduled for Wednesday. Baseball hosts McDowell and women's soccer hosts Ashe County, and Pioneer men's golf goes to Willow Creek all on Thursday. Next week, Watauga baseball will participate in the IMPACT Spring Classic in Cary NC. Watauga will open on Monday the 13th against Ragsdale from Winston-Salem, followed by a game against South Central out of Greenville NC. Games will be played on Tuesday as well, based on Monday's results. Games will be played at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary.

In spite of frigid temperatures, blustery and snowy conditions, there was soccer in Newland Monday evening. The Lady Mountaineers of Mitchell came to McDonald Stadium to take on the Lady Vikings. Slick Astroturf, wet balls, frozen feet and hands made for an interesting game of soccer, as play was a bit sloppy due to the conditions. Avery scored in the 16th minute, Rachel Buchanan got a pass through to sophomore Mary Chesnut Smith, who placed it out of the keeper's reach. Sophomore forward Emily Banner got the ball to freshman forward Hannah Washburn for the second score of the first half, Washburn's first ever. At half time the referees and coaches decided that the second half would be only 20 minutes, instead of 40. Fourteen minutes into the second, Emily Banner crossed to sophomore forward Melinda Eggers, who quickly passed it off to Mary Chestnut Smith for her second score of the night. In the 57th minute, the Lady Mountaineers were called for a handball in the box. Senior keeper Cailan Callaway put the penalty kick in for the final score, and Avery won it 4-0. Avery was to travel to Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy for non-conference play Tuesday, but the snow got in the way. Wednesday, the Lady Vikings are home for their first rematch of the season, against Owen.

Lees McRae Bobcat Volleyball played its last game of the season over the weekend, and the teams only senior was honored before the match. Ryan Black paced the team with 11 kills, a .714 hitting percentage and three and a half total blocks in the Bobcats 3-1 victory over Mount Olive. Black finishes the year ranked 38th in the nation in blocks per game and ranked 21st in hitting percentage at .364. This season, there has been no "official conference" competition for mens volleyball, but Conference Carolinas will include men's volleyball next season, and head coach James Petrik is looking forward to bringing his not-quite-as-young team into conference play next year. The Bobcats finish the season 19-5, their best record in the past three years. 

Lady Bobcat softball split with Barton College on Saturday but took both games of Sunday's double header against Coker and improved to 19-15 overall, 7-7 in Conference Carolinas play, with just a week left to go in the regular season. The Lady Bobcats were to host Limestone Tuesday, but the weather has moved that contest to next Tuesday, so up next, LMC will host King College on Thursday in Banner Elk, then hit the road to Due West South Carolina to take on Erskine. Then on Monday the 13th, home against Queens and the 14th, home against Limestone to close out the regular season. Conference Carolinas Tournament play begins Friday the 17th.

Both the Bobcat men's and women's lacrosse games versus Limestone College this week have been moved to Gaffney, S.C. due to the weather. The Lady Bobcats will play Tuesday afternoon, the men will travel to Limestone for a Wednesday night contest.

Mountaineer women's golf sits in fourth place after the first day of play at the Mimosa Hills Intercollegiate in Morganton. Jordan Kreuter shot a team-best 76 to place her tied for fifth, while Brooke DeHart is seventh with a 77. The Tournament was due to finish up Tuesday.
Dustin Hudson carded rounds of 70 and 76 to finish the day in seventh place at the Charleston Southern Spring Kickoff Tournament. Former Watauga Pioneer Jacob Eggers was tied for 18th. The Mountaineer men shot +37 for the day to stand in a tie for seventh heading into Tuesday's third and final round. Campbell leads after the first day at +17, Southern Conference rival College of Charleston ranks second, nine strokes back.  

Mountaineer mens tennis looks to get back on the winning track hosting number 66 Elon at the Yonahlossee Tennis Courts Tuesday afternoon. The Black and Gold are coming off a tough loss to No. 56 Radford, one that saw the Apps drop a 5-2 decision. ASU is 11-8 on the season and 3-4 in league play. Elon is coming off a loss as well, having dropped a 5-2 decision to Furman, and post a 15-5 record, including a 6-1 mark in SoCon action. After this one, the Mountaineers host Gardner-Webb Thursday.

Mountaineer Baseball is in Knoxville to take on the Vols of Tennessee Tuesday night. Appalachian has won seven of its last nine, while the Vols have dropped 7-of-8 and are on the verge of back-to-back losing seasons. Seven of the nine regulars in ASU's starting lineup are hitting .300 or better in the past nine games, led by senior Isaac Harrow's lofty .541 average. Harrow has driven in 16 runs and scored 15 in the last nine games and 11 of his 20 hits during the stretch have gone for extra bases. After this trip, the Mountaineers return to host SoCon newcomer Samford this weekend at Beaver Smith Stadium. Games Friday night, and Saturday and Easter Sunday afternoon. 

The Carolina Barnstorming Tour comes to Boone on Thursday night with now, national champion Tarheels Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Greene, Bobby Frasor and others. The game will be at the Holmes Center and tickets are only 10 dollars, available at the box office 828-262-6603. MTN will be there to record the game for broadcast this weekend. You can see it at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, and on Sunday we will air it at 1 p.m. and again at 8:30 Sunday night.  Along with the game, we will be behind the scenes with the players during the pre-game meal, practice and warm-ups, and we'll have interviews with the players. Don't miss it, in person or on MTN.

The Watauga Pioneers share first place in the Northwestern Conference after defeating South Caldwell Friday 4-1. Baine Martin knocked a homer, a triple, had two runs scored and two RBIs. Cal Hardee had an RBI and scored a run. McDowell beat Alexander Central 12-2, and both Watauga and McDowell top the conference standings at 6-1. South Caldwell drops to third with a record of 5-1. Saturday's game with T.C. Roberson was postponed, will be made up at a later date. The next game scheduled for Watauga is against Freedom in Boone, Tuesday. But with snow in the forecast, that game may very well not be played. After Freedom, Watauga hosts McDowell on Thursday, in a game that could decide the conference.
Lady Pioneer Soccer shut out South Caldwell 5-0.
Watauga Softball split the Friday games of the Eastman Tournament in Kingsport Tennessee, winning the first game 11-7 over JI Burton but falling in the second game 4-3 to Dobyns Bennett. The Lady Pioneers also split on Saturday, falling to Cumberland 10-9 in the first game, but rebounding to take down Bearden 5-2 in the second game.  
Watauga Tennis defeated Alexander Central twice, defeating them 6-0 in both matches. Watauga improves to 13-2 overall and remain undefeated in Northwestern Conference play, 9-0.
Watauga track and field competed in the Blue Ridge Classic on Saturday, the Lady Pioneers finished 4th out of 20 teams and the Pioneer boys finished 8th out of 24 teams.

Avery Middle School softball played in the semi-finals of the Conference Tournament on Friday at Mountain Heritage High School against Cane River. With two of the Avery starting players absent because of the Regional Battle of the Books competition in Hickory that Avery Middle School qualified for, the #3 -seeded Avery girls had a tough go against the #2 -seed Cane River. However, Avery's Paige Henderson took the mound, and pitched excellently for the first 3 innings, holding Cane River to only 5 runs. Avery's Ashley Yoder scored a run in the top of the third, and heading into the bottom of the 4th inning, Avery trailed only 5 - 1.  However, the very strong Cane River team then put together a 7 run 4th inning to extend their lead to 12 - 1, and that was how it ended, with Avery being knocked out in the Semi-Finals. For the year, Avery had their best season in many years. Two Avery players were chosen to the Conference All-Tournament Team, first baseman Nikki Wright, and catcher Ashley Yoder. Both Nikki and Ashley played very well throughout the Tournament. Avery all conference members were Paige Henderson, Shannon Smith and Serena Ramos.
Avery Middle Baseball all conference members were Chance Watson and Tyler Polsgrove, and making all tournament was Luke Price. From Cranberry Middle Baseball, all conference members were Zach Guy and Ian Franklin, and all tournament honors went to Hunter Guinn. Cranberry softball all conference went to McKenzie Thomas and Holly Cook, and all tournament selection to Lakota Turbyfill. MTN congratulates them as well as all the players and coaches for their excellent season. 

Saturday was Opening Day for the Avery County Parks and Recreation Little League baseball program.  On a beautiful Spring morning in Newland, 300 Little League players came together on the Sherrill Rominger field to celebrate the start of the new season. The Avery Little League Board of Directors do an outstanding job organizing the Avery baseball program. The President, Jerry Moody, spoke to everyone in attendance, and then each Little League coach introduced his players one by one. The players range from 4 years old to 12 years old, and the teams range from T-ball, to machine pitch baseball, machine pitch softball, minor league baseball, major league softball, and major league baseball. After every player was individually introduced, it was quite a sight to see all 300 Little Leaguers reciting the Little League pledge with President Jerry Moody. After the pledge, a skills clinic was put on by all the Little League coaches with the Avery High School coaches and players, working on fielding ground balls, catching fly balls, throwing and catching. All the teams then went on to play their first games of the season. MTN looks forward to covering all the Little League action this season throughout the High Country.  

ASU Baseball won 2 of 3 from Furman this weekend. The Apps came up short in the series opener Friday, losing 5-3, but won the second game Saturday 24-4. Isaac Harrow drove in four runs to up his career total to 163, and taking ownership of the team record. The third baseman was 2-for-4 at the plate with three walks. Chris Alessandria set a career-high with six RBIs on 4-for-7 hitting and three runs scored and his sixth homer of the year. On Sunday, Aubrey Edens allowed just one run over eight innings and Chris Alessandria drove in three runs and the Apps won game three 4-1. The Mountaineers improve to 13-16 overall, 5-11 in the conference, and travel to Knoxville to take on the Tennessee Vols on Tuesday. The Apps host Samford in Boone this coming weekend. 

ASU Softball lost two of three to College of Charleston this weekend. Katie Boyd tied game one in the bottom of the seventh with a three-run homer and Morgan Price drove in Megan Rembielak to give ASU an 8-7 nine inning win in the opener. Kayla Richardson earned the win for ASU, her ninth of the season. Charleston took the early lead in game two, scoring three times in the third and won it 7-2. Then Brittany Gaston went 3-for-4 in game three, but a late rally came up short and ASU fell to the Cougars 6-5 Sunday. The Mountaineers are 17-20 overall, 9-6 in SoCon play, and travel to SoCon leader Chattanooga for game one on Friday at 6 p.m. and a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.

Magen West worked 15 innings in the circle and picked up both wins as Lady Bobcats softball swept Coker 5-4 and 4-1, in Conference Carolinas action. West's back-to-back complete game wins gave the Lady Bobcats their first sweep of Coker in four years. The Lady Bobcats split with Barton College on Saturday, putting Lees-McRae at 19-15 overall, 7-7 in conference action. The Lady Bobcats were scheduled to host Limestone Tuesday, but the doubleheader has been postponed to April 14. Monday's womens lacrosse against Pfieffer has also been postponed to Friday afternoon.
The No. 39 Bobcat men's tennis team earned their fifth straight upset over a higher ranked team with a 9-0 win over the No.36 Tusculum Pioneers Sunday in non-conference action. The Bobcats won in straight sets in all but one match and improve to 13-5 overall. Lees-McRae travels to Pfeiffer April 8th and a Bobcat win will make them outright regular season champions, for the first time since 2001.
The Lady Bobcat tennis team also defeated the No. 27 Tusculum Lady Pioneers 5-4. With the win, Lees-McRae improves to 11-4 overall. The Lady Bobcats also take on Pfieffer Wednesday.

Thursday night, the Carolina Barnstorming Tour comes to Boone, bringing some famous Carolina and Duke players to the High Country, to take on a couple of former Mountaineers, along with others from UNC Asheville, Lees-McRae, and more, to raise money for Ronald McDonald Charities. Tickets are 10 dollars from the Holmes Center Box Office, 828-262-6603, and MTN will be there to record the game for playback this weekend, Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. and again on Sunday at 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. We'll go behind the scenes at the pre-game meal, practice and warm-ups, and interview players. Be sure to come out to the game Thursday night, and then tune in Saturday and Sunday to watch it on MTN.

MTN presents the Ugly Mug Avery Viking of the week...
This week's honor goes to Mary Chestnut Smith, of the Lady Viking soccer team, who scored 6 goals in two matches earlier in the week. Smith scored 4 in their win over Madison on Monday, and got two more against Mountain Heritage on Wednesday. Congratulations to this week's MTN Ugly Mugg Viking of the Week, Mary Chestnut Smith. The Lady Vikings will have two conference matches next week, they host Mitchell on Monday and Owen on Wednesday. They'll take a trip to Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy in between those two, on Tuesday. 

The Avery and Cranberry Middle School softball teams continued their friendly inter-County rivalry in the 1st Round of the Toe River Conference Tournament. Avery finished the regular season as the #3 seed, and Cranberry finished as the #6 seed, and so by coincidence they had to face each other again, but this time down in Yancey County. Avery won both regular season games between the two, but this time Cranberry battled very hard in the top of the 4th inning to score 4 runs and trailed only 15 - 7. The Avery bats then took over in the bottom of the 4th inning, as Elle Lecka, Nikki Wright, and Shannon Smith got hits and scored, and then Ginny Leaman hit a bases loaded double to knock in 3 runs, giving Avery the win 22 - 7. Avery moves on to the Semi-Final Round and played Cane River Friday afternoon, we'll have results on Monday night.

The Watauga-McDowell men's tennis match scheduled for Thursday was rained out, a make up date will be announced later. The Pioneers travel to Alexander Central on Saturday. Lady Pioneer soccer defeated Alexander Central 1-0 Thursday, the Lady Pioneers improve to 2-7-2 overall, 2-2 in the conference, and play at South Caldwell Friday evening.
Pioneer baseball is also scheduled to take on South Caldwell Friday. The Pioneers were to host TC Roberson Saturday, but that game has been moved to TC Roberson because of field conditions here. Pioneer track and field participates in the Blue Ridge Open this weekend, and Lady Pioneer softball is in the Eastman Tournament in Kingsport Tennessee. 

Watauga Pioneer Football is teaming up with the Medallion Athletics and the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center to host the 3rd Annual High Country Spring Football Clinic May 1-2 at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center. Early registration Cost is $50, $60 at the door. Registration includes coaches, wives, and vendors social and dinner on Friday night at the Broyhill and Buffet Breakfast on Saturday morning. The Highlighted and Confirmed speakers include Jerry Moore (ASU), Adrian Snow (West Forsyth), Paul Hoggard (Richmond HS), Shane Laws (ACR), and Jack Teachey (Wofford). For more information contact Watauga High Football Coach Tim Pruitt at (336) 262-4708 or Stephen Poulos at (828) 719-8245. 

On Wednesday, the News and Observer of Raleigh reported that former ASU men's basketball coach Buzz Peterson has been offered his old job back. The paper reports that Peterson, currently the director of player personnel with the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats, said he has been in contact with ASU officials and its search committee since last weekend. Thursday's Charlotte Observer also carried the story and reported that Peterson will decide on whether to take the job within quote "the next few days." After he departed ASU, Peterson coached at Tulsa, then Tennessee and Coastal Carolina, before taking a position with the Bobcat's office and his old teammate and roommate, Michael Jordon. Peterson took the job as Mountaineer head coach in 1996 and guided the Apps to their second NCAA Tournament appearance in 2000, when they finished with a 23-9 record. Overall, Peterson was 79-39 with the Mountaineers in four seasons, going 47-12 in the Southern Conference. The Mountaineers won three North Division championships in his final three seasons.

The Bobcat men's and women's tennis match against Lander scheduled for Friday has been rescheduled for April 15th. That makes the next match for the Lady Bobcats Saturday when they host Erskine, men's and women's tennis will host Tusculum on Sunday.
Both Bobcat Lacrosse teams were scheduled to host Belmont Abbey on Saturday. But due to the recent weather, the venue has changed. The games have been moved to Charlotte and will be played at Queens University athletic field. The women's game will start at 12 p.m., and the men's game will start at 2 p.m.
Lady Bobcat Softball hosts Barton College on Saturday and Coker on Sunday, Bobcat Cycling is hosting the Lees-McRae College Races this weekend. Men's volleyball will play its last game of the season Saturday hosting Mount Olive on Senior Day. Ryan Black, the only senior on the Bobcat roster, will be honored before the match, scheduled for 3pm at Williams Gym. 

Next Thursday, the Carolina Barnstorming Tour comes to Boone. The Carolina Barnstorming Tour brings some famous ACC basketball players to the High Country, to take on a couple of former Mountaineer Basketball players, along with some others from UNC Asheville, Lees-McRae, and more, in a friendly but intense basketball game that will raise money for Ronald McDonald Charities. Previously known as the ACC Barnstorming Tour, this is the 31st annual event, and Sean Smith, who coordinates the tour, stopped in to tell us who will be participating. Tickets are only 10 dollars and available now at the Holmes Center Box Office, 828-262-6603, or online at theholmescenter.com. 

The Hickory Crawdads, South Atlantic League affiliate of the Texas Rangers, invites everyone to L.P. Frans Stadium to watch an open, on-field workout on Tuesday, April 7 from 5 - 7 p.m. Fans can get a sneak peak at this year's team two days before Opening Night on April 9. Complete 2009 Crawdads rosters will be available at the open workout, which is free to attend. Opening night for the Crawdads is Thursday April 9th against the Bowling Green Hot Rods. Gates open at 6 p.m., first pitch is at 7 p.m. Tickets are available online at hickorycrawdads.com and start at just $6! You can also get tickets by phone at 828-322-3000. 

Wednesday's scheduled Toe River Conference Tournament softball and baseball games at Mountain Heritage High School were postponed due to rain. The start of the tournament was expected to take place on Thursday, but the weather forecast for Thursday also called for rain. Should the games be played, there is a change of venue. Due to a high school baseball game at Heritage on Thursday, the boys baseball first round games have been moved to Cane River Middle School. Cranberry to take on Bowman in the first game, with Avery Middle to take on Harris in the night cap, weather permitting of course.

Avery Lady Vikings soccer got a big win over Mountain Heritage Wednesday, a decisive 4-0 shut out in Burnsville. Avery did not get things going until the second half, Mary Chestnut Smith scored off a pass from Rachel Buchanan, in the 47th minute. Avery struck again in the 55th and 63rd minutes, both of them from Katelynn Eudy. Then the combination of Buchanan to Smith won again later in the contest for the final 4-0 tally. The Lady Vikings improve to 6-2-1 overall, 3-1 in the Western Highlands conference. Avery hosts Mitchell on Monday and Owen on Wednesday. They'll visit Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy for a non-conference match on Tuesday. 

David Towarnicky's looping line drive into right center field with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning brought Rand Smith home with the winning run in Appalachian State University baseball's 4-3 victory over High Point Wednesday at Smith Stadium. Appalachian is now at 11-15 overall and has won five of its last six and sports a three-game winning streak for the first time since opening weekend. Nick DeRose led the Apps' 14-hit effort with a 3-for-5 showing. Sophomore Taylor Miller rebounded from some shaky outings as of late by sitting down all six batters he faced in the 10th and 11th innings to earn his first win of the season. He was the sixth Mountaineer reliever of the evening, the last five of which did not allow a run. The Mountaineers return to SoCon play when they travel to Furman for a three-game series this weekend. 

Katie Boyd broke her own single-season home run record with her 10th of the year as ASU softball beat East Tennessee State 3-2 in game one Wednesday evening at the ETSU Softball Stadium. However, ASU lost game two 1-0. In the early game, Ashley Gaston broke a 2-2 tie in the fourth with her third home run of the season to give ASU a 3-2 lead that would hold the rest of the way. Kayla Richardson and the Bucs' Marissa Hardy were matched in a pitchers dual in game two that ETSU won 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh, when the Bucs got a little looper just out of Richardson's reach to score the runner and give the Bucs the win. Its the second tough luck loss in a row for Richardson, in her last two starts ASU has scored a total of one run.The Mountaineers return to SoCon action this weekend when they host College of Charleston on Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

Mountaineer men's tennis standout Bobby Lake has earned his first national singles ranking. The Boone native is ranked no. 125 in the country in singles by itatennis.com. Lake plays number one singles for the Black and Gold and boasts an 11-8 record on the season, including a 3-4 mark in SoCon action. The men return to action next Tuesday when the Apps take on SoCon foe Elon at the ASU Tennis Courts. 

Mountaineer women's tennis fell to top-tier SoCon opponent Furman Wednesday afternoon at the Grandfather Mountain Tennis Courts, as the Apps lost 7-0. The Apps posted a solid effort in doubles play, but Furman pushed past ASU winning all three doubles matches. Things did not get easier for the Apps in singles play as Furman won all singles matches as well. Furman is the top team in the conference, undefeated at 5-0. With the loss the Mountaineers fall to 6-11 on the season and 1-3 SoCon action. The women head to Birmingham Alabama to take on Samford Saturday.

Its a busy weekend for sports in Banner Elk, as Lees-McRae is hosting a number of games and matches and competitions. Men's and women's tennis is hosting Lander Friday, Lady Bobcat Softball hosts Barton College on Saturday and Coker on Sunday, Lady Bobcat Tennis will host Erskine on Saturday, men's tennis will host Tusculum on Sunday. Bobcat men's and women's Cycling is hosting the Lees-McRae College Races this weekend, and Bobcat men's volleyball and Lady Bobcat Lacrosse will be in action. Bobcat volleyball will play its last game of the season Saturday hosting Mount Olive on Senior Day. The Bobcats have had an outstanding year, currently at 18-5. Colin Kelly leads the Bobcats in kills with 334 on the year, followed closely by Chad Mercado with 231. Ryan Black, the only senior on the Bobcat roster, leads the squad with 80 total blocks on the year and averages 1.07 blocks per game. Ryan will get some special attention at the match for senior day. The match with Mount Olive begins Saturday at 3pm at Williams Gym.
Both Bobcat Lacrosse teams will host Belmont Abbey on Saturday. The women will go at 1 and the men at 2 Saturday afternoon. The Lady Bobcats have had a terrific year, winning more games this season than ever before. The have won 6 games this season and are 3-5 in Conference Carolinas play.  After Belmont, the Bobcats take on Pfieffer on Monday, also in Banner Elk. 

It's been a good week for Bobcat Sports, five Conference Carolinas Player of the Week awards have been given to Bobcat athletes.
Ashley Mayers has been named women's tennis Player of the Week. She's 9-4 overall, 5-1 in conference and is on a seven match win streak.
Shawn Sumner has been awarded the men's tennis player of the week award. Shawn is 12-5 overall and undefeated in conference matches at 7-0.
Danny Hogbin has been named men's field athlete of the week. Hogbin hit a mark of 5'08", and won the high jump event at the Milligan Relays, the highest mark of any other Conference Carolinas high jump athlete during the week.
Shantra McCoy was honored as the womens field athlete of the week, for her first place finish in the 100m hurdles at the Milligan Relays. She leads the Conference Carolinas in the 100m hurdles with a time of 16.36, a new meet record.
And finally, Andy Nesdill won the men's lacrosse player of the week honor. The sophomore goalie helped the Bobcats to their 10-8 win over Rollins College earlier in the week, the Bobcats first win of the season. Nesdill faced 32 total shots and made 18 saves in the win.
Congratulations to all the Bobcat stars.

Avery Middle School girls softball hosted Harris Middle School Tuesday in the final regular season game of the year at Avery High School. This was a crucial game for the seedings in the upcoming Conference Tournament, as Avery and Harris were tied for 3rd place going into the game, with the winner clinching 3rd place and the third seeding on their own. Avery jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 1st inning, and extended their lead in the second. Avery pitcher Paige Henderson pitched an excellent complete game, holding the Harris bats at bay throughout, and the Avery defense made some great plays behind her. The big hitters for Avery were Elle Lecka with 2 hits, and Serena Ramos with a 2out-2RBI hit to center field. Harris threatened to make a game of it in the final inning, but a great throw from the outfield allowed Avery to tag the batter out at 2nd base to end the game, clinching the 7-2 victory for Avery. With the win, Avery finishes in 3rd place, and plays the 1st Round of the Conference Tournament Wednesday against Cranberry Middle School. The Tournament is being played at Mountain Heritage High School in Yancey County. The winner will move on to face Cane River Middle School in the Semi-Final.

Watauga Pioneer baseball lost a close one Tuesday to Mount Tabor, 11-10 in eight innings. Despite a six run third inning for Watauga, Mount Tabor was able to get back in it with a 4 run fifth inning and tie the game at 10 each in the sixth inning. The Pioneers had a go ahead run on base in the seventh and another opportunity with two on base in the eighth, but could not get the runs across the plate. Mount Tabor got the win on an RBI single, and the Pioneers fall to 8-3 overall. The Pioneers get back into Northwestern Conference competition Friday at South Caldwell, in a battle that will help to decide first place. Watauga, South Caldwell and McDowell are all tied for first at 5-1 in the conference. McDowell hosts Alexander Central on Thursday. The Pioneer JVs were winners over Mt Tabor 6-4.
Watauga men's tennis defeated Freedom 8-1 in conference action. The Pioneers improve to 11-2 overall and undefeated 7-0 in Northwestern Conference play. The Pioneers host McDowell Thursday.
Lady Pioneer Soccer at Alexander Central Wednesday was postponed to Thursday, the Ladies will travel to South Caldwell Friday. Pioneer Tennis hosts McDowell on Thursday, and Watauga Softball participates in the Eastman Tournament in Kingsport Tennessee this weekend.

Mountaineer baseball pounded out 18 hits and benefited from five UNC Asheville errors in a 17-7 win Tuesday at McCormick Field. It was the fourth win in five games for the Apps. Four of the Mountaineers' first five hits went for extra bases, but they trailed 4-3 after five innings. However, the Apps put five runs on the board in the top of the sixth - all unearned, thanks to some Bulldog errors - to grab an 8-5 lead. Asheville got within two at 8-6 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh, but the Mountaineers killed any Bulldog comeback with nine runs in the top of the ninth. Wes Hobson went 4-for-6 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored for the Apps. Hobson, Rand Smith, Isaac Harrow and David Towarnicky combined for 12 of the Apps's 18 hits. ASU was scheduled to host High Point Wednesday afternoon at Smith Stadium, weather permitting. 

Mountaineer women's tennis eecked out a 4-3 win over SoCon foe Wofford Tuesday at the ASU Tennis Courts, the team's first conference win of the season. Laura Janke and Amanda Cash won the number three doubles, but the Terriers were able to win the doubles point. Caroline Mauch, Blakeley Bean and Gisela Fernandez picked up singles wins, but the match decision came down to Lindsay King. King was able to rally after being down one set to defeat Haley Baird in a thriller, winning the next two sets 6-4, 7-6, taking the tiebreaker 7-1 to clinch the match. The Apps took on Furman Wednesday at the Grandfather Mountain Tennis Courts, we'll have results Thursday night.

The No. 39 Lees-McRae men's tennis team clinched at least a share of the regular season title with a 6-3 win over the No. 31 Limestone Saints Tuesday. The Bobcats won the number 2 and number 3 doubles, Alek Mojski got a come-from-behind win at number two singles. Tyler Grove won the number 5 singles and Travis VanHoy got the number 4 win in three sets. Steve Karendal added the finishing touches with a three set win at number six to give the Bobcats the 6-3 win and improve to 12-5 overall and 7-0 in the conference. The Bobcats were scheduled to play their final conference match of the season against Pfeiffer Wednesday but weather has postponed the match. A make-up date has not yet been announced. A Bobcat win over Pfeiffer would secure sole possession of the regular season men's title.
Lady Bobcat tennis moved into second place with a 7-2 win over Limestone Tuesday. The Lady Bobcats won the number two doubles, and took the number three doubles by forfeit. Four singles match wins plus another Limestone forfeit secured the win. The Lady Bobcats improve to 9-4 overall and 5-1 in the conference. With the Pfieffer match postponed, both Bobcat tennis teams will host Lander on Friday, and womens tennis will host Erskine Saturday, while both teams will welcome Tusculum on Sunday.
Bobcat softball will host Barton on Saturday. And Bobcat Cycling will host the Lees-McRae College Races in Banner Elk this weekend. 

The Bobcat's Andy Nesdill was named Conference Carolinas men's lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week. The Sophomore goalkeeper led the Bobcats o a 10-8 win over Rollins College to give the team their first win of the season. Nesdill faced 32 total shots and made 18 saves. Nesdill and the Bobcats host Belmont Abbey in Banner Elk on Saturday, and the Lady Bobcats will also take on Belmont Abbey Saturday. 

Mark Speir, Defensive Line coach of the ASU Mountaineers football team is teaming up with  Samaritan's Purse and World Medical Mission and is once again raising money for a hospital in Bangladesh. Coach Speir will run in the upcoming Boston Marathon and is hoping to raise $26,200 for a new surgical wing to be named after Boone area surgeon Dr. Lowell Furman. Coach Speir hopes to raise $1000 for each mile of the prestigeous footrace.  And you can help, Greenway Baptist church will have a Bar-B-Que Chicken dinner/supper Saturday from 11 AM - 7 PM at the church on Greenway Road. There will also be a silent auction with an Autographed ASU Football & Football Jersey, Dexter Jackson Autographed Sports Illustrated, 2 season tickets for all ASU regular season home games, plus ASU players will be on hand for autographs from 3-5 PM. 100% of the proceeds will go to the hospital building project.