Daily Roundup: May 20, 2023

BOYS LACROSSE

No. 1 Cape Fear Academy 9, No. 2 Greensboro Day 6

NCISAA Division II State Championship

***Click here to view a gallery of 35 photos from the action***

Junior Kyle McCarthy scored a team-high four goals for the Hurricanes, who earned their second consecutive state title.

McCarthy sealed the victory with his final goal, which came with 2:18 to play. He lead the team with 51 goals on the season.

CFA (13-2) led 5-3 at halftime. The advantage was cut to one on two occasions in the second half, but the Hurricanes responded both times with goals from Blake O’Keefe and Luis Gonzalez.

O’Keefe finished his high school career by scoring twice and adding two assists. Gonzalez found the back of the net twice and dished out an assist. 

The other goal was scored by Noah Law.

CFA got an outstanding performance from goalie Kaleb Belle, who made nine saves.

The Hurricanes graduate eight seniors, but return three of their four top goal scorers. 

BOYS TENNIS

No. 1 Cape Fear Academy 5, No. 3 Greensboro Day 1

NCISAA Division II State Championship

Eighth grader Grant Kleppinger secured a 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 3 singles to clinch the second state title in three years for the Hurricanes.

It was the eighth championship in program history.

CFA (16-1) grabbed a 3-0 lead after doubles. Hayes Gilbert and Ben Kane didn’t drop a game at No. 2. Kleppinger teamed up with Cole Stockman for a hard-fought 9-7 win at No. 1, while Nikita Ivanov and Max Sherman had a score of 8-6 at No. 3.

The Hurricanes won the first set on four of the six singles courts. Ivanov increased the lead to 4-1 with a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 4.

Gilbert (6-4, 3-2 at No. 1) and Stockman (2-6, 6-4, 7-5 in 10-point tiebreaker) were both winning when Kleppinger sealed the victory. 

SOFTBALL

No. 15 Topsail 1, No. 11 Wakefield 0 (9 innings)

Fourth round NCHSAA 4A playoffs

A two-out RBI single from shortstop Jaylyn Noble in the top of the ninth inning broke the scoreless tie and sent the Pirates into the 4A East Regional Championship Series.

Zoey Vincent beat out a bunt with one out to start the rally. She moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Kennedy Sloan.

Wakefield elected to intentionally walk Emmy Clark to get to Noble, but the move backfired.

On the third pitch of the at-bat, Noble hit a sharp ground ball past the first baseman and into right field. Vincent had no trouble scoring from second base.

Topsail (15-6) will meet No. 8 Apex in the best-of-3 series. The schedule will be released Sunday, but Games 1 and 3 (if necessary) will be at Apex. The Pirates will host Game 2.

It is the first trip to the East Regional Championship Series since 2016. Topsail has never played for a state title.

The Wolverines made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth inning. Three straight two-out singles from Kiersten Cox, Ariah Davis and Brooke Masingale loaded the bases.

Sloan got Brianna Riehle to fly out to center field to end the game. The junior pitcher continued her postseason dominance with a second straight complete game shutout. Sloan scattered six hits and struck out eight batters to lower her season ERA to 1.74.

Vincent had two of the Pirates’ four hits. Sloan singled to lead off the fourth inning, but was stranded at first base.

BASEBALL

No. 4 Wake Forest 2, No. 1 New Hanover 1

Fourth round NCHSAA 4A playoffs

***Click here to view a gallery of 36 photos from the action***

Two of the best teams in the state put on a terrific show for the fans in attendance at Buck Hardee Field.

UNCW commits Bromley Thornton (New Hanover) and Cooper Allen (Wake Forest) were outstanding on the mound.

Thornton threw his fourth complete game of the season, scattering five hits and recording five strikeouts. Both runs he allowed came on a two-out single from Carlos Diaz in the top of the first inning.

The senior righty finished the season 10-1 with a 0.76 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 74 innings.

Wake Forest (23-4) leadoff batter Ian Williams reached on an opposite field single. Following a sacrifice bunt, New Hanover (24-3) elected to intentionally walk slugger Luke Stevenson with a base open.

Williams stole third base, and Stevenson advanced to second on another ground out. That brought up Diaz, who hit a 2-2 pitch up the middle.

That was enough run support for Allen, who finished with six strikeouts over seven innings. 

Allen worked out of a bases loaded, one out jam in the bottom of the first inning by getting Caleb Robles to ground into an double play. Wake Forest turned four double plays on the afternoon.

New Hanover scored its lone run in the sixth inning after Luke Nixon drilled a triple off the top of the right field fence and scored on a sacrifice fly from Thornton.

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

NCISAA Division II State Championship

Sophomore standout Hannah Grace won a pair of events and placed second in two more to score 36 points and lead Coastal Christian to its first-ever state championship.

The Centurions finished with 104 points to beat runner-up Asheville Christian, who scored 87 points.

Grace cleared 13-0 to easily claim the pole vault title. Her other victory came in high jump, where she cleared 4-10.

Her distance of 36-5.75 in triple jump was a new area best for the season. Grace also placed second in long jump with a distance of 17-0.50.

Coastal Christian scored 22 points in pole vault and 18 points in the 100 hudles.

Anayah Rennie was third in both the 100 hurdles (17.84) and high jump (4-8). Elsa Southerland placed third in shot put (32-6.50) and fourth in discus (90-4).

Zoe Bos (58.49 in 400), Audrey Borges (18.11 in 100 hurdles) and Maggie Dorosko (8-0 in pole vault) all had fourth-place finishes. Cheyanne Grevin (18.13 in 100 hurdles) and Sage Creech (7-6 in pole vault) scored four points by placing fifth.

The Centurions were third in the 4×400 relay with a time of 4:20.33

Cape Fear Academy finished as the runner-up in the 4×800 relay and fourth in the 4×400 relay to place 10th in the team standings with 33 points.

Senior Fraley Kelley ended her career with a fourth-place finish in the 300 hurdles (50.92).

Area results

100 meters

11. Anna Witzenman, Coastal Christian: 13.71

16. Julia Cowgill, Coastal Christian: 14.39

17. Briana Sweeney, Coastal Christian: 14.52

18. Ava Salvant, Coastal Christian: 14.77

200 meters

9. Anna Witzenman, Coastal Christian: 27.39

15. Avery Block, Cape Fear Academy: 28.77

400 meters

4. Zoe Bos, Coastal Christian: 58.49

8. Priya Belle, Cape Fear Academy: 1:04.20

11. Julia Cowgill, Coastal Christian: 1:08.01

800 meters

8. Pennie Utnage, Cape Fear Academy: 2:30.94

10. Kylie Petrides, Cape Fear Academy: 2:34.61

13. Ava Basler, Coastal Christian: 2:40.11

21. Anna Eddy, Coastal Christian: 3:03.15

1,600 meters

8. Kylie Petrides, Cape Fear Academy: 5:30.50

9. Emma Gibbs, Cape Fear Academy: 5:30.97

14. Pennie Utnage, Cape Fear Academy: 5:39.72

22. Anna Eddy, Coastal Christian: 6:33.20

3,200 meters

4. Emma Gibbs, Cape Fear Academy: 11:54.90

11. Pennie Utnage, Cape Fear Academy: 12:36.96

18. Alex Ord-Webb, Cape Fear Academy: 14:21.38

100 meter hurdles

3. Anayah Rennie, Coastal Christian: 17.84

4. Audrey Borges, Coastal Christian: 18.11

5. Cheyanne Grevin, Coastal Christian: 18.13

6. Sage Creech, Coastal Christian: 18.21

11. Fraley Kelley, Cape Fear Academy: 19.77

13. Whitney Culver, Coastal Christian: 20.79

14. Caroline Houston, Cape Fear Academy: 21.48

300 meter hurdles

4. Fraley Kelley, Cape Fear Academy: 50.92

7. Cheyanne Grevin, Coastal Christian: 52.10

12. Audrey Borges, Coastal Christian: 56.14

13. Sara Paige Harvey, Cape Fear Academy: 57.13

14. Addy Tognotti, Coastal Christian: 57.59

17. Caroline Houston, Cape Fear Academy: 59.97

19. Whitney Culver, Coastal Christian: 1:00.54

4×100 relay

6. Coastal Christian: 54.04

12. Cape Fear Academy: 59.29

4×200 relay

8. Cape Fear Academy: 1:56.53

4×400 relay

3. Coastal Christian: 4:20.33

4. Cape Fear Academy: 4:22.37

4×800 relay

2. Cape Fear Academy: 9:58.13

8. Coastal Christian: 11:51.46

High jump

1. Hannah Grace, Coastal Christian: 4-10

3. Anayah Rennie, Coastal Christian: 4-8

8. Ella Rose Reese, Coastal Christian: 4-4

12. Chloe Carter, Coastal Christian: 4-2

13. Sara Paige Harvey, Cape Fear Academy: 4-0

Long jump

2. Hannah Grace, Coastal Christian: 17-0.50

6. Avery Block, Cape Fear Academy: 14-6

15. Ava Salvant, Coastal Christian: 13-0

Triple jump

2. Hannah Grace, Coastal Christian: 36-5.75

8. Ella Rose Reese, Coastal Christian: 30-4.50

9. Anayah Rennie, Coastal Christian: 30-3

13. Chloe Carter, Coastal Christian: 28-3.50

16. Sara Paige Harvey, Cape Fear Academy: 27-1.75

Discus

4. Elsa Southerland, Coastal Christian: 90-4

6. Jane Wells, Cape Fear Academy: 87-9

16. Morgan Robinson, Coastal Christian: 67-7

22. Chloe Carter, Coastal Christian: 56-8

Shot put

3. Elsa Southerland, Coastal Christian: 32-6.50

6. Morgan Robinson, Coastal Christian: 29-4

19. Jane Wells, Cape Fear Academy: 23-2

Pole vault

1. Hannah Grace, Coastal Christian: 13-0

4. Maggie Dorosko, Coastal Christian: 8-0

5. Sage Creech, Coastal Christian: 7-6

6. Briana Sweeney, Coastal Christian: 7-6

9. Paige Ripa, Coastal Christian: 6-6

10. Caitlyn Byrd, Coastal Christian: 6-6

11. Sara Paige Harvey, Cape Fear Academy: 6-0

NCHSAA 4A State Championship

Laney senior Olivia Bufalini capped her terrific high school career with a runner-up finish in the 800 meters.

Bufalini finished in an area-best 2:09.19, which was just behind champion Charlotte Bell of Cuthbertson (2:08.89).

Teammate Bailey Willard had top-10 finishes in both throwing events. She was fifth in discus (123-8) and ninth in shot put (35-2.25). 

Hoggard placed eighth in the 4×800 (9:31.97), while Ashlei Summers was 10th in the 3,200 (11:04.59).

Area results

800 meters

2. Olivia Bufalini, Laney: 2:09.19

12. Isabella Borelli, Laney: 2:20.14

1,600 meters

3,200 meters

10. Ashlei Summers, Hoggard: 11:04.59

4×800 relay

8. Hoggard: 9:31.97

12. Laney: 9:45.05

Discus

Shot put

9. Bailey Willard, Laney: 35-2.25

Pole vault

15. Kylie Sasser, Hoggard: 9-0

NCHSAA 2A State Championship

Senior Ainsley Heath narrowly missed out on claiming a state championship in the 800 meters.

Heath crossed the finish line second in a time of 2:23.45. Champion Kelsey Burleson of West Stanly crossed the finish line in 2:23.32.

Area results

400 meters

16. Jayden Hoffman, Trask: 1:07.67

800 meters

2. Ainsley Heath, Trask: 2:23.45

4×400 relay

15. Trask: 4:35.08

NCHSAA 1A State Championship

From Friday

Pender placed eighth in the 4×200 relay (1:53.92), ninth in the 4×100 (54.12) and tenth in the 4×400 (4:32.91).

Olivia Gurganus had the only top-10 individual finish. She was tenth in the high jump after clearing 4-10.

Area results

100 meters

13. Jamiah Johnson, Pender: 13.48

200 meters

14. Jamiah Johnson, Pender: 28.35

400 meters

12. Grace Bordeaux, Pender: 1:04.86

4×100 relay

9. Pender: 54.12

4×200 relay

8. Pender: 1:53.92

4×400 relay

10. Pender: 4:32.91

4×800 relay

11. Pender: 11:52.57

High jump

10. Olivia Gurganus, Pender: 4-10

11. Grace Bordeaux, Pender: 4-10

Long jump

14. Olivia Gurganus, Pender: 13-5

Triple jump

12. Olivia Gurganus, Pender: 30-3.50

15. Brianna Behal, Pender: 28-7.75

NCHSAA 3A State Championship

From Friday

North Brunswick junior Jasmine Colwell finished sixth in discus with a throw of 107-4 and placed seventh in shot put with a distance of 35-11.25.

Area results

3,200 meters

11. Ellie Harrington, 12:08.67

Discus

6. Jasmine Colwell, North Brunswick: 107-4

Shot put

7. Jasmine Colwell, North Brunswick: 35-11.25

BOYS TRACK & FIELD

NCISAA Division II State Championship

Coastal Christian claimed its second consecutive state title and fourth since 2018 by finishing with 153.5 points.

Second-place Asheville Christian scored 104 points. Cape Fear Academy had a good day by scoring 52.5 points to finish in fifth place.

The Centurions got individual victories from Aiden Garrett (50.43 in 400 meters), Carter Grace (40.36 in 300 hurdles) and Josh Cowell (11-0 in pole vault).

Grace also had a second-place finish in the 110 hurdles (16.03) and third-place finish in pole vault (11-0), while Garrett was fourth in the 200 (22.99).

Coastal Christian scored 24 points in pole vault by finishing 1-2-3. Cole Hudson cleared 11-0 to place second.

Tyler Niloff was the runner-up in the 800 (2:01.01) and third in the 1,600 (4:24.60), while Corban Cazier finished third in the 3,200 (9:42.58) and fifth in the 1,600 (4:31.06).

The Centurions’ other top-five individual finishes came from: Sam Morgan (fourth in 800), Thad O’Neill (fifth in 3,200), Chase Pruitt (third in 100 hurdles), Buckley Hubbard (fifth in 100 hurdles), Eli Bright (fourth in 300 hurdles) and Aaron Grassi (third in high jump). 

Coastal Christian scored 28 points in relays by finishing second in the 4×400 (3:36.50) and 4×800 (8:12.63) and third in 4×100 (45.21) and 4×200 (1:33.64).

In his final high school meet, Cape Fear Academy senior Vytas Nausedas won the triple jump with a distance of 43-1. He finished third in discus (117-11) and fifth in shot put (39-8.75).

Isaiah Gibson captured the title in long jump (20-10.50), while Walker Morrow was the runner-up in triple jump (41-10). Pole vaulter Jace Williams placed fourth by clearing 9-6.

Area results

100 meters

12. Hudson Huffman, Cape Fear Academy: 12.00 

200 meters

4. Aiden Garrett, Coastal Christian: 22.99

7. Josiah Davis, Coastal Christian: 23.88

11. Zane Finley, Coastal Christian: 24.16

12. Hudson Huffman, Cape Fear Academy: 24.29

400 meters

1. Aiden Garrett, Coastal Christian: 50.43

11. Tegan Adler, Cape Fear Academy: 54.86

13. Ian White, Cape Fear Academy: 55.30

18. Christian Carne, Coastal Christian: 56.33

22. Jake Garrett, Coastal Christian: 57.04

800 meters

2. Tyler Niloff, Coastal Christian: 2:01.01

4. Sam Morgan, Coastal Christian: 2:01.59

6. Corban Cazier, Coastal Christian: 2:04.10

7. Cameron Sumners, Coastal Christian: 2:04.34

12. Caleb Cottle, Coastal Christian: 2:06.90

14. Christian Miller, Cape Fear Academy: 2:07.19

15. Jake Garrett, Coastal Christian: 2:08.88

17. Thad O’Neill, Coastal Christian: 2:10.25

21. Micah Short, Coastal Christian: 2:13.80

1,600 meters

3. Tyler Niloff, Coastal Christian: 4:24.60

5. Corban Cazier, Coastal Christian: 4:31.06

11. Thad O’Neill, Coastal Christian: 4:37.27

21. Micah Short, Coastal Christian: 4:58.88

23. Miles Hermann, Coastal Christian: 5:06.00

3,200 meters

3. Corban Cazier, Coastal Christian: 9:42.58

5. Thad O’Neill, Coastal Christian: 9:51.58

110 meter hurdles

2. Carter Grace, Coastal Christian: 16.03

3. Chase Pruitt, Coastal Christian: 16.33

5. Buckley Hubbard, Coastal Christian: 17.62

8. Aaron Grassi, Coastal Christian: 17.92

11. Nico Gaddini, Cape Fear Academy: 18.98

16. Finn Wells, Cape Fear Academy: 23.45

300 meter hurdles

1. Carter Grace, Coastal Christian: 40.36

4. Eli Bright, Coastal Christian: 42.91

12. Nico Gaddini, Cape Fear Academy: 46.22

15. Davis McGowan, Coastal Christian: 46.90

16. Christian Miller, Cape Fear Academy: 47.15

22. Finn Wells, Cape Fear Academy: 54.41

4×100 relay

3. Coastal Christian: 45.21

6. Cape Fear Academy: 46.93

4×200 relay

3. Coastal Christian: 1:33.64

4×400 relay

2. Coastal Christian: 3:36.50

13. Cape Fear Academy: 3:52.15

4×800 relay

2. Coastal Christian: 8:12.63

9. Cape Fear Academy: 9:21.68

High jump

3. Aaron Grassi, Coastal Christian: 5-8

7. Ethan Scott, Coastal Christian: 5-6

10. Nico Gaddini, Cape Fear Academy: 5-4

Long jump

1. Isaiah Gibson, Cape Fear Academy: 20-10.50

7. Walker Morrow, Cape Fear Academy: 18-9.50

11. Vytas Nausedas, Cape Fear Academy: 18-7

14. Ethan Scott, Coastal Christian: 18-1

Triple jump

1. Vytas Nausedas, Cape Fear Academy: 43-1

2. Walker Morrow, Cape Fear Academy: 41-10

6. Ethan Scott, Coastal Christian: 38-9.75

9. Buckley Hubbard, Coastal Christian: 37-10

19. Fischer Brown, Coastal Christian: 34-7.50

Discus

3. Vytas Nausedas, Cape Fear Academy: 117-11

18. Eli Conner, Coastal Christian: 89-9

19. Charles Graham, Coastal Christian: 88-8

Shot put

5. Vytas Nausedas, Cape Fear Academy: 39-8.75

7. Charles Graham, Coastal Christian: 39-6.75

10. Ryan Fowler, Coastal Christian: 37-1.25

20. Jack Shepherd, Coastal Christian: 31-11.75

Pole vault

1. Josh Cowell, Coastal Christian: 12-0

2. Cole Hudson, Coastal Christian: 11-0

3. Carter Grace, Coastal Christian: 11-0

4. Jace Williams, Cape Fear Academy: 9-6

6. Ford Tate, Cape Fear Academy: 9-6

8. Christian Miller, Cape Fear Academy: 9-0

13. Jackson Renton, Cape Fear Academy: 8-0

NCHSAA 4A State Championship

The only area competitor to earn a top-10 finish was Hoggard’s William Holmes, who placed eighth in the 800 meters with a time of 1:55.10.

New Hanover’s 4×100 relay team of Au’Wann Gary, Brethan Barnhill, Cashmere James and Z’Marion Robinson was also eighth after crossing the finish line in 42.94.

Area results

800 meters

8. William Holmes, Hoggard: 1:55.10

1,600 meters

13. Daniel Kelmer, Laney: 4:22.98

110 hurdles

15. Tristin Reutter, Topsail: 15.54

4×100 relay

8. New Hanover: 42.94

High jump

13. Jackson Travis, Hoggard: 6-0

Triple jump

14. Eli Theodoropoulos, Hoggard: 41-4.25

Pole vault

12. Bruick Tucker, Ashley: 12-0

NCHSAA 1A State Championship

From Friday

Pender senior Mecca Carr-Bordeaux ended his career with a pair of top-five finishes in the throwing events.

The Tennessee State football signee was second in shot put (51-6.75) and fourth in discus (140-8). His shot put throw was the best in the area this season.

Pender placed 15th as a team with 17 points. The Patriots were sixth in the 4×200 relay (1:35.06), ninth in the 4×800 (9:19.73) and 10th in the 4×100 (46.25).

Christian Hayes secured an eighth-place finish in the 200 meters with a season-best time of 23.04.

Area results

100 meters 

14. Christian Hayes, Pender: 11:50

200 meters

8. Christian Hayes, Pender: 11:50

14 Damonte Hill, Pender: 23.51

400 meters

14. Julius Yasir, Pender: 54.39

800 meters

14. Aidan Murray, Pender: 2:14.05

1,600 meters

14. Aidan Murray, Pender: 11:30.51

4×100 relay

10. Pender: 46.25

4×200 relay

6. Pender: 1:35.06

4×400 relay

14. Pender: 3:51.17

4×800 relay

9. Pender: 9:19.73

High jump

13. Ta’Quan Daniels, Pender: 5-6

Triple jump

13. Desmon Thomas, Pender: 39-1.75

Discus

4. Mecca Carr-Bordeaux, Pender: 140-8

Shot put

2. Mecca Carr-Bordeaux, Pender: 51-6.75

NCHSAA 3A State Championship

From Friday

Brandon Moody of North Brunswick placed ninth in shot put with a throw of 46-9.

The Scorpions’ 4×400 relay team also had a ninth-place finish (3:32.69).

Area results

300 hurdles

DQ: Gianni Corbett, North Brunswick: Ran around hurdles

4×400 relay

9. North Brunswick: 3:32.69

Shot put

9. Brandon Moody, North Brunswick: 46-9

 

 

 

 

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