By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Graphic Sportswriter
RED OAK -- Sub-500 seasons aren’t usually part of the boys soccer history books at Northern Nash.
But the Knights struggled through an uncharacteristic campaign in 2011 as a young team managed to post a 3-12-2 record in the difficult Big East Conference.
“We’ve got nowhere to go but up,’’ veteran coach Joe McCarthy said just before his team traveled to Wilson on Tuesday for its opener at Beddingfield.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Graphic Sportswriter
WILSON -- Statistically, Southern Nash had over 25 percent of its starters unavailable for last Friday’s Wilson Fike Football Jamboree.
While SN head coach Brian Foster hopes those players will return to the lineup soon -- including quarterback returnee Deon Lavender -- he did see a silver lining during his club’s scrimmage segments against Warsaw James Kenan, Louisburg and C.B. Aycock.
RED OAK -- Northern Nash kicked off its 2012 boys soccer schedule on Tuesday with a road meeting against Wilson Beddingfield.
NN’s home opener will be Aug. 23 versus the Franklinton Red Rams.
Northern’s complete ledger is as follows, with home matches listed in CAPS:
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Graphic Sportswriter
STANHOPE -- Southern Nash’s unique set of talented scorers versus stingy Franklinton keeper Jared Miller proved to be an entertaining facet of Monday’s boys soccer season opener for both squads.
Southern, led by midfielder Moises Gonzalez and speedy wing Miguel Salazar, was able to put consistent pressure on Miller, who answered with a slew of acrobatic saves to keep the Firebirds off the scoreboard.
LYNCHBURG, VA. -- Mike Rayl has been an anchor for Carolina over the last few weeks, and his unrelenting will power helped the Carolina Mudcats combine on a 5-0 shutout of the Lynchburg Hillcats on Sunday evening at Calvin Falwell Field in a Class A Carolina League baseball contest.
The Mudcats improved to 25-24 in the second half, and 57-62 overall. Carolina wins the season series over Lynchburg 11-9.
Nash Central running back Collin Staton tries to get past several Bunn defenders last Wednesday.
Northern Nash’s Luke Edwards (18) races toward possession during last Wednesday evening’s Fighting Knights Boys Soccer Jamboree, which was staged on the NNHS campus.
By:
CHARLES ALSTON, Graphic Correspondent
ROCKY MOUNT -- Rocky Mount’s Jason Battle is full of mixed emotions this week.
The new head football coach of the Gryphons is on Cloud 9 about being the school’s gridiron leader.
He’s beside himself about being a part of the school’s first-ever on-campus football game when 2-A power Bunn comes calling for the season opener in RMHS’ brand new stadium Friday.
ELM CITY -- Mother Nature once again had an agenda of her own planned last Saturday night, washing out yet another event at County Line Raceway.
Rain began falling shortly after the gates opened and forced track officials to cancel the evenings racing action for the fifth time this season.
SUMMER FUN IN NASH COUNTY. The Nash County Parks and Recreation Department held several youth camps this summer. Above, Chason Royal is shown running with the pigskin during the Football Camp.
A Southern Nash player (right) makes a strong open-field tackle during a scrimmage against C.B. Aycock as part of last Friday night’s Wilson Fike Jamboree.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
ROCKY MOUNT -- Just as its name implied, a good time was had by all at the 2012 Tri-County Arts Fun Meet gymnastics event in June.
Tri-County Arts and Coach June Fenton hosted the meet, which was open to young gymnasts from both Tri-County and other schools in the area.
Eric Barry was the Top Boys Finisher at the Tri-County Arts Fun Meet.
We want to thank each of you who attended our monthly fish fry on Friday night. We got started a little late but thank you for your patience and understanding. Some of our regular help were sick and some were out of town.
Mickey and Bonnie Matthews are really enjoying two of their grandchildren spending time with them.
Are you interested in community work, maybe starting a community watch or just gaining a better understanding of the daily operations of a police officer? If you answered yes to any of these questions you cannot afford to miss this upcoming Nashville Citizen Police Academy. This FREE event will take place Thursday, August 9th at the Nashville Police Department.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Graphic Sportswriter
ROCKY MOUNT -- Nash Central’s best-ever girls tennis season last fall might even be improved upon in 2012.
That’s because the Lady Bulldogs return each member of their Top Six from a club that went undefeated before getting edged by long-time power Cardinal Gibbons in the semifinals of the Class 3-A State Team Playoffs.
RED OAK -- Jessica Ricks, a rising Junior at Northern Nash High School has recently been selected to compete in the Queen of Diamonds Showcase South (QDSS) at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C. on August 24-25.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Graphic Sportswriter
ROCKY MOUNT -- Nash Central earned a taste of gridiron success last season, but head coach Kevin Crudup hopes that was just an appetizer -- with the main course to arrive soon.
The Bulldogs were dominant in 2011, with only league nemesis Wilson Hunt keeping them from a possible deep playoff run.
RED OAK -- The Northern Nash Boys Soccer Jamboree will be held Thursday beginning at 5:30 p.m. on the NNHS campus.
In addition to host Northern Nash, other entrants are Louisburg and Southern Nash.
The event schedule is as follows:
ROCKY MOUNT -- Since 1999, North Carolina Wesleyan College has honored 51 former athletes, administrators, teams, coaches and contributors by enshrining them in its Athletics Hall of Fame.
These individuals have created a higher standard for Battling Bishop athletics and were selected based on their outstanding accomplishments and/or contributions to the College.
NASHVILLE -- Clay targets, skill shooting contests, games, vendor booths and industry demonstrations are on tap for the 17th Annual Colony Tire Sporting Clays Miracle Shoot, to be held Friday August 24 and Saturday August 25, 2012 at Rose Hill Sporting Clays in Nashville.
Nash Central High School’s Lizzie Eakin rips a forehand during Monday afternoon’s practice action for the Lady Bulldogs’ girls tennis squad. Nash Central, coached by Susan McCarthy, is the defending Big East Conference champion.
Meredith Davis will play an important role this season for the Nash Central HS girls tennis team.
ELM CITY -- After several weeks of a very temperamental mother nature, fans, staff, crews and drivers were ready to get a little sideways at County Line Raceway last Saturday night.
With a packed schedule of racing, the anticipation was in the air.
Out first was the Nashville Feed Super Stock 4 division with James Manning and John Proctor starting on the front row.
ZEBULON -- Jesus Aguilar’s only hit of the afternoon proved to be the most important as the Carolina Mudcats shocked the Lynchburg Hillcats 7-6 in front of 1,734 on Sunday afternoon at Five County Stadium in a Class A Carolina League baseball matchup.
Trailing 6-4 going into the bottom of the eighth, the Mudcats (22-21, 54-59) rallied for two runs to tie the score and set up the thrilling finish.
