Roundup: Local teams kick off spring sports seasons

Several student-athletes had to make quick transitions from the indoors to outdoors as spring sports seasons across the state began last week.

While some programs won’t begin play until this coming week, several got underway and here’s a look at how some of those programs fared during the opening week.

East Wilkes

The Cardinal boy’s tennis squad kicked off its season with a 7-2 win at Alexander Central on Thursday, but dropped a 7-2 decision on Monday afternoon.

Against the Cougars, Weston Cook, Owen Combs, Phoenix Blackburn, Colten Lyon and Caleb Johnson all picked up singles victories. Cook and Johnson, along with Lyon and Tyler Calloway picked up victories in doubles play.

Reid West captured victory during No. 6 singles play against East Surry. Johnson and Hayden Phillips paired up to earn the win No. 3 doubles.

On the pitch, East Wilkes’ girls soccer team picked up a 1-0 win against county foe North Wilkes on Thursday evening at Raner Wiles stadium. The match was called early in the second half due a malfunction with North Wilkes’ stadium lights.

The Lady Cardinal softball team split its first two games, which included a 2-0 win against Bandys in its season opener last Tuesday night. East Wilkes (1-1) lost a 6-4 decision to traditional power Alexander Central on Thursday night.

Against the Lady Trojans, Chloe Andrews went the distance inside the circle. The junior scattered five hits, walked two and struck out 10 to pick up the win.

Andrews and Abby Hatley (double) paced East Wilkes at the plate with two hits apiece; Zoe Cheek, Jayden Hutchison and Jane Nicholson Byrd had one hit apiece.

Elkin

The Buckin’ Elks boys tennis team moved to 3-0 with a 9-0 wins at home against East Surry on Thursday afternoon and against Lincoln Charter on Monday.

With the win, Elkin has now won 23-straight matches dating back to 2022 dual playoffs. Owen Jennings, Connor Ballard, Aidan Ballard, Luke McComb, Jeremy Zamudio and Webb Snyder were all victorious against the Cardinals. The doubles teams of Jennings and Aidan Ballard, Connor Ballard and Luke McComb, and Zamudio and Snyder won in doubles action.

Against the Eagles, McComb won in straight 6-0 sets while Jennings and Connor Ballard also had a 6-0 set victory in singles action.

In girls soccer action, the Lady Elks scored a 7-0 win at West Wilkes on Thursday night behind a five-goal second half.

Lady Elk softball split its first two games of the season, which included a 9-5 win at West Iredell last Tuesday.

Against the Lady Warriors, Leah White (RBI) and Lily Robbins (RBI) each had two hits apiece while Addison Gentry (three RBIs), Karly Gentry and Macy Lane all had one hit apiece.

Inside the circle, Karly Gentry and Robbins combined to strike out 18 as Gentry struck out 10 allowed four hits on two earned runs. Robbins earned the win as the senior fanned eight in three scoreless innings to start the game.

In an 11-4 loss to West Forsyth on Thursday night, Elkin held a 4-2 lead after five innings but the Lady Titans combined for nine runs in the last two innings.

Robbins led the way in a 1-for-2 performance with a double and three runs batted in. Lane, Maggie Tomlin and Leigha Church all had one hit apiece.

Elkin followed up the split with an 11-0 win against North Surry on Monday behind a 13-strikeout performance from Robbins.

Alyssa Jenkins backed Robbins with a 2-for-3 performance, which included a home run and pair of runs batted in. Robbins (double), Bray (two RBIs), Mackenzie White (double and two RBIs) and Lexi Bray (two RBIs) all had one hit apiece.

Elkin baseball dropped a pair of games its first week against Ashe County (19-8) and North Iredell (11-6).

Against the Raiders, Elkin held a 5-4 lead going into the bottom of the sixth, but North Iredell tacked on seven runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Will Pardue, Luke Burchette and Easton Townsend each had a pair of hits while Smith Ray, James Steele and Jonas Johnson all had one hit apiece.

Against the Huskies, Ray (three RBIs) and Peyton Luffman (two RBIs) had two hits apiece. Townsend, Burchette, Pardue (double), Jeffrey Sandino, Tyler Jenkins and James Steele all had one hit apiece.

Forbush

The Falcons baseball team split its first two games, which included a 7-0 win at Mooresville last Thursday.

But in a 1-0 loss to West Forsyth in extra innings, senior Gavin Maines limited the Titans to just two hits and struck out 10 in five innings of work but received a no-decision. Fellow senior Thomas Conrad also struck out five and allowed one hit and an earned run but took the loss.

West Forsyth limited the Falcons to just two hits — singles from Riley Campbell and Bo Moxley — in the game.

Against the Blue Devils, Campbell and Holden Moxley continued Forbush’s strong pitching in the early season as they combined to no-hit Mooresville. Campbell, who earned the win, struck out 12 (and worked around five walks) in 4 1/3 innings of work. Moxley struck out three in 2 2/3 innings of relief.

The duo received plenty of run support. Campbell helped out his own cause as he went 2-for-3 with three runs batted it. Logan Boles, Maines, Aaron Hutchens (double and RBI), Dylan McClamrock and Conrad all had one hit apiece.

On the softball field, the Lady Falcons dropped a 7-0 decision to Oak Grove as Mary Payton Hodge limited Forbush to just four hits in a complete game shutout.

Tatum Finney, Ellie Southern, Abby Sorrell and Elizabeth Holbrook all had base hits in the game.

On the soccer pitch, Forbush started its season with a 3-0 loss to North Davidson at home on Monday evening.

Starmount

The boys tennis team started off his season on the right foot with an 8-1 win at Forbush (no stats were available).

The Rams baseball team continued the winning ways as it swept its first two games against Thomasville (9-6) and North Wilkes (6-2).

In a back-and-forth affair with the Bulldogs, the Rams broke a 5-5 tie after four innings with a run in the fifth and one in the seventh to go along with two more in the sixth.

Hayden Royal earned the win as the junior struck out in seven in 3 2/3 innings of work; Preston Williams tossed 3 1/3 innings of relief and struck out five.

At the plate, Royal also went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and Ociel Garcia (RBI) also had two hits. Jackson Craver, Aydan Parks, Brayden Snow and Ethan Hodge all had one hit apiece.

Against the Vikings, Nohr Issa picked up the win on the mound as the senior struck out eight and did not allow an earned run (two total) in four innings of work while Craver struck out six in three innings of relief.

Cody Hernandez had a pair of hits and pair of RBIs at the plate to pace Starmount; Royal and Snow had the only other hits in the game.

Starmount softball earned a split in its first two games, which included a 12-2 win at home against Ashe County. The Lady Rams dropped a 9-6 decision at Davie County on Saturday.

Against the Lady Huskies, Baylee Childress limited Ashe County to two hits and struck out three in three innings of work. Rachel Bates also tossed a trio of scoreless innings in relief.

Payton Howell paced the Lady Rams at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance with a 3-for-4 performance with a double and three RBIs.