Around the area:

Mountaineers ink five players
Appalachian State’s baseball team has signed five players to letters of intent during the early signing period.
The Mountaineers signed right-handed pitcher Ryan Arrowood, shortstop Zack Briggs, catcher Derek Brown, catcher Jeremy Dowdy and left-handed pitcher/outfielder Will Helms.
Arrowood won 14 games and struck out 157 batters as a junior last spring for Central High School in Forest City. He earned 3-A All-State honors and was the Southwestern 2-A/3-A Conference player of the year.
Brown, who plays for Jordan Matthews, was co-conference player of the year last season. He already holds the school’s all-time home run record and also plays quarterback for the school’s football team.
Dowdy is a two-time all-conference player for Wakefield in Raleigh. He was a prep teammate of current Appalachian State pitcher Zach Quate and Taylor Miller. He chose Appalachian State over Clemson, N.C. State, UNC Wilmington, Charlotte and UNC Greensboro.
Helms is an all-conference performer in the Southwestern 4-A Conference, who chose Appalachian State over East Carolina, Western Carolina, Charlotte, Navy and High Point.

Middle school basketball
Local scores

Nov. 13
Hardin Park 29, Appalachian Christian 27
Valle Crucis 42, Mabel 20
Cove Creek 35, Bethel 19
Nov. 14
Blowing Rock 27, Parkway 25
Nov. 15
Green Valley 47, Appalachian Christian 30
Hardin Park 40, Bethel 28
Cove Creek 34, Mabel 14
Nov. 19
Valle Crucis 27, Cove Creek 25
Hardin Park 44, Mabel 27
Appalachian Christian 44, Bethel 37
Nov. 26
Valle Crucis 43, Hardin Park 34