Watauga trio

to play in Games
From staff reports

Jennings Rex, Thomas Brown and Ben Robertson will all play soccer for the Region 7 All-Star team in the State Games, which are slated for June 12-15 in Greensboro.

Robertson tied with David Fisher for the team high in goals with 15. Robertson also dished out five assists for the Pioneers, who won the Northwestern 4-A Conference championship with a 10-1-1 league record, 15-7-2 mark overall.

Rex was fourth on the team in scoring with nine goals and seven assists. Brown, one of the Pioneers’ goalkeepers, posted 38 saves and three shutouts. Watauga coach Doug Kidd is an assistant on the team.

Ashlyn Clark will play on the girls’ Region 7 All-Star team, while Kayla Kincaid and Austin Williamson are alternates.

Clark played for a defense that shut out nine of Watauga’s final 10 teams heading into the second round of the state 4-A playoffs. The Pioneers finished the season with a 14-6-2 overall record, 8-2-2 in the NWC.

Williamson scored seven goals and handed out three assists during the season, while Kincaid was also part of the Pioneers’ defense that allowed just 15 goals and posted 14 shutouts the entire season.

Boys’ tennis
Watauga hosts Freedom in the second round of the dual 4-A state playoffs Tuesday at the Carroll Complex.

The Pioneers cruised to a 9-0 victory over McDowell in the first round of the playoffs last week. Watauga’s No. 1 doubles team of Graham Battle and Steve Lake went on to qualify for the state individual championships by finishing third in the regional tournament last Saturday.

Softball
Watauga’s softball team also begins the state 4-A tournament Tuesday afternoon at Hopewell.

Watauga reached the NWC Tournament semifinals before falling to regular-season champion Alexander Central 3-0. The Pioneers, led by pitcher Nicole Reilly and catcher and lead-off hitter Chandler Butler, are 9-15 this season.

More State Games
Watauga shortstop Cal Hardee, centerfielder Baine Martin and pitcher Jon Sharpe were selected to play in the state games this summer. Pete Hardee is also a coach in the games.