WHS falls twice at invitational
From staff reports

New Bern benefitted from a Watauga own goal and beat the Pioneers 1-0 Saturday in the Sledgehammer Charlie’s Invitational. New Bern, because of its win over Watauga and 2-1 over T.C. Roberson Friday, won the invitational.

Watauga began the tournament falling to Swansboro 4-0. Swansboro is coached by Doug Kidd, the former coach at Watauga making his first appearance at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex since coaching at Watauga last year.

The Pioneers, who face a tough non-conference schedule, are 0-2-1 so far. Watauga also tied to a good Charlotte Catholic team 0-0 on the road.

Watauga continues its season at T.C. Roberson Monday night.




Baseball
Watauga’s baseball team beat North Davidson 3-0 Friday, but lost to No. 6 Ardrey Kell 11-0 the following day at the Olympic Training Center in Cary.

Watauga, avenging a loss to North Davidson last year in the third round of the state playoffs, got a two-run home run from freshman David Martin and a solo home run from Trey Lowder, the only two hits the Mountaineers were able to collect.

Pitching was key for the Pioneers against North Davidson. Cal Hardee pitched five innings, striking out eight and allowing just four hits and two walks.

Jon Sharpe went the final two innings, giving up one hit and striking out three. Sharpe will be the starter Tuesday night when Watauga hosts Northwest-ern 4-A Conference rival South Caldwell on Senior Night.

“Cal really battled those guys,” Pioneers coach Pete Hardee said. “He got into some situations where they got some runners on base and has showed some intensity on the mound when he needed to.”

Sharpe, whose fastball has been clocked in the 90-miles-per-hour range, will likely pitch against South Caldwell’s Cody Penny, who has signed to play with North Carolina next year. Watauga was the lone NWC team to beat South Caldwell last year, taking a 1-0 decision in Sawmills.

It will be Sharpe’s first start of the season. He was supposed to start against Mount Tabor Thursday, but the game was postponed because of a wet field.

Hardee feels the team that can capitalize on the other team’s mistakes the best will likely be the winner.

“We’ve got to be patient against (Penny),” Hardee said. “We can’t chase him out out of the (strike) zone and we’ve got to make him throw strikes. We feel good about having Jon out there and if we can play defense behind him, we’ll be all right.”

Softball
Watauga’s softball team lost to Reagan 12-1 Saturday on the road. The Watauga jayvee team picked up its first win of the season, beating Reagan 5-4, also on Saturday.