Cougars claim softball title
From staff reports

TAYLORSVILLE — Watauga’s softball team found a way to reach the finals of the Northwestern 4-A Conference Tournament. Now the Pioneers will see if they can reach the state 4-A tournament.

Watauga ended up falling to No. 1 ranked Alexander Central 10-0 in the NWC final Friday night at Alexander Central’s field. The Pioneers (7-16) did not automatically qualify for the state tournament and must wait to see if they can grab an at-large berth into the tournament.

“They showed everyone what they were capable of doing in the conference tournament,” Pioneers coach Brian Vannoy said. “Now hopefully we'll get a wild card and see if we can make a run in the state tournament as well.”

Watauga stayed even with Alexander Central, which is nationally ranked, until the bottom of the fourth inning when the Cougars scored eight runs. Alexander Central added a run in each of the fifth and sixth innings to end the game because of the mercy rule.

Watauga finished with just two hits, both provided by Chandler Butler. Hannah Yates and Kara Tester also hit the ball hard, but saw their potential hits caught in right field.

The game was played two days after Watauga surprised Freedom with a 7-5 victory after the Patriots had beaten watauga 11-1 a week earlier. The Pioneers also beat South Caldwell 3-2 in the first round of the tournament.

“I'm very proud of the girls to rebound from a tough season and make it to the championship game,” Vannoy said. “It showed the heart and character of the girls. I told everyone all year that they were the most talented team I've had in softball, but we didn't perform well during the regular season. It was nice to see the girls show that talent in the tournament.”

Boys tennis
CHAPEL HILL — Watauga’s Steve Lake made it to the second round of the state individual 4-A tennis tournament held Friday afternoon.

Lake beat Matt Alexander of Hopewell 6-1, 6-2, but then lost to Roman Cacha of Raleigh Athens Drive 6-2, 6-3. Lake qualified as a first seed.

Watauga’s other singles qualifier, Michael Smith, fell to eventual state champion Robbie Mudge of Winston-Salem Reynolds 6-0, 6-1. In doubles, Watauga’s team of Kevin Ashline and Brian Geldmeier lost to Greensboro Page’s Landon Kinsey and Austin Ansari 7-6 (4), 6-1.

College softball
Appalachian State third baseman Katie Boyd was named first team All-Mideast region, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced Thursday.

A sophomore, Boyd led the Southern Conference in seven offensive categories, including a single-season school record 17 home runs and SoCon single-season records in slugging percentage, .879, on base percentage, .590, and walks with 64.

Her 64 walks lead the nation and she ranks third in on base percentage, seventh in slugging and is tied for eighth in home runs. The 64 walks is also the 10th best in NCAA Division I history and her 23 intentional walks is tied for the fourth most ever.