Vote for Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties' Athletes of the Week, May 2-7
Each week area high school coaches can submit a list of standout performances from their team in the previous week’s games. If your child’s name — or anyone else’s from your child’s team — does not appear on the list following a great performance, please encourage your coach to email their submissions to jhughes@gastongazette.com.
More:Agosta brothers' 'twin telepathy' aiding East Gaston baseball's pursuit of history
More:'Four years went into that swing': Burns' Webb delivers in clutch for dramatic win in SPC final
More:North Gaston baseball is down with 'OBP,' and junior Aston Pope is the poster boy
More:'Trust the process': How Kings Mountain baseball ended a lengthy league title drought
Baseball
Jake Beaty, South Point: Allowed no runs on four hits, striking out five in six innings of work to lead South Point past North Gaston last Tuesday. He also hit a two-run homer in the game. He added an RBI in his team’s come-from-behind win over the Wildcats last Friday.
Brayden Blaylock, Crest: Batted .600 in last week’s two-game set against Kings Mountain, hitting a home run to go with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Nathan Brittain, Stuart Cramer: Allowed one run without giving up a hit in five innings of relief work, striking out 13 in a 6-4 loss to Forestview.
Parker Dixon, Shelby: In a 5-2 win over Highland Tech, Dixon struck out seven and allowed two runs on three hits as part of a complete game effort. He also has each of his team’s three hits, including two doubles.
Leonard Hadley, Mountain Island Charter: Was 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs in the Raptors’ 16-7 loss to Community School of Davidson.
Landon Hahn, Cherryville: Was 5-for-11 last week with a double, six RBIs and two runs scored as the Ironmen claimed wins in two of three games during the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A baseball tournament.
Matt Heavner, North Lincoln: Batted .571 a week last week against East Lincoln and Foard, with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored.
Cole Irby, Kings Mountain: After helping his team to a 5-4 win over Crest with a hit and an RBI, Irby was 3-for-4 in a 7-4 loss to the Chargers later in the week.
Meridian Leffew, Gaston Christian: Was 3-for-4 with a run scored in the Eagles’ 4-1 loss to Concord Academy.
Ben Mauney, Burns: Earned three hits in each of his team’s games during the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A baseball tournament, helping the Bulldogs to a tourney title.
Ashton Pope, North Gaston: Was 3-for-8 last week against South Point, hitting a double and home run for the Wildcats. He also allowed four runs on three hits, striking out five in six innings of work in a loss to the Red Raiders.
Mason Smith, Lincoln Charter: Was 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs in the Eagles’ 16-4 shellacking of Langtree Charter.
Trey Spees, East Lincoln: Batted .571 last week with a home run, four RBIs and three runs scored last week in losses to North Lincoln and St. Stephens.
More:NCHSAA baseball, softball playoff brackets unveiled. What's on deck for area teams?
More:Gaston, Lincoln and Cleveland county players to watch in NCHSAA baseball playoffs
More:Gaston, Lincoln, Cleveland players to watch as NC high school softball playoffs begin
Softball
Andrea Detweiler, Stuart Cramer: Was 4-for-9 last week in wins over North Gaston and Forestview, scoring four runs.
Austyn Dixon, Kings Mountain: Hit a home run and had four RBIs in a 23-0 win over Ashbrook. She followed by going 3-for-3 with a solo home run, double, an RBI and two runs scored in a 3-2 loss to Crest.
Bailey Huss, West Lincoln: Earned hits in each of her team’s Catawba Valley 2A tournament games, batting .400 with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored.
Mackenzie Luckenbaugh, Crest: Had hits in each of her team’s three games last week, including a three-run homer last Wednesday in a win over Hunter Huss.
Taniyah Thomas, East Lincoln: Was 7-for-12 last week with two doubles, three RBIs and five runs scored as the Lady Mustangs cruised to two wins over North Lincoln and Foard.
Sayge Strange, Burns: Allowed no runs on two hits in 10 innings of work last week, striking out 18 opposing batters and walking two en route to Burns claiming the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A tournament title. She also finished with three hits, three RBIs and two runs scored.
Megan Towery, North Gaston: Was 2-for-2 with a home run, RBI and two runs scored in a 7-5 loss to Stuart Cramer. She followed that with a 3-for-5 effort with a home run, double, three RBIs and three runs scored in a 24-13 win over South Point.
More:Burns softball team using past heartache as fuel in its pursuit of a league title
More:Chemistry, grit, improvement playing key role in Stuart Cramer softball's early success
More:Youthful, yet talented Crest softball team is learning how to win, a game at a time
More:NCHSAA baseball, softball playoff brackets unveiled. What's on deck for area teams?
Athletes of the Week
Arielle Baker, Aniya Hawkins and Jaida McGrew, Mountain Island Charter girls track and field: McGrew left the Catawba Shores 1A/2A track and field championships with titles in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. Hawkins also left with two gold medals, winning the 100- and 300-meter hurdle events. Baker won the shot put and discus events. Most importantly, the trio helped the Raptors to team gold.
Austin Brotemarkle, Forestview boys track and field: Won the Big South 3A track and field title in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter events.
Divinity Ervin, Kings Mountain girls track and field: Claimed top honors at the Big South 3A track and field meet in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter events.
Lawson Harkley, West Lincoln boys golf: Claimed the 2A West golf championship, besting Samuel Mace in a playoff to win the title. He shot a 1-over 72 at Pinehurt Country Club No. 8.
Madison Setzer, Crest girls soccer: Scored five goals last week in wins over Hunter Huss and Kings Mountain.
Will Spicer, Kings Mountain boys golf: Shot a 5-under 67 last week at River Bend YMCA Golf Course in Shelby, earning the 3A West individual crown and leading the Mountaineers to the team title.
Ava Stillwell, East Gaston girls soccer: Scored four goals in a win over Burns, following that effort with two goals and two assists in a 9-0 victory over Bessemer City.
Rachel Tolbert, South Point girls track and field: Claimed top honors in the 400- and 800-meter races at the Big South 3A track and field meet.
You can reach Joe Hughes at 704-914-8138, email jhughes@gastongazette.com and follow on Twitter @JoeLHughesII.