North State Journal Staff – Moore County Edition

May

04

2024

Playoffs loom as regular seasons come to an end

SportsMoore County sports

It’s crunch time for high school spring sports. Girls’ soccer, with a week to go in the regular season, is the only sport preparing for playoffs already. Baseball and softball have wrapped up the regular season, and playoff fields have already been announced in golf, lacrosse and tennis. Boys’ tennis North Moore finished the regular season with a 3-9 record and received the No. 10 seed in the 1A bracket. The Mustangs received a first round bye and will take on No. 7 Chatham Charter (12-6) in the second round. At 12-1, Pinecrest earned a No. 5 seed in 4A…

May

04

2024

By Ena Sellers

Love, Lowriders, Latinos

NewsMoore County

PITTSBORO — Crowds dropped in on Saturday for the Lowrider Show at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center. The event, now in its fourth year, is the brainchild of Manuel Araiza, who along with his brothers Francisco, and Jose, and their dad, also Francisco, bring it to life to highlight the Latino culture. The event attracts lowriders — a moniker that applies to both the cars and their owners — from Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia and all parts of North Carolina to share the love for these meticulously customized vehicles. City Knights Lowriders Car Club in Fayetteville was one…

Apr

25

2024

By North State Journal Staff

Athlete of the Week: Allie Hirst

SportsAllie Hirst, athlete of the week, Pinecrest, Pinecrest High school

Allie Hirst is a senior for the Pinecrest girls’ lacrosse team. The Patriots are 11-3-1, 5-2 in the Sandhills Conference and riding a three-game winning streak and five-game unbeaten streak, including a pair of victories last week. Hirst came up big in both games. In a 12-10 win over Wakefield, Hirst scored five goals and added another four assists. Two days later, in an 18-4 win at Terry Sanford, she did it again, scoring another five goals and assisting on another four. On the season, Hirst leads Pinecrest in goals, assists and ground balls. She also ranks in the top…

Apr

25

2024

By North State Journal Staff

Many Moore county teams head into final week of regular season

SportsMoore County sports

Moore County schools saw many of their spring sports teams play the penultimate week of their regular seasons, with conference titles and playoff berths up for grabs. Baseball North Moore suffered back-to-back losses in conference games. The Mustangs fell to Bartlett Yancey, 10-3, then lost at Seaforth, 5-1. North Moore enters the final week of the season at 11-6. Their 11 wins are more than the Mustangs have had in four of their last 10 seasons. With two games to play in the Mid-Carolina Conference, North Moore is in fourth place, with a one-game lead over Chatham Central, their opponent…

Apr

18

2024

By North State Journal Staff

No hitter by Konen highlights week on the diamond

SportsMoore County sports

Athlete of the week Mason Konen of Pinecrest provided the highlight for teams in Moore County, throwing a seven-inning no-hitter against Northwood to lead the Patriots to victory. It was hardly the only high point for county sports teams, however, on the diamond and beyond. Baseball Konen’s gem keyed a 3-0 week for Pinecrest, who ran its winning streak to six straight. The Patriots beat Scotland in a road game, 15-3, then had back-to-back shutouts, 9-0 over Northwood in the no-non, and 15-0 at home in the rematch with Scotland. Konen also had company in his mound dominance. Connor Tepatti…

Apr

12

2024

By North State Journal Staff

Athlete of the Week: Connor Tepatti

Sportsathlete of the week

Connor Tepatti is a senior for the Pinecrest baseball team. He played a role in both of the Patriots’ wins last week. Tepatti threw four scoreless innings in a win over East Bladen and helped his cause at the plate by going 1-for-2 with 2 runs scored. He also went 2-for-4 in Pinecrest’s win over Heritage. Tepatti leads Pinecrest in batting average, on-base percentage, runs, hits, doubles and slugging.

Apr

12

2024

By North State Journal Staff

Union Pines continues unbeaten run in girls’ lacrosse

SportsMoore County sports

Most of the high school teams in the county are back at it this week after spring break and April showers slowed play to start the month. Baseball North Moore went 1-2 last week to fall to 9-4 on the year, 5-3 in the Mid-Carolina Conference. The Mustangs opened the week with a 16-2 loss to Lee County. The Yellow Jackets got just seven hits in the game but put up the lofty scoring total thanks to 15 walks by Mustang pitchers. North Moore rebounded in the next game with a 6-5 win over Dunkirk. The Mustangs jumped out to…

Apr

03

2024

By North State Journal Staff

Athlete of the Week: Natalie Auman

Sportsathlete of the week

Natalie Auman is a senior for the Union Pines softball team. She was also the top three-point shooter on the Vikings’ girls’ basketball team in the winter. Union Pines split two games last week, and Auman had big games in both outings. In a win over Greenbrier East, she went 4-for-5 with 2 runs scored and 3 driven in while adding a double and a stolen base. Against James Madison, she went 3-for-3 with 3 runs scored and a pair of steals.

Apr

03

2024

By North State Journal Staff

Slow week as weather, spring break limit games

SportsMoore County sports

Weather and spring breaks for districts around the state played havoc with many of the spring sports schedules last week. Here’s a look at how local teams did in the games that they managed to get in. Baseball North Moore played the road end of a scheduled home-and-home series with Bartlett-Yancey, dropping an 8-4 decision in their only game of the week. The Mustangs are now 8-2 on the year, 5-2 in the Mid-Carolina Conference. They’re back at it this week with games against Lee County, Dunkirk and Seaforth, all at home. Pinecrest was able to complete a busy schedule…

Apr

03

2024

By North State Journal Staff

Scramble to the bag

SportsMoore County sports

Pinecrest senior Dylan Floyd scrambles to second base to force a Lee County runner in a bizarre play that saw a sharply hit ball ricochet off the third base bag directly to Floyd at short. He got the force out and the Patriots went on to beat the Yellow Jackets 3-2 at home on March 26.