Blog – Moore County Edition

Apr

18

2024

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

17

2024

By Cory Lavalette

Athlete of the Week: Mason Konen

Sportsathlete of the week, Mason Konen, Pinecrest, Pinecrest High school

Pinecrest baseball’s Mason Konen is the Athlete of the Week. The 6-foot-3 righthanded senior is perhaps best known for football, where he has thrown for 2,750 yards and 19 touchdowns over the last two seasons as the Patriots’ quarterback. Konen stood out on the mound last week, however, going the distance in a 9-0 win over Northwood. In the complete game win, Konen threw a no-hitter for Pincecrest. He retired 21 of the 25 batters he faced, striking out one. The only batters to reach base were three walks and a hit batter.

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

12

2024

By Ryan Henkel

Moore could gain seven new road names

NewsMoore County Board of Commissioners

The Moore County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday, April 2, approving a number of agenda items for future consideration including the naming of seven new roads. Per county ordinance, no new roads in unincorporated Moore County can be created without the approval of the board. The roads, which will be privately maintained, will be considered for approval at the April 16 meeting. They are Bluestone Drive, Candace Lane, Cross Arrow Way, Freida May Lane, Nancy Court, October Road and Palmer Grey Court. Another item was to tweak the UDO to make clear that the use of a personal workshop or…

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.

Apr

03

2024

By Ryan Henkel

Pinehurst opens hiring for new village manager

NewsPinehurst Council

Pinehurst will have a new village manager before the close of 2024 according to a timeline adopted by the Village of Pinehurst Council at its regular meeting on March 26. Current Village Manager Jeff Sanborn announced his intention to resign effective October 25, so the goal is to have his replacement start in November. “Leading our exceptional Village staff has been one of the most rewarding professional experiences I have had in my life,” Sanborn said in the Feb. 29 press release announcing his upcoming departure. “I know that we have the right people and systems in place to ensure…

Apr

03

2024

By Ena Sellers

Growing state, shrinking farmland

NewsMoore County agriculture

CARY — Last week regional and state agricultural leaders gathered for NC Ag Leads: Imagine Agriculture Day at the SAS campus in Cary, to talk about agriculture, challenges and how to move the industry forward. Cris Coffin, National Ag Land Network Director and Senior Policy Advisor and Dr. Courtney Owens, Southeast Regional Director, both with American Farmland Trust were among the speakers who engaged participants in a thought-provoking conversation about the shrinking agricultural land base in North Carolina. “We are doing a lot more work in the regenerative agriculture space and keeping farmers on the land because we understand that…