Blog – Moore County Edition

Jul

05

2024

Athlete of the Week: Hogan Windish

Sportsathlete of the week, Hogan Windish, Pinehurst, UNC Greensboro

Pinehurst native Hogan Windish is the Athlete of the Week. Windish currently plays for the Double-A Arkansas Travelers in the Texas League. He is a member of the Seattle Mariners organization after being drafted in the seventh round in 2022. Windish, who played for Ashe County High and UNC Greensboro, hit 22 home runs last year in Class A, earning him a promotion for this season. He had a history-making game last Tuesday when he hit four home runs and drove in all of his team’s runs in a 9-4 win over Springfield. Only one other player in baseball history…

Jun

28

2024

By Cory Lavalette

Athlete of the Week: Bryant Kimbrell

Sportsathlete of the week, Bryant Kimbrell, Pinecrest baseball, Pinecrest High school

Bryant Kimbrell, a graduated senior for the Pinecrest baseball team, is Athlete of the Week. Kimbrell won Athlete of the Week after the Patriots got off to a 4-0 start to the season. Neither he nor Pinecrest slowed down after that burst out of the gate. The Patriots finished with a 24-5 record and won the Sandhills with an 11-1 league record. Kimbrell led the team with seven home runs, 35 RBIs and a .777 slugging percentage. He was also among team leaders in average and OBP. On the mound, he had an ERA below 1.00. In addition to winning…

Jun

25

2024

By North State Journal Staff

Athlete of the Week: Will Kennedy

Sportsathlete of the week, Moore County sports, North Moore High School, Will Kennedy

Will Kennedy is a senior for the North Moore baseball team who will be playing for Wake Tech at the college level next year. After playing the outfield in previous seasons, Kennedy became a two-way player in his final season. In addition to hitting over .400 for the Mustangs, he also was the Mid-Carolina Conference’s pitcher of the year. He struck out more than 50 batters and had an ERA of just over 2.30. Kennedy has added to his postseason honors. In addition to his spot on the all-conference first team, he recently was named to the N.C. Baseball Coaches…

Jun

25

2024

By North State Journal Staff

Scenes from Pinehurst

SportsPinehurst, US Open

Jun

25

2024

By Ryan Henkel

School playgrounds and auditoriums to see improvements

NewsMoore County Board of Education

PINEHURST — The Moore County Schools Board approved new contracts that will see upgrades and new equipment coming to school playgrounds and auditoriums at its Monday, June 10 meeting. A $650,000 contract with Creative Playscapes will see updates to all elementary school playgrounds, covered by bond premium funding. The schools will be getting fresh layers of engineered wood fiber mulch, and some schools will see completely new equipment while others will see repairs to existing playgrounds. The new equipment is expected to last between 15 to 20 years. A $138,000 contract with Stage and Gymnasium Specialties will cover the replacement…

Jun

14

2024

By Shawn Krest

U.S. Open returns to Pinehurst

SportsJon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, Martin Kaymer, Matt Kuchar, Michael Campbell, Payne Stewart, Phil Mickelson, Pinehurst, Rickie Fowler, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Sergio Garcia, Tiger Woods, US Open, Xander Schauffele

PINEHURST — Once again, the golf world comes to Pinehurst. The club’s famed No. 2 course will play host to the 2024 U.S. Open this week, with 156 of the best golfers in the world playing for one of the coveted major titles. History This is the 124th U.S. Open. The tournament began play in 1895 and was not held for a total of six years during the two World Wars. It’s the fourth time Pinehurst has hosted the Open, all on No. 2. Here’s what happened the other three times. 1999: Payne Stewart was the only player under par for…

Jun

14

2024

By Shawn Krest

U.S. Open at Pinehurst: Who’s going to win?

SportsBrooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Colin Morikawa, Ludvig Aberg, Pinehurst, Rory McIlroy, Russell Henley, Scottie Scheffler, US Open, Viktor Hovland, Xander Schauffele

Whether you’re planning to take advantage of North Carolina’s new online gambling laws or just looking for someone to root for, it’s always good to know who is expected to contend for the championship. Here’s a look at the favorites and some dark horses to watch in the 124th U.S. Open. The favorite: Scottie Scheffler has been having an historic year. He’s won five tournaments already. He’s finished in the top 10 of his last eight tournaments, and he’s the top-ranked golfer in the world. Even arresting him mid-tournament, as happened last month in Louisville, couldn’t slow him down. With…

Jun

14

2024

By Associated Press

A look back: Previous U.S. Opens at Pinehurst

SportsMartin Kaymer, Michael Campbell, Payne Stewart, Pinehurst, US Open

History will be made this weekend when the U.S. Open crowns a new champion, the fourth to win the title at Pinehurst No. 2. Here’s a look back at the previous times the course has hosted the Open. 25 years ago (1999) Payne Stewart had lost a 54-hole lead the previous year and figured to join the “Graveyard of Champions” at Olympic Club for losing a lead and never winning another major. But he showed remarkable mettle in 1999 in a terrific battle involving Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods. Woods fell back with a bogey on the 17th. Stewart was…

Jun

14

2024

By North State Journal Staff

U.S. Open at Pinehurst: How will residents be impacted?

NewsPinehurst, US Open

he village of Pinehurst plans to continue with business as usual. Businesses will be open, and residential services, such as trash pick up, will continue on the regular schedule. Some parks and recreation facilities may have limited or no parking. The Village Center will have 3-hour parking restrictions from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and officials say time limits will be strictly enforced. Street parking will also be prohibited on roads close to Pinehurst, including Azalea Road, Campbell Road, Cherokee Road, Chinquapin Road, Community Road, Craig Road, Dalyrmple Road, Dundee Road, Everett Road, Fields Road, Kelly Road, Laurel Road, Magnolia…

Jun

14

2024

By North State Journal Staff

Athlete of the Week: Janie Spicer

Sportsathlete of the week, Janie Spicer, Moore County Schools, Moore County sports, Union Pines

Janie Spicer is a senior for the Union Pines’ girls’ lacrosse team and a previous Athlete of the Week winner after helping lead the Vikings to an undefeated season and their first-ever state championship. Spicer won the Most Valuable Player award in the title game, as well as the NCHSAA Sportsmanship Award. The accolades keep coming. Spicer was just awarded one of the NCHSAA’s Heart of a Champion awards for the 2023-24 school year, which recognizes athletes who exemplify outstanding citizenship and sportsmanship on the field and in their community. Spicer will continue her athletic career at Winthrop, where she…