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…

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…

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…

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.

Pinecrest softball players Maggie Drake (left) and Addisyn Stayskal stand during the National Anthem before a game against Hoke County on March 20. The Patriots lost at home 15-3, though it did snap Pinecrest’s four-game scoreless streak.

Baseball All three teams in the county entered this week on winning streaks. North Moore swept a home-and-home series with Jordan-Matthews to extend its winning streak to seven games in a row. The Mustangs won at home, 9-7, over the Jets, then went to Jordan-Matthews to post a 3-1 victory. North Moore is now 8-1 on the year, 5-1 in the Mid-Carolina Conference. The Mustangs continue conference play this week with a home-and-home against Bartlett-Yancey. Pinecrest bounced back from its first two losses of the season to sweep Southern Lee in a home-and-home series. The Patriots won 16-4 at home,…

The regular season and conference tournaments are over, meaning the one-and-done playoff season has begun for North Carolina high schools. Two of Moore County’s three boys’ teams, and two of the three girls’ teams will be in action this week after receiving bids from the NCHSAA. Each school in the county has at least one team representing it as teams around North Carolina begin vying for the state title. Here’s a team by team look at the county boys’ and girls’ teams. Boys North Moore saw its season end with a 80-35 loss to Northwood in the Mid-Carolina Conference Tournament…

Boys’ basketball The Pinecrest boys snapped a two-game losing streak with a 62-58 win over Lee County. The win earned the Patriots their first conference win of the season and was enough to move Pinecrest past a slumping Union Pines in the Moore County rankings. Jaden Saunders had 15 points and Elijah Melton 13. Azir Gillespie had four steals. Pinecrest is now 7-4, 1-2 in the Sandhills. The Union Pines boys lost their second straight game and fourth in the last five outings. Richmond blew the Vikings out on their home floor, 75-47. Jaylen Kyle got a double-double for Union…

Boys’ basketball The Union Pines boys have hit a slump. The Vikings lost two of three in holiday tournament action, then dropped their first game of the new year, 58-52, at Scotland. A 68-32 win over Western Harnett to close December broke up the three losses. In the two days prior, Union Pines fell to Overhills and Triton. Jaylen Kyle and Trent Hilburn tied for top scoring honors in two of the three holiday games, while Kingsley Donaldson led the way in the third. Union Pines is now 9-4, 1-1 on the year. The Pinecrest boys dropped their first game…