Union Pines softball and girls’ lacrosse join Pinecrest baseball in the later rounds of their respective state tournaments, while girls’ soccer gets ready to kick off the postseason. Boys’ tennis All three local teams saw their playoff runs come to an end last week. No. 10 seed North Moore fell to No. 7 Chatham Charter, 5-2 in the second round, finishing their season with a 3-9 record. In 4A, No. 5 Pinecrest was upset by No. 12 Broughton in the second round, ending the season with a 13-2 mark. In the 3A bracket, No. 10 Union Pines got a second-round…

Playoffs are underway in boys’ tennis, as well as boys’ and girls’ lacrosse. Baseball and softball are joining the NCHSAA postseason this week. Here’s a look at how the area teams are doing in the brackets. Boys’ tennis Pinecrest and Union Pines both won their NCHSAA playoff openers, while North Moore got a first-round bye, meaning all three area teams were still alive as of the start of this week, which saw second-round action take place after press time. North Moore, the No. 10 seed in 1A faced No. 7 Chatham Charter (12-6). No. 5 Pinecrest advanced via forfeit past…

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…

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…

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.