Spring sports wrapped up with a first-ever school title for Union Pines girls’ lacrosse. Here’s a look at the playoff roundup.
Girls’ lacrosse
Union Pines won the first girls’ lacrosse state title in school history, finishing off a perfect 18-0 season. The Vikings had their biggest scare of the season in the state semifinals, trailing Croatan at the half before rallying for a 14-13 win. Ellie Powell had six goals and Janie Spicer five in the comeback victory.
Union Pines then blew out Bishop McGuinness, 20-6, to win the 1A/2A/3A title. Powell had another six goals and Spicer three. The Vikings now move on without Spicer, fellow senior co-captains Madeline Hefner and Madison Aldrige and seniors Abby Robertson and Saeda Yoxtheimer.
Baseball
Pinecrest saw its season end in the round of eight in the the 4A bracket. The No. 4 seeded Patriots beat Laney, 6-1, in the third round, then fell to Ashley, 3-2, in extra innings, with a spot in the final four on the line. Senior Bryant Kimbrell homered for Pinecrest in the win over Laney. In addition to Kimbrell, the team says goodbye to seniors Connor Tepatti, Josh Slade, Mason Konen, Dylan Floyd, Addison Roth, Logan Besterman, Grayson Hudgins, Andrew Vandevander and James Vandevander.
Softball
Union Pines’ run ended in the third round of the 3A state playoffs. The Vikings lost in extra innings to South Central, 8-7. Junior Elizabeth Andrews homered and drove in two runs while going 3-for-4 in a losing cause.
The Vikings part ways with seniors Corryn McCutchen, Adelette Gutierrez, Nicole Norman, Natalie Auman, Kyleigh McNeill and Annaleese Renslow.
Girls’ soccer
North Moore posted a win in the 1A state playoffs, upsetting Clover Garden School, 3-0. The season came to an end with a 5-2 loss to Woods Charter in the second round.
Pinecrest also got one playoff win before facing elimination. The Patriots opened the 4A playoffs with a 7-1 win over Pine Forest. Enloe beat them in the second round, however, 3-0. The team says farewell to seniors Ava Depenbrock, Gracie Reyes, Kamen Lewis, Mia Martin, Kaylee Thomas and Olivia Mixa.
Union Pines matched its two Moore County neighbors with one win in the playoffs. The Vikings beat South Brunswick in the opener, 2-1, then fell to Dixon, 1-0, to end the season. That loss ended the high school careers of seniors Riley Pittman, Abigail Phillips, Daryn Lee, Ella Walker, Abigail Robbins and Leah Morris.
Track and field
Several area athletes competed in the state track meet earlier this month. For North Moore, Justin Walker placed 16th in the triple jump and twelfth in high jump. Michael Copeland was 15th in the 110 hurdles prelims and took tenth in the 300 hurdles.
For Union Pines, the boys’ 4×100 relay team of Ethan Biggs, Caleb Milton, Roger Patterson and Zion Kiser took first place. Jaydon Sterling was fourth in long jump and second in triple jump, Savannah McCaskill was 14th in girls’ high jump and Christian Hackett was ninth in boys’ high jump, Caroline Oakley was 11th in girls’ pole vault, Jack Binon was 13th in boys’ pole vault, Briana St. Louis was seventh in girls’ 400 and fourth in the 200, Milton and Kiser were 14th and 16th, respectively in 300 hurdles, Corbin Weeks was 14th and Monte Hay 15th in the boys’ 800, Biggs took eighth in the 200 and Allyson Flewwellin took tenth in the 3200. Weeks also took seventh in the 3200.
For Pinecrest, Ruby Rhyne placed 11th in pole vault, Keaton Pegues was 16th in the 100 prelims, Alessia Potts took fifth in the 1600, Akeelah Knox was 15th in the 300 hurdles, Corinne McGuire took 13th in the 800 and a pair of relay teams placed in the top 10.
