Vote for Gaston Gazette and Shelby Star area Athletes of the Week, April 25-30
Each week area high school coaches can submit a list of standout performances from their team in the previous week’s games. If your child’s name — or anyone else’s from your child’s team — does not appear on the list following a great performance, please encourage your coach to email their submissions to jhughes@gastongazette.com.
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Baseball
Parker Agosta, East Gaston: The Warriors’ ace showed his skills at the plate this week, batting .454 with two RBIs and two runs scored to help East Gaston to wins over R-S Central, North Gaston and Lincolnton.
Will Blackburn, Lincolnton: Blackburn needed just 95 pitches to earn a no-hitter on Friday, striking out five and walking three in a 2-0 win over West Lincoln. He also had a hit in the Wolves’ victory.
Gavin Blackwood, Highland Tech: Finished the week 4-for-7 at the plate, including a double, triple, four RBIs and five runs scored, helping the Rams to wins in two of three games this past week.
Caleb Broome, Kings Mountain: Was 5-for-8 at the plate last week, helping his team to wins in two of three games. He added an RBI and two runs for the Mountaineers.
Landon Hahn, Cherryville: The Ironmen infielder batted .636 last week, adding two doubles, four RBIs and five runs scored in a pair of wins over Bessemer City and another over West Lincoln.
Tucker McSwain, Crest: In addition to earning a complete game victory on the mound, McSwain was 3-for-4 in an 11-0 win over Hunter Huss, with two of the hits going for home runs.
Garrett Michel, East Lincoln: After going hitless in a win over St. Stephens, the Virginia Tech baseball recruit went 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double, six RBIs and four runs scored in a 17-7 win over North Iredell.
Reece Moody, North Lincoln: After earning a hit and scoring a run in a tough 2-1 win over Foard, Moody was 2-for-2 at the plate with a triple, four RBIs and a run in a 12-0 win over West Iredell.
Ashton Pope, North Gaston: Hit .417 this past week, earning a triple, home run, nine RBIs and scored seven runs in North Gaston wins over Stuart Cramer. He also pitched in Thursday’s win over the Storm, allowing three runs on eight hits, striking out seven in six innings of work.
Colby Putnam, Burns: Went the distance for the Bulldogs in a 5-2 win on Friday, the freshman pitcher helping his team clinch the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A title. He allowed two runs on four hits, striking out 12 and walking two.
Tyler Steele, Lincoln Charter: Finished the week 7-for-9 at the plate, adding a home run, two doubles, four RBIs and five runs scored in dominant wins over Christ the King.
Matthew Walker, South Point: The Red Raider pitcher was nearly flawless in a 5-0 win over Forestview, allowing no runs on one hit with 11 strikeouts.
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Softball
Meredith Bolick, Highland Tech: Went 9-for-9 at the plate last week with a home run, double, eight RBIs and eight runs scored.
Grace East, Piedmont Community Charter: The Patriots’ junior infielder was perfect at the plate this past week, going 5-for-5 with a home run, two triples, five RBIs and six runs scored to help her team score 25 runs in two games.
Emma Ghorley, Highland Tech: Earned a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts and one walk in her team’s April 28 win over Thomas Jefferson, in addition to hitting two home runs. She finished the week undefeated inside the circle, allowing three runs on three hits, striking out 37 batters and walking three.
Braley Hamilton, Stuart Cramer: Hit .500 last week with a home run, triple, three RBIs and five runs scored as the Storm picked up wins over Ashbrook and Kings Mountain.
Reagan Hart, Mountain Island Charter: Went 4-for-4 in her team’s 18-1 win over Langtree Charter, hitting for the cycle with four RBIs and two runs scored. She followed by going 1-for-2 with a triple, RBI and two runs scored in a 15-0 win over Langtree Charter later in the week.
Tessa Hunt, North Lincoln: Won both of her starts in the circle this week, allowing no runs on eight hits and striking out 13 in victories over Foard and West Iredell.
Bailey Huss, West Lincoln: Finished 4-for-6 for the Lady Rebels with an RBI and two runs in wins over East Burke and Lincolnton, helping her team claim a share of the Catawba Valley 2A title.
Maura Pendleton, Burns: Batted .700 this past week with six RBIs and four runs scored as the Lady Bulldogs won two of three games and claimed the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A championship.
Cheyanne Reynolds, Kings Mountain: After earning a double and four RBIs in a 19-0 win over South Point, the sophomore went 2-for-4 in a 7-6 loss to Stuart Cramer in extra innings.
Lily Smith, Forestview: After going 1-for-3 with a double, RBI and a run scored in a 14-0 win over Hunter Huss, she followed by going 2-for-4 with a home run, five RBIs and three runs scored in an 18-8 victory over East Gaston.
Sarah Terrell, Lincoln Charter: Batted .454 this past week, earning three doubles, three RBIs and scored four runs as the Eagles won two of three games.
Taniyah Thomas, East Lincoln: Finished last week 4-for-7 at the plate with three triples, an RBI and two runs scored in two games to help the Lady Mustangs remain undefeated.
Sara Rose Warlick, Crest: Led her team with five hits last week, including a solo home run to help the Chargers to wins over North Gaston and Burns.
Athletes of the Week
Aubree Baker, Stuart Cramer girls soccer: Scored four goals and assisted on another in her team’s 8-0 win over Hunter Huss, duplicating the feat in a 6-1 victory over Ashbrook. She added two goals and an assist in the Storm’s 3-0 win over Kings Mountain.
Hannah Dover, Burns girls track and field: Placed first in the 100- and 300-meter hurdle events, along with helping the Lady Bulldogs’ 4x200- and 4x400-meter relay teams to top honors at last week’s Southern Piedmont 1A/2A track and field championships. Burns’ girls track team racked up 158 points as a team, 21.5 points ahead of second place Shelby for the league title.
Grace Hite, Forestview girls soccer: Scored four goals in a 7-0 win over Hunter Huss, followed by a hat trick in a 4-0 win over North Gaston.
Victoria Mills, Forestview girls track and field: Won the 100- and 300-meter hurdle events at last week’s track and field meet at South Point.
Jackson Owens, Cherryville boys track and field: Claimed top honors in the 200- and 400-meter races, in addition to helping his team claim the 4x400-meter relay at the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A track and field championships. Owens also placed third in the 100-meter dash, helping the Ironmen claim a conference championship.
Jordan Villemagne, South Point girls soccer: Scored six goals and assisted on another as the Lady Raiders outscored Kings Mountain, East Gaston and Ashbrook by a combined score of 21-0.
Cadence Walker, Crest girls soccer: Scored four goals to lead the Chargers to a 9-0 win over North Gaston.
You can reach Joe Hughes at 704-914-8138, email jhughes@gastongazette.com and follow on Twitter @JoeLHughesII.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Vote for The Gazette and Star prep Athletes of the Week (May 2, 2022)
