Post 21 sweeps Caldwell in home finale

Morganton- The Burke County Post 21 American Legion Fastpitch Softball team swept Caldwell Post 392 Monday by scores of 11-2 and 2-1.

Maddie Crouch started things for Post 21 (10-6) with a two-run single to spark a two-out second-inning rally scoring Cierra Lail and Maddison Powell.

Ashlyn Castle and Elle Tanner followed with batting in Katie Cozort and Crouch to build a 4-2 lead.

Post 21 then poured it on with seven third-inning runs scored by Bridget Patrick, Lail, Powell, Cozort, Crouch, Castle, and Tanner.

Game two was a bit of an offensive struggle for both teams forcing an extra inning after no runs could be scored in the five regulated innings.

Caldwell scored a run in the top of the sixth as Lail batted in the two winning runs for Burke off a single with Crouch and Tanner crossing the plate.

Tanner pitched game one tossing five strikeouts with Patrick (2K) starting game two.

The Area IV Playoffs are scheduled to start next Monday.

East Burke competes in FCA 7-on-7

Marion- The East Burke football team traveled to McDowell High School Monday to compete in a four-team 7 on 7 organized by Fellowship of Christian Athletes with Kings Mountain and Asheville Christian also present.

"For us, success in 7 on 7 is measured by how our guys competed, learning the system for the young guys, and growing from each game," said East Burke head football coach Derrick Minor, heading into his second season with the Cavaliers.

One of the highlights was falling to Kings Mountain by a 14-6 score as the Mountaineers are coming off an 8-1 season.

"It was a big encouragement for our guys, we still have work to do but it was a fun day playing against well-coached teams."

Minor also thanked Danny Wilkins, Tim Smith, Lance Shealy, and the FCA staff "for their work beyond the football field investing in the hearts of young men."

The Cavaliers are also scheduled to have 7 on 7s with Cherryville and Avery County.

Post 21 softball splits home opener

Morganton- The Burke County Post 21 American Legion softball team hosted their first home game in quite some time Tuesday, after taking a season off due to the Covid outbreak.

Post 21 split with Shelby Post 82 in a rain delayed contest as Shelby dominated in the opener 12-0 while Burke rebounded with a 7-2 nightcap win.

Maddie Crouch and Ashlyn Castle each got on base once in game one off fourth inning walks as opposing pitcher Mackenzie Hayes pitched a no-hitter with five strikeouts.

Game two started off on the right foot for Burke as Crouch led off the nightcap with a walk and scored off a Castle RBI groundout.

Post 21 followed with two runs in the second inning and four in the third inning distributed by Maddison Powell (2 runs, RBI), Hailey Snodgrass (run, RBI), Regan Winkler (RBI), Katie Cozort (run), Elle Tanner (run), and Crouch (run).

Crouch led at the plate with two singles and Snodgrass adding a second inning triple with Powell being issued a walk twice.

Tanner started both games in the pitchers circle with Bridget Patrick being a reliever in game one.

  

Post 21 softball falls on road to complete regular season

Shelby- The Burke County Post 21 fastpitch softball team completed the regular season Thursday at Cleveland Community College in a 2-0 defeat to host Shelby Post 82.

In this American Legion Area 1 non-conference seven-inning contest, Post 21 was able to shine defensively with two incredible outfield catches by centerfielder Madilynn Taylor and a passed ball from catcher Jasmine Webb to third baseman Myra Twitty to tag out a runner.

Post 21 pitcher Nikki Smith also went the distance for a complete game performance striking out four Shelby batters and only allowing three hits and no walks.

Post 82 made the difference in the offensive side of the game scoring a run in the first and fifth innings as Post 21 left ten runners on base.

The bases were first loaded for Post 21 in the fourth inning with Kira Suttles leading off the inning with a walk and Kaylee Redwine (error) and Bridget Patrick (bunt single) also getting on base.

Suttles later added a sixth-inning double with Redwine and Hailey Snodgrass being issued walks to again load the bases but to no avail.

Post 21 (12-5) will now look ahead to the Area 1 region playoffs starting Monday back home at Catawba Meadows Park.

Shelby Post 82 2, Burke Post 21 0

Burke             0          0          0          0          0          0          0-0

Shelby           1          0          0          0          1          0          X-2

WP: Taylor Watson           LP: Nikki Smith

Burke Post 21

                               AB       R          H         RBI      BB       SO

Madilynn Taylor     4          0          1          0          1          2

Ashlyn Castle           4          0          2          0          0          0

Myra Twitty             4          0          0          0          0          0

Kira Suttles               4          0          1          0          1          1

Nikki Smith               3          0          0          0          1          2

Kaylee Redwine      3          0          0          0          0          1

Bridget Patrick        3          0          1          0          0          0

Hailey Snodgrass    3          0          0          0          1          1

Jasmine Webb         3          0          0          0          0          3

Smith: 6 IP, 4K, 0BB, 3H, 2R

TB: Suttles (6), Redwine (3), Taylor (3), Castle (2), Patrick, Smith, Snodgrass

Shelby Post 82

                                          AB       R          H         RBI      BB       SO

Mara Pendleton                 2          1          1          0          0          1

Kassidy Hamrick                 2          0          0          0          0          1

Adi Rhyne                             2          0          0          1          0          0

Emily Graham                     2          1          1          0          0          0

Kam Spangler                      2          0          0          0          0          0

Olivia Bridges                      2          0          0          0          0          0

Mallory Haynes                  2          0          0          0          0          1

Leighann York                     2          0          1          0          0          0

Morgan McCurry               2          0          0          0          0          1

Taylor Watson                    2          0          0          0          0          0

Watson: 7 IP, 9K, 4BB, 5H, 0R

TB: Pendleton (4), Graham (4), Abigale Harris (2), York

SB: Pendleton (2), Harris (2), Graham

-VERSE OF THE DAY-

"They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord."

-Psalm 112:7