Recent Murphy graduate Harrison Duncan was named to the all-tournament team following the Baseball Championship Series Finals 18U event held June 10-16 in Fort Myers, Fla.

Recent Murphy graduate Harrison Duncan was named to the all-tournament team following the 18U Baseball Championship Series Finals held June 10-16 in Fort Myers, Fla.

Duncan appeared in two games for Team Elite Prime (Ga.) and pitched 5.1 scoreless innings. The right-hander had one win and a save. Along with a flat 0.00 earned-run average, Duncan struck out five batters and walked none.

As a senior, Duncan was 3-1 for the Smoky Mountain Conference champion Bulldogs (20-7) with a 2.76 earned-run average and 31 strikeouts in 38 innings pitched.

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Reynolds football coach Shane Laws and the Rockets will host a camp July 11-14.

CAMPS, CLINICS AND TRYOUTS

To submit a sports camp, clinic or tryout listing with the Citizen-Times, please e-mail the information to apearson@citizen-times.com.

BASEBALL

DIAMOND MINE 11U TRYOUT: July 7 at Vance Elementary School. The tryout for the upcoming fall season will last from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For more information, call or text (828) 216-0888.

ASHEVILLE BRAVES 12U TRYOUT: July 9 at Valley Springs Middle School. The tryout will begin at 4 p.m. For more information, contact coach Eric Kuehn at ericfkuehn@gmail.com.

NORTH BUNCOMBE CAMP: Aug. 8-11 at North Buncombe HS. Camp is open to players in the first through the eighth grade and will last each day from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The cost is $80 for pre-registered campers and $90 for first-day registrants. A t-shirt is included and there are sibling discounts available. Players should bring all their needed equipment. For more information, contact Black Hawks coach Matt Landreth at matthew.landreth@bcsemail.org.

D-BAT SPEED AND AGILITY CLASSES: Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at D-BAT Asheville. The cost is $20 per session. Online registration is available at http://www.dbatasheville.com. For more information, call (828) 412-5050.

BASKETBALL

HOOP LAB SUMMER TRAINING ACADEMY – NIGHT PROJECT: Four different weeks are being offered at Carolina Day – July 11-15, July 18-22, July 25-29 and Aug. 1-5. Camp is open to male and female players ages 14-21 and will last each day from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The cost is $35. For more information or to register, log onto www.hooplabo.com.

CROSSFIRE CAMPS: July 18-21 (full-day camp) and July 17-21 (overnight camp) at Mars Hill University Camp is open to boys and girls ages 9-18. Half-day camp lasts from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Full-day camp lasts from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $250 and includes lunch. The cost for the overnight camp is $375 and includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Online registration is available at https://crossfireministry.com. For more information, contact Crossfire at (828) 255-9111.

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY GIRLS CAMP: Aug. 1-4 (day camp) at Western Carolina University. For more information, contact Stacy Cantley, (828) 227-2031 or swmcdonald1@scantley@email.wcu.edu.

HOOP LAB SUMMER TRAINING ACADEMY – DAY PROJECT: Five different weeks are being offered at the Fairview Community Center – July 11-15, July 18-22, July 25-29, Aug. 1-5 and Aug. 8-12. Camp is open to boys and girls ages 9-15 and will last each day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $65 per week. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase. For more information or to register, log onto www.hooplabo.com.

ASHEVILLE HIGH CAMP: July 11-14 at Asheville HS. Camp is open to boys and girls ages 6-12. There are half-day and full-day options available. For more information, contact the Cougars at ashevillebball@gmail.com.

MADISON BOYS CAMP: July 25-28 at Madison HS. Camp is open to second through ninth-grade players and will last each day from 8 a.m. to noon. The cost is $55 and includes a t-shirt. For more information, contact Patriots coach Jonathan McDevitt  at mcdevittjonathan@gmail.commcdevittjonathan@gmail.com.

NIKE BASKETBALL CAMP: Aug. 1-5 at Asheville School. Camp is open to boys and girls ages 8-15. Camp will last each day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $295 and does not include lunch. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Group discounts are available. For more information, call 1-800-NIKE-CAMP.

CROSS COUNTRY 

ALL-AMERICAN CAMP: July 17-22 and July 24-29 at Christ School. Camp is open to boys and girls of all ages and headed up by N.C. State coach Rollie Geiger. The cost is $600 for overnight campers and $450 for day campers (meals are provided). There are team discounts. Online registration is available at http://www.crosscountrycamp.com. The deadline to register is July 1. For more information, send an e-mail to raleightrackclub@gmail.com or call (919) 332-6863.

FOOTBALL

CHRIST SCHOOL SKILLS AND DEVELOPMENT CAMP: July 5-8 at Christ School. Camp is open to boys ages 12-15. The cost is $200 for day camp and $250 for overnight camp. Online registration is available by logging onto https://www.christschool.org/page.cfm?p=873. For more information, contact Greenies coach Mark Moroz at (336) 608-7758 or mmoroz@christschool.org.

REYNOLDS CAMP: July 11-13 at Reynolds HS. Camp is open to players in kindergarten through the eighth grade and will last each day from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The cost is $45 and includes a t-shirt. Registration forms are available at http://www.acreynoldsathletics.org/main/filesLinks.

ENKA CAMP: July 11-14 at Enka HS. Camp is open to first through eight-grade players and will last each day from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The cost is $40 and includes a t-shirt. For more information, contact Jets coach Jeff Frady at (828) 670-5000 or jeffrey.frady@bcsemail.org.

OWEN CAMP: July 18 and 19 at Black Mountain Veterans Park. Camp is open to players and cheerleaders in the kindergarten through eighth grade and will last each day from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. There is no cost to participate. For more information, call (828) 734-1635.

LACROSSE

CAROLINA GLADIATOR CLINICS: July 15 at Asheville Christian Academy and July 22 at TBA. There is no cost. For more information, e-mail Gladiators coach Mario Moraga at Mariojmoraga@gmail.com.

REVOLUTION LACROSSE CAMP: July 5-9 at Christ School. Camp is open to players ages 9-17. The cost is $395 for day camp and $465 for overnight camp. Team discounts are available. Online registration is available at http://www.revolutionlaxcamp.com/NCSummerLacrosseCamp/reservations. For more information, contact Christ School coach Jeff Miles at laxcamp@christschool.org or (828) 684-6232 ext. 107.

SOCCER

ASHEVILLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY CAMP: July 11-14 at ACA. Camp is open to boys and girls in the third through the eighth grade and will last each day from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The cost is $80. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Torri Render at (828) 581-2202 or torri.render@acalion.org.

ROBERSON CAMP: July 11-14 at Roberson HS. Two age-group options are available – camp for boys and girls in kindergarten through sixth grade will last each day from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and camp for boys and girls in seventh through the 12th grade will last each day from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The cost is $60 and includes insurance and a t-shirt. For more information or to register, contact Roberson assistant coach Josh Martin at joshua.martin@bcsemail.org.

MITCHELL GIRLS CAMP: July 12-14 at Mitchell HS. Camp is open to second through 12th grade players and will last each day from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The cost is $25. More camp information is available by calling (828) 766-3400.

REYNOLDS CAMP: Aug. 1-4 at Reynolds HS. Camp is open to players in kindergarten through the eighth grade and will last each day from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $60 and includes a t-shirt. Registration forms are available at http://www.acreynoldsathletics.org/main/filesLinks.

UNC ASHEVILLE BOYS HIGH SCHOOL CAMP: Aug. 6 at UNCA. Camp is open to players in the ninth grade and up and will last each day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $140 and includes lunch. Online registration is available at http://menssoccer.uncasportsacademy.com. For more information, contact Mick Gorodano at mgiordan@unca.edu.

SOFTBALL

ENKA CAMP: July 11-13 at Enka HS. Camp is open to kindergarten through fifth-grade players (from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.) and sixth to 12th-grade players (from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.). The cost is $60. Campers are asked to pre-register by contacting Sugar Jets coach Jennifer Kruk at jennifer.kruk@bcsemail.org or arrive a half-hour early on the first day of camp.

ASHEVILLE THUNDER 12U TRYOUTS: July 12 and 14. To schedule a tryout for the upcoming fall season, contact Patrick McCall at (828) 776-5517. More information on the Thunder can also be found at http://www.facebook.com/AshevilleThunderSoftball.

ASHEVILLE THUNDER 14U TRYOUTS: July 12 and 14. To schedule a tryout, contact Patrick McCall at (828) 776-5517 or Robb Pinner at (828) 989-6555. More information on the Thunder can also be found at http://www.facebook.com/AshevilleThunderSoftball.

TENNIS

ASTON PARK CAMPS: July 18-21, July 25-28, Aug. 1-4 and Aug. 8-11 at Aston Park Tennis Center. Camp will last each day from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and is open to players ages 7-14. The cost is $100 for Asheville residents and $125 for non-city residents. Registration is only available online. Log onto www.ashevillenc.gov and click on Online Services. Then click on Recreation Program Registration. The tennis camps are listed under the activity type: Sports and Games. For more information, contact Laura Loftis at 828-251-4074 or lloftis@ashevillenc.gov.

REYNOLDS CAMP: July 11-14 at Reynolds HS. Camp is open to players in kindergarten through the eighth grade and will last each day from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $60 and includes a t-shirt. Registration forms are available at http://www.acreynoldsathletics.org/main/filesLinks.

VOLLEYBALL

ERWIN CAMP: July 11-13 at Erwin HS. Camp is open to boys and girls in the fourth through the ninth grade. Camp will last each day from 9 a.m. to noon and the cost is $50. For more information or to register, contact Rachel Miller at rachel.wells@bcsemail.org.

WEST HENDERSON CAMP: July 11-13 at West Henderson HS. Camp is open to girls in kindergarten through the ninth grade and will last each day from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $65 and includes a t-shirt. Registration forms are available in the main office. Parents are asked to either RSVP by July 10 by sending an e-mail to tiffanylowrance@me.com or arrive 30 minutes early for the first day of camp to register. For more information, contact Falcons coach Tiffany Lowrance at (828) 458-1895.

UNC ASHEVILLE CAMPS: July 28-20 and Aug. 1-3 at UNCA. Camp is open to girls ages 10-18. Full-day camp lasts each day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the cost is $315. Overnight camp lasts from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the cost is $450. Online registration is available at http://volleyball.uncasportsacademy.com/?DB_OEM_ID=19200. For more information, contact Frederico Santos at (828) 232-5659 or fsantos@unca.edu.

ASHEVILLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY CAMP: Aug. 1-4 at ACA. Camp is open to girls in the third through the eighth grade and will last each day from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $80. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Torri Render at (828) 581-2202 or torri.render@acalion.org.

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Asheville Post 70’s Kyle Cagle.

Shutouts are few and far between in American Legion baseball.

Unfortunately for Asheville Post 70, another truth is that all games count the same in the state playoffs.

Kyle Cagle was masterful in Sunday’s Game 1 of a first-round series with Gastonia Post 23. The recent Reynolds graduate and Carson-Newman (Tenn.) recruit worked the first six innings of an 8-0 win with eight strikeouts, four hits and three walks.

Langston Haden then gave Asheville (15-3) its 15th win by pitching a scoreless seventh. Holden Upright, Jared Patterson and Nate Fore came up with two hits each for the Cardinals.

The second half of a doubleheader at Roberson’s Holmes-Smith Field did not go as well for Post 70 — Gastonia (8-13-1) broke a 7-7 tie with a run in the top of the seventh to take an 8-7 win.

Patterson homered, and in defeat, Asheville outhit Gastonia, 13-9. Fore, Devin Mangum, Trenton Davis, Jacob McCarthy and Danny Trizano collected two hits apiece.

The best-of-five series shifts to Gaston County on Wednesday night for Game 3 and Game 4.

Asheville is the Area IV Western Division champion, while Gastonia placed eighth in the Eastern Division.

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Football

Western North Carolina does not have any players on the NCPreps.com preseason all-state football team. The team covers all classifications.

OFFENSE

QB – Hendon Hooker (Sr.) – Dudley

RB – Zamir White (Jr.) – Scotland County

RB – Javon Leak (Sr.) – Page

WR – Jayden Borders (Sr.) – Shelby

WR – Ryan Jones (Sr.) – Mallard Creek

WR – Sage Surratt (Sr.) – Lincolnton

OL – Eric Douglas (Sr.) – Mallard Creek

OL – Dmitri Emmanuel (Sr) –Marvin Ridge

OL – Avery Jones (Jr.) – Havelock

OL – Jonah Melton (Sr.) – Eastern Alamance

OL – T.J. Moore (Sr.) – Mallard Creek

DEFENSE

DL – Grant Gibson (Sr.) – Mallard Creek

DL – Xach Gill (Sr.) – Wake Forest

DL – K.J. Henry (Jr.) – West Forsyth

DL – Jake Lawler (Sr.) – South Mecklenburg

DL – Jordan Riley (Sr) – Durham Riverside

LB – Justin Foster (Sr.) – Crest

LB – Sherrod Greene (Sr.) – Rocky Mount

LB – Dax Hollifield (Jr.) – Shelby

DB – Jacobe Clement (Sr.) – Mallard Creek

DB – Madison Cone (Sr.) – East Forsyth

DB – Jaylin Dickerson (Sr.) – Pinecrest

DB – Brelin Faison-Walden (Sr.) – Grimsley

SPECIAL TEAMS

ATH –Hamsah Nasrildeen (Sr.) – Concord

K – Christopher Dunn (Jr.) – North Davidson

P– Jonathan Doerer (Sr.) – South Mecklenburg

LS – Mitch Hall (Sr.) – Clayton

KR/PR – Eric Gallman (Sr.) – Mountain Island Charter

Note: The website is taking pre-orders for its North Carolina Prep Football News Yearbook. More information is available at this link.

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Asheville Christian Academy graduate Bailey Clark received a $450,000 signing bonus from the Chicago Cubs.

The Chicago Cubs wanted Bailey Clark, and they wanted him bad.

Clark signed his first professional baseball contract Friday in Mesa, Ariz., and received a bonus of $450,000. 

Major League Baseball recommends a signing bonus or slot value for each pick in the draft. Teams will sometimes exceed that amount to entice their picks to sign instead of returning to college.

Clark (fifth round, 164th pick) was slotted to get $321,800. He was a rising senior at Duke.

Clark is a 21-year-old, right-handed pitcher who graduated from Asheville Christian Academy in 2013.

Clark had a combined 4.31 earned-run average and 120 strikeouts in 121 innings over the course of his college career. He was part of last summer’s USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.

Clark was an All-Carolinas Athletic Association and Citizen-Times All-WNC selection as a high school senior.

Since 2000, there have been four other Western North Carolina high school graduates selected in the first 10 rounds of the MLB draft:

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East Henderson has a new gym floor, courtesy of Haywood County’s Carolina Hardwood.

East Henderson is the latest Western North Carolina high school to get the Carolina Hardwood treatment.

Carolina Hardwood is based out of Haywood County and has been responsible for a number of local gym floor renovations in recent years.

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Roberson rising senior Michelle Cobb recently won a USA Track & Field state championship for the Asheville Lightning.

A big contingent of athletes will represent the Asheville Lightning at the USA Track & Field Region III championship meet which is Thursday through Sunday in Landover, Md.

The qualifying standard was placing in the top-eight at at the June 24-26 USATF meet for North Carolina. State champions for the Lightning were Michelle Cobb (17-18 triple jump), Lee Kania (13-14 javelin) and Chyance King (8 and under long jump).

Other boys and girls who placed in the top-eight of their events were Kania (13-14 multi-event shot put, 1,500-meter run), King (8 and under 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash), Brooke Miller (9-10 multi-event shot put, 200-meter dash), Kaitlyn Miller (9-10 multi-event javelin, shot put, 200-meter dash), Zachary Myers (11-12 multi-event pentathlon, high jump, long jump, shot put, 80-meter hurdles, 1,500-meter run), Thoreau Kilbourne (15-16 2,000-meter steeplechase, 3,000-meter run), Andrew Byrd (15-16 multi-event discus, shot put, pole vault), Pete Szelwach (17-18 discus, shot put), Olivia Moraga (11-12 discus, shot put), Nathaniel Baird (11-12 javelin), Emily Kania (9-10 multi-event javelin, shot put), Ayran Lee (13-14 javelin, long jump), Noah Shaw (11-12 high jump), Elyse King (17-18 long jump, triple jump) and Ernest King (17-18 triple jump).

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Asheville School rising sophomore Rachel Kuehn.

Asheville School rising sophomore Rachel Kuehn has qualified for the U.S. Girls’ Junior golf tournament which is July 18-23 in Paramus, N.J.

Kuehn shot 71 to place second at a qualifier held June 29 at the Belle Meade Country Club in Nashville, Tenn.

Asheville School does not have a girls golf team, but Kuehn was a Citizen-Times All-WNC tennis player last fall. Kuehn (12-3) played No. 1 singles for the Blues and was the Carolinas Athletic Association Player of the Year.

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American Legion baseball

N.C. Area IV playoffs

First round (best of 5): July 3-8 

East-1 (Union County) vs. West-8 (Henderson County)

Game 1: Union 6-2

Game 2: Union 5-1

Games 3 and 4 (if necessary): Tuesday DH, 5 p.m. at East Henderson HS

Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday, 7 p.m. at Wingate University

West-4 (Rutherford County) vs. East-5 (Shelby)

Game 1: Rutherford 4-3 in 10

Game 2: Rutherford 8-0

Game 3: Tuesday, 7 p.m. at Shelby HS

Game 4 (if necessary): Wednesday, 7 p.m. at McNair Field, Forest City

Game 5 (if necessary): Thursday, 7 p.m. at McNair Field, Forest City

East-3 (Gaston Braves) vs. West-6 (Cherryville)

Game 1: Cherryville 11-5

Game 2: G-Braves 3-1

Game 3: Tuesday, 7 p.m. at South Point HS

Game 4: Wednesday, 7 p.m. at Fraley Field, Cherryville

Game 5 (if necessary): Thursday, 7 p.m. at South Point HS

West-2 (Hickory) vs. East-7 (Lincoln County)

Game 1: Sunday, 7 p.m. at Hickory Legion Fairgrounds, ppd., rain

Game 1: Hickory 12-6

Game 2: Tuesday, 7 p.m. at Hickory Legion Fairgrounds

Game 3: Wednesday, 7 p.m. at Hickory Legion Fairgrounds

Game 4 (if necessary): Thursday, 7 p.m. at East Lincoln HS

Game 5 (if necessary): Friday, 7 p.m. at Hickory Legion Fairgrounds

West-1 (Asheville) vs. East-8 (Gastonia)

Game 1: Asheville 8-0

Game 2: Gastonia 8-7 in 9

Games 3 and 4: Wednesday DH, 5 p.m. at Sims Legion Park, Gastonia

Game 5 (if necessary): Thursday, 7 p.m. at Roberson HS

East-4 (Huntersville) vs. West-5 (Taylorsville)

Game 1: Huntersville 16-6 in 7

Game 2: Huntersville 14-2

Game 3: Tuesday, 7 p.m. at North Mecklenburg HS

Game 4 (if necessary): Wednesday, 7 p.m. at Alexander Central HS

Game 5 (if necessary): Thursday, 7 p.m. at North Mecklenburg HS

West-3 (Caldwell County) vs. East-6 (Mint Hill)

Game 1: Caldwell 4-3

Game 2: Caldwell 10-0 in 8

Game 3: Tuesday, 7 p.m. at M.S. Deal Stadium, Granite Falls

Game 4 (if necessary): Wednesday, 7 p.m. at Independence HS

Game 5 (if necessary): Thursday, 7 p.m. at M.S. Deal Stadium, Granite Falls

East-2 (Queen City) vs. West-7 (Burke County)

Game 1: Queen City 9-3

Game 2: Queen City 14-4

Game 3: Tuesday, 7 p.m. at Shuey Field, Morganton

Game 4 (if necessary): Wednesday, 7 p.m. at Shuey Field, Morganton

Game 5 (if necessary): Thursday, 7 p.m. at Independence Park, Charlotte

Quarterfinals (best-of-5): July 9-14

Union-Henderson winner vs. Rutherford-Shelby winner

GBraves-Cherryville winner vs. Lincoln-Hickory winner

Asheville-Gastonia winner vs. Huntersville-Taylorsville winner

Caldwell-Mint Hill winner vs. Queen City-Burke winner

Final Four (double elimination): July 15-18 at Hickory Legion Fairgrounds

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Roberson graduate Chris Narveson is a pitcher in the Miami Marlins organization.

Chris Narveson is giving the Miami Marlins something to think about.

Narveson, 34, came off the disabled list Monday for Triple-A New Orleans. He pitched six shutout innings, allowing just one hit in a 7-2 home win over the Round Rock (Texas) Express.

More from the Zephyrs:

Chris Narveson, activated from the disabled list for tonight’s start, pitched a brilliant six-inning performance in his return to the mound. He faced the minimum through five innings before allowing his only hit of the night to Doug Bernier to lead off the sixth.

Narveson quickly erased Bernier after inducing Patrick Cantwell to pop out in foul territory and James Jones to ground into an inning-ending double play. He lowered his ERA over the last seven starts to a Pacific Coast League-leading 1.21.

The Marlins sent Narveson down to their Triple-A affiliate in April. At the time, he was 1-0 for Miami as a reliever with a 8.64 earned-run average.

The left-hander has pitched off and on in the majors since 2006. He was taken in the second round of the 2000 Major League Baseball draft by St. Louis.

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The Hominy Valley 6 and under softball team won a Babe Ruth state championship Sunday in Winston-Salem.

The Hominy Valley 6 and under softball team won a Babe Ruth state championship Sunday in Winston-Salem.

Hominy Valley defeated Erwin, 12-5, in the tournament’s championship game.

Head coach Adam Hamlin and his team played in honor of Mya Grace Phillips, a local child who is battling cancer. Phillips is in the same age group as the other girls on the Hominy Valley 6U team and was also a big motivation for Enka’s second state-championship run in NCHSAA 3-A softball.

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The North Buncombe 14 and under softball team won a Babe Ruth state championship on Monday in Clemmons.

The North Buncombe 14 and under softball team won a Babe Ruth state championship on Monday and is now looking to raise funds for a trip to the regional tournament.

North Buncombe beat Henderson County in the state-championship game and outscored opponents, 51-6, in Clemmons.

Players on the state-championship team were Katie Pack, Emilee Robinson, Nakaila Marler, Addison Edmonds, Laurun Barnes, Elisabeth Rice, Hope Barlow, Cassie Plemmons, Gabby Bean, Zaria Chandler and Gracie Vetas. Rylee McDaris, Lacey Duinkerken, Hannah Stevenson and Summer Moore have also played with North Buncombe this summer.

The coaches are Luke Plemmons, Chuck Vetas and Ronnie Marler.

The Babe Ruth Southeast Regional tournament begins July 12 in Richmond, Va., and will include teams from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, Florida and the Bahamas.

North Buncombe has set up a GoFundMe page (https://www.gofundme.com/nbsoftball) and is trying to raise $10,000 to help the team get to regionals.

For more information, contact Laura Rice (828) 450-2067 or Kelley Edmonds (828) 551-1597.

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American Legion baseball

N.C. Area IV playoffs

First round (best of 5): July 3-8 

East-1 (Union County) vs. West-8 (Henderson County)

Game 1: Union 6-2

Game 2: Union 5-1

Game 3: Union 10-0 in 6 (Union wins series 3-0)

West-4 (Rutherford County) vs. East-5 (Shelby)

Game 1: Rutherford 4-3 in 10

Game 2: Rutherford 8-0

Game 3: Tuesday, 7 p.m. at Shelby HS, ppd., rain

Game 3: Wednesday, 7 p.m. at McNair Field, Forest City

Game 4 (if necessary): Thursday, 7 p.m. at Shelby

Game 5 (if necessary): Friday, 7 p.m. TBA

East-3 (Gaston Braves) vs. West-6 (Cherryville)

Game 1: Cherryville 11-5

Game 2: G-Braves 3-1

Game 3: Tuesday, 7 p.m. at South Point HS, ppd., rain

Game 3: Wednesday, 7 p.m. at South Point HS

Game 4: Thursday, 7 p.m. at Fraley Field, Cherryville

Game 5 (if necessary): Friday, 7 p.m. at South Point HS

West-2 (Hickory) vs. East-7 (Lincoln County)

Game 1: Sunday, 7 p.m. at Hickory Legion Fairgrounds, ppd., rain

Game 1: Hickory 12-6

Game 2: Hickory 5-4

Game 3: Wednesday, 7 p.m. at Hickory Legion Fairgrounds

Game 4 (if necessary): Thursday, 7 p.m. at East Lincoln HS

Game 5 (if necessary): Friday, 7 p.m. at Hickory Legion Fairgrounds

West-1 (Asheville) vs. East-8 (Gastonia)

Game 1: Asheville 8-0

Game 2: Gastonia 8-7 in 9

Games 3 and 4: Wednesday DH, 5 p.m. at Sims Legion Park, Gastonia

Game 5 (if necessary): Thursday, 7 p.m. at Roberson HS

East-4 (Huntersville) vs. West-5 (Taylorsville)

Game 1: Huntersville 16-6 in 7

Game 2: Huntersville 14-2

Game 3: Tuesday, 7 p.m. at North Mecklenburg HS, ppd., rain

Game 3: Wednesday, 7 p.m. at North Mecklenburg HS

Game 4 (if necessary): Thursday, 7 p.m. at Alexander Central HS

Game 5 (if necessary): Friday, 7 p.m. at North Mecklenburg HS

West-3 (Caldwell County) vs. East-6 (Mint Hill)

Game 1: Caldwell 4-3

Game 2: Caldwell 10-0 in 8

Game 3: Tuesday, 7 p.m. at M.S. Deal Stadium, Granite Falls, ppd., rain

Game 3: Wednesday, 7 p.m. at M.S. Deal Stadium, Granite Falls

Game 4 (if necessary): Thursday, 7 p.m. at Independence HS

Game 5 (if necessary): Friday, 7 p.m. at M.S. Deal Stadium, Granite Falls

East-2 (Queen City) vs. West-7 (Burke County)

Game 1: Queen City 9-3

Game 2: Queen City 14-4

Game 3: Burke 6-5

Game 4: Wednesday, 7 p.m. at Shuey Field, Morganton

Game 5 (if necessary): Thursday, 7 p.m. at TBA

Quarterfinals (best-of-5): July 9-14

Union County vs. Rutherford-Shelby winner

GBraves-Cherryville winner vs. Lincoln-Hickory winner

Asheville-Gastonia winner vs. Huntersville-Taylorsville winner

Caldwell-Mint Hill winner vs. Queen City-Burke winner

Final Four (double elimination): July 15-18 at Hickory Legion Fairgrounds

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Former Cherokee boys basketball coach Willis Tullos is congratulated by his players after winning his 600th career game in January.

CHEROKEE – Willis Tullos just wants to know why.

One of Western North Carolina’s all-time winningest basketball coaches has been fired. And his dismissal comes on the tail end of a 25-4 season in which the Cherokee boys set a NCHSAA record for single-season 3-pointers (330).

Tullos said Wednesday that he has not been given any explanation from Cherokee Central Schools since receiving a letter last Thursday that stated his contract would not be renewed. Tullos’ wife, Tanya, will also not be returning to the high school as an academic counselor.

Tullos, 71, had been Cherokee’s coach since 2012 and was previously a coach and teacher at the Smoky Mountain Conference school from 1989 to 1993.

“I was totally blindsided by this,” Tullos said.

“We weren’t given a reason, and I haven’t been able to talk to anyone about it. There’s got to be more to it (than wins and losses). We’ve gotten better every single year I’ve been here. We won 25 games and set a state record for 3’s as a sectional champion this year. The year before that, we won 24 games and were a sectional runner-up. I don’t know what more they want.”

Phone and e-mail requests for comment were not returned Wednesday by Cherokee Central Schools Superintendent Scott Penland or Cherokee Principal Debora Foerst.

Tullos won his 600th career game with the Braves in January.

Cherokee went on to share the SMC regular-season championship, and then win the SMC tournament and a sectional title. The Braves lost in the fourth round of the NCHSAA 1-A playoffs to Lincoln Charter, 101-88. Senior guard Jason McMillan was named to the Citizen-Times All-WNC team and signed with Western Carolina University.

Cherokee’s state record for 3-pointers may not be touched for some time. The previous mark was 283 (East Cartaret in 2014).

Prior to his firing, Tullos said he had an agreement with Cherokee school officials that he would coach two more years and then retire. Tullos had been a part of summer workouts with the team.

Tullos said it’s too soon to say whether he will coach again. He had a heart attack in 2014 and proudly points out that it only kept him out of work for about a month.

“This year was fine. I could do anything I wanted. But the (2014-15 season) was extremely difficult,” Tullos said.

“Bless my wife’s heart, I know she only got fired because of me. I’ve got to take care of her and the rest of my family. I’m old enough where they don’t have to worry about me. We’ve got some really good sophomores in this program and a lot of them had asked if I would coach them. I am sorry I’m not going to be able to do that.”

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Recent Erwin graduate Tanner Hall pitches during a March game. The Warriors will have a new coach (Caleb Harbin) for the 2017 season.

Caleb Harbin has been hired to coach the Erwin baseball team.

Harbin is a 2011 Pisgah graduate who played collegiately for Mars Hill.

He was an assistant coach for this past season’s 24-4 Mountain Athletic Conference 4-A championship Roberson team. Harbin is currently an assistant for the Asheville American Legion Post 70 team.

Harbin replaces Billy Shepherd who went 7-16 in his only season at Erwin.

Caleb Harbin

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Asheville Post 70’s Nate Fore.

GASTONIA – Unfortunately for Asheville Post 70, whatever magic it had in the regular season did not carry over to the American Legion state playoffs.

The current format for the Legion playoffs has been in place since 2003.

During that time, the Cardinals (15-5) are the first No. 1 seed to lose a first-round series — Gastonia Post 23 won Game 3 and Game 4 on its home field Wednesday night, 9-8 and 15-5.

No. 8 Gastonia (11-13-1) took Game 2 of the best-of-five matchup Sunday at Roberson, 8-7, after being shut out 8-0 in Game 1 earlier that afternoon.

Leading hitters for Post 70 in the first half of Wednesday’s doubleheader were Nate Fore (3-for-4 with a double and an RBI), Jared Patterson (3-5 with a double and an RBI), Josh Dotson (2-4) and Jared Rogers (1-1 with an RBI).

Gastonia was trailing 8-6 before rallying three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Game 4 only went six innings due to the 10-run mercy rule. Jacob McCarthy homered and matched Holden Upright with a team-high two hits. Jake Morgan was 1-1 and Trenton Davis went 1-2.

Asheville was the Area IV Western Division champion (its first such title since 1947) and set a regular-season record for wins (14). Post 70 was the final Western North Carolina team to exit the Legion playoffs. Henderson County Post 77 was swept, 3-0, in its first-round series with Union County and Haywood County Post 47 was disqualified for not submitting a roster in time.

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American Legion baseball

N.C. Area IV playoffs

First round (best of 5): July 3-8

East-1 (Union County) vs. West-8 (Henderson County)

Game 1: Union 6-2

Game 2: Union 5-1

Game 3: Union 10-0 in 6 (Union wins series 3-0)

West-4 (Rutherford County) vs. East-5 (Shelby)

Game 1: Rutherford 4-3 in 10

Game 2: Rutherford 8-0

Game 3: Tuesday, 7 p.m. at Shelby HS, ppd., rain

Game 3: Wednesday, suspended with Shelby leading 2-1 in top 6th

Games 3 and 4 (if necessary): Thursday, 5 p.m. at Shelby with resumption of Wednesday game

Game 5 (if necessary): Friday, 7 p.m. TBA

East-3 (Gaston Braves) vs. West-6 (Cherryville)

Game 1: Cherryville 11-5

Game 2: G-Braves 3-1

Game 3: Tuesday, 7 p.m. at South Point HS, ppd., rain

Game 3: Cherryville 8-4

Game 4: Thursday, 7 p.m. at Fraley Field, Cherryville

Game 5 (if necessary): Friday, 7 p.m. at South Point HS

West-2 (Hickory) vs. East-7 (Lincoln County)

Game 1: Sunday, 7 p.m. at Hickory Legion Fairgrounds, ppd., rain

Game 1: Hickory 12-6

Game 2: Hickory 5-4

Game 3: Hickory 13-3 in 7 (Hickory wins series 3-0)

West-1 (Asheville) vs. East-8 (Gastonia)

Game 1: Asheville 8-0

Game 2: Gastonia 8-7 in 9

Game 3: Gastonia 9-8 in 9

Game 4: Gastonia 15-5 in 6 (Gastonia wins series 3-1)

East-4 (Huntersville) vs. West-5 (Taylorsville)

Game 1: Huntersville 16-6 in 7

Game 2: Huntersville 14-2

Game 3: Tuesday, 7 p.m. at North Mecklenburg HS, ppd., rain

Game 3: Huntersville 6-3 (Huntersville wins series 3-0)

West-3 (Caldwell County) vs. East-6 (Mint Hill)

Game 1: Caldwell 4-3

Game 2: Caldwell 10-0 in 8

Game 3: Tuesday, 7 p.m. at M.S. Deal Stadium, Granite Falls, ppd., rain

Game 3: Caldwell 14-4 in 8 (Caldwell wins series 3-0)

East-2 (Queen City) vs. West-7 (Burke County)

Game 1: Queen City 9-3

Game 2: Queen City 14-4

Game 3: Burke 6-5

Game 4: Queen City 9-0 (Queen City wins series 3-1)

Quarterfinals (best-of-5): July 9-14

Union County vs. Rutherford-Shelby winner

GBraves-Cherryville winner vs. Hickory

Gastonia vs. Huntersville

Caldwell County vs. Queen City

Final Four (double elimination): July 15-18 at Hickory Legion Fairgrounds

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Randy Ashley has been hired to coach the Christ School cross country and track teams.

Randy Ashley has been hired to coach the Christ School cross country and track teams.

Ashley has coached 17 state champions since 2000. He was the Greenies’ interim track coach last spring and also heads up the Asheville-based Fast Twitch Track Club.

“Coach Ashley brings a level of experience and professionalism that will greatly benefit our student-athletes,” Christ School athletic director Scott Willard said.

“His leadership with both our cross country and track teams will bring continuity that will be sure to elevate both programs.”

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Hendersonville’s Tykel Landrum (7) and the Bearcats will be part of the season’s first live-televised game on WMYA-TV (40).

After a little negotiating, live TV is back on the table for Western North Carolina football this season.

Local station WMYA-TV (40) announced Wednesday that it will go forward with a plan to carry 10 regular-season games.

The scheduled broadcasts, all on Thursdays, start with an Aug. 25 game between Hendersonville and West Henderson (at West).

The lineup for “Bojangles’ Thursday Night Lights” was announced in June. Shortly after that though, a contractual issue with Charter Communications arose. WMYA has since worked out an agreement with Charter and the NCHSAA.

WMYA is the sister station of WLOS.

Here is the TV schedule for this upcoming season:

Aug. 25 Hendersonville at West Henderson

Sept. 1 Asheville at Pisgah

Sept. 8 Robbinsville at Christ School

Sept. 15 Cherokee at Smoky Mountain

Sept. 22 North Buncombe at Enka
                    
Sept. 29 Brevard at Tuscola

Oct. 6 Polk County at Mitchell
                    
Oct. 20 East Henderson at Franklin

Oct. 27 Roberson at Reynolds          
                    
Nov. 3 Asheville at Erwin

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Smoky Mountain’s Alex Boyer has been named to the U.S. Youth Fly Fishing Team.

SYLVA – Fly fishing is considered an art form by many outdoor sports enthusiasts.

And one of the country’s best young artists resides in Jackson County.

Smoky Mountain rising sophomore Alex Boyer has been wading into water, flicking cast after cast, since he was 9 years old. The pinnacle of his career — at least so far — occurred last week when Boyer qualified for the U.S. Youth Fly Fishing Team at a competition in State College, Pa.

“I’ve worked really hard for this,” Boyer said.

“It means a lot to make the team at this age. Hopefully, I can continue progressing and represent the team at an upcoming world championship.”

Boyer’s spot on the national team was a result of success he had in regional clinics and tournaments as well as an impressive outing at the national-championship tournament which ended on June 26. The U.S. Youth Fly Fishing team is based out of State College and coached by Christopher Smith along with assistant Kalvin Kaloz.

Boyer will compete in a series of tournaments between now and next summer with the hopes of landing a spot on the U.S. team for the 2017 world championship in Slovenia.

Competitions involving the U.S. team are catch-and-release. Anglers get a chance to fish five different sessions (with a length of three hours each) and scoring is based on the number and size of fish caught. Boyer and other U.S. team members are also counted on to grow the sport through youth clinics. His next clinic is next month in Colorado.

Boyer fishes his share of local creeks, rivers and streams but frequently wets a line outside the area, too.

“He lives and breathes fishing. A lot of people have helped Alex get to where he is today,” Boyer’s mother, Dana, said.

“He has had valuable coaching and mentoring from a lot of people that care a lot about him.”

Smoky Mountain’s Alex Boyer has been named to the U.S. Youth Fly Fishing Team.

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