The high school spring season in Moore County could be described as one of the most historic seasons.
There were many firsts this season. One school had its first individual solo tennis championship, one made it to the baseball state championship, and one made it to the fourth round of lacrosse state playoffs.
Here’s how it all played out.
Girls Lacrosse
Union Pines: For the first time in school history, and in their third season, the Vikings were conference tournament runner-up, and for the first time, they made the state playoffs. As a four-seed, the Vikings made it to the elite eight round before being defeated by state champions Croatan. They finished the season with a 15-3 overall record.
Pinecrest: The Patriots had a lot of firsts in its program. The program’s best overall record of 13-3, best win streak of 10 games, best start of 10-0, first conference championship, and deepest run-in state playoffs making it to the Sweet 16.
Boys Lacrosse
Pinecrest: The Patriots advanced to the Sweet 16, where Middle Creek defeated them, 16-6.
Boys Tennis
Pinecrest: Marshall Landry won the school’s first individual solo state championship.
North Moore: Jamorion Horne and Alberto Barcenas won the Mid-Carolina doubles conference championship. The Mustangs made it to the state 1A quarter-finals for the first time in school history.
O’Neal: lost to Carolina Friends in the NCISAA state quarter finals, 3-6.
Girls Soccer
Union Pines: The Vikings won their second straight conference tournament championship and NCHSAA 3A tournament appearance. The Vikings lost in the second round to Williams, 5-1.
Pinecrest: The Patriots were conference regular season co-champs, conference tournament runner-up. They fell to Cleveland in the second round of the NCHSAA 4A playoffs, 7-0.
North Moore: The Mustangs made it to the third round of the NCHSAA 1A playoffs before falling to No. 1 ranked Woods Charter, 9-0.
O’Neal: The Falcons won the Tri-Tac conference championship and made it to the fourth round of the NCISAA 2A playoffs before losing to Grace Christian of Sanford.
Boys Golf
Pinecrest: The Patriots placed first at regionals and won the NCHSAA 4A state championship. The Lady Patriots won the state title in the fall, giving Pinecrest both state titles this year.
North Moore: The Mustangs finished first in regionals and placed seventh at the NCHSAA 1A championship.
O’Neal: Pete Myers won the NCISAA 2A individual state championship. The team finished as the NCHSAA 2A state runner-up.
Softball
Union Pines: They went 12-9 on the season and a respectable 9-3 in conference play. The Vikings made the NCHSAA 3A state playoffs but lost to Dixon in the first round, 7-5.
North Moore: The Mustangs entered the NCHSAA 1A playoffs as a 25-seed. In the first round, the Mustangs were downed by No. 8 Falls Lake, 12-2.
Baseball
Union Pines: The Vikings entered the NCHSAA 3A playoffs as a 24-seed. Eighth-seed Carrboro eliminated the Vikings in the first round, 6-5.
Pinecrest: The Patriots came into the season as the 4A state runner-up. They won another conference regular season title and a conference championship title. The Patriots were knocked out of the NCHSAA 4A third round by Corinth Holder,10-3.
North Moore: The Mustangs finished 22-10 on the season and won the conference championship. They entered the NCHSAA 1A playoffs as a respectable nine-seed. The Mustangs went on a run, only losing one game in the tournament until the state championship. Uwharrie Charter swept them in best of three series, leaving the Mustangs as the state runner-up.
O’Neal: The Falcons finished second in conference play and won the conference championship. They lost the second round of the NCISAA 2A playoffs to Faith Christian of Rocky Mount, 7-2.
Feature photo: Union Pines girls lacrosse. Photo provided by Addie Kate Caddell.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Curtis Self. Contact him at [email protected].
