Pride coach seeks full-game effort

Girls soccer team improving as it wins

Leesville Road girls soccer coach Paul Dinkenor said his club is having the kind of season that makes statisticians happy.

The Pride is 10-0 with 10 shutouts.

"But 10-0 doesn't win you anything," Dinkenor said. "We haven't played a complete 80 minutes in a game yet."

On Wednesday, Leesville Road beat Sanderson 1-0 on a Faren Frizzelle header off a cross from Emily Burchette.

Earlier, the Pride beat Apex, Broughton, Millbrook and Enloe by 1-0 scores.

"The Sanderson game was a microcosm of our season," Dinkenor said. "We played sloppily for a half, but in the second half we passed, created chances and played physically. We built from back to front. It was pleasing to see.

"But we know the second half of the season is going to be much tougher than the first half. People are going to be coming after us."

THOMPSON HOMERS: Apex senior Corey Thompson ripped three home runs and a single in Tuesday night's 11-0 baseball victory over Panther Creek.

Thompson swiftly joined the group of eight players who have hit three home runs this season.

Athens Drive's Matthew Paske leads the area with four reported home runs.

Baseball, fastpitch softball and soccer results, schedules and statistics are at highschoolextra. newsobserver.com.

PROPER SCORES AND ASSISTS: Meaghan Proper, the area's leading soccer scorer, had three goals and three assists in an 8-0 girls soccer win over Holly Springs.

She has 16 goals and 16 assists for 48 points.

DAVENPORT'S STRIKEOUTS: Amanda Davenport of West Johnston continues to lead area fastpitch softball players in strikeouts. She has struck out 90 in 10 games.

BUSY SATURDAY: The New Bern track team, one of the best boys clubs in the country, is expected to compete Saturday in the Lee Calhoun Relays at N.C. Central.

New Bern recently dominated in the Nike National Indoors in Landover, Md., winning two relays and placing second two others. Sophomore Fuquan Green won the 200 meters.

The Lee Calhoun is regarded as one of the top high school meets on the East Coast.

* The Carolina Challenge boys basketball showcase is scheduled for Saturday at Cary Academy.

Eighty of the best junior high school boys basketball players in the state will play in the day-long showcase. Scout.com recruiting analyst Dave Telep organized the event. The public is welcome, and there is no admission fee.

* The Brittany Willis Memorial Soccer Showcase begins Friday and continues on Saturday.

Fifty-five girls soccer teams from throughout the state will participate in 36 games.

AREA PLAYERS HELP QUAKERS: Guilford College had seven area players on its 24-5 men's basketball team.

Senior Ben Strong of Chapel Hill was the ODAC player of the year, averaging 25.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks.

Former Chapel Hill teammate Caleb Kimbrough was the Quakers' starting point guard for four seasons.

Other area players were T.C. Anderson of Green Hope, Jake Engebretsen of Durham Academy, Matt Cooney of Cedar Ridge and Jordan Coston of Wakefield.

Guilford lost to St. Mary's 89-77 in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.