Cougar Squads dominate West Caldwell in NWC action March 12; baseball & softball vs. McDowell moved to March 13

By D.N. PENNELL, Jr.
Alexander Central’s Baseball, Softball, and Soccer Teams enjoyed a successful day of NW 3A/4A action when the Cougar squads visited West Caldwell High School in Gamewell.
HAMMER LEADS VARSITY BASEBALL TO WIN
ACHS junior Bryson Hammer tossed a complete-game one-hitter to lift the Varsity Cougar Baseball Team to a 6-0 win over the West Warriors on Tuesday evening, March 12.
In the seven-inning outing, the left-handed Hammer chalked up 17 strikeouts and did not issue a walk en route to his first mound win of the young season.
With the win, ACHS evened its record to 3-3 overall and climbed to 2-1 in NWC contests. The Cougars are scheduled to play at McDowell High today in a game that has been moved up two days due to forecasted rain.
In the victory at West Caldwell, ACHS tallied eight total hits. Senior and WCU signee Dawson Elder led the Cougars with a pair of hits. Hammer and Seth Sigmon contributed two RBI each in the ACHS win.
LADY COUGARS BLANK WARRIORS BEHIND CARRIGAN & RHONEY

Freshman Faith Carrigan tossed a complete-game, three hitter and Gracie Rhoney tallied four hits to lift the Alexander Central Varsity Softball Team to a 12-0 win over the West Caldwell Warriors in Tuesday’s NWC clash in Gamewell.
Carrigan improved to 3-1 on the mound as she fanned a season-high 13 Lady Warriors in Tuesday’s win. She did not allow a walk.
Offensively, Rhoney tallied four hits and notched three RBI to pace Alexander’s 14-hit effort. Senior Lanie Goforth added three hits in the victory.
ACHS improved to 2-1 in NWC games and will play at McDowell this evening. The game was moved up from the original schedule date of March 15 in hopes of avoiding inclement weather.
In Tuesday’s junior varsity game in Gamewell, the young Lady Cougars claimed a resounding 15-4  win over the Warriors.
Abby Teague (1-1) claimed the mound win for the Cougars with a complete-game performance. She allowed four runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts.
At the plate, Teague and Karen Kerley led Alexander with three hits each, while Breanna Church tallied two hits and drove in a team-high four runs.

THOMAS, MAYS NOTCH HAT TRICKS IN WIN
Madison Thomas and Sierra Mays scored three goals each to lead the Alexander Central Varsity Soccer Team to an 8-1 win over West Caldwell in the NW 3A/4A opener on Tuesday evening, March 12.
The win upped Alexander’s overall record to 2-2.
In addition to three goals each from Thomas and Mays, April Benfield and Alyssa Matthews added one goal apiece. Sierra Mays, Lily Arellano, Madison Thomas, Sierra Robinson, Paige Coonse, Bryanna Payne, and
Savannah Thurber assisted on one goal each for the Alexander offense.
The Alexander Central JV and Varsity Soccer Teams will travel to Marion for NWC matches against McDowell on Friday, March 15.
COUGAR NETTERS ROUT BEARS
The Alexander Central Men’s Tennis Team earned an impressive 9-0 road win over the Bunker Hill Bears in Claremont on Tuesday afternoon, March 12.
The Cougars (2-3) swept all five singles matches with each player winning 8-0. Carter Patterson, Cameron White, Rhett Chapman, Jacob Campbell, Seth Warren, and Luke Davis posted singles wins for first-year Coach Cam Gant.
In doubles play, ACHS finished 3-0 with the teams of Seth Warren/Jacob Campbell, Rhett Chapman/Devon Presnell, and Elijah Campbell/Evan Sharpe claiming doubles wins.
ACHS is set to play a non-league match at South Caldwell this afternoon and will return home to host Statesville Christian in a match on Thursday, March 14.