A TRUE MAGICIAN IN THE MIDFIELD. Southern Nash High School midfielder Charlotte Benson (left) controls the ball in the midfield during last Thursday's girls soccer playoff matchup against Wilson Fike.

STANHOPE -- Ten years or so ago, you probably could have banked a nice chunk of change by betting that one day the Southern Nash Ladybirds would boast one of the area's top soccer powerhouses.
During those days, Southern Nash was a middle-of-the-road program struggling to compete against its most high-powered opponents.

RED OAK -- Jonathon Page was known more for his perimeter work during his basketball career at Northern Nash, but there is no doubt that his recruitment to Huntingdon College was an inside job.
That's because Page's older brother, Sam, was a standout at Huntingdon who recently graduated from the Division III school in Montgomery, Alabama.

LOUISBURG -- Another season passes on the Louisburg High School hardwood, and another Warrior commits to continue his career at the collegiate level.
Marcus Portis recently became the next college-bound player from the Warriors as he decided to commit and play not far from home for the legendary Coach John Thompson at North Carolina Wesleyan University in nearby Rocky Mount.

NASH COUNTY -- A basketball junkie and coaching lifer -- those are two of the best phrases to describe the legendary Gerald Melton.
And Melton isn't about to stop yet, despite putting together an amazing career that has included coaching stops at Southern Nash (girls), Bunn (boys) and, most recently, East Wake (boys).

ZEBULON -- Will Rudy started and pitched through five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, Jheremy Vargas went 2-for-5 with two doubles and Gregory Barrios drove in two runs while going 1-for-4, but the homestanding Carolina Mudcats lost a 3-0 fifth inning lead in a series opening 9-5 loss to Down East Wood Ducks on Tuesday night at historic Five County Stadium.

LEGENDS OF THE GAME (L to R) CHRIS MIZELLE AND ROBBIE KENNEDY

WILSON -- A coaching career already filled with lofty accolades will receive another one in July -- and it will be one of the most pertinent yet for Wilson Fike soccer skipper Chris Mizelle.
Mizelle, a Nash County native who prepped at Northern Nash, has been selected to coach the girls roster at the annual North Carolina Coaches Association's East-West All-Star Game. The event will be staged July 18 as part of a girls-boys doubleheader in Greensboro.

ROCKY MOUNT -- The North Carolina Wesleyan University baseball program fell in back-to-back games in the Rocky Mount Regional to Lynchburg and Lebanon Valley last weekend at home in NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament action.
The Bishops' offense shined in the doubleheader, scoring 21 runs and hitting five home runs to cap off the regional.

NASH COUNTY -- Defending champion Westridge will begin its title defense on June 15 when the Nash-Halifax Swim League kicks off its 2023 summer campaign.
The Wahoos will open on that date with a road matchup against Nash Rec at the NRST Pool in Nashville.
Once again, three teams will compete in the league -- Westridge, Nash Rec and Roanoke Valley.

JUSTICE -- Emily Bell has been a day-one standout during her prolific softball career at Barton College, so why should her senior season prove to be any different?
Bell, who prepped at Bunn High School and resides in the Justice Community, starred at second base this spring for the Bulldogs while helping them compile a 27-22 worksheet.

Southern Nash's Emory Gibson (15) tries to track down a loose ball in a crowd of Wilson Fike players in the box during last Thursday's girls soccer state playoff showdown at Firebird Stadium.