May 29, 2002 - ENKA — At the end of the East Lincoln-Enka softball playoff game Tuesday, the East Lincoln players, coaches and fans were stunned.

With two outs and no score and runners on second and first in the bottom of the ninth, Enka’s Rebecca Gasperson lofted a short blooper into shallow left field. At first, it looked like the infielders had a chance but drifted a little farther and fell in.

East Lincoln pitcher Aleah Lane retired all 13 batters she faced during her outing against Enka. However, Enka got the big hit later.

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May 27, 2002 - Lincolnton’s softball season came to an end as Eastern Guilford blanked the Lady Wolves, 3-0, Friday at Betty G. Ross Park.

Eastern Guilford pitcher Emily Teague was tough on the Lady Wolves. She not only shut them out, she gave up just two hits all game long.

Lincolnton third baseman Andrea Stroup (right) fields a throw from catcher Lauren Bartholomew in efforts to get an Eastern Guilford runner. Senior Lynsey Cooper (left) was sharp in her last outing for the Wolves.

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May 24, 2002 - The Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce held its Spring Membership Golf Outing on Wednesday, May 15, 2002 at Glen Oaks Country Club.

Eighty-five Chamber members and guests played in the Captain's Choice Outing.

Contributed photo The Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce held its Spring Golf Outing recently. The team of (from left to right) Thurman Anthony, Early Hinson, Gary Howze and Bill Maury took first place.

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May 24, 2002 - OAKBORO — After the first two innings, it appeared West Lincoln might make short work of West Stanly Thursday in the second round of the 2A playoffs.

But the Rebels could not build on an early 5-0 lead, and then they had to put down a rally in the bottom of the seventh to preserve a 5-3 victory.

West Lincoln's Jay Heafner (top) waits for an umpire's call after a pitch during the Rebels' playoff game at West Stanly. Rebels' second baseman Matt Craig just missed getting the double play. But he did put out West Stanly's sliding baserunner Chad Yow. 

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May 24, 2002 - In the sports banquets and awards ceremonies this week, each local high school named their male and female athletes of the year. West Lincoln honored Justin Pearson and Kaylon Carpenter (right), East Lincoln selected Jason Burgess and Amanda Garcia (bottom left) and Lincolnton chose Charlie Stroup and Lauren Bartholomew (bottom right). All of the athletes are seniors and had participated in at least two sports during the school year.

West advances to play at West Stanly in the second round Thursday

May 22, 2002 - VALE — It was a typical West Lincoln baseball game—low-scoring, well-played defensively and tight going into the late innings.

The Rebels will just keep hoping for the same outcome as Tuesday's 2-1 cliffhanger over Western Alamance in the first round of the state 2A playoffs.

West Lincoln pitcher (left) Chris Halubka was the mean man on the mound Tuesday. He tossed a three-hitter and struck out eight Western Alamance batters. Josh Carpenter (right) smacked a home run to give West the lead in the fourth inning. 

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May 22, 2002 --

EAST LINCOLN: YEAR ATHLETIC AWARDS

SPECIAL AWARDS:

Female Athletic of the Year: Amanda Garcia

Male Athletic of the Year: Jason Burgess

Nicole Bowman Memorial Scholarship: Sabrina Abraham

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May 22, 2002 -

WEST LINCOLN SPRING

ATHLETIC AWARDS BANQUET

SPECIAL AWARDS:

Female Athletic of the Year: Kaylon Carpenter

Male Athletic of the Year: Justin Pearson

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May 20, 2002 - Lincolnton’s Charlie Stroup has signed a letter of intent to play football for Guilford College.

Stroup was a key defender for the Wolves and helped them reach the 2A state semifinals this season.

Lincolnton's Charlie Stroup (center) will be attending and playing football for Guilford College. His parents, Patsy and Greg Stroup, are by his side. Standing (left to right) are LHS baseball coach Bobby Martin and football coaches Scott Cloninger and Ledford Gibson.

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May 20, 2002 - DENVER — East Lincoln basketball standout Jason Burgess will be playing college ball for nearby Belmont Abbey.

He recently signed a letter-of- intent to a play for the school.

“I’m excited to play after high school,” Burgess said.

East Lincoln's Jason Burgess (center) will play for Belmont Abbey next year. He's surrounded (left to right, seated) by his grandmother Gladys Houk, mother Barbara Crouse, father Darrell Burgess, (standing) Belmont Abbey coach Frank Lowery, East basketball coach Neil Hodges, and East athletic director Jim Prevost.

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May 20, 2002 -

Varsity Football

MVP: Damien Forney

Best Offensive Lineman: Richard Locklin
Best Offensive Back: Rafael Corrella
Best Defensive Lineman: Clarence Curry
Best Defensive Back: Charlie Stroup

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May 20, 2002 - East Lincoln Middle School shot a 321 to win the Tri-County Confer-ence golf match played at Meadowbrook Golf Course in Ruther-fordton, making ELMS the conference champion. East complete a perfect season, 20-0.

ELMS finished two shots ahead of R-S Middle. Lincolnton Middle (355) was fifth, Pumpkin Center (391) was 10th and West Lincoln (403) was 11th.

Top Lincoln County individual scorers were: Patrick Rada (EL) 75, Kenny Bethea (EL) 78, Reid Ketner (EL) 82, Morty Wadsworth (L) 85, Trey Gazdeck (L) 86, and Alex Willhite (EL) 86.
Match Medalist was Jayson Philbeck of Crest Middle with 73.
The team members pictured are (left to right, front row) Patrick Rada, Reid Ketner, Kenny Bethea, (top row) coach Mike Freeman, Carson King, Alex Coffee, Alex Willhite, Kendal Law and Will Robin-son.

May 17, 2002 - DENVER — East Lincoln’s Stephanie Horne was in a four-game hitting slump.

With the score tied, two outs in the seventh and a runner on first and second, the Big South 3A Softball tournament championship was on the line.

East Lincoln softball team (left) celebrates their Big South softball title while (right) Autumn Painter, left, and Brooke Michael remembering their former teammate No. 10 Nicole Bowman.

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May 17, 2002 - VALE — The Midwest 2A softball conference tournament was an old-fashioned pitchers’ duel at West Lincoln Optimist Park Thursday.

Lincolnton’s Lynsey Cooper and East Rutherford’s Lindsey Brooks went toe-to-toe.

Lynsey Cooper

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May 17, 2002 - BASS - Lance High shot a 78 on Monday and 79 on Tuesday to lead Lincolnton to a seventh place finish in the 2A state champion-ships at Woodlake Golf Course in Bass near Pinehurst. Central Davidson beat Charlotte Catholic by one stroke to win the state title. Lincolnton was just 32 shots shy of the champions in the 14-team field. The Wolves shot 664 in the two-day event.

Matt Eagle (80-87-167), Robbie Lewis (84-84-168), Mac Bell (86-91-177), Michael Wiseman (95-86-181) and Kyle Gazdeck (94-91-185) all had solid performances.

The team members pictured are (left to right, front row) Robbie Lewis, Kyle Gazdeck, (back row) coach Scott Cloninger, Lance high, Mac Bell, Michael Wiseman and  Matt Eagle .

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May 15, 2002 - Lincolnton’s softball team pulled out a close 2-0 win over rival West Lincoln at Betty G. Ross  Park Tuesday afternoon.

With the win, the Lady Wolves advance to the second round of the Midwest 2-A Conference Tournament.

West Lincoln's Lacey Parker (left) makes it back in time but LHS first baseman Ashlea Farley makes it close. West senior shortstop Kaylon Carpenter (right) played in her final high school game Tuesday.

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