Coming off a 22-3 season, the North Stanly baseball team — the reigning Yadkin Valley Conference champions — has carried over its momentum from last year and put together a 7-1 start to the 2023 season with a 3-0 conference record.
The Comets most recently took down the Gray Stone (2-5, 0-5 YVC) in a home doubleheader with 8-1 and 10-0 victories on March 16, increasing their win streak to six games. Coach Scott Clemons’ team has now outscored its eight opponents by a combined 52-16 over the last month.
North traveled to Norwood on March 21 for a meeting with the South Stanly (6-3, 2-2 YVC) and will now head to Oakboro to face the West Stanly (4-2, 0-0 Rocky River Conference) on March 22.
West Stanly 12, Mount Pleasant 0
The Colts are coming off their best performance of the season, a 12-0 road win over fellow YVC frontrunner Mount Pleasant (6-3, 4-0 YVC).
With RRC conference play beginning this week, West is primed for another competitive season following last year’s 20-7 (13-2 YVC) campaign. The Colts hosted a doubleheader with Monroe (0-4, 0-0 RRC) on March 21 before a home game with North.
Mount Pleasant 5, South Stanly 4
So far this season, Mount Pleasant and West Stanly have been the lone thorns in the side of the South Stanly baseball team, which has otherwise gotten off to a strong start to its year. The Colts picked up a decisive 19-1 home win over the Bulls earlier this month, while the Tigers have accounted for two victories amid South’s past three games.
Looking to improve from last year’s 7-14 (4-6 YVC) record, the Bulls are set to travel to New London for a second-straight matchup against the Comets on March 24.
Albemarle 10, Monroe 0
Following four consecutive losses to start the season, Albemarle (2-4, 0-2 YVC) responded by reeling off 12-0 and 10-0 wins over Monroe in a March 14 doubleheader. With two games against Mount Pleasant following the previous matchups against the winless Redhawks, the Bulldogs will need to keep their offense flowing as they look to climb out of the cellar of the YVC standings.
Led by coach Corey Dick, Albemarle was only able to play a partial season last year due to a limited roster size, but the Bulldogs have a full conference slate of contests for the 2023 campaign.
Union Academy 10, Gray Stone 0
Union Academy (4-7, 1-2 YVC) picked up a 10-0 road win over Gray Stone on March 20 with a rematch that was played a day later.
It’s been a tough recent stretch for the Knights, who opened their season 2-0 but have since lost five games in a row. Last year’s team finished with a 6-12 record but lost all 10 of its YVC matchups. Gray Stone will get a chance to notch its elusive first conference win when it faces Robinson (2-6, 2-1 YVC) and South Stanly soon with a few nonconference games interspersed.