North Duplin’s softball team stands on the third-base line during the National Anthem before last Saturday’s game against Union Academy Charter School in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1A softball state championship series. The Rebels had six sports represented in postseason play during the spring. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — North Duplin’s run to the 2023 N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1A state softball championship capped an outstanding sports campaign for the 2022-23 academic year.
The Rebels (23-5 overall) finished runners-up to Union Academy Charter School. It was their third state finals appearance in program history and first since 2015.
Four teams — girls’ basketball, baseball, softball and boys’ cross country — claimed Carolina 1A Conference regular-season titles. Girls’ basketball and baseball each collected a conference tournament crown for the second consecutive year.
Softball “three-peated” as regular-season and tournament champ.
In all, the Rebels sent eight teams to the NCHSAA playoffs — football, volleyball, boys’ and girls’ soccer, boys’ and girls’ basketball, softball and baseball.
Directed by head coach John Oliver, the girls’ basketball team advanced to the eastern semifinals for the first time in more than three decades.
Individually, Carson Barwick represented the boys’ golf team in the state finals contested at Pinehurst No. 6 in Southern Pines. Barwick became the third Rebel since 2015 to achieve the accomplishment. Matt Coltren made appearances in 2018, 2019 and 2021. Hunter Brock qualified in 2015.
Coach Kody Kennedy carried a contingent of medal contenders to the NCHSAA outdoor track and field state finals in Greensboro. Tateyawna Faison, Saniah McNeill, Marcus Hill, Levi George and Trashawn Ruffin competed as individuals.
The Rebels ran two relays — boys’ 4×8 and girls’ 4×2.
During a recent awards ceremony, nearly 90 athletes in 13 sports were recognized for their outstanding efforts on the court and fields this season.
The award recipients are as follows:
Football: All-Carolina 1A Conference — Eli Morrisey, Oscar Romero, Trashawn Ruffin and Khamari Leak. All-CC honorable mention — Isaac Davis, Branden Reyna and Cole Beavers.
Volleyball: All-Carolina 1A Conference — Reece Outlaw and Addy Higginbotham. All-CC honorable mention — Kasey Jones and Lilly Fulghum.
Cross country: All-Carolina 1A Conference — Ben Bullard, Luis Arilez-Gonzalez and Sumner Baker.
Boys’ Soccer: All-Carolina 1A Conference — Crismy Gonzalez, Erik Rosas, Velasquez Lopez and Isaias Santos. All-CC honorable mention — Brandon Prudencio, Henry Gonzalez and Julio Gomez Ordonez.
Cheerleading (Football): All-Carolina 1A Conference — Alison Lambert and Lena Rouse. All-CC honorable mention — D’Andrea Morrisey.
Cheerleading (Basketball): All-Carolina 1A Conference — Karli Schoolcraft and Daniella Jaco. All-CC honorable mention — Saniah McNeill and Kimberly Rubio.
Boys’ Basketball: All-Carolina 1A Conference — Levi George. All-CC honorable mention — Eli Morrisey, Richard Noble, Brady Byrd, Cole Beavers.
Girls’ Basketball: All-Carolina 1A Conference — Reece Outlaw, Addy Higginbotham and Tateyawna Faison. All-CC honorable mention — Meghan Martin, Adaisha Bernal, Lily Brothers, Lilly Fulghum and Kasey Jones.
Indoor Track: All-Carolina 1A Conference — Valencya Stemmler, Michelle Matute, Baker Sumner, Marcus Hill, Geovanie Ayala, Luis Avilez, Khamari Leak and Luke Holland.
Softball: All-Carolina 1A Conference — Reece Outlaw, Addy Higginbotham, Kasey Jones, Riley Hatch and Lilly Fulghum. All-CC honorable mention — Dana Santibanez, Iala Overton, Adaisha Bernal, Sarah Thomas Tucker and Ady Spence.
Baseball: All-Carolina 1A Conference — Erik Rosas, Austin Duff, Hunt Pate, Richard Noble and Tanner Kornegay. All-CC honorable mention — Wesley Holmes, Brady Byrd, Tyler Johnsey, Esteban Santos Clark and Garris Warren.
Outdoor Track: All-Carolina 1A Conference — Tateyawna Faison, Saniah McNeill, Janlya Kennion, D’Andrea Morrisey, Baker Sumner, Valaja Wallace, Ashlyn Holland, Levi George, Trashawn Ruffin, Marcus Hill, Luis Avilez, Isaias Escorsia, Crismy Gonzalez and Ben Bullard.
Boys’ Golf: All-Carolina 1A Conference — Carson Barwick and Nathan Grantham.
Girls’ Soccer: All-Carolina 1A Conference — Genesys Holguin and Michelle Matute. All-CC honorable mention — Jisel Jimenez-Hernandez and Gisselle Mejia.
