Smithfield-Selma High head coach Mike Joyner was the manager of the squad, which included Smithfield-Selma students Dylan Brown, Tate Parrish, Bryant Noteboom, West Johnston student Matthew Dupree and South Johnston student Andrew Carroll.

Region III defeated Region VIII 3-2 in 10 innings during Sunday’s gold medal game. Region VIII had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth but couldn’t capitalize on a bases loaded, nobody out situation. Brown helped Region III score the game-winning run by sacrificing the go-ahead run into scoring position.

Region III included players from Wake, Durham, Orange, Johnson, Wilson, Nash and Granville counties just to name a few.

“Just putting together a team like this in a region where you have 120 kids tryout is a big challenge,” Joyner said. “There are a lot of deserving players who you can’t keep because of the roster limit. But I felt really good about the team we picked and took up there.

“The way we played made me even more proud. The kids made big plays.”

Parrish started the gold medal game on the mound and left with the score tied at 1. He had three hits in the tournament. Brown picked up two hits, stole a base and drove in a pair of runs as well.

Noteboom had a hit in Region III’s 6-1 win over Region V, while Carroll made two starts in right field. Dupree logged time at both third base and catcher in the event.

Region III defeated Region VII 5-1 in its opener, fell to Region I 7-4, then beat Region V 6-1 to advance to the championship game.

“Bring home a gold medal from an event like this is an honor,” said Joyner, who was making his fifth appearance as a coach in the State Games competition.

“And to be able to do it with five Johnston County kids making the Region team is great for baseball in our area.”

Johnston also well represented in State Games softball competition

The East squad’s bid for supremacy in this week’s East-West Senior Series in Greensboro will be heavily dependant on three local athletes and one area coach. As part of the 2008 State Games, squads of recent high school graduates will face off in a best 2-of-3 series Thursday at UNC Greensboro’s softball stadium with games at 5, 7:15 and (if necessary) 9 p.m. The West won the inaugural event last year in a sweep.

Representing Johnston County will be recent West Johnston High graduates Amanda Davenport and Ashley Fowler and recent North High grad Amanda Sharpe. Veteran North Johnston head coach George Daniels will coach the squad.

West Johnston’s Lexi Betancourt will play in the State Games High School Softball Tournament, which runs from Friday through Sunday in Greensboro. Betancourt will be on the Region III squad, which covers Johnston, Wake, Durham, Orange, Wilson and other north central N.C. counties.

West Johnston High head coach Wayne Collins is an assistant coach on the Region III staff as well.

Adams to quarterback East All-Star squad

West Johnston quarterback Michael Adams was one of 60 players named to participate in the N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star football game next month. Adams, a graduate of the class of 2008, has signed to play football at UNC Pembroke.

He helped lead the Wildcats to their best season ever in 2007, a second place finish in the Greater Neuse River 4-A Conference. Adams threw for 2,008 yards and ran for 15 touchdowns (and 348 yards) in 2007 for West.

Adams will be one of two Johnston County representatives on the East sideline. Smithfield-Selma High head coach Anthony Barbour is an assistant coach on the East staff as well.

The game will be played at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23, at Greensboro Grimsley High School.

Johnstonians shine in Special Olympics competition

Johnston County athletes brought home numerous medals from the 2008 Special Olympics of North Carolina Summer Games last week. Championships were handed out in volleyball and swimming, while dangerously high temperatures forced the cancellation of the track and field events.

“Despite canceling outside competition, the 2008 SONC Summer Games were a great success,” said Keith L. Fishburne, president and CEO of SONC. “Everyone understood the health of Special Olympics athletes, coaches and volunteers must be the first priority. For those athletes that did compete, memories were made. We are grateful to all the volunteers who helped make this weekend a positive experience for all the athletes.”

In volleyball, the Johnston Dead Frogs took a gold medal. Members of the Dead Frogs’ roster were Matthew H. Carpenter, Quin M. Chestnut, Jennifer M. Frame, Christoper Malpass, John Andrew Mims, Mike Bryant Purdy, Travis Rigsbee, Christoper Trunick and Charles B. Williamson.

The Johnston Leap Frogs finished second in volleyball play as well. Members of the Leap Frogs’ were Nancy D. Capps, Herbert L. Clark, Geoffrey D. Ennis, Monica Hernandez, Adam Vann Martin, Carrie Rafferty, Pierre Thompson, Michael L. Turnage and Laura Mae Tysinger.

Aaron Flemer won gold medals in both the 25-yard freestyle swim and the 25-yard backstroke. He also swam on the Johnston Jaws’ runner-up 4x25-yard freestyle relay team with Becky Peedin, Sherrie Adams Stanley and Taylor Flanigan White.

Other gold medalist from Johnston County in swimming were Linwood Stanley in the 25-yard flotation race, Sherrie Adams Stanley in the 25-yard backstroke and Daniel C. Godwin in the 15-meter walk. Picking up silver medals as well were Godwin in the 25-yard flotation race, Robert W. Stafford in the 15-meter walk, Linwood Stanley in the 15-meter walk and Taylor Flanigan White in the 25-yard freestyle.

Peedin also finished third in the 25-yard backstroke and fourth in the 25-yard freestyle. Sherrie Adams Stanley also placed fourth in the 25-yard freestyle.