3 Vance basketball players sign with colleges

Three Vance seniors signed with colleges:

Keynan Harper (11 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game, 1.3 blocks per game), a first-team all-conference pick, with Butler (Kan.) Community College.

Jawuan Springs (10.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg), another first-team all-conference pick, with Lake Erie (Ohio) College.

Eric Lusha (10.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg) with Catawba Valley Community College.

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/06/10/2365175/wilkinson-is-player-of-the-year.html#storylink=misearch#ixzz1P1J0izv5

Alex. Central's Wilkinson repeats as N.C. Gatorade softball player of the year

Alexander Central softball pitcher Chelsea Wilkinson is the N.C. Gatorade Player of the Year for the second straight year.

The 5-foot-10 junior right-handed pitcher, now a finalist for Gatorade's national award, led the Cougars (31-2) to the Class 4A state championship this past season. Wilkinson posted a 31-2 with a 0.66 ERA and 370 strikeouts in 212 innings pitched.

Most Valuable Player of the state championship series in 2009 and 2011, she batted .358 with seven home runs and 34 RBI this spring. Wilkinson is a two-time Charlotte Observer Player of the Year and has twice been named a Second Team High School All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Wilkinson has maintained a 3.88 GPA in the classroom. Also a talented musician, she has volunteered locally on behalf of Christmas toy drives for needy children and fundraising campaigns to benefit cancer research.

“Wilkinson is very, very good,” said Wayne Deans, head coach of rival D.H. Conley High. “She’s not easily rattled and she has great command of any pitch she wants to throw.”

Butler's Cierra Burdick to play for USA Basketball for third straight year

For the third straight year, former Butler girls basketball star Cierra Burdick will play for her country.

After winning gold medals the past two summers, Burdick was selected for the USA Basketball U19 team, which will play in the U19 World Championships in Chile.

The team will train July 11-15 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Burdick, signed to Tennessee, is a two time N.C. Parade, two-time N.C. Associated Press and two-time Charlotte Observer player of the year. She’s made multiple All-America teams the past two seasons and played in the McDonald’s All-America game.

Providence High's Brett Austin goes No. 54 in MLB Draft

Providence High catcher Brett Austin, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior, was selected No. 54 in the Major League Baseball Draft.

Austin, 18, went to the San Diego Padres.

He'd previously signed with N.C. State for college.

Austin was the 2010 Southwestern 4A player of the year and N.C. player of the year. This season, he again made the Southwestern 4A all-conference team and hit .537 with 12 home runs, 10 doubles and 38 RBIs. He stole 14 bases and scored 47 runs.

Read more on this developing story in Wednesday's Observer

Butler's Cousar is new baseball coach at Charlotte Latin

Charlotte Latin School Headmaster Arch McIntosh and Athletic Director Jimmy Broadway announce that Kim Cousar is Latin’s new head varsity baseball coach and P.E. teacher.

He comes to Latin from Butler High School in Matthews, where he has served as head baseball coach since the school was opened in 1997. Cousar also served at Butler as an assistant football coach and physical education instructor with an emphasis on health issues, weight training and conditioning. He previously served as the head baseball coach, assistant football coach, and physical education and biology instructor at Anson Senior High School.

Cousar, who is known for his strong relationships with students and players, was named the N.C. Baseball Coaches Association Region 6 4A Coach of the Year in 1991, 1999 and 2007. He was Conference Coach of the Year in 1985, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1999, 2002 and 2007. His teams’ overall record is more than 400 wins, nine conference championships and 20 appearances in state playoffs. He has garnered 22 winning seasons in his 26 years as a baseball coach.

A former associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds, Cousar also is the founder of Batter-up Baseball Camps and served as co-director of the intramural program at Gardner-Webb University and as an assistant coach on American Legion teams, including the N.C. Legion State Championship team in 1987. Cousar earned a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education with an endorsement in biology from Gardner-Webb University.

-- Charlotte Latin media release

Area spring sports leaders

Area High School leaders
This is the final report of the season
Baseball
Batting Average
Gus Fesperman, N. Stanly, .646
Corey Dick, Albemarle, .605
Brett Austin, Providence, .537
Jake Barbee, Hickory, .536
Even Loaces, Shelby, .509
Kevin Van Asch, W. Stanly, .505
David Daniels, East Meck, .494
Sam Laws, W. Iredell, .493
Brandon Wilkerson, Mallard Creek, .486
Brad Elwood, Piedmont, .483
Jared Fortune, SouthLake, .478
Nick McGee, W. Meck, .478
Blaine Lewis, Mallard Creek, .474
Jake Fincher, Providence, .466
David McGoldrick, Queens Grant, .463
Jace Whitley, W. Stanly, .462
Mikal Hill, Mallard Creek, .455
Matt Davenport, W. Meck, .454
Eddie Hull, Charlotte Catholic, .452
Nat Dunlap, Albemarle, .439
Palmer Coleman, SouthLake, .438
Clay Festerman, N. Stanly, .436
Kirk Morgan, Mallard Creek, .436
Nathan Sharp, SouthLake, .435
Sam Remick, SouthLake, .432
Langdon Rawls, W. Meck, .430
Xander Maddox, Providence, .429
Jake Rothman, Providence, .427
Brandon Burris, Mt Pleasant, .420
Patrick Langdon, Country Day, .419
A.J. James, Mt Pleasant, .417
Josh Cochran, W. Stanly, .419
James Snover, Myers Park, .416
William Frazier, Country Day, .415
Andrew Pope, Providence Day, .413
Peter Hendel, Cuthbertson, .410
Ty Buttrey, Providence, .405
Blake Sides, Hickory Ridge, .404
Troy Howard, Albemarle, .404
Sean Grant, W. Iredell, .400
Home Runs
Corey Dick, Albemarle, 18
Palmer Coleman, SouthLake, 14
Brett Austin, Providence, 12
Jared Fortune, SouthLake, 12
Josh Cochran, W. Stanly, 10
Jackson Campana, Providence, 8
A.J. Larson, Butler, 8
Ty Buttrey, Providence, 7
Nathan Sharp, SouthLake, 7
Sam Remick, SouthLake, 7
Colin Walls, Country Day, 7
Tommy Hibbard, Butler, 7
Brad Elwood, Piedmont, 6
Peter Hendel, Cuthbertson, 6
Even Loaces, Shelby, 6
Kevin Van Asch, W. Stanly, 5
Jace Whitley, W Stanly, 5
Andrew MacLatchie, Providence, 7
Gus Fesperman, N. Stanly, 5
Sam Laws, W. Iredell, 5
David McGoldrick, Queens Grant, 5
Andrew Pope, Providence Day, 5
Grayston Atwood, Mt Pleasant, 5
Blake Sides, Hickory Ridge, 5
Jake Fincher, Providence, 5
Chase Gehringer, Butler, 4
David Daniels, E. Meck, 4
A.J. James, Mt Pleasant, 4
Craig Brooks, Parkwood, 4
Logan Sherer, E. Meck, 4
Kyle Johnson, Hickory, 4
Blaine Lewis, Mallard Creek, 4
Mikal Hill, Mallard Creek, 3
Nick McGee, W. Meck, 3
Jacob Rothman, Providence, 3
Jonathan Cres, E. Meck, 3
RBIs
Palmer Coleman, SouthLake, 60
Corey Dick, Albemarle, 54
Josh Cochran, W. Stanly, 49
Kevin Van Asch, W. Stanly, 43
Jared Fortune, SouthLake, 42
Jake Fincher, Providence, 40
Brad Elwood, Piedmont, 39
Brett Austin, Providence, 38
A.J. James, Mt Pleasant, 37
Colin Walls, Country Day, 36
Blaine Lewis, Mallard Creek, 33
Brandon Wilkerson, Mallard Creek, 33
Nathan Sharp, SouthLake, 32
Nick McGee, W. Meck, 30
Blake Sides, Hickory Ridge, 29
Tyler Holloway, Country Day 29,
Nat Dunlap, Hickory Ridge, 29
Lee Harrison, Country Day, 28
Jamel Harbison, Mallard Creek, 28
Jace Whitley, W. Stanly, 27
Troy Howard, Albemarle, 27
Ty Buttrey, Providence, 27
Sam Laws, W. Iredell, 27
Sean Grant, W. Iredell, 26
David McGoldrick, Queens Grant, 26
Clay Fesperman, N. Stanly, 26
Even Loaces, Shelby, 25
Andrew MacLatchie, Providence, 25
Jackson Campana, Providence, 25
Sam Remick, SouthLake, 24
Zach Andrews, Hickory Ridge, 24
David Daniels, E. Meck, 23
Josh Ferguson, Marvin Ridge, 23
A.J. Larson, Butler, 23
Logan Sherer, E. Meck, 22
Alex Jensen, Charlotte Catholic, 22
Brandon Burris, Mt Pleasant, 21
Jacob Rothman, Providence, 21
Collin Manning, Charlotte Catholic, 20
Robert Whaley, Hickory, 20
Strikeouts
Craig Brooks, Parkwood, 107
Peter Hendel, Cuthbertson, 105
Tyler Poole, Hickory, 96
Demetrus Ingram, W. Stanly, 90
Brad Elwood, Piedmont, 83
Grayston Atwood, Mt Pleasant, 82
Daniel Stewart, Charlotte Catholic, 75
Brandon McWhirter, Butler, 71
Brian Peart, Marvin Ridge, 70
Tyler Chadwick, Marvin Ridge, 64
Dalton Shaw, W. Meck, 63
Zach Huneycutt, W. Stanly, 62
William Frazier, Country Day, 61
Ty Buttrey, Providence, 60
Sean Grant, W. Iredell, 59
Zach Andrews, Hickory Ridge, 55
Mike Herbert, Providence, 54
Lee Harrison, Country Day, 51
ERA
Dalton Shaw, W. Meck, 0.43
Peter Hendel, Cuthbertson, 0.67
Daniel Stewart, Charlotte Catholic 0.93
Keisuke Ishikawa, Country Day, 1.21
Matt Ward, W. Stanly, 126
Craig Brooks, Parkwood, 1.38
Matt Davenport, W. Meck, 1.43
Demetrus Ingram, W. Stanly, 1.45
Brandon McWhirter, Butler, 1.52
Tyler Chadwick, Marvin Ridge, 1.54
Sean Grant, W. Iredell, 1.75
Zach Huneycutt, W. Stanly, 1.95
Matt Kaiser, Albemarle, 2.09
Tyler Poole, Hickory, 2.18
Zach Andrews, Hickory Ridge, 2.19
Nat Dunlap, Albemarle, 2.29
Brian Peart, Marvin Ridge, 2.31
Colin Walls, Country Day, 2.33
Lee Harrison, Country Day, 2.46
Dalton Eisenbath, Butler, 2.75
Tyler McCarthy, Mallard Creek, 2.81
William Frazier, Country Day, 2.96
Softball
Batting Average
Sarah Mooney, N. Meck, .779
Natalie High, Forest Hills .585
Emily Scott, Myers Park .582
Amelia Brown, Country Day, .577
McKenzie Moyer, Cannon .569
Eileen McHugh, Piedmont .560
Stephanie Wood, Ardrey Kell .550
Taylor Freeman, Ardrey Kell, .549
Alexa Grauer, Ardrey Kell, .547
Erin Thompson, S. Stanly, .538
Samantha Carpenter, Chase .529
Kaycee Stegall, Piedmont .517
Kimberly Rivers, Forest Hills .513
Emily Poplin, S. Stanly, .511
Jordan Harmon, South Mecklenburg .509
Stephanie Wood, Ardrey Kell, .506
Ashley Cristy, Marvin Ridge .500
Alexa Grauer, Ardrey Kell .500
Erin Taylor, First Assembly .500
Taylor Rosenbaum, N. Iredell, .500
Taylor Flynn, Piedmont .500
Dawn Harris, Forest Hills .500
Lindsey Greeson, East Gaston .484
Julie Harriss, Cannon .483
Tara Loken, Porter Ridge, .479
Amanda Baker, Crest .476
Anna Rose Borrelli, Weddington .475
Morgan Henry, Charlotte Latin .472
Courtney Adsit, Bunker Hill .471
Stacey Houser, Lake Norman .468
Amanda Baker, Crest, .466
Whitney Haywood, Porter Ridge, .465
Lindsey Russell, Hopewell .464
Kayla McGuffey, Lake Norman .462
Beth Martin, Indian Land .459
Courtney Price, Porter Ridge, .456
Veronica Dziuk, SouthLake, .453
Katie Carpenter, Bandys .446
Brooke Story, Northside, .446
Kayla Pine, Lake Norman .444
Dakota Keller, Crest .438
Lexi Davis, Porter Ridge, .429
Taylor Freeman, Ardrey Kell .425
Samantha Shleffar, Ardrey Kell, .425
Kelly Pauls, Indian Land .423
Dakota Keller, Crest, .421
Lauren Parker, Hopewell .420
Bailey Bjorson, Metrolina Christian, .420
Erin Kayton, Marvin Ridge .419
Madison Arroyo, Marvin Ridge .419
Dominique Wilson, Lake Norman .419
Timber Davenport, N. Iredell, .419
Shanie McConnell, East Gaston .415
Katie Williford, NW Cabarrus, .414
Arin Hall, Lake Norman .409
Shelby Hitchcock, South Mecklenburg .409
Chloe Archer, Lake Norman .407
Shelby Bailey, Lake Norman .407
Karley Harkey, N. Iredell, .407
Nicole Stovall, Northside, .406
Hannah Littlefield, Lake Norman .403
Katelyn Shifflett, Hough .400
Shaina Carter, Ardrey Kell .400
Home Runs
Sarah Mooney, N. Meck, 19
Dakota Keller, Crest 11
Hannah Eudy, NW Cabarrus, 8
Kaycee Stegal, Piedmont 7
Bailey Bjorson, Metrolina Christian, 7
Julie Harriss, Cannon 6
Veronica Dziuk, SouthLake, 6
Dominique Wilson, Lake Norman 5
Mallory Broome, Metrolina Christian, 5
Eileen McHugh, Piedmont 5
McKenzie Moyer, Cannon 4
Ashley Cristy, Marvin Ridge 4
Madison Arroyo, Marvin Ridge 4
Dawn Harris, Forest Hills 4
Natalie High, Forest Hills 4
Katelyn Spangler, Crest, 4
Taylor Allen, NW Cabarrus, 3
RBIs
Sarah Mooney, N. Meck, 55
Erin Thompson, S. Stanly, 50
Dakota Keller, Crest 41
McKenzie Moyer, Cannon 40
Natalie High, Forest Hills 39
Taylor Flynn, Piedmont 39
Eileen McHugh, Piedmont 37
Kaycee Stegall, Piedmont 34
Mallory Broome, Metrolina Christian, 34
Amanda Baker, Crest 33
Arin Hall, Lake Norman 31
Hannah Eudy, NW Cabarrus, 31
Dawn Harris, Forest Hills 31
Stephanie Wood, Ardrey Kell, 30
Emily Scott, Myers Park 30
Ashley Cristy, Marvin Ridge 30
Taylor Freeman, Ardrey Kell, 28
Katie Carpenter, Bandys 28
Tara Loken, Porter Ridge, 28
Lindsey Russell, Hopewell 28
Julie Harriss, Cannon 28
Dominique Wilson, Lake Norman 27
Samantha Shleffar, Ardrey Kell, 27
Veronica Dziuk, SouthLake, 27
Erin Kayton, Marvin Ridge 27
Madison Arroyo, Marvin Ridge 25
Lexi Davis, Porter Ridge, 24
Jessica Rappe, Butler 23
Chloe Archer, Lake Norman 22
Taylor Rosenbaum, N. Iredell, 21
Taylor Allen, NW Cabarrus, 21
Stacey Houser, Lake Norman 20
Anna Landis, SouthLake, 20
Strikeouts
Chelsea Wilkinson, Alexander Central 308
Morgan Lashey, N. Meck, 301
Lexi Davis, Porter Ridge, 218
Nicole Stovall, Northside Christian 189
Caitlyn Kurtz, Marvin Ridge, 175
Dawn Harris, Forest Hills 167
Katie Williford, NW Cabarrus, 165
McKenzie Moyers, Cannon 155
Shannon Mas, Butler 151
Shanie McConnell, East Gaston 142
Emily Kale, Crest 109
Anna Landis, SouthLake, 103
Kayla Pine, Lake Norman 80
Kaycee Stegall, Piedmont 50
ERA
Lexi Davis, Porter Ridge, 0.45
Mallory Broome, Metrolina Christian, 0.79
Morgan Lashley, N. Meck, 0.97
Caitlin Kurtz, Marvin Ridge, 1.09
Kaycee Stegall, 1.12
Karley Harkey, N. Irdell, 1.15
Dawn Harris, Forest Hills 1.22
Katie Williford, NW Cabarrus, 1.31
McKenzie Moyer, Cannon 1.39
Cassi Carpenter, Metrolina Christian, 1.67
Dallas King, Jay M. Robinson 1.70
Katie Carpenter, Bandys 1.70
Kayla Price, Indian Land 1.73
Nicole Stovall, Northside, 1.80
Emily Kale, Crest 1.81
Shannon Mas, Butler, 1.93
Taylor Lynch, Ardrey Kell, 2.60
Girls Soccer
Scoring
Brianna Wills, Davidson Day, 77
Cassidy Winchester, Bandys, 36
Liska Dobberstein, Ardrey Kell, 31
Allison Stearns, Hough, 25
Larie Bailey, Monroe Central, 24
Shalyn Dougherty, Indian Land, 22
Kendall Fischlein, Lake Norman, 22
Clare Dotts, Ashbrook, 20
Taylor Arrowood, Weddington, 20
Laura Courtney, Monroe Central, 20
Anna Lail, South Meck, 20
Maxlyn Foster, Davidson Day, 19
Hallie Hilliard, Hibriten, 18
Ashley Finke, Charlotte Latin, 18
Courtney Selle, Westminster Catawba, 17
Mackenzie Weigel, Covenant Day, 16
Auburn Mercer, Weddington, 15
Kayla Stamey, Hibriten, 14
Georgia Belk, Ashbrook, 14
Devanshi Patel, Olympic, 13
Kelley Godbout, Porter Ridge, 13
Kristina Hoff, Porter Ridge, 12
Maddy Clark, Davidson Day, 11
Courtney Stutts, Country Day, 11
Caitlyn Rodrigues, Davidson Day, 10
Emilee Englehaupt, Ardrey Kell, 10
Maddi Little, Independence, 10
Brandi Arey, Hough, 10
Hannah Robinson, Hough, 10
Assists
Caitlyn Rodrigues, Davidson Day, 41
Maxlyn Foster, Davidson Day, 29
Mackenzie Weigel, Davidson Day, 27
Hannah Hill, Monroe Central, 21
Devanshi Patel, Olympic, 18
Kristina Hoff, Porter Ridge, 16
Maddy Clark, Davidson Day, 16
Emilee Engelhaupt, Ardrey Kell, 16
Courtney Selle, Westminster Catawba, 15
Kendall Fischlein, Lake Norman, 15
Hannah Robinson, Hough, 15
Allison Stearns, Hough, 14
Kelley Godbout, Porter Ridge, 14
Brianna Wills, Davidson Day, 13
Auburn Mercer, Weddington, 12
Sophie Hilliard, Charlotte Latin, 12
Liz Casey, Westminster Catawba, 11
Cassidy Winchester, Bandys, 10
Taylor Arrowood, Weddington, 10
Allye Mertes, Lake Norman, 10
Anna Lail, South Meck, 9
Ashley Finke, Charlotte Latin, 9
Jessi Norman, Olympic, 7
Liska Dobberstein, Ardrey Kell, 6
Clare Dotts, Ashbrook, 5
Georgia Belk, Ashbrook, 5
Shutouts
Megan Madanski, Porter Ridge, 16
Lindsey Kurtz, Monroe Central, 15
Emily Rusk, Hough, 11
Katie Matthews, Olympic, 8.5
Goals Against Average

Katie Matthews, Olympic, 0.72
Lindsey Kurtz, Monroe Central, 0.84