Press Release Cullowhee, N.C. – Longtime play-by-play “Voice of the Catamounts,” Gary Ayers, and former Catamount quarterback and head football coach Kent Briggs will both be presented with the Adams-Ochsenreiter Lifetime Achievement Award by the Mountain Amateur Athletic Club (MAAC) at their annual Hall of Fame event on Sunday, Oct. 4. Briggs will be honored posthumously after succumbing to his battle with cancer back in June. The prestigious event is scheduled for the fir

Press Release LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia – Owen Murphy and four relievers combined on a one-hit shutout Thursday night, leading the Gwinnett Stripers (19-17, 57-53) to a 2-0 victory over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (13-22, 55-54) at Gwinnett Field. The Stripers lead the series 2-1. Decisive Plays: Murphy got the start and cruised through 4.2 innings (1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 SO) before handing it over to the bullpen, who continued to shut down Jacksonville's lineup. In the seventh

Photo by Tony Walsh Press Release ATHENS, Ga. — The Georgia Bulldogs released their non-conference schedule for the upcoming 2026-27 men’s basketball season on Thursday. Georgia will participate in ESPN events in New York and Orlando, will host nine home games at Stegeman Coliseum and will travel for road dates at North Carolina and Georgia Tech this November and December. The ESPN-managed matchups are the ESPN Events Challenge on Nov. 26-27 in Orlando and the Jimmy V Classic

Press Release Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina University Athletics has partnered with long-time sponsor Champion Credit Union to rename the premium seating experience, Catamount Corner, at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. The five-year agreement includes large in-stadium signage and branding on the gameday tents in the seating area located in the southeast corner of the stadium, rebranded the Champion Credit Union Corner. "Western Carolina University is an impor

Press Release LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia – The Gwinnett Stripers (18-17, 56-53) took an early 1-0 lead, but two three-run homers propelled the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (13-21, 55-53) to a 6-3 win in six innings on Wednesday night at Gwinnett Field. The series is tied 1-1. Decisive Plays: Jair Camargo drove in the first run of the ballgame on a second-inning RBI single. In the third inning, Andrew Pintar struck for a three-run homer (10) to give Jacksonville a 3-1 lead. In the

Press Release LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia – The Gwinnett Stripers (18-16, 56-52) scored four runs in the second inning and held serve the rest of the way to defeat the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (12-21, 54-53) 5-2 on Tuesday night at Gwinnett Field. The Stripers lead the series 1-0. Decisive Plays: Sandy Leon got the scoring started in the second inning with an RBI single to score Carlos Santana and give Gwinnett a 1-0 lead. One batter later, Cal Conley stroked an RBI double int

(Mountain Buzz photo by Travis Dockery) Front row (from left): Daemien Soto, EJ Hughes, Crow Collins, Carson Finn, Hanna Brett, Payton Cordell, Dustin Lockaby, Ethan Beechum, Lance Coker, Ephraim Jones, Johan Webb, Jaxson Caruso, Elijah Eller. Second row from left: CJ Finn, Jayden Clark, Carolo Decosta, Aaron Wimpey, Wayne Fullmer, Karson Hughes, Brock Garrett, Mason Finn, Cale Cothren, Jake Frentz, Caleb Allen, Cole Wesson. Not pictured: Donivin Soto, Daxon Bruggers, Brady G

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — Clay County Emergency Medical Services is urging athletes, parents, coaches and spectators to watch for signs of heat-related illness as high school football practices begin under high temperatures and humidity. Heat emergencies become more likely during preseason workouts, EMS officials said in a public safety announcement. Early recognition of symptoms can prevent more serious medical problems. Warning signs include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, dizzines

Press Release DURHAM, North Carolina – The Gwinnett Stripers (17-16, 55-52) fell behind 8-0 early and couldn’t recover in an 8-3 loss to the Durham Bulls (22-10, 50-57) on Sunday evening at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Durham won the series 4-3. Decisive Plays: Durham chased starter Garrett Baumann (L, 1-3) after just one inning of work, scoring six runs to go up 6-0. A two-run single by Tatem Levins and three-run home run by Logan Davidson (10) highlighted the inning. In t

Press Release DURHAM, North Carolina – Led by the solid pitching of Lucas Braun and a four-run third inning highlighted by a go-ahead two-run double from Carlos Santana, the Gwinnett Stripers (16-13, 54-49) defeated the Durham Bulls (19-9, 47-56) 7-3 on Thursday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Gwinnet leads the series 2-1. Decisive Plays: After Durham took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second, the Stripers responded with the four-run third to go up 4-2. RBI singles

Press Release DURHAM, North Carolina – The Gwinnett Stripers (15-13, 53-39) scored four runs in the first inning on the way to a 7-3 win over the Durham Bulls (18-9, 47-55) in game one but saw a 4-0 lead slip away in a 5-4 walk-off loss in game two on Wednesday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The series is tied at 1-1. Decisive Plays (Game 1): The Stripers stormed out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning on RBI singles from Sean Murphy and Carlos Santana and a

Jake Stanley Guest Writer ATHENS, Ga. – Tickets for the University of Georgia’s “Soccer in Sanford” match against James Madison on Thursday, Aug. 20 are now live for all spectators to claim. Spectators interested in attending the match can claim their free tickets at https://georgiadogs.evenue.net/events/SS. The north side of Sanford Stadium will be open for general admission at the match. ADA seating will be available in section 114. Gates will open for spectators at 6

Travis Dockery The Mountain Buzz HAYESVILLE, N.C. — Hayesville High School rising senior Reese Segars has verbally committed to continue her volleyball career at Truett McConnell University beginning in the fall of 2027. Volleyball has been a central part of Segars’ life for years, from youth leagues and travel ball to competing for the Yellow Jackets in The Hive. Her dedication has now opened the door to the next level. “I am beyond excited and incredibly grateful to announc

By Brady Penn Guest Writer LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia – Falling behind 3-0 early, the Gwinnett Stripers (14-12, 52-48) dropped the finale of their inaugural series against the Iowa Cubs (13-14, 43-56) 7-3 on Sunday afternoon at Gwinnett Field. The Stripers saw a four-game winning streak snapped, though they won the series 4-2. Decisive Plays: Iowa jumped out to an early lead thanks to a first-inning two-run homer by Moises Ballesteros (2) followed by a Kevin Alcantara sacrifice

(Photo courtesy of Sheba Brown) Seylah Brown works on her form as she continues to train in martial arts. By Travis Dockery The Mountain Buzz Local student Seylah Brown is heading to the national stage this August as a competitor in the 2026 Patriot Games, a high-profile athletic competition celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. One male and one female athlete were chosen from each state or territory. Brown, a student of the U.S. Chung Do Kwan Association, under the instr

By Brady Penn Guest Writer LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia – Jose Azocar tallied three RBIs for the Gwinnett Stripers (11-11, 49-47), including a go-ahead two-run single in the seventh inning to defeat the Iowa Cubs (13-11, 43-52) 7-5 on Wednesday night at Gwinnett Field. The series is tied at 1-1. Decisive Plays: The Stripers got going fast with two runs in the first inning, including a solo homer by Brett Wisely (6) to make it 2-0. Gwinnett took a 4-0 lead in the second inning as

Hayesville, N.C. — The Lake Chatuge Team Trail has announced its Winter Series schedule, featuring seven events across North Georgia and Western North Carolina lakes from October through March with a points championship on the line. The series kicks off Oct. 17 at Deavers Ramp on Lake Nottley. Subsequent stops include Nov. 21 and Dec. 19 at Ledford’s Chapel on Lake Chatuge, followed by an open tournament Jan. 1, also at Ledford’s Chapel on Lake Chatuge. Additional events are

By Brady Penn Guest Writer LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia – Patrick Clohisy tallied three extra-base hits for the Gwinnett Stripers (10-11, 48-47), but the Iowa Cubs (10-12, 42-52) pulled ahead late and took game one 7-4 on Tuesday night at Gwinnett Field. It was the first meeting ever between the two clubs. Decisive Plays: Iowa opened the scoring in the first inning with an Owen Miller RBI single. The Stripers took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first with an RBI groundout by Ca

By Dave Lezotte Guest Writer TOLEDO, Ohio – Ohio native Cal Conley homered and drove in three runs for the Gwinnett Stripers (10-10, 48-46) on Sunday evening, but the Toledo Mud Hens (11-10, 45-50) rallied for a 6-5 walk-off win at Fifth Third Field. Jace Jung led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a solo home run, snapping Gwinnett’s season-best six-game winning streak. Decisive Plays: Conley opened the scoring in the third inning, blasting a long solo home run (3) o

By Brady Penn Guest Writer LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia – The Gwinnett Stripers (5-9, 43-45) fell behind 1-0 in the eighth inning but fought back with two runs in the ninth to walk off the Memphis Redbirds (7-8, 54-36) 2-1 on Thursday night at Gwinnett Field. Carlos Santana tied the game with his first hit with Gwinnett, and DaShawn Keirsey Jr. walked it off with a bases-loaded single to left-center. The Stripers snapped a five-game losing streak. Decisive Plays: Starter Anthony