Press Release NORFOLK, Virginia – Luke Williams started his day 0-for-4 with four strikeouts but ended it a hero as his two-out, two-strike RBI single in the top of the 11th inning gave the Gwinnett Stripers (21-21, 59-57) a 3-2 win over the Norfolk Tides (13-27, 41-74) on Thursday afternoon at Harbor Park. Gwinnett snapped a three-game losing streak with the last-at-bat victory. Decisive Plays: After falling behind 1-0 on an RBI single by Bryan Ramos in the second, the St

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — The Hayesville Lady Yellow Jackets junior varsity volleyball team swept three matches this week, defeating Smoky Mountain, Highlands and Hiwassee Dam while showing steady improvement and determination. Hayesville defeated Smoky Mountain 25-23, 25-21 on Monday, Aug.10; Highlands 25-23, 25-7 on Tuesday, Aug. 11; and Hiwassee Dam 25-17, 25-15 on Thursday, Aug. 13. The Lady Jackets displayed defensive hustle and an improving ability to compete in extended ralli

(Photo by The Mountain Buzz) Savannah Burch, last year's Smoky Mountain Conference Specialist of the Year, was insturumental in the Lady Jackets' two opening-week wins. By Travis Dockery Sports Writer HAYESVILLE, N.C. — The Hayesville Lady Yellow Jackets varsity volleyball team went 2-1in the first week of the season, sweeping Highlands and Hiwassee Dam after falling in five sets to Smoky Mountain. Hayesville dropped a competitive 3-2 decision to Smoky Mountain on Monday, Aug

Press Release NORFOLK, Virginia – Atlanta Braves’ No. 8 prospect Herick Hernandez set a new career high with 11 strikeouts over 6.1 innings on Wednesday night, but the Gwinnett Stripers (20-21, 58-57) suffered a 6-5 walk-off loss in 10 innings to the Norfolk Tides (13-26, 41-73) at Harbor Park. Norfolk leads the series 2-0. Decisive Plays: An RBI single by Rowdy Tellez gave the Stripers a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. That lasted until the bottom of the fourth,

Press Release NORFOLK, Virginia – AJ Smith-Shawver retired the final 16 batters he faced over 5.1 scoreless, one-hit innings on Tuesday night, but it didn’t lead to a win as the Gwinnett Stripers (20-20, 58-56) fell 4-3 to the Norfolk Tides (12-26, 40-73) at Harbor Park. Reed Trimble’s three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth tipped the game to the Tides. Decisive Plays: The combination of Patrick Clohisy and Carlos Santana worked for Gwinnett’s first two runs, with

(Photo by Deango Motorsports Photography) Roger Beaver celebrates his Street Stock feature victory. Beaver has been almost unbeatable this season. Press Release BRASSTOWN, N.C. — Heavy rains surrounded Tri-County Racetrack on Friday, Aug. 7, but somehow missed the quarter-mile clay oval, leaving the regular racing program unaffected by the weather. The event featured Limited Late Models, 602 Crate Late Models, Hobby Sportsman, Street Stocks, Open Wheel Mods, Modified FWD, Sto

(Photo by DeAnna Segars) The varsity Lady Jackets are all smiles as they prepare for the marathon season. Front row, from left: Lucy Trout, Aaliyah Jackson, Micalynn McClure, Reese Segars, Charlotte Pullum, Emily Downing and manager Marliegh Lowe. Second row: assistant coach Julie Ledford, Danielle Anderson, Maddie Farmer, Jasmine Brooks, Kara Bauer, Eva Jones, Savannah Burch, Payton Hicks and head coach Tammy Dills. By Travis Dockery The Mountain Buzz The calendar says it's

Press Release Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina football lined up for its first of two scheduled preseason scrimmages on Saturday morning as the Catamounts worked out for just over two hours on the new turf at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. The squad navigated through nearly an hour-long position and unit practice before scrimmaging through 19 total drives for right at 100 combined plays on a seasonably warm session, the team’s eighth of fall camp. Opening with

Press Release LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia – Jacksonville’s Jace Beck threw a rain-shortened 5.0-inning no-hitter on Sunday evening at Gwinnett Field, leading the Jumbo Shrimp (15-23, 57-55) past the Gwinnett Stripers (20-19, 58-55) 4-0. The Stripers settled for a split of the six-game series. Decisive Plays: Jacksonville got on the board early with a first-inning solo homer by Deyvison De Los Santos (14). In the third, the Jumbo Shrimp added another courtesy of a bases-loaded w

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