Morales' goal gets the East a tie in Greensboro

GREENSBORO - The East's Andrew Morales from Rocky Mount scored an unassisted goal with 10:02 left to force a 2-2 tie in the 20th Annual N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star Boys Soccer Game Tuesday evening at the UNC-Greensboro Soccer Stadium.

Morales, who will play for Duke next season, saw his goal culminate a comeback for the East squad. As the Gryphons' second-ever participant in the event, it was the first-ever goal scored by a Rocky Mount player.

The West led 2-0 when Brayan Aguirre of Hendersonville scored off an assist from Phillip Carman of Winston-Salem Reagan at 53:18. 

The West, which dominated with a 21-12 shot advantage, saw game MVP David Reittinger (NW Guilford) give the West a 1-0 lead with a goal on an assist from High Point Andrews' Austin Miller at 50:02. Reittinger will be playing on this same field as a Spartan for UNC-G this fall.

The East narrowed it to 2-1 at 67:43 as Richland's Matthew McDougall scored on a pass from Raleigh Broughton's Christopher Ryan.

"We were really working hard in the first half and had those quick chances early," Morales told the Winston-Salem Journal after the game. "We felt one should come for us because we felt we deserved it."

2011 N.C. American Legion Baseball State Tournament Pairings

MOREHEAD CITY - Here are the pairings for the opening day of the 2011 N.C. American Legion Baseball State Tournament being held this weekend in Morehead City at the Puck O’Neal Field at Big Rock Stadium.

Wayne County, which eliminated Coleman-Pitt Post 58 in the Area I East semifinals, went on to win the Area I title by beating both Pitt County and Cary,. It will meet Rowan County Post 342 in the opening game Friday morning.  Post 58 defeated Rowan County in their only meeting early in the regular season.

The top seeds are Wayne County, Wilmington, High Point and Cherryville.

2011 N.C. American Legion State Baseball State Tournament

Friday, July 22

Game 1

Rowan County Post 342 vs. Wayne County Post 11, 10 a.m.

Game 2

Hickory Post 48 vs. Wilmington Post 10, 1 p.m.

Game 3

High Point Post 87 vs. Cary 67, 4:30 p.m.

Game 4

Cherryville Post 100 vs. Morehead Post 48, 7:30 p.m.

Notes: 

 Cary (23-9) is in its second straight state tournament after Post 67 finished as Area I runner-up for the third straight season. 
Cherryville (26-7) set a record for Area IV titles with 15 in its 2-1 series victory over Hickory. Post 100 will be making its record eighth state tournament appearance and fifth in a row. Cherryville has six state titles and four state runnerup finishes in its long history.

Hickory (20-11) is in its third state tournament after Post 48 advanced to the Area IV finals for the first time since 2002. Hickory was 1948 state champion.
High Point (21-8) is one of the hottest teams coming into the tournament with a six-game winning streak, including four straight in the Area III tournament in which a loss would’ve ended Post 87’s season. High Point’s area title was its fourth all-time and it is in the state tournament for a second time.

Morehead City (15-6) advanced as the host team, but did make it to the Area II semifinals before being swept by Hope Mills. Post 46 won the 2006 state title (with recent minor league graduate and Cleveland Indian rookie  Lonnie Chisenhall) and is making its fourth state tournament appearance.

Rowan County (23-8) is in its seventh state tournament after finishing as Area III runner-up for a record 17^th time. Also winner of a record 17 Area III titles, Post 342 has won seven state titles, its last coming in 2009 when it finished third in the World Series. 
Wayne County (25-5) won its record eighth Area I title in a one-game playoff over Cary. Post 11 is playing in its sixth state tournament, but first since 2008 in Gastonia.

Wilmington (29-5) enters the tournament with the best record after winning its record 23^rd Area II championship in a 3-1 series victory over Hope Mills. Post 10’s eight state titles is tied for second in state history with Charlotte/Newell/Mint Hill and trails only Gastonia Post 23’s nine state championships. Wilmington is in the state tournament for the sixth time and fourth in a row.