By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

A look back at Davie sports 25 years ago …

After enduring two excruciating extra-inning losses to West Forsyth, the third-seeded Davie softball team knocked off the No. 1 Titans in the CPC Tournament final, 6-3.

Coach Tammy Reavis could thank clutch hitting from Dana Smith, Ashley Bracken and Tina Harkness and strong pitching from Jessica Whitley. Smith’s single plated the game’s first two runs, and Bracken’s hit up the gut made it 4-0. Harkness tightened Davie’s grip to 6-2 by roping a two-run hit in the seventh inning. “I said (to Harkness): ‘There’s no pressure, we’re up two runs,’” Reavis said. “She said: ‘I eat pressure for breakfast.’”

The blazing fast Kenny Collins won CPC track athlete of the year for the second time after winning titles in the 110 hurdles (14.9 seconds) and 300 hurdles (39.8). Sophomore Nick Propst, who could leap small buildings, captured first in the triple jump and high jump and earned CPC field athlete of the year. Another Davie champion was Truman Kiser, who won the pole vault at 12-7. The foursome of Ryan Barnes, Andrayous Arnold, Marshall Pitts and Collins won the 1600 relay. For the Davie girls, sophomore sensation Samantha Murillo won the 400, and Lauren Poplin, Jerrine Peeler, Stace Joyner and Janel Darcy triumphed in the 3200 relay.

In the Midwest Regional, Collins’ star grew brighter as he earned gold medals in both hurdles. Propst had a blissful day as well by winning the high jump and taking third in the long and triple jumps. Sophomore Jhockton Dalton and Greg Lanier qualified for the state by finishing fourth in the discus and the 1600, respectively. For the girls, the red-hot Murillo ruled the 400 at 58.9, and the relay team of Poplin, Joyner, Darcy and Peeler added to their glorious season by claiming the 800 relay.

In the Midwest Regional at Bryan Park in Greensboro, Davie’s gifted freshman golfer, Ryan Knoll, turned heads with a 7-over 79. Davie’s top four included Josh Lackey’s 81 and 86s from Shawn Brooks and John Landen.

Davie’s graduation prevented Collins from chasing a state title at UNC-Charlotte. Davie still made noise in the state meet as Murillo finished third in the 400, Propst fourth in the long jump at 22-3 and Dalton seventh in the discus at 134-10.

Matt Moser and Richard Broadway made sure Sean Garnett was victorious in his debut as Davie varsity boys soccer coach. Moser scored the game’s first goal and Broadway headed in the go-ahead goal as Davie slipped past North Iredell 2-1. Goalie Chris Stein and defenders Jason Shrewsbury, Nick Goughnour, Jason Winters and David Wooldridge were major contributors. “(Stein) made an awesome save with about two minutes left on a one-on-one,” Garnett said.

Tailback Ricky White carried 27 times for 162 yards, fullback Justin Goode averaged 8.8 yards on five attempts and Wooldridge drilled a 47-yard field goal as Davie’s varsity football team staved off Mooresville 13-7. A key play: Michael Burton replaced a banged up Thadd Johnson at receiver and caught a 35-yard pass from Drew Ridenhour. “I was just like a white-boy decoy,” Burton said.

Linebackers Jon Goode and Kyle Gustafson were dynamite in the JV football team’s 6-0 win at West Forsyth. “At times it looked like they were trying to see which one could lay the best lick on somebody,” coach Lee Linville said. The only score was QB Dan Sullivan’s 1-yard plunge. Goode and Adam Sain had interceptions.

In an eighth-grade football game, South Davie rallied late for a 20-14 overtime win over North Davie. South’s game-tying drive was breathtaking. Down by six, Andrew McClannon hooked up with Billy Riddle for 20 yards to the North 2. After South got stuffed the next three plays, Mitchell Roberts scored on fourth down with :12 on the clock. North stopped the two-point try to force OT, but the Wildcats fell a foot short of the goal line on a fourth-down play on the first possession of OT. On fourth down for South, McClannon hit halfback Maurice Wilson in the flats and he sliced through traffic to clinch the victory. North’s Brandon Pane (nine carries for 114 yards, 14 tackles) more than held up his end of the bargain.

White rushed for 100 yards and three TDs as Davie’s varsity rolled 37-8 at North Iredell. The most exciting play came from the beastly punter, Zeke Earle, who faked a punt from Davie’s 22 and rumbled 78 yards. Mikey Arnold had an INT as Davie improved to 3-0.

In a seventh-grade football game, Anton McNeil was at the heart of South Davie’s 22-6 win over North Davie. The juke artist fielded a bad snap on a punt and dashed 82 yards, and he only needed four carries to gain 109 yards. Michael Mashore completed three passes to Cooter Arnold, totaling 91 yards. “That’s something you can’t draw up on the board,” coach Barry Whitlock said of McNeil’s 82-yarder.

The Davie soccer team’s sophomore speedster, Sean Stevens, did it all in a 3-2 win over Forbush. His goal with 10 minutes left tied the game at 2, and his third goal with five minutes to go clinched victory. Jeremy Howell and Wooldridge had assists. “He is so fast,” Garnett said of Stevens.

Victor Patti and Skipp Crider lifted Mocksville Legion baseball to a giddy 11-6 home win over Rowan County, which had won the previous 15 meetings. Crider homered and drove in five runs, but let’s give extra credit to Patti, a lefthander who struck out 11 and worked around 13 hits in a complete game for the ages. He whiffed five of the last eight batters and fired 185 pitches. Holy cow.

“His changeup was incredible,” coach Mike Lovelace said.

Patti said: “My pitch count was on up there, but my arm felt good and I wanted this one.”

Steve LeFaivre reached base four times and raised his average to a mind-boggling .571 (16-28). Ridenhour supplied two hits as the 3-4-5 batters (LeFaivre, Ridenhour, Crider) went a combined 7 for 12 with nine RBIs.