Pittsboro, NC – In this week’s Chatham NC Sports Roundup Livestream sports reporter Asheebo Rojas of the Chatham News & Record and Chatham Journal’s Gene Galin discussed the new football coach, Tolbert Matthews, and athletic trainer, Courtney, at Seaforth. Matthews emphasizes a defensive mentality and plans for a fast, physical team. In golf, Seaforth finished third in the 2A championship, with Ty Willoughby placing fourth individually. Baseball saw Seaforth and Chatham Charter’s seasons end in the third round. Softball saw Chatham Central lose in the first round. Lacrosse and soccer playoffs are ongoing, with notable performances from Northwood and Seaforth. Drake Powell’s NBA prospects are high, and the Chatham American Legion team, Post 305, is gearing up for summer play.
[NOTE: This is an AI generated summary of this week’s Chatham NC Sports Roundup]
Chatham NC Sports Roundup Introduction
- Agenda for the meeting includes discussing Seaforth players, new football coach, and Drake Powell’s NBA future.
- Spring sports playoffs will be covered, including results from golf, softball, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and track and field.
Introduction of New Football Coach and Athletic Trainer
- Gene Galin introduces the topic of the new football coach and athletic trainer at Seaforth.
- Asheebo Rojas provides details about the new athletic trainer, Courtney, who has experience from SEC football and Jordan Matthews.
- The new head football coach, Tolbert Matthews, is introduced, highlighting his college experience and defensive mentality.
- Matthews’ plans for the program include building a fast, physical, and aggressive football team.
Community Reception and Program Plans
- The community reception for Matthews and his family was positive, with parents and players excited about the new coach.
- Matthews emphasizes his defensive background and plans to retain some coaches from the previous year.
- The new offensive line coach and strength and conditioning coach will be added to the staff.
- Matthews’ vision for the program includes making Seaforth one of the best programs in the state and preparing athletes for life after football.
Athletic Trainer Courtney’s Role and Program Preparation
- Asheebo discusses the new athletic trainer, Courtney, who has experience from college and SEC football.
- Courtney’s familiarity with the county and athletes from previous schools is seen as a plus for the program.
- The training facility at Seaforth is described as a great addition for the athletes.
- Spring practice for the football team is set to start, with plans for 7-on-7 games during the season.
Spring Practice and Team Preparation
- Spring workouts are scheduled to start on Tuesday, with the team preparing for the summer and upcoming season.
- The team is excited about the new coach and his defensive knowledge from the college level.
- Matthews’ connections in the NFL and high expectations for the program are highlighted.
- The community’s receptiveness to the new coach and the program’s goal of establishing a new culture are discussed.
Golf Playoffs and Individual Performances
- Asheebo covers the 2A championships, where Seaforth finished third and had strong individual performances.
- Ty Willoughby finished fourth in the individual competition, and Griffin Gaines finished fifth.
- Ben Buckner from Jordan Matthews and Jackson Freeman from Northwood also had notable performances.
- Chatham Central finished ninth in the 1-A championship, with Tyler Mesmer leading the team.
Baseball Playoffs and Team Performances
- Asheebo discusses the third-round playoffs for baseball, where Chatham County teams’ seasons ended.
- Seaforth lost to Southwest Edgecomb in a close game, finishing with an overall record of 19-8.
- Chatham Charter beat Gates County in the second round but lost to Falls Lake in the third round.
- The season ended for Chatham Charter with an overall record of 15-9.
Softball Playoffs and Team Dynamics
- Asheebo covers the softball playoffs, where Chatham Central lost to Roxboro in the first round.
- Chatham Central had a strong start but struggled in the later innings, leading to a 10-3 loss.
- The team finished the season with 20 wins, the most since 2013.
- Key seniors like Chloe Brewer, Kaylee Wharf, and Emma Burke will be missed, but young players like Maddie Cashman will return.
Lacrosse Playoffs and Team Matchups
- Asheebo provides an update on the lacrosse playoffs, where Northwood and Seaforth advanced.
- Northwood will play Union Pines, and Seaforth will play Havelock in the boys’ playoffs.
- On the girls’ side, Northwood will play Swansboro, and Seaforth will play Cape Fear.
- The playoffs for both boys and girls will continue with the second round of games.
Girls Soccer Playoffs and Team Performances
- Asheebo covers the girls’ soccer playoffs, where Seaforth and Woods Charter advanced.
- Seaforth won against Red Springs 9-0, with Caitlin Urban leading the team with six goals.
- Woods Charter beat Cape Hatteras 9-0, with Annabelle Una and Lucy Poitras leading the team.
- Chatham Charter lost to Northmore 8-0, ending their season with a 5-15 record.
Track and Field Regional Champions
- Asheebo highlights the regional champions from Chatham County in track and field.
- Taurus Price and the four-by-four relay team from Chatham Charter won regional titles.
- Jordan Garner from Chatham Charter won the long jump and discus, and Michaela Valentine and Sophia Rodriguez won the four-by-eight relay.
- Seaforth had multiple regional champions, including Sebastian Calderon, Will Quickie, Jack Anstrom, and Luke Wall.
Drake Powell’s NBA Draft Prospects
- Gene and Asheebo discuss Drake Powell’s decision to stay in the NBA Draft based on his performance at the Chicago combine.
- Powell’s athletic abilities and defensive skills are highlighted as strengths.
- The interest from NBA teams in Powell is high, making it less likely he will return to Carolina.
- Powell’s goal is to show his two-way ability in the NBA, combining defensive prowess with offensive contributions.
Chatham County Sports Podcast
- Gene introduces Asheebo’ Rojas”s other podcast, which covers various sports topics and cultural topics.
- The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and includes discussions on the NBA, NFL, and college sports.
- Asheebo and his co-hosts discuss sports and music, providing a diverse range of content.
- The podcast is a great resource for sports fans looking for in-depth analysis and cultural insights.
Chatham News and Record Stories
- Asheebo highlights the stories in the Chatham News and Record, including athlete signings and playoff roundups.
- The paper features stories on athletes signing to college programs, such as Chatham Central basketball players.
- The baseball and softball playoff roundups provide detailed recaps of the first two rounds.
- The paper also includes a story on Tolbert Matthews’ meeting with the Seaforth community and plans for the football program.
Athlete of the Week: Emma Grace Hill
- Asheebo announces Emma Grace Hill from Seaforth as his Athlete of the Week.
- Hill’s performance in the first two rounds of the softball playoffs, including a walk-off win and strong pitching, is highlighted.
- Hill’s contributions on both sides of the ball, including striking out 12 batters in one game, are praised.
- The Seaforth softball team continues to make history with their playoff run, and Hill’s performance is a key factor in their success.