Appalachian State - Randolph Record

02 Apr

College notes: Coleman leads ACC in softball batting; Oakley wins two bouts in NCAAs

Bob SuttonSportsAlex Coleman, Appalachian State, College softball, College wrestling, Ethan Oakley, North Carolina Tar Heels

Alex Coleman (Courtesy photo) Southwestern Randolph alum Alex Coleman, an outfielder for North Carolina’s softball team, is the Atlantic Coast Conference’s leading batter more than halfway through the season. Coleman checked at .495 entering this week. Her numbers reflect a conference-leading 53 hits in 107 official at-bats with three doubles. The Tar Heels leadoff batter also has drawn 14 walks with only eight strikeouts. Behind Coleman in batting average is Florida State’s Jaysoni Beachum at .470. Coleman’s 37 runs scored rate second in the ACC. She’s also 20-for-21 on stolen-base attempts to rank tied for second…

Oakley grapples with more success as conference champ for Appalachian State

Bob SuttonSportsAppalachian State, College wrestling, Ethan Oakley

Wheatmore graduate Ethan Oakley became a Southern Conference champion earlier this month. (Photo courtesy of Appalachian State athletics) Wheatmore alum heads back to NCAA championships Ethan Oakley keeps checking off goals as a college wrestler for Appalachian State. NCAA championships qualifier. Conference champion. The Wheatmore alum is heading back to the NCAAs for the second year in a row after riveting results to win a Southern Conference championship. “I wanted to achieve what I did, but I wasn’t sure I would,” Oakley said. “Unreal, I finally did it.” He captured the 133-pound league title earlier this month. This…

A step forward: App State hopes for breakthrough season

Shawn Krest | The North State JournalSports, StateAppalachian State

RALEIGH — Appalachian State has quietly built one of the nation’s top programs outside of the Power Five. Now the Mountaineers will look to take the next step. App has gone to six straight bowls, winning them all, sent their last two coaches to ACC and SEC head jobs, respectively, and last year snapped a string of four straight Sun Belt titles. This year, the Mountaineers return 17 starters, add veteran talent and have a schedule that could put them on the national radar, if things go well. Quarterback: Chase Brice arrives after a disappointing year as the Duke starter.…