Sports Headlines

Some of the best racquetball players in the world will be in the Port City this weekend. The Wilmington Athletic Club is hosting a professional racquetball tournament for women.

The tour stop has over $13,000 of prize money up for grabs. The tournament features the top ranked woman in the world, Rhonda Rajsich.

“I know that last year racquetball was only one of four sports in this economy that didn't lose any participation,” said Rajsich. “It actually grew by 18% last year and it was only one of four sports in the world to do that. Other fitness fads came and went, but racquetball is obviously still around. We just need to re-introduce to the people who say, “I use to play”. Guess what? It's still around.”

Rhonda Rajsich won the U.S. Open Championship two weeks ago. She will be on center court Friday night at 7:00 p.m. at the Wilmington Athletic Club.

Racquetball matches will be held all night, with more action slated throughout the entire weekend.

The event is free and open to the public.

The Hoggard High School football team got off to a slow start this season, but they are on a roll now. They are tied for first place in the Mideastern Conference heading into Friday's regular season finale.

"It should be an electric atmosphere. It's interesting that this year we're coming at it from different angles. Usually they come into it with a lesser record, but this year we're coming into it with a lesser record. I hope our guys will just play loose, show up and have fun," said Hoggard head coach Scott Braswell.

Technically, New Hanover has a better overall record - 8-2 compared to Hoggard's 6-4. But the most important number is 4. Both schools are 4-0 and the winner gets to claim first place.

"This whole town, when these two teams get together, this is the way it's supposed to be. And this time it's for all the marbles," said New Hanover head coach Kevin Motsinger.

Hoggard has captured the Mideastern Conference title 7 years in a row. They have won 31 consecutive Mideastern Conference football games.

New Hanover has not defeated Hoggard in football since 1995.

The state playoffs are supposed to special. The Ashley Screaming Eagles vs. the Knightdale Knights playoff game was truly that and then some. It had everything you could ask for.

Early in the game, Ashley’s Chris Snow received a red card for a cheap shot and was tossed for the rest of the game.

Knightdale took a 4-2 lead, but the game was not over. Ashley made a comeback despite playing with one less player than Knightdale for the majority of the game.

After regulation play the game was tied at 4. The first overtime period saw both teams score. After 100 minutes of play both teams were locked up in a 5-5 duel. Then it was 10 more minutes of overtime before the state playoff game came down to a penalty kick shootout.

You have to watch how this heartbreaking game ends for one of these two teams. It is a must see!

Former Hoggard High School kicked Connor Bath has a new home in the NFL. He's landed in Tampa with the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The former Hoggard Viking played for Kansas City last season. He was cut before training camp, but he hooked up with Miami during the pre-season. The Dolphins released Barth in late August. Connor Barth is expected to finish out the season for the Buccaneers. He'll be suiting up this Sunday when Tampa Bay hosts Green Bay.

Hoggard football coach Scott Braswell tells News Channel " I believe Tampa Bay is a good fit for Connor. The kicking conditions are a lot better down there. Obviously it's a team that's struggling, but he can get in on the ground floor and hopefully build that thing up."

Monday marked the first day high school basketball teams could practice all around the Tar Heel State. In Cerro Gordo, Michael Powell is entering his 21st season as the boy’s basketball head coach of the West Columbus Vikings.

Powell’s players were excited about the first day of practice, but they were not alone.

“There's an old saying that the more things change the more things stay the same. Basketball is still basketball. Kids are still kids,” said Coach Powell. “Our kids work hard and they enjoy playing and it's all about the young men that we work with. We're going to suit up and we'll see what happens. We're going to be small, hopefully quick, and we'll get up and down the court to play a full court game.”

Presently, West Columbus does not have many players on the roste0r. There were eight while we were there for tryouts Monday afternoon, but the numbers will increase once the football season ends. That is at least two weeks away, depending on how far West Columbus goes in the playoffs.

Cape Fear Community College made it all the way to the Junior College National Tournament last year. Monday night, the Sea Devils returned to the court for their season opener against Wake Tech.

Cape Fear only returns four players from last year's team, but head coach Ryan Mantlo is back on the bench.

Cape Fear trailed by 12 early in the game, but they managed to come from behind to knock off the visitors from Raleigh. The final was 86 to 80.

The Sea Devils next game is Saturday at home against Caldwell Community College.