NMB softball competing well under new coach By David Shelton Senior Writer Little River – Though it has been a little bit of a roller coaster ride, the 2025 North Myrtle Beach High softball team is competing pretty well overall under new head coach Krystal Mante .  Entering play on April 14, the Lady Chiefs were 9-8 overall and 6-5 in region 6-AAAAA. They will be headed to the Class AAAAA Division II state playoffs in early May but have seven games remaining in the regular season. Mante likes the effort her team has given this spring and says the transition to a new coach has gone well. The coach has a handful of seniors that she relies on for team leadership, but also has a solid group of underclassmen that can build the foundation for the future. One of the key seniors is centerfielder Kiera Olson , who is hitting .395 with nine runs batted in this spring. Senior Nealy Lockner is one of two primary pitchers, posting a 1.91 earned run average over her first 40 innings. Two other seniors are outfielder Taylor Alberti and backup pitcher Kirali Altena . The other primary pitcher is junior Sierra Bendik , who has a 2.86 earned run average in 44 innings inside the circle. Also an outfielder, Bendik has 12 runs batted in. Junior shortstop Hadley Leonhardt is hitting .273 with eight RBIs and junior third baseman Izzy Bruno is hitting .325 this season. Behind the plate is junior Sadie Olson , who is hitting .393 with six RBIs through 17 games. Junior first baseman Lilly Carney is hitting .333 with a team-high 12 RBIs. Other juniors getting work in the outfield include Emma Bellamy and Chloe Butler , who also catches. Freshmen infielders Malread Olson and Katy Beth Currie round out the roster. The baseball team sits in good position to win a region title. As of April 13, the Chiefs are 12-4 overall and 9-2 in region 6-AAAAA. They hold a one-game lead on Carolina Forest and split two games with the Panthers. Despite losing four quality pitchers from last year, pitching has again been a strength this spring. Junior Gabriel Priest has a 1.04 earned run average in 32 innings of work. He has recorded five wins. Priest also has contributed at the plate with 13 RBIs. Junior shortstop Sawyer Smith has logged 24 innings on the mound, posting a 0.24 earned run average. “Both can pitch and pitch well,” coach Brian Alderson said. “We didn’t them as much last year but we need them to produce for us.” Jake Finch and Fisher Nichols also have been productive as pitchers. Offensively, senior catcher CJ Oxendine started slow but has picked up the pace of late. He is hitting .425 with 11 RBIs after 16 games. Second baseman Asa Board is hitting .318 and outfielder Brown Reaves is hitting .310 with a team-leading 16 RBIs. Kaden Lank is hitting .357 and Porter Anglin has eight RBIs. Sophomore Payton Gallup mans third base. Working in the outfield are Gabe Kuznik and Carter Helmicki. Other team members who will fill various roles include Fisher Nichols, Luke Breeden, Nate O’Connor, Noah Nance, Campbell Kingston, Trevor Mitchell, Andrew Muncy and Espen Thomas.

Spring sports hit final phase for Myrtle Beach athletes By David Shelton Senior Writer Myrtle Beach – With state playoff competition looming at the end of the month, the spring sports teams at Myrtle Beach High are aiming for a strong regular season finish. Myrtle Beach has entered the final phase of the region 6-AAAAA schedule and it is likely every team will have a postseason opportunity. Myrtle Beach is classified as a Division II team in AAAAA and will participate in those brackets if they qualify. The baseball team has lacked consistency in the regular season but has shown they can compete. The region is very strong with teams like St. James, North Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest and Conway. The Seahawks entered play on April 7 with a 6-10 overall record and a 3-6 mark in region play. Some of the top performers through16 games include sophomore Rand Thomas , who batted .351 with six runs batted in during that stretch. Junior Sinclair Bolick batted .306 in the first 16 games while senior Jacob Edwards hit .308 with six RBI. Senior Julian Neagles hit .296 with six RBI while senior Gibson Goodroe and sophomore Garrett Mays each had seven RBI early on. Bolick and senior Andy Wells have done most of the heavy lifting on the mound. Bolick has a 3.79 earned run average in 29 innings while Wells has a 1.62 ERA in 22 innings of work. Neagles also gets time on the mound with a 2.15 ERA in 15 innings of work. The softball team won four of its first 13 games with a 2-8 start in region play. Lilly Langway is pacing the team at the plate with a .486 average and eight RBI. Shianne Neagle is hitting .361 with seven RBI, and Trinity King batted .286 with six RBI through the first 12 games, Madison Ashmore is hitting ,306 with six RBI as well. The boys soccer team went 6-7 overall and 3-3 in region play heading into spring break. Senior Juan Rivera has been a key offensive player with 10 goals. Sophomore Yarin Bouskila scored three goals early and senior Matt Moreira had three assists. The girls soccer team has had some tough luck this season, losing four contests by one goal. The team was 2-7-1 overall and 1-4 in region play midway through the schedule.  Senior Hannah Weidner has been a leader this spring with four goals while postig 64 saves as the keeper. Senior Tia Boatwright leads the team in goals with six tallies while freshman Brooke Bary has five goals.

Powedersville's Landon Fowler

 By David Shelton Senior Writer Little River – While it is true that the North Myrtle Beach baseball program lost a huge chunk of production from last year’s 26-4 team, veteran head coach Brian Alderson fully expects his 2025 team to be very competitive. Tradition, as they say, never graduates and Alderson has established a winning culture within the program. Alderson entered this season with 176 wins since taking over the program in 2015.The Chiefs have been among the top teams in AAAA the last two seasons, posting 48 wins. “The hope is that our success will carry over with the new, younger guys,” Alderson said. “I think we’re to a point where we can always expect to be competitive against any team we play. But this team is inexperienced in a few areas and we need to grow and develop as we go. But it’s a hard-working group and they have some pride.” Two key returning players this spring are senior catcher CJ Oxendine and junior shortstop Sawyer Smith . Oxendine, a Virginia Tech commit, is a tremendous offensive threat while also rating as one of the top defensive catchers in the state. He hit .545 a year ago and has picked up the same pace in the early part of this season. “He’s our dude,” Alderson says. “Brings it all in every single game, He loves to play and he’s a real competitor.” Smith is a third-year starter at short and verbally committed to North Carolina as a freshman. He is very sound defensively and should be a consistent hitter. He also will see time on the mound. On the mound is where the Chiefs were hit hardest. None of the top four arms are back this spring so there will be a host of new performers getting their shot. In addition to Smith, junior left-hander Gabriel Priest will be a frontline starter. “Both can pitch and pitch well,” Alderson said. “We just didn’t need them as much last year because of who we had. We will need them to produce for us this year. We have some others who will need to step up and fill various roles as well.” Joining Smith as a returner in the middle infield is senior second baseman Asa Board , who is off to a good start offensively this season. Priest will be working at first base while Sophomore Payton Gallup is working at third. Gallup also has gotten off to a solid start at the plate. Gabe Kuznik and Connor Helmicki are slated to start in the outfield. Other team members who will fill various roles include Fisher Nichols, Luke Breeden, Nate O’Connor, Kaden Lank, Noah Nance, Campbell Kingston, Porter Anglin, Jake Frick, Trevor Mitchell, Brown Reaves, Andrew Muncy and Espen Thomas. Alderson says this year’s offensive approach will have to be disciplined and must execute. “We have to manufacture our runs, move runners, steal bases, play small ball,” the coach says. “We have some that are capable hitters but overall that won’t be a strength. We have to be creative in our approach. If we pitch and play defense, we will have enough offense to give us a chance to compete.” With a move up to AAAAA, things will be a little different this spring but the region will consist of all Myrtle Beach area schools. St. James, Carolina Forest and Conway have been two of the better teams in AAAAA and will be in the new region as well, along with Myrtle Beach and Socastee. “We have played a lot of them in the past so we know the competition will be heavy every night,” Alderson said.

Berkeley junior Aiyanna Moses launches a three point shot.

By David Shelton Senior Writer Little River – Despite some back-and-forth coaching changes in recent years, the girls volleyball program at North Myrtle Beach High School has remained a state championship contender. The program has three state titles in recent years and has yet another new coach in 2024 as Jenn Loeswick takes the helm. The Chiefs have not missed a beat and has positioned themselves to capture the region 6-AAAAA championship. Entering play on Oct. 7, North Myrtle Beach was 19-6 overall and 8-0 in region play. The need a win over rival Myrtle Beach on Oct. 10 to secure the region title. They beat Myrtle Beach in an earlier meeting. What makes the season even more impressive, according to Loeswick, is that the team has been without its best player, senior Olivia Borgman, who is injured. “She has been the region player of the year so it’s a big loss,” the coach said. “But this team has continued to grow and improve throughout the season.” Even without Borgman, the lineup is quite formidable. Senior Bella Loeswick is the starting setter and runs the show. She has 544 assists, 30 aces and 146 defensive digs. The power supply comes from junior outside hitter Clara Cloninger , who is over 268 kills with 200 digs and 46 service aces. Sophomore Lilly Loeswick is a starter on the outside and is over 200 kills and 200 digs. Junior Raphaella Nunes is a starter in the middle, along with sophomore Madison Johnson . Senior Addison Leonard works as an opposite and junior Katlyn Powers is the libero. The team has loads of depth with a bevy of players getting their turn on the floor. Senior Kiera Olson works as a defensive specialist while senior Anna Hutton can play setter and defense. Sophomore Harlow Horton and junior Ah’Layia Clarida sub in the middle of the net. “This team has exceeded expectations,” Loeswick said. “Our motto this season is ‘Nobody Cares. Work.’ That is who we are this year. We’ve talked a lot about the process of the game and how that is how we get better. You can play with confidence when you’ve put in the work. “One of our strengths is that they are a true team. They all respect and support and want the best for each other. It has been really fun to see and be a part of. Our goal is simple. To be the best we can be. Let’s put in the work and see what we can do.” Remaining members of the 2024 team include senior defensive specialist Ella Joyner , senior outside hitter Sidney Palmerico , and junior defender Kylee Rollings . A bigger challenge awaits the Chiefs in the upcoming state playoffs. North Myrtle Beach is competing in Class AAAAA this fall, which means a step up in competition. However, the Chiefs have played a competitive non-region slate and have taken on a host of AAAAA programs in the process. Football Update After a tough 0-4 start to the 2024 season, the football team opened region play with a win over Conway . The Chiefs look to build confidence as they go through the region with games upcoming against Socastee , Myrtle Beach , St. James and Carolina Forest . Quarterback Landon Cloninger has thrown for more than 800 yards in five games, with Kaden Gore and Andrew Kreider working as his top targets. Drew Prince is the leading rusher with nearly 400 yards, averaging better than six yards per carry. Among the early defensive leaders are Sloan McIntyre , Bricey Gore , LaMontae Smith and DJ Gause . Gause leads the team in sacks and tackles for loss.

Wayne White Special to the HSSR Myrtle Beach - The North Myrtle Beach Chiefs (0-4) will host Marlboro County (4-0) , currently ranked #3 in the Class 3A HSSR Poll, this Friday night at The Hank. The kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Tonight’s game will be the eighth meeting between the Chiefs and Bulldogs on the gridiron with North Myrtle Beach holding a 4-3 advantage. After losing three straight to Marlboro County to open the series, the Chiefs enter tonight’s game riding a four-game winning streak in the series. NMB is 2-1 against the Bulldogs at The Hank.  You can catch all of the action on the Chiefs Sports Network on WRNN 99.5 FM and also watch live online as we stream the game on the NMB Chiefs Facebook page as well as the Chiefs Sports Network's Youtube Channel. The James Plumbing Countdown to Kickoff begins at 6:30 p.m.

Wayne White Special to the HSSR Myrtle Beach – The North Myrtle Beach Chiefs (0-3) will host the Loris Lions (3-0) on Friday, Sept. 13 th with the kick off at 7:05pm. This makes the 54 th game of this rivalry. Last season, this game went to double overtime before Loris got the 27-21 win. Fans will be able to hear this game on the Charlie Stuart State Farm Chiefs Sports Network and watched live on the NMB Chiefs Facebook page as well as the Chiefs Sports Network's YouTube channel. The Chiefs come into this game winless for the season, with a tough loss to Goose Creek in Week Zero, followed by two close but losing effort games to Darlington then West Brunswick (NC) to put their record at 0-3. For this game, NMB’s third year head coach Greg Hill will count on senior Drew Prince RB (5-11, 170) to continue his 7.8 yards per carry average and add to his 3 TDs for the season. The Lions come off a 7-3 season last year and got to the first round of the playoffs. This is the fourth season for head coach Greg Mance who has 14 starters returning. Junior QB Zamire “Moon” Gerald and senior RB/WR/FS Quantez Dyson (5-11, 160) and junior WR/DB Jacobian Lewis (6-2, 170) are their keys on offense, while the defense is solid with junior HB/LB/DE Landon Connor (6-0, 225), junior DE Damarea Thurmond , and senior OLB/RB Javon Johnson (5-10, 210) anchoring the Loris defense. The Chiefs are playing their first season in Class 5A. Loris is in Class AAA. So far this season, the Lions are score over 30 points per game while NMB is putting up 20s. With a rivalry this long term and a double OT game last year, this should be an exciting game.  Loris will have a bye week for 9/20 and NMB will host Marlboro County that day.