High school roundup: Former App State star named coach at Ballantyne Ridge

Once upon a time, new Ballantyne Ridge High football coach Tyson Fernandez thought he was going to be a baseball player.

A three-sport athlete at Fuquay-Varina High School, about 30 minutes from Raleigh, Fernandez got a baseball scholarship offer from East Carolina as a sophomore.

At the time, Fernandez was around 6-foot-3 and 273 pounds.

“I really thought baseball was going to be my path,” he said. “I hit quite a few home runs in high school.”

But as he continued to excel as a football lineman, Fernandez began to get football scholarships, too — full rides, compared to partial scholarships in baseball.

So Fernandez, 31, ended up starting four years at defensive tackle at Appalachian State, and after college, he began a high school coaching journey that started in Raleigh, then Charleston and eventually led to his first head coaching job at Rocky River in Mint Hill.

Fernandez was the third coach in school history when he got the job in 2022. Fernandez coached at Rocky River for two years, leading teams that finished 2-8 and 3-7.

Since going 9-5 under Jason Fowler in 2014, Rocky River has not won more than four games in a season.

Fernandez left Rocky River after the 2023 season and took a job as defensive coordinator at Ballantyne Ridge in southwest Charlotte.

Ballantyne Ridge played its first season last year, going 0-11 without any seniors on the roster. Ballantyne Ridge coach Chris Redding left after the season to join the staff at Dean College in Franklin, Mass.

And now Fernandez has his second head coaching job. He said he can’t wait to get started.

“I’m excited and very, very thankful to be back in this opportunity,” he said. “I love the kids there and that was the reason I decided to go to Ballantyne Ridge after Rocky River. I think we can make this a phenomenal program and I understand it will be a process.”

Fernandez said he expects more than 95 percent of last year’s team to return.

“We’re going to add my flavor to things and my intensity and my passion,” Fernandez said, “and all the things that make me who I am as a coach. We want to build this thing up, one day at a time. It’s a process I’m looking forward to and it’s just an awesome opportunity.”

NCISAA state final weekend begins Friday

One of the biggest weekends of the year for N.C. private schools begins Friday with spring sports state championships. The championships are scheduled to conclude in all sports Saturday.

▪ Two Charlotte-area baseball teams are playing for titles: In 3A, Gaston Christian (18-2), the No. 2 overall seed, plays a best-of-3 series at No. 1 Grace Christian (21-5) in Sanford. Game 1 is Friday at 6. Game 2 is Saturday at noon, with Game 3 to follow if needed.

And in 4A, Metrolina Christian, the reigning state champion, gets a state finals rematch. Metrolina (28-1), the No. 3 seed, will host No. 5 High Point Wesleyan (16-11). Game 1 is Friday at 4:30 p.m. with Game 2 Saturday at 1. Game 3, if needed, will follow shortly after Game 2.

▪ Providence Day (19-1), the No. 1 seed, will host No. 2 Charlotte Country Day (17-6) in Saturday’s girls’ lacrosse state final at 11 a.m.

▪ In girls’ soccer, Davidson Day (13-2) plays at Cape Fear (16-3-1) in the 3A finals. In 4A, Charlotte Latin (20-2) hosts Providence Day (21-2-1) at 2 p.m. Providence Day has won four of the past five state titles, including beating Latin 3-1 in the 2024 state final.

▪ In softball, Charlotte Latin (18-4) starts a best-of-3 state finals series at Charlotte Christian (14-6) Friday at 5. Game 2 is Saturday at 10 a.m. with Game 3 to follow if needed.

▪ In boys’ tennis, Charlotte Latin (15-8) plays No. 1 seed Carmel Christian (16-0) at 11 a.m. The Division I state final will be played at Providence Day.

In Division II, Cape Fear (16-4) plays Davidson Day (6-4) at N.C. Wesleyan at 11 a.m.

▪ The Division III state track finals are Friday at Wingate. Division II is Friday and Saturday at Gaston Christian. And Division I is Friday and Saturday at Charlotte Country Day.

Get complete NCISAA scores and schedules here.

Girls’ soccer: Hickory Ridge takes down Providence

Hickory Ridge evened the score Thursday night.

The 4A West’s top-seeded team scored off a defensive error in the second overtime and topped visiting Providence 2-1 in a second-round match.

Hickory Ridge’s only loss so far in this 22-1-1 season came May 5, by a 1-0 score against Providence.

This time, the teams each scored once in regulation and played a scoreless opening overtime period. Providence nearly got the go-ahead score in the second overtime, but Hickory Ridge’s Aubrey Ross made a save on a Panther breakaway.

Moments later, Providence failed to clear the ball out of its zone on a goal kick, and Hickory Ridge’s Hannah Workman intercepted. She unleashed a blistering shot from 15 yards out and scored.

It was a big night for area teams, as all eight remaining squads in the 4A West are from the Charlotte area.

Hickory Ridge’s third-round match Monday will be against Myers Park.

CLASS 4A

Ardrey Kell 2, West Forsyth 1: Kiana Rodriguez and Rhyan Winner each scored goals, and Brooke Watts had a pair of assists for the 12th-seeded Knights (19-3-4) in their upset victory over fifth seed West Forsyth (16-5-1).

Charlotte Catholic 7, T.C. Roberson 1: The second-seeded Cougars (20-0-1) built a big early lead and coasted into the third round.

Hough 9, Lake Norman 4: The fourth-seeded Huskies remained unbeaten (24-0-1) with a huge offensive night. Olivia Miller and Ava Houser each had two goals and an assist, and Campbell Schmidt added two goals. Abby Hudson had three assists. Lake Norman finished 15-5.

Marvin Ridge 4, Asheville 1: Defending 4A state champion Marvin Ridge (13-2-6) kept its hopes of a repeat title alive with a mild upset at Asheville (15-4-1). The Mavericks will visit Charlotte Catholic in the third round.

Myers Park 4, Page 0: Laine Connell scored two goals, and Amaya Falzarano had a goal and an assist for the eighth-seeded Mustangs (14-7-2), who will play at Hickory Ridge in Round 3. Myers Park got its first goal in the fourth minute, with Connell tallying. Falzarano scored off a Connell assist later in the half. Connell and Helena Moore added second-half scores.

Weddington 2, Northwest Guilford 0: The third-seeded Warriors (13-2-4) got goals from Mia Watson and Shradha Kathirvel. Goalkeeper Madison Motto made four saves in earning the shutout.

CLASS 3A

East Lincoln 3, Central Cabarrus 0: Third-seeded East Lincoln built a 3-0 halftime lead and coasted into the third round.

Lake Norman Charter 5, Northwest Cabarrus 2: The fourth-seeded Knights (18-2-2) powered past fellow South Piedmont 3A member Northwest Cabarrus. Caroline Mercuri had two goals and an assist, and Kate Robinson had a pair of assists. Lake Norman Charter scored four times in the second half.

CLASS 2A

Pine Lake Prep 9, Wheatmore 0: The Pride jumped to an 8-0 halftime lead, as Sadie Peterson (three goals, two assists) and Avery Garrett (two goals, three assists) led the charge. Top-seeded Pine Lake Prep (17-2) will host Patton, from Burke County, in Monday’s third round.

Shelby 1, East Gaston 0: The second-seeded Golden Lions remained unbeaten (21-0), topping East Gaston (11-7-2) for the third time this season.

CLASS 1A

Bradford Prep 5, Union Academy 4: The 23rd-seeded Bears, who went 0-5-2 in their last seven regular-season matches, stunned seventh seed Union Academy, scoring the winning goal with less than five minutes to play. Bradford Prep (8-10-3) will visit second-seeded Mountain Island Charter in the third round.

Christ the King 3, Polk County 2 (OT): Anna Haynes scored off a corner kick by Lindsay O’Donnell, and the 12th-seeded Crusaders (12-5-1) upset fifth seed Polk County (13-5-1). Addison Peirce scored twice for Christ the King in regulation.

Mountain Island Charter 11, North Stokes 0: Mia Lor had three goals and two assists, and Rylan Breath added two goals, as the second-seeded Raptors (16-5) crushed North Stokes.

West Henderson 6, Forestview 0: Reagan Simons and Rhylie Druskis each scored twice as fifth seed West Henderson ended the season for No. 12 Forestview (19-3).

Tap here for full brackets, results, schedule

Area baseball teams hope for regional berths

The fourth round of the NCHSAA baseball playoffs is scheduled for Friday and several Charlotte-area teams are trying to punch their way to best-of-3 regional championship series.

▪ Two Union County teams are left in the 4A playoffs and could face each other with wins Friday.

Marvin Ridge (21-7), the No. 10 seed, plays at No. 3 TC Roberson (22-5). Roberson has won the past two N.C. 4A state championships.

And Cuthbertson (24-4), the No. 1 overall seed in the West, will host West Forsyth (23-4). Cuthbertson has won three straight games.

▪ In 3A, North Lincoln (18-8) will try to upset No. 1 West seed East Rowan (25-5) on the road. North Lincoln has won nine straight and is averaging 10.1 runs per night during the streak.

▪ In 2A, Lincoln Charter (22-5) visits unbeaten East Rutherford (25-0). Lincoln Charter has won four straight and is outscoring teams 271-97 this season.

▪ In 1A, Cherryville (20-7) will host Uwharrie Charter (14-11) or North Stokes (21-7). Cherryville is the No. 1 overall seed in the West and is led by sophomore Brock Bumgardner, who his hitting .397 with six home runs and 35 RBIs. Cherryville is trying to win its 10th state title and to win a championship in a sixth decade.

The Ironmen won in the 1910s, 1960s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.

Also in 1A, Christ The King, from Huntersville, will host Eastern Randolph (14-12-1).

Christ The King (17-7) is 6-2 at home this season and is led by sophomore Troy Alderfer (.403 BA, 6 HR, 31 RBIs), senior Patrick Walsh (.395 BA, 12 HR, 28 RBIs) and senior pitcher Owen Shipman (7-1, 1.39 ERA, 76Ks)

▪ In softball, Weddington (22-3), the No. 1 seed in the West, hosts Winston-Salem’s Reagan High (25-5). And in 1A, top-seeded Union Academy (24-1) hosts Murphy (16-7).

CISAA all-conference spring sports teams

Here are the CISAA all-conference teams for spring sports. The teams are voted on by the league’s coaches.

BOYS TENNIS

GIRLS SOCCER

SOFTBALL

BASEBALL

FIRST TEAM

GIRLS LACROSSE

BOYS LACROSSE

CISAA Conference Champs: Charlotte Latin

FIRST TEAM

BOYS GOLF

First Team

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

Girls Athlete of the Year Jada Erwin, Charlotte Country Day

BOYS TRACK & FIELD

Boys Athlete of the Year- Aiden Ray, Providence Day School

Langston Wertz Jr.

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