Ivy Garner: The North Carolina Courage’s U-23 team won the USL W League championship at the WRAL Soccer Complex in Cary last month. Garner, who played soccer and tennis at Cedar Ridge her freshman year in 2018-2019 before she transferred to Eno River Academy, assisted on the game-winning goal in the championship game against the Colorado Storm on July 20. Garner sent a crossing pass to Macey Bader in the 66th minute. Garner, who is entering her junior year at Liberty University, scored seven goals in 15 games with the Courage this season. North Carolina went undefeated in 12 matches, finishing with an 11-0-1 record to win the Southeast Division championship The Courage U-23 squad reached the USL W League championship game in 2023, as well, falling to Indy XI in the final. Garner will return to action when Liberty travels to High Point on August 15.
Mia Davidson: A summer that started in Japan, continued to Italy will end in Rosemont, Illinois for Davidson. Davidson earned the silver medal for the United States softball team in the World Baseball Softball Coalition Women’s Softball World Cup in Castions di Strada Italy. The American romped through group play, winning its first six games by a combined margin of 32-4. In the Gold Medal game, Japan defeated the U.S. 6-1, scoring six unanswered runs. Earlier in the tournament, the Americans blanked Japan 2-0. Davidson played in two games during the World Cup. Last weekend, Davidson started her third season with Athletes Unlimited. She suited up for Team Alexander for three games at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, IL. For the week, Davidson finished with 28 points in Athletes Unlimited unique system where players earned individual points based on their performance. Team Alexander dropped all three of its games. Davidson went 2-for-8 and set a new league record for career hit by pitches. This weekend, Davidson will play for Team Skylar Wallace after being selected in the eighth round of this week’s draft.
Bryse Wilson: Going into Friday, the Milwaukee Brewers lead the St. Louis Cardinals by five-and-a-half games in the National League Central. Wilson continues to work middle relief. On Tuesday, Wilson threw two innings and allowed four hits with one walk and three strikeouts in a 5-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves at American Family Field. Wilson didn’t allow any runs. On Monday, Wilson threw the ninth inning in a 8-3 win over Atlanta. He allowed one solo home run from Sean Murphy.
Ryan Hench: The Burlington Sock Puppets of the Appalachian League ended its season in the Eastern Division Championship game on Thursday night. The Danville Otterbots defeated the Sock Puppets with a walkoff double to win 3-2 at American Legion Field. Hench, who redshirted for North Carolina as a freshman last spring, went 2-3 with a 5.71 ERA for Burlington this summer. In eight games, Hench struck out 41 and walked 21. In his final appearance of the regular season, Hench struck out eight over four innings in a start against the Johnson City Doughboys. He allowed four runs off seven hits in a no-decision. Burlington reached the Appalachian League playoffs for the second straight year after finishing 26-22, good enough for second place in the Eastern Division, five games behind Danville.
Payton Wilson: After being selected in the third round of April’s NFL Draft, Wilson will make his unofficial debut with the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Houston Texans next Friday at Acrisure Stadium. It will be Pittsburgh’s preseason opener.
Trenton Gill: After being released by the Chicago Bears last spring, Gill will make his debut for the Denver Broncos on August 11 against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Gill will try to win the starting job from veteran Riley Dixon, who was signed by the Broncos in 2023 after a season with the Los Angeles Rams. Gill is the first Cedar Ridge Red Wolf to play in the NFL.