RACING
Outlaws at The track
The Topless Outlaws racing series is coming to Tri-County Racetrack in Brasstown Saturday night.
$4,000 is up for grabs in the feature race, one of their biggest payouts at the track this year.
604, 602, open wheel, front wheel drive, street stock and crown vic cars will hit the track and look to put on a show for the fans.
Pits open at 3 p.m. and grandstands open at 4 p.m. Hotlaps start at 7 p.m. Pit tickets are $40 for adults, $25 for kids 11-15 and free for kids 10 and under. Grandstand tickets are $20, $10 for kids 11-15 and free for kids 10 and under.
ATHLETICS
Fall sports start July 30
Fall sports are set to kick off Wednesday, July 30, with the first day of practice, as set by the N.C. High School Athletic Association.
Football can hold their first scrimmage Friday, Aug. 8, and first regular-season game Friday, Aug. 22. The bracket is announced Saturday, Nov. 1, with the first round of the state playoffs Friday, Nov. 7, and state championship games Friday and Saturday, Dec. 12-13.
Volleyball, cross country and boys soccer can have their first game or meet Monday, Aug. 11. The state championships for both volleyball and cross-country are Nov. 1.
The first round of the state playoffs is Saturday, Oct. 18, for volleyball and Monday, Nov. 3, for boys soccer. Cross-country regionals will be held Saturday, Oct. 25, while the boys soccer state championships are set Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21-22.
BASEBALL
WNC wins HR Derby
Cullowhee native Cal Raleigh smashed home runs en route to becoming the first catcher to win the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby on July 14 at Truist Park in Atlanta.
Raleigh attended Smoky Mountain High School in Sylva, played college baseball at Florida State and was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2018.
His father played and coached at Western Carolina University, while his uncle played at WCU before spending time in the minor leagues. His cousin, Brody, is a Catamounts outfielder.
Raleigh became the first Mariner to win the derby since Ken Griffey Jr. accomplished the feat for the third time in 1999. He is also the first switch-hitter to win it outright.
RACING
Exum takes 3 in enduro
Logan Exum of Murphy took home third place at the High Banks 100 endurance race on July 12 at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn.
Exum raced in the 100-lap Southern Nationals Series event.
He is a frequent racer at Tri-County Racetrack in Brasstown. In his last race at the “hidden gem,” he came in fifth place on June 6.
While the series will not come to Brasstown this week, drivers will come to nearby Sugar Creek Raceway in Blue Ridge, Ga., on Thursday, with $7,553 to win in the feature race.
SOCCER
League hosts skills camp
The Cherokee County Soccer League is hosting its soccer summer camp for kids ages 4-15 from Monday through Thursday, July 28-31.
The camp will be held at Heritage Park in Andrews from 10 a.m. to noon each day and costs $60 per person.
The goal of the camp is to learn communication, chemistry, skills and leadership in the realm of soccer. The camp is for both new and seasoned soccer players.
Details: Register at play4ccsl.org or call Christa Blackman at 828-361-3828.
WRESTLING
ACWF back on Aug. 2
The American Championship Wrestling Federation is returning to the Peachtree Community Center on Saturday, Aug. 2.
The “Summer Showdown” will see fan-favorite ACWF superstars return to the ring in front of the lively crowd. In action will be tag team champs KZito, Frodo, Mountain Man Jeremy Stiles, Killshot, Axel Freakin’ Gunn, Billy Havoc, Rusty Rogers, Flex Ferguson, Moki, James Xero, Disturbed, American Standard and many more.
Doors are at 6 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for ages 6-12 and free for ages 5 and under.
Compiled by Sports Editor Cannon Crompton. Email items to sports@cherokeescout.com.