Chatham County's Corey Wilkerson shows off the two medals he won at the National AAU Junior Olympics held in Des Moines, Iowa.  Wilkerson helped his teammates win the gold medal in the 4x100 meter relay in the 13-14 year old age division.

DES MOINES, IA – It was a long, grueling 17-hour bus ride for Corey Wilkerson and Tuli Hanner to reach the National AAU Junior Olympics in Des Moines, Iowa on the campus of Drake University.

But when the two Chatham County athletes reached their destination last Sunday as part of the Tri-City Relay AAU track team out of Winston Salem, they made sure the lengthy trip was worthwhile.

Thus far in 2004 Wilkerson has taken the AAU track circuit by storm, first on a state wide level and then at the Southeast Regionals in Knoxville, TN at the University of Tennessee last month.

Now competing on the highest stage in the AAU National Junior Olympics, Wilkerson stepped it up another notch, collecting a Gold Medal in the 13-14 year old age division as part of the Tri-City 4 x 100 meter relay team.

PIGEON FORGE, TN – The Renegades 14 & Under softball team made up of players from Chatham, Moore and Randolph Counties closed out the season this weekend by taking second-place in the SEAA World Series in Pigeon Forge, TN.

In opening round action of pool play, the Renegades used a key six-run outburst in the sixth inning to roll by the Palmetto Gators out of South Carolina by an 8-0 count.

Allison Braswell of Asheboro picked up the win on the mound while Arielle Stout of Siler City went 2-for-2 with a double and 2 RBI to led the locals at the plate. Megan McNeill of Robbins and Kristyn Phillips of Siler City each added 2-for-3 performances for the Renegades.

Next up for the Renegades in pool play was the Chattanooga Explosion in what was a tightly contested game the entire way.

The Explosion jumped on top early with a pair of runs in the opening frame.

The Renegades rallied for a pair of runs in the third before taking the lead for good in the fourth when Stout led off with a double, moved to third on a bunt by Braswell, and scored on a Chattanooga error.

John Shaner broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth with a clutch two-run double to send Blue to the win. Shaner ended the day 3-for-5 with 4 RBI while Web Davis, D.J. Jessup and Josh Brady each added a pair of hits.

Earning the win on the mound was Lance Tysor, who went the distance, scattering four hits while fanning eight and walking four. Tysor also ripped three hits at the plate to aid his own cause.

Grey, which closes the season at 4-8, was led by a hit each from Mike Peele, Chris Warfford, Mark Askins and Jamie Chriscoe.