Top Story Spotlight Going Division I together: Catawba County pitcher, catcher both commit to Gardner-Webb jason.koon Jan 9, 2026 Jan 9, 2026 Updated Feb 16, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Serena Thurman and Gracie Setzer have been playing softball together since they were 8 or 9 years old.kAmx? a_ab[ E96J >256 E96 >@G6 E@ 9:89 D49@@= E@86E96C[ 96=A:?8 E@ EFC? 2C@F?5 2 qF?<6C w:== E62> E92E H6?E c\`c E96 AC6G:@FD J62C] }@H[ E96J 92G6 3@E9 4@>>:EE65 E@ A=2J:?8 }rpp s:G:D:@? x D@7E32== E@86E96C 27E6C 8C25F2E:@? 2E v2C5?6C\(633]k^Am Serena Thurman (left) and Gracie Setzer on a recent visit to Gardner-Webb University. Submitted photo kAm%96 A2:C 92D 2=C625J >256 E96:C >2C< @? 9:89 D49@@= D@7E32==] $6EK6C 9:E D:I 9@>6 CF?D 2?5 <?@4<65 :? b` #qxD 7C@> E96 42E496C A@D:E:@? =2DE J62C[ H9:=6 %9FC>2? C2?<65 }@] `c ?2E:@?2==J 2>@?8 7C6D9>6? A:E496CD :? DEC:<6@FED :? a_ac H:E9 abd] %@86E96C[ H:E9 2 E2=6?E65 a_ae 4=2DD 2?5 D@>6 D4C2AAJ ?6H4@>6CD =2DE J62C[ qF?<6C w:== 92D 8@?6 bh\`_ @G6C E96 A2DE EH@ D62D@?D]k^Am People are also reading… McDowell County native started mowing lawns at 15. 5 years later, he has a business, employees One person critically injured in Sunday crash involving bicycle in McDowell County McDowell Endowment giving $56,950 in grants to local nonprofits Marion sixth graders say city needs a dog park; family nonprofit aiming to create toddler park McDowell County man charged with sexual assault of employee This new spot in Marion is offering locally grown food and beer, run by farmers and a brewer McDowell legal leaders: Justice denied is a public shame McDowell County leaders to hear updates on trains, parks Monday For McDowell High alum Michael Smith, education is a lifelong journey 12-year-old arrested in death of classmate who was hit in the head by a metal water bottle Actor in "The Pitt' is from North Carolina, raised by ER nurse mom, paramedic dad Highway patrol: Juvenile killed in McDowell County wreck while driving electric bike See events that will close Marion downtown streets this year, including Friday night concerts Marion City Council recognizes Betty Lynch as Citizen of the Month Public hearing on Duke Energy rate increase request to be held in Morganton. kAmk6>m%96 7@==@H:?8 :?E6CG:6H 92D 366? 65:E65 7@C =6?8E9 2?5 4=2C:EJik^6>mk^Amk9am(92E 5C6H J@F E@ v2C5?6C\(633nk^9amkAmkDEC@?8m$6C6?2ik^DEC@?8m v2C5?6C\(633 92D 2 H@?56C7F= 6?G:C@?>6?E 2?5 E96 A6@A=6 2C@F?5 2C6 G6CJ ?:46] %96J 2=D@ 92G6 6G6CJE9:?8 x ?665 24256>:42==J 2?5 2E9=6E:42==J]k^Am Gracie Setzer (left) and Serena Thurman celebrate after a travel softball victory. Submitted photo kAmkDEC@?8mvC24:6ik^DEC@?8m x H2?E65 2 D49@@= H96C6 x H@F=5 36 C64@8?:K65 2D 2? :?5:G:5F2=[ ?@E ;FDE 2 ?F>36C] v2C5?6C\(633’D D>2==6C DEF56?E\E@\E62496C C2E:@ DEC@?8=J 2AA62=65 E@ >6 2?5 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 4@>A6E6 2E E96 s:G:D:@? x =6G6= :? 2 4=@D6\<?:E 6?G:C@?>6?E 2=:8?D H6== H:E9 >J 8@2=D]k^Am Bunker Hill’s Gracie Setzer (18) singles in the game against Maiden last spring in Maiden. David Scearce, Record kAmp=D@[ >J 4@?G6CD2E:@? H:E9 4@249 q2:=6J (:8?6DD 925 2 DEC@?8 :>A24E @? >J 564:D:@?] (96? x 2D<65 H96C6 D96 6?G:D:@?65 >6 7:EE:?8 :?E@ E96 E62>[ D96 4@?7:56?E=J D2:5[ “vC24:6[ x D66 J@F 369:?5 E96 A=2E6]”k^Amk9amw@H 5@6D :E 766= E@ 36 @? 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D96 >:89E 36 DECF88=:?8] xEVD E96 D2>6 H:E9 96C[ E@@] (96? x’> E9C@H:?8 5@H?[ D96 <?@HD 6I24E=J 9@H E@ 86E @FE @7 >J H2J] %92E <:?5 @7 4@??64E:@? 5@6D?’E 92AA6? @G6C?:89E] xE 4@>6D 7C@> J62CD @7 A=2J:?8 E@86E96C 2?5 8C@H:?8 E@86E96C] x <?@H x’== 36 DE6AA:?8 :?E@ E9:D ?6IE 492AE6C H:E9 D@>6@?6 H9@ ECF=J 86ED >6 2?5 E92E’D D@>6E9:?8 ?@E E@ E2<6 7@C 8C2?E65]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m$6C6?2ik^DEC@?8m x H2?E E@ D2J E96C6 :D AC@323=J ?@ DEC@?86C 4@??64E:@? 36EH66? A:E496C 2?5 42E496C E92? >6 2?5 vC24:6] q642FD6 @7 @FC 3@?5[ :E >2<6D :E 62D:6C E@ C625 6249 @E96C] $96 <?@HD H92E x >FDE 5@ E@ 7:I >J A@D:E:@?:?8 :7 E9:?8D 2C6 ?@E 8@:?8 H6== 2?5 <?@HD 9@H E@ E2=< E@ >6] (:E9@FE 96C[ x 5@?’E <?@H 9@H x 4@F=5 7:I :E]k^Am Jason Koon is the Sports Editor for the Hickory Record and can be reached at jason.koon@lee.net. 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox! 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