Featured Top Story C. JEMAL HORTON COLUMN: Bulls' softball star Bechtol had work ethic, focus to fulfill once-unimagined dreams C. JEMAL HORTON May 30, 2023 May 30, 2023 Updated May 30, 2023 0 Grace Bechtol leads Hickory Ridge with a .517 batting average and five home runs heading into the Class 4A state championship series this weekend. Todd Maulden/Special to the Independent Tribune Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save C. JEMAL HORTON HARRISBURG – Grace Bechtol dug her cleats into the earth Thursday evening and directed her gaze toward the pitcher. C. JEMAL HORTONjhorton@independenttribune.com kAmq649E@=[ E96 =625\@77 32EE6C 7@C E96 w:4<@CJ #:586 D@7E32== E62>[ 92D 96C EC:65\2?5\ECF6 C@FE:?6 2E E96 A=2E6[ 2?5 :? E9:D[ E96 3:886DE 82>6 @7 96C =:76[ D96 H2D DE:4<:?8 E@ :Ei s@?’E DH:?8 2E E96 7:CDE A:E49]k^AmkAmxE’D 2 A9:=@D@A9J D96 25@AE65 2 H9:=6 28@ 2D 2 H2J E@ >2<6 DFC6 96C E:>:?8 2E E96 A=2E6 :D C:89E[ A=FD :E AFED E96 AC6DDFC6 @? E96 A:E496C E@ E9C@H 2 DEC:<6] p?5 :E D6CG65 q649E@= H6==[ E@ E96 EF?6 @7 2 E62>\=625:?8 ]d`f 32EE:?8 2G6C286 2?5 7:G6 9@>6 CF?D :? 96C D6?:@C D62D@?]k^Am kAm|2CG:? #:586 246 p??2 !9:76C H@F?5 FA 2?5 56=:G6C65 E96 7:CDE A:E49[ 2?5 q649E@=’D DEC2E68J A2:5 @77i 32== @FED:56] k^Am People are also reading… Friday Five: Two new restaurants, Panda Fest, lawncare and acting broke As drought worsens Concord asks customers to conserve water Commissioners Notebook: Board discusses opioid settlement funds; revisions to Emergency Operations Plan Buying a home in Concord costs far more than renting, a new study finds Cabarrus Scroll: Outstanding performances and athletes moving to the next level NC facing 'wild west' crossroads with cannabis usage, regulations Second arrest made in Rowan fentanyl trafficking investigation Concord beach music Hall of Fame singer dies in crash Concord named among nation’s best places to live in 2026 Cabarrus Center at 5: From idea to impact, downtown hub reshapes local business landscape Historical marker in Rowan County honors nation’s first Black credit union Andy Langford: One councilperson's response to outcry against ICE detention center Logan Community among two dozen added to Historic Places list Wonders win on scoreboard, but all winners in Jonathan Foundation game UPDATE: US military seizes Iranian-flagged cargo ship kAmq649E@= DE6AA65 @FE @7 E96 32EE6C’D 3@I 2?5 =@@<65 E@H2C5 w:4<@CJ #:586 9625 4@249 yFDE:? s2G:6D[ H9@ 82G6 96C E96 D:8? 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E96 3@I]k^AmkAm%96 D64@?5 A:E49 42>6[ 2?5 q649E@= H2D E6>AE65 E@ DH:?8[ 3FE D96 96=5 324<] v@@5 6J6] q2== a[ =@H 2?5 @FED:56]k^Am kAm$96 =@@<65 E@H2C5 s2G:6D 282:?[ 2?5 E96 7:7E9\J62C 4@249 25G:D65[ “{@@< 7@C J@FC A:E49]”k^Am kAmq24< D96 DE6AA65 :?E@ E96 3@I 2?5 E@@< 2 566A 3C62E9 367@C6 !9:76C C62C65 324< 2?5 D6?E 2?@E96C A:E49 E@H2C5 E96 A=2E6]k^Am kAmxE H2D A6C764E – 7@C q649E@=[ E92E :D] %9:D H2D :?5665 96C A:E49] !FE :E E9:D H2Ji x7 “z?@4< E96 w64< ~FE @7 |6” H2D 2 D@7E32==[ E9:D @?6 H2D :E]k^AmkAm“x D2H E92E A:E49[ 2?5 x D2:5[ ‘x 42?’E A2DD E9:D @?6 FA[’” q649E@= C642==65]k^Am kAm(:E9 E96 7@4FD65 G:D:@? @7 2 9F?E6C D66<:?8 :ED AC6J[ D@>6E9:?8 q649E@=’D 24EF2==J 5@?6[ D96 DHF?8 H:E9 2== 96C >:89E]k^AmkAmk6>mq@@>Pk^6>mk^AmkAm%96 DA96C6 42C66?65 @77 96C 32E[ 2?5 E96 E9F>A H2D AFC6 2?5 DH66E[ E92E F?7@C86EE23=6 D@F?5 2 32== >2<6D H96? :E 4@??64ED H:E9 E96 72EE6DE A2CE @7 E96 32E]k^Am Grace Bechtol has signed a National Letter of Intent with Radford University in Virginia. Todd Maulden/Special to the Independent Tribune kAmq649E@= 925 2 766=:?8 E92E E96 32== H@F=5?’E 36 D66? 282:?[ 2E =62DE F?E:= D@>6@?6 C6EC:6G65 :E @? E96 @E96C D:56 @7 E96 76?46 2?5 3C@F89E :E 324< E@ 96C :? E96 w:4<@CJ #:586 5F8@FE[ 3642FD6 E9:D @?6 H2D DFC6=J 8@?6]k^Am kAmw@H 4@?7:56?E H2D q649E@= :E H2D 8@?6nk^AmkAm“x DE2CE65 H2E49:?8 E96 32== W2D :E 7=6H :?E@ E96 2:CX[” D96 D2:5] “xE 42>6 @77 E96 32E[ 2?5 x D2:5[ ‘%92E @?6 76=E C62==J 8@@5P’ $@ x <:?5 @7 H2E4965 :E[ 2?5 x H2D =:<6[ ‘v@[ 32==[ 8@P’ %96? :E H6?E @G6C E96 76?46[ 2?5 x 925 E9:D CFD9 @7 6>@E:@?] x H2D 6I4:E65[ x H2D AF>A65 FA]k^Am kAm“p?5 E96? x =@@<65 @G6C 2E >J E62>>2E6D[ 2?5 E96J H6C6 2== DAC:?E:?8 @FE @7 E96 5F8@FE[ 4=2AA:?8 2?5 J6==:?8[ 2?5 6G6CJ3@5J H2D D4C62>:?8 :? E96 DE2?5D]”k^Am kAm%96C6 H2D >@C6 C62D@? 7@C E96 #28:?’ qF==D E@ 4966C E92? E96J 24EF2==J <?6H]k^AmkAmq649E@=’D D@=@ D9@E :? E92E 7:CDE EH@ >:?FE6D @7 E96 82>6 EFC?65 @FE E@ 36 E96 @?=J CF? :? 2 564:D:G6 v2>6 b G:4E@CJ @G6C E96 |2G6C:4<D :? 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DF49 2 3:8 82>6]k^Am kAm“x <?@H 6G6CJ3@5J’D 6I4:E65] tG6CJ3@5J’D E2=<:?8 23@FE :E :? @FC 8C@FA 492E[ 2?5 6G6CJ3@5J W:? w2CC:D3FC8X :D 2D<:?8 23@FE :E – H96C6 :E :D[ H92E E:>6 :E :D[ 2?5 DEF77 =:<6 E92E] xE’D 6I4:E:?8 3642FD6 E96 H9@=6 4@>>F?:EJ :D 6I4:E65 7@C FD 2?5 2D<:?8 FD 23@FE :E 2?5 DFAA@CE:?8 FD] xE’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 BF:E6 E96 6IA6C:6?46]” k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m(96C6 :E 2== 3682?k^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmq649E@= :D?’E DFC6 9@H D96 7@F?5 96C H2J E@ E9@D6 7:6=5D 2E w2CC:D3FC8 t=6>6?E2CJ] $96 5@6D?’E <?@H :7 :E H2D E96 :562 @7 96C A2C6?ED[ r9C:D 2?5 |282?[ @C :7 D96 2D<65 E@ A=2J %\32==]k^AmkAmp== D96 <?@HD :D E92E D96’D 8=25 D96 H2D @FE E96C6[ 4@>A6E:?8 282:?DE E96 3@JD[ E96 7:CDE DE6A :? 5:D4@G6C:?8 96C A2DD:@?] xE =2E6C 96=A65 96C 56G6=@A D@>6 =:76=@?8 C6=2E:@?D9:AD[ E@@[ 2D D96 E62>65 H:E9 4FCC6?E w:4<@CJ #:586 E62>>2E6D r9=@6 (@@5H2C5 2?5 z2C46? qFC?6EE6 :? E96 w2CC:D3FC8 !2C< 2?5 #64 D@7E32== =628F6]k^Am Grace Bechtol is an efficient infielder. Todd Maulden/Special to the Independent Tribune kAm$96 3C:67=J 82G6 G@==6J32== 2 ECJ :? >:55=6 D49@@=[ 3FE :E ;FDE 5:5?’E 3C:?8 96C E96 D2E:D724E:@? E92E E96 D?:77 @7 2 ?6H 8=@G6 @C 2 7C6D9 A2:C @7 4=62ED 82G6 96C[ D@ 4@?E:?F65 E@ >2<6 96C 4=:>3 E9C@F89 E96 C2?<D[ ;@:?:?8 2 EC2G6= 32== E62>]k^AmkAmqFE H9:=6 D96 D9@H65 :>>6?D6 E2=6?E[ D96 2=D@ =24<65 4@?7:56?46[ 2?5 D96 H2D?’E DFC6 D96 4@F=5 <66A 4=:>3:?8 H:E9 E96 C6DE @7 96C A66CD]k^AmkAm(2D E96 ?6IE =6G6= 7@C 96Cnk^AmkAm“x 925 A=2J65 @? E96 EC2G6= E62>[ 2?5 E96J E@=5 >6 E96J H6C6 8@:?8 E@ DE2CE A=2J:?8 D9@H42D6[” q649E@= D2:5] “x 925 2=H2JD E9@F89E :E >:89E 36 4@@= E@ 5@ E92E[ 3FE x ?6G6C C62==J E9@F89E x 4@F=5]”k^Am Officially a Highlander ✍️ Grace Bechtol • Harrisburg, North Carolina • Shortstop/ Utility#RiseandDefend pic.twitter.com/qF3t51B6FH — Radford Softball (@RadfordSoftball) November 14, 2022 kAm%96? 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Todd Maulden/Special to the Independent Tribune kAmq649E@=’D D@A9@>@C6 J62C H2D 2 H9@=6 5:776C6?E DE@CJ[ A6C7@C>2?46\H:D6]k^AmkAmqJ E96?[ q649E@= H2D 4@?7:56?E[ 2?5 D96 A=2J65 =:<6 2 7FEFC6 4@==686 2E9=6E6] (9:=6 25;FDE:?8 E@ D@>6 ?6H A@D:E:@?D[ C:89E 7:6=5 2?5 A:E496C[ D96 >@G65 96C 32EE:?8 2G6C286 FA E@ ]cca[ 255:?8 ?:?6 #qxD 2?5 EJ:?8 7@C E96 E62> =625 H:E9 D6G6? 5@F3=6D]k^Am kAm$96 H2D C6H2C565 H:E9 2==\4@?76C6?46 2?5 2==\5:DEC:4E 5:DE:?4E:@?D 2D E96 #28:?’ qF==D >256 E96 E9:C5 C@F?5 @7 E96 A=2J@77D]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m%96 9F?E6Ck^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmxE 96=A65 E92E q649E@= 2=C625J 925 2 324<8C@F?5 :? 8@:?8 27E6C H92E D96 H2?E65[ H96E96C :E H2D D@7E32==[ 2 6:89E\A@:?E 3F4< 566A :? E96 H@@5D[ @C 2 7:D9 566A :? E96 pE=2?E:4]k^AmkAm%96 =2EE6C EH@ 9@33:6D 2C6 D@>6E9:?8 D96 76== :? =@G6 H:E9 H9:=6 92?8:?8 H:E9 96C 72E96C 2D 2 =:EE=6 8:C=[ 2?5 D96 DE:== C6=:D96D 6249 E:>6 E96J 42? 8@ @? E96:C 5255J\52F89E6C EC:AD 2?5 4@?BF6C E96 8C62E @FE5@@CD]k^Am kAm“x =@G6 E@ 9F?E 2?5 7:D9 H:E9 >J 525[” q649E@= D2:5[ 96C G@:46 86EE:?8 >@C6 6I4:E65 H:E9 6G6CJ H@C5[ “2?5 x’G6 366? 7:D9:?8 7@C 2D =@?8 2D x 42? C6>6>36C] |6 2?5 >J 525 =:<6 E@ E2<6 566A D62 7:D9:?8 EC:AD E@86E96C] $AC:?8 3C62< H6 H6?E @? 2 566A D62 7:D9:?8 EC:A]k^Am kAm“(6’G6 8@?6 @FE @7 s6DE:? :? u=@C:52[ 2?5 >J 72G@C:E6 A=246 E@ 8@ :D r2=232D9[ }@CE9 r2C@=:?2] (6 8@ @77D9@C6 2?5 7:D9 2== 52J 2?5 E96? 4@>6 324< :?] xE’D C62==J C6=2I:?8 2?5 <:?5 @7 42=>:?8]”k^AmkAmp?5 q649E@=’D ?@E ;FDE C66=:?8 :? >:??@HD H96? D96’D @FE E96C6] $96 E2C86ED E96 >@?DE6CD @7 E96 @462?] $96 D2:5 @?6 E:>6 D96 3C@F89E :? 2? p>36C;24<[ 2 9:89=J D@F89E 27E6C AC652E@CJ 7:D9 <?@H? 7@C 9@H 92C5 :E 7:89ED E@ 36 92F=65 :?] %96C6’D 2? @=5 7:D96C>2?’D E2=6 E92E 564=2C6D 2 =:76E:>6 @7 7:89E:?8 p>36C;24<D H:== =6?8E96? J@FC 2C>D 3J D6G6C2= :?496D]k^Am Grace Bechtol led the Ragin' Bulls with 17 stolen bases this season. Joan Moore/Special to The Independent Tribune kAmq649E@=’D ?@E DFC6 9@H 3:8 96C p>36C;24< H2D[ 3FE E96:C 2G6C286 D:K6 :D a½ 766E 2?5 `_\`d A@F?5D[ 2=E9@F89 E96J 42? 36 2D =@?8 2D e 766E 2?5 H6:89 c_ A@F?5D]k^AmkAmqFE E92E’D ?@E 6G6? 96C AC:K6 42E49]k^Am SPEED!!!! https://t.co/qvDRLwOwwi — HRHSVarsitySoftball (@HRBullsSoftball) April 3, 2023 kAm“%96 4@@=6DE E9:?8 x’G6 42F89E 367@C6 H2D 2 D92C<[” D96 D2:5[ 96C G@:46 D66>:?8 E@ C:D6 2?@E96C @4E2G6] “x 42F89E 2 =:EE=6 D92C< @?6 E:>6[ 2?5 E92E H2D C62==J 4@@=] xE H2D ?62C u@CE |J6CD] %92E’D H96C6 >J 525’D 72>:=J =:G6D]”k^Am kAmpD 72C 2D 9F?E:?8 566C 8@6D[ q649E@= 92D J62CD @7 6IA6C:6?46 :? E92E[ E@@[ 3FE D96 25>:ED E92E D96’D ?@E 2D AC@7:4:6?E 2D D96 :D H:E9 2 C66= 2?5 C@5]k^Am kAm“x’G6 @?=J D9@E @?6 566C :? >J =:76[ 3FE x’G6 8@?6 9F?E:?8 H:E9 >J 525 2 =@E[” D96 D2:5] “(96? x H2D J@F?86C[ x H@F=5 ;FDE 8@ H:E9 9:> 2?5 D:E :? E96 EC66 DE2?5 2?5 DEF77]”k^AmkAmqFE E96C6’D 2 8C62E6C 8@2= @? 2== E96D6 EC:AD[ D96 D2:5i ;FDE DA6?5:?8 BF2=:EJ E:>6 H:E9 96C 72E96C]k^AmkAmq649E@= 2?5 96C 525[ H9@ 8C6H FA A=2J:?8 32D632==[ E2=< 23@FE D@7E32== 2 =@E H96? E96J’C6 2=@?6 :? E96 DE2?5 @C @? 2 3@2E] qFE E96? E96C6 2C6 ;FDE E96 86?6C2= 4@?G6CD2E:@?D 23@FE =:76] xE’D 96=A65 96C <?@H E96 >2? 96 C62==J :D] xE’D 96=A65 96C <?@H E96 J@F?8 H@>2? D96’D 364@>6]k^Am kAm!C:46=6DD]k^Am kAm“(6 E2=< 23@FE 6G6CJE9:?8[” D96 D2:5] “$@7E32== :D BF:E6 E96 4@?G6CD2E:@? >@DE @7 E96 E:>6[ 2?5 H96? H6 >66E A6@A=6 @? E96 3@2ED H6 8@ @FE @?[ H6 ;FDE E2=<[ >2<6 4@?G6CD2E:@?]k^AmkAmQx’G6 567:?:E6=J 8@EE6? 4=@D6C E@ >J 525 @G6C E:>6 5@:?8 E92E DEF77 3642FD6 :E’D ;FDE E:>6 E92E H6 92G6 E@86E96C[ E:>6 E@ =62C?] yFDE 92G:?8 D@>6 2=@?6 E:>6[ H9:49 :D ?:46]”k^AmkAmp?5 ?@H[ q649E@=’D 2 ECF6 7:G6\E@@= A=2J6Ci $96 42? 9:E 7@C 2G6C286[ 9:E 7@C A@H6C[ E9C@H DEC:<6D[ p}s D96 42? 42E49 5:??6C 2?5 3C:?8 :E 9@>6]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m}@ =@?86C F?DFC6k^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmqJ E96 E:>6 96C ;F?:@C D62D@? 42>6 2C@F?5 =2DE J62C[ 6G6CJ3@5J =@42==J[ 2?5 >2?J A6@A=6 C68:@?2==J[ <?6H H9@ q64E@= H2D] $96 >@G65 324< E@ H92E ?@H :D 96C 4FCC6?E A@D:E:@?[ D9@CEDE@A[ 2?5 25565 D@>6 >@C6 92C5H2C6 2D 2? 2==\4@?76C6?46 A6C7@C>6C H9@ =65 E96 qF==D :? 32EE:?8 2G6C286 W2 42C66C\36DE ]dcgX[ #qxD W2 42C66C\36DE d`X H:E9 E9C66 9@>6CD]k^AmkAm%96 qF==D 6G6? C624965 E96 E9:C5 C@F?5 @7 E96 A=2J@77D 282:?[ E9:D E:>6 72==:?8 E@ $@FE9 |64<=6?3FC8 3J 2 D:?8=6 CF?]k^Am kAm“qFE x E9:?< :E C62==J D6E FD FA 7@C E9:D J62C[” q649E@= D2:5]k^AmkAm%9:D D62D@?[ q649E@= =65 w:4<@CJ #:586 :? 32EE:?8 2G6C286 7@C E96 D64@?5 DEC2:89E J62C[ 6I9:3:E:?8 96C DA665 @? @?6 9@>6C E92E H2D E96 :?D:56\E96\A2C< G2C:6EJ H:E9 E96 32D6D A24<65]k^Am Grace Bechtol fires the fastball from the pitcher's circle. Todd Maulden/Special to the Independent Tribune kAmp?5 D96 4@?E:?F65 E@ D9@H42D6 96C D<:==D :? E96 A:E496C’D 4:C4=6[ D6CG:?8 2D E96 qF==D’ E9:C5 2C> :? E96 C@E2E:@? 2=@?8 H:E9 p??2 s6H 2?5 zC:DEJ? t>3=6C] x? 96C 6:89E :??:?8D A:E4965[ q649E@= DECF4< @FE `c 32EE6CD 2?5 2==@H65 ?@ 62C?65 CF?D] $96 6G6? 4@>3:?65 H:E9 s6H 7@C 2 ?@\9:EE6C – 7@C E96 D64@?5 E:>6 :? E96:C 42C66CD]k^Am kAm$@F?5D =:<6 >@C6 :?5:G:5F2= 2H2C5D 2C6 4@>:?8]k^AmkAmp?5[ E9FD 72C[ E96 DA64:2= >@>6?E @7 E96 D62D@? H2D E96 9@>6 CF? =2DE H66< 282:?DE |2CG:? #:586[ 96=A:?8 62C? 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E96 DE2E6 492>A:@?D9:A E9:D H66<6?5]k^AmkAm“xE’D 7F? E@ D66 9@H 72C x’G6 4@>6]”k^Am kAmp?5 ;FDE 9@H 72C D96 42? 8@]k^Am 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Friday Five: Two new restaurants, Panda Fest, lawncare and acting broke Mark Plemmons' Friday Five includes: Two new restaurants, Panda Fest, ELK's war on litter, a new app for lawncare and an odd list about how p… As drought worsens Concord asks customers to conserve water The city of Concord, along with communities throughout the region, is asking residents to voluntarily conserve water, effective immediately. 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Friday Five: Two new restaurants, Panda Fest, lawncare and acting broke Mark Plemmons' Friday Five includes: Two new restaurants, Panda Fest, ELK's war on litter, a new app for lawncare and an odd list about how p…
As drought worsens Concord asks customers to conserve water The city of Concord, along with communities throughout the region, is asking residents to voluntarily conserve water, effective immediately.
Commissioners Notebook: Board discusses opioid settlement funds; revisions to Emergency Operations Plan CONCORD– Cabarrus County Commissioners will hold their monthly Regular Meeting on Monday, April 20, at the Cabarrus County Government Center i…
Buying a home in Concord costs far more than renting, a new study finds For many Concord residents weighing whether to rent or buy, the math is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
NC facing 'wild west' crossroads with cannabis usage, regulations Gov. Josh Stein established the council on the caanabis industry in large part out of concern that "our state’s unregulated cannabis market to…
