Sports:
In Your Inbox
Get local sports done right with The Sidelines, The Pilot's free newsletter delivering award-winning Moore County coverage directly to your inbox.
The Coverage:
Subscribe to The Sidelines and get all the sports coverage you crave, from high school athletics and racquet sports to golf and equestrian pursuits as well as recreational leagues. Read spotlights on players, by fans and for fans, plus a calendar of games you won't want to miss.
The People:
Jonathan Bym
A native of Moore County, Jonathan Bym helped lead the sports section that was recognized for second place in sports coverage from the North Carolina Press Association in 2022. An avid sports fan and a hack golfer, Jonathan looks to tell compelling stories of Moore County sports and recreation, and inform the public about the accomplishments of all local student-athletes at the same time. Jonathan takes pride in the fair and balanced coverage the sports section has displayed since joining The Pilot in September 2020.
Timothy Hale
Timothy Hale is an award-winning, independent photojournalist with more than 40 years of experience in newspapers, magazines, television, and radio. He has provided images for The Pilot since 2013. His national and international images are represented by ZUMA Press, the world’s largest independently owned photojournalism service. He is a member of Nikon Professional Services, the National Press Photographers Association, and the North Carolina Press Association. Read more about Timothy Hale here.
Diane McKay
Diane and her family moved to Southern Pines from Freehold, New Jersey in June 1961. They lived in a house half a block from Weymouth Estates, and at the age of about seven or eight, it didn’t take Diane long to find her way to the Boyd Stables and begin her start with horses. She has always loved Moore County and never wanted to leave. She became the Hoofbeats Coordinator for The Pilot on June 1, 2015, and she is now in her ninth year supplying equestrian images to showcase and promote the large horse community. Diane is proud to be affiliated with her hometown newspaper.
Lynn Pennington
Lynn Pennington has served as official Mustang photographer for the last 14 years. She considers her donation of time and passion for photography a gift to the students and families who cherish the pictures she shares free of charge. Her willingness to follow the kids to all games and events ensures the North Moore Mustangs get the coverage they deserve and have their pictures posted alongside their coverage.
Ted Fitzgerald
Ted Fitzgerald is The Pilot's staff photographer. Ted has worked as a photojournalist for over 40 years working at the Boston Herald and more recently for the last 6 years at The Pilot. He’s covered the whole gamut of news including politics, sports, weather related disasters, celebrities, pop culture and sensational courtroom trials. One of his favorites was traveling to Normandy in 1994 for the 50th anniversary of D-Day.
Zack is a 2021 graduate of Union Pines High School, and started as a contributor before graduating. He aspires for a career in sports media in the future, and has worked the last two years as a student assistant in the Sandhills Community College athletic department.
Trevor Ratcliff
Trevor is a 2023 graduate of Pinecrest High School, and started as a contributor this summer with coverage of the Sandhills Bogeys. Ratcliff is enrolling at Sandhills Community College in the fall, and has career aspirations of working in sports media.
Our Story
The Pilot is a local news organization that prides itself on high-quality, local news coverage. Founded over 100 years ago in Vass, The Pilot maintains strong roots in the Moore County community. In 2023, The Pilot launched The Sidelines to reach more people with award-winning county-wide sports coverage. Click below to read local news, from the only trusted local source.
