Gov. Josh Stein celebrated the ski industry in North Carolina on Friday, as the Winter Olympics are underway in Milan, Italy.
What You Need To Know
Gov. Stein is visiting three North Carolina ski resorts Friday and this weekend to highlight the industry
North Carolina is known as the “Winter Capital of the South”
The Winter Olympics are currently being held in Milan, Italy. Three North Carolinians, and five members of the Carolina Hurricanes are competing
Stein was at the Appalachian Ski Mountain on Friday and plans to visit Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain this weekend to highlight the winter sport here at home, while three North Carolinians compete overseas.
“For more than 60 years, North Carolina has been recognized as the Winter Capital of the South, offering the highest-elevation skiing in the eastern United States and welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors annually,” Stein’s office said in a news release on Thursday.
According to Stein, North Carolina is home to six different ski resorts, each offering a wonderful experience for visitors, “whether you like zipping down the slopes, or sipping hot cocoa.”
Just under 800,000 skiers and snowboarders of every level, beginner or expert, visit each year for the unique peaks and slopes, with some rising above 5,000 feet in elevation.
“With the highest mountains, the biggest variety of activities and the best instruction for beginners, our ski areas have helped make North Carolina the winter sports capital of the South,” said Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit NC. “Each year, it’s exciting to see the mountain landscapes extend their appeal with new developments on and off the slopes.”
The ski industry in North Carolina supports about 2,000 jobs each year, bringing in nearly $250 million in economic activity.
“Today, in the spirit of the Winter Olympics, I’m here to urge everyone to consider western North Carolina for your next winter vacation,” Stein said at an event on Friday at the Appalachian Ski Mountain.
Last week, Stein announced his well wishes for each of the North Carolinians who are currently competing in the Winter Olympics, including Eunice Lee, a student at Duke Univerosty who is competing in speed skating, Mystique Ro, an alumnus of Queens University who is competing in skeleton racing, and Kayden Beasley, a North Carolina native who is competing in sled hockey.
In addition to these North Carolinians, five members of the Carolina Hurricanes hockey team are competing in men’s ice hockey, representing four different countries.
Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.
Back in the 1970s, I became one of the now more than 1 million first-time skiers taught at @App_Ski_Mtn‘s French-Swiss Ski College. It is great to be back. @FLONC and I look forward to spending the weekend enjoying NC’s winter wonderland.
PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. — A man and a woman were killed in a home explosion and fire in rural eastern Pueblo County Thursday afternoon.
While the exact cause remains unknown, the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office reported Saturday that the explosion was deemed accidental.
It happened at a home near 57th Lane and Cherry Road near Boone.
When first responders arrived Thursday afternoon, they found the home fully engulfed in fire.
Firefighters quickly got the fire under control and learned that two people had been at the home and were unaccounted for, according to the sheriff’s office.
Once the fire was extinguished, responders found one of the deceased individuals. The second was located on Saturday morning.
The Pueblo County Coroner’s Office will release the names of the deceased and the manner and cause of death at the appropriate time.
The investigation into the cause of the explosion continues.
Investigators from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control and the sheriff’s office are investigating the incident.
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A small earthquake was detected near a scenic North Carolina town in the Blue Ridge Mountains on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, federal seismologists said. No one reported feeling it.
The 1.7 magnitude earthquake registered at 1:06 a.m. about 4 miles southwest of the high country town of Newland, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Newland, population 700, is the Avery County seat of government, a 20-mile drive southwest of Blowing Rock. Charlotte is 110 miles southeast.
The quake was 1.2 miles deep, seismologists said.
No one reported feeling the quake, according to the USGS, which also received no reports of damage.
Quake joins spate of tremors over the past year
The quake also was smaller than the spate of tremors across the mountains in 2025, most of them similarly weak and barely felt.
The strongest earthquake of 2025, a 4.1 magnitude, hit May 10 near the Tennessee-North Carolina border and was felt as far east as Charlotte, the USGS reported.
Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news. Support my work with a digital subscription
Week 9 of Central Florida high school football is in the books. Here’s a look at how the teams performed during another edition of Friday Night Hits. Game of the Week Edgewater 35, Dr. Phillips 6 You Pick 2 Poll Game Winter Park 39, Ocoee 28 Scores across Central Florida West Oaks 40, The Geneva School 7 Jones 56, Wekiva 0 Boone 58, Colonial 0 Lake Brantley 50, Orlando University 0 Orangewood Christian 45, Bishop McLaughlin 7 Trinity Prep 42, Cedar Creek Christian 0 Evans 40, Lake Mary 14 West Orange 48, Olympia 0Osceola 50, Apopka 7 Oviedo 55, Orange City University 7Harmony 28, Celebration 16Innovation 35, Lake Buena Vista 8Horizon 59, Lake Minneola 8 Lake Nona 84, Timber Creek 8 Melbourne Central 34, Orlando Christian Prep 14 Umatilla 42, Taylor Pierson 0 Windermere 55, McLaughlin 0 New Smyrna Beach 26, Deltona 7 Saint Cloud 44, Tohopekaliga 21Mainland 33, Heritage 6Eau Gallie 56, Palm Bay 6 Viera 41, Seabreeze 14 Cocoa 27, The Villages Charter 6Have a football score that you want to report? Email it to us over at News@WESH.com.
Week 9 of Central Florida high school football is in the books.
Here’s a look at how the teams performed during another edition of Friday Night Hits.
Zipping across valleys and creeks with incredible mountain views is the name of the game at Hawksnest Adventures near Boone, NC. With over four miles of ziplines, there is no shortage of fun to be had at this amazing spot and we have all the details on what to expect and booking your own trip!
Thanks to Explore Boone for hosting us on this adventure.
I had heard of Hawksnest Adventures near Boone, NC long before I set foot up there due to their snow tubing runs. But going there in person to see the absolute stunning views and to experience their zipline course was a whole other thing and one I highly recommend if you love the feeling of flying and stunning mountain views.
Getting ready to fly at Hawksnest
About Hawksnest Adventures
Hawksnest is located in Seven Devils, NC, just outside of Boone, and about three hours from the Upstate. You can do this as a day trip but I recommend staying overnight not only because it would a long drive but because there are tons of things to enjoy in the area.
Hawksnest offers two zipline tours spring through the fall and four snow tubing runs during wintertime. They also have whitewater rafting over the summer. You could literally spend an entire day enjoying their adventures here.
The view from one of the decks at Hawksnest
Ziplining Tours
This was one of our favorite adventures in Boone since you get to fly amongst the trees and mountains, over creeks, and walk on swinging bridges. We did the Hawk Tour, which included 11 ziplines and took about 1.5 hours. Our guides, Carson and Sky, were fantastic and made us feel safe and excited to fly on those lines!
I couldn’t even pick what my favorite line was. The first several were over the valleys with insane views of the mountains, which were just beginning to show some fall color. I was thinking if I could possibly come back up there in a couple weeks when the colors would be at their peak.
Incredible views at Hawksnest!
The last half of the course was through the woods and over creeks. We got to go across two suspension bridges as well, which were a lot of fun and certainly tested balance. But you’re clipped in so it’s all good.
The other tour is the more thrilling Eagle Tour, which traverses about three miles of cables, including two which are 2,000 feet long.
Tips on Enjoying Hawksnest Ziplining
From my own experiences at Hawksnest and other ziplining places, these are my best tips on making the most of your adventure here:
Be sure to check the height and weight requirements of the zipline tour. For the Hawk tour that we did, participants must be at least 5-years-old and those under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Riders cannot be more than 250 lbs or have a waist larger than a 40 inches. There is no minimum weight for our Hawk Tour. The Eagle tour requires participants to be at least 8-years-old and weigh 80 pounds.
Wear closed-toed shoes. This is a requirement at most ziplining places.
Wear comfy clothes. Shorts or jeans are best. I was wearing an athletic skirt with built-in shorts, and I kind of wish I wore shorts just so I wouldn’t have to worry about the straps and my skirt!
Get there 30 minutes early. You have to check in and get all your gear on. If you didn’t sign your waivers online, you’ll have to do it before you get all geared up.
Tip your guide. Tips are a great way to show your appreciation for your guides who didn’t let you die.
Leave behind things that could fall. This includes phones (I went with mine but I had it in a zipped-up pocket), keys, necklaces, or anything you really don’t want to lose.
Honest Mom Review: Hawksnest Zipline
I’ve done ziplining at a lot of fantastic spots, but this was easily my favorite because of the incredible views and fun ziplines over water and through the trees. I was standing there with my mouth hanging open most of the time, admiring the beauty. It was really cool to be that high up and enjoy the experience of flying.
And our guides were a highlight of the adventure. Carson and Sky worked seamlessly to get us all in our gear, do the safety instructions, and engage with us the whole trip while making sure everything was in place to keep us safe on the cables. They took the time to learn our names and where we were from. They were both just genuinely cool people, and it was a pleasure to hang out with them for the short time we were there.
Suspension bridge at Hawksnest
The other cool thing is that Hawksnest has a great photographer. He’ll get fantastic shots of you on the course that you can purchase afterwards. I don’t usually buy the photos, but this time, I was like – oh yes, I want these! He did such a great job.
Booking Your Ziplining Trip
You can easily book your trip online. Choose which course you want, either the Hawk or the Eagle, and just book your trip. The Hawk course is $70/person and the Eagle is $80/person. You could also go all out and choose to do both courses for $120/person.
For information on snow tubing and whitewater rafting, be sure to check out their website.
Mystery Hill in Blowing Rock, NC is where weird meets fun and where you’ll probably be wondering what is going on most of the time.
We can’t recommend Mystery Hill enough!
Thanks to Explore Boone for hosting us for this visit.
What is Mystery Hill?
Mystery Hill first opened in 1948 and has enthralled both locals and visitors ever since with their Natural Gravitational Anomaly, where you’ll probably feel you are on a roller coaster and spinning tea cup ride all at once. It’s so weird. Water flows uphill and balls roll up walls.
Fun at Mystery Hill
Today, Mystery Hill has hands-on science experiments, gem mining, axe throwing, mechanical bull riding, and even a museum that has more than 50,000 Native American arrowheads displayed.
The museum is located between Blowing Rock and Boone, NC.
Things to do at Mystery Hill
Vortex and Other Oddities Tour
All the guests start off with the tour about the history of the museum and what you’ll find there. Our guide was hilarious. He had dad jokes galore and could imitate more voices than I’d ever heard come out of one person. My teen and I were cracking up while my tween was cringing in embarrassment that we were laughing. It was so great and started your impression off of the museum on the right foot.
The guide escorts you through rooms that look like they were straight out of the 70s with wood paneled walls and turf-like flooring. You’ll get to go to the vortex room here and before you go in, you’ll get instructions to use the railings in the room and if you feel sick, how to get out fast. I certainly have not heard those instructions before.
What in the gravity is happening here?
The Natural Gravitational Anomaly room was crazy. I went downhill in it and felt so dizzy and lightheaded. Like, what? You feel like you’re walking uphill, but if you just stand there, you’re leaning forward, like Michael Jackson leaning forward. There is a station where you can pour in water, and it looks like it’s flowing uphill. And there are balls you can roll around, and they roll uphill.
How does this make sense? I have no idea.
After the vortex room, you will go to a black light room and experience hands-on science experiments, which are right next to the awesome bubble room. You can make human-sized bubbles in here, and I had to drag the kids out because they were having too much fun.
Appalachian Heritage Museum
This unassuming building has about 50,000 Native American arrowheads, which is only a small part of the entire collection they all belong to. It’s quite the historical collection but also just overwhelming. I could not believe two people were able to find all of these and create art pieces out of them.
Axe Throwing
Mystery Hill lets you throw axes and it’s a blast. This was the first time my kids threw axes (they have velcro ones for little kids) and they absolutely loved it as they tried to hit the target. I actually didn’t think we were going to leave. The staff there will help you and give you tips – they are really nice and helpful.
Axe throwing at Mystery Hill
Mechanical Bull Riding
As if axe-throwing wasn’t fun enough, Mystery Hill also lets guests ride a mechanical bull. I haven’t done this in a while and it was definitely a lot of fun after I got over trying to make sure I didn’t hurt myself. Adult problems. My kids absolutely loved it and went on a couple times, trying to beat each other’s times.
Bull Riding at Mystery Hill
Gem Mining
I kind of think gem mining can be a bit boring since you just have to sift through sand to find stones someone else put there but the gem mining experience at Mystery Hill was quite fun. They had all kinds of different gems, including geodes! We actually had no idea there were geodes and were wondering what the slimy balls were, so we just put them in the discard bucket. But as we were leaving, my oldest daughter looked at the brochure they give you about which gems you can find, and those slimy balls were actually geodes, so we hustled back to the sluice to retrieve them!
Hands-On Science Room
There’s a black-lit room with brain teasers, a bubble room to make huge bubbles, and a hands-on science area to test out different experiments. My homeschool mom self was super pumped about all this.
Other things to do at Mystery Hill
There is a river walk right across the parking lot from Mystery Hill, which has some pretty murals. They have a Christmas Light Walk during the holidays that happens here and is included in your ticket.
They also have one of those old-time photo studios. I’ve always wanted to do this, but have not gotten around to it yet. Maybe if I go here again I can add it to my ticket!
Bubble room at Mystery Hill
If you are in the mood for a treat, Mystery Hill sells ice cream on the property, which is pretty great since you’ll need at least a couple of hours here to do all the things, and getting sustenance is key.
Visiting Mystery Hill
Mystery Hill is open daily from 10 am – 6 pm and closed on major holidays.
Base tickets are $24.95/person and kids under 4 are free with a paying adult. Adventure Pass tickets, which include the tour, gem mining, bull riding, axe throwing, and the museum, are $44.95/person.
You could also choose to add on activities, which cost anywhere from $7.95/person up to $24.95/person. The Adventure Pass is the way to go for sure.
Tickets are sold online and in person. Mystery Hill is pet-friendly – well-behaved, leashed pets are welcome. The service dog on our tour would absolutely not go into the vortex room though!
Mystery Hill 129 Mystery Hill Lane, Blowing Rock, NC Mystery Hill Website | 828.264.2792
Inside: Check out our trip to Boone, NC, and plan your own. Find things to do, where to stay, and even where to eat in Boone.
Whether you like great food, high adventure, incredible views, or just weird roadside attractions, Boone, North Carolina in the state’s High Country, should absolutely be on your list to visit.
We spent a weekend there and tell you all about where to eat, where to stay, and how to have fun in this charming mountain town.
Thank you to Explore Boone, who hosted us for this amazing trip.
Boone, NC is under three hours from the Upstate but feels a world away. With soaring mountains, old school attractions, and cooler temperatures, Boone is a beautiful spot to enjoy a fun-filled weekend or longer vacation. There are just so many things to do in the High Country and we spent a packed few days here in order to tell you all about it. For reference, the ages of my kids on the trip were 11 and 14.
The view from one of the decks at Hawksnest
Where to Play
There is no shortage of fun things to do in Boone, NC! Here’s what we did and how to plan your own adventures.
Mystery Hill
You haven’t seen weird until you’ve been to Mystery Hill. It’s weird but also crazy fun and was one the more unique things we’ve ever done. So the place is a museum and entertainment venue that literally has everything from mechanical bull riding to a bubble room to a museum of Native American arrowheads to a bizarre vortex room.
If you ask my kids their favorite part about Mystery Hill, it was for sure the vortex room, where you could literally lean forward and not fall over, and the axe-throwing. Plan to spend at least a couple hours here. You can purchase tickets for individual attractions or just get one pass that covers everything, which we recommend.
129 Mystery Hill Lane, Blowing Rock, NC
Fun at Mystery Hill
Tweetsie Railroad’s Ghost Train
We were able to experience Tweetsie Railroad’s Ghost Train and it exceeded all our expectations! The train is totally decked out to look like a skeleton that breathes smoke and guests get to ride through darkness in the mountains as they search for missing college students. The ride is a little over 20 minutes and includes somewhat scary zombies on the train and lots of action-packed stops to see fireballs and a staged gun fight.
The rest of the park has trick-or-treating, carnival rides, haunted houses, and awesome spooky dance parties. When we went, there were a lot of families and everything is not completely terrifying so most kids will enjoy it. Read our entire review here.
300 Tweetsie Railroad Ln, Blowing Rock, NC
Ghost Train at Tweetsie Railroad
Hawksnest Ziplining
This was one of our favorite adventures in Boone since you get to fly amongst the trees and mountains, over creeks, and walk on swinging bridges. We did the Hawk Tour, which included 11 ziplines and took about 1.5 hours. Our guides, Carson and Sky, were fantastic and made us feel safe and excited to fly on those lines!
The scenery here is unreal and we could not have loved the views and experience any more. In the winter, they have snow tubing runs – four of them in fact. We haven’t done snow tubing there but after this experience, it’s something we are going to try to get up there to cover over the winter because it looks super fun!
2058 Skyland Dr, Seven Devils, NC
Incredible views at Hawksnest!
Get Outside
Boone is the perfect basecamp for all your outdoor adventures! Here are a few of our favorite trails nearby:
Crab Orchard Falls
This beautiful waterfall has a small swimming hole and lots of rocks to hang out on and enjoy a picnic. Plus, the drive there is incredibly beautiful. You can hike the new trail (1.3 mile lollipop loop) or the old trail (1 mile out and back). Both are of moderate difficulty as they involve some inclines.
146 Skiles Way, Banner Elk, NC
Crab Orchard Falls
Rough Ridge
This short hike, under a mile roundtrip, is probably in our top three hikes in Western NC and the Upstate of South Carolina. It is that beautiful. But you need to go early during leaf season (like before 8 am) because it gets very crowded.
3218 Blue Rdg Pkwy, Linville, NC
Grandfather Mountain
The Grandfather Mountain Trail is my favorite hike of all time yet I question my life’s decisions every time I go. It’s not for beginners or the faint of heart since you’ll be scaling the side of a mountain on a ladder. My kids love it but they are experienced hikers. Grandfather Mountain is also home to an incredible nature center and the Mile High Bridge so certainly worth it to visit even if you don’t hike the tough trails.
This trail at Moses Cone Manor takes you through the woods and up a beautiful open field to a firetower with 360-degree views of the mountains. It’s about 4 miles roundtrip and easy to moderate.
Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 294, Blowing Rock, NC
Bass Lake
For an easy one mile loop, take the walk around Bass Lake. It’s very pretty and an easy walk.
1 Bass Lake Dr, Blowing Rock, NC
Explore Boone has a great list of other trails in the area so be sure to check that out if you want to enjoy local hikes.
Where to Shop & Stroll
Downtown Boone
There are so many fun shops and restaurants in downtown Boone that it’s hard to just go once (we went a few times during our visit!). We found some super cute clothes at Anna Banana’s thrift store and loved a festival that we happened to stumble upon while there that featured tons of local artists. The art scene is strong in Boone. There are paid public parking lots in downtown Boone plus street parking with meters.
Downtown Boone
Original Mast General Store
Did you know you can visit the original Mast General store in Valle Crucis, about a 15-minute drive from downtown Boone? It’s a super cute shop with its trademark creaking floors and candy barrels. The annex down the street has clothing and an ice cream shop.
565 Hwy 194 S, 3565 Broadstone Road, Sugar Grove, NC
Where to Eat in Boone, NC
I wish we could have tried more places to eat because literally everywhere we went was fantastic. The variety of food and the creativity of the menus are suited to match any taste and preference. Here’s where we went:
Fizz Ed
We loved Fizz Ed with its eclectic decor and amazing food. They try to make your dining experience fun – think a little sparkle magic with your kid’s fizzy drink – welcoming, and delicious. Amy, the owner who has lived in the area since she was a teenager, is so kind and thoughtful. It was easy to see how much she loves running the restaurant and creating a meal that people will not only truly enjoy but also come back for.
We had hand-breaded chicken tenders, beet hummus, a falafel and cucumber naan wrap, mac and cheese, and my favorite – homemade potato chips. I could have eaten the potato chips alone for the entire meal because they were that good.
260 Howard Street, Boone, NC
Lunch at Fizz Ed in Boone
Troy’s 105 Diner
When my daughters and I talked about our favorite meals in Boone, Troy’s took the top pick. I’m still thinking about my Patty Melt days later, and my daughter’s French Toast was huge and delicious. The 1950s-style diner has literally something for everyone, so be sure to make this a stop on your trip.
1286 NC-105, Boone, NC
Troy’s 105 Diner
Stick Boy Kitchen
With coffee, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and bagels, Stick Boy Kitchen is a great stop for breakfast, especially if you need items on the go so you can get started on your adventures for the day. My girls loved their bagel sandwiches!
211 Boone Heights Dr, Boone
Wild Craft Eatery
Located right in downtown Boone, Wild Craft Eatery focuses on local, organic ingredients. We had their Havana Plate with chicken, rice, plantains and a delicious sauce that I still don’t know what it was and their Cuban Beans & Rice dish. Both were so flavorful. I also got one of their speciality mocktails with pineapple juice, ginger, and green tea. It was refreshing and a delightful combination of flavors that I had never had before but that worked out perfectly!
506 W King St, Boone, NC
Dan’l Boone Inn
An old school tavern complete with servers dressed in Daniel Boone-era outfits, the restaurant is a family-style spot that serves up fried chicken, hamburger steak, stewed apples, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, biscuits, salad, and dessert. You pay one price per person ($24.95/adults and less for kids depending on their ages). We loved the family style service since you don’t need to order anything and the food is great!
130 Hardin Street, Boone, NC
Appalachian Cookie Company
They make their cookies to order and have a big selection of both classic and creative cookies. Think Chocolate Chip cookies plus Cookie Butter or Nutella. The cookies are huge and you’ll walk out of there thinking about when you can go back. If you don’t have an extra 20 minutes to wait for them to bake it, they may have some cookies already in the warmer you can get immediately so just ask.
1087 W King St, Boone, NC
Melanie’s Food Fantasy
We went here for brunch and everything was delicious and filling. Their cappuccino earned the spot on my list for the best coffee I had in Boone. One of my daughters got their Bacon Avocado Eggs Benedict, which looked like art on a plate and was amazingly good.
173 Howard St, Boone, NC
Where to Stay in Boone
We stayed at Rhodes Motor Lodge just a couple miles from downtown Boone. It is so adorable and comfortable and we could park right outside our room, which made the trek with our stuff super easy. The decor is like a 1970s adventure lodge, minimal furniture with concrete, shiny flooring, extra blankets, and earth tones with soft lighting. I loved it.
View from our deck at Rhodes Motor Lodge
We had a balcony that overlooked the courtyard and had mountain views. It was beautiful! And the location is ideal – it’s close to shopping, restaurants, and grocery stores. Rhodes Motor Lodge also has free coffee and cider, which I made use of in the morning and sat outside with my daughter by the fire. It was relaxing and oh-so-enjoyable.
1377 Blowing Rock Road, Boone, NC
For even more things to do and see in Boone, NC, visit Explore Boone’s website. They have a great blog and wonderful ideas of even more fun to be had there!
A car seat caught fire in Burke County Sunday moments after a mother parked the car, unstrapped her daughter and went inside, fire officials said. The family said hearing their daughter’s laughter today is a blessing.
Destiny Williams says she and her daughter had just returned home from church when a neighbor told her that her car was smoking.
“What happened, how did it happen?” Williams said. Her daughter’s car seat was inside, covered in flames. Williams’ uncle put the fire out.
“All of it’s really gone. I mean, a majority of it that everybody can see. It’s melted. There’s no car seat there,” Williams said. The fire marshal said the fire was caused by a button battery in a children’s Cocomelon book that was located under the seat.
“Normally, there would be a seat here that the child sits on the base. I use it as a book shelf or toy shelf, but originally there was three books there,” Williams said.
Sections of the car seat are melted away. The seat is gone. It’s a reminder of how fast it happened.
“She’s my world. I’m blessed she wasn’t in the car seat,” Williams said.
The girl’s father wants to remind others that this can happen and urges parents to remove all toys or books from their vehicles.
George Hildebran Fire Chief Bobby Craig said their job is more difficult when fires are caused by batteries.
“Many types are harder to put out then before. A keynote would be to try to keep batteries cool,” Craig said.
He also said they are thankful that the little girl is unharmed and hope their experience helps to keep others safe in the future.
Jennifer Gamertsfelder contributed to this article
New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole delivers against the Cleveland Guardians during the … [+] first inning of Game 1 of an American League Division baseball series, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Associated Press
Gerrit Cole produced plenty of good moments through the 99-win regular season but also did enough things wrong to provide skepticism among fans, especially on the social media portion of the internet.
Perhaps scarred by the AL-worst 33 homers allowed, including the nine to Boston and possibly fearful of a reprise of last night’s nightmarish appearance in the wild card game at Fenway Park, the apprehension was there along with this question:
Should Gerrit Cole start Game 1 of a postseason series?
It was not only a topic among fans but a private discussion by the Yankees in their postseason planning meetings, though it seemed like a brief conversation before Cole ultimately was tapped for the start.
On Tuesday, there were a few anxious moments such as the 2-0 fastball Steven Kwan hit into the right field seats, sending pitching coach Matt Blake for a quick consultation. The next few at-bats that followed were also a little apprehensive for some when Cole loaded the bases as part of throwing 60 pitches through three innings.
The early 60-pitch sequence ended with a nasty slider Andres Gimenez swung at for strike three, one pitch after not getting a call on a close offering. Then quick innings and Cole only allowed two more baserunners allowed while the Yankees took a lead.
New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole delivers against the Cleveland Guardians during the … [+] first inning of Game 1 of an American League Division baseball series, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Associated Press
“It was just a really awesome experience overall,” Cole said. “Just sometimes when you feel the crowd or the energy, it sometimes can become a little easier just to quiet things down because it’s so loud. I don’t know if that makes sense, but it does to me. I mean, just what a great atmosphere.”
That sign made its appearance in the 2001 World Series 18 years before he signed the record $324 million contract but for various reasons, the postseason under the lights in a packed house in the Bronx eluded Cole until Tuesday.
Fans cheer New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) as he leaves the game during the … [+] seventh inning of Game 1 of an American League Division baseball series against the Cleveland Guardians, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Associated Press
First there was the COVID-19 pandemic that led to the 60-game season. During the truncated season, a midseason slump kept the Yankees from hosting an home game in an empty stadium and they traveled to Cleveland where Cole dominated the opener. Then there were two games in the ALDS against Tampa Bay being played in San Diego and Cole did his part in Games 1 and 5 where the Yankees in a normal setup would be in Tropicana Field.
Last year as baseball trickled back towards normalcy, the Yankees sputtered through an inconsistent first half that likely cost them an AL East title. Eventually they found their footing but sputtered again in September and wound up not clinching the postseason until their final at-bat of the regular season and when they did it was merely for the trip to Boston where Cole could not get out of the third while pitching on a hamstring he tweaked during the Yankees’ seven-game losing streak a month earlier.
Cole was the runner-up in the Cy Young voting to Robbie Ray, who was last seen allowing a 438-foot homer to Yordan Alvarez in Houston as the Yankees lined up for their baseline introductions.
On Monday, Cole seemed locked in with his answers with short clipped answers at the podium, talking as if he would rather be in the high intensity setting of a bullpen session than in a big room with pictures of Yankee history on the side walls and offering his common detailed answers. It was there he relayed an exchange with catcher Brian McCann upon joining Houston:
“You know the postseason is a drug, right?” I said, “Yeah, it is. It is.” You just can’t get enough of it.”
If Cole pitches as well as Tuesday, he and the Yankees may get more than enough of the postseason. There’s still a long way to go but this was a good start and validation of Boone’s defense of Cole, who sometimes can appear flustered at circumstances.
“Really good season,” Boone said Monday. “Obviously because it’s Gerrit Cole and because he came here and signed a huge contract, the long term, and the ace of this staff, the New York Yankees staff, nothing will ever be necessarily good enough. But I think he’s had a very strong year.”
And for one night it was good enough just like his six scoreless starts, his two flirtations with no-hitters in June.
“Gerrit was really good,” Boone said. “He did a really good job of owning the moment and being unpredictable. And I thought his breaking ball was really on point.”
