Nationally No. 1-ranked Apex expects one of its toughest tests of the season today when it plays Broughton in the Eurosport Soccer Showcase at Southeast Raleigh.

Apex (14-0-1) is undefeated and is atop the National Soccer Coaches Association of America rankings. Broughton (15-2) has posted six straight shutouts and has blanked eight of its past nine opponents.

"Broughton has a couple of losses, but it is still Broughton," Apex coach Kevin Todd said.

Broughton is a traditional national power and was the 2006 state 4-A champion.

Five high school games are scheduled, including the 3 p.m. showdown between Apex and Broughton.

N.C. State will play Elon in an exhibition at 7 p.m. to wrap up the day's activities.

Other games on the schedule: East Chapel Hill vs. Jacksonville, 9 a.m.; Wake Forest-Rolesville vs. Charlotte Catholic, 11 a.m.; Sanderson vs. Wilmington Hoggard, 1 p.m.; and Southeast Raleigh vs Greensboro Grimsley, 5 p.m.

WOOD DOES IT AGAIN: Tyler Wood delivered for Middle Creek again Friday night as he hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to lift the Mustangs to a 2-1 baseball victory over Apex.

Wood has hit home runs in four consecutive games. The state record is seven straight games.

Michael Frongello went the distance on the mound for Middle Creek.

CATAMOUNTS SEEK CONFIDENCE: Harry Jones built one of the state's most consistent winners while coaching baseball at Millbrook, but he basically is starting from scratch at Panther Creek.

Jones' first Puma team has won one game and has lost all of its Tri-Eight 4-A games, including Friday night's 13-2 setback to Green Hope.

"The most enjoyable part of coaching is teaching and watching skills be learned," Jones said. "We're doing that, but it is hard to build confidence when you are losing and baseball is a game of confidence.

"We're gaining confidence in practice because we can see our improvements there, but confidence comes with experiencing success, and we're not having a lot of success in games."

Jones said the league's prowess makes it tough, too.

"This is a great baseball league. That's one of the reasons I wanted to coach here," Jones said. "But it sure makes it hard to win games. Every team in the league is very good."

GRAND SLAM: Michael Wojnarowski hit a grand slam in the second inning to help Broughton overwhelm Millbrook 11-5 in a Cap Seven 4-A baseball game.

Michael Zeblo hit a two-run homer in the first. Broughton led the Wildcats 9-1 after two innings.

ATHENS BLANKS CARY: Vance Williams was the winning pitcher as Athens Drive shut out Cary 1-0 in a Tri-Eight 4-A baseball game. Cary managed only three hits. Athens sophomore Will Smith had three hits in the win.

TWO-HOMER NIGHT: Jason Bond hit two home runs and a single as Leesville Road beat Enloe 7-1 in a Cap Seven baseball game.

ANOTHER NO-HITTER: Amanda Davenport threw her third softball no-hitter of the season Friday night in a 13-0 win over Southeast Raleigh. She struck out six in the six-inning game. Davenport also had a single, double and triple at the plate.