From staff reports
Right-hander Bobby Parnell (East Rowan) was promoted to Triple-A New Orleans, the top farm club of the New York Mets, on Saturday.
Parnell takes the rotation spot previously held by Brian Stokes, who was called up to start Saturday for the Mets.
Parnell was 10-6 with a 4.30 ERA in 24 starts at Double-A Binghamton. In 1272/3 innings, he had 91 strikeouts against 57 walks and had allowed 126 hits and 14 homers.
Parnell is pitching consistently at 94 mph and has touched 98 this season. He is expected to make his New Orleans debut on Monday.
n Randolph wins state title
Randolph County beat Cherryville in the second championship game Saturday to win the American Legion state tournament.
Randolph prevailed 7-4 in the decisive contest against Cherryville, which forced a second game by claiming a 10-5 victory in Saturday’s opener at Sims Legion Park in Gastonia.
Ethan Marsh, who had a home run-saving catch and a ninth-inning homer in the second game, was named the MVP for Randolph (40-12). It will face Leesburg (Ga.) in Shelby on Thursday, the first day of the Southeast Regional tournament.
Randolph pitcher Austin Moyer earned his second win in four days against Cherryville, which led 4-2 after four innings. A two-run homer from Steven Davis tied the game in the fifth, and Matthew Wheless hit a two-run, inside-the-park homer later in the same inning. His flyball down the left-field line scored one run, and outfielder Korey Martin temporarily injured himself when he crashed into the fence on his attempt to make the catch.
In the first game, Jake Watts pitched for Cherryville (43-8) and improved to 12-0 on the season. The score was tied at 4-all before Cherryville scored three runs in the eighth inning. It added three more in the ninth for a 10-4 lead.
n Ijames trio to East
Robbie Ijames, the reigning Rowan County Baseball Player of the Year, and his brothers David and Anthony, have enrolled at East Rowan.
Robbie and David are seniors and played three varsity seasons at Salisbury for coach Scott Maddox. Robbie, who played mostly shortstop, batted .548 for the Hornets as a junior, with nine homers, 27 RBIs and 21 steals. David, an all-county outfielder, hit .461 as a junior with four homers, 12 doubles, 19 steals and 27 RBIs.
Robbie was 2-2 with a 3.67 ERA on the mound while David was 2-1 with a 4.94 ERA.
Anthony played in the outfield for Salisbury as a varsity freshman and batted .186 with one homer.
n Intimidators win
Levi Maxwell retired the first 10 batters he faced and led the Kannapolis Intimidators to a 5-0 victory over the Greenville Drive on Saturday.
Maxwell (12-4) helped Kannapolis win its fourth game in a row.
n AAU Junior Olympics
Athletes from the Salisbury Speedster AAU track & field team competed in the recent Junior Olympic Games held at Eastern Michigan.
Khalia Hall placed fourth in the bantam long jump with an effort of 14 feet, 13/4 inches and won a medal. She also placed 12th in the 100 meters and 15th in the 200.
Alisha Bradshaw was ninth in the intermediate girls shot put (35-6) and 15th (96-00) in the discus.
Dasia McGill was 23rd in the intermediate triple jump (33-93/4). Juanita Leto (17.34) competed in the intermediate 100 hurdles but did not make the semifinals.
Sub-bantam Aundrea Godfrey placed 29th in the 400 in 1:14.63. Justin Avery (22.69) competed in the 200 in the Young Men competition, but did not qualify for the semifinals.
n Lowe’s ticket sales
NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch and David Ragan and 1989 series champion Rusty Wallace will be among those selling tickets when Lowe’s Motor Speedway hosts Bank of America 500 Celebrity Ticket Sales Days Aug. 11-13.
On Aug. 11, sellers will be, Rusty Wallace (5-6 p.m.) and Kurt Busch (6-7 p.m.). On Aug. 12, sellers are Kasey Kahne (5-6 p.m.) and Marcus Smith, general manager of LMS (6-7 p.m.). On Aug. 13, sellers will be Matt Kenseth (5-6 p.m.) and David Ragan (6-7 p.m.).
The event will take place in the LMS ticket office, located on the second floor of Smith Tower. Free hot dogs and Cokes will be available while supplies last.
Tickets for October races at LMS can be purchased by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.
n Parsons transfers to Lexington
Former Central Davidson standout Nick Parsons, one of the top basketball players in the CCC, has enrolled at Lexington. Parsons led the Spartans in scoring as a junior with 14 points a game.
n Underwood named
Claude Underwood has been named athletics director at CCC school Lexington.
Underwood graduated from Lexington in 1970 and spent 31 years coaching in Clinton, S.C., after graduation from Presbyterian.
n South football
South Rowan football season tickets go on sale to the general public Monday at 8 a.m.
– A football jamboree will be held at South Rowan on Aug. 15 at 7 p.m.
n Erwin physicals
Erwin Middle School is giving physicals Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Cost is $15.
n Rowan Little League
Rowan Little League is taking signups through Aug. 16 at Godley’s Garden Center for its fall baseball and girls softball leagues.
Fall ball is for ages 5-14. Cost is $30. Ages are as of April 30, 2009.
Contact Jeff Bernhardt at 704-855-9849 for information.