From staff and wire reports
Despite a season-opening loss at defending BCS champion LSU, Appalachian is ranked No. 1 this week in The Sports Network FCS national media poll.
The Mountaineers’ cushion at the top of poll narrowed. They received 62 of 110 first-place votes. No. 2 North Dakota State was the primary beneficiary, as it received 42 first-place votes. Richmond, Massachusetts and Delaware round out the top five.
* In the American Football Coaches Association FCS poll, preseason No. 1 ASU fell to No. 2, behind NDSU. The Mountaineers received 12 first-place votes, compared to 13 for the Bison.
Wofford is 13th, Georgia Southern 16th, Elon 19th and The Citadel 23rd in the AFCA poll.
* ASU linebacker Jacque Roman was named Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week. He made 12 tackles against LSU and had an interception.
– SAC football awards
Tusculum quarterback Corey Russell, who threw three TD passes in a rout of Charleston, was named the SAC Offensive Player of the Week.
Tusculum placekicker Gareth Rowlands (two field goals, four PATs) won the special teams award.
Newberry linebacker Will Newell is the SAC Defensive Player of the Week. He made nine stops in a close loss to Valdosta State.
– DeSanto now 2-0
Welterweight boxer Dominic DeSanto (North Rowan) improved his pro record to 2-0 with a victory at Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Arena in Charlotte in front of a sizeable crowd on Saturday.
DeSanto, 18, scored a first-round knockout at 2:55 of James Justice (Akron, Ohio), who was making his pro debut. DeSanto staggered his opponent 15 seconds into the match and drove Justice around the ring with jabs, hooks and straight lefts.
The referee halted the fight after two powerful uppercuts floored Justice. He staggered to his feet and fell into the ref.
DeSanto was originally slated to fight Jason Jordan (6-24-3), a 30-year-old ring veteran, but the Boxing Commission would not approve the match because of DeSanto’s shortage of pro bouts.
DeSanto instead fought one of Jordan’s teammates.
– Intimidators drop finale
The Kannapolis Intimidators wrapped up the season with a 4-3 road loss against West Virginia on Monday.
Kannapolis finished the season 69-70.
Brent Morel hit a two-run homer and all three RBIs for the Intimidators.
Season tickets, game-packs and individual game tickets for 2009 are already on sale. Call 704-932-FANS or order online at intimidatorsbaseball.com.
– Minor leagues
Jerry Sands (Catawba) has finished his first pro season with the Gulf Coast Dodgers and was one of the league’s top power threats despite a .205 batting average.
Sands walked 29 times (second in the league) in 46 games for a .346 on-base percentage. He tied for second in the league with 10 homers and tied for third in RBIs with 33.
Sands was 5-for-5 on steal attempts and made only one error.
* Timmy Smith (Catawba) ended his first pro season with a 2-1 record for the Gulf Coast Mets. Smith had a 4.02 ERA and had 16 strikeouts in 152/3 innings. He hurled in eight games.
* Brett Bartles (A.L. Brown) hit a home run for Billings’ only run in a 5-1 loss against Missoula on Sunday.
The Duke graduate has a had season overall. He’s hitting .238 with three homers and 22 RBIs in 53 games while playing at Dayton, Sarasota and Billings.
* Helena’s Garrett Sherrill (A.L. Brown) pitched three scoreless innings in a 6-5 loss to Great Falls on Sunday. Sherrill lowered his ERA to 5.03.
Despite a 1-9 record, Sherrill has 44 strikeouts in 34 innings and three saves.
– Cystic Fibrosis golf
The 2nd annual “Saving Grace” Cystic Fibrosis Golf Tournament will be held at Corbin Hills on Oct. 25 at 1:30 pm. Team “Saving Grace” is holding the tournament to raise money for research to find a cure for cystic fibrosis.
Team “Saving Grace” was established in honor of 6-year-old Grace Hodge, who is one of 15 children in Rowan County that suffers from CF.
All proceeds go directly to CF Foundation, with over 90 cents of each dollar going to fund research.
The format is Captain’s Choice: $50 per person or $200 per team.
Contact Susan Linza at 704-636-2530.
– East Rowan Y
East Rowan YMCA is now taking registrations for several programs until Sept. 6. Practices begin Sept. 13. Seasons begin Sept. 27.
* Mighty Kickers Spring Soccer: an introduction to soccer for ages 3-4
* Spring Soccer: outdoor league teaching soccer principles and YMCA values, for grades K-8
* Fall T-Ball: introduction to baseball, for boys and girls for Pre-K through first grade