From staff reports
Salisbury’s girls golf team, led by ninth-place individual Allison Lee, finished sixth in the 1A/2A/3A state championships at the Foxfire West Course near Pinehurst.
Catherine Parks, Lily Yatawara and Amber Lyerly also represented Salisbury, which was one shot away from tying Charlotte Catholic and Southern Lee for fourth.
The Hornets completed the event with a team score of 277-273ó550. Union Pines (245-263ó517) repeated as the champion and beat second-place Ragsdale by 19 strokes. Western Alamance was third at 544.”I don’t think we played that well (Monday) ó I think they were a little nervous and were not really sure what was going to happen because we had never seen the course before,” Salisbury coach Dale Snyder said. “Today they were more relaxed, more focused, and they really came through for us.”Lee followed up a first-round 82 with an 84 to finish at 166. Porter Ridge’s Courtney Gunter, who was tied for first with Lake Norman’s Hayley Hammond after one round, captured her third straight title. She finished at 76-70ó146 and won by 10 shots over Hammond, who took second and later competed for the Wildcats’ tennis team in a 5-4 playoff loss to Southeast Guilford.
Parks (94-93ó187), Yatawara (101-96 ó197) and Lyerly (103-96 ó199) all improved their scores on the second day of competition.
“Amber and Catherine and Lily all had a bad hole here and there, but they recovered so well from it,” Snyder said. “I think that’s the best part.”
Lee, a senior who helped Salisbury win team titles as a freshman and sophomore, finished in the top 10 as an individual for the third time. She posted a 44 on the front nine for the second straight day and shot 40 after the turn.
“I brought it back together and started hitting it a lot better on the back,” Lee said. “I thought everyone played really well. They did great under the conditions today.”
West Rowan’s Katie Knepp competed as an individual and finished at 103-111ó214.
– Catawba athletics
Catawba’s men’s soccer team lost 4-2 to Francis Marion. Alex Koslick and Kirby Freeland scored for Catawba (3-13).
* Lenoir-Rhyne swept Catawba’s volleyball team Tuesday. Melissa Griffith had nine kills and 11 digs for Catawba (15-9, 7-5). Friday’s start time with Newberry has been moved to 7 p.m.
* Catawba’s field hockey game at Appalachian State was canceled due to snow.n Catawba’s men’s basketball team plays Athletes In Action at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
– Pfeiffer hoops
Michael Longabardi, a former Pfeiffer assistant, received his NBA championship ring Tuesday as the Boston Celtics opened their season at home. Longabardi coached at Pfeiffer in 1996-97.
– Middle school softball
Erwin’s softball team finished the regular season with a 24-0 victory against North Rowan Middle.
Sydney Poole struck out 10 and pitched a perfect game. Bobbi Thomas and Mariah Poole had three hits each for the RCMSC champion Eagles (12-0).
Josie McNeely, Steffi Sides and Katie Kepley had two hits apiece.n Salisbury Acacdemy
Salisbury Academy’s soccer team finished its season with a 2-0 victory over Hickory Christian in the final of the CCISAA consolation bracket.
Justin Ruffin and Philip Simons scored goals for the Jaguars (7-3-1), and Tyler Petty had the shutout in goal. He made all-tournament.