From staff reports
This week’s South Rowan baseball schedule has been revised due to a surgery and a busted pipe.
South was supposed to play Lake Norman today, but Lake Norman’s coach Robert Little is scheduled for surgery. The game is being postponed to either April 16 or 17 and will be played as part of a varsity doubleheader at South. The jayvee teams will play two that same day at Lake Norman.
South was also scheduled to play at Statesville Friday, but a pipe burst on Statesville’s field and repairs may take some time.
Friday’s game has been moved to South and now will be played as part of a jayvee-varsity doubleheader. The varsity game should start around 7 p.m.
South’s varsity was scheduled to play Statesville at home on April 21, but that game will now be shifted to Statesville’s field.
South’s rescheduled game at Salisbury set for Thursday this week is still supposed to happen.
* On Saturday, March 28, South and Carson players and coaches will combine to hold a clinic for the local Cal Ripken League players at the South field.
* Assuming teams can get on the field today with the almost continuous wet weather, the marquee action will be East Rowan at West Rowan in a matchup of NPC rivals that were both ranked in the top 10 in the Impact Baseball Poll.
Both have a lot back. Both added considerable talent from outside the program.
East, which went 18-0 in the NPC last season and was 3A runner-up, is 2-0, including an extra-inning win over West Forsyth, a 4A club that already has five players committed to colleges.
East ace Corbin Shive, a Charlotte signee, isn’t pitching yet following offseason shoulder surgery, but he’s swung the bat well, including a game-winning homer against West Forsyth.
* West Rowan has started 0-4, which wasn’t supposed to happen, but people jumping off the bandwagon are being a bit hasty.
West has its top seven hitters and three good pitchers back from a 15-win team and added three All-NPC caliber players so it’s unlikely the Falcons are going to finish 10th.
West is 0-1 in the NPC after a pretty amazing loss at Mooresville, but the other three losses only wounded the Falcons’ pride. All four setbacks were close ó three were decided by one run ó and all four were on the road against very good teams.
West, which has made significant upgrades to its facility, is scheduled to be at home today for the first time.
* The Cliff Peeler Baseball Tournament will be held April 10, 11 and 13 at Salisbury’s Robertson Stadium.
Davie-Lexington, South Rowan-Salisbury, Carson-North Rowan and Forbush-East Rowan are the first-round matchups.
R.B.I. and Salisbury Civitan are again staging the tournament.
A jayvee Easter tournament will be held at East’s Staton Field.
– Kannapolis Legion
An important meeting is scheduled for all parents of prospective players planning to play baseball for Kannapolis Post 115 American Legion this summer.
The meeting will be held Saturday, March 21, beginning at 9:30 a.m., at the Post 115 Building on South Main Street in Kannapolis.
* The Legion regular season is scheduled to begin very early on May 20 this year. Area III Southern Division games scheduled for May 20 are Lexington at Rowan, Kannapolis at Statesville, Stanly at South Rowan, Mooresville at Wilkes and Concord at Mocksville.
The Area III All-Star Game is planned for Randolph’s McCrary Park on July 1. The playoffs are scheduled to begin July 3.
Jim Lippard returns as Area III commissioner.
– Catawba baseball
Catawba has made baseball schedule changes due to the weather.
The often postponed doubleheader at Mars Hill is now set for today at 2 p.m.
The game that had been scheduled for today at St. Andrews will now be played Wednesday at 3 p.m.
– Prep basketball
West basketball teams held the edge on the East for the ninth time in the last 10 years on Super Saturday.
Six West teams, including Salisbury’s 2A girls, won championships, with only Dudley’s 3A girls and Northern Guilford’s 3A boys breaking through for the East.
The West won all eight titles in 2002, including a victory by West Rowan in the 3A boys ranks. That’s the only time one side of the state swept the other.
* The West’s domination has been most pronounced in the 1A girls ranks. The West has won 22 of 24 championship games in that classification, including Bishop McGuinness’ 64-33 rout of East Bladen Saturday. McGuinness has won four state titles in a row.
* Salisbury’s 2A girls championship gave the CCC three girls basketball state titles in the last six years and nine in the last 15.
Salisbury, East Davidson, Ledford and former league member High Point Central have won titles.
* Mount Tabor won the 4A boys championship despite 20-percent shooting in the second half. The Spartans did enough damage in their 25-point first quarter to hold off Fayetteville Terry Sanford 60-55.
* Bishop McGuinness’ boys, with Aaron Toomey shooting 19-for-21 from the line, also won a state championship. It was the ninth team the same school has swept girls and boys titles.
Both Gastonia Forestview teams reached the championship game this year but both lost.
Thomasville had been the most recent double-winner, sweeping the 1A crowns in 2005.
* All the championship games are available to Time Warner subscribers on Carolina Video on Demand, channel 1234.
– 7th-grade hoops
Mike Connor scored 24 points to lead North Rowan’s boys past Knox 63-53. Michael Bost and Michael Bowman scored 12 points each.
Albert Britford (16 points), TVadis Westley (14) and Jaquez Finger (10) led the Trojans.
* Erwin’s girls finished an undefeated regular season with a 36-13 win against Southeast on Monday.
The Eagles (13-0, 12-0) were led by Lauren Thomas with 15 points and Karleigh Wike with 14 rebounds and nine blocks. Katie Kepley had six rebounds. Kendall Brown had five steals.
Megan Gray scored five points to lead the Patriots (6-5).
* Southeast’s boys beat Erwin 56-20. The Patriots (8-3) rolled behind Myquon Stout’s 12 points and seven rebounds. Tre Williams added nine points. Dashaun Mason had six points and five boards. Darius Gabriel and Seth Martin added five points apiece.
Erwin (3-10, 3-9) was led by Donte Means with nine points and three steals. Connor Johnson had five points.
* Knox’s girls beat North Rowan 54-18. Brielle Blaire scored 17 points for the Trojans. Monifa Angle had 15, and Nyasia Harris added nine.
* The tournament will be held March 21-25 at Corriher-Lipe.
– All-CPC teams
Davie’s Buddy Lowery was named CPC Coach of the Year for wrestling.
Davie’s Alex Costner, Michael Waters, Shane Cartner, Kevin Whitley, Zack Vernon, Shelton Scales, Matt Garretson. Matt Cusack, Rusty O’Connor, Jonathan Hupp, Jon San Filippo, Ricky Bell and Aaron Peoples were All-CPC.
Cusack, who wrestled at 152 pounds, was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler for the upper half of the weight classes.
Davie senior guard Drew Absher was named to the All-CPC boys basketball team.
Davie’s Kellie Brown made the All-CPC girls basketball team.
Davie’s Palmer Benson, Autumn Jones, Hannah Keeney, Rachel Mackintosh and Taylor Moore made the All-CPC girls swim team.
– Recruiting seminar
A recruiting seminar open to boys and girls from all area schools will be held at South Rowan on Wednesday, March 25, at 6:30 p.m.
Natrone Means, a standout running back at Central Cabarrus, UNC and the NFL, will be the guest speaker and will discuss options for parents and athletes on what it takes to get recruited by a college program.
The seminar is free and will be held in the school auditorium.
Contact South football coach coach Jason Rollins at 704-857-1161, ext. 219, for information.
– West Middle fundraiser
West Rowan Middle School Athletic Booster Club is having a port-a-pit chicken fundraiser Friday, March 27.
Deliveries will be made for lunch to local businesses and schools for orders of 10 or more. Pickups can be made from 11-6. Contact the school, a student-athlete or booster member to purchase tickets. Orders must be placed by March 23.
– Two-Man Mulligan
The Two-Man Mulligan golf tournament will be held at Warrior on March 21-22.
Entry is open to the first 64 paid teams. Call 877-999-8337.