From staff reports
It’s been a rough start for Rowan County baseball teams.
Combined record: 14-25.
Combined conference record: 7-14.
Rowan teams have been plagued by rain, and it’s been really hard to get into a rhythm, but it’s also been raining in Iredell and Davidson and Cabarrus.
It’s almost April, and Salisbury, North Rowan and West Rowan are still seeking their first win. South Rowan is off to an 0-3 start in the NPC.
While it didn’t play well at all in a lopsided loss at Staton Field and an ugly win last week, East Rowan (6-1, 4-0) is about where it figured to be at this point. East hasn’t started hitting yet, but it will, and each day brings the Mustangs closer to getting ace Corbin Shive back on the mound.
Carson (5-1, 3-1) has been the pleasant surprise, with lefty Nich Glass going 3-0, and the Cougars swinging the bats with surprising authority.
A healthy Julio Zubillaga at second base has made a big difference defensively. Scott Ashby, Tyler Freeze, Zack Grkman and Joseph Basinger are piling up hits and walks. The Cougars have a pretty solid lineup. Six NPC teams make the playoffs. They should make it.
A huge week looms for every team in the county. Teams that crawled out of the box slowly just about have to get their first win this week if they’re going to be a factor.
South, Salisbury and North knew they’d be in rebuilding modes.
West, starved for doubles and two-out hits, isn’t rebuilding. It just hasn’t been able to get it going offensively, and while it’s starting to sound like a broken record, there’s too much talent in Mount Ulla for the Falcons to struggle forever.
It’s true West has lost to three of the league’s best teams, but it’s also true it’s probably now or never for the Falcons. They’re already in huge hole.
West Rowan plays South Rowan Tuesday. Someone’s going to get an NPC win in that one. South’s also got a chance to get a victory in the NPC Monday against West Iredell.
n The first county stats list will likely run in Monday’s Post.
n The Salisbury-Lexington game that was rained out Friday will be made up April 15 at Lexington.
n Catawba schedule
Rain continues to pour down on Catawba athletics.
Baseball now hopes to play a doubleheader at Newberry, starting Monday at 4 p.m.
n Catawba-Wheeling Jesuit lacrosse scheduled for today was cancelled.
n Catawba softball at Brevard and Catawba tennis against Tusculum today were still on as of Saturday night.
n Catawba football sloshed through spring drills Friday.
n College baseball
UNC’s Kyle Seager (NW Cabarrus) had a double to extend his hitting streak to 15 games, but the Tar Heels lost to the Virginia Cavaliers 5-2 Saturday.
Seager, a junior third baseman who may be drafted in the early rounds in June, is batting .400.
n Belmont’s Daniel Wagner (South Rowan) had one of the RBIs in a 2-1 win against Florida Gulf Coast Saturday.
n Pro baseball
Right-handed pitcher Garrett Sherrill (A.L. Brown, Appalachian State) appears likely to be assigned to the bullpen of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the Class A Midwest League.
The Milwaukee Brewers farm team is in Appleton, Wisc.
n College track
N.C. State’s Jason Jones (East Rowan) placed fifth in the shot put at the Raleigh Relays Saturday, throwing a regional-qualifying mark of 55 feet, 61/2 inches.
n N.C. State’s Lamont Savage (West Rowan) was sixth in the long jump with an effort of 23-0.
n Livingstone’s Cordell Waddy cleared 15-1 for fifth in the pole vault at Raleigh.
n At the Winthrop Invitational, Western Carolina’s Ryan Pless (East) was seventh in the shot put and 12th in the hammer throw.
n Western’s Wayne Parker (East) was eighth in the pole vault.
n Charlotte’s Makenzie Mullinax (South Rowan) was fifth in the women’s pole vault at Winthrop.
n UNC Asheville’s Dane Corriher (South) ran the 400 in 50.56 and was ninth in a prelim.
n College softball
Devon Williams (West Rowan) had a hit, scored a run, stole a base and drove in a run as Maryland beat N.C. State 4-3 in College Park, Md., Saturday to split a doubleheader.
The Wolfpack won the opener 1-0 on a shutout by Lindsay Campana.