From staff reports
Salisbury and North Rowan registered CCC wins Thursday, while East Rowan’s Kent Basinger came within one out of pitching a no-hitter at West Iredell.
Salisbury overcame a four-run deficit to win 9-8 at East Davidson. The Hornets (4-11, 3-6) aren’t out of the playoff picture yet. They moved within a game of fifth-place Ledford. The CCC gets five berths.
Salisbury trailed 8-5 heading to the seventh but singles by Jordan Fuller, Frankie Cardelle, Jeremy Forbis and Philip Tonseth made it 8-6. Ryne Maddox’s bases-loaded walk made it 8-7. Russell Michalec’s sac fly tied it the game. Kyle Wolfe’s single put the Hornets on top.
Reliever Forrest Buchanan nailed down the last out on his 10th strikeout after East Davidson loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh.
“I am happy for the guys ó they never dropped there heads, they just kept battling,” SHS coach Scott Maddox said. “We made errors that put us in a serious hole, but the guys never gave up. It seems as if this bunch finally believes in themselves.”
* North Rowan(2-11, 2-5) won its second straight CCC game by dominating Lexington 9-1 at Holt-Moffitt Field.
“We’re starting to hit the ball a lot better,” North coach Rob Linder said.
North out-hit the Yellow Jackets 12-2. Kyle Munday’s two-run homer keyed a five-run fourth. Travis Honeycutt hit a two-run homer in the sixth.
Honeycutt, Munday, Matt Mauldin and Dakota Brown had two hits each.
Patrick Snider allowed one hit in five innings for his first win on the mound.
* East Rowan coach Brian Hightower swears he, his wife Addie and Basinger were the only three people who were aware Basinger had a no-hitter going into the seventh inning.
With Basinger one out away from history, Josh Clark lined a solid single to left on a good 1-2 curveball that was down and away.
Basinger (5-0) settled for a one-hitter. He struck out three and walked one for the Mustangs (13-2).
Ben DeCelle made a catch crashing into the left-field fence to highlight East’s defensive effort. Zach Smith hit a home run in the first inning. Preston Troutman hit his first high school homer in the third.
Ethan Fisher led a 13-hit attack with three singles. Troutman, David Ijames and Corbin Shive had two hits each. Shive is on a remarkable streak. He’s reached base on 14 of his last 15 at-bats.
East plays at Staton Field against West Rowan tonight.
* Northwest Cabarrus scored four runs in the seventh inning and beat Hickory Ridge 9-8 in the championship game of the Intimidators Classic.
Jonathon Wallace singled in the tiebreaking run.
Northwest freshman Cory Seager was tournament MVP. He was 6-for-9 in three games with six RBIs. He had the key hit in the seventh, driving an 0-2 pitch off the fence in right field. Northwest’s freshman catcher Travis Watkins (7-for-11) and center fielder Jordan Phillips (4-for-5 in the title game) were all-tournament.
Piedmont beat Central Cabarrus for third place, Concord beat Robinson for fifth, and Mount Pleasant beat A.L. Brown for seventh.
– College baseball
Catawba lost to UNC Pembroke 10-7 at Newman Park on Thursday.
UNCP (33-13) has won 11 straight. Catawba is 25-16.
Brett Hatley (West Rowan) had three hits, including a pair of homers, to lead the Indians. Craige Lyerly (East Rowan), Kevin McMillan (North Rowan) and Cameron White also homered. Ryan Query (A.L. Brown) was 2-for-2.
Joe Mangum and Jason Coker had three hits each for UNC Pembroke, while Seth Kivett drove in three runs.
Catawba used nine pitchers in the contest.
UNCP’s second pitcher was Rudy Brown (South Rowan), who entered the game to get the last out in the sixth, worked the seventh and got two outs in the eighth before a homer by Hatley and a single by Query ended his night. All six outs recorded by Brown were strikeouts.
* UNC’s Kyle Seager (NW Cabarrus) had two RBIs as the Tar Heels crushed Winthrop 20-4 on Wednesday.
* South Carolina’s Whit Merrifield (Davie) had two hits and scored twice in a 5-3 loss to The Citadel on Wednesday.
Merrifield, a sophomore outfielder, is batting .310 and is among the SEC’s leaders in doubles (11), triples (three) and steals (11).
* Freshman Ryan Overcash (NW Cabarrus) started on the mound for Davidson and allowed one run in five innings in a 4-3 loss against Duke. Overcash, who received no decision, fanned four and walked none in his second college start.
* Pfeiffer’s Nick Fogleman was named Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Year. Pfeiffer hurler Andy Oliver joined Fogleman on the all-league first team.
* Pfeiffer lost 9-2 to Erskine on Thursday in the first round of the CC tournament.
– Minor leagues
The Kannapolis Intimidators pitching staff produced its third straight shutout Thursday in a 1-0 victory at Lexington.
Charlie Leesman (2-0) pitched six innings. Jon Gillmore homered in the second inning for the Intimidators (6-2).
* New Britain’s Zach Ward was the winning pitcher Wednesday as the Rock Cats beat Portland 6-3. Ward (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings and retired Lars Anderson, Boston’s top hitting prospect, on a fifth-inning groundout. In the sixth, Ward walked a batter and hit a batter with two away, but he worked out of the jam with his second strikeout.
* David Thomas (Catawba) was 2-for-7 on Wednesday as the Kane County Cougars swept a Midwest League doubleheader from the Burlington Bees.
– Jayvee baseball
Louis Kraft had four hits, and Steven Wetmore had three hits, including a homer, as West Rowan beat North Iredell 15-5 on Thursday.
Chandler Jones struck out eight and was the winning pitcher for the Falcons (5-4, 5-3).
– Middle school baseball
Erwin beat Knox 15-5 on Thursday in five innings.
Hunter Brooks was the winning pitcher, struck out five and had three RBIs.
Offensive leaders for the Eagles included Connor Johnson (two hits), Justin Burroughs (two runs), Dalton Moose (two runs) and Tyler L’Hommedieu (two runs).
Knox beat North Rowan earlier this week for its first win.
– College softball
Gina Loflin (West Rowan) had a two-run homer and RBI single as Walters State swept Chattanooga State in a doubleheader on Tuesday.
* Lindsey Barrier (East Rowan) had two hits, including a two-run single, to help Mars Hill blast Tusculum 13-2 on Wednesday.
* Pfeiffer’s Shelby Fleming, Ranzy York, Martina Bullard and Allison Braswell were named to the All-Conference Carolinas second team.
– Prep softball
Chelsea White struck out 13 batters as East Rowan beat West Iredell 6-3 in eight innings on Thursday. White allowed five hits, including a three-run homer by West Iredell pitcher Hannah Pennell, who fanned 14 Mustangs.
* North Iredell nipped West Rowan 2-1 in nine innings. Sabrina Stephens pitched well for the Falcons. NI pitcher Karley Harkey knocked in the winning run.
* Salisbury won for the second straight day, beating Statesville 11-8. Kimber Fink went 3-for-3, scored three runs and had a triple for the Hornets. Lindsay Thompson was the winning pitcher.
– Prep track
Mooresville’s strong girls scored 142 points and won a track meet with NPC foes East Rowan (45), Carson (42) and South Rowan (37) on Thursday.
East’s Kasee Hepler won the shot put (29 feet, 8 inches). Carson’s Sierra Zemanick won the 800 (2:39.30). Carson also won the 4×100 and 4×800 relays.
* Mooresville also won the boys meet with 135 points. East (98) challenged. South Rowan (32) and Carson (8) followed.
East’s Nathan Robbins won the shot (48-2) and discus (131-7). East’s Daishion Barger won the long jump (19-41/2), 100 (11.08), 200 (23.26) and 110 hurdles (14.32).
East’s Keith Leonard won the pole vault (13-6), and Cody Hancock won the 400 (52.49).
South’s Michael York (2:07.9) won the 800, while B.J. Grant took the high jump (6-6).
– North fundraiser
The Grass Cats, along with Second Chance, will perform in the North Rowan High auditorium on May 2 at 7 p.m.
The Grass Cats are recognized as one of the top bluegrass bands in the world.
The event is a fundraiser for the North Rowan football program. Proceeds will help pay for team camp. Cost is $10 in advance, $12 at the door. There’s a 20 percent discount for North Rowan alumni, Rowan County employees and Catawba students. Tickets can be purchased at the school office or by contacting football coach Tasker Fleming at 704-213-9874.
– Jackson league
Registration for the Bobby Jackson Summer Basketball League will be held April 23 and April 30 at Hall Gym at 6 p.m.
The league tipoff is set for June 12 at 9:30 a.m.
Registration for the whole summer is $50. The Bobby Jackson League stresses mentoring, discipline and academics along with basketball. Call 704-267-1122 for information.
– Prep tennis
* Salisbury rolled to an 8-1 victory over Providence Grove in CCC play. See Scoreboard.
East Rowan’s tennis team defeated North Iredell 9-0 and Carson 6-3 this week to improve its record to 3-6.
– Thanks extended
Salisbury’s girls basketball and tennis teams extend thanks to all who made donations that made their recent state-championship dinner a success.
– Middle school soccer
Southeast’s boys topped Erwin 8-0.
Emislon Turcios scored 5 goals for the Patriots. Ivan Hernandez, Jose Hernandez and Sam Cooley scored a goal apiece.
Edwin Zuniga had four assists. Enrique Garcia, Brian Vanegas and Luis Diaz led Southeast’s defense.
* Southeast’s girls defeated Erwin on penalty kicks.
Scoring for Southeast were Lyndsey Moore scored during the regulation game and Rebecca Corl made the winning penalty kick. Jackie Salazar, Gabby Gonzalez, Elizabeth Cardona and Diana Pineda led the defense for the Patriot (1-1).
– Corbin Hills golf
The Corbin Hills Ladies Golf Association played in a low gross-low net event this week. Phyllis Durland won low gross. Becky Isenhour was second.
Beth Calhoun won low net. Ruth Bowles won low putts.
– Middle school golf
Davidson Day won 185-204 against North Hills.
North Hills scorers were John Murph (46), Luke Humble (47), Josh Robar (53), Brandon Lottes (58) and Chase Taylor (58).
Davidson Day scorers were Patrick Cover (36), Ronnie Uszenki (43), Justin Hevey (52) amd Jason Chinuntdet (54).
* Erwin’s boys defeated China Grove 177-192 at McCanless on Thursday.
Chase Cannon led Erwin with a 39, followed by Kyle Leslie with a 42. Zach Jones eagled the par-4 No. 8 hole and shot a 51, while Justin Allen and Bailey Mesimer also finished with 51s.
China Grove’s Alex Austin, who also eagled No. 8, took medalist honors with a 37.
Evan Neas shot a 43 for the Red Devils. Bradley Bettis was next at 55, followed by Geran Hill and Brian Bettis with 57s.
Erwin’s Hannah Pressley (54) and Katlyn Smith (57) were the only girls who competed.