From staff reports
Mooresville won its second straight game Saturday to even up its Area III semifinal series against High Point at two games apiece.
The Moors prevailed 8-3 at High Point’s Finch Field behind the pitching of Nick Lomascolo and Taylor Thurber.
The Catawba-bound Lomascolo worked six innings for the win. Thurber went three frames for the save.
Michael Gatton, son of former West Iredell coach Buck Gatton, hasn’t played often this summer, but he stepped into the lineup Saturday at third base and hammered a second-inning grand slam.
Friday’s planned break in the series because of a field conflict was of great benefit to the Moors, who got workhorse Lomascolo additional hours of rest. The Moors (16-10) also welcomed their No. 2 starter Wes Dumford back from a mission trip on Saturday. Dumford, who was an eye-popping 20-1 for the Mooresville jayvees and Mooresville Junior Legion in 2008, will pitch tonight’s decisive Game 5 at Mooresville High at 7 p.m. Dumford was sharp against South Rowan in Mooresville’s sweep in the quarterfinals.
“Dumford wanted the ball tonight,” Mooresville coach Josh Graham said. “But so did Lomo.”
Ethan Ogburn, an N.C. State signee from Southwest Guilford, is the probable pitcher for High Point (23-10) tonight.
“High Point’s got more pitching arms than anyone I’ve seen this year in Area III,” Graham said. “Five or six guys throwing 85-86.”
Tonight’s winner will secure a berth in the state tournament and will play Rowan County at Newman Park on Monday in the first game of a best-of-three Area III championship series.
n Mooresville’s Junior Legion team won its first two games in the state tournament, topping C.B. Aycock 4-1 and thumping South Caldwell 8-2.
n Early qualifiers for the state tournament in Greenville on July 25-29 include Rowan, Shelby, Cherryville, Duplin-Sampson, Wilmington and host Pitt County.
n Rowan will play either the 12:30 p.m. game or the 4:30 p.m. game on July 25.
n Minor leagues
Kyle Seager (NW Cabarrus, UNC) went 2-for-4 in his pro debut on Saturday with the Clinton LumberKings.
Batting seventh, Seager grounded out, lined out, had a two-run single on a line drive to center and got an infield hit.
Seager played third base, not second, in his debut. He played errorless ball at the hot corner and started a double play.
n Kane County’s David Thomas (Catawba) was 1-for-4 in a 7-1 loss to West Michigan on Saturday. Thomas is batting. 276.
n Daniel Wagner (South Rowan) had two hits for Bristol in an 8-2 loss against Danville on Saturday. Wagner is batting .304 with a team-high 17 RBIs.
n Jerry Sands (Catawba) had a double for Ogden on Saturday. Sands is batting .391.
n Wood bat leagues
Wade Moore (West Rowan, Catawba) had two hits, including his third homer, for the Forest City Owls in an 8-0 romp against Martinsville on Saturday.
n Whit Merrifield (Davie, South Carolina) is batting .236 in the Cape Cod League, with 11 steals in 27 games.
n Pro football
El Paso Generals defensive lineman Ron Ellington (Catawba) was named to the All-Indoor Football League first team.
Ellington was the only Generals defensive player selected to the team after finishing second on the team with 50.5 total tackles. Ellington led the Generals with 17.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, three blocked kicks and two safeties.
El Paso finished the regular season with a 12-2 record and earned a first-round bye in the playoffs.
n SHS soccer camp
Kannapolis won one of the craziest games of the season on Saturday at Riley Park, taking a 7-3 win over the Charleston RiverDogs.
The clubs combined for nine errors and two homer-robbing catches. In the bottom of the fifth, Kannapolis’ Brandon Short took a grand slam away from Mike Lyon and preserved a 4-0 lead.
Melky Mesa also appeared to bring back a home run, robbing Dan Black of a longball to right field in the second inning.
Charlie Leesman (9-3) earned the win for Kannapolis, despite lacking his typical control. The southpaw walked a season-high seven batters but also allowed just two runs.
Kenny Williams picked up a two-run double in the eighth inning for the Intimidators.
n SHS soccer camp
Salisbury soccer coach Tom Sexton will be holding two camps in July.
A skills camp is scheduled for this Monday-Friday while a team camp is set for July 27-31. Each camp is $90. It’s $160 for both. The camps will be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Salisbury soccer practice facility located beside the old Wiley Elementary School.
Registration and physical forms can be picked up at the Salisbury High office and at all feeder schools to Salisbury.
Contact Sexton at 704-232-2296.
n East soccer tryouts
East Rowan soccer tryouts will be held Monday, Aug. 3 , from 4:45-7 p.m. Anyone interested in playing should report to the practice field with soccer cleats as well as running shoes.
Contact coach John McNeil at 704-279-5232, ext. 252, or mcneilje@rss.k12.nc.us with concerns or questions.
n West tennis tryouts
Anyone interested in playing girls tennis for West Rowan High should be at practice/tryouts on Monday, Aug. 3, at the West High tennis courts. Everyone should bring physicals that day.
n North football camp
North Rowan will hold its Cavalier Youth Football Camp from July 27-30.
The camp is open to players in grades 2-8. Camp runs from 5:30-8 nightly. The cost is $25. Parents may register participants on Monday, July 27.
This is a non-contact camp intended to be both fun and instructional, with emphasis on safety, sportsmanship and techniques.
The first day of official football practice at North Rowan High is Saturday, Aug. 1. Practice begins at 8:30 a.m.
All athletes in grades 9-12 are reminded to have a completed physical on file. Sign in at the field house. Players should bring cleats, T-shirts and shorts.
Contact North Rowan coach Tasker Fleming at 704-213-9874.
n Tennis lessons
The Salisbury Parks and Recreation will hold tennis lessons for ages 6-10 at the Salisbury Civic Center.
Lessons run each Wednesday from 6-7 p.m. for four weeks, starting July 22.
Cost is $9 per lesson or $30 for all four weeks. The camp is conducted by Catawba coach Jeff Childress. Contact the Civic Center at 704-638-5275.
n Little League sign-ups
Rowan Little League will take sign-ups July 20- Aug. 16 at Godley’s Garden Center for fall baseball and softball.
Online registrations are accepted at http://www.rowanlittleague.com.
Fall ball is for ages 5-14. Cost is $30. League age is age on April 30, 2010. Games begin after Labor Day. Contact Jeff Bernhardt at 704-855-9849 for information.