By Mike London
mlondon@salisburypost.com
Area athletes update…
Catawba’s opponent this Saturday at home is UNC Pembroke, and fans will likely to get to see at least three former local stars in action for the Braves.
Cadarreus Mason (South Rowan), a 6-foot-1, 235-pound linebacker, redshirted last season for UNC Pembroke and has emerged as a fine player this season. He was credited with eight tackles and a pass breakup in the Braves’ 42-34 win against Glenville State on Saturday.
Sophomores Ben DeCelle (East Rowan) and T.J. Johnson (A.L. Brown) are key members of UNC Pembroke’s receiving corps. Both have caught TD passes this season. DeCelle had two catches for 18 yards Saturday, while Johnson had two for 34.
Jonathan Efird (A.L. Brown) is a backup QB for the Braves, and speedster Artrele Louis (A.L. Brown) is listed as a junior running back.
n Brevard true freshman Emmanuel Gbunblee (West Rowan) made two tackles in a SAC loss to Wingate.
n Arkansas sophomore Chris Smith (West) made six tackles, one for loss, in a 38-14 loss to Alabama.
n Western Carolina’s Shaun Warren (Carson) rushed 11 times for 52 yards, including a late 15-yard TD, in a 52-20 SoCon loss to Georgia Southern.
n Appalachian State’s Gordy Witte Jr. (Salisbury) made two tackles, one for loss, in a defensive-minded SoCon win against Chattanooga.
n Virginia’s K.P. Parks (West) scored a touchdown on a 9-yard run in a 30-24 loss to Southern Miss.
Parks was held to 33 yards on nine carries, but the touchdown was his sixth, leaving him just one shy of Virginia’s freshman record for rushing TDs.
nMatt Turchin (West) had a big role in Emory & Henry’s 34-27 win against Methodist with two field goals and four PATs. Turchin made a clutch 42-yard FG with six minutes left to tie the game at 27.
nEric Cowan (West) returned three kickoffs for 78 yards for West Liberty State, with a long of 40, in a loss to Fairmont State.
Cowan, a true freshman, is starting at cornerback. He had a pass breakup and a tackle on Saturday.
n Catawba offensive lineman Timmy Pangburn (West) will miss the season with an injury. He’s a medical redshirt and shouldn’t lose any eligibility.
nCasey Hall (NW Cabarrus) made five tackles for Catawba in a 23-21 win at Tusculum. True freshman Jacorian Brown (Carson) was a factor for the Indians with four carries for 23 yards and a pair of tackles on kickoffs.
Hall’s cousin Jeremy Cannon, who was a star QB at NW Cabarrus, is enrolled at Catawba, although his football status is uncertain.
n Livingstone’s Justin Avery (West) picked off another pass in the win against Virginia-Lynchburg.
nJay Bostick (NW Cabarrus) is the leading tackler for Virginia Union.
Volleyball
Taylor Whitley (Carson) had 29 assists and six digs for Guilford in a loss to N.C. Wesleyan on Friday.
nBreckin Settlemyer (Carson) was a force for Catawba Valley Community College on Saturday, racking up 16 kills and four blocks in a 3-2 loss to Pitt CC and eight kills in a 3-2 win against Davidson CC.
n Lenoir-Rhyne sophomore Kayla Morrow (South) provided eight kills as Lenoir-Rhyne swept Fayetteville State and St. Andrews on Saturday.
Cross country
Led by twins Emily Shields and Katherine Shields (Salisbury), Lees-McRae’s women’s cross country team is ranked ninth in the Southeast Region.
Pro golf
The Nationwide Tour is tough. Elliot Gealy (Salisbury) shot a second-round 68 and still missed the cut in the Soboba Golf Classic in San Jacinto, Calif., by three strokes. Gealy couldn’t overcome a first-round 75.
Major League Baseball
Bobby Parnell (East) is closing the season in fine shape.
He hasn’t allowed an earned run since Sept. 6 and pitched in relief in both games of Saturday’s doubleheader sweep of Philadelphia.
Parnell (4-6) got the win in the opener and got five key outs with 16 pitches in the nightcap. He has lowered his ERA to 3.72.
nJerry Sands (Catawba) is batting .357 in September for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Sands’ recent homer off San Francisco ace Tim Lincecum traveled 411 feet.
n Seattle’s Kyle Seager (NW Cabarrus) has been steady. He’s batting .260 in 50 big league games.