From staff reports
Andre Springs was introduced as Livingstone’s new director of athletics on Monday.
“We had to find a leader with the right chemistry,” Livingstone president Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins said. “Andre has camaraderie with the coaches and staff that will take Livingstone College athletics to the next level.”
Springs started his second stint as a Livingstone employee in January, 2010, when he was named the head men’s golf coach, and for the last six months he’s been working additionally as assistant athletic director for fundraising.
“It’s an honor and a blessing to be a part of the Blue Bear family,” Springs said. “Dr. Jenkins challenged me with improving this department overall and I stepped up to the challenge.”
Springs first came to Livingstone in 1979 as head golf coach after playing four years at Fayetteville State and winning four CIAA Championships. Springs coached the Blue Bears for 10 years, helping put together a team that won three consecutive PGA Minority Golf Championships from 1987-89.
“When I left Livingstone the first time, I told myself that when I returned it would be as the athletics director,” Springs said. “Two years after I was hired as the golf coach, it’s my time to lead this department.”
Springs’ future plans start with fundraising. During Monday’s press conference he received $3,000 in pledged donations from coaches and community leaders.
American Legion
Second-seeded Kannapolis opened its best-of-five series with seventh-seeded Statesville with a 4-2 win at Northwest Cabarrus on Monday.
Ryan Keziah had a great start on the mound for Post 115 and took a shutout into the eighth. He was lifted after Statesville scored two runs in the eighth. Jarrin Hogue earned the save. Hogue got five outs on popups and one on a strikeout.
Will Miller and Jordan Goodman hit back-to-back homers in the fourth for Kannapolis.
J.T. Austin, Miller and Goodman had two hits each. Austin Mace knocked in two runs.
Sean Grant went the distance on the mound for Statesville. He struck out five and allowed nine hits.
The teams play at South Iredell tonight.
Ryan Foster pitched eight strong innings as top-seeded Mocksville overwhelmed No. 8 seed Concord 9-0 in Game 1 of a best-of-five series at Rich Park on Monday. The teams play tonight at Central Cabarrus.
The Mooresville Moors broke open a tight game in the eighth and beat Stanly 8-3 in Game 1 of a best-of-five series. Game 2 is tonight in Albemarle.
Junior Legion
Carson won 4-3 on Thomasville in the opening game of a best-of-five playoff series.
T.J. Brackett pitched a complete game and struck out three.
John Daugherty, Michael Morrison, John Patella, Kaison Denton and Dillon Atwell had hits for Carson. Devon Peacock drove in two runs. Morrison and Denton knocked in one each. Game 2 is at Carson tonight.
Local track
At the Area 7 National Qualifier held in Charlotte, the Hurley YMCA Warriors qualified athletes for the AAU Junior Olympic Games that start in Houston in late July.
To qualify, athletes had to finish in the top five in a running event or top four in a field event.
Parker Westbrook (Hurley Elementary) competed in the 9-year-old division and was fifth in the 800 (2:58) and second in the 1500 (6:36).
Aubree Cain (North Rowan Middle) competed in the 11-year-old division and was first in the 1500 (6:29) and first in the 3000 (14:23).
Lauren Dorman (Kannapolis) competed in the 11-year-old division and was second in the 1500 (6:57) and second in the 3000 (16:21).
Alex Trexler (Lexington) was second in the 11-year-old division in the shot put (9 meters) and second in the discus (21.44 meters).n Competing in the 12-year-old division, Andrew Burgess (Southeast) was first in the 800 (2:24), first in the 1500 (4:54) and first in the 3000 (10:56).
Kaitlyn Trexler (Lexington) was second in the discus (17.07 meters) in the 13-year-old division.n Jonah Evans (Southeast) was second in the 1500 (5:44) and second in the 3000 (12:00) in the 13-year-old division.
Julianna Evans (West Rowan High) was fifth in the 800 (2:57), third in the 1500 (6:14) and first in the 300 (14:26) in the 14-year-old division.
Lindsay Dorman (A.L. Brown) was fourth in the 1500 (6:47) in the 14-year-old division.
Alex Crook (Lexington) was first in the 800 (2:13) and second in the 1500 (4:39) in the 14-year-old division.
Christa Landy (West Rowan graduate) was third in the 100 (12.53), second in the 200 (23.54) and third in the 400 (57.55) in the 17-18 division.
Cameron Isenhour (West Rowan High) was fourth in the javelin (27.97 meters) in the 17-18 division.
The next meet for the Warriors is July 14 in High Point.
A “Run for Dollars” fundraiser will be held on July 7 from 9 until noon for athletes going to Houston. To make a donation, please call Ester Marsh at the Hurley Family YMCA at 704-636-0111 or e-mail emarsh@rowanymca.org.
Prep football
Carson rising junior Myquon Stout was the Lineman King at the National Underclassman Combine Ultimate 100 football showcase held in College Park, Ga. Stout is listed at 6-foot-1, 252 pounds.
Local golf
Logan Shuping, 14, tied for first with a 77 in a National Junior Golf Tournament held at Charlotte’s Piper Glen on Monday.
Shuping made a 15-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to win the 14-15 age division.
In sectional qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Amateur held at Sapona on Monday, it took 71 to qualify. Lauren Smith (Salisbury) shot 78.
Minor leagues
The Kannapolis Intimidators have added infielder Joey DeMichele, a recent third-round draft pick. Ross Wilson was promoted to Winston-Salem.
The Intimidators lost 6-4 at Rome on Monday. Mark Haddow had three hits for the Intimidators. Grant Buckner knocked in two runs.
Ryan Query (A.L. Brown, Catawba) had a sac fly for Rome.
Kane County’s Rudy Brown (South Rowan) pitched Saturday. In two innings, he allowed an unearned run and two hits, while striking out two. Brown is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA.
Wilmington’s Whit Merrifield (Davie) had three hits on Monday to boost his batting average to .275.
Hoops Unlimited
Applications are still being accepted for the final session of the 19th annual Hoops Unlimited Basketball Camp on July 9-12 at North Stanly Middle School.
Camp is for rising 6th-10th grade boys and girls. The cost of the all day camp is $95, which includes a camp shirt and “all you can eat” lunch each day. For brochures or questions, go to www.hoopsunlimitedcamp.com or call camp director Rick Roseman at 704-279-7334.