From staff reports
Former Davie County star Whit Merrifield has been promoted to Double A by the Kansas City Royals organization.
Merrifield is now a member of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in the Texas League. He debuted with the Naturals on Wednesday night and collected a double and a solo home run.
Merrifield has been at Wilmington, Del., in the advanced Class A Carolina League. He led the Blue Rocks in steals (25) and runs scored (59), while batting .259 with eight homers and 36 RBIs.
Merrifield, 23, is versatile defensively and plays second base, center field and left field.
He starred collegiately at South Carolina and delivered the clutch hit that won the College World Series for the Gamecocks in 2010. He was a ninth-round draft pick by the Royals in 2010.
Both of Merrifield’s parents were great athletes. His father, Bill, was an All-American as Wake Forest’s shortstop and twice was named ACC Player of the Year in the 1980s. His mother, Kissy, played tennis at Wake Forest after winning prep state championships in South Carolina.n The Kannapolis Intimidators were shut down 5-0 at Lakewood on Wednesday.
Mark Haddow had two of Kannapolis’ five hits.
Jordan Jankowski (Catawba) pitched a scoreless eighth inning for Greeneville, Tenn., in the Appalachian League on Wednesday and lowered his ERA to 2.59.
Prep football
West Rowan coach Scott Young said the Falcons did “OK” in Wednesday’s tough scrimmage at West Forsyth that also involved Charlotte Catholic and Hickory.
West scrimmages against Thomasville at Cushwa Stadium at 6 p.m. on Friday.
A.L. Brown was in a scrimmage at Mooresville on Wednesday that also included Hickory Ridge and North Meck.
North Rowan, South Rowan and East Rowan will be involved in the Cabarrus-Rowan Border Battle at Concord High on Friday.
North battles Mount Pleasant at 6 p.m. East tangles with Northwest Cabarrus at 7 p.m. South faces Concord at 8 p.m.
On Saturday night, East and Carson will participate in the North Stanly Jamboree.
East Montgomery and Parkwood also are involved.
The Post’s annual football edition will be available on Aug. 15.
Hall of Fame
The Salisbury-Rowan Hall of Fame will induct a seven-member class on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Civic Center.
Coe Brier, Bobby Phillips, Lola Jones, Beth Miller, Buddy Lowery, Brian Ellis and the late Bill Wilhelm will be inducted.
American Legion
The Southeast Regional begins with four games today at Riley Park in Sumter, S.C.
Wilmington represents North Carolina.
Florence is the South Carolina state champ, while host Sumter also is in the field.
Other teams in the regional are Shelbyville, Ky., Lynchburg, Va., Rockdale, Ga., Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Fort Pierce, Fla.
The format is double-elimination.
This is one of eight regionals. Regional champs advance to the World Series in Shelby on Aug. 17-21.
Major leagues
Seattle’s Kyle Seager (NW Cabarrus) had three hits on Wednesday, including his 13th homer, in the Mariners’ 9-2 loss to Baltimore.
Local golf
The Country Club of Salisbury senior men’s Interclub team defeated Forest Oaks CC 26-13 in a match played in Salisbury.
In the second round of the Dogwood State Junior Girls Championship at Starmount Country Club in Greensboro, Lily Yatawara, a 2012 Salisbury graduate, is 11th at 76-79 — 155 and is nine shots off the pace.
Isabella Rusher, a Salisbury rising sophomore, is 12th at 75-81 — 156.
The cutline fell at 160.
In the Dogwood State Junior Boys Championship, 2012 Salisbury graduate Troy Beaver is tied for 17th at 69-73 — 142 and is 12 shots off the pace.
Eric Edwards, a Salisbury rising senior, also is tied for 17th at 71-71 — 142.
The cutline fell at 149.
Logan Shuping, who will be a ninth-grader, shot 73-79 — 152.
Andrew Purcell, a Carson rising senior, shot 81-72 — 153.
In the eGolf Tour’s Grand Harbor Open being held in South Carolina, Frank Adams III and Will Collins both shot first-round 71s and are nine shots back of the leader.
College volleyball
Greg Walker is the new men’s and women’s volleyball coach at Pfeiffer.
Walker has an extensive USA Volleyball background and has coached at Juniata (Pa.), Mercer (Ga.) and Penn State.
South Y programs
South Rowan YMCA is accepting soccer registrations for girls and boys in kindergarten through 8th grade and for flag football for Pre-K through fifth grade.
Registration ends Sept. 3.
The cost is $36 for Y members and $60 for potential members. Contact Carvie Kepley at 704-857-7011 or ckepley@rowanymca.org.