From staff reports
A.L. Brown opens the football season tonight at Shelby.
The Wonders and Golden Lions are playing tonight because of the American Legion World Series that starts in Shelby on Friday. Between baseball and football that would have been an overwhelming number of people trying to park at Shelby High on the same night.
It’s only the third meeting of the traditional powers.
See preview box.
The rest of the local varsity teams start Friday.
West Rowan is home against Mooresville. South Rowan is home against Central Cabarrus. Salisbury is home against East Rowan. Carson is home against North Rowan. Davie is at Greensboro Page.
Prep soccer
Salisbury’s boys team will go after another Rowan County Soccer Tournament title tonight when it takes on Carson at 7 p.m.
The Cougars are seeking their first championship.
In the third-place game at 5:30 p.m., West Rowan plays South Rowan.
Prep volleyball
Carson’s volleyball team won 25-20, 27-25 and 25-19 in a home match on Wednesday against perennial 2A power Starmount.
Carson is 2-0 and plays early Saturday against Starmount and 4A Reagan at Reagan.
Prep tennis
Salisbury’s girls tennis team breezed to a 9-0 win against North Rowan on Wednesday, losing only one game.
The Hornets are 2-0. The Cavaliers are 1-1.
Katelyn Storey, Alexandra Drye, Anna Flynn, Sallie Kate Meyerhoeffer, Madeline Hoskins and Caroline Graham won in singles.
Flynn-Kayla Honeycutt, Kathryn Rusher-Grace Steinman and Kathleen Mowery-Emily Capito won in doubles.
Minor leagues
Corey Seager (NW Cabarrus) won’t turn 19 until next April and was playing American Legion ball not long ago, but the L.A. Dodgers’ first-round pick is more than holding his own in advanced rookie ball in the Pioneer League, where almost everyone has college and pro experience.
From Aug. 4-10, Seager was a sizzling 17-for-32 (.531) at the plate.
In 33 games in Ogden, Utah, the 6-foot-3 shortstop is batting .303 with 23 RBIs, four homers, two triples, five doubles and eight steals. He has 14 RBIs in his last 10 games.
Great Falls right-hander Keegan Linza (North Rowan) won in the Pioneer League on Wednesday. Linza (4-2) allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings in a 12-4 win against the Orem Owlz.
Linza struck out four and walked none.
Jerry Sands (Catawba) has been tremendous this month at Triple-A Albuquerque. Sands had a triple and three RBIs on Tuesday and three hits, including a homer to center field, on Wednesday.
In 101 games in Triple-A this season, Sands is batting .299 with 24 homers and 92 RBIs. In his last 10 games, Sands has batted .409 with five homers and 16 RBIs.
Daniel Wagner (South Rowan) had two hits and scored three runs to help Winston-Salem pound Salem 11-3 in the Carolina League on Wednesday.
The Kannapolis Intimidators beat Delmarva 5-1 in South Atlantic League action on Wednesday.
Chris Curley had three hits and knocked in two runs for the Intimidators. Jarrett Casey pitched seven shutout innings.
Local golf
Davis Richards won the 14-15 division in the Tar Heel Youth Golf Association Tournament of Champions held at Cardinal Country Club in Pine Level on Tuesday and Wednesday. Richards shot 72-70 — 142.
Logan Shuping tied for sixth at 78-75 — 153.
Nick Lyerly finished third in the 12-13 division. Lyerly shot 74-73 — 147.
In the Corbin Hills Women’s Golf Association weekly tournament, Phyllis Durland won low gross, with Beth Calhoun placing second and Kristi Laton third.
Low net winner was Bev Cobb. Next were Joan Havill, Ruth Bowles and Susan Morris.
College football
The Chip Hester show is returning to Salisbury’s Baylee’s Steakhouse and Sports Theater this season.
The Tuesday night Catawba football show is broadcast on Memories 1280 WSAT and goes on the air at 7:30 pm.
The first show will be on Aug. 28. Hester will talk about the opener at West Liberty as well as the roster.
All Catawba football games are broadcast live on 1280 AM and online at 1280wsat.com.
Kannapolis P&R
Registration is under way at the Kannapolis Parks and Recreation department for fall tennis lessons.
Lessons will start on Aug. 27 and will be held on Monday afternoons at Bakers Creek Park.
Ages 5-10 will play from 4-5 p.m. Ages 11-18 will play from 5-6 p.m.
The cost is $25 for four weeks or $40 for eight weeks.
For more information, contact Nick Rummage at 704-920-4343.
China Grove football
China Grove Middle School will begin football practice on Monday, Aug. 20, from 5-8 p.m.
Tryouts are open for any boy in grades 7-8.
Players should report at 5 p.m. for equipment, with practice running from 6-8 p.m.
You must have a physical to practice. Bring a copy if you haven’t already done so.
Players should wear cleats, shorts, and a T-shirt. For more information, call 704-224-1909 or 704-202-9040.
Fall baseball
Rowan
Rowan Little League is taking sign-ups through Aug. 24 at Godley’s Garden Center for fall baseball and girls softball leagues.
Online registrations are accepted at http://www.rowanlittleague.com.
Fall ball is for ages 3-14. Cost is $50. Baseball ages are as of April 30, 2013, while softball ages are as of Dec. 31, 2012.
Games begin after Labor Day. Pre-T-Ball for ages 3 and 4 will be included.
Contact Wade Furches at 704-633-2873 or Jeff Bernhardt at 704-326-5255 for information.
China Grove
Registration for China Grove youth baseball and softball fall leagues is under way at Dale’s Sporting Goods in China Grove.
The early registration fee is $40 through Aug. 17. After Aug. 18, the cost is $50.
Leagues offered are Coach Pitch baseball (ages 5-6 and ages 7-8), baseball (ages 9-10 and ages 11-12), softball (ages 5-6-7, ages 8-9-10 and ages 11-12-13).
Contact James Solomon at 704-857-1439 or e-mail ymcanewhouse@yahoo.com.
Extreme Performance
The Extreme Performance 11U baseball team will be having tryouts for the 2012-2013 season on Saturday, Aug. 25, at 10 a.m. at the West Rowan Sports Complex, 740 Old US Hwy 70.
Contact Mark Davis at 704-798-3440 or Tim Burns at 980-521-9078 for information.