The Kannapolis Intimidators opened the season with a 9-2 victory at Lakewood (N.J.) on Thursday.
Kale Kiser, the No. 9 batter in the lineup, had four hits and drove in four runs for the Intimidators. Adam Heisler went 3-for-4 for the Intimidators, who play at Lakewood again tonight. The home opener is April 11.
• Chicago White Sox prospect Daniel Wagner (South Rowan) opened the season on the roster of the Birmingham Barons in the Double-A Southern League.
• Kansas City Royals prospect Whit Merrifield (Davie) opened the season on the roster of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in the Double-A Southern League. The second baseman/outfielder went 0-for-2 on opening night.
• Jerry Sands (Catawba) opened in right field Thursday for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, Pittsburgh’s top farm club.
• Catcher Ryan Query (A.L. Brown, Catawba) was released by the Atlanta Braves in the offseason. Signed as a free agent, Query played in 120 games in three minor league seasons. He batted. 235 with 10 homers and 50 RBIs and played as high as Double-A.

Catawba Hall of Fame

On Thursday, Catawba announced the five members of this year’s Sports Hall of Fame class. Inductees will be Heath Bost (Class of 1995), Charla Doss Hill (1991), Stephanie McCormick (1994), Charles “Red” Richardson (deceased, 1949) and Nick Sabol (1998).
Bost was a standout pitcher in the 1990s, posting a 21-8 record for the Indians in three seasons before pitching professionally.
Hill excelled in slow-pitch and fast-pitch softball from 1988-91. She set school records for career triples (14) and season batting average (.412) in fast-pitch.
McCormick was a basketball standout in the early 1990s and was the first Catawba woman to record 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
Richardson starred in baseball in the 1940s and helped the Indians go 63-17 and win three straight conference championships.
Sabol starred in golf in the 1990s and was twice named SAC Player of the Year.
Induction ceremonies will be held at noon on Saturday, April 27.

College football

Livingstone announced its 2013 football schedule.
The Blue Bears have five home games, including the Commemorative Classic game against Johnson C. Smith on Sept. 7. Livingstone’s homecomng game is against Fayetteville State on Nov. 2.
• Catawba’s Spring Blue-White Game is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m.

Easter tournament

Only two F&M Bank Classic games were played Thursday in Kannapolis due to rain.
The plan is to play three games today — A.L. Brown vs. West Rowan at 1; East Rowan vs. Mount Pleasant at 4, and South Rowan vs. Concord at 7.
Five games will be played Saturday. See Scoreboard.

Local golf

Charlotte and Davidson are hosting the Irish Creek Collegiate at the Club at Irish Creek this weekend. The tournament includes 17 teams, including N.C. State, UNC, Virginia and Notre Dame. Teams tee off at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.
• Salisbury’s Frank Adams III tied for third in the eGolf Tour’s Founders Club Classic held in Southport. Adams shot 70-72-74 — 216 and won $4,800.

Wells Fargo Cup

Statewide leaders for the Wells Fargo Cup, symbolic of overall athletic excellence, are Cary Green Hope (4A), Cardinal Gibbons (3A), Carrboro (2A) and Lake Norman Charter (1A).North Rowan is tied for eighth in 1A. Salisbury is seventh in 2A.