From staff reports

Catawba has released its football schedule for the 2017 season.

The Indians will play six home games. There is  a new rotation, as far as the order for the South Atlantic Conference games.

Catawba will open the season on Aug. 31 at home under the lights against St. Augustine’s on a Thursday, The last time the Indians hosted a Thursday game was in 2007.

The road schedule includes a match up with   FCS opponent VMI. That Sept. 9 contest will be the first between the schools since 1990.

Key home dates beside the opener are Family Weekend on Sept. 23 versus Mars Hill, Homecoming on Oct. 14 against Wingate and Hall of Fame weekend  with the regular-season finale against Lenoir-Rhyne on Nov. 11.

Catawba will also play host to North Greenville on Oct. 7 and Newberry on Nov. 4.

For ticket information, contact the Catawba Athletic Department at 704-637-4474.

Aug. 31 —  St. Augustine’s, 7

Sept. 9  —  at VMI, TBA

Sept. 16 —  at UNC Pembroke, 7

SEPT. 23 — Mars Hill, 6

Sept. 30 — at Carson-Newman, TBA

Oct. 7 —  North Greenville, 1:30

Oct. 14 — Wingate, 1:30

Oct. 21 — at Tusculum, TBA

Oct. 28 —  at Limestone, TBA

Nov. 4  —  Newberry, 1:30

Nov. 11 — Lenoir-Rhyne, 1:30

Boys basketball

North Stanly’s boys outscored Albemarle in the third quarter, 21-4, and pulled away for a 70-47 win in the Uwharrie Athletic Conference championship game on Friday at Pfeiffer.

Albemarle led at the half, 27-26.

North Stanly (19-7) won its 17th straight game. North Stanly was led by Jason Doerr with 17 points, Cameron Lee with 16, Rylie Smith with 14, and Bryson Childress with 12.

•••

Cox Mill rolled to a 90-68 win against Hickory Ridge in the South Piedmont Conference Tournament championship game on Friday.

Wendell Moore Jr.  had 25 points and 12 rebounds for the Chargers. Francis Sio had 25 points and three assists.

Girls basketball

Unbeaten Hickory Ridge handled Central Cabarrus, 70-50, in Friday’s South Piedmont Conference Tournament championship game.

No. 1 seed Hickory Ridge (26-0) got 19 points and 15 rebounds from Gabby Smith, 18 points and four assists from Jiera Shears and 14 points and 12 rebounds from Nia Daniel.

Mahaley Holit scored 17 for second-seeded Central (23-4), and Elanna Peay had 15.

Hickory Ridge coach Tolonda Simmons was announced as SPC Coach of the Year.

Hick. Ridge 70, C. Cabarrus 50

CENTRAL (50)

Holit 17, Peay 15, Miller 5, Brown 5, Tate 5, Rowden 3 .

HICKORY RIDGE (70)

Smith 19, Ji. Shears 18, Daniel 14, Jones 6, D. Neal 4, R. Neal 4, Wagner 4, Ja. Shears 1.

C. Cabarrus                 8    14   20   8 —   50

Hick. Ridge                 15  19   20  16 —  70

        •••

Gray Stone rolled to a 47-22 win against Albemarle in the Uwharrie Athletic Conference title game.

  

Prep wrestling

In the 4A Championships, A.L. Brown’s Isaiah Johnson (39-1) moved into today’s championship match  in Greensboro by decisioning West Forsyth’s Dallas Mize, 5-0.

Johnson’s opponent will be Austin Harrison (35-4) of Wilmington Laney.

•••

Davie’s Anthony Olmedo (40-5) reached the 4A semifinals before losing to Southern Alamance’s Alex Crawford in overtime.

He could still finish as high as third today.

•••

Carson’s Josh Vega (27-9) reached the 3A semifinals  at 113 before losing by pin to Enka’s Melvin Rubio.

Vega could still finish as high as third   today.

•••

There are several more area wrestlers still alive in the tournament with one loss. They all could still finish as high as third. That group includes Salisbury’s Chris Moore (285), Kevion Chunn (195) and Jibri Cowan (132); Carson’s  Cameron Rayfield (152); East Rowan’s Max Wall (170);  South Rowan’s Logan Lambert (120); and Davie’s Jesus Olmedo (220), Kyle McCune (170) and Hunter Smith (113).

Davie’s Will Allen (138), Hunter Strickland (152) and Jesse Carter (195) all went 1-2.

A.L. Brown’s Daniel Cruze (138) went 1-2.

Carson’s Bailey Rayfield (160) went 1-2. East Rowan’s Jeffrey  Burrell (138) was 0-2.

Salisbury’s Timmy Boyd  (126) and Mark Wright (152) went 1-2.

College basketball

Livingstone closes the regular season today by hosting rival Winston-Salem State at New Trent Gym.

The doubleheader starts at 2 p.m.

•••

Catawba is on the road for an afternoon doubleheader at Brevard.

College baseball

Colton Laws (Carson) pitched well on opening day for the Charlotte 49ers, working six innings and allowing two runs and six hits against West Virginia.

Laws struck out four and walked on. He left with the game tied 2-all. Charlotte eventually won, 6-3.

•••

Catawba plays its first home game today at 1 p.m. against Shippensburg, and will play a second game at about 4 p.m.

•••

Brian Bauk (Salisbury) opened the season in right field for Appalachian State and went 1-for-4 in an 11-5 loss to VMI. Bauk drove in one run. He’s expected to focus on being a position player this year after splitting time between the outfield and the mound in recent seasons.

•••

Eric Tyler (South Rowan) opened the season batting third and playing third base for East Carolina.

Tyler had one hit, as the Pirates dropped a 5-4 decision to Mississippi.

Prep baseball

Carson is hosting a four-team scrimmage today.

10 a.m.

South Iredell at Carson (scrimmage)

12:30 p.m.

South Iredell vs. West Rowan (scrimmage at Carson)

  3 p.m.

North Rowan at Carson (scrimmage)

5:15 p.m.

North Rowan vs. West Rowan (scrimmage at Carson)

Spencer Cal Ripken

The longest running youth recreation league in Rowan County is kicking off another season.

Registration for traditional spring T-Ball, baseball and softball leagues will be held on Saturday, Feb. 18 and 25, from 10 until 1, at  Spencer’s 8th Street Park.   

The cost is $ 60 for baseball and softball, and $50 for the T-ball program.

Buddy Ball Registration is also Feb 18 and 25 from  10-1. There is no cost for Buddy Ball.

Buddy Ball provides an opportunity for anyone, regardless of handicap, to  enjoy the game of baseball.  Each Special Needs player is partnered up with a “Buddy” at the plate and on the field.

If you are interested in being a volunteer, go to www.spencercalripken.com or the Facebook page.

To be a sponsor, contact Wes Thompson at jwesleythompson@yahoo.com.