From staff and wire reports

WILSON — Freshman Jackson Raper hit his first  homer for Catawba’s baseball team in Tuesday’s 7-3  win at Barton.

The 28th-ranked Indians (20-7) also got homers from Chance Bowden and Malachi Hanes and improved to 20-7.

Catawba out-hit the Bulldogs (18-12), 14-7. Raper, Bowden (Salisbury), Hanes, Luke Setzer (East Rowan), Bryce Fowler and Zac Almond had two hits each.

Catawba trailed 2-0 after two innings, but Raper’s homer in the third put the Indians on the board. Catawba scored three runs in the third and led the rest of the way. Bowden hit a solo homer in the fifth. Hanes homered in the ninth.

Ryan Kahny (2-1) got the win as he tossed 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and fanned three.

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Eric Tyler (South Rowan) had two hits and drove  in a run in East Carolina’s 11-7 win against Elon on Tuesday.

Travis Watkins (Cox Mill) hit a grand slam for the Pirates and knocked in six.

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Matt Vernon (Davie County) hit his fourth homer of the season and Brian Bauk (Salisbury) scored two runs as Appalachian State beat Radford 13-9 on Tuesday.

USA wins

LOS ANGELES  — Brandon Crawford scored the tiebreaking run when Nobuhiro Matsuda bobbled Adam Jones’ grounder to third in the eighth inning, and the United States reached the championship game of the World Baseball Classic for the first time by beating Japan 2-1 on Tuesday night at rainy Dodger Stadium.

Andrew McCutchen drove in an early run for the U.S., which will play Puerto Rico for the title Wednesday night.

Rico beat the Netherlands 4-3 in 11 innings Monday.

The World Baseball Classic final has been played in the U.S. in each of its four editions, but the home team had never made it.

The Americans only reached the semifinals once, in 2009. But this All-Star-laden roster has won two straight elimination games to earn the chance for its first crown.

Men’s basketball

Augusta’s Keshun Sherrill (West Rowan) was named to the NABC Coaches Division II All-America team on Tuesday.

  Sherrill  owns the all-time scoring title in conference history with 2,333 points.

College softball

   Pfeiffer’s Vada Blue Sherrill was named the Conference Carolinas Softball Player of the Week.

Pro baseball

Kansas City sent Bobby Parnell (East Rowan) to its minor league camp on Monday.

Parnell was 0-1 in six games in Spring Training  with a 16.50 ERA.

Local golf

GREENSBORO — The First Tee of the Triad, a local youth development organization, is offering scholarships for the children of city employees, chamber members and other families with a financial need.

The organization holds classes at 18 facilities across the Triad, including the Country Club of Salisbury.

The spring season begins the week of March 27, with one class per week. The program runs for eight weeks. All sports equipment, golf clubs and balls are provided at no cost to the child.

The First Tee of the Triad teaches children ages 7 to 18 essential character traits and valuable life skills, including communication skills and healthy habits.

For those who do not opt for the scholarship, the cost is $75 per participant. To receive the scholarship, use the code “PLAY” when registering online.

To register or for more information about scholarship opportunities, visit www.thefirstteetriad.org.

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Sixty-two GARS members played at Corbin Hills.

Low ‘A’ Flight player was Les Loman with a net of 68.30. Low ‘B’ Flight player was Clayton Steele with a net of 64.90.

Low ‘C’ Flight player was Bob Stepanian with a net of 64.90. Low ‘D’ Flight player was Bobby Wagoner with a net of 62.70.

Closest to the pin on No. 2  was Clyde Crawford.

Buddy Barger, 82, shot an 81. Clayton Steele, 84, shot a 78. O.J.Chandler, 87, shot an 85. J.C. Ritchie, 92, shot an 85.

Prep golf

SPC golfers will play at   Rocky River today.

East Rowan’s Bryson Sprinkle was medalist with a 34 on Monday.

CCC golfers are at Sapona. Salisbury’s Alex Antosek was medalist with a 36 on Monday.

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Hough shot 147 and won the latest MECKA match at The Tradition Club in Charlotte.

Tyler Johnson shot 41 to lead A.L. Brown, while Logan Lentz shot 48.

Prep basketball

Cox Mill sophomore Wendell Moore Jr. was named the state player of the year by the NC Coaches Association.

Joining Moore on the All-State firs team was Robinson senior Lavar Batts Jr.

Central Cabarrus’ Mahaley Holit made the All-State third team for girls.

Prep baseball

There’s another full slate of South Piedmont Conference games on tap tonight.

East Rowan is at home against Robinson. Carson is at home against Northwest Cabarrus. West Rowan is at Concord. South Rowan is at Hickory Ridge. Central Cabarrus plays at Cox Mill.

Salisbury is home for a non-conference matchup with North Iredell (5-4).

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Davie lost to West Forsyth in a Central Piedmont Conference game, 4-1, on Tuesday.

Tyler Roberts had two hits for the War Eagles. He also pitched five innings and struck out six.

Prep track and field

The Rowan County Championships are set for April 11 at East Rowan.

Prep softball

A.L. Brown stayed on top in the MECKA softball race by beating Mallard Creek, 17-5, on Monday.

Ashlynn Stokes had four hits and was the winning pitcher. She struck out nine.

Harlie Taylor had three hits. Lauren Ritchie and Kelly Chrismon had three RBIs apiece.

Mid. school tennis

Erwin won against North Rowan Middle, 9-0, on Tuesday.

   Singles: Landon Shuping (E) over Ty Buechler, 8-0; Jaden Collins (E) over Justin Henderson, 8-0; Ryan Brady (E) over Arizona Day, 8-0; Greyson Trexler (E) over Noah Williams, 8-1; Caleb Nesbitt (E) over Logan Haristead, 8-0; Garren Hudson (E) over Tonny Cerritos, 8-0.

  Doubles: Shuping-Collins (E) over Buchler-Henderson, 6-0; Brady-Trexler (E) over day-Williams, 6-0; Nesbitt-Hudson (E) over Haristead-Imer, 6-3. Exhibition: Cerritos-Hill (NR) over Hopper-Berg, 6-5.