From staff reports

Bobby Parnell (East Rowan) opted out of his minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals and has signed with the Chicago White Sox.

Parnell, 32, had a 4.71 ERA this season for the Omaha Storm Chasers, Kansas City’s Triple-A team. The right-hander had 17 strikeouts and 13 walks in 21 innings.

This is a fresh start for Parnell, who played on powerful East Rowan High teams 15 years ago and was the starting first baseman for  the Rowan County American Legion team that went 43-2 in a state-championship summer of 2002.

Parnell was a ninth-round draft pick by the New York Mets after his junior season at Charleston Southern University in 2005.

Parnell  debuted in the big leagues with the Mets in 2008 and made a  transition to being exclusively a reliever by 2010.

From 2010-13, Parnell had a 2.79 ERA while throwing 213 innings. He averaged 97 mph with his fastball in those days.

Parnell became the Mets’ closer in 2013, notching 22 saves that season, but he had Tommy John surgery in 2014 and has been trying to come back since then. He’s regained most, but not all, of  the elite velocity he possessed during his best years with the Mets.

He struggled with the Mets in 2014-15 and during a  brief stint with the Detroit Tigers in 2016 when his fastball averaged 95 mph.

In his big league career, Parnell is 20-28 with 37 saves.

By signing with Chicago, Parnell gets to pitch close to home for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights.

Chicago would seem to be an organization where Parnell will get an opportunities to flourish.

The White Sox are expected to deal several relievers this summer and are marketing closer David Robertson, among others.

Local golf

  Four amateurs, all from the Charlotte area, hold the lead at 5-under after the first round of competition at the 53rd  North Carolina Open  at The Club at Irish Creek .

Defending Champion David Kocher, Jake McGlone, Nolan Mills IV, and Aman Gupta shot 66s.

One hundred sixty-eight  PGA Professionals and amateurs in the Carolinas are competing for the 54-hole championship.

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The Corbin Hills Ladies played their annual,  two-day  Grace Rodgers Spring Handicap Tournament on Tuesday, May 30,  and Tuesday, June 6.

Overall low net and winner of the tournament was Eileen Full.

Overall low gross went to Beth Calhoun.

Second low net in the Second Flight went to Bev Cobb.

First low net in the First Flight went to Ruth Bowles.

Second low net in the First Flight went to Susan Houston.

College golf

Livingstone  golfer Philip Harrison was name to the  Academic All-America second team.

Harrison has a 4.0 GPA in business administration and made the All-CIAA and All-CIAA Tournament teams.

Prep basketball

Cox Mill rising junior Wendell Moore Jr. made the USA 16U basketball team.

Prep baseball

A.L. Brown’s Lane Argrabright will continue his education and baseball career at Montreat.

Intimidators

   Five relievers combined for 10  innings and pitched the  Kannapolis Intimidators past the BlueClaws, 2-1, in 16 innings, on Tuesday at FirstEnergy Park.

Kannapolis (30-25) won its longest game of the season when Micker Adolfo doubled home a run in the 16th.   Lane Hobbs earned third third win, and Mike Morrison tossed a perfect bottom of the 16th for his ninth save.

Kannapolis plays at Lakewood again tonight. Kannapolis returns home on June 13.

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Kannapolis pitchers Alec Hansen, Jimmy Lambert and Mike Morrison catcher Seby Zavala and outfielder Joel Booker were picked to play for the Northern Division in the 58th  annual South Atlantic League All-Star Game.

This year’s game will be played on June 20 in Columbia, S.C.

Hurley Y Warriors

The Hurley YMCA Warriors competed in the Panthers Elite Ken Roberts Track  Challenge in Guilford County.

  Boys 8 -under

Jason Burroughs, 5th in the shot put, 15 feet, 2 inches; 13th in long jump, 7-5

Girls 9-10

Malaysia Dillard, 30th in 200 meters, 37.16; 13th in 800 meters, 3:25.12

Boys 9-10

Will Blais, 3rd in 200 metesr, 28.88 seconds; 4th in 800, 2:50.37

Girls 11-12

Emberleigh Pauley-Brown, 3rd in 1500 meters, 6:01; 10th in 800 meters, 2:58.23

Boys 11-12

Triston Rabon, 1st in 1500 meters, 5:21

Boys 13-14

Jalen Jackson, 11th in 1500 meters, 5:35; 14th in 800 meters, 2:42.64

• Mason Quarles, 25th in 100 meters, 13.96; 29th in 200 meters, 28.33

•  Matthew Burroughs, 15th in 1500 meters, 5:55; 18th in 800 meters, 2:55.40

17-18 young women

Tabitha Landy, 6th in 100 meters, 12.98; 4th in 200 meters, 26.43

17-18 young men

Sean Incardona, 2nd in 1500 meters, 4:21.71; 5th in 800 meters, 2:07.94

  The Warriors will be competing at the AAU district qualifier in Charlotte next.

SR softball camp

South Rowan Lady Raider Softball Camp will be held on July 24-27 at the South softball field.

Camp is for grades 1-9 (rising). Camp is from 9 until noon daily.

Campers  will learn and improve  on the fundamentals of softball.

The camp will be led by South Rowan head coach Dean Mullinax along with   team members.

Cost is $75 and includes a T-shirt. Registration is due by July 1 to ensure campers their T-shirt.

For more information and a registration form please contact Mullinax at 704-273-0408 and/or mullinaxid@rss.k12.nc.us.

SR volleyball camp

A youth volleyball camp will be held in the South Rowan High gym on July 26-29. Register when you arrive. Cost is $40. Camp for grades 1-5 (rising) will be from 9-11 a.m. Camp for grades 6-9 (rising) will be from 2-5 p.m.

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There will be a  middle school clinic (grades 6-8) at the South Rowan YMCA on July 18 and July 20. Cost is $10 per day.