From staff reports

KANNAPOLIS  — The Kannapolis Intimidators won the first half of the South Atlantic League race  and clinched a berth in the SAL playoffs.

Micker Adolfo and Seby Zavala homered to power the Intimidators to a 5-3 win over the West Virginia Power on Sunday afternoon at Intimidators Stadium.

Kannapolis (39-29) edged  the Lakewood BlueClaws (40-30)  by virtue of a better winning percentage.

Under first-year manager Justin Jirschele, Kannapolis rebounded from a 1-7 start to capture its first postseason berth since 2009, the third since the organization affiliated with the Chicago White Sox prior to the 2001 season.

North Hills soccer

North Hills Christian School hired veteran  coach Andy Brannigan as its first director of soccer and assistant AD.

Brannigan will take the helm of the North Hills varsity boys and girls soccer teams.

The former Catawba College assistant men’s soccer coach will also oversee the direction of the middle school and elementary programs to ensure and enhance player development from kindergarten through 12th grade.

“I am excited to have Coach Brannigan join the North Hills staff to help develop and grow our soccer program,” said North Hills AD David McDowell. “The unique opportunity of this position will allow our students to begin training at the elementary level and seamlessly transition through middle and high school under a collaborative system. Coach Brannigan’s experience at all levels will prove invaluable as we enhance our program.”

Brannigan, who’s served as Catawba College’s assistant men’s soccer coach since 2014, brings nearly 25 years of coaching experience on the college, club and high school levels.

In addition to his work with Catawba’s men’s soccer team, Brannigan has also been the director of coaching for the Catawba Soccer Youth Academy.

Local golf

McCanless Couples:

The Fathers Day Special was won by Walt Kincaid and first time participants Kelly Howard and Shannon Lee.   The team of Azalee Story, David Huneycutt and Mary Seaford took second.   

Huneycutt had the longest putt.

Kelly Howard was unusually close to the pin, when he holed a 144-yard, 3-inch shot with a 9-iron.

Kincaid and Lee were witnesses.

Cabarrus Stallions

The Greater Cabarrus Stallions baseball program announced three signings.

Seth Cauble will play at Belmont Abbey, while A.J. Knight and Camron Wallace are headed to Montreat.

College baseball

OMAHA, Neb.  —   Alex Faedo  limited TCU to two singles and struck out 11 in seven innings Sunday night, and Florida posted its first College World Series shutout since 1991 with a 3-0 win.

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Louisville built an early five-run lead, and the Cardinals went on to an 8-4 victory on Sunday against Texas A&M.

The Tigers’ first-round draft pick this month had at least one strikeout each inning and retired 10 in a row before turning the game over to closer Michael Byrne to start the eighth.

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Junior Legion

East Rowan scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh and rallied to beat Carson on Sunday, 4-3, in a league game.

The game featured a pitching duel between East’s Jake Hunter and Carson’s Cole Hales.

Jake Davis pitched the seventh for East and got the win. Matthew Mathis delivered the game-winning hit.

Legion softball

Rowan County is scheduled to host Stanly County in a makeup doubleheader at Carson tonight— weather permitting.

Rowan split at Randolph County on Thursday.

Cabarrus County opened with a sweep of Montgomery County.