From staff reports

Catawba’s baseball team opened the season with an 8-5 loss at Nova Southeastern on Thursday.

Nova Southeastern hurler Devin Conn, a transfer from Middle Tennessee, dominated Catawba hitters for seven innings. He allowed five hits and struck out 13. He exited after seven scoreless innings.

Catawba got all five of its runs in the eighth against the Sharks’ bullpen.

Catawba had 10 hits, including two each by Kyle Smith, Hunter Shepherd and freshman Joe Butts.

Catawba used seven pitchers. Starter Riley Myers, making a comeback after missing last season with   a  back injury, was knocked out in the fourth and took the loss.

The key blow for Southeastern was a Brendan Cutting’s three-run homer with two men out in the second inning for a 4-0 lead.

Prep wrestling

Davie lost to West Forsyth, 32-30, in a 4A quarterfinal on Thursday.

Northwest Guilford won against Lake Norman, 37-21.

West Forsyth won against Northwest Guilford, 39-27, for the regional championship and battles Cary for the state title on Saturday.

Prep basketball

Lots of action tonight.

Salisbury’s girls have a big one at East Davidson. The Hornets are expected to be at full strength. Tacorra Robinson and Maria Capito, two starters, were written up by officials as DQs, not ejections, following Tuesday’s game with Ledford, so they won’t have to sit out any games.

East Davidson standout Brooke Jones will miss tonight’s game, the second of a four-game ejection for fighting in the Central Davidson game on Tuesday.

East Rowan is home against South Iredell. South Rowan is home against Lexington. West Rowan is home against North Iredell, where an important NPC girls game is on  the menu. Carson is at Statesville, where two interesting games could take place.  North Rowan is at Gray Stone. A.L. Brown hosts Northwest Cabarrus. Davie hosts Glenn.

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East Rowan’s Hollie Harrison made things official with Guilford on Thursday. A story is upcoming.

Middle schools

Knox’s boys won against Southeast, 60-35. Juke Harris scored 12, Da’Shawn Brown had 11,   Bryson Cowan scored 10, Jalen Chunn had eight, Sam Simmerson scored six, and Tyreze Miller added five for the Trojans.

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Erwin’s girls won against China Grove, 43-16.

  Erwin was led by Peyton Whicker with 17 points and Hannah Waddell with 10.  China Grove was led by Kassidy Sechler with seven points.

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Knox’s boys also posted a 52-37 win against Southeast.  Harris scored 14.  Christopher Toomer Jr. scored 11. Brown scored six for the Trojans, and Miller had five.

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Erwin’s girls defeated West Rowan 33-31 in overtime. Erwin was led by Lindsey Cook and Icesis Nwafor with 10 points each.

Jayvee girls

Carson won against West Rowan on Wednesday, 42-25. Krystal Sanns scored eight for the Cougars, and Tate Barger scored seven. Defensive standouts for Carson were Jaden Vaughn and Victoria Post. Amoni Bryant led the Falcons with 13 points.

College cross country

Catawba’s Hannah Mercer is the SAC female indoor track athlete of the week.