From staff reports

MARS HILL — Jackson Raper’s three-run homer in the ninth inning capped a terrific Catawba baseball rally in Game 1 on Monday. Then the Indians built a huge lead and held off Mars Hill in the second game to sweep a doubleheader.

Catawba (16-16, 11-4) took the South Atlantic Conference games at Henderson Field by scores of 9-6 and 14-7.

Catawba trailed 6-4 going to the top of the ninth in Game 1, but tied it on Jacob Nester’s RBI single and Cam Morrison’s sac fly before Raper went deep to break the deadlock.

Morrison had a two-run double earlier in the contest, while Heath Mitchem (Carson) homered.

Mars Hill (7-20, 3-12) got two solo bombs from catcher Matt Honeycutt (South Rowan).

D.J. Laxton won with strong innings of relief. Hunter Shepherd pitched the bottom of the ninth for a save.

• In the second game, freshman Joe Butts had three hits and five RBIs to lead the Indians. Mitchem had three hits. Kyle Smith, Luke Setzer (East Rowan), Raper, Lee Poteat (West Rowan) and Morrison had two hits each.

Catawba led 11-0 at one point, but the Lions battled back as close as 11-7. Honeycutt hit his third homer of the day for the Lions.

Michael Elwell was the starter and winner. He pitched into the sixth.

Catawba plays at Barton today at 2 p.m.

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UNC Pembroke freshman Chandler Blackwelder (East Rowan) has an ailing shoulder. This probably will be a redshirt year for him.

• Pitt Community College freshman John Owen (East Rowan) is 2-0 with 31 strikeouts in 28 innings.

• Guilford senior catcher Michael Pinkston (West Rowan) had three hits in a recent win against Tufts and he went 2-for-3 in a loss to Virginia Wesleyan.

Catawba softball

SALISBURY — Catawba’s softball team swept a doubleheader from Mars Hill at Whitley Field, taking SAC games on Monday by scores of 4-3 and 7-0.

Catawba (16-15, 4-2) got a two-run double and a run-scoring single from Delane Smith  in the first game. Taylor Martin (West Rowan) broke a 3-all tie in the sixth with a run-scoring single. Brooke Walser was the winning pitcher in relief.

Preston Ellenburg shut out the Lions (10-10, 1-5) in the second game. Sierrah McCarthy had a two-run triple and Smith belted a three-run homer.

Catawba hosts Queens in a doubleheader today at 2 p.m.

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Hunter Gibbons (West Rowan) hit a two-run homer for Western Carolina in a 6-4 win against N.C. Central.

Catawba football

Catawba’s recent spring scrimmage began with a coming out series from the 5-yard-line.

The defense held the offense to a pair of three-and-outs before Reid Carlton produced a first down on a pass to  tight end Jourdan Osinskie.

Highlights of the drive series saw Greene post a 17-yard run, while Bynum added a 10-yard run for a first down on a fourth-down play. Avent had first-down tosses to Zac Waters and Dre Dunbar.

On defense, Jalen Hester had a pair of stops for losses, while Brenden Westbrook (Carson) had a tackle for loss and a sack.

Robert Chery added a sack, while Julian Williams made a stop for a loss.

Catawba is scheduled for a half scrimmage on Wednesday and a full scrimmage on April 7.

College golf

Catawba holds the eighth spot after the first two rounds of the Sunoco Campbell Oil Women’s Golf Tournament on Monday.

UNC Pembroke is hosting the three-round event at the 5,812-yard, par-72 River Landing Golf Club.

The Catawba Indians posted a 659 score. Lenoir-Rhyne leads at 621.

UNC Pembroke’s Alexandria Bare (South Rowan) has shot 76-78 — 154.

Kaley Barts led Catawba with two rounds of 80.

College basketball

Monifa Angle (Salisbury) is playing for the Piedmont International women’s program.

College track

UNC Pembroke’s Martin twins from Carson (Matthew and Jonathan) finished in the top five in Mount Olive’s Trojan Challenge with personal bests in the 10K.

Matthew was fourth in 32:20, while Jonathan was fifth in 32:22.

College tennis

N.C. State’s Michael Ogden (Salisbury) was part of a winning doubles team for the Wolfpack in Sunday’s 4-3 loss to Miami.

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Margaret Correll (Carson) won at No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles for Brevard in Saturday’s match against Wesleyan College.   

Prep soccer

OLIN — Carson opened North Piedmont Conference play with a 4-2 win against North Iredell.

Hannah Smith scored two goals for the Cougars (5-2, 1-0). Sarah Musselwhite and freshman Emelyn Soto had a goal each.

Carson has won five straight.

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West Rowan won against East Rowan, 2-0, in NPC action on Tuesday, with Ryley Corriher getting the shutout in goal.

It was scoreless at halftime.

  Stacey Ketchie scored with less than 18 minutes left to play to break the tie.

Mackenna Clifton scored the second goal.

West Rowan plays South  Iredell on Wednesday.

Mid. school soccer

  Erwin defeated West Rowan, 9-0.

McKenzie Misenheimer scored three goals. Leah Hinceman and Alix Vazquez  scored two goals.

Hannah Isley and Riley Isley scored a goal each. Mary Spry had the shutout.

Prep basketball

West Rowan’s Caleb Mauldin scored 10 points for North Carolina in a 123-108 win against South Carolina in the Carolinas All-Star Classic in Wilmington on Saturday night.

North Carolina 123, South Carolina 108

SC: Jermaine Patterson 32, Shelton Brown 5, Kevin Williamson 11, Robert Braswell 11, Bradley Childers 4, Alex Caldwell 8, Isaih Moore 10, Jimmy Nichols 11, Shaq Davis 12, Winston Hill 4.

NC: Isaiah Bigelow 7, Kenny Dye 5, Dravon Mangum 16, Jarren McAllister 9, Andy Pack 8, Jamarius Burton 2, Hunter Tyson 14, Adrian Delph 26, Jayden Gardner 26, Caleb Mauldin 10

Prep volleyball

High Rock Volleyball’s Team United took first place in the Carolina Region championships.

Katie Blackwell (Carson), Keah Green (Robinson) and Baleigh Hill (East Rowan) were selected for the all-tournament team. Ashley Johnson (West Davidson) was the tournament MVP.

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West Rowan’s Mady Myers signed with William Peace on Friday.

A story is upcoming.

Prep tennis

North Rowan won the first match of a doubleheader against Albemarle on Monday.  Hans Roemer, Jared Hensley, Garrett Jennings and Terrence Settlemeyer were singles winners for the Cavaliers.

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Salisbury stayed undefeated  (11-0)with a 6-3 Central Carolina Conference win against Lexington on Monday.

Roarke Burton won at No. 2 singles for the Hornets. Jander Rodas-Palacios won at No.3. Adam Drye won at No.4, and Sean Archer won on a tiebreaker at No.5.

Drye/Burton won at No.1 doubles, with Rodas-Palacios/ Juan Salazar winning at No. 3.

Prep golf

WINSTON-SALEM —  Salisbury won a Central Carolina Conference match on Monday by shooting 166 at Wilshire.

Medalist Will Fowler shot 37 to lead the Hornets. Alex Antosek shot 38, Hank Robins carded a 41, and Harrison Parrott shot 50.

Andrew Coward shot 41 to lead South Rowan.

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SALISBURY — East Rowan shot 156 and won Monday’s North Piedmont Conference match at  the Revival at Crescent by four shots over South Iredell.

Medalist Bryson Sprinkle shot 37 to lead the Mustangs. William Garland shot 38, Austin Miller shot 39, and Colby Patterson finished at 42.

Davis Tadlock and Jake Carlton shot 42s for West Rowan. Zain Tucker and Ethan Scarborough shot 44s to lead Carson.

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The Cannon School golf team competed in the Carolinas Invitational in Aiken, S.C. The tournament was three rounds, with 24 teams and 117 players competing.

Cannon shot 289-294- 303 and won by 43 shots. Cannon had three players in the top seven and four players in the top 10. The team was awarded blue jackets after winning the event for the third time in four years.

Michael Childress of Salisbury shot 74-74-75 for seventh place.

Prep softball

MOCKSVILLE — Sierra Ferguson’s two-run homer led Davie County to a 2-0 non-conference win against Ledford on Monday.

River Simpson and Rachel Bostic combined on the shutout for the War Eagles (5-5).

Prep track

Josh Parks won three events (400, high jump, triple jump) and led A.L. Brown’s boys to a win in a home meet with SPC foes Central Cabarrus, Cox Mill and Robinson.

Jalen Neal won the 100 and 200 for the Wonders, while Brandon Hernandez took the 1600 and 3200.

The Wonders were strong in the relays, winning the 4×100, 4×200 and 4×400. Nick Lyerly won the triple jump.

A.L. Brown’s girls got wins from Akeena Maxwell in the 100 and 200 and Ajianna Britt in the discus and shot put. The Wonders also won the 4×100.

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Salisbury’s boys and South Rowan’s girls won a tri-meet that also included Thomasville.

Salisbury’s boys won the 4×100 and 4×200.

Kemuel Sloan won all three jumps.

Christian Morgan won the 110 and 300 hurdles. Keegan Dillon won the 800. Trell Baker won the 100. Tryone Johnson won the 200. Gabriel Clark won the shot.

South Rowan’s boys won the 4×400 and 4×800. Noah Julian won the 1600 and 3200.

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South Rowan’s girls got wins from Madison Lowery  in the 800, 1600 and 3200,

Tazah Hardin won the 100 and 200.

Janiya Downs won the high jump and long jump. Taylor Chapman won the 100 hurdles. Peyton Sherrill won the triple jump.

Salisbury’s Lexie May won the discus. Ma’chte Damon won the shot put.