From staff reports

KANNAPOLIS — Michael Hickman’s ninth-inning double gave the Kannapolis Intimidators a season-opening, walk-off win over Lakewood, 4-3, here Thursday night.

Hickman’s hit into the gap scored Tate Blackman, who had led off the inning with a single. The score made a winner of relief pitcher Aron McRee, who fired a scoreless top of the ninth.

Kannapolis had tied the game at 3-3 in the seventh inning on a throwing error by the Blue Claws’ third baseman Jake Scheiner. Blackman scored on the play.

Blackman, who led the Intimidators with three hits, also tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth inning with a solo homer.

Kade McClure, Kannapolis’ starting pitcher, went seven innings, striking out 10 batters and allowing just four hits.

The two teams play again tonight (7:05) at Intimidators’ Stadium.

College golf

LOUDON, Tenn. —  Catawba took 10th at the Tennessee River Rumble Men’s Golf Tournament, shooting a 311 on Tuesday’s second round to post a 621 total for the two rounds. Lincoln Memorial hosted the event at the 7,119-yard, par-72 Tennessee National Golf Club.

Carson-Newman came from 11 shots off the lead to capture the title with a score of 602 after a 291 total on Tuesday. LMU took second, two shots back, with Wingate third on 606.

Trey Burton finished fourth for Catawba. He carded a 76 in the second round to finish at 149. Dan Bradbury, of LMU, took medalist honors as he shot a one-under 71 to finish at 146. He bested Hillsdale’s Liam Purslow and Jake Headrick, of Carson-Newman, by two shots.

Catawba tees it up at the SAC Championships on Sunday at the Cobbs Glen Golf Club in Anderson, S.C.

College tennis

SALISBURY  Lenoir-Rhyne held on to win both South Atlantic Conference tennis matches against host Catawba on Wednesday afternoon at the Johnson Tennis Center. The Bears won 5-4 on the men’s side and 6-3 in the women’s match. The LR men go to 12-6 overall and 3-4 in the SAC with the women standing at 9-7 and 2-5. The Catawba men are 5-9 and 2-6 with the women 4-11 and 0-8.

College baseball

Catawba starts a series at home tonight against Newberry at 6 p.m.

JV baseball

Cullen Davis and Jake Perez combined on a one-hitter as West Rowan beat Lake Norman, 1-0, on Thursday.

Prep softball

Action at Salisbury Community Park today will begin with a home run derby at 11:30 a.m.

Two fields are in use.

East Rowan-Mount Pleasant and Cox Mill-Central Cabarrus consolation games are scheduled for 1 p.m. Semifinals are West Rowan-South Rowan and Carson-Mooresville at 3 p.m. The seventh-place and fifth-place games will be played at 5 p.m., with the third-place and championship games scheduled for 7 p.m.

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West Rowan pitcher Hannah Roberts was taken to the emergency room during Thursday’s game with Mount Pleasant. She has a lower back sprain and muscle strain and will miss tournament action today.