From staff reports

UNC sophomore Ike Freeman (East Rowan) went 2-for-3 on Saturday and helped the Tar Heels win at Miami, 9-6.

Freeman is batting .297 with 18 RBIs.

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Matt Honeycutt (South Rowan) continued his hot hitting for Mars Hill on Friday. He had three hits, including his 12th homer, as the Lions beat Carson-Newman, 8-5.

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Catawba is scheduled to play two SAC home games today against Newberry, starting at 2 p.m.

Rowan Bulls

The Rowan Bulls basketball team fell to 0-6 with a recent loss at Hampton Roads, 123-121.

Avery Patterson (A.L. Brown, St. John’s) continues to lead the Bulls. He scored 26 at Hampton Roads.

Junior Hairston (West Rowan, Towson) scored 23, player/owner Stephen  Heggins (South Rowan, Brevard) had 19, and Tristan Rankin (North Rowan, St. Paul’s) scored 15.

The next game for the Bulls will be against the Hickory Hoyas (5-1) on Saturday, April 14, at 7 p.m. Home games are played at Hall Gym.

College football

Catawba’s anual Blue-White Spring Game is set for Saturday, April 14, at 10 a.m.

College golf

UNC Greensboro is among the teams competing in the Irish Creek Intercollegiate tournament that is being co-hosted by Davidson and Charlotte.

UNC Greensboro freshman Nick Lyerly (East Rowan) has turned in rounds of even-par 71 and 76 and is tied for 27th.

The 15-team and 88-individual field features four teams ranked in the top 35.

Clemson sits atop the leaderboard at 3-under.

Minor leagues

The Kannapolis Intimidators (1-1) were washed out on Saturday.

Kannapolis will play a home doubleheader today against Lakewood, starting at 1:35 p.m.

Kannnapolis welcomes Asheville for a series that starts on Monday night.

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Jerry Sands (Catawba) homered for Richmond on Saturday.

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Craig Brooks (Catawba) was briefly on the Triple-A roster with the Iowa Cubs but is now  with Double-A Tennessee. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning to close a game on Saturday, but it wasn’t a save situation.

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Two of last year’s Catawba stars are still in Extended Spring Training.

Pitcher Bryan Blanton (Yankees) and catcher Zac Almond (Diamondbacks) could get a chance with one of the full-season minor league clubs this spring or they may be activated when the short-season leagues begin shortly after the  draft in early June.

Colton Laws (Carson, Charlotte) is still in Extendeded Spring Training, as well. He’s a Blue Jays prospect.

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Former Mets closer Bobby Parnell (East Rowan) is still listed as a free agent.

Prep sports

A regular schedule resumes on on Monday. Salisbury baseball will play at West Rowan.  Salisbury also plays a huge soccer match vs. West Davidson.

College track

UNC Pembroke’s  Matthew Martin and Jonathan Martin (Carson) competed in the Colonial Relays in Williamsburg, Va., and had personal bests.

Jonathan ran 31:27 in the 10K, beating his previous record by 55 seconds.

Matthew ran 14:55 in the 5K and trimmed  18 seconds off  his previous best.

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Two former East Rowan sprinters are doing well at Western Carolina.

In the Terrier Relays, Josh Little placed sixth in the 100 in 10.96 seconds. Devaniel Dale ran 21.94 for 11th in the 200 and 11.12 for 14th in the 100.

Local golf

Bud Howard, 87 years young, made a hole-in-one on Friday at McCanless.

Howard hit his perfect shot on No. 12. The 115-yard hole has a two-tiered green and the pin was on the upper tier.

Howard has been playing close to 50 years. This was his first ace.

Jeff Howard and Mickey Landreth witnessed the feat.

YMCA Nationals

Salisbury senior swimmer Ethan Knorr was 4-for-4 as far as qualifying for the finals in all of his events.

Knorr swam 1:53.12 in the 200 IM Friday and qualified for the final in the mile swim on Saturday.