From staff reports

All-Yadkin Valley Conference teams were announced on Thursday.

North Rowan’s All-YVC spring  performers are Spencer Everhart (golf), Hans Roemer (tennis), Brett Tucker (baseball) and Adrian Rudisell (boys track and field). The Honorable Mention YVC  lists include North’s Nia Perry (girls track and field), Jared Hensley (tennis) and McGwire Smith (baseball).

Golf player of the year for the YVC was South Stanly’s Kevin Burris. Coach of the year honors went to South Stanly’s Doug Smith.

Boys tennis player of the year was North Moore’s Israel Ramirez. Coach of the year for tennis was North Stanly’s Patty Goodman.

In softball, North Stanly’s Merris Talbert was player of the year and coach of the year. South Stanly’s David Poplin took coach of the year honors.

In YVC baseball, Uwharrie Charter’s Jonathan Weaver was player of the year, while North Stanly’s Rhett Lowder was pitcher of the year. North Stanly’s Will Davis was named coach of the year.

In girls soccer, Gray Stone’s Anna-Grace Sumner was player of the year. Gray Stone’s Scott Wolfe and North Moore’s Beth Luck tied for coach of the year.

West Montgomery’s Arabyan Lilly was named female track athlete of the year, while Gray Stone’s Jenna Robinson was field athlete of the year. Gray Stone’s Cameron Isenhour was named coach of the year.

Albemarle swept honors in boys track and field. Julius Smith was track athlete of the year. Antonio Burns was the field athlete of the year. Bernard Henry was named coach of the year.

Signings

High Point T.W. Andrews High announced that Jaylah McCoy  has signed with Pfeiffer and Rashaun Noble has signed with Catawba track and field.

American Legion

Rowan County was rained out yet again on Friday. That game at Concord (Mount Pleasant High) has been rescheduled for Sunday. Rowan is scheduled to host Concord at Newman Park tonight at 7 p.m. in a division game.

DCCC recruiting

Davidson County Community College’s basketball program announced the signing of 6-5 forward Romeo Jordan from St. Paul’s and 6-5 Sun Valley forward Anthony Brown.

SAC Hall

Catawba golfing great Nick Sabol was one of the inductees into the South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame on Thursday.

College softball

Pfeiffer shortstop Vada Blue Sherrill was named second team All-America by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Junior Legion

Carson won against East Rowan, 11-4, on Friday.

Tyler Thompson, Dylan Driver, Deacon Wike and Cole Hales did the pitching for Carson. Hales, Jake Harris and Cade Hudson had two hits. Hudson and Hunter Burris had two RBIs. Carson plays two today at West Rowan, starting at 4 p.m. West Rowan rolled against Salisbury, 14-4, on  Friday.

Prep softball

Alexander Central beat Cleveland, 2-0, in the first game of the 3A state championship series on Friday in Greensboro.

2A Baseball Championship: Ledford pounds Whiteville 10-0 in five innings

ZEBULON, NC – The Ledford Panthers jumped on Whiteville early, scraping out two runs in the first inning before they ripped off a 10-0 win in five innings over Whiteville in game one of the 2A Baseball State Championship.

The Panthers got a one out-walk from Chris Villaman in the top of the first, advancing to third on a double by Logan Whitaker. Noah Soles singled to right, plating the first run of the game by scoring Villaman and advancing Whitaker to third. Whitaker scored on an RBI ground out by Will Bethune to make it 2-0 after a half inning.

Ledford added four more in the second, stretching their lead to 6-0. The inning again started with a walk, as Avery Cain drew the one out-walk followed by a walk for Zack Weant. Weant was cut down at second for the second out of the inning as Cameron Mills reached on a fielder’s choice putting runners. Villaman doubled to score both runners, stretching the Panther lead to 4-0. Villaman scored on a single by Whitaker, and Whitaker later came around to score an error in left field.

The Panthers tacked on three more runs in the top of the third, pushing their lead to 9-0. The runs came after a single and a pair of walks loaded the bases with one out. Aydan Holt scored on a wild pitch before Eric Sidden scored on a squeeze bunt with the bases loaded by Mills. Then Weant came across for the third run of the inning with another wild pitch.

Ledford raised the lead to 10-0 with a run in the top of the fifth, with Mills scoring on a sacrifice fly by Villaman. Villaman was the star offensively for Ledford as he went 1 for 2 with 2 walks, 2 runs scored and 3 RBI’s.  He also threw the complete 5 innings, allowing only 2 hits while striking out 8 without issuing a walk.

Whiteville fell to 27-2 on the year and snapped a 26-game winning streak with the loss. Ledford pushed their record to 29-3, winning their ninth straight and need just one win to close out the 2A State Championship Series when it resumes tomorrow. Game two is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at Five County Stadium in Zebulon on Saturday.

Game 1 Final Box Score

GREENSBORO – In a pitcher’s duel, a defensive ruse took center stage and set up momentum, which Alexander Central rode to a 2-0 victory over Cleveland in game one of the NCHSAA 3A softball championship at UNC Greensboro on Friday night.

The win for the Cougars (27-5) sends them within one win of their first state title since 2014 and the program’s 10th overall. Alexander Central won its seventh game in a row and snapped a six-game winning streak for the Rams (20-4).

Game two of the series at UNC Greensboro is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. If necessary, game three would be at 5 p.m.

It figured the game would come down to a key moment as both pitchers held the opposition off the bases early. Alexander Central’s Chesney Millsaps faced one hitter over the minimum through four innings, though she had to work around quick moments of danger. The Rams had two lineouts in the first, but settled for a lone walk, which was stranded. Anna Kate Gilchrist had the first hit for either side with an infield hit in the fourth. However, a double play ensued and the mini-threat ended.

“They hit the ball hard a couple of times and we were able to get some outs in critical situations,” Cougars coach Darrell Adkins said. “That is what a pitcher needs is the defense playing aggressive behind them.”