From staff reports

Rowan Little League’s 12U softball team returns to World Series action in Portland, Ore. today.

Rowan’ second pool play game will be against Italy at 1 p.m. EST.

Italy is representing the Europe/Africa Region.

Rowan won 7-0 against Louisiana in its first tournament outing on Wednesday.

Rowan plays host Oregon at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and takes on Canada at 7 p.m. on Sunday to complete pool play.

Four teams will advance from each of two five-team pools to Monday’s nationally televised quarterfinals.

In a late game on Wednesday night, Western champion Hawaii thrashed Central champ Iowa 11-1.

In pool games on Thursday, Louisiana clobbered Canada 17-4; Hawaii beat Pennsylvania 7-5 to move to 2-0, and Oregon, also 2-0,  routed Italy 12-4.

Mexico, playing its first game in the tournament, took on Philippines in a late game on Thursday night.

Legion baseball

Wilmington and Randolph County absorbed their first losses in the Mid-Alantic Regional on Thursday in Asheboro.

Wilmington Post 10 lost 9-4 to West Virginia.

West Virginia scored five runs in the sixth to break open a tight game.

Max Hildreth had three hits for Wilmington, which plays today at 12:30 p.m. against New Jersey in an elimination game.

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Host Randolph County Post 45 lost 6-2 to Virginia.

Spencer Lanier had three hits for Randolph.

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In games on Thursday, Delaware eliminated Maryland 10-5, while New Jersey knocked out New York with a 9-3 victory.

Randolph County plays Delaware in an elimination game today at 4:30 p.m.

West Virginia takes on Virginia at 7:30 p.m. in a battle of the two teams that are 2-0 in the event.

Local golf

The U.S. Amateur Championship will be played on Pinehurst No. 2 and No. 4 from Aug. 12-16.

Nick Lyerly (East Rowan, UNC Greensboro) has a 2:03 tee time on No. 2 for the first round.

Intimidators

SALISBURY, Md.  — Ian Dawkins doubled and singled twice, and Sam Long allowed just two hits over 5 1/3 innings as the Kannapolis Intimidators defeated the Delmarva Shorebirds 2-1 on Thursday.

Long (6-4) picked up the win after he struck out seven and walked two while allowing one run.

Kannapolis started the scoring in the first inning when Dawkins scored on a wild pitch and Lenyn Sosa scored on a single.

The Shorebirds cut into the deficit in the sixth inning when JC Encarnacion scored on a passed ball.

Nick Vespi (7-6) went two innings, allowing two runs and five hits while striking out two in the South Atlantic League game.

Encarnacion singled twice, also stealing a base for the Shorebirds.

Despite the loss, Delmarva is 11-3 against Kannapolis this season.

College baseball

  GREENSBORO — UNC Greensboro announced on Thursday that Billy Godwin has been hired as baseball head coach.

Godwin has spent the past five years with the New York Yankees, overseeing all amateur scouting in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Prior to his time with the Yankees, Godwin was the head baseball coach at East Carolina from 2005-14.

“Billy Godwin cares about student-athletes as people and as baseball players.  His North Carolina ties, NCAA success and MLB experience provides our team with the tools to build on an already strong baseball foundation,” said Director of Athletics Kim Record. “Beyond the diamond, he seeks excellence in academic success and service.  We are confident that our baseball team will consistently compete for championships under Billy’s leadership.”

“I am honored to be the head baseball coach at UNCG,” Godwin said. “I look forward to building on the success that Coach Jarrett and the program has established. We plan on competing for championships in the classroom, community and on the field.  This is an exciting time for Spartan baseball.”