From staff and wire reports
Rowan County beat Cary 4-3 in the Junior American Legion state tournament in Kinston on Friday.
Rowan got two key hits from Alex Litaker, and Litaker also worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning and earned a save.
Justin Morris was the winning pitcher.
n Wes Dunford’s four-hitter keyed Mooresville 7-3 victory over Cherryville on Friday.
Hunter Nanney had two hits for the Moors.
Mooresville and Rowan (25-4) square off today at 12:30 p.m. Both teams are 2-0 in the double-elimination tournament.
n Salisbury Palomino
Salisbury’s Palomino baseball team defeated Heritage High of Lynchburg, Va., 4-2 in pool play in the National Amateur Baseball Federation World Series on Friday.
Zach Burkhart hit a two-run homer for Salisbury (2-1), and Doug Seaman had an RBI double.
Travis Swain started on the mound and worked four innings. Forrest Buchanan pitched the last three innings.
“We played really well defensively,” Salisbury coach Scott Maddox said. “Most of the teams here have played in wood bat leagues all summer and that really makes a difference offensively, but we are managing to scratch out enough runs to win.”
n South football
South Rowan will be having its first day of football practice on Friday Aug. 1. Players are to report to the fieldhouse at 4:30 pm. All players are to have their physicals up to date. If there are any questions, call coach Jason Rollins at 704-762-0268.
n Ace at Crescent
Ed Lockhart recorded his third career ace at Crescent this summer.
Lockhart used an 8-iron on the 134-yard No. 8 hole.
n Minter to Europe
Appalachian State’s 6-foot-8 Donte Minter (West Rowan) has signed to play professional basketball with Sdent BBC Nyon in Nyon, Switzerland.
Minter averaged 12.8 points a game in two years in Boone, after transferring from Virginia.
n Hatchell extension
North Carolina’s board of trustees approved a contract extension for women’s basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell that signs her through the year 2015.
Her contract includes terms for a salary that starts at $310,000 per year and averages nearly $330,000 over the next seven years; an expense account of $30,000 for the first three years and $40,000 for the next four years; and supplemental income averaging more than $65,000 per year.n Charlotte ballpark
A judge has denied several motions to halt construction of a baseball stadium in downtown Charlotte, opening the way for the city’s minor-league team to move from the suburbs.
The Charlotte Observer reported Friday that Judge W. David Lee said the Mecklenburg Board of Commissioners acted within state law in making a deal with the Charlotte Knights to put a stadium on county land.
n Hatchell extension
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