From staff and wire reports
You can throw out the previous declaration from Area III officials that the league semifinals “must end on Saturday.”
A revised announcement was made on Thursday night to extend both series through Sunday ó if necessary.
It is a common-sense ruling, since South Rowan and Randolph County have only managed to play three of their games so far.
Both teams were losers to weather issues on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
South Rowan (21-16) trails Randolph County 3-0 in a best-of-seven series, but if South stays alive in Game 4 at home tonight, it would play Game 5 at McCrary Park in Asheboro Saturday.
Should the series go past Saturday, plans would be made to play two games, if necessary, on Sunday.
South lost a seven-game semifinal series to Randolph (31-8) last season.
“We’re up 3-0, but we’re not taking anything for granted,” Randolph coach Ronnie Pugh said. “We got a taste last year of what South can do.”
South coach David Wright said lefty Cameron Park (5-1) would likely return to the mound tonight.
Park pitched four innings in Wednesday’s controversial “halted game” that was restarted from scratch on Thursday to the dismay of South fans.
Wright said Park only threw about 40 pitches and should be good to go.
Walker Snow and Ryan Bostian are other potential pitching options for South.
Rowan (28-11) and Burlington-Graham (27-7) have played five games, and Burlington leads the series 3-2, with Game 6 scheduled for Newman Park tonight.
If weather creates problems in Game 6 or a possible Game 7, a Sunday game at Burlington is now an option.
– Salisbury Palomino
Salisbury won its opening game in the National Amateur Baseball Federation World Series by beating Troy American Legion out of Athens, Ohio, 2-1.
Troy scored first in the fourth inning.
Doug Seaman’s triple and Dakota Brown’s single tied the game in the fifth, and a walk, groundout and Frankie Johnson’s squeeze scored Brown with the deciding run.
“This is how baseball is supposed to be played,” Salisbury coach Scott Maddox said. “Two good pitchers, good defense and strategy. I thought Doug did a great job at the plate and Jacob Vernon did a good job behind the plate.
Bradon Wyrick went all seven innings to pick up the win for Salisbury.
In its second game in the World Series, Salisbury lost 6-2 to the Long Island Astros.
“Their pitcher just stuck it to us,” Maddox said. “He had good pop on his fastball and just a nasty curveball he could throw in any count. They pieced together four hits and we helped them with a couple of walks. That put them up 5-0 in the first inning.”
Zach Burkhart and Kyle Brandenburg were the offensive leaders for Salisbury.
Salisbury plays Heritage out of Lynchburg, Va., today at 1 p.m. and would play again tonight if it beats Heritage.
– Junior Legion
Rowan County’s Junior Legion team will play Cary today at 4:30 in the state tournament held today in Kinston.
Rowan (24-4) beat West Brunswick 11-9 in its opener on Wednesday.
Cary beat Pineville 2-1 on Thursday, running its record to 45-7.
Mooresville scored three runs in the sixth inning to beat Kinston 4-1.
Chris Bonaventure was the winning pitcher for the Moors. Billy Nantz hit a two-run homer.
Also on Thursday, Cherryville beat Rocky Mount 7-6.
– Blankenbeker second
Local golfer Chad Blankenbeker finished second and won a silver medal the 14-under age group in the AAU National Championships held in Kingsport, Tenn.
Blakenbeker shot round of 73-74 ó 147 on a 6,215-yard layout and finished three shots off the pace.
– Morgan offers lessons
Former Radford pitcher and current Salisbury High pitching coach Justin Morgan is offering lessons to players ages 9-18 at a rate of $25 per hour.
Both indoor and outdoor facilities are available for use.
If interested, contact Coach Morgan at 276-219-2811 and leave a message to set up an appointment.
– Kannapolis hoops camp
A.L. Brown basketball camp will be held July 28-31.
Camp runs from 9-1 each day at Kannapolis Middle School.
Cost is $55 for each week.
Contact A.L. Brown coach Shelwyn Klutz at (704) 933-5241.
– Ex-Davie star to coach
Former Davie County and Catawba softball player Shannon Handy Wood will coach at Ellis Middle School in Davie this year.
Wood holds Davie pitching records with 40 wins and 341 strikeouts.
– Hall to DCCC
Davie County graduate Darius Hall will play basketball for Davidson Community College.
The 6-foot-5 Hall averaged 11.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.8 blocks for coach Mike Absher as a senior.
– East Meck forfeits
The Associated Press reported East Mecklenburg High School’s football team must forfeit its 2007 season after an investigation found that a volunteer coach at the school was involved in recruiting three players.
The Charlotte Observer reported Thursday that three East Mecklenburg employees also were disciplined, including head varsity football coach Greg Hill, who has been suspended from team-related duties until Sept. 2.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials said the three players involved have been declared ineligible, and the volunteer has been removed from all coaching duties and can no longer assist with any athletic programs in the system.
In addition to forfeiting its season, East Mecklenburg must pay $7,038 in fines and repayment of gate receipts. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association also has placed the football program on probation for one year.
– Kenan expansion
Trustees at the University of North Carolina have approved plans for a first step to expand Kenan Stadium.
Athletic director Dick Baddour says the design approved Wednesday will add two floors to the Kenan Football Center on the west end of the field.
One floor will be used for team and recruiting efforts, the second for luxury suites.
Baddour says the expansion will add a club area and 16 to 20 luxury boxes, the first for Kenan.
Baddour says only North Carolina and Duke among Atlantic Coast Conference schools don’t offer premium seating.
The News & Observer or Raleigh reported Thursday officials plan to start work at the end of the 2008 season and finish it by the beginning of the 2009 season.
A school official says the first phase is expected to cost $50 million.
– Wildcats get new coach
Karen Poulin has been named Lake Norman’s new volleyball coach.
Poulin has been the coach at Catawba Valley Community College.
The Statesville Record and Landmark also reported Poulin coaches the Race City Volleyball Club.
Lake Norman was third in the NPC last season with a 16-9 record.
– King to Alabama
Lake Norman soccer’s Tia King has committed to Alabama.
– Pfeiffer hoops camp
Pfeiffer Falcon Basketball camp will be held Aug. 5-8 and still has openings.
The camp is for girls and boys ages 6-17 and is designed for fun and fundamentals.
The cost is $125 and includes lunch each day, swimming in the Pfeiffer pool, and a camp T-shirt.
Download a brochure from falconsports.com, or e-mail dave.davis@pfeiffer.edu or call 704-463-3238.
– China Grove softball
The China Grove Youth Baseball League is offering girls softball this fall for the first time.
The league is open to girls ages 6-13.If you are interested in participating in the program, go to Dale’s Sporting Goods in China Grove and pick up a registration form.
The price is $45.
Registrations will be accepted through Aug. 15.
Contact James Solomon at 704 857-1439 or e-mail ymcanewhouse@yahoo.com.
– West baseball camp
West Rowan baseball coach David Wright will conduct a defense camp on July 28-Aug. 1 for ages 9-14.
The camp costs $110 and is limited to 15 players.
Contact Wright at 704-278-9233 .