The scouting report on Catawba center fielder Blake Houston always has been that he’s more likely to hit an inside-the-park homer than to hit one over a fence.
The speedy leadoff man didn’t hit a homer in 168 at-bats as a Catawba freshman and didn’t hit one last year in 133 official at-bats.
He hadn’t hit one this year either until Friday, when he suddenly unloaded two longballs to lead Catawba to a 10-4 SAC win at Wingate.
Houston hit a solo homer in the second inning at Christopher Stadium and that proved inspirational to the former South Rowan star. He hit a grand slam in the third.
Julio Zubillaga (Carson) and Ethan Satterfield also homered for the Indians (19-11, 13-5).
Catawba has won 10 straight games.
Craig Brooks (7-2) was the winning pitcher, and Michael Trombino pitched well the last two innings.
Paul Kronenfeld and Cameron Beard had two hits each.
• Catawba athletics made lots of schedule changes on Friday. Tennis and softball were pushed back from today to Sunday.
Cassie Howard scored both goals as Carson won 2-1 against Hickory Ridge in SPC soccer on Friday.
The Cougars (7-0, 6-0 SPC) stayed unbeaten.
• West Rowan lost to Cox Mill 7-0 in SPC soccer on Friday. Cox Mill also stayed unbeaten in the SPC.
Salisbury fell behind early and lost 8-4 at East Davidson in CCC play on Friday.
East Davidson used six hits, two walks and a pair of HBPs in the first two innings to jump out to a 7-0 lead against Ryan Jones.
Will Steinman had a double and drove in two runs for the Hornets (1-8, 0-2). Clay Swaim knocked in a run.
East Davidson had eight hits. Salisbury had four.
ED pitchers struck out five Hornets, and the Golden Eagles played flawless defense behind Ryan McIntyre, who had a no-hitter through five innings.
Nathan Campbell homered and drove in four runs for the Golden Eagles (5-3, 2-0). McIntyre drove in two runs.
Salisbury played without Riley Myers who is out with a lower back strain.
Salisbury entertains North Forsyth on Monday at 6 p.m. at Salisbury before traveling to Lexington on Tuesday night for a CCC contest.
At E. Davidson
Salisbury 000 000 4 — 4
E. Davidson 340 001 0 — 8
WP — McIntyre (1-2). LP — Jones (0-3). HR — Campbell.

Prep softball
Carson lost 15-2 to Central Cabarrus in SPC softball played on Friday.
Michaela White went 3-for-4 for the Cougars. Morgan Peninger had two hits. Kayln Ellenburg had a double.
• A.L. Brown rolled 12-3 against Hopewell in MECKA play on Friday and is 9-2 overall and 5-1 in the league.
The West Rowan athletics department is still looking for golfers for the fundraising tournament on Saturday, May 31. The cost is $40 per golfer or $160 per team. Find yourself a foursome and sign up. Contact coach Chad Parker for a registration form.
• In the Carolina Golf Association’s Senior Four-Ball Golf Tournament in West End, Mount Ulla’s Ken Reid and partner Ron Clarke shot 72 for second place in the gross division.
• In the eGolf Tour’s Cowans Ford Open in Stanley, Will Collins shot 72-71-73 — 216 and finished 10 shots off the pace. He tied for 14th and won $1,900.
Frank Adams III shot 70-74-73 — 217, tied for 17th and won $1,700.
Johnny Kyger shot 71-75-75 — 221, tied for 29th and won $1,080.
West Rowan won 8-1 against Corriher-Lipe.
Scott Cline struck out eight in four innings for the Yellow Jackets. Brandon Goodman pitched three scoreless innings.
• In Corriher-Lipe’s 5-1 win against China Grove, Anthony Fox pitched a complete game for the Jackets, struck out 12 and went 2-for-3 at the plate. Goodman went 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Garrett Harrington went 2-for-3. Cline went 3-for-4 and stole four bases.
• Middle school results in all spring ports can be reported by coaches by email at sports@salisburypost.com. As always, scores as well as individual standouts will be published if received.
In baseball and softball, good pitching efforts, home runs, game-winning hits, multiple hits and multiple RBIs will be published if space permits.