From staff reports

Cameron Padgett (East Rowan, UNC) is off to a good start with the Bourne Braves in the Cape Cod Baseball League.

In his first two games, one relief effort and one start, Padgett pitched six innings, allowing one run. He struck out seven and walked one.

Padgett, a rising junior at UNC, had a strong relief outing against national champ Tennessee in the College World Series. He pitched in 17 games for the Tar Heels as a sophomore.

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Kane Kepley (South Rowan, Liberty) continues to defend and score runs at a high level in the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Kepley’s .279 batting average isn’t overwhelming, but his on-base percentage is. 483. He’s walked 21 times in 19 games and also has 17 hits. He’s stolen 12 bases and scored 19 runs. He’s hit one home run while playing errorless defense. He’s played some in left, right and center field.

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Chance Mako (East Rowan, Coastal Carolina) has pitched in four games in the Cape Cod Baseball League and has a 1-0 record. Mako has walked eight in seven innings, but he’s only two hits and two runs.

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Haiden Leffew (South Rowan, Wake Forest) has pitched in four games in the CCBL, with three starts. Leffew is 1-2 with 15 strikeouts and eight walks in 14 1/3 innings.

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In the Coastal Plain League, Dylan Driver (Carson, Catawba) has joined the Asheboro Zookeepers.

Driver was 5-for-13 with four RBIs in his first three games. Driver recently won his second straight Gold Glove Award for Division II outfielders. He plays right field for Catawba.

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Nathan Chrismon (South Rowan, East Carolina) is batting .339 with a .468 on-base percentage for the High-Point Thomasville team in the CPL. Chrismon has four homers, 14 walks and 19 RBIs in 17 games.

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Cole Hales (Carson, Catawba) is a two-way player for Waynesboro (Va.) Generals in the Valley League.

Hales has struck out 15, while walking five, in 17 innings on the mound.

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Ryan Street (Carson, Catawba) pitched in relief for Waynesboro, his first official game on the mound since Tommy John Surgery.

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In the Southern Collegiate Baseball League, JD James (South Rowan, Caldwell Community College) is batting .333 with two homers and nine RBIs for the Statesville Owls.

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Steven Smith (West Rowan, Emory & Henry) is batting .316 with two homers and 14 RBIs for the Statesville Owls.

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Bryson Bebber (South Rowan, St. Andrews) plays for the Uwharrie Wampus Cats in the SCBL and is batting .310 with two homers and 19 RBIs.

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JT Taylor, who starred for the Rowan County American Legion team in the summer of 2023, had hoped to play for Elizabethton team in the Appy League, but is still feeling some discomfort in his wrist after surgery. He was shut down after four at-bats. The young infielder should be ready to go for North Carolina A&T next school year. He was starting at second base as a freshman when an injury stopped his season after six games.