From staff reports
The West Rowan Middle School softball team won their conference tournament by beating Mooresville, 3-0, in the final. Fans were treated to a highly skilled battle between two outstanding clubs.
West Rowan received excellent pitching from Taylor Walton, who sprained her ankle the day before in a semifinal victory over Erwin and battled pain all day.
Walton pitched her way out of a bases-loaded, no-outs situation to keep Mooresville scoreless.
The offense for the Bulldogs was ignited by key hits and bunts by Emily Wilhelm, Kenadi Sproul, Allie Burns and Allison Ennis.
Game-saving defensive plays were made by Kaylin Dowling and Caylie Keller.
The tournament win capped a 13-1 season for the Bulldogs.
Coach Jimmy Greene said his team was a “hard-working group that bonded together and learned to love each moment.”
Krysten Cline, Megyn Spicer, Abby Freeze, Mason Saton, Regan Roakes, Madeline Kluttz and Laney Gobasch also were key members of the team.
Jimmy Roberts, Brad Peninger and Tim Burns were assistant coaches.
Team managers were Pressley Greene, Ashley Ennis, Madelyn Voncanon, Karsen Simpson and Brooke Kennerly.
The only ugly incident all season was an ill-fated promise by Coach Greene to attempt to dance if victory arose. His family is reportedly still in hiding.

College golf
N.C. State sophomore Davis Richards (South Rowan) shot 68-70-73 — 211 (5-under) and tied for 16th in the Bridgestone Collegiate held at Grandover in Greensboro.
Richards started on the 160-yard No. 5 hole on Sunday and made an ace on his first swing of the tournament.

College soccer
A pair of Catawba men’s soccer players have earned Academic All-District honors by CoSIDA. Senior midfielder Ian Orr and junior defender Breki Bjarnasonwere selected from schools from the Peach Belt, Conference Carolinas and the South Atlantic Conference.
Orr has a 3.79 GPA while majoring in business.
Bjarnason is a psychology major with a 3.96 GPA.
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The Catawba men’s soccer team will host Lincoln Memorial tonight in the opening round of the SAC tournament. The teams just met on Friday with Catawba earning a 2-1 victory.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Admission is $5 for adults; $3 for youth ages 6-12, seniors 55+ and active or retired military; $2 for college students with I.D. and free for ages five and under. Catawba students get in free with a complimentary ticket provided by the Athletic Department.
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The Pfeiffer men’s soccer team exploded for six goals in the first period and smashed Barton, 7-1, in a Conference Carolinas tournament quarterfinal on Monday.
Nathan Regis scored three goals for the Falcons (16-2) in the first 32 minutes. Santi Moar posted two goals and three assists.

College football
The South Atlantic Conference announced Players of the Week.
Catawba kicker Lee Brackman picked up Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Newberry quarterback Raleigh Yeldell was tabbed Offensive Player of the Week, while Tusculum linebacker Deres Benn was named Defensive Player of the Week.
Brackman, a redshirt freshman from Athens, Ga., was perfect on six PAT tries in the win over Brevard.
He also had a pair of touchbacks on seven kickoffs with five returns starting in the end zone and not advancing past the 25 yard-line.
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With a rout of West Virginia State, the UNC Pembroke football team jumped up to No. 2 in the latest NCAA Super Region 2 rankings released on Monday.
South Atlantic Conference-leading Newberry (8-1) also made a two-spot jump this week to No. 3 .
Seven teams from each “super region” advance to the 28-team Division II playoff. The annual tournament will begin on campus sites November 19.
Wingate is ranked 10th in the region.
The opening round will feature the Nos. 2, 3 and No. 4 seeds hosting first round games against the Nos. 7, 6 and 5 seeds, respectively, while the No. 1 seed will receive a first round bye.
Super Region 2 includes the GSC, SAC and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). Independents UNCP and North Greenville are included in the region as well.
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Virginia’s Keeon Johnson (A.L. Brown) had five catches for 62 yards on Saturday.
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Wesley Jefferies (North Rowan) is playing at Feather River College in California and had five tackles on Saturday. Jefferies has 13 tackles this season, with three tackles for loss.

Local golf
In the NCJGF Irish Creek Fall Classic, East Rowan’s Nick Lyerly shot 65-65 (12 birdies, no bogeys) to win.
Concord’s Stephen Carroll shot 68-68 to finish second. South Rowan’s Parker Chavis shot 76-78 for 18th and East’s Bryson Sprinkle 79-81 for 29th.
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The McCanless Couples played Captain’s Choice on Sunday.
The first-place team was Terrol Kendall, Mary Seaford and Alex & Lexie Miller. The second-place team was Tom Reynolds, Beverly Cobb and Walt & Kim Kincaid.
Kim Kincaid won longest putt.

Prep tennis
The dual team state playoffs resume today with second-round matches.
East Rowan (9-2) is at Kings Mountain (12-1) in 3A.
In 2A, Salisbury (13-1) is at Maiden (17-0).

Prep volleyball
Fourth-round matches will be played today. Cox Mill is at home for a 3A battle with North Iredell.

Prep soccer
The first round of the state playoffs will start on Saturday, Nov. 5.

Prep cross country
State championships in all classifications will be conducted at the Ivey Redmon Complex in Kernersville on Saturday.
The Salisbury girls are in the last race of the day at 4:30 p.m.