From staff reports

SALISBURY — Catawba split a doubleheader against visiting Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday at Newman Park. Catawba took the opener, 6-5, but lost the nightcap, 5-0.

The split gives the Indians an 8-11 overall record and 4-2 mark in the South Atlantic Conference. The Bears are now 15-7 and also 4-2 in the SAC.

Clay Young picked up his second win of the season after pitching two innings in relief during the first game. He had four strikeouts and allowed just one hit with no walks. Connor Johnson earned his first save of the year, allowing one run on one hit over two innings.

Luke Setzer had two hits for the Indians’ offense. Heath Mitchem added a hit and two RBIs. Jacob Nester went 1-for-2 with a double and scored two runs for Catawba.

Michael Elwell took the loss in the second game, despite pitching five innings and allowing just two earned runs. John Grigg pitched a complete game for the Bears, holding the Indians to just five hits.

Setzer went 2-for-3 in Game 2 with a double. Kyle Smith, Joe Butts and Mitchem had the remaining hits for Catawba.

The Indians will travel to Tampa for two non-conference games on Tuesday and Wednesday, before heading to Carson-Newman for another SAC series next weekend.

Game 1

Lenoir-Rhyne      003   010   010 — 5   7   3

Catawba                000  023   10x  — 6   7   0

WP — Clay Young (2-2).  LP — Connor Dailey (2-1).

Leading hitters — L-R: Alex Reynolds 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBIs; Catawba: Luke Setzer 2-for-4; Heath Mitchem, 1-for-3, 2 RBIs.

Game 2

Lenoir-Rhyne      002   011    1 —  5   3   0

Catawba                000  000  0 —   0   5   4

WP — John Grigg (3-0).  LP — Michael Elwell (1-2).

Leading hitters — L-R: Justin Dean 1-for-4, HR; Catawba: Setzer 2-for-3, 2B

College softball

SALISBURY — Catawba and visiting Lees-McRae split a softball doubleheader at Whitley Field on Saturday afternoon. Lees-McRae took the opener, 4-1, while the Catawba Indians (9-7) grabbed Game 2  by the same score.

Catawba took an early lead in the opener. Carlee Brawley led off with one of her two hits, stole second and came around to score on an error off a sacrifice bunt by Taylor Martin. LMC answered in the second, scoring off a wild pitch and an infield fielder’s choice to lead 2-1.

Carlee Brawley and Grace Holland had two hits for Catawba in the opener. Brooks Walser (3-5) allowed two earned runs.

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In Game 2,  Jordan Dean’s two-run double in the bottom of the first gave Catawba a quick edge. Brawley doubled home a run in the second and Nicole Hunter made her first collegiate hit memorable as she led off the fourth with a home run.

Madison Hunter (5-0) made those runs hold up.

Catawba travels to Limestone on Sunday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

All-NPC

Carson girls basketball coach Brooke Stouder was honored as North Piedmont Conference Coach of the Year. Carson was 25-4, tied for first in the NPC and won the NPC tournament.

Carson senior guard Olivia Gabriel was voted  NPC Player of the Year and is the leading scorer in Carson history.

McKenzie Gadson and Colbie Perry made All-NPC from Carson, along with East Rowan’s Adalie Harrison and West’s Rowan’s Abigail Wilson and Egypt Alexander.

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Carson’s Brian Perry was named North Piedmont Coach of the Year for boys basketball. He led Carson to a 26-3 record, the best in school history, as well as the NPC regular season and tournament titles.

West Rowan’s 2,000-point scorer Caleb Mauldin was voted NPC Player of the Year.

West’s Josiah Dixon made All-NPC, along with East Rowan’s Elton Hooper and Carson’s Jamarius Hairston. Jailen Williams and Owen White.

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Carson’s Olivia Shorter is the NPC girls swimmer of the year.

Carson’s Taylor Sever and West’s Matthew Gouge were All-NPC.

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The All-NPC wrestling team includes East Rowan’s Nate Burrage, Stephen Deutsch and Matee Ramirez; Carson’s Robert Barringer and Josh Vega, and West Rowan’s Luke Waggoner, Lane Adkins, Baiden Suddarth and Alex Erazo.

Prep baseball

CHINA GROVE — Brett Burchett drove in four runs as Mooresville won at Carson, 6-3, on Saturday in non-conference baseball.

Owen White went 3-for-3 for Carson. Cameron Prugh and Luke Barringer drove in runs for the Cougars (1-2).

Clayton Gilmore took the loss. Justin Poris was the winner and struck out seven.

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Northwest Cabarrus won against West Iredell on Saturday, 4-3.

The Trojans backed Blake Sinclair’s pitching with nine hits. Davis Kirk drove in two runs.

Prep basketball

Regional finals:

In the 2A West girls regional final, North Wilkes beat Mountain Heritage, 51-48.

Victoria Young scored 11 for the Vikings, while Emily Phillips had 10.

North Wilkes nipped South Rowan in the playoffs.

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Alyssa Cox scored 15 points to lead Mt. Airy to a 46-35 win against Murphy in the 1A West girls regional final.

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Mercedes Wampler scored 16 points to lead Northern Guilford to a 51-43 win against top-ranked Ashbrook in the 3A West girls regional final.

Northern Guilford knocked Carson out of the playoffs.

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Jamarius Burton scored 25 to lead Independence to a 72-45 rout of Rocky River  in the 4A West boys regional final.

Independence held touted freshman Jaden Springer to 16 points.

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Wendell Moore Jr. scored 32 points to lead Cox Mill to a 61-49 win against Greensboro Smith in the 3A West boys regional final.

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In the 1A West boys regional final,  Justice  Goodloe scored 18 to lead the Winston-Salem Prep boys to a 69-53 win against Lincoln Charter.

London England scored 16 for Lincoln Charter.

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In the 4A West girls regional final, Northwest Guilford made 28 of 32 free throws to beat Mallard Creek, 61-50. Liz Kitley scored 22 to lead Northwest Guilford. She’s the daughter of former North Rowan standout Ralph Kitley.

Men’s basketball

Virginia Union beat Johnson C. Smith 82-52 for the CIAA tournament championship Saturday at Spectrum Center.

Four Virginia Union players scored in double figures, led by Todd Hughes with 22 points.

Women’s basketball

Alexis Johnsonhad 21 points and 18 rebounds to lead Virginia Union in Saturday’s CIAA tournament championship game.

  Virginia Union never trailed and beat Bowie State, 73-57.