From wire and staff reports

GREENSBORO— Tate Blackman was a triple short of the cycle, scoring four runs while driving in two as the first-place Kannapolis Intimidators beat the Greensboro Grasshoppers 9-3 on Tuesday and took a two-game lead.

Nolan Brown doubled and singled for Kannapolis.

Kannapolis started the scoring in the first inning when Blackman hit an RBI double and then scored on a single by Anthony Villa.

After Kannapolis added three runs, the Grasshoppers cut into the deficit in the fifth inning when Samuel Castro scored on a ground out and Thomas Jones hit an RBI double.

The Intimidators later added two runs in both the seventh and eighth innings. In the seventh, Blackman and Villa hit solo home runs, while Laz Rivera hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Brown in the eighth.

Kannapolis right-hander Blake Battenfield (4-1) picked up a quality start and the win after allowing two runs on four hits over six innings.

Local golf

Fifty-nine GARS members played in an ABCD Tournament at Warrior Golf Club on Monday.

‘A’ Flight  winner was Mick Rowell with a net of 63.91.   ‘B’ Flight winner was David Schenk with a net of 60.28.  ‘C’ Flight winner with a net of  54.20 was Tom Talbert. Low ‘D’ Flight winner with a net of 57.49 was Lou Manning.

Six members shot better than their ages.

Winsten Mahaffey, 81, shot a 73. Ben Moore, 81, shot a 77. Ken Miller, 82, shot an 81. Lou Manning, 84, shot a 79. Clayton Steele, 86, shot an 84; and J.C. Ritchie, 93, shot an 80.

Mahaffey andTalbert tied for low gross with 73s, and  Manning won low net.

•••

The Corbin Hills Ladies Golf Assocation  played on  Tuesday.

Winners:

First Flight Low Gross —   Kristi Laton   

First Flight Low Net — Wendy Kinsell .

  Second Flight Low Gross — Susan Houston

Second Flight Low Net —  Faye Cline

  Third Flight Low Gross  — Carolyn Ries.

Third Flight Low Net — Sheryl Johnson.

Conference Carolinas

Conference Carolinas will expand to 11 member institutions as conference officials announced Tuesday that Chowan University has accepted an invitation to join the Conference in the summer of 2019.

Prep soccer

Sarah McHale scored twice in overtime to lift Cox Mill to a 3-1 win against T.C. Roberson Tuesday’s 3A West final.

Middle schools

Erwin won tournament championships in baseball (over China Grove) and girls soccer (on PKs against Mooresville).

Mooresville won the boys soccer tournamen (over Southeast).

Prep tennis

Salisbury is ranked third in 2A in the final rankings.

  

Legion baseball

After a night off on Tuesday, Rowan County returns to American Legion action tonight at Newman Park at 7 p.m. against Concord.

On Tuesday, Randolph rallied to beat Mooresville, 8-7, and Mocksville shelled  Kannapolis, 9-0.

Kannapolis will try to rebound tonight at Stanly County.