From staff reports
Catcher Ross Steedley led the White team to a 7-6 over the Green team in the opening game of Charlotte’s Niner World Series on Friday.
Steedley (East Rowan) has battled a long string of injuries since he enrolled at Charlotte and redshirted last season, but he may finally be healthy.
The sophomore hit a pair of two-run homers Friday, including a tape-measure blast.
Sophomore shortstop Justin Roland (East) contributed a run-scoring single.
* Steedley’s 24-year-old brother, lefty pitcher Spencer Steedley, has been assigned by the Minnesota Twins to the Mesa Solar Sox for the Arizona Fall League. The AFL opens Tuesday, with Mesa on the road against the Phoenix Desert Dogs.
Cy Young Award winners Chris Carpenter, Roy Halladay and Brandon Webb are AFL alumni.
– Overseas basketball
Bryan McCullough (North Rowan) has reported for duty with the Bashkimi team in Kosovo. Bashkimi lost its opening game 102-88.
n Donte Minter (West Rowan) is with the Consmetal Navarra squad in Spain.
– College cross country
St. Andrews’ Tommy Wilson (North Rowan) ran 30.05 on an 8K course and finished 19th in the Mt. Olive Invitational on Saturday.
– College golf
UNC Greensboro’s Lauren Smith (Salisbury) shot 82-71-82 ó 235 and tied for 62nd in the Windy City Championship held in Glenview, Ill.
– Prep cross country
Gray Stone’s boys and girls teams won the recent Stanly County Meet at Morehead Park.
South Stanly’s Sean Kluttz took the boys meet in 17:48 on a hot, humid day. He edged Gray Stone’s Dalton Wally (17:56) and South Stanly’s Alex Thompson (17:57).
Gray Stone scored 27 points to top South Stanly (47), West Stanly (55) and North Stanly(104). Kaleb Medlin (4th, 18:09), Harrison Latimer (6th, 18:44), Mygel Bergstresser (7th, 18:57) and Joseph Sutlive (8th, 19:22) were other top runners for Gray Stone.
Gray Stone’s top five made the All-Stanly County team. The Knights are ranked second in the state in 1A.
* Gray Stone’s girls won with 31 points to top West Stanly (46), South Stanly (65) and North Stanly (85).
Gray Stone sophomore Hunter Latimer won the girls race in 21:57.
Other top runners for Gray Stone included Janna Featherstone (2nd, 22:45), Amber Watkins (3rd, 23:22), Mary Bergstresser (10th, 25:05) and Katherine Barrows (15th, 26:44).
Latimer, Bergstresser, Watkins and Featherstone made All-Stanly County. The Gray Stone girls are ranked fifth in the state in 1A.
Salisbury’s Rick Perry coaches the Knights. Gray Stone is in a meet at Morehead Park on Tuesday and will compete in the YVC Meet on Oct. 20.