By Mike London
mlondon@salisburypost.com
Area college roundup …
David Thomas was handed his retired No. 7 jersey during halftime ceremonies at Saturday’s Catawba football game. Needless to say, he didn’t drop the framed memento.
Thomas committed just two errors in four wall-climbing, sprinting, diving seasons as Catawba’s All-America center fielder.
Still, the switch-hitter will be remembered more for his bat than his glove. The 2008 graduate produced a .388 career average and holds eight school records, including marks for durability (892 at-bats, 226 games) and speed (91 steals, 14 triples).
Thomas’ 344 hits rank third all-time in Division II history, while his 281 runs scored rank second. A strong argument can be made that Thomas was the best player ever to put on a Catawba baseball uniform.
Thomas is now in the farm system of the Oakland Athletics and played 82 games this summer in A ball and advanced A ball.
It’s been a fine fall for the Thomas family. His father, Danny, a standout athlete and successful coach, was inducted into the Davidson County Hall of Fame last month.
n Catawba P.A. man Karl Hales received a white No. 30 jersey from coach Chip Hester on Saturday, commemorating Hales’ 30 years as the voice of Shuford Stadium.
FOOTBALL
The Catawba seniors who ended careers Saturday included receiver Jamey Small (East Rowan), linebacker Julian Samolu (West Rowan) and safety Jaspen Gray (Davie).
Gray turned in a strong year with three interceptions and 43 tackles. Samolu, who had to fight through injuries the second half of the season, made two tackles Saturday. Small had a catch early in the game for a 19-yard gain.
n Wake Forest’s Tristan Dorty (West) made four tackles in Saturday’s 30-27 loss against Georgia Tech. Josh Bush (West Davidson) made five tackles for the Demon Deacons.
n Anthony “Whopper” Williams (NW Cabarrus) made six tackles for Appalachian State in Saturday’s 35-20 victory against Chattanooga. Gordy Witte (Salisbury) contributed one stop for the Mountaineers.
n Phillip Hilliard (Salisbury) was only called on to punt three times in Wingate’s 56-35 win against Mars Hill on Saturday, but he had two kicks downed inside the 20.
n Averett safety Justin McCauley (A.L. Brown) contributed a forced fumble and a tackle for loss in Saturday’s 34-28, three-OT win against Ferrum that kept Averett in the hunt for the D-III playoffs.
n Frankie Cardelle (Salisbury) kicked four PATs and had two kickoffs for touchbacks for N.C. Central in a 42-28 loss on against Old Dominion on Saturday.
n Matt Turchin (West) booted a 41-yard field goal for Emory & Henry in a 23-16 win against Washington & Lee.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Junior guard Brittini Young, who played her freshman season at East Rowan, scored 25 points for Mars Hill in a 92-72 exhibition loss to UNC Asheville on Friday. Katie Wise (South Rowan) had four points and four rebounds in six minutes for UNC Asheville.
n Anna Freeman (East Davidson) had 13 points and six rebounds in 19 minutes as Appalachian State wiped out Lees-McRae 108-61 in an exhibition on Sunday.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Doug Campbell (Salisbury) scored 13 points for Rio Grande in a 157-91 ó no kidding, 157 ó loss against Cedarville on Saturday.
n Coker opened the season with an 83-40 exhibition loss at Big East bully Pittsburgh on Sunday. Michael Gore (South) had two rebounds for the Cobras but didn’t attempt a field goal. Coker trailed 41-6 at halftime.
n Jamel Carpenter (West) debuts for Fayetteville State at UNC Pembroke on Nov. 16.
n Demarcus Phifer (A.L. Brown) hit a key 3-pointer as Davidson County Community College blew out Louisburg last week.