By Mike London
mlondon@salisburypost.com
Area college athletes …UNC Pembroke redshirt freshman Derek Davis (South Rowan) made the long trip to Arkansas Tech for the first round of the Division II playoffs on Saturday.
The Braves lost 41-13 to the Wonder Boys in their playoff debut, but Davis made the trip memorable by registering the first sack of his college career. The second-quarter sack resulted in a loss of 12 yards.
Davis, listed at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, should have a bright future with the Braves at linebacker or defensive end.
n Wingate sophomore offensive lineman Austin Lowe (West Rowan) has overcome a major knee injury and contributed on the field as a key reserve this season and should play a bigger role the next two seasons for the Bulldogs.
The former East-West All-Star excels in the classroom. He was one of 21 student-athletes named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III first team. District III (college includes all schools other than D-I I schools in Florida, Georgia, Virginia and North and South Carolina.
An accounting major, Lowe has a 3.56 GPA and is a member of the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
“Austin is one of the hardest working offensive linemen on our team,” Wingate coach Joe Reich said. “He is very focused, both on and off the field.”
n Tristan Dorty (West) made three tackles for Wake Forest in Saturday’s loss to Florida State.
n Frankie Cardelle (Salisbury) kicked two field goals to help N.C. Central beat Winston-Salem State 18-10 on Saturday. The field goals were the 10th and 11th of the season for the freshman, who also has booted 16 PATs.
n Jonathan Mayfield (Davie) had one reception and one tackle on special teams to help Richmond keep rolling on Saturday. The Spiders beat Georgetown 49-10.
n Matt Turchin (West) kicked a field goal and two PATs as Emory & Henry beat Guilford 17-3 on Saturday.
n In one of Saturday’s key games, Appalachian State senior defensive lineman Anthony “Whopper” Williams (NW Cabarrus) produced two sacks for 19 yards in losses as the Mountaineers beat Elon in a SoCon showdown.
n Safety Justin McCauley (A.L. Brown) was in on seven tackles for Averett in a 49-27 loss to N.C. Wesleyan.
n Virginia Union senior offensive lineman Trumaine Watson (A.L. Brown) wrapped up his career recently. Watson transferred to VU after starting his college career at Louisburg.
n Virginia Union’s Hurley Hemphill (NW Cabarrus) made first team All-CIAA. He had 87 tackles and returned a fumble for a TD.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Mars Hill’s Brittini Young scored 18 points for the Lions in their recent exhibition loss to Wake Forest.
Young played her freshman year at East Rowan when her father, Jim, was the boys coach there.
A 5-5 junior, Young led the SAC in scoring and free-throw percentage last season.
n South Carolina State senior Sophilia Hipps (North Rowan) was 6-for-6 from the foul line and scored 18 points in a 60-50 win at Savannah State on Sunday.
PRO BASEBALL
Charlotte graduate Spencer Steedley (East Rowan) is pitching well in the Arizona Fall League.
Steedley has an ERA of 3.75 in 10 relief appearances. He’s thrown five scoreless innings his last three trips to the mound.
Steedley, 24, was 6-1 with a 2.22 ERA and six saves while playing for two teams in the Minnesota Twins farm system this season.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Rio Grande’s Doug Campbell (Salisbury) scored 21 points in a 75-57 victory against Taylor in the Bevo Francis Tournament championship game.
Campbell made the all-tournament team.
BASEBALL RECRUITING
West Rowan left-hander Zack Simpson has been throwing in the 85-87 range this fall and has at least two scholarship offers (one from a Division I school) on the table. He hasn’t made a commitment yet.
CROSS COUNTRY
At the South Regional cross country championships held in Louisville, UNC Asheville’s Adam Vick (Salisbury) ran 36:50.85 on a 10K course, and Olivia Jacobs (South) ran 24:43.34 on a 6K course.
Scotty Robinson plays sunday night