By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com

Area athletes update …

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Javon Hargrave (North Rowan) is set to be a free agent in March and is likely to receive a massive contract as one of the top defensive linemen on the market.

Hargrave signed last week with agent Drew Rosenhaus, regarded as one of the top sports agents in the country. Rosenhaus represents NFL players such as Kansas City receiver Tyreek Hill.

According to Sportrac, Hargrave’s value could earn him something around a 5-year, $73.63 million deal with $14.5 million annually.

Hargrave has been a Steeler since he was drafted in 2016 out of South Carolina State.

College track and field

Western Carolina’s Devaniel Dale (East Rowan) broke the school record in the 500 meters Saturday in the VMI Indoor Classic in Lexington, Va.

Dale won the 500 in 1:04.40.

College baseball

North Carolina’s Austin Love (West Rowan) had a win and a save out of the bullpen as the Tar Heels swept Middle Tennessee in a three-game series to start the season.

Love won Saturday’s game with two scoreless innings and saved Sunday’s 5-4 victory, getting the last out in the eighth and throwing a scoreless ninth.

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Chandler Blackwelder (East Rowan), who has been at UNC Pembroke and Pitt Community College, has resurfaced at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory. Blackwelder, who was sensational for Rowan County American Legion, is 5-for-11 in his first three games, with two doubles and two triples.

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Riley Myers (Salisbury, Catawba College) made his debut for Wake Forest on Saturday and notched his first strikeout in Division I. Myers was 9-1 with 91 strikeouts for Catawba in 2019.

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Senior Brandon Lankford  (Davie) homered on opening day for UNC Asheville.

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Bryson Bebber (South Rowan) had a double and three RBIs in his first game for Surry Community College.

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Kacey Otto (West Rowan) played quarterback for the St. Andrews football team, but he’s made a baseball comeback this spring. He’s had a three-hit game for the Knights.

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Brett Graham (West Rowan) had two RBIs in Pfeiffer’s 28-0 win against Livingstone.

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Hunter Shepherd (Homeschool Stallions) is off to a great start for Catawba. He’s batted .516 in the Indians’ first eight games, with three homers and three doubles. On the mound, he’s 3-0 with a 1.20 ERA.

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Jeremy Simpson (West Rowan) is batting .367 as Catawba’s starting shortstop. Henderson Lentz (North Rowan) and Lee Poteat (West Rowan) are getting some starts in the outfield. Both are batting. 333.

Pearce Wilhelm (West Rowan) has four strikeouts in two relief innings. Bryan Ketchie (West Rowan), one of the Indian’s top starters, is off to a 1-1 start.

College softball

Belmont Abbey’s Mackenzie Sprinkle (East Rowan) had her first college RBI Saturday in a 5-3 loss to Concord.

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Lenoir-Rhyne’s Anna Blume (South Rowan) had her college hit and first RBI for the Bears in a sweep of J.C. Smith on Saturday.

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Mary Sobataka (West Rowan) had two hits in her first three at-bats for Coastal Carolina.

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Taylor Martin (West Rowan), Kaylee Cook (A.L. Brown) and Allie Baker (A.L. Brown) are starters for a Catawba team that is off to a 6-2 start.

Baker leads the Indians with two homers and eight RBIs.

Martin was a defensive standout in Sunday’s doubleheader sweep at UNC Pembroke.

College men’s golf

UNC Greensboro opened its spring season in Florida in the Martin Downs Collegiate, and Nick Lyerly (East Rowan) tied for fourth at 10-under  206.

Lyerly shot 68-67-71.

UNC Greensboro won the event.

James Madison’s Walker Cress (Concord) shot 209 for seventh place.

Men’s college basketball

Jamarius Hairston (Carson) continues to star for Davidson County Community College.

He had 28 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the Storm’s 93-70 win vs Bryant & Stratton.

Hairston was 4-for-7 on 3-pointers and 10-for-10 on free throws.

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Jailen Williams (Carson) is getting some playing time as a redshirt freshman for Claflin, a D-II CIAA program.

Williams averages 13 minutes per game. He’s contributed 76 points, 39 rebounds, 31 assists and 20 steals.

Claflin plays Livingstone at New Trent Gym on Wednesday.

Women’s college basketball

Aliyah Farmer (North Rowan) had a career game on Saturday for UNC Pembroke in a 69-63 loss at Augusta.

Farmer scored 22 points (in 19 minutes) without missing a shot. She was 9-for-9 from the field and 3-for-3 on free throws. She made her only 3-point attempt.

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McKenzie Gadson (Carson) had eight points and six rebounds for Anderson in Saturday’s win against Tusculum that vaulted Anderson back into first place in the South Atlantic Conference.

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Wingate’s Bryanna Troutman (Salisbury) had 12 points and nine rebounds in Saturday’s 58-55 loss to Mars Hill.

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Shemya Stanback (A.L. Brown) has been one of Catawba’s standouts.

The junior guard averages 8.1 points, third on the team. She leads the Indians in rebounds and steals.

College wrestling

UNC Pembroke’s Brandon Sloop (Carson) is 25-11 this season and has 93 career victories.