From staff reports

Frank Francisco is close to returning from the disabled list for the New York Mets, but manager Terry Collins indicated Tuesday that the Mets plan to keep Bobby Parnell (East Rowan) in the closer role.
Parnell (3-0) was the winning pitcher in a 1-0 victory against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. Parnell pitched the top of the 10th after former UNC star Matt Harvey had thrown nine brilliant innings, and the Mets got a run in the bottom half of the inning.
Parnell, 28, has saved three games. He has a 1.29 ERA in 14 appearances. In 14 innings, he’s struck out 13 and walked two.

A South Rowan vs. A.L. Brown alumni football game has been scheduled for South on Aug. 31.
Players should sign up at the Alumni Football USA website.
Davie is scheduled to play at West Rowan in an alumni game on June 1. North Rowan is scheduled to play at Salisbury on June 29.

In Friday’s first round of the 3A state playoffs, Carson will be at home against Concord Robinson and East Rowan will be at home against Weddington.
Both local teams could face Division I signees on the mound.
Weddington’s 6-foot-4 lefty Alex Bostic is headed to Clemson. Robinson right-hander Philip Perry is headed to East Carolina. Charlotte signee Jeremy Schellhorn is also a standout for Weddington.
Weddington eliminated West Rowan, Carson and South Rowan on its march to the 2012 state title.
In the 2A playoffs, Salisbury will be at home against Starmount.
In other 3A first-round games, West Rowan is at Mega-7 No. 1 seed Charlotte Catholic, and South Rowan is at Northeast Guilford.
South’s game won’t start until 8 p.m. A number of South players have AP exams late Friday afternoon, and that will delay their departure time.
In 4A, Davie will play at Charlotte Ardrey Kell in a first-rounder.
In 1A, North Rowan figures to get a wild-card berth when the official NCHSAA brackets are finally released.
There were still tournament games being contested on Tuesday, including West Montgomery’s 4-1 win against Albemarle in the YVC title game.

NPC co-champ East Rowan will play its first-round game in the 3A playoffs at home on Thursday at 5 p.m.
The Mustangs will take on Cox Mill, the SPC’s No. 4 seed.
The schools will be conference opponents next season.
NPC tournament champ Carson will open the 3A playoffs at home against Weddington at 7 p.m. on Friday.
West Rowan will play at Charlotte Catholic at 7 p.m. on Friday in a 3A first-round game.
In 2A, Salisbury will be on the road against the Mountain Valley Conference champs in the first round.

NPC champ West Rowan (17-3) opens the 3A playoffs tonight at home against Northwest Cabarrus (11-5-3), which has a good record for a No. 4 seed. That game is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Carson (9-7-1) is at Southwestern Randolph (6-7-2) at 6 p.m. tonight in a 3A first-round matchup.
A.L. Brown (12-6), which finished third in the SPC, is at fourth-ranked Weddington, a No. 1 seed, in the first round.
In 2A, Salisbury (13-8) plays at No. 1 seed West Stokes (14-4-3). West Stokes is ranked 14th in 2A.

Salisbury got its second-round 2A dual team state playoffs match at Newton-Conover, but rain halted play before any matches were completed.
The teams will try again today in Newton-Conover.
In 3A, East Rowan made the long trip to West Henderson but wasn’t able to play its second-round match because of weather conditions.
East also will try again today to play.
Top athletes from across the state will compete in a busy weekend of track and field as the NCHSAA begins its state championships in the sport.
The weekend of competition features 1A championships for boys and girls on Friday, and 3A championships on Saturday, both at the Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T.
Field events will begin at 10 a.m. and running events will start at 11 a.m.
Monroe is the defending 1A state champion for girls, while North Rowan has won the last two boys championships.
Admission to the championships each day is $6.
The 2A and 4A state meets will be held next weekend.
Salisbury will compete in the 2A Midwest Regional at North Stokes on Saturday.
The Greater Cabarrus Homeschool Stallions jayvee baseball team won 6-4 against Anath Christian School of Rutherfordton.
Caleb Threadgill had three hits, including a homer, for the Stallions (15-5).
Noah Jarrett and Hunter Shepherd had two hits apiece. Josh Holt pitched a complete game and struck out six.
The Stallions will play in a tournament at Erwin Saturday.

Guilford offensive lineman Daniel McFaddin (A.L. Brown) was named scout team player of the year for the 2012 season.

The Rowan Hurricanes 9th-grade girls basketball team will have an open gym and tryout on May 19, at 6:45 p.m., at Christ United Methodist Church on Mooresville Road.
Contact Marcus White at 704-490-5844 or Ashley Poole at 704-433-7713.

The Kannapolis Intimidators were washed out on Tuesday.
Kannapolis and Greensboro will make up the game in June as part of a doubleheader in Greensboro.

Southeast’s girls lost to Mooresville 5-0 to concluded the regular season.
Keeper Nelly Diaz, Katherine Nunez, Camryn Nooner and Zinia Figueroa played well for the Patriots.
• Southeast’s boys finished another undefeated season by beating Mooresville 3-0.
Jesus Sanchez, Braxton Rogers and Michael Rosas scored goals. Raunel Vasquez had two assists.
Grayson Owens was stellar in goal. Michael Rosas, Daniel Valverde, German Delgado, Andrew Bonilla, Kaleb Isenhour, Santiago reyes, Daniel Carrillo, Hernan Hernandez and Ramon Garcia were standouts.
Southeast is the host for the conference tournament that starts today.

Todd Burden of Inbounds Ministry will speak at Falcon Middle School Camp tonight.
This is the last night of the camp.

The Corbin Hills women played a low-gross, low-net event on Tuesday.
Phyllis Durland won low gross and was followed by Beth Calhoun.
Kristi Laton won low net and was followed by Faye Cline.
Norman Burgess won low putts.