From staff reports

Jamal Rule, Salisbury High’s record-setting running back and track and field standout, announced a transfer to Charlotte Christian via social media.

Rule, who was the Rowan County Offensive Player of the Year as a junior, also announced a reclassification to the Class of 2026.

Charlotte Christian has an active N.I.L club to benefit athletes. That may be a factor.

The NCHSAA approved a plan in May 2023 for public school athletes to benefit from N.I.L., but the State Board of Education adopted a policy that bans any N.I.L. activities. That means public schools in North Carolina may lose more top athletes to private schools.

You may see fewer and fewer elite players competing for their community high schools.

 

NORTH CHANGES

Zach Tatarka, a South Rowan graduate who has been serving as North Rowan’s AD and baseball coach, announced he’s moving on to be the AD at Northwest Cabarrus. He’ll start at Northwest on July 1.

A P.E. teacher, Tatarka has been the baseball coach at North since the 2021 season and added AD duties to his plate in 2022.

• North Rowan’s new girls basketball coach will be former Livingstone player Mia Terry. She replaces Darra Walker, a former Livingstone player who had two great seasons leading the Cavaliers.

 

COLLEGE BASEBALL

Vance Honeycutt (Salisbury) socked his 27th homer of the season, but North Carolina lost 6-1 to Tennessee in the College World Series on Sunday night.

Cameron Padgett (East Rowan) came out of the bullpen to get four outs for the Tar Heels in the seventh and eighth innings.

UNC will play in a Tuesday elimination game.

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Surry Community College’s Matthew Connolly (West Rowan) was named a first team All-America for his spectacular freshman season.

Connolly hit .348 with seven homers, 48 walks, 27 steals and 44 RBIs. He has announced a transfer to Catawba for next season.

Chambers was named as an infielder on the NJCAA

Chambers hit .321 with 5 home runs and 41 RBI’s in 48 games.  He scored 49 runs with 35 walks and 26 stolen bases. Chambers, a first baseman, also helped lead the Knights on the mound finishing with an 8-1 record and 2.92 earned run average. His eight wins ranked 8^th nationally

• Jalan Chambers (A.L. Brown), a strong, two-way player for Surry CC as a sophomore, was named a third team All-America.

Chambers hit .321 with five homers, 41 RBIs 35 walks and 26 stolen bases. He was 8-1 on the mound with a 2.92 ERA.

 

LOCAL GOLF

 

SUMMER BASEBALL

JD James (South Rowan, Caldwell CC), Steven Smith (West Rowan, Emory & Henry) and Blake Hill (East Rowan, Catawba) have had big games recently for the Statesville Owls of the Southern Collegiate Baseball League.

 

SUMMER HOOPS

Carson will have four returning starters and is having a strong summer.

The Cougars competed at Wofford’s team camp, June 12-15.

 

LADY LEGION SOFTBALL

Rowan County’s annual Veterans Appreciation Night will be held on June 24 at 6 p.m. at Catawba’s Whitley Field.

 

LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL

Rowan Little League’s 12U girls opened the district tournament with an 18-0 win against Northwest Forsyth.

HS TRACK AND FIELD

Mooresville’s Eric Heal was named Track MVP for Greater Metro Conference boys track and field.

A.L. Brown’s DJ Drye and West Cabarrus’ Curtis Fields were named Field MVPs.

A.L. Brown jumper Ke’Shaun Kellam, hurdler De’Monte Barr and the 4×200 relay unit of Barr, Michael Chapman, Kadan Smith and Aspen Fisher made All-GMC.

West Cabarrus’ Timothy Carter was named GMC Coach of the Year.

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A L Brown’s Laney Morton, Braelynn Grier, Ava McNeil and Nevaeh Watterson made the All-GMC team.

Lake Norman’s Kasey Dingman is the Track MVP. West Cabarrus’ Sofia Whitaker is the Field MVP.

West Cabarrus’ Darla Jones is the GMC Coach of the Year.