From staff reports
South Rowan’s baseball program plans to retire the jersey of pitcher Brian Smith in ceremonies prior to tonight’s varsity game with Concord.
Varsity games usually start at approximately 7 p.m.
Smith was a standout not only at South but for the Rowan County American Legion team and UNC Wilmington’s Seahawks before moving on to pro ball as a 27th-round draft pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1994.
Smith pitched professionally for 10 seasons, toiling in the organizations of Toronto, Colorado and Pittsburgh.
He is the only South Rowan graduate to play baseball in the big leagues. He pitched in three games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2000.
College track and field
Western Carolina and Appalachian State’s track teams teamed up against UNC Wilmington and East Carolina in the annual Beaches vs. Mountains Meet held in Wilmington.
The Beaches swept the men’s and women’s competitions.
East Carolina’s Rebecca Cooper (East Rowan) was third in the javelin (133 feet, 8 inches).
Western’s Alisha Bradshaw (Salisbury) was second in the discus (144-10), third in the shot put (42-61/4) and eighth in the hammer throw (136-5).
Western’s Olivia Jacobs (South Rowan) was sixth in the 3000 meters (10:44.84).
Western’s Keith Leonard (East) was fourth in the pole vault (14-9).
Western’s Wayne Parker (East) was ninth in the pole vault (13-91/4) and eighth in the javelin (143-6).
Western’s Garrett West (NW Cabarrus) was fourth in the 1500 (4:01.66) and seventh in the 800 (2:00.01). Western’s Chase Fisher (NW Cabarrus) won the steeplechase in 9:36.14.
Tennessee’s Tavis Bailey (A.L. Brown) placed second in the discus in a meet held at UCLA on Saturday with a powerful throw of 176-4.
College baseball
Appalachian State’s baseball team won 14-5 and 10-5 against visiting Oakland on Sunday.
The first game was the completion of a game suspended on Saturday.
Appalachian (22-5) is 15-0 at home.
Trey Holmes (East Rowan) hit a pair of towering two-run homers to right-center. It was his first two-homer game for the Mountaineers.
In the 109-year history of Appalachian baseball, only the 1969 and 1984 got off to stronger starts. Both squads were 23-4 after 27 games.
Ross Steedley (East) carried Charlotte to a 6-5 win at Xavier on Sunday.
Steedley hit a two-run homer and knocked in four runs.n Liberty’s Carson Herndon (Davie) has a 2-1 record and a 1.69 ERA in six mound outings.
Conner Bodenhamer (Davie) is swinging a big bat for Surry Community College. After 22 games, Bodenhamer has 17 RBIs and is batting .486.
Bryan’s Jason Ridenhour (North Rowan) and Tanner Brown (North) had strong outings in wins against Virginia Intermont over the weekend.
Brown is 7-1. Ridenhour is 6-2.
Zach Howard (Davie) is batting .270 for Limestone, with four homers and 16 RBIs.
Alex Litaker (East Rowan) helped Brevard sweep a weekend SAC series from Lincoln Memorial.
Litaker earned his second win of the season and made his team-high 15th relief appearance.
Barton beat Pfeiffer 10-6 on Sunday at Ferebee Field.
Pro baseball
Wade Moore (West Rowan) played in Major League Spring Training games with Washington on Wednesday and Saturday. Moore went 0-for-2 against the Mets and Cardinals.
Whit Merrifield (Davie) played in a Major League Spring Training game on Thursday for the Kansas City Royals. Merrifield went 0-for-1 against the Angels.
Catawba golf
Catawba’s men’s golf team finished eighth in the Carolina Sands Invitational. Freshman Matt Hardman shot 70-70 — 140 to finish 4-under. He tied for fifth individually.
Local golf
Several local golfers played in the U.S. Kids Junior Tournament held at the Country Club of Salisbury on Sunday.
Michael Childress shot a 75 to win the 12-year-old age group. He had the low round for the tournament, which was set up for 6-to-14-year-olds.
Ben Childress shot a 45 for nine holes and finished second in the 8-year-old age group. Luke Graeber shot a 57 to finish in third place.
Charlie Barr shot a 46 to finish third in the 9-year-old group.
The South Rowan Alumni Golf Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, April 7, at 1:30 p.m., at Warrior.
The cost is $200 per team. The format is Captain’s Choice. All proceeds go to the scholarship fund.
Kent State shot 12-under on the final day and posted a 14-shot victory over second-place Duke in the 15th Annual Irish Creek Collegiate held at The Club at Irish Creek.
The McCanless Couples played with a four-man Captain’s Choice format on Sunday.
The winning team was Mary and Gene Seaford, Don Goodnight and Phyllis Myers.
Coming in second was the team of Sharon Miller, Harry Owens, Jan Godwin and Toni and Marty Lowman.
The closest to the pin hole was won by Sharon Miller. The longest putt winner was Tim Earnhardt.
College lacrosse
Catawba’s men’s lacrosse team (10-2, 5-2) beat Tampa 13-9 on Sunday at Shuford Stadium. Michael Pecchia stopped 14 shots. Braden Artem and Steven Ridolfo scored three goals each to lead the Indians.n Florida Southern rolled to a 26-6 win against Catawba (2-7) on Sunday at Shuford Stadium. Ebony Mills and Kortney Kavanagh had two goals apiece to pace Catawba.
College softball
Campbell freshman Ericka Nesbitt (East Rowan) is leading the Camels in batting average (.376) and steals (10).
Western Carolina senior Erin Foster (West Rowan) has hit 10 home runs this year to lead the Catamounts.