From staff reports
Rowan County’s American Legion team returns to action tonight against High Point at historic Finch Field.
Rowan (18-19) trails the best-of-five series two games to none and has to win tonight to bring the series back to Newman Park for Game 4 on Friday.
High Point (25-5) won the opener 4-3 on its home field on Monday and prevailed 8-4 in 10 innings at Newman Park on Tuesday.
The winner of this series advances to the Area III championship series and qualifies for the state tournament.
Rowan finished its seven-day series with Mocksville on Sunday — the night before this series began — and hasn’t had the opportunity to employ its top two pitchers Avery Rogers and Brian Bauk on the mound.
That’s been an obstacle, although Jared Mathis and Dakota Brown pitched well enough to give Rowan a good chance to win in each of the first two games, and the night off on Wednesday has to help.
Ethan Free and Bauk figure to be available tonight, with Rogers ready to go Friday if Rowan can extend the series.
“We’re going to fight like crazy to keep playing,” Rowan center fielder Will Sapp said.
Sapp has scored 40 runs this season and 119 for his three-year Legion career. Sapp ranks 19th on Rowan’s all-time list. He’s recently surpassed such notables as Aaron Rimer, Nick Heard, Shannon Myers, Jason Kluttz and Justin Wishon in that category.
Sapp has 32 career doubles, which ties him for 12th all-time with Michael Gegorek. He needs one more to tie Coe Brier and Cass Safrit.
Sapp is 12th all-time with 42 steals.
Slugging first baseman Chance Bowden had the cast removed from his wrist, but isn’t likely to play in this series.
Randolph beat Statesville 6-1 on Wednesday to take a two games to none lead in their best-of-five series.
Game 3 is tonight at South Iredell.
Elam passes away
Local resident Cleveland Elam, a standout pass-rusher in the NFL in the 1970s, has died.
Elam, 60, was a two-time Pro Bowl pick. He had 14.5 sacks in 1976 and 17.5 in 1977.
The San Francisco 49ers drafted Elam in the fourth round of the 1975 draft, and he contributed immediately as a member of the famed “Gold Rush” defensive line, which led the NFL in sacks in 1976. Elam played alongside Cedrick Hardman, Jimmy Webb and Tommy Hart.
Elam went to the Pro Bowl in 1976 and 1977 and was All-Pro in 1977.
Elam suffered a severe knee injury in 1978 that cut his career short. He played in 1979 for the Detroit Lions before retiring.
Elam was a native of Memphis and starred at Tennessee State.
In 1976, Elam recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown.
Elam is survived by his wife, Blanche, and their four children. A memorial service is scheduled at Gethsemane Baptist Church in Salisbury on Saturday.
Local racing
Charles Venable set a land speed record of 205.93911 mph in his 1953 Studebaker at the LTA Speed Trials held on the Old Loring Air Force Base near Limestone, Me.
The car was built in Welcome. The motor was built in Winston-Salem.
Venable lives in Midway and works in Salisbury, Winston-Salem and Greensboro managing an insurance and financial planning firm.
The local track is gearing up to host the USAC .25 Quarter Midget National Race on Aug. 2-4.
The event is held annually in Salisbury and will bring in 250-300 cars.
Minor leagues
Switch-hitting center fielder Keenyn Walker has been promoted from the Kannapolis Intimidators to Winston-Salem.
Walker, a first-round pick in 2011, hit .282 with 39 stolen bases in 74 games.
East football seats
East Rowan reserved football tickets are on sale now in the school office.
The price is $35 with reserved parking or $30 with no reserved parking.
Go by the school or call the office at 704-279-5232, ext 252.
Local golf
In the eGolf Tour’s River Landing Open in Wallace, Will Collins shot 70 in the first round and is tied for 25th, five shots off the pace.
Frank Adams III shot 71 and is tied for 40th.
West football camp
West Rowan’s football camp on Friday and Saturday will have some expert instruction. The camp is Friday from 6-8:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon.
Running the camp are former Falcon stars K.P. Parks (Virginia), Chris Smith (Arkansas) and Jon Crucitti (Army), among others.
The cost is $40. Prospects can register at the school from 5-6 p.m. on Friday.
Catawba Chiefs drive
The membership drive for the 2012-2013 Catawba Chiefs Club is under way.
The goal is 500 members.
If you desire more information about joining, call the Catawba Development Office at (704) 637-4394.
Junior Legion
There’s been a schedule adjustment in the Junior Legion state tournament.
The Mooresville Moors are set to play Jacksonville in the first round at Friday at 3:30 p.m., while Kernersville takes on Swansboro at 6:30.
College baseball
Catawba graduate Josh Jordan (Class of 2003) is joining the baseball coaching staff at Duke.
Jordan had been at Appalachian State with Chris Pollard, who took the Duke head job.
Sacred Heart camps
Sacred Heart is offering a basketball mini-camp for boys and girls on Aug. 15-17. Camp is from 3-5 p.m. for grades 3 through 5 and from 5-7 p.m. for grades 6-8.
Registration fee is $25.
Cheerleading mini-camp is offered on Aug. 14-16 for kindergarten through fifth grade. Camp is from 1-3 p.m. Registration is $25.
A soccer Skills & Drills camp is offered on Aug. 10. The camp is open to all.
The camp is for kindergarten through third grade from 8-11 a.m. and for grades 4-8 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
The registration fee is $10.
Contact Sacred Heart AD Katie Meseroll to register or for more information at kmeseroll@salisburycatholic.org or (704) 633-2841, ext. 214.