From staff reports
Tune in those radios to WSTP-1490 or WSAT-1280 tonight around 6:30 p.m.
First pitch is set for 7 p.m., as the Rowan County’s American Legion team takes on Cherryville in the state tournament in Morehead City.
Rowan has played three thrillers in a row, beating Wayne County and Morehead City and losing in 10 innings to Wilmington.
Cherryville is competing without one of its top players, .370-hitter Thomas Bess, a UNC Asheville basketball signee who has hoops commitments, but Post 100 is still in the driver’s seat in the tournament after beating Wilmington 4-2 late Sunday night.
Cherryville is the only unbeaten team in the event. Cherryville demolished Morehead City and shut out High Point in its first two games. Rowan, Wayne and Wilmington are the other teams still alive with a loss apiece.
Hickory and Cary were ousted from the breezy tourney on Saturday, while Area III champ High Point and host Morehead City were eliminated on Sunday.
The original brackets would’ve had Rowan playing Wayne County at 3 p.m. today, but adjustments had to be made as Rowan and Wayne had already met in the tournament.
Wayne is now set to play a 3 p.m. elimination game against Wilmington.
The state champion moves on to play in the Southeast Regional in Sumter, S.C., on Aug. 4-8.
The state tournament will return to Deal Stadium in Granite Falls next summer. Caldwell County Post 29 is the host team.
Deal Stadium was the site of the first double-elimination state tournament in 2000.
Major leagues
Bobby Parnell (East Rowan) had a tough night on Sunday.
Called on to pitch the eighth inning and protect a 4-3 against the Florida Marlins, Parnell was greeted by a 427-foot homer to center field by Logan Morrison that tied the game.
Mike Stanton singled and scored on a double by John Buck to give the Marlins a 5-4 lead. Parnell (3-2) took the loss when the Mets couldn’t rally in the ninth.
Minor leagues
Craige Lyerly (East Rowan, Catawba) went 3-for-3, including a triple, and stole a base in Hudson Valley’s 6-0 win against Mahoning Valley in the New York-Penn League on Sunday.
Albuquerque’s Jerry Sands (Catawba) walloped his 16th homer, a two-run shot, in a 17-9 loss to New Orleans on Sunday.
Wade Moore (West Rowan, Catawba) had two hits, including a two-run double, as Hagerstown beat Greenville 7-2 on Sunday in the South Atlantic League.
The Kannapolis Intimidators lost 2-0 to the Rome Braves, who were fortified by rehabbing third baseman Chipper Jones, on Sunday. Jones had a walk, single and sac fly in his three at-bats.
Gary Moran dominated the Kannapolis lineup, although Rangel Ravelo managed two hits for the Intimidators.
Whit Merrifield (Davie) socked his 24th double for Wilmington on Sunday in a 7-5 Carolina League loss to Kinston.
Bristol’s Keegan Linza (North Rowan) pitched a scoreless inning in a 5-1 loss to Kingsport. Linza has an ERA of 0.82.
Wood bat leagues
Alex Litaker (East Rowan) won his second game of the summer for the Carolina Hurricanes in the Carolina-Virginia League.
Litaker pitched two scoreless innings in a 4-3 extra-inning victory against the Smoky Mountain Big Train. Litaker has pitched 21 innings in 10 relief appearances and still hasn’t allowed a run.
He has four saves and 22 strikeouts.
Prep cross country
East Rowan boys cross country practice will begin Monday, Aug. 1, at 9 a.m. at Dan Nicholas Park.
East Rowan girls cross country practice will begin Monday, Aug. 1, at 7 p.m., at the East Rowan YMCA.
All interested runners must have an up to date physical on the NCHSAA form.
Hoops clinic
Scooter Sherrill and Andre McCain, former West Rowan stars, are leading a strength and basketball development clinic to be held at Competitive Sports (645 Corporate Circle, Salisbury) on July 24-27.
Sessions are divided into groups for ages 7-9 and 10-12. The cost is $80 per child.
Register by e-mail at ssabsports@gmail.com or call McCain at 704-738-7990.
College basketball
Pfeiffer announced the hiring of three men’s basketball assistants — Donald Thomas, Dustin Alpert and Jason Moxley.
Local golf
In sectional qualifying for the North Carolina Amateur Match Play Championship, Salisbury resident Russ Adams, the former MLB infielder, qualified with a 72.
The cut line was 75. Salisbury’s Roy Dixon III shot 77. The tournament will be held at Bermuda Run Aug. 3-7.
Elliot Gealy (Salisbury) shot 75-72 — 147 and didn’t make the cut at the Nationwide Tour’s Children’s Hospital Invitational in Ohio. The cutline was 142.