Area Sports Overview:
The Kannapolis Region has won by default in the recent All-CCC Spring Team announcement. The Kannapolis American Legion baseball team won 12-11 against Matthews in the bottom of the 7th inning, thanks to Brooks Hubbard’s walk-off 2-run win. Similarly, Drew Blackwell scored the winning goal, with Aaron Jones as the winning pitcher. Jalan Chambers had two doubles and Daniel Savage scored 3 RBIs. All these players have contributed to Kannapolis’s success this year, with South Rowan (Hubbard, Jones, Coy, Brett Morris, Blackwell) and Carson (Savage) providing additional help.
In CCC Baseball, Carson Herndon, Salisbury, was named Central Carolina Coach of the Year, while Hank Webb, Evan Koontz, Mike Getter, and Aiden Mowry of Salisbury, along with Malachy Harris of North Rowan, were named in the All-CCC team. East Davidson’s Trey Kennedy was named CCC Player of the Year, and West Davidson’s Trent Lowe took the CCC Pitcher of the Year title.
Tyra Ward of All-CCC Women’s Track and Field North Rowan was the Sprint MVP of the Central Carolina Conference Track and Field. Brittany Ellis and Arnasheel Corning were crowned MVPs of the Cofield event, with East Davidson’s Fatima Cepeda named CCC Distance MVP. Many Salisbury and North Rowan players were also named All-CCC, and West Davidson’s Kenneth Elmore won the CCC Coach of the Year title for Women’s Track and Field.
Salisbury forward Romar Morris won the Central Carolina Conference Coach of the Year in Men’s Track and Field, while Salisbury’s Sean Young and Jesús Carmona of West Davidson were named Sprint MVP and Field MVP, respectively. South Davidson’s Ethan Byerley was named Distance MVP, and many Salisbury and North Rowan players were named on the All-CCC team. West Davidson’s Kenneth Elmore received the CCC Coach of the Year award for Men’s Track and Field.
In All-CCC Golf, Salisbury’s John McCoy was named the Central Carolina Conference Player of the Year, and Bryant Davis was runner-up. Bo Brinsfield, Jackson Spager, and Warren Fesperman of Salisbury were part of the All-CCC team, with Josh Brinsfield from Salisbury being named CCC Coach of the Year.
All-CCC Tennis saw Salisbury forward Gray Davis named the Central Carolina Conference Tennis Player of the Year, and Reid Flavacek, Wyatt Goodnight, Sawyer Cornelison, and Marcus Everson of Salisbury named on the All-CCC squad. Levi Braff of South Davidson was awarded the CCC Coach of the Year title.
North Rowan senior Chloe Stoner was named the Central Carolina Conference Player of the Year in All-CCC Softball. Katie Peeler, Ashley Yang, and Alison Peeler of Salisbury, and Hannah Rollins of West Davidson were part of the All-CCC team, with West Davidson’s Amanda Jones named CCC Coach of the Year.
In All-CCC Women’s Soccer, several Salisbury players were named to the All-Central Carolina Conference squad, with Matt Parrish from Salisbury being awarded the CCC Coach of the Year title. East Davidson’s Abby Connolly and West Davidson’s Allie Brown were named best backup offensive players, while West Davidson’s Olivia Snyder won the CCC Defensive Player of the Year title.
In College Baseball, Liberty’s Kane Kepley (South Rowan) was named to the Atlantic Sun Conference All-Freshman Team. UNC center fielder Vance Honeycutt (Salisbury) missed the ACC Tournament with a lower body injury, despite being named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Jack Weaver (S. Rowan) of Surrey Community College announced his baseball career will continue at Brevard, and Catawba announced the signing of West Cabarrus High School pitcher and infielder Trace Hamburger and Wilmington catcher Jack Cuba.
Catawba Men’s Basketball signed Justin Mitchell, Montlivis White, and Shad Thomas for the 2003-04 season, who all have a proven ability to win matches and will be a smooth transition into the program.
In HS Baseball, South Rowan lefty Heiden Leffe is scheduled for private training with two MLB teams and has been invited to pitch at the MLB Draft Combine in Phoenix.
Salisbury defensive back Deuce Walker has added an offer from Georgia State University in HS Football. Jaden Thompson of HS Basketball Central Caballas has been selected for the East-West All-Star Game.
Salisbury’s Hayley Dalton has signed with Winston-Salem State University’s women’s basketball program, while the Carson’s Borst sisters (Haley and Makaira) and East Rowan brothers Ritchie (Cameron and Carson) signed Pfeiffer in athletics and cross-country. East Rowan athletes Peyton Wicker, Dylan Valley, and Whit Horseman received $1,500 scholarships through the Ed Dupree Memorial Scholarship Program this year.
GARS members played at Warriors this week, with Larry Petrea, Ray Pope, John Kress, and Tommy Siemon winning their respective flights. Jim Brown was the super senior winner. Several players also scored shots of their age and older. Michelle Fredericksson scored a hole-in-one with Warrior, and entries are open for the 20th Annual Rowan Masters Tournament.
The team of Byron Seasley, Calvin Smith, Ralph & Pam Carver won the latest McCanless his couple event, with Ralph Carver scoring the longest putt closest to the pin. Pfeiffer lost 5-3 to Rowan in the regional championship game in Ohio in College Softball. Four Catawba Indians have qualified for the Division 2 National Championships in Men’s and Women’s Track and Field, with Barcha Walter, Mekayla White, Samantha Payne, and Madison Clay participating. Lastly, the SAS Championship HBCU Invitational will return in 2023 as part of the annual PGA Tour Champions Tournament.