Crawdads storm ahead early, knock out Power

The Hickory Crawdads scored twice in the first inning and added three more runs in the third to cruise past the West Virginia Power 7-2 on Wednesday in Charleston, W.Va.

The Crawdads started fast from the start when leadoff batter Jurickson Profar doubled and then scored on a double by Andrew Clark. A single by Joshua Richmond moved Clark to third and allowed him to score on a sacrifice fly from Odubel Herrrera for a 2-0 advantage.

Hickory got it going again in the top of the third when Profar reached after being hit by a pitch, Teodoro Martinez reached on a bunt single and both scored when Clark hit a line drive home run to left field for a 5-0 lead.

West Virginia got a run in the bottom of the third and another in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 5-2, but Hickory slammed the door with two runs in the top of the eighth.

Roman Mendez picked up the win, scattering six hits over five innings of work while striking out eight.

Clark had two hits and four RBI to lead Hickory. 

Hickory-Caldwell Legion playoff game postponed 

The fourth game of the American Legion Area IV semifinals between Hickory Post 48 and Caldwell County Post 29 was postponed Wednesday night due to a wet field at the Hickory Legion Fairgrounds.

Hickory leads the best-of-five series two games to one.

The fourth game has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Fairgrounds. A fifth game, if necessary, will be played Friday night at M.S. Deal Stadium in Granite Falls. 

Stars win one of four in Tennessee 

The Catawba Valley Stars salvaged being swept by the Smoky Mountain Big Train in Summer Collegiate baseball action in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. with a 3-2 win in the fourth game of a quadruple header.

The Stars got the win behind the pitching of Jordan Williams.

Jacob Wright had a home run ant two RBI, while Coty Pate had a two-run single.

Big Train won the first three games by scores of 3-1, 8-0 and 3-1.

The Stars return home for a doubleheader on Friday against the Myrtle Beach White Sox beginning at 5 p.m. 

BASKETBALL 

East Burke’s Byrd inks with CCC&TI 

Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute has signed East Burke guard Alicia Byrd to its women’s basketball program.

Byrd joins former Cavaliers Brittany Pennell and Dakota Crapps on the Cobras squad.

Byrd, a 5-foot-6 guard, averaged 12 points, 1.4 rebounds and two assists per game in leading the Cavaliers to a 20-9 record and state 2A playoff appearance.

She connected on 74 percent of her free throws during her senior year and was a two-time HDR Sports All-Greater Hickory selection. 

C.O. Miller Memorial basketball camp features Texas coach Rick Barnes 

The C.O. Miller Memorial basketball camp with Texas head coach Rick Barnes will be held on July 21 and 22 at Lenoir-Rhyne University, with registration at the Hickory Foundation YMCA.

Cost is $50 for YMCA members and $75 for program members.

Age groups are 6 through rising seventh-graders.

For more information, contact Nat Auten at 324-2858. 

GOLF 

Poston qualifies for National Big I Junior Tournament 

J.T. Poston of Hickory finished fourth with a six-under, 138 at the Independent Insurance state golf tournament held in Pinehurst this past weekend.

Poston had rounds of 72 and 66 to finish just behind Trevor Cone of Concord and Andy Simmons of Charlotte (137) and tournament winner William Blalock of Gastonia (136).

The top six players qualified to play in the national tournament in Madison, Miss. the first week of August.

Other area individuals in the tournament finishing out of the top six were: Tyler Lail of Conover (144), Alex Hefner of Conover (148), Hayden Bandy of Conover (149), Peter Harrill of Hickory (152), Frankie Wyatt of Hickory (174) and Drew Ramsey of Newton (176).  

CROSS COUNTRY 

Foard sets first meeting and practice 

Fred T. Foard High has released the date and time for the upcoming season's cross country runners.

The first meeting and practice will be held on Aug. 1 at 3 p.m. at the front entrance of the high school.

Proof of a physical examination is mandatory before a runner can begin practice.

For more information call Coach Steve Crowe at 704-462-1496 x5303.