Kannapolis guard commits to Virginia

COURTESY OF TEVEN JONES

Former A.L. Brown basketball star Teven Jones committed to the University of Virginia Wednesday, ESPN's Dave Telep reports.

Jones, who averaged 21 points per game for the Wonders as a senior last season, is attending prep school at Fishburne Military Academy, just west of Charlottesville, Va. He is the fourth pledge of a 2012 Cavalier class that some analysts rank among the nation’s top 15. The point guard will join center Mike Tobey as well as forwards Evan Nolte and Justin Anderson at Virginia next season.

"They see me fitting in there as a point guard," Jones told ESPN.com. "Their point guard is going to be a senior next year. With their recruiting class, they feel like I'm a steal because I was underrated a lot."

Jones was also an All-South Piedmont Conference wide receiver for the A.L. Brown football team.


- Freelance writer Jay Edwards contributed

Cougars ready to host invitational

Cannon School will the host the 13th annual Cannon Cross Country Invitational Sept. 10 at 8:15 a.m. Thirty-four schools from all over the region, both public and private, will participate in the meet. With more than 1,100 runners competing in varsity, junior varsity and middle school divisions, it will be the largest Cannon Invitational to date.

“With many teams and several top individuals returning to this year’s meet from last year’s record performances, it is shaping up to be one of the most competitive Cannon Invitationals ever,” said Russ Campbell, Cannon’s cross country coach.

Participating high schools include:

Augusta (Ga.) Prep

Cannon School

Central Cabarrus

Charlotte Country Day

Charlotte Latin

Cox Mill

Hickory Ridge

Jay M. Robinson Concord

Mount Pleasant

North Raleigh Christian

-Staff reports

Longtime Mount Pleasant AD has new job

Cabarrus County Schools superintendent Barry Shepherd announced a new appointment in his school system.

Gary Calamari, a longtime Cabarrus County Schools employee, has been named system's athletic director by the Board of Education.

Calamari joined Cabarrus County Schools in 1990 as a football and track coach at Northwest Cabarrus Middle. In 1994, he joined the staff at Mount Pleasant High as athletic director, serving in a number of coaching and administrative capacities. During his time at Mount Pleasant, he served as junior varsity as well as varsity football coach, softball coach and athletic conference president.

"I want to extend my thanks to Gary for his continued service to Cabarrus County Schools and wish him all the best as he begins his new assignment," said Shepherd in a statement.

Robinson pitcher commits to Winthrop

Jay M. Robinson pitcher Dallas King verbally committed to Winthrop University last night.

The rising senior went 16-5 with a 1.37 ERA while also hitting .380 for her Bulldog team. King also plays for the Carolina Angels, a Fort-Mill based showcase team where she is one of the top players this summer.

King is a two-time All-South Piedmont Conference and all-state selection with a 38-9 record in the past two seasons. She also has a 4.4 grade-point average in the classroom.

- Freelance writer Jay Edwards

Koerner, Seager named all-state

The N.C. Baseball Coaches Association named two local players, Jay M. Robinson's Brody Koerner and Northwest Cabarrus' Corey Seager, to its 3A all-state team.

Koerner was 6-3 on the mound for the Bulldogs while also recording 108 strikeouts and a 1.51 ERA. The rising senior was named the South Piedmont Conference Pitcher of the Year. Koerner, a Clemson commit, led Robinson (14-10, 9-6) to a fourth-place conference finish. The Bulldogs were the SPC tournament runners-up.

Seager had another good season as he led his Trojans (18-8, 12-2) to a share of the SPC regular season championship. The shortstop, who has committed to play at South Carolina, seems to be following in the footsteps of his older brother, Kyle, on his way to NCAA and possibly professional baseball. His other brother, Justin, plays at UNC Charlotte.

Here is a complete list of the NCBCA 3A all-state baseball team:

Parker Lamm, Wilson Hunt
Benton Moss, Rocky Mount
Seth Bresseale, Union Pines
Peter Owens, Chapel Hill
Jordan Deloatch, DH Conley
Zach Mozingo, Eastern Wayne
Ryne Rush, Asheboro
Brody Koerner, J.M. Robinson
Nick Monroe, Eastern Alamance
Sean Grant, West Iredell
Alex Jensen, Charlotte Catholic
Jordan Newsome, Weddington
Josh Vales, Currituck
Brian Hardy, North Lenoir
Corey Seager, Northwest Cabarrus
Colby Fox, North Buncombe
Kevin Wise, Southern Wayne
Jon Taylor, CB Aycock
Garrett Brown, Erwin
Spencer Wiles, Belmont South Point
Jeffrey Springs, Belmont South Point (2011 3-A Player of the Year)
Dylan Baker, West Henderson
Chastin Radford, North Lenoir
John Edwards, Jacksonville
Luis Paula, Northeast Guilford
Damon Hogg ard, West Carteret
Pete Guy, Ledford

Seager recalled to Triple-A

Photo courtesy of Ben Van Houten/Seattle Mariners

After a 15-day stint with the Seattle Mariners, former Northwest Cabarrus baseball player Kyle Seager was optioned back to Class AAA Tacoma, Wash., the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports.

Seager, who was drafted in 2009 out of North Carolina, only had three hits in his 15 days in the majors. The 23-year-old had been called up to the MLB on July 6, making his debut the next day against the Angels in Anaheim, Calif.

Kyle Seager makes MLB debut

Former Northwest Cabarrus and North Carolina baseball standout Kyle Seager made his Major League Baseball debut for the Seattle Mariners Thursday.

The 23-year-old Kannapolis native, who started his first game at third base against the L.A. Angels, was called up by the Mariners after spending less than two weeks at Class AAA Tacoma (Wash.) Rainiers.

He batted .455 and hit two home runs and 12 RBIs for the team after being bumped up from Class AA Jackson (Tenn.) Generals June 23.

Seager hit .312 and recorded 37 RBIs and 25 doubles in 66 games for the Generals, being named to the Southern League All-Star Game.

Seager, who was drafted in 2009, led UNC to three consecutive NCAA College World Series.

Seager went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in his MLB debut. Seager, his former Tar Heel teammate Dustin Ackley, Seattle's second baseman, and the rest of the Mariners will again take on the Angels tonight.

Kannapolis native Kyle Seager (left), who was just called up to the majors, can't make the tag on time as L.A. Angels shortstop Erick Aybar slides at third base. AP photo

Kyle Seager was an All-American standout at Northwest Cabarrus. File photo - John W. Adkisson