Concord High to rename baseball field

Concord High School will have a dedication ceremony to officially rename its baseball field to honor former coach Bill Ford Friday at 6:30 p.m. before the Spiders' regular-season finale against rival A.L. Brown.

The school announced its plans to rename the field earlier this year. On Feb. 5, Ford, who from 1960-1989 was a fixture at Concord High serving as its baseball coach, athletic director and driver's education teacher, was recognized for his career between the Spiders' varsity basketball games.

Eagle signs with St. Andrews

First Assembly Christian senior Nate Cantadore signed to play basketball with St. Andrews University, a school in Laurinburg that competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Cantadore, a co-captain for the NCISAA 2A state runner-up Eagles, was an All-Metrolina Athletic Conference selection after averaging 15.2 points per game. The shooting guard led the team with a 92 percent free-throw average as well as with 3.2 three-pointers per game.

(From left) First Assembly coach Frankie Cantadore, Nate Cantadore, Frank Cantadore, his father, and Andrew Brown, St. Andrews University head coach

Cabarrus, Rowan baseball teams to face at tournament

The third-annual F&M Bank High School Baseball Classic returns to CMC-NorthEast Stadium, home of the Kannapolis Intimidators, with an expanded 10-school field from Cabarrus and Rowan counties facing off April 4-6 for the Classic Cup and bragging rights.

East Rowan, West Rowan, South Rowan, Carson and Salisbury will represent Rowan County, while Northwest Cabarrus, A.L. Brown, Mount Pleasant, Jay M. Robinson and Concord will participate from Cabarrus County.

CMC-NorthEast Stadium will host five games a day during the tournament.

Tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and free for children 4 and younger.  A three-day tournament pass is $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors.

F&M Bank High School Baseball Classic schedule

Thursday, April 4th

9:00 a.m. - Mt. Pleasant vs. Carson

11:30 p.m. - Concord vs. West Rowan

2:00 p.m. - J.M. Robinson vs. East Rowan

4:30 p.m. - NW Cabarrus vs. S. Rowan

7:00 p.m. - A.L. Brown vs. Salisbury

Friday, April 5th

9:00 a.m. - Northwest Cabarrus vs. Carson

11:30 a.m. - JM Robinson vs. Salisbury

2:00 p.m. - A.L. Brown vs. West Rowan

4:30 p.m. - Mt. Pleasant vs. East Rowan

7:00 p.m. - Concord vs. South Rowan

Saturday, April 6th

9:00 a.m. - Concord vs. Salisbury

11:30 a.m. - J.M. Robinson vs. Carson

2:00 p.m. - A.L. Brown vs. South Rowan

4:30 p.m. - Mt. Pleasant vs. West Rowan

7:00 p.m. - Northwest Cabarrus vs. East Rowan

All-SPC 3A basketball, wrestling honors

All-South Piedmont Conference boys’ basketball team

Reid Aube, Concord

Darren Black, Concord

Connor Burchfield, Concord

Jerry Burk, Concord

Derrick Copeland, A.L. Brown

Tevin Stark, A.L. Brown

J.D. Murray, Northwest Cabarrus

Andrew Wheet, Northwest Cabarrus

Matt Morgan, Cox Mill

William Scott, Robinson

Jordan McKenzie, Robinson

Nick Hough, Hickory Ridge

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

Derrick Copeland – A.L. Brown

COACH OF THE YEAR:

Shelwyn Klutz – A.L. Brown

All-South Piedmont Conference girls’ basketball team

Madison Fulford, Robinson

Rachel Cook, Robinson

Kelsi Mahoney, Robinson

Shatya Bost, Northwest Cabarrus

Nakiah Black, Concord

Danica Ford, Concord

Divonnie Powell, Central Cabarrus

Raven Pfifer, A.L. Brown

Autona Grant, A.L. Brown

Kiana Davis, Hickory Ridge

Aalyan Earl, Cox Mill

Victoria Harper, Mount Pleasant                                                   

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

Divonnie Powell – Central Cabarrus

COACH OF THE YEAR:

Kate Jenis – Cox Mill

All-South Piedmont Conference wrestling team

David Cline, 106, Robinson

Heath Gleaton, 113, Central Cabarrus

Nick Sexton, 113, A.L. Brown

Troy Gregor, 120, Hickory Ridge

Richard White, 120, A.L. Brown

Jonah Swinson, 126, Robinson

Benny Guadarrama, 132, Northwest Cabarrus

Hamilton Jones, 138, Robinson

Kyle Ocker, 145, Cox Mill

Jake Glunt, 152, Robinson

Kenan Robertson, 160, Robinson

Shane Lawless, 160, Central Cabarrus

Blake Hooks, 170, Mount Pleasant

Xavier Medina, 170, Robinson

Ryan Johns, 182, Mount Pleasant

Demetrey Benton, 182, Hickory Ridge

Tommy McCrimmon. 195, Mount Pleasant

Harrison Marchese, 220, Robinson

Nico McClure, 285, A.L. Brown

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

Kenan Robertson – Robinson

COACH OF THE YEAR:

Jerome Davis – Robinson

Four Cabarrus County wrestlers win titles

Central Cabarrus, Jay M. Robinson and Hickory Ridge wrestlers claimed state championships at Saturday's N.C. High School Athletic Association wrestling tournament at Greensboro Coliseum.

The first champion of the night was Robinson 160-pounder Kenan Robertson. The senior defeated Hillsborough Orange's David Peters-Logue in a hard-fought 2-1 decision to win his weight-class title.

“This is the best,” said Robertson. “Everything I’ve done in my life – every practice I went to – all comes up to this moment: winning tfhis, being a state champ.”

Robertson, who also won the 160-pound South Piedmont Conference and 3A Midwest regional titles, finished his senior season with a 47-3 record.

His teammate, Robinson 106-pounder David Cline, was next county wrestler to win a championship.

Cline, a freshman, pinned his opponents, Orange's Joe Scott, in 55 seconds.

"He just walked into that one," said Cline. "He went out there and he gave me my best move."

Cline, who finished his year 53-6, credited his fellow Bulldogs for his early success.

"I had great practice partners who helped me get better, get through everything," he said. "If I didn't have them, I wouldn't be here."

Robinson also placed Morris Andujar (sixth at 120), Jonah Swinson (sixth at 126), Hamilton Jones (fourth at 138) and Jake Glunt (third at 152) to finish as 3A team runner-up.

"We've worked really hard," said proud Bulldogs' coach Jerome Davis. "You couldn't ask for a better group of kids."

At 113 pounds, Central Cabarrus' Heath Gleaton became the first Viking wrestler to win a state title since 2005 by defeating East Rowan's Jason Deutsch 11-4.

"It's amazing," the junior said. "I've worked all season as long as hard as I could, trained hour after hour and this is the results. It's paid off."

Gleaton was tied 2-2 at the beginning of the third period, but his aggressiveness allowed him to get a few takedowns and a near fall to build up a 11-2 lead.

"I just kept pushing myself," said Gleaton, who was 45-2 this season. "I figured that if I took him down one time, I could take him down again and break his will."

In the last match of the night, Hickory Ridge junior Troy Gregor won the 120-pound 3A title.

"It's a dream," said Gregor, who defeated Asheboro's Sawyer Davidson 8-2 to finish his year 43-2.

"I'm really proud of myself. I just want to keep working hard, keep achieving goals. ... It starts from here. This is just the beginning."

Gregor is the Ragin' Bulls' first-ever state wrestling champion.

"It means the world," said Hickory Ridge coach Patrick Helm. "He's a great kid. ... He leads our team by example. He's not a real big 'rah-rah' type of guy, but when he steps on the mat, he's all business.

Four individual state champions is one of the best performances Cabarrus County wrestlers have ever had in one year.

Gleaton credits that to the competition area wrestlers face.

"We've got a real tough conference," he said.

Concord ousted in sectional final

Concord's boys' basketball team lost to Harding 71-65 in the third round of the NCHSAA 3A playoffs to end its season on Friday night.

The Spiders, the SPC regular-season champions, finished their year 24-3.

Cabarrus athletes to wrestle for state titles

Four Cabarrus County wrestlers will compete for state championships Saturday at the N.C. High School Athletic Association wrestling tournament at Greensboro Coliseum.

Jay M. Robinson’s David Cline (106 pounds) and Kenan Robertson (160) as well as Central Cabarrus’ Heath Gleaton (113) and Hickory Ridge’s Try Gregor (120) reached the 3A state championship matches in their respective weight classes.

For more, see the full brackets.

Spider reach sectional finals

Concord's boys' basketball team defeated Weddington in Wednesday's second round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs to move on to the sectional finals.

The Spiders will host Harding Friday at 7 p.m.

Jay M. Robinson, the only Cabarrus County girls' basketball team to get out of the first round, lost a close game to Carson to end its season. The Lady Bulldogs finish their year 23-6.

Second round scores

3A boys

(1) Concord def. (9) Weddington at 68-56

3A girls

(11) Carson def. (3) Jay M. Robinson 59-57

Third round (Friday)

3A boys

(5) Harding (15-10) at (1) Concord (24-2)

Black named to all-star game

Concord senior guard Darren Black will represent North Carolina at the Carolinas All-Star Basketball Classic.

Black, who was chosen by the N.C. Coaches Association, and his North Carolina team will face South Carolina's all-star on March 23 at Socastee High (S.C.).

Black is second for the Spiders in scoring, averaging 15 points per game. Only junior Connor Burchfield averages more, with 18.8 a game.

Click here for more on the All-Star Basketball classic and for full boys' and girls' rosters.

Spiders, Bulldogs move on to second round

Cabarrus County high school basketball teams didn't have much luck in the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs.

Of the 10 boys' and girls' basketball teams that qualified for the playoffs, only two won first-round games on Monday night.

On the boys' side, South Piedmont Conference regular-season champion Concord defeated Central Cabarrus in the first round. The Spiders, the No. 1 seed in the Midwest region of the bracket, will host Weddington on Wednesday in the second round.

Jay M. Robinson was the lone girls' team to reach the second round, defeating Ledford Monday. The Lady Bulldogs will host Carson on Wednesday.

Here are the first-round score and second-round matchups for local teams (in bold):

Boys tournament

(1) Concord def. (16) Central Cabarrus 89-39
(3) Statesville def. (14) Northwest Cabarrus 104-64
(6) North Forysth def. (11) A.L. Brown 82-75

(10) Charlotte Berry Academy def. (7) Cox Mill 58-57

Wednesday's second round

(9) Weddington (15-12) at (1) Concord (23-2)

Girls tournament

(1) Ledford def. (16) A.L. Brown 51-28

(4) Weddington def. (13) Northwest Cabarrus 55-32

(3) Jay Robinson def. (14) East Rowan 62-45

(7) Southwestern Randolph def. (10) Concord 62-48

(2) Harding University def. (15) Central Cabarrus 60-36

Wednesday's second round

(11) Carson 20-7 at (3) Jay M. Robinson (23-5)

For more, see the full 3A boys and girls brackets.