High School Sports Update 05.19.15
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↑NCHSAA softball: State championships moving from Raleigh’s Walnut Creek Softball complex to college campuses this year. Games will played at N.C. State and UNC-Greensboro.
↑Malia Ellington, Community School of Davidson girls track: named NCHSAA female performer of the week. Ellington was named MVP of the N.C. 1A state track finals for the second year in a row after winning three individual events and running on a winning relay.
↑Joey Hatala, Marvin Ridge tennis: Led his team to a 5-4 win over Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons in Saturday’s N.C. 3A dual team championship. He won his No. 2 singles match and combined with Avanish Madhavaram to win No. 1 doubles. He was named match MVP and NCHSAA male performer of the week.
↑Providence baseball: Panthers went to Hudson Tuesday and upset the nation’s No. 5 team, holding off South Caldwell 8-7 in the third round of the 4A playoffs. South Caldwell was undefeated previously. Austin Leonard was the winning pitcher.
Providence baseball upsets South Caldwell 8-7
Providence led 3-0 after the top of the first inning but was down 4-3 at the end of the first. The Panthers (26-4) eventually took a 7-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh and were three outs away, but South Caldwell tied it. The Panthers scored in the top of the eighth and made it stand up, upsetting nationally ranked South Caldwell.
Providence catcher Andrew Fishel had three RBI and 12 put outs. Second baseman Satchel Jerzembeck had two RBI, and starting pitcher Josh Hiatt threw 61/3 innings, struck out seven. Leonard pitched 12/3 innings in relief, with three strikeouts.
Three Observer-area lacrosse teams advanced to N.C. state championship games Tuesday night.
In the boys 1A/2A/3A, Marvin Ridge beat Northern Guilford 17-2. Marvin Ridge will play either Cedar Ridge or Cardinal Gibbons in Saturday’s 4 p.m. state final at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. Marvin Ridge lost 11-8 to Cardinal Gibbons in the 2014 state final.
▪ In the boys 4A, Charlotte Catholic beat Winston-Salem Reynolds 13-6 on the road and will play in Friday’s 7:30 p.m. final against Apex at WakeMed. Catholic beat Apex 11-8 in the 2014 final. Apex won the 2013 state title.
▪ Lake Norman’s girls topped Southeast Guilford to advance. Lake Norman will play Cardinal Gibbons in Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. final. Lake Norman will go for its first state championship.
Tuesday’s Top Performers
Kiana Millsaps, Alexander Central softball: improved to 29-0 as a pitcher after Tuesday’s 10-4 win over Northwest Guilford. She was 2-for-4 batting with three RBIs. She set a new state record for RBIs with 65. She broke the record of 64 set by former Alexander Central star Taylor Wike (64).
Max Wotell, Marvin Ridge baseball: improved to 11-0 as a pitcher in Tuesday’s 9-0 win over Weddington. He was 3-for-4 batting as well. Weddington got one hit.
Robert Hollis named basketball coach at West Meck
Robert Hollis is switching basketball jobs at West Mecklenburg High. He will move for head girls coach to head boys coach.
Hollis replaces William Blackburn who was 9-14 in 2014-15. Hollis’ girls team was 12-12 last season.
Hollis will be West Meck’s third coach in three seasons.
“We are pleased to have coach Hollis leading our boys program,” West Meck atheltics director Vernon Hunter said.
This story was originally published May 19, 2015 at 11:17 PM with the headline "High School Sports Update 05.19.15."