What’s Up in Local Sports

By Calvin Hastings

The City of Shelby is in the final three for the rights to host the American Legion World Series starting in 2011.   If selected, Shelby would become the permanent host bringing in several thousand people each year.   The selection team will now pay a visit to Shelby and Cleveland County on March 19th for a three day inspection.   Shelby was host to the event in 2008.

Girls fastpitch signups are now underway thru Monday, March 8th at the Shelby City Park.  Additional signups will be held on Saturday, March 6th.   Fees are $22.00 for Shelby residents and $37.00 for all others.   Tryout days will be announced with practices beginning in March.   For more information contact the Shelby City Park at 704-484-6881.

Congratulations to Ashbrook’s Jordan Toomer!  Toomer signed last week to play football at N.C. Central.   Toomer was named all-conference after rushing for 642 yards and five touchdowns for the Greenwave.

Ashbrook’s Christian Insley has signed to play football at North Carolina A & T.   Tinsley played linebacker for the Greenwave and registered 90 tackles.   Insley was an All-Conference selection.

Former Burns graduate Matthew Toney has been hired as equipment manager for the Jacksonville Jaguars.   Toney was a walk on kicker at North Carolina before becoming the Tar Heel’s equipment manager.

Congratulations to former Burns Bulldog Scottie Montgomery!   Montgomery has been hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers as wide receivers coach.   Montgomery held the same job for the past four years at Duke University.   Montgomery played at Duke and finished his career second in career receptions and fourth in receiving yards.

Lincolnton’s Steve Marin and former N.C. State baseball player was inducted into the Uni-varsities Baseball Hall of Fame last Saturday night.   Martin played at N.C. State from 1967-1969 and played for the Wolfpack in the 1968 World Series.   Martin along with Dan Plesac and Doug Strange will be inducted into the Lincolnton Sports Hall of Fame.   Martin was a 1968 All-ACC player and finished his career with a career .337 average.

Congratulations to former Lincolnton basketball player Ashley Thackeray.   Thackeray was named the Southern Virginia Athlete of the Week for February 1st-6th.  Thackeray scored 17 points in leading the Knights to a come from behind win over Washington Adventist on February 4th.

East Gaston full back Thadus Benton has signed to play football at Brevard.   Benton rushed for 1,362 yards and scored 14 touchdowns last season for the Warriors.

Two East Lincoln girls soccer players have signed letters of intent.   Rebekka Glass signed to play at Pfeiffer University in Charlotte.    Glass was named the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A Conference Player of the Year.   And, Kasi Benskin signed a letter of intent to play at Erskine University in Due West, South Carolina.

Hats off to Perry Floyd!  The 2006 Forestview Jaguar  and Wingate running back was named second team NCAA Division II All-American by Dan Hansen’s Football Gazette last week.    Floyd had 1,105 all purpose yards and earned first team All-South Atlantic conference for the Bulldogs as a return specialist.

Forestview senior golfer James Chapman has committed to play golf at N.C. State.   Chapman placed third at last year’s North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3A State Championships.   Chapman plans to sign with the Wolfpack in April.

As you’re reading this column area high school basketball tournaments are underway.   Most area  conference finals are set for Friday night.   Check with your local daily newspapers and radio stations for final schedules.   Many area teams had to finish off their regular season on Monday and Tuesday nights because of  snowed out games.

The What’s Up Shopper wants to congratulate all the regular season basketball conference winners.   The Forestview girls won the Big South 3A with a perfect 12-0 conference record.  The Forestview boys and the Hunter Huss boys shared the boys title with 11-1 records.   North Lincoln took the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A title with a 13-1 conference mark.  Cherryville’s boys won their title with a 13-1 conference record.   The Freedom girls won the South Mountain Athletic Conference regular season title while the East Rutherford boys took home the boys regular season championship.

The Gastonia Grizzlies have re-signed their all time home run leader.   Randolph Oduber will return to the Grizzlies again this season from Western Oklahoma.   Oduber blasted nine home runs last season to break the team record of seven set by Seth Waller in 2007.   Oduber was a 48th round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants in 2009 and has signed to play baseball at Oklahoma State.   Oduber was rated the 11th best prospect in the Coastal Plains League.   The Grizzlies will open their season on May 27th.

Gardner Webb sophomore Nick Kelly set a school record in the 3000 meter run at the men’s and women’s indoor track and field competition last weekend at Clemson.   Kelly posted a school record time of 8:35:36 which was good enough for third place overall.   Margaret Roundtree of Gardner Webb was named the Big South Conference Women’s Choice Hotels Player of the Week.   Roundtree averaged 20.3 points per game leading the Lady Dogs to three Big South Conference road wins.

Gardner Webb’s Erica White has been named the Crons Brand Freshman of the Week in tennis for the Big South Conference.   White is the first member of the Gardner Webb women’s team to earn the honor.

Believe it or not it’s baseball season!   The Gardner Webb Bulldogs open their 54 game schedule on Friday, February 19th on the road at Western Carolina.   And because of the work in building the new John Henry Moss Stadium on the Gardner Webb campus, the Bulldogs will play their games at McNair Field in Forest City, Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, Fraley Field in Cherryville along with Wofford and USC Upstate in Spartanburg.