by Andrew Stark
McCarton, Andone join Ravens coaching staff
Rocky River High School has rounded out its spring sports coaching staff with the hiring of two new coaches: Jessica McCarton and Emily Andone.
McCarton takes over the Ravens volleyball team. She served the past two seasons as the JV team head coach and was a varsity assistant coach. McCarton takes over for Jonathan Lamb, who is the Ravens new athletics director.
“We went through the interview process, but we wanted to stay in-house if we could,” Lamb said. “I saw how Jessica handled running the girls through drills and knew she was a strong candidate. Plus, she has been in the program for the past two years and will have a seamless transition.”
Andone is Rocky River’s new boys soccer coach. Andone takes over for Jason Zach, who left to coach Waxhaw Marvin Ridge. She previously coached at the Savannah (Ga.) Soccer Academy.
Mint Hill softball team wins Char-Meck tourney
The Mint Hill Athletic Association 8-and-under softball team closed out its season on a high note, winning the Charlotte-Mecklenburg all-star tournament in Mint Hill.
The team secured the No.1 seed in pool play before entering the playoffs.
Mint Hill Army’s season comes to an end
The Mint Hill Army American Legion baseball team’s season came to an end with a 5-3 loss to Rutherford County on July 5 during the Area IV Eastern Division playoffs.
The Army finished the year with a 15-7 record.
Chase Gehringer, a Butler graduate, led the team with a .408 batting average. Bulldog alum Dalton Eisenbath paced the Army with four home runs. Eisenbath and fellow Bulldog Tommy Ollis, who are both Mars Hill College recruits, tied for the team lead with 17 RBIs.
On the mound, Eisenbath joined the Charlotte Stampede’s David Bancroft and Indian Trail Porter Ridge’s Sergio Patsy with a team-high three wins.
Independence Green/Gold football game set
Independence High School will host the second annual Green/Gold football scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 11.
The game features Independence JV and varsity players and will be played at 6 p.m. Admission is $2.
Rocky River hosts football jamboree
Rocky River will host the second annual CarolinaPreps.com football jamboree on Friday, Aug. 10.
The event, which begins at 6 p.m., will feature two state champions from last season, as Greensboro Page (Class 4AA) and Northern Guilford (3A) will join the Ravens, Independence, South Mecklenburg, Olympic and Monroe Sun Valley on the field in full-length two-quarter competitions.
The jamboree will be the final tune-up for the Ravens and Patriots before opening their seasons the following week. On Aug. 17, Rocky River will travel to West Mecklenburg, and Independence will host Cornelius’ Hough High. The two Mint Hill rivals will square off at Rocky River on Oct. 12.
Mint Hill Mystic advances to state tournament
The Mint Hill Mystic all-star baseball team recently qualified for the 10U Little League state tournament.
The Mystic secured its spot in the state tournament by defeating CoulOak, 17-9, in its final game.
Register for Matthews softball leagues
Registration for the Matthews Softball Association’s 2012 fall leagues has begun and ends Aug. 2.
The MSA offers T-softball, coach-pitch and fast-pitch teams for girls ages 4-16. Registered players will take part in an assessment day on Aug. 4 at Matthews Elementary School to determine skill classifications.
Fees start at $25 per season for T-softball and $145 for players who register for fast-pitch leagues before the Aug. 4 assessment day. Financial assistance is available.
For questions or to get more information on MSA, visit www.matthewssoftball.org or send an e-mail to Bryan Combs at deacon89@carolina.rr.com.
Covenant Day to hold two tennis camps
Covenant Day tennis coach George Wolbers will host two tennis camps Monday, July 23-Thursday, July 26, at the school’s courts.
The morning camp, for youths ages 7-9, will be held from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and costs $75.
The afternoon session is for campers ages 10 through high school seniors and will run each day from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided daily from Subway. The cost for this camp is $150.
For more information, contact Wolbers at gwolbers10s@aol.com or call 704-840-9285. To register, contact Mary Hill at mhill@covenantday.org.
Fincher named Freshman All-American
Former Providence High School star and current N.C. State baseball player Jake Fincher has been named to Baseball America’s 2012 Freshman All-American second team.
Fincher, a 6-foot center fielder, started 57 games for the Wolfpack this past season. He hit .300 in 210 at-bats and recorded seven doubles, six triples, one homerun and 23 RBIs and also stole 16 bases.
Providence Day hosts Sean May camp
Providence Day School will host the sixth annual Sean May Basketball Camp Monday, July 23-Friday, July 27.
The camp, which runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will teach boys ages 7-15 offensive and defensive techniques, strength and conditioning, and a variety of drills. There will be playoff and championship games throughout the week, and campers will be taught how to read game film.
In addition, May, a former University of North Carolina and Charlotte Bobcats player, will stress the importance of life skills, including good sportsmanship, discipline, dedication and citizenship.
Guest speakers will include former Tar Heels and current NBA players Marvin Williams and Brendan Haywood, in addition to local athletes and coaches.
Campers will receive lunch, drinks and snacks each day and will be given T-shirts, wristbands, backpacks, pictures and other basketball giveaways. The cost per camper is $310.
Grand Slam USA baseball camps under way
Grand Slam USA, an indoor baseball and softball teaching facility, is hosting a series of summer baseball camps at the Matthews Athletic Recreation Association fields.
The camps are open to boys of any skill level ages 5-12, and there are two remaining sessions: July 30-Aug. 3 and Aug. 6-10. Each session runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The camp is designed to be an instructional day camp in which players are grouped based on skill and age levels. Every aspect of the game will be covered. During morning sessions, individual instruction will be the focus, while afternoon sessions will feature instructional scrimmages to develop team-oriented skills.
The coaching staff features former Major League Baseball players as well as collegiate and high school players and coaches.
The cost per camper is $190, which includes a camp T-shirt and a camper evaluation.
For more information, visit www.grandslamusa.org or call 704-847-5333.
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