MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: Deal goes 6 innings, finishes with 7 strikeouts

By CHRIS HOBBS HobbsDailyReport.com Hayden Deal had perhaps his best start of the season on Saturday night for the Double-A Mississippi Braves. Deal, a former star left-hander at Bandys High, worked six innings in a 3-2 victory over visiting Birmingham (Ala.) and struck out seven. Throwing strikes on 59 of his 87 pitches and facing 21 batters, he allowed four …

CRAWDADS: Drive ties it in 9th inning, wins it in 10th

HobbsDailyReport.com HICKORY CRAWDADS   Sunday’s result at Greenville, S.C.: Greenville, S. C. 9, Hickory 8 , 10 inn. Current record: 15-27, seventh place in High-A East South Division, 13 games back of division-leading Bowling Green (Ky.) Next game: Tuesday, home vs. Bowling Green (Ky.),  7 p.m. This series: Tuesday through Sunday vs. Bowling Green (Ky.) at L.P. Frans Stadium; Tuesday …

HIGH SCHOOLS: Hibriten edges Foard for Northwestern Foothills 2A Wells Fargo Cup

By CHRIS HOBBS HobbsDailyReport.com Hibriten High won titles in softball and girls’ track to edge Fred T. Foard for the Northwestern Foothills 2A’s Wells Fargo Cup. In totals released by conference officials, the Panthers finished with 765 points and the Tigers — who had the best points total for spring sports — closed at 757.5. Patton took third (690), followed …

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: Jarrett goes hitless in shutout loss to Durham

By CHRIS HOBBS HobbsDailyReport.com The Durham Bulls shut out Norfolk (Va.) 9-0 on Saturday night, when Zach Jarrett was hitless for the Tides. Jarrett, a former star at Hickory High and in college at Charlotte, went 0-for-4 and struck out twice. He batted fifth in the Norfolk batting order and started in right field. Jarrett’s batting average dipped to .284. …