HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL: Led by 5 from W. Lincoln, area has 36 all-state players

By CHRIS HOBBS HobbsDailyReport.com Thirty-six players from Greater Hickory area teams – 11 of them from the Western Foothills 3A and five from West Lincoln – have been selected all-state in softball. The North Carolina Softball Coaches Association (NCSCA) made the picks from among nominees whose head coaches are members of the organization. There are three area picks on the …

CRAWDADS: Shut out Grasshoppers in lightning-shortened home game

HobbsDailyReport.com HICKORY CRAWDADS   Saturday’s result at L.P. Frans Stadium:  Hickory 8, Greensboro 0, 7 inn. (suspended, lightning) Current record: 4-4, tied with Rome (Ga.) for fourth place in South Atlantic League South Division,  1 1/2 games behind leaders Asheville and Winston-Salem in second-half standings. First-half finish: 38-28, second behind division champion Bowling Green (Ky.) by 3 1/2 games Overall …

HUNTER HARVEY: Strikes out 2 before lightning halts first outing since late April

Former Bandys star on rehab assignment in Florida Complex League   By CHRIS HOBBS HobbsDailyReport.com WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Hunter Harvey pitched for the first time since late April on Saturday morning, striking out two before lightning suspended the Florida Complex League (FCL) Nationals’ game against the FCL Cardinals. The scoreless game was stopped after six minutes and did …

CRAWDADS: In fifth place after home loss against Greensboro

HobbsDailyReport.com HICKORY CRAWDADS   Friday’s result at L.P. Frans Stadium:  Greensboro 2, Hickory 1 Current record: 3-4, fifth place in South Atlantic League South Division, half-game behind Rome (Ga.) and Bowling Green (Ky.), who share fourth place,  1 1/2 games back of second-place Asheville, two games back of division-leading Winston-Salem in second-half standings. First-half finish: 38-28, second behind division champion …