HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Maiden’s Culliver says his pick is North Carolina

Blue Devils wide receiver ranked among best in the nation   By CHRIS HOBBS HobbsDailyReport.com MAIDEN — Maiden High star wide receiver Chris Culliver, who unofficially needs five catches to reach 100 for his career, celebrated July 4 by announcing he plans to sign with North Carolina. Culliver (6-foot-2, 180 pounds) posted his decision, as did Tar Heel Illustrated, on …

LEGION BASEBALL: Gaston Braves ride 7-run inning to win over Hickory

Matthews, Gastonia also take openers; Mint Hill-Caldwell County suspended in 4th   By CHRIS HOBBS HobbsDailyReport.com BELMONT – The Gaston Braves scored seven runs in the fourth inning on Saturday night, wiping out Hickory’s two-run lead en route to an 11-4 American Legion baseball playoff game victory. Dylan Owenby led Gaston (13-3) with two hits and drove in four runs …

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 …