Published: 12:33 AM, Sun Jun 27, 2010
Prep notes: Jones' homer record certified by state
Leah Jones' state record for home runs in fast-pitch softball has been officially certified by the N.C. High School Athletic Association.
Jones finished the 2010 season with 18 home runs. She did have some competition for the honor, beating out Dallas Heaton of Eastern Randolph. Heaton was No. 2 on the season home run list with 15.
The state association approved several new state marks for softball as it updated its online state record book Friday. You can view the record book at www.nchsaa.org. Follow the links to NCHSAA Record Book and fast-pitch softball.
One former local player, South View's Kassie Norton, lost her state record for most hits in a career. Norton was the leader with 184, set from 1998-2001. She was passed this year by Kayla Myers of Swain County, who finished the season with 188. Myers played from 2007-10.
Norton still holds the state record for doubles in a career, 52. Myers made a run at that record as well, but finished her career tied for second with 45.
Norton also holds state records for season RBIs, 54, and career RBIs, 170.
All-star soccer
Two Cape Fear region players have been named to the soccer rosters for this summer's East-West All-Star girls' and boys' games in Greensboro.
Midfielder Jake Brower of Southern Lee has been named to the East boys' team, while Catherine Coleman of Clinton has been picked to the East girls' team.
Both games are scheduled for July 20 at UNC-Greensboro's soccer stadium.
Careful in heat
With the intense heat so far this summer, and many high school athletes engaged in outdoor off-season workouts preparing for the fall season, it's important to keep a close watch on the heat index to know when to curtail or stop outdoor activities.
A device called a sling psychrometer is used to measure relative humidity and give coaches and athletic trainers numbers to use when deciding if it's too hot to practice. But the traditional sling psychrometer is expensive, prices ranging from $90 to $200 depending on what kind of bells and whistles you get with it.
There's a cheaper device available for coaches and others who'd like to have something that's both portable and functional and provides information similar to what the psychrometer does.
A company called Extech Instruments makes a device called a Heat Watch. It doubles as a standard watch and stopwatch, with the usual lap, split and time settings.
But it also measures heat and humidity and gives you a readout on the heat index. That heat index feature can be used to match with charts available that show when it's dangerous to continue outdoor activities.
A lot of people don't appreciate the role humidity plays in heat illness and can be fooled in thinking that when the temperature is down in the 80s, you can safely continue to work out outdoors.
Prices for the Heat Watch range from $39.95 to $61. The device is available online at a number of sites, or you can contact local sporting goods store and see if they stock it.
N.C. connection
John Isner, who was the winner of that marathon tennis match at Wimbledon this week, has a North Carolina high school connection.
Isner attended Greensboro Page High School, and in 2001, he defeated Will Plyler of Raleigh Broughton to win the N.C. High School Athletic Association's 4-A singles championship.
Isner led his Page team to the 4-A dual team tennis title, as well, as they beat Terry Sanford in the state finals 6-3.
But the 2001 tennis season wasn't a total disappointment for Terry Sanford as Stephen Mantzouris and Bryant Tran teamed to win the 4-A doubles state championship.
Scholastic sports editor Earl Vaughan Jr. can be reached at vaughane@fayobserver.com or 486-3519.