Good morning, Hickory.

Two communities in the Hickory Metro received nearly $700,000 in state grants to boost business expansion and create jobs.

Claremont gets $500,000 for Prysmian Cables renovations (adding 385 jobs) while Lenoir gets $186,000 for Chase Corporation facility improvements that will generate 37 jobs; the announcement was made August 20.

At LP Frans Stadium on Saturday night, the Crawdads beat the Shorebirds 7-2 as Deward Tovar hit his 16th homer (a season high with 72 RBI) to boost their postseason push; they will wrap up their homestand today before starting a final road trip Sunday at 2 p.m.

On Friday night at LP Frans Stadium, Moises Morales pitched six scoreless innings to help the Crawdads secure a 3-0 win over the Delmarva Shorebirds with timely hits providing the edge.

The win improved Morales' record to 9-2 and sets the team up for their next series contest.

Fifteen-year-old Carter McMurray and Cody DeMarmels swept two NASCAR Local Racing Series feature races Saturday night at Hickory Motor Speedway; McMurray won both 40-lap Limited Late Model races while DeMarmels took both 20-lap Heritage Finance Street Stock contests.