By Mike London
Salisbury Post
SALISBURY – Rowan County American Legion baseball coach Seth Graham feels good about Sunday’s sign-ups at Post 342.
Good, not great, because Rowan won’t have any players from half the county’s public schools. The programs at Salisbury and North Rowan are having some struggles, so it was no surprise that no Hornets or Cavaliers signed up.
But East Rowan is a different story. The Mustangs, South Piedmont Conference champs, are as good as ever, but won’t be represented on this summer’s Legion team. The best Mustangs generally play high-level travel ball. The team’s senior star, Harrison Ailshie, is a UNC recruit and a potential high draft pick.
East second baseman Jarad Osterhus, who is very good, did come to the sign-ups.
“I talked to Jarad,” Graham said. “He came to see what it was all about, but he’s got several trips planned this summer and he decided not to play. So we won’t have any East guys again. That’s a shame.”
That doesn’t mean Rowan can’t make the Legion state tournament and it doesn’t mean Rowan can’t win the state championship.
Rowan was 29-11 last season and made the state tournament.
Graham’s West Rowan High team boasts a powerful lineup, and just about all of them are on board for Rowan Legion duty this summer. That includes center fielder/pitcher Maddox Moore, a UNC Pembroke signee, and young catcher Brody Pope. Those two are terrific players who will be making their Legion debuts.
The Falcons will have a solid group from Carson joining them. The Rowan squad also will get some help from South Rowan, not the team’s biggest stars, but two very good players.
Those South players – outfielder Drew Pegram and pitcher Colton Helms – will be playing on their home field this summer, as Rowan Legion plans to play all of its home games at the South field. The next phase of reconstruction at Newman Park will start as soon as Catawba’s baseball season ends, so South will serve as the temporary home for the Legion program.
There’s been Legion baseball in Rowan County since 1936, with the only interruptions being World War II and COVID.
The Carson contingent includes Rowan Legion veterans Kendal Sifford, a right-hander pitcher recruited by Catawba, and Cameron Williamson, a second baseman who also can pitch. Williamson caught some last summer when Rowan needed a backup catcher.
Sifford has swung the bat with some authority as a senior, so he could get some ABs.
Carson senior Maverick Walters, a lefty pitcher who was recruited by Charleston Southern, signed up for Legion. He’s been limited to outfield duty for the Cougars, but he swings a strong bat and is a capable outfielder. He actually played a bit of Legion ball for Rowan several years ago before he started high school.
Carson pitchers Dylan Alexander and Jacob Prevette plan to play for Rowan Legion for the first time. They boost the pitching depth. They are key pitchers for the Cougars. Alexander, the son of Carson head coach JC Alexander, also can play third base. Prevette is a southpaw, and you can’t get too many of those.
Abel Brown, a Carson sophomore, who played on the jayvee team, signed up.
The biggest surprise at sign-ups was Jayven Parks, a 2025 Carson graduate who is a freshman at Belmont Abbey. Parks is a talented 6-foot-2 outfielder with speed and power. He has not played previously for Rowan Legion.
Connor Park, a Mooresville High left-hander, will return for another season with Rowan County. He joined the program two summers ago when Mooresville didn’t field a team. He’s taken the ball in some high-pressure games. He’s a Surry Community College signee.
Gaige Scruggs, a catcher/infielder, will be returning to the Legion team. He’s a 2025 West Rowan graduate who is playing for Surry Community College.
West Rowan players returning for another year of Legion include sluggers Cole Blevins, Carter Durant and Luke Ponczka. Durant, a first baseman/second baseman, signed with Catawba. Blevins, an outfielder who also can play in the middle infield, signed with UNC Wilmington. Ponczka can mash at the plate while playing either infield corner.
There’s also versatile Falcon Brant Graham. He’s a Catawba recruit because of his pitching, but he swings the bat and fields well enough to play a corner outfield spot or an infield corner when he’s not on the mound.
A young player who signed up is pitcher Parker Durant, a West freshman. He’s Carter’s younger brother and has pitched well in varsity games this season. He’s got a bright future.
Blevins and Carter Durant were sensational offensive players for Rowan County last summer, with Durant batting .397 and Blevins batting .455. They combined to score 101 runs in 40 games. Ponczka, Williamson and Scruggs batted over .300.
Division I signees frequently are told to report early as college freshmen to enroll in summer school, but Blevins has the blessing of UNC Wilmington’s program to play a full Legion season.
“The UNC Wilmington coaches are big proponents of Legion baseball,” Coach Graham said. “There were four UNCW commits in the Legion state tournament last year and three of them were seniors. They want Blevins to play Legion.”
Rowan’s roster doesn’t include an obvious shortstop, so that’s the only question mark. It could be Blevins, who has played mostly outfield in his career, but possesses the arm and quickness for the position.
Sifford (8-3), Graham (6-1) and Park (6-2) were Rowan’s top three pitchers last summer, so this team has considerable potential.
“It’s a pretty talented team on paper,” Coach Graham said. “We just have to see how well they can jell together.”
Rowan’s first game is scheduled for May 22.
