Staff report
MOUNT ULLA – West Rowan’s baseball team was totally in control for six innings, but that last out took a while.
The Falcons finally did nail down that elusive 21st out and held off South Rowan 8-7 in Tuesday’s South Piedmont Conference Tournament semifinal to advance to a championship game meeting with fourth-seeded Carson on Thursday at 6 p.m. in Mount Ulla.
Second-seeded West scored three runs in the bottom of the first. Then a four-run third knocked out South starter Colton Helms. Lefty Rhyne Keller got the third-seeded Raiders through the third inning and was settling in comfortably by the fourth, but South was staring at a 7-0 deficit against West lefty Maddox Moore, who was having one of his most efficient nights on the bump.
South got on the scoreboard against Moore in the top of the fourth, but West got that run back in the bottom of the fifth and took an 8-1 lead to the top of the seventh. Moore, a UNC Pembroke recruit, completed his pitching night after six innings. He allowed one run and six hits, striking out five and walking none.
Carter Lefebvre took the mound for the seventh with a comfortable cushion, but an error helped South get a comeback under way. Lefebvre was able to get two outs, but he also walked a couple, hit a batter and allowed a hit. Tripp Shelton relieved Lefebvre and allowed two hits before he was finally able to secure the final out.
Lucas Cox had three doubles for South and knocked in three runs. Matt Overcash had two hits and two RBIs. Drew Pegram had a double and scored two runs.
Brant Graham went 3-for-3 for the Falcons and knocked in two. Preston Javidi had two hits and two RBIs. Carter Durant and Brody Pope had two hits and drove in a run. Cole Blevins and Lefebvre had doubles.
West and South both stood 21-5 when the smoke cleared.
South will have some time now to prepare for the 4A state playoffs. South is eighth in the statewide 4A RPI rankings.
West is sixth in the 5A RPI rankings.
South 000 100 6 – 7
West 304 010 x – 8
W – Moore (4-1). L – Helms.
