Staff report
Tuesday playoff games …
CHINA GROVE — Dylan Alexander went 4-for-4, as Carson beat Smoky Mountain 11-4 on Tuesday in the opening round of the 5A baseball playoffs.
It was the biggest offensive game of the season for Alexander, the son of Carson head coach JC Alexander.
Seeded 12th, Carson put together a six-run fourth to take control of the game. The Cougars pulled away with a four-run sixth.
The 21st-seeded Mustangs from Sylva ended their season at 6-19.
Kendal Sifford threw five innings for his fifth win. He struck out five.
Jacob Prevette pitched the sixth and seventh innings and allowed only one run.
Carson was able to take Sifford off the bump after 59 pitches, so he will be eligible to help on the mound Friday if needed when the Cougars (13-14) play fifth-seeded East Rowan at Staton Field in a second-round matchup. Maverick Walters is the probable starter for Carson.
East enjoyed a bye in the first round.
Carson Kirk and Ryan Snyder had doubles for Carson.
Kirk had two hits, scored two runs and knocked in two. Jase Overcash had two hits.
Smoky Mountain 001 110 1 – 4
Carson 010 604 x -11
W – Sifford (5-4).
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BOONVILLE – Starmount scored 16 runs in the second inning and beat North Rowan 24-1 in a first-round game in 2A state playoffs.
North made seven errors in Tuesday’s five-inning game and concluded a 3-20 season that was highlighted by two wins against Salisbury.
North led briefly 1-0 after scoring in the top of the first inning.
Jaden Brown’s double and a single by London Fincher were the only hits for the Cavaliers, the 23rd seed in the 2A West bracket. Justin Tyler scored the run. Donnie Rogers and Caleb Everett pitched for North.
Starmount (11-10) had 12 hits. One of them was a homer by freshman Easton Pardue. He knocked in four runs. The Rams, seeded 10th, used three pitchers.
North 100 00 – 1
Starmount 6(16)0 02 – 24
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In Kannapolis, 10th-seeded A.L. Brown cruised to a 10-0 win against 23rd-seeded West Meck in the 7A state playoffs. The Wonders are 19-9. West Meck finished 13-13.
The Wonders will play at No. 7 seed Southwest Guilford (17-9) next.
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Ibn 5A, Northwest Cabarrus advanced with a 12-0 romp at home against Forestview.
The 14th-seeded Trojans (11-13) got a five-inning shutout from Cooper Greene, who struck out while allowing two hits and two walks.
Ben Able and Connor Landers drove in two runs each as the Trojans ended the 19th-seeded Jaguars’ season at 8-16.
A trip to Boiling Springs to play third-seeded Crest (18-5) is next for the Trojans.
