American Legion Area 3 Playoffs (3rd round)

Rowan County at Eastern Randolph

Greensboro at Kannapolis

South Rowan at Kernersville

Burlington at Mocksville

...all series will be 3 out of 5, to begin today Wed.7/9... Looks like some very good matchups, any comments or predictions?

 

I can really only comment on the Southern Division teams, so hopefully someone from the Northern Division can provide info on those teams.

Rowan County seems to be peaking at just the right time and I simply wouldn't be surprised to see Rowan still make a long playoff run despite what all they lost from last year's state championship team, simply because they are still very talented. Rowan County is definitely playing their best ball of the summer right now with excellent pitching and hitting. Rowan simply don't make many mistakes.

Mocksville is a very good hitting team with good pitching also and probably has been the most consistent of the Southern Div. teams all summer.

South Rowan has Andrew Morgan available for Game 1, so they will be tough in a 5-game series(figuring Morgan will pitch twice if necessary). Morgan is about as close to "automatic" as you can get. South's not a 1-man team by any means, they can hit the ball well from top to bottom and they can put a lot of runs on the board.

Ok I saved Kannapolis for last, but the Southern Division reg.season champs are simply playing their best ball of the summer and they completely dominated a pretty good Concord team in the last series. Kannapolis' pitching has been pretty consistent all summer and they can go at least 5 starters deep on the mound, with up to maybe 7 quality pitchers who will see action, of course led by Ward, Dalton & Goodman. However, in the last several weeks, Kannapolis has also been hitting the ball well and scoring a lot of runs too. In facing Greensboro Post 53, these Kann/NW Cabarrus boys will get a little rematch with the Ragsdale players on the 53 team. Hicks, Whitted, Baker & Co. are all very good,,, should be a great series for the fans.

 

I agree that there are some really interesting matchups. From what I have seen Rowan is playing their best ball of late, but ER poses a tought challenge for them. ER is very deep on the mound this year which is very different from past ER teams. If ER can win game 1 I think this series could be over quick. ER has about 4 guys in their lineup that can leave the yard at anytime and that looks good for them when they go to Newman Park. Should be a great series.

Kernersville will be tough to beat I think. Like some other teams K'ville battled through a tough opening series, and assuming their pitching holds up they will play very well. They have been really solid this year in a tough Northern division.

The Kannapolis/Greensboro series could be the best one to watch of all. Greensboro, like Kannapolis is playing its best ball of the season right now and has some solid arms to match up with those from Kannapolis. Game 1 will be a great matchup featuring Ward and Matt McSwain, two of the top arms in Area 3. Greensboro also has arms in Wrenn, Baker, Lineberry, etc. to matchup with K'town.

Lastly, Burlington comes off a tough series that took its tole on the team. During the series against Surry, Burlington lost Brandon Storey for the summer with a broken leg which obviously depleats the rotation. With that being said, Burlington has a lot of battle tested and playoff tested guys on their roster which will make them a tough opponent in any series. This is a Round 3 rematch from last year, when Burlington won the series 3-1.

That's a little info from the Northern division. Should be 4 great series. Good luck to everyone.

 

how about some info on McSwain, lineberry, and Wrenn?

where did they go to school?....how they pitch? Speed? breaking ball?.....etc

 

I hear ya MKR!!! Listen McSwain is very good, but they "all" are good from here on. Good Luck tonight and this series.

And elonhokie, thanks for the scouting report on the Northern Division. I didn't mean to slight the Northern teams, I simply have limited info on those guys. I think all 4 series will be great for the fans. And I agree that I think the E.Rand/Rowan and Kann/Gboro will be the best 2 series to watch.

If I was betting, the surest thing that I see tonight is South beating Kernersville (because of Morgan on the mound). I know many of the Kernersville players and they have a very good team, and they MAY EVEN win the series, but I like Morgan in a one game situation.

I agree with you on wishing all the teams good luck!!!

 

I wouldn't count Kernersville out on beating Morgan tonight.....in their last series they saw a bundle of left-handers and should be prepared for another crafty lefty in Morgan....Morgan may be the best left hander they will see

 

If im not mistaken here, the Kernersville/South Rowan series is a rematch of sorts of the HS state playoffs when South defeated East Forsyth in the 2nd round.

I wouldn't count Kernersville out of any game regardless of who is pitching, when their bats start clicking all at once, they are one of the best 1-9 lineups in the state.

The Greensboro/K-town series looks pretty good. Matt McSwain is definately the most nasty pitcher around, and I see him taking it to a game 1 win for Greensboro.

 

I think Morgan is a talented pitcher, but I think Kernersville will bring their wood tonight!

It should be a good series.

 

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