Area 3 Playoffs thru the semifinals...

South 4
Lexington 2

WP: Weston Church
LP: Clay Watson
S: Walker Snow

Ryan Bostian started for South, pitching through a strained oblique and giving up 0 runs in 4 innings. Church relieved, going 3 innings, giving up 2 runs (1 earned). Snow closed, pitching 2 innings and retiring 6 of 7. Watson was steady as always for Lexington, going 8 innings and giving up 4 runs (2 or 3 earned). South scored runs on 2 out hits by Scott Ashby and Church to go up 2-0 heading to the 5th. Lexington answered with a run on a botched bunt and another on a RBI groundout by Zach Briggs. South took the lead for good on a Randy Shepherd sac fly in the 6th while Caleb Shore added some insurance with a solo homer in the 7th.

South, surely running on fumes, takes on Randolph on Saturday in a rematch of the best series from last year's Area III playoffs when Randolph earned its state tournament berth in game 7 on a walkoff home run.

 

Burlington 7
Rowan 5

Rowan has a 5-1 lead going into the bottom of the 7th inning before Burlington rallies for 6 unanswered. Rowan starter Tanner Brown had a strong outing and pitched well enough to earn the win, but the Rowan relievers could not hold it. Micah Jarrett continued his hot hitting with a mammoth two run home run that put Rowan ahead 3-1. Zach Smith got a double and scored on a two base error that gave RC a lead of 5-1 that seemed doable of stealing game 1 that would have been huge. Rowan knows they let one get away and I think you will see a fired up team at Newman Park on Sunday night. Zack Simpson will be on the mound.

 

Randolph Cunty 14
South Rowan 5

Randolph County leads 1-0

 

Rowan County 10
Burlington 7 (12 innings)

Micah Jarrett launches a game winning three-run homerun in the bottom of the 12th inning to lift Rowan to a big series tying win. Rowan got three runs early in the bottom of the 1st and then led 4-0 before Burlington scored 7 unanswered runs and it was looking like game 1 all over again. But Rowan got two runs in the 7th and the tying run scored in the 8th. RC relievers Parker Gobbel, Trey Holmes (got a huge DP), Justin Roland, and Billy Veal (who earned the win) were big time for Rowan. This game was very intense and both teams really wanted to win. The half and half was like $430 and I would guess there was over 1,000 in attendence. Russell Michalec should get the start for Rowan Monday night in Graham.

Also heard Randolph defeated South Rowan 10-0.

 

Game three will be a big one, as Rowan has thrown all but their game three starter in the first two games. I would look for Rowan to have to throw multiple pitchers in that game. If I had to guess who would start it right now I would have to say Billy Veal.

Does anyone know who is on the mound for Burlington in game three and who might start for them in game four.

 

Game 3 of the South Rowan/Randolph County series was rained out in China Grove tonight. Will try again on Tuesday, Randolph still up 2-0.

 

Burlington 16
Rowan 14

WP: Zach Robinson
LP: Billy Veal

Rowan lets one slip away again in Graham. The game was pretty much a back and forth slug fest all night, but the key couple plays of the game came when Billy Veal in the 8th got the first two batters out with RC leading 14-13. Veal then for some reason walks the next two batters bringing Seth Caison up to the plate. Caison then proceeded to hit a three run homer over the short left field fence to put Post 63 up for good. Neither starters were very effective. Russell Michalec surrendered 9 runs including a grand slam that gave Burlington a lead of 9-8. Rowan gave Burlington too many outs and that proved costly to a good team. Rowan will try and tie the series back and front of another massive crowd I'm sure at Newman Park Tuesday night. Matt Hall could possibly get the start for Rowan.

 

Rowan didn't play well again on the road in this series, but still had a chance to win it. Tomorrows game will be huge for Rowan because they don't want to have to go up there and win twice, once will be tough enough. Rowan should be able to send everybody but the three starters and maybe Parker to the mound.

 

Rowan/Burlington is a very good series. I have heard both sides comment that "they haven't played well",,,,,,, but as a neutral observer, I would contend that the other team is having a whole lot to do with that. These 2 teams are pretty evenly matched.

This series could go 7, and its great for the fans,,,,,,, oh and the halfnhalf winners too ($450 the other night ).

 

These teams are so evenly matched that it's almost scary. I would expect this series to go 7 games, but that would favor Burlington because they don't HAVE to win on the road and Rowan has to win at least one game on the road and hold serve at home. But the thing Rowan has going for them is that they feel like they've gave two games away and they were in the game. It's some kind of reconciliation I guess.