Area 3 Playoffs thru the semifinals...

RaleighDevil, we have won 3 Area Championships since 2003, don't get me wrong, we are proud of them, and of course I'm glad we won instead of being area runnerups.

My point is, each year when you get to the state tournament, when we drew a number 2 seed from another area, we were still playing a very good team, one of the top teams in the state tournament. So my point is, once you get there, I'm not sure theres that much a difference between a 1 or 2 seed, that weekend it just comes down to who plays well and who don't.

Lets face it, everybody agrees you usually get your best team to come out on top when you play a longer series, this is why MLB plays 7 games, the NBA,,,, in longer series, the better teams just usually come to the top.

The Whiteville boys would be disappointed that they lost either way, but I'd be willing to bet they could deal with losing and their season being over, if they had lost a 7 game series a whole easier than what they've got to deal with today.

 

What a night at Newman!

Well where do I start. Rowan won 12-11 to force a game 6. Yes I said game 6. Roy Waters ruled that game 4 that Rowan won 11-2 does not count because the game was resumed in the bottom of the 1st instead of starting all over like they were "supposed" to do. Apparently Area III commisioner Jim Lippard does not know the rules or he pretends to not know the rules because the decision was ruled through him to resume play where they left off. THIS IS GETTING REALLY RIDICULOUS!!! Game 6 will be back at Newman Park Saturday night.

Well about the game; Burlington jumped on RC starter Zack Simpson early for three runs. Rowan roared back for two and eventually had an 11-3 lead. Burlington just would not go away. After a grand slam by Seth Caison and a three run homerun by Colt Johnson, it was 12-11 and Rowan fans were shaking their heads. Justin Roland closed out the game with a 3 up and 3 down 9th to earn the save.

WP: Zack Simpson
LP: Jason Groce
SV: Justin Roland

 

I agree Westboy, what a night of news, of course since it happened to South Rowan, at least the consistent thing to do was scratch Rowan's game also. I agree its unfortunate to all parties, even the fans. I understand a lot of fans showed up at South Rowan last night at 7pm hoping to watch a baseball game on a beautiful night, only to find out there was NO game, because the game was played at 4pm and there was no 2nd game.

This kind of stuff should NOT happen period. I'm not going to come down on the commissioners because they spend many thankless hours and spend much time on the road, but there needs to be better communication.

Anyway, sorry I missed you, but great crowd once again, dang missed that $479 halfnhalf pot by only 3,000,000 numbers (how'd I do that?). Had good pregame and great baseball for 9 innings, so can't complain. Good series.

Btw, congrats to South Rowan who got a 9th inning 2-run homerun from Caleb Shore to beat Randolph County and pull within 3-1 of their series. Game 5 of that series is in Asheboro Saturday, either at 2pm or 7pm, understand they're working around the Asheboro Copperheads.

 

TJ21:
Yea I think I actually saw you, but I was way too upset before and during the game I was too into the game and too nervous, especially after those BG boys started teeing off of everything. If you are there tommorrow, I will be sure to speak to you. I apologize. I didn't see where you sat though.

 

South, down to the last out of their season, gets a 2 out, 2 run, walk-off home run from Caleb Shore to win 6-5. Alex Ingold got the win in relief but Cam Park did a great job limiting Randolph for 8 innings. Randolph trailed most of the game but got big hits from Hunter Ridge (5-5) first to tie it in the 8th and then Tyler McSwain in the 9th to take the lead. Cam Cockman, who took the loss in relief, retired the first 2 batters but a Walker Snow double, followed by Shore's shot into the parking lot at South, forced a game 5.

Originally, it was announced that South and Randolph will play at 2 tomorrow. However, nobody from Randolph mentioned this until after the game. South was not happy about this ruling and the last I've heard is that the game will be played at 7 pm somewhere tomorrow. They may have to play Game 5 back at South and then 6 and 7 (obviously if necessary) at McCrary Park in Asheboro. Honestly, nobody really knows at this point, which is consistent with what has gone on in both this series and the Rowan-Burlington series. And by the way, about that series, how can they take game 4 off the books but keep game 5 (which became 4). Rowan played the game as if the series was 2-2 (I'm not saying the outcome would have been different; nobody knows). I just don't know how you can take a game off the books after another one has been played. Yes, the original ruling to not start over was wrong, but it just doesn't make sense to change it after another game was played.

 

Sounds like the South game was as wild as the Rowan game. Congrats to South for keeping the season alive. You never know anything can happen. Its a shame that Randolph couldn't have informed South about the fact that they might not be able to play tomorrows game in Asheboro as it was scheduled prior to the game. I guess they were expecting the sweep so that it wouldn't matter. Go get them tomorrow South when and where ever you get to play.

Rowan will play tomorrow night @ home with game time being 7pm
If Rowan can win they would play game 7 @ B-G on Sunday

 

Randolph County-7 over South Rowan-6

Randolph County advances to Area 3 finals and punches their ticket to state tournament in process. Great season for South Rowan. Hopefully someone will have more game details.

Rowan County-15 over Burlington-14

Rowan ties this series at 3-3 with deciding 7th game tomorrow night in Burlington at 7pm. Great series with lots of hitting, these runs are not unearned, both teams are literally showing some offense bigtime. Come'on Westboy with game details. Btw, $515 went to halfnhalf winner tonite, dadgumit, again wasn't me.

 

NM

 

Rowan 15
Burlington 14

A wild high hitting contest at Newman Park tonight goes Rowan's way to even the series at 3-3. Burlington banged out 17 hits and Rowan had 21. Rowan had a "comfortable" 11-3 lead in the 4th inning before BG made their pattented run. Get some people on base, knock it out of the park. Seth Caison hit two more homeruns. Noah Holmes continued his hot hitting for RC. Micah Jarrett also added a HR. Very entertaining game. The umpire's strike zone was so tight for both sides. Justin Roland earned another save although this one was a little tougher giving up two hits while Rowan committed an error to give BG a chance. Roland got a flyout that scored a run and with a runner on 1st with two outs, Roland struck out Cale Rogers to end the game. Matt Hall should get the start Sunday night when only one team will get to go to the state tourney. Both teams are very deserving and will represent Area III well.

Also South Rowan was eliminated by Randolph County 7-6.

 

How's this for a series...going to 7 games, and minus the 11-2 Rowan win that no longer counts, the total score is Rowan County 57, Burlington-Graham 57.

Winner take all (hopefully) tomorrow. If the weather forecast holds true and storms are an issue, please don't let this revert to a 5 game series! This one must be played out! The kids from both sides deserve it.