Parnell’s solid single to right-center leading off the bottom of the 10th paved the way for Rowan’s winning run in a 3-2 victory over Mooresville in support of great pitching by Brian Hatley.

Rowan improved its record to 3-0 in the league, while Mooresville lost for the first time, slipping to 6-1.

Parnell, who played jayvee baseball at East Rowan during the past spring, was the first batter to face Mooresville reliever Rob Griffin in the 10th. After Parnell singled, he stole second with Cal Hayes Jr. at bat on a fake sacrifice bunt.

Coach Jim DeHart of Rowan then called on Chad Sansbury to pinch-run for Parnell. Hayes was intentionally walked, bringing up Drew Davis. Davis’ sacrifice bunt moved up the runners, then Sansbury scored the winning run on Griffin’s wild throw past first base.

That made a winner out of Hatley, Rowan’s workhorse so far. The right-hander allowed six hits and struck out a career-high 18 batters. Hatley was the winner in relief in Rowan’s season-opening victory over Kannapolis, then got the save at Watauga County on Saturday night, when he was used twice in relief.

Griffin, 1-1, came on in the 10th for Mooresville in relief of hard-throwing right-hander Jeremy Johnson, who struck out 14 over nine innings.

“Johnson’s tough. Hatley matched him inning for inning,” said DeHart. “Hatley couldn’t do any more.”

DeHart said Hatley’s work on the mound was over after 10 innings, regardless of what Rowan did at the plate.

“We were keeping a close eye on the pitch count. That was it. (Julian) Sides was ready to come in. He wasn’t going to go anymore. He wanted to, but I wouldn’t let him. His pitch count was about 125 or 126. That was enough. He’s not going to pitch again until next Saturday (against Mocksville-Davie),” said DeHart.

The Rowan coach blamed himself for Hatley’s giving up two runs on three hits in the fourth inning, when Mooresville tied the score.

“I messed up a little bit by sending him home (third inning) and got him thrown out. I think the next inning when he went out there, he was kind of tired, because he ran all the way from first,” said DeHart.

Hatley had drawn a walk with one out in the third. Ben Hampton followed with a double to left-center, and Hatley tried to score. He was thrown out by leftfielder Brian Brauss to catcher Jared Brewster.

Rowan had no players with more than one hit, but DeHart was more than satisfied with Parnell’s 1-for-4 night. Parnell, who has never played in a high school varsity game, is 2-for-7 for the season with a home run and has been on base at least once in every game.

“I like him. He just didn’t hit Johnson very well, but none of us did,” said DeHart. “His development has improved. He’s really come along. It’s going to take him some time. He’s going to be a valuable addition. He’s playing a good third base.”

Parnell said of his 10th-inning hit, “I had been 0-for-3 up to that point, and I was looking for a base hit. It really came at good time and got me on. ... It was an outside fastball. Coach had the bunt-and-run sign on. It was in the dirt, so I took second.”

Parnell said it’s been a big adjustment facing Legion pitching instead of high school jayvee hurlers.

“It’s been tough, really. I’ve had my troubles. It’s really the first time I’ve seen this kind of pitching,” said Parnell, who admitted he’s enjoying the Legion experience and wouldn’t mind making the final 18-player cut next month. “That would be the best thing in the world right now.”

Coach Whitey Meadows of Mooresville praised both Hatley and his own pitcher, Johnson.

“It was a real good matchup. They were going with Hatley, and he’s one of their best. We went with our best. Hatley really pitched a great ballgame tonight. Jeremy pitched a great ballgame. He pitched well enough to win. We just made a few errors (four), a few mistakes.”

Meadows pointed out that Johnson had pitched 1 1/3 innings in relief in Mooresville’s 6-5 victory over South Rowan in 11 innings on Saturday night and that the ace hurler had thrown 115 pitches against Rowan.

“He hadn’t pitched that many all year, and we didn’t want to take a chance on doing anything any different,” said Meadows.

“He’ll go in the (major league) draft (next month). We don’t know how high up. The scouts have been after him about like they have (Daniel) Moore. He’s signed with UNCC. We don’t know right now what he’s going to do,” the veteran coach added.