Who’s Rowan’s baseball player of the year?

Thinking baseball on a rainy Tuesday night ...

With just four days left in the high school baseball regular-season, no one’s locked up Rowan County Player of the Year honors.

Last spring, it was a clearly defined two-horse race between North’s Daniel Moore (the eventual winner) and East’s Brian Hatley (the eventual runner-up) as early as late February.

Not so in 2001. There’s certainly no shortage of fine players, but no one’s dominated game in, game out like the big boys did last year. Moore was just about an automatic one-hitter every time he took the hill in 2000, while Hatley could be counted upon to not only pitch a superb game, but to drive in a couple of runs.

At least five candidates for the Mark Norris Award, given annually to the top player, have emerged as the season heads into the home stretch. The hardest jobs of all fall on county coaches. They’re the ones who have to decide on the one player from their team they’re going to nominate for Player of the Year.

North offers a devastating 1-2 punch at the top of its lineup, junior outfielders Aaron Rimer and Jimbo Davis.

Leadoff man Rimer leads the county in RBIs (22), an extraordinary feat for a No. 1 hitter. The lefty-swinging center fielder has hit in 17 of North’s 20 games. He’s enjoyed 10 multi-hit games and has flirted with the .500-mark all season.

Rimer’s been almost too good for his own good. He went 1-for-4 against South Rowan on Monday and watched his average plummet 18 points to .491.

Meanwhile, left fielder Davis has tallied an amazing 36 runs (1.8 per contest), which means he’s patient enough to take a walk as well as strong enough to hit the ball out of sight as he did with a 400-footer at South on Monday. Davis, who might be the county’s most improved player, leads Rowan players in homers (5), doubles (9) and runs and is among the top five in RBIs, hits and batting average (.438).

It’s been a pretty good year for guys named Davis. Fans who check the stats each week in the Post’s Scoreboard section, often think they’re seeing double — a Davis followed by a Davis — in the hitting categories. That’s because East junior catcher Drew Davis is quietly putting together his third outstanding season in a row and is right up there with Jimbo.

The eastern version of Davis stands third in batting, leads the county in hits and is tops at East in homers and RBIs.

On defense, the Mustang does a great job calling pitches and eliminates any thoughts of larceny on the basepaths.

East’s Cal Hayes Jr. has to be in the hunt, too. Hayes is so good that visiting fans are always shocked any time he makes an out.

Hayes, still only a junior, boasts an average above .400, even though he got off to a very slow start. He leads the county in steals and paces the Mustangs in runs. At shortstop, as always, he’s been a highlight reel.

West’s Jared Barnette has to be in the Player of the Year mix, too, because he’s been both the Falcons’ ace on the mound and the team’s most dangerous hitter in clutch situations.

Barnette’s two-way numbers are sensational. The Falcon workhorse has an ERA under 2.00, leads the county in strikeouts and owns a county-leading six wins. He also paces the Falcons in homers (4) and RBIs (17), while batting .311.

Others to keep an eye on: North’s Tad Ogg and Erik Mowery; West’s Matt Morgan; and South’s Ronnie Shore.

n

TOUGH MATCHUPS:In a makeup games from last night’s rain, North Rowan battles for a conference co-title tonight at East Davidson and South battles for survival in a game that’s also has huge implications for Davie County, which could still win the league, but still isn’t certain of a playoff berth.

The best game of all, though, could be West’s war with A.L. Brown at Kannapolis’ Memorial Stadium.

West (8-6 SPC) is in great shape if it wins, but falls into a heavily populated pile of quicksand at 8-7 if it loses to the Wonders (7-7 SPC).

West coach Chris Cauble will likely turn to Barnette on the mound, especially after Barnette, who threw on Friday, received an extra rest day thanks to Tuesday’s rain.

But the Wonders are a tough matchup for any right-handed pitcher — even Barnette. They’ll send up four solid lefty hitters in Matt Harris, Daniel Smith, Josh Lee and, if he’s back from illness, John Graham. Right-handed swingers Wally Tuttle and Tyson Fink are also smoking.

The Wonders smacked Barnette around pretty good in winning 6-1 early in the season at Mount Ulla.

Zach Ward, who fanned 10 Falcons in Mount Ulla, is the likely starter for the Wonders, who have won their last five contests, including three games in a Morganton Easter tourney that included some competent 4A squads.

n

Contact Mike London at 797-4259 or mlondon@salisburypost.com .