CONCORD — Weary, worn and wetter than the average duck, the South Rowan Legion baseball team slogged away from Webb Field on Thursday night after getting in just two miserable innings in two miserable hours.
Game 3 of South’s soggy second-round series with Concord (12-14) was suspended by rain, rain and more rain with Concord leading 4-3. The game will be completed tonight, with first pitch set for 7:15. South leads the best-of-seven series 2-0.
It could have been a lot worse, because Concord had six hits off South starter Mike Davis and left the bases loaded twice. Then again, it could have been a lot better, because all four Concord runs in the second inning followed two infield errors and were unearned.
“We gave ’em five outs that inning,” groaned South coach Allen Wilson.
South (14-15) got two runs in the first when Greg Deal’s fielder’s choice scored Ronnie Shore and Jeremy Alderman’s bloop double plated Deal. Shore doubled in Andrew Morgan to make it 3-0 in the second.
South dodged a literal bullet in the last of the first when Concord’s Matt Strickland ripped a two-out, bases-loaded liner to left field, which was being manned — because of a rash of illness and injury to South outfielders — by catcher Jeremy Alderman.
Alderman, who hadn’t played outfield since he was on a 13-year-old all-star team, tracked the shot down and made the crucial grab.
“I knew if I got to it, I would catch it,” said a confident Alderman.
“Just shows that a catcher can play anywhere,” laughed Wilson, who is, of course, an ex-catcher.
Rain was falling steadily by the second inning, and Concord was getting back in the game steadily, pulling to within 3-2 on a bases-loaded walk to Brian York. The game was then halted for the first time by a lightning flash after Davis worked to a 1-and-2 count on Jeff Kirkpatrick with two outs and the bases still full.
Play resumed after a 45-minute delay.
“That was 45 minutes for us to think about that next pitch to Kirkpatrick,” sighed Wilson. “Slider away or fastball in? We figured Kirkpatrick would be cold and tried to bust him with a fastball.”
Instead, Kirkpatrick busted one up the middle to score two runs and put Concord ahead 4-3. It was sweet revenge for Kirkpatrick, who was tormented by nine South stolen bases when he was behind the plate for Game 1.
Davis got a strikeout to end the inning, but that still didn’t raise South’s spirits. It merely prompted a second downpour, which turned an already mushy field to mounds of mud and brought the evening’s activities to an end.
The teams will return to Webb tonight for a third straight night of trying to put a very trying Game 3 in the books.
“We were up two games and hitting the ball well, so all this rain doesn’t help us,” said Wilson. “We just have to make sure it doesn’t hurt.”
South’s probable pitcher tonight is Adam Earnhardt. “I’m 90 percent sure it won’t be Davis,” said Wilson. “He had to warm up three times tonight.”
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NOTES: Shore got a recruiting call from Duke this week. ... Four South players weren’t available for duty. Wilson says rightfielder Raymondo Brady (tight quad) is closer to returning than leftfielder Matt Morgan (strained groin). ... Outfielder/pitcher Brandon Hiatt missed the game with a 101-degree temperature. ... Switch-hitting catcher Ryan Wilson has a problem with his right arm and is sidelined. It’s likely an inflamed tendon. ... All those health problems placed Alderman in left, ace pitcher Andrew Morgan in right and gave infield reserve Gabe Beaver a shot as the designated hitter. ... More weather woes in the coming days could lead to a doubleheader.
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Contact Mike London at 704-797-4259 or mlondon@salisburypost.com
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