BY MIKE LONDON
SALISBURY POST

GRAHAM — Nick Lefko was off balance at the plate for most of Wednesday night’s game and off balance on top of the center-field fence for a brief chunk of it.

Both times Lefko managed to land on his feet. As a result, Rowan County’s American Legion baseball team managed to land in the win column for the second straight night in its wild Round 3 playoff series with Burlington-Graham (20-15).

Game 3 of the best-of-7 battle is tonight at Newman Park. It’ll have a hard time topping last night’s installment unless President Bush tosses out the first pitch, Shania Twain sings the star-spangled banner and Jerry Seinfeld cracks jokes on the PA between innings.

This morning’s water-cooler talk about Rowan’s 12-9 win will center on Lekfo’s improbable catch in the second (Rowan coach Jim Gantt said it was as good as he’s seen); Rowan’s two-out, six-run rally in the sixth; and reliever Spencer Steedley’s strikeout of the side in the ninth after Burlington pushed the game to cardiac-arrest level.

But first things first. You have to start with the grab by Lefko, who has become to centerfielders what James Bond is to secret agents. When Rowan (30-3) arrived at the Graham Middle School field, Lefko noted to teammate Drew Davis that those fences in the outfield sure were low and just begging for a spectacular, homer-saving catch. Next time you’re picking a horse for the Derby, call Lefko. He can see the future.

Lefko’s chance came when Burlington’s Zach Booker jumped all over a Brandon Doby pitch in the second and sent it rocketing toward the trees. Lefko leaped at the wall — well, actually on the wall — and brought the blast back.

“It was definitely out, ’cause I was above the wall,” he said. “I was afraid I was going to fall on over the fence and that would have made it a home run.”

But Lefko returned to earth on the good side of the wall. Then Lefko, normally low-key after his catches, performed a high-stepping act like he was a fired-up drum major on Football Friday Night.

“Nick did that when he realized what he’d just done,” chuckled Gantt. “I mean, that’s a great play. That catch alone was worth everyone’s trip up here.”

“That catch baffled me a little bit,” admitted Lefko.

Imagine how Booker and Burlington coach Todd Wirt felt, watching a run ripped right off the scoreboard.

Rowan needed that play, because it couldn’t get a clutch hit early. Especially painful was the second inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, Shawn Trosper grounded to short. Ben Hampton, running from first, was called for an illegal slide, the home team was awarded a double play and the runners at second and third had to return to their bags. Rowan didn’t score.

More frustration arrived in the third when Rimer tried to score on Steedley’s one-out bullet to right. Nathan Walters fired a strike home to get Rimer, who was flipped in the air by catcher Blake Jordan. The game turned into an amusement park from there. See-saws, roller-coaster rides and merry-go-rounds of stranded baserunners. Burlington led 2-0. Rowan rallied to lead 3-2, then trailed 6-3.

Down 6-3 and with its first two batters retired in the sixth, Rowan finally got it going against Burlington starter Nick Starnes. Cal Hayes Jr. and Aaron Rimer reached. Drew Davis then delivered Rowan’s first big hit — a sizzling double to left-center to cut the deficit to 6-5. Steedley followed with an opposite-field double to tie the score.

After Jimbo Davis walked, Lefko stepped up. After struggling to an 0-fer in Game 1 and fanning in his previous at-bat, Lefko launched a high blast over the left-field wall for a three-run homer and a 9-6 lead. Rowan led the rest of the way.

“Their pitchers had kept me off balance both games,” said Lefko. “I gave that one everything I had. I got lucky. Got some help from the wind. My teammates know I’m going to bring defense, but it’s a plus anytime I can help out a little with the bat.”

Sure, like George Washington helped out a little bit in the revolution. It was only Lefko’s second homer, but he has 37 RBIs, fourth on the team.

It was still far from over. Burlington finally chased Doby(7-1) in the sixth, closing to 9-7 before Daniel Cauble got the last out of the inning.

Rowan tacked on three more runs on some erratic Burlington defense in the seventh and eighth for a 12-7 lead, then hung on. Cauble’s off-speed pitches gave Burlington fits until the ninth, but then it figured him out. Three straight hits made it 12-8 and Burlington fans, used to this sort of heroics, were on their feet.

That brought on Steedley, originally scheduled to start Game 3. The young lefty added to the excitement with two dandy curveball strikeouts, a hit batsman and a bases-loaded walk. It was 12-9, bases loaded, two outs as Burlington’s most fearsome hitter, Starnes, strolled to the plate, representing the winning run.

“You don’t like to see Starnes at the plate with the bases loaded and a three-run lead,” said Drew Davis.

But Steedley fanned the slugger, who had already homered once. Again, the strikeout came on a biting curve that hit the dirt. Davis blocked it, grabbed it, then stomped emphatically on the plate to force the runner at third to end the ballgame.

“When Spencer’s throwing his curve like that,” it’s just nasty,” he grinned.

Wirt and his players weren’t grinning, but they’re still confident.

“We hit and we pitched, but just didn’t bring our gloves with us tonight,” Wirt said. “Maybe we can steal the next one. We have to try and claw back into this thing a game at a time. We’ve done it before. We’ve come from behind this year more times than I can tell ya. These kids believe.”

Rowan still believes it’s a series, too.

“We know they’re a good team and we can’t stop,” said Steedley. “We’ve gotta play every game.”

n

NOTES:Starting pitchers tonight figure to be Phillip Goodman (3-0) for Rowan and lefty Brandon Perry (4-1) for Burlington. ... Hayes had three more hits, while Rimer had two doubles and Jimbo Davis scored three runs.

n

Contact Mike London at 704-797-4259 or mlondon@salisburypost.com .