Rowan wraps up first place with Legion victory over Stanly

BY STEVE HANF
SALISBURY POST

Tuesday night, Rowan took it one base at a time in a 16-1 rout over Stanly County that clinched the regular-season title in the Area III Southern Division.

Rowan rapped out 12 singles and added just three doubles, scoring in each of the first five innings. When the game ended in the seventh inning thanks to the 10-run lead rule, the players shook hands like normal, milled about with their snacks like normal and got on the bus to head home.

After all, while that 19-2 overall mark and 12-2 first-place finish in the league are nice, there’s still a lot of baseball to be played this summer.

“All we’ve done is play each game not worrying about who we’re playing, what our record is, who’s down the road,”Rowan head coach Jim Gantt said. “It’s a lot more fun to play that way instead of worrying about the whole picture.”

It’s especially fun when you play ball the way Rowan did at Don Montgomery Park — and really, the way the team has all season.

Tuesday night’s win marked the 13th time Rowan scored 12 or more runs in a game. When Stanly dropped a 15-3 decision at Newman Park in game No. 3 this summer, it marked the third game in which Rowan had tallied double figures. Rowan has averaged 11.3 runs per game this year while allowing just 5.0.

Also pleasing for Gantt was that some pitching went with Tuesday’s hitting. Last week Rowan out-slugged Mooresville 13-12 and Concord 13-11.

“It was nice to have a game that was a little more relaxed,”Gantt said. “These guys have been practicing hard and they’ve learned how to win those tight ballgames. We were able to relax some tonight.”

The only nerves around were on the Stanly defense.Rowan tagged starting pitcher Hunter Poplin for eight runs on eight hits in the first three innings, spraying balls all over the field.

Poplin got two quick outs in the first two innings only to run into trouble at every turn. In the first, Drew Davis walked, stole second and scored on Spencer Steedley’s bouncer up the middle. Jimbo Davis, who finished 5-for-5, then lined a double to make it 2-0.

Cal Hayes Jr. got the rally started in the second when he singled, stole second and third and scored on Drew Davis’ two-run single for a 4-0 edge. Steedley followed with a ringing double and Jimbo Davis shot one past the shortstop to make it 6-0.

Bobby Parnell opened the third with a walk, Shawn Trosper singled and Hayes and Drew Davis knocked them in and knocked out Poplin.

John Stoker fell prey to the offensive onslaught in the fourth. Jimbo Davis, Parnell and Trosper all splashed singles to left. Michael Gegorek sent a grounder up the middle that could’ve been a force at second, but the ball was dropped.

Hayes singled up the middle, Rimer walked in a run,Drew Davis reached on another error and scored on a passed ball. Jimbo Davis connected for his second single of the inning and the score was 15-0.

“I’m just trying to stay hot heading into the playoffs,”Jimbo said. “I’m swinging at good pitches.”

As were all his teammates.

“We’re not afraid to take a walk, we run the bases well,”he added. “We’ve got a real good killer instinct when we need to.”

Fans from both sides simply sat back and quietly watched the final three innings play out. Rowan starter Phillip Goodman didn’t spoil all that run support, throwing five near-effortless innings to get his first win of the season.

“It gives you a lot of confidence — keep throwing pitches for strikes and let the defense play behind you,”Goodman said.

Of course, there can be a downside to those 30-minute long, seven-run innings.

“You sit there wondering if you’ll be able to go back out and throw strikes,”said Goodman, who indeed went to a 3-2 count before allowing a single to open the bottom of the fourth inning. “I got back in the groove and started throwing strikes again.”

Goodman didn’t walk a batter all night and threw a very efficient 67-pitch outing. He allowed six hits, the last two back-to-back doubles by Spider Williams and Catfish Morris for Stanly’s lone run.

“I think it’s one of those kinds of games where it’s hard for the pitcher to remain focused and throw the ball in there,”Gantt said. “He did a nice job.”

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NOTES:Rowan’s Tyler Morgan came on in relief and pitched two perfect innings. … Bubba Morris came off the bench to play second base and helped Goodman out in the fifth with a leaping grab of a high liner, drawing perhaps the night’s biggest round of applause. … Rowan finishes the regular season tonight at Lexington in a non-league matchup. The playoffs start Saturday, with top-seeded Rowan welcoming Statesville for a five-game series. Stanly (7-11, 7-7) will play Mocksville-Davie.

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Contact Steve Hanf at 704-797-4287 or shanf@salisburypost.com .