BY MIKE LONDON
SALISBURY POST

MOORESVILLE — South Rowan fans jumped for joy.

Not once, but twice. The first time was a false alarm. But the second time proved the charm.

Upstart South claimed a surreal 4-3 American Legion baseball win at Mooresville Thursday night and seized a playoff series for the first time in its six-year history.

“It feels so good right now,” said South shortstop Ronnie Shore, who scored three runs. “To go on the field and play that well and beat a team the caliber of Mooresville, it makes you proud. I mean, Mooresville is a great team. They’re the No. 2 seed!”

Better make that were the No. 2 seed.

Seventh-seeded South (12-15), which had won two playoff games in five years, won its fourth one in six days. South knocked out the gutty, short-handed Moors (16-13) four games to one and advances to a second-round series with sixth-seeded Concord. Game 1 is set for Webb Field on Monday.

This morning, for the first time ever, South players rolled out of bed without having an underdog label attached to their pajamas. They looked in the mirror and knew they were good enough to still be playing ball in July. They’re legit.

If Wednesday’s dramatic South victory was straight out of Hollywood, Thursday’s provided a worthy sequel. There was drama on every pitch. South’s starting pitcher Nick Mayle didn’t dominate as he did in his Game 2 shutout, but saw his defense was playing out of this world and used it. Mayle walked just one batter and kept firing strikes. Mayle, first South pitcher to win four games in a season, gritted his teeth and watched the frustrated Moors smack at least a dozen liners directly at South leather. Centerfielder Adam Cornelius made a sensational diving catch. So did rightfielder Raymondo Brady.

“We hit the ball the best we have in a long time,” sighed Mooresville coach Whitey Meadows. “South kept coming up with great plays. They got all the breaks, but I don’t wanna take any glitter away from them. I take my hat off. It was their night. Their series.”

“We’re learning how to win,” said South coach Allen Wilson. “You can talk about winning all you want, but you can’t go out and do it for the kids. But now they’ve picked up some confidence. They know they can get that last strike, that last out. That’s a huge hurdle to get over, but they’re doing it.”

It’s hard to believe this South team once lost eight straight games. That it was 10-runned by last-place Statesville. That it got buzzed 16-1 by Stanly County just before the playoffs. The new South is a more than respectable 9-4 down the stretch and has established a program record with a dozen wins.

“The big difference is defense,” said Wilson. “Tonight, the defense was spectacular.”

Game 5 was a tussle because Mooresville lefty Brent Frye, bombed by South in his last start, was focused and ready.

Shore created the first run when he stole third and charged home when the throw sailed into left field.

Mooresville tied it in the third on Josh Haire’s RBI-single, but that was actually Mayle’s best inning. When it looked like the Moors might get a bundle, he fanned three of their top sticks — Justin Graham, Michael Sandlin and Chris Mills.

South took a 2-1 lead in the fifth on Matt Morgan’s RBI-single, but it was still an exasperating frame for Wilson, as South lost baserunners at third and home.

South finally added two in the seventh. Deal’s two-out single plated Brad Matthews for a 3-1 lead. Then South literally stole its fourth run with its “walk-off-first” play. Shore was at third, Deal at first. Batter Aaron Safrit was down in the count after two quick strikes.

“Coach Wilson said we’d try that play sometime this series and then I see him talking to Shore and I’m thinking — ‘Yeah, yeah, the situation’s perfect with Ronnie at third. Go on and give me the signal,’ ” explained Deal.

A moment later, Wilson did give the sign and Deal casually strolled away from first base, clapping his hands like he was front row at a Garth Brooks concert.

“I’m wondering if the pitcher’s ever going to see me,” said Deal. “Finally, the infield yells for him to step off and throw and he does.”

Deal headed back to first, then braked and got in a rundown. That’s when Shore, the team’s fastest runner, bolted for home. The Moors didn’t panic, making a good throw to the plate, but a sliding Shore was ruled safe. Meadows was certain Shore was out. Shore wasn’t saying.

“It was so close, I honestly couldn’t tell you if I got there or not,” he smiled. “I’m just glad the ump saw it our way.”

In time, the “walk-off-first” run would loom nearly as huge as Wednesday’s walk-off homer.

Mooresville threatened in the eighth, but third baseman Deal turned a two on, none out smash by Mills into a double play to get Mayle out of the inning. “Thank goodness it was wet,” said Deal. “He hit a sharp ball. A foot either way and it’s by me.”

Then it was up to the Mayle-man to deliver in the ninth. Tyler Lackey started the inning with a single, but Mayle rallied from a 3-0 count to get Ronald Crum on a fly to right. Tim Fitzpatrick popped to first and South was an out away from history.

Next was Kyle Allison. Mayle’s first pitch was a curve that dropped in at the lefty hitter’s knees. It was called ball one, but the scoreboard — perhaps someone was umpiring from the pressbox — put up a strike. That fooled South fans. When Mayle’s next two pitches were also strikes, they leaped out of their lawnchairs, punching the air, certain the game was over.

It wasn’t. Instead, the count was 1-and-2. Fans sighed and plopped back down as Mayle overthrew his next pitch and hit Allison. Two on. And then, suddenly, two in and a 4-3 ballgame after Justin Graham split the left-center gap for a two-run double. That was all for Mayle, as Wilson handed the ball to right-hander Brandon Hiatt, who stepped into a pressure cooker.

Hiatt got it done. Deal had just finished yelling at his teammates to want the ball hit to them, when Haire hammered one in his direction. Deal gloved it and his throw across was perfect. Safrit squeezed the ball with a straining Haire a step away from the bag and South fans soared from their seats a second time.

This time they got to stay on their feet, wiping away tears and applauding another remarkable win in a series that will be remembered forever.

n

NOTES:A downpour that began with the national anthem delayed the start of the game an hour. ... Half of South’s wins (6) have come against Mooresville.

n

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