Jimbo Davis hopes to pick up in American Legion baseball where he left off for North Rowan High School, and he’s off to a good start.
The county’s prep home run leader with six didn’t go deep in Rowan County’s Legion opener, but he did drive in four runs in a 16-8 non-league victory over King at NewmanPark.
“I’m loving the four spot,” said Davis, who went 1-for-2 as the clean-up hitter, driving in three runs with a bases-loaded double that capped off Rowan’s nine-run seventh inning and another with a sacrifice fly.
“I hit second at North, and (Aaron) Rimer had all the RBIs. He cleaned up everybody,” said the leftfielder. “I came up, and with the great players we’ve got, I had guys on base, and thank God I knocked them in.”
Jim Gantt, getting a victory in his first game as Rowan’s head coach, said of Davis’ performance, “I expected him to hit some. ... We moved him back (to clean-up) and he had some RBI chances. What was pleasing about him was hitting the curveball to right-center. That’s the sign of a good hitter.”
Rowan trailed 7-5 before sending 14 men to the plate in the seventh inning, which saw first-year players Cory Ruff and Michael Gegorek get RBIs during the big inning. Ruff’s double to the fence in left gave Rowan the lead for keeps at 8-7. Gegorek’s single up the middle plated two more. Cal Hayes Jr. singled home a run before Davis finished the big inning.
Davis went 2-for-7 last season before being cut, but after his strong season at North, where he batted .449, he was ready for success this time.
“I came out smoking in the regular season for North, and I was just hoping to come here and continue it. Tonight,I helped myself out,” he said.
Leading Rowan’s 18-hit attack was leadoff man Hayes, who went 4-for-6 and drove in two runs. Nick Lefko was 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Drew Davis, Spencer Steedley and Shawn Trosper each had two hits, and Gegorek got two RBIs in the first Legion game of his career.
“We hit the ball better than I thought we would,” said Gantt. “I knew the guys could hit, but I just didn’t think it would come around that fast. That’s not how we’re going to hit every game.”
Defensively, he saw room for improvement.
“We’ve got to play better defense than we did, especially on some throws. We had a guy picked off, and we had a double play ball, and we didn’t turn it. We have to have those if we are going to be good.”
Left-hander Spencer Steedley, the winning pitcher in relief, had one King runner picked off, but threw wild for one of three Rowan errors.
Steedley, however, drew special praise from Gantt, despite giving up two hits, three runs (two earned) and a walk in his two innings of work. Rowan’s big seventh made him the winner.
“I was real pleased with our pitching. We made some bad pitches at times. That’s where we got hurt, but they settled back down. Steedley bounced back after we scored some runs. That’s what good pitchers will do. He went back out and pitched well,” said Gantt.
Steedley retired the side in order in the eighth, then Bobby Parnell pitched the ninth, allowing one run.
“Parnell, if he can just regain his focus after something goes bad, then he’s going to be O.K.,” said Gantt.
Julian Sides pitched the first five innings, and Daniel Cauble pitched a scoreless inning in relief before Steedley and Parnell finished up.
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NOTES: Rowan hosts Surry County on Thursday in another non-league game. Gantt plans to start right-hander Brandon Doby. ... King coach Ronnie Mendenhall played all 25 players in his season opener. ... Justin Parker and Cory Ingleston each had two hits for King. ... Gib Hobson saw action for King at first base and pitcher. He’s the son of former North Rowan star quarterback Gil Hobson, who also played basketball and baseball for the Cavaliers.
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