Rowan County bounced back from its first American Legion baseball loss with its most extra-base hits of the season at Newman Park Thursday night.
Led by Ben Hampton’s first homer of the season and two doubles by Drew Davis, Rowan had 15 hits — eight for extra bases — in a 14-4 non-league romp over Burlington.
Rowan had lost 8-6 to Mooresville in a league game on Wednesday.
Coach Jim Gantt’s club, 4-1 for the season, is idle until 7:15 p.m. Sunday when Rowan hosts Eastern Randolph in a non-league makeup contest.
Hampton started at catcher for the second time, while Drew Davis was the designated hitter. He got only one hit, but it was a shot to right-center with two men on base in the eighth inning. He got his other RBI with a bases-loaded walk.
“He’s got tremendous power and has got real quick hands and a lot of pop in his bat,” said Gantt of Hampton, a left-handed hitter from West Rowan High School. “If he’ll just allow that to work for him, instead of trying to hit it like the one he hit tonight ... You don’t have to try to hit it that hard.”
Gantt wants Hampton to hit to all fields.
“Just using the whole field, it makes you a better hitter. They’re going to pitch him away and they’re going to curveball him. They’re not going to give him anything to pull normally,” said the Rowan coach.
“I was pressing too hard the first two at-bats (strikeouts in the second and third innings),” said Hampton. “Coach told me to calm down and look for a fastball belt-high. That’s what I did. I wasn’t really expecting it, because of the way I changed my stance after the first two at-bats. He (Gantt) told to change it and try to take it opposite field, to open it up a little bit. He (pitcher Brandon Storey) got a fastball about belt-high and I just jumped on it,” said Hampton.
Hampton, who saw some action at first base and left field last season, is having to share catching duties with Drew Davis.He’s 2-for-7 for the season with five RBIs.
“Whenever I can help the team out, I’m glad to do it, like last night when I came in and had a clutch pinch-hit,” he said. “Wherever the team needs me and I can help out, that’s where I’ll play. If Coach wants to put me somewhere,I’ll be glad to try it.”
Rowan’s other extra-base hits, all doubles, were two by Drew Davis and one each by Jimbo Davis, Bobby Parnell, Cal Hayes Jr., Aaron Rimer and Nick Lefko.
“When our guys concentrate and stay focused, they do a good job,” said Gantt.
Hayes and Drew Davis each had three hits, while Rimer, Parnell and Shawn Trosper added two each. Rimer drove in three runs.
Gantt used three young pitchers on the mound — left-handers Tyler Morgan and Jason Cooper and right-hander Daniel Cauble. Cauble, who pitched 3 1/3 innings in relief, was the winning pitcher.
“Daniel Cauble came in and did a great job,” said Gantt, who brought in the freshman from West Rowan with the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth inning.He got Nate Walters on a fielder’s-choice grounder to get out of the jam.
“That’s a great job,” said Gantt. “He’s got great mechanics. He’s been taught well. He throws fastball, curveball, changeup, and throws them all for strikes. I’m surprised how well he handles himself. It’s just like he’s done it before and it’s no big deal.”
“I’m just trying to do the best I can,” said Cauble, who allowed four hits and one earned run. He also pitched one scoreless inning in a season-opening victory over King.
“I was a little nervous the first time out, but I felt pretty good tonight,” said the 6-foot-1, 180-pounder.
Cauble didn’t pitch a lot for the unbeaten West Rowan jayvees because of a sore shoulder.
“I believe I was 3-0 or 4-0. My shoulder got sore on me a couple of times and I had to let it rest,” he said.
Gantt, who has a lot of young pitchers on his 23-man roster, said another Cauble will start Sunday against Eastern Randolph, with left-hander Spencer Steedley (2-0) coming back against Kannapolis in Monday’s home league contest.
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