By Bill Kiser
sports@salisburypost.com.MOORESVILLE ó Rowan County coach Jim Gantt had just one word to describe Saturday night’s rain-delayed 11-8 loss to Mooresville ó ugly.
Yet despite spotting Post 66 a six-run lead in the first inning, Gantt’s Rowan club (15-5, 6-5) fought back to make a game of it against the Area III-Southern Division frontrunners.
Rowan County gave up a season-high 19 hits ó including six Texas League singles ó and committed three errors, and gave up nine runs to Mooresville (13-4, 11-0) in the first three innings.
But Rowan managed to stay in the game thanks to Mooresville’s inconsistent pitching (nine walks, three batters hit by pitches), some stout defense at times (three double plays) and some timely hits.
Rowan County also had 10 hits in Saturday’s game _ which was stopped by a heavy shower for nearly 90 minutes _ including solo home runs by Russell Michalec and Noah Holmes.
“It was a pretty bad game, it was an ugly game,” Gantt said after Rowan saw its six-game winning streak end. “But to the end, we still had a chance. I’m proud of them for not giving up, especially after the first inning.” Mooresville tagged Rowan starter Billy Veal for the six runs off seven hits (all singles) and a pair of fielding errors by left fielder D.C. Cranford. Post 66 tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the third with three hits and a throwing error by Holmes.
“I don’t know how to explain it ó it was just bad,” Gantt said. “We had a couple bad plays early … and we had almost pitched out of the (third) inning, only to make that throwing error.
“I don’t have too much good to say about those innings, so I prefer to say nothing at all.”
Still, Rowan managed to pull within 6-5 in the top of the third, scoring a run in the second and tacking on four more runs in the third against Moors starter Aubrey Meadows.
However, after the rain delay, Meadows was pulled at the top of the fourth for reliever Scottie Williams, who threw three innings of no-hit ball.
But Rowan got to Williams in the top of the seventh, scoring a pair of runs on Michalec’s leadoff homer and Cranford’s RBI double to pull within 9-7.
Mooresville upped its lead to 11-7 in the bottom of the eighth with a pair of runs, but Rowan got a leadoff homer from Holmes in the top of the ninth, and put a pair of runners on base before Nick Lomascolo pitched out of the inning.
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NOTES: Veal took the loss for Rowan County, his first of the season. He gave up nine runs (only five earned) on 11 hit and one walk. … Williams got the win for Mooresville, going four innings of middle relief while allowing two runs on four hits and two walks. … Lomascolo got the save for Post 66, giving up the home run but striking out three. … Cranford, Holmes and Philip Miclat each had two hits for Rowan County. … Nathan Abraham went 4-for-5 to lead Mooresville, with Joe Manser, Sam Allen and Jordan Farrell each getting three hits.