From staff reports
The Rowan Rampage semi-pro football team opened with a 68-6 rout of the Triad Hot Shots in a preseason game played at Knox Middle School on Saturday.
Willie Hosch rushed eight times for 156 yards and four touchdowns for the defending CCFL champs. D’Andre Hopper was 9-for-12 passing for 146 yards. The Rampage defense forced seven turnovers and scored three times.
The Rampage built a 34-0 lead in the first quarter. After Hosch and Anthony Davis rushed for early scores. Bobby Lee returned a fumbled snap on an attempted punt for a touchdown. Then Mark Sturgis returned a fumble forced by a huge hit by Earl Terry for a 31-yard score. Next, Mike McLean’s fumble recovery led to a 54-yard scoring run by Hosch.
Hopper passed 43 yards to Justin Davis in the second quarter before finding Travis Gist for a 20-yard TD and a 41-0 lead. When the Hot Shots fumbled the ensuing kickoff, Manny Quinterro recovered for Rowan. A physical block by Gist broke Hosch for a 24-yard scoring run. Hopper’s PAT made it 48-0 at halftime.
Rowan put together an 82-yard sustained drive in the third quarter that was capped by an 18-yard dash by Hosch.
After the Hot Shots scored to pull within 55-6 midway through the fourth quarter, Rampage backup QB D.J. Lyles directed a score.
Terry and James Porter forced a fumble that was returned 34 yards by McLean for a touchdown on the last play of the game.
– American Legion
Daniel Welch pitched well for Kannapolis and Bobby Zimmerman hit a home run, but Wilkes rallied from a 6-1 deficit to win 7-6 at Veterans Field. Kannapolis got the leadoff man on in the ninth, but a bunt back to the mound resulted in a double play.
Kannapolis (5-10) has to win tonight at Stanly to have any hope of making the Southern Division playoffs.
* Nick Lomascolo pitched a complete game and struck out 15 as Mooresville beat Lexington 8-2. Jacob Mays broke a 2-2 tie with a two-run single. Zach Burkhart homered for Lexington.
* Mocksville lost to Western Forsyth 5-2 in the final game of the Erik Walker Memorial Tournament.
– Junior Legion
The Salisbury Cavornets defeated Thomasville 13-2 in five innings.
Salisbury sent 12 to the plate and scored eight runs in the first inning. Matt Mauldin had a three-run double.
Mauldin, Dakota Brown, and Ben Ritchie had three hits each. Clint Veal pitched five innings, scattered three hits and earned the win.
* Carson rapped out 14 hits and beat Statesville 10-4 on Sunday. Justin Morrison pitched three perfect innings and got relief help from Patrick Bearden, Gavin Peeler and Kyle Youngo.
Bearden had three hits and four RBIs. Peeler, Kyle Bridges, Patrick Hampton and Caleb Srackangast had two hits each.
– Ripken all-stars
The China Grove Cal Ripken League 10-under all-stars are playing in the area tournament championship game at 6 p.m. tonight at Coleridge.
China Grove players are Heath Barringer, Grayson Bell, Issac Bell, Austin Chrismon, Cameron Corriher, Niko Cosgriff, Cal Hubbard, Issac Miles, Chandler Norton, Dillon Norton, Clifton Welch and Hayden Wilson.
– Intimidators win
Greg Infante pitched seven strong innings to lead the Kannapolis Intimidators to a 7-3 victory against Hickory on Sunday.
Kannapolis (2-2) pounded 16 hits, including a three-run homer by Jose Vargas.
– Minor leagues
Bristol’s Daniel Wagner (South Rowan) was 2-for-5 with one RBI on Sunday.