From staff reports
High Pointís Legion team beat Randolph County 8-4 to win the A Bracket of the Area III playoffs on Friday and clinch a spot in the state tournament.
High Point went 5-1 in bracket play, with its only loss a 9-8 decision against South Rowan in the second round.
The third seed from the Northern Division, High Point (19-8) starts a best-of-three series with Southern Division No. 1 seed Rowan County (23-6) tonight at Newman Park and will play host to Rowan at historic Finch Field on Sunday.
If a third game is needed, it will be at Newman Park on Monday.
The teams will be playing for pride, a championship and seeding in the upcoming state tournament. Opening ceremonies in Morehead City are set for July 21, with games starting the morning of July 22.
It will be a five-day, double-elimination event to determine North Carolinaís representative in the Southeast Regional in Sumter, S.C.
n Hickory and Cherryville will be the representatives from Area IV. Area I representatives are Cary and Wayne County. One Area II berth goes to host Morehead City. Wilmington and Hope Mills began a series on Thursday to decide the other Area II berth.
n Rowan is in the Area III finals for the fifth consecutive year.
Salisbury was Area III champ in 1954 and 1955, and the program has won Area III titles as Rowan County in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2009.
Rowanís last two Area III champs also went on to take the state title.
n High Point claimed its only Area III title when it beat Southern Division champ Concord in 1972.
Rowan beat High Point in the Area III championship series in 1971 and 1973. High Point hasnít played in the Area III championship series since 1974 when it lost to Concord.
n Junior Legion
Rowan Countyís Junior Legion team lost 13-1 to Cary on Friday morning in the double-elimination state tournament being played at the Hickory Fairgrounds.
Connor Johnson homered for Rowan in the third inning.
Cary scored five runs in the first inning against Rowan starter Alex Bost and added five unearned runs after a fielding misplay in the second.
Rowan will try to stay alive today at 10 a.m.
In other games on Friday, West Johnston beat Kernersville 2-1 and South Caldwell topped Newport 7-4.
The tournament continues until a champion is decided on Tuesday.
n Minor leagues
The Kannapolis Intimidators fell 3-1 to Rome on Friday. Robert Hefflingerís two-run double was the decisive blow for the Braves.
Kannapolis got a strong relief outings from Wes Whisler and Jake Wilson to stay in the game.
The Intimidators open a series with Lakewood tonight. Fireworks are planned following the game.
n Former Charlotte 49ers star Rob Lyerly has been promoted to Double A by the Yankees and is now playing for Trenton in the Eastern League.
The third baseman hit .312 with 46 RBIs in 64 games in advanced Class A ball.
Both of Lyerlyís parents, Robert and Sandy, are Rowan natives.
n Craige Lyerly (East Rowan) returned to action for Hudson Valley and went 2-for-3 in Fridayís 2-1 win against Jamestown.
n Wilmingtonís Whit Merrifield (Davie) smacked three doubles in Fridayís game with Frederick.
n Daniel Wagner (South Rowan) helped Winston-Salem beat Lynchburg 4-1 on Friday.
Wagner had one hit, but his biggest contribution was a sacrifice bunt that set up a three-run fifth.
He also started a double play defensively in the sixth.
n Local golf
Salisburyís Alex Nianouris is tied for sixth after three rounds of the 33rd Junior North & South Championships being played in Pinehurst.
Nianouris has shot 71-72-72 ó 215 and is 1-under, four shots off the pace.
Salisburyís Troy Beaver shot 75-86-72 ó 233 and is 17-over.
Salisburyís Alex Lee is at 25-over 241 after rounds of 79-80-82.
Salisburyís Alex Austin is at 242, 26-over, after shooting 82-79-81.
n In the girls division of the Junior North & South, Salisburyís Madison Kennedy is tied for 20th at 17-over. Kennedy shot 76-81-76 ó 233.
Salisburyís Lily Yatawara shot 79-81-79 ó 239 and is 23 over.
Salisburyís Amber Lyerly stands 46-over after rounds of 84-92-86 ó 262.
n In a ěBlind Partnersî low net event at Country Club of Salisbury, Susan Wydner and Blanche Glover shot 147 for first place. Cindy Carmazzi and Betsy Edgeworth shot 161 for second.
n Elliot Gealy (Salisbury) shot 72-70 ó 142 in the first two rounds of the Nationwide Tourís Chiquita Classic in Maineville, Ohio.
Gealy missed the cut by two strokes.
n Seventy GARS members played the first round of their annual tournament at Corbin Hills earlier this week.
Low ëAí flight winner was Mick Rowell with a net of 60.20.
Low ëBí flight winner was Ed Lockhart with a net of 66.20.
Low ëCí flight winner was Norman Schenk with a net of 61.50.
Low ëDí flight winner was Nelson McDaniel with a net of 60.80.
n Clint Jensen, Brice Garnett and Adam Mitchell are tied for first at 199 after three rounds of the eGolf Tourís Southern Open at The Club at Irish Creek. Jensen and Garnett fired third-round 64s.
n Youth baseball
The East Rowan Diamond Sports 10-under all-stars opened the WNC Cal Ripken State tournament in Matthews with a 6-5 victory over MARA American on Thursday.n East Rowanís 13U all-stars dropped their opening game in the WNC Babe Ruth State tournament 16-9 to East Catawba in Weddington on Thursday.
n East Rowanís 14U all-stars split a doubleheader to open up the WNC Babe Ruth State Tournament at Staton Field.
East topped St. Stephens 8-4 in its opener and lost to Union County 2-1 in the nightcap on Thursday.