KANNAPOLIS — An unearned run in the bottom of the sixth proved to be the difference Saturday night as Northwest Cabarrus edged East Rowan 6-5 in the final contest of the four-day F&M Baseball Classic.
In a match-up of programs with long winning traditions, this contest actually saw two teams going through a rare year of character building. The Trojans improved to 5-11 and finished the tournament 1-2 while the Mustangs fell to 6-10, also 1-2 in the Classic.
Tied at 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth, NWC put their winning rally together thanks to an error, a single by Justin Dixon and finally sacrifice fly to center by designated hitter Wyatt Taylor. The Trojans trailed early 3-1, rallied ahead 5-3 in the third then finally won it in the sixth.
“That is the first time we have come from behind all year to win a game,” NWC coach Joe Hubbard noted, “We showed a lot of heart and character. We were focused and ready to play tonight.”
East had a chance to tie in the top of the seventh with two men on but Jarin Hogue got a key strikeout of Hunter Poston then a flyout to save the game for winner Daniel Hamilton.
“They got the big strikeout there,” East coach Brian Hightower said. “We probably should have squeezed but we just didn’t. We also hurt ourselves early with defensive lapses.”
Dixon led the winners with three hits while Michael Caldwell and Luke Setzer led the nine hit East attack with two each. NWC had 10 hits for the game.