Staff report
Olen Stamper pitched six shutout innings as the West Rowan Junior Legion team won 4-2 against host South Caldwell in Friday’s opening round of the state tournament.
“It was the Olen Stamper Show and the boys were ready to play and made great defensive plays for him,” West Rowan coach Jesse Link said.
West Rowan plays Dare County at 6 p.m. Saturday in Granite Falls in a winner’s bracket game.
West Rowan (21-10) only had three hits, but it produced all three during a three-run second inning. Luke Waggoner, Stamper and Mykal Berger had hits.
“We manufactured runs by stealing bases,” Link said.
Stamper, who struck out seven batters, took a 4-0 lead to the seventh.
“I was getting ahead in the count, I hit my spots, and I had a good curveball,” Stamper said. “I was a little nervous at the start, but then I settled in after a batter or two and we were able to score a few runs.”
South Caldwell made things interesting in the seventh, scoring two runs against Stamper and reliever Cole Hales.
Shortstop Brett Graham took the mound and got the save. Brandon Walton started a game-ending double play, and Hales turned it.