From staff reports

East Rowan Junior Legion coach Brian Hightower thought it was a sacrifice fly when the ball left Corbin Moss’ bat, but the fences are close at West Forsyth High, and the ball just kept sailing.

Moss’ three-run homer broke a 5-all tie in the sixth.  It was the key blow and East Rowan went on to a 9-8 victory at Western Forsyth Blue on Wednesday.

East (24-0) swept a best-of-three Area III semifinal series with a pair of hotly contested, one-run victories.

“The kids are doing pretty well,” East coach Brian Hightower said. “They never feel like they’re out of a game.”

Western Forsyth Blue (14-6)  got a homer from J.T. Howell and took  a 4-0 lead after two innings, but East starter Blake White hung in there, put up a few zeroes and gave his team a chance to come back. He would pitch into the sixth inning.

East got two runs back in the fourth, and Jake Davis’ two-run homer made it 4-all in the top of the fifth.

C.J. Boyd’s solo homer gave gave Western Forsyth Blue a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the inning, but East’s five-run sixth proved decisive.

A walk, Jake Hunter’s single and Charlie Klingler’s bunt single loaded the bases. Matthew Mathis singled home the tying run, but East made an out on the bases.

Moss’ three-run homer came next, and East led 8-5. A dropped flyball allowed East to add a big insurance run.

Moss was able to close the game in the seventh, but only after Western Forsyth Blue scored three runs and put the potential tying and winning runs on base.

East will start the best-of-three Area III championship series on  Saturday against Concord at Staton Field.

Concord swept Cary in the other semifinal series, winning 7-5 on Wednesday.

Mocksville is hosting the state tournament, so only the Concord-East Rowan winner will qualify for the state event.

E. Rowan 000    225  0 — 9

W.F Blue  310    010  3  — 8

Intimidators

J.J. Franco had three hits to lead a 10-hit attack, but the Kannapolis Intimidators lost at Hickory, 7-4,   on Wednesday.

Micker Adolfo hit his 11th homer for the Intimidators (43-39).

Blake Hickman (1-3)  pitched five innings and allowed six runs. He took the loss.

Legion baseball

Charlee Edwards pitched seven strong innings and Luke Spiva and  Franklin Martin had two RBIs apiece as High Point beat Eastern Randolph at Finch Field, 6-3, on Wednesday, to even a best-of-five series at 1-all.

The teams play tonight in Ramseur.

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Catawba signee Will Lancaster hit a grand slam to lead Davidson County to an 11-7 win against Mooresville at Holt-Moffitt Field on Wednesday at Holt-Moffitt Field.

Joe Butts, another Catawba signee, and Brandon Leonard had three hits each. Nick Lindquist got the win, providing 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

  Davidson County leads the best-of-five series, 2-0. The teams play at Mooresville High tonight.

•••

Randolph County won against Mocksville, 6-4, at McCrary Park on Wednesday for a 2-0 series lead.

Game 3 in the series is tonight at Mocksville’s Rich Park.

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Catawba College head football coach Curtis Walker will host his annual Youth Football Camp on Friday, July 7, 8 a.m. (check in ) until noon

Ages 6-13 years old (coed)

Admissions: Players will need to bring two canned food items or two non-perishable food items. These items will be donated to a summer program for children and youth.

The camp includes lunch/drink, Tshirt and a day in the life of a Catawba football player.

Register at www.curtiswalkerfootball.com