From staff reports

ASHEBORO — Randolph County crushed Kannapolis, 15-1, in five innings on Saturday to sweep their best-of-five Area III semifinal series.

Randolph (22-14) scored six runs in the second and six more in the third. Then Randolph got three more in the fourth to hasten the 10-run rule. Randolph scored 15 runs, while making 12 outs.

Dawson Painter homered for Post 45. Tristan Marsh had three hits and knocked in five runs. Randolph pounded six doubles.

Kannapolis loaded the bases in first inning, but couldn’t score against Randolph hurler Braxton Davis.

Kannapolis also loaded the bases in the fifth and finally scored on single by Devin Faggart.

Starter Jason White took the loss.

Davis walked five but allowed only one hit.

Kannapolis finished 15-11 and reached the Area III  semifinals for the first time since 2006.

Little League softball

Rowan Little League (11-12) won its first game in the state tournament in Forest City on Saturday, 4-0.

Campbell Schaen struck out 11 and pitched a one-hitter with no walks.

Brooke Piper had two hits, including a triple.

Chloee Stoner, Cailynn Winford and Schaen drove in runs.

Rowan had seven hits.

Local golf

Eric Edwards (Salisbury, George Mason grad) is tied for 26th after three rounds of the 104th Carolinas Amateur being played in Pinehurst.

Edwards has shot 73-77-70 on the par-72 Dogwood Course at the Country Club of North Carolina.

Edwards made three birdies and one bogey on Saturday. Davis Richards (South Rowan, NC State) has shot 73-77-76 and is tied for 52nd.   

The final round is today.

Intimidators

KANNAPOLIS —  Tate Blackman had four hits, while Tyler Frost and Carlos Perez recorded three apiece as the Kannapolis Intimidators defeated the Hagerstown Suns 10-7 on Saturday.

Blackman homered and singled three times, driving home three runs and scoring a couple. Frost doubled and singled twice, scoring two runs.

Luis Ledo (5-1) got the win with two innings of scoreless relief while Jared Johnson (0-1) took the loss in the South Atlantic League game. Andrew Perez pitched two scoreless innings for his first save of the season.

Junior Legion

Mocksville Junior Legion defeated Randolph Red, 6-5, on Saturday in the Area III championship series.

The teams will play a decisive Game 3 at McCrary Park today Both teams have qualified for the state tournament.

Minor leagues

Will Albertson (Catawba) had a double early in the game for Salem-Keizer Volcanoes on Saturday.

•••

Zac Almond (Catawba) hit his fifth homer and his first triple for Missoula on Saturday. He’s batting .300 with 22 RBIs.