Staff report

GRANITE QUARRY — East Rowan pitcher Jake Hunter has made a lot of good teams look ordinary this season.

East’s sophomore right-hander has enjoyed a remarkable run. West Stanly came to Staton Field with a splendid 17-3 record on Monday and quietly exited 17-4. With Hunter hurling, East breezily won a semifinal game in the Easter tournament that the Mustangs are hosting, 7-0.

Hunter (5-1) was in charge all the way for the Mustangs (13-9). West Stanly’s four hits, believe it or not, matched the most that Hunter has allowed this season.

In nine starts, Hunter has thrown 54 innings and allowed 28 hits. He’s allowed three earned runs for an ERA of 0.39.

A strikeouts-to-walks ratio of 2 to 1 is good, and Hunter’s is a ridiculous 10.5 to 1. He’s struck out 85, while walking eight. He’s had double-digit strikeouts six times, with a high of 12. He hasn’t walked more than two batters in any game.

Hunter had a series of no-decisions early in the season when East was struggling to score and was 1-1 after losing a pitching duel against Carson. But now he’s won his last four starts.

Hunter drove in the only run he needed in the first inning. He singled home Wayne Mize.

Bryson Wagner’s two-out, run-scoring double made it 2-0 in the second.

JD Basinger scored on a wild pitch in the fourth to give Hunter a 3-0 cushion.

East got four runs in the sixth to break it open. Charlie Klingler tripled and scored on a wild pitch. Hunter hit a sacrifice fly. Pinch-hitter Griffin Warden singled in a run, and Jake Holshouser walked with the bases loaded.

East had 11 hits, with Hunter, Basinger and Avery Shull collecting two each.

Trent Wilson took the loss for the Colts. Colton Austin had two hits.

East plays Hickory Ridge in the tournament championship game tonight at 7 p.m. West Stanly takes on Cox Mill in the third-place game at 1 p.m.

 

West Stanly   000   000  0   — 0   4    0

East Rowan   110   104    x   — 7   11    0

W — Hunter (5-1). L — Wilson.

Leading hitters — W. Stanly: Austin 2-for-3. East: Shull 2-for-3; Hunter 2-for-3, 2 RBIs; Basinger 2-for-4.