From staff reports

KANNAPOLIS — Chandler Lippard drove in 83 runs for the Rowan County American Legion team the last two summers, so having him returning to action after a year of club baseball at East Carolina University is big for Rowan.

Lippard carried the offensive load on Thursday, driving in all three runs in a 3-1 win at Kannapolis.

“It was a clean game, well-played and well-pitched by both teams,” said Seth Graham, who is guiding the Rowan club with Jim Gantt still  busy with Catawba’s team. “Kannapolis has a  very good team, but we  got the job done.”

While most Legion teams are already at full strength, the Rowan team will get a boost from the Carson players whenever their season is finished. Carson plays another playoff game on Saturday.

“We’ve played pretty good ball and we’ve faced a lot of aces early,” Graham said. “When we add the Carson guys, we could have a dynamic lineup.”

Lippard singled home Jordan Goodine for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

Kannapolis got even on Chase Orrock’s RBI in the bottom of the inning.

Lippard’s two-run homer in the third inning was the deciding blow. Again, Goodine was on base.

Lippard socked seven homers last summer.

Wayne Mize stayed hot and had two hits for Rowan. Cameron Graham had a double.

Corbin Durham (1-0) pitched four innings for the win. Daniel Durham pitched three shutout innings for a save.

Rowan (3-1) plays its home opener tonight at 7 p.m., with Kannapolis (1-1) providing the opposition. Like last night’s game, it won’t count in the division standings.

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Patrick Usher’s walk-off single gave Mocksville a 5-4 win against Eastern Randolph on Thursday.

Joe Johnson belted a first-inning homer for Mocksville.

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Trevor Marsh and Braxton Davis blasted home runs as Randolph County outscored Kernersville 11-9 on Thursday.

Davis knocked in four runs.

HS softball

Marvin Ridge beat Central Cabarrus 5-2 on Thursday to even their best-of-three regional series at a game apiece.

Gabby Baylog homered  for the Mavericks and pitched a complete game.

Intimidators

HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Jacob Rhinesmith tripled and singled as the Hagerstown Suns topped the Kannapolis Intimidators 5-1 on Thursday.

Hagerstown took the lead in the first when it scored five runs, including a solo home run by Cody Wilson.

Chandler Day (1-1) got the win in relief while Kannapolis starter Kade McClure (1-3) took the loss in the South Atlantic League game.

With the win, Hagerstown improved to 4-2 against Kannapolis this season.