Staff report

THOMASVILLE —South Rowan, a second-year program, came awfully close to being the first Rowan team to win a Junior American Legion state tournament.

South was one out away from winning it all on Wednesday afternoon at Finch Field, but R-S Central’s Cameron Hill stroked a two-run double to give his team the lead and an eventual 4-3 victory.

Luke Hiskey was the hard-luck loser. He pitched a complete game and didn’t allow an earned run. He struck out three and didn’t walk a batter.

Hiskey took a shutout and a 3-0 lead to the seventh, but that inning opened with back-to-back singles by the Hilltoppers from Rutherford County.

After two infield errors, the Hilltoppers had cut it to 3-1 and had the bases loaded.

The next two batters hit fly balls. The second one was deep enough to score a runner from third, and South’s lead was 3-2.

Hiskey got a strike on Hill, but then he hit his two-run double to center field.

South couldn’t score in the bottom of the seventh.

South (25-6) had lost to the Hilltoppers 12-11 in 10 innings in the first round of pool play, but had pounded Ahoskie and West Carteret to advance to the semifinals.

South won  in eight innings against North Davidson/Oak Grove in a semifinal on Monday. Tuesday’s championship game was rained out, but the teams were able to play on Wednesday.

South took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Patrick Holden’s single scored Jackson Deal.

It stayed 1-0 until the sixth.  Joseph James led off that inning with a double for South and scored on a hit by Hiskey.

Colby Renken ran for Hiskey. He stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored the run that made it 3-0 on a passed ball.

South had eight hits against Noah Harris, who pitched a complete game for the Hilltoppers.

R-S Central         000   000   4    — 4   7    1

South Rowan     001    002    0    — 3   8   5

W — Harris. L — Hiskey.

Leading hitters — R-S Central:Hayden Wheeler 2-for-3; Hill 2-for-4, 2 RBIs. South:  Kane Kepley 2-for-4; Holden 2-for-4.

 

Junior Legion state champs

2001 — Fuquay-Varina

2002 — Cary

2003 — Snow Hill

2004 — Cary

2005 — South Caldwell

2006 — Cary

2007 — Kernersville

2008 — Cary

2009 — Mooresville

2010 — West Johnston

2011 — West Johnston

2012 — Cary

2013 — Mint Hill

2014 — South Caldwell

2015 — Davidson County

2016 — Rutherford County

2017 — South Caldwell

2018 — Windsor

2019 — R-S Central