Staff report

GRANITE QUARRY — If they don’t score, they can’t beat you, and East Rowan’s powerful softball team shut out Lake Norman Charter twice on Thursday.

Madi Tigert allowed five hits in a 9-0 victory that went seven innings. Then Camryn Perkins pitched a one-hitter in an 11-0 win that the Mustangs ended in five frames.

East’s strong senior class was honored between games of the doubleheader.

In the first game, Tigert had three hits. Jordan Dry and Eleni Miller had two hits. Kori Miller and Perkins both contributed a hit and two walks, leading to a bushel of runs.

In the second game, Eleni Miller had three hits, while Kori Miller, Lily Kluttz, Gracie Barber and Dry had two each.

East (17-2, 13-1) heads into the last week of the South Piedmont Conference regular season with another conference championship in sight. East experienced one hiccup against Central Cabarrus in SPC play, but the only other loss this season was non-conference against Alexander Central.

East’s remaining games include one at West Rowan at Tuesday. West is tied for first with East, although the Mustangs handled the Falcons with relative ease, 6-0, on March 21 in Granite Quarry. The game at West will decide the league championship. Both teams also have a game left with last-place Robinson, but that shouldn’t be an obstacle for either of the Rowan powerhouses.

Coached by Todd McNeely, East is second behind Enka in the latest 3A West RPI rankings, while West Rowan is sixth. Central Cabarrus (16) and South Rowan (18) also are certain to make the 3A state playoffs. Northwest Cabarrus (28) probably will get into the 32-team bracket, while Concord (34) still has a chance.