From staff reports

Monday games  …

GRANITE QUARRY — Freshman Julian Cauble pitched a no-hitter as East Rowan rolled 11-0 against Concord in a first-round game in the South Piedmont Conference Tournament.

Cauble (6-foot-3, 180 pounds) struck out eight of the eighth-seeded Spiders (7-17) and didn’t walk a batter. He nearly had a perfect game, but East made one error. Cauble faced only 16 hitters in the five-inning game.

The top-seeded Mustangs (21-4) scored six runs in the first inning and made life easy for Cauble.

Harrison Ailshie had two doubles and two RBIs. Braylen Ketchie and Krys Hernandez had two hits. Ketchie scored twice. Hunter Goodman had a double and drove in a run.

East advanced to a Tuesday semifinal against fourth-seeded Lake Norman Charter (11-9). That game will be played at Carson.

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MOUNT ULLA — West Rowan pitchers Eli Graham and Chase Fisher allowed only one hit as the Falcons romped 11-1 in a first-round game in the South Piedmont Conference Tournament.

Graham (4-0) pitched three innings, struck out three and allowed a solo homer to Bryson Pate. Fisher struck out three in two scoreless innings.

The second-seeded Falcons (21-4) scored six runs in the first inning and left no doubt where this one was headed. West won via the 10-run rule in the bottom of the fifth.

Luke Ponczka had three hits, including the knock that ended the game early. He had two singles and a double.

Brice Knox stayed hot with two hits and three RBIs. Cole Blevins had two doubles and scored two runs. Carter Durant scored twice.

Central finished the season 7-15.

West will take on sixth-seeded Robinson in a Tuesday semifinal at Carson.

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CHINA GROVE — Robinson is a dangerous team, especially when Jake Barbee pitches, and the Bulldogs surprised third-seeded Carson 3-2 in a first-round game in the South Piedmont Conference Tournament.

Barbee struck out nine in six innings and didn’t allow any walks or earned runs. Bryson Honeycutt pitched the seventh to save it for the Bulldogs (11-11).

The Cougars (14-9) had seven hits, including two by Jayven Parks, but couldn’t overcome an early 3-0 deficit. Parks and Maverick Walters scored the runs for Carson in the fourth inning.

Kendal Sifford (8-3) took a tough loss for Carson, as he struck out six and walked one, while throwing a complete game. Robinson’s runs were unearned.

Carson is 13th in the 3A West RPI rankings and still could be opening up the 3A state playoffs at home. Every game is a must-win game for Robinson, as the Bulldogs are 33rd in the RPI rankings.

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HUNTERSVILLE — Lake Norman Charter scored three runs in the second and three more in the third to take a 6-0 lead and went on to beat South Rowan 8-3 in a first-round game in the South Piedmont Conference Tournament.

South scored two runs in the fifth and one in the seventh.

Fourth-seeded Lake Norman Charter (11-9) got three hits from Palmer Hayes and three RBIs from Daniel Wignot.

Fifth-seeded South (13-11) got two RBIs from Drew Pegram and two hits from Davis Kemp.

South starting pitcher Matthew Overcash struck out four and walked four and was relieved in the third inning by Corbin Goodman.

South is 30th in the 3A West RPI rankings. Lake Norman Charter is 22nd.

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SALISBURY — Fourth-seeded Salisbury took a 7-2 lead after two innings and went on to beat North Rowan 10-6 in a first-round game in the Central Carolina Conference Tournament.

The teams were playing for third time in five days. North won the first one. Salisbury won the last two.

Evan Koontz was the winning pitcher for the Hornets (8-16). He got relief help from Ben Young.

Koontz, Myles Smith and Cole Price had two hits for the Hornets.

Ethan Prange had a double for the Cavaliers (5-13). Zane Smith scored two runs.

Starting pitcher Chase Cauble struck out five for North. Caleb Everett pitched well in relief and struck out three.

Salisbury is 47th in the 2A West RPI rankings, so the Hornets would have to win the tournament to make the state playoffs. North is 39th in the 1A West rankings and is unlikely to make the 1A state playoffs.

Salisbury plays at No. 1 seed West Davidson (14-9) on Tuesday night.

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A.L. Brown ended the season at 7-18 with a 4-3 loss to South Iredell in the Greater Metro Conference Tournament.

It was the final game at the helm for long-time head coach Empsy Thompson.