NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
STATE 2-A BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES—GAME ONE
LINTHICUM’S GRAND SLAM HELPS RANDLEMAN TO WIN
RALEIGH — Curtis Linthicum’s grand slam highlighted a five-run sixth inning as Randleman outlasted East Rutherford 14-6 in a slugfest in the opening game of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 2-A baseball championship series at Doak Field at North Carolina State University.
Randleman had scored five in its half of the fourth to extend the lead to 8-1 before the Cavaliers, the defending 2-A state champs, stormed back with five runs of their own in the fifth to make it 8-6. But Randleman got one in the fifth and five in the sixth to put it away.
Will Albertson had four hits and three runs batted in for the winners, now 27-3 overall, while Dylan Richardson had three hits and drove in three runs.
Lucas Owens and Taylor Peyton each had two hits for East, now 27-5, and Chip Helton also drove in two runs for the Cavs.
Easton Welch, who worked the first four innings for Randleman on the mound, was the winning pitcher. Tyler Jacobus, who was tagged for 11 hits and six earned runs in three and two-thirds inning of work, got the loss after 13 consecutive victories.
Game two in the best of three 2-A series in the 95th annual championships is scheduled for Saturday morning at eleven o’clock.
The Raleigh Sports Consortium and Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau are serving as host city sponsors for this championship series. Wendy’s is the presenting sponsor of the NCHSAA sports program.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
STATE 2-A BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES—GAME ONE
Doak Field, N.C. State University
East Rutherford 1 0 0 0 5 0 0— 6 10 2
Randleman 2 0 1 5 1 5 x—14 17 1
WP—Easton Welch (6-0). LP–Tyler Jacobus (13-1).
STATE 1-A BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES—GAME ONE
SOUTH STANLY EDGES EAST COLUMBUS 3-2
ZEBULON — South Stanly turned a suicide squeeze play into a dramatic game-ending double play as the Rowdy Rebel Bulls nipped East Columbus 3-2 in the first game of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 1-A baseball championship series at Five County Stadium on Friday.
East Columbus outhit South Stanly 11-2, but the Gators had a couple of costly errors and also walked seven.
East had plated a run to pull within 3-2 and had runners at second and third with one out. But Ben Jenkins popped the suicide bunt attempt up and base runner Ben Connor was doubled off third to end the game.
South Stanly scored a pair of unearned runs in the third, and East got one back in its half. Then Landon Fraley’s run-scoring single in the seventh put the Rowdy Rebel Bulls ahead 3-1.
Hunter Smith, David Bridgers and Derrick Bracey each had two hits for East Columbus. Fraley and Grayson Short were the only South players to hit safely.
Russ Weiker was the winning pitcher to run his record to 14-0 and Heath Blackmon got the save. Skylar Bowen (8-2) had a no-hitter through five innings but was charged with the loss.
Game two in the best-of-three 1-A series, part of the 95th annual NCHSAA baseball championships, is set for Saturday morning at eleven o’clock.
The win pushed South Stanly’s record to 25-9, and the Rowdy Rebel Bulls are in the state finals for the second time in the last three years. East Columbus is now 22-6 and had a 15-game winning streak snapped.
The Raleigh Sports Consortium and Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau are serving as host city sponsors for this championship series. Wendy’s is the presenting sponsor of the NCHSAA sports program.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
STATE 1-A BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES—GAME ONE
Five County Stadium, Zebulon
South Stanly 0 0 2 0 0 0 1— 3 2 2
East Columbus 0 0 1 0 0 0 1— 2 11 3
WP—Russ Weiker (14-0). Save–Heath Blackmon. LP–Skylar Bowen (8-2).
