NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

STATE 3-A BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES –GAME TWO

EAST ROWAN SWEEPS SERIES WITH 15-10 VICTORY OVER WILSON HUNT

ZEBULON — East Rowan exploded for eight runs in the opening inning and then held on to outlast Wilson Hunt 15-10 in a marathon second game Saturday and sweep the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3-A baseball championship series at Five County Stadium.

Outfielder Will Sapp, who was two for four with a pair of RBI on Saturday after a big game in the opener, was named the Most Valuable Player of the series. In the first game Friday night, East erupted for five runs in the bottom of the sixth, aided by a three-run homer by Sapp, in a 9-3 victory. Sapp was five for eight with three RBI and scored four runs in the series.

The Mustangs, with Sapp delivering a two-run double and Nathan Fulbright a two-run single, roared to an 8-0 lead only to see Hunt counter with its first six batters in the bottom of the inning coming around to score.

But East scored four in the second, with Preston Troutman driving home two of those with a triple, and then three in the third to take command. Fulbright had three hits in five trips and three runs batted in for the game while Justin Morris also had three hits and scored three times.

Hunt collected 15 hits with the Warrior attack paced by Cody Britt, Seth Wiggs and Parker Lamm with three hits each.

East used four pitchers with Thomas Allen getting the win while Avery Harper, one of five pitchers for Hunt, was the loser.

Hunt, in its first NCHSAA championship series since 1989, finished 26-7 on the year. East Rowan, in the finals for the second time in three years, finished with a 31-2 mark.

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 3-A BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES–GAME TWO

Five County Stadium, Zebulon

East Rowan 8 4 3 0 0 0 0–15 14 1

Wilson Hunt 6 1 0 1 2 0 0–10 15 3

WP–Thomas Allen. LP–Avery Harper (8-1).

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

STATE 2-A BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES–GAME TWO

EAST RUTHERFORD COMPLETES SWEEP WITH 4-3 DECISION OVER GRAHAM

RALEIGH — Senior righthander Dekotah Thomas went the distance on the mound, striking out 15 and finally quelling a Graham rally in the seventh inning as East Rutherford took a 4-3 decision Saturday in the second game of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 2-A baseball championship series at Doak Field at North Carolina State University.

The victory gave the Cavaliers a sweep of the best of three series. East had opened the series with a 5-1 victory on Friday night as Drew Reynolds had two hits and picked up the complete-game pitching victory. Reynolds was named the Most Valuable Player of the series.

Derek Deaton of the Cavs, who had three hits Saturday including two doubles, delivered a key two-bagger as did Reynolds in the third inning to put East up 2-0. Then Trent Dorsey blasted a two-run homer in the fourth to put East ahead 4-0.

But the Red Devils battled back in the bottom of the seventh, piecing together four hits and three walks to pull to within one run. Matt Holley and Blake Throneburg had run-scoring hits and Matt Roberts walked with the bases loaded to make it 4-3, but Thomas struck out Rigeberto Mendoza to end the threat and secure the state crown.

East Rutherford ended the season 30-2, winning its last 17 straight, and captured its fifth state title in the last nine years. Graham finished 20-13 overall.

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 TWO

Doak Field, N.C. State University

East Rutherford 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 — 4 6 2

Graham 0 0 0 0 0 0 3– 3 6 0

WP–Dekotah Thomas (12-0). LP– Treston Early (6-2). HR: East Rutherford, Trent Dorsey, 4th with one on.