By Mike London
Salisbury PostIt wasn’t the ugliest game in Newman Park history, but it was likely in the top 10.
How crazy was it? Mooresville starter Aubrey Meadows gave up seven runs in the first inning and still was the winning pitcher as the Moors overcame shorthanded Rowan County 12-10.
The marathon featured homers by Rowan’s Matt Hall and Russell Michalec, 13 errors, 14 walks, 28 hits, two HBPs and one catcher’s interference. There were no calling birds or partridges in pear trees.
“We really had no right to win it, not kicking it around the way we did,” Mooresville coach Josh Graham said.
Shane Denton knocked in six runs for the Moors. Brantley Horton, a West Rowan athlete playing against high school teammates, went 4-for-4.
“I like playing in this ballpark, and I knew all the guys,” Horton said. “I was just really ready to play this one, but it turned into a long night.”
Rowan (3-3, 1-3) lost for the second straight night while scoring double-figure runs.
We’re just a little handcuffed pitching-wise,” Gantt said. “It’d be nice to be able to make a few moves, but we really couldn’t burn another pitcher. Michalec did a good job on the mound, but he had a tough time getting those third outs. He’s just got to go after hitters earlier in the count when there’s still doubt about what he’s going to throw.”
A weary Michalec was making his fourth mound appearance in Rowan’s half-dozen games. He pitched occasionally for Salisbury High.
“My arm felt OK, and I kind of settled in after that first inning,” Michalec said. “But it will be nice when we get a few East Rowan pitchers and we can get everyone into more of a rotation.”
Gantt said there’s no timetable for adding 3A state runner-up Mustangs to the mix, but it could start as soon as tonight’s game with High Point.
“I haven’t talked to them, wanted to let them concentrate on the high school season,” Gantt said. “But if any show up Sunday, they might get in there.”
Rowan sent 12 men to the plate in the bottom of the first inning. Michalec had two hits in the seven-run outburst, and Hall belted a three-run homer.
“Aubrey hadn’t pitched in two weeks,” Graham said. “That was my fault to get him in a hole like that right off, but he pitched us out of it.”
Mooresville (4-1, 2-0) finally took control of the game in the fifth when it scored five times. Denton’s RBI single tied the game at 7-7 and knocked out Michalec. Joe Manser’s RBI groundout and Sam Allen’s RBI single against reliever Parker Gobbel put the Moors up 9-7. Then the sizzling Denton hit a bases-clearing double in the sixth for a cushion.
Michalec homered in the eighth for his fourth hit and Gobbel walked with the bases full to lift Rowan within 12-10. Rowan put the tying runs on base in the ninth with one out against reliever Garrett Braun, but Justin Mock lined viciously to Manser at third for a game-ending double play.
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Contact Mike London at 704-797-4259 or mlondon@salisburypost.com.