Staff report

SALISBURY — Jordan Goodine’s grand slam capped a productive night for Rowan County’s offense in a 21-5 romp against Mooresville on Sunday night at Newman Park.

Goodine’s slam, his first American Legion homer, easily cleared the left-field wall to cap an eight-run fourth inning for the home team.

Rowan also scored eight runs in the third inning when it sent 14 batters to the plate.

Rowan (6-2) scored 21 runs while making only 12 outs. Rowan didn’t need to bat in the bottom of the fifth in the mercy-rule contest. Mooresville (1-4) employed five pitchers, but none of them had much luck.

Both teams will be stronger soon. Rowan will get some help, especially on the mound, from Carson players who had their high school season end in the regional championship series on Saturday, while Mooresville expects to get a boost from a number of Mooresville High players who will be competing in the 4A state championship series.

Rowan fielders struggled early. Four errors helped Mooresville take a 3-1 lead to the bottom of the second inning.

Rowan’s first four batters in the second reached without a hit — three walks and one HBP — to make it 3-2. Goodine bounced into a fielder’s choice but got a run home for a 3-all tie. Daniel Sell’s run-scoring single put Rowan in the lead. Wayne Mize’s RBI single gave Rowan a 5-3 lead.

Rowan starting pitcher Daniel Durham, a left-hander headed to Catawba, put up a zero in the top of the third, with the help of right fielder Cameron Graham, who threw a runner out at the plate to end the inning. Catcher Bo Rusher applied the tag.

Rowan then broke it open in the bottom of the third with a wild, eight-run frame. Steven Smith had two doubles in the third, one to start the inning and another with the bases full to drive in three runs. Graham had two run-scoring singles in the inning. Parker Lippard had a double. Mooresville  hurlers continued to struggle with walks.

For the game, Mooresville hurlers walked nine and plunked three Rowan batters with pitches.

Daniel Durham (2-0) pitched four innings for Rowan. He allowed five runs, but only two were earned. With the help of a double play, Corbin Durham pitched a scoreless fifth.

Mize went 3-for-3 with a sacrifice fly before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the fourth. He is 17-f0r-30 (,567) for the season with 17 RBIs.

Goodine scored four runs and had five RBIs. Smith drove in four and scored four.

Rowan will play at home on Memorial Day, with Greensboro (2-2) visiting Newman Park. Rowan won 6-5 at Greensboro last week.

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NOTES: With regular first baseman Chandler Lippard nursing a hamstring injury and with backup first baseman Daniel Durham pitching, Goodine started at first base. Taking Goodine’s spot in right field was Cameron Graham, who is usually an infielder. … Bo Rusher got the start behind the plate, with JT Fecteau, who has been doing most of the catching, serving as the DH. Rusher has been unlucky so far. He leads the team in line-drive outs.

 

Mooresville    120   20   — 5   6   3

Rowan Co.     148   8x   — 21   11  4

W — D. Durham (1-0). L — Jake Burkett.

HR — Rowan: Goodine (1).

Leading hitters — Rowan: Mize 3-for-3, 3 RBIs;  Smith 2-for-2, 4 RBIs; P. Lippard 2-for-2, 2 RBIs; Graham 2-for-3, 2 RBIs; Sell 1-for-2, 2 RBIs; Goodine 1-for-3, 5 RBIs.