From staff reports

GRANITE QUARRY — East Rowan’s 25-1 baseball team brushed aside Northwest Cabarrus 10-0 in six innings in a South Piedmont Conference semifinal played on Tuesday.

Joe Burleyson shut out the Trojans at Staton Field, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out five.

Burleyson’s ERA is 0.26.

Cobb Hightower launched his second homer of the tournament and seventh of the season for the top-seeded Mustangs and drove in three runs.

Harrison Ailshie had a triple and also drove in three. McCall Henderson had a triple and drove in two.

Braden Shive had two hits and scored two runs.

East ended the game via the 10-run rule with a three-run sixth inning.

Northwest (12-14) is likely to make the playoffs. The Trojans are No. 29 in the 3A West RPI rankings.

East will play Lake Norman Charter for the tourney championship at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Staton Field.

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GRANITE QUARRY — Second-seeded Lake Norman Charter edged Carson 5-4 in Tuesday’s other SPC semifinal.

Lake Norman Charter (17-6) is a hot team and is up to No. 7 in the 3A West RPI rankings.

Daxton Savage had two hits and Caden Lewis had two hits for Carson (15-11).

Savage, Maverick Walters, Carson Kirk and Corbin Hales drove in runs for the Cougars.

“We had eight hits through three innings and didn’t have another one until the seventh,” Carson coach Kyle Bridges said.

Jayven Parks led off the seventh with a barrel, but LNC’s right fielder made a diving catch.

Cam Williamson had a hit in the inning, but the game ended with a long fly ball by Walters that was caught.

“Williamson was running, so if that falls, we score to tie it,” Bridges said.

Carson (15-11) has no worries about being in the state playoffs, so the Cougars aren’t done yet.

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THOMASVILLE – Salisbury’s season likely ended with an 11-1 loss to West Davidson at Finch Field in a Tuesday Central Carolina Conference semifinal.

The third-seeded Hornets (14-11) were held to three hits in the five-inning game by WD hurler Mason Miller.

Hank Webb, Aiden Mowery and Jackson Sparger had the hits. Mike Geter walked twice and stole a base.

The Hornets are 36th in the 2A West RPI rankings. Thirty-two teams will make the bracket.

Second-seeded West Davidson (18-7) advanced to play top-seeded East Davidson for the championship. East Davidson beat Thomasville 5-2.