From staff reports

MOUNT ULLA — Emma Clarke socked her 14th and 15th homers of the season, as West Rowan’s softball team smashed Forestview 10-0 in the first round of the 3A state playoffs on Tuesday.

Clarke has 50 RBIs this season. The homers were the 42nd and 43rd of her high school career.

Clarke doubled in her other at-bat for a 3-for-3 night. She scored three runs for the Falcons (20-7).

Arabelle Shulenburger shut down the visitors on two hits, while striking out 12 batters.

Shulenburger, Taylor Keller and Lucy McLean Shelton had two hits each.

Forestview (13-8) was seeded 19th for the 3A West playoffs, while the Falcons are seeded 14th.

West scored six runs in the fifth to end the game by the 10-run rule.

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GRANITE QUARRY — Third-seeded East Rowan had a much tougher game in Tuesday’s first round, winning 1-0.

CATA (12-11) was only seeded 30th in the bracket but put up a fight.

“They might be a No. 30 team, but they’ve got a great pitcher,” East coach Todd McNeely said. “They lost 1-0 to fourth-seeded Piedmont last week. We left a few on base, but we were able to grind it out.”

The Mustangs (21-3) scored an unearned run in the third inning. That was enough for freshman pitcher Madi Tigert, who struck out nine, walked one and allowed five hits.

East got only two hits against CATA hurler Addison Crawford, who struck out six and walked four.

Now East Rowan will get ready to play West Rowan for the fourth time on Friday.

East has won all three meetings this season, beating the Falcons 3-1 and 9-6 in the regular season and then 9-0 in the recent South Piedmont Conference Tournament championship game.

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MONROE — Piedmont beat South Rowan 11-1 on Tuesday in a first-round 3A West matchup.

Fourth-seeded Piedmont (19-3) pounded 12 hits and played errorless defense.

Piedmont pitcher Jailyn Thomas struck out six in the five-inning game.

Piedmont took control with a six-run third inning.

Seeded 29th, South (10-13-1) got hits from Kynlee Dextraze, Eva Shue, Leisha Carter, Danica Krieg and Carmen Thomas.

Thomas had the RBI for the Raiders in the fourth inning.

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Northwest Cabarrus was eliminated by a 12-1 loss to Fred T. Foard on Tuesday, while Central Cabarrus was outscored 9-5 by Pisgah.

In 4A, second-seeded Mooresville (23-1) advanced easily with a 15-0 romp against North Meck.