Staff report

KANNAPOLIS — Bo Rusher got things started for Salisbury on Saturday with a run-scoring single in the first inning.

Rusher also ended things for the Hornets — with a walk-off, three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth. Rusher sent one over the wall in right field at Intimidators Stadium, a blast that put an exclamation point on Salisbury’s 11-1 romp against Mount Pleasant.

Salisbury (11-4) got a win the consolation bracket of the F&M Bank High School Classic and will play in Monday’s fifth-place game at 1:30 p.m. against A.L. Brown.

Mount Pleasant (8-6) will play Northwest Cabarrus for seventh place at 11 a.m.

Rusher had three hits and drove in four runs for the Hornets. The homer was his second of the season.

Joe Steinman also had a big day. Steinman’s two-run single was the big blow in the Hornets’ four-run first inning and he added another run-scoring hit.

Will Taylor had a run-scoring hit and Jack Fisher walked with the bases loaded to plate a run. David Holden had a sacrifice fly.

Taylor got the job done on the mound. He’d pitched only four innings all season, but he threw all five on Saturday and struck out three.

Mt. Pleasant     010    00    — 1       6   2

Salisbury           402   23      — 11   11   0

W —Taylor (1-0). L — Jack Fowler.

Leading hitters — Mt. Pleasant: Fowler 2 hits. Salisbury: Rusher 3-for-4, 4 RBIs; Steinman 2-for-3, 3 RBIs.

KANNAPOLIS — In the other Saturday consolation game, A.L. Brown beat Northwest Cabarrus, 5-3.

The Wonders (2-10) scored four runs in the second inning and never lost control of the game.

Antonio Knight and Dylan Shubert had two hits each for the Wonders. Blake Watson was the winning pitcher. Luke Brown earned a save.

Carson Bost had two hits for the Trojans (6-9).

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In Saturday’s late semifinal, West Forsyth (11-3) romped against South Rowan, 13-2, to move into Monday’s championship game against Carson.

South (5-8) will play for third place on Monday against Robinson.

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