From staff reports

Rohan Handa pitched a two-hitter with eight strikeouts and no walks as Kannapolis Post 115 beat Kernersville, 3-0, on Wednesday.

The victory wrapped up a first-round sweep for Southern Division No. 2 seed Kannapolis in the best-of-three playoff series.

Kernersville  Post 66 was the No. 7 seed from the Northern Division.

Handa protected a 1-0 lead most of the game. Kannapolis finally got two insurance runs in the seventh at East Forsyth High.

Jason White had a sac fly for Kannapolis, while Ryan O’Kelly knocked in a run with a groundout. Chase Orrock keyed the offense with two hits and two runs scored.

Kannapolis starts a best-of-five quarterfinal series with Winston-Salem on Friday at Northwest Cabarrus High. Saturday’s Game 2 will be played at Mount Tabor High.

Winston-Salem won against Mooresville, 4-2, on Wednesday to complete a sweep. Winston-Salem is the Northern Division’s No. 3 seed and beat Randolph County and High Point in league games.

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Eastern Randolph scored five runs in the second inning and held off Stanly County, 8-7, at Montgomery Park in Albemarle on Wednesday to even that first-round Legion  playoff series at a game apiece.

Hunter Little homered and drove in three runs for  ER Post 81.

Clay Pinion and Cody Kidd had two RBIs apiece for Stanly Post 76.

A decisive game will be played tonight in Ramseur.

Rowan County awaits the winner of that series. Rowan starts a best-of-five quarterfinal series at Newman Park on Friday.

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Nick Tiller had a two-run double as Stanly County beat Concord, 5-3, on Wednesday to even that first-round series. The teams will play a decisive game tonight at Mount Pleasant High.

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Mocksville lost at Greensboro, 11-5, on Wednesday. That series also is tied. Game 3 will be played tonight at Rich Park.

Junior Legion

Carson won 20 games overall but finished 5-5 in the conference and won’t be in the playoffs.

West Rowan went 6-4 in the conference and tied for second with Kannapolis Post 115. Concord won the conference with a 9-1 record.

Wood bat leagues

Bryan Ketchie (West Rowan, Catawba) is 2-0 for the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League.

Ketchie has struck out 22 while walking only three in 27 innings.

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Joe Butts (Catawba) is batting .302 with 15 RBIs for the Kernersville Bulldogs of the Carolina-Virginia Collegiate League.

Independent baseball

Michael Elwell (Catawba) is having some success in the independent Pecos League and has struck out 19 batters in 10 innings out of the bullpen for the Bakersfield Train Robbers.

Intimidators   

KANNAPOLIS — Johan Cruz scored the winning run on a forceout in the ninth inning, as the Kannapolis Intimidators beat the Hickory Crawdads 4-3 on Wednesday.

Aron McRee (3-2) got the win with a scoreless inning in relief while Joe Barlow (3-2) took the loss in the SAL game.