Staff report

SALISBURY — Whitley Arnott pitched two shutouts on Thursday, and West Rowan rolled into the championship game of the Salisbury Civitan High School Softball Classic.

West beat Cox Mill and East Rowan by identical 9-0 scores at Salisbury Community Park to improve to 17-3 on the season.

Arnott, a junior, was overwhelming against Cox Mill, striking out 15 and limiting the Chargers to two hits.

Reagan Haggas walloped a two-run homer for the Falcons. Hannah Pratt, KK  Dowling and Taylor Poole had two hits each.

West, which won the North Piedmont Conference championship, banged out 13 hits to beat East for the third time this season.

Arnott’s three-run homer to center field in the second inning started the scoring.

Arnott and Dowling had three hits each. Kenadi Sproul knocked in two runs. Pratt had two hits. Hannah Roberts scored two runs. Megyn Spicer had two hits and two RBIs.

In the circle, Arnott struck out six, walked one and allowed six hits.

Mackenzie Sprinkle, Ashlyn Fritz, Haley Strange, Emma Walker, Karley Teague and Izzy Schroeder had a hit apiece for the Mustangs (10-6).

East Rowan plays twice today, starting with a 3 p.m. contest against 10th-ranked Central Cabarrus.

West, ranked ninth in 3A, will make its only appearance today in the 7 p.m. championship game.

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Carson (14-8) split two games in the tournament on Thursday.

The Cougars were thumped, 12-2, by South Piedmont Conference champion Central Cabarrus (17-2) to start the day.

Catawba signee Riley Tucker went 3-for-3 and homered for the Vikings. Christian Brendle homered and knocked in three runs. Destiny Thornton drove in two runs.

Brantleigh Parrott was the winning pitcher.

Kary Hales went 2-for-2 to lead Carson.

Carson bounced back to outscore Cox Mill in its second outing, 17-8.

Carson’s lead was just 9-8 after six innings, but the Cougars scored eight runs in the top of the seventh. Katie Jewell hit a grand slam in the seventh, and Liza Simmerson launched a two-run homer.

Hales had a perfect day at the plate and went 3-for-3 with two doubles. and two RBIs.

Simmerson had three hits and five RBIs. Abbey Nixon had four hits.

Maci Cooper, who has been out with an injury, was back in action and went 2-for-2 and scored three runs.

Jewell pitched a complete game, allowing only one earned run and striking out seven.

For the Chargers (6-12), Grace Hamilton homered and drove in three runs. Madison Phillips had three hits.

Carson will play in the third-place game today at 5 p.m., with East Rowan expected to be the opponent. East and Carson split games this year.

Cox Mill will play Salisbury (making its first appearance in the tournament) in another game at 5 p.m. The Hornets beat South Rowan 8-7 on Thursday in a conference game to improved to 9-13.

Today’s (probable) schedule

3 p.m. — Central Cabarrus vs. East Rowan

5 p.m. — Carson vs. East Rowan; Salisbury vs. Cox Mill

7 p.m. — West Rowan vs. Central Cabarrus