From staff reports

CONCORD — West Rowan’s baseball team hasn’t had a smooth ride down the stretch, but the Falcons pulled out a tough one on Friday to close the South Piedmont Conference regular season.

West trailed Robinson 7-0 after the Bulldogs (10-13, 7-9) erupted for a seven-run third inning, but West (17-7, 10-6) chipped away every inning, caught up and took the lead in the sixth and held on to win 11-9.

West finished tied for third in the SPC with Carson. Robinson tied South Rowan for sixth.

Drew Burton went 4-for-4 for the Falcons.

Luke Ponczka had two hits and three RBIs. Cole Blevins also had two hits and three RBIs.

Gage Scruggs and Andrew Helmbold scored two runs each. Blevins and Brant Graham had doubles.

West used four pitchers. Blevins got the win.

West was swept by Carson, so the Falcons are the 4 seed for the SPC tourney and will host No. 5 Northwest Cabarrus on Monday night. First pitch is expected to be at 7 p.m.

Robinson swept South Rowan, so the Bulldogs are the 6 seed for the SPC tourney and will play at No. 3 Carson on Monday.

•••

CONCORD — Northwest Cabarrus’ Dalton Hazlett prevailed in an epic pitching duel with Carson’s Daxton Savage on Friday.

Hazlett struck out 10 Cougars, walked only two and held Carson to three hits.

Savage pitched a complete game, striking out five, walking three and allowing four hits.

Jayven Parks had two hits for the Cougars. Savage had the other hit.

Hazlett and Tyler Smith had RBIs for the Trojans.

Carson (14-10, 10-6) is the 3 seed for the SPC tournament and hosts  No. 6 Robinson on Monday.

Northwest (11-13, 8-8) is the 5 seed and will play at No. 4 West Rowan on Monday.

 

SPC Tournament

Monday’s first round

(8) Central Cabarrus at (1) East Rowan

(5) NW Cabarrus at (4) West Rowan

(6) Robinson at (3) Carson

(7) South Rowan at (2) Lake Norman Charter

Tuesday’s semifinals (at East’s Staton Field)

Robinson-Carson winner vs. South-LN Charter winner, 4 p.m.

East-Central winner vs. West-Northwest winner, 7 p.m.

Thursday’s championship (at Staton Field)

Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.