Staff report

SALISBURY — Two nights after winning a 13-inning thriller at Kannapolis, Rowan County’s American Legion baseball team edged the Post 115 Towelers again on Saturday night.

This time it was at Newman Park, and this time it was 4-3. Rowan got solid pitching from Logan Dyer (1-0) and Joe Burleyson and hung on.

Kannapolis (5-4, 1-1) came out swinging in a game that will count in the league standings and up three runs on the board against Dyer in the top of the first.

As was often the case in the high school season, it often takes Dyer time to settle in, but he always gets better as the game goes along. Dyer held Kannapolis scoreless from the second through the fifth.

Aaron Jones, a recent South Rowan graduate, started on the mound for Kannapolis. Rowan was able to tie the game with a three-run second. Elijah Palmer’s double got it started. Brant Graham singled home Palmer. Matt Connolly, batting leadoff walked. Dyer’s RBI single made it 3-2, and Connolly scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 3-all. Kannapolis third baseman Drew Blackwell made a great play to keep the game tied.

Rowan (4-7, 1-0) scored the decisive run in the fifth when Luke Graham singled, stole second, and came home on a hit by Drew Burton.

Carter Rohletter relieved Jones in the first and pitched well the rest of the way for Post 115.

Burleyson took  the mound for Rowan in the top of the sixth. Kannapolis got a runner to third base, but Burleyson pitched out of a tough spot.

Then Burleyson struck out the side in the seventh for a hard-earned save.

In a schedule change, Kannapolis will host Concord on Sunday night, while Rowan will welcome to Mocksville to Newman Park at 7 p.m.

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Rowan County is moving forward without outfielder Braden Shive. He was a starter, but he made a decision not to play anymore this summer. Teams were trimmed to the 18-man limit over the weekend.