High school baseball: All-Rowan County baseball team
Published 12:00 am Thursday, June 20, 2024
- West Rowan pitchers Drew Burton, left, and Corbin Bailey. Submitted photo.
By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com
It was a stellar year for Rowan County baseball, on college diamonds, as well as the high school ranks.
Carson and West Rowan made the playoffs, winning 17 games each, while East Rowan broke state records, winning as many as the Cougars and Falcons combined.
The All-Rowan County team obviously starts with the Mustangs, who have seven on the team. Carson and West have four apiece. Salisbury got three, South Rowan two and North Rowan one.
EAST — Most of the seven Mustangs need no introduction. Shortstop and UNC recruit Cobb Hightower was named 3A Player of the Year, South Piedmont Conference Player of the Year and Rowan County Player of the Year. Logan Dyer and Harrison Ailshie, exceptional two-way players, were named Co-Pitchers of the Year for the county. McCall Henderson’s 57 RBIs broke the county record and placed him among the best RBI men in state history. Braden Shive and Nate Hayworth were fast outfielders who got on base a lot. Joe Burleyson went 5-0 on the mound, including a great effort in Game 3 of the regional, and did most of the catching.
CARSON — Outfielder Jayven Parks was the biggest offensive force for Carson. Daxton Savage was an exceptional two-way player. Lefty Maverick Walters was strong on the mound late in the season, Second baseman Cam Willamson batted .349.
WEST — Cole Blevins led the Falcons in just about everything offensively. Drew Burton put up knockout numbers as a two-way player — 1.19 ERA and .569 on-base percentage. Corbin Bailey contained East Rowan’s explosive lineup twice and had a 1.76 ERA for the season. Brant Graham, another two-way guy, went 3-1 on the mound.
SALISBURY — Evan Koontz and Hank Webb were strong two-way players for the Hornets. Mike Geter got on base, scored runs, was strong in center field and helped out on the mound.
SOUTH — Marshal Faw was a two-way standout for the Raiders, while catcher Conner Coy got on a base at a high rate and was the catalyst for the offense.
NORTH — Chase Cauble was the top player for the Cavaliers
