All 3 will be at home on Saturday for third-round battles
By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
All three teams still alive in the state high school baseball playoffs from the Greater Hickory area conferences won Thursday night to advance to Saturday’s third round.
East Lincoln advanced in 2A with an 11-0, five-inning victory over visiting Ledford.
St. Stephens won in 3A, beating Cuthbertson 5-1 in Hickory, and McDowell won in 4A at home, downing Porter Ridge 5-4.
On Saturday, it will be:
— No. 13 Forbush (11-5) at No. 9 East Lincoln (15-1) at a time to be announced. The winner reaches the West 2A title game against No. 15 South Rowan (14-2) or No. 6 R-S Central (13-2).
Forbush advanced Thursday by knocking off previously unbeaten West Wilkes, seeded No. 5, 7-4 at West Wilkes.
— No. 11 Sun Valley (13-3) at No. 2 St. Stephens (11-3) at a time to be determined, with the winner reaching the West 3A final against No. 9 Cox Mill (13-3) or No. 4 Asheville Roberson (15-1).
Sun Valley earned a trip to Hickory by beating No. 3 East Rowan on the road 5-4 in 11 innings on Thursday night.
— No. 3 Winston-Salem Reagan (14-2) at No. 2 McDowell (14-1), which has won 12 straight games, at a time to be determined. The winner meets No. 5 Northwest Guilford (13-3) or top-seeded Providence (14-2) for the West 4A title.
Winston-Salem Reagan won Thursday at home against No. 11 Myers Park 4-3.
No. 12 Lincoln Charter is still alive in the West 1A bracket after beating No. 13 North Moore 12-7 at Lincoln Charter. The Knights travel to No. 8 Mountain Island Charter (12-2) in the third round.
The other teams left in the West 1A bracket are No. 3 Uwharrie Charter (12-1) and No. 2 East Surry (15-1).
Teams still alive in the East are:
— No. 9 East Bladen, No. 4 North Lenoir, No. 6 First Flight and No. 10 Randleman in 2A.
— No. 13 Greenville Rose, No. 1 Northern Guilford, No. 3 Greenville Conley and No. 15 Clayton in 3A.
— No. 16 Wilmington Hoggard, No. 4 Fuquay-Varina, No. 3 Wilmington Ashley and No. 15 Purnell Swett in 4A.
St. Stephens 5, Cuthbertson 1
Gavin Marley and Josh Barkley combined to three-hit No. 7 Cuthbertson as No. 2 St. Stephens (11-3) ran its win streak to two games.
Marley worked 4 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and no earned runs. He walked five and struck out four before Barkley came on to gain a save (2 1/3 innings, one hit, two walks, two strikeouts).
St. Stephens had four hits, one each by Julien Peisell, Elec Marvin, Peyton Young and Barkely. Young and Barkley each drove in two runs.
Cuthbertson (13-3) left nine runners on base, and Ethan Wilson took the loss. Wilson went 3 1/3 innings, allowing three hits, five runs (three earned) with three walks and two strikeouts.
The Indians are 6-3 at home this season.
East Lincoln 11, Ledford 1, 5 inn.
Senior Ben Kleckner threw five innings, allowing two hits and one run and striking out two as the Mustangs advanced in the 2A bracket with a home victory.
Junior Garrett Michel walked three times and scored twice while junior Graham Smiley scored four runs after walking three times.
Gavin Houser added two hits, including a two-run home run in the fifth inning, for East Lincoln and senior Cade Doolittle drove in two runs.
The Mustangs are 8-0 at home this season.
MORE COVERAGE (Gaston Gazette): https://www.gastongazette.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2021/06/17/east-lincoln-baseball-advances-third-round-baseball-playoffs/7742262002/
STATE BASEBALL PLAYOFF PAIRINGS
THIRD ROUND PAIRINGS
(games must be played by Saturday)
1A
East: No. 4 Bear Grass Charter (13-1) at No. 1 Perquimans (14-1); No. 3 E. Carteret (13-3) at No. 2 Granville Central (9-7)
West: No. 12 Lincoln Charter (14-1) at No. 8 Mountain Island Charter (12-2); No. 3 Uwharrie Charter (12-1) at No. 2 E. Surry (15-1)
2A
East: No. 9 E. Bladen (11-4) at No. 4 N. Lenoir (13-3); No. 10 Randleman (15-1) at No. 6 First Flight (15-0)
West: No. 13 Forbush (11-5) at No. 9 E. Lincoln (15-1); No. 15 S. Rowan (14-2) at No. 6 R-S Central (14-2)
3A
East: No. 13 Greenville Rose (12-4) at No. 1 Northern Guilford (16-0); No. 15 Clayton (12-4) at No. 3 Greenville Conley (14-1)
West: No. 9 Cox Mill (13-3) at No. 4 Asheville Roberson (15-1); No. 11 Sun Valley (13-3) at No. 2 St. Stephens (11-3)
4A
East: No. 16 Wilmington Hoggard (11-4) at No. 4 Fuquay-Varina (12-3); No. 15 Purnell Swett (11-5) at No. 3 Wilmington Ashley (13-3)
West: No. 5 NW Guilford (13-3) at No. 1 Providence (14-2); No. 3 Winston-Salem Reagan (14-2) at No. 2 McDowell (14-1)
SECOND ROUND RESULTS
(Thursday’s games)
1A
EAST
No. 1 Perquimans 10, No. 9 Hobbton 0
No. 7 Bear Grass Charter 4, Roxboro Community School 0
No. 3 E. Carteret 9, No. 11 Princeton 5
No. 2 Granville Central 6, No. 10 E. Wake Academy 0
WEST
No. 8 Mountain Island Charter 12, No. 1 Hayesville 9
No. 12 Lincoln Charter 12, No. 13 N. Moore 7
No. 3 Uwharrie Charter 11, No. 11 Murphy 3
No. 2 E. Surry 9, No. 7 Cherryville 2
2A
EAST
No. 9 E. Bladen 13, No. 16 N. Pitt 3
No. 4 N. Lenoir 6, No. 5 Roanoke Rapids 4
No. 6 First Flight 3, No. 14 Whiteville 2
No. 10 Randleman 10, No. 15 SW Onslow 0
WEST
No. 9 E. Lincoln 11, No. 16 Ledford 1. 5 inn.
No. 13 Forbush 7, No. 5 W. Wilkes 4
No. 6 R-S Central 8, No. 14 South Point 3
No. 15 S. Rowan 11, No. 10 Oak Grove 0
3A
EAST
No. 1 Northern Guilford 10, No. 9 Northern Durham 0
No. 13 Greenville Rose 2, No. 12 SE Guilford 1
No. 3 Greenville Conley 4, No. 6 Asheboro 1
No. 15 Clayton 11, No. 7 Fayetteville Sanford 0
WEST
No. 9 Cox Mill 12, No. 16 N. Henderson 0
No. 4 Asheville Roberson 7, No. 12 Marvin Ridge 6
No. 11 Sun Valley 5, No. 3 E. Rowan 4, 11 inn.
No. 2 St. Stephens 5, No. 7 Cuthbertson 1
4A
EAST
No. 16 Wilmington Hoggard 5, No. 9 Scotland County 3
No. 4 Fuquay-Varina 11, No. 5 Pinecrest 6
No. 3 Wilmington Ashley 15, No. 11 Wilmington Laney 8
No. 15 Purnell Swett 7, No. 10 Middle Creek 4
WEST
No. 1 Providence 10, No. 8 Lake Norman 2
No. 5 NW Guilford 11, No. 9 Hough 9
No. 3 Winston-Salem Reagan 4, No. 11 Myers Park 3
No. 2 McDowell 5, No. 7 Porter Ridge 4
TUESDAY’S FIRST ROUND RESULTS
1A
EAST
No. 1 Perquimans 16, No. 16 Ocracoke 0
No. 9 Hobbton 6, No. 8 E. Columbus 0
No. 5 Roxboro Community 1, No. 12 Edenton Holmes 0
No. 4 Bear Grass Charter 2, No. 13 N. Duplin 1
No. 3 E. Carteret 8, No. 14 W. Columbus 5
No. 11 Princeton 5, No. 6 Tarboro 1
No. 10 E. Wake Academy 3, No. 7 Rosewood 2
No. 2 Granville Central 4, No. 15 Voyager Academy 1
WEST
No. 1 Hayesville 6, No. 16 Christ the King 1
No. 8 Mountain Island Charter 3, No. 9 N. Stanly 2
No. 12 Lincoln Charter 6, No. 5 Cornerstone Charter 0
No. 13 N. Moore 8, No. 4 Polk County 7
No. 3 Uwharrie Charter 11, No. 14 Chatham Charter 0
No. 11 Murphy 13, No. 6 Starmount 10
No. 7 Cherryville 6, No. 10 Pine Lake Prep 5
No. 2 E. Surry 3, No. 15 Community School of Davidson 2
2A
EAST
No. 16 N. Pitt 2, No. 1 McMichael 1
No. 9 E. Bladen 6, No. 8 Croatan 1
No. 5 Roanoke Rapids 7, No. 12 W. Craven 3
No. 4 N. Lenoir 6, No. 13 Providence Grove 2
No. 14 Whiteville 1, No. 3 Midway 0
No. 6 First Flight 6, No. 11 E. Duplin 5
No. 10 Randleman 17, No. 7 Reidsville 0
No. 15 SW Onslow 7, No. 2 N. Johnston 5
WEST
No. 16 Ledford 7, No. 1 N. Davidson 5
No. 9 E. Lincoln 4, No. 8 W. Stokes 2
No. 5 W. Wilkes 17, No. 12 Fred T. Foard 2
No. 13 Forbush 8, No. 4 Bunker Hill 0
No. 14 South Point 7, No. 3 Canton Pisgah 2
No. 6 R-S Central 3, No. 11 N. Lincoln 1
No. 10 Oak Grove 3, No. 7 Madison 2
No. 15 S. Rowan 6, No. 2 W. Stanly 2
3A
EAST
No. 1 Northern Guilford 10, No. 16 Cape Fear 0
No. 9 Northern Durham 5, No. 8 Wilson Hunt 2
No. 12 SE Guilford 5, No. 5 S. Brunswick 1
No. 13 Greenville Rose 7, No. 4 W. Johnston 0
No. 3 Greenville Conley 3, No. 14 Jacksonville 0
No. 6 Asheboro 5, No. 11 Hillsborough Orange 4
No. 7 Fayetteville Sanford 14, No. 10 Union Pines 6
No. 15 Clayton 9, No. 2 W. Carteret 3
WEST
No. 16 N. Henderson 6, No. 1 Crest 3
No. 9 Cox Mill 9, No. 8 Kings Mountain 4
No. 12 Marvin Ridge 2, No. 5 NW Cabarrus 1
No. 4 Asheville Roberson 12, No. 13 Mount Tabor 0
No. 3 E. Rowan 5, No. 14 Western Guilford 4
No. 11 Sun Valley 7, No. 6 SW Guilford 1
No. 7 Cuthbertson 12, No. 10 Asheville 3
No. 2 St. Stephens 3, No. 15 Carson 2, 8 inn.
4A
EAST
No. 16 Wilmington Hoggard 5, No. 1 Heritage 4
No. 9 Scotland County 12, No. 8 Cardinal Gibbons 8
No. 5 Pinecrest 9, No. 12 Wake Forest 3
No. 4 Fuquay-Varina 6, No. 13 Raleigh Leesville Road 5
No. 3 Wilmington Ashley 2, No. 14 Raleigh Broughton 0, Weds.
No. 11 Wilmington Laney 5, No. 6 South Central 0
No. 10 Middle Creek 6, No. 7 Raleigh Millbrook 1
No. 15 Purnell Swett 5, No. 2 Fayetteville South View 3
WEST
No. 1 Providence 2, No. 16 Jamestown Ragsdale 1
No. 8 Lake Norman 3, No. 9 Cary 1
No. 5 NW Guilford 12, No. 12 Hopewell 0
No. 4 Hough 1, No. 13 E. Forsyth 0
No. 3 Winston-Salem Reagan 4, No. 14 Greensboro Grimsley 0
No. 11 Myers Park 9, No. 6 Durham Jordan 1
No. 7 Porter Ridge 9, No. 10 Ardrey Kell 5
No. 2 McDowell 5, No. 15 Olympic 1
