By Charles Curcio, Sports Editor
Thursday, July 9, 2009 — After having pitched in the third game of Stanly County’s opening playoff series against Lexington, Ryne Poplin took the hill on two days’ rest Wednesday night.
The South Stanly hurler would face a Rowan County squad that had won 10 straight times after losing to Stanly in the regular season 10-8 on June 21.
Rowan would get a big night from center fielder Russell Michalec in a 10-0 victory in the opening game of the Area III quarterfinals series at Newman Park.
Stanly would start the game strong in the top of the first inning. Jordan Sells would draw a walk and advance to third on a perfect hit-and-run as Corey Dick singled to right field.
But Sells would be picked off at third by Rowan catcher Austin Shull and Rowan starter Corbin Shive would get Colten Burris to fly out to right to end the threat.
The top three batters in Rowan County’s lineup did the most damage, collectively going 9-for-12 with 9 RBI’s and four home runs.
The combination of Michalec and Zack Smith would hit back-to-back home runs in the first and fourth innings, giving Rowan a 6-0 lead through four.
Post 76 also had a brief rally in the fifth inning when catcher Tyler Eudy singled and Bradley Love reached on an error from Rowan shortstop Preston Troutman.
Again, Shive, a signee with the Charlotte 49ers, would battle back and get two fly outs to end the inning.
Stanly would have two runners caught in rundowns that killed rallies in the third and the sixth innings.
In the bottom of the sixth, Rowan County added two runs off reliever Alex Robichaud, one on a throwing error and the other on a sacrifice fly from Michalec.
Rowan then invoked the 10-run rule when Michalec laced a line drive into left field that got past that left fielder.
The two teams play tonight in Game Two of the series at 7 at Don Montgomery Park.
SC 000 000 0 0 4 3
RC 300 302 2 10 12 1
WP - Corbin Shive (7 IP, 0 ER, 4 hits, 0 BB, 4 K).
LP - Ryne Poplin (5 IP, 6 ER, 9 hits, 0 BB, 2 K).
Leading Hitters: R - Russell Michaelc 3-4, 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI; Zack Smith 3-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI; Trey Holmes 3-4, 4 R. SC - Corey Dick 2-3; Justin Culp 1-2.
