NORWOOD — South Stanly rallied for three runs in its final two at-bats to edge Chatham Central 5-4 Wednesday evening in Norwood in the season opener for both teams on the baseball diamond.
With Chatham Central leading 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Sawyer Smith scored a walk-off run on a misplayed fly ball to give the Bulls an improbable comeback win.
South Stanly had plated two runs in the bottom of the first to go up 2-0 early when Smith had walk, and Holden Brown and Lawson Hicks collected RBI hits.
The Bears rallied with two runs in the second and a single run in each of the third and fourth innings to seize a 4-2 advantage while seemingly taking control of the game. Parker Crowley singled in a run and scored another for Chatham Central in the rally while Michael Moore and Brady Cunnup both singled and scored, Riley Lagenor walked and scored, and Hunter Strickland drove in a run.
It wasn’t enough, however, as the Rebel Bulls completed the late rally to steal the win.
Jackson Gray and Collin Lagenor were both 2-for-4 at the plate for the Bears offensively while Cunnup was 1-for-2 with a walk, hit by a pitch, and a run scored, Moore 1-for-4 with a run, and Crowley 1-for-3 with a walk, a run and an RBI. Micah Gurley also walked in the contest while Holden Johnson was hit by a pitch.
Gurley suffered the loss on the mound after working three innings and allowing three hits, three runs (two earned), six walks and striking out four.
Moore started the contest and yielded one hits, two runs (none earned) and a walk while fanning five, and Cunnup went .1 innings and walked a batter and struck out another.
South Stanly saw Crafton Mansfield and Hayden Brown slap two hits each in 2-for-4 efforts while Smith was 1-for-3 with three runs scored and Trevor Tucker 1-for-4.
Cameron Bowers earned the win in relief, striking out three Bears while not allowing a hit in 2 1/3 innings on the mound.