Post 45 clinches state tournament berth

Randolph County continued its dominating run through the American Legion Area III playoffs Tuesday night by crushing Kannapolis 15-2 to complete a 3-0 sweep of their best-of-five semifinal series.

Post 45 won the other two games 11-1 and 12-0. 

The sweep clinched a state tournament berth for Post 45. Next up is the Area III championship game on Friday with Rowan County. The state tournament is July 26-30 at Campbell University’s Jim Perry Stadium.

In the series-opening game on Saturday, Tanner Marsh gave up one run in five innings and also homered. Braylen Hayes was 3-for-4.

Hayes smashed a grand slam to key the rout in Game 2. Drew Harmon and Hayes each had two hits while Adam Cole got a double. Robert Garner allowed one hit in four innings and Connor Adams pitched a scoreless inning. 

Randolph County (26-8) has outscored its playoff opponents by a combined 63-3 in five games.