The Junior League baseball district champions from Erwin are pictured above. Kneeling from left are Carter Daughtry, Hayden Campbell, Tanner Winnie, Cayden Tyndall and C.J. Herring. Standing are head coach Clare Streeter, Nathan Barefoot, Jeremiah Streeter, Jake Tyndall, Shay Jackson, Dillon Faircloth and assistant coaches Chon Jackson and Rex Barefoot.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Host Erwin claimed the Tar Heel Leagues District III 15-under baseball championship with a 13-2 win over Western Harnett on Wednesday night.

Dillon Faircloth went the distance on the mound for Erwin, yielding no earned runs on four hits and one walk, with nine strikeouts.

Shay Jackson had four hits and four runs scored and Carter Daughtry had three hits and two runs scored to lead Dunn at the plate.

Faircloth and Jake Tyndall each had two hits and one run scored. Jeremiah Streeter had one hit and two runs scored. Hayden Campbell, Nathan Barefoot and C.J. Herring each had one hit and one run scored.

Dawson Dietrichson had two hits and one run scored, Seth McCoy and Aniel Lopez had one hit apiece and Tristan Giddens scored once for Western.

Erwin will represent the district in the state tournament in Smithfield beginning on July 25.

In the 10-under district baseball championship, Sandhills defeated Western Harnett American in the winners’ bracket and Erwin beat Western Harnett National in an elimination game.

Sandhills won 12-0 over Western Harnett American in the first game of the day to advance to the championship round.

Jake Grimsley had two hits and one run scored to lead Sandhills at the plate.

Western Harnett American did not record a hit in the contest.

In the day’s second game, Erwin topped Western Harnett National 12-2 in an elimination game.

Starter Eli Burns was the winning pitcher for Erwin, yielding one earned run on no hits, one walk and two hit batter, with five strikeouts. Austin Williams pitched two innings, giving up one earned run on no hits, no walks and one hit batter, with two strikeouts.

Conner Parrish had two hits and three runs scored. Brody Ennis and Aiden McNeill each had two hits and one run scored. Landon McLamb had two hits. Kaiden Jensen and Williams each had one hit and two runs scored. Jaylen Johnson had one hit and one run scored. Burns had one hit. Palmer Ennis and Kymere McNeill scored one run apiece.

Western Harnett National did not record a hit, but Jeremiah Smith and Evan Maynard scored one run apiece.

Erwin and Western Harnett American will meet in an elimination game at 6 p.m. on Thursday. The winner advances to the championship to face Sandhills immediately after. Sandhills needs just one win to claim the championship. A loss would force an “if necessary” game on Friday.

Erwin pitcher Dillon Faircloth delivers a pitch on Wednesday.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Seth McCoy gets a base hit for Western Harnett.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Erwin’s Nathan Barefoot makes a throw from third base for an out.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Austin Williams fires a pitch for the Erwin 10-and-under boys.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)