Gryphons Put a Mercy On The Yellow Jackets

There is nothing more embarrassing for a ball player, I don't care what sport it is than for the game to end before it is suppose to because you are getting beat too badly.

This afternoon in front of a full house of Pro Baseball scouts twenty I was told the Rocky Mount Gryphons dispose of Roanoke Rapids 11-1 in five innings.

Nick Hahula the Gryphons starting pitcher was greeted with three hits of the first four batters. The one out was a sac bunt moving a runner to second. The fifth batter walked. Hahula found him self in hot water but allowing only one run in the first Hahula becomes the first Gryphon pitcher to go the distance and pitch a complete game. Hahula gave up one run on three hits walked two and struck out two in his five inning complete game.

Gryphon batters pounded out ten hits including three doubles. Brian Goodwin, Ben Fish and Thomas Berry had two hits each. Collins Cuthrell,Dillon Cockrell,Parker Helms and Cameron Ramsey had singles to aid the parade.

Cuthrell, Fish, and Helms each had two rbi's while Berry, Cockrell,and Ramsey each plated a teammate.

All the scouts were in the house to see Brian Goodwin and he did not disappoint anyone. He beat out am infield single in the first. A clean hit to center his second time up stole two bases. His third trip to the plate he hit to third where the fielder booted the ball and Brian quickly stole second. His final trip was a liner to left field.

In the bottom of the 4th Goodwin showed the scouts his speed in the outfield as he caught a sinking line drive which looked to be heading for an run for the Yellow Jackets but Goodwin yanked it in his glove just before it could hit the ground.

Growing up I had a teacher in school who's name was "Dutch" Overton. Gary Overton who used to be ECU's baseball coach was one of his sons. Dutch was a scout for the Cleveland Indians. Back in My day Jim Hunter was the big high school player that the scouts use to drool over. His brother Pete at the Time Jimmy was in high school was a pitcher for ECU.

Someone asked Dutch one day who was the best pitcher Pete or Jimmy. You know some times things are said that you remember for the rest of your life. "Dutch" said" When scouts go to college games they are looking at several players but when a pro scout goes to a high school game they are there for one reason. There is no doubt Jimmy is better".

I don't have Brians numbers yet on this young season but he hasn't done anything to scare the scouts away. I think you can count on scouts following the Gryphons for the rest of this season.

Gryphons play saturday at Hunt at 2.00pm