RM Girls sprint to conference track title

Rocky Mount's Latoya Applewhite led the way for the Lady Gryphons finishing second in her three events. Those three second place finishes were good enough to earn Applewhite the MVP award in girls track after the Lady Gryphons track team dusted the competition Wednesday in winning the conference crown

Rocky Mount was the only team to score more than 100 points and they doubled that with 204 points. The Lady Bulldogs finished second with 99 points.

Ericka Wesonga finished first in the 800 meter run. Rocky Mount's team won the 4x800 featuring Micheala Thorne, Marquita Hines, Nancy Thai and Ericka Wesonga. The 4x400 event was taken by the Gryphon team of Thorne, Hines, Wesonga and Applewhite.

Fifteen Lady Gryphons garnered points dividing out the 204 team points. Congratulations to coach Keith Barnes and the Lady Gryphons - the last NEW 6 girls track champion.

I hope everyone saw that Sandra Langley won the Pat Gainey Award which is given out by the NCHSAA. Over the years, I have worked many games at SouthWest and it was my pleasure to be part of the radio team that covered the SouthWest girls when they won the 2-A basketball title in 2005.

In every instance, Sandra as coach or athletic director has met any needs I might have had in order to get a on the air. I will miss them being in the conference with us, but I know we will keep right on going and doing games there.

It seems that "11" is the magic number this week as the Rocky Mount Gryphons downed SouthWest Edgecombe 11-0 tonight in five innings.

Senior Nick Hahula got the call as the starting pitcher and like every starter has done all year, he went four inning and pitched shutout baseball. Hahula allowed four hits and picked up the win. Junior lefty Hobbs Johnson, who undoubtedly will pitch Tuesday against Fike, got an inning of work in the fifth so he will be fresh if he gets the call next Tuesday.

If ever there was a possibility of a letdown, tonight might have been that night for Northern Nash. Having swept a doubleheader from Fike on Tuesday, the Knights moved into a tie for first place with the Gryphons.

This score is not a surprise to me, but Northern beat Southern 6-4. Yes, there may have been a let down by Northern, but for them, the most important thing is they win to stay tied for first wit hRocky Mount with a week to go.

Fike beat Nash Central 7-1 in Wilson in the other NEW 6 game tonight.

Fox Sports South is reshowing Tuesday night's Game 7 with the Hurricanes and Devils right now. It in the third period I see you later as I want to see this finish again.

Unsung Hero

The Carolina Hurricanes start the second round series Friday night in Boston against the Bruins. Last night while the Canes were making their last three minute domination of the game there was a small play made that if it doesn't happen they Canes probably never score in the last two minutes and lose 3-2.

The Canes were applying pressure with about 1.30 to go in the game when New Jersey kicked the puck which looked as if it was headed past the blue line and if it does the Canes must reorganize and time would be a wasting.

Tim Gleason who was in the right corner next to the blue line dived after the puck, was able to get to both knees swipe at the puck and in doing so made a great pass to Joni Pitkanen who in turned found Jussi Jokinen. It was Gleason who made the pass to Eric Staal who made the shot heard around the NHL. What a great 90 seconds for Tim Gleason.

Game one is on Fox Sports The Carolinas Friday night and game two is a Versus game.

Bt the way Fox is showing game seven with New Jersey Thursday night at 7:30 as an instant classic. If you gave up last night and did not see the finish you can see it then. It is worth seeing a hundred times, it's so unbelievable. Even the last twenty seconds as Jersey was applying pressure to Cam Ward was awesome.

Rocky Mount and Northern continue the baseball wars Thursday night with each having to take care of business to stay with the other. Rocky Mount is home to Southwest Edgecombe while Northern travels to Southern Nash. Nash Central who right now is in the drivers seat for 4th place plays Fike.

Once again last night the Gryphons pitch a shut out. In seven conference games they have allowed four runs. Despite that first place is up in the air.

This Swine flu thing I just don't know what to make of it. The State of Texas has suspended all high school sports until at least May the 11th.

In the NBA Houston is still playing against Portland. Dallas has a couple of days off waiting until round two. There is no talk of the NBA doing anything as drastic as public safety concerns.

BY The Way: Did you know Cam Ward set a NHL record last night? No other goalie in NHL history has ever won their first three games sevens. Ward won two game seven in the 06 run for the Stanley Cup and then last night.

Cardiac Canes

Like they have done all year the Rocky Mount Gryphon bats were alive against a lower division team of the New-6. Tonight the Bats smoked Southern Nash 11-0 in a five inning affair.

Benton Moss the Gryphon sophomore remained undefeated in his high school career notching his 13th high school win without a loss. Much like the Energizer Bunny Moss just keeps on doing what ever Pat Smith ask of him. Pitch once every three weeks or take the hill In the eastern finals Benton keeps doing what the team needs.

Gryphons have company at the top of the standing as the one thing that Gryphon fans didn't want was either Fike or Northern to sweep today's double header at Northern. Tyler Joyner two hit Fike in the opener and Joyner and Tyler Clark hit homers in a 5-0 win. In game two Northern once again won by five winning the night cap 7-2.

A week and a half left in the regular season Northern now has the bottom rung of the conference left to play while the Gryphons still have a matchup with Fike next week.

I smell a playoff game coming.

Rocky Mount and Northern are both 6-1 in the conference while Fike falls to 4-3. The real race is who will finish fourth as Southwest Edgecombe, Nash Central, and Southern Nash all are alive for the #4 spot and the playoffs.

Tonight I came home from revival at our church and saw the last two periods of the Hurricanes game with New Jersey. Around the three minute mark of the third period during a commercial I fired up my computer to write about how the Canes played well but lose a good one to New Jersey.

The headline on NHL.com says all you need to know. Cane you believe it. Jussi Jokinen scored for the Canes with 1.20 to play in the third period. Surely that will at least get us to overtime. Not so fast my friend. Eric Staal scored with 31.8 seconds to play and and the Canes had stolen an opening round series from New Jersey 4-3.

Up next the Boston Bruins the number one seed in the eastern conference but on ESPN tonight during the high lights of tonights game Barry Melrose predicted the Canes would beat the Bruins. He also picked the Canes over the Devils.

Time To Start New streak

Northern put an end to Rocky Mount's twelve game winning streak last Thursday. The only thing to do now is start a new one.

How's this for figuring. If the Gryphons go on another twelve game streak they will repeat as state champs. Five regular season games left. Three games in round 1-3. A two out of three for the east and a two out of three for the state.

This point in time in this season this team is not hitting good enough to win the state title. Thursday is a prime example that you can't depend on pitching to shut everyone out. Hobbs pitch well enough but three hits.

As Joe Friday use to say just the facts ma'am. The Gryphons have blistered the weak sisters and been anemic against quality pitching.

I would like also to mention at this point in the season last year no one was even thinking a state championship possible. But, the bats have to start carrying their share of the load.

Tuesday night a new streak could begin at Southern Nash. The Gryphons need to take care of business not worry about what's going on in the double header between Fike and Northern.

The Carolina Hurricanes forced a game seven back in New Jersey for Tuesday night. They hope they have the momentum after their 4-0 whitewashing of the Devils.

They don't have to think to far back to remember that being lousy in game six means nothing when you are home for game seven. All they have to do is think back to 2006 game seven . Edmonton beat the Canes 6-1 in Edmonton but the Canes won game seven in Raleigh.

I know there are not many of you that remember the most famous lopsided game six comeback in game seven. I heard it on the radio in 1960. The Yankees beat Pittsburgh 18-3 in the world series. Bill Mazeroski hit the homer for the Pirates to win the world series in game seven.

Much like the Gryphons have depended on pitching this year, the Hurricanes need Cam Ward to come up big in game seven.

Canes Force Game Seven

Ray Whitney had a hand in all four Carolina Hurricanes goals tonight as the Canes survive to play another day with a 4-zip waxing of the New Jersey Devils.

Eric Staal and Jussi Jokinen took passes from Whitney and dropped pucks in the nets for the Canes. Staal had two goals while Whitney scored.

Game seven Tuesday Night in New Jersey.

There is a big double header in New-6 baseball this Tuesday at Northern Nash. Fike and Northern play two after their games at Fike just before the Easter Break was rained out. As far as I know this is the first ever conference double header.

The Rocky Mount Gryphons need to root for both teams and hope for a split then the Gryphons will have sole possession of first place assuming they win at Southern Nash Tuesday. If one teams wins both games it would be better for the Gryphons if it were Fike since they still play them later on. If Northern wins then they must win every game just to stay even.

I don't know how anyone can watch the NFL draft from start to finish. I watched the first hour and then periodically checked back to see who from the area had been drafted.

It is too early in the baseball season to get riled up about Boston and the New York Yankees. As I am writing this the Red Sox had won two and were leading in the third game.

After work tomorrow I need to get my grass cut so there will be nothing to keep me from watching the Cane-Devils Tuesday night. I needed to cut it Saturday but I relayed til early afternoon.

How about that Nash County Relay:: Over $290,000 a record

New Fire Truck

A couple of weeks back I ask you to go on line and vote for a local fire department (Powellsville VFD) who was in a contest with four other departments to receive a new fire truck.

I am glad to say this morning that the Powellsville VFD won the fire truck and they are driving the new truck back home today from Indianapolis where the drawing was held Friday.

I am sure that the difference in the voting had to come from people like you who went on line after seeing about the story here. (insert sarcasm here) Thanks!

The Carolina Hurricanes game six in their playoff series with New Jersey is set for 7.30pm Sunday night on Fox Sports The Carolinas. It is an elimination game for the Canes.

This afternoon the NFL draft starts. This is the first time in a long time that I can remember no one wants to be the team to draft first.

ECU is playing a home conference series with Southern Mississippi this weekend. ECU plays a double header today starting at 4.00pm. Last night's victory made the Pirates 31-12 on the year. Coach Billy Godwin was in the house Thursday to watch recruit Tyler Joyner shut out the Gryphons.

UNC is home this weekend against Maryland. They are 31-11 so far on the season but this weekend is their last weekend at home on the year. In two weeks they go to Raleigh and three weeks to Boston college . They do have a couple of midweek games left at home.

So far this year N C State has had the worst bull pen in the ACC. Last night the Wolfpack committed nine errors in wasting another good starting pitching efort. Virginia wins 6-2. Looks like the Pack will not even make it to the conference tournament as only eight qualify.

Big day in store for me. Heading back to the Relay for Life and tonight The Tar River Children's Chorus is having an Outback Dinner at Sunset Avenue Baptist Church.

HOT OFF THE PRESS: Nash County Relay For Life raises more than $290,000 dollars beating their goal by $15,000

Relay Friday

Tonight is the 14th Nash County Relay for Life being held at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex. Somewhere in the neighbor of 1,500 walkers will circle the track all night long tonight and until early Saturday afternoon raising funds for the American Cancer Society.

There will be plenty of food from 5.00pm until around 9.00pm when most will have been eaten. Come join the fun. If you stay until at least 9.30 tonight I think you will go home glad that you came.

This year at every Gryphon baseball game pro scouts have followed Brian Goodwin's every movement. Ten or so were in the house last night sitting behind home plate with the radar guns and stop watches.

If there has been one player to benefit from all the attention Brian has been getting it's Tyler Joyner of Northern Nash. Good left handed pitchers are hard to come by at any level of baseball and especially pro ball. Tyler committed to ECU his sophomore season and did not have all that great of Junior year.

His two outings against Rocky Mount has produced 14 innings pitched 28 strikeouts only one earned run.

Come June 9th the Major league baseball draft day don't be surprised if Tyler doesn't get drafted before Brian. High school players have in their back pocket college baseball scholarships so if they aren't drafted high where the big money is Tyler can go to ECU and Brian to UNC and play at least three years of college ball. Not a bad situation for either one.

Yesterday I made mention Zach furl pitching UNC-G to victory over N C State Tuesday night.
Just think of the ball players that played on that Babe Ruth team.

Xavier Macklin who is ripping the cover off the base ball for NCA&T. Zack Furl pitching for UNC-G. Brian Goodwin maybe the best outfielder in North Carolina High school baseball. Tyler Joyner maybe the best lefthander senior pitcher in North Carolina high school baseball.

Ben Fish RMHS catcher committed to Campbell to play baseball. Tyler Clark Northern catcher committed to UNC-Wesleyan to play baseball. Dillon Cockrell has started at shortstop for Rocky Mount for four years.

Mike Williams Northern third baseman, and RM's Gabe Brown and Cameron Ramsey were all members of that team.

I don't know if there will ever be a collection of ball players to ever come along that accomplish what they have over the past six years.

Pay Back

If you didn't know better you would have thought the same game which was played at Northern three weeks ago was played again tonight this time in Rocky Mount.

Like the game at Northern the little things went the visitors way and Northern behind the three hit pitching of Tyler Joyner beat the Gryphons stopping a twelve game winning streak 2-0.

Northern got things rolling with two outs in the first when Wesley Joyner bangs a double to left center field. The next batter Brandon Denton popped a would be foul ball up in the air about twenty feet down the first base line but about ten feet foul. Gryphon cather Ben Fish moved into position only to see the ball veer back into fair territory and fall into fair grounds about twenty feet from home plate.

Since it was two outs Wesley Joyner was running on the play and by the time the ball it fair he was on home plate and Denton was standing on second with a twenty foot double.

The Gryphons who only had three hits all night got two in the first on back to back singles by Collins Cuthrell and Ben Fish but they were stranded.

In the second Dillon Cockrell slapped a double to right which was booted moving Dillon to third with only one out and he was left stranded.

The third inning saw Wesley Joyner hit a shot which looked like it was headed out in straight away center field but it stayed in the park for a RBI double and giving Northern the two runs they would get.

Rocky Mount failed to get a hit off Joyner past the second inning but had a couple of chances which fizzled.

Hobbs Johnson lost his first game as a Gryphon going six innings allowed five hits walked one, hit a batter and struck out eight Knights. Nick Hahula pitched the seventh for the Gryphons

Tyler Joyner stat line was seven innings, ten strike outs, two base on balls,three hits.

The Gryphons are now 5-1 in the conference with Northern and Fike at 4-1. They will catch up the game that they are behind the Gryphons by playing a double header Tuesday at Northern.

There was no magic tonight in New Jersey at Martin Brodeur shuts out the Hurricanes 1-0. Game six is back in Raleigh Sunday the time will be determined Friday whether it will be a 3.00pm NBC game or a 7.00pm Fox Sports Carolina.

I don't know whether you saw this or now but Zach Furl beat of UNC-Greensboro beat N C State Tuesday night 5-3. For those of you who don't know Zach was a member of the Nash County thirteen year old Babe Ruth team that finished third in the Babe Ruth World Series in Wilson in I think 2004. The opening game for Nash County in the World series that year Furl pitched the first no hitter in the thirteen year old Babe Ruth World series history.

To the dismay of all Nash County Fans the Furl's moved to Sanford the following year and he was not on Babe Ruth team that finish second the next year in Quincy Massachusetts fourteen year old Babe Ruth World series.

Put The Metal To The Petal

Impressive as the Rocky Mount high baseball team has been, this is not the time to sit back and admire your work.

14-1 so far is awesome. What has it accomplished so Far? Nothing. Just a half game lead over Northern and Fike in the standings. Just one little stumble and both are ready to jump ahead of the Gryphons.

Thursday night and then Tuesday Northern and Fike will play 30% of their conference schedule in two days. If either wins all three games Thursday and next Tuesday they will either be tied for the lead or the leaders.

The old saying that you control you own destiny is true for the Gryphons. If over the next two plus weeks no one beats them they win the regular season by two games at least. But a stumble and they no longer have control, it's back to any one can win.

Thursday night the Knights visit the Gryphons remembering the 2-0 game just three weeks ago. A couple of small matter of fact plays fell to the Gryphons that night.

I don't know how any of the Gryphon players can feel that they are that much better than either Northern of Fike since both scores were 2-0 and 1-0. Real dominant games weren't they.

My advise to the Gryphons is full steam ahead. No prevent defense. Look at the Canes last night. They went into delay hockey and almost got knocked out of the playoffs.

Northern at Rocky Mount 7.00pm Thursday night. My guess is Hobbs against Tyler. Remember last year coach Loesner switched up once last year but I don't expect it to happen this time.

There is one thing I like about hockey, that is when ever there is controversy the replay is always done in Toronto at the headquarters of the NHL. It only took about a minute for the ruling to come back. All the hubbub about interference was hooey. Every replay I saw Martin Brodeur initiated the contact.

Despite winning the Canes still have to win another game in New Jersey in order to move to the next round and win one at home.

Jersey host the Canes at 7.30 on Versus.

Miracle Finish

What may go down as the greatest finish in Carolina Hurricane Hockey history, the Canes give up a 3-0 lead late in the second period and had several chances to be behind late in the third period only to have a Dennis Seidenberg's rocket glance off the skate of Jussi Jokinen and in the net with .2 tenths of a second to go in the game.

Thursday night's game five is scheduled for the Versus Network not Fox Sports South the Carolinas so unless you have Satellite or extended cable package this one will be hard to find on TV.

tonight's win means there will be a game six Sunday in raleigh but game time is up in the air since NBC may pickup the game for a Sunday afternoon game.

The Rocky Mount Gryphons make it through the first cycle of conference games unblemished at they take down Nash Central 10-0 in six innings.

All 14 Gryphon Batters who went to bat tonight reaching base at least once. Carter Varnell got the Gryphons rolling with a solo home run in then 3rd inning. Even Pitch hitter Chris Pittman went yard in the 6th inning with a two run blast.

Brian Goodwin had two hits and a stolen base. Ben Fish had two hits and added two more RBI's to his record breaking total now at 69. Thomas Berry two hits an a RBI. Collins Cuthrell had a triple and a ribby.

Hobbs Johnson playing outfield tonight had a single and two stolen bases

Gabe Brown had a pitch hit single an a steal , Nick HAAAHUULA had a pitch hit single. Michael Whitehead reach on an error. Dillon Cockrell walked once along with pitcher Benton Moss, Cameron Ramsey got a free pass setting up Spencer Bell who walked which produced the 10th run and a RBI.

Once again Rocky Mount pitching limits the opposition to a goose egg. Benton Moss hurls a six inning shutout as he Strikes out six walked only one batter and allowed four hits. In the five conference games so far only a single run to Southern Nash and a single run to Southwest Edgecombe is the only runs to cross home plate against the Gryphon pitcher and defense

Nash Centrals four hits came from Domique Holloway who had two and singles to T J Taylor and Mike Narron.

Gryphons 10 Nash Central 0

Gryphons host Northern Nash Thursday at 7.00pm.

The ever improving Lady Gryphon softball team lost to the tough Nash Central girls tonight 6-1 but last night the Lady's knocked off Beddingfield 2-1 as Brittany Battle was the hitting star and Laura Alford pitched the win.

What was a fun event to be at today the Rocky Mount High faculty defeated their counterparts from Northern Nash in a charity Basketball game 49-31 Tuesday afternoon.

Jason Battle led the Gryphon attack with 10 ten points while Mike Gainey had eight along with Chris Tedford with eight. Alan Hess added seven points and Mark Davis with six. Principal Leon Farrow had four points. Lady Gryphon coach Pam Gainey had a triple . Greg Crudup also added three.

The high light of the day was a break a way slam dunk attempt by coach Jason Battle which he should have tried in the first half not the second as the goal was higher than his jump.

Northern was lead by Henry Drake who lead all scorers with 13. Brian Collis contributed 6 Jeff Dodrill five followed by Chris Barnes, Johnny Gates and Patricia Haggarity who had two points.

Jeff Dodrill and Jason Battle were voted the MVP for each team but the real winners today were everyone who played, kept score and showed up to fight cancer for the Nash County Relay For Life.

Received an E-mail from Mike Gainey reporting that more than $900 was raised from the game.

Thanks to all the players who gave their bodies for the game.

Final score Northern Nash/Rocky Mount High big winners over Cancer.

Down The Stretch Time

You know the school year is coming to a close a lot sooner than most realize. What, maybe seven weeks to go? Spring sports teams will shortly begin their playoffs, but only baseball waits to mid-May to start its playoffs.

I think "The Stretchlon Sports Show" will be in the gym Tuesday at 4.30 p.m. as the Northern Nash and Rocky Mount coaches and faculty play each other in a basketball game for Relay For Life. I'll be there either way.

This week is when coaches get paid to be coaches and we stand off to the side and talk about what they do. If you are RM's Pat Smith who do you pitch this week and when? I would think Benton Moss will hurl for the Gryphons on Tuesday against Nash Central.

With Northern being the Thursday game, do you save Hobbs Johnson to pitch against them again? For that matter does Northern save Tyler Joyner until Thursday?

I have always been a believer that you throw a different pitcher against a conference foe the second time around. What are the chances that Hobbs will pitch one-hitters against both Northern and Fike next time around.

I also believe you need to win the first game of the week because you never know what the weather might be later on this week and if you save a pitcher you might get rained out a couple of days . Who knows?

That's why I never got past Little League coaching.

Boy are the Hurricanes and Devils equal or what? Two games in a row go overtime. Losing last night makes Tuesday night Game 4 in Raleigh huge for the Canes. New Jersey has the home ice advantage again. A loss tomorrow night and New Jersey plays at home Thursday to try to close out the series.

Four games have been played at the new Yankee Stadium and 21 home runs have been hit. The Yankees braintrust is in a panic over something being wrong with the stadium. I don't think it's the stadium, but maybe mediocre pitching might have something to do with it.

One year ago this weekend I was in New York and went by the new stadium. You can fit the old one inside the new one.

The media is reporting that Gerald Henderson of Duke is turning pro. I just don't see where the pros are saying he will be a lottery pick. Who have they been watching?. Henderson is a tweener. Not good enough to be a point guard, can't shoot outside that well. Not big enough to play small forward. What is he thinking ?

I see that Carolina has given Mike Fox a extended contract contract until 2014. Mike is the best baseball coach in the ACC.

Catching Up

Last weekend we went to the beach. Ocracoke last Friday. Just got back home after riding to Boone on Saturday. I hope I'm home for the next few weekends.

Lady Gryphon soccer team continues to excel. A victory over over Beddingfield Friday night gets them to 12-2 on the season.

In what was suppose to be a down year for boys tennis after a victory over Northern Nash they are 4-2 in conference play an 6-5 for the season.

Rocky Mount Grad Jacobi Jenkins caught five passes in the Purple and gold game Saturday at ECU. Looks like Jacobi my win a starting wide receiver slot for the Pirates.

Terrell Hudgins caught a touchdown pass in a Elon scrimmage also Saturday.

Gryphon Baseball gets back to two conference games this week facing Southern Nash and Northern Nash at home Tuesday and Thursday.

Lauren Doughtie finished 5th at the ACC women's golf championships held this weekend in Greensboro. Her three rounds were 74-71-74. She has qualified for the NCAA regionals. Lauren will now wait til Wednesday to find out which regional the Wolfpack gets into.

Russell Wilson played in the N C State Red and White game yesterday afternoon and played second base for the baseball team Saturday night. Too bad he doesn't pitch. The 2009 Wolfpack relief corp is terrible. Florida State scores late and beats the relievers again.

This weekend is the Nash County Relay For Life. I want to invite everyone to come to the opening ceremonies starting at 6.00pm Friday. If you have never been it is a fun time for all and it's for a good cause. Try it you may like it.

Game three for the Carolina Hurricanes is today in Raleigh. The Canes can take control of the series with New Jersey if they win tonight.

Babbling

Northern Nash has beaten Southern Nash tonight in baseball to hang close to the Gryphons at 3-1 in the conference standings.

If you remember they were rained out earlier with Fike and the makeup game will be part of a double header when Fike comes to Northern on the second round of conference games.

Northern Plays at Rocky Mount next Thursday night and then Fike on the following Tuesday. Those three games will tell us a lot in conference play for this year..

Cousin Lauren Doughtie is tied for 9th in the ACC women's Golf championship after one round. She shot a 74 Friday for the Wolfpack.

The Boston Celtics have heard the news : It looks like no Kevin Garnett on the playoffs, without him no repeat for the Celtics.

The Carolina Hurricanes have evened up their playoff series with New Jersey. Tim Gleason scored an overtime goal and the Hurricanes head home for game three tied 1-1 with the Devils. Since the Hurricanes are the lower seeded team they need one in New Jersey to get the home court advantage and they got that tonight. 2-1 over the Devils.

The Rocky Mount Gryphons continue to get unbelievable pitching. In the 14 games played so far this year only once has the opposing team had more than one run after four innings. That was the lost to Rose( 4 runs) in which the Gryphons tied it up in the seventh only to lose in the ninth.

Hobbs Johnson at this point in the season at 6-0 may be the best pitcher in the state. Since Hobbs has been so out standing Sophomore Benton Moss has has to take a back seat but he is undefeated on the year. Nick Hahula and Dillon Cockrell have been trust worthy every time they have taken to the hill.

One weakness that the Gryphons have shown so far as they have been held down by good opposing pitchers. They could only get four against Fike Thursday and only five against Tyler Joyner in the opening conference game against Northern.

If the Gryphons are to win the conference or even advance any where in the playoffs the bats have to wake up. They can't depend on a one hitter by our pitchers every time out.

One thing that has help the pitchers is they are not walking that many. Whenever you have runners on base and that puts pressure on the defense and errors occur. A good example of that was the Northern game. Joyner walked two in the fifth and an error and the Gryphons win.

Baseball has two home games next week Nash Central and Northern Nash. Tuesday's tilt with Central is the last game in cycle one. The Northern game starts the second time around. The best news is four of the last six conference games are at home.

All Alone At The Top

The Gryphons are in sole possession of first place of the NEW 6 baseball race after their 1-0 over Wilson Fike Thursday night.

Brian Goodwin, the first batter of the baseball game tonight, hit a grounder up the middle which was backhanded and bobbled by former Southern Nash - now Fike second baseman Brett Allen. It was ruled an error, but with Brian's speed, he may have beat it out for a hit anyway.

Regardless, with one out with Goodwin on third and Collins Cuthrell on first, Mr. RBI comes to the plate for the Gryphons and Ben Fish does what an RBI man is suppose to do. Get the run home.

Fish hit a soft fly ball to left field which was deep enough for Goodwin to trot home with what turned out to be the only run of the night.

Tonight's RBI is No. 67 in the career of senior catcher Fish and he becomes the all-time clutch hitter in Gryphon history. Lead-off hitters are suppose to get on base and Goodwin did that in the first. RBI men drive in runs and Ben did his job.

In three years as a starter, Ben is averaging near an rbi a game, which means his teammates are on base when he comes to bat and he has gotten them home most of the time.

Pitchers who pick colleges teams they want to play for as sophomores are suppose to keep the other team from scoring and Hobbs Johnson, the Gryphon junior lefthander, did his part pitching a gem. A one-hit, 11-strikeout night. Johnson walked three, two men reached on Gryphon errors and the lone hit could only get six Golden Demons on base and only two reached second and one got as far as third.

The Gryphons (13-1. 4-0) squandered a bases-loaded chance in the third without scoring and Goodwin reached third in the fifth. After a walk and two stolen bases, he was left stranded.

Cuthrell, Goodwin and Nick Hahula had singles while Thomas Berry banged on a double off the wall for the only hits of the night for the Gryphons.

William Prince, Fike's hurler, went the distance giving up an unearned run, struck out six, gave up four hits and walked four but he like Tyler Joyner of Northern found out that against Johnson one run is all he needs. He would like more but he will do with what he can get.

When this season is over, if Rocky Mount, Fike and Northern Nash all finish 1-2-3 in the standings there is not much difference between first and third as Rocky Mount has a 2-0 victory over Northern and a 1-0 victory over Fike. Both victories were on the road and they must face each other once more.

Up the hill from the baseball diamond, the Fike girls softball team beat the Lady Gryphons 4-0

Nash Central played host to Northern and Tyler Joyner and the Knights whipped Central 13-0 in six innings. In two conference games this week, Nash Central has been beaten 13-0 and 15-2.

The Bulldogs travel to Rocky Mount Tuesday night.

I felt like during football season when there was a Sunday night game late in the season when John Madden said he didn't want to have to ride his Madden cruiser from San Diego to Philadelphia and then turn around and go back to Denver that something was up. Today the best color man in the history of the NFL called it quits. At 73, he is the winningiest coach, percentage-wise, in NFL history.

Madden, who has made more money than Jerry Jones ever hopes to make with the Dallas Cowboys with his EA Sports Madden NFL Football, sold 4.5 million copies in 2008 alone. That was enough to pay for the Madden Cruiser, the bus John rode to all his telecasts since he is afraid to fly.

First Place On The Line

Tonight Fike will play host to the Gryphons in baseball which will be a battle for first place. Fike had a very slow start but this week they have scored 27 runs in their last two games.

Overall Fike is now 7-3 but most importantly zero losses in conference play. The Gryphons are 12-1 overall and also support a goose egg in the loss column.

As bad as the schedule has been with so much time off the last two weeks the Gryphons will have their entire pitching staff fresh while The Golden Demons have played on Monday and Tuesday this week.

The Lady Gryphon football team(soccer) took care of Northern Nash for the second time this year in conference play winning 3-nil Monday. Good going!

Those of you who read this column daily know that I am torn over the naming of the new basketball coach at N C State.

Stephanie Glance has been one of those dedicated employees that every company wish they had. Practically she has been the coach over the last five years during Kay Yow's cancer battles.

I like so many other Wolfpackers wants to be 25-5 every year just like Duke and Carolina. I don't see Stephanie being able to do that.

Today at Reynolds Coliseum on Kay Yow Court N C State is expected to names Kellie Harper the new Women's basketball coach.

Harper then Kellie Jolly before marriage lead Tennessee to three straight national Championships while the starting point guard for the Volunteers. Her five years at Western Carolina she has been 97-65. I think what pushed Harper to the top of the list that in the past two seasons Western Carolina has been ranked 25th and this year 15th on the academic honor roll for colleges.

Not only is she young and energetic but she believes in the classroom too. So in five years since she has been a head coach she has won at a school that had never before and has improved every year in the quality education her players were getting.

Lee Fowler has not set the world on fire with any of his hirings since he has been the Athletic Director for the Wolfpack. I think he got this one right.

Hopefully the only problem the Wolfpack will have with Harper is that whenever Pat Summitt retires at Tennessee they don't come after her. The good news there is Summitt is only 54 years old and as many games as she has won already she may pull a Joe Paterno and coach forever.

Harper will only be the third Women's coach in the Wolfpack women's history. Robert Doak coached the first women's team in 1974 and Yow took over in 1975. At 32 years old she has the potential to coach the Wolfpack until 2045 or so.

If that happens that means Fowler finally got one right.

Now That's A Rivalry

Growing up in Ahoskie we were members of the Albemarle conference. Starting in 1947 until 1972 the Albemarle won the state championship in 1-A or 2-A football 19 times.

Edenton's Holmes had six, Ahoskie and Williamston five titles, Perquimans two and even Gates County had a title.

Our rival game was Edenton. Back then it was always the eighth game on the schedule. Both towns literally rolled up the streets when ever they played each other. The rivalry was so intense that it spilled over even after you graduated.

In 1965 and 1966 there were alumni games played. In 65 it was in Edenton and 66 in Ahoskie. I was there and remember the scores 7-0 Edenton in 65 and 13-7 Ahoskie.

To tell you how close the series was in 1987 which was the last year of Ahoskie High school the teams had each won 24 times and there had been three ties.

They were so even, even the alumni games were tied overall.

Unfortunately like all good things either the government or insurance gets involved and ruins a good thing. It was stopped after two years because of the liability the schools had to cover to have the games.

I can finally say that I think the Rocky Mount -Northern Nash rivalry is getting close to the intensity that use to be displayed in the Ahoskie-Edenton series. Next Tuesday afternoon the faculty of both schools will square off in a basketball game to support the Nash County Relay for Life .

The game starts at 4.30 in the RMHS gym.

Mark "The Bird" Fidrych was a one hit wonder back in the 70's winning 19 games for the Detroit Tigers. A sore arm brought a quick end to his career even after winning the Rookie of the year in 1979.

How many of you remember the name Greg Cooke. He lead the NFL in passing in 1970 for the Cincinnati Bengals. Hurt his shoulder in the next preseason and never played again.

Can you think of any other one hit wonders in any sport? Let me know.

There's No Routine

Pat Smith and the Gryphon baseball team are getting a taste of what Winter sports teams go through every year when the Christmas break rolls around.

These last two weeks have been routine killers for a coach who wants to see a good practice and a game. Then turn it around and do it all over again. I know last week Pat let the baseball team go to the beach or where ever they wanted after the game on Saturday against Conley and did not practice again until Wednesday.

Then Friday and Saturday played three games. Now no game until Thursday. The Gryphons travel to Fike for the first place battle Thursday night and then get back to a normal life with two games on Tuesday and Thursday of next week.

Will Johnson the middle son of Wanda and Don Johnson is putting a senior season together that will make the whole family proud, even "Baseball"Britt and little brother Grant.

Will a former Gryphon shortstop is batting 342 with three home runs in his finest season for Barton. There was a streak at one point where Will had eight straight hits.

Former Nash Central baseball player Xavier Macklin continues to star as a freshman for NC A&T. This past weekend the X-Man" had two games in a row with five rbi's. Right now he is hitting 351 five home runs and 25 rbi's. I think he is a lock for Rookie of the year in the MEAC conference.

Pro Hockey starts the long road to the Stanley Cup Wednesday. The Hurricanes start at New Jersey the same team they beat in the first round of the 2006 Stanley Cup year.

What in the world is up with Lebron James?His side show at basketball games got started when he would throw the white dust up into the air at the start of games. Now he's flexing his muscles and beating his chest. OH no this isn't the start of another Terrell Owens is it.? LeBron is doing a whole lot of show boating for a man who has not won a championship yet.

I would rather see a quiet assassin over a loud mouth TO.

The Masters- It Really Is Special

It must be because it is the official sign of spring or maybe the Dogwoods. It is just like the CBS advertisement. It's unlike any other.

The US Open and The Open in England are Majors. They play different courses every year. I have seen the Masters so many times that they can show a shot from the tee and I can tell you which hole it is.

The people of Augusta National add to the lure of the Masters by stating they don't care about advertising dollars from TV and let you watch 56 minutes of every hour of golf. There is no Thursday and Friday all day coverage like others. Even TV starts only at 3.00pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

There is nothing like sitting back on a Sunday afternoon and watching the Masters. The moment the TV came on the air Tiger Woods and Phil Michelson dominated the TV while the leaders plodded along in TV obscurity never giving up the lead while Woods and Michelson played.

Those of you who are too young to remember but TV has always followed the great ones regardless of where they were on the leader board.

Arnold Palmer is the reason golf is on TV today because of his charisma back in the late 50's when golf first appeared on TV. His always try to make every shot was perfect for TV. By the late 60's Jack Nicklaus was the best and TV followed every shot whether he was one back or ten which always made me mad because I wanted to watch Arnold.

You know when Arnold turned fifty there was no senior tour. But Arnold was such fan favorite that they created a senior event in which they played best ball on teams. It was such a hit that the senior tour was born.

Yesterday was a CBS dream until Tiger finally acted mortal and Phil finally realized he can't putt a lick.

It didn't matter to me that the last two and a half hours were without Tiger.

I have never been to Augusta but I know I would be shaking in my shoes on the 12th tee. My second or third shot into 13 or 15. Augusta is set up almost on every hole with reward versus disaster. If you go for it and miss you pay a dear price.

I had no favorite player yesterday but I pulled for the old guy Kenny Perry. I like Chad Campbell and it sure was fun watching Angel Cabarrea knock it behind trees and make par.

When I no longer have life on this earth. Heaven will be sitting in a recliner watching the Masters.

It's unlike any other.

Easter Schedule Messed UP

Nash County schools being out the week before Easter and practically everyone else out the week after Easter, has messed the schedules up.

This year there was no Easter Baseball tournament in Rocky Mount for the first time in years. It didn't bother the four Nash County Schools but those that could play could only play next week not last week.

So the Gryphons play three in almost a day. one on Friday and two on Saturday.

Next week baseball has a conference game on Thursday at Fike an that is it next week.

Finally the following week we have Nash Central on Tuesday April 21st and Northern on the 24th to get back on a regular schedule.

Ben Fish had a big weekend running his Career RBI totals to 66. His next RBI he will be the all time run knocker inner in Gryphon history.

Wes Bradshaw has missed the last two home days behind the microphone doing PA. Wes has found out that life performs better with a income from a job which he has just started in the last couple of weeks. I know it is killing his soul not to be there but somebody has to pay the light bill.

The Carolina Hurricanes finish in the 6th position in the eastern standings and will play New Jersey in the opening round of the hockey playoffs. I think New Jersey is a good match up for the Canes.

The Charlotte Bobcats gave it a good shot but they have been eliminated from the NBA basketball playoffs. It is the first time in their short existence that they put a scare in the playoffs.

The schedule didn't do them any favors. They have just played two in a row on the road and their last two games of the year are on the road. They will be the first NBA team in history to have to play their last four games of a season on the road.

You know I am not a fan of rankings. I don't care whether it's the AP football pole or CNN/ESPN or more locally Impact baseball's North Carolina pole. Riverside came to Rocky Mount yesterday as the #1 team in 4-A team in the Impact Baseball pole. I think what most folks saw was a team that would have a hard time making the playoffs in the NEW-6 3-A.

If next week Rocky Mount returns to the #1 spot in 3-A don't hold you breathe. Poles haven't won a game this year or any other.

I do think that today's technology that the computers rankings are very accurate I think 90%.

#1 4-A Riverside Loses Twice to Gryphons

My last blog on Thursday I was very concerned about the baseball team having nearly a week off and then playing what was basically for first place against Southwest Edgecombe in the NEW-6 and turning around within 24 hours and playing the #1 baseball team in 4-A in Riverside in a double header.

Once again pitching has proven to be some of the best in th state as the Gryphons win 9-1 against SWE to move to 3-0 in conference play.

Benton Moss went six innings keeping the Gryphon starters undefeated this season. Parker Helms and Collins Cuthrell had a couple of hits a piece but it took a Brian Goodwin Home run in the fifth inning to get the Gryphons on the score board.

Forced to play two games against Riverside High School after our scheduled Saturday game at their place was rained out several Saturdays ago.

I have just gotten back into town after being at Nags Heads for a couple of days so at this point I don't have all the details but the Gryphons have beaten the Pirates today in a double header 7-4 and 9-4.

These are the first two losses of the year for Riverside.

Winning these three games in the last 24 hours the Gryphons are now 12-1 on the season and now have a ten game winning streak.

They only defeat of the year was the nine inning affair with Rose in which Rose won 5-4.

I have been told by a reliable source that Nick Adenhart the California Angels pitcher who was killed by a drunk driver Thursday morning has ties to the twin county area. Adenhart's Williamsport Maryland high school team play in the Tarboro Easter tournament when Adenhart played at Willamsport.

Adenhart was headed to Carolina until he was drafted by the Angels in 2005.

The answer to my trivia question from Thursday...

Who is the only player in the Pro football Hall of Fame who never played in the NFL???

Billy Shaw. Shaw play for the Buffalo Bills of the old AFL from 1961-1969. He retired before the Bills became part of the AFC of the NFL. All other AFL players from that era played at least one year after the AFL team joined the NFL.

Battle Best in Area

Dyonna Battle has been named the "Rocky Mount Telegram" girls basketball player of the year. Battle who is in the top ten all time girls scorers at Rocky Mount will be able to cap off her high school basketball career in fine fashion being named the areas best player.

Geoffrey Williams has been announced as a winner for A National Achievement Scholarship worth $2,500

Erika Wesonga another Gryphon senior also has won a National Merit Scholarship. Her's is for $2,000 per year totaling $8,000. Ericka has already won the Morehead Cain Scholarship to Carolina, and she is in the finals of the Benjamin Duke Scholarship to Duke. Erika will have to choose which one she wants between Duke and Carolina.

Congratulation to both Geoffrey and Ericka.

The only scholarship offer I got my senior year was $50 to not come back to school next year.

Now that college basketball is over it is time for the underclassmen to announce that they want to be considered for the NBA Draft.

Jeff Teague of Wake Forest is the latest who thinks he is worthy on being a pro player.

The NBA has to do something about this. I personally don't think Blake Griffin the best college basketball player this year is ready. He's only a sophomore. What has Teague done since Christmas that justifies that he's ready.

The NFL will not take a player until three years after high school. Baseball you either go right out of high school or wait until at least after your junior year. Basketball is watered down with high priced players who can't play, are not mature enough to wipe their nose much less have a million dollars in their pocket. If the NBA would adopt either policy the NFL's plan or Baseball's, it would improve their quality and certainly improve college basketball.

Gryphon baseball is at Southwest Edgecombe Friday night at 7.00. They will do a Ernie Banks on Saturday and play two. Riverside will provide the opposing team at 1.00pm.

I'm heading to the beach this afternoon and will be without a computer until Saturday night.

I want to leave you with a trivia question today. I'll have the answer when I return.

Can you name the only player in the NFL Hall Of Fame who never played in the NFL????

School's Out Creates Slow Week

The Rocky Mount Gryphon baseball team swings back into action Friday Night with a conference game at Southwest Edgecombe at 7.00pm.

The Gryphons are off to a 9-1 start and are 2-0 in conference play. So they are off for a week and then play three games in two days. They play a doubleheader at 1.00pm Saturday against Riverside High School.

If there was ever a chance to fall off the mountain this is the weekend. SWE is playing much better than any other conference year for them since they have been in the NEW-6. 4-A Riverside is a real good ball club.

Pitching has carried this team so far. A week off most of the time hurts pitching more than hitting. If our pitching staff is not as sharp as they have been all season I could see them losing a couple this weekend.

If they were to win all three this weekend maybe this team has a chance to be special.

I have found out recently of coach Gary Smith at Nash Central has Cancer. Gary like so many coaches is always a big help to me when ever I'm doing a ball game at Central. We will keep Gary and his family in our players during his fight.

I know this is old news but it is the first time I've spoken of it. Ritchie Pridgen at Fike High has retired as football coach. He retired in December but he was hoping to come back after six months and double dip. A complication has developed and Ritchie will not come back in July. Too bad for Fike.

Too bad for all of us

You know the State of North Carolina has a shortage of teachers. Once you get thirty years in with the state and most of the time for teachers that puts them at 52 to 55 years old. That's too young for the pasture.

The state in these economics stressed times needs to improve the retirement system to where by staying longer than 30 years improves their retirement, As it is now you gain nothing by staying longer the first time through.

Could the Stanley cup return to Raleigh in 2009? If the last six weeks is any indication the Hurricanes right now are the best team in hockey. They have won nine games in a row including a 9-0 whitewash of the New York Islanders last night. The only problem about being the best team now is, when the playoffs start next week the season will not be over to June.

If he were alive today Jim"Catfish" Hunter would have been 63 years old today. Not only did I have his baseball cards growing up but why do I remember that date?

Back in 1962 and 1963 when I was the bat boy for the Ahoskie American Legion team in which Jimmy played for, I remember going to the first game of the season which I think was in Benson and coach Al Vaughn was checking birth certificates to make sure there was no slip ups.

I was riding the hump in the front seat calling off the players name and birth date and he was checking his roster.

Isn't it funny some of the most insignificant things that you remember all your life.

North Carolina Stomps Their HEELS On The Spartans

North Carolina set the NCAA Championship record for points in the first half with 55. Michigan State did not score their 55th point until 7.33 to play in the game.

To put that in long distance running terms the Tarheels were near the finish line in a marathon before the Spartans got to the halfway point.

The Heels set the NCAA championship record for biggest lead at the half 21 points.

Ty Lawson had eight steals in the game setting a record for the most ever in a championship game.

Despite shooting only two of their first twelve shots to start the second half Carolina for the first five minutes of the second half played the defense they have played all tournament.

When it reached a twenty point lead with fifteen minutes to play Roy Williams said enough is enough and and let's hold the ball for twenty five second and try to score the last tens seconds each trip down.

Here I am a Wolfpack fans pulling for the Heels and the ACC. I sat back and watched. You Heels fans that recorded the game last night, the next time you look ask this question. What did Carolina do to win the game?

It was plain and simply what Carolina did to the Spartans. They never allowed the guards to get inside the foul line. Every time down court when ever Michigan State rushed up court, when they hit the foul line Carolina forced their guards away for the basket which meant they passed outside to a three point shooters with a Carolina defender on him.

Only twice did Michigan State in the first half take their first shot on any trip down court within 15 feet of the basket. They had a fast break layup once and drove the baseline and scored once. The rest of their first half scores came at the foul line or after they had missed their first long range shot.

If Michigan State thought they could stop Ty, Tyler and Wayne they had a chance. The best player on the court the first ten minutes was Deion Thompson. The game was already over with ten minutes to play in the half.

Michigan State couldn't stop anybody.

Old Roy doesn't get too much credit for most of the time due to the talent he has. I think these six tournament games are Roy Williams finest hour ever as a coach.

When they had to Carolina played defense in this 2009 NCAA tournament they did. That is why they are the Champs. Not because they had the best players but the best defense. They had the best players last year but did they win?

Carolina wins their fifth National Championship. Between State, Duke and Carolina the State of North Carolina has had ten National Championships.

Since 1974 the state has won 9 of 35 nationals titles.

You would think that the term Tobacco Road would be out dated in our society today.

But in college basketball Tobacco road DOMINATES.

Oliver Named Telegram Male Swimmer of The year

Kyle Oliver Rocky Mount High School swimmer was named the Rocky Mount Telegram male swimmer of the year. Oliver a senior in the last two swim seasons has not lost a conference race in the NEW-6.

Way to go Kyle

Dyonna Battle has signed to play basketball at Queens College in Charlotte. Dyonna has been the girls leader the last two years if not longer. If there was such a thing as the all decade team which there isn't she would make the starting line this decade. Maybe only Latoya Armstong has been a better player for the lady Gryphons this decade.

I don't know how many of you go on line every day and get your news from WRAL.com. There is a story in the local news section that I would ask you help for.

The story says fire department needs your vote to win a fire truck. The fire department is Powellsville fire department and Powellsville is five miles from Ahoskie in Bertie but it is close to the county line.

Growing up I live about two miles from Ahoskie and my father was a member of the Powellsville Lions Club. We live about half way between Ahoskie in Hertford County and Powellsville. I got the job of cutting grass at the Powellsville community building for about five years and with that came cutting the Powellsville Cemetery.

The cemetery is about two or three acres at the time most of the vaults were above ground. During the summers if I didn't have a church league ball game or a little league game that night I would push my mover to the cemetery at 8.00am and stay and cut grass all day.

There was an acre which was all grass and the other part I had to cut around the plots. I could cut the grass in about eight hours. The hard part was taking the old timey scissors and trimming the grass around the vaults and head stones. My parents when they got off work would come help me finish up the trim. It was a all day deal.

Powellsville is a community of about 400 people with a stoplight on highway 42. The fire house is about a hundred yards from the community building so to say the least all those kids that I grew up with are now volunteer firemen in Powellsville.

A community of 400 there is not a great tax base an there is always a struggle to get any equipment. I don't think they had been able to buy any new equipment in more than 30 years. If you look at the article on WRAL.com they are in a contest with five other small fire from around the USA to win a new fire truck. The most votes on line wins the fire truck.

Oddly enough the fire truck manufacturer is E-One from right here in Rocky Mount but Powellsville is the only North Carolina fire department in the running.

Please go on line and vote for some of my old pals and help them get anew fire truck. There is nothing you have to buy other than taking the time to vote.

Thanks

It's Now The Final Two

North Carolina like they have done in every NCAA game this year came out of the box and had control of the Wildcats early.

Too much Ty Lawson, Danny Green, Wayne Ellington, Tyler Hansbrough and of all people Bobby Frazier. Of all people Bobby frazier had seven rebounds and never took a shot but when ever there was a loose ball on the floor Frazier grab it for the Heels.

Heels 83 Nova 69

Big East Power basketball took a big hit Saturday losing both games. U Conn was beaten badly by Michigan State guards and the Huskies didn't have all that much advantage inside as the power Big East was suppose to have.

Louisville losing last week cooked my goose winning any NCAA pools. Now that the Heels are playing Monday just getting Louisville to todays game would have put me in good position.

Shoulda, coulda ,woulda

I'm kicking President Obama's butt in the NCAA bracket. He stands in the 46 percentile while I'm at 71% in the ESPN Tourney. I have Carolina Monday as well as Mr president .

I am a solid 1 million two hundred thousandt place out of 5.5 million on the ESPN.

I like the floor being raised up six feet. That was neat.

They must of had Big East refs for both games. The rule Saturday was no fouls unless blood. Neither game was any thing close to pretty basketball with all the bumping pushing and arm wrestling.

A victory Saturday night by the Carolina Hurricanes gets them into the playoffs for the first time since 2006 when they won the Stanley Cup.

They have won eight games in a row and eleven straight at home.

They have three games left in the season so they are fighting for at least the opening series home ice advantage. If they can win out they could get more series home advantage if they advance in the Hockey tournament.

Gryphon baseball has most of the week off for Easter. This week all three games the Gryphons saw left handed pitchers and Brian Goodwin was kept off the bases. When Brian gets on he worries the pitchers and the rest of his team mates benefit with more fast balls.

Key for the offense is to get Brian on base. For the defense keep up the outstanding pitching. If the other team doesn't get base runners on it helps the defense. Whenever any team has runners running all over the place it puts extreme pressure on any defense to make a plays.

Finally!!!!! Baseball ON Saturday

The Gryphons baseball team has not been able to get in a baseball game on the last three Saturdays for an assortment of reasons , all related to rain.

Today under pouring(Normally on Saturdays rain inserted here) sunny skies the Gryphon's took on the team that they met for the Eastern 3-A title last May D H Conley.

The day did not start very well for Jason Mills the head coach of Conley as when he arrived this morning to get ready for the trip to Rocky Mount he discovered that the field house at Conley had been broken into and ram sacked.

One thing both teams had plenty of was pitching. Conley started Jordan Deloatch and he got into the fifth inning before being removed and replaced by Chad Hardee.

The Gryphons first hit did not come until one out in the fourth as Collins Cuthrell hit a line drive home run off the light pole in left center field. It hit the pole and came back onto the playing field and for a few moments Cuthrell kept digging thinking he had a double. Ben Fish followed the home run with a solid single but on the first pitch to Thomas Berry was caught trying to steal second. Wouldn't you know it then Berry hit a triple off the wall in right which would easily score Fish but was not to be.

Hobbs Johnson follow up his brilliant effort against Northern Nash with five inning of shutout baseball. Johnson's five inning he struck out six, walked one batter and allowed three singles and a double.

Benton Moss came on to pitch the sixth inning for the Gryphons and promptly hit the first batter on the hand and that run made it all the way home after being sacrificed to second and a two out hit scored him. Moss struck out the side in the seventh to bring the Gryphons to bat in the bottom of the seventh.

One out Parker Helms walked off Hardee. Spencer Bell who walked three times on the day coaxed another one to put runners on first and second with one out. Brian Goodwin who has been 0-for the week so far hit a sharp grounder to right field where Parker Helms scored on a bang bang play.

GRYPHONS 2 Conley 1

The Gryphons win their seventh game in a row to move to 9-1 on the season. Brian Goodwin was 1-4 but had the game winning rbi. Collins Cuthrell was 1-3 with a homer. Ben Fish was 1-3 and Parker Helms was 1-2 and scored the winning run.

Benton Moss gets the win with two innings of relief giving up one run on one hit. His lone free pass was the first batter he faced who he hit.

This is the third game in a row in which the Gryphons could only muster five hits. Once again Gryphon pitchers have proven all they need is two runs as in 21 innings this week the Gryphon pitchers have allowed just one run and have two shutouts on the week.

Gryphons will not play again until next Friday night as they go to Southwest Edgecombe for a conference game. Nash County Schools are out this week for the Easter Holiday

North Carolina plays sometime around 8.00pm tonight in the final four of college basketball.

Xavier Macklin the Nash Central graduate who is playing baseball at North Carolina A&T was the MEAC rookie of the month for March. Macklin hit 341 with two homers and 15 rbi's.

Xavier Joined Dillion Cockrell, Ben Fish, Gabe Brown, Cameron Ramsey and Brian Goodwin who were some of the members of the 13 and 14 year old Babe Ruth players who played in the Babe Ruth World series in Wilson and Quincy Massachusetts in 2004 and 2005. Northern Nash also has three players on those teams Tyler Joyner, Mike Williams and Tyler Clark.

Monumental Night

Ever since the inception of the NEW-3-A conference Southwest Edgecombe has been the smallest school by about two hundred students.

They have been the second best team in football during the conference history and in most sports they have been in the middle. But not in baseball. Southwest has been the door mat of the league all three years they have been in the NEW-6.

Tuesday they lost to Fike by a respectable 6-4 score and maybe that should have raised some eye brows. Last night SWE beat Nash Central for their first NEW-6 conference victory ever. After 31 straight losses the Cougars beat the Bulldogs 5-3.

The Gryphon baseball team plays at 1.00pm Saturday at Gryphon stadium against D H Conley. Nash County schools are out for Easter break next week so the Gryphons will not host the Easter baseball tournament as is the norm.

A real quirk in the conference scheduling they will play Southwest Edgecombe Easter Friday at SWE. Then make up two games with Riverside in a double header on April 12th at home.

The magic is back for the Carolina Hurricanes. They won their tenth game in a row at home last night and as of right now are one point ahead of Philadelphia for fourth place in the standings. Philly however plays tonight.

The latest NHL power ratings have the Hurricanes #1.

Carolina Tarheels are in Detroit ready for the final four on Saturday night. The big stir out of Detroit is that Ty Lawson won $250 on the crap table at a Detroit casino.


I don't have any qualms about the gambling as long as he's 21 and everything is legal. What bothers me is that Roy Williams has given the team a 1.30am curfew.

What in the world can you do in Detroit after midnight other than be in a bar or gambling house. The recent history of athletes and guns, 1.30am out on the town sounds like asking for trouble.

If they lose Saturday, Heels fans will have every reason to question Williams.

In a final note: I would like to congratulate Vann Pennell, Principal at South Brunswick high school. I first met Vann when he was a football assistant coach at Ahoskie in the 80's and he migrated toward administration. He left Ahoskie to be principal at Camden High school.

Yesterday Vann was named North Carolina High School Principal of the year. Vann was always smiling and I bet no doubt that whenever a student has to be in his office they leave feeling good about themsevles even after being punished.

I had lost contact with Vann over the years but I will send him an e-mail today.

Gryphons Homer Firebirds

If there was ever a game in which Rocky Mount was set up for a big let down, today was the day.

Just two days following a victory over your top rival in Northern Nash on Tuesday night. A dreary day. In fact so dreary the game started thirty minutes before the rescheduled early start was suppose to be.

Yesterday due to the weather forecast the game was moved up to 4.30 from the 7.00pm original start time only to start at 4.00pm instead. By games end it proved to be a smart move starting early as the drizzle had started.

If there is one thing that this Gryphon team has brought to every game this year is pitching and the Gryphons got that again today. So far this season our starting pitchers had lasted through four innings in every game.

Benton Moss who has kind of been the odd man out this spring as he has been the starting pitcher in the second game of the week and we have had so many rainouts Benton hadn't pitched in a couple of weeks. Due to the lack of work Benton walked five batters and hit one but allowed only one hit through four inning and left the game winning 4-0.

Nick Hahula pitched the final three innings and scattered four hits and gave up an earned run in the fifth. The Gryphons could only manage five hits themselves but two left the confines of Gryphon stadium.

Collins Cuthrell blasted a solo shot to dead center field in the first to get the Gryphons on the board. Ben Fish in the sixth hit a line drive shot down the left field line that plated Collins Cuthrell who had walked.

In the bottom of the second two runs scored on a Brian Goodwin sharp fly ball to right that was dropped and two runs came home. In the third Hobbs Johnson doubled bringing home Collins Cuthrell. The Gryphons sixth run scored off a Thomas Berry double with Collins Cuthrell scoring again.

Collins Cuthrell was 2-2 on the day with two walks, three runs scored, a homer and an rbi. Ben Fish collect a homer and two rbi's. Thomas Berry had an rbi double and Hobbs Johnson also had an rbi double.

The Gryphons are back in action Saturday at 1.00pm at home against D H Conley who if you remember they beat to win the Eastern regionals last year.

Today's victory is #8 on the season with the lone blemish being the extra inning loss to Rose.

On the day the Gryphons had two doubles and two homers an one single as the Gryphons go to 2-0 in conference play beating Southern Nash 7-1

But It Is Only One Game

Last night's game at Northern is just the first game. Both teams now must regroup and and focus on the next game.

Northern Follows Rocky Mount with a trip to Fike while Rocky Mount must forget and get ready for a home game Thursday.

Northern girls won the softball game with Rocky Mount up the hill beyond left Field from the baseball field. 7-3 was the final.

Leaving the game last night there was a mob of people in the parking lot. The baseball game had a hugh crowd, I didn't see how many were at the softball game but both games got over at about the same time and the parking lot was jammed leaving. To top that off the Northern Track and field team was returning from a meet and they were unloading their activity bus in the parking lot.

If only the Charlotte Bobcats were in the same division as the LA Lakers. Last night the Bobcats kept their hopes alive for a playoff spot by beating LA for the 6th time in the last seven meeting.
The Bobcats trail the Bulls by one game for the final eastern division playoff spot.

Heard on ESPN that the Carolina Panthers my try to get Jay Cutler from the Broncos. Looks as though Denver is feed up with Cutler' s cry baby ways and are ready to unload him. If I was Denver I would ship him off to Detroit where he will have to run for his life to survive.

I just don't get these rich athletes. Denver had the second best offense in the league last year. Where can Cutler go that is better than that, that would want him. He is not in a position to tell them where he wants to go so he is at their mercy.

Plaxico Burress is holding out a plea deal to not have to serve time for shooting himself in a bar in New York City. The Governor and the Mayor of New York have publicly stated he needed to go to jail and whenever a government official says something like that you can bet the prosecutor is listening.

Michael Vick just can't get out of his own way. I need to study up on the details but it has something to do with selling pensions. Next we will find out he is selling guns to the Contras.

I doubt you will see Vick or Burress on an NFL field any time soon.