Gryphon Comeback

This afternoon's rains force another postponement at Northern Nash, but not at Rocky Mount and Senior Night went off without a hitch.

Three and a half innings into tonight's game William Prince and Fike High held a 2-0 lead on the Gryphons. In what may have been the at-bat of the night, Dillon Cockrell, with two outs and two strikes, slapped a single over first base to tie the game at 2-all.

Five of the six hits that Rocky Mount got tonight drove in a runs as Brian Goodwin, Mr. RBI himself Ben Fish, Chris Berry and Cockrell with a second hit produced four more runs.

Three weeks ago at Fike, Hobbs Johnson held Fike to one hit, tonight three and had 11 strikeouts as the Gryphons, for the moment, have the lead again in the NEW 6 baseball race.
The Gryphons beat Fike 5-2.

They finish up the regular season Thursday night at Nash Central. Northern is now faced with playing on the road Thursday at SouthWest Edgecombe and turning around Friday at home against Nash Central.

There is no doubt that the Gryphons had the harder week in order to win two games having to face Fike as one of the games, but tonight's victory is a momentum grabber for the Gryphons.

Speaking of momentum, Jussi Jokinen's rebound shot in overtime has given the Carolina Hurricanes a victory in Game 3 of the second round against Boston tonight in Raleigh.

Game 1, maybe you can say, the 'Canes still had a hangover from the Cardiac Game 7 thriller against New Jersey. Maybe game 2, Boston, now having beaten the 'Canes five straight times thought this series like the Montreal series, would win in four games.

Tonight both teams came out and butted heads. Eric Staal and Sergei Samsonov scored second- period goals for the 'Canes.

Game 4 is Friday night in Raleigh.

You all know from reading this column that I am very proud of cousin Lauren Doughtie. Monday she was named to the All-ACC women's golf team for the second straight year. Women's golf at State has only been around for about 10 years and she has become the first women's golfer to be All- ACC twice.

Lauren begins NCAA regional play Friday in Columbus, Ohio. As a senoir, she must qualify for the national championship as one of the top medalists or this weekend is her last college tournament.

GO Lauren!