Little League Falls In Opener

The Rocky Mount Senior Tar Heel Little league all stars lost their opening game Thursday night 4-3 against Coates. Both the fifth and sixth innings Rocky Mount had two runners on with less than two outs but failed to push across what could have been the lead runs. Coates scored with two outs in the bottom of the sixth.

The losers bracket means Friday can be a long tough grind for the RM all stars as they must face Hildebrand at 4.00pm today and if they win that game play again at 6.30. Hildebrand one of the local teams played Jacksonville on Thursday and Jacksonville won convincingly.

Joe West a Magor league umpire who lives in Greenville umped his 4,000th major league game this week. West known as the "Singing Cowboy" is in his 25th year umpiring. During the days when we could see the Braves Everyday, West was seen almost weekly doing Braves games and Skip Carey one of the Brave announcers use to always mention Joe and and call him the "Singing Cowboy" daily when announcing the umpire line up. West has cut several CD's of country music.

The Phil Ford Golf Classic is Saturday morning at Birchwood Country Club. Sports stars from local talent Danny Talbott to James Worthy will be putting on their golfing ability on display.

High school football practice officialy starts Saturday morning at 8.00am. It is not like it use to be when August 1st was the real start of practice. Teams now days practice three times a week in the summer called conditioning.

Three area teams will have new coaches this year. Andy Jackson at Rocky Mount Academy. Mickey Crouch at Northern Nash and Dickie Schock.

The new 3-A Conference this year has Hunt high school joining the league. Fike has a new coach so their are only two coaches in place that were in the NEW-6 last year. Nash Central's Kevin Crudup and Southern Nash's Brian Fosterare the only hold overs . All new league and all new coaches.

Golfing Weekend

The Phil Ford Golf Classic returns to Rocky Mount and Nashville this weekend in support of the Boys and Girls clubs of the area.

Saturday Morning at Birchwood Country Club you will have an opportunity to see several stars and former stars of NBA basketball show case their golfing skills. It is all for $10 and it all benefits our local kids.

Friday night is a big shindig at the Gateway Center being hosted by Charlie Neal who right now works as a announcer for ESPN. I believe Charlie Neal was the first black play by play announcer to hit national tv back in the 70's.

I ride by the sports complex every day and it looks as if the soccer portion of the fields are ready to use. This summer they have been watering the new grass on the fields and yesterday for the first time I notices soccer goals are in place.

It looks to me as if there will need to be a access made on Airport Road to get to the soccer fields. It will be a long walk from the parking lot unless they cut a street from Airport Road into the soccer fields.

Good luck tonight to the Rocky Mount Tar Heel 11/12 year old baseball team. They begin play in Valdese in the State tournament. Their first game is 8.00pm

Rowan County beat Shelby last night in Greenville to win the State American Legion baseball title. Shelby beat Rowan 7-3 yesterday afternoon to give both teams one loss and Rowan prevailed last night to win it all 5-3.

One More Local team Still Playing

Thursday the Tar Heel Senior Little league all stars (11-12) from Rocky Mount start their state tournament in Valdese North Carolina. If you are asking where in the world is Valdese?, it's near Hickory.

They are the last team still playing from our area. How long can tomorrow be for this team. If they leave on Thursday morning they don't play until 8.00pm Thursday night.

Long ride, Long Day!

The Tar Heel association finishes at the State tournament level so in reality this is the last weekend of baseball for the summer for all of our teams.

Baseball is finishing up and how convenient is it that High schools begin football practice and other sports on Saturday. All three of our public high schools start practice at 8.00am Saturday morning.

I am trying to put together a football preseason show for the "Stretchlon Sports Show" in a couple of Sundays. Will try to have the area coaches on to discuss their team for 2009. Rocky Mount and Northern have brand new coaches and this will give you a chance to see them if you haven't already met them.

I can see it now, four or five weeks into the NFL season a quarterback gets hurt and Brett Farve to the rescue. He said yesterday he just doesn't think his body can take the whole season. If you can believe any thing that he has ever said concerning his retirement, to me sounds like, I'll be ready after summer camp.

NFL camps are starting this week. Exhibitions games start in ten days.

NFL Decisions

Yesterday NFL commissioner Roger Goddell reinstated Michael Vick, well almost.

I think one of the biggest travesties of our world is our court system. People commit crimes and most of the time they get probation. The next time they wind up in court and mostly they get a slap on the wrist. If you are on probation and commit a crime why would you not be sent to jail to serve the first crime as well as the second.

Michael Vick served his time for his crime. I understand that the NFL is an honor to be able to play and not a right. If Vick does anything stupid while he is in the NFL for as long as his career last he will pay by losing his privilege to continue to play.

I wish our court system was that way.

Plaxico Burress keeps putting off his court dates hoping to play this year in the NFL before he goes to jail for firing a gun in New York City in which he shot himself by acccident. If Goddell keeps up his policy of acting like a professional then he must suspend Burress regardless of whether he has a trial this year or not.

The District Attorney of New York with knudging from the mayor is going after a three year jail sentence. I don't think there is any doubt of Burress guilt. He even admits it. He hopes to play this year realizing that three years in jail and his career is done.

Goddell needs to suspend him now.

Finally, there is the other jail sentence. Brett Farve. It seems as the last five years Farve keeps himself in the media, I may Retire, I may comeback. If there was ever an athlete that needs attention it's Brett Farve. Please end our jail sentence and either play or quit for good.

I always thought Farve was over rated. Took to many chances. When you take chances you are a hero sometimes and a goat most of the time. The news media has always ignored his low quarterback rating because he has one Super Bowl win.

Please Brett Farve ends this misery that you are putting the fans through. Play or retire.

The world will go on with or without you.

Legion Had Excellent Season.

The start was auspicious. Northern's playoff run went almost to June. Matt Bryan Post 58 head coach who is an assistant at Eastern Wayne played right up to the last game of the playoffs. Several scheduled games had to be cancelled or moved until finally the season got under way around the 5th of June.

Lost the very first game with by the ten run rule with only one practice as a team. There on this team play like champs.

I spoke early that I didn't see that the pitching staff was strong enough. I visualized that there would be playoff games where the ace of other teams would shut down our hitting and our pitching would not win the 5-4 or 3-2 playoff games which we didn't this past weekend.

If there was a strong point in Greenville it was our pitching. It was the hitting that lead us to a quick exit from the State Tournament.

You know we went further in the playoffs than what I thought we could, even the Cary series in which we saw better pitching than we had seen all year our hitting was better than their pitching.

Our hitting was not better than the two pitchers we saw in the State Tournament in Greenville.

When we look at the facts this team won four playoffs series. Three of them they won three games to none. In the only series to go five we were down zero games to two and came back and won the series. In fact game five we were down two runs in the bottom of the ninth and won.

So this team displayed magic and had a fine season at 20-6. Made it to the Area one finals for the first time since 1995 and back to the Championship finals for the first time since Post 58 won it all in 1973.

We can all complain of what could have been if all the all stars from this area had of played Legion ball. I think not having all of the all stars of the area really shows you how good this team was with what we had.

I enjoyed being th PA man following this team.

I think everyone should thank Joe Bell as he is the master mind behind keeping Post 58 alive with baseball. He didn't have a child on the team, but he was dedicated to keep it alive so when Spencer gets there next year there will be a team.

Without him there may not have even been a team this year to enjoy.

Midgets Finish Second In State-Legion Ousted

Facing the loser bracket on Sunday the Rocky Mount Midget (9/10 Year old Tar Heel Little League team) won their first game of the day beating Hickory 10-0 in a four inning game.

Logan Pearce and Landon Roup hit homers in the first inning that proved to be all the runs the Rocky Mount All Stars would need.

The advantage of being in the winners bracket is while others are out on the field playing in the hot sun just to be able to play in the next game the winners bracket team and in this case that was Lee County can just sit back in a motel room and wait in the air conditioning.

Beating Hickory gave the Rocky Mount Midgets the chance to play Lee County again and the results were worse that the 9-7 score yesterday. Lee county wins the State Tar Heel Midget Championship with a 11-0 win in four innings.

The Rocky Mount Midget all stars bring home a second place trophy.

Coleman Pitt Post 58 also found themselves in the losers bracket and the punishment for being in the losers bracket is playing on Sunday at Guy Smith Stadium instead of the brand spanking new 4,500 seat Clark-LeClair Stadium at ECU.

Guy Smith is the home of Rose High school and compared to Northern Nash which has short fences Guy Smith is even smaller.

I figured with the wind blowing out that the losing team would probably score ten today. Not so fast My Friend, as Shelby threw a submarine pitcher and Brandon Denton took the hill for Post 58.

The final score Shelby 3 and Post 58 2. Shelby hit two homers to Post 58 one. Each team had a two run homer and Shelby had a solo shot which was the difference.

Shelby hit their solo homer in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. There was a thirty minute rain delay while we were batting with two outs in the fifth inning. Once the game resumed Collins Cuthrell walked after having a three balls and one strike count on him when the rains came. Xavier Macklin then hit a home run which was last seen rolling toward Memorial Drive near the hospital and Post 58 lead 2-1.

Shelby would get all the runs they needed in the seventh when they got a single and then one of those bloop Guy Smith home runs and they took the lead 3-2. Post 58 got one single in the eighth and ninth but never threatened.

Adam Izokovic pitched complete game six hitter. Both days of this tournament Xavier Macklin got three of our six hits and hit a home run each day.

Brandon Denton went all the way for Post 58 which was eight innings and like yesterday for Alex Pearce the pitching for Post 58 was good but the other sides pitching was better. Denton gave up nine hits but walk only won batters. He struck out five but didn't get enough help from his hitting mates.

Post 58 finishes the season 20-6 and made it to the State finals for the first time in 36 years.

Midgets and Legion Lose

Today was a tough day for baseball in Nash-Rocky Mount area as both the Rocky Mount Midgets (9/10) year old all stars lose 9-7 in Erwin. In Greenville, Post 58 met maybe the best pitcher in the Legion tournament in Nick Lomascolo from the NCHSAA 3-A State Champs Lake Norman and lost 5-4.

The Little leaguers lead at one point 7-5 but were beaten in the winners bracket game 9-7. They will play again at 2.00pm Sunday against Hickory.

There are three teams left in Erwin and Lee County the team that beat Rocky Mount today will wait for the winner of the Rocky Mount- Hickory game. Who ever wins that game meets Lee County in the second game Sunday afternoon. Lee County wins it's all over or if the Rocky Mount/Hickory winner beats Lee County they will come back and play the championship game Monday.

In Greenville Alex Pearce got the start for Post 58 and Pearce walked a couple of batters and a critical error and one timely hit gave Mooresville a 2-zip lead in the first. The further Pearce pitched the better he got and he made it all the way to the first batter in the eighth inning.

Xavier Macklin lead off the bottom of the third slapping a line shot down the left field line for a double. Ben Fish hit a fly ball to left that was deep enough to get Macklin to third base. LoMascolo unleashed a wild pitch and Post 58 was on the board.

Up again in the bottom of the fifth Xavier Macklin hit a home run into the ECU Jungle minus the ECU students but regardless of how many were there the game was tied after five innings.

The opening batter of the eighth inning walked on four straight pitches and Matt Bryan took Alex out of the ball game. Bill Clark came in and the first batter greeted him with a swinging bunt that never traveled more than fifteen feet but was beat our for a hit. A sacrifice and a single and Mooresville lead 4-2. Another post 58 error allowed one more run to score to give Mooresville a 5-2 lead that held until the bottom of the ninth.

Xavier Macklin lead off with a single and Ben Fish follow that with the second home run of the game for Post 58 to cut the lead to 5-4. Two easy outs brought us to the last batter.

Dillon Cockrell had no balls and two strikes and somehow wriggled into a walk. Mike Smith got konked between the shoulders. Mooresville then made a pitching change. Mike Williams struck out on three pitches. There was magic in the ninth but not enough.

Lomascolo struck out fourteen Batters in pitching eight and two thirds innings. He allowed six hits and walked two and hit a batter.

Alex Pearce took the loss giving up just four hits and struck out four in seven innings, but he did walk six batters. Only two of Mooresville five runs were earned.

Post 58 plays at three pm at Guy Smith Stadium in the losers bracket against Shelby who lost 11-7 to Wimington.

Just before the start of the fourth game tonight there was an opening ceremony with all the teams on the field and there was to be a first pitch delivered. But during the ceremony one of the umpires who was line up like the players passed out on the field. Rescue came on the field and while they were working on the UMP a Player for Cherryville passed out. The fourth game was delayed more than a hour before the final game of the day got started between Cherryville and Greenville Post 39.

Even worse news to report as while the rescue was on the field a fight broke on in the stands and between1-3 fans were removed from the game depending on who's story you believe. All three fans regardless of how many were from Cherryville.

Last word that neither the ump or player was taken to the hospital.

Legion Hopes Ride On State Championship Experience

Friday afternoon in Erwin, the Rocky Mount Midget (9-10) Tar Heel Little League All-Stars remained unbeaten beating Cleveland County 11-4. This sets up a showdown at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon with Lee County in the winner's bracket game. The winner of that game will be in the drivers seat as the loser will have to come through the loser's bracket to win the state championship.

Saturday afternoon, American Legion Post 58 starts the State Championship Tournament which is the last possible state title for most of the players on the team, But for most, 13 in all, they have a roster full of baseball players who have for some several state championships in baseball.

It all started in 2004 when the Nash County 14-year-old Babe Ruth team won the state championship. Two members of this year's legion team played on that team: Alex Pearce and Grant Johnson.

The World Series that year was in Wilson and the host city and host state get automatic berths. That put Wilson's team in and winning the state championship, Nash County got to skip the Southeast Regional and went straight to Wilson.

That year, Nash County lost in the semifinals to Hawaii. That amounts to third place in the world.

What a big year 2004 was for Nash County as at the same time the 14-year-olds were playing, 13-year-olds were winning their age group state title. They followed that up with a regional win in Tallahassee, Fl. The 13-year-old World Series was played in Van Buren, Ak. where they also lost in the semifinals to Tri-Valley, Cal.

Members of that team on this Legion squad were Ben Fish, Dillon Cockrell, Xavier Macklin, Tyler Clark, Cameron Ramsey, Mike Williams and Gabe Brown.

Keeping the Babe Ruth run going, that same group that made it to the World Series in Arkansas as 13-year-olds and won the 2005 state title in Rocky Mount. The Southeast regional was played in Greenville, Tenn. and then they were flown by jet to Boston to play in the 14-year-old World Series in Quincy, Mass.

That tournament was highlighted by the extra-inning semifinal game with the team that knocked it out the year before Tri-Valley. Our chances of winning the World championship were hurt greatly in the extra inning win as Travis Ward had to use Saturday's starter Dillon Cockrell in the extra inning just to win the semifinal game.

The championship game we were beaten 7-2 by Jefferson Parrish, La. to finish second in the World Series.

We are not through yet as in 2006, the next year's group of 14-year-olds made it back to the World Series and once again, it was played in Wilson. Being the host state, Nash County once again won the State title and was an automatic qualifier to the World Series.

That team had Collins Cuthrell, T.J. Taylor, Brandon Denton and Mike Smith, who lost in the championship game to Citrus Valley, Cal.

Four World Series in three years, but the state titles are not over as Rocky Mount High School took the NCHSAA 3-A title in 2008. Members of this legion team who played on the 2008 state champs were Fish, Cuthrell, Ramsey, Johnson, Cockrell, Brown and Nick Hahula.

The only two Legion players who have never tasted a state title are Bill Clark and Ray Valezquez.

Is there one more state title to share? The final ride for the most begins Saturday afternoon at ECU. If experience has any thing to do with it, this team is loaded .

See you Saturday at the game.

Dillon Cockrell : three State titles, two Southeast Regional Titles and World Series a 3rd and a 2nd. Ben Fish: Three State Titles, two Southeast Regional and World Series a 3rd and a 2nd.
Cameron Ramsey: Three State titles, Two Southeast Regional and World Series 3rd and 2nd.
Gabe Brown: Three State titles, Two Southeast Regional and World Series 3rd and 2nd.
Xavier Macklin: Two State Titles, Two Southeastern regional and World Series 3rd and 2nd.
Tyler Clark: Two State titles, two Southeast Regionals and World Series 3rd and 2nd.
Mike Williams: Two State Titles, Two Southeast Regional and World series 3rd and 2nd.
Grant Johnson : Two State titles and a 2nd in World series.
Collins Cuthrell: Two State Titles and a 2nd in World Series.
Alex Pearce: One State Title and a 3rd place in World Series
T.J. Taylor: One State Title and a 2nd in World Series.
Mike Smith: One State title and a 2nd in World Series.
Brandon Denton: One State Title and a 2nd in World Series.

All told, 22 state titles and 14 regional crowns are among them.

Oh, by the way, if Post 58 wins the state title, the Southeast Regional is in Sumter, S.C. The American Legion World Series is in Fargo, N.D.

Rocky Mount Midgets Win Opener

The Tar Heel Midget 9/10-year-old Little League State Championships got under way tonight in Erwin. Erwin, the host team, was given an automatic spot in the state championships. Erwin, as the championship host, went head-to-head with Rocky Mount in the opening game as Rocky Mount ripped Erwin 12-1 in four innings.

Coach Wayne Pridgen used three pitchers in those four innings trying to save his pitchers inning totals for later in the tournament. Jacob Pridgen pitched the first two innings and he gave way in the third to Josh Daniels. Noah Shrock pitch the fourth and final inning that Rocky Mount had to play in the field.

Shrock led the hitting attack getting three hits. Logan Pearce collect two hits. I am sure there were plenty more, but this is all I know about.

There is little time for celebrations as they will have to travel right back to Erwin Friday afternoon for a 2 p.m second-round game.

Last night in the 61st Annual NCCA East-West All-Star Football Game in Greensboro, the East managed to score one touchdown on a 5-yard scamper by Chapel Hill's Steven Moore in a 6-0 victory. Rocky Mount's Nick Hahula had the game's only PAT attempt blocked.

In the second half, the East found running room behind Rocky Mount's Torey Lee as almost every run in the second half was behind "Pork Chop". Due to a low scoring game, Hahula punted six times in the game and had just under a 32-yard average. His kickoff following the touchdown sailed in the end zone like more than half of his kicks did for the Gryphons last season.

The American Legion teams will start to gather in Greenville Friday. Six of the eight teams will bed down in motels in Greenville, while the home team Post 39 and the Area I champ Post 58 will ride back and forth each day.

There is a dinner tomorrow night where all the teams will be honored for making it to the state championship.

Just got back from going over to Ben Fish's house and the Doughties picked up our Post 58 T-shirts that has a nice logo on the front that says "2009 Nash County Post 58." The back says "Nash County Coleman- Pitt Post 58 2009 Area I Champions." It lists all the players and coaches and down at the bottom, it has two shovels making it into a "Y" and says in big letters "YA DIG!"

This is, of course, in reference to the Babe Ruth 14-year-old team - a squad that many of these players were on and its assistant coach Jammy Mitchell had a shovel and told the guys to keep digging.

Thanks Ashley (Mama Fish) for getting the T-shirts together and I will be wearing mine Saturday and Sunday.

I hope this is no factor at all for us but the loser's brackets games on Sunday have been moved to Guy Smith Stadium. Instead of starting at 9.30 a.m. on Sunday, they will start at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the same time the winner's bracket games will be played at Clark-LeClair at ECU.

A win on Saturday against Mooresville will keep us at ECU Sunday.

Can Post 58 hit its way to a title?

All along this American Legion baseball season we have talked about this team being a hitting machine - a lineup of all-star hitters. Yesterday, Joe Bell sent out the stats on this team and the hitting numbers are unreal.

There are 13 players on this squad that batted at least 40 times during their 24 games to date. Not one of those players hit less than .300.

This team had a total of 330 hits in its 24 games. That mathematically works out to over 13 hits per game. Here is a figure that is out of this world. They had 271 RBI with 330 hits which is over 11 per game. That works out to .82 RBI per hit.

This team hit 47 home runs in 24 contests. That is a smidgen less than two per game.

The team batting average is .387. That is almost .400 for the entire team.

Ben Fish leads the way hitting nearly .500 at .489. Right on his heels is Collins Cuthrell at .486.

Xavier Macklin did not start playing until the last regular season game. He hit 10 homers to tie Ben Fish for the team lead. Macklin hit his 10 in 15 games.

Fish had 45 hits and lead the team with 45 RBI. If you look at Ben's high school career and now Legion ball, he may be the most clutch hitter I have ever seen. He is the all-time rbi king at Rocky Mount High. - man (Xavier Macklin) has 26 RBI in his 15 games.

Alex Pearce and Brandon Denton share the wins leadership having won five games each. Dillon Cockrell added four wins. Bill Clark, T.J. Taylor and Nick Hahula added two wins each.

This pitching staff improved every game. The entire season the defense gave up only 5.5 runs per game. If we had the ERA totals, I am sure that the staff ERA was around four per game.

Post 58 begins its quest for the second state title in Post 58 history Saturday afternoon at 4:30 against Mooresville.

ECU is not that far away. If you want to watch an entertaining team, then this could be it. None of us have any idea of how good the competition is. We may lose two straight and come home happy to have just made the tournament. Regardless, this team will be fun right to the end.

The midget 9-10 year old Little League All-Stars start their state tournament tonight in Erwin. They play at 6 p.m. Good luck to them.

Football is Just Around The Corner

The state's high school coaches are in Greensboro this week for the annual NCAA Coaching Clinic. This is where, if you looking a job in coaching, you want to be.

Tonight is the annual East-West All-Star Football game in Greensboro - the 61st edition. Those all- star games have expanded over the years from when it was just football and basketball.

Nick Hahula and Torey Lee are going to play tonight representing Rocky Mount.

Once the football coaches get back, the first day of practice is Saturday, Aug. 1. I wonder how many will wait and practice on Monday the 3rd? None I would suspect. You just can't afford to let anybody get a day of practice that you don't also get.

One of the great privileges of doing P.A. or radio or TV you run across people. This past weekend was one of those times.

When I arrive at a legion game to do P.A., I go to Matt Bryan to get of feel of what he is thinking. He will give me his lineup for the opening ceremonies. This is more for radio, but as the P.A. man I have a feel for who might not play and why. Then I will walk across the diamond to the visiting coach and he will give me his lineup.

Cary came to Northern Saturday night and pitching batting practice was Clay Council. That name may not ring a bell at all, but if you saw the 2008 MLB All-Star Baseball Home Run Derby at Yankee stadium, then you might remember it.

Council is the 71-year-old man who pitched to Josh Hamilton in that event. Council wore No. 14 for Cary. Cary is made up of players from Athens Drive where Josh Hamilton played. I had their lineup in hand and I went over to Mr. Council to say that I really enjoyed watching Josh hit those home runs off him last year.

Council, now 73, took five minutes to tell me what a thrill it was for him to be at Yankee Stadium, be in the locker room with Derek Jeter and Josh. His 15 minutes of fame turned into 45 with all the home runs that Josh hit. To top it all off, he had a ring on his finger that said "2008 MLB All-Star Game." I would say it was just like what all the players received. He sure was proud of that ring.

If Hamilton never does a thing in Major League Baseball again, I can say having Council pitch to him made one man very happy. Hamilton remembered where he came from.

Don Fish, with camera in hand, got a picture of me and Clay behind Cary's dugout. Thanks Don for having the camera there. I would have never thought of taking a picture otherwise.

The next time you go to the ball park, take a look around. You never know who you might see.

Travel, Travel, Travel

Here we are in late July and all of the all star teams are playing all over the state in tournaments trying to win districts in order to go to state tournaments, if you win that a Southeast regional and if you win that a national tournament.

This weekend the Rocky Mount 9/10 midget all stars the winners of the district tournament in Zebulon a couple of weeks ago start the state tournament in Dunn.

This past weekend the Junior legion team for Rocky Mount and Nash Central team played in the State tournament in Asheboro. Nash Central lost out on Saturday and Rocky Mount was knocked out yesterday.

Still to come the 11/12 year old little leaguers begin their state tournament in the mountains July 31st.

The senior legion starts their state title tournament Saturday in Greenville. Unlike the little league where the state championship is as far as you can go, Legion if we were to get by and win the state there is still a southeast regional in Sumter South Carolina and if you win that the national tournament in Fargo North Dakota.

Heaven help any parents that have two kids playing in two different age groups as motels and gas, and food can eat you a live with all the travel.

This does not include all the Babe Ruth 13,14 and 15 year old tournaments that they were trying to get to.

We all think our children are the best on the team and when ever they make an all star team and represent us we drag our whole family all over creation to follow that all star team.

Life isn't easy following any sport whether it soccer or tennis.

But,

It's part of watching our children grow up. Hopefully one day we will follow our grand children the same way.

Area One Champs!

It has been since 1973 since Coleman Pitt Post 58 played for the State American Legion Championship. Thirty six years later they will try to win Post 58 their second title.

Down 4-2 in the bottom of the third Collins Cuthrell hit safely and X man(Xavier Macklin) tattooed a home run to tie. One out later Tyler Clark hit the first of his two home runs to give Post 58 the lead for the first time.

Brandon Denton Post 58 starting pitcher was knocked around with two home runs the first three innings which was worth three runs. The only other runs Cary Post 67 produced came at the expense of poor 58 defense allowing 67 to tie at 5 at the halfway point.

Bottom of the fifth Ben Fish reached on a 67 error and Tyler Clark stroked his second home run to give Post 58 the lead they would never give up at 7-5.

Denton struck out the first batter he face in the sixth but gave up a walk and a hit. Matt Bryan figuring that with the lead we needed to stomp out any fires that Post 67 might start brought in Bill Clark who struck out the next two batters to end the 6th inning threat.

Post 58 had a chance to add a run in the 7th inning when Collins Cuthrell laced a double in to the left field corner . The throw back to the infield rolled all the way almost to the fence pass first base. Matt Bryan sent Collins home where the home plate umpire who was there at third to make any call was in the way of Collins as he advance home. Having to avoid the umpire Cuthrell was caught in a run down and failed to score.

This is where the PA man (Me) lost my voice fussing with the umpire for not calling interference on himself and call Cuthrell to go back to third safely. Luckily for us that run was made up in the eighth when Dillon Cockrell laid down a safety squeeze bunt to score Ben Fish who had open the inning with a hit and had been pushed to third on a beautiful hit and run hit by Cameron Ramsey hitting the ball behind the running Fish..

Post 58 first two runs in the game came on a solid single by Grant Johnson who had advanced the two previous hitters to second and third Dillon Cockrell and Gabe Brown came home to score when the ball went through the legs of the left fielder.

Bill Clark pitch 3 and 2/3 inning of relief he walked one batter and surrendered one hit. Once Clark got Denton out of the jam in the sixth Clark was in control and picked up the save tonight after being the winning pitcher in relief last night.

Brandon Denton got the win pitching 5 and 1/3 innings allowed six hits, walked four and had what his mama believes to be his career high in strike outs with nine.

Post 58 had Nine hits again tonight being lead by Tyler Clark who hit two homers and had three rbi's. Xavier Macklin had a homer and a hit with two rbi's. Dillon Cockrell had the only other rbi with one hit but his rbi came on the safety squeeze. Collins Cuthrell, Ben Fish,Gabe Brown, Grant Johnson and Cameron Ramsey all had a single.

Post 58 starts Saturday afternoon at 4.30 with their first game against the area three #2 team who will either be Rowan County or Mooresville. Both those teams have qualified for the tournament but they started a two out of three tonight to see who's first and who's second in their area.

Victory is always hard to leave as all of the fans for Post 58 hung around long enough to see coach Matt Bryan get Gatoraded twice. The first time was not good enough so the guys loaded up a second cooler and got coach good while being interviewed by Wes Bradshaw for the Stretchlon Sports Show.

After having pitching six innings of shutout baseball and knocking two home runs on Saturday and then getting two hits last night in center field T J Taylor was named the outstanding player in the Area one finals

Coleman Pitt Post 58-8 Cary Post 67-5 Coleman Pitt sweeps the series three game to zero and are the Area one American Legion Champs!

Coaching - It Can Make You or Break You

Coleman Pitt Post 58 has a young whipper snapper of a coach by the name of Matt Bryan. In real life, he is an assistant baseball coach at Eastern Wayne. Joe Bell ran across Matt a few years back and got him to coach the Rocky Mount Junior Legion team.

Matt is a young buck who has a lot of talent as a coach. I think most of the folks who have watched consistently over the last couple of years will tell you Matt, still being young in coaching circles, likes to show everyone every now and then how much baseball he knows. He will double steal, squeeze and sometimes his aggressive coaching runs himself right out of an inning.

Saturday night after Post 58 took the first game of the series with Cary, Matt, in his talk to the team, gave it his game plan for game two. He told the team that Mike Williams would start game two. Having just pitched T.J. Taylor, Post 58's center fielder, in game one, Bryan wanted one more day of rest for what has been the top three pitchers Brandon Denton, Dillon Cockrell and Alex Pearce. Those three were about worn out from going five games with Wilson.

A parent told me last night at the game that their son told him that this was the tightest bunch of players that they had ever played on. Bryan has them thinking as one. The players understood that with Mike Williams on the mound that everyone had to help him get us by this game.

Between clutch hitting and outstanding defense, Post 58 stole one in Cary last night with a pitcher who had never pitched more than two innings in his life.

Bryan has these kids playing some ball. These kids are all stars and yes, with all the baseball experience this year has in its hitting lineup, they are producing as all stars. The pitching is another matter there is no all star that takes the hill for Post 58.

Matt Bryan in just a few more than 20 games knows what button to push. What to say to his pitchers to give him just a little more.

Post 58 can wrap up a spot in the State tournament with a win tonight. We must remember that Wilson had us 2-zip just a week ago and we came back, so we know it can be done. I like our chances. Three well-rested starters to go in the next three games, if need be, and two are at home.

When Bryan is 35 years old, I think he will be known in eastern North Carolina as one of the finest baseball coaches around. Now as a young agressive coach, his legend is taking shape. Bryan and Post 58 are one win away from the state tournament.

Whether the wheels fall off and we don't win another game this year, this team has produced when it needed it. The state tournament is a double elimination affair. Post 58 has brought back memories of years gone by. Bryan, who wears number 55, has kicked butt when needed but most of all has this team playing as one.

Ninth-Inning Magic

Once again tonight, coach Matt Bryan uses mirrors on the mound and gets seven innings-plus from Mike Williams who before tonight had never pitched more than two innings in one stretch in his career.

Trying to give the top three pitchers one more day of rest, Williams like T.J. Taylor last night, had the Cary Post 67 crowd thinking 'man, this Post 58 has got some pitching.' By the way, there was a whole lot of Post 58 fans impressed with the pitching the last two nights.

Post 58 scored two in the first on by to back doubles by T J Taylor and Collins Cuthrell getting a rbi. Cuthrell scored on an error by the Cary third basemen. Post 67 got two right back in the bottom of the inning with a single and homer.

Post 67 scored single runs in the second and fourth inning to lead 4-2 when Post 58 cut the lead to one in the fifth. Taylor's single advanced to third on a double by Xavier Macklin and Taylor scored on a ground out by Ben Fish.

The sixth started with an Alex Pearce base-on balls, a steal of second and Wesley Joyner got him to third on a ground out to second. Mike Smith hit a grounder that the third base mans only play would have been to first base but he booted the ball allowing Pearce to tie the game. Then Mike Williams gave Post 58 the lead with a towering shot that cleared the fence in right center to give 58 a 6-4 lead.

Mike Williams had allowed eight hits through the first four inning and only gave up one in the fifth, sixth and seventh. In the eighth he got one out and then struck out what would have been the second out but the runner reached on a wild pitch to the screen. He then had another wild pitch and a single and left the game with runners on first and third.

Bill Clark gave up a hit to make it 6-5 and another single tied the game after eight.

The ninth started with easy outs to second and shortstop, but with two outs Xavier Macklin singled. On the first pitch Ben Fish slapped a line drive that rolled to the wall and Matt Bryan waved Macklin home to take the lead.

Clark started the bottom of the ninth with a strike out and then gave up a one out single. The next batter struck out on a ball about five feet in front of the plate. The hitter took off for first, but since first base was occupied he was out on a strikeout and the runner on first started for second, whether he thought he could get to second since the ball was out in front of the plate or he thought he had to run since the batter was running whatever the thought was Fish scooped up the ball and threw a strike to Dillon Cockrell who applied the tag for the final out.

Coleman Pitt Post 58- 7, Cary Post 67- 6

Post 58 has won the first two games of this series with pitchers who didn't play major pitching roles up until this series, especially starting pitching.

Cary outhit 58 tonight 13 to 8, but every hit was timely for Post 58. Coleman-Pitt's infield defense came through in the clutch as Collins Cuthrell, Wesley Joyner, Mike Smith and Alex Pearce at first all made defensive plays that if they don't make them, Cary scores runs.

Taylor, Macklin and Fish each had two hits and Fish's ninth-inning double was the game winner. Cuthrell and Williams had a hit with Mike Williams blast being a homer.

Post 58 now has three chances, two at home, to win one game and head to the State Senior Legion State tournament this Saturday.

How good are our hitters? Well, everyone would think that playing at Northern has been a great advantage. No so fast, my friend, look at this . As of tonight, Post 58 has played 23 games. Twelve home games have produced 14.5 runs per game, while on the road 11.66. I believe this team can score anywhere. In 12 home games, our pitchers have have allowed 5.33 runs per game while giving up 5.72 on the road. The short fences have been some advantage to our hitters, but our pitchers have pitched better at Northern. Go figure!

The Rocky Mount Junior Legion team tonight in the winners bracket game lost 4-2 to Mooresville. There are four teams left in that tournament and one is undefeated and three with a lost. Rocky Mount plays at 1 p.m. Monday. If it wins, it would have to win two games Tuesday to win the title.

Post 58 can wrap up its first visit to the State Senior Legion Tournment since 1986 with a win Monday night. The first pitch is 7 p.m.

Round Four Begins.

The very beginning of the senior Legion season I have thought that the pitching was the weak link on this years team. Tonight Matt Bryan head coach of Post 58 had to use Diminutive center fielder T J Taylor to pitch in the opening game of the east Finals in the Senior American Legion Playoffs. Post 58 had to use everybody they had just to get past Wilson.

Tonight T J Taylor pumps life into a pitching staff that had few options as Taylor shuts out Cary Post 67 for six innings and Mike Williams finishes them off in the seventh as Coleman Pitt Post 58 takes down Cary Post 67 15-0 in a seven inning game.

You know things are going to go good for you when the first batter of the game hits a hot shot to third baseman Collins Cuthrell the ball rolls up his leg and over to shortstop Dillon Cockrell who throws the runner out at first. T J Taylor walked only one batter and allowed five hits in his six innings of work and only twice had two runners on in anyone inning.

Once again Post 58 had a bag load of hits getting fifteen and had help from nine free passes given to Post 58 hitters.

Ben Fish had four hits,winning pitcher T J Taylor hit another home run and a single and four rbi's. Dillon Cockrell ,Collins Cuthrell and Mike Smith had a couple of hits a piece. Xavier Macklin ,Cameron Ramsey, and Mike Williams each collect a hit.

Game two of the best of five series is Sunday Night at Cary High School in Cary. Post 58 is two wins from returning to the state championship tournament which they last played in 1995.

You would think Cary threw their ace in the first game since they have been off since Wednesday but I am not sure. When looking at our pitching staff so far in twelve playoff games we are 10-2 and our pitchers have been as good as any body Else's pitchers. Aluminum bats create runs and high scoring affairs and looking at the playoffs to date nobody has out hit us.

The Junior Legion tonight took on the Junior Legion team from Cary in Asheboro in the State Junior Legion tournament and Cary has had a rough night against teams from Nash County. The Rocky Mount junior legion white washed Cary in five innings 11-0 to advance to the winners bracket undefeated game tomorrow night.

Earlier in the day Nash Central had lost 8-4 to be eliminated from the same tournament. Hats off the to Nash Central team as they were a fill in team after Kinston was forced to forfeit their place in the state tournament and Nash Central took their spot and played well losing yesterday's game in extra innings. Brett Johnson's team didn't lose two straight by ten runs and come home quick but were very competitive in this tournament.

It's A Cell Phone World

Left town for a mini vacation to the Wilmington Area Thursday afternoon so I was out of pocket for both game four and five of the Senior Legion Third Round.

Don Johnson who seems to be every where was a constant phone call away What's the score now?

Around lunch time today Joe Bell called making sure I would be there tonight and to tell me about last night's games. Joe is in Asheboro with the Rocky Mount Junior Legion.

Brett Johnson Don's middle son is the coach of Nash Central Junior Legion team and Friday night in the bottom of the ninth Don was feeding Brett the play by play by cell phone and Brett was relaying the action to all of the people in the hotel lobby in Asheboro.

Senior Legion Post 58 down two games to one after Wednesday night's game punishes Post 13 Thursday 16-4 setting up last night dramatic finish.

Post 58 scores three in the bottom of the ninth to best Wilson 11-10. Their reward play again tonight. This time it is for the East title against Cary. The winner of this series goes to the State tournament in Greenville starting the 25th.

Post 58 used every available body to win last night pitching so who throws tonight is any one guess.

Game time is 7.00pm at Northern.

You know an amazing amount of work went into getting the field ready last night because of the late afternoon rain. If last nights game would have of been postponed Wilson would have been the winner due to a rule that if weather prevent a series from finishing on time the team that wins game one wins the series.

Friday Nash Central Junior Legion lost in extra innings 5-4 in their opening round game in Asheboro. This morning at 10.00am they lost in the loser's bracket 8-4 to be eliminated from the tournament.

Rocky Mount Junior Legion team won yesterday 8-3 and that sets up a winner's bracket game tonight at 7.00pm with Cary. Cary and Rocky Mount are the Tournament pre favorites. Cary has a ridiculous of like 44-2 and Rocky Mount is like 26-2

How odd can that be both Junior and Senior Legion teams play tonight at 7.00pm and play Cary.

Weather willing Senior Legion start round four tonight at Northern Nash.

There's No Place like Home

There is no doubt that Post 58 has a good hitting ball club this year. To say the least our group of all star hitters have feasted on the short fences of Northern Nash. Just looking at the old or new Yankee Stadium. I don't see any body wanting to remove Babe Ruth from the record books because of a short porch in right field.

When Post 58 puts a pitcher on the mound he is faced defending the short porch just as any pitcher is. Why do you think Post 13 had a rain out Monday at the small Fike High School field. Instead we played Tuesday in the spacious Fleming Stadium. With that in mind I would suspect Post 13 will play in the rain tonight just so the game can be played at Fleming if need be.

Post 58 remains alive in the third round of the East Area playoffs with a 32-5 thumping of Post 13. Demunitive center fielder T J Taylor hit three home runs including two in the third inning leading the way for Post 58. On the night Taylor was 4-5 three home runs and eight rbi's.

Trying not to let T J out do him Ben Fish was 4-4 with two homers and seven rbi's could of had eight but an error in the outfield took away a possible rbi.

Post 13 pitching yeilded 24 hits ,eleven base and balls and Post 13 defense created four errors and every error seemed to happen with the bases loaded to compound their problems.

Lost in all the hitting barrage was Alex Pearce's pitching. The three innings he pitched he gave up a solo home run walk only one and struck out two. Leading 25-1 after three inning Matt Bryan took Pearce out hoping to save him to pitch again this week and Nick Hahula pitched the next three innings not giving up any runs. Ray Valezquez pitched the seventh walked six batters and gave up a hit while allowing four runs.

Now let's talk about the third inning. Ahead 3-1 Taylor lead off with a solo home run to start the inning.Twenty five batters later a double play ended a twenty two run second inning which included 14 hits and seven walks and two errors. The first twenty five batters that came to the plate reached base. There was an out made on a force play but the batter reached base until the double play ended the 45 minute marathon.

Taylor and Fish had four hits but not to be out done Dillon Cockrell also had four. Tyler Clark and Cameron Ramsey had three hits. Mike Smith added a couple. Then Collins Cuthrell,Xavier Macklin, Grant Johnson and Nick Hahula all got hits.

Tonight game four is at Fleming Stadium and Post 13 has saved Justin Nygard to pitch in Fleming. There is a big question as to who will throw for Post 58 but I am guessing first game starter Dillon Cockrell will toe the hill for 58.

Regardless tonight is a hugh night for Post 58 to get game five back in Northern where in three games this years against 13 Post 58 has scored 53 runs.

I will be out of the loop until Saturday so go to the game tonight and hopefully again Friday. saturday will be my next blog.

Good Luck 58!

Future Still Bright for Nash County Baseball

Northern Nash and Rocky Mount high Schools have played at least to the Eastern finals in baseball three years in a row.

Both of those teams are losing major contributors to their success by way of graduation. If summer league baseball can be a barometer of the future then success should continue at the high school level.

Last night the Senoir Tar heel district finals were held in Zebulon and both of the Rocky Mount teams were playing for the right to go to the state championship in Valdese later this month.

Rocky Mount National had played through the losers bracket and met up for the second night in a row against Rocky Mount American.

Through three innings pitching dominated and a scoreless game was in progress. National got a hugh blow a grand slam home run from Linwood Jones in the fourth and Tyler King pitched a complete game shut out as Rocky Mount National advance to the state championship.

National had to win two double headers on Sunday and Monday even to get to the championship game.

Two of the most polished little league coaches anywhere in Sam Toler and Norman Chambliss along with George Carter and Mike Sanderford some how or other figured out who to pitch and when in order to survive the losers bracket.

The Tar Heel Midget 9/10 year old team from Rocky Mount is headed to the state championship after having beaten the other Rocky Mount team in the finals.

The Junior Legion team from Rocky Mount is the next years supply of players for Rocky Mount is headed to the state championship. That team is coached by the Jones Brothers who helped Pat Smith out with the varsity this past season.

Nash Central Junior Legion team is also headed to the state is Nash Central's varsity refill headed by "Baseball" Brett Johnson.

If there was any doubt about a fall off in baseball in Nash County don't worry.

Help is on the way!

Missed Opportunities

Coleman Pitt Post 58 find themselves in a jam now after suffering a 6-5 defeat tonight in Wilson to Post 13.

Post 58 had base runners in every inning except for the fourth inning. 58 had ten hits in the game but not one produced a RBI as their first four runs all came on fielders choices and the fifth on a pass ball by Post 13 catcher.

Post 13 got twelve hits eleven of those hits came of starter Brandon Denton who did and outstanding job holding 13 to six runs , like 58 13 had runners on in eight of the nine innings and seven of those innings they got the lead runner on.

Bill Clark came in to pitch the ninth after Denton gave up a single to start the bottom of the ninth but could not keep the lead off runner from coming around to score.

Kyle Shields a Southern Nash Product got the complete game win for Post 13.

They now have a two games to none lead in the series and and can sweep Post 58 Wednesday when they send their ace to the mound in Justin Nygard. 58 will counter with Alex Pearce.

Some what adding to Post 58 troubles is game four possible starter for Post 58 Nick Hahula leaves for the East-West all star high school football game Wednesday and would not be available to pitch Thursday if Post 58 gets the series back to Wilson .

Tyler Clark lead the hitting attack going three for four. Collins Cuthrell went o-5 but two of his outs produced runs. Mike Williams went one for four scoring a run on a fielders choice. Cameron Ramsey had a safety squeeze bunt driving in the fourth Run.

T J Taylor had two hits,Xavier Macklin a double as well as Ben Fish a double. Dillon Cockrell also had two hits.

Post 58 back is to the wall now and must win three straight games in order to play in the fourth round.

The next round looks as if cary is in command there. I have not heard the tuesday score but cary has a 2-zip lead after two games in that series.

Sportsmanship

There is a letter to the editor in the "Rocky Mount Telegram" this morning that everyone who has children playing ball needs to read.

I told you a couple of days ago of an incident that happened while our Babe Ruth 14 year olds were playing Saturday in Pitt County.

I have heard all kinds of excuses as to the raw deal we were getting from local fans during this game.

You have seen if you are a regular reader of my experiences growing up. I think I was about ten years old and we were playing Legion ball in Benson. Their stadium then had a wooden fence that ran around the whole stadium so as bat boy I had to chase foul balls that left the stadium during batting practice.

I would come back into the ticket booth area to get back in and I would show the man taking up tickets the ball and he would let me back in. Each time he would say something like let the boy in he's from Ahooskie or he's the Ahockey bat boy.

When I got home that night I thought it was funny and told my father about the ticket taker. He told me that he was making fun of me and I needed to expect that kind of treatment if not worse every time we went to someone Else's place.

He told me I needed to be on my best behavior because I represented the American legion, the legion team and the town of Ahoskie whenever we went off to a game. Most of all I represented what he had taught me and my actions were a direct link to him in any misbehavior on my part. I also knew what that meant that I could expect a whipping if I misbehaved.

I would suspect our crowd at the game Saturday would have had a different perspective if we had of been winning 11-3 instead of losing by that score.

There is a quote from that famous quoter Anonymous that says: "A man has no more character than what he commands in a time of crisis".

Down 11-3 in Babe Ruth baseball is a crisis. But it is nothing more than a game.

The character of every person who supports sports in general in Rocky Mount and Nash County have be vilified by the actions of people who took winning at all cost to a new level.

Babe Ruth Baseball in Nash County has taken a severe blow due to some very undisciplined coaches and parents.

I have no idea whether the writer of the letter had a player on Pitt county's team or not. I don't see anything written by the man from Bethel that was not the truth.

In Tar heel senior little league district action last night the national league team from Rocky Mount beat Zebulon in the 6.00pm and turned around and beat The rocky Mount american team in the night cap.

That sets up a winner take all tonight between the Rocky Mount national and Rocky Mount american league all stars. The winner get to go to the state tournament in Newton the loser the season is over.

Legion baseball tonight 7.00pm Fleming stadium in Wilson. Game Two Wilson/Nash County.

Post 58 Washed Out

6.45pm this evening I was at Fike High school expecting to watch the second game of the the area one finals.

Seems I missed the e-mail sent our at 3.41pm this afternoon notifying everyone of the rain out. I go to work at day break so I get off mid afternoon. All is not lost as if there was one good part of the trip to Wilson was Parker's Barbecue.

The home team has control of the game until the umpires take over when the lineups are exchanged just before the game. Once the umpire has control they are the ones who decides when a game is washout or rain delayed or keep on playing.

There were plenty of times today when I had doubts whether this game would be played or not and if I had not been by Fike high school I would not have questioned the rain out.

Having been there there was no reason not to play. The field was in excellent shape. They had a tarp over the pitching mound and the infield looked as if it had just been water down Just after taking infield.

Maybe Post 13 took advantaged of giving their next two pitchers scheduled to pitch an extra day of rest? Remember as the home team they can make a rain out even when there is not one no questions asked.

Even though Post 58 lost last night they left Wilson with the impression that pitching had better be there for 13 because Massey had a five hitter going in the 8th inning and Post 58 still put up nine runs.

Post 13 had one of there best hitting nights of the year and it was almost not enough. Post 13 soundly beat Post 58 but the eighth and ninth innings left a lasting impression on Wilson. There is no lead too big against 58.

Post 13 pitching does get an extra day of rest but so does 58. I have no problem at all with the gamesmanship if that is what Post 13 has done making a rain out when they could have played.

My question is what happens if a real rain out happens as this series has to end by Friday night. We may be forced to play a double header in order to finish on time to start the east Finals Saturday

By the way both #1 seeds lost last night as Cary beat Durham 9-3 in their opening game.

Game two is now set for Tuesday night now at Fleming Stadium in Wilson. I was very disappointed in the crowd Sunday night. I know most folks thought the first game was Monday but I expected twice what actually showed up.

Support Post 58 Tuesday Night In Wilson Unless there is a rain out. Man made or not

News Flash: Friday night the Rocky Mount Junior Legion team qualified for the state tournament to be held in Asheboro starting Friday. Nash Central team was eliminated on Saturday. Sunday comes word that the team Kinston a team that qualified has been ruled ineligible because of two players being too old for Jr. Legion. Nash Central will go to the state tournament starting Friday in Asheboro.

Big weekend for Local baseball

Coleman Pitt Post 58 starts game one of the their best of five round three series with Wilson tonight at Northern Nash and Post 13 drubs Post 58 14-9.

Ben Fish hit a home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to stave off the ten run rule and Xavier Macklin's grand slam and second home run from Ben Fish in the ninth made it respectable but Bentley Massey allowed only five hits into the eighth inning to pick up the win for Post 13. The hitting star for 13 was the DH Zac Crumpler who went five for five and was lifted in the eighth inning.

Even before the first pitch when we found out Mike Williams had injured himself while at the beach and did not start at third base.

Dillon Cockrell pitched into the seventh inning and took the loss for Post 58.

Game two is Monday night at 7.00pm at Fike High Schools as the Wilson Tobs are playing at Fleming Stadium.

Four players from Nash County have made the all State 3-A Baseball team. Rocky Mount's Brian Goodwin is a repeat performer from last year and he is joined by team mates Hobbs Johnson and Ben Fish. Northern Nash's Tyler Joyner has made the team as a pitcher.

I hear that B W Holt's mother has had a heart attack in the past few days and coach is in Fayetteville with his mother.

The Rocky Mount Junior Legion team won twice on Friday and qualified for the State Junior Legion championships in Asheboro starting Friday.

In Senior Tar Heel little league play today in Zebulon, The American League all stars are undefeated and await the winner of Zebulon and and Rocky Mount. Rocky Mount National played twice Sunday winning 4-0 and 5-3 who play at 6.00pm Monday against Zebulon . The winner of that game must beat Rocky Mount American in a second game Monday and then beat them again Tuesday.

Already this weekend the Midget 9/10 year old team won the district tournament and are heading to the state championships in the Dunn/Irvin area.

Finally tonight I am distressed to hear the the Babe Ruth 14 year old team lost out in the district tournament in Greenville. I think the players played admirable but I understand a parent was tossed from the game and after it was all over one of our mothers assaulted the umpire.

Thank you parents was embarrassing our team our city and our county. When ever the trial comes up I am sure this will make every publication and radio sport talk show in the country.

When the trial comes up I hope the judge bans the mother from any game that her son ever plays in again.

The games are not that important!

Little Leaguer Dreams

Growing up I use to pretend I was Mickey Mantle and throw a rock in the air and hit it with a tobacco stick. I wore out many a stick hitting those rocks across the the branch that ran along my grandfather's farm.

In the last three high school baseball seasons Northern and Rocky Mount have played in the Eastern Baseball regional led by the likes of Tyler Joyner and Brian Goodwin.

Looks as if the next generations of high school ball players are on their way as the Rocky Mount Midget National league all stars beat the American league all stars last night in Knightdale to win the Tar heel Midget District little league tournament.

Both all star teams from Rocky Mount cruised through their brackets and the only defeats either of them got was against each other.

The first time the two met was in the winner's bracket undefeated game and the National took out the American leaguers in four inning by ten.

Thursday night when there was only two Rocky Mount teams left in this double elimination tournament the American was able to give pay back and knocked the Nationals with their first lost.

Force into a showdown Friday night winner take all the National league out slugged the American all stars 12-7 to earn a spot in the State championship tournament starting the 23rd of July in the Dunn-Ervin area.

Congrats to Head Coach Wayne Pridgen and his staff and all the up and coming big leaguers from Rocky Mount.

Friday was a busy day for Rocky Mount baseball as the Junior Legion team won two qualifying games in Cary and are now on the way to the state Junior Legion championships.

A word of warning to all you Moms and Pops out there following the bouncing ball for the first time with these nine and ten year olds. It has been a trip to Knightdale every day since Monday.

This is only the beginning. Next there is the little league, then Babe Ruth, Junior Legion, and then Senior Legion.

Then for a few there may be college baseball and then even for one or two pro ball.

It all started piling in the car to go Knightdale way back in 2009 to play Midget baseball.

We must end today with a bit of sadness to the Knights of Northern Nash family. Hayes Kennedy who taught history at Northern Nash for thirty eight years, started the tennis program as well as was golf coach has died at his home in Wilson. Thirty eight years was almost back to the beginning of Northern Nash High.

Post 58 Home Sunday Against Wilson

I received a voice mail about 10 p.m. Friday from Mr. Reliable (Don Johnson) with the score of the Kinston-Wilson Legion game. Don has so many contacts throughout eastern North Carolina from his umpiring.

Wilson Post 13 beat Kinston 6-3 to win that series three games to two. Wilson not only won game five at Kinston, but also game one so not having home field has not effected them.

In my evaluation of Post 58, I believe that pitching is the weak link. Our Northern Division has bented my theory there by dominating the Southern Division in this playoffs.

Our number four seed Ahoskie was swept by Kinston three game to none. Edenton our number three took out Wayne County, its No. 2 seed, in five games. Both Wilson and Post 58 swept its series. In the second round, Wilson took out its No. 1 seed Kinston in five games.

That gives our division a 12-7 advantage over the Southern Division. Our two playoff series our pitching has been steady with the three-man rotation of Brandon Denton, Dillon Cockrell and Alex Pearce. Bill Clark has been the long relief man and Mike Williams has been used as the closer.

This team was doing alright when Xavier Macklin showed up the last game of the regular season and started playing left field. Since X has been in the lineup, we are 7-0. Not only has he added to the already powerful batting line up, but he has improved the defense in left.

We might not have a No. 1 pitcher off any high school team from the area, but we have the best two catchers and who ever has been behind the plate the other played left field. We can't afford not to have their bat in the lineup, so we took a shaky left field in order to score more runs and it worked. X-man has cured that problem.

Ben Fish and Tyler Clark have been teammates for ever even though they played at different high schools. They were on two Babe Ruth World Series team together and who knows how far this team may go.

Grant Johnson, who didn't play college ball in the spring ,has played as if he play all spring. Collins Cuthrell can play any where. T.J. Taylor has been an ideal leadoff man and great defensive center fielder. Cameron Ramsey and Gabe Brown have produced every time they have been in the line up. Wesley Joyner has played shortstop when Dillon has pitched or has been a DH and like every body else has knocked the cover off the ball.

Nick Hahula just might be the (since we already have and X factor) I will call him the Z factor. I doubt whether we will win any more series in three games which means you either throw the first game starter on short rest or Wilson will have to have a fourth starter as good as Nick.

The third round of the Area One Eastern finals start Sunday night at Northern Nash. Game two is Monday in Wilson. This is the third playoff series so you know the routine by now.

It would not surprise me since Wilson is so close that all games of this series may well have over a thousand people watching.

Why don't you be one of them.

Timing Is Everything

Dickie Schock is now in his football office preparing for the 2009 football campaign as Gryphon football coach.

Schock is a former player of B.W. Holt at Starmount High and he was even an assistant who came to Rocky Mount with Holt. He left RMHS to find a head coaching job and prove he could win. Schock comes to Rocky Mount as the head coach of Orange High in Hillsborough. Last August, Orange participated in the football jamboree held at the Athletic complex. Schock was named coach of the year last year in Orange County high's football league.

My personal list had Schock as my No. 2 choice behind Jack Ginn, the former Wesleyan football coach who had been rumored coming back next season to assist Holt. Ginn, who left Wesleyan a season ago, had never sold his house in Rocky Mount and his family was still here.

Can't blame anyone who wants to keep his family intact even if it means going back to high school.

From last year's coaching staff, Chris Lee would have been my choice to become coach if the job would have been given to a existing staff member. However, Lee took the head coaching job in Louisburg in January which tells me I don't think Holt had any idea he was not going to return then. Chris also knew in order to be an assistant wanting to be a head coach, he needed to go off and prove he could coach and be a winner.

If the players had a vote, I believe that Jason Battle would have gotten it. Like Lee, he needs to prove himself. I think what hurt him was this resigning as assistant baseball coach a week before the season started. I'm sure Jason felt he had a justifiable reason, but talk about poor timing in relationship to the football opening.

J.J. Jones is another assistant that needs to prove he can lead a team and win at the same time. If Schock stays here in Rocky Mount for 20 years and J.J. or Jason have desires to be a head coaches, they will have to look elsewhere to be a head coach.

If history can tell you anything about coaching length of time, the average Gryphon coach has stayed five years. Five years from now or 20 years down the road, I don't think the next coach for Rocky Mount will be an assistant who has never been a head coach.

Holt had put Rocky Mount in the elite status in high school football in North Carolina. I have no idea who applied or who got interviews. I can tell you this that Rocky Mount High football has over many years been seen as a program that had good athletes.

Holt brought disipline to a program that was a sleeping giant. It didn't hurt one bit Rocky Mount dropping from one of the smallest 4-A schools to an average size 3-A school.

Playing 3-A has meant that Rocky Mount could use all that speed and athleticism and great coaching to win on what was now a level playing field.

Rocky Mount still has speed and athleticism. It will be up to Schock to continue the great coaching.

How well the assistants respond to Schock's way over B.W.'s could affect them when they do try to become head coaches elsewhere.

It doesn't matter whether it's the NFL, college or high school. When your program wins, everyone else wants to grab hold of a proven assistant on a winning program over a program going nowhere. Chris Lee is a good example. He was a top assistant who led the JV team to a tremendous record. He’s now the head man at Louisburg.

For all the assistants who are back this year, the best way to get a head job next year is to win again this year. Other schools will come calling.

Post 58 Third Round Starts Sunday

Got an e-mail today from Joe Bell informing me the third round of the American Legion playoffs start Sunday instead of Monday. Still waiting on an opponent, but chances look good we will be home Sunday night at 7.

Thursday night Kinston has defeated Wilson 3-2 and Game 5 will be on Friday in Kinston. As far as we know now, the winner will come to Northern Nash Sunday at 7 p.m.

Should Post 58 advance to round four that series starts Saturday, July 18 and at this point I have no idea who would get home field. Durham and Cary will start Sunday night in the west bracket and that winner will play who ever comes out of our bracket.

The Legion playoffs are feeling like the NBA. Three months of playoffs. Post 58 played 10 regular season games and have swept two series so far which is six games with at least two series more to go until the State Championship.

I met with new coach Dickie Schock today and we had about an hour skull session. The good news for Gryphon fans is that the core of last year's staff will be returning with a new face or two.

I know there has been a lot of apprehension from all helpers of Gryphon football that Schock would clean house and bring in his own. That's not going to happen and Schock hopes everyone returns including the Capps Brothers on the camera crew.

Coach Schock is hoping Gryphon football looks exactly like last year except for the head man(coach Holt and Chris Lee's replacement).

There was a girls team basketball camp going on in the gym when I stopped by. When I asked Mike Gainey whether I was doing JV football PA this year, Mike's reply was that he expected everyone back to what ever they did last year.

Schock met with the football team for the first time Tuesday night. Jason Battle and others have been leading the summer conditioning program.

Yes, Gryphon football has been without a head coach for almost six weeks, but the players and coaches continue to give their effort waiting for Schock's arrival.

The Dickie Schock era has started in Gryphon Land.

DRAMA for Post 58

Tonight was the night that Post 58 could sweep their second straight playoff series. Edenton having given up 42 runs in two games was suppose to let us get double digits runs and take a long ride back home.

Tonight Edenton Post 40 put their best pitcher on the hill and Austin Beasley did every thing he could to make Post 58 play Thursday in Elizabeth City.

Post 58 starter Alex Pearce showed no ill effects from the bang he took on his left wrist last night and pitched into the ninth inning allowing only eight hits, but three of those left the ball park as solo home runs. Pearce pitch well even in the first inning but two defensive errors scored an Edenton run to give them their first lead in this series.

Last night Post 58 did not score in the seventh inning and Beasley made sure Post 58 was scoreless through five innings. There was opportunity early but poor base running cost Post 58 run scoring chances.

Tyler Clark lead off the sixth down 3-0 and pushed a bunt past the pitcher for a lead off hit. T J Taylor followed with a single. Coach Matt Bryan tried to cross up Post 40 looking for a bunt but instead tried a double steal and the catcher's throw was thrown into left field scoring the first run of the night for Post 58. Collins Cuthrell then bounced a grounder to short but his only play was to first and Cuthrell had a rbi and Post 58 had cut the lead to 3-2.

The top of the eighth Pearce surrendered his third homer of the game to give Post 40 a 4-2 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth.

Like the sixth inning Tyler Clark lead off the bottom of the eighth with a base hit followed by T J Taylor being bopped by a pitch to his back. Collins Cuthrell laid down a bunt to put runners on second and third and up steps the X man,Xavier Macklin. One pitch and Coleman Pitt Post 58 is in the lead for the first time as Macklin served up a homer to the softball field at Northern. Ben Fish followed with a high fly ball that some how landed just over the fence and Post 58 had back to back homers from Macklin and Fish for the second time this week.

Alex Peace got two outs in the ninth but gave up a hit and hit a batter to put the tying runs on. Matt Bryan went to the bull pen and Mike Williams came in and got the batter to hit a easy fly ball to center.

Pearce went eight and two thirds innings gave up eight hits only gave up two free passes and struck out seven. Only three of the four runs allowed were earned. Mike Williams got what we believe is the first save of the year for Post 58 since they have not played in any close games much until tonight.

Xavier Macklin got three rbi's with his only hit of the night the homer.Tyler Clark was the man who got the momentum going for Post 58 with his singles in the sixth and eighth innings and scored twice Ben Fish had a homer an a rbi,Collins Cuthrell, T J Taylor and Gabe Brown were the only other hits of the night for Post 58.

Post 58 6 Post 40 4 Post 58 advances to the Area one east finals for the first time since 1995. They will either play Wilson who as of this writing has a two games to one lead over Kinston. Kinston won tonight 12-9 For sure Wilson would have to come to us next round since we beat them twice during the regular season. We think if it is Kinston since we beat them the second game of the season they would have to start at Northern Monday but don't hold me to that just yet.

Post 58 is now 14-2 on the season and most of the players are heading to the beach hoping Wilson and Kinston will do like Edenton and Wayne County did last week, play five games.

The Hits Keep On Coming

Back in my Disc-Jockey days one of the phrases that our station use to use was the hits keep on coming, Well Coleman Pitt Post 58 has taken me back in time as they just keep on getting hits.

Tonight twenty three as Post 58 takes down Edenton Post 40 17-5.

Unlike last night Dillon Cockrell was in control on the mound after the first batter who lead off with a home run, Cockrell pitched six strong innings and when he left the game had allowed only three hits and was in the lead 17-1.

Ray Valesquez pitch the seventh and was roughed up for four runs on four hits and Post 58 defense was very poor tonight in committing at least six errors but still won the game in seven innings.

I would like to thank Don Johnson being my telephone source once again tonight keeping me informed of the score.

The first two games of this series Edenton pitching took thirteen inning before they figured out how to keep Post 58 from scoring runs in every inning. Last night Post 58 batted six times and score in every inning. Tonight Coleman Pitt score in every inning but the seventh.

However for the first time this year there is an injury to report. Last night Alex Pearce walked twice and was hit twice. Tonight he once again walked and then in the third was hit on his left wrist and had to be removed from the game. Looks like x-rays may be needed Wednesday morning. Alex is scheduled to pitch Wednesday night in what now can be the series clincher for Post 58. If Alex can't go I suspect Nick Hahula would get the call but remember this is the left wrist not Alex's pitching wrist. We will see.

Injury update: Have received word that Alex's wrist is not broken only bruised after a doctor visit to Greg Nelson this morning.

I found out late last night that the state playoffs are getting bigger. I said on the PA last night that the winner of our series with Edenton would meet the winner of Wilson-Kinston and the winner of that series would go to the state playoffs in Greenville July 25th.

I understand now that due to one team already being from the east that being Post 39 the host of the state playoffs that only one other east team can make it to the state which means we have another series to play the week of July 18th if we survive next week. That would be against the Raleigh area winner which right now the best team seems to be Durham Post 7.

Post 58 can sweep their second playoff series in a row Wednesday night at home at Northern Nash. First pitch is set four 7.00pm.

Come see this team hit the baseball. They are very entertaining.

Bombs Away

I ask for a five game series and got that from Edenton and Wayne County as Edenton came to Northern Nash tonight after winning game five in their opening round series against Wayne County on Saturday Not having their top pitchers to use tonight Edenton Post 40 paid dearly in being clobbered by Coleman Pitt Post 58 25-6

Post 58 scored in every inning including seven in the first on a three run homer by Xavier Macklin, A solo homer by Ben Fish an another three run homer by Tyler Clark and that was just the first inning

The bottom of the sixth Coleman Pitt made sure this game would not go more than seven innings with Dillon Cockrell getting a double driving in two runs. Tyler Clark not satisfied with only on homer hit his second of the night
driving in two more runs. Collins Cuthrell put the capper on this game hitting a two run homer. Post 58 plated ten runs in the sixth.

Brandon Denton pitched four innings but tonight was not his best night giving up five run on five hits and he walked four batters. When Denton left the game Post 58 was ahead 12-5. Bill Clark pitched two inning giving up a homer and Nick Hahula pitch the seventh. Tonight the pitching gave up six runs on seven hits and walked five batters. Not there best effort but who noticed when you win by 19.

Every batting starter got a hit lead by Tyler Clark's three for five two home runs and five runs batted in.

Xavier Mackin was four for five with a homer and three RBI's.

Ben Fish two for three with a homer and three RBI's.

Grant Johnson was one for four but had two ribbies.

Collins Cuthrell had two hits in four trips with a homer and two runs knocked in.

T J Taylor had a hit in three trips but walked three times.

Alex Pearce had a single but reach four times on walks and being hit by the pitcher.

Dillon Cockrell doubled off the wall driving in two runs.

Post 58 had twenty three rbi's with the help of eleven base and balls and four Edenton errors. There were base runner every where you looked all night tonight.

Game two in the series will be Tuesday night at 7.00pm in Edenton. Game three for sure will be Wednesday night back at Northern Nash.

Also last Night Wilson Post 13 held of Kinston Post 11 6-5 and Wils0n take s a 1-0 lead in games in that three out of five series.

It is finally official that Dickie Schock is the new head football coach at Rocky Mount High. There is an old saying that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree as Schock is a former Starmount player under B W Holt and actually came with Holt to Rocky Mount the first year Holt was here before moving to head coaching.

Schock he was hired last week but ask for it not to get out here in Rocky Mount until he had a chance to tell his players and administration in Orange High. A very classy move.

I Almost Got My Wish

Friday I stated that what Post 58 needed was for Wayne County and Edenton series to go five games and game five go twenty innings in order to wear out who ever wins the series pitching.

I got a five game series. All Edenton Post 40 needed in the ninth inning Friday night was one strike which would have meant the ball game and a three games to one upset of Wayne County. Wayne County got a two out two strike hit to tie the game and sent it to extra inning before Wayne County won 6-3 in Eleven innings.

Force to play the deciding game on the fourth of July was not fun for either team as you know that they had rather be any where other than playing ball on the 4th.
Edenton Post 40 pulls off the upset beating at Wayne County 7-4 to win the series in five games.

Edenton will now play Coleman Pitt Post 58 Monday night at 7.00pm at Northern Nash as the semi-finals of the area one east bracket is down to four team with one of them going to the state American Legion State Championships in Greenville starting July 25th.

Wilson plays Kinston and Edenton Plays Nash County. The two winner meet next week and the winner of that series goes to the state American Legion State Championships.

I was in Edenton all day, rather, Rocky Hock on the Chowan River at my sister in laws house. The family cooked a pig, road jet skis, all day. Heading home from a full day at the river we stopped in Edenton to see the fireworks which was shot off over Edenton Bay. Much better that Rocky Mount's on Friday night.

Edenton has a college team that plays in the summer Coastal league called the Steamers and they play their home games at the Holmes High School baseball field where the Legion plays. I don't know whether we are going to have any problems with scheduling the field since there will be a possible game there Tuesday and Thursday.

Edenton's baseball stadium was built in 1938 and has wooden seats. It is a neat place to watch a baseball game in case you are planning to follow Post 40 this week.

Remembering The Past

While doing the PA for Legion one night this week Joe Bell the Athletic Officer for Post 58 and I were sitting in the press box and he ask me if I knew Jimmy Hunter back when he Play for Post 102.

That started about a three inning barrage of Jimmy Hunter stories between announcing batters.

I became the Batboy for Post 102 back in 1961. My father a member of Post 102 drove some of the players to the first game of the season. It happened to be in Benson. While we were waiting for the players to dress Coach Al Vaughn asked me a skinny eight year old if I wanted to drag the bats. I had no idea what drag the bats meant and he replied “be the batboy”. That started a five year obsession for me because as an eight year old I thought I was a major leaguer being the batboy for Post 102.

Way back then if you played baseball in the Albemarle area and wanted to play baseball in the summer Ahoskie Post 102 was your only choice. So players came from Plymouth, Williamston, Edenton, Elizabeth City as well as Bertie and Gates County. As far back as I can remember Ahoskie was only average in baseball so there was hardly ever more than a player or two on the team who went to school in Ahoskie. Ahoskie was then and still now a football town.

Al Vaughn always had a try out in mid May which would consist of a Friday night practice and a Saturday morning practice and then he would pick the team. There might be thirty players there trying to make the team.

In 1962 there were four players who showed up from Perquimans High school. Gene Nixon, Freddie and Francis Coombs and Jimmy Hunter. My family took Freddie and Francis and they spent that Friday night at our house so they would not have to sleep on cots in the gym because of the early Morning Saturday practice. The 1962 Legion team lead by those four players lead Ahoskie to one of their best years ever.

1963 rolled around and Perquimans won the state 2-A baseball title on a Friday night. The Legion season had started the weekend before and Ahoskie was 0-4. The following night one day after winning the state baseball title the Perquimans foursome joined the Legion team and Ahoskie proceeded to win 16 games in a row and beat Rocky Mount the last night of the season to win the league and into the playoffs. To my knowledge that is the only regular season title Post 102 has ever won.

Post 102 made it all the way to the state finals. In those days we played Siler City and lost four games to two. There was no double elimination tournament like there is now.

During the Christmas break of 1963 Jimmy and his brother Pete (Pete was pitching for ECU at the time)were hunting and as they tried to cross a fence one of their shotguns fell and went off and nearly blew Jimmy’s right foot off. He was operated on at Norfolk General Hospital but he had so many shotgun pellets in his foot they could not get them all. He lost his right big toe in the accident.

After having lead Post 102 to the state championship series in 63 Jimmy Hunter was God like to people in Ahoskie. They will tell you today he is from Ahoskie.

Perquimans was in the process of heading back to the state high school championships in 1964 when they came to Ahoskie for a conference high school game. Now remember Jimmy just almost lost his foot in December and here it is April and he is on the mound pitching with no top to his right shoe they had bandages on it. That day Jimmy Hunter pitched a no hitter against Ahoskie before the largest crowd that I ever saw at any high school game there ever. After the last out the Ahoskie crowd gave him a standing ovation. Remember now we think he is one of us.

In May after the state championship game in Greensboro Jimmy Hunter signed a pro baseball contract with the Kansas City A’s. He left the very next day going to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota where he under went another operation to remove more pellets from his foot. They got what they could but could not get all of them.

The next day the Coombs Brothers and Gene Nixon were back in Ahoskie playing Legion. The Coombs brother were headed to N C State where they would play a part in the only Wolfpack team ever to play in the college world series

Jimmy went to the Mayo Clinic he did not return for Legion ball in 64. So the last time that Jimmy ever pitched in Ahoskie was the high school game in which he threw a no hitter. His foot wrapped in bandages a missing big toe and about fifty pellets in his foot. Boy was that a game.

Jimmy Hunter was elected to the Baseball Hall Of Fame in 1986. Hunter won 224 games plus he was 9-5 in divisional playoff games and 5-3 in the World Series being on the winning team five times. Won twenty or more games five years in a row. Had 42 shutouts in 500 career starts. He pitched a perfect game in 1968. Had a career ERA of 3.29. Here is a real stat for you . In nine divisional playoff series and six World Series his ERA was 3.26. Talk about consistant. Won the Cy Young award in 1974

Just amagine what he could have done if he had a good right foot!