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.