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.