Let's Catch Up

Big weekend of sports while I was away let's see if we can catch up.

The Big East will send a conference team to the state finals for the second time this year as Hunt beat Chapel Hill in game three of the Eastern Baseball finals. They will play East Rowan this week for the state championship. They join Rocky Mount's basketball team as the other state finalist.

Pitt Community College lasted but two games in the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction Colorado. The college baseball season ended for Jim Leggett, Zack Woodley and Mike Williams Nash County players with the two losses.

Lenoir Community College lost in the JUCO World Series Div II in Enid Oklahoma. Local players Zach and Patrick Barnes along with Babe Brown finished up their seasons.

Brian Goodwin is now the only local player still playing college baseball this spring as North Carolina will be playing in the NCAA baseball playoffs. They are headed to the Oklahoma Regional. They will be joined by N C State who makes it and will be in the Coastal Carolina Regional. Sitting out a week did not hurt the Tar Heels as they made the tournament field and Boston College who lost two of three at the ACC tournament did not get in.

I don't care how far the ACC expands but any time they have a tournament they have to play it in North Carolina. Basketball just isn't a basketball tournament for the ACC unless it is played here. The football championship game has tried Atlanta and Florida but can't get anybody to go. I bet they have a record crowd next year in Charlotte. Speaking of record crowds the baseball tournament had it's biggest tournament ever. Even when they weren't playing their was a nice turnout for every game but when the only North Carolina team played and that would be N C State, the place was nearly full for everyone of their games including Sunday's first sellout in ACC history.

I did not see any sports to speak of at all this weekend. I did however see from 11.00pm until 1.30am Saturday night/Sunday morning's Wolfpack ACC tournament baseball game. If you didn't hang around until the end like I did there was a play in the championship game just like it in both games.

Saturday night a Wolfpack Runner was trying to score and a throw coming into the Virginia Tech catcher was up the third baseline and the catcher interfered with the Wolfpack runner without the ball. The Wolfpack runner was called out after he was tagged by the Gobbler catcher.

Sunday almost exactly the same thing happened and the Wolfpack catcher was called for interference. By the way the Wolfpack catcher is ok after getting out of the hospital with a concussion. Same play but two different calls.. I do think the Florida State runner should have been tossed from the game and the run was legal up to the tackle at home plate.

Hank Jones has a twenty three man American Legion squad right now and is letting everyone get their chance to make the team. It is almost like spring training. He will cut the squad later this week as conference play start next week. Legion's first home game is scheduled for Saturday.

We will catch up more Tuesday.

Tar River Time

The Tar River Children's Chorus is leaving at 7.00am Friday morning to travel to Charleston South Carolina to preform this weekend in the Piccolo Spoleto Music Festival. Tar River is much like following you kids when they play ball and this weekend is the big tournament for Tar River.

I started doing this blog on August First of 2008 and during that time I have missed very few days of putting something on here. This trip however will sideline me until Monday night when we return.

I hope that a TV and a computer are unknown in South Carolina and for three days I lose contact with the outside world.

That first month when we started writing here I was about the only person that knew anything about this blog but I want to thank each of you that have given me a few seconds of your day to read what I post here. There is a core group of you that are with me everyday.

My household I am lucky because my wife goes to bed with the chickens and Morgan is sideline at 10.00pm on school days to get off the computer. So the computer is mine after ten each night and by that time most games are over that you might want to know about.

You know it is funny the way technology has changed the world. Use to be that the phone was the hot item in a house, now everyone wants the computer you can have the telephone. Still Morgan talks on the cell phone and at the same time talks with someone else on Facebook. What a world we live in.

Have a great Holiday weekend!

Legion Season Underway

Post 58 American Legion season has started quicker than those at Rocky Mount High school would have like. Gryphon players would still like to be in the state high school playoffs but a quick exit from the tournament has allowed Post 58 to get some games in this week which had originally been left blank hoping one team from the area would still be in the playoffs.

Last Saturday coach Hank Jones and "Baseball"Britt Johnson held tryout" and last night Post 58 traveled to Durham to play a double header to open the season. Post 58 won the opener 7-2 but lost the night cap 3-2 .

Had an e-mail from Don Fish when I got to work this morning telling me he was up late last night having just gotten back from Asheboro where son Ben Fish and Xavier Macklin are members of the Wilmington Coastal Plains team this summer.

Ben went 2-4 while X man was 0-4 in the season opener. If you recall Xavier started last year at the Wilson Tobs but changed mid season back to Post 58 and finished the Legion season. The Coastal Plains League is a wooden bat league in which players who think they one day might play pro ball can start getting use to hitting wood over the ping of the aluminum.

X-man has as much potential as any player from our area to make it in pro baseball but he has had a hard time adjusting to wooden bats over aluminum. Summer college leagues are where these players try to make the transition to wood but it also gives them a chance to play 70 games against other college players at about the same level they are.

I didn't know there was such a thing but there is a division two in Junior college baseball and Lenoir CC has made it to the world series. That will send three more area players to playoffs this weekend at Faith Christian player Zack and Patrick Johnson and Rocky Mount's Gabe Brown will be traveling.

Turn the TV on and Boston College and Miami are in the12th inning in a 10-10 game. Being as frank as I can be here we are the second day of the ACC and there is only one team that has any pitching at all and that is Virginia. Next week when the Regionals begin Virginia may be the only team to win and make it to the super regionals. If any body else makes it to a super regional that tells me nobody else has pitching either.

Pirates Season Fading

ECU Pirates are in desperate need of winning the Conference USA tournament and get the automatic bid to the NCAA baseball tournament. Wednesday the Pirates took a big hit losing to Rice 11-3.

If the Wolfpack only needed one win to get in the NCAA tournament they got it Wednesday night out slugging Clemson 13-8. State's next ACC tournament game is Friday night against GeorgiaTech and if they win that they are in the Sunday finals. They still would have a game Saturday night against Virginia Tech.

Tar Heels liked what they saw today as in the opening game of the ACC Tournament Virginia beat Boston College. I think Carolina gets in the NCAA tournament by BC losing at least two of their three ACC Tournament games.

Who said Boston and LA were going to play in the NBA finals? Orlando won game five with Boston and now the pressure is really on Boston to win game six at home. The Celtics don't want to come back to Orlando again this year.

Lakers return home Thursday night for game five of the Western finals. That series with the Suns is tied 2-2 after the Suns played a zone defense and the Lakers couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.

If you have ever been to any sporting event at N C State then you would know that one of their cheers is when one side of the fans yells Wolf while the other side responds with Pack. Tonight Brooks who is working this week in Hatteras and I text back and forth Wolf--- Pack to get fired up for the game. It must have worked for the Pack. I know we sent 50 text back and forth while the game was going on.

Hunt High begins the Eastern 3-A final series Thursday night against Chapel Hill. What a year for the Big East. Southern Nash played in the East finals in football, Rocky Mount won the basketball and Hunt is still alive in baseball. The Big East is one of the strongest sports conferences in the state and Rocky Mount won the Conference Wachovia Cup as the best Athletic program in the Big East.

Big East/New-6 Does It Again.

I know we can argue about how accurate this statement is until the gulf oil well freezes over but for the fourth year in a row the Big East will have a baseball team playing in the Eastern finals in the State 3-A playoffs.

I know the Big East is in it's first year but lets be realistic, all the Big East is, is the New-6 renamed with one new team. That one new team has made it to the Eastern finals as they beat Eastern Wayne Tuesday night 7-3 to advance to the two out of three Thursday where they will play Chapel Hill who beat Western Alamance 4-1.

Nice Turnout last Saturday for the Nash County legion team. I hear 28 were there including some from Tarboro who are eligible to play for Nash County since Tarboro will not field a team this year.

Members of the media are upset that the NFL awarded New York the Super Bowl in 2014. Seems New York is too cold for those who would rather be in 80 degree Florida in February. Just goes to show you the media are not really working people are they?

Let Me see if I can figure this ACC tournament out. The ACC coaches changed the format because they were running out of pitching by the championship game when it was a double elimination tournament. Now all teams play three games and the two with the best record in their bracket plays a fourth game for the championship. Name one team that has enough pitching to hold another to less than ten runs by the fourth game.

If I understand this right, If State beats Clemson Wednesday night then Georgia Tech Beats Clemson and State beats Georgia Tech then State get to the championship even before they play their third game Saturday against Virginia Tech.

If State loses to Clemson Wednesday and Clemson beat Georgia Tech Thursday, State is eliminated even before they play their Friday game. Can someone explain to me how this system is better?

Sure seems to me if all twelve teams play a single elimination tournament at least everyone is still alive while they win. Think about this, Start the tournament on a Monday and play three days of double headers. Thursday all six winner from the first three days play a triple header. By Friday there are three teams left. The three remaining teams have a drawing for a bye. The other two teams play Friday night with the winner playing the team that got the bye on Saturday for the championship.

Only one team played four games and two played three. everybody else went home as they lost. it sure would make it more interesting than this mess they have now.

This and That

We have had a lot going on in the past few weeks and sometimes I want to comment on an item but due to space run out of time.

Ralph Sampson’s Son Robert has signed to play basketball at ECU. My take on this is I bet Terry Holland having coach Ralph at Virginia was a big reason this happened. 6’8” tall I don’t think Robert had that many offers.

The Associated Press did a revote on defensive player of the year. Brian Cushing had won the award but during the season had been hit with a four game suspension which he appealed. The appeals process ended when the NFL announced a couple of months ago that he will sit four games next year over what happen last year.

The Associated Press revote Cushing still won. My question is, if they voted to take the award away because he cheated why was any one allowed to vote for him the second time? It just goes to show that we all don’t care how you got good, just be good and we will forgive anything. If you are just a Joe Smo we will throw you under the bus.

Who is the Associated Press any how? When I first got into the business in the early 70’s everyone had an Associated Press machine where you read the news from. Everyone who voted for the award was from ESPN, CBS, NBC, and FOX. Does any body know an Associated Press person these days? I thought they went out of business.

I was told a long time ago that we all need a kick in the butt every now and then to keep us on the right path. The Florida Marlins shortstop Hadley Ramirez got a kick after not hustling after a loose ball in which he had booted. Ramirez mouth got him into deeper trouble but a couple of old Hall Of Famers had personal talks with Ramirez. Tony Perez and Andre Dawson. They both told him because of his ability he had to do more in showing examples to others.

I watched the Carolina softball team in the regional in Washington State over the weekend. I wish they would do something to give the batters an even chance. Pitchers especially really good ones dominate the game too much. Give me a 6-4-3 double play every so often. Carolina won one game while their pitcher was pitching a no hitter but Carolina had not scored either.

What girls softball needs is a good 8-7 game on a regular basis.

I heard the other day from an unofficial source that Rose High School athletic gas bill now that they play in the 4-A league with the Wilmington schools had gone up 50% from $14,000 a year in 2009 to $21,000 this school year. This increase is due to more miles driven to get to conference games over the price of gas going up.

Sly old Ron Vincent beat New Hanover in round three in Wilmington and now returns to Wilmington in round four. Both Hunt and Rose are still alive in their respective playoffs. Rocky Mount was 4-0 against both these teams this year but the equipment is packed up and put a way and they are still playing.

Leggett,Woodley And Williams Headed To World Series

If you have a child that you think is special in a sport these days whether it soccer, baseball or softball you start them at an early age traveling all over the state playing ball on weekends. Jim Leggett, Zack Woodley and Mike Williams have done that in their lives. Playing for Pitt Community College that have traveled a far this spring.

Most of the time on weekend excursions you can see family right there watching Mama,daddy, bothers, sister grand ma and grand pa in some cases all there watching hoping that this game will be special in their child's lives and it will be special in theirs too.

Boy have a got a weekend excursion for the Leggett's, Woodley's and William's family this weekend. Pitt community College swept a pair of games from Potomac State of West Virginia on Friday and Saturday and by winning those two games are headed to the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction Colorado.

Pitt begins play Saturday afternoon at 4.00pm in their first game in this double elimination tournament . The tournament runs from May 29- June 5.

Jim Leggett was a member of the Rocky Mount Gryphons state Championship team in 2008 and has not tossed many inning since his senior year after having shoulder surgery right after graduation.

Zach Woodley was a member of the 2007 Northern Nash Knights that made it to the eastern finals and was one of the main stay reasons Northern made it to the Eastern finals with his pitching along with Tyler Joyner. His freshman year at Pitt Zack had arm trouble and has also pitch limited innings.

Mike Williams was the third baseman in the 07 and 09 Knights in helping them reach the eastern finals with his bat. Williams was also the third baseman for Nash County's Babe Ruth Team that played for the world title in 2005 in Quincy Massachusetts. Since moving to Pitt Williams has been converted to a pitcher.

All three of our Nash County players just possibly could be the last three playing college baseball this spring pending whether Brian Goodwin and Carolina make the NCAA tournament or not. Nash county had 21 baseball players playing college baseball some where this spring and we will give you the final stats later this week on all of them.

Heels Pulling Against BC-Pack

North Carolina did what they had to do this weekend in order to make it to the ACC tournament. Carolina swept a solid Virginia Tech team while N C State did what they needed to do sweeping Duke. The Wolfpack was rewarded with a seventh seed in the ACC tournament while the Heels will only watch on TV as Boston College won one game while it was enough to beat Carolina for eighth place.

I listen to the Saturday game on radio and the Tar Heel announcers we going over why North Carolina was going to make the NCAA regardless of finishing ninth or not. North Carolina today is in the RPI ranks 21. Boston College 45 and N C State 49. Just three weeks ago State was in the 90's so it is no longer a given Carolina will get in. Can nine teams from the ACC get in?, probably not.

The three guaranteed games for State will be against Clemson, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. Carolina needs State to lose all three. State and Carolina are both 36-20. Should State win all three they could pass Carolina in the RPI. If they lose all three then Carolina may be back in the picture.

Boston College has Virginia, Miami and Florida State, just like State if they win all three they could pass the Tar Heels. If they get beat three times it helps Carolina. Even though I bleed Wolfpack red I want Carolina in the NCAA because I pull for all the local schools except when they play State. Having made the College World Series four straight years I would like for them to at least lose in a regional over not getting a chance at all to get back.

They are not playing and there is a possibility that teams that do play this weekend in conference tournaments could pass Carolina just because the way the RPI works you get credit for playing highly ranked teams win or lose. If you win you get added credit.

Adding to Carolina's list of things we don't want to happen is a team whether it's State, Boston College or any bubble team win their conference tournaments. I hate to be the bearer of bad news for the Tar Heels but just three or four years ago Georgia Tech did not make the NCAA tournament and had an RPI of 23.

There is an old saying "You made your bed and now must lie in it".

Carolina must lay and wait.

Danita Whitaker State Champion

The very least Danita Whitaker had a very fruitful 18 hours of her life Thursday night and Friday. The Sports banquet Thursday night Whitaker hauled home the Most Outstanding award in Volleyball, MVP of the girls basketball team and Female Athlete of the year for the Rocky Mount Gryphons.

Friday after the first event in the girls 3-A track championships in Greensboro Whitaker can claim the title of State Champion winning the shot put competition. The top four finishers in each event are awarded All State honors so Whitaker can also claim to be all state in track. There is a banner that hangs in the gym for all state champions with their name of it and Danita's will hang forever at Rocky Mount High School.

South Central the team that beat Rocky Mount in the East regional won the state title while the Gryphons finished eighth. Fike's girls finished 11th and Nash Central 21st.

Gryphon Zikeener Parker finished 3rd in the 100 meter run and also finished 3rd in the 200 meters.

Nash Central's Xaviera Bass finished 4th in the 100 meters and 2nd in the 100 meter hurdles. Nash Central's relay team finished fourth in the 4x200 relay with Jennifer Cofield, Xaviera Bass, Danaisha Pitchford and Jasmine Williams

The boys saw Nash Central finish 9th,Southern Nash 21st, Fike 24th and Rocky Mount 34th.

Justin Hines of Northern Nash finished third in the long jump. Nash Central's 4x800 relay team finished 4th with team members William Ball, Jeremy Judd,Andrew Nguyen and Tevin Richardson.

Tevin Richardson finished second in the 800 meters for Nash Central. Rocky Mount's Paul Lilley crossed the line fourth in the 3200 meter run.

High School baseball playoffs Hunt beat Fike 1-0 to advance to the fourth round to face Eastern Wayne who knocked off West Brunswick 2-0.

Former D H Conley and North Carolina pitcher Alex White's stay in Kinston playing for the Carolina leagues Indians is over. White has moved on to AA Akron.

Big Surprise Sandra Langley who has coached basketball at SouthWest Edgecombe as long as the school has been in Pinetops was surprised Monday night during SouthWest's sport banquet when the Edgecombe County Board Of education announced the gym at SWE will forever be known As Sandra Shelton Langley Gymnasium.

Carolina has been left out in the cold. The Tarheels swept Virginia Tech in baseball this weekend but needed Boston College to lose today in order to make the ACC tournament starting Wednesday and it didn't happen. State swept Duke to take 7th spot and opens Wednesday at 4.00pm against Clemson a team that swept them the opening weekend of conference baseball season way back in March.

ECU won today over Houston and by doing so qualifies for the Conference USA tournament which will be held in Houston.

Did you by chance watch ECU Friday on channel 255 when they played Houston on TV. Sometime around the 5th inning I get a call from Bobby English who wanted to know if I knew the Hunt-Fike score. Bobby says look for me and wife Theresa behind the ECU dugout. I had no more than flipped the channel and sure enough Bobby is sitting just over the right shoulder of every right handed batter whenever the camera from the Houston dugout gave shots of the hitters.

Mega Conferences

It is a funny thing this talk of expanding college conferences. Cable TV is the back bone of the expansion talk. The Big Ten has founded their own Big Ten Network and by doing so each school within the conference has doubled their TV money. The Big Ten is looking to expand to 16 teams because if they do that then each schools take from the monies may double again.

Where does this leave the ACC? What ever happens to the ACC will depend greatly on which direction the SEC goes. There is talk of Florida State jumping to the SEC. Looking at where they are located on the panhandle of Florida the Seminoles moving to the SEC would put them into a car trip to just about any conference member except Kentucky.

Clemson has been mentioned as a possible new member. Let’s be realistic here. What can Clemson offer the SEC that they don’t already have? They would not give the conference new territory for TV, the SEC already has South Carolina.

I can see the SEC looking to expand toward Texas or Oklahoma. If the ideal conference these days is 16 who do they want to add? Bringing in Florida State does not expand their TV territory. Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State adds 20 million new viewers to the SEC TV territory. Texas has already shown that they have no conference allegiance when they lead the move out of the Southwest conference a few years ago.

If new TV territory is what is pushing these talks of mega conferences where can the ACC go? Syracuse who was on the table the first time the ACC expanded seven years ago, Connecticut, If the ACC is a power basketball conference both the Cuse and U Conn help build on that. Rutgers, you know Rutgers is the State University of New Jersey and brings with it the New York City TV market. West Virginia and Pittsburgh, these to me are ideal for each other. Even before they joined the Big East they hated each other like State and Carolina.

The big casino in all this is Notre Dame. They continue to talk as if they will remain independent. Notre Dame talks as if they are the Notre Dame of thirty years ago. They joined the Big East because being independent only can work in football not basketball or soccer. It may not happen during this expansion period but Notre Dame can not last as an independent. NBC's contract with Notre Dame for home football games is not a given the next time the contract is renewable.

The big loser in all of this expansion talks is the Big East. Born in the late 70’s as a basketball league that found out quickly with out a conference affiliation football carries a big stick on campus. They have such a jumbled mess with schools that want to be in a football conference that they will be the easiest to steal from.

My guess is the SEC goes toward the south west while the Big Ten and ACC cut up the northeast. All the while the PAC Ten gets the pick of the litter of schools it wants west of the Rockies. Utah in the Pac-10?, Colorado?. If this happens the Big Twelve is torn to pieces especially if Nebraska and Missouri join the Big Ten and Texas heads to the SEC

Four MEGA conferences each with two division champions, sounds to me like we are halfway home to a football playoff system.

Let me throw grease on the fire. Four mega conferences getting all kinds of TV revenue, is this the first step in the end of the NCAA as we know it? Could these four break a way and let the NCAA handle the so called small schools and create their own championships?

It could happen!

Six Against Five

Cries of foul, the ref cheated, the ref was bought off came from the stands Friday afternoon. Was this a Northern Nash- Rocky Mount sporting event? No it was the Student-faulty basketball game played in the gym after school. The faulty won in overtime 41-38. The students thought something was up when the referee turnout to be a faulty member. In order to let fairness be a part of this story I tried contacting members of the faulty team but they were unavailable as they were in the whirlpool getting treatment from trainer Bernie Capps after the game. The students went home to start their weekend.

Danita Whitaker is a State Champions today she won the girls shot put event at the 3-A state championship in Greensboro. She won by three inches.

Last night at the sports banquet coach Mike Gainey made it official when he announced that Tashawn Mabry had signed to play basketball at Rhode Island. The drama that has followed Tashawn this season both on and off the court getting away from the area just might be the best thing for his future.

The Fayetteville Observer is reporting that the Eastern regional basketball tournament is moving to Fayetteville to be played at the Crown Coliseum. When it was in Greenville the boys played at ECU and the girls were at Rose High school which could seat about 2,000. Crown's main floor seats about 12,000 which is larger than ECU and they have what they call the arena attached to the Coliseum. Fayetteville all games will pretty much be in the same building. The Crown Coliseum is located on 301 and I-95 business towards Hope Mills.

North Carolina has beaten Virginia Tech to pull even with Boston College who lost to Georgia Tech for the second time. North Carolina State beat Duke in bottom of the 11th inning to clinch a spot in the ACC tournament,

State is now 14-15. North Carolina and BC are 13-16. Carolina must win Saturday to get in and BC lose. BC has any tie breaker over Carolina. Better record over top four in conference. The weather forecast is calling for rain Saturday. The ACC says no inning can start at 4.00pm Saturday so Carolina has to do all it can to get this game in and win. Game time is set for 1.00pm but I bet in order to beat the weather they start earlier . Here is also a possibility. Carolina gets rained out and BC loses then Carolina is in. If BC wins Saturday Carolina is out under any scenario.

Rings And Ovation

The second annual sports banquet for all athletes at Rocky Mount High School was held in the gym Thursday night with about 450 people partaking of a meal an another 100 or so there to watch family members receive awards.

The high lite of the evening was the the basketball members receiving their rings for winning the state championship in 3-A basketball. Coach Mike Gainey called all the members of the team to the front of the crowd and while the team came to the front they received an standing ovation from those in attendance.

Each coach presented their teams awards and varsity letters, all conference awards to those that had won them.

The program ended with the highest awards given to any Rocky Mount High athlete.

Triple Crown Award: Presented by Dr Greg Nelson and Coach Mike Gainey- won by Addie Keeter, Cristy Barnes and Ross Bradley.

Juan Chesson Award: Presented by Martha Proctor -Won by Carter Varnell

Scholar Athletes of the Year: Presented by Principal Leon Farrow- won by Boys- Andrew Bowers and the girls by Addie Keeter

The Male and Female Athlete of the year : Presented by the coaching staff- won by Marquavis Alston for the boys and the girls winner was Danita Whitaker.

When I picked Morgan up from school today she told me that in the hallway in front of the gym that they had hung a team picture of the 2008 state champions baseball team and the 2010 state champion basketball team. I got a look at the pictures tonight and they are really great.

Baseball is over but the Big East is still alive and will have a team in the fourth round. This will make four years in a row that the NEW-6 and now the Big East will have a team in at least the fourth round. The previous three years we are 3-0 in the fourth round with Northern Nash Making the Eastern Finals in 07 and 09 and the Gryphons in 08.

We know the Big East will make it to the fourth round because both Fike and Hunt won their second round games and square off against each other Friday night at Hunt.

The final week of ACC baseball is underway with State and Carolina winning tonight and Boston College losing. BC and State are tied at 13-15 and Carolina is 12-16. Depending on what happens the last two games all three still have a chance to make the ACC tournament.

State seems to be in the drivers seat if they win they last two games they are in. Carolina wins their last two Boston college must lose both. If State loses both and Carolina wins both they are in. If all three tie a State and BC get in the ACC tournament.

Life Goes On

The Rocky Mount High school sports banquet is tonight in the gym. If they do it they way they did it last year you will enter and be directed toward the cafeteria and then bring your dinner back to the gym. Feed time is 5.00pm and all of the annual awards will be given out shortly there after.

The Rocky Mount Telegram is reporting this morning that Gryphon Basketball player Tashawm Mabry has signed a D-1 scholarship to play basketball at University of Rhode Island of the Atlantic Ten

We are all disappointed that baseball ended so abruptly. Any time you are in a playoff format it doesn’t take much to send you home just ask the San Diego Chargers or Cleveland Cavaliers.

Luck plays its part in any playoff and look no further than basketball to see that instead of a second round road game to West Brunswick, West Craven upset WB and had to come to us instead. Our girl’s basketball team did go to WB and the season ended there. Home field means a lot in any sport.

Football was 7-5, basketball 23-3 and baseball 22-3. That is a combined 52-11 in the so called major sports at Rocky Mount High Not bad at all for the so called big three at any school. Once those taking part in this weeks state championship in track, sports will be over for the 2009-2010 school year.

Now it is time to turn our attention to Legion ball. Tryouts are Saturday at 3.00pm at NCWC’s Bauer Field. I know the players from Rocky Mount were hoping not to have to go because they were still in the playoffs.

Life moves on.

My family's life over the last seven years has been wrapped around the Tar River Children's Chorus. Patsy Gilliland as director has taken the Chorus every other year on a so called big trip.

Our first year the kids sang in her hometown of Winston Salem in a music festival. The next year was a trip to Philadelphia. The following year to Bruton's Parrish in Williamsburg. Just two years ago they sang at Riverside church in New York City. This year we were schedule to take part in a festival at Disney World in Orlando. Just before Christmas we found out that festival had been cancelled.

It has been a scramble to get another event lined up. Memorial Day weekend we are heading to Charleston SC to take part in three week event called the Piccolo Spoleto. Charleston has music galore for three weekends. The second Presbyterian Church in down town Charleston is hosting a youth festival all day on Saturday of Memorial day weekend where you just walk in and listen. it goes on from like nine in the morning until 8.00pm that night. TRCC will be singing at 4.30 until 5.15 that afternoon. That Sunday we are singing as part of church service in another church in Mount Pleasant.

Every school in our area is represented on the chorus. All the faults Rocky Mount has, you can't show me another town that has an organization like the Tar River Orchestral Society that funds the TRCC. Rocky Mount is small population wise but large in the arts in music.

Long Ride Home

The expectations of a second state title in three years came tumbling home in the bottom of the seven inning tonight in Shallotte.

West Brunswick Pitcher Jay Gause fires a one hitter a two run homer in the first inning from Collins Cuthrell after Spencer Bell had walked to give Rocky Mount a 2-0 lead.

Benton Moss pitched six inning but tonight the Trojan batters sprayed hits all over the field. Nine of their ten hits came off Benton Moss who left the game after six in a 2-2 tie.

WB scored in the bottom of the first, bottom of the sixth and the bottom of the ninth with single runs to advance to round three with a 3-2 victory over the Gryphons.

Despite being hit all over the place Moss kept the Gryphons in the game with nine strike outs and a couple of walks. Parker Helms made a gem of a defensive of a play after West Brunswick got three hits in the third, Helms threw a runner trying to score out at home to keep the Gryphons ahead 2-1.

The top of the seventh brought on an incident in which Michael Whitehead hit a foul ball and Benton Moss was tossed out of the game. Kent Cox brought Hobbs Johnson in to the bottom of the seventh where three straight runners reached base on a hit , a walk , then a intentional walk. A ground ball was hit to Matthew Berry at first but by the time the throw got home the winning run had scored.

If you have read any of my blogs over the past week I was concerned about the Gryphon hitting and tonight despite giving up ten hits the pitching kept the Gryphons in the game but the bats never got going against an extremely good Jay Gause.

It sure will be a long ride home tonight for the Baseball team.

This makes twice this season a Gryphon team has ended it's season in the playoffs at West Brunswick. Girls basketball lost by four in the second round during basketball season.

If you watch the news tonight on Channel Five then you saw Nash Central's Jasmine Williams win this week's Extra Effort award from Tom Suitor. Jasmine will be competing this weekend in the state track championships where she just might be the favorite to win the high jump.

I don't know what I would do if I didn't have friends. Gene Taylor has be feeding me an inning by inning recap of the Gryphon game. Gene thanks a million. I owe you one.

Northern's Claytor Qualifies For Nationals

Former Northern Nash golfer Daniel Claytor(2009) begins play today in the Division II National Men's golf championship being held in Indiana. Claytor qualified by finishing second in the South/Southeast Regional Division II tournament two weeks ago when in 54 holes he shot 5 under par. Claytor is a freshman at Barton College.

Can Legion Post 58 Repeat as Area 1 champs and make it back back to the state tournament this year being played in Asheboro? The pieces start to fall in place this weekend at head coach Hank Jones holds try outs for this years squad. The try outs will be held @NCWC at 3.00pm Saturday . Jones will be assisted this year by former Gryphon and now JV Baseball coach at Nash Central "BaseBall" Britt Johnson.

Right now only eleven dates with two double header are on the schedule pending the out come of Gryphon baseball's success in the state high school playoffs. If there was one thing learned last year when the schedule was reduced to less than fifteen regular season games, was that with all our teenagers can do these days playing ball every night is not on their priority list. Reducing the schedule gave them free time most nights until the playoffs hit.

If no games are added the first game will be in Wilson at Fleming Stadium on June 8th. Those who attended the playoffs last year remember the fifth game in the playoffs against Wilson last year Post 58 scored two runs to tie and then added one more in the bottom of the ninth to get past Wilson and make it to the eastern finals against Cary.

Most if not all home games this year will return to Gryphon Stadium.

Baseball team pulled out at 12.15 for the journey to West Brunswick and with clearing skies it looks like baseball tonight for the Gryphons. Boy wouldn't this be a good one for the radio?

First pitch is scheduled for 6.00pm at West Brunswick high school. The weather man is promising clearing skys as the day goes on so it looks like BASEBALL TONIGHT for those who can get there

Sports Banquet Thursday

Thursday night starting at 5.00pm all athletes who played any sport at Rocky Mount high school and earned a letter will be recognized. The dinner starts at 5.00pm and the awards portion will start close to 5.45. All athletes meals will be free but all others are $10.

Baseball travels Tuesday in round two of the state 3-A playoffs. The game is scheduled for the first pitch at 6.00pm. If you are a nine to five person and are planning on going you will have to get off early to get there. Can you imagine riding an activity bus that far. Just because of the length of the trip puts this game in jeopardy even before the Gryphons step on the field against a good WB team.

You know in the majors some times the starting pitcher is sent ahead of the team so he will be rested when it is time to pitch.

There is still one week of practice for all area members of track teams that qualified for the state meet this weekend.

Sometimes it pays to just be lucky. I have tried to keep you abreast of my cousin Lauren Doughtie travails on the Futures golf tour. This weekend they were in Kansas and Lauren shot 74 on Friday to be tied for 66th spot after day one.

Saturday through nine holes she was five over for the day heading to miss the cut when Monsoon rains moved in and postponed round two to Sunday. Sunday morning rain was still falling and the tournament cancelled. The tournament decided the top 72 would be paid for their first round scores. Lauren cashes in for the second time this season.

Carolina baseball is in a lot of trouble now that they were swept by Virginia over the weekend. Boston College with a 13-14 conference record is in seventh place. State is now 12-15 and Carolina is 11-16. Boston College could easily lose all three this weekend at Georgia Tech. State will probably take 2 of 3 from Duke at home. This leaves Carolina having to sweep Florida State to tie N C State. Carolina has the tie breaker with State. If BC loses all three and Carolina sweeps FSU then Carolina could get eighth shooting by BC.

Southern Nash EEKS out Regional Title

Last week on their home track Nash Central dominated the conference track meet but yesterday in the regionals Southern Nash pulled a surprise by beating Nash Central by a single point also on Nash Central's track again.

Southern Nash accumulated 66 points after all the sweating was done on hot muggy day while Nash Central points counted up only 65. Fellow conference member Fike finished third with 53 while Rocky Mount finished in 10th spot with 28 points.

The lone individual champion in any event for Rocky Mount was Winston Hines winning the triple jump.

Lady Gryphon tracksters who won the conference crown finished second to South Central in the girls race for the regional title..

Danita Whitaker won the shot put for the Lady Gryphons and the relay team of Latoya Apllewhite, Marquita Hines, Aerostata Brown, and Zikeena Hines won the 4x400 relay for Rocky Mount.

The 3A- and 4-A state track meet is next weekend.

TV dominates sports schedules but can any one explain to me why with Boston, Orlando, Phoenix and LA as the final four in that all four do not play today as part of a double header? La and Phoenix start play Monday Night. If TV wants ratings then they blew this scheduling. As Forest Gump would say"stupid is that stupid does".

UVA baseball may be the best pitching staff in all of college baseball. The Rocky Mount Gryphons are maybe the best pitching staff in North Carolina high school baseball. What do they have in common? If neither hits the ball the pitchers can't win it by themselves. Virginia got two solid games from their pitchers yesterday and like to lost both games to the Tar Heels. Losing both games yesterday puts the Tar Heels a game behind N C State and 1.5 games behind Boston College to make the ACC baseball tournament. Next week is it for the college baseball regular season.

Unwritten rules- There seem to be many in baseball. During the perfect game last week by Dallas Braden there were words passed between the pitcher and the batter Evan Longoria when the batter tried to bunt in the fifth inning while the perfect game was going on. On this one I say do what it takes to win if the only way to get on base is bunt do it.

About a month ago the same pitcher fussed with Alex Rodriguez after returning to first base on a foul ball he took a short cut across the mound to get back to first. I am with Braden on this one. The pitching mound belongs to the pitcher while he is pitching so I consider this off limits to a batter.

Under The Light's ?

The press has just about shamed LeBron James for his effort in game five of the NBA playoffs. Tiger Woods has gone from the greatest player ever to can't even make the cut in golf. Injuries and their effects on players and teams are hard to figure. Gryphon Basketball Jelled after injuries changed the lineup.

Two very noticeable injuries occurred for the Gryphon soccer team the last ten days of the regular season and scoring has been a chore for them ever since. Today under 90 degree heat the lady Gryphon soccer season ended at the hands of a very opportunistic West Carteret squad who scored with less than ten minutes to play to beat the Gryphons 3-2.

The Lady Gryphons never lead in this one as the Patriots scored at the 21.14 mark in the first half. Five minutes later Rocky Mount responded on a Kelsey Benton pass and a header by Alison Raper notched the score at 16.39 in the half. Raper already slowed by a hugh knee brace went down with 11.34 to go in the half. 6.19 in the half WC lifted a beautiful shot over the out stretched arms of Gryphon Goalie Holly Fryar in the back corner of the goal and lead at the half 2-1.

26.40 to go in the game Sydney Browder got open and tied the game at 2-2. When the twenty minute mark hit the 90 degree weather seemed to hit both teams as each team lost a step and passes up field were not followed by chasing. I realize that if the soccer field had lights a 6.00pm game would still be in the heat but lights would have kept the fans from chasing the shade.

Question: Are we getting back to the point where it is of pride to be a member of the Gryphon Band. Today there was well more than a thousand people jammed into the gym to watch a battle of the bands between Hertford County and the Gryphons. Back during football season there seemed to be less than fifty in the band but now there is a resurgence and after today just maybe the band can get back to the days of band glory of yester year

Baseball has a long trip to make in round two as they head to George Kelly's school at West Brunswick. If you can get to the game Tuesday I don't know any way that can get you there but around two hours twenty minutes. You can't get there from here.

I don't understand how the brackets are set up that two #1's square off in round two. There is an old saying that you play who's next on the schedule. If we survive Tuesday there is a good chance of being back home Friday but that depends on how the brackets works itself out.

The Big East won three of Four in the opening round. To me that tells me that despite the gryphons running away with the conference this year Hunt and Fike are not bad at all.

Bulldogs Boys-Gryphon Girls Seek Track Titles

Saturday is the final day of track season this year as all those that have qualified both individual and teams go for Titles Saturday.

Friday was not a good day in Cary for local tennis players. Michael Bracket of Northern Nash drew a short straw and got the defending state champion in the first round of singles play losing 6-1-6-0.

Southern's doubles team of Res Bosshard and Adam Glover lost in the opening round of doubles play to a team from Charlotte Catholic losing 6-4-6-2.

Rocky Mount's doubles team of Miguel Valdez and Gavin Stone won their opening match 7-5-7-6 over the team from Marvin Ridge, but then fell in the quarter finals losing to a Western Alamance doubles team. Tennis champions will be crowned Saturday.

Rocky Mount, Hunt and Fike play second round baseball playoffs Tuesday. Nash Central and Tarboro both were eliminated Friday.

Gryphon girls Soccer meet West Carteret In round today at 2.00pm. The Rocky Mount band will be hosting a battle of the bands at 4.00pm today.

Did You Know: I have made mention of the fight between NC State and Carolina for eighth place in the ACC baseball race. There is a new development. Boston College who swept State three games in Raleigh about a month ago. They have fell on hard times the last few weeks. Carolina earlier in the season beat State two of three but will not play Boston College this year.

State beat Florida State Friday night to make their conference record 12-13. Carolina was rained out at Virginia and stands 11-13. Boston College only has three games against Georgia Tech next weekend but right now are 13-14.

Despite having lost five of six to both Carolina and Boston College if all three wind up tied N C State and Boston college get the final two spots and Carolina stays home. The way Boston College is playing now both State and Carolina could pass them in the standing and both make the ACC tournament.

Boston College has three games at Georgia Tech, Carolina has six games left. Three at Virginia and three at home against Florida State. The Wolfpack has two left with Florida State and three at home with Duke.

I have a feeling both the Heels and Pack are going to make it.

Gryphons Advance After Walk Off Fielder's Choice

This game will go down as one of those games that is for the books. All nine runs scored with two outs. The winning run scored from second and the ball never left the infield.

Two outs in the bottom of the seventh Spencer Bell coaxed a walk from losing pitcher Ryan Gupton. Collins Cuthrell while having a two ball and one strike count was intentionally walked to setup a force at any base. Thomas Berry hit a shot behind the second base bag that Conley's second baseman made a terrific play to keep Berry's possible hit from being the winning hit. A hustling Collins Cuthrell (remember he was on base from intentional walk) beats the second baseman to the bags and all the while with two outs Spencer Bell is running all the way home from second to score the winning run while Conley argued the call at second which could have been the third out.

The Gryphons win a good one 5-4 over D H Conley.

Conley struck for a run in the top of the first after a passed ball put a base on balls hitter in scoring position. One of Conley's six hits provide their first run in the first. They have done this all year, if anyone challenges them they come back and the Gryphons struck for four in the bottom of the first after the first two batters got out. Collins Cuthrell singled, Thomas Berry walked and Hobbs Johnson hit an opposite field triple that plated two runs. Michael Whitehead shot a double down the right field line which scored Johnson and Parker Helms reach on an error by the third baseman that scored Whitehead

Conley scratched a cross a lone run in the third and scored twice in the fourth after what would have been a four pitch inning for Hobbs Johnson but a infield pop up was dropped and Conley followed with three straight hits.

Hobbs Johnson was touched for four runs through six innings but he struck out ten and walked but a single batter. He gave up three earned runs . Ryan Gupton pitch 6 and two thirds innings and also gave up three earned runs and only five hits.

The difference in this game the Gryphons had their second ace in the bull pen and Benton Moss mowed down Conley in their half of the seventh which Conley stuck with ECU bound (2011) Gupton and the Gryphons Survive. Moss gets the win striking out two in his lone inning on the mound.

Tuesday the Gryphons travel to West Brunswick who was a 3-2 winner over Havelock last night.

The Big East showed everyone that there are teams in this league besides Rocky Mount as Hunt knocked of C B Aycock 2-1 and Fike shut out West Carteret 3-0. The conference's lone lost was a 7-3 loss by Nash Central at Eastern Wayne.

Lady Gryphon soccer plays at home at 2.00pm Saturday against West Carteret. This will end just in time for the battle of the bands going on in the gym starting at 4.00pm.

Let Youth Be Served

The Lady Gryphon soccer team has but two seniors on the roster. They have also had a couple of key injuries that have slowed down what was a very potent offense for much of the season. Despite their youth two freshmen kicked two goals through the net and the Lady Gryphons survive D H Conley 2-1 in the opening round of the State playoffs.

Casey Cooke and Sydney Browder provided the shots to gain victory but once again the Gryphon defense held an opponent to a single score and the lady's move to round two. I found out on line on the NCHSAA playoff brackets that they are viewable only in internet Explorer which I don't have so at this time I don't know who, when or where round two is at this moment.

The spring sports banquet will be held on Thursday May 20th starting at 5.00pm. Dinner will serve until about 5.45 then the awards will start for all athletes that play any type sport this year.

I will not blog again until after the baseball game Friday night. I have tried to write something everyday and actually did two on Sunday which I was using the second one as my Monday Blog which means today is actually Thursdays.

Baseball is home Friday night as they start the state playoffs. D H Conley the #3 seed from the Coastal is up first for what we hope will be at least eight playoff games. First pitch is 7.00pm

I really don't understand why this first week of the baseball playoffs there is not two rounds. Then next week round three and four. The week after that should only have the Eastern Finals which is a two out of three. You know last year when Northern made it the the two out of three they had to pitch Tyler Joyner on a Tuesday in round four and started the two out of three on Thursday and were not able to pitch him in either game that Northern played in in the eastern finals.

This is something the coaches need to take a hard look at, a potential four games in one week is too much for any team even the Gryphons with two of the best pitchers in the state.

The Big East conference softball tournament is Thursday night at Glover Park in Nashville. Hunt the #1 seed plays Nash Central the #3 seed in the championship game. Rocky Mount is the host school but could not host the tournament at Mutt Wilson field not because of the field but parking. If you have attended a game their this year you know there are only a few cars that can park close to the field and there is a mud hole in one area that can eat a volkswagan.

Thank goodness there is a new field coming at the new high school.

Let The Playoffs Begin

D H Conley is a very familiar face to Rocky Mount fans having been in the Big East 4-A with them. It is going to seem like old home week as two of our Gryphons teams Host Conley this week. Soccer host Conley at 5.00pm Wednesday as they Begin what they hope is a long journey in the playoffs, one lost and a sudden end can end the season.

Baseball is waiting until Friday night to host Conley at Gryphon Stadium. I am not sure what coach Kent Cox has in mind for his pitching rotation this week with only one game but it would not surprise me to see both Johnson and Moss get innings in. Especially if we were to fall behind early, you can't afford to get too far behind once the playoffs get here.

Fike High school finished tenth in the State championships in golf which finished up Tuesday.

Coach Mike Gainey gets one more game coaching Tashawn Mabry. That will happen in the annual East-West all Star game held July 19th in Greensboro all part of clinic week for high school coaches. Gainey will have three state champions as part of his roster as two players from Kinston the 2-A state champs will take part. Reggie Bulluck and Dory Hines. Gainey will also coach Fike's Jerrel Williams in the game. Since Christmas Mike Gainey sure has lived the life winning the 3-A state championship and follow that up being on display in front of his peers in Greensboro in July.

Can someone please explain to me how the World golfing rankings work? Tiger Woods has had only one top ten finish in the last five months and yet remains the #1 golfer in the world. second in the rankings is Phil Mickelson,then he is followed by Steve Stricker, Lee Westwood and Jim Furyk.

N C State and Carolina have two weekends of ACC regular season baseball to decide which one makes the ACC tournament and which one stays home. Carolina play Virginia while State plays Florida State. Then next weekend State gets Duke and Carolina gets surprising Virginia Tech. State has to win one more game than Carolina since the Tar Heels won two of three from the Pack in March.

All this college conference expansion talk - it would not shock me at all to Florida State jump to the Southeastern. If the ACC loses some who will they get back. I realize they are not sports powers but here is two I would like just for the prestige. Army and Navy. Syracuse and Connecticut are more likely. I bet the ACC has 16 team by 2012.

Does any body remember why the ACC was born. The original members of the ACC thought the Southern Conference was too big. Isn't it funny that as humans we keep right on repeating history!

We All Could Use Some Humbie Pie

Athletics at Rocky Mount High School have been blessed over the years. This athletic season is coming to a close and Rocky Mount is on the verge of winning the Wachovia Cup as the top athletic program in the Big East conference. This has been a very good year to say the least.

Softball has not had the pleasure of putting up banners or ordering rings from state titles. Softball may have found out quicker than most athletes at RMHS, glory doesn’t shine all the time.

Athletics teaches endurance as much as any thing else. Every play is not a touch down. Every bat does not bring a hit. Endurance is tested when you lose every day. Why am I here? This is not fun! Why do I continue to do this?

Losing is a dose of reality. We as American have been indoctrinated that winning is every thing. Every game that has ever been played there was a winner and there was also a loser. Winning is 50/50 in every game. Victory covers up the mistakes that almost cost you the game while losing exposes them.

Years from now when each of these girls looks back on this softball season they will be proud that they stayed to the end, they endured. Once the season started only one player quit that didn’t finish what they started.

That’s remarkable to think that they didn’t jump ship when it seemed to be sinking. They all went down with the ship. They bailed as hard as they could until the end. They may think this ridiculous now but when they are 50 they will look back with pride that they endured.

Coach Tara McDonald has done a good job of keeping them together as the losses mounted. Talent was lacking but sprit was high till the end. These players have improved. The feeder program coming to Rocky Mount high is poor in training softball players. The Nashville rec league has a much better softball program that Rocky Mounts and it shows.

If you are a 300 hitter and improve you are way ahead of the girl trying to learn how to stand in the batters box. Rocky Mount softball talent problems will not be cured over night.

I hope coach McDonald comes back next year. She deserves a chance to see this program grow. I think she has shown that she has coaching ability to keep this team together.

This team will be able to say they stuck together. Together to the bitter end, because of that their future lives will be better for it.

THEY ENDURED!

Bulldog Wins The TPC

N C State Grad Tim Clark won the Tour Players championship this afternoon in Jacksonville Fl. Not only do I like Tim because he's a Wolfpacker and the other reason is I am taller than he is and can hit it about as far as he can. Eight times Clark has finished second on the PGA tour and had carried the label best player on tour without a win but no more.

Tiger Woods dropped out with an injury. This is me thinking out loud, any one besides me notice since the PGA random drug testing policy has been in place Tiger's body is falling apart?

I can take no credit for this like I tried to claim on my earlier blog today about the perfect game pitched by Jim Hunter. Today Dallas Braden of the A's pitched the second perfect game in Oakland history. Just some where on my blog today I awoke the baseball Gods in order for this to happen after I just spoke about Hunter's perfect game, so maybe I should try to take credit.

I can not for what ever reason get on the brackets and give you any playoff pairings at this time. I can tell you Rocky Mount will play D H Conley Friday night at Gryphon Stadium. Conley is the number three seed in the Coastal conference and this is not a good draw in the opening round. All high school teams have at least one decent pitcher and Conley has a really good one who has signed with ECU. You know he throws against Rocky Mount Friday. Gryphon hitters will determine whether the Gryphons move on to round two.

Softball opens play Monday at 7.30 in the Big East softball tournament. They face Nash Central who is the number three seed. This is their last chance at a victory this year.

Since I can't get on the NCHSAA web site I don't know who the tennis team plays Tuesday in the playoffs but they are home.

Girls soccer is home in the playoffs at 5.00pm Wednesday.

North Carolina did what they needed to do in ACC baseball. They swept Wake Forest over the weekend and are now tied with State for eighth. Brian Goodwin got another triple last night which is his sixth of the year. He is two off the Carolina record which is eight in a season. It would help his cause if Carolina could go deep in the NCAA's, but in order to do that they need to win four out of six the next two weeks against Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Elliott Avent won victory number 514 at N C State today. Aventon's very own is now the winningest coach in N C State history.

Mother's Day Quiet

Hope everyone is able to enjoy today with your family on this special day for Mothers May Ninth.

Yesterday was the anniversary of a special event that happen that I had nothing to do with but I sure thought I did. May eighth 1968 was the day that Jim Hunter pitched a perfect game for the Oakland A's. Back in those days when Philco transistor radios were the rage and with Oakland playing Minnesota there was no station on the east coast carrying the game on the radio.

If Oakland played in the east Baltimore, New York, Boston Cleveland or Detroit you might be able to find the game on that Philco and I could hear every pitch that he threw when the signal would not fade in and out like am radio can do at night. This game was in Oakland and even the paper had gone to press by the end of the game so there is no box score to jump out of bed for to see if Jimmy had won.

Local radio was however buzzing about the event. Jimmy Hunter had pitched a perfect game. The first perfect game in 55 years in the major leagues. Once I heard those words I was on cloud nine for the remainder of the day. My Geometry teacher was Dutch Overton who umpired high school baseball and was a scout for the Cleveland Indians. Dutch thought that Cleveland was going to sign Hunter right up to the point when Charles Finley offer a $75,000 bonus to sign when Cleveland had offered $50,000. There was no geometry class this day but an hour of Baseball.

Just five years earlier Jimmy was a member of the Ahoskie American Legion team who had played for the state championship with a ten year old boy named Tony dragging the bats. To me even today eleven years after his death I feel like he's part of my family just like Freddy and Francis Coombs were. All those guy on that team I had a bond with them even though most of them were six to eight years older than me.

Hunter set a record that that night which has yet to be broken. He had four rbi's while pitching the perfect game. Only six thousand saw the game which was the smallest crowd to watch a perfect game pitched. One oddity, that was the A's first year in Oakland and it was only the tenth major league game ever played in Oakland at that time.

Mis-spoke yesterday: I mis-spoke yesterday, I said that if Pitt CC won the region X title last night they would go the JUCO world series. Last night they beadt USC-Sumpter to win the title. 18-4. The Bulldogs now play in the Eastern District regional which the winner of regions X, XV and XX play each other with the winner going to the JUCO world series. This district tournament will be played in Winterville at Pitt. This will give local people a chance to see our three local players Jim Leggett, Zack Woodley and Mike Williams in college playoff games.

Pitt C C On Verge of JUCO World Series

Pitt Community College swept through the winners bracket Friday of the Region X baseball tournament and now wait for the losers bracket to get down to one . Saturday if Pitt wins the first game they will have gone through the Region X tournament undefeated and will go to the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction Colorado starting May 29th.

If Pitt loses Saturday then they get a second shot at the region title Sunday all of this action going on this week in Burlington. Two Northern Nash baseball players Zack Woodley and Mike Williams and Rocky Mount former player Jim Leggett are along for the ride as pitchers for Pitt.

Woodley and Williams both have been on the mound for Pitt seven times while Leggett was given the rawhide five times this season. Woodley has pitched over eleven innings and has a 3.97 era while Williams has pitched 8.1 inning with a 4.32 era. Leggett has pitched 8.2 inning and has a era of 4.15. Pitt has a record of 34-9 heading into Saturdays game.

College baseball is over for several teams and others prepare for their conference tournaments.

Brian Goodwin collect a couple of hits Friday and added to his North Carolina team lead in RBI's with 44. Carolina ripped Wake Forest Friday and needs to sweep the Demon Deacs this weekend to tie N C State for eighth place in the ACC. Goodwin is hitting 298 for the season for the Tar Heels.

Xavier Macklin continues to impress at North Carolina A&T. X is hitting 337 with nine homers and 47 rbi's. A&T finished second in the MEAC this season.

Bryan Braswell has started 34 of Campbell 46 baseball games and is hitting 317 on the season. Ben Fish still has three hits at Campbell in 17 at bats but those three hits have produced five rbi's.

Alex Pearce is hitting 208 for UNC Pembroke. He has now started 29 of their 47 games.

The first year of Wake Tech Baseball is over and Cameron Ramsey collect 29 hits in 36 games for a 240 batting average.

Wesley Joyner has batted three times this season at Mount Olive and collected two hits. I keep hearing that the divisions II national championships are going to be held at the USA baseball complex in Cary and Mount Olive is the host school. I guess that means they get to play in the tournament.

North Carolina Wesleyan's regular season conference championship was not enough to get them in the NCAA playoffs as they lost two straight games in the conference tournament.

Tyler Clark hit 317 on the season and started 31 games behind the plate. Southern Nash's Brian Allen hit a solid 307 in 25 starts. Daniel Moore 304 in his 26 starts. Andrew Webb hit 219 in 12 games that he played infield but Daniel made all conference pitching with a 5-2 record and an era of 2.83. Eric Mull former RMA player got on the field in eight games had one hit in six at bats. Chad Womble threw 25 innings on the mound and had 1-2 record for the Battling Bishops.

Lenoir C C had three local players as the Barnes brothers Zach and Patrick from Faith Christian saw action. Zach got to bat 12 times with four hits and Patrick four swings and collect two hits. Gabe Brown batted four times and scored two runs during the season.

Edmund Gravely has two hits on the season at Newberry college. Saw Tyler Joyner at the Northern- Rocky Mount game Thursday and he hopes to return back to the Pirates roster soon at ECU. So far this season he has one appearance and 1.1 innings pitched.

My last note for today Darius McKnight from the state champion Rocky Mount Gryphons will play college basketball at Davidson CC. The state community college system in order to attract students continues to add sports like basketball and baseball.

NCHSAA Takes a good First Step

The NCHSAA voted on Wednesday to cut the regular football season from twelve weeks to eleven, in esence they have eliminated any bye weeks for team that play eleven games.

A cost cutting moved was made to eliminate excessive travel in the playoffs. In the past there have too many instances of teams traveling three hundred miles for a opening round game. Teams will now be put in pods with other teams from your area. What does that mean? I hope it doesn't mean that if there are four teams from the Big East you would have to play a conference member for the first three rounds. Eliminate one week of the playoffs and no conference has more than three teams would work to my satisfaction.

Soccer lost Thursday night 1-0 to Fike in the Big East soccer tournament at Hunt. Both start the playoffs next week. The Big East softball tournament starts Monday at Glover Park in Nashville. I like this idea of neutral site. It kind of gives you the ACC basketball tournament when it is in Greensboro. Don't care where ever they may have the ACC tournament Greensboro is a good location for every body. Glover Park is good for everyone in the Big East.

Trivia: Thomas Berry hit two home runs last night in the Gryphon victory over Northern Nash. Can you name the last player to hit two in a game before last night?

If you love golf and back during the days when the ACC use to have the ACC Championship at NorthGreen quality golf is just down the road this weekend. The NCAA Women's Golf Regional is be played at Ironwood in Greenville and ECU is the host school. If you can stand being out in the heat all day this is a great place to be.

I just want to say what a pleasure it is going to Northern to film a game. Last night we filmed the game for the Stretchlon Sports show and as I entered the lady taking up tickets when she found out we were filming made me seem like ESPN was there. I entered the dugout and Coach Eddie Loesner and I had a pleasant conversation about the way Northern's season unfolded. Waiting for Kent Cox to finish talking to his Rocky Mount team after the game interview Athletic Director Dan Richwalski came over and thanked us for being there and invited us to come back any time.

I try when ever we do a game of the week to support all the teams on the broadcast. Since I have done Rocky Mount play by play more than any other I am to a certain extent seen as a Rocky Mount guy by most coaches. Last night from the ticket lady to Coach Loesner right to Richwalski, I hope that Northern can get back to a consistent winner in all sports. Through their sports leaders they deserve it.

Trivia Answer: Thomas Berry's brother Chris hit two home runs in a game against Greenville Rose in 2008. I wonder whether there are any more Berry's coming to play baseball at RM

Girls track Conference Champs Eighth Straight Time.

If there was any doubt about who was going to win the Big East Wachovia Cup the track teams at Rocky Mount sealed the deal Wednesday. The girls won their eighth straight title while the boys finished second.

This spring baseball, tennis and soccer along with girls track either won the regular season in their sport or shared the title. Boys track finished second. Golf and softball are the only two sports that were not close to the top of the standings.

Zikeena Parker was named MVP of girls track after winning three running events the 100,200 and 400 meter runs. Devonte Jenkins won three events for the boys in winning the MVP of the meet for the boys.

Next event on the schedule for both Rocky Mount track teams is the eastern regional May 15th at Nash Central

A perfect conference schedule was in jeopardy in the fourth inning tonight as Gryphon baseball whips arch rival Northern Nash 6-2 and goes 10- 0 in Big East play.

The Gryphons got all they needed in a two run homer by Collins Cuthrell and then Thomas Berry followed that with a solo blast to stake the Gryphons to a 3-0 in the first. Northern managed two runs off Benton Moss in the fourth to slice into the lead to 3-2, Rocky Mount accepted the challenge and responded with three runs in the fifth to salt the game away. winning 6-2.

The Gryphons collected ten hits including the Berry twins(Matthew and Thomas) with two hits each and two from Collins Cuthrell. Spencer Bell,Hobbs Johnson,Michael Whitehead and Taylor Clontz collected a hit a piece.

Benton Moss went the distance giving up four hits but once again walked only one batter and struckout ten in picking up another win.

The #1 seeded Gryphons open the playoffs Friday night May 14th at home. We will not know who they play until Saturday night when the brackets are released.

Northern beat softball 12-2 as the Lady Gryphon's complete a imperfect season going 0 for the season. Their last chance for a win is Monday in the conference softball tournament being held at Glover Park in Nashville.

Girls soccer after knocking of Northern in Wednesday night's semi finals of the Big East soccer tournament played Fike tonight for the championship. Text messages and facebook, I do not have a score yet. When I find out I will update.

Big East Is Carrying A Big Stick

How good a conference is is determined how well your teams play in the playoffs against others. Southern Nash made it to the eastern finals in football, Rocky Mount is state king in basketball and Fike has won the eastern regional in golf. There maybe more on the way as spring sports is just starting to end their regular seasons.

Looking at the baseball playoffs it looks like maybe just one home game in the playoffs unless the baseball team can catch lightening in a bottle like basketball. A second round road game is on tap IF they win in round one but that was the same story for basketball who got three home games after a #1 seed went down in the first round.

Northern Nash and Rocky Mount are playing in the semi-finals of the Big East soccer tournament tonight at Hunt. The winner plays for the title Thursday night. The Big East Track and field championships are under way now at Nash Central.

Baseball and softball finish their regular seasons Thursday night at Northern.

There is a new chancellor in town at North Carolina State Randy Woodson. Upon arriving he said he wanted State to be in the fore front in the college world. Despite how good of a engineering program you might have nothing puts you on TV in the news more than sports. This week the new Chancellor told Lee Fowler to pack his bag as Athletic Director of the Wolfpack. Looks like the new chief when he sees State on TV wants victories to help recruit engineers to State.

College baseball is coming down the home stretch and North Carolina finds themselves in ninth place in the ACC and with nine games to go are 2.5 games behind eighth place N C State. Only the top eight make it to the ACC tournament and if you believe the RPI even if State makes it to the ACC tournament their RPI says they will not make the NCAA unless they go on a tear for the rest of the season. Compounding Carolina's problem of catching State is State only has six ACC games to play. Even if Carolina wins seven of nine down the stretch that would still only get them to 15-15 in conference play. Who would have ever thought football was the best of the big three sport in Chapel Hill.

Gryphons Wrap Up Big East Baseball

Collins Cuthrell played his last regular season game tonight at home for Rocky Mount and and played one of those games. Cuthrell hit a two run homer in the first, has a two run double in the second and came to bat in the third with the bases loaded where he hit into a 6-4 force play and beat the throw to first to drive in his fifth run. Just for good measure he singled in the fourth inning.

Matthew Berry was not far behind going three for three with a homer and a double with four rbi's. Benton Moss drove in two team mates with a single and Michael Whitehead had one. Spencer Bell also brought home a run.

Hobbs Johnson gave up a single run over four innings which was only the second run he has given up during conference play this year. He gave up two hits and struck out nine. Parker Helms pitch the fifth for the Gryphons.

The Gryphons win their twentieth game of the season with two losses and in doing so it is the fourth straight year that Rocky Mount has won twenty in a season which is their first ever four year twenty win streak.

Rocky Mount who already owns the #1 seed in the Big East will not have to share the title as they are the outright champs. They finish the season Thursday at Northern who lost 7-1 tonight at Hunt.

Girls softball remained winless losing to Southern. They only have two more chances to find a victory this year Thursday at Northern and Monday in the Big East softball tournament being played at Glover Park in Nashville.

I don't know the score but tennis lost in the first round of the state playoffs to Eastern Wayne. The conference soccer tournament was rained out last night so Rocky Mount now will play the winner of Northern and Nash Central Wednesday in the semi's.

Charles Austin has published the Gryphon football schedule on the Gryphon Grapevine. the Gryphons open with an Endowment game at Bertie who last week named Greg Watford as their new coach. Back in 1978 and 1979 when Watford ran as a Halfback for Ahoskie and his senior year made all state in football I use to call his number back on the radio. Him going to coach Bertie is like Roy Williams taking over for coach K at Duke. He's gone over to the ememy.

There is sadness tonight as I feel like I need to pass along with a heavy heart the death of Harry Fish. Harry who loved to take pictures has taken many a picture of little leaguers and on and on over the years and given them to players. Tonight's baseball game several people mentioned to me that Harry had supported all Rocky Mount area players through the years. To Don his brother and Ben his nephew we all feel with you and pray for the family.

Who Has The Best fans

N C State fans are hopping on the band wagon now the C J Leslie will officially sign with the Pack at 5.00pm Tuesday. People can say all they want about how good of fans they have but let's be realistic, when if come to faithful fans there are none better than Wolfpack fans. The Pack has not won a football title since 1979. Basketball has not won a conference title since 87 and baseball since 1989.

Football has added 16,000 seats since the turn of the century. Basketball added 40% more seats in 1999 and baseball has doubled their capacity in the last seven years. Why do Wolfpack fans keep supporting these teams who clearly have only had an occasional great year every blue moon?

If you look at Duke, Carolina and State next year in basketball, I don't care how good of players they have coming if each doesn't improve the point guard play they will be just as bad next year. Duke has lost Scheyer at point guard. Scheyer was may be the best point guard in the league last year. Carolina didn't have a point guard this year and the regular season was 16-16 and the Wolfpack had the worse point guard play in the league.

People forget with all the hype regarding recruits that the top recruits for each is not a point guard. Each one next season had better show improvement. Duke's case I don't see with what they have coming back that I would even put them in top twenty next year. Freshman point guards had better be great or all three could have downer years next year.

Tennis plays Eastern Wayne in the opening round of the state playoffs Tuesday . Eastern Wayne beat the Gryphons in the very first match of the season. Soccer will play in the semi-finals of the Big East soccer tournament Tuesday at Hunt. Baseball has their final home game in the regular season Tuesday night against Southern Nash.

I hate the JV's playing in basketball in the same location as the varsity. If basketball girls JV plays at 4pm and JV boys don't start to 5.00pm that pushed varsity back to 6.30 for girls and when ever for the boys. Baseball is doing the same thing. I would really like to see the JV's play Monday Wednesday and Varsity Tuesday Thursday. Baseball could use Friday at a rain date if needed.

Spring Playoffs Begin This Week

Boys Tennis co-champions of the Big East begin the playoffs on Tuesday. The 12-2 Gryphons open play against Eastern Wayne one of the two losses they have on the year. Southern Nash the team Rocky Mount tied for first also opens the playoffs Tuesday against South Brunswick. Should both Big East teams win their first two rounds they would meet in the third round. Southern Nash is the other team who beat the Gryphons this season.

Girls soccer starts play in the Big East soccer tournament Tuesday at 5.00pm against either Nash Central or Northern Nash. The championship match is Thursday at Seven.

Big East conference champions baseball team tries to put the finishing touches on the final two games of the season this week with senior night Tuesday and a road game to Northern Thursday. The way the injury bug has hit this team this year their main goal this week is to stay healthy and remained focused.

Wednesday is Big East track and field championship at Nash Central.

It is a start but I think they are making the cut in the wrong place. There is a proposal in front of the NCHSAA to eliminate a week during the football season. If it passes the regular season will be cut in 2011 from 12 weeks to 11. If you play a Endowment game you will still be able to play 11 games but there will be no off week during the regular season.

I wish they would cut even further. Let's eliminate the first round and get rid of all the 2-8 teams in the playoffs that lose by forty the first week. If the figures were published, I bet the NCHSAA doesn't make any money that first week after expenses. But, if the opening playoff game there was a real chance the conference champions could lose then attendance would be up for the opening round games. By the way, if you haven't heard yet the Gryphon football team plays an Endowment game this year at Bertie.

Rode by the sports conplex last night about 6.30 just to see what was happening. Winnebago's, campers and tents were every where. It looked like Carter Finley before a football game with all the tail gating going on. I had to go to work for a little while Saturday morning an 7.30 yesterday the complex was already full then so the little league tournament stayed busy with good weather all day.

Rookie Camp

Terrell Hudgins is in Dallas going through through the Cowboy's rookie and free agent three day camp. Dallas's number one draft pick was Dez Bryant who is also a wide receiver and as a number one pick will make the Cowboy roster by the end of August. Terrell will really have to impress the Cowboy coaches in order to make the opening day roster.

Stephan Virgil doesn't have that worry as Buffalo's number one pick was a running back in C J Spiller of Clemson. Virgil's good fortune is there is a new coaching staff in place and all jobs are up for grabs. The starters have to impress as much as free agents trying to make the squad.

J J Arrington is not a free agent but J J back in March resigned with Denver. Arrington who was cut last season by the Bronco's underwent off season Microfracture surgery on his right knee and signed back in March with the Bronco's again. This must mean his injury is healing enough that they think he can make the team this year.

Rumors run rampant that now that C J Leslie has signed with N C State that Rocky Mount's Tashawn Mabry is on the verge of signing with the Pack. I am not sure when the last day of school is but with Leslie's signing he got the last scholarship that the Pack had. Until end of the semester Julius Mays is still on scholarship so graduation is May fifteenth and I don't think any thing will happen if Mabry does choose the Pack before then. May's family has said that Mays is leaving the Wolfpack and if he does State will have an open scholarship. We all think that when you sign with a school that you are tied to that school for four years but actually all scholarships are renewed year to year.

North Carolina Wesleyan coach Charlie Long won the coach of the year award in conference USA South. It is his third COY award since taking over for Mike Fox at Wesleyan.

Former Northern Nash baseball player Andrew Webb made the all conference baseball team for NCW. Funny how as a high school player Webbie only pitched when Northern was in dire straits He makes the all conference team as a pitcher with a 5-1 record and an ERA of 2.19. All of you parents that send your kids to any type of travel league and dedicate all your efforts in one sport, you never know that your child may be better in another sport. Kids develop at different ages and at 11 they might be a better baseball player but by fifteen better in soccer.

Tyler Clark NCW's freshman catcher from Northern Nash made the honorable mention all conference team and hit 336 this season.

Daniel Moore during the North Carolina Wesleyan sports banquet this week won the Scholar Athlete award for baseball. He also made all conference on the All Sportsmanship team.

Good going guys!