Soccer Playoffs Starts Tuesday

I am not sure what is wrong with the NCHSAA website but as of late last night the brackets were not published for the soccer playoffs that start Tuesday. They had the same problem with volleyball they didn't show the brackets until Thursday before the tournament started on Saturday.

The Gryphons will host White Oak and as of 8.00am this morning coach Mike Gainey was trying to get an exemption from the NCHSAA to play on site at the school which would mean White Oak would have to travel during the school hours for the playoffs which the NCHSAA frowns on when the games can be played at night.

Soccer is really one of the big issues as to why RMHS needs a new high school in order that they can play at school under the lights instead of at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex. There is no home field advantage playing on a field you only play once a year.

The NCHSAA has granted Rocky mount an exeption and will play at home Tuesday afternoon at 4.30 pm at the school field. This is a big concession by the state to allow this to be played on campus. Go Gryphons!

The girls cross country team will be preparing today for a trip to Kernersville on Saturday as they will enjoy the experience of running in the state championships after qualifying 3rd in the regional this past Saturday.

Eastern North Carolina cross country is of course flat and the course in Kernersville is hilly so this will be an experience having to climb up several hills during their 3.1 mile run. This is one of the reasons the western teams do so well in cross country because they run hills all the time where any team from the east hardly ever does.

The boys cross country team from Nash Central will be one of the favorites this weekend and Will Bass has an excellent chance of winning the state title. Like the girls it will be interesting to see everyones times running in the hills. Dropping off 30 seconds to me might be normal for any runner who has never practiced hill running.

The Giants can end the World Series tonight after winning game four 4-0. There is no doubt that the old saying good pitching stops good hitting has held true so far. The Giants have won the pitching battle in three of the four games.