Northern Tops Gryphons

Every week when there are two conference games to play Kent Cox has a decision to make whether to pitch Benton Moss or wait till the second game of the week.  Tonight Cox decided to hold Moss for Nash Central on Thursday so his starting pitcher was sophomore Jeremy Johnson.  Johnson did all you can ask of any pitcher it was the defense that let the Gryphons down as Northern edges Rocky Mount 7-6.

Braxton Bowden started the first inning off for the Fighting Knights with a home run to right field to give the Knights a 2-0 lead.  Rocky Mount responded with double by Benton Moss which scored Thomas Berry who had walked to lead off the inning.  Taylor Clontz followed with a two run shot to right center to give the  Gryphons their only lead of 3-2

Northern's half of the second is when Rocky Mount started giving Northern extra outs.  Hunter Watson lead off the second with a walk.  Wesley Pate hit a ground ball possible 6-4-3 double play that the Gryphons booted.  Fuller Weatherly got an infield single but  but while rounding 3rd the Northern Runner was caught in a run down.   It looked as if Rocky Mount might get out of the inning on a line drive to center which was dropped and Northern regained the lead 4-3.  Northern had a shot to add another run on a double by Jeremy Lucas but the runner coming home was thrown out .

Neither team got a man on base in the third.  Thomas Berry hit a solo shot  to center field to tie the game at four.  In the bottom of the fourth Northern got  hits from Hunter Watson and Fuller Weatherly.  They scored the lead run in the game on a steal of home while Rocky Mount was trying to get a runner out in a run down at first.

Northern's fifth inning  started on a drop fly ball to right.  Jeremy Lucas had an rbi single to get the lead to 6-4, then Madison Mayo clobbered a homer to give Northern the 7-4 lead.

Rocky Mount's last gasp was a  walk to Thomas Berry then a two run homer from Benton Moss to get the score to 7-6.  Jeremy Lucus proceded to get the next five outs to beat Rocky Mount.

Madison Mayo was 2 for 3 with two rbi' including the homer that proved to be the winning run.  Jeremy Lucas helped himself with two hits and run knocked in.Fuller Weatherly had two hits while  Braxton Bowden had a homered and Hunter Watson a double.

Rocky Mount collect five hits off of Jeremy Lucas and three left the park. Thomas Berry, Benton Moss and Taylor Clontz.  Moss also double in a run and Andy Morris had a single.

Jeremy Lucas was the winning pitcher giving up six earned runs on five hits.  He struck out 7 Gryphons.  Jeremy Johnson was the loser giving up only three earned runs.

Northern Now ties Rocky Mount for second in the Big East at 3-2.  Nash Central is 2-2.  Only three teams are making the playoffs so right now between Northern, Rocky Mount and Nash Central.  Northern plays Hunt on Thursday and if Northern wins that game then it will bring Hunt back into the talk about making the playoffs or not.  If Hunt wins then they will have at least a two game lead  on every body with four to play.

The Rocky Mount /Nash Central loser will have three conference losses.

Wednesday is conference championship day in Track and Field.  It will be held at Nash Central.   The championship is being held so early because of the two week Easter break by Nash and Wilson County Schools.

Today is a milestone of sorts.  This is my 1,000th blog on From The Press box.  Thanks for your support.  A few more people  keep coming on all the time.  The 32 months that I have been doing this we are up to averaging about 72 per day. The last six months there have been about  1,000 hits per week.  I hope I can keep you interested.