Friday Action Packed With Base/Soft Ball

Hunt the Big East #1 seed in softball has a home game Friday as they play host to  C B Aycock the #2 from the Eastern Carolina Conference.  Hunt is 20-3 while Aycock comes in with a 21-5 record.

The only local softball game will occur on Old Carriage Road as Nash Central will host Havelock.  The Coastal Conference #3 team the Rams will come in 18-5 facing the Big East #2 Bulldogs.

The surprise winner opening night was Southern Nash who finished fourth in the Big East and they knocked off previously undefeated Union Pines 13-1.  That's right I said undefeated.  Talking about taking a team for granted before the game starts or what.  That victory was only the Lady Firebirds eighth win in twenty one tries.

"RV"wins #800   Ron Vincent the legendary baseball coach at Rose high school won his 800th game Tuesday night in Rose's opening round win in the 4-A playoff.  I had the pleasure back when Gryphon baseball was on the radio to do his 600th  victory over the Gryphons in Rocky Mount. Ron is a lot like the Energizer Bunny, he just keeps on going and going and going.

Rocky Mount the only Big East baseball team alive will have their hands full with North Lenoir who comes in as the #4 from the Eastern Carolina.  They bring the exact record as Rocky Mount at 18-8.

The Gryphons have several problems to overcome.  Matthew Berry who injured a leg is the one player to worry the most about whether he will play and if he does where.  Berry the Gryphon third baseman may not  be able to move well enough to play the field which puts him as a DH. Then who plays third.  The backup third baseman has been Sam Lilley who  is out with the line the drive to his cheek  I understand he had a surgery this week and everything went well.

The next big questions if Matt hits can he even run to get to first base.  We all know he is capable of bouncing any pitch off the wall and it might take that to even get him to first base.  Matt got three hits Tuesday  two after he got hurt and he struggled to get to first base then.  I would bet Matt plays even if it's on a peg leg.

So then who plays 3rd? Three JV's have been brought up to the varsity for added pitchers.  Do you put a JV on the field to play defense and M Berry hobbling  on the bases just for his bat.  Twin brother Thomas has the same injury as Matt only not as severe.  I think he will play first unless it becomes where  Kent Cox starts switching players around to fill at third.  If Matt is not at third the defense will not be at full strength or even if he is and can't move the defense is limited.

The facts are this when Benton Moss pitches it is not necessary to score many runs to win. This is very bad timing for a team that needs all the bats they can get to score runs.  Jeremy Johnson has pitched in conference play better than the Gryphon defense has played behind him.  Limited hitting line up and maybe a makeshift defense Jeremy will need to pitch the game of his life Friday night.

If you are worried whether the Gryphons can win without Benton Moss pitching?  They won ten games this year when he didn't.