Baseball is a funny game. It can be played every day and since Sunday night's opener on the 2012 Legion season Coleman Pitt Post 58 has now played four times in five days. It is still early in the season and coach Hank Jones has used several lineups giving everyone of the players an opportunity to prove that they can be one of those guys that plays every day. So far Post 58 is hitting an anemic 240 and most of that average has been singles. After six innings tonight the average had dropped well below 240.
Post 102 throughout the history of Legion ball has been an automatic win for Post 58. You have to go all the way back to 1962 and 1963 when Ahoskie took the season series and every so often a 102 victory has occurred but not many. After six innings tonight Ahoskie lead 3-0 and a sluggish Post 58 team seemed destined for their first lost of the season.
Ahoskie plated three runs in the fourth off 58 started Chase Johnson but two runs were unearned to give Ahoskie Post 102 a 3-0 lead. The bottom of the fourth Rocky Mount's dugout finally made some noise but every good contact seemed to go straight to a Post 102 player.
Fnally the seventh arrived and Post 102 starter Billy Nixon had given coach David Ellis about all he had Rocky Mount tried to help keep the shutout going by getting thrown out on a steal of third with runners on first and second. Jeremy Sloop finally got a run home and a Post 102 error opened the flood gates leading to another six runs to cross the plate before Post 58 finished the seventh. The seventh, Post 58 had seven hits all singles.
Post 58 again gets great pitching as starter Chase Johnson pitched the first five innings. Jeremy Trevathan held Post 102 in check for the next two to pick up the win and Cameron Webb closed the door in the eighth and ninth innings. In four games this week Post 58 has allowed only 13 runs. That will win you a lot of ball games even if you only get singles when batting. Post 58 goes to 4-0 with a 7-3 victory over Post 102.
The NCAA baseball tournament starts Friday and Mike Fox has announced that Hobbs Johnson will get the call to pitch Friday for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Whenever these four teams tournaments get going there is always a question of when do you pitch you ace and for North Carolina they have decided to pitch Kent Emanuel on Saturday which they hope is the winners bracket game and that leaves Benton Moss to toss Sunday for the Heels. Over in Raleigh the Pack is stating Vance Williams in their Friday opener holding Carlos Rodon till Saturday. ECU Opens play at 11AM Friday Morning in the Chapel Hill Regional. Kind of an odd time to play since there is only going to be two games played in Chapel Hill.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
NCAA Baseball Playoffs
The Tar Heels of North Carolina the #6 seed in this years NCAA baseball run to Omaha open their quest to returned to the College World Series for the sixth time in the last eight years. As the host school in the Chapel Hill Regional Carolina will play at 6pm Friday night and they will be playing Cornell of the Ivy League.
The Heels who have the third most wins of any team in the NCAA this year has a record of 43-16 while Cornell is 31-15. The Pirates of ECU 35-22 will be playing Friday afternoon and take on St Johns of the Big East 37-22. You have to know that ECU fans think there is a conspiracy of some sort as every year when they haven't hosted in the past few years they have played Carolina. Either in Columbia and played South Carolina or in Chapel Hill and play North Carolina. Pirates fans are questioning why they can't try someplace else sometimes.
Over in Raleigh the #9 seeded Wolfpack 39-17 play host in the Raleigh Regional and Play Sacred Heart Friday night at 7PM. Sacred Heart sounds like a hospital but the Pioneers will be one of the few team in the NCAA tournament with a losing record 25-30. They are the champs of the Northeast Conference for the second year in a row. This is only the third time in school history to be in the NCAA tournament and they are 0-4 all time.
The 2pm game in Raleigh will feature the Seahawks of UNC Wilmington 38-21 going up against Vanderbilt 33-26 of the Southeastern Conference. The two winners play Saturday night at 7pm
Believe it or not but Post 58 played a game tonight in Pittsboro against North Chatham. West of Raleigh did not have the rains from the Tropical Storm as we had this morning. Post 58 won 5-1 for their third win in three tries. They play their first conference game at home Thursday against Ahoskie. First pitch is 7PM Thursday at Gryphon Stadium.
The Heels who have the third most wins of any team in the NCAA this year has a record of 43-16 while Cornell is 31-15. The Pirates of ECU 35-22 will be playing Friday afternoon and take on St Johns of the Big East 37-22. You have to know that ECU fans think there is a conspiracy of some sort as every year when they haven't hosted in the past few years they have played Carolina. Either in Columbia and played South Carolina or in Chapel Hill and play North Carolina. Pirates fans are questioning why they can't try someplace else sometimes.
Over in Raleigh the #9 seeded Wolfpack 39-17 play host in the Raleigh Regional and Play Sacred Heart Friday night at 7PM. Sacred Heart sounds like a hospital but the Pioneers will be one of the few team in the NCAA tournament with a losing record 25-30. They are the champs of the Northeast Conference for the second year in a row. This is only the third time in school history to be in the NCAA tournament and they are 0-4 all time.
The 2pm game in Raleigh will feature the Seahawks of UNC Wilmington 38-21 going up against Vanderbilt 33-26 of the Southeastern Conference. The two winners play Saturday night at 7pm
Believe it or not but Post 58 played a game tonight in Pittsboro against North Chatham. West of Raleigh did not have the rains from the Tropical Storm as we had this morning. Post 58 won 5-1 for their third win in three tries. They play their first conference game at home Thursday against Ahoskie. First pitch is 7PM Thursday at Gryphon Stadium.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Legion Wins Again
Coleman Pitt Post 58 won it's home opener tonight as they played host to North Chatham and came away with a 9-4 victory. Chase Johnson of Tarboro and Khalil Macklin of Nash Central lead the rbi parade as each had two for the night. Johnson knocked in the first run of the game in the first when Johnson doubled after Matt Berry was put on base with two outs on a hit batter. Johnson followed in the third with his second rbi on a single.
Macklin's second and third bat of the game produced rbi's his second hit a double over the head of the left fielder. Hank Jones started Tyler King of Nash Central who game him five good innings of no run ball. Spencer Ramsey pitched the sixth and seventh and was charged with two runs but faulty defense allowed both runs to score. Former Rocky Mount pitcher Jeremy Trevathan pitch the 8th and 9th innings for Post 58.
Wednesday night Post 58 goes to Northwood High in Pittsboro where they will play North Chatham again. They return home Thursday when they open their conference schedule when Ahoskie will be at Gryphon Stadium.
This weekend North Carolina who is seeded sixth in the NCAA baseball tournament will be hosting among others East Carolina. I think you can count on every ticket to be sold in Chapel Hill this weekend with the possibility that ECU and Carolina could play at least two games against each other depending on how the first days games go. Should Carolina win this Regional they would host a Super Region in two weeks
Over in Raleigh State will be hosting as the #9 seed. They play Sacred Heart on Friday while Vanderbilt Plays UNC Wilmington. The ACC got five schools as host of Regionals and a total of seven team in the NCAA field. Should State win this weekend they probably would have to travel to Gainesville Florida where they would most likely play Florida who got the #1 overall seed in the Tournament.
Macklin's second and third bat of the game produced rbi's his second hit a double over the head of the left fielder. Hank Jones started Tyler King of Nash Central who game him five good innings of no run ball. Spencer Ramsey pitched the sixth and seventh and was charged with two runs but faulty defense allowed both runs to score. Former Rocky Mount pitcher Jeremy Trevathan pitch the 8th and 9th innings for Post 58.
Wednesday night Post 58 goes to Northwood High in Pittsboro where they will play North Chatham again. They return home Thursday when they open their conference schedule when Ahoskie will be at Gryphon Stadium.
This weekend North Carolina who is seeded sixth in the NCAA baseball tournament will be hosting among others East Carolina. I think you can count on every ticket to be sold in Chapel Hill this weekend with the possibility that ECU and Carolina could play at least two games against each other depending on how the first days games go. Should Carolina win this Regional they would host a Super Region in two weeks
Over in Raleigh State will be hosting as the #9 seed. They play Sacred Heart on Friday while Vanderbilt Plays UNC Wilmington. The ACC got five schools as host of Regionals and a total of seven team in the NCAA field. Should State win this weekend they probably would have to travel to Gainesville Florida where they would most likely play Florida who got the #1 overall seed in the Tournament.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Returning Veterans Paying Off Already
Coleman Pitt Post 58 is off to a shaky start having a game rained out and another postponed. Despite pitching two innings last Wednesday Hank Jones sent Cameron Webb former Tarboro High pitcher right back to the mound Sunday night at Salisbury as Post 58 finally gets a complete game in and a big win.
Webb pitched six innings and a 6 run sixth inning blew open the game as Post 58 already lead 5-2 and ballooned to 11-2. Another player returning from last season lead the Post 58 attack in Jeremy Sloop of Nash Central. Sloop had two singles and a home run and drove in three runs to lead the way with the bats. Jones handed the ball over to several pitchers the final three innings as Post 58 post their first victory of the year an 11-5 win over Rowan County. Post 58 will try Tuesday night to get a home game in as they host North Chatham.
It's official that North Carolina and North Carolina State will be hosting NCAA Regional baseball tournaments this weekend. The NCAA released the 16 sites for the Regionals Sunday. Today there will be a selection show placing the other teams that will be playing in the Regionals. Don't be surprised if ECU or Campbell both don't wind up staying close to home either in Chapel Hill or Raleigh. My guess is one will be in Chapel Hill the other in Raleigh and if that happens both Regionals could be sellouts for the entire weekend.
I have seen quite a few baseball games in my time and I am not sure that there has ever been one any better than Saturday night's State -Carolina ACC Tournament game played in Greensboro. N C State ace Carlos Rodon who just could be one of the top five pitchers in all of college baseball held Carolina in check for nine innings.
Former Gryphon Benton Moss who was on a pitch count knowing that they were not playing in the championship on Sunday Mike Fox needed to give the other Gryphon Hobbs Johnson some innings too. Moss was just as spectacular as Rodan if fact Benton got an ovation from the Carolina crowd as he was pulled in the sixth inning.
That game did not have a lot of action other that pitcher striking out batters but I guess that is the beauty of baseball.
Webb pitched six innings and a 6 run sixth inning blew open the game as Post 58 already lead 5-2 and ballooned to 11-2. Another player returning from last season lead the Post 58 attack in Jeremy Sloop of Nash Central. Sloop had two singles and a home run and drove in three runs to lead the way with the bats. Jones handed the ball over to several pitchers the final three innings as Post 58 post their first victory of the year an 11-5 win over Rowan County. Post 58 will try Tuesday night to get a home game in as they host North Chatham.
It's official that North Carolina and North Carolina State will be hosting NCAA Regional baseball tournaments this weekend. The NCAA released the 16 sites for the Regionals Sunday. Today there will be a selection show placing the other teams that will be playing in the Regionals. Don't be surprised if ECU or Campbell both don't wind up staying close to home either in Chapel Hill or Raleigh. My guess is one will be in Chapel Hill the other in Raleigh and if that happens both Regionals could be sellouts for the entire weekend.
I have seen quite a few baseball games in my time and I am not sure that there has ever been one any better than Saturday night's State -Carolina ACC Tournament game played in Greensboro. N C State ace Carlos Rodon who just could be one of the top five pitchers in all of college baseball held Carolina in check for nine innings.
Former Gryphon Benton Moss who was on a pitch count knowing that they were not playing in the championship on Sunday Mike Fox needed to give the other Gryphon Hobbs Johnson some innings too. Moss was just as spectacular as Rodan if fact Benton got an ovation from the Carolina crowd as he was pulled in the sixth inning.
That game did not have a lot of action other that pitcher striking out batters but I guess that is the beauty of baseball.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Post 58 Tries Again Tonight
Opening night was rained out in the third inning and a trip the next night never happened either so Coleman Pitt Post 58 will try to get their summer of 2012 started tonight with a trip to Salisbury and a game against Rowan County.
This being Hank Jones third year he has never shied away from taking on all comers in the non-conference portion of the schedule while he finds out who he has on this years team and what they can do. He has a multitude of returning players and this just be a very good year for Coleman Pitt. Let's take a look at the roster who was there opening night before the rains came.
Kyle Pratt Roanoke Rapids High, ECU: Kyle started in left Wednesday and returns to Post 58 after a year of the college life at ECU.
Chase Johnson Tarboro High: Utility player returns to Coleman Pitt. Started at third on Wednesday.
Spiers Miller Tarboro High, Barton College: Speirs returns to Post 58 after a spring playing for Barton College.
Abel Hernandez Roanoke Rapids High: Abel returns for his second season of Senior Legion and started behind the plate.
Matthew Berry Rocky Mount High,Barton College: Matthew returns after spending the spring playing at Barton. Started at first Wednesday.
Khalil Macklin Nash Central: He returns for his second season of Legion and is still in high school. Hit a homer before the rains came Wednesday and started in Center field where he created a double play.
Dillon Moore Nash Central: Back for his second season was DH Wednesday but can play anywhere
Jeremy Sloop Nash Central Wake Tech: Back with Post 58. Started at short but you will see him on the mound, behind the plate oe any where to keep his bat in lineup.
Colton Vaughn Nash Central: One of the few first year players. Starter in right the first night.
Caneron Webb Tarboro High, Pitt C C: Starter on the mound returning for his second season for Post 58 after playing for Pitt this spring.
Spencer Ramsey Rocky Mount: Can play every where in the infield and probably will before season is done. Another arm for those four games in days days which occur in Legion.
Ryan Barham Nash Central: Another first year player but part of the Nash Central second place in Big East team.
Tyler Wooten Tarboro: Tyler is back to catch, pitch and play infield.
Tyler King Nash Central: First year Legion player who will be a valuable pitcher on this staff.
Jeremy Lucas Northern Nash Barton: Another arm for the playoffs for Post 58 after playing in the spring at Barton.
Johnathan Aparicio East Wake, ECU, Louisburg College: You may never heard of him since he is from East Wake but another arm when the playoffs arrive.
Hank Jones: returns to his third year as coach and will try to get back to State Tournament for second time.
"Baseball" Brett Johnson: Returns to help Hank for his third year as first basebase coach
Pat Smith: Need to learn baseball just have a seat on the bench beside Mr Smith and let's talk.
Post 58 will try to get their first home game of the season in Tuesday night as they host North Chatham. First pitch is schedule for 7PM.
This being Hank Jones third year he has never shied away from taking on all comers in the non-conference portion of the schedule while he finds out who he has on this years team and what they can do. He has a multitude of returning players and this just be a very good year for Coleman Pitt. Let's take a look at the roster who was there opening night before the rains came.
Kyle Pratt Roanoke Rapids High, ECU: Kyle started in left Wednesday and returns to Post 58 after a year of the college life at ECU.
Chase Johnson Tarboro High: Utility player returns to Coleman Pitt. Started at third on Wednesday.
Spiers Miller Tarboro High, Barton College: Speirs returns to Post 58 after a spring playing for Barton College.
Abel Hernandez Roanoke Rapids High: Abel returns for his second season of Senior Legion and started behind the plate.
Matthew Berry Rocky Mount High,Barton College: Matthew returns after spending the spring playing at Barton. Started at first Wednesday.
Khalil Macklin Nash Central: He returns for his second season of Legion and is still in high school. Hit a homer before the rains came Wednesday and started in Center field where he created a double play.
Dillon Moore Nash Central: Back for his second season was DH Wednesday but can play anywhere
Jeremy Sloop Nash Central Wake Tech: Back with Post 58. Started at short but you will see him on the mound, behind the plate oe any where to keep his bat in lineup.
Colton Vaughn Nash Central: One of the few first year players. Starter in right the first night.
Caneron Webb Tarboro High, Pitt C C: Starter on the mound returning for his second season for Post 58 after playing for Pitt this spring.
Spencer Ramsey Rocky Mount: Can play every where in the infield and probably will before season is done. Another arm for those four games in days days which occur in Legion.
Ryan Barham Nash Central: Another first year player but part of the Nash Central second place in Big East team.
Tyler Wooten Tarboro: Tyler is back to catch, pitch and play infield.
Tyler King Nash Central: First year Legion player who will be a valuable pitcher on this staff.
Jeremy Lucas Northern Nash Barton: Another arm for the playoffs for Post 58 after playing in the spring at Barton.
Johnathan Aparicio East Wake, ECU, Louisburg College: You may never heard of him since he is from East Wake but another arm when the playoffs arrive.
Hank Jones: returns to his third year as coach and will try to get back to State Tournament for second time.
"Baseball" Brett Johnson: Returns to help Hank for his third year as first basebase coach
Pat Smith: Need to learn baseball just have a seat on the bench beside Mr Smith and let's talk.
Post 58 will try to get their first home game of the season in Tuesday night as they host North Chatham. First pitch is schedule for 7PM.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Worst Kept Secret
I got a call from a Rocky Mount Academy supported at least three weeks ago to let me know the the Academy had offered their football coaching job to B W Holt. The rumor was that knowing of him when he coached six years at Rocky Mount High was all they needed and offer him the job without an interview.
If you have ever had any reason to be around Holt at all then you know when ever you become his friend you are his friend for life. If you are one of his ball players he is your coach for life. In his three years since is departure from Rocky Mount High School he has been in and out of Rocky Mount more than Greyhounds buses have. He comes back to visit his friends and come to funerals.
If you were one of the 500 or so people who attended Rocky Mount's Sports Banquet Thursday night there was one person missing and it was Dickie Schock. He may have had a great excuse but for those who were there it was the ultimate insult to a program that he never embraced. B W Holt has more feeling for those players there now and he he only knew of the freshman in Holt's last year.
Rocky Mount Academy is getting a man who understands friendships and dedication to others. He is dedicated to his friends and they return that dedication to him. If you read my blog the day after Jason Battle was named the Rocky Mount High coach I told you then Holt would be coaching somewhere next football season because it was in his blood and his three years away from it has shown him he needs to be a coach for the rest of his healthy life.
Yes, this is eight man football but if you have ever watched Holt look at film and break it down then you know it doesn't matter how many men you put on the field it is all the same. He has a job to put together a football program that was win less last season but still hurting from a tragic injury to one of their players two years ago.
I think the Rocky Mount Academy area will see that this is a win win for all. Rocky Mount Academy football will be competitive with who ever goes out for football. Those of you players at RMA who don't know B W he is a salesman. He will get players to go out that have never even thought about it before. Then he will make them football players. Then, if you desire to try football in college he will have a highlight film on you and he will get you into a college somewhere and then go watch you on Saturdays.
He is just that way. If you dedicate to him on the football field he will dedicate the rest of his life to you.
If you have ever had any reason to be around Holt at all then you know when ever you become his friend you are his friend for life. If you are one of his ball players he is your coach for life. In his three years since is departure from Rocky Mount High School he has been in and out of Rocky Mount more than Greyhounds buses have. He comes back to visit his friends and come to funerals.
If you were one of the 500 or so people who attended Rocky Mount's Sports Banquet Thursday night there was one person missing and it was Dickie Schock. He may have had a great excuse but for those who were there it was the ultimate insult to a program that he never embraced. B W Holt has more feeling for those players there now and he he only knew of the freshman in Holt's last year.
Rocky Mount Academy is getting a man who understands friendships and dedication to others. He is dedicated to his friends and they return that dedication to him. If you read my blog the day after Jason Battle was named the Rocky Mount High coach I told you then Holt would be coaching somewhere next football season because it was in his blood and his three years away from it has shown him he needs to be a coach for the rest of his healthy life.
Yes, this is eight man football but if you have ever watched Holt look at film and break it down then you know it doesn't matter how many men you put on the field it is all the same. He has a job to put together a football program that was win less last season but still hurting from a tragic injury to one of their players two years ago.
I think the Rocky Mount Academy area will see that this is a win win for all. Rocky Mount Academy football will be competitive with who ever goes out for football. Those of you players at RMA who don't know B W he is a salesman. He will get players to go out that have never even thought about it before. Then he will make them football players. Then, if you desire to try football in college he will have a highlight film on you and he will get you into a college somewhere and then go watch you on Saturdays.
He is just that way. If you dedicate to him on the football field he will dedicate the rest of his life to you.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Face-Off Has Lost It's Luster
State and Carolina won their opening games in the ACC baseball tournament and looked on a collision course to just maybe playing the most important baseball ever between the two Saturday night. Somewhere on the way to the championship game both stumbled and now one will be out by Saturday and the other will have to win in order to play in the ACC Championship game Sunday at noon.
I am not sure the ACC has ever had eight teams that when the final game of the regular season was in the books that there was no ACC team in the RPI more than 31. All eight teams that are in this weeks ACC Tournament have to be in the NCAA Regional somewhere next week and at least four or five will be host schools. Why then should we be surprised that the bracket that State, Carolina, Wake and Miami are in all are 1-1 heading into their third games.
If you pull for State you have to pull for Miami to beat Wake tonight in the 7PM ACC TV game. If Wake wins then State can't make the Sunday Championship game since Wake holds the tie breaker beating State last night. State hold the tie breaker over Miami. In Carolina's case they have to hope Wake wins since they beat the Deacs Wednesday and not Miami who beat the Tar Heels yesterday.
So Saturday night State has nothing to play for other than beating Carolina if Wake Beats Miami tonight.. Carolina has nothing to play for if Miami beats Wake. If Wake wins tonight over Miami and State beats Carolina then they play in the championship game Sunday. If Miami wins tonight then Carolina has nothing to play for Saturday other than beating State.
If Wake wins tonight then Carolina must beat State to get in the Sunday Championship. If Miami wins tonight then State must beat Carolina to get in. If I am Wake or Miami I would feel real good about my chances playing Sunday if State can beat Carolina to knock them out or vice versa. It would all be much simpler to digest if it were a double elimination and play until you lose two.
If Miami wins tonight and Carolina has no chance to play Sunday you can expect both Benton Moss and Hobbs Johnson to share the pitching Saturday night because one would have to
go two weeks without pitching heading into the playoffs. Mike Fox doesn't want that to happen.
I am not sure the ACC has ever had eight teams that when the final game of the regular season was in the books that there was no ACC team in the RPI more than 31. All eight teams that are in this weeks ACC Tournament have to be in the NCAA Regional somewhere next week and at least four or five will be host schools. Why then should we be surprised that the bracket that State, Carolina, Wake and Miami are in all are 1-1 heading into their third games.
If you pull for State you have to pull for Miami to beat Wake tonight in the 7PM ACC TV game. If Wake wins then State can't make the Sunday Championship game since Wake holds the tie breaker beating State last night. State hold the tie breaker over Miami. In Carolina's case they have to hope Wake wins since they beat the Deacs Wednesday and not Miami who beat the Tar Heels yesterday.
So Saturday night State has nothing to play for other than beating Carolina if Wake Beats Miami tonight.. Carolina has nothing to play for if Miami beats Wake. If Wake wins tonight over Miami and State beats Carolina then they play in the championship game Sunday. If Miami wins tonight then Carolina has nothing to play for Saturday other than beating State.
If Wake wins tonight then Carolina must beat State to get in the Sunday Championship. If Miami wins tonight then State must beat Carolina to get in. If I am Wake or Miami I would feel real good about my chances playing Sunday if State can beat Carolina to knock them out or vice versa. It would all be much simpler to digest if it were a double elimination and play until you lose two.
If Miami wins tonight and Carolina has no chance to play Sunday you can expect both Benton Moss and Hobbs Johnson to share the pitching Saturday night because one would have to
go two weeks without pitching heading into the playoffs. Mike Fox doesn't want that to happen.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Gryphons Win Big East Wells Fargo Cup AGAIN
Mike Gainey Announced tonight at the end of the year sports banquet that Rocky Mount High School had won the Big East Wells Fargo Cup for the fourth year in a row as the best all round sports program.
Paul Lilley who had so much hardware by night's end that he needed a u-haul truck to carry his awards home won the Male Athlete of the Year award. He was joined by Tia Hudgins who was voted by the coaches as was Lilley as the best all round female athlete.
The most prestigious award when it comes to being a student athlete went to Caroline Bell and Will Crumpler who were the winners as the Top Male and Female Scholar Athletes of the year.
The Juan Chesson Award winner which was presented by Martha Proctor and is named for former Gryphon Juan Chesson who has over come the most to achieve was Holly Fryer. I think most people know that Holly has been battling Cancer for about three years now but she has not allowed the cancer to keep her off the athletic field and on top of that she is a member of the 2011-2012 Scholar Athletes. What many of you may not know is Holly goes to Chapel Hill every Monday for Chemo treatments and yet she has endured this spring on the soccer team and in the class room.
The Triple Crown winners and award honoring the most well rounded athletes were Precious White a Volleyball, Basketball and softball player and Paul Lilley soccer, Cross Country, Indoor track and spring track.
The stars of the show was the basketball team as each member received their State Championship rings. Mike Gainey proudly announced that all seniors on this years team will all be attending college either because of academics of athletic scholarships.
Paul Lilley was presented a State Champions ring for his winning the indoor mile championship. Assistant coach Nick Winkel who has his name on two of the state champions banners that hang in the gym received another for coaching Paul as well as head coach Dee Anna Davis who has during her coaching career at Rocky Mount coached both of them..
Former Gryphon coach Walt Wiggins was there as a surprise to present Linwood Weeks a Gryphon Assistant Principal who was an all star football player in his playing days and award as he is retiring from Education in August.
Paul Lilley who had so much hardware by night's end that he needed a u-haul truck to carry his awards home won the Male Athlete of the Year award. He was joined by Tia Hudgins who was voted by the coaches as was Lilley as the best all round female athlete.
The most prestigious award when it comes to being a student athlete went to Caroline Bell and Will Crumpler who were the winners as the Top Male and Female Scholar Athletes of the year.
The Juan Chesson Award winner which was presented by Martha Proctor and is named for former Gryphon Juan Chesson who has over come the most to achieve was Holly Fryer. I think most people know that Holly has been battling Cancer for about three years now but she has not allowed the cancer to keep her off the athletic field and on top of that she is a member of the 2011-2012 Scholar Athletes. What many of you may not know is Holly goes to Chapel Hill every Monday for Chemo treatments and yet she has endured this spring on the soccer team and in the class room.
The Triple Crown winners and award honoring the most well rounded athletes were Precious White a Volleyball, Basketball and softball player and Paul Lilley soccer, Cross Country, Indoor track and spring track.
The stars of the show was the basketball team as each member received their State Championship rings. Mike Gainey proudly announced that all seniors on this years team will all be attending college either because of academics of athletic scholarships.
Paul Lilley was presented a State Champions ring for his winning the indoor mile championship. Assistant coach Nick Winkel who has his name on two of the state champions banners that hang in the gym received another for coaching Paul as well as head coach Dee Anna Davis who has during her coaching career at Rocky Mount coached both of them..
Former Gryphon coach Walt Wiggins was there as a surprise to present Linwood Weeks a Gryphon Assistant Principal who was an all star football player in his playing days and award as he is retiring from Education in August.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Legion Season Starts With Down Pour
Coleman Pitt Post 58 began the 2012 baseball season at Gryphon Stadium and a shower of rain just after both teams took their infield did a nice job of keeping Hank Jones from from having to water the field. Post 58 sent Cameron Webb former Viking of Tarboro High to the mound and after three innings of pitching found himself heading to the dugout with a 1-0 lead over Greenville Post 39 after a second inning home run from Post 58 center fielder Khalil Macklin. Before Webb and his defensive partners could get off the field hail started falling that turned into a heavy shower and some 45 minutes later when a second wave passed through the area the game was done for.
No make up date has been set and since this is not a conference game it might not get made up. These two meet in Greenville June 5th. One of the problems Legion teams have once the season starts is finding a date that both don't play someone else. Post 58 is playing Thursday in Johnston County. When and if a date to make this game up is known we will pass it along to you but we will act as if next Tuesday nights game will now be the home opener.
The ACC baseball tournament got under way today and if today's action is any preview N C State and North Carolina are heading toward a showdown Saturday night and the winner will play for the ACC Championship on Sunday. Florida State the #1 over all seed in the tournament was upset in the opening morning game of the day as they lost 5-4 to Georgia Tech.
The second game featured Miami who has an RPI of 14th in the country and heading into the bottom of the ninth inning lead State 2-1 even though State had 10 hits through eight innings but only one run.. There are those games when you win you need help from the other side and State did get two more hits in the ninth but needed an error plus the Miami Ace from the bullpen to walk two batters for State to pull out a 3-2 win.
Carolina had little trouble with Wake in the 7PM game until the ninth inning. Cruising along Mike Fox tried to finish off a 6-0 ninth inning lead bringing in some of the not so used bullpen trying to saving his pitchers for later in the tournament and for a few moments things go edgy but the Tar Heel shut out the Demon Deacons and with a shutout they continue to have the second best earned run average for a pitching staff in the nation.
Thursday Virginia meets Clemson in the 11AM game and North Carolina takes on the Hurricanes of Miami at 3. The prime time 7PM game is Wake and State. State and Carolina sure seem heading for the match up of the century in baseball Saturday night for these two rivals as regardless of what happens Thursday the winner of State-Carolina game Saturday night will play for the Championship Sunday at noon.
No make up date has been set and since this is not a conference game it might not get made up. These two meet in Greenville June 5th. One of the problems Legion teams have once the season starts is finding a date that both don't play someone else. Post 58 is playing Thursday in Johnston County. When and if a date to make this game up is known we will pass it along to you but we will act as if next Tuesday nights game will now be the home opener.
The ACC baseball tournament got under way today and if today's action is any preview N C State and North Carolina are heading toward a showdown Saturday night and the winner will play for the ACC Championship on Sunday. Florida State the #1 over all seed in the tournament was upset in the opening morning game of the day as they lost 5-4 to Georgia Tech.
The second game featured Miami who has an RPI of 14th in the country and heading into the bottom of the ninth inning lead State 2-1 even though State had 10 hits through eight innings but only one run.. There are those games when you win you need help from the other side and State did get two more hits in the ninth but needed an error plus the Miami Ace from the bullpen to walk two batters for State to pull out a 3-2 win.
Carolina had little trouble with Wake in the 7PM game until the ninth inning. Cruising along Mike Fox tried to finish off a 6-0 ninth inning lead bringing in some of the not so used bullpen trying to saving his pitchers for later in the tournament and for a few moments things go edgy but the Tar Heel shut out the Demon Deacons and with a shutout they continue to have the second best earned run average for a pitching staff in the nation.
Thursday Virginia meets Clemson in the 11AM game and North Carolina takes on the Hurricanes of Miami at 3. The prime time 7PM game is Wake and State. State and Carolina sure seem heading for the match up of the century in baseball Saturday night for these two rivals as regardless of what happens Thursday the winner of State-Carolina game Saturday night will play for the Championship Sunday at noon.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Post 58 Legion Season Begins Wednesday
Coleman Pitt American Legion Post 58 begins another season of baseball Wednesday night. Post 58 host Pitt County Post 39. A couple of new teams have joined the fray as the Elizabeth City area will have a team call Albemarle while Windsor will have their first team ever. The old standby teams of Ahoskie, Edenton and of course Wilson will be in the same division with Rocky Mount.
If there is one team hurt from the addition of two teams it is Edenton who will no longer have the Elizabeth City and Currituck County players and by Bertie County having a team they will lose the Eastern Part of Bertie County players which has always included Lawrence Academy who just this weekend won the Private School Division State Championship.
Lawrence Academy being in the middle of Bertie County did draw players from Edenton, Plymouth, Williamston,Windsor and even Ahoskie. There will probably be some Lawrence players still living in Chowan County but not as many as in the past.
First pitch will be at 7PM at what use to be Gryphon Stadium but I have not heard as of yet what the plans are to call it. This will be my 7th year doing the PA and in those years two years Post 58 played at RMA, at least three at Nash Central, once at Northern Nash and now at old RMHS. I am of the age now I can't remember what I did last week much last remember where the games were played five years ago. Just maybe now we can count of Post 58's home always being at old Gryphon Stadium.
It is time to get out your TV recorder as the ACC baseball Tournament starts at 11Am Wednesday Morning. Depending on what method you now watch TV somebody somewhere will be carrying all the games live. State plays at 3PM against Miami and Carolina plays at 7 against Wake Forest. The last regular season RPI has been released and Florida State is first. Carolina is 5th, State 10th and Virginia is 12th. ACC baseball is having one of their best years ever and since it has been fifty years since they have won an NCAA championship somebody had better do it this year.
The Tar Heels the winners of 13 straight games which is tied for the longest winning streak in the nation will pitch Shane Taylor on Wednesday. Thursday they will pitch Kent Emanuel and as of right now Mike Fox he has yet to decide who will pitch Saturday against N C State. His choices will either be Gryphon Benton Moss or Gryphon Hobbs Johnson. If the Heels make it to Sunday's Championship game there just could be a former Gryphon on the mound.
Elliot Avent has said he is planning to hold ACC pitcher of the year Carlos Rodon to either Friday or Saturday and whether they beat Miami Wednesday or not will tell the tale. If the Pack beats Miami Wednesday they will probably hold him to Saturday to pitch against the Tar Heels. They must beat Miami first however.
If there is one team hurt from the addition of two teams it is Edenton who will no longer have the Elizabeth City and Currituck County players and by Bertie County having a team they will lose the Eastern Part of Bertie County players which has always included Lawrence Academy who just this weekend won the Private School Division State Championship.
Lawrence Academy being in the middle of Bertie County did draw players from Edenton, Plymouth, Williamston,Windsor and even Ahoskie. There will probably be some Lawrence players still living in Chowan County but not as many as in the past.
First pitch will be at 7PM at what use to be Gryphon Stadium but I have not heard as of yet what the plans are to call it. This will be my 7th year doing the PA and in those years two years Post 58 played at RMA, at least three at Nash Central, once at Northern Nash and now at old RMHS. I am of the age now I can't remember what I did last week much last remember where the games were played five years ago. Just maybe now we can count of Post 58's home always being at old Gryphon Stadium.
It is time to get out your TV recorder as the ACC baseball Tournament starts at 11Am Wednesday Morning. Depending on what method you now watch TV somebody somewhere will be carrying all the games live. State plays at 3PM against Miami and Carolina plays at 7 against Wake Forest. The last regular season RPI has been released and Florida State is first. Carolina is 5th, State 10th and Virginia is 12th. ACC baseball is having one of their best years ever and since it has been fifty years since they have won an NCAA championship somebody had better do it this year.
The Tar Heels the winners of 13 straight games which is tied for the longest winning streak in the nation will pitch Shane Taylor on Wednesday. Thursday they will pitch Kent Emanuel and as of right now Mike Fox he has yet to decide who will pitch Saturday against N C State. His choices will either be Gryphon Benton Moss or Gryphon Hobbs Johnson. If the Heels make it to Sunday's Championship game there just could be a former Gryphon on the mound.
Elliot Avent has said he is planning to hold ACC pitcher of the year Carlos Rodon to either Friday or Saturday and whether they beat Miami Wednesday or not will tell the tale. If the Pack beats Miami Wednesday they will probably hold him to Saturday to pitch against the Tar Heels. They must beat Miami first however.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Gryphon Duo Impacting Carolina Baseball
The college baseball regular season came to a close Saturday and Mike Fox and the Tar Heels of North Carolina will head into this week's ACC baseball tournament loaded and ready to make another assault with their purpose to return to the college World Series.
Carolina swept their fifth conference foe of the year and this weekend pitching was the name of the game and two Gryphons were right there in the middle of it all. Freshman Benton Moss pitched into the eighth inning Friday night allowing only four hits and no earn runs as the Heels beat The Gobblers of Virginia Tech 2-1. Moss finishes the regular season with a 6-2 record pitching 67 innings and striking out 77. Benton finished with an outstanding ERA of 2.13 and considering he failed to get out of the second inning in his first college start and his ERA was 44.something he really has started great in his first college year.
Sophomore Hobbs Johnson didn't get much farther than the end of the bench last year and the ultimate of being left home to go to summer school while the Tar Heels went back to the College World Series. Hobbs got the message from Mike Fox and has responded. First he was used in the bullpen but during the last six weeks of the season has found the mound as the starting Sunday pitcher. By years end Hobbs is third on the team in innings pitched following his former Gryphon teammate Benton Moss and the leader Emanuel. Johnson tossed 51 innings in 20 appearances but Saturday in the closing game of the regular season Hobbs took a no hitter into the seventh inning for the Heels. His ERA for the season is a minuscule 1.40.
This week the ACC baseball tournament will be played in Greensboro and if Mike Fox keeps his weekend pitching rotation in tacked then you can see both Moss and Johnson pitch. Carolina opens their ACC play Wednesday at 7PM but Benton Moss will take the hill Thursday afternoon at 3PM against Miami.
The emergence of N C State this season Hobbs Johnson may find himself in the spotlight Saturday night when State and Carolina meet up in the bracket with more than likely the winner going to the ACC Championship game Sunday at 1PM.
Carolina, State, Wake and Miami are all in the same bracket and the team that comes out of their three games with the best record will play for the ACC title. All ACC baseball games are televised with Raycon being the lead Network but since I am on Direct TV I will get the games on Fox Sports South and the ACC Final on Sunday is ESPN 2. I don't recall if it comes to pass that State and Carolina have met in baseball with so much on the line as could happen Saturday.
Carolina swept their fifth conference foe of the year and this weekend pitching was the name of the game and two Gryphons were right there in the middle of it all. Freshman Benton Moss pitched into the eighth inning Friday night allowing only four hits and no earn runs as the Heels beat The Gobblers of Virginia Tech 2-1. Moss finishes the regular season with a 6-2 record pitching 67 innings and striking out 77. Benton finished with an outstanding ERA of 2.13 and considering he failed to get out of the second inning in his first college start and his ERA was 44.something he really has started great in his first college year.
Sophomore Hobbs Johnson didn't get much farther than the end of the bench last year and the ultimate of being left home to go to summer school while the Tar Heels went back to the College World Series. Hobbs got the message from Mike Fox and has responded. First he was used in the bullpen but during the last six weeks of the season has found the mound as the starting Sunday pitcher. By years end Hobbs is third on the team in innings pitched following his former Gryphon teammate Benton Moss and the leader Emanuel. Johnson tossed 51 innings in 20 appearances but Saturday in the closing game of the regular season Hobbs took a no hitter into the seventh inning for the Heels. His ERA for the season is a minuscule 1.40.
This week the ACC baseball tournament will be played in Greensboro and if Mike Fox keeps his weekend pitching rotation in tacked then you can see both Moss and Johnson pitch. Carolina opens their ACC play Wednesday at 7PM but Benton Moss will take the hill Thursday afternoon at 3PM against Miami.
The emergence of N C State this season Hobbs Johnson may find himself in the spotlight Saturday night when State and Carolina meet up in the bracket with more than likely the winner going to the ACC Championship game Sunday at 1PM.
Carolina, State, Wake and Miami are all in the same bracket and the team that comes out of their three games with the best record will play for the ACC title. All ACC baseball games are televised with Raycon being the lead Network but since I am on Direct TV I will get the games on Fox Sports South and the ACC Final on Sunday is ESPN 2. I don't recall if it comes to pass that State and Carolina have met in baseball with so much on the line as could happen Saturday.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Hamstings, Charlie Horses and Ben Gay
If you were in church today and there is an odd smell it is probably Ben Gay Ointment used by many who took part in the Blackbird/Gryphon Old Timers game which closed out the last Rocky Mount High School sporting event to ever be played on the venues used as part of Rocky Mount High school Sports.
Almost fifty from the mid 60's right up to the the present decade came back one more time to say goodbye but like so many funerals or family reunions it was more celebration than sadness. I have heard estimates of at least 350 to almost 600 showed up either to play or look and of those that I have talked to not one person has said they didn't have a good time.
The final score was 6-4 and I don't think any one there remembers whether the Blue or Gold won.The good news was the rescue squad never got called but I know a hamstring or two got tweaked but no one would admit it.
It all started with all players taking part in the all star atmosphere of introducing all the those willing to play and Charles Alton Gryphon Historian supplying tidbits of information on all. The game had its moments from when fielders made look what I got catches to solid hits. Humor was everywhere including for those close enough when Jason Battle now Gryphon head football coach was removed from the game by Pat Smith and Battle tossing his glove in discussed as if mad that Smith would take him out of the game. There was no real batting order just those that had the courage to stand in the box hoping not to strike out. Not many did.
Next Sunday night May 27th WHIG-TV will have an hour live show and will actually put some of the game on the air but they will show many of the interviews of those that came back. Wes Bradshaw and Kent Cox were the backbone of the getting all of these players to come back. The next time you see either tell them what a good job they did.
Just like when it is time to leave a family reunion and you have seen someone for the first time in twenty years, when it is time to go you realize how wonderful life use to be and wish that those memories could surface again. There were calls to make this and annual event. Sounds to me like everyone had a good time bringing back the old days.
Wes Bradshaw and Kent Cox were the backbone of putting this reunion together ans they did a great job
Almost fifty from the mid 60's right up to the the present decade came back one more time to say goodbye but like so many funerals or family reunions it was more celebration than sadness. I have heard estimates of at least 350 to almost 600 showed up either to play or look and of those that I have talked to not one person has said they didn't have a good time.
The final score was 6-4 and I don't think any one there remembers whether the Blue or Gold won.The good news was the rescue squad never got called but I know a hamstring or two got tweaked but no one would admit it.
It all started with all players taking part in the all star atmosphere of introducing all the those willing to play and Charles Alton Gryphon Historian supplying tidbits of information on all. The game had its moments from when fielders made look what I got catches to solid hits. Humor was everywhere including for those close enough when Jason Battle now Gryphon head football coach was removed from the game by Pat Smith and Battle tossing his glove in discussed as if mad that Smith would take him out of the game. There was no real batting order just those that had the courage to stand in the box hoping not to strike out. Not many did.
Next Sunday night May 27th WHIG-TV will have an hour live show and will actually put some of the game on the air but they will show many of the interviews of those that came back. Wes Bradshaw and Kent Cox were the backbone of the getting all of these players to come back. The next time you see either tell them what a good job they did.
Just like when it is time to leave a family reunion and you have seen someone for the first time in twenty years, when it is time to go you realize how wonderful life use to be and wish that those memories could surface again. There were calls to make this and annual event. Sounds to me like everyone had a good time bringing back the old days.
Wes Bradshaw and Kent Cox were the backbone of putting this reunion together ans they did a great job
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Big Weekend In This Houseehold
Having a graduating senior in high school those last couple of weeks before the big day brings on several culminations of life leading up to graduation. Friday night the Tar River Children's Chorus had their annual end of the year concert. This year happened to be the 20th year since the Tar River Orchestral Society decided to fund a Children's Chorus. It also mark the last time that Morgan would sing with the group as she will age out.
We have been in the group nine years and have traveled all over the east coast singing with the Chorus. The Children's Chorus leader is Patsy Gilliland. I think we all hope that when our time has come and gone in this life there will be someone to say that my life was better because I was a part of it. I can tell you this Patsy being a part of my family's life the last nine year has certainly enriched ours.
Tonight The Debuette Club is having their Presentation Ball at the Dunn Center. Morgan has been in that since ninth grade. The club is a public service group and she will receive a $2,500 dollar Scholarship tonight having performed more public service hours than any other senior. Her four years she has given more than 400 hours back to help making Rocky Mount a better place to live.
Fourteen seniors will be presented and I will have to wear a Monkey Suit tonight. I have been instructed that I can't go to the Alumni game because Pat knows if I go to see any of the game I will be there to the end. If I did that my funeral would be about Tuesday.
The Big east has finished it's sports season as Hunt was knocked out of the baseball playoffs last night by South Brunswick 7-0. This will be the first time in quite sometime that at least one member of the Big East/ NEW conference hasn't gotten at least to Eastern Regional.
Yesterday's results in track had the Fike girls finishing second in the state behind the champion North Buncombe. Rocky Mount finished 21st, Southern Nash 31st and Nash Central 55th. The boys were lead by Fike finishing 5th. Then it was Hunt in 18th, Rocky Mount and Southern Nash 19th and Nash Central 32nd.
We have been in the group nine years and have traveled all over the east coast singing with the Chorus. The Children's Chorus leader is Patsy Gilliland. I think we all hope that when our time has come and gone in this life there will be someone to say that my life was better because I was a part of it. I can tell you this Patsy being a part of my family's life the last nine year has certainly enriched ours.
Tonight The Debuette Club is having their Presentation Ball at the Dunn Center. Morgan has been in that since ninth grade. The club is a public service group and she will receive a $2,500 dollar Scholarship tonight having performed more public service hours than any other senior. Her four years she has given more than 400 hours back to help making Rocky Mount a better place to live.
Fourteen seniors will be presented and I will have to wear a Monkey Suit tonight. I have been instructed that I can't go to the Alumni game because Pat knows if I go to see any of the game I will be there to the end. If I did that my funeral would be about Tuesday.
The Big east has finished it's sports season as Hunt was knocked out of the baseball playoffs last night by South Brunswick 7-0. This will be the first time in quite sometime that at least one member of the Big East/ NEW conference hasn't gotten at least to Eastern Regional.
Yesterday's results in track had the Fike girls finishing second in the state behind the champion North Buncombe. Rocky Mount finished 21st, Southern Nash 31st and Nash Central 55th. The boys were lead by Fike finishing 5th. Then it was Hunt in 18th, Rocky Mount and Southern Nash 19th and Nash Central 32nd.
Friday, May 18, 2012
One Final Time
Growing up in Ahoskie our most hated rival was Edenton. If you lived in Edenton or Ahoskie in order to win the Old Albemarle Conference football title you had to beat both of us . You had to beat both or the one you lost too was going to win the title. If was such a heated rivalry that in 1965 and 1966 they had an old timers game where the legends suited up and continue the debate of who was best. In 1965 at Edenton they won 7-0 and in 1966 Ahoskie won 13-7. Even the rivalry games were close like the varsity games were. When Ahoskie High became Hertford County in 1988 Edenton and Ahoskie had won 23 games each and tied twice. By the time of the third Legends game insurance had become an issue and there was never another game.
Saturday afternoon at Gryphon Stadium those that help make Rocky Mount into a baseball school will lace on the old shoes and get the gloves out of the top of the closet one more time. Forty two players had promised to play and six old coaches will argue with umpires one more time.
The closer the game gets to happening all of a sudden people begin to come up with excuses. Terrell Hudgins may have the best one as he is getting a try out with a Canadian Football league team. People have come up with excuses like they decided to get married at 4PM Saturday. Yes the closer the game comes, all of a sudden people realize they must be crazy to think they can still hit that little ball much less think they can still run to first base. I bet half of them can't even run to first any more but they are going to give it a Gryphon and Blackbird effort one more time and say good bye to the home of five State Championships.
Pregame ceremonies begin at 3:15 and the game will get underway at 4PM. Hope and pray that one side will will out right and they don't have to play extra innings.
Southern Nash's relay team won the 4x200 in the State Championships at NCA&T today. They ran in 1:29.32. The four members were Terron Huffman,Tracey Coppage, Sextus Vane and Dylan Proctor.
Faith Christian lost in the semi finals of the state Private school playoffs to Lawrence Academy in Fleming Stadium today 9-1.
Saturday afternoon at Gryphon Stadium those that help make Rocky Mount into a baseball school will lace on the old shoes and get the gloves out of the top of the closet one more time. Forty two players had promised to play and six old coaches will argue with umpires one more time.
The closer the game gets to happening all of a sudden people begin to come up with excuses. Terrell Hudgins may have the best one as he is getting a try out with a Canadian Football league team. People have come up with excuses like they decided to get married at 4PM Saturday. Yes the closer the game comes, all of a sudden people realize they must be crazy to think they can still hit that little ball much less think they can still run to first base. I bet half of them can't even run to first any more but they are going to give it a Gryphon and Blackbird effort one more time and say good bye to the home of five State Championships.
Pregame ceremonies begin at 3:15 and the game will get underway at 4PM. Hope and pray that one side will will out right and they don't have to play extra innings.
Southern Nash's relay team won the 4x200 in the State Championships at NCA&T today. They ran in 1:29.32. The four members were Terron Huffman,Tracey Coppage, Sextus Vane and Dylan Proctor.
Faith Christian lost in the semi finals of the state Private school playoffs to Lawrence Academy in Fleming Stadium today 9-1.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Track And Field Friday
The State Championship in track and field in 3-A gets underway Friday at North Carolina A&T. Rocky Mount's Paul Lilly who has a chance to get points in four events and just might win a couple of events has an outside shot at being MVP of the meet if he does well.
Hunt is in the third round of the Baseball playoffs and meet South Brunswick Friday night at Brunswick.
Faith Christian School goes after a shot at the State Independent School baseball title when they meet Lawrence Academy at 1pm Friday at Fleming Stadium in Wilson. The winner of that game will take on the Greenfield Wayne Country Day winner which is also being played at Fleming. The two winners collide for the title Saturday.
Tonight North Carolina State beat Florida State 10-5 as the last weekend of the regular season of college baseball is here. Carlos Rodan who is State's sensational freshman walked nine batters in six innings but gave up only three hits to pick up his ninth win of the year. State trailed 4-1 when Ryan Matthews belted two home runs to give the Pack the win. The win clinches at least third place in next week's ACC baseball Tournament for the Wolfpack. Carolina will be second if they win two of their games this weekend against Virginia Tech. .
Next Thursday May 24th is the Rocky Mount High School Athletic banquet for all athletes in the 11/12 school year. The high light of the evening will be the basketball team receiving their State Championship basketball Rings.
Understand Gryphon football player Damien Smith will play football at Campbell.
Finally tonight I can't get over this world we live in these days. Both the Miami Heat and the L A Lakers are in real trouble and both teams lost Tuesday and Wednesday night in the last seconds when team mates missed shots. Kobe Bryant and Lebron James are being labeled for either passing up shots to feed a team mate or just for not getting open.
It is almost like everyone thinks that every shot at the end of the game is suppose to go in and only the superstars are suppose to shoot them. Both cases the final shots were taken by players wide open and the shots just did not go in. The media is making out as if James is scare to take the big shot and Kobe is getting old because he can't get open any more. Neither one of those players hits 50% of his shot for the season but the media thinks because it seemed Michael Jordan made every shot at the end of games they will make all their shots. First off Jordan didn't make every shot he took at the end and Steve Kerr and John Paxton were hero's in many games from their game winning shots.
Hunt is in the third round of the Baseball playoffs and meet South Brunswick Friday night at Brunswick.
Faith Christian School goes after a shot at the State Independent School baseball title when they meet Lawrence Academy at 1pm Friday at Fleming Stadium in Wilson. The winner of that game will take on the Greenfield Wayne Country Day winner which is also being played at Fleming. The two winners collide for the title Saturday.
Tonight North Carolina State beat Florida State 10-5 as the last weekend of the regular season of college baseball is here. Carlos Rodan who is State's sensational freshman walked nine batters in six innings but gave up only three hits to pick up his ninth win of the year. State trailed 4-1 when Ryan Matthews belted two home runs to give the Pack the win. The win clinches at least third place in next week's ACC baseball Tournament for the Wolfpack. Carolina will be second if they win two of their games this weekend against Virginia Tech. .
Next Thursday May 24th is the Rocky Mount High School Athletic banquet for all athletes in the 11/12 school year. The high light of the evening will be the basketball team receiving their State Championship basketball Rings.
Understand Gryphon football player Damien Smith will play football at Campbell.
Finally tonight I can't get over this world we live in these days. Both the Miami Heat and the L A Lakers are in real trouble and both teams lost Tuesday and Wednesday night in the last seconds when team mates missed shots. Kobe Bryant and Lebron James are being labeled for either passing up shots to feed a team mate or just for not getting open.
It is almost like everyone thinks that every shot at the end of the game is suppose to go in and only the superstars are suppose to shoot them. Both cases the final shots were taken by players wide open and the shots just did not go in. The media is making out as if James is scare to take the big shot and Kobe is getting old because he can't get open any more. Neither one of those players hits 50% of his shot for the season but the media thinks because it seemed Michael Jordan made every shot at the end of games they will make all their shots. First off Jordan didn't make every shot he took at the end and Steve Kerr and John Paxton were hero's in many games from their game winning shots.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Northern Falls In East Final
Just a couple of weeks ago the members of the North Carolina Athletic Association almost voted the Christian schools out of the Association. Today Northern Nash found out what it means to meet one of them in the playoffs as they traveled to Raleigh to meet Cardinal Gibbons with the chance to play for the State Tennis title Saturday. Cardinal Gibbons won 5-1 but the matches were closer than the score. So far this spring other the the track and field runners that made it to the state meet Northern's tennis team has made it farther than any other team in the Big East this spring. Northern's senior #1 player Michael Bracket plans to walk on next year at N C State.
Faith Christian got revenge with Trinity Tuesday as the opening game of the season was an opening lost for Faith, however in the second round of the playoffs Faith Christian got their satisfaction and will move Friday in Fleming Stadium in Wilson to the final four of the Independent School playoffs with a 6-3 win. They will play at 1pm. They will play the top seed in the tournament in Lawrence Academy which is located near the recent discovery of the found Lost Colony in Bertie County. The other semi will feature the host team Greenfield Academy of Wilson against Wayne Country day of Goldsboro. Three of the teams playing in the final four are within 20 mikes of the stadium. The finals will be Saturday between the two winners.
Hunt High was the only girls soccer team to win in the second round of the playoffs so who did they draw in the 3rd round? White Oak the team that knocked out the Lady Gryphons 2-1. Hunt lost in the third round 2-0. After being 4-0 in the opening round the Big East winds up the playoffs with a record of 5-4. 1-4 against the Coastal as Hunt beat West Carteret in the second round.
Nash Central the only Big East team to make it to the second round in softball didn't make it to the third round as Havelock no hit the Lady Bulldogs. Both baseball and softball at Nash Central lost at home by ten runs. At least the softball team did make the second round.
The only Big East baseball team that is still alive we believe is Hunt. They were scheduled to play Tuesday but we believe they got rained out and are trying to play tonight in round two of the playoffs. The looks and the sounds outside my house right now I doubt they can play tonight.
I bet you didn't know this but several Carolina Panther football players including Cam Newton were at Hubbard Elementary School today helping fire up students for next weeks EOGs.
Faith Christian got revenge with Trinity Tuesday as the opening game of the season was an opening lost for Faith, however in the second round of the playoffs Faith Christian got their satisfaction and will move Friday in Fleming Stadium in Wilson to the final four of the Independent School playoffs with a 6-3 win. They will play at 1pm. They will play the top seed in the tournament in Lawrence Academy which is located near the recent discovery of the found Lost Colony in Bertie County. The other semi will feature the host team Greenfield Academy of Wilson against Wayne Country day of Goldsboro. Three of the teams playing in the final four are within 20 mikes of the stadium. The finals will be Saturday between the two winners.
Hunt High was the only girls soccer team to win in the second round of the playoffs so who did they draw in the 3rd round? White Oak the team that knocked out the Lady Gryphons 2-1. Hunt lost in the third round 2-0. After being 4-0 in the opening round the Big East winds up the playoffs with a record of 5-4. 1-4 against the Coastal as Hunt beat West Carteret in the second round.
Nash Central the only Big East team to make it to the second round in softball didn't make it to the third round as Havelock no hit the Lady Bulldogs. Both baseball and softball at Nash Central lost at home by ten runs. At least the softball team did make the second round.
The only Big East baseball team that is still alive we believe is Hunt. They were scheduled to play Tuesday but we believe they got rained out and are trying to play tonight in round two of the playoffs. The looks and the sounds outside my house right now I doubt they can play tonight.
I bet you didn't know this but several Carolina Panther football players including Cam Newton were at Hubbard Elementary School today helping fire up students for next weeks EOGs.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Josh Hamilton (You Got To Be Kidding)
Get out the Steroid checking machine as Josh Hamilton of Raleigh and the Texas Rangers is setting the pace that will break the home run record set by steroid user Barry Bonds. In case you didn't know it Hamilton is checked twice a week from has past alcohol and drug addictions. He even had a relapse of alcohol just before the spring training got under way.
I am a real fan of Josh Hamilton due to the fact he has openly admitted his past and tells you if fights urges every day. How in the world can anyone with a closet full of skeletons produce the way he has and is doing. If he keeps up this pace after thirty three games he is hitting 400- 18 home runs and 44 rbi. If he were to stay at this pace all year he was hit almost 90 home runs drive in more that 225 runs. Both of those stats would be world records and there will be no I wonder whether he on the juice because we know he isn't with all the weekly test administered by MLB.
Now we all know he cannot keep up this pace and at some point in time he will go 0-20 not hit a home run for a month. But with all he goes through every day just to try to live I wouldn't say normal life but to just survive you have to pull for the guy. You know after the last fifteen years with all the tainted records because of steroids being used it sure would be nice that if someone who we know is clean would rip the juiced records to shreds.
Brian Goodwin who has missed the last month after his groin injury in like the 7th game of his pro career in Hagerstown Maryland is expected back in Hagerstown soon. The Washington Nationals have taken extra care to insure his injury has healed 100 percent. He has probably been ready to play for two weeks but the Nationals see something in Brian that they don't want him playing injured all the time. He has rehabbed back in the Nationals Florida camp. It will be interesting to see whether he picks up the torrid pace that he set the first week in minor league baseball before the injury.
We are in the last week of Division one college baseball's regular season and unless four teams fall apart over the next two weeks Florida State, North Carolina and N C State and Virginia are all in line to host Regionals the first week in June. FSU is second, Carolina fifth the Pack eleventh and Virginia twelfth in the updated as of today RPI. State has not hosted a Regional since 2003 when they had to play the Regional in Wilson at Fleming Stadium while Doak Field was being expanded. Clemson, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and ECU are all in the top 30 and should easily get births to the College playoffs.
I am a real fan of Josh Hamilton due to the fact he has openly admitted his past and tells you if fights urges every day. How in the world can anyone with a closet full of skeletons produce the way he has and is doing. If he keeps up this pace after thirty three games he is hitting 400- 18 home runs and 44 rbi. If he were to stay at this pace all year he was hit almost 90 home runs drive in more that 225 runs. Both of those stats would be world records and there will be no I wonder whether he on the juice because we know he isn't with all the weekly test administered by MLB.
Now we all know he cannot keep up this pace and at some point in time he will go 0-20 not hit a home run for a month. But with all he goes through every day just to try to live I wouldn't say normal life but to just survive you have to pull for the guy. You know after the last fifteen years with all the tainted records because of steroids being used it sure would be nice that if someone who we know is clean would rip the juiced records to shreds.
Brian Goodwin who has missed the last month after his groin injury in like the 7th game of his pro career in Hagerstown Maryland is expected back in Hagerstown soon. The Washington Nationals have taken extra care to insure his injury has healed 100 percent. He has probably been ready to play for two weeks but the Nationals see something in Brian that they don't want him playing injured all the time. He has rehabbed back in the Nationals Florida camp. It will be interesting to see whether he picks up the torrid pace that he set the first week in minor league baseball before the injury.
We are in the last week of Division one college baseball's regular season and unless four teams fall apart over the next two weeks Florida State, North Carolina and N C State and Virginia are all in line to host Regionals the first week in June. FSU is second, Carolina fifth the Pack eleventh and Virginia twelfth in the updated as of today RPI. State has not hosted a Regional since 2003 when they had to play the Regional in Wilson at Fleming Stadium while Doak Field was being expanded. Clemson, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and ECU are all in the top 30 and should easily get births to the College playoffs.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Last One Saturday/ Gryphon Alumni Game
It will be a celebration of all the glory encountered at what use to be called Memorial Stadium and then Gryphon Stadium. In all five state titles were won as the Blackbirds and Gryphons played on the field. Progress has hit us and for the first time ever every sport will be played on campus next year at the new Rocky Mount High School. For Gryphon Stadium it's future name is unknown but we know Senior American Legion, Junior Legion and Babe Ruth will take over the field.
Part of the celebration every Blackbird or Gryphon who has ever played on that field representing Rocky Mount have been invited to come back So far 37 have promised to come back and play and six former coaches are going to roam the coaches boxes one more time.
The ceremonies will start at 3:15pm when all the participants will be introduced. I am sure if he were alive that he would have wanted to play and part of the pregame ceremonies a tribute will be paid to former Blackbird Darrell Johnson was was part of a state title in football and baseball but is still Missing In Action in Vietnam. Admission is free and there will be grilled hot dogs on sale during the game with a proceeds going to the Gryphon Baseball.
Those players committed to play are:
Eddie Joe Lynch Class of 67 Jeff Collins Class of 74 Tommy Warrick Class of 74
Jeff Williams Class of 76 Timmy Tucker Class of 79 Kevin Bunn Class of 80
John Kennedy Class of 80 Jeff Newsome Class of 80 Eddie Coates Class of 83
Hank Jones Class of 86 Gary Miller Class of 88 Marcus Mitchell Class of 91
J J Jones Class of 91 Harold Joyner Class of 92 Jerry Smith Class of 95
Travis Matthews Class of 95 Jeremy Ward Class of 96 David Ange Class of 97
Eric Johnson Class of 98 Jason Battle Class of 98 Paul Jenkins Class of 2001
Carter Harrell Class of 2001 Sam Crisp Class of 2001 Braxton Hill Class of 2002
Adam Weaver Class of 2002 Jason Womble Class of 2004 Brandon Arrington Class of 2005
Will Johnson Class of 2005 Terrell Hudgins Class of 2005 Chad Womble Class of 2007
Grant Johnson Class of 2008 Jim Leggett Class of 2008 William Barringer Class of 2008
Chris Berry Class of 2008 Cameron Ramsey Class of 2009Dillon Cockrell Class of 2009
Carter Varnell Class of 2010
Coaches returning include Pat Smith-Danny Weaver-Shelton Chesson-George Kelly-Jerry Carter and Dale Thompkins.
Come on out Saturday afternoon and laugh and have a good time for I am sure there will be a tale or two told as the afternoon goes on. First pitch should be right after the introduction of the teams. No telling how long it might take some of them to get loose.
Part of the celebration every Blackbird or Gryphon who has ever played on that field representing Rocky Mount have been invited to come back So far 37 have promised to come back and play and six former coaches are going to roam the coaches boxes one more time.
The ceremonies will start at 3:15pm when all the participants will be introduced. I am sure if he were alive that he would have wanted to play and part of the pregame ceremonies a tribute will be paid to former Blackbird Darrell Johnson was was part of a state title in football and baseball but is still Missing In Action in Vietnam. Admission is free and there will be grilled hot dogs on sale during the game with a proceeds going to the Gryphon Baseball.
Those players committed to play are:
Eddie Joe Lynch Class of 67 Jeff Collins Class of 74 Tommy Warrick Class of 74
Jeff Williams Class of 76 Timmy Tucker Class of 79 Kevin Bunn Class of 80
John Kennedy Class of 80 Jeff Newsome Class of 80 Eddie Coates Class of 83
Hank Jones Class of 86 Gary Miller Class of 88 Marcus Mitchell Class of 91
J J Jones Class of 91 Harold Joyner Class of 92 Jerry Smith Class of 95
Travis Matthews Class of 95 Jeremy Ward Class of 96 David Ange Class of 97
Eric Johnson Class of 98 Jason Battle Class of 98 Paul Jenkins Class of 2001
Carter Harrell Class of 2001 Sam Crisp Class of 2001 Braxton Hill Class of 2002
Adam Weaver Class of 2002 Jason Womble Class of 2004 Brandon Arrington Class of 2005
Will Johnson Class of 2005 Terrell Hudgins Class of 2005 Chad Womble Class of 2007
Grant Johnson Class of 2008 Jim Leggett Class of 2008 William Barringer Class of 2008
Chris Berry Class of 2008 Cameron Ramsey Class of 2009Dillon Cockrell Class of 2009
Carter Varnell Class of 2010
Coaches returning include Pat Smith-Danny Weaver-Shelton Chesson-George Kelly-Jerry Carter and Dale Thompkins.
Come on out Saturday afternoon and laugh and have a good time for I am sure there will be a tale or two told as the afternoon goes on. First pitch should be right after the introduction of the teams. No telling how long it might take some of them to get loose.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Pack Moving Up
The University of North Carolina was the first University that a State government gave money in order to create. It open it's doors in 1804. Almost a century later the state government was spending money again to create a college and there are many who attended that still say they went to State College. Since 1890 there has always been the second fiddle label to State over those who go to Carolina.
Carolina has for years used the moniker THE University of North Carolina. Whenever possible they have tried to imply that the standards in Chapel Hill were beyond reproach and the Cow College was always little sister in importance and value to the State Of North Carolina.
Scandal has ravaged through Chapel Hill in the last two years. The Honor Court and the Academic Standards are in questioned. Yes during the last days of Jim Valvano N C State paid a price that a decision was made to devalue sports and bring an academic standard to the University that would meet the view of those in Chapel Hill. Like it or not State's last twenty years on the athletic fields have been good but not outstanding.
Then a North Carolina State icon dies in Kay Yow and her sister soon arrives to run the athletic ship. Debbie Yow is just about to finish up her second year as Athletic Director and there is a surge on the field and Saturday more athletes graduated in one day in the history of the institution. The answer is yes you can win and still go to class. We have just found in the last couple of weeks that going to class is not necessary at the Hill.
Now with a new investigation looming in Chapel Hill Debbie Yow is finding money under rocks that no one knew of before her arrival. She is demanding coaches put better teams on the field and across the board State is improving every where. You know she called Gary Williams lazy and he was a National Championship coach for Maryland basketball.
Will Carolina at some point in time have to start looking back beyond 2007 which is as far back as I think they want to look and find out they are not the shining star that they have advertised. While Carolina is embroiled in a major embarrassment under Debbie Yow's leadership State is on the rise and seems ready to take over the Flagship if Carolina keeps in denial and is not willing to get to the bottom of a mess.
Carolina has for years used the moniker THE University of North Carolina. Whenever possible they have tried to imply that the standards in Chapel Hill were beyond reproach and the Cow College was always little sister in importance and value to the State Of North Carolina.
Scandal has ravaged through Chapel Hill in the last two years. The Honor Court and the Academic Standards are in questioned. Yes during the last days of Jim Valvano N C State paid a price that a decision was made to devalue sports and bring an academic standard to the University that would meet the view of those in Chapel Hill. Like it or not State's last twenty years on the athletic fields have been good but not outstanding.
Then a North Carolina State icon dies in Kay Yow and her sister soon arrives to run the athletic ship. Debbie Yow is just about to finish up her second year as Athletic Director and there is a surge on the field and Saturday more athletes graduated in one day in the history of the institution. The answer is yes you can win and still go to class. We have just found in the last couple of weeks that going to class is not necessary at the Hill.
Now with a new investigation looming in Chapel Hill Debbie Yow is finding money under rocks that no one knew of before her arrival. She is demanding coaches put better teams on the field and across the board State is improving every where. You know she called Gary Williams lazy and he was a National Championship coach for Maryland basketball.
Will Carolina at some point in time have to start looking back beyond 2007 which is as far back as I think they want to look and find out they are not the shining star that they have advertised. While Carolina is embroiled in a major embarrassment under Debbie Yow's leadership State is on the rise and seems ready to take over the Flagship if Carolina keeps in denial and is not willing to get to the bottom of a mess.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Falls Road Wins Soccer Title
It seemed to take fore ever but the girls of Falls Road won in overtime 2-1 today to win the the NCCSA Girls soccer title. It took more than twenty extra minutes before Falls Roads beat Sheets Memorial.
Rocky Mount boys finished second in the East Regional held in Swansboro. Paul Lilly won two events the 1600 and 3200. The Rocky Mount girls took home third spot.
Got some unfinished business to finish up. Girls softball action was a mixed bag in the opening round. Nash Central lived to play another day with a 7-5 victory over Cleveland. Fike as the #4 from the Big East went to Currituck and won 2-1. The losers in round one were Southern Nash losing to Washington 12- 1 at home while on the road Northern Nash lost to South Johnston 12-2.
Nash Central has a home game Tuesday against Havelock at 7PM. Havelock is 20-4 on the year. Fike will travel to C B Aycock Tuesday.
The Big East was perfect in the opening round of the soccer but not so in round two. Rocky Mount lost 2-1 to White Oak. Fike lost 3-0 to Jacksonville and Washington beat Northern Nash 5-1. Do you see a trend all three of those losses were to Coastal Teams. Hunt played Saturday night and I have not heard that score.
There is only one baseball team left and that is Hunt and they play in round two Tuesday at 7PM against South Central.
Today Post 58 held their try outs for the 2012 Coleman Pitt Post 58 team. I hope we can tell you the roster sometimes next week when it is finalized. First game is May 23rd.
Next Saturday is the alumni game at Gryphon Stadium as the final high school game to be played there. This summer it will be home to Post 58 Senior Legion and Junior Legion as well as some Babe Ruth games.
Rocky Mount boys finished second in the East Regional held in Swansboro. Paul Lilly won two events the 1600 and 3200. The Rocky Mount girls took home third spot.
Got some unfinished business to finish up. Girls softball action was a mixed bag in the opening round. Nash Central lived to play another day with a 7-5 victory over Cleveland. Fike as the #4 from the Big East went to Currituck and won 2-1. The losers in round one were Southern Nash losing to Washington 12- 1 at home while on the road Northern Nash lost to South Johnston 12-2.
Nash Central has a home game Tuesday against Havelock at 7PM. Havelock is 20-4 on the year. Fike will travel to C B Aycock Tuesday.
The Big East was perfect in the opening round of the soccer but not so in round two. Rocky Mount lost 2-1 to White Oak. Fike lost 3-0 to Jacksonville and Washington beat Northern Nash 5-1. Do you see a trend all three of those losses were to Coastal Teams. Hunt played Saturday night and I have not heard that score.
There is only one baseball team left and that is Hunt and they play in round two Tuesday at 7PM against South Central.
Today Post 58 held their try outs for the 2012 Coleman Pitt Post 58 team. I hope we can tell you the roster sometimes next week when it is finalized. First game is May 23rd.
Next Saturday is the alumni game at Gryphon Stadium as the final high school game to be played there. This summer it will be home to Post 58 Senior Legion and Junior Legion as well as some Babe Ruth games.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Holy Come Back Batman
Today the cameras of the All New Sports Show were at Faith Christian covering the Faith first round playoff game against Hickory. Faith as the #5 Seed in the State got the home game as Hickory is seeded 12th.
Hickory's Matt Johnson Started and went the distance for Hickory and heading into the 7th looked like an easy winner. Johnson hit a three run homer in the third, doubled home another in the fifth and Hickory added a run in the sixth to hold a 7-2 lead.
All that matters in this one is what happened in the bottom of the seventh for the Patriots. Andrew Barnes lead off with a hit followed by Christian Davis hit one in the hole at short and the shortstop tried to make a play at second but threw the ball into right field but that was still two on and five runs behind. Luke Mills hit a shot to the third baseman and his throw got by the first baseman and Faith a a run and first and third and no outs.
Chase Roupp got a single driving in a run. Now it's 7-4 with runners and first and second. A strikeout later Cody Manning hit another ball in the hole at shortstop who made a fine play but could not get anybody out. Still 7-4 bases loaded and one out. Josh Overton pushed across on run and it's 7-5 bases loaded one out. Another strikeout and that was Johnson 8th of the game. The ninth place hitter in the lineup Andrew Barnes bounded a ball over the head of the pitcher and by the time the second baseman can get it we are tied 7all. It took only one pitch for Christian Davis to get smacked on the back he took off for first only to stop because he was unsure the ump called it but he did and the six run bottom of the 7th comeback is history.
Now for the Big East: The big question after every team won at least four games in the league was that a strong league or just mediocre. I think from the results of the first round not very good. Hunt the #1 seed won 5-4 over #3 seed North Lenoir. The rest of the news is not good. Nash Central hosting Jacksonville never got a whole game in as Jacksonville takes out Nash Central 19-8 at Central in six innings. #3 Northern Nash lost at Southern Wayne 5-0 and Southern Nash lost 3-1 at Currituck.
East Regional is all day Saturday in Track and Field at Swansboro.
Hickory's Matt Johnson Started and went the distance for Hickory and heading into the 7th looked like an easy winner. Johnson hit a three run homer in the third, doubled home another in the fifth and Hickory added a run in the sixth to hold a 7-2 lead.
All that matters in this one is what happened in the bottom of the seventh for the Patriots. Andrew Barnes lead off with a hit followed by Christian Davis hit one in the hole at short and the shortstop tried to make a play at second but threw the ball into right field but that was still two on and five runs behind. Luke Mills hit a shot to the third baseman and his throw got by the first baseman and Faith a a run and first and third and no outs.
Chase Roupp got a single driving in a run. Now it's 7-4 with runners and first and second. A strikeout later Cody Manning hit another ball in the hole at shortstop who made a fine play but could not get anybody out. Still 7-4 bases loaded and one out. Josh Overton pushed across on run and it's 7-5 bases loaded one out. Another strikeout and that was Johnson 8th of the game. The ninth place hitter in the lineup Andrew Barnes bounded a ball over the head of the pitcher and by the time the second baseman can get it we are tied 7all. It took only one pitch for Christian Davis to get smacked on the back he took off for first only to stop because he was unsure the ump called it but he did and the six run bottom of the 7th comeback is history.
Now for the Big East: The big question after every team won at least four games in the league was that a strong league or just mediocre. I think from the results of the first round not very good. Hunt the #1 seed won 5-4 over #3 seed North Lenoir. The rest of the news is not good. Nash Central hosting Jacksonville never got a whole game in as Jacksonville takes out Nash Central 19-8 at Central in six innings. #3 Northern Nash lost at Southern Wayne 5-0 and Southern Nash lost 3-1 at Currituck.
East Regional is all day Saturday in Track and Field at Swansboro.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Heartbreaker Ends Athletics On Campus
There are times when the weather plays factors in sports and today the wind blew about 15 to 20 miles per hour out of the west so the team shooting at the east goal should have the advantage. Defending the east goal in the first half Rocky Mount held White Oak scoreless and White Oak returned the favor by shutting out the Lady Gryphons for the first half.
A defensive lapse only five minutes into the second half gave White Oak the lead as the White Oak shooter found herself one on one with Ty Hardy the Lady Gryphon goalie and chipped a shot over her head into the net. The Lady Gryphons tied the game eleven minutes later when three times during the second half the White Oak goalie punted the ball outside of the 18 yard line. After the second she received a warning from the side referee and when she did it the third time the Gryphons got a free kick from the 18 yard line and Syndey Browder faked a run at a shot and Casey Cooke slammed a shot into the net to tie the score at one all.
The next five minutes the Gryphons pressured the White Oak defense but at about the fifteen minute mark to go in the game White Oak took ball control and only once did Rocky Mount threaten the goal while White Oak was constantly attacking at the net. Once the clock stopped at the two minute mark and the head referee took over the time White Oak attacked the Gryphon goal and a misplay on a header went straight to a White Oak open shooter to give them a 2-1 lead with about 1:40 to play in the game. Rocky Mount never crossed midfield for the remainder of the game.
The first half saw White Oak control the ball about 60% of the time and up to the 15 minute mark the 60/40 rate stayed at about the same but the last 15 minutes belonged to White Oak and they advance to play in round three.
The Lady Gryphons never had the ball enough in the second half to get any help from the still blowing wind. The Lady Gryphons lose for the third time this year and oddly enough all three were at home. It also marks the last sporting event to be played at the old school campus with all of the sports games played next year being on the brand new campus.
The only Rocky Mount High athletes still in action are the track and field members that made it to the Regional which will be held this weekend at Swansboro High School but the host school oddly enough is White Oak.
A defensive lapse only five minutes into the second half gave White Oak the lead as the White Oak shooter found herself one on one with Ty Hardy the Lady Gryphon goalie and chipped a shot over her head into the net. The Lady Gryphons tied the game eleven minutes later when three times during the second half the White Oak goalie punted the ball outside of the 18 yard line. After the second she received a warning from the side referee and when she did it the third time the Gryphons got a free kick from the 18 yard line and Syndey Browder faked a run at a shot and Casey Cooke slammed a shot into the net to tie the score at one all.
The next five minutes the Gryphons pressured the White Oak defense but at about the fifteen minute mark to go in the game White Oak took ball control and only once did Rocky Mount threaten the goal while White Oak was constantly attacking at the net. Once the clock stopped at the two minute mark and the head referee took over the time White Oak attacked the Gryphon goal and a misplay on a header went straight to a White Oak open shooter to give them a 2-1 lead with about 1:40 to play in the game. Rocky Mount never crossed midfield for the remainder of the game.
The first half saw White Oak control the ball about 60% of the time and up to the 15 minute mark the 60/40 rate stayed at about the same but the last 15 minutes belonged to White Oak and they advance to play in round three.
The Lady Gryphons never had the ball enough in the second half to get any help from the still blowing wind. The Lady Gryphons lose for the third time this year and oddly enough all three were at home. It also marks the last sporting event to be played at the old school campus with all of the sports games played next year being on the brand new campus.
The only Rocky Mount High athletes still in action are the track and field members that made it to the Regional which will be held this weekend at Swansboro High School but the host school oddly enough is White Oak.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Big East Soccer/Tennis Undefeated
Last week the two teams representing the Big East in Tennis won their opening round matches and the second round looked a lot like the first as Northern Nash traveled to South Brunwick and to say the least the match was short and sweet. Northern Skunked SB 6-0. They will finally get a home match Monday when they host conference foe Fike who beat C B Aycock 6-3 at Aycock. Match time is set for 4PM
Turning to girls soccer where we were not able to get on the website last night to find out anything about any scores but the scores are all good for the Big East. Rocky Mount of course beat Eastern Wayne 6-1 and will now face White Oak who was an 11-0 winner over Hertford County. Hertford County went into that match 1-13 so the score was about what it should have been. White Oak will bring a 17-2-2 record to Rocky Mount Thursday at 5PM.Rocky Mount's record is not to shabby either at 19-2-2. This will be a big time second round match.
#2 Fike beat Havelock 3-0 but now have the task of going to Jacksonville to take on the Cardinals. Northern Nash a 2-1 over time winner of Currituck will get a home match in the second round hosting Washington. Hunt has also won a home game after their 3-0 win over Cleveland. They will host West Carteret. Now I can't tell you for sure when anyone else plays as all second round games have to be completed by the end of Saturday. All I know for sure is Rocky Mount host Jacksonville White Oak Thursday at 5pm and White Oak knocked the Lady Gryphons out last year. If you pull for any of these schools I would advise calling the school tomorrow to find out when they play their second round matches.
Softball starts Friday just like baseball and here is the schedule. #4 Fike travels to Currituck. #3 Northern Nash makes a visit to South Johnston. #2 Southern Nash will host Washington and the #1seed Nash Central has a home game against Cleveland. Let's hope the conference can sweep like soccer and tennis.
Baseball after a week off since the tournament will finally see action Friday. #4seed Southern Nash will hit the road traveling to Currituck. # 3 Northern Nash likewise hitting the highway travels to Southern Wayne. Hunt as the #1 seed will be hosting North Lenoir. I think it is safe to say this but I believe for the first time ever Nash Central will host a playoff game and at the same time softball will be home up the hill from the baseball game.
The Big East had a great record against other teams in the playoffs in football. The two best girls teams in basketball met in the sectional finals while Rocky Mount took the basketball title. The Big East spring playoff start so far this year just very well prove that the Big East is the overall best sports conference in state.Softball and baseball can join the fun. The regional track and field is this weekend and Rocky Mount boys are the favorite in the Regional in Swansboro.
Turning to girls soccer where we were not able to get on the website last night to find out anything about any scores but the scores are all good for the Big East. Rocky Mount of course beat Eastern Wayne 6-1 and will now face White Oak who was an 11-0 winner over Hertford County. Hertford County went into that match 1-13 so the score was about what it should have been. White Oak will bring a 17-2-2 record to Rocky Mount Thursday at 5PM.Rocky Mount's record is not to shabby either at 19-2-2. This will be a big time second round match.
#2 Fike beat Havelock 3-0 but now have the task of going to Jacksonville to take on the Cardinals. Northern Nash a 2-1 over time winner of Currituck will get a home match in the second round hosting Washington. Hunt has also won a home game after their 3-0 win over Cleveland. They will host West Carteret. Now I can't tell you for sure when anyone else plays as all second round games have to be completed by the end of Saturday. All I know for sure is Rocky Mount host Jacksonville White Oak Thursday at 5pm and White Oak knocked the Lady Gryphons out last year. If you pull for any of these schools I would advise calling the school tomorrow to find out when they play their second round matches.
Softball starts Friday just like baseball and here is the schedule. #4 Fike travels to Currituck. #3 Northern Nash makes a visit to South Johnston. #2 Southern Nash will host Washington and the #1seed Nash Central has a home game against Cleveland. Let's hope the conference can sweep like soccer and tennis.
Baseball after a week off since the tournament will finally see action Friday. #4seed Southern Nash will hit the road traveling to Currituck. # 3 Northern Nash likewise hitting the highway travels to Southern Wayne. Hunt as the #1 seed will be hosting North Lenoir. I think it is safe to say this but I believe for the first time ever Nash Central will host a playoff game and at the same time softball will be home up the hill from the baseball game.
The Big East had a great record against other teams in the playoffs in football. The two best girls teams in basketball met in the sectional finals while Rocky Mount took the basketball title. The Big East spring playoff start so far this year just very well prove that the Big East is the overall best sports conference in state.Softball and baseball can join the fun. The regional track and field is this weekend and Rocky Mount boys are the favorite in the Regional in Swansboro.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Lady Gryphons Roll
The Lady Gryphons of Rocky Mount will have to play the entire playoffs without one of their top three players in senior Lauren Smith who injured her knee in practice. Even without a triple threat the double threat of Sydney Browder and Casey Cooke was enough to be a part of six goals as Rocky Mount advances to the second round of the 3-A soccer playoffs with a 6-1 victory over Eastern Wayne.
The Lady Gryphons were sluggish for the first 17 minutes until Browder took the ball and weaved through more than half the field and hit a cutting Cooke who found the net at 22.09 of the first. Browder next scored with 16.23 to play in the half and Cooke followed with her second goal at 10.15 of the half. Browder and Cooke both scored goals in the second half and with 10.05 to play Browder broke free with teammate Elizabeth Thompson on her right and after the goalie committed to Browder fed Thompson for the sixth goal of the game. Rocky Mount dominate play with the ball as Eastern Wayne only had three shots on goal.
Rocky Mount will host White Oak of Jacksonville Thursday at 5PM.
As I am doing this blog tonight I guess with all the Boys tennis and girls soccer scores coming in the brackets are jammed up and I have not been able to find out any other scores for Tennis and Soccer.
Yesterday SouthWest Edgecombe boys won the the 2-A Regional golf championship. In 3-A West Carteret won the boys followed by Fike and Southern Nash. The golf State Championships are Monday and Tuesday.
Today at the softball field at Rocky Mount Academy the coaching career of Andy Jackson came to an end for the Eagles. Jackson who has coached both football and baseball took the girls softball team after Pat Smith was hired to coach baseball this year. This is the first time ever that RMA girls qualified for the playoffs but can not take part due to the fact they have sixth graders playing on the varsity and they are not eligible for the playoffs. Thanks to Andy for his service to RMA.
The Lady Gryphons were sluggish for the first 17 minutes until Browder took the ball and weaved through more than half the field and hit a cutting Cooke who found the net at 22.09 of the first. Browder next scored with 16.23 to play in the half and Cooke followed with her second goal at 10.15 of the half. Browder and Cooke both scored goals in the second half and with 10.05 to play Browder broke free with teammate Elizabeth Thompson on her right and after the goalie committed to Browder fed Thompson for the sixth goal of the game. Rocky Mount dominate play with the ball as Eastern Wayne only had three shots on goal.
Rocky Mount will host White Oak of Jacksonville Thursday at 5PM.
As I am doing this blog tonight I guess with all the Boys tennis and girls soccer scores coming in the brackets are jammed up and I have not been able to find out any other scores for Tennis and Soccer.
Yesterday SouthWest Edgecombe boys won the the 2-A Regional golf championship. In 3-A West Carteret won the boys followed by Fike and Southern Nash. The golf State Championships are Monday and Tuesday.
Today at the softball field at Rocky Mount Academy the coaching career of Andy Jackson came to an end for the Eagles. Jackson who has coached both football and baseball took the girls softball team after Pat Smith was hired to coach baseball this year. This is the first time ever that RMA girls qualified for the playoffs but can not take part due to the fact they have sixth graders playing on the varsity and they are not eligible for the playoffs. Thanks to Andy for his service to RMA.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Former Gryphon ACC Pitcher Of The Week
2010 Rocky Mount High School grad Hobbs Johnson was named the ACC Pitcher of the Week after two appearances last week for the Tar Heels. The Tar Heels did not play the last weekend of April because of exams but they did return to action last Tuesday and Johnson got four innings of relief work where he struck out 6 and helped be a part of the Carolina 2-0 shutout win.
Yesterday Hobbs started for the Heels and pitched 5.1 innings struck out seven and allowed only two hits. When he left the game he was ahead 4-1 which was the final score. Johnson for the week pitched 9.1 innings giving up three hits struck out 13 and posted both wins in the games he pitched. The sophomore is now 4-1 on the season and his ERA for the season has dipped to 1.60 in over 39 innings pitched.
The last game ever for Rocky Mount High School at old Gryphon Stadium is coming together with 35 or so Gryphons committed to play and Wes Bradshaw is still looking for any old Rocky Mount player who may or may not want to play but be a part of the last game contact him.This Wednesday is the deadline for those who would like to participate in some form.
Gryphon girls soccer starts the playoff at 5PM Tuesday when they host Eastern Wayne. The Lady Gryphons missed out on winning both the regular season and Tournament last Thursday to Fike so they should be motivated to get a new streak going.
The second round of the Tennis team competition is Tuesday with both Northern and Southern Nash on the road.
Saturday the Eastern Regional in track and field will be held in Swansboro. I don't know the reason but certainly Swansboro would not be geographically any where near the center of the Eastern Region area. Many athletes from this area will have to crawl out of bed early in order to be there for the start and it will be near dark before the last event.
Yesterday Hobbs started for the Heels and pitched 5.1 innings struck out seven and allowed only two hits. When he left the game he was ahead 4-1 which was the final score. Johnson for the week pitched 9.1 innings giving up three hits struck out 13 and posted both wins in the games he pitched. The sophomore is now 4-1 on the season and his ERA for the season has dipped to 1.60 in over 39 innings pitched.
The last game ever for Rocky Mount High School at old Gryphon Stadium is coming together with 35 or so Gryphons committed to play and Wes Bradshaw is still looking for any old Rocky Mount player who may or may not want to play but be a part of the last game contact him.This Wednesday is the deadline for those who would like to participate in some form.
Gryphon girls soccer starts the playoff at 5PM Tuesday when they host Eastern Wayne. The Lady Gryphons missed out on winning both the regular season and Tournament last Thursday to Fike so they should be motivated to get a new streak going.
The second round of the Tennis team competition is Tuesday with both Northern and Southern Nash on the road.
Saturday the Eastern Regional in track and field will be held in Swansboro. I don't know the reason but certainly Swansboro would not be geographically any where near the center of the Eastern Region area. Many athletes from this area will have to crawl out of bed early in order to be there for the start and it will be near dark before the last event.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
All Out Playoffs
Baseball begins the playoffs on Friday and once again the NCHSAA is going with one game the first week, two the second, the fourth round early in week three and the Regional Finals two out of three by the end of the third weekend. It is possible that the four teams that make the Regional will have to play four games that week.
Why can't we have the first two rounds this upcoming week. Rounds three and four the second week and only have the four teams left play a two out of three the third week and another two out of three for the State Championship. Four games in a week and nobody can possibly put a decent pitcher on the mound for the fourth game unless he has already pitched during the week. There is no safety factor there over using pitcher.
Hunt will represent the Big East as the first seed. Nash Central will get a home game as the number two. Northern Nash and Southern Nash will have to play every game on the road starting with the first through the fourth game. If either makes it to the regional then they would get one game at home.
Softball will send four to the playoffs with Nash Central as the first seed and Southern Nash as the number two getting at least one home game. Northern Nash and Hunt as three and four seeds will be on the road.
Soccer begins this week on Tuesday and Rocky Mount and Fike will be home as the top teams in the Big East. Hunt and Northern Nash are gassing up the buses for road trips on Tuesday.
Tonight on the All New Sports Show on WHIG TV you can see the replay of the Hunt-Nash central baseball game played for the Big East crown at 8PM. Edward Green will be doing the play by play in tonight's game. We are planning right now to cover next Friday's home game for Faith Christian as they open play in their playoffs in baseball.
Why can't we have the first two rounds this upcoming week. Rounds three and four the second week and only have the four teams left play a two out of three the third week and another two out of three for the State Championship. Four games in a week and nobody can possibly put a decent pitcher on the mound for the fourth game unless he has already pitched during the week. There is no safety factor there over using pitcher.
Hunt will represent the Big East as the first seed. Nash Central will get a home game as the number two. Northern Nash and Southern Nash will have to play every game on the road starting with the first through the fourth game. If either makes it to the regional then they would get one game at home.
Softball will send four to the playoffs with Nash Central as the first seed and Southern Nash as the number two getting at least one home game. Northern Nash and Hunt as three and four seeds will be on the road.
Soccer begins this week on Tuesday and Rocky Mount and Fike will be home as the top teams in the Big East. Hunt and Northern Nash are gassing up the buses for road trips on Tuesday.
Tonight on the All New Sports Show on WHIG TV you can see the replay of the Hunt-Nash central baseball game played for the Big East crown at 8PM. Edward Green will be doing the play by play in tonight's game. We are planning right now to cover next Friday's home game for Faith Christian as they open play in their playoffs in baseball.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Injuries
Just maybe the greatest relief pitcher in the history of Major League Baseball Mariano Rivera was injured this week while the Yankees were taking batting practice just like every team every where does before any game. I have heard so many comments about how silly that is that he would be shagging fly balls in the outfield during batting practice.
Major League teams play practically everyday. The only time they get to practice is before a game starts. Most of the time that happens before the gates open and in some parks the home team has finished batting practice before the paying public is allowed into a stadium.
The home team gets forty minutes that starts by who ever is the starting line up with the lead off batter first gets their cuts. He gets about ten swings before the second batter gets his cuts. Then those on the bench take a few swings. While there is someone in the cage coaches are hitting ground balls to the infielders and they either throw the ball over to first or back to a designated area.
There is always a screen setup for whoever is pitching batting practice in most cases it is a coach. The screen is there to protect him on line drives hit directly back at him because just as fast as he can let one pitch goes he is winding up to throw another. There are other screens set up for first base, second and any where a player may be catching a ball thrown from a different direction from where the hitters are. Once the home teams forty minutes is up the visitors get their forty minutes
I once went to see the Braves play way back in the 80's in Atlanta and as we walking on to the stadium grounds several pitchers were actually running around the stadium. I remember two of them were Rick Camp and Tommy Green so that dates how far back that was. Pitchers run wind sprints in the outfield while batting practice goes on while other pitchers who may have finished their running are shagging fly balls like Rivera was doing.
It doesn't matter how valuable you are to the team everyone has to get in the necessary work before a game in order to be in shape to play six months a baseball everyday. Baseball is not like football where you play a game and practice five times before you play again. I believe the players play 20 out of 21 days so they only get one day off every three weeks.
In the movie Bull Durham Crash created a rain out by cutting on the sprinkler system and letting it run all night. Don't you know players hate rain delays that make the games go five hours or more. You also got to know they love it when a game gets rained out before they leave for the ball park. Days off are precious.
Major League teams play practically everyday. The only time they get to practice is before a game starts. Most of the time that happens before the gates open and in some parks the home team has finished batting practice before the paying public is allowed into a stadium.
The home team gets forty minutes that starts by who ever is the starting line up with the lead off batter first gets their cuts. He gets about ten swings before the second batter gets his cuts. Then those on the bench take a few swings. While there is someone in the cage coaches are hitting ground balls to the infielders and they either throw the ball over to first or back to a designated area.
There is always a screen setup for whoever is pitching batting practice in most cases it is a coach. The screen is there to protect him on line drives hit directly back at him because just as fast as he can let one pitch goes he is winding up to throw another. There are other screens set up for first base, second and any where a player may be catching a ball thrown from a different direction from where the hitters are. Once the home teams forty minutes is up the visitors get their forty minutes
I once went to see the Braves play way back in the 80's in Atlanta and as we walking on to the stadium grounds several pitchers were actually running around the stadium. I remember two of them were Rick Camp and Tommy Green so that dates how far back that was. Pitchers run wind sprints in the outfield while batting practice goes on while other pitchers who may have finished their running are shagging fly balls like Rivera was doing.
It doesn't matter how valuable you are to the team everyone has to get in the necessary work before a game in order to be in shape to play six months a baseball everyday. Baseball is not like football where you play a game and practice five times before you play again. I believe the players play 20 out of 21 days so they only get one day off every three weeks.
In the movie Bull Durham Crash created a rain out by cutting on the sprinkler system and letting it run all night. Don't you know players hate rain delays that make the games go five hours or more. You also got to know they love it when a game gets rained out before they leave for the ball park. Days off are precious.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Consequences Of Life
This week one of the Icons of the NFL of the 90's Junior Seau who had his greatest years with the San Diego Chargers shot himself and ended his life. The world we live in today where we are not responsible for anything we do, it is always somebody else's fault. The blame is being laid at the hands of concussions in the NFL. It very well be part of the cause but before we get carried away and have a rally in Rocky Mount to end the NFL let's try to find reason to keep sanity afloat.
Do you think the Seau ever used enhancement drugs at anytime in his playing career? If he did what part of the blame can we point in that direction? If any anytime in his life did he ever used any drugs of pleasure? If he did what part did that play. Did he ever get a concussion while playing and never told anyone for the fear of if I don't play someone could take my place? Who's fault is that if it happened. Was he in any financial trouble do to the fact that 70% of NFL players are broke five years after their careers end. Did he miss the limelight so much that he was depressed because he wasn't on sports center every night any more.
You know most athletes that reach the professional level in any sport are patted on the back from the moment we realize that they can play any sport really well and you know as well as I do when they do wrong most of the time they are told " Thats ok, just don't do that again". Athletes other than practice time in their sport where they sweat to become great get life handed to them on a silver platter. Just maybe his platter wasn't silver anymore.
The NFL has a major perception problem because the game is being played where the head is a spear. Yes in recent years they have started fining player who hit with the helmet first or go after a player head high only. Even this weeks players were suspended because they were paying bounties to other players to take players out of the game. Is that football when you play to hurt.
The answer to head hunting is take away the helmet. You know up until about 1950 they wore a rubber cap and only started putting nose guards on helmets because broken noses was the main injury in football. There is one advantage to not wearing a helmet. Everyone could see your face and there would be no need after a tackle to run five yards out in the open and tell everybody to look at me. That has no place in sports either.
The facts are at this point we have no idea why Junior Seau took his on life. There are many things in life we need to know what the facts are before we hang someone or in this case an industry.
Do you think the Seau ever used enhancement drugs at anytime in his playing career? If he did what part of the blame can we point in that direction? If any anytime in his life did he ever used any drugs of pleasure? If he did what part did that play. Did he ever get a concussion while playing and never told anyone for the fear of if I don't play someone could take my place? Who's fault is that if it happened. Was he in any financial trouble do to the fact that 70% of NFL players are broke five years after their careers end. Did he miss the limelight so much that he was depressed because he wasn't on sports center every night any more.
You know most athletes that reach the professional level in any sport are patted on the back from the moment we realize that they can play any sport really well and you know as well as I do when they do wrong most of the time they are told " Thats ok, just don't do that again". Athletes other than practice time in their sport where they sweat to become great get life handed to them on a silver platter. Just maybe his platter wasn't silver anymore.
The NFL has a major perception problem because the game is being played where the head is a spear. Yes in recent years they have started fining player who hit with the helmet first or go after a player head high only. Even this weeks players were suspended because they were paying bounties to other players to take players out of the game. Is that football when you play to hurt.
The answer to head hunting is take away the helmet. You know up until about 1950 they wore a rubber cap and only started putting nose guards on helmets because broken noses was the main injury in football. There is one advantage to not wearing a helmet. Everyone could see your face and there would be no need after a tackle to run five yards out in the open and tell everybody to look at me. That has no place in sports either.
The facts are at this point we have no idea why Junior Seau took his on life. There are many things in life we need to know what the facts are before we hang someone or in this case an industry.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Trouble On The Horizon
More than 83% of the schools that turned in their ballots voted to kick the big three Christian Private schools out of the NCHSAA . The only thing that saved Charlotte Catholic, Bishop McGuiness and Cardinal Gibbons from extraction, more than 100 voting members failed to turn in ballots. If all the abstained voted had of voted to keep the schools that would still be 60% that voted against. I doubt if this is the last word on this issue with so many voting against. The only way to solve the problem is any student who goes to a private school on scholarship is not eligible to play sports. Without someone else paying for it they wouldn't be there in the first place.
Hunt won the Big East Baseball Tournament 10-8 over Nash Central. Hunt's Big inning they score eight times while Nash Centrals biggest got only five. The second week in a row Fike has beaten Rocky Mount at Rocky Mount 2-1 to win the Big East Soccer Tournament. Glover Park hosted the Big East Softball Tournament and Nash Central won 6-3 over Southern Nash.
Paul Lilly won four long distance event to take the MVP of the Big East Track and Field Championship Wednesday. Do you know how hard it is to win in four events when there are times there is not much time between events to catch your breath. Paul is a very talented long distance runner and has shown since soccer season ended in November that when he devotes his energy to running he can excel. I don't however blame him one bit for dividing time in the fall to soccer and cross country.
Both the Rocky Mount track teams took the conference titles.
Like to past along a congratulates to Wes Bradshaw as he became a papa earlier this week. I know it is hard for many of you to even think of Wes as married an now a father! It's a girl.
Hunt won the Big East Baseball Tournament 10-8 over Nash Central. Hunt's Big inning they score eight times while Nash Centrals biggest got only five. The second week in a row Fike has beaten Rocky Mount at Rocky Mount 2-1 to win the Big East Soccer Tournament. Glover Park hosted the Big East Softball Tournament and Nash Central won 6-3 over Southern Nash.
Paul Lilly won four long distance event to take the MVP of the Big East Track and Field Championship Wednesday. Do you know how hard it is to win in four events when there are times there is not much time between events to catch your breath. Paul is a very talented long distance runner and has shown since soccer season ended in November that when he devotes his energy to running he can excel. I don't however blame him one bit for dividing time in the fall to soccer and cross country.
Both the Rocky Mount track teams took the conference titles.
Like to past along a congratulates to Wes Bradshaw as he became a papa earlier this week. I know it is hard for many of you to even think of Wes as married an now a father! It's a girl.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Big East This Year's Power In Tennis
Yes Northern Nash knocked of Eastern Wayne yesterday in the opening round of the tennis playoffs but the #2 seed from the Big East Southern Nash went to South Central and pinned the Falcons with their third loss of the season.
Both Northern and Southern advance to the second round where both will be on the road. The second round is next Tuesday when Northern travels to South Brunswick and Southern skips over to C B Aycock. This weekend the sectionals in individual tennis will be held in Wilson.
The Big East Soccer tournament finals will be held at 5pm Thursday afternoon at the Rocky Mount soccer field Rocky Mount the conference regular season champs take on Fike who finished third in the regular season but knocked off #2 Hunt Tuesday night to take on the Gryphons. Next Tuesday is the first round of soccer playoffs and Rocky Mount will be at home and it just might be the last sporting event ever played on the old campus.
Baseball Finals are Thursday night at Hunt where the regular season champs Hunt Host #2 Nash Central. Both finished 1 and 2 during the regular season and the seeding in next week's playoffs are already determined. The state playoff don't start until next Thursday and the coaches didn't want to finish the regular season and take two weeks off before the playoffs so that is the main reason there was a tournament this year.
One of the good things about Glover Park in Nashville is that it is a perfect place to hold the Big East softball Tournament. Just like all other sports softball has come down to the top two teams that actually tied for the title during the regular season and they square off Thursday night at Glover Park for the tournament title. There is one big thing the winners gets by winning the tournament. They get the #1 seeding in next weeks playoffs so this game is more important than either the soccer finals or baseball.
It is official the the Big East will stay with the six existing team for the next four years. The Big East is one of the few conferences in the state at any level that doesn't either lose a team or gain a new one member. The 2013-2016 realignment was voted on today at the NCHSAA Athletic Director conference.. The vote will be announce tomorrow on how all the schools of the NCHSAA voted on keeping Private Schools as members.
Both Northern and Southern advance to the second round where both will be on the road. The second round is next Tuesday when Northern travels to South Brunswick and Southern skips over to C B Aycock. This weekend the sectionals in individual tennis will be held in Wilson.
The Big East Soccer tournament finals will be held at 5pm Thursday afternoon at the Rocky Mount soccer field Rocky Mount the conference regular season champs take on Fike who finished third in the regular season but knocked off #2 Hunt Tuesday night to take on the Gryphons. Next Tuesday is the first round of soccer playoffs and Rocky Mount will be at home and it just might be the last sporting event ever played on the old campus.
Baseball Finals are Thursday night at Hunt where the regular season champs Hunt Host #2 Nash Central. Both finished 1 and 2 during the regular season and the seeding in next week's playoffs are already determined. The state playoff don't start until next Thursday and the coaches didn't want to finish the regular season and take two weeks off before the playoffs so that is the main reason there was a tournament this year.
One of the good things about Glover Park in Nashville is that it is a perfect place to hold the Big East softball Tournament. Just like all other sports softball has come down to the top two teams that actually tied for the title during the regular season and they square off Thursday night at Glover Park for the tournament title. There is one big thing the winners gets by winning the tournament. They get the #1 seeding in next weeks playoffs so this game is more important than either the soccer finals or baseball.
It is official the the Big East will stay with the six existing team for the next four years. The Big East is one of the few conferences in the state at any level that doesn't either lose a team or gain a new one member. The 2013-2016 realignment was voted on today at the NCHSAA Athletic Director conference.. The vote will be announce tomorrow on how all the schools of the NCHSAA voted on keeping Private Schools as members.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Northern Tops Eastern Wayne In Tennis
Northern Nash has lost only two tennis matches all season and today they played the opening round of the state tennis playoffs going on the road to play the team that has put the two L's on their record in Eastern Wayne. The bad news for the Knights is their #1 player Michael Brackett lost his match in a tied breaker but even without that point Northern Nash has put the first loss of the season on the #3 tennis team in North Carolina in Eastern Wayne. The final was 5-3 Northern. Eastern Wayne finishes 17-1 while Northern is now 16-2 and up next for them a journey to South Brunswick in the second round of the playoffs.
It took all of twenty seconds for the Lady Gryphons to take the lead that they would never give up on the way to a 5-1 win over the Lady Knights of Northern Nash in the semi finals of the Big East soccer tournament played this afternoon at the soccer field on the campus at Rocky Mount. Casey Cooke scored the opening goal added another later and Sydney Browder added two goals plus another from Evie Hunter.
The Lady Gryphons will try to win both the Regular season and tournament championship Thursday afternoon as they are the only sport left that still can play matches at Rocky Mount High. The Tournament Championship is at 5.PM Thursday and regardless of the outcome they host a first round playoff game next Tuesday.
The Big East Baseball Tournament went as expected tonight as both of the top seeds Hunt and Nash Central won to move on to play each other Thursday in the championship finals at Hunt at 7pm. Hunt scored five in the second and had an 9-0 lead in the seventh until Rocky Mount scored four times to make the final 9-4.
Nash Central jumped out to an 8-0 lead on Northern Nash and I am sure the Bulldogs thought for a moment about giving up a 8-1 lead to Rocky Mount after Northern score four times to cut the lead in half. Nash Central holds on for and 8-4 win.
I would like to say congratulations to Meridith Davis of Nash Central who this past weekend won the Rocky Mount Distinguished Young Woman Pagent. This was formally known as the JR Miss. If you have ever heard her sing and play all types of instruments you known she is a very talented young woman. I guess it is in her genes a her dad Paul plays the piano at the American Music Jubilee in Selma.
It took all of twenty seconds for the Lady Gryphons to take the lead that they would never give up on the way to a 5-1 win over the Lady Knights of Northern Nash in the semi finals of the Big East soccer tournament played this afternoon at the soccer field on the campus at Rocky Mount. Casey Cooke scored the opening goal added another later and Sydney Browder added two goals plus another from Evie Hunter.
The Lady Gryphons will try to win both the Regular season and tournament championship Thursday afternoon as they are the only sport left that still can play matches at Rocky Mount High. The Tournament Championship is at 5.PM Thursday and regardless of the outcome they host a first round playoff game next Tuesday.
The Big East Baseball Tournament went as expected tonight as both of the top seeds Hunt and Nash Central won to move on to play each other Thursday in the championship finals at Hunt at 7pm. Hunt scored five in the second and had an 9-0 lead in the seventh until Rocky Mount scored four times to make the final 9-4.
Nash Central jumped out to an 8-0 lead on Northern Nash and I am sure the Bulldogs thought for a moment about giving up a 8-1 lead to Rocky Mount after Northern score four times to cut the lead in half. Nash Central holds on for and 8-4 win.
I would like to say congratulations to Meridith Davis of Nash Central who this past weekend won the Rocky Mount Distinguished Young Woman Pagent. This was formally known as the JR Miss. If you have ever heard her sing and play all types of instruments you known she is a very talented young woman. I guess it is in her genes a her dad Paul plays the piano at the American Music Jubilee in Selma.
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