This Could Be an Exciting Spring

Those of us who enjoy baseball there is good news ahead.   Even though it is still Mid January Spring training is just around the corner and college baseball starts in a month.  We have plenty of college players playing at all levels all over the place.  The first time in a while we have two players trying to make an impact in pro baseball.

He has been sidelined for almost two years but Tyler Joyner who now in his third college year will try to to be a piece to the ECU pitching staff this spring. The Northern Nash graduate has had a rocky college life but is now ready to be a main cog for the Pirates this spring.

If the fall World Series at Carolina this past fall is any indication Hobbs Johnson will get more work his sophomore  season than as a freshman.  Had a 2.70 ERA in the Carolina World Series and pick up a win.  Has  a shot at becoming a mid relief pitcher for the Tar Heels this spring.

Joining Hobbs Johnson on the Tar Heel pitching staff will be a second Gryphon in freshman Benton Moss.  Moss had the second highest strikeout total in the fall World Series with 10 and also pick up a win.  I have heard  a lot of whispers that Moss just may get a shot as the Sunday starter.  Boy wouldn't that be something for a freshman.

Alex Pearce begins his senior season at UNC Pembroke.  The talk in the fall was Alex just may
 move 60 feet this season and stand on the mound instead of squatting behind the plate.  The former Bulldog just might catch  and when needed take the equipment off and pitch a while like he use to do for the Nash Central Bulldogs.

Now a Junior Ben Fish looks to be the Campbell  Camels #1 catcher full time this season.  If you remember at Rocky Mount Ben was Mr. RBI and his bat started to come alive the last part of last spring.

It is just around the corner before the bonus baby Brian Goodwin heads to Florida to start working out with the Washington Nationals.  The former Gryphon as the 34th pick in last years draft will get a shot at double A ball once spring training is over .  The Nationals spring training home is Viera Florida  and once spring training games start in March will be interested to see if he gets into any Nationals games.

Nash Central's X-Man Xavier Macklin will be heading west to Arizona.    The A's play spring ball in the Cactus league. The A's spring training home is Phoenix.    X will probably start  in A ball more than likely on the west coast.

We have lots of others playing at various schools around the area and as the season develops we will try to keep you updated as much as possible.

I do have one bit of Gryphon basketball news to report.  M J Gainey under went knee surgery on the 17th and every thing went well.  MJ got hurt in the South Central game way back before Christmas.  He will now start the long road to try to get his knee ready for football season.