Gryphons Slide Into Third

Just two short weeks ago those skinny legged sophomore baseball players for Rocky Mount couldn't hit a lick, made errors at the wrong time and most of the time had good pitching but that was hard to tell when you don't score runs.

Now the Gryphons still don't hit that well but they have finally figured out how to get a timely hit when it counts and tonight the Gryphons take out the team that use to be a top of the conference by themselves but not any more as sophomore Will Edwards pitches the game of his life as the Gryphons shutout Hunt 2-0.

This is four victories in a row for the Gryphons in conference play and by virtue of Southern Nash's 6-2 win over Northern Nash Rocky Mount takes sole possession of third place in the Big East and now stand at 4-4.  This lost drops Hunt to 6-2 tied with Nash Central who tonight beat Fike 10-0.

The Gryphons scratched a run home in the second when Micah Varnell walked with one out.  He reached second when a ball rolled away from the catcher and Varnell just did make it to second.  Two outs the number eight hitter in the lineup Damien Smith hit a line drive over the third baseman's head and Varnell scored.

The Gryphons added an insurance run in the fourth  when Varnell walked again.  This time Jerrell Hunter the Gryphon first baseman sacrificed him to second.  Hunter started tonight at first for the first time as he was a member of the Gryphon basketball team and is now getting his baseball legs under him. Two outs and the ninth hitter in the Gryphon lineup Ben Yates  hit a liner over the second baseman's head and Varnell scored again.

Will Edwards allowed two hits walked two and hit one batter while striking out two. He allowed only one batter to reach second base.  There were some almost hits but the Gryphon defense did their job including a spectacular catch by Damien Smith  in left in the top of the six with the lead off runner on from a walk.You know when it is 2-0 in the sixth and you are playing the top team in the league you are weary that a big hit brings them back in the game and the Warriors almost got it.  Zach Williams laced a fly ball that was heading over the head of Damien Smith in left and on a dead  run Smith stuck his glove over his head.  Smith's momentum carrier him toward the wall and nobody behind home plate knew he had caught the ball until he turned to run to the dugout as that was out number three.

Gryphons winners of four straight conference games head to Fike Tuesday and they only need one victory next week to clinch a home first round Big East Tournament game.  One win and the only team that could catch them for third is Northern Nash and the Gryphons swept the season series with the Knights.