The only local golfer to make the field in the sectional qualifying for the U S Amateur Golf Championships Daniel Claytor failed to score low enough to make the top five which move on to Brookline Country Club in Brookline Ma where the U S Amateur will be held starting August 12th through the 18th.
Victor Wiggins from Gastonia scorched the Benvenue course firing a two round total of 136 to be the top medalist. Grant Hauser of Holly Springs, Andrew Decker of Greenville, Thomas Bradshaw of Columbia SC and Davis Womble from High Point shot 140 or better to follow Wiggins and they too get an invitation to the U S Amateur.
Didn't actually go on the course but did drive by and each pairing going around the course had groups of people like parents or girl friends following their play on the course. I think the members at Benvenue can be proud of their course to even be picked to host such an event as this qualifying .
The saga is finally over for the Garner Legion baseball team who protested Monday's forfeit and won their appeal and played Randolph County at 4pm this afternoon. RC won the game 9-4 and then Randolph County had to turn right around and play Kernersville tonight. Kernersville beat Randolph County 6-1 and Kernersville will play Wilmington with the winner moving on to the Southeast Regional
The State Championship for the North Carolina American Legion will be played at 1pm Wednesday afternoon at Fleming Stadium in Wilson. Randolph County who is playing host to this years Southeast Regional as the host team is already qualified for the Regional. You may ask how did North Carolina get to host the Regional as well as the World Series in Shelby. The Regional floats around year by year to every state that plays in the Southeast Regional and this just happens to be North Carolina's year to host and Randolph County won the bid to host.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Monday, July 29, 2013
Not Again
After the way the Regular Season and even the first round of the American Legion playoffs ended with so many forfeits don't you just know the State American Legion Tournament in Wilson is right in the middle of a forfeit hoop-la.
There are four teams left in the State Tournament, Monday afternoon Garner and Randolph County were scheduled to play the first game of the day at 1pm but at game time Garner only had 11 players. By rule in the State Tournament you must have 12 players to start a game so Garner forfeited or should we say they were told they lost by forfeit. Garner protested and by rule any game played under protest cannot be ruled on until 24 hours have past.
So the first game of the day was not played. The 5pm game the only undefeated team left Wilmington played Kernersville and Kernersville won 7-5 which places all four teams left in the tournament with one loss. Since Wilmington won their first three games they automatically play in the title game when ever it is played. Why do I say when ever it is played? Since the championship game is scheduled for Tuesday night. Should Garners protest be upheld then Garner and Randolph County will play at 1pm Tuesday but that only gets us down to three teams. The winner of the Garner/Randolph County game will then have to play Kernersville at 5pm shoving the championship game to Wednesday.
I don't see how if by number of players at the start of the game has violated a rule how Garner can win the protest. If they don't then Randolph County will play Kernersville at 1pm Tuesday. Now here is a little spice added to the soup. The Southeast Regional is being played in Randolph County this year so since they are the host team they are already in the Regional. If Randolph County makes it to the championship game then Wilmington will automatically get in the Southeast Regional win or lose.
During the regular season the rule on the number of players that a team must have is nine. I think it is a dumb rule to have 12 as the number in the State Tournament. It may be dumb but if that is the rule the only thing I can say is change it next year. You can't allow Garner to play because the rule is inconsistent. I would have to say that this Legion season has turned out to be one that people will remember for a long time for all the wrong reasons. It has become the year of the forfeit.
There are four teams left in the State Tournament, Monday afternoon Garner and Randolph County were scheduled to play the first game of the day at 1pm but at game time Garner only had 11 players. By rule in the State Tournament you must have 12 players to start a game so Garner forfeited or should we say they were told they lost by forfeit. Garner protested and by rule any game played under protest cannot be ruled on until 24 hours have past.
So the first game of the day was not played. The 5pm game the only undefeated team left Wilmington played Kernersville and Kernersville won 7-5 which places all four teams left in the tournament with one loss. Since Wilmington won their first three games they automatically play in the title game when ever it is played. Why do I say when ever it is played? Since the championship game is scheduled for Tuesday night. Should Garners protest be upheld then Garner and Randolph County will play at 1pm Tuesday but that only gets us down to three teams. The winner of the Garner/Randolph County game will then have to play Kernersville at 5pm shoving the championship game to Wednesday.
I don't see how if by number of players at the start of the game has violated a rule how Garner can win the protest. If they don't then Randolph County will play Kernersville at 1pm Tuesday. Now here is a little spice added to the soup. The Southeast Regional is being played in Randolph County this year so since they are the host team they are already in the Regional. If Randolph County makes it to the championship game then Wilmington will automatically get in the Southeast Regional win or lose.
During the regular season the rule on the number of players that a team must have is nine. I think it is a dumb rule to have 12 as the number in the State Tournament. It may be dumb but if that is the rule the only thing I can say is change it next year. You can't allow Garner to play because the rule is inconsistent. I would have to say that this Legion season has turned out to be one that people will remember for a long time for all the wrong reasons. It has become the year of the forfeit.
Helps On The Way
The years 2004-2005-2006 were great success for Rocky Mount area summer sports. Those three years Babe Ruth Teams from this area played in the World Tournaments. Some of those players who played on those teams found their way to Rocky Mount High school and a State High school Championship would come. This week our Babe Ruth U-13 team heads to Union City Tennessee to play in the Southeast Regional as the North Carolina Eastern State Champs. Sunday in Williamston our 11-12 year old representing Rocky Mount won the Tar Heel State Title.
This follows that some of these 11 year olds on the championship team were part of the 9/10 year old group that won the State title last summer. Looks our area high schools help is on the way and for the high school that captures the most of these champion all stars playing this summer a deep run could be in the offing like North Nash Did playing for the east title one spring and Rocky Mount winning it all once. All of that happened after the Babe Ruth run in 2006.
I hope you have seen the plight of the U-13 team. They leave this week for Union City Tennessee and should they stay all the way up to the championship game they might be there up to ten days. Not only is this a tremendous expense to the local Babe Ruth Association but think of the parents who most will be taking days off to go with their sons to play in Tennessee. Not many parents asked for this week off weeks ago thinking we are going to win the east State title and I had better ask for a week off just in case.
Today a sectional qualifying tournament is being held at Benvenue County Club. The only local golfer who has even made it this far in qualifying is Daniel Claytor the former Northern Nash Knight and three time College All American golfer at Barton. The top finishers Monday qualify for the U S Amateur that is coming in August.
Sunday night Garner and Wilmington were playing in the third day undefeated winners bracket at the American Legion State Championships going on in Fleming Stadium in Wilson.
This follows that some of these 11 year olds on the championship team were part of the 9/10 year old group that won the State title last summer. Looks our area high schools help is on the way and for the high school that captures the most of these champion all stars playing this summer a deep run could be in the offing like North Nash Did playing for the east title one spring and Rocky Mount winning it all once. All of that happened after the Babe Ruth run in 2006.
I hope you have seen the plight of the U-13 team. They leave this week for Union City Tennessee and should they stay all the way up to the championship game they might be there up to ten days. Not only is this a tremendous expense to the local Babe Ruth Association but think of the parents who most will be taking days off to go with their sons to play in Tennessee. Not many parents asked for this week off weeks ago thinking we are going to win the east State title and I had better ask for a week off just in case.
Today a sectional qualifying tournament is being held at Benvenue County Club. The only local golfer who has even made it this far in qualifying is Daniel Claytor the former Northern Nash Knight and three time College All American golfer at Barton. The top finishers Monday qualify for the U S Amateur that is coming in August.
Sunday night Garner and Wilmington were playing in the third day undefeated winners bracket at the American Legion State Championships going on in Fleming Stadium in Wilson.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
On The Verge
The Rocky Mount Senior League National League ALL Stars (11/12) year olds Have won the Tar Heel Little League State Championship. They beat Tarboro 8-0 to go through the Tournament undefeated.
The Coach pitch (7/8) year olds lost their only game Sunday but their bracket there were 16 teams playing so they finished 3rd going 4-2 over the weekend
The Rocky Mount Midget National League All Stars after losing in the winners bracket undefeated game had to win twice Saturday to make it to Sunday's Championship of the 9/10 year olds. They won once but lost in the losers bracket championship game to claim 3rd place.
The Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation Senior Little League National League All Stars are one game away from bringing home another State Tar Heel Little League State Title. During their third game of the State Tournament in Williamston the Nationals won that game Saturday and now play the winner of the losers bracket Sunday afternoon and all the Nationals have to do is win one out of two games. If they win the first game they are State champions, if they lose the first game they get a second chance to win Sunday afternoon.
Williamston has three State Tournaments going on at once and in the Coach Pitch (7/8) year old division there are 16 teams playing in the state tournament so if you get into that dreaded losers bracket like Rocky Mount did by losing Friday night that meant that in order to make it to Sunday they would have to win three times Saturday.
Since this is a coach pitch division there are no limits on how many innings a pitchers pitches so if the coach gets a sore arm by having to play three games that's ok. Rocky Mount won three times Saturday and that leaves them playing to win the losers bracket in their first game Sunday. If they win that then they have to beat the undefeated team twice so in order for them to win the Pee Wee division they have to win three games again today.
The Midget Division went into Saturday undefeated game and were beaten and that left them having to make their way through the losers bracket. At this time I don't have and update on how they did Saturday afternoon.
Friday's opening round of the State American Legion State Tournament being played in Wilson at Fleming Stadium the host team Wilson lost to Wilmington 9-1. The three other winners on Friday were Shelby, Garner and Lincoln County.
As soon as I hear how the Tournament in Williamston turns out I'll be blogging early Sunday night.
The Coach pitch (7/8) year olds lost their only game Sunday but their bracket there were 16 teams playing so they finished 3rd going 4-2 over the weekend
The Rocky Mount Midget National League All Stars after losing in the winners bracket undefeated game had to win twice Saturday to make it to Sunday's Championship of the 9/10 year olds. They won once but lost in the losers bracket championship game to claim 3rd place.
The Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation Senior Little League National League All Stars are one game away from bringing home another State Tar Heel Little League State Title. During their third game of the State Tournament in Williamston the Nationals won that game Saturday and now play the winner of the losers bracket Sunday afternoon and all the Nationals have to do is win one out of two games. If they win the first game they are State champions, if they lose the first game they get a second chance to win Sunday afternoon.
Williamston has three State Tournaments going on at once and in the Coach Pitch (7/8) year old division there are 16 teams playing in the state tournament so if you get into that dreaded losers bracket like Rocky Mount did by losing Friday night that meant that in order to make it to Sunday they would have to win three times Saturday.
Since this is a coach pitch division there are no limits on how many innings a pitchers pitches so if the coach gets a sore arm by having to play three games that's ok. Rocky Mount won three times Saturday and that leaves them playing to win the losers bracket in their first game Sunday. If they win that then they have to beat the undefeated team twice so in order for them to win the Pee Wee division they have to win three games again today.
The Midget Division went into Saturday undefeated game and were beaten and that left them having to make their way through the losers bracket. At this time I don't have and update on how they did Saturday afternoon.
Friday's opening round of the State American Legion State Tournament being played in Wilson at Fleming Stadium the host team Wilson lost to Wilmington 9-1. The three other winners on Friday were Shelby, Garner and Lincoln County.
As soon as I hear how the Tournament in Williamston turns out I'll be blogging early Sunday night.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Tar Heel Tournament Progress
Friday night all three Rocky Mount entries into the Tar Heel State Championships played in the winners bracket games and two of the three remain unbeaten. The 7/8 coach pitch team lost to Cleveland 11-9 to fall into the losers bracket during the Saturday action.
Both the Midgets(9/10) and Senior little league won advancing to the winners bracket game on Saturday. The Midgets crushed South Johnston 17-1 while the Seniors beat Tarboro 9-8. So far the Midgets have won their first two by ten or more while the Seniors have found the road tougher winning 2-0 and 9-8.
The Coach Pitch (7/8) won their first game on Saturday and have to play another game Saturday make it to the finals on Sunday. The Midgets (9/10) lost their winners bracket game Saturday morning and now have to win again Saturday night to make it to the championship on Sunday. The Senior Little League team won their winner's bracket game Saturday afternoon and are set to play for the State Championship Sunday. Who ever comes out of the losers brackets has to beat them twice Sunday .
Benvenue Country Club is holding on Monday a day of sectional qualifying for the U S Amateur Golf Championships. This is the biggest thing to happen in golf around here since the ACC Golf Championships left Northgreen 20 years ago.
Both the Midgets(9/10) and Senior little league won advancing to the winners bracket game on Saturday. The Midgets crushed South Johnston 17-1 while the Seniors beat Tarboro 9-8. So far the Midgets have won their first two by ten or more while the Seniors have found the road tougher winning 2-0 and 9-8.
The Coach Pitch (7/8) won their first game on Saturday and have to play another game Saturday make it to the finals on Sunday. The Midgets (9/10) lost their winners bracket game Saturday morning and now have to win again Saturday night to make it to the championship on Sunday. The Senior Little League team won their winner's bracket game Saturday afternoon and are set to play for the State Championship Sunday. Who ever comes out of the losers brackets has to beat them twice Sunday .
Benvenue Country Club is holding on Monday a day of sectional qualifying for the U S Amateur Golf Championships. This is the biggest thing to happen in golf around here since the ACC Golf Championships left Northgreen 20 years ago.
Try Out Time Is Approaching
Mike Gainey Athletic Director at Rocky Mount High school has sent out a list of all fall sports try out times which will begin on August 1st. All incoming freshman are eligible to tryout for any sport but all athletes must have an updated physical. All students must haved passed at least Three out of four classes last spring and could not be absent more than 13.5 days and met all promotion standards.
Cheerleading -Thursday and Friday Aug 1st and 2nd 6pm to 8:30pm in Auxiliary gym.
Cross Country- Aug 1st 7:30am track
Football-Aug 1st and 2nd 5:45-8:30pm, Saturday 8:30am
Tennis- 9:15-11:00am
Soccer- Two- a- days, 6-8am-6-8pm
Volleyball-Thursday-Saturday 9am-noon
Girls Golf- August 6th 3pm Northgreen CC.
The Rocky Mount booster club will have their first meeting of the year Monday August 5th at 7pm in the Media center.
Athletic pictures are set for Aug 8th at 3pm
Parents Meeting for all athletes Aug 8th at 6pm. This is a required meeting by the NCHSAA and if you do not attend your child can not play sports.
I think Williamston would like to see Rocky Mount play somebody else when it comes to the State Tar Heel State championships that started Thursday night in Williamston. In the coach pitch division which is 7/8 year olds Rocky Mount finished second in the district tournament but qualified for the State tournament. They opened the State tournament beating Williamston 11-1. The Midget division which is the 9/10 year olds Rocky Mount beat Williamston 17-1 and the senior division 11/12 year olds beat Williamston 2-0.
All three Rocky Mount recreation teams playing in the tournament advanced to the winners bracket and played Friday night
Cheerleading -Thursday and Friday Aug 1st and 2nd 6pm to 8:30pm in Auxiliary gym.
Cross Country- Aug 1st 7:30am track
Football-Aug 1st and 2nd 5:45-8:30pm, Saturday 8:30am
Tennis- 9:15-11:00am
Soccer- Two- a- days, 6-8am-6-8pm
Volleyball-Thursday-Saturday 9am-noon
Girls Golf- August 6th 3pm Northgreen CC.
The Rocky Mount booster club will have their first meeting of the year Monday August 5th at 7pm in the Media center.
Athletic pictures are set for Aug 8th at 3pm
Parents Meeting for all athletes Aug 8th at 6pm. This is a required meeting by the NCHSAA and if you do not attend your child can not play sports.
I think Williamston would like to see Rocky Mount play somebody else when it comes to the State Tar Heel State championships that started Thursday night in Williamston. In the coach pitch division which is 7/8 year olds Rocky Mount finished second in the district tournament but qualified for the State tournament. They opened the State tournament beating Williamston 11-1. The Midget division which is the 9/10 year olds Rocky Mount beat Williamston 17-1 and the senior division 11/12 year olds beat Williamston 2-0.
All three Rocky Mount recreation teams playing in the tournament advanced to the winners bracket and played Friday night
Friday, July 26, 2013
Rodon Maybe The Next Nolan Ryan
If case you have not been keeping up with USA Baseball this summer but the USA Team has just finished 20-3 summer and N C States Carlos Rodon was off the charts once again.
Rodon pitched 17 innings this summer for USA not giving up one run. Now you must remember that USA played the all star teams of Cuba and Japan and others so these teams were not the Sisters of the Poor University he was pitching against. He went 3-0 and in those 17 innings gave up five hits, walked four and struck out 21.
If Rodon stays healthy between now and next June when the next MLB draft is conducted there will be no reason he is not going to be the top pick. His two years at State he has a 93-97 mile and hour fast ball and a slider that can top out a 93 or so. This summer he has added a change up to his repertoire. Twenty years from now and of course health has a lot to do with any athlete he just might be the next person to come close to Nolan Ryan's Strikeout record.
College football has a new rule that will be in place this season that any player who makes contact with another head first will be ejected from the game. I hope this is a good rule but I hope every play doesn't have to be reviewed to see where the contact initiated from.
High school football practice begins next Thursday as August 1st is just around the corner. Most everyone will have played at least one high school football game and most two by four weeks from tonight.
Rodon pitched 17 innings this summer for USA not giving up one run. Now you must remember that USA played the all star teams of Cuba and Japan and others so these teams were not the Sisters of the Poor University he was pitching against. He went 3-0 and in those 17 innings gave up five hits, walked four and struck out 21.
If Rodon stays healthy between now and next June when the next MLB draft is conducted there will be no reason he is not going to be the top pick. His two years at State he has a 93-97 mile and hour fast ball and a slider that can top out a 93 or so. This summer he has added a change up to his repertoire. Twenty years from now and of course health has a lot to do with any athlete he just might be the next person to come close to Nolan Ryan's Strikeout record.
College football has a new rule that will be in place this season that any player who makes contact with another head first will be ejected from the game. I hope this is a good rule but I hope every play doesn't have to be reviewed to see where the contact initiated from.
High school football practice begins next Thursday as August 1st is just around the corner. Most everyone will have played at least one high school football game and most two by four weeks from tonight.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Richardson Named All Star MVP
Nash Central football player Jerod Richardson was named the Defensive MVP of the East/West All Star High School football game after leading the night with 11 tackles on defense, four of the 11 were behind the line of scrimmage. His defensive effort was not enough to help the East squad win as the West wins the annual All-Star game 14-7
Tuesday night at the East West All Star soccer match the East won 2-1. Over all the east squad won three of the four all star games played this week during the High school coaches clinics going on in Greensboro. They won both basketball games and soccer while the west wins the football game.
Looks as if The Milwaukee Brewers have a relief pitcher in mind for Hobbs Johnson. Once again this week Hobbs pitched two innings of middle relief and he gave up no runs. Since going to Helena Montana he has pitched three times all three times he pitch two inning and his ERA is down to 1.50.
Right now Brian Goodwin is hovering between 250 and 260 batting average. He still remains as the #1 prospect for the Washington Nationals. The one item I find hard to believe about Brian is he has hit seven home runs. I think of Brian as a speed merchant and not as a home run hitter. I do remember in 2005 during the State Babe Ruth State Championships played in Rocky Mount Brian led off the State Championship game off by hitting a towering home run at Stith Park that I think landed in the Tar River.
The X man Xavier Macklin continues to hover just above the Mendoza line as he is hitting 213 in Vermont. Trying to return after major shoulder surgery X is struggling in the NewYork Penn league.
The State American Legion Baseball tournament starts Friday in Wilson. The host team Post 13 from Wilson begins play Friday night at 7:30 or as close to that as possible. That will be the 4th game of the day and depending on weather and extra innings the last game may not start anywhere close to 7:30. Four games will be played at Fleming starting at 9:30am.
This is just a rumor remind you but I am hearing from Tarboro way that Jeff Craddock says that this years squad is the fastest team he has ever had in Viking Land. I pity those conference schools in 1-A that have to play the Vikings.
Tuesday night at the East West All Star soccer match the East won 2-1. Over all the east squad won three of the four all star games played this week during the High school coaches clinics going on in Greensboro. They won both basketball games and soccer while the west wins the football game.
Looks as if The Milwaukee Brewers have a relief pitcher in mind for Hobbs Johnson. Once again this week Hobbs pitched two innings of middle relief and he gave up no runs. Since going to Helena Montana he has pitched three times all three times he pitch two inning and his ERA is down to 1.50.
Right now Brian Goodwin is hovering between 250 and 260 batting average. He still remains as the #1 prospect for the Washington Nationals. The one item I find hard to believe about Brian is he has hit seven home runs. I think of Brian as a speed merchant and not as a home run hitter. I do remember in 2005 during the State Babe Ruth State Championships played in Rocky Mount Brian led off the State Championship game off by hitting a towering home run at Stith Park that I think landed in the Tar River.
The X man Xavier Macklin continues to hover just above the Mendoza line as he is hitting 213 in Vermont. Trying to return after major shoulder surgery X is struggling in the NewYork Penn league.
The State American Legion Baseball tournament starts Friday in Wilson. The host team Post 13 from Wilson begins play Friday night at 7:30 or as close to that as possible. That will be the 4th game of the day and depending on weather and extra innings the last game may not start anywhere close to 7:30. Four games will be played at Fleming starting at 9:30am.
This is just a rumor remind you but I am hearing from Tarboro way that Jeff Craddock says that this years squad is the fastest team he has ever had in Viking Land. I pity those conference schools in 1-A that have to play the Vikings.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Drugs In Sports
It doesn't matter whether it is the Tour De France, NFL football or Major League baseball there is one common theme among all of them. There are cheaters every where. Some say it helps them come back from injury other will tell you they were not good enough until the drug. Regardless of the excuse professional athletes get huge contracts and when they are caught they only have to pay pennies as a punishment.
Ryan Braun of the Milwakee Brewers went to great lengths to say the system cheated him when he failed a drug test. After all the lies he has accepted a 65 game suspension for the rest of the season. It will cost him about 3.8 million of a 120 million dollar contract. Sounds to me like he got off with a slap on the wrist and hurry back next year.
There is only one way to stop drugs in sports and that is of course ban a player for one year when he fails a drug test. When it happens again ban him for life. I understand that the players unions of all sports will not let that happen but isn't it a funny thing when the clean baseball players started to openly call Braun a cheater the union help suspend Braun and who knows who else will go down in the next month.
The US government along with all professional sports teams should take notice that the city of Detroit went bankrupt. Our government can't continue to throw money away unless they get something back in return. Professional sports teams can't expect TV and fans who attend the games to continue to pay extravagant fees to attend games. One day the well is going to run dry and the river of money is going to quit flowing.
Why should any sports team pay a player a multi million dollar contract after he has just come off drug suspension.. The people in Washington who spent our money not theirs have no control of themselves and yet we give them free reign to control to lose our money. Professional sports teams act as if money flows like a river.
One day it will all come to an end because the people spending the money will one day wake up and there is no more. It will be no more because government gave it all away and can't pay the interest back. Professional teams will have given it all to the cheaters and those who truly play for the love of the game will play for the love of the game and not money. I bet those days are within our life time.
Ryan Braun of the Milwakee Brewers went to great lengths to say the system cheated him when he failed a drug test. After all the lies he has accepted a 65 game suspension for the rest of the season. It will cost him about 3.8 million of a 120 million dollar contract. Sounds to me like he got off with a slap on the wrist and hurry back next year.
There is only one way to stop drugs in sports and that is of course ban a player for one year when he fails a drug test. When it happens again ban him for life. I understand that the players unions of all sports will not let that happen but isn't it a funny thing when the clean baseball players started to openly call Braun a cheater the union help suspend Braun and who knows who else will go down in the next month.
The US government along with all professional sports teams should take notice that the city of Detroit went bankrupt. Our government can't continue to throw money away unless they get something back in return. Professional sports teams can't expect TV and fans who attend the games to continue to pay extravagant fees to attend games. One day the well is going to run dry and the river of money is going to quit flowing.
Why should any sports team pay a player a multi million dollar contract after he has just come off drug suspension.. The people in Washington who spent our money not theirs have no control of themselves and yet we give them free reign to control to lose our money. Professional sports teams act as if money flows like a river.
One day it will all come to an end because the people spending the money will one day wake up and there is no more. It will be no more because government gave it all away and can't pay the interest back. Professional teams will have given it all to the cheaters and those who truly play for the love of the game will play for the love of the game and not money. I bet those days are within our life time.
Monday, July 22, 2013
J's final High school Game
J'Kyra Brown playing in her last high school game representing Rocky Mount High school Brown scored with 40 seconds to play on a rebound at the defensive end and took it all the way for a lay up and in doing so helped to secure a 67-60 East victory over the west in the annual East/West High school girls basketball game play in the Greensboro Coliseum Monday night. J'Kyra along with two east teammates each had 12 points in the game to lead the way. Kelsey Daniels scored two points in the game giving the Gryphons a total of 14 for the night.
There have been some players dropping out of the East/West All Star football game Wednesday night and Justin Ferrell from Southwest Edgecombe has been added to the roster. Players from this area that are playing besides Ferrell are Travonne Marshall Tarboro High and Jerod Richardson from Nash Central.
Tuesday night belongs to the soccer as two players and a coach from the Twin County area are in Greensboro taking part in the all star festivities this week during the NC High School Coaches Association meetings being held this week in Greensboro. Southern Nash will have Carlos Levin on the east squad along with Tarboro's Travis Martin. The East will be coached by Tarboro's Leshaun Jenkins.
Friday begins the State American Legion State Tournament in Wilson. It all begins at 9:30 Friday Morning when Kernersville open play against the area four winner which is being played tonight. The 12:30 will have Randolph County taking on the runner up in area four. The opening ceremonies will be held at 3:30 Friday afternoon and then at 4:30 Garner will go up against Jacksonville. The finale of the night will Have Post 13 from Wilson who has a losing record on the year play Wilmington Post 10 at 7:30.
Like to congratulate Nash County Babe Ruth 13U team winning the eastern State Championship and by doing so has earned a spot in the Southeast Regional in Tennessee August 1st. I know in the last 10 years Nash County has made it all the way to the World Series at least three times. Twice it was held in Wilson with the last year being 2006 and 2005 making it to the World series finishing second in Quincy Ma. I have no connections with anyone on this team at all and sure would love to get someone to advise me how I can keep up with their progress as they continue their adventure.
There have been some players dropping out of the East/West All Star football game Wednesday night and Justin Ferrell from Southwest Edgecombe has been added to the roster. Players from this area that are playing besides Ferrell are Travonne Marshall Tarboro High and Jerod Richardson from Nash Central.
Tuesday night belongs to the soccer as two players and a coach from the Twin County area are in Greensboro taking part in the all star festivities this week during the NC High School Coaches Association meetings being held this week in Greensboro. Southern Nash will have Carlos Levin on the east squad along with Tarboro's Travis Martin. The East will be coached by Tarboro's Leshaun Jenkins.
Friday begins the State American Legion State Tournament in Wilson. It all begins at 9:30 Friday Morning when Kernersville open play against the area four winner which is being played tonight. The 12:30 will have Randolph County taking on the runner up in area four. The opening ceremonies will be held at 3:30 Friday afternoon and then at 4:30 Garner will go up against Jacksonville. The finale of the night will Have Post 13 from Wilson who has a losing record on the year play Wilmington Post 10 at 7:30.
Like to congratulate Nash County Babe Ruth 13U team winning the eastern State Championship and by doing so has earned a spot in the Southeast Regional in Tennessee August 1st. I know in the last 10 years Nash County has made it all the way to the World Series at least three times. Twice it was held in Wilson with the last year being 2006 and 2005 making it to the World series finishing second in Quincy Ma. I have no connections with anyone on this team at all and sure would love to get someone to advise me how I can keep up with their progress as they continue their adventure.
Lefty Has All The Right Shots
I don't know if you are like me or not but if I happen to have had any contact with a professional athlete at all I tend to like them and pull for them. If they went to a school in North Carolina is the second way that I pull for athletes regardless of the sport. I have never met Phil Mickelson and when he came up and joined the tour he was maybe third on on list of people I like and didn't know. I liked David Duval and Justin Leonard and then Lefty. So this probably makes them 10th on my list of players I pull for. Davis Love, Curtis Strange those guys all went to school here so they are ahead of Duval, Leonard and Mickelson.
Time passes and you have to admire the way life has unfolded for Lefty. He left practice at the US Open this year to fly home to see one of his daughters graduate middle school and fly back all night and led the Open after the first day. His wife had breast cancer and he took time off from the tour to be with her.He just seems to have life figured out that golf pays the bills but the most important thing in life his his family.
It was one of the U S Opens played at Pinehurst where Mickelson's wife was about to give birth and he had a beeper set the second it went off to drop out of the U S Open and fly home. Mickelson just seems to understand there is more to life than hitting that itty bitty ball.
Sunday watching as Lefty's caddy "Bones" Mackay break down and cry for his boss winning the British Open. This is Michelson 5th major not his first but MacKay cried as if it was the first. There just has to be something special about Phil Michelson that the people who are around him every day feel that the way they do for him.
How many times after a big one like Sunday has Phil's family been there to enjoy it with him. I think we all have moments in our life when it is even better to have someone you love there to share the moment with you. The way he has conducted himself Phil Mickelson has moved up my list to just behind Webb Simpson(Wake) golfer as my favorite. I wish more athletes understood there is more to life than winning at all cost.
Garner wrapped up the Area One Legion Championship last night beating Pitt County 12-2. Garner will represent eastern North Carolina along with Wilson when the State American Legion Baseball Tournament begins this weekend at fleming Stadium.
Time passes and you have to admire the way life has unfolded for Lefty. He left practice at the US Open this year to fly home to see one of his daughters graduate middle school and fly back all night and led the Open after the first day. His wife had breast cancer and he took time off from the tour to be with her.He just seems to have life figured out that golf pays the bills but the most important thing in life his his family.
It was one of the U S Opens played at Pinehurst where Mickelson's wife was about to give birth and he had a beeper set the second it went off to drop out of the U S Open and fly home. Mickelson just seems to understand there is more to life than hitting that itty bitty ball.
Sunday watching as Lefty's caddy "Bones" Mackay break down and cry for his boss winning the British Open. This is Michelson 5th major not his first but MacKay cried as if it was the first. There just has to be something special about Phil Michelson that the people who are around him every day feel that the way they do for him.
How many times after a big one like Sunday has Phil's family been there to enjoy it with him. I think we all have moments in our life when it is even better to have someone you love there to share the moment with you. The way he has conducted himself Phil Mickelson has moved up my list to just behind Webb Simpson(Wake) golfer as my favorite. I wish more athletes understood there is more to life than winning at all cost.
Garner wrapped up the Area One Legion Championship last night beating Pitt County 12-2. Garner will represent eastern North Carolina along with Wilson when the State American Legion Baseball Tournament begins this weekend at fleming Stadium.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
When Is it Time To Hang'um Up
Derek Jeter has been Mr New York since 1995. For the most part his career has been injury free and then he hit that over 35 years old and a broken ankle has turned into a pulled muscle. What will be next for one of the only players in the last 20 years that has never had a hint of the word steroid mentioned. The Yankees are old and need to clean house. It is hard to do to a person that has been the face of the Yankees for almost 20 years.
NFL training camps are starting today for some but by the end of the week football will be back. I think it is 13 more days for those glorious preseason games get started. Colleges start football around Aug 1st through 5th. Labor Day weekend is six weeks away.
Garner Saturday afternoon beat Pitt County 5-4 to take a two games to none lead in the Area One American Legion Title. They can punch their ticket to Wilson Today at Garner High. PC has to win three in a row to continue their season.
J'Kyra Brown plays her last high school basketball game Monday night at the Greensboro Coliseum. another Gryphon Kelsey Daniels is a replacement and this gives the Lady Gryphons two players in the girls game. Soccer is Tuesday and the football East West game is Wednesday night. The North Carolina Coaches clinics start Monday in Greensboro.
Don't care whether he is no longer the Tiger Woods of ten years ago or not the final round of the British Open will probably be the most watched Open of all time. Tiger may win Sunday but he has lost that aura he once had that players look over their shoulder to see where he is. Would not shock me if his partner Adam Scott Sunday wins it all. I like watching all the majors. The Open looks like it is played in a pasture that they moved the cows or sheep last week and dug some holes in the ground and hollered FORE.
NFL training camps are starting today for some but by the end of the week football will be back. I think it is 13 more days for those glorious preseason games get started. Colleges start football around Aug 1st through 5th. Labor Day weekend is six weeks away.
Garner Saturday afternoon beat Pitt County 5-4 to take a two games to none lead in the Area One American Legion Title. They can punch their ticket to Wilson Today at Garner High. PC has to win three in a row to continue their season.
J'Kyra Brown plays her last high school basketball game Monday night at the Greensboro Coliseum. another Gryphon Kelsey Daniels is a replacement and this gives the Lady Gryphons two players in the girls game. Soccer is Tuesday and the football East West game is Wednesday night. The North Carolina Coaches clinics start Monday in Greensboro.
Don't care whether he is no longer the Tiger Woods of ten years ago or not the final round of the British Open will probably be the most watched Open of all time. Tiger may win Sunday but he has lost that aura he once had that players look over their shoulder to see where he is. Would not shock me if his partner Adam Scott Sunday wins it all. I like watching all the majors. The Open looks like it is played in a pasture that they moved the cows or sheep last week and dug some holes in the ground and hollered FORE.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Big Time Money And Social Media
I think I can solve a lot of this world's problem with people who win lotteries and athlete who get millions of dollars just because they run fast. First of all let's do away with the lottery winner can take cash. If all lottery winners had to wait one year to get the next check they might not spend it all in one weekend. They would have something to look forward to knowing another check comes in eleven months since I have spent the last one already.
If I won 10 million I just can't buy but so many houses and cars and there is still plenty more. I don't think people understand how much 10 million is. What do all these people do with all that money? As far as pro athletes are concern if they sign a contract for millions I say let them have say as a rookie $50,000 and put the rest where they have to get a monthly check for the rest of their lives. 70% of all NFL players are broke three years after they get out of football. What do they do with their money?
Since this country is so into letting the government give me a check every month I think any person who makes more than the President of the United States ought to have to put his money in a government savings account and by the time he is retired he can live off his money the government has been sitting on. I understand that this method is a trust in the government that they will not steal it from you.
This blog is social media and I give my opinions sometimes that people don't agree with. I try to keep this as positive as possible so people who agree with you tend to not comment. The ones that don't tend to be the first to hit the send button. The new wave of social media is tweeting where everyone who can afford a cell phone can now be followed by signing up and getting accepted by the person tweeting. I have to much to say to say it in 50 words or less.
Kids have twitter accounts now that I know they have nothing worth waiting for them to tell me so please don't count on me to view your twitter. I can't stand to watch a sports show on TV and I have to watch all the comments coming in on twitter. Please start a channel just for Tweets only. I can see it now a channel right next to the Discovery Channel. The tweet channel the only way to get on is to tweet a comment and see it on national TV.
I bet the average person doesn't know the laws regarding cell phones, tweeting or any other method of reaching the masses. I am of the opinion that when the day comes that a blog on the internet is old fashion and nobody goes there any more it will be time to stop this any way. The way this world changes that might be next week.
Garner Beat Pitt County in the first game of the Area One Championships in Garner last night by scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. The final was 6-5, game two is at noon today at LeClair Stadium at ECU. Garner is up 1-0 in this series where the winner gets a spot in the State American Legion Baseball tournament which starts July 25th in Wilson
If I won 10 million I just can't buy but so many houses and cars and there is still plenty more. I don't think people understand how much 10 million is. What do all these people do with all that money? As far as pro athletes are concern if they sign a contract for millions I say let them have say as a rookie $50,000 and put the rest where they have to get a monthly check for the rest of their lives. 70% of all NFL players are broke three years after they get out of football. What do they do with their money?
Since this country is so into letting the government give me a check every month I think any person who makes more than the President of the United States ought to have to put his money in a government savings account and by the time he is retired he can live off his money the government has been sitting on. I understand that this method is a trust in the government that they will not steal it from you.
This blog is social media and I give my opinions sometimes that people don't agree with. I try to keep this as positive as possible so people who agree with you tend to not comment. The ones that don't tend to be the first to hit the send button. The new wave of social media is tweeting where everyone who can afford a cell phone can now be followed by signing up and getting accepted by the person tweeting. I have to much to say to say it in 50 words or less.
Kids have twitter accounts now that I know they have nothing worth waiting for them to tell me so please don't count on me to view your twitter. I can't stand to watch a sports show on TV and I have to watch all the comments coming in on twitter. Please start a channel just for Tweets only. I can see it now a channel right next to the Discovery Channel. The tweet channel the only way to get on is to tweet a comment and see it on national TV.
I bet the average person doesn't know the laws regarding cell phones, tweeting or any other method of reaching the masses. I am of the opinion that when the day comes that a blog on the internet is old fashion and nobody goes there any more it will be time to stop this any way. The way this world changes that might be next week.
Garner Beat Pitt County in the first game of the Area One Championships in Garner last night by scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. The final was 6-5, game two is at noon today at LeClair Stadium at ECU. Garner is up 1-0 in this series where the winner gets a spot in the State American Legion Baseball tournament which starts July 25th in Wilson
Friday, July 19, 2013
Post 58 Saves The Day
You may have seen the high lights of the Pitt County Post 39 victory over Post 13 from Wilson Thursday on Greenville TV. PC won to sweep the series 3 games to none. Game three was played in Rocky Mount at Legion Field. You see with the State Legion Tournament starting next weekend in Wilson the Wilson Tobs are playing more home games right now due to the fact they will not be able to play there for about a week. When you compound that Wilson's other potential fields for Post 13 are muddy from all the rains up steps Post 58 to offer Legion field which was acceptable to both teams. Too bad nobody knew about it ahead of time.
Pitt County will play Garner who beat Johnston County three games to one and the winner of that series will join Wilson July 25th when the State Tournament starts at Fleming in Wilson. Already Morehead City and Wilmington have won the area two slots and will be coming to Wilson.
Hobbs Johnson pitched two more innings in Helena Montana and this time he gives up his first run that is earned. His first four innings of his pro career he has allowed six hits, one earned run and struck out 3. That is an ERA of 2.25 which is about where he was a Carolina.
I don't know whether he is injured or not but the X man Xavier Macklin has not batted for Vermont in the last week so he is still batting 208 in 24 bats.
Can you look at a minor leaguer's stats and tell what he means to his organization? Brian Goodwin is right now hanging at 254 batting average. He has struck our 95 times in 93 games. He has a total 28 extra base hits 13 doubles, 8 triples and 7 home runs. Brian has batted more than 100 at bats more than any one else on the team. He is playing every day. You may remember last year when he first started in his minor league career that the Nationals said they wanted to give him about 1500 at bats in the minors. If they want you on a certain track then you can't get an at bat sitting on the bench.
There is no doubt that since Debbie Yow has been at N C State she has found money under rocks that nobody knew money was there. That old hay barn called Reynolds Coliseum is going to be renovated in 2015. Women's basketball, Wrestling, Volleyball and all of the ROTC programs will be booted out while the remodeling is done. The old barn is getting a 34 million dollar upgrade. I sure do hope they put Air conditioning in it.
Pitt County will play Garner who beat Johnston County three games to one and the winner of that series will join Wilson July 25th when the State Tournament starts at Fleming in Wilson. Already Morehead City and Wilmington have won the area two slots and will be coming to Wilson.
Hobbs Johnson pitched two more innings in Helena Montana and this time he gives up his first run that is earned. His first four innings of his pro career he has allowed six hits, one earned run and struck out 3. That is an ERA of 2.25 which is about where he was a Carolina.
I don't know whether he is injured or not but the X man Xavier Macklin has not batted for Vermont in the last week so he is still batting 208 in 24 bats.
Can you look at a minor leaguer's stats and tell what he means to his organization? Brian Goodwin is right now hanging at 254 batting average. He has struck our 95 times in 93 games. He has a total 28 extra base hits 13 doubles, 8 triples and 7 home runs. Brian has batted more than 100 at bats more than any one else on the team. He is playing every day. You may remember last year when he first started in his minor league career that the Nationals said they wanted to give him about 1500 at bats in the minors. If they want you on a certain track then you can't get an at bat sitting on the bench.
There is no doubt that since Debbie Yow has been at N C State she has found money under rocks that nobody knew money was there. That old hay barn called Reynolds Coliseum is going to be renovated in 2015. Women's basketball, Wrestling, Volleyball and all of the ROTC programs will be booted out while the remodeling is done. The old barn is getting a 34 million dollar upgrade. I sure do hope they put Air conditioning in it.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
The Baseball Pipeline
Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation will send multiple teams to the Tar Heel State Championships. Five teams from 7 to 12 years of age took part in this weeks district six tournament played in Rocky Mount. Two won their division, two others finished second and one of those lost out to another Rocky Mount team and the last team finished third. The Rocky Mount area continues to put quality teams on the field when they hit the playoffs.
If you consider the two senior league teams that is 24 players that the recreation department has sent into the Tar Heel Tournaments. You must remember that not of these all stars are 12 as two or 3 are 11 years old. All Stars teams to a certain degree are like the regular season teams. All teams have three players that could play on any team they are just that good. Then there are about five that are good ball players and three that when they face other all star pitchers ride the pine in the playoffs.
Now players come from all over to play in Rocky Mount so when these all stars make their way up to high school those 12 players are divided just in Nash County by six high schools. Throw in one or two that might be playing at SouthWest, Tarboro or even North Edgecombe those all stars at 12 years of age are scattered all over the place depending on what school district they live or private school they attend.
It has been 2008 since any Rocky Mount area high school won the state title in baseball and since then not many have advanced very deep into the playoffs. Yes the city of Rocky Mount provides plenty of players that as they progress through high school they are extremely good high school players. In order to make a state champion in high school there must be a year when they all seem to go to the same school. When you look at the college players that team put out in 2008 more than half the team played D-1 baseball and higher.
Of course if we want to win the State High school baseball championship every year the answer is built a county high school with 5,000 students where just about every player who went through the little league program stay together in high school. Obviously only 16 or so could play high school ball that way so the answer in not a bigger school. We want as many of our children to have extra circular activities in school as possible. Crime statistics show a child that is idle is the one committing the crimes.
So we must wait for the next time when one of our high schools gets an extra amount of extra special players to help lead them to another state title. Who knows those 7/8,9/10,11/12 year old representing us in Williamston just might be the next crop of state champions once they hit high school.
If you consider the two senior league teams that is 24 players that the recreation department has sent into the Tar Heel Tournaments. You must remember that not of these all stars are 12 as two or 3 are 11 years old. All Stars teams to a certain degree are like the regular season teams. All teams have three players that could play on any team they are just that good. Then there are about five that are good ball players and three that when they face other all star pitchers ride the pine in the playoffs.
Now players come from all over to play in Rocky Mount so when these all stars make their way up to high school those 12 players are divided just in Nash County by six high schools. Throw in one or two that might be playing at SouthWest, Tarboro or even North Edgecombe those all stars at 12 years of age are scattered all over the place depending on what school district they live or private school they attend.
It has been 2008 since any Rocky Mount area high school won the state title in baseball and since then not many have advanced very deep into the playoffs. Yes the city of Rocky Mount provides plenty of players that as they progress through high school they are extremely good high school players. In order to make a state champion in high school there must be a year when they all seem to go to the same school. When you look at the college players that team put out in 2008 more than half the team played D-1 baseball and higher.
Of course if we want to win the State High school baseball championship every year the answer is built a county high school with 5,000 students where just about every player who went through the little league program stay together in high school. Obviously only 16 or so could play high school ball that way so the answer in not a bigger school. We want as many of our children to have extra circular activities in school as possible. Crime statistics show a child that is idle is the one committing the crimes.
So we must wait for the next time when one of our high schools gets an extra amount of extra special players to help lead them to another state title. Who knows those 7/8,9/10,11/12 year old representing us in Williamston just might be the next crop of state champions once they hit high school.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Rocky Mount Wins Two District Titles
Last night I made a trip out to the sports complex to see where the District Six Tar Heel Little League tournament was going on. Since my attention has been with Legion and that is over if there was going to be a Rocky Mount team still playing WHIG-TV would video a game if any were available to do Tuesday. Sure enough the National League Senior Little league all stars had to lose twice Tuesday to not win the District.
WHIG-TV was there tonight to do that game when we found out that by 10:30 Last night (Monday)that the Midgette National League All Stars from Rocky Mount had knocked off the American League Rocky Mount team to create a winner take all final tonight. Two Rocky Mount teams playing with only one that can make it to the State Championships why lets switch and do the 9/10 year old final.
Since the 11/12 year old game Rocky Mount Nationals had to lose once to create a winner take all we chose two Rocky Mount teams over one. Glad we did. The Rocky Mount National Senior team beat Zebulon 12-0 and Zebulon only batted three times. Yes there is the mercy Rule when you have a ten run lead after four innings in little league but the also have the 12 run rule after three. Rocky Mount never batted in the third. Zebulon didn't have a chance today.
The National league is coached by Donnie Whitley with his assistance Sam Toler who must have more state titles than any coach in North Carolina. Paul Legaj and Jeff Robison will all help lead this team all the way to Willaimston on July 25th. Rocky Mount gets a wildcat in the first game as they will play the host Williamston.
The 9/10 year old game the RM American stuck for three runs in the first and never got a hit. The National all stars pecked away getting two in the second. The hit of the night occurred when the bases were loaded when Coleston Dempsey hit a one hopper off the wall to clear the bases and give his team a 5-3 lead which they would never surrender the lead. The Americans cut it to 5-4 but by the games end Rocky Mount Nationals Midgette team is headed to the State Championship and Rocky Mount American's dreams are shattered. after a 13-8 win.
7/8 year old coach pitch team lost in 9 innings the district championship but in their division the #2 and 3 teams also get in and Rocky Mount joins Wendell Blue and Wendell white as the three teams from District 6 playing in the Tar Heel State championships. Rocky Mount rec has won 7 state titles since 1991 and three more teams will try to get a plaque on the wall of champions heading into the little league end of the sports complex.
WHIG-TV was there tonight to do that game when we found out that by 10:30 Last night (Monday)that the Midgette National League All Stars from Rocky Mount had knocked off the American League Rocky Mount team to create a winner take all final tonight. Two Rocky Mount teams playing with only one that can make it to the State Championships why lets switch and do the 9/10 year old final.
Since the 11/12 year old game Rocky Mount Nationals had to lose once to create a winner take all we chose two Rocky Mount teams over one. Glad we did. The Rocky Mount National Senior team beat Zebulon 12-0 and Zebulon only batted three times. Yes there is the mercy Rule when you have a ten run lead after four innings in little league but the also have the 12 run rule after three. Rocky Mount never batted in the third. Zebulon didn't have a chance today.
The National league is coached by Donnie Whitley with his assistance Sam Toler who must have more state titles than any coach in North Carolina. Paul Legaj and Jeff Robison will all help lead this team all the way to Willaimston on July 25th. Rocky Mount gets a wildcat in the first game as they will play the host Williamston.
The 9/10 year old game the RM American stuck for three runs in the first and never got a hit. The National all stars pecked away getting two in the second. The hit of the night occurred when the bases were loaded when Coleston Dempsey hit a one hopper off the wall to clear the bases and give his team a 5-3 lead which they would never surrender the lead. The Americans cut it to 5-4 but by the games end Rocky Mount Nationals Midgette team is headed to the State Championship and Rocky Mount American's dreams are shattered. after a 13-8 win.
7/8 year old coach pitch team lost in 9 innings the district championship but in their division the #2 and 3 teams also get in and Rocky Mount joins Wendell Blue and Wendell white as the three teams from District 6 playing in the Tar Heel State championships. Rocky Mount rec has won 7 state titles since 1991 and three more teams will try to get a plaque on the wall of champions heading into the little league end of the sports complex.
Summer Baseball About To Come To A Close
The Area One East final series got under way Monday night, yes it was suppose to start Sunday but you know it, got rained out in Wilson. The fifth seed Wilson Post 13 led 6-0 after five innings and gave up five runs in the top of the ninth and Pitt County Post 39 takes a 1-0 lead in the series with a 9-7 win..
Should Wilson win this series with Pitt County then the area One West winner will also qualify for the State Tournament regardless of who was to win the Wilson-Area One West winner. If Pitt County wins then the winner of the Garner/Johnston County game qualifies for the State Tournament. You see the East only gets two teams in and Wilson as the host is one of them.
Going into Monday night the Junior Legion qualifying Tournament that has been held this weekend at Legion Field and RMA and with all the rain it was extended into Monday. The top two teams qualify for the next round of the Junior Legion playoffs and Rocky Mount Post 58's team was already out of the tournament. They join the Senior Legion at the beach for the summer.
Also Monday night the Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation hosted Tar Heel District Tournament was also pushed into Monday and Tuesday. Even with all the rain if they had of played later in the night Saturday and Sunday the tournament could have been almost finished Monday. Tar Heel pitching rules dictate that a team can only play so many games in one day so that tournament was going strong Monday night.
One field had the Rocky Mount Pee Wee 7/8 year old team playing for the district title on Monday. It was tied 10-10 going extra innings. I hope to up date the winner later this morning.
Another field had a losers bracket 9/10 year American League Rocky Mount was winning that game. If they won that game at 8pm they were playing the National league Rocky Mount team for the district title. Should the American win they play again Tuesday . If the National League All Stars won they are the champs.
Then on another field the 11/12 year old National League team was playing needing to win to play again at 8pm. Should they win both games then they play the Rocky Mount 11/12 year old American league team Tuesday and must beat them twice. WHIG-TV just might have the cameras there for that one.
Should Wilson win this series with Pitt County then the area One West winner will also qualify for the State Tournament regardless of who was to win the Wilson-Area One West winner. If Pitt County wins then the winner of the Garner/Johnston County game qualifies for the State Tournament. You see the East only gets two teams in and Wilson as the host is one of them.
Going into Monday night the Junior Legion qualifying Tournament that has been held this weekend at Legion Field and RMA and with all the rain it was extended into Monday. The top two teams qualify for the next round of the Junior Legion playoffs and Rocky Mount Post 58's team was already out of the tournament. They join the Senior Legion at the beach for the summer.
Also Monday night the Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation hosted Tar Heel District Tournament was also pushed into Monday and Tuesday. Even with all the rain if they had of played later in the night Saturday and Sunday the tournament could have been almost finished Monday. Tar Heel pitching rules dictate that a team can only play so many games in one day so that tournament was going strong Monday night.
One field had the Rocky Mount Pee Wee 7/8 year old team playing for the district title on Monday. It was tied 10-10 going extra innings. I hope to up date the winner later this morning.
Another field had a losers bracket 9/10 year American League Rocky Mount was winning that game. If they won that game at 8pm they were playing the National league Rocky Mount team for the district title. Should the American win they play again Tuesday . If the National League All Stars won they are the champs.
Then on another field the 11/12 year old National League team was playing needing to win to play again at 8pm. Should they win both games then they play the Rocky Mount 11/12 year old American league team Tuesday and must beat them twice. WHIG-TV just might have the cameras there for that one.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Need To Catch Up
Maintaining a blog and there are not many days that I don't post something it is hard to keep up with every thing that is going on in the area that everyone wants to hear about. There are many of you that phone me, text me, e-mail me and then there are the people when they run into me in life everyday will say did you know this or that. I want to thank each and everyone of you for what ever participation you have that helps me with the information passed each day. I just can't be everywhere and with Legion PA announcing taking up time during the summer I see Legion ball but other things I don't so I am grateful anytime you put me on a trail to let the world know what is going on in this area. Let's see if we can catch up on a few things.
First off Wilson Post 13 advanced as the fifth seed and is playing Pitt County Post 39 the sixth seed for the Area one East final.
Marshall Leonard a 1993 graduate of Northern Nash is the new Cross County and track and field coach at Nash Central replacing the retired Brian Winham. Leonard has been the assistant under Winham the last four years.
The North Carolina High school coaches association convention begins July 22nd in Greensboro always during the week the East/West all star games are play as entertainment.
J'Kyra Brown and Kelsey Daniels from Rocky Mount High will play in the girls game at 6.30 on Monday night in the Greensboro Coliseum.
Rocky Mount's M J Gainey got a call last week and had a chance to play in the boys game but MJ has reinjured his knee and will not be able to play.
Tuesday the 23rd will be soccer night and Southern Nash's Carlos Levin and Tarboro's Travis Martin will be playing and Tarboro's coach Leshaun Jenkins will be the coach. Soccer will be played at UNC Greensboro's Soccer stadium.
Wednesday belongs to football and Nash Central's Jarod Richardson is the only Nash County player.
New Northern football coach Randy Raper is the head coach of the east and he will have assisting him SouthWest Edgecombe coach Jeff Gould. Football will be played this year at A J Simeon Stadium in High Point.
Rain has tormented both the city of Rocky Mount hosting the Tar Heel District baseball Tournament and the Junior Legion qualifying tournament both were held in Rocky Mount this weekend. I hope tomorrow to be able to tell you how are locals did.
First off Wilson Post 13 advanced as the fifth seed and is playing Pitt County Post 39 the sixth seed for the Area one East final.
Marshall Leonard a 1993 graduate of Northern Nash is the new Cross County and track and field coach at Nash Central replacing the retired Brian Winham. Leonard has been the assistant under Winham the last four years.
The North Carolina High school coaches association convention begins July 22nd in Greensboro always during the week the East/West all star games are play as entertainment.
J'Kyra Brown and Kelsey Daniels from Rocky Mount High will play in the girls game at 6.30 on Monday night in the Greensboro Coliseum.
Rocky Mount's M J Gainey got a call last week and had a chance to play in the boys game but MJ has reinjured his knee and will not be able to play.
Tuesday the 23rd will be soccer night and Southern Nash's Carlos Levin and Tarboro's Travis Martin will be playing and Tarboro's coach Leshaun Jenkins will be the coach. Soccer will be played at UNC Greensboro's Soccer stadium.
Wednesday belongs to football and Nash Central's Jarod Richardson is the only Nash County player.
New Northern football coach Randy Raper is the head coach of the east and he will have assisting him SouthWest Edgecombe coach Jeff Gould. Football will be played this year at A J Simeon Stadium in High Point.
Rain has tormented both the city of Rocky Mount hosting the Tar Heel District baseball Tournament and the Junior Legion qualifying tournament both were held in Rocky Mount this weekend. I hope tomorrow to be able to tell you how are locals did.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Post 58 Season In Review
I think all of the old timers that follow Legion baseball would all tell you that this just completed season will be one remembered for the quirky year that unfolded more than the play on the field.
It all started when Rocky Mount Academy kept winning during the high school baseball season and by win after win and deeper and deeper the Eagles ventured there was less time to formulate the squad that would be Post 58 in the summer of 2013. That is of course no fault of anyone. I think we all would want at least one of our local high schools every year to play in the final high school baseball game of the season and Hank Jones just happened to be the Legion coach so his time was spent more in May on RMA that Post 58.
Once P 58 opened play and beat Apex in the season opener a few days later word came that an ineligible player was used in the game and Coleman Pitt had to forfeit their first game of the season. The only problem was this will not be the last time we hear the word forfeit this season.
A weekend tournament in Garner when Jones wanted to get a feel of what type of team he would have by tournament time and where P58 might stack up with them just happened to occur on the weekend of graduation of RMA and Faith Christian and this Legion team would have more private school players than any other in Rocky Mount Legion History. Just enough players are able to field a team and two losses were not close and the third was up in the air when an injury left only eight players to take the field and another forfeit and never finished the game.
Once conference started Albemarle failed to show on game day. A week later when they did show a double header was planned and the first game was washed out tied 4-4 in the eighth and the second never happened. A scheduled double header with Ahoskie never happened after their roster dropped down so low that they didn't have enough players to finish the season. Then Edenton shows up with eight players and no one else arrives and they forfeit two to P58.
So far we have not mentioned all the rain outs and rescheduled games that got rain out again. This team at best was average. They had the best overall pitching staff but not one of the starters was an over powering pitcher. Hitting I don't know if you could say they were average. I think this team hit three home runs all year so they had to manufacture runs by getting multiple hits back to back and that lead in the playoffs to not getting the big hits when needed. The defense the last two weeks was not good but I think that can be explained as when you only play 13 inning in 19 days because of the rain outs and forfeits there is just no practice time.
This Legion team was a reflections of our high school ball over all from this spring. None of our public high schools teams were better than average and that is what Post 58 was this year. Regardless of the outcome I was in the press box for every home game and the Wilson road game and what I saw was a team that liked each other. They gave it all they had all the time.
I like at any game I go to pull for the team I support to win all the games. What I don't like is here I am thinking I am wasting my time because I care more about the out come of this game than the team does. I never once this year had that thought about this team. This team gave me every thing they had to give every game. As a fan I can not ask of a team more than that.
It all started when Rocky Mount Academy kept winning during the high school baseball season and by win after win and deeper and deeper the Eagles ventured there was less time to formulate the squad that would be Post 58 in the summer of 2013. That is of course no fault of anyone. I think we all would want at least one of our local high schools every year to play in the final high school baseball game of the season and Hank Jones just happened to be the Legion coach so his time was spent more in May on RMA that Post 58.
Once P 58 opened play and beat Apex in the season opener a few days later word came that an ineligible player was used in the game and Coleman Pitt had to forfeit their first game of the season. The only problem was this will not be the last time we hear the word forfeit this season.
A weekend tournament in Garner when Jones wanted to get a feel of what type of team he would have by tournament time and where P58 might stack up with them just happened to occur on the weekend of graduation of RMA and Faith Christian and this Legion team would have more private school players than any other in Rocky Mount Legion History. Just enough players are able to field a team and two losses were not close and the third was up in the air when an injury left only eight players to take the field and another forfeit and never finished the game.
Once conference started Albemarle failed to show on game day. A week later when they did show a double header was planned and the first game was washed out tied 4-4 in the eighth and the second never happened. A scheduled double header with Ahoskie never happened after their roster dropped down so low that they didn't have enough players to finish the season. Then Edenton shows up with eight players and no one else arrives and they forfeit two to P58.
So far we have not mentioned all the rain outs and rescheduled games that got rain out again. This team at best was average. They had the best overall pitching staff but not one of the starters was an over powering pitcher. Hitting I don't know if you could say they were average. I think this team hit three home runs all year so they had to manufacture runs by getting multiple hits back to back and that lead in the playoffs to not getting the big hits when needed. The defense the last two weeks was not good but I think that can be explained as when you only play 13 inning in 19 days because of the rain outs and forfeits there is just no practice time.
This Legion team was a reflections of our high school ball over all from this spring. None of our public high schools teams were better than average and that is what Post 58 was this year. Regardless of the outcome I was in the press box for every home game and the Wilson road game and what I saw was a team that liked each other. They gave it all they had all the time.
I like at any game I go to pull for the team I support to win all the games. What I don't like is here I am thinking I am wasting my time because I care more about the out come of this game than the team does. I never once this year had that thought about this team. This team gave me every thing they had to give every game. As a fan I can not ask of a team more than that.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
P58 Got One But Needed Two
11am Friday morning I received a text that Friday night's game against Greenville Post 39 was being moved to DH Conley High. By 1:45 another text an the game was going to be played in Rocky Mount starting at 6:30. Thursday night rain out would be completed with Rocky Mount leading in the top of the second 4-0. If P 58 wins that game a second game will be played immediately following in order to make sure that this series had a winner on the field.
Coleman Pitt took advantage of having that 4-0 lead and went on and won the first game 12-4 to set up the showdown game with P 39. P 39 had their best pitcher ready while Post 58 started Pascal Ammons. Ammons did all he could do for four plus innings keeping P 58 in the game but he left trailing 2-0.
It took Post 58 until the seventh inning to scratch across a run and in order to do that the ball never left the infield. Two base on balls, a sacrifice and an infield roller that Jeremy Johnson beat out for an infield hit was all Post 58 could do to starting P39 pitcher Jarrett Ozimek who pitched a complete game 3 hitter...He allowed only one run despite his defense giving P 58 chance after chance to come up with big hits that never happened. I don't keep up with pitch counts but I heard after the game he threw 144 pitches and I can tell you by the seventh inning all the balls being used weighted about a pound a piece.
Cody Smith relieved Ammons and Spencer Ramsey relieved him so between the three 58 pitcher they held P39 to six hits. Post 58 finishes one of the weirdest season in it's history and Pitt County Post 39 will now travel to either Wilson or Kinston who will be trying to finish their series today.
There are moments worth telling everyone about but Coach Rodney Harris when I went to get the lineup from him at about 6pm Friday night I said to him. "Coach you know if I were you I would not be here right now but sitting home enjoying the victory I had because the game was rained out in Greenville.. He looked at me and said' Last year we won a round of the playoffs because of weather and it didn't leave a very good taste in my mouth. I decided then if that ever happened again I was going to earn it on the field one way or the other. This option is the only way this year for us to win it and here we are. You have to admire the man for that.
Hobbs Johnson is now an official Pro baseball player as Hobbs pitched two innings Thursday night for Helena Montana Brewers giving up three hits and a run which was unearned while striking out two. His ERA after his first official game 0.00. Hard to start any better.
Coleman Pitt took advantage of having that 4-0 lead and went on and won the first game 12-4 to set up the showdown game with P 39. P 39 had their best pitcher ready while Post 58 started Pascal Ammons. Ammons did all he could do for four plus innings keeping P 58 in the game but he left trailing 2-0.
It took Post 58 until the seventh inning to scratch across a run and in order to do that the ball never left the infield. Two base on balls, a sacrifice and an infield roller that Jeremy Johnson beat out for an infield hit was all Post 58 could do to starting P39 pitcher Jarrett Ozimek who pitched a complete game 3 hitter...He allowed only one run despite his defense giving P 58 chance after chance to come up with big hits that never happened. I don't keep up with pitch counts but I heard after the game he threw 144 pitches and I can tell you by the seventh inning all the balls being used weighted about a pound a piece.
Cody Smith relieved Ammons and Spencer Ramsey relieved him so between the three 58 pitcher they held P39 to six hits. Post 58 finishes one of the weirdest season in it's history and Pitt County Post 39 will now travel to either Wilson or Kinston who will be trying to finish their series today.
There are moments worth telling everyone about but Coach Rodney Harris when I went to get the lineup from him at about 6pm Friday night I said to him. "Coach you know if I were you I would not be here right now but sitting home enjoying the victory I had because the game was rained out in Greenville.. He looked at me and said' Last year we won a round of the playoffs because of weather and it didn't leave a very good taste in my mouth. I decided then if that ever happened again I was going to earn it on the field one way or the other. This option is the only way this year for us to win it and here we are. You have to admire the man for that.
Hobbs Johnson is now an official Pro baseball player as Hobbs pitched two innings Thursday night for Helena Montana Brewers giving up three hits and a run which was unearned while striking out two. His ERA after his first official game 0.00. Hard to start any better.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Rained Out In Greenville
They started early in Greenville hoping to beat the rain so Coleman Pitt Post 58 put two runs on the board in the top of the first. Northern Left hander Derrick Carter set Post 39 down 1-2-3 in the first. Post 58 scored two runs in the top of the second and was still batting when the rains came. The game has been rained out tonight.
Big question now is will the game start up again with Post 58 still batting or start all over? The answer to that question is yes Post 58 will return to Greenville Friday and pick the game up in the top of the second with Post 58 still batting. Here is where I think Post 58 is still in a jam. If I understand the playoff rules correctly this series has to be completed by the end of Saturday in order for the third round to start Sunday night.
The weather forecast is about what it was today so there is a possibility that there could be a rain out Friday. If that happens the series is over because if they tried to finish the one game on Saturday the best Post 58 can do is tie one game a piece. By rule if neither team has won two games by the date deadline the winner of said series is the winner of the first game.
Post 58 will have to play Friday and win and then must win Saturday. If either day becomes a rain out Post 39 wins the series. They sit in the car bird seat so if it rains at all after lunch Friday they can say the field is too wet and cancel and win the series. If the shoe was on the other foot wouldn't we do the same if we had the chance. Post 58 needs sunshine all day Friday so there is no chance to cancel. You know if we can get it back to Rocky Mount for a Saturday game Hank Jones will do everything in his power to play Saturday.
Under the heading Where Are They Now? We can report that former Gryphon and North Carolina pitcher Hobbs Johnson reported to Helena Montana Wednesday night and it now being prepped to start pitching for the advance Rookie League team Helena Brewers. He has been in Arizona at the Brewers spring training facility where doctors for the Brewers examined him from head to toe to make sure the Brewers had a healthy pitcher. Everything must be fine as they shipped him north to Montana.
If you are like me and like to follow all of our local athletes regardless of the college level or pro and you follow Brian Goodwin's progress with the Washington Nationals you already know then he is up on the futures list as Washington's #1 prospect after Anthony Reardon has been sent to the big club in Washington.
Brain over the last month has driven his batting average up to 259 which means he's hitting over three hundred the last month. During the last 30 games he has struck out less than one time a game which right now is his big bug-a-boo in double A baseball. The Nationals have announced that they plan to keep Brian in AA for this year and start him out next spring in AAA with hopes of him being the starting outfielder for Washingon in 2015.
Xavier Macklin playing for the River Monster in Vermont has batted 23 times so far with five hits. It is all or nothing for the X man so far as three of his five hits are doubles but he has struck out 10 times out of 23. That's about 44% of the time.
glad to see in the Telegram that Michael Deloatch from Northern Nash has signed with a pro basketball team in Florence Italy. Back when Moe played at Northern he could get on hot streaks and hit jumper from 30 feet like a machine gun. Hope after this year soembody in the US picks him up.
Big question now is will the game start up again with Post 58 still batting or start all over? The answer to that question is yes Post 58 will return to Greenville Friday and pick the game up in the top of the second with Post 58 still batting. Here is where I think Post 58 is still in a jam. If I understand the playoff rules correctly this series has to be completed by the end of Saturday in order for the third round to start Sunday night.
The weather forecast is about what it was today so there is a possibility that there could be a rain out Friday. If that happens the series is over because if they tried to finish the one game on Saturday the best Post 58 can do is tie one game a piece. By rule if neither team has won two games by the date deadline the winner of said series is the winner of the first game.
Post 58 will have to play Friday and win and then must win Saturday. If either day becomes a rain out Post 39 wins the series. They sit in the car bird seat so if it rains at all after lunch Friday they can say the field is too wet and cancel and win the series. If the shoe was on the other foot wouldn't we do the same if we had the chance. Post 58 needs sunshine all day Friday so there is no chance to cancel. You know if we can get it back to Rocky Mount for a Saturday game Hank Jones will do everything in his power to play Saturday.
Under the heading Where Are They Now? We can report that former Gryphon and North Carolina pitcher Hobbs Johnson reported to Helena Montana Wednesday night and it now being prepped to start pitching for the advance Rookie League team Helena Brewers. He has been in Arizona at the Brewers spring training facility where doctors for the Brewers examined him from head to toe to make sure the Brewers had a healthy pitcher. Everything must be fine as they shipped him north to Montana.
If you are like me and like to follow all of our local athletes regardless of the college level or pro and you follow Brian Goodwin's progress with the Washington Nationals you already know then he is up on the futures list as Washington's #1 prospect after Anthony Reardon has been sent to the big club in Washington.
Brain over the last month has driven his batting average up to 259 which means he's hitting over three hundred the last month. During the last 30 games he has struck out less than one time a game which right now is his big bug-a-boo in double A baseball. The Nationals have announced that they plan to keep Brian in AA for this year and start him out next spring in AAA with hopes of him being the starting outfielder for Washingon in 2015.
Xavier Macklin playing for the River Monster in Vermont has batted 23 times so far with five hits. It is all or nothing for the X man so far as three of his five hits are doubles but he has struck out 10 times out of 23. That's about 44% of the time.
glad to see in the Telegram that Michael Deloatch from Northern Nash has signed with a pro basketball team in Florence Italy. Back when Moe played at Northern he could get on hot streaks and hit jumper from 30 feet like a machine gun. Hope after this year soembody in the US picks him up.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Just Not Good Enough
Tonight in round two of the Area One East Division American Legion Playoffs Pitt County Post 39 beat Coleman Pitt Post 58 9-4 to take a one games to none lead of P58 in the 2 out of 3 playoff series. P39 got 14 hits to P58 12 as both teams threatened all night long to score but of P 39's 14 they had a bunch of clutch hits while the 12 CP 58 hits were not clutch after the 3rd inning.
Time after time when P58 chose to play the infield in PC would hit a blooper when the defense would have been if normal. Twice P39 hit and run and either the second baseman of short stop in order to cover the play left his position and PC hit it right where he was. PC 58 time and time again has runners on only to leave them on base. But the big killer was twice the defense let three runs score when the inning would have been over with a defensive play. Those three runs gave Pitt County a 5-4 lead and after that PC 39 had hits falling in holes that Coleman Pitt couldn't do anything about.
Here is a real oddity in this game. All nine batting positions for Coleman Pitt Post 58 reach base at least once in the game and Adam Bayless reach four times with hits but P58 could score but four runs. When your team gives the other team three runs on defense it is had to win that way.
Coleman Pitt heads to ECU Thursday night on life support and if they should lose Thursday the season is over and Pitt County advances. Should Derrick Carter who will pitch Thursday for P58 win Thursday the rubber game will be played Friday night back in Rocky Mount. Over in Kinston Wilson Post 13 beat Kinston 4-3 to win game one in that season. Game two is Thursday at Fleming in Wilson.
I mentioned this last time about the Junior Legion having a qualifying tournament this weekend at Legion Field and at Rocky Mount Academy. The top two teams advance to the Junior Legion playoffs . That really means the team that wins the first three games they play will be the undefeated team and automatically qualify for the state tournament. If you lose once you have to play your way through the losers bracket and be the winner with one lost and that team qualifies to move on. Yes the undefeated team and the losers bracket team will play each other but both play again next week neither has to win to move on.
Play starts at 10am Saturday morning at Legion field and there will be four games there Saturday. RMA field will have games too but probably not four. Sunday three games are scheduled at Legion Field and depending on whether P58 Senior Legion plays a playoff game at Legion Field Sunday night RMA could get the championship game Sunday if all games are on the schedule are played on time and that means no rain delays
Time after time when P58 chose to play the infield in PC would hit a blooper when the defense would have been if normal. Twice P39 hit and run and either the second baseman of short stop in order to cover the play left his position and PC hit it right where he was. PC 58 time and time again has runners on only to leave them on base. But the big killer was twice the defense let three runs score when the inning would have been over with a defensive play. Those three runs gave Pitt County a 5-4 lead and after that PC 39 had hits falling in holes that Coleman Pitt couldn't do anything about.
Here is a real oddity in this game. All nine batting positions for Coleman Pitt Post 58 reach base at least once in the game and Adam Bayless reach four times with hits but P58 could score but four runs. When your team gives the other team three runs on defense it is had to win that way.
Coleman Pitt heads to ECU Thursday night on life support and if they should lose Thursday the season is over and Pitt County advances. Should Derrick Carter who will pitch Thursday for P58 win Thursday the rubber game will be played Friday night back in Rocky Mount. Over in Kinston Wilson Post 13 beat Kinston 4-3 to win game one in that season. Game two is Thursday at Fleming in Wilson.
I mentioned this last time about the Junior Legion having a qualifying tournament this weekend at Legion Field and at Rocky Mount Academy. The top two teams advance to the Junior Legion playoffs . That really means the team that wins the first three games they play will be the undefeated team and automatically qualify for the state tournament. If you lose once you have to play your way through the losers bracket and be the winner with one lost and that team qualifies to move on. Yes the undefeated team and the losers bracket team will play each other but both play again next week neither has to win to move on.
Play starts at 10am Saturday morning at Legion field and there will be four games there Saturday. RMA field will have games too but probably not four. Sunday three games are scheduled at Legion Field and depending on whether P58 Senior Legion plays a playoff game at Legion Field Sunday night RMA could get the championship game Sunday if all games are on the schedule are played on time and that means no rain delays
Post 58 Tries to Start Playoffs Again Tonight
Coleman Pitt Post 58 heads to the second round of the Area One East division playoffs tonight against Pitt County Post 39. Post 39 the 6th seed dispensed the #3 seed Wayne County Monday night to earn their way to round two. The only earning Post 58 had to do was have enough players at the ball field at game time to receive a forfeit from Edenton to advance to round two.
The biggest worry that Hank Jones has right now is not how Post 39 will be when they get here tonight but will the players for Post 58 be playoff ready considering that in the last 19 days they have played a total of 13.5 innings of baseball. Post 58 played Windsor a double header on June 21st and both of those games went seven innings. June 28 Post 58 was leading Wilson Post 13 6-1 and batting in the bottom of the fifth when a flood fell and since Wilson had batted five times that was good enough to say it was an official game an a victory for P58.
Monday July one Kinston came to RM because their field was under water and that game went nine innings and Kinston won 3-1. A Tuesday trip to Garner was rained out and the trip to play Kinston again was rained out and then the decision to cancel the rest of the regular season which kept us from playing any of those make up games before Saturday July 6th. Under the new playoff format Edenton was suppose to be here Saturday night but forfeited the series to Post 58.
There is no doubt Post 58 should be fresh but there is also the possibility of being stale. P39 has three games under their belt while P58 wished they were playing somebody. Whether it hurts or helps we will find out tonight as Round two begins at 7pm at Legion Field.
If you are a fan of Junior Legion Baseball then Saturday Rocky Mount will be the place to be. There will be a qualifying tournament held at Legion Field and at RMA baseball field. I know for sure there are four games scheduled to be played at Legion Field starting at 10am. I am not sure how many will be played at RMA but I will talk with Joe Bell tonight at the Legion game and give you better details on this day of baseball.
The biggest worry that Hank Jones has right now is not how Post 39 will be when they get here tonight but will the players for Post 58 be playoff ready considering that in the last 19 days they have played a total of 13.5 innings of baseball. Post 58 played Windsor a double header on June 21st and both of those games went seven innings. June 28 Post 58 was leading Wilson Post 13 6-1 and batting in the bottom of the fifth when a flood fell and since Wilson had batted five times that was good enough to say it was an official game an a victory for P58.
Monday July one Kinston came to RM because their field was under water and that game went nine innings and Kinston won 3-1. A Tuesday trip to Garner was rained out and the trip to play Kinston again was rained out and then the decision to cancel the rest of the regular season which kept us from playing any of those make up games before Saturday July 6th. Under the new playoff format Edenton was suppose to be here Saturday night but forfeited the series to Post 58.
There is no doubt Post 58 should be fresh but there is also the possibility of being stale. P39 has three games under their belt while P58 wished they were playing somebody. Whether it hurts or helps we will find out tonight as Round two begins at 7pm at Legion Field.
If you are a fan of Junior Legion Baseball then Saturday Rocky Mount will be the place to be. There will be a qualifying tournament held at Legion Field and at RMA baseball field. I know for sure there are four games scheduled to be played at Legion Field starting at 10am. I am not sure how many will be played at RMA but I will talk with Joe Bell tonight at the Legion game and give you better details on this day of baseball.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Montrezl Harrell a Champion Again
As life goes by for Montrezl Harrell the former North Edgecombe Warrior basketball player the year 2013 will be one of the best years of his life. Spring time as one of the first off the bench for the Louisville Cardinal basketball team the then freshman was a major part in helping Louisville win the National Championship inNCAA Basketball.
This summer Harrell has been a member of the U19 team taking part in the World Championships. Harrell leading the team with 17 points has helped the USA team win the U19 World Championships. Harrell had 17 points leading the US in the championship game. A National Champion and now a World Champion in the span of about four months. What could possible be next for this Edgecombe County native. The Universe games? I think the Universe games are played in August and are played on the moon. The way this year has been for Montrezl I think he can get to the moon some how or other.
The Area One American Legion commissioner sent out an e-mail on Monday to all teams still alive in the playoffs that after the first round all four teams would be reseeded. Coleman Pitt Post 58 then had to pay close attention to the results of last night's game between Pitt County and Wayne County played in Mt Olive.
Yes there was rain down there too last night but after over an hour rain delay Pitt County the #6 seed beat Wayne County the #3 seed 9-3. The game was tied at 3 but PC scored 5 runs in the seventh inning to break the game open. Why is this so important for Post 58? Pitt Copunty is the lowest seed remaining in the tournament and there fore will be the team post 58 plays in round two.
The four teams left after Round one are Rocky Mount a 2-0 forfeit winner over Edenton. Kinston a 2 games to none winner over Albemarle. Wilson the #5 seed a two games to none winner over the number four seed Windsor. Pitt County the #6 seed a two games to one winner over Wayne County.
This reseeding will now pit the #1 seed Rocky Mount hosting #6 seed Pitt County and the #2 seed Kinston hosting the #5 seed Wilson Wednesday night. Quite frankly P 58 beat both Pitt County and Wilson twice during the season so yes it does mean CP 58 will play a lower seed but with this season most teams only playing a partial schedule if all games could have been played both Wilson and Pitt County just might have gotten higher seeding with a full season.
The bottom line is this Post 58 will play at 7pm Wednesday at home at Legion Field against Pitt County Post 39. I know with all the weather issues this season attendance has been down. I has been a hard year to know when the next game was or even what time they started. Help support this team during this playoff run. It helps motivate players and it surely helps pay expenses for Coleman Pitt Post 58.
This summer Harrell has been a member of the U19 team taking part in the World Championships. Harrell leading the team with 17 points has helped the USA team win the U19 World Championships. Harrell had 17 points leading the US in the championship game. A National Champion and now a World Champion in the span of about four months. What could possible be next for this Edgecombe County native. The Universe games? I think the Universe games are played in August and are played on the moon. The way this year has been for Montrezl I think he can get to the moon some how or other.
The Area One American Legion commissioner sent out an e-mail on Monday to all teams still alive in the playoffs that after the first round all four teams would be reseeded. Coleman Pitt Post 58 then had to pay close attention to the results of last night's game between Pitt County and Wayne County played in Mt Olive.
Yes there was rain down there too last night but after over an hour rain delay Pitt County the #6 seed beat Wayne County the #3 seed 9-3. The game was tied at 3 but PC scored 5 runs in the seventh inning to break the game open. Why is this so important for Post 58? Pitt Copunty is the lowest seed remaining in the tournament and there fore will be the team post 58 plays in round two.
The four teams left after Round one are Rocky Mount a 2-0 forfeit winner over Edenton. Kinston a 2 games to none winner over Albemarle. Wilson the #5 seed a two games to none winner over the number four seed Windsor. Pitt County the #6 seed a two games to one winner over Wayne County.
This reseeding will now pit the #1 seed Rocky Mount hosting #6 seed Pitt County and the #2 seed Kinston hosting the #5 seed Wilson Wednesday night. Quite frankly P 58 beat both Pitt County and Wilson twice during the season so yes it does mean CP 58 will play a lower seed but with this season most teams only playing a partial schedule if all games could have been played both Wilson and Pitt County just might have gotten higher seeding with a full season.
The bottom line is this Post 58 will play at 7pm Wednesday at home at Legion Field against Pitt County Post 39. I know with all the weather issues this season attendance has been down. I has been a hard year to know when the next game was or even what time they started. Help support this team during this playoff run. It helps motivate players and it surely helps pay expenses for Coleman Pitt Post 58.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Keeping Up With The Times
I don't care who you are if you don't keep up with the times by making good decisions that keep you in step with the world, there will be a day when you look back and say what happened. Sears had the best mail order catalog in the world at one point and now today they are lucky to still exist. Wooden Matches and clothes pins were at one point a thing that every family needed but they failed to keep up with the times.
North Carolina American Legion baseball is facing a crisis of competition from every angle. Travel leagues, wooden bat leagues and one area lost in the shuffle is there are no more vacant lots to play ball on. Today's children play baseball on a computer game and not outside running and catching.
The apathy has hit eastern North Carolina Legion first. We are of course the least populated. It is sometimes 30 miles from one town of 5,000 people to the next. The hot bed in North Carolina for Legion baseball is that I-85 corridor from High Point to Charlotte and I-77 towards Statesville. It is probably the hottest hotbed of Legion Baseball in the country. Just because they are so hot for Legion ball they can't see the end of their nose for trouble ahead.
North Carolina is one of the Last of the Mohican's that still plays nine innings every game. Nine innings is simply to many innings for pitchers pitch counts in today's modern world for players under 19 years old.. Those on that interstate Corridor turn away players because everyone still wants to play Legion in that area. Sagging numbers in Eastern North Carolina and the State Legion's answer is bring in any one that wants a team. If the already existing teams can't support a full compliment of players how is dividing those up with another team going to solve that.
That answer sounds like government at work. Any project not working like we want pour more money into it and it will then work worse than before. The answer is not getting more teams but keeping the ones you have and stock them with the very best players possible. Don't dilute what we already have that have been the main stay of Legion from the very first year of Legion ball.. Seven innings would help Eastern North Carolina but those toward the west that can't see the end of their nose that Legion Baseball is dying because those who make the rules are stuck in the 50's. There is not a player playing today that knows one thing about back then.
Day two of Area One East Division playoffs
Rocky Mount seeded #1 wins 2 games to 0 from Edenton who forfeited
Kinston the #2 seed Sunday beat Albemarle 8-2 to win that series 2-0
Wayne County the 3 seed beat Pitt County 11-5 to even that series at 1-1. Game three is 7pm Monday at Mt Olive College.
#5 seed Wilson beat #4 Windsor 4-0 Sunday to win that series 2-0 Wilson will open the second round at Rocky Mount at 7pm Wednesday at Legion Field.
North Carolina American Legion baseball is facing a crisis of competition from every angle. Travel leagues, wooden bat leagues and one area lost in the shuffle is there are no more vacant lots to play ball on. Today's children play baseball on a computer game and not outside running and catching.
The apathy has hit eastern North Carolina Legion first. We are of course the least populated. It is sometimes 30 miles from one town of 5,000 people to the next. The hot bed in North Carolina for Legion baseball is that I-85 corridor from High Point to Charlotte and I-77 towards Statesville. It is probably the hottest hotbed of Legion Baseball in the country. Just because they are so hot for Legion ball they can't see the end of their nose for trouble ahead.
North Carolina is one of the Last of the Mohican's that still plays nine innings every game. Nine innings is simply to many innings for pitchers pitch counts in today's modern world for players under 19 years old.. Those on that interstate Corridor turn away players because everyone still wants to play Legion in that area. Sagging numbers in Eastern North Carolina and the State Legion's answer is bring in any one that wants a team. If the already existing teams can't support a full compliment of players how is dividing those up with another team going to solve that.
That answer sounds like government at work. Any project not working like we want pour more money into it and it will then work worse than before. The answer is not getting more teams but keeping the ones you have and stock them with the very best players possible. Don't dilute what we already have that have been the main stay of Legion from the very first year of Legion ball.. Seven innings would help Eastern North Carolina but those toward the west that can't see the end of their nose that Legion Baseball is dying because those who make the rules are stuck in the 50's. There is not a player playing today that knows one thing about back then.
Day two of Area One East Division playoffs
Rocky Mount seeded #1 wins 2 games to 0 from Edenton who forfeited
Kinston the #2 seed Sunday beat Albemarle 8-2 to win that series 2-0
Wayne County the 3 seed beat Pitt County 11-5 to even that series at 1-1. Game three is 7pm Monday at Mt Olive College.
#5 seed Wilson beat #4 Windsor 4-0 Sunday to win that series 2-0 Wilson will open the second round at Rocky Mount at 7pm Wednesday at Legion Field.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
The Telegram's Spring Players Of The Year
We live in a world today where cut backs are everywhere. When we look back just 25 years there is not a business that in some way or another hasn't had a cut back in staff. One of the major industries of the world the newspaper is nothing like it was just ten years ago. Sunday is the exception to this rule but six days a week you might open the Telegram and on the front page not find one local story. Yes when you have a staff of just three sports writers the sports page is just like the front news page.
Jessie, Justin and Nick the three sports writers for the Rocky Mount Telegram they find themselves trying to cover seven high schools and all other people who would like coverage for what ever they have that is sports worthy. It is indeed a pleasure when ever they do the players of the year( three times a year) Fall, winter and spring for our local high schools. The guys at the telegram do a great job of feature writing and each and every player they profiled in the last week or so can be proud of what was written about them. Here is the Rocky Mount Telegram players of the year in spring sports.
Golf: Nathan Webb -South WestEdgecombe....It is unfortunate that most folks who read this blog probably have no idea how good Nathan is.
Tennis: Josiah Marshall- Northern Nash....Another sport only those mothers and fathers know of other tennis teams know about.
Track And Field: Takeyra Thomas- Rocky Mount....More people know her from basketball but she can fly on the track.
Track and Field: Jaquell Bryant- Rocky Mount.... State High Jump Champion. Just might be world class by the time his college career is over.
Soccer: Casey Cooke- Rocky Mount.... Prolific scorer, college could be a stepping stone for a player who knows how to put ball in net.
Softball: Hitter: Jessica Ricks- Northern Nash.... She found out hard work when used the proper way you can become better.
Softball Pitcher: Lindsey Sharpe- Nash Central.... A dominant pitcher can take a softball team a longs ways.
Baseball Pitcher: Jeremy Johnson- Rocky Mount.... I don't know whether JJ can throw the ball over 86 miles per hour but it doesn't matter he is a bulldog on the mound.
Baseball Hitter: Adam Bayless- Rocky Mount Academy.... Has there ever been another private school player on this list before? Adam has proven to me during Legion Season worthy of the Telegram honor.
Legion Playoff Results Saturday July 6th
Rocky Mount wins series over Edenton 2 games to none after Edenton forfeits series.
Kinston 12-Albemarle 9 Kinston leads series 1-0
Wilson 6 Windsor 4 Wilson leads series 1-0
Pitt County 9 Wayne County 5 Pitt leads series 1-0
Jessie, Justin and Nick the three sports writers for the Rocky Mount Telegram they find themselves trying to cover seven high schools and all other people who would like coverage for what ever they have that is sports worthy. It is indeed a pleasure when ever they do the players of the year( three times a year) Fall, winter and spring for our local high schools. The guys at the telegram do a great job of feature writing and each and every player they profiled in the last week or so can be proud of what was written about them. Here is the Rocky Mount Telegram players of the year in spring sports.
Golf: Nathan Webb -South WestEdgecombe....It is unfortunate that most folks who read this blog probably have no idea how good Nathan is.
Tennis: Josiah Marshall- Northern Nash....Another sport only those mothers and fathers know of other tennis teams know about.
Track And Field: Takeyra Thomas- Rocky Mount....More people know her from basketball but she can fly on the track.
Track and Field: Jaquell Bryant- Rocky Mount.... State High Jump Champion. Just might be world class by the time his college career is over.
Soccer: Casey Cooke- Rocky Mount.... Prolific scorer, college could be a stepping stone for a player who knows how to put ball in net.
Softball: Hitter: Jessica Ricks- Northern Nash.... She found out hard work when used the proper way you can become better.
Softball Pitcher: Lindsey Sharpe- Nash Central.... A dominant pitcher can take a softball team a longs ways.
Baseball Pitcher: Jeremy Johnson- Rocky Mount.... I don't know whether JJ can throw the ball over 86 miles per hour but it doesn't matter he is a bulldog on the mound.
Baseball Hitter: Adam Bayless- Rocky Mount Academy.... Has there ever been another private school player on this list before? Adam has proven to me during Legion Season worthy of the Telegram honor.
Legion Playoff Results Saturday July 6th
Rocky Mount wins series over Edenton 2 games to none after Edenton forfeits series.
Kinston 12-Albemarle 9 Kinston leads series 1-0
Wilson 6 Windsor 4 Wilson leads series 1-0
Pitt County 9 Wayne County 5 Pitt leads series 1-0
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Legion Road To Wilson Starts Tonight
URGENT
The playoff series for Post 58 against Edenton Post 40 is over before it starts. Post 40 has forfeited the series to Rocky Mount after they did not have enough players to make the trip tonight to Rocky Mount. Rocky Mount advances to round two which will start Wednesday night at Rocky Mount.
Those kids that started back in mid May hoping to play Legion ball will finally get to do what all of them want, play in the State Tournament in Wilson on July 21st. Coleman Pitt Post 58 the top seed from Area One East will open at home against Edenton Post 40 a team they tried to play a doubleheader with last Saturday only to have eight players show up for Post 40.
Coleman Pitt opens against a team in their own conference that they have not played due to all the weather misery Eastern North Carolina has endured this summer. The first level of the playoffs will be three sets of two out of three games with those from Area One East. It will take six wins to advance to play the Area One West winner. All of the weather problems that Legion ball has had this season Post 58 will have to win as many games in the next ten days that they won on the field all year. Yes, Post 58 won six games the old fashion way they earned them.
Game time is 7pm at Legion Field. Should Post 58 earn victories to make it to the State Tournament that will be held at Fleming Stadium in Wilson starting July 21-27. Wilson Post 13 as the host team is automatically is in the field so they do not have to win to get in. But they could keep somebody else from getting in.
Under the category of bombshell from left field: The Boston Celtic announced that they have hired Brad Stevens the up and coming college coach from Butler University. Stevens in less than ten years has taken Butler from not even being considered a mid major to one of the powerhouse mid majors in college basketball. Of all the coaches in waiting to take over the shoes of Coach K as the best college coach in America Stevens 36 leaves that for still the best known franchise in the NBA.
All the hub bub is over. Dwight Howard tweeted last night that he has decided to play for the Houston Rockets. Howard the ring leader for those teenagers that the NBA gives millions of dollars to that never grow up. He is part of the generation of people we have in this world now that every thing was given to him and has never had to really make a decision on what his family was going to eat tonight. He is another of those reasons that I don't watch the NBA anymore.
The playoff series for Post 58 against Edenton Post 40 is over before it starts. Post 40 has forfeited the series to Rocky Mount after they did not have enough players to make the trip tonight to Rocky Mount. Rocky Mount advances to round two which will start Wednesday night at Rocky Mount.
Those kids that started back in mid May hoping to play Legion ball will finally get to do what all of them want, play in the State Tournament in Wilson on July 21st. Coleman Pitt Post 58 the top seed from Area One East will open at home against Edenton Post 40 a team they tried to play a doubleheader with last Saturday only to have eight players show up for Post 40.
Coleman Pitt opens against a team in their own conference that they have not played due to all the weather misery Eastern North Carolina has endured this summer. The first level of the playoffs will be three sets of two out of three games with those from Area One East. It will take six wins to advance to play the Area One West winner. All of the weather problems that Legion ball has had this season Post 58 will have to win as many games in the next ten days that they won on the field all year. Yes, Post 58 won six games the old fashion way they earned them.
Game time is 7pm at Legion Field. Should Post 58 earn victories to make it to the State Tournament that will be held at Fleming Stadium in Wilson starting July 21-27. Wilson Post 13 as the host team is automatically is in the field so they do not have to win to get in. But they could keep somebody else from getting in.
Under the category of bombshell from left field: The Boston Celtic announced that they have hired Brad Stevens the up and coming college coach from Butler University. Stevens in less than ten years has taken Butler from not even being considered a mid major to one of the powerhouse mid majors in college basketball. Of all the coaches in waiting to take over the shoes of Coach K as the best college coach in America Stevens 36 leaves that for still the best known franchise in the NBA.
All the hub bub is over. Dwight Howard tweeted last night that he has decided to play for the Houston Rockets. Howard the ring leader for those teenagers that the NBA gives millions of dollars to that never grow up. He is part of the generation of people we have in this world now that every thing was given to him and has never had to really make a decision on what his family was going to eat tonight. He is another of those reasons that I don't watch the NBA anymore.
Friday, July 5, 2013
City Of Rocky Mount And Baseball
There is not many weekends that pass if you ride by the Sports Complex it looks like 10,000 people are there for some type of sporting event. If you recall not so long ago a couple of years I think the City hosted the Tar Heel State Championships in all age groups in which the Tar Heel Association sponsors. It was the first time ever that all divisions were able to play at the same place the same weekend. If you recall I think everyone who came from every where was extremely please with the outcome except for one thing. The entire tournament was played in 100 plus degree weather. If you recall it was 95 after dark that week.
Starting Tuesday July 9th the Tar Heel District Tournament will be held at the Sports Complex and once again all age groups will be here in Rocky Mount. The age groups are 7/8, 9/10 11/12 and 13/14 year old. There is a very good chance that Rocky Mount teams representing the Rocky Mount Recreation Department could win more than one division. If that happens the State Championships are not that far down the road as Williamston will be hosting this year.
During the just completed Little League season Lynn Driver held a ceremony at the Little League Tournament championships adding the latest State Champion to the Walk of Champions as you walk in from the parking lot. One of our little league teams won a State Championship last year and their plaque now hangs with the many others.
Next week for five days the future ball players of tomorrow will be strutting their stuff at the Sports Complex. This is the same complex where Hobbs Johnson use to play or Xavier Macklin or Benton Moss. If you want to see fun baseball. This has become the normal operation of the sports complex as just about every weekend stars of the future perform right here in Rocky Mount. If you are one of those who likes to say I remember seeing him or her play right out there in Rocky Mount. The future is today and everyday at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex.
Starting Tuesday July 9th the Tar Heel District Tournament will be held at the Sports Complex and once again all age groups will be here in Rocky Mount. The age groups are 7/8, 9/10 11/12 and 13/14 year old. There is a very good chance that Rocky Mount teams representing the Rocky Mount Recreation Department could win more than one division. If that happens the State Championships are not that far down the road as Williamston will be hosting this year.
During the just completed Little League season Lynn Driver held a ceremony at the Little League Tournament championships adding the latest State Champion to the Walk of Champions as you walk in from the parking lot. One of our little league teams won a State Championship last year and their plaque now hangs with the many others.
Next week for five days the future ball players of tomorrow will be strutting their stuff at the Sports Complex. This is the same complex where Hobbs Johnson use to play or Xavier Macklin or Benton Moss. If you want to see fun baseball. This has become the normal operation of the sports complex as just about every weekend stars of the future perform right here in Rocky Mount. If you are one of those who likes to say I remember seeing him or her play right out there in Rocky Mount. The future is today and everyday at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Area One Legion Throws In The Towel
Time was running out and there were to many games to make up and all eight teams of Area One American Legion Baseball decided Wednesday that as of end of play Wednesday the regular season would be over. Then it preceded to rain everyone out Wednesday night. Regardless of how many games you have played that will be your record for the regular season.
The original schedule called for the top four teams to play three out of five games against each other but the vote Wednesday was all eight teams will take part in the playoffs with 1/8-2/7-3/6-4/5 meeting in the first round which will start Saturday night instead of Sunday. Under this format Coleman Pitt Post 58 will be seeded #1 and will play Edenton Post 40 at home Saturday night at 7:00pm. Game Two will be Sunday in Edenton and game three if needed back in Rocky Mount Monday night.
I would be in favor next year of Albemarle, Edenton, Windsor and Ahoskie if all come back to play Legion to be in a league. Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville, Kinston and Wayne County be in another and at the end of the year the top two teams from each division play each other and the winners advance.
The extensive travel involved for say Wayne County to go to Albemarle and having to leave so early in the afternoon and the way the weather has been this year there has been lots of travel only to turn around and go back home to come play another day. The cost of putting a team on the field each summer the least of the cost should be travel but this summer of rain travel and umpires never getting on the field is killing the viability of Legion Baseball.
The way the playoffs are now set up you will have at least one more chance to see Coleman Pitt Post 58 play this season. Post 58 history over the years of making long runs in the playoffs that is where with building crowds the Legion can get back some of the losses taken in the pocketbook so they need your support starting Saturday night at Legion Field at 7:00pm.
The weather forecast after tomorrow looks as if we might be able to play three or four days in a row without concern for rain. I think everyone around here needs a day off from the rain.
The original schedule called for the top four teams to play three out of five games against each other but the vote Wednesday was all eight teams will take part in the playoffs with 1/8-2/7-3/6-4/5 meeting in the first round which will start Saturday night instead of Sunday. Under this format Coleman Pitt Post 58 will be seeded #1 and will play Edenton Post 40 at home Saturday night at 7:00pm. Game Two will be Sunday in Edenton and game three if needed back in Rocky Mount Monday night.
I would be in favor next year of Albemarle, Edenton, Windsor and Ahoskie if all come back to play Legion to be in a league. Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville, Kinston and Wayne County be in another and at the end of the year the top two teams from each division play each other and the winners advance.
The extensive travel involved for say Wayne County to go to Albemarle and having to leave so early in the afternoon and the way the weather has been this year there has been lots of travel only to turn around and go back home to come play another day. The cost of putting a team on the field each summer the least of the cost should be travel but this summer of rain travel and umpires never getting on the field is killing the viability of Legion Baseball.
The way the playoffs are now set up you will have at least one more chance to see Coleman Pitt Post 58 play this season. Post 58 history over the years of making long runs in the playoffs that is where with building crowds the Legion can get back some of the losses taken in the pocketbook so they need your support starting Saturday night at Legion Field at 7:00pm.
The weather forecast after tomorrow looks as if we might be able to play three or four days in a row without concern for rain. I think everyone around here needs a day off from the rain.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Face Lift At Northern Nash
Life will be different for students who go to school at Northern Nash when they report for the first day of school in late August. The paint scrapers were out between Thanksgiving and Christmas getting all the old paint off and then Athletic Director Dan Richwalski dropped a bombshell when he announced that Northern had hired former Hunt football coach Randy Raper to take over the football program. Raper a graduate of Hunt and after college returned to Hunt where he has spent his entire life in the football program and we all know that Hunt over the last 25 years is one of the top football 3-A programs in the East.
Then late in basketball season Dam Richwalski stepped down as Athletic Director and Patricia Haggerty was named the interim AD while Northern looked for the full time Athletic Director. By the end of baseball season Eddie Loesner had resigned as baseball coach.
Since the end of baseball season the new coats of paint are apparent throughout Northern. Michael (Chip) Hodges has been bumped up to the Central office and has been replaced as Principal by Chad Thompson who comes to Northern from Red Oak.
Patricia Haggerty is not longer the interim AD but has been hire full time. Coach Haggerty has been within the athletic program for a long time at Northern and having worked with her both through coaching and as AD she is a good choice for the job.
Late last week the last opening of the big three sports at any high school was named when former assistant baseball coach Leonard Allen who of late has been the baseball coach at Bunn High school was named to replace Loesner. Allen who has never moved from the area and commuted to Bunn every day was an assistant baseball coach under former Northern Coach Al Carter.
Those who have business at Northern Nash as a student, spectator or media person will find there is a new green every where the next time you visit Northern Nash.
Then late in basketball season Dam Richwalski stepped down as Athletic Director and Patricia Haggerty was named the interim AD while Northern looked for the full time Athletic Director. By the end of baseball season Eddie Loesner had resigned as baseball coach.
Since the end of baseball season the new coats of paint are apparent throughout Northern. Michael (Chip) Hodges has been bumped up to the Central office and has been replaced as Principal by Chad Thompson who comes to Northern from Red Oak.
Patricia Haggerty is not longer the interim AD but has been hire full time. Coach Haggerty has been within the athletic program for a long time at Northern and having worked with her both through coaching and as AD she is a good choice for the job.
Late last week the last opening of the big three sports at any high school was named when former assistant baseball coach Leonard Allen who of late has been the baseball coach at Bunn High school was named to replace Loesner. Allen who has never moved from the area and commuted to Bunn every day was an assistant baseball coach under former Northern Coach Al Carter.
Those who have business at Northern Nash as a student, spectator or media person will find there is a new green every where the next time you visit Northern Nash.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
If This Legion Season Was A Movie
If this Legion season was a movie would it be classified as a sports movie or a horror flick? The rainy trend continues as tonight's two games with Albemarle is rained out again. Remember that Albemarle was suppose to come play Post 58 about three weeks ago and was a no show. The arrangement was made to play a double header with them and we were in the eighth inning of the first game of a seven inning double header when we were washed away about two weeks ago.
Wednesday Post 58 travels to Kinston to play a game there that was rained out the first week once we started playing conference game. Friday they travel to Wayne County to make up a game washed out last Friday. The regular season ends Saturday and there are still teams with six games left to play. We only have four to play so it is still doable for us but it will totally depend on Albemarle's schedule whether they have games on tap for either Thursday or Saturday when we are free. I just don't see how with this mess everyone is going to get all the games in and if they play some teams with 12 or 13 games played and others with 14 somebody is going to get left out by percentages which is not good for who ever get dropped from the playoffs. By the way the weather forecast for Wednesday is a repeat of today.
I have a suggestion. Let's just play a double elimination tournament based on games play and percentage determine seeding on games played through Saturday. 1/8, 2/7, 3/6 45 play Sunday night. Monday play winners bracket and loser bracket. After Monday two teams are out. There will be two undefeated team left. Let the four teams with one loss play another night to get the two winners and then take those four teams and play a two out of three. The way the playoffs are set up this year it will take six wins to win the Area One East so this system will take seven. Just a thought!
There are many Proud Gryphon fans who like to keep up with those players who have moved on and there are not many who are Gryphon graduates with the opportunities that have come the way of Benton Moss. He is attending the University of North Carolina on the highest academic scholarship offered by the University. His summer of his freshman year he spent in the Rocky Mountains, last summer he went to Africa which is all part of the enrichment of the scholarship. This summer Benton once again has gone to a foreign country where he is learning the trade of baseball. He is interning for the New York Yankees in the Bronx NY. If Benton chooses to play pro baseball after graduation and there is a good chance he might. We just might see one day that he is the president of a major sports franchise or president of the United States. He can probably make more money in sports.
Brian Goodwin as of Monday night was hitting 252 in Scranton Pa but as we have talked recently he needs to cut down on strike outs. He has played 78 games and struck out 82 times. This is a major improvement for at one time it was about 1.25 per game. He has ten doubles, seven triples and six home runs.
Nash Central's Xavier Macklin has played four games in Vermont and has four hits and of those four three are doubles. He's hitting 308. If X can stay healthy he is going to start moving up.
As of Monday night Hobbs Johnson was not yet listed on the roster of Helena Montana. I'll keep looking.
Wednesday Post 58 travels to Kinston to play a game there that was rained out the first week once we started playing conference game. Friday they travel to Wayne County to make up a game washed out last Friday. The regular season ends Saturday and there are still teams with six games left to play. We only have four to play so it is still doable for us but it will totally depend on Albemarle's schedule whether they have games on tap for either Thursday or Saturday when we are free. I just don't see how with this mess everyone is going to get all the games in and if they play some teams with 12 or 13 games played and others with 14 somebody is going to get left out by percentages which is not good for who ever get dropped from the playoffs. By the way the weather forecast for Wednesday is a repeat of today.
I have a suggestion. Let's just play a double elimination tournament based on games play and percentage determine seeding on games played through Saturday. 1/8, 2/7, 3/6 45 play Sunday night. Monday play winners bracket and loser bracket. After Monday two teams are out. There will be two undefeated team left. Let the four teams with one loss play another night to get the two winners and then take those four teams and play a two out of three. The way the playoffs are set up this year it will take six wins to win the Area One East so this system will take seven. Just a thought!
There are many Proud Gryphon fans who like to keep up with those players who have moved on and there are not many who are Gryphon graduates with the opportunities that have come the way of Benton Moss. He is attending the University of North Carolina on the highest academic scholarship offered by the University. His summer of his freshman year he spent in the Rocky Mountains, last summer he went to Africa which is all part of the enrichment of the scholarship. This summer Benton once again has gone to a foreign country where he is learning the trade of baseball. He is interning for the New York Yankees in the Bronx NY. If Benton chooses to play pro baseball after graduation and there is a good chance he might. We just might see one day that he is the president of a major sports franchise or president of the United States. He can probably make more money in sports.
Brian Goodwin as of Monday night was hitting 252 in Scranton Pa but as we have talked recently he needs to cut down on strike outs. He has played 78 games and struck out 82 times. This is a major improvement for at one time it was about 1.25 per game. He has ten doubles, seven triples and six home runs.
Nash Central's Xavier Macklin has played four games in Vermont and has four hits and of those four three are doubles. He's hitting 308. If X can stay healthy he is going to start moving up.
As of Monday night Hobbs Johnson was not yet listed on the roster of Helena Montana. I'll keep looking.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Yes There There Was a Ball Game Tonight
The full seven inning game with Albemarle Post 84 plus the end of the game now in the 8th inning has been rained out tonight. As of right now I do not know of the possible make up date either Thursday or Saturday are only dates open. Play offs start Sunday night. Right now the top four spots are still up for grabs so every game will have to be made up to get the proper seeding.
If there was ever any question as to whether the old Rocky Mount High School field and now Legion Field is a quality baseball facility the answer is yes. When all other fields in Eastern North Carolina are under water there was a top notch nine inning game played there tonight. The result is not in favor of Coleman Pitt Post 58 but tonight's game is the best game I have seen played all spring and summer. Kinston wins 3-1.
This being the last week of the regular season all conference games need to be finished by Saturday night Kinston field was unplayable by noon today so in order to have any chance of Kinston finishing all their games they need to play seven by Saturday night Our trip to Kinston tonight was moved to Rocky Mount and we will go there Wednesday night.
Coleman Pitt score one in the first on a hit by David Williams and and rbi single by Adam Bayless but Kinston starting pitcher Garrett Blackbunn decided that was going to be it for the night for Post 58. It isn't like P58 didn't have chances as they could muster but five hits but five base on balls and two errors kept P 58 pecking away but never again did they cross home.
P 58 pitcher Jeremy Johnson pitched even better the first five innings but Post 43 struck for one in the sixth on three hits. The game was tied 1-1 and Johnson had two outs in the eighth when P58 defense gave the game away. A throwing error on a tough play got the first runner on. Then a fly ball drops for a hit after P58 outfielder never saw the ball off the bat. Even then no one had scored until another ball heading to the gap was run down but dropped after hitting squarely in the glove. Two runs cross the plate which would be the ball game.
P58 had chances in the 8th and 9th but Blackbunn wouldn't let anyone score. Blackbunn went nine innings gave up five hits, five walks and one earned run. Only one P58 batter struck out on the night. Jeremy Johnson went seven and two thirds innings giving up five hits, hit one batter and struck out 10 P 43 batters. Johnson defensive mates let him down after maybe the best pitching performance of his career.
P 58 has little time to rest as they play Albemarle Tuesday night at home in what now is the last regular season game at home. Post 58 plays at Kinston Wednesday and at Wayne County Friday night. Tonight drops P58 to 8-2 in conference and Kinston is up to 5-3. Rocky Mount still has one less loss with four left to play while Kinston has six games left to play this week and there is no doubt Wednesday's match with Rocky Mount just could be for first place.
Kinston takes down Post 58 3-1 and Post 58 will finish up the extra inning game with Albemarle starting at 5:30 Tuesday and play a seven inning game immediately after play another one.
If there was ever any question as to whether the old Rocky Mount High School field and now Legion Field is a quality baseball facility the answer is yes. When all other fields in Eastern North Carolina are under water there was a top notch nine inning game played there tonight. The result is not in favor of Coleman Pitt Post 58 but tonight's game is the best game I have seen played all spring and summer. Kinston wins 3-1.
This being the last week of the regular season all conference games need to be finished by Saturday night Kinston field was unplayable by noon today so in order to have any chance of Kinston finishing all their games they need to play seven by Saturday night Our trip to Kinston tonight was moved to Rocky Mount and we will go there Wednesday night.
Coleman Pitt score one in the first on a hit by David Williams and and rbi single by Adam Bayless but Kinston starting pitcher Garrett Blackbunn decided that was going to be it for the night for Post 58. It isn't like P58 didn't have chances as they could muster but five hits but five base on balls and two errors kept P 58 pecking away but never again did they cross home.
P 58 pitcher Jeremy Johnson pitched even better the first five innings but Post 43 struck for one in the sixth on three hits. The game was tied 1-1 and Johnson had two outs in the eighth when P58 defense gave the game away. A throwing error on a tough play got the first runner on. Then a fly ball drops for a hit after P58 outfielder never saw the ball off the bat. Even then no one had scored until another ball heading to the gap was run down but dropped after hitting squarely in the glove. Two runs cross the plate which would be the ball game.
P58 had chances in the 8th and 9th but Blackbunn wouldn't let anyone score. Blackbunn went nine innings gave up five hits, five walks and one earned run. Only one P58 batter struck out on the night. Jeremy Johnson went seven and two thirds innings giving up five hits, hit one batter and struck out 10 P 43 batters. Johnson defensive mates let him down after maybe the best pitching performance of his career.
P 58 has little time to rest as they play Albemarle Tuesday night at home in what now is the last regular season game at home. Post 58 plays at Kinston Wednesday and at Wayne County Friday night. Tonight drops P58 to 8-2 in conference and Kinston is up to 5-3. Rocky Mount still has one less loss with four left to play while Kinston has six games left to play this week and there is no doubt Wednesday's match with Rocky Mount just could be for first place.
Kinston takes down Post 58 3-1 and Post 58 will finish up the extra inning game with Albemarle starting at 5:30 Tuesday and play a seven inning game immediately after play another one.
The 2013 NBA Draft
The rains we have already had today the field in Kinston is unplayable for tonight so the game has been moved to Rocky Mount. Now we all can see rain falling here and in spots it has been heavy so the only hope to keep on a schedule is to flip flop games. So tonight P 58 is home to Kinston. I will keep you updated whether the game can be play at Legion Field in Rocky Mount. Will need some sunshine this afternoon.
Is there anyone who knows how much money pro sports really makes? I watch more of the NBA draft from about pick 15 until the end of the first round than I have watched NBA basketball during the 2013 season. That thing done out on the basketball court they call basketball makes me sick to watch so I don't watch it.
I am amazed at how they just throw money out to players who can't play basketball. The word potential will get a person six feet five a million dollars just because somebody thinks he might be taught how to play basketball. This is pro basketball in order to be a pro you are already suppose to know more than an eighth grader about how to play. One of those basketball analyst reading off the traits of one of those first round picks had a list longer of what he couldn't do than what he could. This is basketball and if on my negatives they have the word can't shoot. Please leave him alone. If at 19 years old a player who has spent all of his life on a play ground playing ball he will never learn how to shoot.
NBA owners are stupid enough to pay a million or more to try to teach him. I guess all those jerseys and TV money the owners are rolling in they are embarrassed to keep it all to themselves. There will be a point in time that people will get fed up with paying $200 a ticket or when the game comes on TV they watch soccer or Lacrosse instead. and the TV ratings dry up so goes the money. You may laugh about soccer or LaCrosse but here is a prediction. Raleigh is less that 15 years away from a major soccer franchise but no where near a Pro basketball team. There is going to be a stadium in Raleigh that will hold 40,000 soccer fans soon.
What little bit of the NBA finals that I watch LeBron James did about all he could do. His line in one game was 18 points 11 rebounds and 11 assists. The experts were whining about how bad he played. James reminds me of Wilt Chamberlain. He was a monster at over seven feet and no one could handle him except Bill Russell. If it were not for Bill Russell Wilt would have been the greatest basketball player in the history of the world but Bill won titles and Wilt got a couple.
LeBron plays guard and when he take off going to the basket it's like a bull in a china shop. He is not that good a passer only average shooter from beyond 20 feet but I will give him credit for one thing, he makes everybody on his team better. LeBron is so big he has no grace at all on the court. Magic was his size but he could pass, shoot and one thing he could do is play center if need be. What makes James so much better than everyone is his huge size over anyone who is going to guard him. Big men can't stay up with him and he beats small men to death.
I don't have a lot of respect for coaches like Doc Rivers. Rivers wanted out of Boston because he didn't want to be part of a rebuilding program. What does that tell me? He's not much of a coach is he. How many championships did he coach until Boston management brought in a team that could win it once? I don't know many coaches that the satisfaction of coaching is seeing players get better regardless of winning a championship or not. I think Rivers likes that money that goes with being a winning coach. I kind of hope now that Chris Paul jumps ship in LA and leaves Rivers with a rebuilding team. Serves him right.
Is there anyone who knows how much money pro sports really makes? I watch more of the NBA draft from about pick 15 until the end of the first round than I have watched NBA basketball during the 2013 season. That thing done out on the basketball court they call basketball makes me sick to watch so I don't watch it.
I am amazed at how they just throw money out to players who can't play basketball. The word potential will get a person six feet five a million dollars just because somebody thinks he might be taught how to play basketball. This is pro basketball in order to be a pro you are already suppose to know more than an eighth grader about how to play. One of those basketball analyst reading off the traits of one of those first round picks had a list longer of what he couldn't do than what he could. This is basketball and if on my negatives they have the word can't shoot. Please leave him alone. If at 19 years old a player who has spent all of his life on a play ground playing ball he will never learn how to shoot.
NBA owners are stupid enough to pay a million or more to try to teach him. I guess all those jerseys and TV money the owners are rolling in they are embarrassed to keep it all to themselves. There will be a point in time that people will get fed up with paying $200 a ticket or when the game comes on TV they watch soccer or Lacrosse instead. and the TV ratings dry up so goes the money. You may laugh about soccer or LaCrosse but here is a prediction. Raleigh is less that 15 years away from a major soccer franchise but no where near a Pro basketball team. There is going to be a stadium in Raleigh that will hold 40,000 soccer fans soon.
What little bit of the NBA finals that I watch LeBron James did about all he could do. His line in one game was 18 points 11 rebounds and 11 assists. The experts were whining about how bad he played. James reminds me of Wilt Chamberlain. He was a monster at over seven feet and no one could handle him except Bill Russell. If it were not for Bill Russell Wilt would have been the greatest basketball player in the history of the world but Bill won titles and Wilt got a couple.
LeBron plays guard and when he take off going to the basket it's like a bull in a china shop. He is not that good a passer only average shooter from beyond 20 feet but I will give him credit for one thing, he makes everybody on his team better. LeBron is so big he has no grace at all on the court. Magic was his size but he could pass, shoot and one thing he could do is play center if need be. What makes James so much better than everyone is his huge size over anyone who is going to guard him. Big men can't stay up with him and he beats small men to death.
I don't have a lot of respect for coaches like Doc Rivers. Rivers wanted out of Boston because he didn't want to be part of a rebuilding program. What does that tell me? He's not much of a coach is he. How many championships did he coach until Boston management brought in a team that could win it once? I don't know many coaches that the satisfaction of coaching is seeing players get better regardless of winning a championship or not. I think Rivers likes that money that goes with being a winning coach. I kind of hope now that Chris Paul jumps ship in LA and leaves Rivers with a rebuilding team. Serves him right.
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