Jeremy Johnson gave the Rocky Mount Gryphons six strong innings of pitching allowing only one run on five hits while striking out ten Wilson Fike batters as Rocky Mount opens conference play with a 3-1 victory over Fike.
Andy Morris open up the game getting a triple in the right center gap and Johnson's sac fly gave the Gryphons a 1-0 lead in the first. Starting Fike pitcher Charlie Vaughn held the Gryphons in check for four inning giving up only one hit. Tyler Poythress pitched the fifth and sixth innings for Fike. Fike was quiet until the fifth when Tyler Poythress singled advance to third on a sac infield single by Sam Ellis. Poythress scored on a fly ball sac by Richard Hinton.
The bottom of the sixth inning Johnson started off with a single, Trevor Hayworth reach on an error. Ben Winstead's fly ball drove in Johnson to give the Gryphons the lead at 2-1. Jerrell Hunter drove in run #3 with a hit over second to give the Gryphons their three runs.
In somewhat of a gamble with several pitching injuries still plaguing the Gryphons coach Kent Cox brought on Cody Smith to pitch the seventh. So far this season Smith either strikes you out or walks you and Smith acted like a closer should in striking out one batter and got a three up and three down top of the seventh to record the save.
Andy Morris, Jeremy Johnson and Jerrell Hunter had the three Gryphon hits while Tyler Pouthress had two singles and he had help with a hit from Sam Ellis, a double by Charlie Vaughn and a Jordan Crumpler hit . Jeremy Johnson got the win and Tyler Poythress took the loss.
Rocky Mount record expands to 4-3 but 1-0 in Big East play while Fike suffered their first loss of the season as they stand 6-1 and 0-1 in the Big East.
Former Rocky Mount Gryphon Benton Moss was named Monday as the ACC pitcher of the week after he pitch a seven inning gem Saturday night for North Carolina. Moss allowed two hits and struck out seven batters and picked up his fifth win of the year and stands at 5-0 which is the most wins any pitcher in the ACC has. His five starts this year for the Tar Heels he has struck out at least seven in every game and 39 on the season which is fourth in the ACC.
I hope you had a chance to see ESPN's 30-30 Series Survive and Advance Sunday night. It featured the 1983 N C State WolfPack and their journey having to win nine games in a row to either get into the NCAA tournament and then survive trailing in the second in seven of them. It is not only about that team but the death of coach Jim Valvano and the spirit he gave that 83 team to never give up and even as he died from cancer he lived the spirit until his death. It was an awesome show and I hope you catch a rerun that they will show a million times in the next two weeks until the next 30-30 hits the air ways.
Monday, March 18, 2013
IN THE MONEY!
One of the real concerns I had for my Cousin Lauren Doughtie when she finished high enough in December to win her LPGA playing card was the fact that even though she won one tournament last year she missed the cut way too many times playing in the minor leagues and this LPGA is a big step up. Why should we think that she will ever make a cut on the LPGA and any one who follows golf knows if you don't play the weekends you don't cash a check.
This weekend the LPGA played on United states soil for the first time and fourth tournament of the year. Lauren had gone to Australia for the first one and you guessed it she didn't make the cut. This week they played in Phoenix Arizona and Lauren shot a very nice 69 in the opening round to tie for 21st at three under par. Friday another good day coming in with a 71 which is good enough at four under to make the cut by two shots and she dropped to a tie for 32nd.
Brooks Doughtie and I were texting back and forth Saturday talking about Lauren and I made the comment that she had made the cut but by Sunday she would be very lucky to finish 70th which would be the last person to get a check. Brooks response to me was "If you finish last in class in medical school what do they call you?" "A Doctor." He was right Lauren was going to be able to pay her bills for this weekend regardless of where she finished.
Saturday came and she shot a two over 74 and fell to 59th. Still two under for the tournament and yes last year on the Futures tour she would have been in the top ten. But, this is the LPGA and she finds herself 17 shots out of the lead. Then Sunday she tees off on #10 while the leaders are going off #1. She shoots a 33 on the front and replicates another 33 on the back to shoot a 66.
Eight under par her second best pro tournament of her life. Just to show you how it is going to be playing on the big tour a 66 only moved her up to a tie for 43rd. But that is still the second biggest check of her pro golfing career. Only her one win on the Futures tour last year paid her more. We all know those of us who pull for LD that next week the risk of not making the cut will still be there. Looking at the future she has to make enough money to qualify just to play on tour next year.
It sure was something to watch the Golf channel coverage and watch as the scores scroll across the bottom of the screen and see L Doughtie -5, the next time -6 then even the next time -7 and oh yes -8. Our goal now is to get close enough to the lead to see her make a shot on the TV. I might not be next week but our hopes sure have climbed this weekend.
This weekend the LPGA played on United states soil for the first time and fourth tournament of the year. Lauren had gone to Australia for the first one and you guessed it she didn't make the cut. This week they played in Phoenix Arizona and Lauren shot a very nice 69 in the opening round to tie for 21st at three under par. Friday another good day coming in with a 71 which is good enough at four under to make the cut by two shots and she dropped to a tie for 32nd.
Brooks Doughtie and I were texting back and forth Saturday talking about Lauren and I made the comment that she had made the cut but by Sunday she would be very lucky to finish 70th which would be the last person to get a check. Brooks response to me was "If you finish last in class in medical school what do they call you?" "A Doctor." He was right Lauren was going to be able to pay her bills for this weekend regardless of where she finished.
Saturday came and she shot a two over 74 and fell to 59th. Still two under for the tournament and yes last year on the Futures tour she would have been in the top ten. But, this is the LPGA and she finds herself 17 shots out of the lead. Then Sunday she tees off on #10 while the leaders are going off #1. She shoots a 33 on the front and replicates another 33 on the back to shoot a 66.
Eight under par her second best pro tournament of her life. Just to show you how it is going to be playing on the big tour a 66 only moved her up to a tie for 43rd. But that is still the second biggest check of her pro golfing career. Only her one win on the Futures tour last year paid her more. We all know those of us who pull for LD that next week the risk of not making the cut will still be there. Looking at the future she has to make enough money to qualify just to play on tour next year.
It sure was something to watch the Golf channel coverage and watch as the scores scroll across the bottom of the screen and see L Doughtie -5, the next time -6 then even the next time -7 and oh yes -8. Our goal now is to get close enough to the lead to see her make a shot on the TV. I might not be next week but our hopes sure have climbed this weekend.
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