Pitching Duel

Tonight on the plains of Northern Nash High School Rocky Mount and Northern took part in a game that the pitchers were the most valuable players on both sides.  Derrick Carter pitched a complete game 2 hitter for Northern striking out six batters and walked but two.  His team mates committed four errors and the second one proved to be devastating to Carter and the Knights.  Two outs and no one on in the fourth inning a simple ground ball to second base and a wide throw to first and  the Gryphons had their second runner of the game on base.  That runner Micah Varnell would score when the next batter Trevor Hayworth hit a one bounce shot off the wall in right field and Rocky Mount had scored the only run of the game.

Gryphon Jeremy Johnson had his control early as he gave up four hits but those that didn't hit it struck out as 13 Knights whiffed on the night.  Johnson walked two batters back to back in the sixth for his only walks in the game and Northern only twice all night had two runners on at the same time.  Johnson pitches the second straight shutout for Rocky Mount in conference play.

Sam Lilley had an infield hit and the Hayworth double was all the damage the Gryphons could do to Carter.  Jacob green had two singles for Northern as well as Dimaggio Silver and Garth Daniel.

Rocky Mount now stands at 4-2 and Northern drops to 2-3.  The Gryphons find themselves tied with Fike who lost 11-1 to Hunt.  Hunt at the halfway point in the conference race is 4-1 with their only loss coming to Rocky Mount.  Fike and Rocky Mount are 4-2 so tonight's win puts Rocky Mount right back in the hunt for the conference crown as well as a home playoff game if they can finish 1st or 2nd in the regular season.

J'Kyra Brown has shown everyone that she is just not a pretty face on the basketball court.  This past Saturday during the track meet in Fayetteville called the Bill Carver Classic Brown won the discus and the shot put competition.  You could never look at J on the basketball court and think that she would be strong enough to win two strength events.  I think you will find that she is such an athlete that she is good at both these events on technique  over raw power.  She was named the MVP of the event with the two wins.  Mason Holt won the 2 mile run in the same classic.