"Boys We Got Practice Tomorrow"

Wrapping up his after the game speech to his player coach Pat Smith started going through the routine.  "Somebody get the bases, clean up this dugout", it was normal talk any coach gives to his team after a home game but he ended his talk with "we got practice tomorrow" because in a do or die game Rocky Mount Academy had beaten their arch rival Faith Christian 4-1 and earned a right to play another weekend.

The game pretty much was decided in the first inning after Faith pitcher Chase Roupp walked the third and fourth hitters of the first after getting the first two batters out.  Adam Bayless hit a fly ball and as I broadcast the game for a Sunday Night TV game it looked to me as if the ball once it left the bat was going to be short of the fence.   The question was could center fielder Luke Roberson or left fielder Braxton Varnell chase it down and catch it.  The answer was no as the ball kept going and going until it cleared the fence for a three run homer and  RMA had all they would need to knock off their Arch rival.

That didn't mean that a great defensive play wasn't needed as left fielder Andrew Weatherly scooped up a two out hit with a runner on second and fogged a one bounce throw to catcher Allen Hicks  who put the tag on what could have been run #2 for Faith but no. Eagle shortstop Trey Medlin was involved in two 6u-3 double plays which help Bayless' pitch count greatly 

Faith out hit RMA eight  to five but 1-0 in home runs.  Bayless also pitched a complete game for RMA who now travels to High Point Friday to play a weekend series for the State Independent  2-A title against West Chester Day of High Point.  West Chester is the defending 2-A winners from last year where they won it at Rocky Mount Academy who hosted the state title last year.

The news is not good anywhere else from around the area as Nash Central lost their second round softball game at home 1-0.  Hunt lost their second round baseball game 3-0.  The Big East baseball teams scored five runs in five playoff games this year.  They were 1-4 in the playoffs.