Tuesday, June 25, 2013

You've Come A Long Ways Hobbs Johnson

Just two years from being told to stay home and go to summer school while UNC baseball goes to the College World Series Former Rocky Mount Gryphon and now Former Tar Heel from North Carolina Hobbs Johnson has signed a Pro baseball contract with the Milwaukee Brewers and Johnson has been assigned to play this summer in Helena Montana.
 
His sophomore and Junior years for the Tar Heels he had a 12-2 record  and in 2012 an ERA of 1.56 and this season 2.37.  This year in 87 plus innings pitching for the Tar Heels he did not allow a home run.  The rumor mill has been circulating after Johnson was drafted in the 14th round in early June that he would not be back but after his pitching performance in the College World Series last Thursday night I think the Brewers knew they had better get him now.

Hobbs teammate at both Rocky Mount and Carolina Benton Moss has been named All ACC Academic team for the second year in a row.  Last year Moss made All Academic All American and with a two year grade point average of 3.98 there is no reason to believe he won't be an All American again.

Former Gryphon basketball player Tashawn Mabry fresh off graduation from Mesdesto Junior College in Modesto California where he averaged about 17 points this past season has signed with Tarleton State University in Stevenville Texas.  Tarleton is part of the Texas A&M system and they play in the Lone Star Conference which is a Division II League.  The college has about 10,000 students and is located about an hour from Fort Worth.

The baseball comeback of  Xavier Macklin the former Nash Central Bulldog is underway again.  X man spent the 2012 season in rehab after having to have  shoulder reconstruction surgery.  He is back in the New York-Penn League with Vermont where he started two years ago.  So far in just two games played he has one hit  which was a double in seven at bats.

Brian Goodwin is hitting 252 in in AA baseball.  He has 71 hits on the season but of those 22 have been a double or more.  10 Doubles, 7 triples and 5 home runs.  He seems to have leveled off striking out as he is getting close to only one per game.   Right now that is the area where he has to get better somehow making contact with two strikes.  He has stolen 13 bases in 21 tries but with his speed that percentage needs to be more like 19 of 21.  The learning process continues.

The Season Is Just Beginning

Coleman Pitt Post 58 tried to start the baseball season on May 20th.  Two cancellations later the season cranked up on May 26th.  One month has passed and with rain outs and rescheduling Post 58 has played 10 games.  They stand 5-5, could be 6-4 but had to forfeit one.  They are 5-1 in conference play.  They don't have another game scheduled until Thursday and if it doesn't rain or another team drop out P58 will play 7 and 1/2 games in seven days.

The regular season ends Wednesday July 3rd.  Between now and then P 58 plays Thursday at Wayne County and that game will be played at MT Olive College.  Friday they are home against Wilson.  They play a double header Saturday at home against Edenton. Monday they have a trip to Kinston.  Tuesday they are home again to play Albemarle in that game that was washed out in the bottom of the eighth inning plus another game after the rainout is over.  Wednesday night Kinston travels here to finish up the schedule.  Lord help us all if there is a rain out any where within the next week.

Before we talk playoffs let's look at that game with Albemarle which starts with us batting in the bottom of the eighth inning.  When the lineup cards were turn in to the umpires Post 84 brought only ten players with them and that is all that was all the players  on the lineup card.  Post 58 had 16 players on the lineup card even though a couple may not have even been there. The tenth player for P84 came in the game to pitch so when the game is resumed they must put the same nine back out on the field.  If any of those nine players fails to make it to the game they will only have eight players eligible to play and they will have to forfeit the rain out game.

Post 58 played 13 of the 16 players on the line up card so if one of their players fails to show they still have bench players who could take their place.  The problem for P84 is they have to take the field to resume the game while only the batters have to go to bat that are due up next for P58.  A real dilemma for P84 just making the trip here.  Once the second game starts they can make a lineup any way they want.

One issue I have with the way things are done in the east American Legion I have no idea what the standings are and how we stand heading to the last week.  I know with a 5-1 record we can't be any worse than second but who knows.  Anybody know what the standings are?

The top four make the playoffs.  One plays four and two plays three in the conference.  In years past there have been three levels of conference playoffs but there are only two this year so instead of the first round being two out of three all rounds are three out of five.   Wilson is hosting the State Championship this year so they are already in the State Tournament.  Our champion plays the Capitol area champ and the winner of that three out of five goes to Wilson for the State Title.

So if the weather holds out the Playoffs start July 7th.  The one thing nobody wants to do is have to play on July fourth to make up a rainout game.  I sure don't want to and you know the kids don't want to play then.