Monday, May 5, 2014

Edwards One Hits Firebirds

Senior lefty Will Edwards took one week to complete Senior night but for him it will be two nights to remember as Edwards gives up an infield single in the top of the fifth which would be the only base runner to reach by a hit.  The very next batter Edward's hit with a pitch but other than those two runners no Firebird reached base.

Not very often this season has the Gryphons got pitching and hitting the same night but the Gryphons but together ten hits and produced two runs in the third which was the first inning played tonight after the rainout in the top of the third last week. They scored twice in the fourth and put a six pack up in the fifth and best Southern Nash 10-0.

Micah Varnell at the plate put together one of his best night's ever going 3-3 with a home run  a double and single with three RBI on his final regular season game in a Gryphon uniform.  Seven other Gryphons got hits including doubles by Forest Bell who drove in the two runs that produced the mercy rule.  Josh Carter doubled and Andy Morris, Blake Helms, Khalidio Jackson Davis , Will Edwards, Ben Yates all reached base with a hit.

Earlier in the day Northern lost to Fike 12-0 and by Winning Fike clinched 3rd spot with a 6-4 record.    
Northern who clinched the top seed Friday will finish the regular season with  a 7-3 record the top seed in the tournament and in the NCHSAA  playoffs next week.

Tonight the last regular season game Nash Central  beat Hunt 6-4 finishes the regular season at 5-5 and with the Gryphons win they finish at 5-5.   Nash Central beat the Gryphons twice during the regulation and hold the tied breaker over the Gryphons.  That puts Rocky Mount traveling to Nash Central Wednesday in the first round of the Big East tournament.  Fike now as the Number three seed will host Southern Nash.

Emanuel King the power forward for the Gryphon basketball team will join teammate Dante Battle at Wallace State in Alabama.

Calling All Legion

The modern baseball player and in most of the cases it may not be the ball player but his parents that in order to see their sons ability on the baseball diamond  they think they must pay in some cases thousands of dollars to join travel league teams or showcase teams.

My question is why go so far to show case your child when I can assure you that if he is good enough  scouts will find him?  There is no better showcase for talented players than American Legion Baseball.  Rocky Mount Legion Post 58 will once again be coached by Hank Jones.  Joining him this year will be Cameron Ramsey and Colin Cuthrell.  Every now and then you might find Pat Smith in the dugout.  Tryouts will be Saturday May 17th at 2pm.  If The Big East Conference is any indication this team should have good pitching and the hitting will be suspect.

There is two weeks to go in ACC baseball regular season and North Carolina is on a slippery slope in order to even make it to the ACC tournament.  Carolina has a 13-11 record and stand at 6th spot.  If they finish in sixth they will avoid the Tuesday play in day which will be for the teams that finish 7th- 10th.

Carolina's problem is their six remaining games are against Florida State and Miami.  They are not guaranteed to even win one of those six and if they lose all six they could fall not only into the 7/10 bracket but that may also send them to 11th and out all together. They must some how or other win two or three games to stay in the tournament.

N C State has not been as fortunate as the Tar Heels.  They stand at 9-15 and in sole pocession of 11th spot and as of right now outside looking in on the tournament.  They need to pass one team in the next two weeks to get into play in Tuesday.  Just who can they pass?  Maryland 12-14 and only have three conference games to play against Pittsburgh.  It just may come down to the rainout that Maryland had.  Will that one game less make them one  from tying State or give them a better winning percentage and beat State out by a half game?

The Pack has a three game home series with Wake Forest and on the road at Virginia Tech.  They need  all six and hope somebody stumbles whether it's Maryland or one of the teams just ahead of a Maryland.

You would expect that the high hopes Carolina and State had in the preseason that their only worry would be whether they would meet on the diamond this year.  You know one of the reasons that rainout at the DBAP was not made up is neither can afford a loss now even though it would not count in the standings.  If they were both top ten teams in the country one loss would not hurt their RPI but right now neither one's RPI will help the other by winning but a lost would not help NCAA selection.