Saturday, July 19, 2014

Heart Break

The Rocky Mount National league 11/12 year old all stars meet defeat in heartbreaking fashion scoring two run in the top of the sixth inning to take a 6-4 lead over Southern Durham only to see Southern Durham hit a two run homer to tie in the bottom of the sixth inning and before the National's could get them out in the bottom of the sixth Southern Durham won on a wild pitch ending Rocky Mount's first dream of making it to Williamsport Pa and the Little league World Series.

Ever since word came down that Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation was leaving the Tarheels little league  there has been conversation that Rocky Mount was stepping up to big time little league  and as long as we played two equal all star teams Rocky Mount would never advance in the Williamsport little league out of the district.

Just to refresh your memory Rocky Mount plays two divisions at the 9/10 and 11/12 age groups. They are broken down into four teams in the American and four teams in the National.  This means that approximately 25 per cent of all players make the all star team.

There has been a major concern that the only way to advance in the little league tournaments was to have the first team as the pick of the litter players and the second team being the remaining players who would be team B.  Parks and Rec vetoed that idea and have continued to keep the all star teams the best from the American and National.

All teams in little league are finished as the 9/10 finished as district champs and went 1-2 in the state tournament  finishing 5th in the state.  The 11/12 all stars  finished second in the district  and by virtue that Greenville won the district and were automatically in the state tournament as the host team Rocky Mount got in as the second team from district four.  They also finished fifth going 1-2 in the
state tournament.

Here it is there is no way that Rocky Mount can compete in the big bad  Williamsport  little league and yet both of our little league age groups finished fifth in the state in their first efforts traveling into an unknown world.  A great job coaches and players from the 9/10 and the 11/12 year old teams proving that Rocky Mount Little League Baseball can play with any body.

I see on FaceBook that the Nash County 15U Babe Ruth team won today.  If there is anyone who can tell me how to find out more about them please let me know.