Minor League Impact

The Saturday loss by the Durham Bulls has ended the minor league baseball season for all of us  in this area.  Here is a wrap up of how our locals fared  this season.  Our locals include those who somewhere along the way their family has called this area home.

Brian Goodwin:  shoulder injury ended his season in early July.  Struggled with the strikeout per at bat ratio about once every three bats.  Hit only 219 in AAA Syracuse and his injury plus his batting average will not warrant serious consideration to make Washington Nationals next Spring unless major injuries strike those on big club.

Whit Merrifield:  Father is former Gryphon Bill Merrifield who now lives near Clemmons.  Whit played at South Carolina during their run of College Baseball National Championships.  Promoted by the Kansas City Royals to AAA Omaha in Midseason. Should be given every opportunity to make a Royals  next spring after hitting 340 at Omaha since July.

Hobbs Johnson:  Finished his first full season in the Milwaukee  Brewers organization at Brevard  Florida with a 12-8 record.  Finished season with ERA of 2.93.  Started 24 of 25 pitched games he played in averaging six innings per outing.  Had a three strikeout to walk ratio which any starting pitcher in the majors would take in a heart beat.  Was second on the team in wins, innings pitched, strike outs and ERA.  Expect Hobbs to start out in AA in Spring.

John Wooten:  Dad former Gryphon who now lives near Goldsboro.  John play at Eastern Wayne and ECU.  Got moved to upper A Potomac in the Washington Nationals organization late in season and batted 269 in less than 100 bats.  Was named the MVP of the Carolina League's Mill Cup which is the championship series of the Carolina A league.  Hit 3 homers and drove in 8 RBI in series.  Expect him to start in Potomac in the spring.

Xavier Macklin:  Released  by Gate City in the Frontier a League in early August.  Hopes of continuing in baseball are dimming for the X Man.

Pirates Pluck The Turkeys

After shocking Ohio State last week Virginia Tech was primed  for a major letdown and ECU was prepared to roast the turkey.  The Pirates jump on Tech for three first quarter touchdowns and took rest of the game off until the very end.

The Gobblers scored twice in the fourth quarter  to tie the game at 21 but the Pirates decided that they had one more score to make and the Pirates pull off a dandy beating Virginia Tech in Blacksburg 28-21.

Regardless of how Georgia finishes their season this year Tood Gurley rushes for 131 yards on 20 carries and at times many of those yards came with absolutely no blocking.  He did have a 54yard td run called back but the Bulldogs Lose at South Carolina.  If Gurley stays healthy he will win the Heisman trophy because I can't see any network not wanting Georgia for National TV.  He has become a darling on Sports Center.

Duke jabs Kansas 41-3.  Can you believe  that Duke is now a juggernaut?

NCState wins their first road game in the Dave Doeren era winning at South Florida 49-17

Carolina had the day off and they got an eye full watching the a Pirates.

North  Carolina Wesleyan shuts out Lincoln 27-0.  It is the first Battling a Bishop Shutout in three years.  They open conference play Thursday night at home.  Thursday Night?  No not ESPN but Saturday is the Down East Viking Classic at the Sports Complex.

Finishing up Friday night football RMA remained undefeated as they best StDavids 60-42.

More surprises from Saturday.  Virginia beat Louisville  and Boston College upset Southern Cal in Boston.