Today completed the pool play phase of the Babe Ruth 13u Southeastern Regional going on in Greenville. Nash County has been in the American bracket and today met Tallahassee Florida with the winner getting the number one seed and loser the second seed. Both teams were undefeated and regardless both are into Saturday play.
Tallahassee beat Nash County to win the top seed 6-2. Earning the top seed they play the number two seed from the National bracket To be determined at 10am Saturday. Nash County the second seed plays at 1pm at Guy Smith Stadium in Greenville for the right to play the 10am winner
The other bracket the National has Greenville NC the host team unbeaten in two games and they play tonight at seven Against Sarasota Florida who is1-1. Earlier today Union County North Carolina beat Augusta Virginia 11-0 and Union County and Virginia are 1-2 in bracket.
If Greenville wins tonight and remains undefeated they grab first seed and play the two seed Nash County from the American. If Sarasota wins they win the bracket and Greenville gets the two seed. If Sarasota loses then there is a three way tie at 1-2 and the team that gave up the least runs gets the two slot from the National bracket. Should know around 9:30 tonight what the brackets will be for tomorrow's semi's.
Sarasota beat Greenville 9-3 and that will move Greenville to the 10am game against Tallahassee while Nash County will play Sarasota and the two winners playing each other at 4pm for the Southeast Regional championship.
It is getting serious now as Nash County is two wins away from heading to the Babe Ruth World Series this year being held in Jamestown NY. Jamestown is in western NY 150 miles south of Buffalo about 120 miles from Pittsburgh around 120 miles from Cleveland.
Here is how Saturday works the first semi is at 10am the second at 1pm winner take all Southeast Regional championship is at 4pm Saturday. So by losing today in order to win the regional Nash County must win a double header Saturday. If they win both I think I am right when I say this it would be the first Nash County team to make it to the World Series since 2005. Once again I think three years in a row 2003-2004-2005 Babe Ruth Nash County made it to the World Series three straight years in different age groups. They finished 3rd - 2nd- 2nd those years.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Thursday, July 30, 2015
On To The Semi's
The Nash County 13u baseball team playing in the United States Southeast regional in Greenville NC of Babe Ruth Baseball could not have a better start if they were trying. They won their second game in pool play beating North Piedmont a Babe Ruth team from Statesville. The score was the second shutout in a row for the boys calling Nash County Home winning 10-0. Their 2-0 shutout yesterday. Gives Nash County a 2-0 record in pool play while they have scored 12 runs and nary a run has cross the plate while they were playing defense.
They have one game left to play in pool play and that will happen Friday afternoon against Tallahassee Fl. Florida beat Tennessee tonight 9-2 and next up for Nash County is a 1pm matchup with Tallahassee who also stands at 2-0. That leaves both Tennessee and North Piedmont both winless after two games and with those two teams playing each other on Friday there is no way either of those teams can tie Nash County and Tallahassee so both have qualified for the semi finals.
Since both are on to Saturday Play and now that neither needs to win Friday against each other what would you do with your pitchers? So what for the loser does that mean come Saturday. The number two team is matched up against the Number one seed from the other bracket and right now the only team unbeaten is the host team Greenville NC The Nash County team beat Greenville last week in the state tournament.
Greenville however has not clinched as of yet due to the fact they play Sarasota Fl who is 1-1 in pool play having lost to Augusta Virginia who has lost to Greenville. If Sarasota beats Greenville and Virginia beats Union County NC who is 0-2 in pool play there would then be a three way tie and the tie will be broken by the two teams who have given up the least runs. In the two games so far Greenville has allowed 2 runs, Sarasota only one and Augusta has allowed only three. So you can see the two semi spots in the other bracket is still wide open.
There is no requirement that every player must play so would you pitch the pitcher you think to be you worse and hope for the best? Would you also clear the bench and let the guys play tomorrow who has spent the most time on the bench and give you best players a day off to be rested and ready for what you hope is a Semi final win and a shot at Sunday's finals. Remember the semi and the finals are one game advance if you win and go home if you lose. Knowing Friday's game is a free game what would you tell coach Willie Langley to do with Friday's game?
They have one game left to play in pool play and that will happen Friday afternoon against Tallahassee Fl. Florida beat Tennessee tonight 9-2 and next up for Nash County is a 1pm matchup with Tallahassee who also stands at 2-0. That leaves both Tennessee and North Piedmont both winless after two games and with those two teams playing each other on Friday there is no way either of those teams can tie Nash County and Tallahassee so both have qualified for the semi finals.
Since both are on to Saturday Play and now that neither needs to win Friday against each other what would you do with your pitchers? So what for the loser does that mean come Saturday. The number two team is matched up against the Number one seed from the other bracket and right now the only team unbeaten is the host team Greenville NC The Nash County team beat Greenville last week in the state tournament.
Greenville however has not clinched as of yet due to the fact they play Sarasota Fl who is 1-1 in pool play having lost to Augusta Virginia who has lost to Greenville. If Sarasota beats Greenville and Virginia beats Union County NC who is 0-2 in pool play there would then be a three way tie and the tie will be broken by the two teams who have given up the least runs. In the two games so far Greenville has allowed 2 runs, Sarasota only one and Augusta has allowed only three. So you can see the two semi spots in the other bracket is still wide open.
There is no requirement that every player must play so would you pitch the pitcher you think to be you worse and hope for the best? Would you also clear the bench and let the guys play tomorrow who has spent the most time on the bench and give you best players a day off to be rested and ready for what you hope is a Semi final win and a shot at Sunday's finals. Remember the semi and the finals are one game advance if you win and go home if you lose. Knowing Friday's game is a free game what would you tell coach Willie Langley to do with Friday's game?
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Roaring Start
This Morning the 13U Nash County Babe Ruth All Stars crushed North Piedmont 10-0 to go to 2-0 in pool play.
Wow!!!! what a start for the Nash County Babe Ruth 13u all star team playing in the Southeast Regional in Greenville. Our guys held Lawrence TN the Northeast Tennessee Champions with out a run winning 2-0 in what had to be a great pitching duel.
That is only step one as they are back on the diamond this Thursday in round two of pool play taking on North Piedmont a Babe Ruth team from Statesville. North Piedmont lost to Tallahassee Fl 12-4 in their Wednesday game.
If this happens and Nash County beats North Piedmont and Tallahassee beats Lawrence Tn then both Nash County and Tallahassee will qualify for the semi finals which will be played Saturday. They meet Friday but they would only be playing for seedings as both would already be in to the Saturday games. That would bring into play do you save your best pitching for a possible Saturday semi's and Sunday final? Both must win today for that to happen.
I am shocked to hear that Tom Brady is going to fight the NFL on his four game suspension. The ruling from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell really didn't say directly his four games was upheld for any cheating in relations to deflating footballs. He said it was for his unwillingness to cooperate with the NFL during their investigation.
We all as sinners in this world have it deep inside of us that the more power we have there are those who abuse their privilege to have that power. Tom Brady is the pretty boy of the NFL and since he works for the team fined more than any other in NFL history they the Patriots organization and it surely looks now that Brady thinks they are a little bit above the law.
There is no doubt throughout history we have seen plenty of abuse of power in this country. Richard Nixon already president wanting to make sure he would win his second term sent spies into the Democratic headquarters in the Watergate Building to see what the strategy was going to be against him in the 1972 elections.
Even Bill Clinton tried to tell us was the definition of it when he was in hot water over sexual conduct in the White House. When you reach a certain status in life you do what is necessary to keep that status whether you obtained that status by cheating or you earned it the old fashion way, worked hard for it.
There is that old saying that if you tell the lie long enough you will begin to believe it is the truth. Now near the end of his NFL career Brady wants to go out as an angel as his myth has made him out to be.
How valuable is Brady to the New England Patriots? The year he got hurt in the first game of the year they won 11 games without him. Peyton Manning hurt his neck and sat out a year for the Colts and they won the top draft pick for being worse team in league. Make your own assumptions.
Wow!!!! what a start for the Nash County Babe Ruth 13u all star team playing in the Southeast Regional in Greenville. Our guys held Lawrence TN the Northeast Tennessee Champions with out a run winning 2-0 in what had to be a great pitching duel.
That is only step one as they are back on the diamond this Thursday in round two of pool play taking on North Piedmont a Babe Ruth team from Statesville. North Piedmont lost to Tallahassee Fl 12-4 in their Wednesday game.
If this happens and Nash County beats North Piedmont and Tallahassee beats Lawrence Tn then both Nash County and Tallahassee will qualify for the semi finals which will be played Saturday. They meet Friday but they would only be playing for seedings as both would already be in to the Saturday games. That would bring into play do you save your best pitching for a possible Saturday semi's and Sunday final? Both must win today for that to happen.
I am shocked to hear that Tom Brady is going to fight the NFL on his four game suspension. The ruling from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell really didn't say directly his four games was upheld for any cheating in relations to deflating footballs. He said it was for his unwillingness to cooperate with the NFL during their investigation.
We all as sinners in this world have it deep inside of us that the more power we have there are those who abuse their privilege to have that power. Tom Brady is the pretty boy of the NFL and since he works for the team fined more than any other in NFL history they the Patriots organization and it surely looks now that Brady thinks they are a little bit above the law.
There is no doubt throughout history we have seen plenty of abuse of power in this country. Richard Nixon already president wanting to make sure he would win his second term sent spies into the Democratic headquarters in the Watergate Building to see what the strategy was going to be against him in the 1972 elections.
Even Bill Clinton tried to tell us was the definition of it when he was in hot water over sexual conduct in the White House. When you reach a certain status in life you do what is necessary to keep that status whether you obtained that status by cheating or you earned it the old fashion way, worked hard for it.
There is that old saying that if you tell the lie long enough you will begin to believe it is the truth. Now near the end of his NFL career Brady wants to go out as an angel as his myth has made him out to be.
How valuable is Brady to the New England Patriots? The year he got hurt in the first game of the year they won 11 games without him. Peyton Manning hurt his neck and sat out a year for the Colts and they won the top draft pick for being worse team in league. Make your own assumptions.
High School Football Is Near
NASH COUNTY 13U Babe Ruth team has won their opening game in pool play beating Tennessee 2-0. They play Thursday morning at 10am in round two.
August the first is just Saturday and I bet there will not be one team that waits to August 3rd to start the grind. If they do they will already be behind.
The new man in town is Chris Lee who takes over the reins at Nash Central. He is familiar with the area already spending time at Rocky Mount before his stint at Louisburg done mostly to prove he could be a head coach. He already has swayed his former coaching buddy Kent Cox to leave baseball at Rocky Mount to join him in West Rocky Mount coaching football.
You know there has always been the feeling that Northern Nash has never been the same in football since Nash Central came into being that they have all the talent now. There is optimism that the Bulldogs have someone in charge that will change the loser mentality. A lighter non conference slate doesn't hurt either.
Randy Raper returns to head the Knights of Northern Nash. Ever since he arrived the Knights have been improving every year. There seems to be line issues that have held back any Northern step up to the upper stratosphere of Big East football. You know coach K didn't become Coach K until about the fourth year. The Knights have been competitive under Raper. A little more team speed would not hurt, but Raper knows how to coach high school football and this could be an interesting year for the Knights.
Brian Foster is back for another year of football at Southern Nash. The elder statesman of the Big East. Foster has been at Southern so long he has lost all his hair coaching the Firebirds. He is the only coach in the league who has been the head coach the entire run of the conference being called the Big East and NEW.
U
What that proves is he so planted in Bailey that his system works for the Firebirds. They are in the reload mode. Every player from middle school on knows the system and it works. You know if you look at programs who every three years have a new coach most of the time there is no consistency in the program younger players are caught learning a new system year after year.
Jason Battle is heading into his fourth year at Rocky Mount and last year he got that playoff gorilla off his back winning his first playoff game and giving a great effort in the second before going down. Speed should once again be an ally for the Gryphons. The next step up the chain of hierarchy in the Big East for the Gryphons is to get a grip on discipline both on the sidelines and on the field.
Battle has now been the head man at Rocky Mount long enough that he no longer needs to be compared to B W Holt. No he is not BW but look at his first three years and it is easy to see as he progresses as a head coach. Jason has won 24 games and the list is very short of coaches who have won more in three years at Rocky Mount.
The brand new coach of Rocky Mount Academy is Terrell Hudgins. All of the coaches in Nash County he bares the heaviest burden. Any thing short of a third state title for the Eagles football team is a step down. How well did the coach that followed John Wooden a coach that won 10 NCAA basketball title in 13 years. Can you even name the coach that followed Wooden?
The truth for the Eagles even in winning two private school titles in a row I doubt many expected three in a row even under B W Holt. The program is now in the hands of young football wise Man that succeeded in every sport he took part in in high school. Then in college left as the best pass receiver in DII history. He has spent two years behind center learning under the master Holt then the last three years on his staff at RMA. This is his first job making all the decisions. Every coach at every level from midget to NFL started some where at one time or the other as a first time head coach. The players will like him but only time will tell on his coaching style.
Cleaning up on left overs. The Host Rowan County won the State American Legion State title beating High Point Tuesday afternoon 4-3. They were 5-0 during the tournament. They now will move on to the Southeast regional that begins next week in Asheboro NC.
August the first is just Saturday and I bet there will not be one team that waits to August 3rd to start the grind. If they do they will already be behind.
The new man in town is Chris Lee who takes over the reins at Nash Central. He is familiar with the area already spending time at Rocky Mount before his stint at Louisburg done mostly to prove he could be a head coach. He already has swayed his former coaching buddy Kent Cox to leave baseball at Rocky Mount to join him in West Rocky Mount coaching football.
You know there has always been the feeling that Northern Nash has never been the same in football since Nash Central came into being that they have all the talent now. There is optimism that the Bulldogs have someone in charge that will change the loser mentality. A lighter non conference slate doesn't hurt either.
Randy Raper returns to head the Knights of Northern Nash. Ever since he arrived the Knights have been improving every year. There seems to be line issues that have held back any Northern step up to the upper stratosphere of Big East football. You know coach K didn't become Coach K until about the fourth year. The Knights have been competitive under Raper. A little more team speed would not hurt, but Raper knows how to coach high school football and this could be an interesting year for the Knights.
Brian Foster is back for another year of football at Southern Nash. The elder statesman of the Big East. Foster has been at Southern so long he has lost all his hair coaching the Firebirds. He is the only coach in the league who has been the head coach the entire run of the conference being called the Big East and NEW.
U
What that proves is he so planted in Bailey that his system works for the Firebirds. They are in the reload mode. Every player from middle school on knows the system and it works. You know if you look at programs who every three years have a new coach most of the time there is no consistency in the program younger players are caught learning a new system year after year.
Jason Battle is heading into his fourth year at Rocky Mount and last year he got that playoff gorilla off his back winning his first playoff game and giving a great effort in the second before going down. Speed should once again be an ally for the Gryphons. The next step up the chain of hierarchy in the Big East for the Gryphons is to get a grip on discipline both on the sidelines and on the field.
Battle has now been the head man at Rocky Mount long enough that he no longer needs to be compared to B W Holt. No he is not BW but look at his first three years and it is easy to see as he progresses as a head coach. Jason has won 24 games and the list is very short of coaches who have won more in three years at Rocky Mount.
The brand new coach of Rocky Mount Academy is Terrell Hudgins. All of the coaches in Nash County he bares the heaviest burden. Any thing short of a third state title for the Eagles football team is a step down. How well did the coach that followed John Wooden a coach that won 10 NCAA basketball title in 13 years. Can you even name the coach that followed Wooden?
The truth for the Eagles even in winning two private school titles in a row I doubt many expected three in a row even under B W Holt. The program is now in the hands of young football wise Man that succeeded in every sport he took part in in high school. Then in college left as the best pass receiver in DII history. He has spent two years behind center learning under the master Holt then the last three years on his staff at RMA. This is his first job making all the decisions. Every coach at every level from midget to NFL started some where at one time or the other as a first time head coach. The players will like him but only time will tell on his coaching style.
Cleaning up on left overs. The Host Rowan County won the State American Legion State title beating High Point Tuesday afternoon 4-3. They were 5-0 during the tournament. They now will move on to the Southeast regional that begins next week in Asheboro NC.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Down On The Farm
There has been as they say this myth that if you didn't play ball in public school nobody will scout you whether college or Pro. A month ago during the MLB Draft Isaiah White from Greenfield Academy in Wilson was drafted in the 3rd round by the Miami Marlins. 3rd round for a player that played against NO competition!!!!!!
So far this summer playing in the rookie Gulf Coast League Isaiah has played in 25 games and is batting a cool 337. I believe that competition is a little tougher than the private school league that Greenfield plays in and he is tearing up the Gulf Coast League too.
Brian Goodwin has risen His batting average up to around 240 and has leveled off this week at 234. His home run total is up to six which is second on the AA Harrisburg. I don't know if hitting under 250 will get Brian back to AAA. Something to think about is Friday is the deadline for the MLB for trading. We talked about this last year that Washington on the big club just might be looking to better themselves for the stretch run and players who have great potential but just treading water in one place in the minors can always be a throw in if the Nationals decide to prepare for the MLB playoffs.
Benton Moss has made his 3rd start for Hudson Valley and his 7th pitching appearance since signing with Tampa Bay in mid June. He suffered his first defeat giving up his second homer and drops to 1-1. We have talked about controlling pitch count and one reason why is Benton already tossed nearly 90 innings for UNC in the spring. His seven appearances he has pitch just 20 plus innings. His ERA ballooned to 3.48 after his win last week it dropped to 2.18. That's what happens when you don't have many innings under your belt.
Collins Cuthrell has fallen to 283 batting average playing with Florence Kentucky Freedom. He has hit seven homers which leads the team. If you remember in high school, Legion, and college Collins was not a threat to steal. He is six for six so far this year. He is in Kentucky hoping to latch on to a MLB team but I a source that knows a source tells me he has had no contact what so ever from any team. Go figure?
If Hobbs Johnson continues these kind of numbers maybe AAA is in his future. The Milwaukee
Brewers are getting good results again from Hobbs since moving to AA Biloxi Ms. He is now 7-4
ERA is 3-20. Hobbs has 18 starts this summer and thrown 90 innings.
Food for thought. Blake Helms finished 5-1 this summer pitching for Wilson Post 13. His ERA 2.32 in 11 appearances. Playing in Wilson just happens to be where he will be playing baseball in the spring at Barton. One other note. I think his age could bring him back to Legion next summer and if there is any hope Post 58 gets back on the field next summer he would be a solid foundation to a team in Rocky Mount, just hoping
So far this summer playing in the rookie Gulf Coast League Isaiah has played in 25 games and is batting a cool 337. I believe that competition is a little tougher than the private school league that Greenfield plays in and he is tearing up the Gulf Coast League too.
Brian Goodwin has risen His batting average up to around 240 and has leveled off this week at 234. His home run total is up to six which is second on the AA Harrisburg. I don't know if hitting under 250 will get Brian back to AAA. Something to think about is Friday is the deadline for the MLB for trading. We talked about this last year that Washington on the big club just might be looking to better themselves for the stretch run and players who have great potential but just treading water in one place in the minors can always be a throw in if the Nationals decide to prepare for the MLB playoffs.
Benton Moss has made his 3rd start for Hudson Valley and his 7th pitching appearance since signing with Tampa Bay in mid June. He suffered his first defeat giving up his second homer and drops to 1-1. We have talked about controlling pitch count and one reason why is Benton already tossed nearly 90 innings for UNC in the spring. His seven appearances he has pitch just 20 plus innings. His ERA ballooned to 3.48 after his win last week it dropped to 2.18. That's what happens when you don't have many innings under your belt.
Collins Cuthrell has fallen to 283 batting average playing with Florence Kentucky Freedom. He has hit seven homers which leads the team. If you remember in high school, Legion, and college Collins was not a threat to steal. He is six for six so far this year. He is in Kentucky hoping to latch on to a MLB team but I a source that knows a source tells me he has had no contact what so ever from any team. Go figure?
If Hobbs Johnson continues these kind of numbers maybe AAA is in his future. The Milwaukee
Brewers are getting good results again from Hobbs since moving to AA Biloxi Ms. He is now 7-4
ERA is 3-20. Hobbs has 18 starts this summer and thrown 90 innings.
Food for thought. Blake Helms finished 5-1 this summer pitching for Wilson Post 13. His ERA 2.32 in 11 appearances. Playing in Wilson just happens to be where he will be playing baseball in the spring at Barton. One other note. I think his age could bring him back to Legion next summer and if there is any hope Post 58 gets back on the field next summer he would be a solid foundation to a team in Rocky Mount, just hoping
Monday, July 27, 2015
Legion Over For Post 13
Wilson Post 13 trip to the State American Legion State baseball tournament is over. They lost Sunday to High Point 13-3 in a game ended after eight innings. Their outstanding pitching that they had all year did it's job in only one game in Salisbury. They finish their season at 21-6 on the year.
The second game of the day in the Rowan County city of Salisbury was the second elimination game and Caldwell County took care of business and beat Eastern Randolph 7-3. Eastern Randolph joins Wilson as earning a trip home after their second loss of the weekend..
The State Legion Tournament is down to four teams and only one of the four is left undefeated. The Sunday night fight between the host Rowan County and Hope Mills. The victor is the home team Rowan County who had to come from behind twice to beat Hope Mills 12-8. All teams have now played three games and a five or six game tournament test how deep anyone's pitching is.
Remember the Legion State Championship does not give the undefeated team a day off with only four teams left. Rowan County will play Caldwell County in the 7pm game while Hope Mills will play High Point at 1pm. One team for sure goes home Monday between Hope Mills and High Point.. Whether it is two or not will depend on how Caldwell matches up with Rowan County. Regardless of Monday's result Rowan County is guaranteed the Championship game on Tuesday. It comes down to are they still undefeated and must lose twice to the Caldwell /High Point/ Hope Mills survivor.
The Nash County Babe Ruth 13u North Carolina Eastern State Champions begin play in the Southeast Regional in Greenville Wednesday morning at 10am. Their first game in the three game pool play will be against Lawrance Tennessee the Tennessee Western State Champs.
The will once again be the early game on Thursday when they play North Piedmont one of two teams from Western North Carolina . Their final game in pool play will be against Tallahassee Florida.
The top two from this pool play will play the top two from the second bracket.
The four teams in the other bracket is the host team Greenville NC, Sarasota Florida, Augusta Virginia and also from Western North Carolina Union County.
The second game of the day in the Rowan County city of Salisbury was the second elimination game and Caldwell County took care of business and beat Eastern Randolph 7-3. Eastern Randolph joins Wilson as earning a trip home after their second loss of the weekend..
The State Legion Tournament is down to four teams and only one of the four is left undefeated. The Sunday night fight between the host Rowan County and Hope Mills. The victor is the home team Rowan County who had to come from behind twice to beat Hope Mills 12-8. All teams have now played three games and a five or six game tournament test how deep anyone's pitching is.
Remember the Legion State Championship does not give the undefeated team a day off with only four teams left. Rowan County will play Caldwell County in the 7pm game while Hope Mills will play High Point at 1pm. One team for sure goes home Monday between Hope Mills and High Point.. Whether it is two or not will depend on how Caldwell matches up with Rowan County. Regardless of Monday's result Rowan County is guaranteed the Championship game on Tuesday. It comes down to are they still undefeated and must lose twice to the Caldwell /High Point/ Hope Mills survivor.
The Nash County Babe Ruth 13u North Carolina Eastern State Champions begin play in the Southeast Regional in Greenville Wednesday morning at 10am. Their first game in the three game pool play will be against Lawrance Tennessee the Tennessee Western State Champs.
The will once again be the early game on Thursday when they play North Piedmont one of two teams from Western North Carolina . Their final game in pool play will be against Tallahassee Florida.
The top two from this pool play will play the top two from the second bracket.
The four teams in the other bracket is the host team Greenville NC, Sarasota Florida, Augusta Virginia and also from Western North Carolina Union County.
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Post 13 Gets What They Need From Blake Helms
Embarrassed Friday night by the home team Rowan County in seven innings Wilson Post 13 behind the pitching of Former Rocky Mount Gryphon Blake Helms will live to play another day in the 2015 North Carolina American Legion State tournament in Salisbury.
You are the last game of the day on Friday night and you find yourself right back on the field just after noon the next. A real issue after a terrible loss the night before they need to get off to a good start. Both teams in a win or go home affair and Wilson scores one in the first and now off to a good start they ease in to the next day of play with a complete game pitching performance by Blake Helms. Post 13 wins 8-1. Helms walked two after last night his teammates walked 10 in a ten run loss. He scattered seven hits but the only run allowed scored on a suicide sqeeze with Wilson already ahead 4-0.
The Legion state tournament is one that does not give a bye to the winner of the undefeated bracket so on day three Sunday Wilson will not play the winner of the other loser's bracket game played at 9:30 between Garner and Caldwell County. This one was a dog fight as it took 11 innings before Caldwell County plated the winning run to win 4-3 over Garner.
Garner is the first team out and they are followed by Heywood County. That will leave six teams in the tournament Wilson, Caldwell County, Hope Mills, Rowan County, High Point and Eastern Randolph. Wilson's matchup will go against High Point who lost 6-5 to Hope Mills who will now play in the undefeated game Sunday night.
The other team playing in the undefeated game will be the host team Rowan County who took down Eastern Randolph 11-1 in seven innings. So far in two games the host have not been a gracious host what so ever only playing 14 innings winning twice by the ten run rule. Caldwell County a winner Saturday over Garner will meet Eastern Randolph in the late afternoon Sunday game. The night cap sends Hope Mills squaring off with Rowan County.
You are the last game of the day on Friday night and you find yourself right back on the field just after noon the next. A real issue after a terrible loss the night before they need to get off to a good start. Both teams in a win or go home affair and Wilson scores one in the first and now off to a good start they ease in to the next day of play with a complete game pitching performance by Blake Helms. Post 13 wins 8-1. Helms walked two after last night his teammates walked 10 in a ten run loss. He scattered seven hits but the only run allowed scored on a suicide sqeeze with Wilson already ahead 4-0.
The Legion state tournament is one that does not give a bye to the winner of the undefeated bracket so on day three Sunday Wilson will not play the winner of the other loser's bracket game played at 9:30 between Garner and Caldwell County. This one was a dog fight as it took 11 innings before Caldwell County plated the winning run to win 4-3 over Garner.
Garner is the first team out and they are followed by Heywood County. That will leave six teams in the tournament Wilson, Caldwell County, Hope Mills, Rowan County, High Point and Eastern Randolph. Wilson's matchup will go against High Point who lost 6-5 to Hope Mills who will now play in the undefeated game Sunday night.
The other team playing in the undefeated game will be the host team Rowan County who took down Eastern Randolph 11-1 in seven innings. So far in two games the host have not been a gracious host what so ever only playing 14 innings winning twice by the ten run rule. Caldwell County a winner Saturday over Garner will meet Eastern Randolph in the late afternoon Sunday game. The night cap sends Hope Mills squaring off with Rowan County.
Friday, July 24, 2015
Legion State Tourney Underway
The first day of the North Carolina State American Legion Tournament was not kind to the two representatives from Area One Wilson and Garner. Just a little review Wilson won the Area one East and Garner the Area One West. Instead of playing a two out of three with the winner being seeded as Area One 1st and the loser Area One number two. As it turned out Garner drew the number one and in doing so played High Point Friday leaving Wilson to play the host Rowan County in Salisbury at Catawba College.
The third game of the day sent Garner on the field as the home team and after seven innings Garner led 7-6 but High Point scored four in the eighth and another five in the ninth to win 15-7. This throws Garner into the losers bracket and they hit the field early Saturday morning meeting Caldwell County who was a 6-2 loser to Hope Mills in the first game Friday morning.
The night cap game of the first day Coach Rusty Dail sent Fike Ace Brandon Winstead to the hill. During the high school season Winstead was 12-1 with a 1.76 era for the Golden Demons. During Legion season with Post 13 winning 20 games and losing only four games and Rocky Mount's Blake Helms tying Winstead with a 4-1 and an era of 1.00 mark after he was 8-2 during high school you would think Post 13 will have great pitching set up for this week's tournament.
Rowan County score once in the first and six in the second and they were on cruise control after that as Wilson Post 13 falls in seven innings 12-2. This drops Post 13 into the 12:30 Saturday losers bracket game where they will meet Heywood County who took it on the chin to Eastern Randolph 8-3.
The third game of the day sent Garner on the field as the home team and after seven innings Garner led 7-6 but High Point scored four in the eighth and another five in the ninth to win 15-7. This throws Garner into the losers bracket and they hit the field early Saturday morning meeting Caldwell County who was a 6-2 loser to Hope Mills in the first game Friday morning.
The night cap game of the first day Coach Rusty Dail sent Fike Ace Brandon Winstead to the hill. During the high school season Winstead was 12-1 with a 1.76 era for the Golden Demons. During Legion season with Post 13 winning 20 games and losing only four games and Rocky Mount's Blake Helms tying Winstead with a 4-1 and an era of 1.00 mark after he was 8-2 during high school you would think Post 13 will have great pitching set up for this week's tournament.
Rowan County score once in the first and six in the second and they were on cruise control after that as Wilson Post 13 falls in seven innings 12-2. This drops Post 13 into the 12:30 Saturday losers bracket game where they will meet Heywood County who took it on the chin to Eastern Randolph 8-3.
The Brady Dilemma
It is my opinion that Tom Brady was in cahoots with somebody and had the NFL football deflated to fit his hand and comfort. It has been about a month now since there was the big meeting at NFL Headquarters where Brady got to sit across the table from NFL commissioner Roger Gooddell. A month and no decision.
Now that I have pondered this incident since January it seems to me that why would the NFL allow anyone other than an NFL official touch the balls before a game and even during the game unless they were touched as part of an ongoing game. Baseball has the umpires rub up with mud from the bottom of a Delaware river the baseballs used in every game. They don't let today's pitcher rub them up.
I understand the want for every quarterback to have balls shaped to fit the hand of the thrower it has to be easier to throw that way. You know even high schools use their own balls. What would stop from a punter putting a small amount of helium in a football to make it travel farther when punted. You surely could not fill a ball with 100% helium or the ball may never come down.
Yes I think Brady is guilty, so if he gets four games suspension or two games it doesn't matter he has threatened to sue the NFL if that happens. The NFL fined the Patriots a million dollars for letting this go on. Suppose they fined Brady but let him continue to play. I guess the question is this. Is his crime of doctoring footballs worse than drunk driving, wife beating, carrying around guns and shooting yourself as has happened to NFL players?
Our society today if you happen to go to court you can wiggle out of murder and you get fined and put on probation for five years. Seems to me that deflating footballs until the NFL takes control of the balls away from each team that they need to have a football referee on both sidelines. Every play when you see a new ball thrown out to the official putting the next ball in play should come from and NFL ref on the sidelines that has control of the balls. Remember you got to watch out for those sneaky punters they are deceitful as quarterbacks.
I heard that a brand new floor is now in the gym at Northern Nash and those wooden bleachers that have been there since the gym opened in the 60's have been removed and replace by those modern plastic one's like at Nash Central and Rocky Mount.
I have done several games on the radio or TV from that top row and a short person with a bad knee like me have many times struggled to take a step to the next seat up making my way to the top. The past few years I have been on the stage more which is much better than navigating those old wood bleachers. Can't wait to see the inside now.
Now that I have pondered this incident since January it seems to me that why would the NFL allow anyone other than an NFL official touch the balls before a game and even during the game unless they were touched as part of an ongoing game. Baseball has the umpires rub up with mud from the bottom of a Delaware river the baseballs used in every game. They don't let today's pitcher rub them up.
I understand the want for every quarterback to have balls shaped to fit the hand of the thrower it has to be easier to throw that way. You know even high schools use their own balls. What would stop from a punter putting a small amount of helium in a football to make it travel farther when punted. You surely could not fill a ball with 100% helium or the ball may never come down.
Yes I think Brady is guilty, so if he gets four games suspension or two games it doesn't matter he has threatened to sue the NFL if that happens. The NFL fined the Patriots a million dollars for letting this go on. Suppose they fined Brady but let him continue to play. I guess the question is this. Is his crime of doctoring footballs worse than drunk driving, wife beating, carrying around guns and shooting yourself as has happened to NFL players?
Our society today if you happen to go to court you can wiggle out of murder and you get fined and put on probation for five years. Seems to me that deflating footballs until the NFL takes control of the balls away from each team that they need to have a football referee on both sidelines. Every play when you see a new ball thrown out to the official putting the next ball in play should come from and NFL ref on the sidelines that has control of the balls. Remember you got to watch out for those sneaky punters they are deceitful as quarterbacks.
I heard that a brand new floor is now in the gym at Northern Nash and those wooden bleachers that have been there since the gym opened in the 60's have been removed and replace by those modern plastic one's like at Nash Central and Rocky Mount.
I have done several games on the radio or TV from that top row and a short person with a bad knee like me have many times struggled to take a step to the next seat up making my way to the top. The past few years I have been on the stage more which is much better than navigating those old wood bleachers. Can't wait to see the inside now.
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Pinehurst Grabs Open Again
If there is one name that is hot in the world of golf the name Pinehurst right now is head of the list. It became official on Wednesday that Pinehurst #2 will host it's fourth men's U S Open in Twenty five years. Along the way it was the host of the Women's Open for the first time ever last year.
Pinehurst was created in 1895 when James Walker Tufts the man that invented the modern soda fountain bought 6,000 acres of land. The year 1900 Tufts brought in Donald Ross who in 1907 created number 2. Pinehurst was world famous for The North South Amateur started in 1901.
1931 Pinehurst hosted their first major championship when they hosted the PGA. They didn't host another major championship until the 99 U S Open. The Tufts family owned Pinehurst Resorts until 1970. The next few years ownership changed several times until it was purchased and called Pinehurst Resorts. Number Two was restored before the 2014 Open to it's original state looking like the Sandhills of North Carolina.
Let's look back for a moment to last July when the Nash County Babe Ruth 14u baseball team won the Eastern State Title and played in the Southeastern Regional. Almost exactly to the player those 14u team had won the 13u title two years ago.
Glad to see in the Rocky Mount Telegram that Rocky Mount and Nash County can celebrate once again as the 13u team won the eastern State title once again this year in Emerald Isle. Next week the Southeast Regional begins begins in Greenville. Love to be able to get touch will head coach Willie Langley to learn more about this year's team.
The East broke a tie which existed after the boys and girls East Allstars won the basketball games on Monday. The west won both soccer matches Tuesday. Wednesday night the East broke a 6-6 half time score and dominated the second half to beat West 27-13. Fike's Anthony Evans and Aramha Martin from Southern Nash were the Big East reps on the team. New Nash Central football coach Chris Lee. Was on the winning sidelines as assistant coach.
Pinehurst was created in 1895 when James Walker Tufts the man that invented the modern soda fountain bought 6,000 acres of land. The year 1900 Tufts brought in Donald Ross who in 1907 created number 2. Pinehurst was world famous for The North South Amateur started in 1901.
1931 Pinehurst hosted their first major championship when they hosted the PGA. They didn't host another major championship until the 99 U S Open. The Tufts family owned Pinehurst Resorts until 1970. The next few years ownership changed several times until it was purchased and called Pinehurst Resorts. Number Two was restored before the 2014 Open to it's original state looking like the Sandhills of North Carolina.
Let's look back for a moment to last July when the Nash County Babe Ruth 14u baseball team won the Eastern State Title and played in the Southeastern Regional. Almost exactly to the player those 14u team had won the 13u title two years ago.
Glad to see in the Rocky Mount Telegram that Rocky Mount and Nash County can celebrate once again as the 13u team won the eastern State title once again this year in Emerald Isle. Next week the Southeast Regional begins begins in Greenville. Love to be able to get touch will head coach Willie Langley to learn more about this year's team.
The East broke a tie which existed after the boys and girls East Allstars won the basketball games on Monday. The west won both soccer matches Tuesday. Wednesday night the East broke a 6-6 half time score and dominated the second half to beat West 27-13. Fike's Anthony Evans and Aramha Martin from Southern Nash were the Big East reps on the team. New Nash Central football coach Chris Lee. Was on the winning sidelines as assistant coach.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Mystery Solved
Finally the word is out and both Wilson and Garner American Legion teams chose to flip a coin to decide who would represent the Area One as the number one team and number two. The coin falls Garners way which only means that they get a seeding as number one from Area one. What this does for Wilson Post 13 is they will play the host team Rowan County Friday night at 7pm in Salisbury. Rowan County historically in both high school and Legion are strong and love their baseball.
Monday night was basketball night during the entertainment portion of the North Carolina coaches convention in Greensboro. The East won both games. The boys game the Allstars combined for the highest scoring game in all star history. The East 122 The West 115. Josh Willingham from Hunt the only local player in the area playing scored four points. The girls action The East won 84-72. There was no local player from our area playing.
Tuesday night was soccer night and in the girls game the West scored twice after the East scored first in the second half and the West wins 2-1. The East outshot the West 19-9. Three players from the Big East representing two from Fike and one from Hunt played for the East.
The West made it a sweep on Tuesday as the boys won 4-0 over over the East. Northern Nash Tristan Marshall was the only local player to take part in the boys soccer.
Info on Holly's Fryar Memorials: There will be a Memorial visitation Friday night from 6-8 pm at Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home in Rocky Mount. Saturday morning there will be a Memorial service for Holly at 11am at the First United Methodist Church in Rocky Mount.
The family ask in lieu of flowers that a Memorial be made to the UNC Linberger Cancer Center in the name of The Holly Project 450 West Drive Chapel Hill NC 27514
Monday night was basketball night during the entertainment portion of the North Carolina coaches convention in Greensboro. The East won both games. The boys game the Allstars combined for the highest scoring game in all star history. The East 122 The West 115. Josh Willingham from Hunt the only local player in the area playing scored four points. The girls action The East won 84-72. There was no local player from our area playing.
Tuesday night was soccer night and in the girls game the West scored twice after the East scored first in the second half and the West wins 2-1. The East outshot the West 19-9. Three players from the Big East representing two from Fike and one from Hunt played for the East.
The West made it a sweep on Tuesday as the boys won 4-0 over over the East. Northern Nash Tristan Marshall was the only local player to take part in the boys soccer.
Info on Holly's Fryar Memorials: There will be a Memorial visitation Friday night from 6-8 pm at Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home in Rocky Mount. Saturday morning there will be a Memorial service for Holly at 11am at the First United Methodist Church in Rocky Mount.
The family ask in lieu of flowers that a Memorial be made to the UNC Linberger Cancer Center in the name of The Holly Project 450 West Drive Chapel Hill NC 27514
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Gone From Us Toooo Early
This morning the Lord took the suffering away from one of the most inspirational Gryphons ever Holly Fryar age 21. I hope that you have had a chance in your life to meet Holly during her five year battle with cancer. In fact my family didn't know Holly until her illness.
The spring of 2010 Holly was the goalie for one of the best girls soccer teams in the history of Rocky Mount. She became sick was diagnosed and our daughter Morgan became friend's with Holly during the "One Voice " talent show put on by the Rocky Mount IB students at RMHS. Morgan has a rather good singing voice but not being in the program she was there to fill in with talent.
Holly and Morgan became great friends. Holly in the past five years has spent many nights at my home in fact I had never spoken to her until she came into our house one night after she became sick. Morgan went with Holly many times during the summers when Holly went to Chapel Hill for weekly treatments.
If you think that it was your job to cheer Holly up you were wrong. Holly is the one that made you feel better. The past several years the "One Voice" talent show all monies raise were sent to the Cancer center in Chapel Hill in Holly's name.
Holly entered UNC in the fall of 2012 but her persistent illness made to much to stay in school and fight her battle. There was a point when the doctors said this is all we can do. That did not stop Holly. She lived what life the Lord gave her to the fullest and every step of the way she was making those around her feel better.
There are many of you that knew her had window stickers that read HOLLY STRONG. That tells me that in many ways her life had effected your life just like it has in the Doughtie household.
Services are pending and we send to the entire Fryer family our condolences and prayers
Cancer won the battle with Holly Fryer but I know today Holly sits in the golden streets of heaven because if there was ever an angel on earth HOLLY FRYAR WAS AN ANGEL.
The spring of 2010 Holly was the goalie for one of the best girls soccer teams in the history of Rocky Mount. She became sick was diagnosed and our daughter Morgan became friend's with Holly during the "One Voice " talent show put on by the Rocky Mount IB students at RMHS. Morgan has a rather good singing voice but not being in the program she was there to fill in with talent.
Holly and Morgan became great friends. Holly in the past five years has spent many nights at my home in fact I had never spoken to her until she came into our house one night after she became sick. Morgan went with Holly many times during the summers when Holly went to Chapel Hill for weekly treatments.
If you think that it was your job to cheer Holly up you were wrong. Holly is the one that made you feel better. The past several years the "One Voice" talent show all monies raise were sent to the Cancer center in Chapel Hill in Holly's name.
Holly entered UNC in the fall of 2012 but her persistent illness made to much to stay in school and fight her battle. There was a point when the doctors said this is all we can do. That did not stop Holly. She lived what life the Lord gave her to the fullest and every step of the way she was making those around her feel better.
There are many of you that knew her had window stickers that read HOLLY STRONG. That tells me that in many ways her life had effected your life just like it has in the Doughtie household.
Services are pending and we send to the entire Fryer family our condolences and prayers
Cancer won the battle with Holly Fryer but I know today Holly sits in the golden streets of heaven because if there was ever an angel on earth HOLLY FRYAR WAS AN ANGEL.
Sewing Crops On The Farm
Benton Moss last week got his first start pitching in the New York Penn League after four relief appearances. His second start over the weekend produced his first win in professional baseball. Six appearances this season he has pitched 16.2 innings. His ERA has dropped to 2.16 and he has struck out 20. Pitchers in the NYP League are held to pitch counts and Benton being a strikeout pitchers he throws a lot of pitches per inning holding down his innings pitched.
Collins Cuthrell keeps hitting home runs in Florence Kentucky. He has now played 29 games when players that have been on the team the entire season have played 90 games. His batting average is 291 but he has hit seven homers which is the tops on the Freedom team this year. He has knocked in 25 runs in 29 games and if this was the majors and this was 162 games that would equate out to about 145 RBI in a season so his hits are driving in runs.
Brian Goodwin numbers are looking better at AA Harrisburg Pa. which would indicate his shoulder surgery that ended his season last year is now behind him. Brian is now hitting 241, he is up to five homers, four triples and twelve doubles. He has driven in thirty runs. Brian's really needs to improve on is his strikeouts per bats. Earlier this year it was almost one k per two at bats but he has now got it to one k per 4.5 at bats. Looks like progress.
Hobbs Johnson has now taken to the mound 17 times and his record at Buloxi Ms. is 6-4. He has pitched 83 innings striking out 68. His ERA is 3.36. His big bug-a-boo is walks per innings pitched which stands at about one walk per two innings pitched. He needs to get better control.
The Wilson Post 13 one game playoff against Garner is delayed again. Something is fishy going on for this one game being delayed with the state tournament right around the corner on Friday. Sounds to me like eligibility issues on one of the teams. Sure hope they have decided to flip a coin to determine seeding.
History made in California over the weekend. First with a tropical storm off the coast of California the San Diego Padres had their second game at Petco Parked rained out Sunday in the eleven year history of the park. It is also the first rainout in San Diego history during the month of July.
95 miles up I-4 in Anaheim the Angels were also rained out and their last rainout was in 1983 apparently it just doesn't rain in Southern California just like the 1971 song says.
Collins Cuthrell keeps hitting home runs in Florence Kentucky. He has now played 29 games when players that have been on the team the entire season have played 90 games. His batting average is 291 but he has hit seven homers which is the tops on the Freedom team this year. He has knocked in 25 runs in 29 games and if this was the majors and this was 162 games that would equate out to about 145 RBI in a season so his hits are driving in runs.
Brian Goodwin numbers are looking better at AA Harrisburg Pa. which would indicate his shoulder surgery that ended his season last year is now behind him. Brian is now hitting 241, he is up to five homers, four triples and twelve doubles. He has driven in thirty runs. Brian's really needs to improve on is his strikeouts per bats. Earlier this year it was almost one k per two at bats but he has now got it to one k per 4.5 at bats. Looks like progress.
Hobbs Johnson has now taken to the mound 17 times and his record at Buloxi Ms. is 6-4. He has pitched 83 innings striking out 68. His ERA is 3.36. His big bug-a-boo is walks per innings pitched which stands at about one walk per two innings pitched. He needs to get better control.
The Wilson Post 13 one game playoff against Garner is delayed again. Something is fishy going on for this one game being delayed with the state tournament right around the corner on Friday. Sounds to me like eligibility issues on one of the teams. Sure hope they have decided to flip a coin to determine seeding.
History made in California over the weekend. First with a tropical storm off the coast of California the San Diego Padres had their second game at Petco Parked rained out Sunday in the eleven year history of the park. It is also the first rainout in San Diego history during the month of July.
95 miles up I-4 in Anaheim the Angels were also rained out and their last rainout was in 1983 apparently it just doesn't rain in Southern California just like the 1971 song says.
Monday, July 20, 2015
Changes Need To Be Made
This year for the First time since the inception of baseball by American Legion Post 58 in Rocky Mount they did not field a team this summer. Three players that would have played for P58 went over to play for Wilson Post 13.
Just last week the Rocky Mount Telegram ran an article about the high school scholastic teams are having trouble getting enough players to show up and play game after game. I don't know of any athletic injustice worse than any team that has to forfeit for any reason.
Just think of what happens when a forfeit occurs. All the preparations in practice, even umpires are paid if they arrive on site and no game is played. One team has to travel to get on site and the players of the home team just might have left a summer job early to play in that game. Fans who were planning on enjoying a night of entertainment go home empty.
The past twenty years Babe Ruth baseball has included the 16-18 year old teams. I have no knowledge of how their teams are faring with concern to getting enough players to show up for games.
It is obvious that there are too many different options for those who still want to play baseball by the time they hit 16 years old. Having served Rocky Mount Legion for nine years as the PA announcer plus spending three years in my youth serving as a batboy I want to see Legion survive. It is my opinion that scholastic should be where players receive coaching but what I have seen is is too much show up make out a lineup and play.
So who gives in first? If some changes are not made we might be faced with no summer league ball for any player at least 16 years old.
The one game playoff between Garner and Wilson was not played last night and the reason posted on the Post 13 website was conflict in schedule. I have absolutely no idea what that means or when the game will be played. The one game was to be played to determine seeding in this week's state tournament which starts Friday. I know several people from Rocky Mount rode over to Fleming Sunday night only to find an empty ball park.
Just last week the Rocky Mount Telegram ran an article about the high school scholastic teams are having trouble getting enough players to show up and play game after game. I don't know of any athletic injustice worse than any team that has to forfeit for any reason.
Just think of what happens when a forfeit occurs. All the preparations in practice, even umpires are paid if they arrive on site and no game is played. One team has to travel to get on site and the players of the home team just might have left a summer job early to play in that game. Fans who were planning on enjoying a night of entertainment go home empty.
The past twenty years Babe Ruth baseball has included the 16-18 year old teams. I have no knowledge of how their teams are faring with concern to getting enough players to show up for games.
It is obvious that there are too many different options for those who still want to play baseball by the time they hit 16 years old. Having served Rocky Mount Legion for nine years as the PA announcer plus spending three years in my youth serving as a batboy I want to see Legion survive. It is my opinion that scholastic should be where players receive coaching but what I have seen is is too much show up make out a lineup and play.
So who gives in first? If some changes are not made we might be faced with no summer league ball for any player at least 16 years old.
The one game playoff between Garner and Wilson was not played last night and the reason posted on the Post 13 website was conflict in schedule. I have absolutely no idea what that means or when the game will be played. The one game was to be played to determine seeding in this week's state tournament which starts Friday. I know several people from Rocky Mount rode over to Fleming Sunday night only to find an empty ball park.
Sunday, July 19, 2015
The Open It Surely Different
The U S Open gave us an opportunity to watch the National championship of golf in prime time. Watching golf live at ten pm is wonderful. As far as I am concern today's regular TV programming can go in the garbage can so any time sports that are important to me can be watched live during the 7-11 pm time frame is fantastic.
The World Championship of golf The Open gives you the extreme opposite. Wake up at Six and turn on the Telly. So far however about all the golf that we have been able to see are replays of Thursday and wind. Not only is it early golf but at 5pm the Open is just wrapping up as the sun sets in Scotland.
How in the world is that possible since we know Scotland in five and a half hours ahead of the east coast of the U.S? Let's get out our map and find out why. The first reason is Scotland is at a latitude of 56 degrees. Rocky Mount is 35 degrees. The goggle button tells me one degree of latitude is 69 miles. Saint Andrews is not only five and half hours ahead of us but is also nearly 1450 miles north of us. Boston is only 540 miles north of us.
Just a look back at science class and the closer you get to the North Pole the longer the sunlight and sunset in Scotland is around 10:30pm. If someone asked you where Denmark was you would probably say that that is near the Artic Circle. St Andrews is due west of the northern part of Denmark across the North Sea. Just a little adjustment to the northeast is Norway.
Watching the Open is different from any other sporting event. This wind deal leaves me setting the record button as already the British Open will play the 4th round on Monday. Here we head to Sunday golf knowing Sunday is not the end.
Halfway home Dustin Johnson is the leader. His history from being penalized for grounding his club in a bunker and three putting from 12 feet to lose this year's U.S. open you would think Johnson would fall off a ledge never to be heard from again. Yet, he is the leader. Kinda pulling for him just because of his perseverance.
Tiger Woods use to set records all most every time he played golf at how well he played the game. Today he sets records at how poorly he is playing. His driver has always been long but never accurate. He always whenever he hit his irons he always hit them pin high and his putter was perfect from eight feet in.
His driving is the same but he no longer can count on his accurate irons or his deadly putting. There will be days still when all three work the same day but for all three to work together for four days I think Jack Nicklaus record of 18 majors is safe.
The World Championship of golf The Open gives you the extreme opposite. Wake up at Six and turn on the Telly. So far however about all the golf that we have been able to see are replays of Thursday and wind. Not only is it early golf but at 5pm the Open is just wrapping up as the sun sets in Scotland.
How in the world is that possible since we know Scotland in five and a half hours ahead of the east coast of the U.S? Let's get out our map and find out why. The first reason is Scotland is at a latitude of 56 degrees. Rocky Mount is 35 degrees. The goggle button tells me one degree of latitude is 69 miles. Saint Andrews is not only five and half hours ahead of us but is also nearly 1450 miles north of us. Boston is only 540 miles north of us.
Just a look back at science class and the closer you get to the North Pole the longer the sunlight and sunset in Scotland is around 10:30pm. If someone asked you where Denmark was you would probably say that that is near the Artic Circle. St Andrews is due west of the northern part of Denmark across the North Sea. Just a little adjustment to the northeast is Norway.
Watching the Open is different from any other sporting event. This wind deal leaves me setting the record button as already the British Open will play the 4th round on Monday. Here we head to Sunday golf knowing Sunday is not the end.
Halfway home Dustin Johnson is the leader. His history from being penalized for grounding his club in a bunker and three putting from 12 feet to lose this year's U.S. open you would think Johnson would fall off a ledge never to be heard from again. Yet, he is the leader. Kinda pulling for him just because of his perseverance.
Tiger Woods use to set records all most every time he played golf at how well he played the game. Today he sets records at how poorly he is playing. His driver has always been long but never accurate. He always whenever he hit his irons he always hit them pin high and his putter was perfect from eight feet in.
His driving is the same but he no longer can count on his accurate irons or his deadly putting. There will be days still when all three work the same day but for all three to work together for four days I think Jack Nicklaus record of 18 majors is safe.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
One More Chance
According to the Wilson Post 13 website Post 13 victory earned Wilson a Spot in next weekend's American Legion State Tournament in Salisbury. Post 13 will play a winner take all one game against Garner who beat Raleigh 7-6 Friday. The single game will be at Fleming Stadium in Wilson Sunday night. This will be the last Senior Legion game any where in eastern North Carolina this year.
All they are really doing is deciding who is the area one champion and who is the runner up as Garner now that they won the Area One west division is in State Tournament also. It was suppose to be a two out of three but here is what has happened. Both teams are in next weekend's tournament so both coaches value rest over wearing their pitchers out in a meaningless series when one game winner take all will suffice.
Monday-Tuesday and Wednesday will be Allstar week at the NC Coaches Association meetings. Monday is basketball night and there is no player or coach from Nash County playing in the girls game. The only Big East player in basketball is Hunt's Josh Willingham. Basketball is the main course of entertainment Monday Night.
Tuesday belongs to soccer and the girls game is first up and once again no player from Nash County will be playing. Three girls from the Big East will take part. Fike will have two players Katie Stokely and Mary Love Taylor. Hunt will be represented by Eynde Frazier.
The first Nash County product on display will be Northern Nash's Tristan Marshall as he will be playing in the second soccer game of the Tuesday Night double header.
Football is the only game in town Wednesday and the new coach of Nash Central Chris Lee will be on the sidelines. He is officially listed as Louisburg Coach as when the all star rosters were picked Lee was the head coach at Louisburg High.
The lone Nash County football player on the field Wednesday is Southern Nash's Aramahs Martin. The one good thing about the coaches convention is when they all return home high school football practice starts August First.
All they are really doing is deciding who is the area one champion and who is the runner up as Garner now that they won the Area One west division is in State Tournament also. It was suppose to be a two out of three but here is what has happened. Both teams are in next weekend's tournament so both coaches value rest over wearing their pitchers out in a meaningless series when one game winner take all will suffice.
Monday-Tuesday and Wednesday will be Allstar week at the NC Coaches Association meetings. Monday is basketball night and there is no player or coach from Nash County playing in the girls game. The only Big East player in basketball is Hunt's Josh Willingham. Basketball is the main course of entertainment Monday Night.
Tuesday belongs to soccer and the girls game is first up and once again no player from Nash County will be playing. Three girls from the Big East will take part. Fike will have two players Katie Stokely and Mary Love Taylor. Hunt will be represented by Eynde Frazier.
The first Nash County product on display will be Northern Nash's Tristan Marshall as he will be playing in the second soccer game of the Tuesday Night double header.
Football is the only game in town Wednesday and the new coach of Nash Central Chris Lee will be on the sidelines. He is officially listed as Louisburg Coach as when the all star rosters were picked Lee was the head coach at Louisburg High.
The lone Nash County football player on the field Wednesday is Southern Nash's Aramahs Martin. The one good thing about the coaches convention is when they all return home high school football practice starts August First.
Friday, July 17, 2015
One Step To Go
Just a week ago Wilson Post 13 was down 0-2 in the Area one Eastern semi finals with Kinston and the season was on the brink. Thursday night Post 13 beat Wayne County 7-6 to sweep the area one finals and in doing so have won six games in a row after having to win three sraight again Kinston just to play Another day.
Thursday night Raleigh and Garner were tied two games a piece and the winner of that series meets Wilson and the winner there earns a spot in the state tournament. That series is only two out of three and starts Saturday the winner starts play in the state tournament July 24 In Salisbury. Further down the road the North Carolina State champion will play the Southeastern regional in Asheboro and of course the World Series is always in Shelby.
The British Open is considered the world championship of golf. Very few courses in the USA look like Muirfield. Some of the worse courses in the States look better than St Andrews. So golf in Great Britian is completely different than the U S. Sunday Jordan Spieght won on the PGA tour in Chicago and flew all night to Edinburgh. Easter week in 1979 I was a chaperone on a school trip that took French Students to London and Paris.
Our flight from Kennedy in New York took off from on then Pan Am flight at 9:15 pm on a Saturday night and the six hour flight arrived at 9:15 on a Sunday morning. Edinburgh Scotland flight is approximately the same. Being my first flight on a jumbo 747 and a lot of water to swim in I never slept one second on the flight over.
By the time we arrived through customs and hotel it was after 1pm. Our tour guide told us this being Easter that Westminster Abbey had a church service at 3pm. With map in hand I lead a group of about ten and we walked about ten blocks to the church. Later we happened by 10 Downy Street
And walked by Buckingham Palace.
You can believe I had no trouble sleeping about ten pm Sunday night in London. Watching Speith charge out of the gate getting five birdies in the first seven holes it looked like not only were the holes harder through rest of the round but he looked a lot like me by the end. He looked frazzled. The time difference is hard the first few days. Shooting a 67 in the opening round I bet he will be more rested as the week goes on. All the golfers will have to worry about is the 40 and 50 mile an hour wind expected the next two days.
Thursday night Raleigh and Garner were tied two games a piece and the winner of that series meets Wilson and the winner there earns a spot in the state tournament. That series is only two out of three and starts Saturday the winner starts play in the state tournament July 24 In Salisbury. Further down the road the North Carolina State champion will play the Southeastern regional in Asheboro and of course the World Series is always in Shelby.
The British Open is considered the world championship of golf. Very few courses in the USA look like Muirfield. Some of the worse courses in the States look better than St Andrews. So golf in Great Britian is completely different than the U S. Sunday Jordan Spieght won on the PGA tour in Chicago and flew all night to Edinburgh. Easter week in 1979 I was a chaperone on a school trip that took French Students to London and Paris.
Our flight from Kennedy in New York took off from on then Pan Am flight at 9:15 pm on a Saturday night and the six hour flight arrived at 9:15 on a Sunday morning. Edinburgh Scotland flight is approximately the same. Being my first flight on a jumbo 747 and a lot of water to swim in I never slept one second on the flight over.
By the time we arrived through customs and hotel it was after 1pm. Our tour guide told us this being Easter that Westminster Abbey had a church service at 3pm. With map in hand I lead a group of about ten and we walked about ten blocks to the church. Later we happened by 10 Downy Street
And walked by Buckingham Palace.
You can believe I had no trouble sleeping about ten pm Sunday night in London. Watching Speith charge out of the gate getting five birdies in the first seven holes it looked like not only were the holes harder through rest of the round but he looked a lot like me by the end. He looked frazzled. The time difference is hard the first few days. Shooting a 67 in the opening round I bet he will be more rested as the week goes on. All the golfers will have to worry about is the 40 and 50 mile an hour wind expected the next two days.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Rumors Revealed
The Rocky Mount scholastic baseball team had a game Tuesday and the final game of the summer was set for Thursday with both games against Hunt. Instead they played a double header on Tuesday so the scholastic season is over and after the games Tuesday night Kent Cox the baseball coach at Rocky Mount told his players he was leaving Rocky Mount High and heading to Nash Central to be the assistant football coach for the Bulldogs.
Ever since late January rumors were in the air that Chris Lee the new football coach at Nash Central had asked Cox to join him as his defensive coach. If you are unfamiliar With the situation Lee and Cox had teamed together as jv coaches under B W Holt during Holt's tenure in Rocky Mount. The six years that Lee was the offensive coach and Cox headed up the defense Rocky Mount jv's were 48-3.
Now if you are Chris Lee who would be the first person you would call when you become the head football coach of the Bulldogs. Now if Cox is doing football in the fall will he be the baseball coach and of course would Tony Guzzo return as baseball coach at Nash Central and the answer is yes. Guzzo is staying so in the spring Cox will be the Bulldogs tennis coach.
So there is only one rumor left open. Who will be the new baseball coach at Rocky Mount. If you go to any baseball game of the varsity or this summer during the scholastic season speculation is running wild as if and when Cox left. We will know soon if those rumors become as true as the Cox rumor going to Nash Central.
Starting last weekend the Rocky Mount Parks and Rec 11/12 year old little league all stars have been in Greenville playing in the district four tournament with the winner heading to the little league state championship.
Thursday the National Allstars lost their first game to North State 12-3. Friday the American Allstars beat North State 7-4. Sunday TarHeel an all star team from Greenville beat the Americans 10-9. Monday the American team beat the Nationals 4-2 eliminating the National team. Tuesday now in the championship against Tarheel the Americans beat TarHeel 9-8 setting up tonight's winner take all.
Tarheel the host team beat RM American 16-1 eliminating our boys. Greenville has long been entrenched in the Williamsport Little League and it has not been that long ago they made it to Williamsport and the Little League World Series. This district win for TarHeel is the 28th time Greenville is sending a team to the state championships.
Wilson Post 13 has won game two over Wayne County and now has a 2-0 lead after a 5-3 win tonight in Wilson. They are one game away from the Area One title. Reference to a statement about Post 13 never having played in a state championship series up until the year 2013 when they hosted the state tournament. They finished second in 1942.
Ever since late January rumors were in the air that Chris Lee the new football coach at Nash Central had asked Cox to join him as his defensive coach. If you are unfamiliar With the situation Lee and Cox had teamed together as jv coaches under B W Holt during Holt's tenure in Rocky Mount. The six years that Lee was the offensive coach and Cox headed up the defense Rocky Mount jv's were 48-3.
Now if you are Chris Lee who would be the first person you would call when you become the head football coach of the Bulldogs. Now if Cox is doing football in the fall will he be the baseball coach and of course would Tony Guzzo return as baseball coach at Nash Central and the answer is yes. Guzzo is staying so in the spring Cox will be the Bulldogs tennis coach.
So there is only one rumor left open. Who will be the new baseball coach at Rocky Mount. If you go to any baseball game of the varsity or this summer during the scholastic season speculation is running wild as if and when Cox left. We will know soon if those rumors become as true as the Cox rumor going to Nash Central.
Starting last weekend the Rocky Mount Parks and Rec 11/12 year old little league all stars have been in Greenville playing in the district four tournament with the winner heading to the little league state championship.
Thursday the National Allstars lost their first game to North State 12-3. Friday the American Allstars beat North State 7-4. Sunday TarHeel an all star team from Greenville beat the Americans 10-9. Monday the American team beat the Nationals 4-2 eliminating the National team. Tuesday now in the championship against Tarheel the Americans beat TarHeel 9-8 setting up tonight's winner take all.
Tarheel the host team beat RM American 16-1 eliminating our boys. Greenville has long been entrenched in the Williamsport Little League and it has not been that long ago they made it to Williamsport and the Little League World Series. This district win for TarHeel is the 28th time Greenville is sending a team to the state championships.
Wilson Post 13 has won game two over Wayne County and now has a 2-0 lead after a 5-3 win tonight in Wilson. They are one game away from the Area One title. Reference to a statement about Post 13 never having played in a state championship series up until the year 2013 when they hosted the state tournament. They finished second in 1942.
Allen Moving On
Saturday on this blog I told you that two baseball jobs were open in Nash County schools in Rocky Mount. Tuesday in the Rocky Mount Telegram you learned of one of the jobs and that was Northern Nash's Leonard Allen is leaving heading to Williamston.
I learned of this Friday night an all the rumors floating around even before baseball season ended this was not one of them. Allen leaving Northern comes completely out of left field for almost everyone unless you are in Leonard's inner circle.
He will be going to an area that could be considered a baseball community Williamston. Jamesville and Williamston Highs have been consolidated several years ago and the school was renamed Riverside and is located in what was the old Williamston High just off highway 17 heading toward Washington. I say the old Williamston High for if you are and old timer Williamson High used to be close to down town and the the new was built about 1988.
Patricia Haggerty stated in the Telegram that she would first look inside Northern for any candidate that may apply that would qualify for the job. If Northern has to look outside I think the top of the Northern's Want list would be Greg Clifton a former Northern assistant coach who for the past several year he's been the head coach at Faith Christian.
He would be a great candidate but Clifton has a very successful business which he takes care of and that leaves after school to coach Faith. I would doubt he would be interested going back in the class room. I think everyone knows Faith has the best kept baseball field in the area and that relates to Clifton's expert experience in in his business.
There is still one opening and that move I promised to hold the name until summer baseball is over. Of course all the rumors have centered on both Nash Central and Rocky Mount even when baseball season was still going strong.
Tuesday night was the opening game of the Area One East Finals. Wilson Post 13 taking on Wayne County. Two of what should be Post 58 players from Rocky Mount are just what the doctor ordered for Wilson.. Rocky Mount's Blake Helms took the mound and at the end of nine innings the score was tied 3-3 and Wilson coach Rusty Dail called on RMA pitcher M J Jones.
Wilson loaded the bases with no outs in the 10th but failed to plate any runs. Wilson took the lead in the 11th inning and then had to survive a bases loaded two out jam but MJ Jones got the job done and post 13 wins game one of the best of five 4-3.
I learned of this Friday night an all the rumors floating around even before baseball season ended this was not one of them. Allen leaving Northern comes completely out of left field for almost everyone unless you are in Leonard's inner circle.
He will be going to an area that could be considered a baseball community Williamston. Jamesville and Williamston Highs have been consolidated several years ago and the school was renamed Riverside and is located in what was the old Williamston High just off highway 17 heading toward Washington. I say the old Williamston High for if you are and old timer Williamson High used to be close to down town and the the new was built about 1988.
Patricia Haggerty stated in the Telegram that she would first look inside Northern for any candidate that may apply that would qualify for the job. If Northern has to look outside I think the top of the Northern's Want list would be Greg Clifton a former Northern assistant coach who for the past several year he's been the head coach at Faith Christian.
He would be a great candidate but Clifton has a very successful business which he takes care of and that leaves after school to coach Faith. I would doubt he would be interested going back in the class room. I think everyone knows Faith has the best kept baseball field in the area and that relates to Clifton's expert experience in in his business.
There is still one opening and that move I promised to hold the name until summer baseball is over. Of course all the rumors have centered on both Nash Central and Rocky Mount even when baseball season was still going strong.
Tuesday night was the opening game of the Area One East Finals. Wilson Post 13 taking on Wayne County. Two of what should be Post 58 players from Rocky Mount are just what the doctor ordered for Wilson.. Rocky Mount's Blake Helms took the mound and at the end of nine innings the score was tied 3-3 and Wilson coach Rusty Dail called on RMA pitcher M J Jones.
Wilson loaded the bases with no outs in the 10th but failed to plate any runs. Wilson took the lead in the 11th inning and then had to survive a bases loaded two out jam but MJ Jones got the job done and post 13 wins game one of the best of five 4-3.
Monday, July 13, 2015
Sewing Seeds On The Farm
We are going to start today with the saga of Trea Turner. Playing most of spring in the Padres organization knowing all the time he was the player to be named later in a trade going to the Washington Nationals.
Once in AA in a couple of weeks hit 339 and the Nationals moved him up to AAA. Where his first 22 at bats was hitless. Sine then he has gone 16/32 to get his average to 276. Sunday playing in the Futures game had a double and triple drove in three runs but did not get the MVP. Unless Turner gets hurt in will be in Washington in August.
We have discussed this about Collins Cuthrell as he is playing in Florence Ky in an independent league which means he does not belong to any team. After all the homers he hit this season at UNCP he needed to display that power in Florence. He has started to do that as his homer total has jumped to six which is tied for the team lead. What is impressive about being tied is the leader has played a month longer on the team than what Cuthrell has. His average has dipped to 302 but the power is what will get him noticed by a major league team.
Brian Goodwin average is hovering at 234 with three homers, four triples and twelve doubles. He is still playing in AA Harrisburg and still rated as the National's 14th top prospect.
Hobbs Johnson's record now 6-4 on the season in Buloxi Ms playing for the Brewers. He has pitched 78 innings and his ERA is 3.58.
Benton Moss in the rookie short league New York Penn has pitched five times so far in Hudson Valley. He has pitched 11.2 innings struck out 17 and walked only 5. His ERA stands at 3.09.
Probably the most frustrated rookie pitcher in the American League is Carlos Rodon. Three times this season he has pitched at least six innings given one run once and twice zero runs but in all three left the game with no decision as the White Sox scored only one run or none with Rodon on the mound. His record is 3-2, ERA of 3.80. He has struck out 68 in 66 innings pitched.
Tonight Wilson Post 13 has come from no wins an two losses down to Kinston pulled their first win out of the hat Friday night to stay alive and tonight the pitching depth that they have shown all summer has paid off. Wilson Post 13 has won three straight games and has won the series with Kinston 7-1. No time to rest as they play Eastern Wayne starting Tuesday in a three out of five series with the winner earning the right to go play in the State Tournament.
I think In past years I have heard this from some of the Legion people in Wilson that they had never played in the state championships when it was just two teams playing. Since the early 2000's since the State Tournament had gone to be eight teams the only time Post 13 has ever been in the Tournament was when the hosted the Tournament. Seven teams have to win their region tournament to get in while the host city automatically plays.
Once in AA in a couple of weeks hit 339 and the Nationals moved him up to AAA. Where his first 22 at bats was hitless. Sine then he has gone 16/32 to get his average to 276. Sunday playing in the Futures game had a double and triple drove in three runs but did not get the MVP. Unless Turner gets hurt in will be in Washington in August.
We have discussed this about Collins Cuthrell as he is playing in Florence Ky in an independent league which means he does not belong to any team. After all the homers he hit this season at UNCP he needed to display that power in Florence. He has started to do that as his homer total has jumped to six which is tied for the team lead. What is impressive about being tied is the leader has played a month longer on the team than what Cuthrell has. His average has dipped to 302 but the power is what will get him noticed by a major league team.
Brian Goodwin average is hovering at 234 with three homers, four triples and twelve doubles. He is still playing in AA Harrisburg and still rated as the National's 14th top prospect.
Hobbs Johnson's record now 6-4 on the season in Buloxi Ms playing for the Brewers. He has pitched 78 innings and his ERA is 3.58.
Benton Moss in the rookie short league New York Penn has pitched five times so far in Hudson Valley. He has pitched 11.2 innings struck out 17 and walked only 5. His ERA stands at 3.09.
Probably the most frustrated rookie pitcher in the American League is Carlos Rodon. Three times this season he has pitched at least six innings given one run once and twice zero runs but in all three left the game with no decision as the White Sox scored only one run or none with Rodon on the mound. His record is 3-2, ERA of 3.80. He has struck out 68 in 66 innings pitched.
Tonight Wilson Post 13 has come from no wins an two losses down to Kinston pulled their first win out of the hat Friday night to stay alive and tonight the pitching depth that they have shown all summer has paid off. Wilson Post 13 has won three straight games and has won the series with Kinston 7-1. No time to rest as they play Eastern Wayne starting Tuesday in a three out of five series with the winner earning the right to go play in the State Tournament.
I think In past years I have heard this from some of the Legion people in Wilson that they had never played in the state championships when it was just two teams playing. Since the early 2000's since the State Tournament had gone to be eight teams the only time Post 13 has ever been in the Tournament was when the hosted the Tournament. Seven teams have to win their region tournament to get in while the host city automatically plays.
Post 13 Still Alive
Wilson Post 13 is still alive in the Eastern playoffs beating Kinston 9-2 on Sunday. The best three of five series with Kinston is tied two games apiece. Losing the first two games of the series Wilson has bounced back winning Friday night and a big win on the road Sunday. Game five has been pushed to Monday after a rainout on Saturday night.
The winner Monday starts a three out of five series with Wayne County Tuesday at Wayne County. One thing must happen Monday as far as Wilson is concerned and that is the game must be played. Should a rainout occur Monday night by rule if a series cannot be finished on time the team that wins the first game of the series win the series. Since Monday night's game is in Wilson I suspect Post 13 would wait as long as possible to try to get the game in.
My life has been dominated by sports. I was eight years old before Ahoskie started any kind of city baseball for kids under nine. All my life every Friday night I was at a high school football game. My fathers friends follow Ahoskie High and we were in the same conference with Edenton Williamston, Plymouth and Hertford. Who ever won the conference we followed them too.
Back in the fifties the playoffs were played some where in between. I remember in 1966 Ahoskie played Cary for the state 2-A title in Municipal Stadium in Rocky Mount. Ahoskie won 53-7. So I have good memories of the old stadium whether it was being the Post 102 bat boy for three years
1963 was Ahoskie's only Legion conference win.
I remember my last year at 12 years old in 1965 we were playing Post 58 in Ahoskie. Around the seventh inning a thunder storm came up and it was decided the next trip back to Rocky Mount we would finish that game before the regular game which happened to be the last game of the year with Rocky Mount. In 65 Ahoskie was not very good around 10-10 on the year so it didn't matter to us whether we won or not but Rocky Mount was still trying to win the league. In those days only the champion went to the playoff.
The game was restarted right where the game was rained delayed but Rocky Mount chose not to pitch the same pitcher that was in the game when the delay occurred. The game was tied in the ninth inning and Rocky Mount tried to pitch hit the pitcher who had been taken out of the game.
The Ahoskie coach Albert Vaughn let one pitch go to the batter when he called time, walked to the umpire behind the plate and said that batter had already been used in the game so he was not allowed to bat. I do not remember Post 58's coach at the time but Albert caused what seemed like 30 minute delay until 58 put the right batter back in. Ahoskie won the game on a suicide squeeze in about the 12th inning. I think that lost knocked 58 out of the playoffs. Rocky Mount won the second easily. The memories of Legion ball.
The winner Monday starts a three out of five series with Wayne County Tuesday at Wayne County. One thing must happen Monday as far as Wilson is concerned and that is the game must be played. Should a rainout occur Monday night by rule if a series cannot be finished on time the team that wins the first game of the series win the series. Since Monday night's game is in Wilson I suspect Post 13 would wait as long as possible to try to get the game in.
My life has been dominated by sports. I was eight years old before Ahoskie started any kind of city baseball for kids under nine. All my life every Friday night I was at a high school football game. My fathers friends follow Ahoskie High and we were in the same conference with Edenton Williamston, Plymouth and Hertford. Who ever won the conference we followed them too.
Back in the fifties the playoffs were played some where in between. I remember in 1966 Ahoskie played Cary for the state 2-A title in Municipal Stadium in Rocky Mount. Ahoskie won 53-7. So I have good memories of the old stadium whether it was being the Post 102 bat boy for three years
1963 was Ahoskie's only Legion conference win.
I remember my last year at 12 years old in 1965 we were playing Post 58 in Ahoskie. Around the seventh inning a thunder storm came up and it was decided the next trip back to Rocky Mount we would finish that game before the regular game which happened to be the last game of the year with Rocky Mount. In 65 Ahoskie was not very good around 10-10 on the year so it didn't matter to us whether we won or not but Rocky Mount was still trying to win the league. In those days only the champion went to the playoff.
The game was restarted right where the game was rained delayed but Rocky Mount chose not to pitch the same pitcher that was in the game when the delay occurred. The game was tied in the ninth inning and Rocky Mount tried to pitch hit the pitcher who had been taken out of the game.
The Ahoskie coach Albert Vaughn let one pitch go to the batter when he called time, walked to the umpire behind the plate and said that batter had already been used in the game so he was not allowed to bat. I do not remember Post 58's coach at the time but Albert caused what seemed like 30 minute delay until 58 put the right batter back in. Ahoskie won the game on a suicide squeeze in about the 12th inning. I think that lost knocked 58 out of the playoffs. Rocky Mount won the second easily. The memories of Legion ball.
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Serena Bags Another Title
Serena Williams wins another Wimbledon Title. She surely has been the best women's tennis player in the last twenty years. Her Wimbledom win was her 21st major in her career. At 33 years old she is the oldest majors winner ever. She ranks third all time in major wins behind Margaret Court 24 wins and Steffie Graf 22. She now has won Wimbledon six times, the U.S. Open six and the Australian six times. She only has won the French three times.
Tonight begins the three day major all star celebrations. Their will be the Futures Game featuring the up and coming minor league stars. Monday the Home Run derby with a format where players will be in one on one brackets. Then Tuesday's all star game with the winning team getting their league home field advantage in the World Series.
The times are a changing in Major League Baseball. Half of the Kansas City Royals will be in the starting line up during Tuesday night's all star game. Their fans stuff the ballot box in maybe the smallest city in the major leagues.
The final night of the NFL top 100 players ended last week and no surprise at all with J J Watt being voted the number one player. This was voted by the NFL players and their is no better award when it comes from your peers.
There is another week to go until the high school coaches convention in Greensboro. The football all star game plus both boy and girls basketball and the soccer all star games. Coaches will hear about new rules as well as attending meetings where they will hear other coaches and in some cases big named college coaches lecture on how to coach their sport.
There will also be coaches looking jobs and there are many unfilled vacancies through out the area. I have reliable sources telling me that two of Nash Rocky Mount high school baseball jobs are empty right now. If you have heard the rumors one rumor is true but their is an unexpected baseball opening From a coach leaving the County to take a baseball job out of the County. That one will shock everybody
No Weekend For Lauren
Lauren Doughtie's third attempt in the Women's U S Open is over. Finishing up her last five holes Friday morning after being force off the course Thursday by weather Lauren Shot 76 which was a wonderful finish considering she was seven over after her first nine. She shot one under 34 and had about 45 minutes before her second round began.
Thursday she started on number 10 hole first and from hole four through nine she had two double bogies and three bogies. Friday she teed off from the first tee and from the second through th sixth she was seven over. A double, triple and two bogies. She also bogies the ninth to finish eight over through the first nine. She shot 35 on the back for a 78 and 154 total.
This being her third open she has progressed each year. 2008 her junior year at N C State she shot 78-87 missing the cut. 2011 shooting 78-81. Now 76-78 154 was still eight shots from the cut. The bottom line this year eleven holes she was 15 over. Twenty five holes one under. If she never plays another Open she can tell her grand children about the three she played.
Wilson Post 13 at one point with one game to go was 14-1. The last game of the season playing Kinston with a chance to clinch first they lost to Kinston to force a three way tie for first between Eastern Wayne, Kinston and Wilson. A draw gave the top seed to Eastern Wayne, Wilson second. Both got first round byes. Kinston drew Windsor and wouldn't you know it Windsor forfeited sending Kinston to a two/three match up with Wilson.
Game one Kinston won 6-3 and headed home for game two of the best three out of five. Kinston won that game two as Rocky Mount's Blake Helms pitch eight innings striking out nine. Kinston scored in the bottom of the ninth to win 4-3 putting Wilson in a tough 0-2 hole.
Friday night back in Wilson a Blake Helms pitch hit single put runners on second and third and another single gave Wilson a 5-4 win setting up game four Saturday back in Kinston. Going into Friday night's game Eastern Wayne led Pitt County 2-0.
Reading the article in the Telegram about all the forfeits that have occurred in scholastic baseball this summer and Post 58 not fielding a team just think Post 58 could be in those Legion Semi's if just the best from the local scholastics plus those from Nash County playing Legion in Wilson. Which do you think is better for our better players in the area. Legion or Scholastic? Legion plays top players from other areas while Scholastic plays players from this area. Where should your son be?
Thursday she started on number 10 hole first and from hole four through nine she had two double bogies and three bogies. Friday she teed off from the first tee and from the second through th sixth she was seven over. A double, triple and two bogies. She also bogies the ninth to finish eight over through the first nine. She shot 35 on the back for a 78 and 154 total.
This being her third open she has progressed each year. 2008 her junior year at N C State she shot 78-87 missing the cut. 2011 shooting 78-81. Now 76-78 154 was still eight shots from the cut. The bottom line this year eleven holes she was 15 over. Twenty five holes one under. If she never plays another Open she can tell her grand children about the three she played.
Wilson Post 13 at one point with one game to go was 14-1. The last game of the season playing Kinston with a chance to clinch first they lost to Kinston to force a three way tie for first between Eastern Wayne, Kinston and Wilson. A draw gave the top seed to Eastern Wayne, Wilson second. Both got first round byes. Kinston drew Windsor and wouldn't you know it Windsor forfeited sending Kinston to a two/three match up with Wilson.
Game one Kinston won 6-3 and headed home for game two of the best three out of five. Kinston won that game two as Rocky Mount's Blake Helms pitch eight innings striking out nine. Kinston scored in the bottom of the ninth to win 4-3 putting Wilson in a tough 0-2 hole.
Friday night back in Wilson a Blake Helms pitch hit single put runners on second and third and another single gave Wilson a 5-4 win setting up game four Saturday back in Kinston. Going into Friday night's game Eastern Wayne led Pitt County 2-0.
Reading the article in the Telegram about all the forfeits that have occurred in scholastic baseball this summer and Post 58 not fielding a team just think Post 58 could be in those Legion Semi's if just the best from the local scholastics plus those from Nash County playing Legion in Wilson. Which do you think is better for our better players in the area. Legion or Scholastic? Legion plays top players from other areas while Scholastic plays players from this area. Where should your son be?
Friday, July 10, 2015
No Longer A Hand Shake World
DeAndre Jordan agreeing to leave the LA Clippers and join the Dallas Mavericks and then as if moving vans pulled up at the Baltimore Colts and Cleveland Browns in the middle of the night and hauled freight out of town Jordan resigns with the Clippers.
He broke no laws but he sure has put the NBA into a frantic mess. Jordan was rated as the second best free agent on the market during the NBA signing period or as it is now agreeing period. The Mavericks satisfied they got their man needed no other free agents. Other players now that both the top free agent Aldridge and Jordan signed started lining up to sign with other teams. Would they have agreed with who they did if Dallas was still looking?
I think if anybody should be upset over this jumping ship by Jordan is the other free agents after the top two. They may have lost money in the bidding war for players once the top two were out of the picture. We now live in a society where people will burn down towns not relying on the truth. So why should we worry about a handshake?
Ran across and article by a reporter for a top sports magazine and the article was about the five worse football programs based on who they were and never met expectations. Five: Maryland- One of the few colleges in the DC/MD/DE area that played D1 football but never near top very often. Four:Arizona ST- Always get top prospects and great weather but flounder in middle of the pack. Three: Mississippi-Southeastern Conference, few times in last 50 years having a winning record. Two: North Carolina- Always top 20 in recruits, major power in most all sports but football. NUMBER 1: UCLA- To be in the glamour city of LA, in the heart of one of the best football high school power bases never a serious national threat. No other comment from me.
The fourth of July was not a very good day for two professional sports stars who received injuries while handling fireworks. I have never been into fireworks other than sparklers but sometime during the 80's as a member of the Ahoskie JC's we were in charge of the city fireworks display. I volunteered to help not knowing one thing about what had to be done. Setting up the launchers and then placing each item in the launchers. When it was time to shoot the fireworks you would light the fuse walk to the next one light that one and each one went off forming the display you see as you are a spectator. The real worry is when a fuse goes out before it goes off. Is it going to go off just as you are within inches of them or as you light it again go off before you can step away. That was my last year helping.
Weather delay at the Open left Cousin Lauren Doughtie playing he 14th hole. She got off to a real good start starting on hole 10 being even par after three holes and at 3pm she was on the score board in 23rd position. Between hole four and nine she had two double bogies and three bogies and made
the turn in 42. She played her last four holes of the day even to be 7 over having to play her final five holes this morning get about and hour break and then start her second round which was suppose to be 8:25 am. Just a guess on my part but the cut line Friday afternoon or Saturday morning will be about three over.
*****Lauren played her five holes this morning in one under par shooting 34 on the back nine for a 76. She plays her second round starting 9:05.*****
He broke no laws but he sure has put the NBA into a frantic mess. Jordan was rated as the second best free agent on the market during the NBA signing period or as it is now agreeing period. The Mavericks satisfied they got their man needed no other free agents. Other players now that both the top free agent Aldridge and Jordan signed started lining up to sign with other teams. Would they have agreed with who they did if Dallas was still looking?
I think if anybody should be upset over this jumping ship by Jordan is the other free agents after the top two. They may have lost money in the bidding war for players once the top two were out of the picture. We now live in a society where people will burn down towns not relying on the truth. So why should we worry about a handshake?
Ran across and article by a reporter for a top sports magazine and the article was about the five worse football programs based on who they were and never met expectations. Five: Maryland- One of the few colleges in the DC/MD/DE area that played D1 football but never near top very often. Four:Arizona ST- Always get top prospects and great weather but flounder in middle of the pack. Three: Mississippi-Southeastern Conference, few times in last 50 years having a winning record. Two: North Carolina- Always top 20 in recruits, major power in most all sports but football. NUMBER 1: UCLA- To be in the glamour city of LA, in the heart of one of the best football high school power bases never a serious national threat. No other comment from me.
The fourth of July was not a very good day for two professional sports stars who received injuries while handling fireworks. I have never been into fireworks other than sparklers but sometime during the 80's as a member of the Ahoskie JC's we were in charge of the city fireworks display. I volunteered to help not knowing one thing about what had to be done. Setting up the launchers and then placing each item in the launchers. When it was time to shoot the fireworks you would light the fuse walk to the next one light that one and each one went off forming the display you see as you are a spectator. The real worry is when a fuse goes out before it goes off. Is it going to go off just as you are within inches of them or as you light it again go off before you can step away. That was my last year helping.
Weather delay at the Open left Cousin Lauren Doughtie playing he 14th hole. She got off to a real good start starting on hole 10 being even par after three holes and at 3pm she was on the score board in 23rd position. Between hole four and nine she had two double bogies and three bogies and made
the turn in 42. She played her last four holes of the day even to be 7 over having to play her final five holes this morning get about and hour break and then start her second round which was suppose to be 8:25 am. Just a guess on my part but the cut line Friday afternoon or Saturday morning will be about three over.
*****Lauren played her five holes this morning in one under par shooting 34 on the back nine for a 76. She plays her second round starting 9:05.*****
Thursday, July 9, 2015
NASCAR Thrills
I have not watched much NASCAR over the last several years. There was a period of time when I did a NASCAR show on WHIG - TV and watched every race. I was also a huge Ricky Rudd Fan and after his retirement I had no driver that I personally watched as my man.
I have over the years attended races at Darlington, Charlotte, Rockingham, Richmond and Dover and at one time with about 25 per cent of the races being short tracks where today about all the new tracks are Charlotte look-a-likes. There was that push in the late 90's to go nationwide with NASCAR and in order to do that they dropped Wilkesboro, and Rockingham both considered short tracks.
I didn't see any of the race Sunday. I flipped over there and Fox had programming on and did not realize the race was in delay. Not many people hung around to see the after two am finish. There is the old adage that people only go to the races to see the wrecks and not many people saw the finish and crash Monday Morning.
It is a real testament to the safety of the equipment that the driver walked away scratch less. I don't know if you saw the replay but did you notice either a fan or usher who was standing in the walk way maybe twenty yards from the crash with debris flying all around never moved. He was either scared to death walking in his sleep.
This afternoon at 2:20 pm cousin Lauren Doughtie tees off at the Women's US Open. She will be playing with two amateurs. TV coverage starts at 2pm and I have my recorder set just in case she hits a shot that is worthy to make TV. I would probably pass out if she shoots a score that rates some of her shots get coverage.
Everyday in life we do things that we expect that we will do again in the future. This is Lauren's third Open try. We all would like to think her golfing life is on the rise and Opens will be a yearly event. She may never get there again. I'm hoping she makes the cut. That would be the greatest effort she has ever done in golf if she finished 60th which would be in the money in the U.S. Open.
I have over the years attended races at Darlington, Charlotte, Rockingham, Richmond and Dover and at one time with about 25 per cent of the races being short tracks where today about all the new tracks are Charlotte look-a-likes. There was that push in the late 90's to go nationwide with NASCAR and in order to do that they dropped Wilkesboro, and Rockingham both considered short tracks.
I didn't see any of the race Sunday. I flipped over there and Fox had programming on and did not realize the race was in delay. Not many people hung around to see the after two am finish. There is the old adage that people only go to the races to see the wrecks and not many people saw the finish and crash Monday Morning.
It is a real testament to the safety of the equipment that the driver walked away scratch less. I don't know if you saw the replay but did you notice either a fan or usher who was standing in the walk way maybe twenty yards from the crash with debris flying all around never moved. He was either scared to death walking in his sleep.
This afternoon at 2:20 pm cousin Lauren Doughtie tees off at the Women's US Open. She will be playing with two amateurs. TV coverage starts at 2pm and I have my recorder set just in case she hits a shot that is worthy to make TV. I would probably pass out if she shoots a score that rates some of her shots get coverage.
Everyday in life we do things that we expect that we will do again in the future. This is Lauren's third Open try. We all would like to think her golfing life is on the rise and Opens will be a yearly event. She may never get there again. I'm hoping she makes the cut. That would be the greatest effort she has ever done in golf if she finished 60th which would be in the money in the U.S. Open.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Telegram Awards Dominated By Northern
The Rocky Mount Telegram released their spring awards for the nine sports played during the spring and Northern Nash takes top honors in five. Two baseball awards for the top hitter and pitcher. Softball for the top hitter and pitcher. Boys and girls track and field. Golf, tennis and soccer.
Topping the list in soccer is Northern's Rebekah Beal. Beal scored 39 goals and assisted on another seven to be the top scorer in the area. The good news for the Knights is Beal who is just a junior will return next year.
Northern Nash senior tennis player Tremel Davis went through the complete conference season undefeated in tennis to earn the top honors from the Telegram.
There is no doubt who would repeat of the Telegram Player of he year in golf. SouthWest Edgecombe senior golfer Cole Jeffery's the defending 2A state golf champion closed out his senior year winning again in 2015.
Any Time a freshman wins as the best you had better look out for the next three seasons as Nadir Thompson is the top boys track and field star. Thompson finished second in the state 200 meter run and lost his first race of the season in the east regional? a great start to his high school sports career at Southern Nash.
The girls representative for track and field is Rocky Mount's Laneeja Sheppard. The Gryphon junior was part of both the 4x100 and 4x200 state championship teams in the 3A state championships.
Moving on to softball Northern Nash's senior Shelby Godwin is the Telegrams pitcher of the year. It is easy to see why as she dominated on the mound producing a .42 ERA. That works out everytime she pitched the opposition just got a 1/2 run per game.
Northern's Susie Sykes not only hit near 600 on the season but practically every hit drove in a run as she had 25 RBI. Her slugging percentage for the year was 1055. The senior shortstop will be a big hole to fill for the Knights next year.
Faith Christian lands a spot on the best pitcher in baseball an it comes in the form of sophomore Landen Roupp. Winning six games on the season losing only twice Roupp wins the Telegram top ace on the mound.
The final award in baseball lands once again at Northern as junior Tyler Barrett takes top honors as the best hitter hitting 352 while driving in 16 RBI. Barrett didn't hurt himself at all pitching for the Knights with 53 k's in 47 innings and a rather nice 1.49 ERA.
Northern takes five spots with Southern Nash, SouthWest Edgecombe, Faith Christian and Rocky Mount all getting one top spot on the player of the year honors from the Rocky Mount a Telegram.
Topping the list in soccer is Northern's Rebekah Beal. Beal scored 39 goals and assisted on another seven to be the top scorer in the area. The good news for the Knights is Beal who is just a junior will return next year.
Northern Nash senior tennis player Tremel Davis went through the complete conference season undefeated in tennis to earn the top honors from the Telegram.
There is no doubt who would repeat of the Telegram Player of he year in golf. SouthWest Edgecombe senior golfer Cole Jeffery's the defending 2A state golf champion closed out his senior year winning again in 2015.
Any Time a freshman wins as the best you had better look out for the next three seasons as Nadir Thompson is the top boys track and field star. Thompson finished second in the state 200 meter run and lost his first race of the season in the east regional? a great start to his high school sports career at Southern Nash.
The girls representative for track and field is Rocky Mount's Laneeja Sheppard. The Gryphon junior was part of both the 4x100 and 4x200 state championship teams in the 3A state championships.
Moving on to softball Northern Nash's senior Shelby Godwin is the Telegrams pitcher of the year. It is easy to see why as she dominated on the mound producing a .42 ERA. That works out everytime she pitched the opposition just got a 1/2 run per game.
Northern's Susie Sykes not only hit near 600 on the season but practically every hit drove in a run as she had 25 RBI. Her slugging percentage for the year was 1055. The senior shortstop will be a big hole to fill for the Knights next year.
Faith Christian lands a spot on the best pitcher in baseball an it comes in the form of sophomore Landen Roupp. Winning six games on the season losing only twice Roupp wins the Telegram top ace on the mound.
The final award in baseball lands once again at Northern as junior Tyler Barrett takes top honors as the best hitter hitting 352 while driving in 16 RBI. Barrett didn't hurt himself at all pitching for the Knights with 53 k's in 47 innings and a rather nice 1.49 ERA.
Northern takes five spots with Southern Nash, SouthWest Edgecombe, Faith Christian and Rocky Mount all getting one top spot on the player of the year honors from the Rocky Mount a Telegram.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
How Are They Doing On The Farm?
I express concern last week that Collins Cuthrell needed to show the power he displayed at UNC Pembroke if he was going to impress any Major league team to pick him up. Friday night he had a multi home run night for the first time. His average is 321 but his home run total stands at four. That is impressive enough when you consider four is second on the team in Florence Ky. One player has five home runs but he has batted twice as many bats as Collins. So far Cuthrell has knocked in 17 runs in only 78 at bats.
Brian Goodwin is slowly getting his batting average up as he has reach 239 as with the Fourth of July all minor league teams that started in April have reached the halfway point. Brian has two homers, three triples which leads Harrisburg and has Twelve doubles.
Hobbs Johnson is 5-4 in Buloxi Ms pitching for the Shockers. His ERA is 3.36 with 72 plus innings pitch. He has struck out 63 but the WHIP has to improve. That is walks and hits per inning. So far he has allowed 57 hits and his walks are 34. That's a whole lot of base runners per innings so Hobbs needs to get his walks down to about three per nine innings pitched.
Benton Moss in his third outing pitching for Hudson Valley got tagged with his first home run. Three appearances he has pitched 5.2 innings given up three hits walked two and struck out seven. That is an ERA of 3.18. When you don't have many innings in the books one bad inning can send your ERA from zero to 3.18in no time flat.
Two other players who have Rocky Mount connections. Whit Merrifield playing AAA for Kansas City's team in Omaha is playing left hitting 285. He has hit three homers, three triples and eighteen doubles. You would think those type numbers would be numbers get you called to the big leagues but he is still not listed as a top twenty prospect for KC.
John Wooten playing in the Carolina League for the Washington Nationals in Potomac is hitting 241. He has five homers a triple and fourteen doubles.
Brian Goodwin is slowly getting his batting average up as he has reach 239 as with the Fourth of July all minor league teams that started in April have reached the halfway point. Brian has two homers, three triples which leads Harrisburg and has Twelve doubles.
Hobbs Johnson is 5-4 in Buloxi Ms pitching for the Shockers. His ERA is 3.36 with 72 plus innings pitch. He has struck out 63 but the WHIP has to improve. That is walks and hits per inning. So far he has allowed 57 hits and his walks are 34. That's a whole lot of base runners per innings so Hobbs needs to get his walks down to about three per nine innings pitched.
Benton Moss in his third outing pitching for Hudson Valley got tagged with his first home run. Three appearances he has pitched 5.2 innings given up three hits walked two and struck out seven. That is an ERA of 3.18. When you don't have many innings in the books one bad inning can send your ERA from zero to 3.18in no time flat.
Two other players who have Rocky Mount connections. Whit Merrifield playing AAA for Kansas City's team in Omaha is playing left hitting 285. He has hit three homers, three triples and eighteen doubles. You would think those type numbers would be numbers get you called to the big leagues but he is still not listed as a top twenty prospect for KC.
John Wooten playing in the Carolina League for the Washington Nationals in Potomac is hitting 241. He has five homers a triple and fourteen doubles.
Monday, July 6, 2015
Fast Out Of The Box
Carli Lloyd scored three times in the first 16 minutes of the finals of the World Cup as all the mystery was gone and the USA win their third World Cup beating Japan 5-2. Lloyd's hat trick was the fastest ever in World Cup history and it was the first ever in the final match.
Despite and easy victory Japan gave Hope Solo her toughest game scoring just before the half which broke 540 minutes since the U.S. had surrendered a goal. They had several chances putting pressure on the U S defense after the U.S. Headed a second half goal cutting the score to 4-2. The seven games the U.S. Played they were scored on three times.
I enjoyed watching the Women's World Cup more than when the men played. The men dribbled one on one too much where the women actually pass to open team mates which makes for a much more wide open attack.
Could somebody please tell me how eating hotdogs is considered a sport. I think there are many people that have seen me eat quite a bit in my time but watching someone eat 62 hot dogs in ten minutes is not my cup of tea. The winner consumed over 17,000 calories. The one question I have is why are the winners always skinny people?
Latest update on Wilson Post 13 American Legion season. Rocky Mount's Blake Helms suffered his first loss of the season in the final regular season game 5-3 to Kinston. Post 13 finishes the season 14-2 but most importantly 10-2 in division play and that creates a three way tie for first between Kinston, Wayne County and Wilson. Wayne County wins a draw to be top seed and Wilson gets second. They both get byes in the opening round Kinston gets third and play Windsor in a two out of three with the winner playing Wilson Wednesday night in the semi-finals.
Despite and easy victory Japan gave Hope Solo her toughest game scoring just before the half which broke 540 minutes since the U.S. had surrendered a goal. They had several chances putting pressure on the U S defense after the U.S. Headed a second half goal cutting the score to 4-2. The seven games the U.S. Played they were scored on three times.
I enjoyed watching the Women's World Cup more than when the men played. The men dribbled one on one too much where the women actually pass to open team mates which makes for a much more wide open attack.
Could somebody please tell me how eating hotdogs is considered a sport. I think there are many people that have seen me eat quite a bit in my time but watching someone eat 62 hot dogs in ten minutes is not my cup of tea. The winner consumed over 17,000 calories. The one question I have is why are the winners always skinny people?
Latest update on Wilson Post 13 American Legion season. Rocky Mount's Blake Helms suffered his first loss of the season in the final regular season game 5-3 to Kinston. Post 13 finishes the season 14-2 but most importantly 10-2 in division play and that creates a three way tie for first between Kinston, Wayne County and Wilson. Wayne County wins a draw to be top seed and Wilson gets second. They both get byes in the opening round Kinston gets third and play Windsor in a two out of three with the winner playing Wilson Wednesday night in the semi-finals.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Women's Open This Week
This week the Women's US Open will be in Pennslyvania in Lancaster. In our household we will pay more attention than ever before because cousin Lauren Doughtie will play in her third open.
What does it mean to play in just one. During my golfing days when living in Ahoskie and a member of Beechwood Country club our pro was Dan Herring. He was the club pro but anytime around the men's US Open the membership would always ask Dan about the club pro Dan Herring that had qualified for two Opens. He actually made the cut in the 1954 Open at Baltusrol. He also qualified for the first U.S. senior Open. I heard him say more than once that just qualifying for the Open was what it was all about. It was our countries National Championship.
Lauren will be playing in the Open for her third time. While a junior at NC State she qualified for the open for a top finish in one of the national amateur championships sponsored by the USGA. She failed to play the weekend but the highlight of that Open was playing a practice round with Annika Sorenstam who in 2008 was the number one women's golfer in the world.
Her senior year at State she won one tournament and at the time she graduated State she was the best golfer there in the short history of women's golf at NC State. She joined the Futures Tour mid year 2009 and spent two full seasons in 2010-11 learning all about the weekly grind of a pro golfer. Out of the blue in 2011 Lauren qualified for her second Open by having a spectacular 36 hole day and failed to make the cut .
2012 she won her one and only pro event shooting 66 in the final round by making birdie in the final hole to tie and birdied the first playoff hole to win. She then in the LPGA qualifying tournament at the end of 2012 tied with eight other people for the final spot and won the spot to join the LPGA tour.
Her one year playing with the big girls didn't last as she failed to finish in the top 100 and she lost her card and rejoined the Futures in 2014. All of 2014 and almost half of this season her scoring average has hovered near 74.5 and those scores don't put money in your pocket and doubt in your mind about if this is the end of the road in professional golf.
Then another qualifying US Open qualifier in Chapel Hill when she tied for first. Her two tournaments since she finished 11th and 14th. She is playing over the last six weeks her best golf since turning pro. It gives all of us in the Doughtie clan that she might being playing well enough to play the weekend for the first time in the Open.
I will be watching closer than ever this Thursday and Friday as Lauren tries to take another step in her golfing future. To say the least her career at this point can be labeled as a journeyman. Journeyman can't afford to live on any tour very long. A weekend of golf in the U S Open just might spark her to move up in confidence and money to play a little longer. There is hope this week like no other Open because she is playing great golf right now but we all know, This is the Open.
What does it mean to play in just one. During my golfing days when living in Ahoskie and a member of Beechwood Country club our pro was Dan Herring. He was the club pro but anytime around the men's US Open the membership would always ask Dan about the club pro Dan Herring that had qualified for two Opens. He actually made the cut in the 1954 Open at Baltusrol. He also qualified for the first U.S. senior Open. I heard him say more than once that just qualifying for the Open was what it was all about. It was our countries National Championship.
Lauren will be playing in the Open for her third time. While a junior at NC State she qualified for the open for a top finish in one of the national amateur championships sponsored by the USGA. She failed to play the weekend but the highlight of that Open was playing a practice round with Annika Sorenstam who in 2008 was the number one women's golfer in the world.
Her senior year at State she won one tournament and at the time she graduated State she was the best golfer there in the short history of women's golf at NC State. She joined the Futures Tour mid year 2009 and spent two full seasons in 2010-11 learning all about the weekly grind of a pro golfer. Out of the blue in 2011 Lauren qualified for her second Open by having a spectacular 36 hole day and failed to make the cut .
2012 she won her one and only pro event shooting 66 in the final round by making birdie in the final hole to tie and birdied the first playoff hole to win. She then in the LPGA qualifying tournament at the end of 2012 tied with eight other people for the final spot and won the spot to join the LPGA tour.
Her one year playing with the big girls didn't last as she failed to finish in the top 100 and she lost her card and rejoined the Futures in 2014. All of 2014 and almost half of this season her scoring average has hovered near 74.5 and those scores don't put money in your pocket and doubt in your mind about if this is the end of the road in professional golf.
Then another qualifying US Open qualifier in Chapel Hill when she tied for first. Her two tournaments since she finished 11th and 14th. She is playing over the last six weeks her best golf since turning pro. It gives all of us in the Doughtie clan that she might being playing well enough to play the weekend for the first time in the Open.
I will be watching closer than ever this Thursday and Friday as Lauren tries to take another step in her golfing future. To say the least her career at this point can be labeled as a journeyman. Journeyman can't afford to live on any tour very long. A weekend of golf in the U S Open just might spark her to move up in confidence and money to play a little longer. There is hope this week like no other Open because she is playing great golf right now but we all know, This is the Open.
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Today We Celebrate We The People
July 4th, 1776 the congress of the United States agreed to the writings of Thomas Jefferson and it was called the Declaration Of Independence. It was read publicly on July 8th, 1776. It was an announcement of the American people that they would no longer live under the rule of England. Those fore fathers fought for to give our country freedom. Since then many have died defending our freedom.
During the Cold War in the late 50's or early 60's Nitika Khushchev told the American people that America would topple from the inside out. It has taken nearly 50 years but his prediction gets closer every day. A document in 1776 base on religious freedom gets closer and closer everyday to be a mockery of the foundation of our country.
Our country has gone social media crazy. If I were to ask a generation under thirty five years of age who the Vice President of the USA is they would not know. If you asked them who the Lt governor of North Carolina is they wouldn't know. This generation are the people electing people to office and they have no idea what the politicians stand for.
They also are the generation that has no idea about the word of God. They smother their bodies with tattoos after the word says honor your body it is in the image of God. We all have become the me generation. I will do what I want to do regardless of the right or wrong of it.
Somewhere our country has lost it's way. We no longer have leaders who believe in God. They have allowed the basic principles to fall by the wayside. Everyday that we let slide another principle's collapse we lose just a little more of the Favor in the eyes of God.
As we celebrate our 239th anniversary of the Declaration Of Independence we the people if we want to celebrate the 300th have better turn back to our fore fathers wishes. Bring God back to the forefront of our lives. Without him the United States Of America is slowly becoming a non factor in the world because our citizens are all about me instead of God.
During the Cold War in the late 50's or early 60's Nitika Khushchev told the American people that America would topple from the inside out. It has taken nearly 50 years but his prediction gets closer every day. A document in 1776 base on religious freedom gets closer and closer everyday to be a mockery of the foundation of our country.
Our country has gone social media crazy. If I were to ask a generation under thirty five years of age who the Vice President of the USA is they would not know. If you asked them who the Lt governor of North Carolina is they wouldn't know. This generation are the people electing people to office and they have no idea what the politicians stand for.
They also are the generation that has no idea about the word of God. They smother their bodies with tattoos after the word says honor your body it is in the image of God. We all have become the me generation. I will do what I want to do regardless of the right or wrong of it.
Somewhere our country has lost it's way. We no longer have leaders who believe in God. They have allowed the basic principles to fall by the wayside. Everyday that we let slide another principle's collapse we lose just a little more of the Favor in the eyes of God.
As we celebrate our 239th anniversary of the Declaration Of Independence we the people if we want to celebrate the 300th have better turn back to our fore fathers wishes. Bring God back to the forefront of our lives. Without him the United States Of America is slowly becoming a non factor in the world because our citizens are all about me instead of God.
Friday, July 3, 2015
This And That
The USA women will meet Japan for the World Cup title Sunday night. The U.S. Women have played great defense in this World Cup and Japan will play due to England hitting one in the net for Japan.
Antonio Gates the soon to be Hall Of Fame tight end for San Diego Chargers who had earlier announce that 2015 would be his last will sit out the first four games for using PEDs. This is a blood stain mark on his hopes for the HOF after he retires.
Trea Turner the former NC State shortstop once he finally got traded June 15th played ten games for the Nationals in AA hit 359 and he has been sent to AAA Syracuse. His first 18 at bats yielded no hits but his first hit at Syracuse left the yard. He has a real good shot at Syracuse as the shortstop there so far this spring the shortstop there now only was hitting 214.
Today is the third day of free agents signings in the NBA. One thing has become apparent that Kobe Bryant in LA and Carmelo Anthony in New York are not players that other NBA players want to have as teammates. They are perceived as ball hogs and their big money contracts don't allow either LA or New York to have a great amount of money for other big named players. Even when they do have the money those players don't want Amy part of the Lakers or Knicks.
Watched the WRAL TV one hour interview with Coach K last night. It is easy to see why K has the ability to recruit the top players in the country. Jeff Gravely with Channel 5 did an excellent job handling the question. Gravely ask a question at 68 years old how Coach K was able to be so fit. His answer was he rode a bike,An indoor bike, he explained he couldn't ride a bike on the streets because the other rival schools it might lead to too good and opportunity to take him out. His other line was on his 14 acre estate in Durham he had discover a fountain of youth the he and his dog Blue swam in every day.
Stats released by Major League Baseball who during the minor league season so far this year they have used a time clock where the batter had to keep one foot in batters box and the pitchers had to throw the next pitch in 20 seconds. Last year minor league games took two hours and fifty six minutes. So far this year games are down to two hours forty one minutes. The clock is working.
One explanation about players from Rocky Mount in pro sports. I went to the official site of MLB, AFL/NFL and NBA. Where they were born not where they lived. I missed Mike Tyson all together which On a recent visit back home to see his parents I saw him.
Antonio Gates the soon to be Hall Of Fame tight end for San Diego Chargers who had earlier announce that 2015 would be his last will sit out the first four games for using PEDs. This is a blood stain mark on his hopes for the HOF after he retires.
Trea Turner the former NC State shortstop once he finally got traded June 15th played ten games for the Nationals in AA hit 359 and he has been sent to AAA Syracuse. His first 18 at bats yielded no hits but his first hit at Syracuse left the yard. He has a real good shot at Syracuse as the shortstop there so far this spring the shortstop there now only was hitting 214.
Today is the third day of free agents signings in the NBA. One thing has become apparent that Kobe Bryant in LA and Carmelo Anthony in New York are not players that other NBA players want to have as teammates. They are perceived as ball hogs and their big money contracts don't allow either LA or New York to have a great amount of money for other big named players. Even when they do have the money those players don't want Amy part of the Lakers or Knicks.
Watched the WRAL TV one hour interview with Coach K last night. It is easy to see why K has the ability to recruit the top players in the country. Jeff Gravely with Channel 5 did an excellent job handling the question. Gravely ask a question at 68 years old how Coach K was able to be so fit. His answer was he rode a bike,An indoor bike, he explained he couldn't ride a bike on the streets because the other rival schools it might lead to too good and opportunity to take him out. His other line was on his 14 acre estate in Durham he had discover a fountain of youth the he and his dog Blue swam in every day.
Stats released by Major League Baseball who during the minor league season so far this year they have used a time clock where the batter had to keep one foot in batters box and the pitchers had to throw the next pitch in 20 seconds. Last year minor league games took two hours and fifty six minutes. So far this year games are down to two hours forty one minutes. The clock is working.
One explanation about players from Rocky Mount in pro sports. I went to the official site of MLB, AFL/NFL and NBA. Where they were born not where they lived. I missed Mike Tyson all together which On a recent visit back home to see his parents I saw him.
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Did You Know?
As if from the file "where are they now" we will look today at people from Rocky Mount that made it to the big dance of professional baseball, football and basketball. I bet you will be surprised at some who made it but there is of course those we all know. Ten players born in Rocky Mount have made it. Five have been players in the AFL/NFL, four NBA and surprisingly only one from baseball.
First the only one in baseball: Chuck Hinton .......Played 11 years in MLB baseball making the American League All Star team in 1964. Career 262 hitter with 113 home runs. Live in DC after baseball.
NBA: Anthony Avent.... Played High school basketball in New Jersey and at Seton Hall college. Seven years in NBA averaging 5.56 points per game.
Charles Pittmam:......Northern Nash High played at Maryland and four years in the NBA averaged 4.7 points in career.
Phil Ford ........Rocky Mount, Carolina, and NBA rookie of the year in 1979. Played eight years averaged 6.81 points per game.
Charles "Buck"Williams...... Rocky Mount, Maryland. 18 year NBA career. All time leading scorer in Brooklyn Nets history. Scored over 16,000 points and 13,000 rebounds. NBA Rookie of the year 1982. Three time NBA All Star.
Football: J J Arrington..... Northern Nash, California Berkley, four year career. Played in 58 games
returned two kick offs back for touchdowns. Rushed for 658 yards during career.
Wesley Barbour..... Played high school ball in Durham. Went to Wake Forest number one draft pick of New York Giants in 1945.
Alva Stallings..... Better known today in Rocky Mount as Don. Rocky Mount, Carolina and the Washington Redskins. Defensive end played nine games in 1960
Bill Mathis...... born Rocky Mount, Clemson. Play nine season New York Titans/Jets. Member of 1969 Jets who won Super Bowl. Rushed for 3589 yards in career.
Jim Clack....... Rocky Mount, Wake Forest. Played on two Super Bowl championship teams while in Pittsburgh. Finish 11 year career in New York playing for the Giants.
First the only one in baseball: Chuck Hinton .......Played 11 years in MLB baseball making the American League All Star team in 1964. Career 262 hitter with 113 home runs. Live in DC after baseball.
NBA: Anthony Avent.... Played High school basketball in New Jersey and at Seton Hall college. Seven years in NBA averaging 5.56 points per game.
Charles Pittmam:......Northern Nash High played at Maryland and four years in the NBA averaged 4.7 points in career.
Phil Ford ........Rocky Mount, Carolina, and NBA rookie of the year in 1979. Played eight years averaged 6.81 points per game.
Charles "Buck"Williams...... Rocky Mount, Maryland. 18 year NBA career. All time leading scorer in Brooklyn Nets history. Scored over 16,000 points and 13,000 rebounds. NBA Rookie of the year 1982. Three time NBA All Star.
Football: J J Arrington..... Northern Nash, California Berkley, four year career. Played in 58 games
returned two kick offs back for touchdowns. Rushed for 658 yards during career.
Wesley Barbour..... Played high school ball in Durham. Went to Wake Forest number one draft pick of New York Giants in 1945.
Alva Stallings..... Better known today in Rocky Mount as Don. Rocky Mount, Carolina and the Washington Redskins. Defensive end played nine games in 1960
Bill Mathis...... born Rocky Mount, Clemson. Play nine season New York Titans/Jets. Member of 1969 Jets who won Super Bowl. Rushed for 3589 yards in career.
Jim Clack....... Rocky Mount, Wake Forest. Played on two Super Bowl championship teams while in Pittsburgh. Finish 11 year career in New York playing for the Giants.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Wells Fargo Cup Tells The Problem
The NCHSAA released the final standings of the 2014/2015 Wells Fargo Cup state wide in each of the four division in North Carolina. Each conference has a Fargo Cup champion and the points per conference plus the playoff points gives the overall champion per bracket. Most private schools, charters and prep schools are small and just looking at the final standings tells a tale of the fight on going between some Wake County conferences and Cardinal Gibbons.
The final top ten in 1-A as the best overall athletic teams are number one Kernersville Bishop MCGuinness. They are a private Roman Catholic school with 550 students founded in 1959. Second is Community School of Davidson. It is a public charter school located in Davidson . Third is Raleigh Charter a public charter school founded in 1999 with more than 550 students. Fourth is Lincoln Charter of Denver . It is a tuition free charter school. Sixth is Mooresville Pine Lake Prep. Started in 2007 is a charter school with students from k-12. Total enrollment is 1300 students. Seventh is Winston Salem Prep. It is a public charter school in Winston Salem with 320 high school students.
The school that is second in Wells Fargo points in 2-A is Lake Norman Charter. It is a public charter school in Huntersville which has grades 5-12 with 1600 students. The larger the schools less and less are private, Prep and charter. First in the cup standings in 3-A is Cardinal Gibbons. It has an enrollment of 1420 students and is a private Catholic school. The number three school in the 4-A Fargo Cup is Charlotte Catholic. They have only 1400 students.
Six of the top seven schools in 1-A are either prep, charter or Private schools. The number two in 2-A, number one in 3-A and number 3 in 4-A. It is easy to see where the 4-A conferences in Raleigh are nervous about schools who have no boundaries and are growing where the public school sector are limited to districts and only grow when the population in that district grow. The charter and prep schools have the same athletic advantages the parochial schools have. All you are hearing
About now is the fight with Cardinal Gibbons but with more charter schools opening everyday the public school sector will not support those schools staying members of the NCHSAA much longer either.
The final top ten in 1-A as the best overall athletic teams are number one Kernersville Bishop MCGuinness. They are a private Roman Catholic school with 550 students founded in 1959. Second is Community School of Davidson. It is a public charter school located in Davidson . Third is Raleigh Charter a public charter school founded in 1999 with more than 550 students. Fourth is Lincoln Charter of Denver . It is a tuition free charter school. Sixth is Mooresville Pine Lake Prep. Started in 2007 is a charter school with students from k-12. Total enrollment is 1300 students. Seventh is Winston Salem Prep. It is a public charter school in Winston Salem with 320 high school students.
The school that is second in Wells Fargo points in 2-A is Lake Norman Charter. It is a public charter school in Huntersville which has grades 5-12 with 1600 students. The larger the schools less and less are private, Prep and charter. First in the cup standings in 3-A is Cardinal Gibbons. It has an enrollment of 1420 students and is a private Catholic school. The number three school in the 4-A Fargo Cup is Charlotte Catholic. They have only 1400 students.
Six of the top seven schools in 1-A are either prep, charter or Private schools. The number two in 2-A, number one in 3-A and number 3 in 4-A. It is easy to see where the 4-A conferences in Raleigh are nervous about schools who have no boundaries and are growing where the public school sector are limited to districts and only grow when the population in that district grow. The charter and prep schools have the same athletic advantages the parochial schools have. All you are hearing
About now is the fight with Cardinal Gibbons but with more charter schools opening everyday the public school sector will not support those schools staying members of the NCHSAA much longer either.
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