After the first week of conference play the Rocky Mount Gryphons stood at 0-2 having blown a 4-2 lead at Nash Central and a 4-0 lead at Hunt. Tonight behind the three hitting pitching of David Harrison the Gryphons take the number one seed in the Big East with 2-0 shutout of Northern Nash.
The Win Gives the Gryphons a 6-4 conference record with Northern Nash but the Gryphons swept the Knights in both games played. Hunt also ties at 6-4 after they went to Fike and won 9-0. Nash Central got back to 5-5 in conference play beating Southern Nash 7-2 and tie Fike 5-5. Next week's Big East tournament will start with 3rd seed Hunt Hosting Southern Nash and number four seed Nash Central hosting Fike.
Chad Nelms got the start for Northern Nash and he like every pitcher that has faced David Harrison pitched well enough but not good enough. Helms gives up four hits walked only two batters and struck out 11 Gryphons. Two of the four Gryphons hits came in the third inning, Jamar Ellis singled and with one out Josh Pittman single putting runners on first and third.
Wednesday of this week Marvin Coates passed away and his Grandson Logan Pearce hit a shot to left field that was caught on the warning track and Ellis easily scored from third giving Pearce what would turn out to be the game winning RBI. The Gryphons scored their second run in the fourth after Forest Bell walked stole second and scored on a David Harrison base hit.
David Harrison probably wrapped up the player of the year in the Big East after his complete game shutout. He allowed three hits, walk four which were three more than he had walked in all conference games. He struck out nine but the last five Knights to get out struck out. During Big East games Harrison pitched 34 and 2/3 and gave up three runs which is an ERA.083.
Northern's three hits came from Matt Rose who had a double and single and Josh Daniels. The Gryphons had all singles from Josh Pittman, David Harrison, Will Hedgepeth and Jamar Ellis. Both Rocky Mount and Northern have byes and both will host semi final games next week.
Friday, April 29, 2016
Up For Grabs
Tonight wraps up the Big East regular season and every game means something for everyone. Northern 6-3 sits on top. Fike-Hunt-Rocky Mount all stand at 5-4. Nash Central 4-5 and Southern 2-7. Big East baseball Tournament starts Monday night when who ever finishes 3rd host Southern Nash. Nash Central knows they can't finish any better than 3rd but they could finish fifth so they have no idea where they play Monday right now. Even the top two spots who would get a bye and not play until Wednesday is not known at this time.
Rocky Mount at Northern Nash.: Pat Smith had to use David Harrison for about 25 pitches Tuesday and the question is can he go seven innings if needed? The answer is yes. Tuesday night's two innings are being used as his bullpen session for this week. Northern has as close to any team a pitching staff. Everyone else has a main line pitcher and throwers. I understand Northern Pitched Dwight Daniels Tuesday so they still have Tyler Barrett, Chad Nelms or Side armer Whit Casper that they can throw. Northern is home and looks to have more options than Rocky Mount.
Hunt at Fike: The winner could be in a three way tie for first if Rocky Mount will help them out at beat Northern. The loser could drop to fifth spot in the standings with their fifth loss and of course this is pending other results Friday night.
Nash Central At Southern Nash: A Bulldog win they can still capture third and a loss they are guaranteed fifth. Southern is stuck in last as their hitting has dried up as the season has progressed as they have as good of pitching as anyone else.
I think anyone who saw the Rocky Mount Gryphons play football this past season could tell there were some really good football players on the field for the Gryphons. This will show you what winning playoff games and state championships do for good players. It puts eyes on them in playoff games that because the roster shows them as not being the right size college coaches don't even think about until they actually see them perform.
Saw in the Telegram yesterday about the story written about Sherrod Greene and B J Sanders. If you watched at all over the last two season everyone in the Big East knew about B J Sanders. His profile does not fit D1 schools to look at. An 81 yard run on the first play of a state championship game has been seen by every college coach in the country. Sanders has now been offered just because Rocky Mount played so many playoff games and he performed well and coaches have all the films of everybody by regional times. If the Gryphons had of loss a first round game Sanders may not ever gotten a look from a D 1 or D11 School. I can assure you we will talk more about Sherrod Greene in the future.
I want to close today honoring a non sports event. A day this week in the Telegram was a story about
Adam Moore who recently was named the North Carolina most outstanding JROTC Cadet by the Sons of the American Revolution. Adam as a rising Senior at Nash Central. He wants to go the United States Navel Academy. I would love to shake his hand for the honor bestowed on him but also because he wants to serve his country. Thank You Adam and good luck winning the top Cadet in the nation.
Rocky Mount at Northern Nash.: Pat Smith had to use David Harrison for about 25 pitches Tuesday and the question is can he go seven innings if needed? The answer is yes. Tuesday night's two innings are being used as his bullpen session for this week. Northern has as close to any team a pitching staff. Everyone else has a main line pitcher and throwers. I understand Northern Pitched Dwight Daniels Tuesday so they still have Tyler Barrett, Chad Nelms or Side armer Whit Casper that they can throw. Northern is home and looks to have more options than Rocky Mount.
Hunt at Fike: The winner could be in a three way tie for first if Rocky Mount will help them out at beat Northern. The loser could drop to fifth spot in the standings with their fifth loss and of course this is pending other results Friday night.
Nash Central At Southern Nash: A Bulldog win they can still capture third and a loss they are guaranteed fifth. Southern is stuck in last as their hitting has dried up as the season has progressed as they have as good of pitching as anyone else.
I think anyone who saw the Rocky Mount Gryphons play football this past season could tell there were some really good football players on the field for the Gryphons. This will show you what winning playoff games and state championships do for good players. It puts eyes on them in playoff games that because the roster shows them as not being the right size college coaches don't even think about until they actually see them perform.
Saw in the Telegram yesterday about the story written about Sherrod Greene and B J Sanders. If you watched at all over the last two season everyone in the Big East knew about B J Sanders. His profile does not fit D1 schools to look at. An 81 yard run on the first play of a state championship game has been seen by every college coach in the country. Sanders has now been offered just because Rocky Mount played so many playoff games and he performed well and coaches have all the films of everybody by regional times. If the Gryphons had of loss a first round game Sanders may not ever gotten a look from a D 1 or D11 School. I can assure you we will talk more about Sherrod Greene in the future.
I want to close today honoring a non sports event. A day this week in the Telegram was a story about
Adam Moore who recently was named the North Carolina most outstanding JROTC Cadet by the Sons of the American Revolution. Adam as a rising Senior at Nash Central. He wants to go the United States Navel Academy. I would love to shake his hand for the honor bestowed on him but also because he wants to serve his country. Thank You Adam and good luck winning the top Cadet in the nation.
Thursday, April 28, 2016
It's Northern"s Title For The Taking
There are so many possible scenarios about the baseball race in the Big East that there is not enough space to cover each one before the three games happen Friday night. The only for sure spot secured in the conference race is last which is held by Southern Nash. Even beating Nash Central Friday night they can't tie or pass anybody. If they do beat the Bulldogs that brings on about another set of possibilities in the conference race.
There is two possible occurrences that if they happen nothing else that happens Friday night to change the two possible. First if Northern beats Rocky Mount they are the outright conference regular season champ and will have the number one seed and a bye in next week's conference tournament. They would be 7-3 and already everybody else is hung with four losses. It is their championship to win. A victory would secure the number one seed in the state tournament starting May 11th.
The second event if it happens would be if Rocky Mount knocks off the Knights they would secure the number one seed through all sorts of tie breakers. They would be in a three way tie for first but because they swept Northern and split both Fike and Hunt they have the advantage of all tie breakers in a three way tie. In almost every scenario if they lose they would draw between 3rd through fifth depending what else happens in other games Friday.
They would not secure the number one seed for the state tournament that would fall back on the three teams tied for first who does the best in the conference tournament. The way this season has gone this would be the year that a five seed could win the tournament and if that happened the only safe team seedings wise would be Northern Nash by winning the number one seed. They can't lose that seeding for the state tournament regardless of how they fare next week.
If a three,four,five or sixth did win the conference tournament then that team moves up as the two seed in state seeding and everyone but Northern falls back. Due to everyone's over all record this season five teams may not make the state baseball tournament because when the seedings get to filling out the brackets with teams with the best overall record most of the Big East has losing records. Rocky Mount 11-8 has the best record in the conference even Northern has a losing record. Their overall record would protect them if they are the conference champion. I would not protect them if they finish fourth.
So when the state tournament starts getting pass the 3rd seeds in the selection process there is no guarantee a four or five seed from the Big East will make it. If there has ever been a night in any sport at any time this statement is true for these game Winning will take care of seedings. Lose and you could be out of luck.
There is two possible occurrences that if they happen nothing else that happens Friday night to change the two possible. First if Northern beats Rocky Mount they are the outright conference regular season champ and will have the number one seed and a bye in next week's conference tournament. They would be 7-3 and already everybody else is hung with four losses. It is their championship to win. A victory would secure the number one seed in the state tournament starting May 11th.
The second event if it happens would be if Rocky Mount knocks off the Knights they would secure the number one seed through all sorts of tie breakers. They would be in a three way tie for first but because they swept Northern and split both Fike and Hunt they have the advantage of all tie breakers in a three way tie. In almost every scenario if they lose they would draw between 3rd through fifth depending what else happens in other games Friday.
They would not secure the number one seed for the state tournament that would fall back on the three teams tied for first who does the best in the conference tournament. The way this season has gone this would be the year that a five seed could win the tournament and if that happened the only safe team seedings wise would be Northern Nash by winning the number one seed. They can't lose that seeding for the state tournament regardless of how they fare next week.
If a three,four,five or sixth did win the conference tournament then that team moves up as the two seed in state seeding and everyone but Northern falls back. Due to everyone's over all record this season five teams may not make the state baseball tournament because when the seedings get to filling out the brackets with teams with the best overall record most of the Big East has losing records. Rocky Mount 11-8 has the best record in the conference even Northern has a losing record. Their overall record would protect them if they are the conference champion. I would not protect them if they finish fourth.
So when the state tournament starts getting pass the 3rd seeds in the selection process there is no guarantee a four or five seed from the Big East will make it. If there has ever been a night in any sport at any time this statement is true for these game Winning will take care of seedings. Lose and you could be out of luck.
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
No Other Choice
The last time Rocky Mount and Southern Nash met the Gryphons put the Firebirds down in five innings 17-0. Tonight Pat Smith went back to Zack Keeter who pitched three innings in the last game against Southern and Keeter did his job. Keeter went five innings of three hit ball and along the way walked three batters. His problem was through five innings Southern's pitcher Trevor Mills out pitched Keeter.
Mills through five innings gave up two hits and walked a single batter. The walk was wiped out on a double play and the single wiped away on a caught stealing. So through five innings the Gryphons did nothing against Mills while through the first four innings the Firebirds had six base runners.
Now this is not working as planned.The Gryphons were suppose base on the last game be banging out hits and scoring runs But Mills was not cooperating. Top of the sixth Pat Smith said this game is to close to call and let's bring on David Harrison because we can not afford to allow a run to Southern this late in the game. Harrison face six batters striking out four.
The bottom of the sixth with one out Isaiah Stewart walked. He reached second on a Josh Pittman single and scored on a double by David Harrison. A potential second run was thrown out by Southern right fielder Jason Montaque who made a perfect throw home.
The top four hitters in the Gryphon lineup got one hit a piece Josh Pittman, David Harrison double RBI, Logan Pearce and Jake Philbeck. Southern was led by Trevor Mills who got two hits but didn't get enough help from his teammates and takes the loss. Hunter Perry was the only other Firebird with a Hit.
Zack Keeter pitched well enough to win but like Mills got no help from his batting mates. David Harrison got the mound win plus the game winning hit.
Now for the crazy Big East. Tonight Northern Takes sole pocession of first place after they beat Fike 7-3. That gives Northern first place with a 6-3 record while Fike drops to 5-4. Hunt beat Nash Central 6-1 after last night beating Southern 7-3. Hunt with two wins this week jumps to 5-4 Rocky Mount's win over Southern makes them 5-4.
So Friday night Northern Nash can win First place outright with a win over Rocky Mount. Rocky Mount with a win over Northern could tie for first. Since both Fike and Hunt are 5-4 the winner of their game could be part of a three way tie if Rocky Mount beats Northern. The bottom line is this. It is Northern's to win and as they say control their own destiny.
So Friday night Northern Nash can win First place outright with a win over Rocky Mount. Rocky Mount with a win over Northern could tie for first. Since both Fike and Hunt are 5-4 the winner of their game could be part of a three way tie if Rocky Mount beats Northern. The bottom line is this. It is Northern's to win and as they say control their own destiny.
Monday, April 25, 2016
ACC Baseball Dominating
Last week we talked about the seven teams from North Carolina that look as if they have great chances to make the NCAA baseball tournament. If we expand out further to all the ACC schools this is a most unusual season. There are 14 teams that play baseball. As of Monday night 13 of the ACC teams are rated 64th or better. You know only 64 teams make the tournament so it seems to me unfair that if all 13 ACC teams make the tournament then other teams will get left out.
The truth of the matter is this. Only the eight teams that make the ACC tournament will make make the field. Maybe one other might sneak in but all thirteen will not make it. So who gets in and who doesn't. For sure Virginia Tech who has a losing record will not make it. Everyone else has a shot of moving up or not depending on how well they do over the next month.
64th in RPI is Duke, they are 23-18 overall. They need to really sweep some series rest of the conference season.
Boston College: 52nd, 21-15: A good finish just might get BC in something they hardly ever do is make the NCAA in baseball.
Notre Dame 23-14 43rd. If the Irish make the top eight they could make the tournament.
Pittsburgh 21-14 34th. Pitt is a team much like BC that needs a good finish and they just might get in. Need to be in top eight at ACC tournament time.
Wake Forest 26-17. 30th Jump 13 slots after sweeping Carolina over the weekend. They are borderline ACC tournament
Virginia 26-17 29th. The defending national champion had a slow ACC start but have played better lately.
Georgia Tech 27-13 21st . Right in the thick of the battle. Could go either way making Durham.
North Carolina 26-15 16th. One of the worse things to happen to the Tar Heels was making the World Series so many times in a row. Expected all the time now. Swept by WF this weekend as Tar Heels at 9-12 in ACC in real jeopardy of not making tournament down the road in Durham.
Clemson. 26-14 11th in RPI. How tough is ACC? A team in top ten has a Losing conference record.
NC State 29-11 8th. Has fourth best conference record. Already has had their no conference games weekend plus has had two rainouts. Have played five less conference games than most teams.
Miami 28-8 7th RPI: since Miami joined ACC this is the best team that they have had.
Florida State 28-11 6th: Always near the top and again top team record wise.
Louisville 31-9 2nd: Between football basketball and baseball the Ville might be best program in ACC.
The ACC tournament starts the last weekend in May in Durham.
The truth of the matter is this. Only the eight teams that make the ACC tournament will make make the field. Maybe one other might sneak in but all thirteen will not make it. So who gets in and who doesn't. For sure Virginia Tech who has a losing record will not make it. Everyone else has a shot of moving up or not depending on how well they do over the next month.
64th in RPI is Duke, they are 23-18 overall. They need to really sweep some series rest of the conference season.
Boston College: 52nd, 21-15: A good finish just might get BC in something they hardly ever do is make the NCAA in baseball.
Notre Dame 23-14 43rd. If the Irish make the top eight they could make the tournament.
Pittsburgh 21-14 34th. Pitt is a team much like BC that needs a good finish and they just might get in. Need to be in top eight at ACC tournament time.
Wake Forest 26-17. 30th Jump 13 slots after sweeping Carolina over the weekend. They are borderline ACC tournament
Virginia 26-17 29th. The defending national champion had a slow ACC start but have played better lately.
Georgia Tech 27-13 21st . Right in the thick of the battle. Could go either way making Durham.
North Carolina 26-15 16th. One of the worse things to happen to the Tar Heels was making the World Series so many times in a row. Expected all the time now. Swept by WF this weekend as Tar Heels at 9-12 in ACC in real jeopardy of not making tournament down the road in Durham.
Clemson. 26-14 11th in RPI. How tough is ACC? A team in top ten has a Losing conference record.
NC State 29-11 8th. Has fourth best conference record. Already has had their no conference games weekend plus has had two rainouts. Have played five less conference games than most teams.
Miami 28-8 7th RPI: since Miami joined ACC this is the best team that they have had.
Florida State 28-11 6th: Always near the top and again top team record wise.
Louisville 31-9 2nd: Between football basketball and baseball the Ville might be best program in ACC.
The ACC tournament starts the last weekend in May in Durham.
Sunday, April 24, 2016
How Important Is Pitching?
We have reached the final week of the Big East Baseball season and the conference race is almost to close to call using political terms. Every Team has a pitcher and when we say pitcher he is the one that can control of his fastball which is fast enough he can throw it by most hitters. He has a a curve that he can get over the plate and if he is really good can slow a change up and make batters miss by a mile.
Then everyone has players that are used because in practice they are the best of the rest that can get the ball across the plate. Some can't throw the ball hard enough to break glass which means the only outs they get are the ones that hit the ball straight at players in the field.
Now let's compare a pitcher and the rest when we look at the 2016 Rocky Mount Gryphons. Their ace David Harrison has pitched in four conference games. He has won three of them and when he left the game after six in the other he was ahead 4-2 but the Gryphons lost the game.
Opening night in conference play Harrison on the road lead The Nash Central Bulldogs 4-2 after six innings but once out of the game the other pitchers gave up two runs. In the seventh and lost three innings later 5-4.
The next week against Hunt he pitched a shutout beating the Warriors 1-0. The following week beat Northern Nash 8-3 and Fike pitched another shutout 1-0. So far the four games that Harrison did not pitch the Gryphons Lost 5-4, won 17-0, lost 16-7 and lost 9-1.
The four conference games when Harrison pitched the Gryphons have scored 14 runs that is about 3.5 runs per game. Yet the Gryphon won three and the one they lost he was already out of the game. Those games Harrison pitch the Gryphons gave up five runs in the innings Harrison has been on the mound. He has faced every time out the best pitcher the other team had and against the other conference members best the Gryphons won three and had the fourth won while Harrison was on the mound. Harrison has proven to be the best pitcher in the Big East.
The four games when Harrison played the field and another pitcher pitched, The Gryphons scored in those four games 28 runs and yet won only one of the four because without Harrison on the mound the Gryphons have allowed 30 losing three of the four.
If I had to make any predictions the upcoming conference tournament and the state playoffs the Gryphons have a good chance to win one game and a crap shoot in the other. Here is one bad thing how ever in the first game of the playoffs. Whoever the Gryphons draw they will be facing the best that team has so the first round game will not be a gimme and it will not be a gimme for any team in our league.
Then everyone has players that are used because in practice they are the best of the rest that can get the ball across the plate. Some can't throw the ball hard enough to break glass which means the only outs they get are the ones that hit the ball straight at players in the field.
Now let's compare a pitcher and the rest when we look at the 2016 Rocky Mount Gryphons. Their ace David Harrison has pitched in four conference games. He has won three of them and when he left the game after six in the other he was ahead 4-2 but the Gryphons lost the game.
Opening night in conference play Harrison on the road lead The Nash Central Bulldogs 4-2 after six innings but once out of the game the other pitchers gave up two runs. In the seventh and lost three innings later 5-4.
The next week against Hunt he pitched a shutout beating the Warriors 1-0. The following week beat Northern Nash 8-3 and Fike pitched another shutout 1-0. So far the four games that Harrison did not pitch the Gryphons Lost 5-4, won 17-0, lost 16-7 and lost 9-1.
The four conference games when Harrison pitched the Gryphons have scored 14 runs that is about 3.5 runs per game. Yet the Gryphon won three and the one they lost he was already out of the game. Those games Harrison pitch the Gryphons gave up five runs in the innings Harrison has been on the mound. He has faced every time out the best pitcher the other team had and against the other conference members best the Gryphons won three and had the fourth won while Harrison was on the mound. Harrison has proven to be the best pitcher in the Big East.
The four games when Harrison played the field and another pitcher pitched, The Gryphons scored in those four games 28 runs and yet won only one of the four because without Harrison on the mound the Gryphons have allowed 30 losing three of the four.
If I had to make any predictions the upcoming conference tournament and the state playoffs the Gryphons have a good chance to win one game and a crap shoot in the other. Here is one bad thing how ever in the first game of the playoffs. Whoever the Gryphons draw they will be facing the best that team has so the first round game will not be a gimme and it will not be a gimme for any team in our league.
Weather Will Be A Factor
There is one week left in the regular season of Big East Baseball. Fike and Northern Nash as we head down the stretch to the finish line are neck and neck at 5-3 in the standings. One length behind are Nash Central and Rocky Mount at 4-4. Due to their game getting rained out on Friday Hunt trails by a length and a half 3-4 and Southern Nash trails the field at 2-5. Southern no longer can win or tie for first place because the two leaders Fike and Northern play each other Tuesday so one must win and at worse will finish the season with four losses.
Hunt however is still in the mix and if they win the make up game with Southern Nash Monday 7pm they would be 4-4 and win both of their scheduled games this week they are not dead yet from tying for first but it is a long shot concidering no team in this league has three pitchers to walk out on the mound and expect to win every time out. So winning three times this week is a long shot.
Southern travels to Hunt Monday. Go to Rocky Mount Tuesday and host Nash Central Friday. All three that they will play can still win or tie for first which is only good for the seedings in the Big East baseball Tournament starting May 2nd. The Firebirds can spoil any of those teams hopes as they fight for first. A five game conference losing streak would make you believe any of the three teams playing for first the Southern game is the easy game of the week. It had better be if either Hunt, Rocky Mount or Nash Central have intentions on a regular season title.
Hunt host Nash Central Tuesday and if Hunt knocks off Southern Monday this will give one or the other five losses and one will be out of any possible first place talk come Friday. Hunt finishes Friday at Fike.
Should Nash Central beat Hunt Tuesday they may have a shot at tying for first Friday as they travel to Southern Nash who will be having senior night. Should Southern win all three of their games this week they will pass somebody and get out of the cellar.
Rocky Mount has a real quandary. They need to hope Northern beats Fike and on Friday they beat Northern which would give every team with at least four losses and Rocky Mount being one of them.
Who do you pitch Tuesday against Southern? Pat Smith has been pitching David Harrison on Tuesday's and the last time they played Southern Zack Keeter started against The Firebirds and since
Keeter didn't pitch Friday against Fike I'd bet money they save David Harrison for Friday.
Both Fike and Northern Nash control their own destiny. The winner of that game can win the regular season Friday. If Fike wins over Northern then a victory of Hunt secures the top spot. If Northern wins and then a victory over Rocky Mount grants them the title.
It is a jumble mess isn't it?
Hunt however is still in the mix and if they win the make up game with Southern Nash Monday 7pm they would be 4-4 and win both of their scheduled games this week they are not dead yet from tying for first but it is a long shot concidering no team in this league has three pitchers to walk out on the mound and expect to win every time out. So winning three times this week is a long shot.
Southern travels to Hunt Monday. Go to Rocky Mount Tuesday and host Nash Central Friday. All three that they will play can still win or tie for first which is only good for the seedings in the Big East baseball Tournament starting May 2nd. The Firebirds can spoil any of those teams hopes as they fight for first. A five game conference losing streak would make you believe any of the three teams playing for first the Southern game is the easy game of the week. It had better be if either Hunt, Rocky Mount or Nash Central have intentions on a regular season title.
Hunt host Nash Central Tuesday and if Hunt knocks off Southern Monday this will give one or the other five losses and one will be out of any possible first place talk come Friday. Hunt finishes Friday at Fike.
Should Nash Central beat Hunt Tuesday they may have a shot at tying for first Friday as they travel to Southern Nash who will be having senior night. Should Southern win all three of their games this week they will pass somebody and get out of the cellar.
Rocky Mount has a real quandary. They need to hope Northern beats Fike and on Friday they beat Northern which would give every team with at least four losses and Rocky Mount being one of them.
Who do you pitch Tuesday against Southern? Pat Smith has been pitching David Harrison on Tuesday's and the last time they played Southern Zack Keeter started against The Firebirds and since
Keeter didn't pitch Friday against Fike I'd bet money they save David Harrison for Friday.
Both Fike and Northern Nash control their own destiny. The winner of that game can win the regular season Friday. If Fike wins over Northern then a victory of Hunt secures the top spot. If Northern wins and then a victory over Rocky Mount grants them the title.
It is a jumble mess isn't it?
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Fike Ties Northern For First
I have a hard time trying to decide where to start after the game I have just seen. Yes there was a baseball game tonight at Fleming Stadium in Wilson and the final score was 9-1 Fike over Rocky Mount.
Rocky Mount headed to this game knowing they were playing for first place and they were going to have to pitch someone other than their ace David Harrison. Fike had started their Ace Brandon Winstead Tuesday but he got shelled by Nash Central in the first inning so Buck Edmonson pulled Winstead to use again tonight. You know Edmonson wants to play tonight and is willing to wait to midnight if possible just because he has a big advantage pitching wise. If I had of been in his shoes I would have wanted To play too.
The game was changed from Fike's field to Fleming because it holds water better that the Fike field. In fact if Fleming had of been in use tonight where Fike could not have used, this game would have been rained out. Another reason Fike needs to get this game in is if it is rained out until Monday you know David Harrison is going to be on the mound and no advantage there on the mound for the Golden Demons.
Since about 2pm Wilson had about three different times of heavy rains and another occurred about 5pm. So the six o'clock start was in rain delay. Near 7pm the rain lightened up and while it seemed. It was about to stop raining they removed the tarp still with a light drizzle. Just about the time the field was ready to play it stopped raining for about 15 minutes and for some reason the umpires did not appear.
The umps went directly to home plate and never inspected the field to see what condition it was in. Just as Fike took the field a light drizzle started. Rocky Mount sent four batters to the plate and headed out for the bottom of the First. Forest Bell got the call to pitch and by the end of his warmup pitches it is now raining. This would have been the time to clear the field. One batter got a hit and another a walk and another flied out. By this time the field is unplayable.
The rule is that the home team has control of playing or not playing but once the umpire receives the lineups he takes control. Five more batters went to bat before finally the ump stopped play. By that time it is 4-0 and runners are on first and third with two out. There was about a forty five minute
delay but the entire time as it was raining the ground crew is dumping what ever type of oil dry they use at Fleming on the field.
There was a period when it finally stopped. Again a delay getting the umpires out to resume play and it starts to drizzle again. By the end of the first inning Will Hedgepeth is on the mound and it is 7-0. By the middle of the second inning it stops raining and we actually got to the Sixth inning before it started to drizzle again but by this time the drizzle is no factor. Fike ties for first with Northern at 5-3. Nash Central and Rocky Mount are 4-4. I have seen no score from Hunt/ Southern so I assume they were rained out.
This game should have never started once the drizzle started after the tarp was removed after the field was made ready to play. If the game had of waited to about 8:30 once the rain stopped there was a window of no rain the game could have been on equal footing and a fair athletic test. This game tonight was not that.
Rocky Mount headed to this game knowing they were playing for first place and they were going to have to pitch someone other than their ace David Harrison. Fike had started their Ace Brandon Winstead Tuesday but he got shelled by Nash Central in the first inning so Buck Edmonson pulled Winstead to use again tonight. You know Edmonson wants to play tonight and is willing to wait to midnight if possible just because he has a big advantage pitching wise. If I had of been in his shoes I would have wanted To play too.
The game was changed from Fike's field to Fleming because it holds water better that the Fike field. In fact if Fleming had of been in use tonight where Fike could not have used, this game would have been rained out. Another reason Fike needs to get this game in is if it is rained out until Monday you know David Harrison is going to be on the mound and no advantage there on the mound for the Golden Demons.
Since about 2pm Wilson had about three different times of heavy rains and another occurred about 5pm. So the six o'clock start was in rain delay. Near 7pm the rain lightened up and while it seemed. It was about to stop raining they removed the tarp still with a light drizzle. Just about the time the field was ready to play it stopped raining for about 15 minutes and for some reason the umpires did not appear.
The umps went directly to home plate and never inspected the field to see what condition it was in. Just as Fike took the field a light drizzle started. Rocky Mount sent four batters to the plate and headed out for the bottom of the First. Forest Bell got the call to pitch and by the end of his warmup pitches it is now raining. This would have been the time to clear the field. One batter got a hit and another a walk and another flied out. By this time the field is unplayable.
The rule is that the home team has control of playing or not playing but once the umpire receives the lineups he takes control. Five more batters went to bat before finally the ump stopped play. By that time it is 4-0 and runners are on first and third with two out. There was about a forty five minute
delay but the entire time as it was raining the ground crew is dumping what ever type of oil dry they use at Fleming on the field.
There was a period when it finally stopped. Again a delay getting the umpires out to resume play and it starts to drizzle again. By the end of the first inning Will Hedgepeth is on the mound and it is 7-0. By the middle of the second inning it stops raining and we actually got to the Sixth inning before it started to drizzle again but by this time the drizzle is no factor. Fike ties for first with Northern at 5-3. Nash Central and Rocky Mount are 4-4. I have seen no score from Hunt/ Southern so I assume they were rained out.
This game should have never started once the drizzle started after the tarp was removed after the field was made ready to play. If the game had of waited to about 8:30 once the rain stopped there was a window of no rain the game could have been on equal footing and a fair athletic test. This game tonight was not that.
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Schedule Changes Effect Big East Race
Gryphons baseball with Fike has been moved to 6:pm at Fleming Stadium not Fike High School.
Might rain on Friday so there has been changes made to the schedules hoping to get in Friday's game so next week the last week of the regular season you don't need to play three conferences games next week when there are not any teams in the league that can put a pitcher three times on the mound that they can expect to win the game.
The four teams tied at 4-3 all play each other so the first one played was Nash Central 4-3 8-12 hosting the Knights of Northern Nash 4-3 7-10. There was a few drops but by playing a day early these two got there Friday game in and will only have to worry with two conference games next week.
The Knights push across two runs in the second two more in the fourth to rush out to a 4-0 lead. The Bulldogs got one back in the bottom of the fourth but two more for Northern pushed the lead to 6-1 in the fifth. Nash Central had every chance in the world in the bottom of the sixth inning pushing across two runs and could have gotten more leaving the bases loaded. Northern takes the temporary lead in Big East baseball finally somebody slowed down the bats of the Bulldogs final 6-3. The winner of the Rocky Mount- Fike game Friday will make a two way tie at the top at least until next Tuesday which is the next night of Big East baseball.
Rocky Mount managed to cancel their game with Eastern Wayne for Thursday but the best Rocky Mount 4-3 10-7 could manage for their game at Fike 4-3 10-7 was to move it up to 4pm Friday afternoon. The Varsity will play first and if they get the game in then the jvs will play after the varsity game ends. There is always by starting at 4pm is they could wait out any rain delay quite a while in order to get the game in on Friday.
The only game of the three not involving a battle for first place Southern Nash 2-5 10-11 travel to Hunt 3-4 9-12. A victory by Hunt keeps them in the race to still possibly get first during the regulation. I guess if things fell in place just right there is still a possibility that a six teams could all finish 5-5 but that can't happen with one more loss by the Firebirds.
The final draft has been submitted for the 2017-2021 North Carolina High School sports realignment. As was the first draft Fike, Hunt, Northern Nash, Rocky Mount and Southern Nash will be joined by Franklinton. Nash Central will be dropping to 2-A. All left now is the final vote to approve. Normally in the past the final vote is just a formality and should take effect starting in the school 2017-2018.
Tom Suiter has been busy this past month going back and forth between Raleigh and Rocky Mount. A couple weeks back Forest Bell of Rocky Mount won the WRAL Extra Effort Award. Tonight Tom was back at Northern Nash as Knight Soccer player Rebekah Beal has won the award and if you go on line to highschoolot.com you can watch the announcement.
Might rain on Friday so there has been changes made to the schedules hoping to get in Friday's game so next week the last week of the regular season you don't need to play three conferences games next week when there are not any teams in the league that can put a pitcher three times on the mound that they can expect to win the game.
The four teams tied at 4-3 all play each other so the first one played was Nash Central 4-3 8-12 hosting the Knights of Northern Nash 4-3 7-10. There was a few drops but by playing a day early these two got there Friday game in and will only have to worry with two conference games next week.
The Knights push across two runs in the second two more in the fourth to rush out to a 4-0 lead. The Bulldogs got one back in the bottom of the fourth but two more for Northern pushed the lead to 6-1 in the fifth. Nash Central had every chance in the world in the bottom of the sixth inning pushing across two runs and could have gotten more leaving the bases loaded. Northern takes the temporary lead in Big East baseball finally somebody slowed down the bats of the Bulldogs final 6-3. The winner of the Rocky Mount- Fike game Friday will make a two way tie at the top at least until next Tuesday which is the next night of Big East baseball.
Rocky Mount managed to cancel their game with Eastern Wayne for Thursday but the best Rocky Mount 4-3 10-7 could manage for their game at Fike 4-3 10-7 was to move it up to 4pm Friday afternoon. The Varsity will play first and if they get the game in then the jvs will play after the varsity game ends. There is always by starting at 4pm is they could wait out any rain delay quite a while in order to get the game in on Friday.
The only game of the three not involving a battle for first place Southern Nash 2-5 10-11 travel to Hunt 3-4 9-12. A victory by Hunt keeps them in the race to still possibly get first during the regulation. I guess if things fell in place just right there is still a possibility that a six teams could all finish 5-5 but that can't happen with one more loss by the Firebirds.
The final draft has been submitted for the 2017-2021 North Carolina High School sports realignment. As was the first draft Fike, Hunt, Northern Nash, Rocky Mount and Southern Nash will be joined by Franklinton. Nash Central will be dropping to 2-A. All left now is the final vote to approve. Normally in the past the final vote is just a formality and should take effect starting in the school 2017-2018.
Tom Suiter has been busy this past month going back and forth between Raleigh and Rocky Mount. A couple weeks back Forest Bell of Rocky Mount won the WRAL Extra Effort Award. Tonight Tom was back at Northern Nash as Knight Soccer player Rebekah Beal has won the award and if you go on line to highschoolot.com you can watch the announcement.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
In State College Baseball Might Be Best Ever
If you take a look at the college baseball RPI as of Wednesday the state of North Carolina college baseball teams dot all over the top 64 which should qualify them to the NCAA baseball tournament which is still six weeks away.
North Carolina State got steamrolled by ECU last night because of strength of schedule that are 8th in the latest RPI. They are 26-11 over all. Carolina is 16th in RPI and 25-12. UNC Wilmington is 24th and 24-7 ECU 24-12 are 29th, UNC Greensboro 39th 28-10' Duke 21-17 is 46th, and Wake Forest 47th 23-17.
If the RPI is a measuring stick on who qualifies for the NCAA tournament then they all will make it and I find it hard to believe the the state of North Carolina putting seven teams in the tournament would not be a record.
Bracketology has become a word used by the major sports networks in order to help fill time on 24 hour a day sports channels. They have been refined to the point that 62 of the 64 teams that make the tournament were on the Bracketology before the tournament selection show.
The latest bracket predictions list the Pack as a two seed in the Florida Region. It also predicts Carolina to host a region and ECU and Wilmington to be in the Tarheel's Region. Duke and Wake are predicted as three seeds one in South Carolina regional and Mississippi State Region. Greensboro would draw a four seed in Miami.
There is a long way to go and a losing streak by anyone of these teams could fall right out. The important issue is to try to make the top 16 where you can be a regional host. If any of our teams make the top eight and win their regional then they might host a Super regional.
Baseball is a game where the momentum is based on the starting pitcher on the mound today. The facts are that 14 of the 16 regional host will win their regional and advance to the Super Regional. Almost 90 per cent of the super regional host win that too.
I have yet to see a college game so far this year but now the weather is getting into the seventies almost any day when your team might be playing is a good day to see a baseball game.
North Carolina State got steamrolled by ECU last night because of strength of schedule that are 8th in the latest RPI. They are 26-11 over all. Carolina is 16th in RPI and 25-12. UNC Wilmington is 24th and 24-7 ECU 24-12 are 29th, UNC Greensboro 39th 28-10' Duke 21-17 is 46th, and Wake Forest 47th 23-17.
If the RPI is a measuring stick on who qualifies for the NCAA tournament then they all will make it and I find it hard to believe the the state of North Carolina putting seven teams in the tournament would not be a record.
Bracketology has become a word used by the major sports networks in order to help fill time on 24 hour a day sports channels. They have been refined to the point that 62 of the 64 teams that make the tournament were on the Bracketology before the tournament selection show.
The latest bracket predictions list the Pack as a two seed in the Florida Region. It also predicts Carolina to host a region and ECU and Wilmington to be in the Tarheel's Region. Duke and Wake are predicted as three seeds one in South Carolina regional and Mississippi State Region. Greensboro would draw a four seed in Miami.
There is a long way to go and a losing streak by anyone of these teams could fall right out. The important issue is to try to make the top 16 where you can be a regional host. If any of our teams make the top eight and win their regional then they might host a Super regional.
Baseball is a game where the momentum is based on the starting pitcher on the mound today. The facts are that 14 of the 16 regional host will win their regional and advance to the Super Regional. Almost 90 per cent of the super regional host win that too.
I have yet to see a college game so far this year but now the weather is getting into the seventies almost any day when your team might be playing is a good day to see a baseball game.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Harrison is Dominant
Early in the season there was concern for many of us that David Harrison was not pitching like a D1 pitcher but during his outing in the Easter Tournament pitched a one hitter and ever since has every one watching a top prospect in action.
Tonight in a vital game with Hunt in Rocky Mount Harrison out duels Warriors pitcher Jacob Williamson who himself should have won the game with his effort but Harrison was better. The lone walk on the night by Williamson advanced to second and third on wild pitches and scored on a two out single by junior shortstop Logan Pearce in the third and the runner on third Isaiah Stewart would prove to be the only run of the game. Rocky Mount wins 1-0 going to 4-3 in the Big East while Hunt drops to 3-4.
Jacob Williamson scattered six hits struck out nine and the lone walk. Harrison struck out 10. Allowed a solid single to Hunt's first baseman Thomas Helms in the second and a pop up lost in the lights that dropped for a double from the lead off batter in the fourth Bryson Worrell. The only time all night Harrison was in any difficulty preceded to retire the next 11 batters before he issued a two out walk in the top of the seventh. The game ended on a ground out to second.
No Gryphon had more than a single off Williamson as Josh Pittman, Will Hedgepeth, Logan Pearce RBI, Jake Philbeck, Zack Keeter and Forest Bell collected hits. Up next for Rocky Mount is a Thursday afternoon game against Non conference foe Eastern Wayne and a Friday night trip to Fike which will be a battle for first place.
Other Big East action Northern Nash beat Southern Nash 8-2. The Knights are now 4-3 while Southern Nash drops their fifth conference game in a row to fall to 2-5 and in last place.
Nash Central beat Fike 12-7 and that once again throws the Big East in a quagmire as there are four teams tied at 4-3 as Fike drops to 4-3 while Nash Central rises to 4-3
There are three games to go in conference play and if there is one of the four that can win all three they will win the regular season title. Can that possibly happen concidering That of the four teams tied at the top Fike plays two teams they are tied with Rocky Mount and Northern and a third game against arch rival Hunt.
Rocky Mount plays Fike and Northern and a game with Southern. Northern Nash has Nash Central, Fike and Rocky Mount. Nash Central still has Northern, Fike and Southern. Anybody can still win it even Southern Nash is not out yet.
Tonight in a vital game with Hunt in Rocky Mount Harrison out duels Warriors pitcher Jacob Williamson who himself should have won the game with his effort but Harrison was better. The lone walk on the night by Williamson advanced to second and third on wild pitches and scored on a two out single by junior shortstop Logan Pearce in the third and the runner on third Isaiah Stewart would prove to be the only run of the game. Rocky Mount wins 1-0 going to 4-3 in the Big East while Hunt drops to 3-4.
Jacob Williamson scattered six hits struck out nine and the lone walk. Harrison struck out 10. Allowed a solid single to Hunt's first baseman Thomas Helms in the second and a pop up lost in the lights that dropped for a double from the lead off batter in the fourth Bryson Worrell. The only time all night Harrison was in any difficulty preceded to retire the next 11 batters before he issued a two out walk in the top of the seventh. The game ended on a ground out to second.
No Gryphon had more than a single off Williamson as Josh Pittman, Will Hedgepeth, Logan Pearce RBI, Jake Philbeck, Zack Keeter and Forest Bell collected hits. Up next for Rocky Mount is a Thursday afternoon game against Non conference foe Eastern Wayne and a Friday night trip to Fike which will be a battle for first place.
Other Big East action Northern Nash beat Southern Nash 8-2. The Knights are now 4-3 while Southern Nash drops their fifth conference game in a row to fall to 2-5 and in last place.
Nash Central beat Fike 12-7 and that once again throws the Big East in a quagmire as there are four teams tied at 4-3 as Fike drops to 4-3 while Nash Central rises to 4-3
There are three games to go in conference play and if there is one of the four that can win all three they will win the regular season title. Can that possibly happen concidering That of the four teams tied at the top Fike plays two teams they are tied with Rocky Mount and Northern and a third game against arch rival Hunt.
Rocky Mount plays Fike and Northern and a game with Southern. Northern Nash has Nash Central, Fike and Rocky Mount. Nash Central still has Northern, Fike and Southern. Anybody can still win it even Southern Nash is not out yet.
Monday, April 18, 2016
Locals Spring Flings
Nash County has quite a few baseball players playing college baseball and of course there are a fewer number still trying to continue their baseball careers in professional baseball. This is the first time this spring we taken a look at those playing college baseball.
Dillon Moore: Nash Central and North Carolina Wesleyan. Batted 20 times on the season and reach base by a hit eight times for a cool 400 batting average. On the mound Moore pitched 26 innings and had 1-2 record and a 4.50 era.
Garrison Vick: Nash Central and NC Wesleyan. On roster but did not play this season
Thomas Berry: Rocky Mount and Lander University. Has started all 46 games for Lander batting 347. Has walked 42 times which is top five in the Division 2 national stats. Lander ranked 12th in latest D 2 poll. Has hit 13 home runs and has 54 RBI.
Blake Helms: Rocky Mount and Barton: Has pitched in 14 games starting 3 for a total of 37 innings pitch. His ERA is 1.95 with a 3-0 record striking out 30,
Will Edwards Rocky Mount and Chowan. Pitched in seven games including starting four. Pitched 27 innings and 0-3 record. ERA is 6.22
Cody Smith: Rocky Mount and Chowan. Pitched in nine games starting in eight. Sports a 7-2 record with a 2.82 ERA. Pitched in 44 innings and struck out 58.
Chase Roupp: Faith Christian and William Peace. Pitched 38 innings with 40 K's. Has 1-3 record appearing in 16 games starting twice
Derrick Carter: Northern Nash and Brunswick CC. Started six times on the mound and has eight pitching appearances for 28 innings. Has 2-3 won-loss record. ERA stands at 5.72.
Jeremy Johnson: Rocky Mount and High Point. Ten appearances pitching. Pitch 17 innings with a team leading ERA of 1.02. His specialty of facing left handed batters.
If I have left anybody out please pass it along to me so we can let everyone know of our kids and their endeavors in college baseball.
Brian Goodwin Rocky Mount and Syracuse Chiefs is tearing the cover off the baseball for the Syracuse Chiefs. I know it is early and an 0-4 night your batting average can plummet but Goodwin is hitting 393 or 11-28 so far this season. Interesting to note the starting center fielder in Washington is hitting 143. If Brian continues this pace the Washington Nationals could be calling soon.
Hobbs Johnson Rocky Mount and Buloxi Shuckers. Pitched in four games for a total of six innings. ERA stands at 5.68
Benton Moss Rocky Mount and Port Charlotte Fl. Started two games and ten innings. 0-1 record. ERA 4.50. Last start went five innings lead 4-2 and team loss the game.
Finally another link to Rocky Mount Whit Merrifield the son of former Gryphon Bill Merrifield is batting 341 in Omaha in AAA. This is his second year in AAA and he can't be long to get a call to the Kansas City a Royals.
Dillon Moore: Nash Central and North Carolina Wesleyan. Batted 20 times on the season and reach base by a hit eight times for a cool 400 batting average. On the mound Moore pitched 26 innings and had 1-2 record and a 4.50 era.
Garrison Vick: Nash Central and NC Wesleyan. On roster but did not play this season
Thomas Berry: Rocky Mount and Lander University. Has started all 46 games for Lander batting 347. Has walked 42 times which is top five in the Division 2 national stats. Lander ranked 12th in latest D 2 poll. Has hit 13 home runs and has 54 RBI.
Blake Helms: Rocky Mount and Barton: Has pitched in 14 games starting 3 for a total of 37 innings pitch. His ERA is 1.95 with a 3-0 record striking out 30,
Will Edwards Rocky Mount and Chowan. Pitched in seven games including starting four. Pitched 27 innings and 0-3 record. ERA is 6.22
Cody Smith: Rocky Mount and Chowan. Pitched in nine games starting in eight. Sports a 7-2 record with a 2.82 ERA. Pitched in 44 innings and struck out 58.
Chase Roupp: Faith Christian and William Peace. Pitched 38 innings with 40 K's. Has 1-3 record appearing in 16 games starting twice
Derrick Carter: Northern Nash and Brunswick CC. Started six times on the mound and has eight pitching appearances for 28 innings. Has 2-3 won-loss record. ERA stands at 5.72.
Jeremy Johnson: Rocky Mount and High Point. Ten appearances pitching. Pitch 17 innings with a team leading ERA of 1.02. His specialty of facing left handed batters.
If I have left anybody out please pass it along to me so we can let everyone know of our kids and their endeavors in college baseball.
Brian Goodwin Rocky Mount and Syracuse Chiefs is tearing the cover off the baseball for the Syracuse Chiefs. I know it is early and an 0-4 night your batting average can plummet but Goodwin is hitting 393 or 11-28 so far this season. Interesting to note the starting center fielder in Washington is hitting 143. If Brian continues this pace the Washington Nationals could be calling soon.
Hobbs Johnson Rocky Mount and Buloxi Shuckers. Pitched in four games for a total of six innings. ERA stands at 5.68
Benton Moss Rocky Mount and Port Charlotte Fl. Started two games and ten innings. 0-1 record. ERA 4.50. Last start went five innings lead 4-2 and team loss the game.
Finally another link to Rocky Mount Whit Merrifield the son of former Gryphon Bill Merrifield is batting 341 in Omaha in AAA. This is his second year in AAA and he can't be long to get a call to the Kansas City a Royals.
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Results From USA South Tournament Weekend
The Battling Bishops men's tennis team won their 8th consecutive conference Tennis title beating the second seed Methodist 8-1. Saturday during the semi finals the Bishops whitewashed Piedmont 9-0 to advance to Sunday's finals. As the top seeded team in the conference the Battling Bishops had a Friday Bye and their two tournament matches won by a combined 17-1. Next step for the Bishop Tennis team is the NCAA D3 playoffs in early May.
The Women's tennis team won their opening match on Friday as the number three seed and took down Piedmont 8-1. The semi final match was against second seed Covenant who as the number two seed had a Friday bye and the rest paid off for Covenant as they win 6-3 ending the season for the Lady Battling Bishops.
The Bishop Baseball team opened play at Fleming Stadium Thursday night with a 3-1 victory over Covenant 3-1. Moving in the winners bracket the four Thursday winners meet in two games at Bauer Field Friday morning while the four Thursday losers started out in Wilson at Fleming Stadium. Facing Huntingdon in the winners bracket game the Bishops failed to hold a lead in the eighth inning and lost 8-7.
Now in the losers bracket the Bishops faced off against Ferrum in a Friday night face off and destroyed Ferrum 10-1. Surviving the first elimination game Saturday the Bishops face Lagrange and the Bishops tournament ended with a 7-3 loss. The Bishops end their baseball season next weekend facing Ferrum.
The softball team had an impressive beginning as the third seed in the softball tournament at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex. They did away with Greensboro 21-3 in five innings. The second game on Friday in the winners bracket saw extra innings and the Lady Bishops came up on the short end of the stick 4-3 losing to Ferrum. Now in the losers bracket saw an end to softball season losing to Maryville 4-3.
Benvenue Country Club was the scene for three days of golf where NC Wesleyan men finished seventh.
The Women's tennis team won their opening match on Friday as the number three seed and took down Piedmont 8-1. The semi final match was against second seed Covenant who as the number two seed had a Friday bye and the rest paid off for Covenant as they win 6-3 ending the season for the Lady Battling Bishops.
The Bishop Baseball team opened play at Fleming Stadium Thursday night with a 3-1 victory over Covenant 3-1. Moving in the winners bracket the four Thursday winners meet in two games at Bauer Field Friday morning while the four Thursday losers started out in Wilson at Fleming Stadium. Facing Huntingdon in the winners bracket game the Bishops failed to hold a lead in the eighth inning and lost 8-7.
Now in the losers bracket the Bishops faced off against Ferrum in a Friday night face off and destroyed Ferrum 10-1. Surviving the first elimination game Saturday the Bishops face Lagrange and the Bishops tournament ended with a 7-3 loss. The Bishops end their baseball season next weekend facing Ferrum.
The softball team had an impressive beginning as the third seed in the softball tournament at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex. They did away with Greensboro 21-3 in five innings. The second game on Friday in the winners bracket saw extra innings and the Lady Bishops came up on the short end of the stick 4-3 losing to Ferrum. Now in the losers bracket saw an end to softball season losing to Maryville 4-3.
Benvenue Country Club was the scene for three days of golf where NC Wesleyan men finished seventh.
Pitching -The Key Down The Stretch
There are two weeks until the end of the regular season of Big East Baseball and heading down the stretch the team that comes up with the best pitching will have the edge. Just about every team has one pitcher that they can call their ace. But, does anyone have two stopper pitchers and the answer is no.
Point in case are the Gryphons. They have David Harrison who as a junior has committed to NC State to be a pitcher. When not on the mound he can play first or any of the outfield positions. Every other Gryphon pitcher used by Pat Smith is a position player first and used as a pitcher because somebody has to pitch. That is no knock on any of them it just shows the fact that the Gryphons lack depth on the mound as the season winds down.
Since every team in the league is short on pitching this is a bad week to be playing a non conference game in between two conference games this week. Five of the six teams have three games this week and only Fike the league leader has just conference games. Since both conference games you have to save at least your best two pitchers what do you think the scores will be in that non-conference game for each this week. If you need all your pitching you pray for rain on Wednesday and Thursday.
Fike now has a game lead over Northern Nash, Hunt, Rocky Mount and Nash Central. Southern Nash after starting out 2-0 has lost four straight but they are like everyone else if they win two conferences game this week they are back in the race and if Fike wins both they will be in fine position for the final week.
Tuesday is conference day:
Fike 4-2 10-6 @ Nash Central 3-3 7-12. A Golden Demon victory would give them a two game lead over Nash Cental with three conference games to play. Fike Host Rocky Mount Friday another team still capable of finishing first. A Fike victory would put distance between them and another possible contender.
Northern Nash 3-3 6-9. @ Southern Nash 2-4 10-9. The Knights have an opportunity to collect a win against a slumping FireBird squad. Wednesday they head to DH Conley and finish a three game road week at Nash Central 3-3 7-12.
Hunt 3-3 8-11 @ Rocky Mount 3-3 9-7 Tuesday. Hunt has a mid week trip to Eastern Wayne and they finish Friday hosting Southern Nash 2-4 10-9. The key game for Hunt is Tuesday at Rocky Mount.
Nash Central 3-3 7-12 host Fike 4-2 10-6. The Bulldogs have the first shot this week to tie for first if they can take down Fike. They Host Rose between a home game against Northern Nash 3-3 6-9 Friday. Both conference games if the Bulldogs win could see them in first.
Rocky Mount 3-3 9-7 host Hunt 3-3 8-11 Tuesday. Thursday venture to Eastern Wayne and play at Fike 4-2 10-6. Like Nash Central they play a team tied with them in Hunt and go to the team ahead of them.. To say the least a huge week.
Southern Nash 2-4 10-9. Host the Knights 3-3 6-9 Tuesday. Midweek the Firebirds play Princton and finish up Friday at Hunt 3-3 8-11. Both conference games against teams ahead of the Firebirds in the standings . The Birds can more up and out of last place or sink further in the hole.
Point in case are the Gryphons. They have David Harrison who as a junior has committed to NC State to be a pitcher. When not on the mound he can play first or any of the outfield positions. Every other Gryphon pitcher used by Pat Smith is a position player first and used as a pitcher because somebody has to pitch. That is no knock on any of them it just shows the fact that the Gryphons lack depth on the mound as the season winds down.
Since every team in the league is short on pitching this is a bad week to be playing a non conference game in between two conference games this week. Five of the six teams have three games this week and only Fike the league leader has just conference games. Since both conference games you have to save at least your best two pitchers what do you think the scores will be in that non-conference game for each this week. If you need all your pitching you pray for rain on Wednesday and Thursday.
Fike now has a game lead over Northern Nash, Hunt, Rocky Mount and Nash Central. Southern Nash after starting out 2-0 has lost four straight but they are like everyone else if they win two conferences game this week they are back in the race and if Fike wins both they will be in fine position for the final week.
Tuesday is conference day:
Fike 4-2 10-6 @ Nash Central 3-3 7-12. A Golden Demon victory would give them a two game lead over Nash Cental with three conference games to play. Fike Host Rocky Mount Friday another team still capable of finishing first. A Fike victory would put distance between them and another possible contender.
Northern Nash 3-3 6-9. @ Southern Nash 2-4 10-9. The Knights have an opportunity to collect a win against a slumping FireBird squad. Wednesday they head to DH Conley and finish a three game road week at Nash Central 3-3 7-12.
Hunt 3-3 8-11 @ Rocky Mount 3-3 9-7 Tuesday. Hunt has a mid week trip to Eastern Wayne and they finish Friday hosting Southern Nash 2-4 10-9. The key game for Hunt is Tuesday at Rocky Mount.
Nash Central 3-3 7-12 host Fike 4-2 10-6. The Bulldogs have the first shot this week to tie for first if they can take down Fike. They Host Rose between a home game against Northern Nash 3-3 6-9 Friday. Both conference games if the Bulldogs win could see them in first.
Rocky Mount 3-3 9-7 host Hunt 3-3 8-11 Tuesday. Thursday venture to Eastern Wayne and play at Fike 4-2 10-6. Like Nash Central they play a team tied with them in Hunt and go to the team ahead of them.. To say the least a huge week.
Southern Nash 2-4 10-9. Host the Knights 3-3 6-9 Tuesday. Midweek the Firebirds play Princton and finish up Friday at Hunt 3-3 8-11. Both conference games against teams ahead of the Firebirds in the standings . The Birds can more up and out of last place or sink further in the hole.
Friday, April 15, 2016
Bulldogs Bite Gryphons
Last night Fike took on Southern Nash and won 7-2 and in doing so went to 4-2 in conference play. Southern falls to 2-4 as their wheels have fallen off having lost 4 straight conference games. So Fike took a half game lead waiting on Friday night's results of the two teams tied with them before Thursday. The results Fike stands alone on top of the Big East standings after Northern Nash beat Hunt 4-3 and Nash Central swatted Rocky Mount 16-7.
In Rocky Mount the hits were spraying by both sides early as Rocky Mount plated two runs in the bottom of the first. Nash Central made one error on the night and it happened on the first batter of the game. The Gryphons responded with four straight hits from Spencer Ramsey, Logan Pearce, David Harrison and Jake Philbeck with RBI coming off Harrison and Philbeck's bats.
The Bulldogs pushed across four runs in the third after the first two batters got out. John Michael Kelly started the rally with a single followed by a hit batter a two run double from Tyler Sherrod. Another walk and back to back hits by Cameron Taylor and Chase Minshew drove home runs three and four.
The Bulldogs exploded for six in the fourth push the lead to 10-2. The fourth started with hits by Hunter Robinson, Colby Carter and John Michael Kelly. A fielders choice by Noah Shrock produced their first run. A walk brought about a Gryphon Pitching change as Pat Smith replaced starter Zack Keeter and his replacement Forest bell was greeted by hits from Cameron Taylor and chase Minshew. Hunter Robinson's double brought home two more runs.
The Gryphons responded by scoring a five spot in the bottom of the fourth David Harrison and Jake Philbeck open the inning with back to back hits. A walk and a single by Forest Bell plated one run. A bases load walk to Will Hedgepeth scored another. Josh Pittman's walk sent home another run. Logan Pearce single brought home two more to cut the lead to 10-7.
The wheels fell off for the Gryphons in the sixth with two errors, a Chase Minshew single scoring a run. Colby Carter hit knocked home two more runs. John Michael Kelly collected his third hit of the night before the sixth inning ended.
Still in the seventh the Bulldogs added three more runs after two walks an RBI single by Hunter Robinson and another Colby Carter hits brought home two more.
On the night Nash Central pounded out 18 his while Rocky Mount had eight. All three Gryphon errors the Bulldogs followed each with hits resulting on the 16-7 final.
Fike holds the lead in the conference race at 4-2. Nash Central, Rocky Mount, Hunt and Northern Nash are all 3-3 and Southern Nash has sunk to 2-4.
Thursday, April 14, 2016
I Hate The Word Choke
Sunday if you watched the Masters you witnessed one of the major players in all of golf play on one hole as bad as if I were hitting for him. Having been at the Masters Practice round two years ago B W Holt and myself spent an hour watching the players play the 12th hole. Standing on the tee box the green looks about about as wide as a driveway and 135 yards away. It is a miracle anybody ever gets a ball on the green.
Was it a choke or was it just a bad five minutes of one of the best golfers in the world. Jordan Speith had the lead almost all the Masters but he was hitting the ball all over the place all tournament. He played Tiger Woods like being able to one putt so many greens to save his butt. The 12th hitting two balls in the water his putting could not save the hole. He got birdies on two of the next three holes so can you say he choked or was it just bad ball striking?
I think all of us at some point in time have done something that we were so nervous that we failed to do our best. I have told this story before that in 1985 during a state bowling tournament after I started with five strikes in a row that the entire bowling alley started watching because a 300 game was possible. I was so nervous I don't even remember the strike I made in frame Six and seventh frame. Even the eighth frame my ball was perfect in the pocket but I left the ten pin.
During my bowling days my balls had a natural curve and the ten pin was over in the right corner and I could not throw the ball straight so my knocking down that one pin I missed about 30 per cent of the time. Sure enough I missed the ten pin and Finished with a 257 game. Did I miss that pin because I choked or was it just poor execution.
From Eight years old until I finished the High school I played little league, it was called pony league at 13 years old and then I played varsity baseball three years. In the summer I played in a church league and in all my playing days I only hit one home run.
When I was 12 I played on a city all star travel team from Ahoskie and we played all the towns in the area like Jackson, Conway,Woodland, Aulander, Murfreesboro. We had a city league field with a fence but nobody else did. I hit one home run in my entire life. Our field was in right field of the high school field and we had a portable fence that could be put up and taken down and the big kids could play on the high school field as soon as we rolled the fence up
What ever reason the fence was not up on this night and I hit a line drive that probably never got ten feet high. As I was running to first I knew it was over the left fielders head and if the fence had of been there it would have been a home run. Rounding first I looked toward left and I see the left fielder chasing the ball and I know I got a home run. Right that moment I went on cloud nine. I never remember from the time I touched second, third and home until it was time to go back out in the field. I was no longer on this earth.
Was I so nervous with excitement or is there such a place as cloud nine. I think there are times in our life we are so nervous that we do bad things instead of what we are trained to do. I also think that there are times when we do things that don't seem possible to do but it happens anyway.
I don't think Speith choked. Whether the finish changes his career only time will tell. Great players have something in them that Joe average like me doesn't have. They recover from making a seven on a par three by making birdie on two of the next three holes. My next at bat after I came down from cloud nine I popped up to the shortstop. Cloud nine didn't last long. If he comes back strong from this disaster he may be on his way to being the next Tiger?
Was it a choke or was it just a bad five minutes of one of the best golfers in the world. Jordan Speith had the lead almost all the Masters but he was hitting the ball all over the place all tournament. He played Tiger Woods like being able to one putt so many greens to save his butt. The 12th hitting two balls in the water his putting could not save the hole. He got birdies on two of the next three holes so can you say he choked or was it just bad ball striking?
I think all of us at some point in time have done something that we were so nervous that we failed to do our best. I have told this story before that in 1985 during a state bowling tournament after I started with five strikes in a row that the entire bowling alley started watching because a 300 game was possible. I was so nervous I don't even remember the strike I made in frame Six and seventh frame. Even the eighth frame my ball was perfect in the pocket but I left the ten pin.
During my bowling days my balls had a natural curve and the ten pin was over in the right corner and I could not throw the ball straight so my knocking down that one pin I missed about 30 per cent of the time. Sure enough I missed the ten pin and Finished with a 257 game. Did I miss that pin because I choked or was it just poor execution.
From Eight years old until I finished the High school I played little league, it was called pony league at 13 years old and then I played varsity baseball three years. In the summer I played in a church league and in all my playing days I only hit one home run.
When I was 12 I played on a city all star travel team from Ahoskie and we played all the towns in the area like Jackson, Conway,Woodland, Aulander, Murfreesboro. We had a city league field with a fence but nobody else did. I hit one home run in my entire life. Our field was in right field of the high school field and we had a portable fence that could be put up and taken down and the big kids could play on the high school field as soon as we rolled the fence up
What ever reason the fence was not up on this night and I hit a line drive that probably never got ten feet high. As I was running to first I knew it was over the left fielders head and if the fence had of been there it would have been a home run. Rounding first I looked toward left and I see the left fielder chasing the ball and I know I got a home run. Right that moment I went on cloud nine. I never remember from the time I touched second, third and home until it was time to go back out in the field. I was no longer on this earth.
Was I so nervous with excitement or is there such a place as cloud nine. I think there are times in our life we are so nervous that we do bad things instead of what we are trained to do. I also think that there are times when we do things that don't seem possible to do but it happens anyway.
I don't think Speith choked. Whether the finish changes his career only time will tell. Great players have something in them that Joe average like me doesn't have. They recover from making a seven on a par three by making birdie on two of the next three holes. My next at bat after I came down from cloud nine I popped up to the shortstop. Cloud nine didn't last long. If he comes back strong from this disaster he may be on his way to being the next Tiger?
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Crowded At The Top
Northern Nash scored once in the first on a wild pitch and twice in the seventh on a pair of walks, a throwing error trying to complete a double play and a hit but three runs were not enough as Rocky Mount pushed across runs four straight innings. They took the lead in the second scoring twice, added four in third and single runs in the fourth and fifth in beating Northern Nash 8-3. The victory puts the Gryphons in a three way tie at the top of the standings in Big East baseball with Fike and Hunt all at 3-2.
Southern fails to join the top losing to Nash Central by a score of 9-0. Three are at the top and three are now tied at the bottom with 2-3 records. Northern Nash, Nash Central and Southern Nash are all are even as starting Friday the league starts the second go round with one game separating all six team.
Northern scored in the first getting a single from Dwight Daniels and a double from Tyler Barrett. Daniels scored on a wild pitch. Jake Philbeck led off the Gryphon second with a single followed by a walk. Will Hedgepeth doubled home the two base runners to give the Gryphons the 2-1 lead which they never gave up.
Tyler Barrett collected his second hit of the night for the Knights in the third but by this time David Harrison was in the middle of a four and two thirds inning groove giving up only two hits while striking out eight.
The Gryphons opened up the gap with four in the third with three straight hits by Logan Pearce, David Harrison and Jake Philbeck's single. Forest Bell 's double brought home two more runs. Two base on balls and a Harrison single produced the Gryphon's seventh run. A walk, a Jarmar Ellis single and a Spencer Ramsey fielders choice got run eight across the plate.
David Harrison gave way to Forest Bell with two outs in the sixth and seventh inning and Northern's two runs crossed on four base on balls and a throwing error. Rocky Mount wins their fifth in a row 8-3 over Northern Nash.
Jake Philbeck two hits and a RBI, David Harrison two hits and a RBI, Logan Pearce two hits. Forest Bell a double two RBI, Will Hedgepeth a double two RBI. Zack Keeter and Jamar Ellis had singles. Northern was led by Tyler Barrett with two hits and Devin Davenport, Dwight Daniels and Joshua Daniels all had singles for Northern.
Rocky Mount starts the second cycle around the conference play hosting Nash Central Friday night while Northern plays Hunt.
Southern fails to join the top losing to Nash Central by a score of 9-0. Three are at the top and three are now tied at the bottom with 2-3 records. Northern Nash, Nash Central and Southern Nash are all are even as starting Friday the league starts the second go round with one game separating all six team.
Northern scored in the first getting a single from Dwight Daniels and a double from Tyler Barrett. Daniels scored on a wild pitch. Jake Philbeck led off the Gryphon second with a single followed by a walk. Will Hedgepeth doubled home the two base runners to give the Gryphons the 2-1 lead which they never gave up.
Tyler Barrett collected his second hit of the night for the Knights in the third but by this time David Harrison was in the middle of a four and two thirds inning groove giving up only two hits while striking out eight.
The Gryphons opened up the gap with four in the third with three straight hits by Logan Pearce, David Harrison and Jake Philbeck's single. Forest Bell 's double brought home two more runs. Two base on balls and a Harrison single produced the Gryphon's seventh run. A walk, a Jarmar Ellis single and a Spencer Ramsey fielders choice got run eight across the plate.
David Harrison gave way to Forest Bell with two outs in the sixth and seventh inning and Northern's two runs crossed on four base on balls and a throwing error. Rocky Mount wins their fifth in a row 8-3 over Northern Nash.
Jake Philbeck two hits and a RBI, David Harrison two hits and a RBI, Logan Pearce two hits. Forest Bell a double two RBI, Will Hedgepeth a double two RBI. Zack Keeter and Jamar Ellis had singles. Northern was led by Tyler Barrett with two hits and Devin Davenport, Dwight Daniels and Joshua Daniels all had singles for Northern.
Rocky Mount starts the second cycle around the conference play hosting Nash Central Friday night while Northern plays Hunt.
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Change Of Schedule
All day rains have forced movement of high school baseball games. Hunt and Fike hoping to beat the rains played Monday night and Fike was the winner 3-2. Oddly enough the score and their conference records now match as both Hunt and Fike are 3-2.
Rocky Mount 2-2 will now host Northern Nash 2-2 Wednesday night at 7pm while Southern Nash 2-2 visit Nash Central 1-3. There could be a four way tie for first if the Firebirds beat Nash Central because either the Gryphons or Knights will be 3-2 also by night's end. If Nash Central wins there will be a three way tie at the top and a three way tie at the bottom at 2-3.
Rocky Mount Telegram recently released their All Area and players of the year from the winter sports season.
Nash Central 's Josh Mullins was named the area's best Boys Basketball player..
Rocky Mount's Keyanna Spivey tops as the girls best area basketball player.
Wrestling there was no surprise at all with Wilson Smith winning his second straight state championship at 126 pounds for the Gryphons.
Swimming is headed by on the boys side by Wyatt Phillips who also was the Big East Male Swimmer of the year.
The girls are headlined by Nash Central's Jennifer Jackson who is headed next year to Gardner Webb to swim.
If you watched this weekend's baseball game featuring Wake Forest and N C State on ESPNU on Friday and Monday night you may have seen something that you had no idea was happening. There was no one in the pressbox calling the games. Only the cameramen and producers were on site. The announcers were back in the studio doing the game watching the game just like you and I were doing.
If you don't know this but with all the out lay of money by ESPN has to have games on the network and there is a mass exit of people dropping cable tv subscriptions ESPN is cutting cost. I wonder what is going to happen to all these big conferences married to ESPN if ESPN has to start dropping coverage of all the conference games due to the lack of people subscribing to ESPN. All these major conferences with twelve or more teams might be without a tv network to pay those millions of dollars.
Wednesday night ends the basketball career of Kobe Bryant who for about the first 15 years of his NBA career was one of the best ever players. Bryant is one of the breed of athlete in it for himself who has not played a full season since 2011. He has missed 159 games drawing 25 million a year and the Laker franchise has frazzled to nothing.
On the other hand Tim Duncan who may be retiring at the end of the playoffs has played less for less money in order that other teammates can get paid to keep the San Antonio Spurs great. Kobe is making 25 million this year while Duncan Biggest ever contract was 13.5 million but this year he is making 5.5 million. Look who's in the playoffs and who's not.
Rocky Mount 2-2 will now host Northern Nash 2-2 Wednesday night at 7pm while Southern Nash 2-2 visit Nash Central 1-3. There could be a four way tie for first if the Firebirds beat Nash Central because either the Gryphons or Knights will be 3-2 also by night's end. If Nash Central wins there will be a three way tie at the top and a three way tie at the bottom at 2-3.
Rocky Mount Telegram recently released their All Area and players of the year from the winter sports season.
Nash Central 's Josh Mullins was named the area's best Boys Basketball player..
Rocky Mount's Keyanna Spivey tops as the girls best area basketball player.
Wrestling there was no surprise at all with Wilson Smith winning his second straight state championship at 126 pounds for the Gryphons.
Swimming is headed by on the boys side by Wyatt Phillips who also was the Big East Male Swimmer of the year.
The girls are headlined by Nash Central's Jennifer Jackson who is headed next year to Gardner Webb to swim.
If you watched this weekend's baseball game featuring Wake Forest and N C State on ESPNU on Friday and Monday night you may have seen something that you had no idea was happening. There was no one in the pressbox calling the games. Only the cameramen and producers were on site. The announcers were back in the studio doing the game watching the game just like you and I were doing.
If you don't know this but with all the out lay of money by ESPN has to have games on the network and there is a mass exit of people dropping cable tv subscriptions ESPN is cutting cost. I wonder what is going to happen to all these big conferences married to ESPN if ESPN has to start dropping coverage of all the conference games due to the lack of people subscribing to ESPN. All these major conferences with twelve or more teams might be without a tv network to pay those millions of dollars.
Wednesday night ends the basketball career of Kobe Bryant who for about the first 15 years of his NBA career was one of the best ever players. Bryant is one of the breed of athlete in it for himself who has not played a full season since 2011. He has missed 159 games drawing 25 million a year and the Laker franchise has frazzled to nothing.
On the other hand Tim Duncan who may be retiring at the end of the playoffs has played less for less money in order that other teammates can get paid to keep the San Antonio Spurs great. Kobe is making 25 million this year while Duncan Biggest ever contract was 13.5 million but this year he is making 5.5 million. Look who's in the playoffs and who's not.
Monday, April 11, 2016
Conference USA South Heads to Rocky Mount
This Thursday starts the Conference USA South baseball Tournament with four games at Fleming Stadium in Wilson. The top seed Ferrum 15-3 will open this up taking on the eight seed Averitt at10am. Game two will headline the four/five seeds as soon as the first game ends and they can get the field ready for play. Four seed is Maryville and the five seed is Methodist
The third game coming late in the afternoon will feature the second seed LaGrange 13-5 against the seven seed Huntingdon 8-9. The night cap will seed the home team from Rocky Mount Wesleyan
13-5 and the number six seed Covenant 9-8.
Friday at 10am the losers of games one and two play an elimination game and at one losers of game 3/4 play at Fleming. Also at 10am the winners of games one and two meet at Bauer Field and that game will be followed by the winners of games three and four.
Starting at 4:30 Friday. All games return to Wilson and Fleming where two games will be played. Saturday will be a three game day and whoever is still standing will play in the championship game Sunday starting at noon. If needed a second game will be play in order to finish off the double elimination Tournament.
Softball does not start until 9am Friday morning and all games will be played at the Sports Complex where two games will be played. Again at 11 two first first round games and starting at 1pm will be two games of elimination. Saturday will start at 10 am and three games will be played.. By Sunday at noon it should be down to three teams and three games could be played until a champion is determined.
The top seed in softball is Piedmont 16-4, second Maryville 15-5, third The Battling Bishops 12-6, fourth Averitt 14-6, 5-6-7-8 are all 11-9. Ferrum 5th, Greensboro 6th, Huntingdom 7th and William Peace is just in at eighth.
Women's Tennis has only the top six teams and they begin play Friday morning at 10am at the tennis courts at Wesleyan. Number three Battling Bishops 10-2 face Piedmont 7-5 then four seed Meredith 9-3 Takes on fifth seed Huntingdon 8-4. Tennis is single elimination so Saturday at 10am the top seed Meredith 12-0 meets 4/5 winner and number two seed covenant 11-1 meets winner of 2-3 with championship Sunday.
The men's tennis will have the same format but they start Friday at 2pm as soon as the women finish their 10am matches. The Battling Bishops are the top seed 10-0 and and will not play until Saturday afternoon when the play the winner of 4/5 Piedmont 7-3 and Huntingdon 6-4. The second seed
Methodist 9-1 will await the 3/6 winner Averitt 8-2 and Ferrum 5-5. Championship match will be at 2pm Sunday.
Women's Lacrosse only has four teams and they start at the Sports Complex Friday with games at 11 and 1. The championship game is Saturday at 3pm. Top seed Meredith 6-0 second seed Greensboro 5-1, third Piedmont 4-2 and fourth Methodist 3-3.
This is the fourth year the spring sports have been held in Rocky Mount and the conference loves being here but you never know when another city might try to steal the event from Rocky Mount. The best way to get it to keep coming back is have great attendance to all the events.
The third game coming late in the afternoon will feature the second seed LaGrange 13-5 against the seven seed Huntingdon 8-9. The night cap will seed the home team from Rocky Mount Wesleyan
13-5 and the number six seed Covenant 9-8.
Friday at 10am the losers of games one and two play an elimination game and at one losers of game 3/4 play at Fleming. Also at 10am the winners of games one and two meet at Bauer Field and that game will be followed by the winners of games three and four.
Starting at 4:30 Friday. All games return to Wilson and Fleming where two games will be played. Saturday will be a three game day and whoever is still standing will play in the championship game Sunday starting at noon. If needed a second game will be play in order to finish off the double elimination Tournament.
Softball does not start until 9am Friday morning and all games will be played at the Sports Complex where two games will be played. Again at 11 two first first round games and starting at 1pm will be two games of elimination. Saturday will start at 10 am and three games will be played.. By Sunday at noon it should be down to three teams and three games could be played until a champion is determined.
The top seed in softball is Piedmont 16-4, second Maryville 15-5, third The Battling Bishops 12-6, fourth Averitt 14-6, 5-6-7-8 are all 11-9. Ferrum 5th, Greensboro 6th, Huntingdom 7th and William Peace is just in at eighth.
Women's Tennis has only the top six teams and they begin play Friday morning at 10am at the tennis courts at Wesleyan. Number three Battling Bishops 10-2 face Piedmont 7-5 then four seed Meredith 9-3 Takes on fifth seed Huntingdon 8-4. Tennis is single elimination so Saturday at 10am the top seed Meredith 12-0 meets 4/5 winner and number two seed covenant 11-1 meets winner of 2-3 with championship Sunday.
The men's tennis will have the same format but they start Friday at 2pm as soon as the women finish their 10am matches. The Battling Bishops are the top seed 10-0 and and will not play until Saturday afternoon when the play the winner of 4/5 Piedmont 7-3 and Huntingdon 6-4. The second seed
Methodist 9-1 will await the 3/6 winner Averitt 8-2 and Ferrum 5-5. Championship match will be at 2pm Sunday.
Women's Lacrosse only has four teams and they start at the Sports Complex Friday with games at 11 and 1. The championship game is Saturday at 3pm. Top seed Meredith 6-0 second seed Greensboro 5-1, third Piedmont 4-2 and fourth Methodist 3-3.
This is the fourth year the spring sports have been held in Rocky Mount and the conference loves being here but you never know when another city might try to steal the event from Rocky Mount. The best way to get it to keep coming back is have great attendance to all the events.
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Reflections Of A Stunner
We all that take pride in the term Tobacco Road has come use to winning. The 77 year history of the NCAA basketball tournament the Triangle has had a team in the final game 23 times. Duke 11, Carolina 10 and State twice. After last Monday night the three are 12-11 in championship games.
I know this week talk sport radio has been full of Carolina fans whining about the officiating in the game. Pulling for the Tar Heels I would like to point out that the first two Carolina offensive trips up the court traveling was not called against Berry the first two times he handled the ball. Yes the officiating was terrible. The game would have been better letting the players call their own fouls like on the play ground.
Every game there are bad calls and this game was no exception. However I don't think one team had the advantage over the other because the calls were evenly bad on both sides. It wasn't one sided giving one team advantage over the other. I hate any game where touch fouls are called on the outside and fouls don't get called on the inside until blood flows. This is where it hurt Carolina more. The Tar Heels softness on the inside showed up and many turnovers occurred on the ball being lost inside of five feet from the basket.
Why has this game lingered this week as a tough loss over the other ten times Duke and Carolina have lost in the championship game. The reason is this is the first time ever that a Triangle team loss at the buzzer. We are always the ones that win late.
Carolina lost in 1946 by three but the game was already decided before the last few seconds. 1964 Duke lost to UCLA 98-83 which was long decided by games end. UCLA whipped Carolina in 68' by 23 78-55. Marquette beat the Heels 67-59 in 1978. Duke in 78' lost by 6 to Kentucky but you might remember the Wildcats emptied the bench but had to put the starters back in during a Duke comeback.
1981 Indiana clipped the Heels by 63-50. Louisville in 1986 won by 69-66 but it not a last second win. 1990 saw Duke lose by the biggest margin in finals history 103-73. Arkansas beat Duke 96-92 in 1994 which they wrapped up in the last minute. 99' U Conn best Duke 77-74. Not one of those losses occurred as the clock expired.
Carolina won in 1957 on foul shots in triple overtime. State knew the last five minutes they were going to beat Marquette in 74'. Carolina got the Michael Jordan shot and a Georgetown turnover to win in 82. State beat highly favored Houston on a dunk at the buzzer which was voted the best sporting moment of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated. Duke's back to back titles in 91' and 92 were by seven over Kansas 72-65 and 92-72 over Michigan.
So far During the 21st century has been all wins for the locals. Duke by 10 over Arizona 82-72 in 01'. Carolina by 5 over Illinois 75-70 in 05. 09' saw a ten point Carolina win over Michigan State. 2010 saw the Devils survive a mid court shot hit the rim but they survived Butler 61-59. Duke took Wisconson by five in 2015 68-63.
Five straight times Duke and Carolina have won the big game. Other games in Triangle wins it has always been the Tobacco Road teams winning in the close one in the end. The pain of this one is our team lost at the buzzer. We are so use to winning in the end the script didn't end right. The pain of someone doing to us what we always doing to them. Marcus Paige's rebound score in the middle of the trees and his unbelievable three with five seconds left was suppose to lead to an overtime win not a dagger in the heart.
I know this week talk sport radio has been full of Carolina fans whining about the officiating in the game. Pulling for the Tar Heels I would like to point out that the first two Carolina offensive trips up the court traveling was not called against Berry the first two times he handled the ball. Yes the officiating was terrible. The game would have been better letting the players call their own fouls like on the play ground.
Every game there are bad calls and this game was no exception. However I don't think one team had the advantage over the other because the calls were evenly bad on both sides. It wasn't one sided giving one team advantage over the other. I hate any game where touch fouls are called on the outside and fouls don't get called on the inside until blood flows. This is where it hurt Carolina more. The Tar Heels softness on the inside showed up and many turnovers occurred on the ball being lost inside of five feet from the basket.
Why has this game lingered this week as a tough loss over the other ten times Duke and Carolina have lost in the championship game. The reason is this is the first time ever that a Triangle team loss at the buzzer. We are always the ones that win late.
Carolina lost in 1946 by three but the game was already decided before the last few seconds. 1964 Duke lost to UCLA 98-83 which was long decided by games end. UCLA whipped Carolina in 68' by 23 78-55. Marquette beat the Heels 67-59 in 1978. Duke in 78' lost by 6 to Kentucky but you might remember the Wildcats emptied the bench but had to put the starters back in during a Duke comeback.
1981 Indiana clipped the Heels by 63-50. Louisville in 1986 won by 69-66 but it not a last second win. 1990 saw Duke lose by the biggest margin in finals history 103-73. Arkansas beat Duke 96-92 in 1994 which they wrapped up in the last minute. 99' U Conn best Duke 77-74. Not one of those losses occurred as the clock expired.
Carolina won in 1957 on foul shots in triple overtime. State knew the last five minutes they were going to beat Marquette in 74'. Carolina got the Michael Jordan shot and a Georgetown turnover to win in 82. State beat highly favored Houston on a dunk at the buzzer which was voted the best sporting moment of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated. Duke's back to back titles in 91' and 92 were by seven over Kansas 72-65 and 92-72 over Michigan.
So far During the 21st century has been all wins for the locals. Duke by 10 over Arizona 82-72 in 01'. Carolina by 5 over Illinois 75-70 in 05. 09' saw a ten point Carolina win over Michigan State. 2010 saw the Devils survive a mid court shot hit the rim but they survived Butler 61-59. Duke took Wisconson by five in 2015 68-63.
Five straight times Duke and Carolina have won the big game. Other games in Triangle wins it has always been the Tobacco Road teams winning in the close one in the end. The pain of this one is our team lost at the buzzer. We are so use to winning in the end the script didn't end right. The pain of someone doing to us what we always doing to them. Marcus Paige's rebound score in the middle of the trees and his unbelievable three with five seconds left was suppose to lead to an overtime win not a dagger in the heart.
Crusty Old School
I am sure it has been a big shock to this year's Rocky Mount Gryphon baseball players who played under the soft spoken Kent Cox and now under the "Old School Coach" Pat Smith. This modern world of me-me-me just doesn't work with a coach who plays the game to win with team ball.
Early on there were signs that this Gryphon team had talent. Star pitcher David Harrison struggled and this is my opinion but David had a hard time adjusting to the man who's plain talk of the truth hurt. I was at practice one day and during game situation practice batters were hitting with runners on base with the batting cage in place. JV catchers were alternating catching and both were having trouble catching the ball and had to retrieve them by going to the back of the cage and picking them up and tossing back to the pitcher. Smith standing behind the pitcher hollered to the catchers that this was high school ball and in high school catchers catch the ball.
During his high school career Blake Helms was an average pitcher until his junior year he played Legion Ball and Pat Smith was the pitching coach. Helms had a great legion season, a super senior year and was the top pitcher that helped lead Wilson to the state Legion tournament after Rocky Mount failed to field a team last summer. The "old ball coach can coach. His direct tell it it like it is can be hard on a soft modern day world youth of today. But if they buy in to his way the world can change for them.j
I think that is what has happened to David Harrison. He has bought in to the Pat Smith brand of coaching. Other Gryphons whether it is hitting or fielding are coming around to the Smith way. This week Zack Keeter a catcher by trade but coming around as the number two pitcher joined Forest Bell to shutout The Firebirds after Harrison pitched his second shutout in a row earlier in the week. That had not happened since 2010 when Gryphon pitchers named Hobbs Johnson and Benton Moss did the trick.
There is no predicting the future but the 8-6 Gryphons are showing signs they will be a contender in the Big East till the end. There are three weeks to go and Tuesday night is the next outing for Big East Baseball. Here is this week's schedule.
Tuesday:
Southern Nash 2-2 10-7 at Nash Central 1-3 5-12
Northern Nash 2-2 5-8 at Rocky Mount 2-2 8-6
Fike 2-2 8-6 at Hunt 3-1 8-9
Friday
Southern Nash at Fike
Nash Central at Rocky Mount
Hunt at Northern Nash
Early on there were signs that this Gryphon team had talent. Star pitcher David Harrison struggled and this is my opinion but David had a hard time adjusting to the man who's plain talk of the truth hurt. I was at practice one day and during game situation practice batters were hitting with runners on base with the batting cage in place. JV catchers were alternating catching and both were having trouble catching the ball and had to retrieve them by going to the back of the cage and picking them up and tossing back to the pitcher. Smith standing behind the pitcher hollered to the catchers that this was high school ball and in high school catchers catch the ball.
During his high school career Blake Helms was an average pitcher until his junior year he played Legion Ball and Pat Smith was the pitching coach. Helms had a great legion season, a super senior year and was the top pitcher that helped lead Wilson to the state Legion tournament after Rocky Mount failed to field a team last summer. The "old ball coach can coach. His direct tell it it like it is can be hard on a soft modern day world youth of today. But if they buy in to his way the world can change for them.j
I think that is what has happened to David Harrison. He has bought in to the Pat Smith brand of coaching. Other Gryphons whether it is hitting or fielding are coming around to the Smith way. This week Zack Keeter a catcher by trade but coming around as the number two pitcher joined Forest Bell to shutout The Firebirds after Harrison pitched his second shutout in a row earlier in the week. That had not happened since 2010 when Gryphon pitchers named Hobbs Johnson and Benton Moss did the trick.
There is no predicting the future but the 8-6 Gryphons are showing signs they will be a contender in the Big East till the end. There are three weeks to go and Tuesday night is the next outing for Big East Baseball. Here is this week's schedule.
Tuesday:
Southern Nash 2-2 10-7 at Nash Central 1-3 5-12
Northern Nash 2-2 5-8 at Rocky Mount 2-2 8-6
Fike 2-2 8-6 at Hunt 3-1 8-9
Friday
Southern Nash at Fike
Nash Central at Rocky Mount
Hunt at Northern Nash
Friday, April 8, 2016
Two Shutouts In One Week
The prospects of a six way tie after four games in the Big East baseball race was ruined tonight by Hunt as they came to Nash Central and picked up a 10-6 win. Hunt will have the outright lead as they now stand at 3-1 in conference while Nash Central who won their first conference game has now lost three straight and they sit in last place.
Just a review Fike and Northern Nash played their supposedly Friday game on Wednesday because Fike is having their Prom tonight. Fike won the game 6-5 over Northern Nash and both teams stand at 2-2.
Tonight Rocky Mount paid a visit to Southern Nash and they were not very nice to the home team and the Firebirds did all they could do to extend the hospitality. The Gryphons scored three in the first on one hit, batted around in the second collecting six hits and seven runs. They scored once in third without a hit and batted around again in the fourth scoring six runs on four hits. On the night Firebird pitching walked 15 batters and the Gryphons even their conference record to 2-2 after a 17-0 win at Southern Nash in five innings. The Firebirds drop to 2-2.
Zack Keeter started on the mound for the Gryphons going the first three innings allowing two hits. Forest Bell pitch the final two. For the week the Gryphons have two shutouts giving up four hits in 14 innings and they have put themselves in the Big East race.
Josh Pittman, Logan Pearce, Zack Keeter all had two hits while Spencer Ramsey, David Harrison, Forest Bell, Will Hedgepeth and Jamar Ellis all reached base with hits.
Tuesday night will mark the halfway point in the conference race as Hunt 3-1 will play Fike 2-2. Southern Nash 2-2 will collide with Nash Central 1-3 and Northern Nash 2-2 meets Rocky Mount 2-2
Just a review Fike and Northern Nash played their supposedly Friday game on Wednesday because Fike is having their Prom tonight. Fike won the game 6-5 over Northern Nash and both teams stand at 2-2.
Tonight Rocky Mount paid a visit to Southern Nash and they were not very nice to the home team and the Firebirds did all they could do to extend the hospitality. The Gryphons scored three in the first on one hit, batted around in the second collecting six hits and seven runs. They scored once in third without a hit and batted around again in the fourth scoring six runs on four hits. On the night Firebird pitching walked 15 batters and the Gryphons even their conference record to 2-2 after a 17-0 win at Southern Nash in five innings. The Firebirds drop to 2-2.
Zack Keeter started on the mound for the Gryphons going the first three innings allowing two hits. Forest Bell pitch the final two. For the week the Gryphons have two shutouts giving up four hits in 14 innings and they have put themselves in the Big East race.
Josh Pittman, Logan Pearce, Zack Keeter all had two hits while Spencer Ramsey, David Harrison, Forest Bell, Will Hedgepeth and Jamar Ellis all reached base with hits.
Tuesday night will mark the halfway point in the conference race as Hunt 3-1 will play Fike 2-2. Southern Nash 2-2 will collide with Nash Central 1-3 and Northern Nash 2-2 meets Rocky Mount 2-2
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Minor League Season Started Today
It is hard the life of an athlete to judge whether their ability has hit its sumitt or is injury holding that player back from reaching their maximum output on the playing field. Brian Goodwin has been as high as the top prospect for the Washington Nationals with their wish they wanted 1500 minor league at bats.
Goodwin was well on his way until a shoulder injury in the 2014 season curtailed his expectations of being the starting center fielder for the Nationals last year at this time. Whether his injury was healed or not 2015 never brought promise that Goodwin was on his way back for a chance to ever play in the outfield for the Nationals. He was sent to AA where his stats were to say the least not promising.
The Nationals whether they had not given up on Goodwin or they were advertising him to other teams a trip to Venezuela and Fall Ball bought on the old Brian Goodwin. Renewed hope from the Nationals that he spent spring training batting 250 with the big club. His excellent fall ball and spring training has Brian Goodwin back in centerfield for AAA Syracuse Chiefs not AA and a spot on the Nationals for 40 man roster. That makes him eligible to get called up if injury occurs to any outfielder on the Nationals roster.
However because of snow and bad playing field conditions Syracuse had had to postpone the first four games of the season at home. They will instead travel to Lehigh Valley where they will play a double header Friday. No reason explained but the gates will be locked and no fans allowed to watch the doubleheader. Syracuse will not play again until Monday at home.
Hobbs Johnson will start this season where he spent most of last season in Buloxi Mississippi the AA club of the Milwaukee Brewers. He did get an inning in a spring training big league game and gave up a run in the outing. A major goal for 2016 will be in AAA Colorado Springs by years end.
Last year at this time Benton Moss was pitching for the Carolina Tar Heels and by draft time spent the summer in the New York Penn Rookie league. The winter a marriage and Spring Training at the Tampa Bay training facility in Port Charlotte Florida which during the summer is the home of the upper A minor league team of the Rays. 2016 goal AA ball by season's end.
Still not given up yet is the fourth Rocky Mount Gryphon trying to continue his shot at pro baseball. By months end Collins Cuthrell is heading back to Florence Kentucky where he will again play in the Frontier League pretty much a free agent league where any player can be purchased to join their organization. Cuthrell was having a decent year last year when a broken arm ended his season.
The question is, is there a Gryphon on the high school team one day going after their dreams as these four former Gryphons are?
Goodwin was well on his way until a shoulder injury in the 2014 season curtailed his expectations of being the starting center fielder for the Nationals last year at this time. Whether his injury was healed or not 2015 never brought promise that Goodwin was on his way back for a chance to ever play in the outfield for the Nationals. He was sent to AA where his stats were to say the least not promising.
The Nationals whether they had not given up on Goodwin or they were advertising him to other teams a trip to Venezuela and Fall Ball bought on the old Brian Goodwin. Renewed hope from the Nationals that he spent spring training batting 250 with the big club. His excellent fall ball and spring training has Brian Goodwin back in centerfield for AAA Syracuse Chiefs not AA and a spot on the Nationals for 40 man roster. That makes him eligible to get called up if injury occurs to any outfielder on the Nationals roster.
However because of snow and bad playing field conditions Syracuse had had to postpone the first four games of the season at home. They will instead travel to Lehigh Valley where they will play a double header Friday. No reason explained but the gates will be locked and no fans allowed to watch the doubleheader. Syracuse will not play again until Monday at home.
Hobbs Johnson will start this season where he spent most of last season in Buloxi Mississippi the AA club of the Milwaukee Brewers. He did get an inning in a spring training big league game and gave up a run in the outing. A major goal for 2016 will be in AAA Colorado Springs by years end.
Last year at this time Benton Moss was pitching for the Carolina Tar Heels and by draft time spent the summer in the New York Penn Rookie league. The winter a marriage and Spring Training at the Tampa Bay training facility in Port Charlotte Florida which during the summer is the home of the upper A minor league team of the Rays. 2016 goal AA ball by season's end.
Still not given up yet is the fourth Rocky Mount Gryphon trying to continue his shot at pro baseball. By months end Collins Cuthrell is heading back to Florence Kentucky where he will again play in the Frontier League pretty much a free agent league where any player can be purchased to join their organization. Cuthrell was having a decent year last year when a broken arm ended his season.
The question is, is there a Gryphon on the high school team one day going after their dreams as these four former Gryphons are?
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Tight Race Already
There is a possibility that after the two conference games Friday that there just could be a six way tie after four games. Fike on Wednesday got to 2-2 in the Big East beating Northern Nash 6-5 who fell to 2-2.
Southern Nash has taken the lead heading to Friday night after Northern Nash's Wednesday night loss. The Firebirds 2-1 host Rocky Mount 1-2. The other conference game left this week is a Hunt 2-1 trip to Nash Central 1-2. So the two teams below the 500 mark will be playing the two teams above the mark. So you see it is possible that after this week's games and after four conferences games all six could be 2-2.
Hunt and Southern Nash will do their best to pull away from the pack while both Rocky Mount and Nash Central will do everything in their power to join the jumble.
Southern Nash at 2-1 is averaging almost five runs per conference game but despite the lead in conference play is giving up almost six.
Hunt 2-1 has not quite scored four runs per game but they have given up slightly more than two runs per contest. They look to be the best defensive team.
Northern Nash 2-2 the top scoring team having scored almost six but they too are giving up too many at six per game
Fike 2-2 has has struggled to score in conference play not scoring three while they are give up three.
Rocky Mount 1-2 scoring three per outing while giving up slightly more than three.
Nash Central 1-2 also has scratched only three runs per game in conference while giving up a little less than four.
The NCHSAA has announced the leaders in the Wells Fargo Cup after fall and winter sports seasons are over. The Big East is led by Rocky Mount who has accumulated 117.5 points and the two Wilson County schools are hot on their heels. Fike is second with 112.5 and Hunt 111.5. Fourth place is in the hands of Southern Nash at 95.5. Nash Central is fifth with 88 points and Northern Nash has 87.
Southern Nash has taken the lead heading to Friday night after Northern Nash's Wednesday night loss. The Firebirds 2-1 host Rocky Mount 1-2. The other conference game left this week is a Hunt 2-1 trip to Nash Central 1-2. So the two teams below the 500 mark will be playing the two teams above the mark. So you see it is possible that after this week's games and after four conferences games all six could be 2-2.
Hunt and Southern Nash will do their best to pull away from the pack while both Rocky Mount and Nash Central will do everything in their power to join the jumble.
Southern Nash at 2-1 is averaging almost five runs per conference game but despite the lead in conference play is giving up almost six.
Hunt 2-1 has not quite scored four runs per game but they have given up slightly more than two runs per contest. They look to be the best defensive team.
Northern Nash 2-2 the top scoring team having scored almost six but they too are giving up too many at six per game
Fike 2-2 has has struggled to score in conference play not scoring three while they are give up three.
Rocky Mount 1-2 scoring three per outing while giving up slightly more than three.
Nash Central 1-2 also has scratched only three runs per game in conference while giving up a little less than four.
The NCHSAA has announced the leaders in the Wells Fargo Cup after fall and winter sports seasons are over. The Big East is led by Rocky Mount who has accumulated 117.5 points and the two Wilson County schools are hot on their heels. Fike is second with 112.5 and Hunt 111.5. Fourth place is in the hands of Southern Nash at 95.5. Nash Central is fifth with 88 points and Northern Nash has 87.
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Gryphons Back In The Race
Last week in the Baseball tournament in Wilson Gryphon pitcher David Harrison has a one hitter with 11 strikeouts which was the first time this year that Harrison had pitched any where close to the way he pitched last season.
Tonight Harrison carries a perfect game into the seventh inning when the opposing pitcher Jaclynn Melton hit a grounder in the hole at short stop and Gryphon Short stop Logan Pearce who already had saved the perfect game with a rifle throw in the hole during the 5th inning of a runner could not get the ball to first before the runner beat out the first hit of the night. Two outs later a second infield hit produced runners on second and third but Harrison struck out his 12th Golden Demon of the night to end any Fike threat.
Melton held his own on the mound himself as he walked two runners in the first but the only other Gryphon to reached base didn't occur until Josh Pittman singled in the third. Will Hedgepeth singled in the fifth and became only the second Gryphon to reach second base. The Gryphon DH Spencer Ramsey singled, reach second on a fielders choice but ended the inning still on second.
Now the bottom of the 7th. Two quick outs and Will Hedgepeth collects his second hit of the night. Jamar Ellis followed with a single to right center and Hedgepeth never slacked up once he reached second and Fike's center fielders throw would have had Hedgepeth at third but the throw was airmailed out of play Hedgepeth scores the winning run given one base on the out of play throw.
The Gryphons win their first conference game and stand 1-2 but it is their third win in a row. Fike drops to 1-2. Rocky Mount heads to Southern Nash Friday night.
Northern Nash scores twice in the bottom of the seventh and beat Nash Central 4-3. Knights now 2-1 Bulldogs 1-2.
Tonight Harrison carries a perfect game into the seventh inning when the opposing pitcher Jaclynn Melton hit a grounder in the hole at short stop and Gryphon Short stop Logan Pearce who already had saved the perfect game with a rifle throw in the hole during the 5th inning of a runner could not get the ball to first before the runner beat out the first hit of the night. Two outs later a second infield hit produced runners on second and third but Harrison struck out his 12th Golden Demon of the night to end any Fike threat.
Melton held his own on the mound himself as he walked two runners in the first but the only other Gryphon to reached base didn't occur until Josh Pittman singled in the third. Will Hedgepeth singled in the fifth and became only the second Gryphon to reach second base. The Gryphon DH Spencer Ramsey singled, reach second on a fielders choice but ended the inning still on second.
Now the bottom of the 7th. Two quick outs and Will Hedgepeth collects his second hit of the night. Jamar Ellis followed with a single to right center and Hedgepeth never slacked up once he reached second and Fike's center fielders throw would have had Hedgepeth at third but the throw was airmailed out of play Hedgepeth scores the winning run given one base on the out of play throw.
The Gryphons win their first conference game and stand 1-2 but it is their third win in a row. Fike drops to 1-2. Rocky Mount heads to Southern Nash Friday night.
Northern Nash scores twice in the bottom of the seventh and beat Nash Central 4-3. Knights now 2-1 Bulldogs 1-2.
Monday, April 4, 2016
Heart Break.
One of the pleasures of being a play by play announcer are the people you meet along the way. Way back during my days doing the play by play of Gryphon football while in the pressbox one night a former Gryphon from the 80's came in the box to meet me. Greg Pierce who now calls Fuquay home still comes to see the Gryphons play. Since that time ten or more years ago Greg and I are frequent texters and during the state championship football game sat together.
Received a text about 6:30 Monday from Greg that he was heading with his boys to the Dean Dome to watch the national championship game with other Tar Heel fans, maybe 15,000 or so. I don't know if ever Tar Heel fans have ever gone bonkers on championship night like tonight.
The first ten minutes were back and forth as Nova had as big as a five point lead. Just over eight minutes to go in the half Paige hit a three giving Carolina their first lead. On the offensive trip up the court the Wildcats big men walked up the court. Was this to be the first sign that Carolina had a boat load of big men that can play and maybe not Nova.
The under eight timeout helped Nova's big men and Carolina is hitting threes like no other night. Can this last all night? One thing is apparent that these refs don't know what a travel is. So far this has been a very interesting game against what has proven out to be the two best teams during the tournament. Nova's big men did a good job denying the ball inside for most of the first half. Carolina by five at the half 39-34.
They say the first five minutes after the half will tell a lot about about the outcome. Let's see what the score is if Carolina is ahead by more than five or if Nova spurts before the under 16 timeout. Nova starts 2 for 7 and cuts the lead to three. Carolina struggling with movement on offense. Looks like this one may be sitting in to be a barn burner.
Nova takes lead with a three and Carolina misses their first three of second half. No doubt that these two teams are facing the best teams that they have played in this tournament. Nova can't miss and Carolina can't make anything. Heading to under eight minutes and the Heels in trouble. Nova by seven at 60-53. Carolina needs some stops.
Nova has taken Brice Johnson out of the game. By far Nova has taken Carolina's offensive flow out of the game. Two straight turnovers Heels got it to six and a Roy time out. Still need stops. Block shot and a Carolina three and it's down to three. Two missed free throws Heels in trouble. Missed one and one still alive. Panic shot and Nova Rebound. Paige three and there's hope. Bad pass and Johnson Bucket and we got a barn burner after all. Terrible foul called Nova by three. Paige bucket some how. Two shots and Nova by three with last shot coming.
Paige with miracle three and Greg Pierce tells me Dean Dome roof is coming off. Nova wins at buzzer. Hell of a game. Dead silence in Dean Dome.
Nova cancelled the Carolina inside game and played even in the back court. Great game. The difference in the game the missed shot by Carolina just before the half and the Nova bucket. Four point exchange.
Received a text about 6:30 Monday from Greg that he was heading with his boys to the Dean Dome to watch the national championship game with other Tar Heel fans, maybe 15,000 or so. I don't know if ever Tar Heel fans have ever gone bonkers on championship night like tonight.
The first ten minutes were back and forth as Nova had as big as a five point lead. Just over eight minutes to go in the half Paige hit a three giving Carolina their first lead. On the offensive trip up the court the Wildcats big men walked up the court. Was this to be the first sign that Carolina had a boat load of big men that can play and maybe not Nova.
The under eight timeout helped Nova's big men and Carolina is hitting threes like no other night. Can this last all night? One thing is apparent that these refs don't know what a travel is. So far this has been a very interesting game against what has proven out to be the two best teams during the tournament. Nova's big men did a good job denying the ball inside for most of the first half. Carolina by five at the half 39-34.
They say the first five minutes after the half will tell a lot about about the outcome. Let's see what the score is if Carolina is ahead by more than five or if Nova spurts before the under 16 timeout. Nova starts 2 for 7 and cuts the lead to three. Carolina struggling with movement on offense. Looks like this one may be sitting in to be a barn burner.
Nova takes lead with a three and Carolina misses their first three of second half. No doubt that these two teams are facing the best teams that they have played in this tournament. Nova can't miss and Carolina can't make anything. Heading to under eight minutes and the Heels in trouble. Nova by seven at 60-53. Carolina needs some stops.
Nova has taken Brice Johnson out of the game. By far Nova has taken Carolina's offensive flow out of the game. Two straight turnovers Heels got it to six and a Roy time out. Still need stops. Block shot and a Carolina three and it's down to three. Two missed free throws Heels in trouble. Missed one and one still alive. Panic shot and Nova Rebound. Paige three and there's hope. Bad pass and Johnson Bucket and we got a barn burner after all. Terrible foul called Nova by three. Paige bucket some how. Two shots and Nova by three with last shot coming.
Paige with miracle three and Greg Pierce tells me Dean Dome roof is coming off. Nova wins at buzzer. Hell of a game. Dead silence in Dean Dome.
Nova cancelled the Carolina inside game and played even in the back court. Great game. The difference in the game the missed shot by Carolina just before the half and the Nova bucket. Four point exchange.
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Four Weeks Until The Finish Line
Every team in the Big East played in the Golden Leaf Tournament last week. Starting Tuesday two conference games per week for four weeks in a row will produce the end of the regular season. Every conference game in a league when there is no dominant team just one day can take the top to the bottom. Let's check this upcoming week.
Southern Nash 2-0 9-5: Last season they were the most improved team in the league and after the first two conference games they are the most improved team again. Todd Brewer has the Firebird baseball program moving forward. Tuesday Hunt 1-1 visits SN. Wednesday they step out of conference at Smithfield Selma and they wait for the Gryphons 0-2 on Friday.
Fike 1-1 7-5: The only other team with a winning overall record the Golden Demons travel to Rocky Mount 0-2. Their final game of the week is a visit by the Knights of Northern Nash 1-1.
Northern Nash 1-1 4-7: This is not the overall record expected from the Knights but the only record that counts is the conference record for the playoffs. Northern host Nash Central 1-1 Tuesday. Friday a trip to Wilson to Fike 1-1.
Hunt 1-1 5-9: Baseball season so far has been as well as other of the major sports at Hunt a down season. Monday a visit to Wendell and Corinth Holders. Tuesday at Southern Nash 2-0 and Friday at Nash Central 1-1. Big week with three road games.
Nash Central 1-1 5-9: The week for the Bulldogs starts Tuesday at Northern Nash 1-1. Road trip to Greenville Rose Wednesday and they end up hosting Hunt 1-1 Friday. I don't care who you are those non conference games in the middle of a conference week will not have your best pitchers pitching. You have to save them for conference games.
Rocky Mount 0-2 6-6: Already at the bottom of the pile play the two teams with the best over all records so to say the least this is a big big week for the Gryphons. Two wins and they are back in the race, two losses and they are out of the race. Tuesday host Fike 1-1 and at Southern Nash Friday.
The Big East is not highly regarded so far on the state level. Not one team is rated in top 25 in the near 100 3A teams. Southern Nash 29th - Hunt 43th- Fike 48th- Rocky Mount 62nd- Nash Central and Northern Nash tied at 64th. Hunt 5-9 ahead of Fike 7-5 surely strength of schedule a big factor in computer rankings.
Southern Nash 2-0 9-5: Last season they were the most improved team in the league and after the first two conference games they are the most improved team again. Todd Brewer has the Firebird baseball program moving forward. Tuesday Hunt 1-1 visits SN. Wednesday they step out of conference at Smithfield Selma and they wait for the Gryphons 0-2 on Friday.
Fike 1-1 7-5: The only other team with a winning overall record the Golden Demons travel to Rocky Mount 0-2. Their final game of the week is a visit by the Knights of Northern Nash 1-1.
Northern Nash 1-1 4-7: This is not the overall record expected from the Knights but the only record that counts is the conference record for the playoffs. Northern host Nash Central 1-1 Tuesday. Friday a trip to Wilson to Fike 1-1.
Hunt 1-1 5-9: Baseball season so far has been as well as other of the major sports at Hunt a down season. Monday a visit to Wendell and Corinth Holders. Tuesday at Southern Nash 2-0 and Friday at Nash Central 1-1. Big week with three road games.
Nash Central 1-1 5-9: The week for the Bulldogs starts Tuesday at Northern Nash 1-1. Road trip to Greenville Rose Wednesday and they end up hosting Hunt 1-1 Friday. I don't care who you are those non conference games in the middle of a conference week will not have your best pitchers pitching. You have to save them for conference games.
Rocky Mount 0-2 6-6: Already at the bottom of the pile play the two teams with the best over all records so to say the least this is a big big week for the Gryphons. Two wins and they are back in the race, two losses and they are out of the race. Tuesday host Fike 1-1 and at Southern Nash Friday.
The Big East is not highly regarded so far on the state level. Not one team is rated in top 25 in the near 100 3A teams. Southern Nash 29th - Hunt 43th- Fike 48th- Rocky Mount 62nd- Nash Central and Northern Nash tied at 64th. Hunt 5-9 ahead of Fike 7-5 surely strength of schedule a big factor in computer rankings.
Saturday, April 2, 2016
77TH NCAA Championship
We can talk all we want to about how great the ACC is when it comes to the NCAA Tournament but the State of North Carolina is the big dog when it comes to states having a team in the final four. I caught on the way home from work Friday David Glenn's interview with Bucky Waters a former NC State basketball player, a former Duke Basketball coach and after his coaching days he has spent most of the rest of his life at Duke being a high up administrative official.
He was talking about Carolina was representing the ACC and all Duke and NC State fans should be pulling for the Heels because Waters doesn't think Syracuse can win against either team Monday so in order for the ACC to win it all as ACC fans we need to be pulling for Carolina and I will pull hard.
David Glenn took it a step further and brought to my attention how dominant the North Carolina Schools have been in the final four. Carolina won it all in 1982 and the Wolfpack followed with 1983 giving the Triangle back to back titles. Duke did their own back to back title in 1991-92 and Carolina capped of a three Pete for the Triangle in 93. Carolina won in 09 followed by Duke in 2010.
Is it possible after Duke won Last year that Carolina may give us another back to back. Carolina is making their 19th trip to the final four. Duke has 16 under their belt. State has made three trips. Wake made it in 62 and let's not forget Cornbread and UNC Charlotte in 78. I still haven't forgotten the bum call giving Marquette the win in the semi's over the 49's.
Along with the 49's in 78 was Carolina giving the state two teams at once in the final four. Both Carolina and Duke went together in 1991. The ACC had UVA and Carolina in 81, Virginia and NC State in 83, Duke and Georgia Tech in 1990. Carolina and Duke in 91and Georgia Tech and Duke in 2004. The ACC is at it again with the Cuse joining Carolina this year..
The ACC has had a team in the final four forty one times and thirty nine times it was a team from North Carolina in there. 2002 Maryland and Virginia in 84 are the only times the ACC stood alone without a team from North Carolina. Maryland's championship in 02 is the only ACC banner not won by a Triangle school.
Give the 49's their time in 78 they had to share it with Carolina. Since 1946 when Carolina was the first Big Four school to make it to the final four a team from the Triangle that is a total of 69 years
ago and a team from the Triangle has been in the Big Dance 39 times. Forget the ACC the State of North Carolina's Big Four are the Monsters of the Midway. Go Carolina bring home the State of North Carolina it's 13th title!!!!!
He was talking about Carolina was representing the ACC and all Duke and NC State fans should be pulling for the Heels because Waters doesn't think Syracuse can win against either team Monday so in order for the ACC to win it all as ACC fans we need to be pulling for Carolina and I will pull hard.
David Glenn took it a step further and brought to my attention how dominant the North Carolina Schools have been in the final four. Carolina won it all in 1982 and the Wolfpack followed with 1983 giving the Triangle back to back titles. Duke did their own back to back title in 1991-92 and Carolina capped of a three Pete for the Triangle in 93. Carolina won in 09 followed by Duke in 2010.
Is it possible after Duke won Last year that Carolina may give us another back to back. Carolina is making their 19th trip to the final four. Duke has 16 under their belt. State has made three trips. Wake made it in 62 and let's not forget Cornbread and UNC Charlotte in 78. I still haven't forgotten the bum call giving Marquette the win in the semi's over the 49's.
Along with the 49's in 78 was Carolina giving the state two teams at once in the final four. Both Carolina and Duke went together in 1991. The ACC had UVA and Carolina in 81, Virginia and NC State in 83, Duke and Georgia Tech in 1990. Carolina and Duke in 91and Georgia Tech and Duke in 2004. The ACC is at it again with the Cuse joining Carolina this year..
The ACC has had a team in the final four forty one times and thirty nine times it was a team from North Carolina in there. 2002 Maryland and Virginia in 84 are the only times the ACC stood alone without a team from North Carolina. Maryland's championship in 02 is the only ACC banner not won by a Triangle school.
Give the 49's their time in 78 they had to share it with Carolina. Since 1946 when Carolina was the first Big Four school to make it to the final four a team from the Triangle that is a total of 69 years
ago and a team from the Triangle has been in the Big Dance 39 times. Forget the ACC the State of North Carolina's Big Four are the Monsters of the Midway. Go Carolina bring home the State of North Carolina it's 13th title!!!!!
No Need For Twenty Four Hour Sports
Sports has such a small part of our every day life. Every where you turn there are news networks blasting away with 24 hour a day. Way back when CNN started back in about 1980 24 hour a day news was first thought that we needed it but what has happened to national news. It takes about 20 minutes and you have cover all the national news so now-a-days we are forced to watch what happened in a community in Seattle because they have nothing else to fill the time.
24 hour a day sports covers the scores from last night which takes 20 minutes so what do they fill rest of the time with. No longer does sport talk radio have people who are experts about what makes a team tick but they are now experts in exploring why a teammate would record a teammate talking about his private life.
Talk radio and 24 hour a day tv channels whether news or sports has become trolls talking only to insite your passion. They no longer can tell you how a team won or lost the game last night but what happened in the locker room.
In our modern world everyone has a smart phone. That doesn't necessarily mean those using the phone are smart. Between Facebook and Twitter everyone wants everyone to see what we are doing or what we are thinking. I can't go anywhere without my wife telling everyone on Facebook where we are. I personally don't think there are too many people who care whether I ate last night at Ichiban's or not.
David Glenn and his state wide radio sports show is the exception to the rule. He can explain why he thinks Carolina might win this weekend and give you a breakdown of why. He is an expert on the ACC and as good as he is should be on Nationally. But I know nationally he would have to know more than just the ACC and would not be as good. Even the national radio sports talks have no idea to explain if the Warriors are the best team in the NBA but they know every thing about the Laker locker room.
When the rage for Twitter started I didn't have a smart phone only a flip phone. How did I ever survive in life. I now have a smart phone and am not smart enough to change from text to phone. I don't want a Twitter account because I just don't want to see what everyone thinks about that bad pass while the game is on. Since this blog is a form of sports talk I have tried to be positive toward everyone locally. Sports talk should be about the games and who played and coached in it.
24 hour a day sports covers the scores from last night which takes 20 minutes so what do they fill rest of the time with. No longer does sport talk radio have people who are experts about what makes a team tick but they are now experts in exploring why a teammate would record a teammate talking about his private life.
Talk radio and 24 hour a day tv channels whether news or sports has become trolls talking only to insite your passion. They no longer can tell you how a team won or lost the game last night but what happened in the locker room.
In our modern world everyone has a smart phone. That doesn't necessarily mean those using the phone are smart. Between Facebook and Twitter everyone wants everyone to see what we are doing or what we are thinking. I can't go anywhere without my wife telling everyone on Facebook where we are. I personally don't think there are too many people who care whether I ate last night at Ichiban's or not.
David Glenn and his state wide radio sports show is the exception to the rule. He can explain why he thinks Carolina might win this weekend and give you a breakdown of why. He is an expert on the ACC and as good as he is should be on Nationally. But I know nationally he would have to know more than just the ACC and would not be as good. Even the national radio sports talks have no idea to explain if the Warriors are the best team in the NBA but they know every thing about the Laker locker room.
When the rage for Twitter started I didn't have a smart phone only a flip phone. How did I ever survive in life. I now have a smart phone and am not smart enough to change from text to phone. I don't want a Twitter account because I just don't want to see what everyone thinks about that bad pass while the game is on. Since this blog is a form of sports talk I have tried to be positive toward everyone locally. Sports talk should be about the games and who played and coached in it.
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