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.