Weather A Scheduling Factor

There is an old saying that Tuesday night during the Rocky Mount-Northeast Guilford playoff baseball game that the fans got their money's worth. This game was intense from the get go. Rocky Mount's defense was better as three of the four runs Rocky Mount scored were related to poor execution by the Rams defense.  Rocky Mount blooped out eight hits while the Rams had six but they were quality hits getting a homer and three doubles which accounted for all three of their runs.  It takes more bloops that one to score unless the pitcher walks batters or the defense helps out with errors.

The Gryphons used their ace David Harrison who gave it all that he had going 7.3 innings.  There are two thoughts here.  From the press box Harrison got out a dangerous hitter in the eighth and the next few hitters were the bottom of the lineup. Coach Pat Smith either gambled that he could use his bull pen to get two outs and score in the bottom of the eighth to win and not wear out Harrison.  The other is that he was looking toward Harrison's future and didn't want to endanger his arm. 

  Forest Bell walked the only batter he faced and not being able to afford to give up anything Smith  made a change to Will Hedgepeth who got the final two outs in the eighth but the Gryphons failed to win it in their turn at bat. Hedgepeth did what players have to do when you have reached do or die time in playoffs. He pitched like a veteran instead of a second baseman.  The Gryphons rewarded Hedgepeth with a ninth inning run and a home game in the second round.  Game Two is set for 6pm Saturday night at Gryphon Stadium.

The weather forecast is not good for Thursday and Friday.  Going nine innings a team that only has one really good pitcher a second game in a week presents a real problem.  You can assume catcher Zack Keeter will get the start in game two.  He has been the best of the Gryphon's other throwers all year.  By not using Keeter in relief Tuesday and there is a thought here.  If Keeter pitches in relief he has already been behind the plate for seven innings and it is better that he pitch fresh the next time out. 

There is now a possibility that David Harrison could throw a couple of innings or more  of relief which all pitchers pitch in practice bull pen work on the middle days between starts.  If victory is to come in round two Keeter will need to pick the Gryphons up as Will Hedgepeth did on Tuesday.  Even after his performance I think there will be confidence in Smith to use Hedgepeth again if needed.

So if you are a Rocky Mount fan a Saturday game being later in the week the more David Harrison could throw more than two innings.  Don't count out if rain forces games to Monday Harrison is not on the mound from the start.  We are at the point in the season when there is no waiting till tomorrow because a loss and there is no baseball tomorrow.  The weather forecast looks better for Saturday and one thing you don't want to do is for a team to ride up I-95 only to turn around and go home because of rain.  Saturday looks like the best day for the remainder of this week. 

The Big East is off to a good start in soccer.  Hunt went on the road and beat Western Alamance 2-1.  Fike and Rocky Mount posted shutouts on Tuesday Fike 9-0 over Havelock and Rocky Mount 5-0 over Gray's Creek.  Northern is the only Big East loser dropping a 7-0 decision at Williams High in Burlington.

Softball saw two teams lose Tuesday.  Orange beat Fike 20-1 and Webb shutout Southern Nash 10-0.  Wednesday Hunt Beat Cedar Ridge 10-3and Northern Nash will host in the second round after a 8-4 victory over Western Harnett.

The Gryphons were joined by Hunt on Tuesday in baseball as a trip to Havelock was a Warrior win 6-4.  Northern Nash lost to Corinth Holders 1-0.  Fike made a trip to Southern Lee a day after Fike Coach Buck Edmonson became a father and his Golden  Demons gave him a 1-0 victory over Southern lee.

I understand that due to weather concerns the state tennis singles and doubles have been moved to a indoor facility in Greensboro.  If all four classifications are there it will be two long days for those who advance in the classification including Rocky Mount's doubles team of Tyler Brice and George Shannon.