ROCKY MOUNT HIGH'S FOOTBALL GAME WITH HERTFORD COUNTY HAS BEEN MOVED TO THURSDAY NIGHT DUE TO THE POSSIBLE TROPICAL STORM DUE IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA FRIDAY KICK OFF IS 7PM
The ultimate reason why Big East teams play six games before conference starts is the hope that they will get better each week and by the time conference starts each team will have improved enough to make a run at the conference title and just maybe a state title. From the stats available here are the leaders so far.
Points: Southern Nash 46 points per game, Rocky Mount 36.5, Fike 24, Nash Central 22, Northern Nash 20.5 and Hunt 13.5
Defensive points: Southern Nash 6.5. Northern Nash 13.5, Fike 15, Rocky Mount 18.5 Nash Central 24 and Hunt 26.
Total Offense Southern Nash 422. 5, Fike 317.5, Nash Central 287, Rocky Mount 273.5, Hunt 258. Northern Nash not available.
Rushing: Southern Nash 311, Fike 231, Hunt 211, Rocky Mount 209, Nash Central 183 Northern Nash unavailable.
Passing Southern Nash 111, Nash Central 103, Fike 86, Rocky Mount 64, Hunt 47Northern Nash unavailable.
Two weeks into the season the stats point that this season could be a special season for Southern Nash. It is hard when every team plays different teams to analyze and compare when the teams are not all playing same teams how the stats stack up against each other.
This weekend college and high school football begins on Thursday night. Need to keep and eye on the Tropical storm tracking coming across Florida because Friday night high school games could get moved to Thursday at least those not already set for Thursday.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Is it Time For Romo To Call It Quits
It seems that every time Tony Romo is hit by contact he goes down for a half a season. This weekend a simple run out of the pocket trying to avoid a tackle he folded up under a mediocre tackle. It was the first time he has been touched this preseason after missing most of last year with another that knocked him out for the season.
Can the Dallas Cowboys continue to pay Tony Romo the millions he get to sit in a doctor office getting MRI's?. As the norm several major players has been lost for the season with injuries already this season. It has been suggested that already this preseason that it is time to either eliminate preseason or cut it back to two games. It is time to do it something because players are costing teams too much money to not be on the field.
This weekend if they were only playing two exhibition games then this week 3rd preseason game would have been first game of the season. What is the difference if the the 3rd practice game a player goes down or the third game of the season. They are still high priced and collecting checks with cast on.
Now the sad case of Colin Kapernick. The last two preseason games has failed to stand for the National Anthem. He claims he is protesting the way minorities are treated in this country. He is a quarterback that had a great rookie year and has failed to come any where close to his first production. I find it hard to believe that life style he lives he shows much compassion for those that don't have it no where near as good as he has. Not standing for the National Anthem is a cheap way to get big headline.
As far as I am concerned with the lifestyle he lives I invite him to move to another country where minorities are treated better if he can find one. The NFL can't do much to him an even the 49'ers are over a rock and a hard place. Could it be that Kaepernick might be on the verge of being cut and this is a play on his part to keep them from cutting him. How would it look for the 49'ers to cut him with all this going now.
Now the sad case of Colin Kapernick. The last two preseason games has failed to stand for the National Anthem. He claims he is protesting the way minorities are treated in this country. He is a quarterback that had a great rookie year and has failed to come any where close to his first production. I find it hard to believe that life style he lives he shows much compassion for those that don't have it no where near as good as he has. Not standing for the National Anthem is a cheap way to get big headline.
As far as I am concerned with the lifestyle he lives I invite him to move to another country where minorities are treated better if he can find one. The NFL can't do much to him an even the 49'ers are over a rock and a hard place. Could it be that Kaepernick might be on the verge of being cut and this is a play on his part to keep them from cutting him. How would it look for the 49'ers to cut him with all this going now.
Monday, August 29, 2016
Schedule Helps Teams Grow
Depending on what part of the state you are in you like to schedule teams in close proximity to your location. Some cases that means like Tarboro they play 3A schools Washington, Nash Central and Northern Nash. As a 1-A school they should only rarely win any of those games regardless of how good or bad those 3A schools are year to year.
Any team that plays teams better or bigger they must play at their best to win. Do you remember in 1984 Tarboro was 0-4 losing to Rocky Mount and Northern Nash among others and yet they won the 3-A state title because they learned early how to compete against better schools just to keep from getting embarrassed. By the time conference time rolled around they were battle tested and until the playoffs didn't play a team better than who they played in non conference.
Rocky Mount won the state title last season in 3A with two losses to teams that both were in the semi finals in 4AA playoffs or the championship game. The Gryphon schedule has several 2A schools in which they should win with no problem. All that does is give playing time to those that might be needed should injury occur later in the season. The fact that Middle Creek could not stop Rocky Mount consistently is a good sign this year's offense can score.
They surely need to improve extra point and punt snaps cause if they don't a conference game could decide an outcome the wrong way. High school football today as we saw in all the Gryphon playoff games they had a running quarterback who throws. Middle Creek hits some big pass plays but for the most part had too many incomplete passes.
The Gryphons I think Friday night went to passing a bit too early on first downs. The playoffs last year the Gryphons won every fourth quarter because no team could stop their running game when it counted. If for no other reason play keep a way from the other team.
Last year every important game was at home but this year Hunt, Southern Nash are on the road. Please don't forget the Havelock upset gave the Gryphons a home game against Eden Morehead and that turned out to be a last play of the game win.
Next year Nash Central will be a non conference game hopefully replacing say South Granville. I feel like our relationship with Hertford County will stay as more than not they are most years a good football team. I would love to get Tarboro back on the schedule not only for travel but a packed house wherever it's played. Despite their dominance over the Gryphons in most sports I hope Rose stays on the schedule. I doubt whether Middle Creek will want to return to the country again in two years.
Winning every game is not that important. Learning what you have to do to get better is. Playing a team better than you is not a bad thing as long as you get better as a team for having played that game.
Any team that plays teams better or bigger they must play at their best to win. Do you remember in 1984 Tarboro was 0-4 losing to Rocky Mount and Northern Nash among others and yet they won the 3-A state title because they learned early how to compete against better schools just to keep from getting embarrassed. By the time conference time rolled around they were battle tested and until the playoffs didn't play a team better than who they played in non conference.
Rocky Mount won the state title last season in 3A with two losses to teams that both were in the semi finals in 4AA playoffs or the championship game. The Gryphon schedule has several 2A schools in which they should win with no problem. All that does is give playing time to those that might be needed should injury occur later in the season. The fact that Middle Creek could not stop Rocky Mount consistently is a good sign this year's offense can score.
They surely need to improve extra point and punt snaps cause if they don't a conference game could decide an outcome the wrong way. High school football today as we saw in all the Gryphon playoff games they had a running quarterback who throws. Middle Creek hits some big pass plays but for the most part had too many incomplete passes.
The Gryphons I think Friday night went to passing a bit too early on first downs. The playoffs last year the Gryphons won every fourth quarter because no team could stop their running game when it counted. If for no other reason play keep a way from the other team.
Last year every important game was at home but this year Hunt, Southern Nash are on the road. Please don't forget the Havelock upset gave the Gryphons a home game against Eden Morehead and that turned out to be a last play of the game win.
Next year Nash Central will be a non conference game hopefully replacing say South Granville. I feel like our relationship with Hertford County will stay as more than not they are most years a good football team. I would love to get Tarboro back on the schedule not only for travel but a packed house wherever it's played. Despite their dominance over the Gryphons in most sports I hope Rose stays on the schedule. I doubt whether Middle Creek will want to return to the country again in two years.
Winning every game is not that important. Learning what you have to do to get better is. Playing a team better than you is not a bad thing as long as you get better as a team for having played that game.
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Second Game Perspective
Two games are in the books and every coach now can see exactly what their team is trending towards. Many teams will continue to improve and be a different team two months from now. Lots will never be much better than they have been so far. Thoughts from me so far.
Folks at Middle Creek were talking a thousand would show up at Rocky Mount but they were lucky if 400 were there.
Middle Creek was the better football team. They are a school near 2000 students where Rocky Mount has around 1200. Would you not expect Middle Creek to be better just on size of the school alone. Throughout the years even when Rocky Mount was the smallest 4A school they always had trouble beating Rose because Rose always had 3-500 students more than Rocky Mount.
Yes, The Gryphons used last year's game as one of those look at how close we came from winning. Rocky Mount was stopped twice on four down and Middle Creek made three fourth down plays. Those five plays were the difference. Gryphon fans there should be hope that maybe this could be another good year.
I am not sure why all games in the Big East are starting at 7pm this year. Friday night it was still 90 degrees at 7 and I think the early start will hurt attendance later in the season. Many people are pushed to get home after work and get to the game by seven even when it is a home game.
There has been talk coming from Tarboro that they thought they might advance deep in the 1A playoffs this year. Shutting out 3-A Washington just might be a testament that the Vikings are really good again. I say that as though they have been bad the last few years but when you play for state championships a lot and have a few years when you don't expection makes it look as if you are bad.
The Firebirds look as they just might be looking forward to the conference game with Rocky Mount at home this year. That game just might be for the conference championship. I liked what I saw in the scrimmage from the Firebirds and so far they have played like what I saw in the scrimmage.
Looks like a long year in Pinetops for the Cougars of SouthWest Edgecombe. They lost 20 some seniors last year and it shows.
Could the season end with a Tarboro-North Edgecombe game for the conference title. This looks like the Warriors best team since Raymond Cobb left for SWE.
I know Northern Nash gave up 21 points in the fourth quarter but it still looks to me as if they have turned the corner. Every team at some point in a season has a quarter they would like to have back.
Nash Central gets their first win equaling all their wins last year. I doubt it is their last on the season.
Folks at Middle Creek were talking a thousand would show up at Rocky Mount but they were lucky if 400 were there.
Middle Creek was the better football team. They are a school near 2000 students where Rocky Mount has around 1200. Would you not expect Middle Creek to be better just on size of the school alone. Throughout the years even when Rocky Mount was the smallest 4A school they always had trouble beating Rose because Rose always had 3-500 students more than Rocky Mount.
Yes, The Gryphons used last year's game as one of those look at how close we came from winning. Rocky Mount was stopped twice on four down and Middle Creek made three fourth down plays. Those five plays were the difference. Gryphon fans there should be hope that maybe this could be another good year.
I am not sure why all games in the Big East are starting at 7pm this year. Friday night it was still 90 degrees at 7 and I think the early start will hurt attendance later in the season. Many people are pushed to get home after work and get to the game by seven even when it is a home game.
There has been talk coming from Tarboro that they thought they might advance deep in the 1A playoffs this year. Shutting out 3-A Washington just might be a testament that the Vikings are really good again. I say that as though they have been bad the last few years but when you play for state championships a lot and have a few years when you don't expection makes it look as if you are bad.
The Firebirds look as they just might be looking forward to the conference game with Rocky Mount at home this year. That game just might be for the conference championship. I liked what I saw in the scrimmage from the Firebirds and so far they have played like what I saw in the scrimmage.
Looks like a long year in Pinetops for the Cougars of SouthWest Edgecombe. They lost 20 some seniors last year and it shows.
Could the season end with a Tarboro-North Edgecombe game for the conference title. This looks like the Warriors best team since Raymond Cobb left for SWE.
I know Northern Nash gave up 21 points in the fourth quarter but it still looks to me as if they have turned the corner. Every team at some point in a season has a quarter they would like to have back.
Nash Central gets their first win equaling all their wins last year. I doubt it is their last on the season.
Friday, August 26, 2016
Winning Streak Over
The Rocky Mount Gryphons hosted one of the top 4A schools in North Carolina tonight and for two and a half quarters the defending 3-A champs showed the Mustangs they were going to have to work to win this one.
Rocky Mount down 16-14 at the half and took the second half kickoff and marched to the 11 yard line and Chase Miller kicked a 31 yard field goal to give the Gryphons a 17-16 lead at 8:28 of the third quarter.
Middle Creek moved through the air all night as quarterback Dominique Shoffner completed only 10 of 24 passes but those ten collected 181 yards and quickly The Mustangs went down the field to retake the lead after a two point conversion 24-17. The Gryphons were stopped on 4th down and the Mustangs covered ground again pushing the score to 31-17 with 11:32 to play.
Each team stopped each other on their next processions but faced with 4th down a bad punt snap gave Middle Creek their final scored from the Gryphon 15 yard line. The Gryphons showed some grit scoring on their final drive making the final 37-25.
Middle Creek took the opening kickoff and five plays led 7-0. The Gryphons punted but the ball bounce off a Mustang blocker and the Gryphons took the ball from the MC 40 and tried a 41 yard field goal by Chase Miller but the ball hit the cross bar.
Starting at their 20 after the missed field goal the Gryphons steal the ball and have it at the 18 yard line. The Gryphons tie it at 7 with 1:14 to play in the first quarter on a keeper by quarterback Mckenzy Wright. The next drive Artavious Richardson intercepts a Shoffners's pass out in the flats and rambles 18 yards for a Gryphon lead 14-7.
Didn't take the Mustangs long to tie it up at 9:40 of the second. The next Mustang drive Detrelle Revis intercepted a Shoffner pass at the one yard line and hoping to find blockers was tackled in the enzone for a safety and a 16-14 half time lead.
Middle Creek was 10-24 for 181 yards passing and rushed 37 times for 133 yards. The Gryphons rushed for 198 yards and added 27 yards passing. The loss stops a 12 game winning streak for the Gryphons.
Other scores
Kipp Pride 16 NorthEast Carolina Prep 8. pride 2-0 for first time ever
Word of God 36 RM Prep 16
Rocky Mount Academy 49 Halifax Academy 2
Fike 28 East Wake 6
North Edgecombe 14 SouthWest Edgecombe 12 first win over the Cougars since 2003
Northeastern 27 Northern Nash 24 Northern led 21-0 at one point
Tarboro 28 Washington 0 look out for the Vikings
Southern Nash 48 Beddingfield 0 Southern is primed for big year
Nash Central 44Smithfield Selma 6 broke 10 game losing streak.
Hunt 27 Herford County 12
Rocky Mount down 16-14 at the half and took the second half kickoff and marched to the 11 yard line and Chase Miller kicked a 31 yard field goal to give the Gryphons a 17-16 lead at 8:28 of the third quarter.
Middle Creek moved through the air all night as quarterback Dominique Shoffner completed only 10 of 24 passes but those ten collected 181 yards and quickly The Mustangs went down the field to retake the lead after a two point conversion 24-17. The Gryphons were stopped on 4th down and the Mustangs covered ground again pushing the score to 31-17 with 11:32 to play.
Each team stopped each other on their next processions but faced with 4th down a bad punt snap gave Middle Creek their final scored from the Gryphon 15 yard line. The Gryphons showed some grit scoring on their final drive making the final 37-25.
Middle Creek took the opening kickoff and five plays led 7-0. The Gryphons punted but the ball bounce off a Mustang blocker and the Gryphons took the ball from the MC 40 and tried a 41 yard field goal by Chase Miller but the ball hit the cross bar.
Starting at their 20 after the missed field goal the Gryphons steal the ball and have it at the 18 yard line. The Gryphons tie it at 7 with 1:14 to play in the first quarter on a keeper by quarterback Mckenzy Wright. The next drive Artavious Richardson intercepts a Shoffners's pass out in the flats and rambles 18 yards for a Gryphon lead 14-7.
Didn't take the Mustangs long to tie it up at 9:40 of the second. The next Mustang drive Detrelle Revis intercepted a Shoffner pass at the one yard line and hoping to find blockers was tackled in the enzone for a safety and a 16-14 half time lead.
Middle Creek was 10-24 for 181 yards passing and rushed 37 times for 133 yards. The Gryphons rushed for 198 yards and added 27 yards passing. The loss stops a 12 game winning streak for the Gryphons.
Other scores
Kipp Pride 16 NorthEast Carolina Prep 8. pride 2-0 for first time ever
Word of God 36 RM Prep 16
Rocky Mount Academy 49 Halifax Academy 2
Fike 28 East Wake 6
North Edgecombe 14 SouthWest Edgecombe 12 first win over the Cougars since 2003
Northeastern 27 Northern Nash 24 Northern led 21-0 at one point
Tarboro 28 Washington 0 look out for the Vikings
Southern Nash 48 Beddingfield 0 Southern is primed for big year
Nash Central 44Smithfield Selma 6 broke 10 game losing streak.
Hunt 27 Herford County 12
Blogging Good Time
Thursday was a rather large day in the life of blogging. I posted my 3,000th story. Back on August first was the beginning of year nine for me as a blogger. If you have been with me from the beginning you know I did not plan on blogging every day but only when I thought I had some intelligent information or opinion to pass along about something going on in the area related to sports.
If you remember August 2008 the Rocky Mount football team was in the middle of six very successful years under B W Holt and I was covering the Gryphons on the radio with Wes Bradshaw. There was so much happening that it didn't take long before I was blogging every day. Those days when I blogged once a week didn't have very many of you that care to read. As the team picked up steam people began to find my address. I have never advertised my blog that much so I rely on you to find out where I am on the internet.
I know when I say this, this is still not a great number of people but there are about 250 of you who view this blog everyday. When something special occurs it jumps to 500 We have come a long ways since only five views was a big day.. As long as I am having fun doing this I would like to continue and as long as it looks like we are not turning everyone off to what I am saying I hope I can keep my health to keep doing it. I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart that your desire to read what I have to say has helped give me motivation to want to continue to write everyday.
Tonight there are several games in the area when it will be hard to find games anywhere else in the state that could possibly be any better. Middle Creek will be at Rocky Mount High tonight. State wide they are number one in the preseason in 4-A. HIGHSCHOOLOT.COM has them rated number one in the WRAL viewing area and Rocky Mount number six.
Now we all know that not being in Wake County it is almost like we don't exist especially in the News and Observer. There is no reason that the stadium should not be overflowing like it was during the third round playoff game last year against Eden Morehead. I can assure you the Gryphons have been waiting for this one ever since Middle Creek beat them 24-21 last year when Rocky Mount led in the fourth quarter.
The same thing should occur in Tarboro with Washington in town. yes, Washington lost to Havelock last week but that does mot mean they can't whip the Vikings so this should be a very competitive game. Look at the good games going on in the area tonight. Northern Nash is hosting Northeastern who has been a thorn in the Knights side for several years when they have played each other in non-conference games. There is no reason that Death Valley is not loaded down and overflowing with fans.
High school sports are fun to watch and a relative cheap nights entertainment. Find a game and go have a good time tonight.
If you remember August 2008 the Rocky Mount football team was in the middle of six very successful years under B W Holt and I was covering the Gryphons on the radio with Wes Bradshaw. There was so much happening that it didn't take long before I was blogging every day. Those days when I blogged once a week didn't have very many of you that care to read. As the team picked up steam people began to find my address. I have never advertised my blog that much so I rely on you to find out where I am on the internet.
I know when I say this, this is still not a great number of people but there are about 250 of you who view this blog everyday. When something special occurs it jumps to 500 We have come a long ways since only five views was a big day.. As long as I am having fun doing this I would like to continue and as long as it looks like we are not turning everyone off to what I am saying I hope I can keep my health to keep doing it. I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart that your desire to read what I have to say has helped give me motivation to want to continue to write everyday.
Tonight there are several games in the area when it will be hard to find games anywhere else in the state that could possibly be any better. Middle Creek will be at Rocky Mount High tonight. State wide they are number one in the preseason in 4-A. HIGHSCHOOLOT.COM has them rated number one in the WRAL viewing area and Rocky Mount number six.
Now we all know that not being in Wake County it is almost like we don't exist especially in the News and Observer. There is no reason that the stadium should not be overflowing like it was during the third round playoff game last year against Eden Morehead. I can assure you the Gryphons have been waiting for this one ever since Middle Creek beat them 24-21 last year when Rocky Mount led in the fourth quarter.
The same thing should occur in Tarboro with Washington in town. yes, Washington lost to Havelock last week but that does mot mean they can't whip the Vikings so this should be a very competitive game. Look at the good games going on in the area tonight. Northern Nash is hosting Northeastern who has been a thorn in the Knights side for several years when they have played each other in non-conference games. There is no reason that Death Valley is not loaded down and overflowing with fans.
High school sports are fun to watch and a relative cheap nights entertainment. Find a game and go have a good time tonight.
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Week Two Football Ready To Roll
Last week our local teams in Nash and Edgecombe Counties were 5-4 in their opening games. This week the level of competition picks up as several games are top level games.
Kipp Pride 1-0 @ NorthEast Carolina Prep 0-1. Even in losing Prep played a 4A school last week and Kipp Pride is not to that level. NEC Prep 26 Kipp Pride 13
Word of God 0-1 @ Rocky Mount Prep 0-1. Word of God left eight man for eleven man football and this will be a really interesting game. WOG lost by 42 last week and Prep was shocked by Kipp Pride. Word of God will win this one 32-22 over RM Prep.
SouthWest Edgecombe 0-1 at North Edgecombe 1-0. Despite the drubbing the Cougars took last week they should have enough to win this one. SWE 26 North Edgecombe 20
Smithfield Selma 0-1 @ Nash Central 0-1. This is a must for the Bulldogs. This will probably be a down to the last second game. Nash Central 27 Smithfield Selma 26
Northeastern 1-0 @ Northern Nash 1-0. The last several years the Eagles have been too quick for the Knights. This game will tell us a lot about the 2016 Knights. I want to see one more game before I get on the Northern bandwagon. Northeastern 26 Northern Nash 21
Southern Nash 1-0 @ Beddingfield 1-0. Any time you play Beddingfield you need to be ready to score. I think the Firebirds can. Southern Nash 36 Beddingfield 21
Washington 0-1 @ Tarboro 1-0. Washington was shutout last week by Havelock which surely is no sin. This is a 3-A -1-A matchup. Don't think Washington is all that bad but this will be a game to tell us if this is an expectation year to go deep in playoffs for the Vikings. Tarboro 26 Washington 23
Middle Creek 1-0 @ Rocky Mount 1-0. The entire state will be watching this one as Middle Creek is expecting to go deeper in 4-A playoffs. Rocky Mount still talking about giving the game away to Middle Creek last year. This could be just like last year that this is a fourth quarter victory. Middle Creek 21 Rocky Mount 14
There are games when playing well can propel a team forward much like last season when Rocky Mount saw they could play with Middle Creek even in defeat. Tarboro and Northern Nash are facing
Those type games like the Gryphons this week. Win or lose we will know a lot more just how good these teams are after Friday.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Sportsmanship Was On Display
The opening night of the high school football the four main points of emphasis by the referees were on display this past Friday night. Working the sidelines with the chains and being on the sidelines of South Granville there was one thing that was very noticeable and that was how calm the sidelines were. The NCHSAA has made vulgar language on the field of play or the sidelines a personal foul and ejection from the game for just one word. How refreshing it was that I never heard one word all night from players or coaches that could get anyone tossed out of the game. The only question I have is why has it taken so long for this to be part of the game again.
The double team chop block by lineman has been outlawed but there was not one called all night. I don't pay that much attention to the line during the game so I can't tell you whether that is still an issue or not. The other two points are minor and one is the clear or white mouth pieces is allowable these days. The other point was all pads have to be covered by the uniform they can no longer stick out and seen. Didn't notice one all night. There were two helmets knocked off during play and on both incidents each player gather his helmet and ran off the field for the one play required to sit out.
Josh Hamilton from Raleigh was released by the Texas Rangers yesterday possibly ending a career that had the makings of superstardom but drugs reduced his career to just a really good ball player. 1999 Hamilton was the number one draft pick but by 2004 was out of baseball from drugs.
Hamilton was never able to shake free of the desire for a drink or drugs so when he returned to baseball in 2007 he had to have an escort to take him home after every game because he would stop by a bar for a drink or buy drugs if left alone.
His return saw five years making the all star team including one as the MVP of the league. His greatest moment was the home run derby competition in which he hit close to fifty home runs but failed to win the night.
Hamilton has been plagued this season with knee problems and the Rangers say that this release has been done in order that the Rangers can negotiate during the off season with Hamilton to return next season after his knees have healed. I hope he gets well enough to keep in baseball and only time will tell.
The double team chop block by lineman has been outlawed but there was not one called all night. I don't pay that much attention to the line during the game so I can't tell you whether that is still an issue or not. The other two points are minor and one is the clear or white mouth pieces is allowable these days. The other point was all pads have to be covered by the uniform they can no longer stick out and seen. Didn't notice one all night. There were two helmets knocked off during play and on both incidents each player gather his helmet and ran off the field for the one play required to sit out.
Josh Hamilton from Raleigh was released by the Texas Rangers yesterday possibly ending a career that had the makings of superstardom but drugs reduced his career to just a really good ball player. 1999 Hamilton was the number one draft pick but by 2004 was out of baseball from drugs.
Hamilton was never able to shake free of the desire for a drink or drugs so when he returned to baseball in 2007 he had to have an escort to take him home after every game because he would stop by a bar for a drink or buy drugs if left alone.
His return saw five years making the all star team including one as the MVP of the league. His greatest moment was the home run derby competition in which he hit close to fifty home runs but failed to win the night.
Hamilton has been plagued this season with knee problems and the Rangers say that this release has been done in order that the Rangers can negotiate during the off season with Hamilton to return next season after his knees have healed. I hope he gets well enough to keep in baseball and only time will tell.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Minor League Baseball Season Is About Over
Those wanting to move up in the ranks of pro baseball the season is getting short. Only those that will get called up to the big club in September will play much in September unless your team is in the minor league playoffs.
Somebody that I have not mentioned all summer is Isaiah White from Greenfield Academy who was a third round pick of the Miami Marlins last year. He was sent back to the New York Penn League this summer and he has struggled with the bat. He is hitting 222. He is listed as the number 17 prospect of the Marlins. He has tremendous speed but speed doesn't make you hit the ball. He's got to start using his speed to get on base.
Whit Merrifield since his return to Omaha after spending six weeks with the Kansas City Royals is hitting 276, 8 home runs 27 RBI and 17 doubles. Whenever Omaha season ends he will finish September in Kansas City.
Collins Cuthrell in Florence Kentucky. Batting 217 for a team not associated with any major league team. Only way to get a team interested is put up numbers that make people take notice and 217 is not that kind of number. He has hit 13 home runs which leads team. His RBI total is 53 which is second on team.
Hobbs Johnson has appeared in six games since arriving in Soiux City Iowa. His first two appearances were awful but the next four have been much better. His ERA after 1.3 innings was over 19 but he has reduced the ERA to 5.4 in 11.2 innings. He is 1-1. Since being released by The Milwaukee Brewers in late June Hobbs is looking for a team to sign him and give him another chance next year. He may not have enough innings is Sioux City to attract attention.
Benton Moss 7-9. His ERA has dropped to 3.80 which is best it has been all year. Since Fourth of July has dropped ERA almost three quarters of a point. That is what the big club is looking for not necessarily wins and losses. Expect Benton to move up to AA next spring and maybe play fall ball somewhere this fall.
Brian Goodwin since he has come back to Syracuse has picked up where he left off. Hitting 284 11 homers and 63 RBI which leads the Chiefs despite being in Washington for 16 days. When ever the Chiefs season ends will be heading to Washington to be with Nationals for the stretch drive to the playoffs.
Somebody that I have not mentioned all summer is Isaiah White from Greenfield Academy who was a third round pick of the Miami Marlins last year. He was sent back to the New York Penn League this summer and he has struggled with the bat. He is hitting 222. He is listed as the number 17 prospect of the Marlins. He has tremendous speed but speed doesn't make you hit the ball. He's got to start using his speed to get on base.
Whit Merrifield since his return to Omaha after spending six weeks with the Kansas City Royals is hitting 276, 8 home runs 27 RBI and 17 doubles. Whenever Omaha season ends he will finish September in Kansas City.
Collins Cuthrell in Florence Kentucky. Batting 217 for a team not associated with any major league team. Only way to get a team interested is put up numbers that make people take notice and 217 is not that kind of number. He has hit 13 home runs which leads team. His RBI total is 53 which is second on team.
Hobbs Johnson has appeared in six games since arriving in Soiux City Iowa. His first two appearances were awful but the next four have been much better. His ERA after 1.3 innings was over 19 but he has reduced the ERA to 5.4 in 11.2 innings. He is 1-1. Since being released by The Milwaukee Brewers in late June Hobbs is looking for a team to sign him and give him another chance next year. He may not have enough innings is Sioux City to attract attention.
Benton Moss 7-9. His ERA has dropped to 3.80 which is best it has been all year. Since Fourth of July has dropped ERA almost three quarters of a point. That is what the big club is looking for not necessarily wins and losses. Expect Benton to move up to AA next spring and maybe play fall ball somewhere this fall.
Brian Goodwin since he has come back to Syracuse has picked up where he left off. Hitting 284 11 homers and 63 RBI which leads the Chiefs despite being in Washington for 16 days. When ever the Chiefs season ends will be heading to Washington to be with Nationals for the stretch drive to the playoffs.
Monday, August 22, 2016
There's Only One Color Red White And Blue
The Olympics ended last night and there is one thing about the Olympics, for 16 days every country that has tv's focuses on the games. Regardless of whether it soccer, basketball, track and field swimming every country that has an athlete they pull for their country first and for the person representing them second.
We pulled for everyone who wore the red white and blue. My years covering sports for the most part I have covered mainly three teams. Starting in 1971 through 1988 spring I covered Ahoskie High. In the fall of 1988 Hertford County went to a central high school and then my coverage was Hertford County until 1993.
I spent 1993 and into 1995 covering sports in Fayetteville and it was a game of the week covering all teams. 1999 started covering game of the week on WHIG TV and in 2001 covered Gryphon Sports. Since 2010 when I have been on tv or radio it has mostly covering all the teams. Over the years I have been asked this question. How many white players are on the team or how many are black. My standard answer is, I don't know all I see is the A on the side of their helmet for Ahoskie, HC for Hertford County or RM for Rocky Mount.
If there is one thing that sports does better than any other it has no color barrier. If you are the best you play. Team sports because everyone on the team is working for the same goal everyone is a brother or sister because they work for the same goal, winning in what ever sport it might be.
Sports unites people who care about the same thing. We all love it when we can say we are the best at something. It doesn't matter what color they are we won. The United States of America won many metals during the Olympics. Can anybody tell me what color won any of them. They were all Americans. Each of us that have a certain high school they pull for an in most cases you either attended that school or you children go to that school now.
I hear this all the time"he graduated from Northern Nash and I don't understand how he pulls for Rocky Mount now. It probably has something to do with where your kids go. We all have our reasons. I lived in Ahoskie for 40 years and never thought I could ever pull for any high school but my alma mater.
We all that live in the USA our Alma mater is America. All those athletes represented us so we pulled for all of them because we want to be represented by the best in the world. The only color that counted was Red White and Blue.
We pulled for everyone who wore the red white and blue. My years covering sports for the most part I have covered mainly three teams. Starting in 1971 through 1988 spring I covered Ahoskie High. In the fall of 1988 Hertford County went to a central high school and then my coverage was Hertford County until 1993.
I spent 1993 and into 1995 covering sports in Fayetteville and it was a game of the week covering all teams. 1999 started covering game of the week on WHIG TV and in 2001 covered Gryphon Sports. Since 2010 when I have been on tv or radio it has mostly covering all the teams. Over the years I have been asked this question. How many white players are on the team or how many are black. My standard answer is, I don't know all I see is the A on the side of their helmet for Ahoskie, HC for Hertford County or RM for Rocky Mount.
If there is one thing that sports does better than any other it has no color barrier. If you are the best you play. Team sports because everyone on the team is working for the same goal everyone is a brother or sister because they work for the same goal, winning in what ever sport it might be.
Sports unites people who care about the same thing. We all love it when we can say we are the best at something. It doesn't matter what color they are we won. The United States of America won many metals during the Olympics. Can anybody tell me what color won any of them. They were all Americans. Each of us that have a certain high school they pull for an in most cases you either attended that school or you children go to that school now.
I hear this all the time"he graduated from Northern Nash and I don't understand how he pulls for Rocky Mount now. It probably has something to do with where your kids go. We all have our reasons. I lived in Ahoskie for 40 years and never thought I could ever pull for any high school but my alma mater.
We all that live in the USA our Alma mater is America. All those athletes represented us so we pulled for all of them because we want to be represented by the best in the world. The only color that counted was Red White and Blue.
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Reflections of Week One Football
The biggest surprise as far as score Friday night pertaining to Nash County schools was Northern Nash's 17-0 win over Corinith Holders. I am not shocked at them winning as every time they have played Holders it has always been a competitive game. The score is however. It is great to see Northern competitive again. They showed signs last year that the defense was sound and it is better than sound this year.
Sometimes the score doesn't tell all. Nash Central lost 42-0 to the Tarboro Vikings and yet showed improvement over years past. We all know in the last ten years Tarboro can play against anybody in this state so depth may be a major problem for the Bulldogs. We discussed one day last week about the program had sunk to a level where quality players were bypassing football at Nash Central. It takes time to win those type players back into the program.
I liked what I saw in the scrimmage when Southern Nash scrimmaged West Johnston and Goldsboro in Rocky Mount. When you have a coach coaching a program for nearly twenty years then year after year looks the same. Southern is big, fast and strong ready to run the football and pass to keep teams honest.
Rocky Mount was simply too fast for South Granville. Sherrod Greene has been getting all the press and attention but number nine Artavious Richardson was all over the field Friday night. Mckenzy Wright did his job at quarterback. Jalen Watson had some hard nose runs up the middle and would not go down on first contact. That type running last year paid off late in games last season when the Gryphons controlled the fourth quarter.
They are once again loaded with backs who can take it to the house on any play. Line needs to improve pass blocking. Only one pass was completed in a seven step drop back by the quarterback. The rest of the completions were three steps and throw. Wright did take a blindside hit and fumbled early in third quarter. The snap to the holder on extra points was not good. Three or four bounced back and Chase Miller had two kicks blocked but one went through the uprights anyway.
There is no reason Chase Miller will not get gobbled up by a D1 football program. He can kick the day lights out of football under pressure. You hardly hear that about kickers getting recruited until
The end of the season. If for no other reason his 38 yard extra point to tie the state championship game should have all D1 schools in North Carolina on alert.
Last night NorthEast Carolina Prep open the season at Apex Freedom who was playing their first varsity football game. Freedom 46 NEC Prep 13. Went 6-3 on Picks this weekend.
Thought it would happen and it did. Ryan Zimmerman was activated Saturday back to the roster of the Washington Nationals. Brian Goodwin was sent back to Syracuse. During his 15 days as a major Leaguer he was 4/16 with two RBI. The Syracuse Chiefs season ends Labor Day weekend and they will not be in the playoffs so I suspect by Tuesday after Labor Day he will be back on the roster to finish out the season in Washington.
Sometimes the score doesn't tell all. Nash Central lost 42-0 to the Tarboro Vikings and yet showed improvement over years past. We all know in the last ten years Tarboro can play against anybody in this state so depth may be a major problem for the Bulldogs. We discussed one day last week about the program had sunk to a level where quality players were bypassing football at Nash Central. It takes time to win those type players back into the program.
I liked what I saw in the scrimmage when Southern Nash scrimmaged West Johnston and Goldsboro in Rocky Mount. When you have a coach coaching a program for nearly twenty years then year after year looks the same. Southern is big, fast and strong ready to run the football and pass to keep teams honest.
Rocky Mount was simply too fast for South Granville. Sherrod Greene has been getting all the press and attention but number nine Artavious Richardson was all over the field Friday night. Mckenzy Wright did his job at quarterback. Jalen Watson had some hard nose runs up the middle and would not go down on first contact. That type running last year paid off late in games last season when the Gryphons controlled the fourth quarter.
They are once again loaded with backs who can take it to the house on any play. Line needs to improve pass blocking. Only one pass was completed in a seven step drop back by the quarterback. The rest of the completions were three steps and throw. Wright did take a blindside hit and fumbled early in third quarter. The snap to the holder on extra points was not good. Three or four bounced back and Chase Miller had two kicks blocked but one went through the uprights anyway.
There is no reason Chase Miller will not get gobbled up by a D1 football program. He can kick the day lights out of football under pressure. You hardly hear that about kickers getting recruited until
The end of the season. If for no other reason his 38 yard extra point to tie the state championship game should have all D1 schools in North Carolina on alert.
Last night NorthEast Carolina Prep open the season at Apex Freedom who was playing their first varsity football game. Freedom 46 NEC Prep 13. Went 6-3 on Picks this weekend.
Thought it would happen and it did. Ryan Zimmerman was activated Saturday back to the roster of the Washington Nationals. Brian Goodwin was sent back to Syracuse. During his 15 days as a major Leaguer he was 4/16 with two RBI. The Syracuse Chiefs season ends Labor Day weekend and they will not be in the playoffs so I suspect by Tuesday after Labor Day he will be back on the roster to finish out the season in Washington.
Friday, August 19, 2016
Delay Of Game
The 2016 high school football season was an hour late getting started tonight as some how or other the crew set to officiate the game was told the game was rained out and by the time inquiries were made as to where the crew was they were an hour late getting in the house.
South Granvile wish it had of been delayed even more as the first offensive play a crushing blow by the Gryphon defense forced a fumble recovered at the Viking 17 yard line. The first offensive play is a pass by new quarterback Mckenzy Wright throwing to KJ Edwards for 11 yards. From there number 32 no longer Nick Bynum but look a like Jaylen Watson put six on the board just 28 seconds into the game. Chase Miller added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
Three plays and a high punt snap gave the Gryphons the ball on the one yard line and two plays later Deangelo Collins makes it 14-0 at 9:11 of the first. Collins got the Gryphon third first quarter score of a five yarder with 2:48 of the first quarter. Jaylen Watson's 18 yard burst produced point 28 at 5:48 in the half. Gryphon air attack scored on a 49 yard bomb Wright to Charlie Williams for a 35-0 half time score.
The Gryphons came out flat to start the third quarter as they took second half kick off and ran out of bounds at their own 14. Two holding calls negated two nice runs and a Sack fumble gave South Granville the ball at Gryphon five yard line. Four plays later the Gryphon D gave the offense the ball at the nine yard line where the offense drove down the field. T J Sanders scored at 3:05 in the third and Chase Miller 6th extra point started the clock running.
Freshman running back Alston Curtis put the icing on the cake with a 8 yard run to make point 48 at 8:50 of the 4th. Final Rocky Mount 48 South Granville 0. The Gryphons rushed for 317 yards getting 86 from Watson, 80 from BJ Sanders, 65 from Collins. Wright was 5-5 88 yards passing for a total offense of 405 while the Gryphon Defense held the Vikings to 62 yards rushing on 28 attempts and 64 yards passing on 3-9.
The Chest pump game of the night for the Big East happened at Death Valley as Northern Nash who showed last year a good defense put a zero on the Corinth Holders side of the scoreboard . 17-0 shutout is a great start for the Knights.
Tarboro sent out a message to every team in 1-A football trashing Nash Central 42-0
Maybe the shocker of the night was not who won but the score . Edenton 46 SouthWest Edgecombe 13
Lumberton 33 Hunt 0
Rocky Mount Academy 50 Bethel Christian 18
North Edgecombe 70 NW Halifax 20
Kipp Pride 20 Rocky Mount Prep 18
Southern Nash 43 Northwood 13
South Granvile wish it had of been delayed even more as the first offensive play a crushing blow by the Gryphon defense forced a fumble recovered at the Viking 17 yard line. The first offensive play is a pass by new quarterback Mckenzy Wright throwing to KJ Edwards for 11 yards. From there number 32 no longer Nick Bynum but look a like Jaylen Watson put six on the board just 28 seconds into the game. Chase Miller added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
Three plays and a high punt snap gave the Gryphons the ball on the one yard line and two plays later Deangelo Collins makes it 14-0 at 9:11 of the first. Collins got the Gryphon third first quarter score of a five yarder with 2:48 of the first quarter. Jaylen Watson's 18 yard burst produced point 28 at 5:48 in the half. Gryphon air attack scored on a 49 yard bomb Wright to Charlie Williams for a 35-0 half time score.
The Gryphons came out flat to start the third quarter as they took second half kick off and ran out of bounds at their own 14. Two holding calls negated two nice runs and a Sack fumble gave South Granville the ball at Gryphon five yard line. Four plays later the Gryphon D gave the offense the ball at the nine yard line where the offense drove down the field. T J Sanders scored at 3:05 in the third and Chase Miller 6th extra point started the clock running.
Freshman running back Alston Curtis put the icing on the cake with a 8 yard run to make point 48 at 8:50 of the 4th. Final Rocky Mount 48 South Granville 0. The Gryphons rushed for 317 yards getting 86 from Watson, 80 from BJ Sanders, 65 from Collins. Wright was 5-5 88 yards passing for a total offense of 405 while the Gryphon Defense held the Vikings to 62 yards rushing on 28 attempts and 64 yards passing on 3-9.
The Chest pump game of the night for the Big East happened at Death Valley as Northern Nash who showed last year a good defense put a zero on the Corinth Holders side of the scoreboard . 17-0 shutout is a great start for the Knights.
Tarboro sent out a message to every team in 1-A football trashing Nash Central 42-0
Maybe the shocker of the night was not who won but the score . Edenton 46 SouthWest Edgecombe 13
Lumberton 33 Hunt 0
Rocky Mount Academy 50 Bethel Christian 18
North Edgecombe 70 NW Halifax 20
Kipp Pride 20 Rocky Mount Prep 18
Southern Nash 43 Northwood 13
I'm For Year Round School
Here it is the first Friday night football game of the season for everybody and today is expected to be a heat index of 100 degrees. Ladies and Gentleman I do not think we can consider this football weather. When our last child Morgan was in elementary school she went to Winstead which was a year round school. I did not think much of the idea until we had been in the system for a couple of years. Now that I have seen year round at work it is a really good effective schedule.
It does not work in a system when a few go year round and the rest are standard. Parents have too many children on one schedule and other children on another causing parents to want to commit suicide.. The only answer in order for year round to work is the entire system just has to go cold turkey and say we are changing next year.
What we found out during our time in year round was the kids had three weeks off in September. We were able to go on vacations like the mountains with less people, even the beach was a more comfortable trip instead of bumper to bumper traffic. Another three weeks off in the spring and all of June off. Christmas time is off like standard kids. It really was hard to find anything wrong with year round.
If year round comes to pass and sooner or later it will change the high school sports calendar should change also. Year round new school year starts that first Monday after the Fourth of July. High school football practice should start the first day of school and start playing games the first Friday night in August which will end the regular season in mid October. I am of course against five playoff football games and would like to see it drop to four but even with five the football season is over the last Friday night in November.
Basketball now starts around the 15th of November but if football season is over in Mid October basketball could begin with no conflicts with first round playoff football games requiring players who still are playing football and postponing basketball games. The only conflict is the teams still playing in 4th and 5th rounds.
Because of the weather baseball has a tough time starting before March first and even then weather can be a real cold factor some days. Our world is ever changing and should year round be adopted by the state at some time in the future it might not be a bad idea to change the sports schedules around. If school started in July High school baseball could be a fall sport. The state playoffs could be over by mid November. Football could be a so called spring sport with first game in late February and playoffs over by the first of June.
No longer does school start after Labor Day so the farmers can use their kids on the famers to get in crops. Every school has air conditioning so the hot days of summer are no problem. There is one thing for sure, any schools system that tries to do both is making life miserable for everyone but especially for parents with more than one child.
It does not work in a system when a few go year round and the rest are standard. Parents have too many children on one schedule and other children on another causing parents to want to commit suicide.. The only answer in order for year round to work is the entire system just has to go cold turkey and say we are changing next year.
What we found out during our time in year round was the kids had three weeks off in September. We were able to go on vacations like the mountains with less people, even the beach was a more comfortable trip instead of bumper to bumper traffic. Another three weeks off in the spring and all of June off. Christmas time is off like standard kids. It really was hard to find anything wrong with year round.
If year round comes to pass and sooner or later it will change the high school sports calendar should change also. Year round new school year starts that first Monday after the Fourth of July. High school football practice should start the first day of school and start playing games the first Friday night in August which will end the regular season in mid October. I am of course against five playoff football games and would like to see it drop to four but even with five the football season is over the last Friday night in November.
Basketball now starts around the 15th of November but if football season is over in Mid October basketball could begin with no conflicts with first round playoff football games requiring players who still are playing football and postponing basketball games. The only conflict is the teams still playing in 4th and 5th rounds.
Because of the weather baseball has a tough time starting before March first and even then weather can be a real cold factor some days. Our world is ever changing and should year round be adopted by the state at some time in the future it might not be a bad idea to change the sports schedules around. If school started in July High school baseball could be a fall sport. The state playoffs could be over by mid November. Football could be a so called spring sport with first game in late February and playoffs over by the first of June.
No longer does school start after Labor Day so the farmers can use their kids on the famers to get in crops. Every school has air conditioning so the hot days of summer are no problem. There is one thing for sure, any schools system that tries to do both is making life miserable for everyone but especially for parents with more than one child.
Thursday, August 18, 2016
It's High School Football Time
The Temperature is in the mid 90's and the heat index is near 100 or more everyday so it must be a perfect time to start high school football. The 2016 high school football season kicks off Friday night. Every team that plays football in the Twin Counties kicks off this weekend. It's time to begin a new year of guesstimating.
Bethel Christian @ Rocky Mount Academy: The second season as head coach starts for RMA's Terrell Hudgin. Several key losses will be hard to replace. The Eagles start the season 1-0. RMA 46 Bethel Christian 24
Northeast Carolina Prep @ Freedom: This is Saturday and what a way to begin a season as NEC Prep travels to Apex to take on Apex Freedom. This is the second year of Freedom and last season played a JV schedule. Good chance for Prep to win this one. Freedom 20 Prep 19
NW Halifax @ North Edgecombe: Should be a good way to start a new season for the Warriors. North Edgecombe 26 NW Halifax 7.
Kipp Pride @ Rocky Mount Prep: Prep will collect their first win of the season. Jags 26 Pride 14.
Edenton @ SouthWest Edgecombe: This is the a nice matchup to start the season for both. This will not be easy for the Cougars. SWE 35 Edenton 20.
North wood @Southern Nash: Question Marks at quarterback is biggest Firebird question. They are big and athletic and regardless of questions Firebirds open with a win. 45-25
Corinith Holders @ Northern Nash: The most silent team of the August practices has been Northern Nash. A mystery for sure. One thing for sure Holders is heading to 4A next year so they have plenty of players choose from. Corinth Holders 23 Northern Nash 13
South Granville @Rocky Mount: Expectations high in Gryphon Land and opening night should start the season off on the right foot. Gryphon's 38 South Granville 7
The game of the night will occur in Tarboro. The Vikings are looking five playoff games this season. Nash Central looking to get two wins to double last year. Over the last five years the Bulldog program has lost the luster of even wanting to be a football player. There are many who could play but won't help bring program back. The only comeback Tarboro is looking for is playing on state championship Saturday. Tarboro 32 Nash Central 6.
The collision of helmets begins Friday night.
Bethel Christian @ Rocky Mount Academy: The second season as head coach starts for RMA's Terrell Hudgin. Several key losses will be hard to replace. The Eagles start the season 1-0. RMA 46 Bethel Christian 24
Northeast Carolina Prep @ Freedom: This is Saturday and what a way to begin a season as NEC Prep travels to Apex to take on Apex Freedom. This is the second year of Freedom and last season played a JV schedule. Good chance for Prep to win this one. Freedom 20 Prep 19
NW Halifax @ North Edgecombe: Should be a good way to start a new season for the Warriors. North Edgecombe 26 NW Halifax 7.
Kipp Pride @ Rocky Mount Prep: Prep will collect their first win of the season. Jags 26 Pride 14.
Edenton @ SouthWest Edgecombe: This is the a nice matchup to start the season for both. This will not be easy for the Cougars. SWE 35 Edenton 20.
North wood @Southern Nash: Question Marks at quarterback is biggest Firebird question. They are big and athletic and regardless of questions Firebirds open with a win. 45-25
Corinith Holders @ Northern Nash: The most silent team of the August practices has been Northern Nash. A mystery for sure. One thing for sure Holders is heading to 4A next year so they have plenty of players choose from. Corinth Holders 23 Northern Nash 13
South Granville @Rocky Mount: Expectations high in Gryphon Land and opening night should start the season off on the right foot. Gryphon's 38 South Granville 7
The game of the night will occur in Tarboro. The Vikings are looking five playoff games this season. Nash Central looking to get two wins to double last year. Over the last five years the Bulldog program has lost the luster of even wanting to be a football player. There are many who could play but won't help bring program back. The only comeback Tarboro is looking for is playing on state championship Saturday. Tarboro 32 Nash Central 6.
The collision of helmets begins Friday night.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Extra Baseball At Legion Championship
Rowan County North Carolina jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the American Legion World Series championship game in Shelby North Carolina last night but this was for all the marbles and Texarkanas Arkansas fought back to tie the game at 4-4.
Arkansas missed a great chance to win it in the top of the eighth with the bases loaded and one out and they attempted a squeeze with the bases loaded. I have never thought much of a bases loaded squeeze because even if the hitter makes contact with the ball it is still a force play at home. Arkansas got a poor call in the ninth when the umpire at first call a Hog runner out when on the replay the player sliding into first slid completely across the base before the throw arrived.
You could not ask for a better championship game as Texarkana loaded the bases in the 12th and this time no squeeze. Baseball is a beautiful game because of the chess match that goes on. Rowan County chose to bring the infield in with two strikes on a batter with one out. What happened a ground ball which could have be a double play ball shoots by the short stop and Arkansas is on their way with four runs.
The bottom of the 12th Rowan County plated a run and had a runner on first with one out. A slow roller back to the pitcher who turned and his double play throw to second goes through the legs of the shortstop and North Carolina has a shot. A bases loaded walk makes it 8-6. Arkansas wins it on a come backer to the pitcher and the pitcher runs halfway first before his underhanded toss to first. The State of Arkansas wins their first ever American Legion World Series. Arkansas 8 North Carolina 6
The largest crowd in the history of the Legion World Series over 8500 most pulling for Rowan County. It is the sixth time a team from North Carolina has finished second. Albemarle in 1944, Gastonia 1954, Charlotte 1964 and Cherryville in 1998 and 2003.
Arkansas missed a great chance to win it in the top of the eighth with the bases loaded and one out and they attempted a squeeze with the bases loaded. I have never thought much of a bases loaded squeeze because even if the hitter makes contact with the ball it is still a force play at home. Arkansas got a poor call in the ninth when the umpire at first call a Hog runner out when on the replay the player sliding into first slid completely across the base before the throw arrived.
You could not ask for a better championship game as Texarkana loaded the bases in the 12th and this time no squeeze. Baseball is a beautiful game because of the chess match that goes on. Rowan County chose to bring the infield in with two strikes on a batter with one out. What happened a ground ball which could have be a double play ball shoots by the short stop and Arkansas is on their way with four runs.
The bottom of the 12th Rowan County plated a run and had a runner on first with one out. A slow roller back to the pitcher who turned and his double play throw to second goes through the legs of the shortstop and North Carolina has a shot. A bases loaded walk makes it 8-6. Arkansas wins it on a come backer to the pitcher and the pitcher runs halfway first before his underhanded toss to first. The State of Arkansas wins their first ever American Legion World Series. Arkansas 8 North Carolina 6
The largest crowd in the history of the Legion World Series over 8500 most pulling for Rowan County. It is the sixth time a team from North Carolina has finished second. Albemarle in 1944, Gastonia 1954, Charlotte 1964 and Cherryville in 1998 and 2003.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
World Series Finals Tonight
Rowan County the State American Legion State Champions of North Carolina, the Southeast Regional Champs will play For the World Series Championship tonight. The World Series started Thursday in Shelby with eight teams playing a round robin three games within their division.
The Stars Division consisted of four teams Cumberland Rhode Island, Leesburg Va, Texarkana Ark and San Mateo Cal. The Stripes Division four teams were Rowan County NC, Rockport In, Omaha Neb and Kennewick Wash. Each day three games were play which will give every team a day off sometime during the weekend.
Rowan County lost their opening game Thursday to Rickport Indiana 6-3. They rebounded Friday sticking Omaha Neb with their first loss 5-2. They had Saturday off and finished up the round robin on Sunday beating Kennewick Washington 12-0. The top seed in the Stripes Division went to Indiana while Rowan County took second.
Over in the Stars Division California took the top seed while the Arkansas team took second. Monday the top seed in the Stars Division California took on the second seed in the Stripes Division Rowan County and the North Carolina State Champions take down California 13-4 sending the Tar Heel team to the World Series championship game.
The other semi final game features top seed from the Stripes Indiana against the second seed from the Stars Division Arkansas. When the sun had set Arkansas had knocked the second number one seed out of the Series winning 4-1. It was only Indiana's second loss on the season.
Tonight at 7pm you can watch the World Series live on ESPNU as all games the entire weekend have been seen. Rowan County North Carolina versus Texarkana Arkansas. The state of North Carolina will be going after the fifth World Series victory in the history of the World Series Which has been going on since 1926. This could be the first ever victory for Arkansas.
The Stars Division consisted of four teams Cumberland Rhode Island, Leesburg Va, Texarkana Ark and San Mateo Cal. The Stripes Division four teams were Rowan County NC, Rockport In, Omaha Neb and Kennewick Wash. Each day three games were play which will give every team a day off sometime during the weekend.
Rowan County lost their opening game Thursday to Rickport Indiana 6-3. They rebounded Friday sticking Omaha Neb with their first loss 5-2. They had Saturday off and finished up the round robin on Sunday beating Kennewick Washington 12-0. The top seed in the Stripes Division went to Indiana while Rowan County took second.
Over in the Stars Division California took the top seed while the Arkansas team took second. Monday the top seed in the Stars Division California took on the second seed in the Stripes Division Rowan County and the North Carolina State Champions take down California 13-4 sending the Tar Heel team to the World Series championship game.
The other semi final game features top seed from the Stripes Indiana against the second seed from the Stars Division Arkansas. When the sun had set Arkansas had knocked the second number one seed out of the Series winning 4-1. It was only Indiana's second loss on the season.
Tonight at 7pm you can watch the World Series live on ESPNU as all games the entire weekend have been seen. Rowan County North Carolina versus Texarkana Arkansas. The state of North Carolina will be going after the fifth World Series victory in the history of the World Series Which has been going on since 1926. This could be the first ever victory for Arkansas.
Monday, August 15, 2016
High School Sports Season Starts Today
Today starts the 2016/17 high school sports season even though the bell to start school is still more than a week away. Soccer and volleyball will be the first out of the box but by the end of the week every varsity sport played in the fall will be under way. The heat index Monday and Tuesday is expected to be over 100 but maybe by Wednesday those sports contested outside will see a cool spell down to the upper 80's.
Boy's soccer begins with road trips for both Northern Nash and Rocky Mount. The Knights will head over to Bunn while Rocky Mount visits Rose High in Greenville. Rocky Mount Academy 0-1 who opened their season last week plays match number two on the season hosting Cape Fear Academy. Southern Nash will get their season underway Tuesday hosting Bunn.
Girls volleyball hopes the AC is working in all the gyms where they open season as leading opening day is Southern Nash as they load the bus heading to Smithfield Selma. Rocky Mount Academy will provide AC for Cape Fear Christian at 4pm Tuesday. Northern Nash can't pick a much harder opener hosting DH Conley. Rocky Mount waits to Friday to open their season as they host Ayden Grifton at 5pm.
Football of course waits to Friday and every high school in Nash County begins their 2016 campaign.
The defending 3A state champs Rocky Mount will open their season hosting South Granville. Game time is 7:00 pm. Nash Central is the only school not at home Friday as they head over to Tarboro a team talking State championship talk after playing many under class men last year. Everyone else playing Friday night all kickoff at 7:30. Corinth Holders will be in Death Valley being hosted by the Knights. North wood will see how good Southern Nash might be coming to Nash County. Kipp Pride is at Rocky Mount Prep and Terrell Hudgins begins his second year at Rocky Mount Academy hosting Bethel Christian.
Saturday Night in their scrimmage against South Johnston the Gryphons lost to the Trojans 14-13. The two scrimmages played last week it is evident the defense will need to carry the load early for Rocky Mount. They have run the ball very well so far. Everyone must remember it was the second game of their season at Middle Creek a loss before anyone had any thoughts of Rocky Mount even being a deep playoff threat.
I was in Tarboro Friday night and rode by the football Stadium and as expected looked like a Viking football game going on as they hosted a jamboree with a big crowd on hand. Yes the folks in Tarboro feel like this is the best football team they have had since Todd Gurley graduated.
Boy's soccer begins with road trips for both Northern Nash and Rocky Mount. The Knights will head over to Bunn while Rocky Mount visits Rose High in Greenville. Rocky Mount Academy 0-1 who opened their season last week plays match number two on the season hosting Cape Fear Academy. Southern Nash will get their season underway Tuesday hosting Bunn.
Girls volleyball hopes the AC is working in all the gyms where they open season as leading opening day is Southern Nash as they load the bus heading to Smithfield Selma. Rocky Mount Academy will provide AC for Cape Fear Christian at 4pm Tuesday. Northern Nash can't pick a much harder opener hosting DH Conley. Rocky Mount waits to Friday to open their season as they host Ayden Grifton at 5pm.
Football of course waits to Friday and every high school in Nash County begins their 2016 campaign.
The defending 3A state champs Rocky Mount will open their season hosting South Granville. Game time is 7:00 pm. Nash Central is the only school not at home Friday as they head over to Tarboro a team talking State championship talk after playing many under class men last year. Everyone else playing Friday night all kickoff at 7:30. Corinth Holders will be in Death Valley being hosted by the Knights. North wood will see how good Southern Nash might be coming to Nash County. Kipp Pride is at Rocky Mount Prep and Terrell Hudgins begins his second year at Rocky Mount Academy hosting Bethel Christian.
Saturday Night in their scrimmage against South Johnston the Gryphons lost to the Trojans 14-13. The two scrimmages played last week it is evident the defense will need to carry the load early for Rocky Mount. They have run the ball very well so far. Everyone must remember it was the second game of their season at Middle Creek a loss before anyone had any thoughts of Rocky Mount even being a deep playoff threat.
I was in Tarboro Friday night and rode by the football Stadium and as expected looked like a Viking football game going on as they hosted a jamboree with a big crowd on hand. Yes the folks in Tarboro feel like this is the best football team they have had since Todd Gurley graduated.
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Milestones We All Are A Part
It is amazing this world we live in. We can talk while driving, use that phone to call anywhere in the world. Look up any question you might have about anything and get an answer as soon as snapping your finger. I missed Brian Goodwin's first major league hit live as I had a family obligation to take care of. Wednesday night I could go on the Washington National's website and highlights of the game and of course any player getting his first hit ever in the major leagues is a highlight so there is a 30 second clip of the hit.
Major League baseball players and any team sport anywhere teammates have a bond in the case of the major leagues every player knows what it took him to get to the big stage and anytime a teammate has one of those milestones everyone knows what it means to get there. After the sharp single Davey Lopes the National's first base coach asked for the ball and rolled it over to the NATS dugout. Catcher Pedro Severino leaned over the dugout protection scooped it up and jumped up in down celebrating with the ball. Pitcher Max Scherzer took the ball from Severino and already had another ball in his opposite hand and nonchalantly tossed the other ball in the stands as if it was no big deal.
Milesstones are important to all of us. That 16th birthday and getting those driver's license, your first child and for Brian Goodwin being able to say I'm a big leaguer. All his teammates understood the moment and for someone like me who doesn't get to see him much anymore but who had the pleasure to call games on the radio when he played it is a big moment for me too. I still remember the Babe Ruth State Championship game at Stith Park. Brian led off and hit the first pitch over the right field wall an I think it is still floating in the Tar River.
It is easy to understand the excitement from his teammates as they had to go through the same efforts to make it to the big stage. But back here in Rocky Mount he had teammates who went through the sweat with Brian to win Two state titles in Babe Ruth, Southeast Regional titles and a state title in 3-A baseball. Teammates Ben Fish, Gabe Brown, Collins Cuthrell, Grant Johnson, Chris Berry, William Barringer, Jim Leggett, Benton Moss, Dillion Cockrell, Nick Hahula, the Berry twins Matthew and Thomas and so many more who have played with or watched Brian through the years.
Can you even process the thought of how coach Pat Smith feels watching Brian perform? There is no doubt Brian Goodwin has God given talents that through the years coaches have helped develop. Jason Battle, Kent Cox, Travis Ward, Jammie Mitchell and so many more. Each just bust out with a smile any time I have contact with any of them about Brian's progress. Almost on a daily basis Bernie Capps will ask me what did Brian do last night. Can you imagine how many times Bernie Capps has taped Brian Goodwin's ankles? His success means lots to all of us.
Every day for the rest of his professional life all of us who call Rocky Mount and Nash County home will pull for Brian Goodwin to excel. None of us know what his limits will be. There will be many who live and die with every swing of the bat because he belongs to us. He is one of us. He represents us all. He will always now be known as a major leaguer from Rocky Mount North Carolina.
Major League baseball players and any team sport anywhere teammates have a bond in the case of the major leagues every player knows what it took him to get to the big stage and anytime a teammate has one of those milestones everyone knows what it means to get there. After the sharp single Davey Lopes the National's first base coach asked for the ball and rolled it over to the NATS dugout. Catcher Pedro Severino leaned over the dugout protection scooped it up and jumped up in down celebrating with the ball. Pitcher Max Scherzer took the ball from Severino and already had another ball in his opposite hand and nonchalantly tossed the other ball in the stands as if it was no big deal.
Milesstones are important to all of us. That 16th birthday and getting those driver's license, your first child and for Brian Goodwin being able to say I'm a big leaguer. All his teammates understood the moment and for someone like me who doesn't get to see him much anymore but who had the pleasure to call games on the radio when he played it is a big moment for me too. I still remember the Babe Ruth State Championship game at Stith Park. Brian led off and hit the first pitch over the right field wall an I think it is still floating in the Tar River.
It is easy to understand the excitement from his teammates as they had to go through the same efforts to make it to the big stage. But back here in Rocky Mount he had teammates who went through the sweat with Brian to win Two state titles in Babe Ruth, Southeast Regional titles and a state title in 3-A baseball. Teammates Ben Fish, Gabe Brown, Collins Cuthrell, Grant Johnson, Chris Berry, William Barringer, Jim Leggett, Benton Moss, Dillion Cockrell, Nick Hahula, the Berry twins Matthew and Thomas and so many more who have played with or watched Brian through the years.
Can you even process the thought of how coach Pat Smith feels watching Brian perform? There is no doubt Brian Goodwin has God given talents that through the years coaches have helped develop. Jason Battle, Kent Cox, Travis Ward, Jammie Mitchell and so many more. Each just bust out with a smile any time I have contact with any of them about Brian's progress. Almost on a daily basis Bernie Capps will ask me what did Brian do last night. Can you imagine how many times Bernie Capps has taped Brian Goodwin's ankles? His success means lots to all of us.
Every day for the rest of his professional life all of us who call Rocky Mount and Nash County home will pull for Brian Goodwin to excel. None of us know what his limits will be. There will be many who live and die with every swing of the bat because he belongs to us. He is one of us. He represents us all. He will always now be known as a major leaguer from Rocky Mount North Carolina.
Saturday, August 13, 2016
For Two Weeks Sports Dominates The World
I noticed something during the opening ceremonies of the 2016 Olympic Games. When all the countries march out there was no country called ISIS. Each day we hear in the world of some person willing to blow themselves up in the name of ISIS. At least for the 16 days while the Olympics go on the rest of the world takes a vacation from war and sends their sports troops to the field of battle in the Olympics.
When we all are hit with a disaster like a hurricane or tornado we as a country called the USA will ride a motorcycle from Illinois to Rocky Mount to help with recovery from flooding like I saw here in 1999 as I worked at one of those food supply pickup areas in the Mall after Hurricane Floyd. Americans in times of need rally to help each other. Once the disaster is taken care of we fall back in our little hole of self indulgence.
Every four years when we send our athletes to the Olympics all of a sudden it is as if a disaster is about to hit if we don't win a basketball game and we as Americans go ape crazy over winning. You may not know this but the Olympic village for the athletes is not big enough or has any other Olympics been big enough for an athlete to stay in the village all 16 days. The swimmers and track and field have so many people taking part that you much leave the village by the end of two days after your last event. Now that swimming is about over Track and Field athletes are taking over their rooms.
We the Joe average people who at one point in our life tried certain sports and for the most part were never much good at it admire those who excel. Michael Phelps at age 31 racking up metals after only about two years ago his life was in shambles because he had no life without swimming. He has come back and all Americans love people who come back from the grave. Those watching the swimming has anybody noticed a fat winner yet. Swimming uses about all your muscles while in the water. That must be why I feel tire just when I go stand in the shallow end of the pool.
TV makes people seem taller Simone Biles is less than five feet tall. When she is vaulting, walking on that ledge called a beam, flying through the air on the bars or running and flipping and landing on two feet see looks six feet tall. Standing beside an average TV announcer she is a squirt. How can anybody that small jump that high, flip and flop and not be broken into pieces. There is such beauty in what they can do.
There is no doubt Americans look for hero's. The expression on Simone Manuel's face when she looked back at the clock hoping to get on the metal stand only to see her name first was priceless. She becomes the first African American Female to ever win an individual gold metal in any swimming event. Then you watch the tears of joy when that moment when you know I made it.
The final week will be outside when track and field takes over and there will be new hero's to cheer for and metals to be won. TV glorifies winning but for every event there is someone who always finishes fourth and there is no metal to be won. We hear this term all the time PB. Personal best. I have never run faster in my life and I finished fourth. Every person when ever they get out of their body something never before obtained they won whether they got a metal or not.
When we all are hit with a disaster like a hurricane or tornado we as a country called the USA will ride a motorcycle from Illinois to Rocky Mount to help with recovery from flooding like I saw here in 1999 as I worked at one of those food supply pickup areas in the Mall after Hurricane Floyd. Americans in times of need rally to help each other. Once the disaster is taken care of we fall back in our little hole of self indulgence.
Every four years when we send our athletes to the Olympics all of a sudden it is as if a disaster is about to hit if we don't win a basketball game and we as Americans go ape crazy over winning. You may not know this but the Olympic village for the athletes is not big enough or has any other Olympics been big enough for an athlete to stay in the village all 16 days. The swimmers and track and field have so many people taking part that you much leave the village by the end of two days after your last event. Now that swimming is about over Track and Field athletes are taking over their rooms.
We the Joe average people who at one point in our life tried certain sports and for the most part were never much good at it admire those who excel. Michael Phelps at age 31 racking up metals after only about two years ago his life was in shambles because he had no life without swimming. He has come back and all Americans love people who come back from the grave. Those watching the swimming has anybody noticed a fat winner yet. Swimming uses about all your muscles while in the water. That must be why I feel tire just when I go stand in the shallow end of the pool.
TV makes people seem taller Simone Biles is less than five feet tall. When she is vaulting, walking on that ledge called a beam, flying through the air on the bars or running and flipping and landing on two feet see looks six feet tall. Standing beside an average TV announcer she is a squirt. How can anybody that small jump that high, flip and flop and not be broken into pieces. There is such beauty in what they can do.
There is no doubt Americans look for hero's. The expression on Simone Manuel's face when she looked back at the clock hoping to get on the metal stand only to see her name first was priceless. She becomes the first African American Female to ever win an individual gold metal in any swimming event. Then you watch the tears of joy when that moment when you know I made it.
The final week will be outside when track and field takes over and there will be new hero's to cheer for and metals to be won. TV glorifies winning but for every event there is someone who always finishes fourth and there is no metal to be won. We hear this term all the time PB. Personal best. I have never run faster in my life and I finished fourth. Every person when ever they get out of their body something never before obtained they won whether they got a metal or not.
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Hitting Somebody Else
Thursday night at Rocky Mount High school the Gryphon's hosted three other schools varsity and JV programs. 4-A West Johnston had the longest ride traveling their mailing address says Benson but they are near Willow Springs. 2A Goldsboro and Nash County and conference foe the Firebirds of Southern Nash rounded out the fourth team.
The night started off with referee Shannon Davis led the group of refs who were also there for their preseason workouts. Davis talked of the points of emphasis by all crews this season. Points were Clear and white mouth pieces are acceptable this year. All pads must be covered. There will be no exposed pads on any player at any time. There will no clipping on any play. In the past lineman could clip along the line of scrimmage but no more. The final point of emphasis is a rule that I am glad to see. There will be no cussing of any kind on the sidelines by players, coaches and anyone along the sidelines.
Now for the action. Southern Nash varsity went 14 minutes on offense and 14 minutes on defense against Goldsboro. The second segment Rocky Mount went against West Johnston. Both Rocky Mount and Southern switched teams with Goldsboro facing Rocky Mount and West Johnston squaring off against the Firebirds. The third segment Rocky Mount went back against against Goldsboro. The last half hour each team got four downs to make a first down or continue a drive until a score. Then two more teams intermingled.
The results: West Johnston has the best quarterback of the four. They were big across the front and the qb could throw or take off and run very effectively. Their front line on D was also big and hard to move.
Goldsboro: Considering they were the 2A school of the bunch they scored twice again Rocky Mount and once on Southern. Their Defense not as good.
Southern Nash: Big on the offensive and defensive line. Had several big plays on both sides of the ball. Looks as their big question is replacing their quarterback.
Rocky Mount: Moved the ball well while running but several pass plays were jail breaks by the defense. Not only does Rocky Mount need to find a replacement at quarterback but they need to find protection for the new one.
It is very hard in scrimmages to evaluate the progress of and offensive team or defensive unit because there is so much switching in and out of players on each play. There are several players who if they have not got enough practices in so they could not play either.
Impressions: I thought West Johnston was very good. Southern Nash is loaded with good athletes and Rocky Mount's defense popped some leather.
Didn't pay all that much attention to the jv's but Rocky Mount scored a lot.
Rocky Mount will travel to Cardinal Gibbons on Saturday to play South Johnston in the
highschoolot .com jamboree at 5:40 pm. We are now one week away from the first game of the season when they open up hosting South Granville. Please note game time next Friday is 7pm.
The night started off with referee Shannon Davis led the group of refs who were also there for their preseason workouts. Davis talked of the points of emphasis by all crews this season. Points were Clear and white mouth pieces are acceptable this year. All pads must be covered. There will be no exposed pads on any player at any time. There will no clipping on any play. In the past lineman could clip along the line of scrimmage but no more. The final point of emphasis is a rule that I am glad to see. There will be no cussing of any kind on the sidelines by players, coaches and anyone along the sidelines.
Now for the action. Southern Nash varsity went 14 minutes on offense and 14 minutes on defense against Goldsboro. The second segment Rocky Mount went against West Johnston. Both Rocky Mount and Southern switched teams with Goldsboro facing Rocky Mount and West Johnston squaring off against the Firebirds. The third segment Rocky Mount went back against against Goldsboro. The last half hour each team got four downs to make a first down or continue a drive until a score. Then two more teams intermingled.
The results: West Johnston has the best quarterback of the four. They were big across the front and the qb could throw or take off and run very effectively. Their front line on D was also big and hard to move.
Goldsboro: Considering they were the 2A school of the bunch they scored twice again Rocky Mount and once on Southern. Their Defense not as good.
Southern Nash: Big on the offensive and defensive line. Had several big plays on both sides of the ball. Looks as their big question is replacing their quarterback.
Rocky Mount: Moved the ball well while running but several pass plays were jail breaks by the defense. Not only does Rocky Mount need to find a replacement at quarterback but they need to find protection for the new one.
It is very hard in scrimmages to evaluate the progress of and offensive team or defensive unit because there is so much switching in and out of players on each play. There are several players who if they have not got enough practices in so they could not play either.
Impressions: I thought West Johnston was very good. Southern Nash is loaded with good athletes and Rocky Mount's defense popped some leather.
Didn't pay all that much attention to the jv's but Rocky Mount scored a lot.
Rocky Mount will travel to Cardinal Gibbons on Saturday to play South Johnston in the
highschoolot .com jamboree at 5:40 pm. We are now one week away from the first game of the season when they open up hosting South Granville. Please note game time next Friday is 7pm.
Trophy Case Ball For B Good
Baseball has roots that go back to the late 1860's. In all that time baseball has held to many traditions including a pitcher getting the ball when he gets his first strikeout or win. Hitters are given the ball when they hit their first homer or even as simple as their first major League hit.
Wednesday afternoon Brian Goodwin got his first start for the Washington Nationals in a game and he played right field for the injured Bryce Harper. His first at bat was a strike out. His second time up he hit a sharp one hopper to the first baseman. His third trip was a come backer to the pitcher. Finally in the bottom of the eighth Brian Goodwin grounds a ball between the first and second baseman for his first major league.
The good news is two of B Goods at bats he pulled the ball which indicates to me that major league pitching that he is not over matched. Let's see if they let him play today.
Down in the Florida State League Benton Moss stands with 22 appearances and 17 starts so far in his first full season in pro baseball. He has won 7 while being on the losing end eight times but since around the Fourth of July Benton has really pitched well. He has pitched a total of 116 innings and walked only 28 on the season. That is about one walk per four innings and I can assure you from little league to the majors any pitcher who can do that is as good as it gets.
Moss has struck out 103 batters on the season and has one complete game pitched. His ERA is 4.03 but that has been shrinking since The first of July. I don't see any problem with Benton moving up to AA next season.
Collins Cuthrell season continues in Florence Kentucky. Every player dreams of one day reaching the majors. Some it is a long process that never materializes. This is Collins second season in Florence and after a broken arm last year this looks to be his first full season. Unfortunately this season is not developing into a season that makes for careers in baseball.
Collins average has risen to 224 but those are not the numbers that Major League Baseball clubs are looking for when they sign free agents. He has ten home runs and driven in 42 rbi's on 53 hits. He surely has had effective hits per RBI but just not enough hits.
Hobbs Johnson life in baseball this season has been in AA Buloxi Mississippi, home to Rocky Mount after being released by the Brewers and then a car trip to Sioux City Iowa to play for the Explorers.
Hobbs first outing one inning and one run, outing number two only 1/3 of and inning and two runs and a loss.
His third time out was much better going two innings and no runs and a victory to boot. So far his three innings he has given up five hits but the big bug-a-boo is four walks. He needs more outings like his last before the end of the season to attract more major league teams to give him a look.
Tarboro's Todd Gurley in his second NFL camp but first one when he has been an active participant can bee seen this year on the NFL Network football show Hardknocks.
Gryphon football scrimmages tonight at home 6:00 pm.
The good news is two of B Goods at bats he pulled the ball which indicates to me that major league pitching that he is not over matched. Let's see if they let him play today.
Down in the Florida State League Benton Moss stands with 22 appearances and 17 starts so far in his first full season in pro baseball. He has won 7 while being on the losing end eight times but since around the Fourth of July Benton has really pitched well. He has pitched a total of 116 innings and walked only 28 on the season. That is about one walk per four innings and I can assure you from little league to the majors any pitcher who can do that is as good as it gets.
Moss has struck out 103 batters on the season and has one complete game pitched. His ERA is 4.03 but that has been shrinking since The first of July. I don't see any problem with Benton moving up to AA next season.
Collins Cuthrell season continues in Florence Kentucky. Every player dreams of one day reaching the majors. Some it is a long process that never materializes. This is Collins second season in Florence and after a broken arm last year this looks to be his first full season. Unfortunately this season is not developing into a season that makes for careers in baseball.
Collins average has risen to 224 but those are not the numbers that Major League Baseball clubs are looking for when they sign free agents. He has ten home runs and driven in 42 rbi's on 53 hits. He surely has had effective hits per RBI but just not enough hits.
Hobbs Johnson life in baseball this season has been in AA Buloxi Mississippi, home to Rocky Mount after being released by the Brewers and then a car trip to Sioux City Iowa to play for the Explorers.
Hobbs first outing one inning and one run, outing number two only 1/3 of and inning and two runs and a loss.
His third time out was much better going two innings and no runs and a victory to boot. So far his three innings he has given up five hits but the big bug-a-boo is four walks. He needs more outings like his last before the end of the season to attract more major league teams to give him a look.
Tarboro's Todd Gurley in his second NFL camp but first one when he has been an active participant can bee seen this year on the NFL Network football show Hardknocks.
Gryphon football scrimmages tonight at home 6:00 pm.
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Tebow The Baseball Player?
One of the biggest problems in our lives is deciding it is time to Hang'em up. Tim Tebow has not played baseball since high school. Now that for sure his football career is over there are rumors being circulated by his agent that he is looking for a MLB baseball team to try him in baseball.
The last time he played baseball was in high school and I believe he signed a schlorship to play football not baseball. It has to be his agent is just trying to keep his name in the public eye or it is another athlete that is having a hard time with life without sports. Seems to me he could make a good living being a Christian speaker unless in the recent he has back sliden.
Friday is the last day in the career Alex Rodriguez. I don't know if I want to celebrate the end of one of the greatest cheaters of all time or not. Whether PED's extended his career or not there is that point in time that you body just cannot produce the way it use too. I guess one of the great questions of all sports times is why would any team pay a player over thirty years old a huge sum of money for ten years. You are expecting that player to preform at a high level in the late thirties or early forties. No player will play to the worth of their contract.
If you can't get excited by the Olympics you just plain are not American or like sports at all. Watching Michael Phelps the old man of the Olympics with all those cupping rings on his body and his closest competition trying to stare him down.
There has probably been no more emotional moment than when NC State swimmer Ryan Held became overwhelmed on the gold metal stand when he started crying with joy over realizing a dream
That he had worked for his life was completed.
If you can't get excited by the Olympics you just plain are not American or like sports at all. Watching Michael Phelps the old man of the Olympics with all those cupping rings on his body and his closest competition trying to stare him down.
There has probably been no more emotional moment than when NC State swimmer Ryan Held became overwhelmed on the gold metal stand when he started crying with joy over realizing a dream
That he had worked for his life was completed.
If you haven't seen the Gryphon Football team in practice so far this year they will be scrimmaging at home Thursday night starting at 6pm.
Last night Brian Goodwin got his second at bat in the major leagues at he pitched hit in the 7th inning and he struck out. He played the last three innings of his first day in the majors and batted once and hit a fly ball. He never got off the bench in the Sunday game. The Nationsls had a day off Monday and Brian started on the bench Tuesday before the pitch hit.
Both Sunday and again Tuesday the Nationals started a player in centerfield and one in right field both are hitting 210. Now as a fan that would like to see Brian get his chance while he is up in the majors for the so called cup of coffee before they send him back to Syracuse I have to ask. If he earned the right to get his change to get called up why don't you find out what he can do. Surely you already have two players in the lineup that have proven that you have to get somebody better.
Last year when Trea Turner got called up in September he went 0-10 before he got his first hit and look at him now. Give him a chance before you send him back down. Give him a chance on the field in a complete game to get use to what it feels like to play a major league game.
Last night Brian Goodwin got his second at bat in the major leagues at he pitched hit in the 7th inning and he struck out. He played the last three innings of his first day in the majors and batted once and hit a fly ball. He never got off the bench in the Sunday game. The Nationsls had a day off Monday and Brian started on the bench Tuesday before the pitch hit.
Both Sunday and again Tuesday the Nationals started a player in centerfield and one in right field both are hitting 210. Now as a fan that would like to see Brian get his chance while he is up in the majors for the so called cup of coffee before they send him back to Syracuse I have to ask. If he earned the right to get his change to get called up why don't you find out what he can do. Surely you already have two players in the lineup that have proven that you have to get somebody better.
Last year when Trea Turner got called up in September he went 0-10 before he got his first hit and look at him now. Give him a chance before you send him back down. Give him a chance on the field in a complete game to get use to what it feels like to play a major league game.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Battling Bishops Picked 3rd
Rode by the practice field at North Carolina Wesleyan College today and they have installed a big tent on the side of the field so things are getting ready to start popping as Jeff Filkovski begins his fourth year as the head coach of the Battling Bishops.
August the 1st was Media Day in the USA South and the meeting took place in Montgomery Alabama. After all the coaches had their turn in talking about the upcoming season they voted and picked Huntingdon to win the title. Second was Maryville and the Battling Bishops take third.
Coach Filkovski will welcome back to this year's team 73 letterman from last year's team including 19 seniors who we 5-2 last year in conference play. Last year's offensive player of the year Bishops's Malik Adams wide receiver will return and has been voted by D3football.com has listed Adams as a preseason All American.
Adams lead the conference in points scored last season scoring 130. He also caught 72 balls collecting 1309 yards and scored 19 touchdown. It is easy to see why he has been picked as an All American. Can Adams produced the same kind of numbers this year may have something to do with who the quarterback is as that is a spot up for grabs. However there are 15 starters returning on both offensive and defense for the Bishops and it is easy to see why they are picked in the upper division of USA South.
The Bishops open the season on Friday night September second when they travel to Stevenson University in Baltimore County Maryland. September 10th the Bishops open their season at home when they will host the defending National Champions Mount Union who has won 11 DIII national championships. You know the next week will be the Down East Viking Classic and the city of Rocky Mount always brings in extra seating just for the Classic. There is no reason what so ever that the home opener should be the largest crowd ever in NC Wesleyan football history. Let me tell you folks Mount Union is the Notre Dame or Alabama of Division 3 football and who knows this may be the best team to ever visit Rocky Mount.
The remaining home games will come on October 1st when the preseason USA South number one team Huntingdon comes to Bishop Stadium. What more can you look for during the first two home games the best team in the country and the preseason conference number one pick coming here.
There are five home games on the schedule and game three is on October 15th against Methodist and that is home coming and Hall Of Fame weekend. The fourth game will see the arrival of Averett on October 29th. The final home game of the season they will host LaGrange on November 5th. They will finish the regular season on November 12th making a trip to the mountains of Virginia and Ferrum College. If you never have seen a Wesleyan Football game this is the year to see your first as the home schedule has never been better.
August the 1st was Media Day in the USA South and the meeting took place in Montgomery Alabama. After all the coaches had their turn in talking about the upcoming season they voted and picked Huntingdon to win the title. Second was Maryville and the Battling Bishops take third.
Coach Filkovski will welcome back to this year's team 73 letterman from last year's team including 19 seniors who we 5-2 last year in conference play. Last year's offensive player of the year Bishops's Malik Adams wide receiver will return and has been voted by D3football.com has listed Adams as a preseason All American.
Adams lead the conference in points scored last season scoring 130. He also caught 72 balls collecting 1309 yards and scored 19 touchdown. It is easy to see why he has been picked as an All American. Can Adams produced the same kind of numbers this year may have something to do with who the quarterback is as that is a spot up for grabs. However there are 15 starters returning on both offensive and defense for the Bishops and it is easy to see why they are picked in the upper division of USA South.
The Bishops open the season on Friday night September second when they travel to Stevenson University in Baltimore County Maryland. September 10th the Bishops open their season at home when they will host the defending National Champions Mount Union who has won 11 DIII national championships. You know the next week will be the Down East Viking Classic and the city of Rocky Mount always brings in extra seating just for the Classic. There is no reason what so ever that the home opener should be the largest crowd ever in NC Wesleyan football history. Let me tell you folks Mount Union is the Notre Dame or Alabama of Division 3 football and who knows this may be the best team to ever visit Rocky Mount.
The remaining home games will come on October 1st when the preseason USA South number one team Huntingdon comes to Bishop Stadium. What more can you look for during the first two home games the best team in the country and the preseason conference number one pick coming here.
There are five home games on the schedule and game three is on October 15th against Methodist and that is home coming and Hall Of Fame weekend. The fourth game will see the arrival of Averett on October 29th. The final home game of the season they will host LaGrange on November 5th. They will finish the regular season on November 12th making a trip to the mountains of Virginia and Ferrum College. If you never have seen a Wesleyan Football game this is the year to see your first as the home schedule has never been better.
Monday, August 8, 2016
A Glorious Past
Growing up in Ahoskie in the 60's and about the only place you could hear or see about high school sports was the Raleigh News and Observer. We were just too far from Raleigh to follow our sports closely but you could count about seeing Rocky Mount covered.
The football state championship last football season for Rocky Mount High was their 13th team title. Five basketball, four baseball and four football titles. Several of those titles were when Rocky Mount was a 4A school but the last four as a 3A school.
My good friend the Late Charles Alston and I use to argue that to me it didn't matter what level you won you were the best in that level and you would never think, well this is only the 3A title it is not as big as the 4A title would be. Let me ask all of you. The baseball title in 08, basketball titles in 10 and 12 and now the football in 15 has anyone said, gee this is only the 3A state championship.
Since 1990 the Rocky Mount Parks and Rec have won several Tar Heel Little League titles. They won everything put in front of them. Yes there have been times folks had said wish this was Williamsport little league so we could go beyond the state title. Whether you were a player on any of those teams 7/8, 9/10 or 11/12 year old teams and you were parents, grandparents or just people who follow and live in Rocky Mount And support all our teams you are all beaming today in rememberance of winning a state title. I bet you have never said this title would be better if this was the high school team. Winning is winning whatever the age group or sport.
We can't leave out all those Babe Ruth teams when in the first few years of this century we won U 13, U14 state title and three out of four years made it to the semi finals and final in the World Series. This area has really been a good sports area. There is no telling how many high school state titles this area could have won if all those all stars which won little league or Babe Ruth titles all played at the same high school.
Under the category of how lucky can you get. Saw on Facebook Rocky Mount resident Chris Tyndall was in Washington DC Saturday an attended the Nationals game And got to see Brian Goodwin play in his first major league game.
Last Night Rowan County won the American Legion Southeast Regional baseball championships. They now head to the legion World Series in Shelby. Rowan County finished the regular season 21-8 and during the the playoffs are 17-3 including winning the State tournament going 5-0 and 5-0 in the Southeast Regional. The Legion World Series starts Thursday.
The football state championship last football season for Rocky Mount High was their 13th team title. Five basketball, four baseball and four football titles. Several of those titles were when Rocky Mount was a 4A school but the last four as a 3A school.
My good friend the Late Charles Alston and I use to argue that to me it didn't matter what level you won you were the best in that level and you would never think, well this is only the 3A title it is not as big as the 4A title would be. Let me ask all of you. The baseball title in 08, basketball titles in 10 and 12 and now the football in 15 has anyone said, gee this is only the 3A state championship.
Since 1990 the Rocky Mount Parks and Rec have won several Tar Heel Little League titles. They won everything put in front of them. Yes there have been times folks had said wish this was Williamsport little league so we could go beyond the state title. Whether you were a player on any of those teams 7/8, 9/10 or 11/12 year old teams and you were parents, grandparents or just people who follow and live in Rocky Mount And support all our teams you are all beaming today in rememberance of winning a state title. I bet you have never said this title would be better if this was the high school team. Winning is winning whatever the age group or sport.
We can't leave out all those Babe Ruth teams when in the first few years of this century we won U 13, U14 state title and three out of four years made it to the semi finals and final in the World Series. This area has really been a good sports area. There is no telling how many high school state titles this area could have won if all those all stars which won little league or Babe Ruth titles all played at the same high school.
Under the category of how lucky can you get. Saw on Facebook Rocky Mount resident Chris Tyndall was in Washington DC Saturday an attended the Nationals game And got to see Brian Goodwin play in his first major league game.
Last Night Rowan County won the American Legion Southeast Regional baseball championships. They now head to the legion World Series in Shelby. Rowan County finished the regular season 21-8 and during the the playoffs are 17-3 including winning the State tournament going 5-0 and 5-0 in the Southeast Regional. The Legion World Series starts Thursday.
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Finally That Phone Call Comes
He was the 34th player selected in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft and he was in the fast lane to be the starting centerfielder for the Washington Nationals in 2015 but a shoulder injury slowed down his journey. His injury and reduction in performance had Brian Goodwin demoted back to AA in 2015.
Finally injury free Goodwin spent the fall in Venezuela trying to find the mojo to get him back in the good graces of the Washington Nationals. It worked as the Nationals invited Goodwin to play with the big club in Spring Training and he batted 250. He was one of the last to be sent to AAA Syracuse in the spring and so far this season was on the International League All Star team and was hitting 284 with 11 home runs and 25 doubles. Part of Brian's improved batting average has been the reductions of strikeouts per at bat. His minor league career he has averaged about one strikeout per every three at bats but this season it is one in almost five at bats.
Ryan Zimmerman the Nationals first baseman was hit on the hand Sunday and has not played in any game since so Saturday the Nationals placed Zimmerman on the 15 day injury list retroactive to last Sunday. That phone call has finally come for Brian Goodwin. The Nationals announced Goodwin will be a backup outfielder. We have discussed in recent bweeks that Trea Turner since his call up to the Majors has played several positions including centerfield.
It will be interesting to see if Ryan Murphy the National's regular second baseman is moved to first and Turner to second and Goodwin in centerfield. This call up will last until August 15th so whenever he gets a chance he needs to produce.
Tonight at 9:29 pm in the top of the seventh Goodwin replaced Harper in right field. He was the fourth batter due up but in the bottom of the seventh the Nationals went in order. The bottom of the eighth as the lead off batter at 10:03 pm Brian Goodwin first major league at bat was a fly out to right field.
Should another player get injured for the Nationals between now and the 15th Brian just might get an extended stay. The centerfielder that started the season Brian Taylor was demoted about three weeks ago and is not playing very well in Syracuse. Since Taylor has been in Syracuse Goodwin has played right field and and left and has proven he can play all three outfield positions.
Goodwin is the first player from Rocky Mount High School to ever make it to the Major League Baseball and the first player from Rocky Mount since Mike Tyson retired from baseball in 1981 and is only the third player ever from Rocky Mount playing in the Majors. The other was Chuck Hinton who retired from baseball in 1971.
Finally injury free Goodwin spent the fall in Venezuela trying to find the mojo to get him back in the good graces of the Washington Nationals. It worked as the Nationals invited Goodwin to play with the big club in Spring Training and he batted 250. He was one of the last to be sent to AAA Syracuse in the spring and so far this season was on the International League All Star team and was hitting 284 with 11 home runs and 25 doubles. Part of Brian's improved batting average has been the reductions of strikeouts per at bat. His minor league career he has averaged about one strikeout per every three at bats but this season it is one in almost five at bats.
Ryan Zimmerman the Nationals first baseman was hit on the hand Sunday and has not played in any game since so Saturday the Nationals placed Zimmerman on the 15 day injury list retroactive to last Sunday. That phone call has finally come for Brian Goodwin. The Nationals announced Goodwin will be a backup outfielder. We have discussed in recent bweeks that Trea Turner since his call up to the Majors has played several positions including centerfield.
It will be interesting to see if Ryan Murphy the National's regular second baseman is moved to first and Turner to second and Goodwin in centerfield. This call up will last until August 15th so whenever he gets a chance he needs to produce.
Tonight at 9:29 pm in the top of the seventh Goodwin replaced Harper in right field. He was the fourth batter due up but in the bottom of the seventh the Nationals went in order. The bottom of the eighth as the lead off batter at 10:03 pm Brian Goodwin first major league at bat was a fly out to right field.
Should another player get injured for the Nationals between now and the 15th Brian just might get an extended stay. The centerfielder that started the season Brian Taylor was demoted about three weeks ago and is not playing very well in Syracuse. Since Taylor has been in Syracuse Goodwin has played right field and and left and has proven he can play all three outfield positions.
Goodwin is the first player from Rocky Mount High School to ever make it to the Major League Baseball and the first player from Rocky Mount since Mike Tyson retired from baseball in 1981 and is only the third player ever from Rocky Mount playing in the Majors. The other was Chuck Hinton who retired from baseball in 1971.
One Week In The Books
The first week of football practice is over and the shorts will be replaced by shoulder pads and next week you will find out who loves football when the contact gets one on one. By Thursday Rocky Mount will have enough practices under their belt and can hit somebody else as they will host a three team scrimmage at 6:00pm Thursday. Then Saturday they take part in the Highschoolot.com football jamboree which this year is taking place at Cardinal Gibbons High School right across the street from PNC Arena.
14 teams will take part and each will scrimmage one other team and they will have the entire field to cover as in as close to real game conditions as possible for a scrimmage. Rocky Mount will face off with South Johnston a team that they met in the second round of the state playoffs. Their time on the field will begin at 5:40pm. If you plan on going park in the front parking lot in front of the school.
Those of you that can not live without NFL football there is good news in the air. The first scrimmage, practice game what ever you want to call it, the Packers play the Colts Sunday night to start the exhibition season. The Colts and Packers both play five practice games so I doubt there will be anybody that you have ever heard of play.
It is of course the Hall Of Fame game in Canton Ohio. Brett Farve is the headline inductee into the Hall this year and you might Check me on this but Kevin Greene former Carolina Panther linebacker who is third on the all time sack list is heading into the Hall. He is getting in for his years as linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers and LA Rams but in 1996 joined the Carolina Panthers. Just in case you have forgotten Greene was linebacker of the year his one season in Charlotte and made the All Pro Team. That was the second year of the Panthers and they made the playoffs for the first time and beat Dallas in the first round. A contract dispute and Greene signed with the 49'er's in 1997.
The Olympics are officially under way. It is for sure we live in a cell phone world now. Just about every athlete had their cell phones out taking pictures or selfies during the introduction of nations. You know cell phones have only been out about 24 or 25 years. How in the world did we survive before cell phones?
14 teams will take part and each will scrimmage one other team and they will have the entire field to cover as in as close to real game conditions as possible for a scrimmage. Rocky Mount will face off with South Johnston a team that they met in the second round of the state playoffs. Their time on the field will begin at 5:40pm. If you plan on going park in the front parking lot in front of the school.
Those of you that can not live without NFL football there is good news in the air. The first scrimmage, practice game what ever you want to call it, the Packers play the Colts Sunday night to start the exhibition season. The Colts and Packers both play five practice games so I doubt there will be anybody that you have ever heard of play.
It is of course the Hall Of Fame game in Canton Ohio. Brett Farve is the headline inductee into the Hall this year and you might Check me on this but Kevin Greene former Carolina Panther linebacker who is third on the all time sack list is heading into the Hall. He is getting in for his years as linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers and LA Rams but in 1996 joined the Carolina Panthers. Just in case you have forgotten Greene was linebacker of the year his one season in Charlotte and made the All Pro Team. That was the second year of the Panthers and they made the playoffs for the first time and beat Dallas in the first round. A contract dispute and Greene signed with the 49'er's in 1997.
The Olympics are officially under way. It is for sure we live in a cell phone world now. Just about every athlete had their cell phones out taking pictures or selfies during the introduction of nations. You know cell phones have only been out about 24 or 25 years. How in the world did we survive before cell phones?
Friday, August 5, 2016
Olympics Officially Start Tonight
One of the greatest spectacles in sports starts tonight with the opening ceremonies in Rio of the 2016 Olympics. The games started Wednesday when soccer began it's competition. I remember back in 1987 when Raleigh hosted the Sports Festival. July 17 1987 the opening ceremonies were held and Carter Finley Stadium was over flowing with people who came to watch. The festival was a national process when athletes were able to show their skills before the 1988 Olympics.
It is just something about the pageantry of the opening ceremony that attracts people to watch. Hosting such a thing as the festival or Olympics is enormous. The festival is dead and gone from the burden of footing the bill.
Today where the prospects of terror the security to keep the Olympics safe will cost more than the last four Olympics combined and that is just the security. All cities who win the bid to host the Olympics find themselves spending money to improve their subways, streets and general condition of their city to make it shine for about three weeks while the worlds visits them. I suspect that there will be a time when the cost to host the Olympics will be too much for any city to want to host it.
Despite the cost the Olympics bring the world together in peace at least the duration of the Olympics. It is however no longer games played by amateurs just with a desire to compete. We now live in a world that winning at all cost is better that letting some country who cheated with drug enhancement beat us with our amateurs. So we bring our highest paid professionals to win for us.
We will watch tonight and every night as swimming will headline the first few days. Track and Field will be the second week's main event. We will watch because there is something within all of us that we all want to win. When we hear the stories who had to overcome to be in Rio we will pull for them as they will have become our new heroes. Most of all we will admire those who have the ability to run fast, swim,vault, jump, and throw. We will be thrilled when someone from the USA wins an event and they stand the highest on the podium and they play the National Anthem and we all swell with pride as if that person who won was kin to us. They really are as we are all Americans. Let the games begin.
It is just something about the pageantry of the opening ceremony that attracts people to watch. Hosting such a thing as the festival or Olympics is enormous. The festival is dead and gone from the burden of footing the bill.
Today where the prospects of terror the security to keep the Olympics safe will cost more than the last four Olympics combined and that is just the security. All cities who win the bid to host the Olympics find themselves spending money to improve their subways, streets and general condition of their city to make it shine for about three weeks while the worlds visits them. I suspect that there will be a time when the cost to host the Olympics will be too much for any city to want to host it.
Despite the cost the Olympics bring the world together in peace at least the duration of the Olympics. It is however no longer games played by amateurs just with a desire to compete. We now live in a world that winning at all cost is better that letting some country who cheated with drug enhancement beat us with our amateurs. So we bring our highest paid professionals to win for us.
We will watch tonight and every night as swimming will headline the first few days. Track and Field will be the second week's main event. We will watch because there is something within all of us that we all want to win. When we hear the stories who had to overcome to be in Rio we will pull for them as they will have become our new heroes. Most of all we will admire those who have the ability to run fast, swim,vault, jump, and throw. We will be thrilled when someone from the USA wins an event and they stand the highest on the podium and they play the National Anthem and we all swell with pride as if that person who won was kin to us. They really are as we are all Americans. Let the games begin.
Thursday, August 4, 2016
High Schools Sports Cranking Up
It is only the first week of August and every high school in the area is preparing in every sport to crank up the real games for August 15th start. Football of course has scrimmages line up before the August 19th first football game.
August 10 Northern Nash has a scrimmage at Lee County.
Southern Nash will be at Rocky Mount along with a third team and will scrimmage August 11th at 6pm.
August 15th boys soccer season starts when Northern Nash visits Bunn. Rocky Mount travels to Rose.
August 16th Southern Nash skips over to Bunn while North Pitt open soccer season at Nash Central.
Volleyball season begins August 15th when Southern Nash visits Smithfield Selma.
Conley visits Northern Nash on the 16th
Rocky Mount has a home match with Ayden Grifton at 5pm on the 19th just before the football team on Friday at home against South Granville.
Rocky Mount Academy begins the second season under Terrell Hudgins as they host Bethel Christian from Kinston. This is a non conference game for the Eagles. Football being the so called money making sport that help supplement all the other sports will not conclude the regular season until the First Friday night in November. By that time Cross Crountry, Tennis, Volleyball and soccer wil be well into their playoffs before football even starts the playoffs.
The biggest regular season football game in the history of North Carolina Wesleyan College will be the home opener for the Battling Bishops on September 10th. They will host the Division III defending National Champions Mount Union. It will be the second game Of the season as the Bishops open the season September 2nd at Stevenson.
August 10 Northern Nash has a scrimmage at Lee County.
Southern Nash will be at Rocky Mount along with a third team and will scrimmage August 11th at 6pm.
August 15th boys soccer season starts when Northern Nash visits Bunn. Rocky Mount travels to Rose.
August 16th Southern Nash skips over to Bunn while North Pitt open soccer season at Nash Central.
Volleyball season begins August 15th when Southern Nash visits Smithfield Selma.
Conley visits Northern Nash on the 16th
Rocky Mount has a home match with Ayden Grifton at 5pm on the 19th just before the football team on Friday at home against South Granville.
Rocky Mount Academy begins the second season under Terrell Hudgins as they host Bethel Christian from Kinston. This is a non conference game for the Eagles. Football being the so called money making sport that help supplement all the other sports will not conclude the regular season until the First Friday night in November. By that time Cross Crountry, Tennis, Volleyball and soccer wil be well into their playoffs before football even starts the playoffs.
The biggest regular season football game in the history of North Carolina Wesleyan College will be the home opener for the Battling Bishops on September 10th. They will host the Division III defending National Champions Mount Union. It will be the second game Of the season as the Bishops open the season September 2nd at Stevenson.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
The Fog is Clearing
Yesterday on this blog I mention that Britt Johnson had been named the Interim baseball coach at Lander. This all came about one day last week and I had been holding off saying anything at all until I knew for sure where interim stood in Britt Johnson case.
You would think interim means you will fill in until Lander decides what direction they will go to find a new coach. After serving with Kermit Smith at Lander and the Bearcats having made the College World Series two of the last three years Kermit Smith was a hot commodity and Division One teams hoping to improved their baseball program came looking. Kermit Smith was scooped up by Appalachian State University.
Any time any team is successful it is not only the head coach but those who work for him as well as players who make it all work. You would think the coach would bring his staff with him since he is familiar with their work ethic.
So in order to make sure Lander is not left out to dry Britt has acted as head coach waiting for Lander to decide which way they would go. They also had schedule baseball camps that needed to be taken care of. I can tell you Lander has been silent the last few days with no information at all coming from them since the announcement that Britt was named interim coach.
The waiting is over. Tuesday Kermit Smith announced on Twitter that "Baseball" Britt Johnson will be joining his staff at App State. Too early to say which assistants job it is right now but we can now say that "Baseball will be coaching D1 Baseball. WAY TO GO "BASEBALL".
The University of North Carolina has responded to the allegations which have been hanging over campus for nearly five years from the NCAA. I haven't read any of pages but it doesn't appear Carolina is not admitting to too much.
Any time any team is successful it is not only the head coach but those who work for him as well as players who make it all work. You would think the coach would bring his staff with him since he is familiar with their work ethic.
So in order to make sure Lander is not left out to dry Britt has acted as head coach waiting for Lander to decide which way they would go. They also had schedule baseball camps that needed to be taken care of. I can tell you Lander has been silent the last few days with no information at all coming from them since the announcement that Britt was named interim coach.
The waiting is over. Tuesday Kermit Smith announced on Twitter that "Baseball" Britt Johnson will be joining his staff at App State. Too early to say which assistants job it is right now but we can now say that "Baseball will be coaching D1 Baseball. WAY TO GO "BASEBALL".
The University of North Carolina has responded to the allegations which have been hanging over campus for nearly five years from the NCAA. I haven't read any of pages but it doesn't appear Carolina is not admitting to too much.
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Trade Deadline Passes
The Washington Nationals went out over the weekend and picked up their top priority a closer to go with what might be the best starting rotation in the National League. They did it without giving up one top prospect or main line player. The result Brian Goodwin is still property of the Washington Nationals playing in Syracuse New York.
Syracuse is in last place in the International League so I would suspect the first chance now for Brian Goodwin to make it to the Major Leagues will come in September when AAA players get called up and Brian is on the Nationals 40 man roster.
Hobbs Johnson pitched one inning over the weekend playing for his new team the Sioux City Explorers. He gave up one run on two hits. He hasn't pitched in over a month since being cut by the Milwaukee Brewers. He just joined Sioux City Thursday so to pitch one inning is a big step in his effort to get picked up by another major league team.
Britt Johnson was named the interim head baseball coach of Lander University. Britt has come a long way in a short time from being a high school baseball player who only had two at bats in his high school career and got one hit.
He coached Babe Ruth while in college and was assistant at Nash Central and helped with Post 58. He went to Lander without a job to be a Volunteer. He has done every dirty job that had to be done. His dedication to want to be a college baseball coach paid off when he became a paid assistant for Kermit Smith. The last three years he has been assistant and third base coach.
I am not sure whether there is a search for a head coach or whether Britt will be the head coach for next year which if that happens will be a trial to make it a permanent arrangement. Regardless Britt has earned his chance and good luck as Lander Baseball goes toward.
Highschoolot.com is expanding their high school coverage this high school football season and they have come out with their top 15 for this year in the WRAL.TV viewing area. Middle Creek is number one, Rocky Mount is 7th and Tarboro 9th in their preseason forecast.
I don't really get into all the hype when players are rated high and are going to be the next great college player. I want to see them in action and the same in preseason polls about how good teams are going to be. I know you can look at what players did last year and how many are coming back and be hopeful about the coming season. One injury or one player not fitting in can cause a team never to reach potential.
Britt Johnson was named the interim head baseball coach of Lander University. Britt has come a long way in a short time from being a high school baseball player who only had two at bats in his high school career and got one hit.
He coached Babe Ruth while in college and was assistant at Nash Central and helped with Post 58. He went to Lander without a job to be a Volunteer. He has done every dirty job that had to be done. His dedication to want to be a college baseball coach paid off when he became a paid assistant for Kermit Smith. The last three years he has been assistant and third base coach.
I am not sure whether there is a search for a head coach or whether Britt will be the head coach for next year which if that happens will be a trial to make it a permanent arrangement. Regardless Britt has earned his chance and good luck as Lander Baseball goes toward.
Highschoolot.com is expanding their high school coverage this high school football season and they have come out with their top 15 for this year in the WRAL.TV viewing area. Middle Creek is number one, Rocky Mount is 7th and Tarboro 9th in their preseason forecast.
I don't really get into all the hype when players are rated high and are going to be the next great college player. I want to see them in action and the same in preseason polls about how good teams are going to be. I know you can look at what players did last year and how many are coming back and be hopeful about the coming season. One injury or one player not fitting in can cause a team never to reach potential.
Monday, August 1, 2016
It Is ECU's Time
Those of you that were around in the mid 1970's know that probably one of the greatest College administrators Of his time was Leo Jenkins at East Carolina University. He had the audacity to
ask for a medical school for Eastern North Carolina.
Those in Raleigh and Chapel Hill fought tooth and nail to keep it from happening but just maybe the tilt in ECU's favor was NC State scratching ECU's back that if we get a Veterinary school we will vote for you to get a medical school. Down right politics at it's best. At the time ECU was just one of the other schools in the UNC system.
Today Pitt Memorial no longer but Vidant is now the epicenter of medicine in Eastern North Carolina. One square mile from the hospital medical clinics are every where. The city of Greenville has gone from a town about the size of Kinston 15,000 to over taking Rocky Mount as it hits 60,00 and still growing.
Today ECU no longer just one of the other UNC campus's to the second largest in the system. It will probably be hard to pass NC State in the number of students because ECU is about out of real estate while State has lots of acreage in the centennial campus left untouched.
Many years now ECU has begged the ACC for membership. The TV set world the ACC needed and already with four schools in state what could ECU give to the ACC. So the Pirate nation has gone to anybody in any conference that would have them.
Both candidates running for governor looking votes have both sent letters to the Big 12 and giving their thumbs up for ECU admission. There are 22 Power Five conferences schools smaller than ECU. There are not many that have grown at the rate ECU has.
ECU has a top rate football stadium filled every Saturday. Not many baseball teams play in any thing better than the Pirates. Basketball has never got out of the shadow of the Triangle but the Big 12 is a football conference first so the Pirates could hold their own.
ECU has played second fiddle long enough. It's time for the Power Five for ECU!!!!! Texas and Oklahoma the Pirates need your votes. If they come ECU's way everyone else in the Big 12 will follow.
ask for a medical school for Eastern North Carolina.
Those in Raleigh and Chapel Hill fought tooth and nail to keep it from happening but just maybe the tilt in ECU's favor was NC State scratching ECU's back that if we get a Veterinary school we will vote for you to get a medical school. Down right politics at it's best. At the time ECU was just one of the other schools in the UNC system.
Today Pitt Memorial no longer but Vidant is now the epicenter of medicine in Eastern North Carolina. One square mile from the hospital medical clinics are every where. The city of Greenville has gone from a town about the size of Kinston 15,000 to over taking Rocky Mount as it hits 60,00 and still growing.
Today ECU no longer just one of the other UNC campus's to the second largest in the system. It will probably be hard to pass NC State in the number of students because ECU is about out of real estate while State has lots of acreage in the centennial campus left untouched.
Many years now ECU has begged the ACC for membership. The TV set world the ACC needed and already with four schools in state what could ECU give to the ACC. So the Pirate nation has gone to anybody in any conference that would have them.
Both candidates running for governor looking votes have both sent letters to the Big 12 and giving their thumbs up for ECU admission. There are 22 Power Five conferences schools smaller than ECU. There are not many that have grown at the rate ECU has.
ECU has a top rate football stadium filled every Saturday. Not many baseball teams play in any thing better than the Pirates. Basketball has never got out of the shadow of the Triangle but the Big 12 is a football conference first so the Pirates could hold their own.
ECU has played second fiddle long enough. It's time for the Power Five for ECU!!!!! Texas and Oklahoma the Pirates need your votes. If they come ECU's way everyone else in the Big 12 will follow.
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