Slugfest Heartache

Rocky Mount has not beaten Rose High in baseball since March 17th 2011.  Coming into today's game with the Rampants that would be eight losses in a row to the 4-a high school in Greenville.  Today in Rocky Mount the Gryphons had every chance in the world to stop the streak.  In fact twice it was down to one pitch from winning but the Rampants put five on the scoreboard in the 7th inning to beat Rocky Mount 11-9.

Let's see if we can keep up with how this one transpired.  David Harrison started on the mound for the Gryphons but Rose struck for two in the first on three hits and led 2-0 in first. Rocky Mount responded getting two hits and cutting lead to two one.

Harrison manage to keep the Rampants off the board in the second and Rocky Mount responded by scoring two in the bottom of the second to lead 3-2. Short lived lead however as Rose scored twice on two hits and two walks in the third.

The first two batters for Rocky Mount got hits but a double play killed a promising inning.  Rose plated two in the fourth on a single hit and an error.  The bottom of the fourth the Gryphons got three hits and failed to score.

Forest Bell came in relief in the top of the fifth and  struck out two of the three batters and went three up and three down. Rocky Mount plated two runs on three hits but the play of the game occurred with the bases load nobody out.  Isaiah Stewart hits a line drive probably didn't get two feet off the ground.  Rampant third baseman Lanier Eveleth makes a diving catch and falls across the third base bag doubling up the Gryphon runner on third.  No telling how many runs may have scored if that ball winds up in the corner for a double. It's 6-5 after five.

Bell once again struck out two of the three batters he faces and the Gryphons  batting in the bottom of the sixth.  The Gryphons plate four runs on three hits and Rose helped with an error to give the Gryphons a 9-6 game going to the 7th .

A walk and a double the Rampant cut it to two with no outs.  Two walks later the bases are loaded still nobody out.  Some how or other the Gryphons managed to get two out with the bases loaded with the score 9-8.  Got it down to two strikes when Greg Hardison laced a hard grounded over the first  base bag and before he stops at second with a double all three base runners score.

One pitch away at yet a mile Rose beats Rocky Mount again 11-9.  Rocky Mount outhit Rose 14-10 but big plays on defense was the difference right when the Rampants had to have a play.. Greg Hardison had three hits and the big three RBI.

Logan Pearce led the Gryphons with three hits two RBI.  Jake Philbeck two hits, David Harrison two hits, Zack Keeter two hits,Will Hedgepeth two hits.   Forest Bell's lone hit drove home two. Isaiah Stewart had a single and two RBI and Josh Pittman had the 14th hit.

This will either be the game that everyone saw Rocky Mount might be strong in conference play or the game that the writing is on the wall that the Gryphons don't have enough pitching.