Gryphons Baseball Begins With Shutout

The Rocky Mount Gryphons opened their 2017 baseball season at home hosting the Yellow Jackets of Roanoke Rapids.  Pat Smith needs to find pitching to go along with NC State signee David Harrison.  For one game at least he May have found one.

Freshman Ben Sieracki got the start went four innings allowed only two hits bunts with no one covering first. The top of the third was his only stress and it was from no cause from Sieracki.  A leadoff error followed by a bunt with no one on first put runners on first and second with no outs. Another bunt fielders choice was out at third.  Another bunt left open first base to load the bases. A ground ball to third and a force play at the plate for out number two and a strike out ended the only Yellow Jacket threat all day.

Sieracki went four innings  giving up two hits walking only  one striking out six. David Harrison pitched the final three innings going nine up and nine down  striking out five.

Rocky Mount plated a single run in the second after one out Jake Philbeck singled to left and made it to third after the ball went though the legs of the fielder. The next batter Jamar Ellis floated a single that dropped in front of the left fielder but a super throw by the left fielder Tommy Bradley cut down Philbeck at the plate. The next batter Zack Keeter cracked a single who drove in Ellis who was on second on the throw that nailed Philbeck at home.

The Gryphons struck for their second run in the third after a single by Josh Pittman and a double by David Harrison. Isaiah Stewart deliver a sac fly to left to score Pittman. The Gryphons got 7 hits.  Two by Pittman, double by Harrison, singles by Jake Philbeck, Zack Keeter, Jamar Ellis and Lane Butler.

The Gryphons win their opener 2-0

Now the basketball playoffs.

The Knights of Northern Nash have won  three times at home by very close scores. They have won despite nagging injuries. The idea by not playing Darius Spradley in the Big East Tournament has paid off for Henry Drake.  I hope all those nagging injuries have healed because now only the strong survive.

Eastern Guilford 27-3 and winners of 20 games in a row and sport a team that has ten players over six feet tall.  EG averages 69 points per game while Northern counters at 71.  This game has all the ingredients of a run and gun high scoring game.

Eastern Guilford 27-3 @ Northern Nash 25-3.  Eastern Guilford is the third seed from the East while Northern Nash is the top seed.  The home crowd was Great Saturday night and the Knight support team needs to be louder Tuesday.

The Lady Gryphons have enjoyed three homes games and in all three their second half defense has led to comfortable wins.  Now on the road for the first time they will face a huge height disadvantage as the Nighthawks star player stands six feet five and they have seven players on the roster least as tall as the tallest Gryphons.

This will be a game of can the Gryphons pressing defense stop the Nighthawks even before they get near the foul line.  If they can get it inside it will be a long night for the Gryphons.  Rocky Mount must have their best defensive game of the year

Rocky Mount 22-3 @ Northern Guilford 28-1:  The Nighthawks leading scorer is Elissa Cunane who banks in 20.4 points per night and hauls down 11.9 rebounds.  She stands 6' 5".  The only other double digit scorer comes from Kassie Robakiewicz at 11.4. They score 65 points a game  and that averages that they have won every game by 29 points holding the other side to 36.

The Gryphons score 56 on average and rely on their defense holding their foes to 33.  Keyanna Spivey at 5' 9" scores 21.1 and grabs 9.2 missed shots per game. Michelle Gainey scores at 10.2.  Spivey must stay out of foul trouble and the Gryphons outside shooters must be hot.  The defense must cause 20 turnover or more to stay in this game.