If you love those baseball games where the pitchers are in control then you needed to be at Rocky Mount tonight. Southern Nash pitcher Trevor Mills pitches a gem. Six innings three hits,eight strike outs and two base on balls. Rocky Mount did not have base runner past the third inning.
Freshman Ben Seracki was on the bump for the Gryphons and by the sixth inning Gryphons fans were thinking back when another freshman toed the rubber for the Gryphons in the Eastern finals against DH Conley and pitch the Gryphons into the state championship series. That freshman was Benton Moss back in 2008. Seracki peers toward home just over his glove just like Benton. In fact their stature is very similar.
Seracki goes seven allows three hits, walked one an one runner reached on and error. Only five Firebirds reached base. Gryphon third baseman Spencer Ramsey tripled in the first and the very next batter Jarmar Ellis singled to left to drive in the only run of the game.
Ramsey would single in the third. Southern three hits came from Ryan Marlowe a double in the second. Dawson Sikes double in sixth and a two out bloop single by Jason Montique in the 7th.
Rocky Mount jumps to 3-1 with a home game Saturday against Tarboro. Southern Nash drops to 2-2 after having lost 10-9 to Hunt Tuesday and tonight 1-0.
There must have been heavy air or something in the air. At Hunt tonight they beat Nash Central 1-0. Hunt goes 4-0 in Big East play while Nash Central falls to 1-3
Fike hosted Northern Nash and Fike evens their conference record at 2-2 beating Northern Nash 7-4. The Knights still search for conference victory number one.
Found out tonight from Tom and Ashley Moss that Benton Moss is injured and will not break spring training camp when all the minor league players go their seperate ways. He will stay in Port Charlotte Florida the spring training of the Tampa Rays and rehab his injury. Looks at least three weeks at best.
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Big Tilt Tonight
Gary Dornberg the long time Colorman on NC State sports ask Jim Valvano many years ago during a pregame interview he said to Valvano something like this. Coach tonight is a big game. Valvano response was the more you win the bigger the next game.
The Big East baseball season is 30 percent complete. Hunt, Southern Nash and Rocky Mount are the three teams with winning records and right now the best chances to make the playoffs.
The Big game tonight is Southern Nash 2-1 9-3 @ Rocky Mount 2-1 6-3. For one a loss will drop them back to the pack while the winner will be no worse than second. Southern has scored 17 runs in the three conference tilts while Rocky Mount 9 runs. Up up until Tuesday night The Firebird pitching had been solid. Rocky Mount is struggling to score. Will Southern pitching return or will Rocky Mount find a way to score.
Hunt has a full length lead but they played a non conference game Wednesday. Their defense has been so so but their hitting they sure have pounded the ball. Nash Central 1-2 travels to Hunt 3-0. Nash Central is averaging the second most runs during conference play. Can they out score Hunt to get back into the playoff picture.
Fike 1-2 @ Northern Nash 0-3: Fike has scored 10 runs while giving up 11. It is easy to see the Knight's biggest issue. Scoring runs only four in three game. They need the bats to come alive. Pitching has been decent. Fike needs a win to stay in contention while Northern wants to be in contention.
Cheerleaders are two sports performers in football and basketball season and since basketball season has ended the Big east recently announced the Big East All Conference cheerleading team.
Northern Nash: Hayley Thomas-Keilah Moore-Princess Anstead-Princess Henderson:
Hunt: Abria Blount- Katilyn Kirby- Alexis Bailey
Southern Nash: Cierra Jernigan- Kayleigh Denton-Kasie Webb
Rocky Mount: Yattrell- Quaneshia Hardy
Fike: Brittany Mitchell- Payton Galloway
Nash Central: Promise Atkinson
Cheerleader of the year: Destini Morton Rocky Mount
Coach of the year : Danielle Boyette Northern Nash
The Big East baseball season is 30 percent complete. Hunt, Southern Nash and Rocky Mount are the three teams with winning records and right now the best chances to make the playoffs.
The Big game tonight is Southern Nash 2-1 9-3 @ Rocky Mount 2-1 6-3. For one a loss will drop them back to the pack while the winner will be no worse than second. Southern has scored 17 runs in the three conference tilts while Rocky Mount 9 runs. Up up until Tuesday night The Firebird pitching had been solid. Rocky Mount is struggling to score. Will Southern pitching return or will Rocky Mount find a way to score.
Hunt has a full length lead but they played a non conference game Wednesday. Their defense has been so so but their hitting they sure have pounded the ball. Nash Central 1-2 travels to Hunt 3-0. Nash Central is averaging the second most runs during conference play. Can they out score Hunt to get back into the playoff picture.
Fike 1-2 @ Northern Nash 0-3: Fike has scored 10 runs while giving up 11. It is easy to see the Knight's biggest issue. Scoring runs only four in three game. They need the bats to come alive. Pitching has been decent. Fike needs a win to stay in contention while Northern wants to be in contention.
Cheerleaders are two sports performers in football and basketball season and since basketball season has ended the Big east recently announced the Big East All Conference cheerleading team.
Northern Nash: Hayley Thomas-Keilah Moore-Princess Anstead-Princess Henderson:
Hunt: Abria Blount- Katilyn Kirby- Alexis Bailey
Southern Nash: Cierra Jernigan- Kayleigh Denton-Kasie Webb
Rocky Mount: Yattrell- Quaneshia Hardy
Fike: Brittany Mitchell- Payton Galloway
Nash Central: Promise Atkinson
Cheerleader of the year: Destini Morton Rocky Mount
Coach of the year : Danielle Boyette Northern Nash
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Three One Run Games
The battle for first place in Big East baseball took place at Hunt High School as the Firebirds of Southern Nash and the Warriors met both 2-0 after the first week of Big East Play.
The Firebirds took advantage of two first inning walks. A double steal saw an over throw of third by the Hunt catcher and the Firebirds take the first lead 1-0.
The top of the third Southern strikes again scoring five runs and the Hunt Defense helps out with two errors to give the Birds extra outs in the inning and they lead 6-0 in in the third.
This is the Big East battle for first place and Hunt is not going quietly striking back with five runs themselves in the 3rd to cut the Firebirds lead to 6-5. The bottom of the fourth they strike again for three more runs to seize an 8-6 lead through four innings. They add two more in the fifth and look to have control but Southern in not done they cut the lead to 10-9 and have the tying run on but Hunt prevails 10-9.
Over in down town Wilson Rocky Mount visited Fike both 1-1 in their two conference games and pitching was the force of the night. David Harrison took to the hill for the Gryphons while Ray Melton tossed for the Golden Demons.
When the last pitch had been thrown David Harrison shuts out Fike 1-0. The Gryphons waited to the top of the seventh to score their lone run. How does the winning run get on base David Harrison walks? Ben Seracki gets a hit and Zack Keeter drives the first and proves to be the only run with a hit.
Harrison allows five hits while Melton gave up three and two came in the 7th. Harrison hit one batter and walked one and the Gryphons did not commit and error. Melton walked two batters and the Fike defense committed one error but it had nothing to do with the Grypbon score. Zack Keeter had two hits on the night.
The two Big East teams looking for their first wins in conference play squared off at Nash Central as Northern Nash ventured across highway 64 and the Bulldogs won 3-2 to tie Fike at 1-2. Northern falls to 0-3.
The Firebirds took advantage of two first inning walks. A double steal saw an over throw of third by the Hunt catcher and the Firebirds take the first lead 1-0.
The top of the third Southern strikes again scoring five runs and the Hunt Defense helps out with two errors to give the Birds extra outs in the inning and they lead 6-0 in in the third.
This is the Big East battle for first place and Hunt is not going quietly striking back with five runs themselves in the 3rd to cut the Firebirds lead to 6-5. The bottom of the fourth they strike again for three more runs to seize an 8-6 lead through four innings. They add two more in the fifth and look to have control but Southern in not done they cut the lead to 10-9 and have the tying run on but Hunt prevails 10-9.
Over in down town Wilson Rocky Mount visited Fike both 1-1 in their two conference games and pitching was the force of the night. David Harrison took to the hill for the Gryphons while Ray Melton tossed for the Golden Demons.
When the last pitch had been thrown David Harrison shuts out Fike 1-0. The Gryphons waited to the top of the seventh to score their lone run. How does the winning run get on base David Harrison walks? Ben Seracki gets a hit and Zack Keeter drives the first and proves to be the only run with a hit.
Harrison allows five hits while Melton gave up three and two came in the 7th. Harrison hit one batter and walked one and the Gryphons did not commit and error. Melton walked two batters and the Fike defense committed one error but it had nothing to do with the Grypbon score. Zack Keeter had two hits on the night.
The two Big East teams looking for their first wins in conference play squared off at Nash Central as Northern Nash ventured across highway 64 and the Bulldogs won 3-2 to tie Fike at 1-2. Northern falls to 0-3.
Week Two Top To Bottom
Interesting week in front of all Big East teams as the only unbeaten teams meet. The two in the middle collide and the two looking for their first conference wins meet each other.
Southern Nash took advantage of two home games last week winning both to start out 2-0 and they have the best overall record at 9-2. They are lead by Hunter Perry who has 15 rbi of the 75 runs they have scored. They hit the road for the first time heading to Hunt who won twice last week on the road 2-0 5-4. Both road games they gave up just one run while crossing the plate 12 times. If they keep up those type numbers will be hard for anybody to beat them.
Rocky Mount had two home games last week splitting. They have scored 8 runs while giving up 13. The Gryphons 1-1 5-3 head to Fike 1-1 5-5. You may remember last years game at Fike was washed out at Fike and moved to Fleming Stadium. While Rocky Mount played in the field in the bottom of the first it starting raining during the Gryphons warm-up and by just a few minutes puddles of water were on the mound and at shortstop and they kept playing until Fike scored seven times. One of the great hose jobs I've ever seen.
Northern Nash 0-2 4-6 at Nash Central 0-2 6-7.. Nash Central lost Both games last week on the road. They could not steal a win on the road that every team needs to protect a slip up at home. Northern Nash had scored but two runs while allowing 11 in the first two games.
Southern Nash had a very good week as the girls go 2-0 last week. They threw two shutouts winning both games 10-0. They are motoring over to Hunt who themselves were impressive winning both their games by a 33-2 score something will have to give in this one.
Rocky Mount's. Good beginning has fallen back since conference started getting out scored 42-10. The Gryphons 0-2 hit the road to Fike 1-1 5-4
Northern Nash 0-2 3-7 head to Nash Central 1-1 3-6.. Both these teams overall record doesn't tell the story of who has the advantage in this one.
Brian Goodwin's spring training batting average of 114 was not good enough to make the opening day roster of the Washington Nationals. Sunday Brian was optioned to AAA Syracuse. Syracuse where he will begin the season where he started last season until getting called up twice during the season. He now must be one of the leaders in Syracuse so if and when that injury puts some outfielder or bench player gets injured he is the first call up from Syracuse.
Southern Nash took advantage of two home games last week winning both to start out 2-0 and they have the best overall record at 9-2. They are lead by Hunter Perry who has 15 rbi of the 75 runs they have scored. They hit the road for the first time heading to Hunt who won twice last week on the road 2-0 5-4. Both road games they gave up just one run while crossing the plate 12 times. If they keep up those type numbers will be hard for anybody to beat them.
Rocky Mount had two home games last week splitting. They have scored 8 runs while giving up 13. The Gryphons 1-1 5-3 head to Fike 1-1 5-5. You may remember last years game at Fike was washed out at Fike and moved to Fleming Stadium. While Rocky Mount played in the field in the bottom of the first it starting raining during the Gryphons warm-up and by just a few minutes puddles of water were on the mound and at shortstop and they kept playing until Fike scored seven times. One of the great hose jobs I've ever seen.
Northern Nash 0-2 4-6 at Nash Central 0-2 6-7.. Nash Central lost Both games last week on the road. They could not steal a win on the road that every team needs to protect a slip up at home. Northern Nash had scored but two runs while allowing 11 in the first two games.
Southern Nash had a very good week as the girls go 2-0 last week. They threw two shutouts winning both games 10-0. They are motoring over to Hunt who themselves were impressive winning both their games by a 33-2 score something will have to give in this one.
Rocky Mount's. Good beginning has fallen back since conference started getting out scored 42-10. The Gryphons 0-2 hit the road to Fike 1-1 5-4
Northern Nash 0-2 3-7 head to Nash Central 1-1 3-6.. Both these teams overall record doesn't tell the story of who has the advantage in this one.
Brian Goodwin's spring training batting average of 114 was not good enough to make the opening day roster of the Washington Nationals. Sunday Brian was optioned to AAA Syracuse. Syracuse where he will begin the season where he started last season until getting called up twice during the season. He now must be one of the leaders in Syracuse so if and when that injury puts some outfielder or bench player gets injured he is the first call up from Syracuse.
Sunday, March 26, 2017
20th Final Four
It was the second match up on the season and both were classics. December was a run and gun affair with three pointers flying. The first half Sunday the Tar Heels closed off the inside and Kentucky never had the lead.
The Heels were not quite as good holding down the penetration in the second half and found themselves trailing 64-59 with four minutes to play and Roy Williams went to a zone defense three straight trips and before the Carolina run ended they led 69-64
Kentucky was not dead and tied the score at 71. Carolina holding for the last shot found themselves putting the ball in Luke Mayes hands who was in the game because he was having the game of his life and playing better than Isaiah Hicks. One foot across the three point line Maye hits the shot to send Carolina to their 20th final four.
Carolina 75-73 over Kentucky. Carolina will get a shot at the title that they lost at the buzzer last year.
Carolina will play Oregon making their second trip to the final four but the first since the first final four in 1939. They will play the first game Saturday. Two teams making their first trips ever are South Carolina and Gonzaga.
Under the category of what a weekend Jarrett Mobley a freshman at UNC Pembroke who last year at this time was playing for SouthWest Edgecombe had what you would call a rather nice weekend.
Pembroke playing North Georgia the top team in the league came to Pembroke and Mobley on Friday went 4-4 two home runs and drove in 7 runs. Saturday he went 4 for 5 with and RBI. Today he just went 1-3 with and RBI. For the weekend Pembroke won two of three with Mobley going 9-12 two homers and 9 RBI. Sounds like Peachtree Conference player of the week to me.
Hobbs Johnson went south to spring training trying to latch on with any team that would give him a chance after he was released by The Milwaukee Brewers in July. Unable to find a team he has returned home and is helping on Cameron Ramsey's staff at Rocky Mount Academy.
The Heels were not quite as good holding down the penetration in the second half and found themselves trailing 64-59 with four minutes to play and Roy Williams went to a zone defense three straight trips and before the Carolina run ended they led 69-64
Kentucky was not dead and tied the score at 71. Carolina holding for the last shot found themselves putting the ball in Luke Mayes hands who was in the game because he was having the game of his life and playing better than Isaiah Hicks. One foot across the three point line Maye hits the shot to send Carolina to their 20th final four.
Carolina 75-73 over Kentucky. Carolina will get a shot at the title that they lost at the buzzer last year.
Carolina will play Oregon making their second trip to the final four but the first since the first final four in 1939. They will play the first game Saturday. Two teams making their first trips ever are South Carolina and Gonzaga.
Under the category of what a weekend Jarrett Mobley a freshman at UNC Pembroke who last year at this time was playing for SouthWest Edgecombe had what you would call a rather nice weekend.
Pembroke playing North Georgia the top team in the league came to Pembroke and Mobley on Friday went 4-4 two home runs and drove in 7 runs. Saturday he went 4 for 5 with and RBI. Today he just went 1-3 with and RBI. For the weekend Pembroke won two of three with Mobley going 9-12 two homers and 9 RBI. Sounds like Peachtree Conference player of the week to me.
Hobbs Johnson went south to spring training trying to latch on with any team that would give him a chance after he was released by The Milwaukee Brewers in July. Unable to find a team he has returned home and is helping on Cameron Ramsey's staff at Rocky Mount Academy.
Spring Time And Baseball
It is hard to stay inside the house on a day like Saturday. The sun was shining and a great day to get outside and enjoy the first few days of spring.
A couple of weeks ago had a battle with a running nose but with alka-zeltzer and amoxicillin I fought it off and thought I had it licked. Friday woke up with a sore throat again and on Saturday back to the medicine cabinet to start all over again.
Watch the State Louisville game on tv wishing that I could be sitting in the sun enjoying the beautiful day that was in progress. Down in Florida it is near the end of spring training and as of today it looks that Brian Goodwin will be on the roster of the Washington Nationals when they head north next week.
He has hit just 114 in the spring and his battle with Michael Taylor has clearly been won by Taylor and he will be the first option as backup outfielder. Brian looks as he will be a pitch hitter waiting for that injury as just about all spring he has backed up Bryce Harper.
Michael Taylor was the starting centerfielder last season but a 220 average he was demoted to Syracuse by July. He has had an excellent spring and will be back in Washington. He is an example of you are never guaranteed anything in pro sports
Benton Moss is waiting word on whether he will start out in Port Charlotte Florida which is the upper A team of Tampa or heading to Montgomery Alabama their AA team. Minor league camps still have a couple of weeks to go.
North Carolina the last ACC team left in the NCAA basketball tournament plays today at 5:05 against Kentucky. CBS is the network where the game can be seen.
Archie Miller who was the Wolfpack faithful pick to be the next basketball coach has taken the Indiana job. Sounds like a good school to be at as it is in the top ten who have slumped in recent seasons.They too got rid of their coach for not making the NCAA tournament.
A couple of weeks ago had a battle with a running nose but with alka-zeltzer and amoxicillin I fought it off and thought I had it licked. Friday woke up with a sore throat again and on Saturday back to the medicine cabinet to start all over again.
Watch the State Louisville game on tv wishing that I could be sitting in the sun enjoying the beautiful day that was in progress. Down in Florida it is near the end of spring training and as of today it looks that Brian Goodwin will be on the roster of the Washington Nationals when they head north next week.
He has hit just 114 in the spring and his battle with Michael Taylor has clearly been won by Taylor and he will be the first option as backup outfielder. Brian looks as he will be a pitch hitter waiting for that injury as just about all spring he has backed up Bryce Harper.
Michael Taylor was the starting centerfielder last season but a 220 average he was demoted to Syracuse by July. He has had an excellent spring and will be back in Washington. He is an example of you are never guaranteed anything in pro sports
Benton Moss is waiting word on whether he will start out in Port Charlotte Florida which is the upper A team of Tampa or heading to Montgomery Alabama their AA team. Minor league camps still have a couple of weeks to go.
North Carolina the last ACC team left in the NCAA basketball tournament plays today at 5:05 against Kentucky. CBS is the network where the game can be seen.
Archie Miller who was the Wolfpack faithful pick to be the next basketball coach has taken the Indiana job. Sounds like a good school to be at as it is in the top ten who have slumped in recent seasons.They too got rid of their coach for not making the NCAA tournament.
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Carolina Holding Up The ACC
There is one aspect of sports that I cherish. I love to watch children, kids or young people develope athletically as they get older and you can think back on what they use to be and what they are today.
Case in point today Isaiah Hicks of UNC basketball. All Gryphons fans remember him in the Eastern Regional final at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville in 2013.. He was that tall skinny guy from Webb High school who race through the Gryphons for 34 points in leading Webb in preventing the Gryphons from a possible back to back state titles in basketball.
He was six feet nine then but weighed about 190. He love the jump shot more than tangling inside with the smaller Gryphons Big Men. Off to Carolina where my thinking was he will never be a factor at Carolina.
Today Without Hicks Carolina would not be alive for the final four or for that matter having played in the national championship game last year.
His freshman year he saw the floor about what I thought his entire career would be. MOP up duty. By his sophomore season with his body showing signs of bulging muscles Hicks is up to ten minutes a game. Saw more duty as a junior until midseason when he was inserted as a starter. I think that made the difference in Carolina making the championship game.
This year he is part of the duo inside game at Carolina that as long as they keep getting the ball inside they are unbeatable. When Carolina forgets their inside people or foul trouble occurs that's the way they lose. Hicks has a ten foot shot he seldom misses and he runs the floor.
Now at six nine and 250 pounds Hicks is no longer recognizable as that kid that torched the Gryphons.
After missing out of the NCAA baseball playoffs last season Carolina is on the path to return. Through last night they are 17-5 fifth in the RPI.
NC State who along with Carolina was expected to be top ten this season is riding Carolina's path last season struggling to get going. They are currently 13-10 but last night knocked off Louisville and the best pitcher in the country and the number one team in the country 3-1.
Case in point today Isaiah Hicks of UNC basketball. All Gryphons fans remember him in the Eastern Regional final at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville in 2013.. He was that tall skinny guy from Webb High school who race through the Gryphons for 34 points in leading Webb in preventing the Gryphons from a possible back to back state titles in basketball.
He was six feet nine then but weighed about 190. He love the jump shot more than tangling inside with the smaller Gryphons Big Men. Off to Carolina where my thinking was he will never be a factor at Carolina.
Today Without Hicks Carolina would not be alive for the final four or for that matter having played in the national championship game last year.
His freshman year he saw the floor about what I thought his entire career would be. MOP up duty. By his sophomore season with his body showing signs of bulging muscles Hicks is up to ten minutes a game. Saw more duty as a junior until midseason when he was inserted as a starter. I think that made the difference in Carolina making the championship game.
This year he is part of the duo inside game at Carolina that as long as they keep getting the ball inside they are unbeatable. When Carolina forgets their inside people or foul trouble occurs that's the way they lose. Hicks has a ten foot shot he seldom misses and he runs the floor.
Now at six nine and 250 pounds Hicks is no longer recognizable as that kid that torched the Gryphons.
After missing out of the NCAA baseball playoffs last season Carolina is on the path to return. Through last night they are 17-5 fifth in the RPI.
NC State who along with Carolina was expected to be top ten this season is riding Carolina's path last season struggling to get going. They are currently 13-10 but last night knocked off Louisville and the best pitcher in the country and the number one team in the country 3-1.
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Pitch Counts Have Already Made A Difference
Last Tuesday nights opening conference game between Rocky Mount and Nash Central has already shown everyone that this pitch count limit will be a make or break for every team this year. The Gryphons David Harrison wasn't on his pitching game and had several walks and by the middle of the sixth inning he is over a 100 pitches and by the New Rule cannot pitched the 7th inning.
Any pitch count over 75 must rest four days so Harrison can not pitch again before Saturday. That is a good rule. The problem for Rocky Mount was they played again on Wednesday and who ever relieved Harrison in the 6th could only throw 30 pitches or they could not pitch Wednesday. The game went 10 innings and the Gryphons used four other pitchers after Harrison.
Ben Seracki was brought in by Pat Smith with the hopes that he could get through the 7th and bring home a win. He wanted him to throw less than 30 so he could be used Wednesday but he wanted to finish out the game which didn't happen. Zack Keeter was brought in another possible Wednesday starter and because the game got tied he too pitched less than 30 tosses so he was available for Wednesday night.
Extra inning game and you have already used your best three pitchers and you need this game against Nash Central as you don't want to lose to a team that you know will be around the lead in the standings all year and you just can't afford to get behind the leaders. Enter Joernest Petway as he is now the fourth pitcher used by Pat Smith. You are now trying to win a very important game with a pitcher you had no idea would pitch in this game. He kept the Gryphons in the game and now Josh Pittman has to come in as this game keeps going like the Energizer Bunny into the 10th inning.
So You see Rocky Mount's problem and Nash Central in the other dugout has the same issues. Starter Zack Patterson threw a lot of pitches and he was pulled in the third inning. Trey Whitley replaced Patterson kept Nash Central with in striking distance. Whitley's pitch count was growing by the 7th inning and Willie Langley decided to go with Chris Godwin during the extra innings.
Each one of these teams has another conference game this week. Rocky Mount and Nash Central both played Wednesday night.,, The strategy for coaches now has to be how far can this pitcher go if I hold him to 30 pitches or 50 pitches in order to save a pitcher for another game this week.
Heavens knows if a game goes long distance or more. Look what ten innings has done to these teams that still has another game this week. You see this sometimes in college and Major League baseball. A team has to play six games in five days and in one of those games you are getting beat 15-0 so the coach brings in the right fielder and says please finish the game we have no more pitchers.
I can see that high school baseball could very well be that you see people on the mount especially if you play three games in a week someone who the coach has out there because the pitch count has depleted his pitchers. The scores of games are going to rise and every high school coach in America will increase their grey hairs just trying to get through this game.
Both Rocky Mount and Nash Central lost their Wednesday games. Both used lots of energy in a ten inning game the night before. Did such a long game effect either Wednesday Night? Probably.
Tonight Southern Nash is proving to beat a team to look out for beating Northern Nash 5-2. That ties Southern with Hunt at 2-0. Rocky Mount and Fike are 1-1. Both Northern Nash and Nash Central start the week going 0-2.
Any pitch count over 75 must rest four days so Harrison can not pitch again before Saturday. That is a good rule. The problem for Rocky Mount was they played again on Wednesday and who ever relieved Harrison in the 6th could only throw 30 pitches or they could not pitch Wednesday. The game went 10 innings and the Gryphons used four other pitchers after Harrison.
Ben Seracki was brought in by Pat Smith with the hopes that he could get through the 7th and bring home a win. He wanted him to throw less than 30 so he could be used Wednesday but he wanted to finish out the game which didn't happen. Zack Keeter was brought in another possible Wednesday starter and because the game got tied he too pitched less than 30 tosses so he was available for Wednesday night.
Extra inning game and you have already used your best three pitchers and you need this game against Nash Central as you don't want to lose to a team that you know will be around the lead in the standings all year and you just can't afford to get behind the leaders. Enter Joernest Petway as he is now the fourth pitcher used by Pat Smith. You are now trying to win a very important game with a pitcher you had no idea would pitch in this game. He kept the Gryphons in the game and now Josh Pittman has to come in as this game keeps going like the Energizer Bunny into the 10th inning.
So You see Rocky Mount's problem and Nash Central in the other dugout has the same issues. Starter Zack Patterson threw a lot of pitches and he was pulled in the third inning. Trey Whitley replaced Patterson kept Nash Central with in striking distance. Whitley's pitch count was growing by the 7th inning and Willie Langley decided to go with Chris Godwin during the extra innings.
Each one of these teams has another conference game this week. Rocky Mount and Nash Central both played Wednesday night.,, The strategy for coaches now has to be how far can this pitcher go if I hold him to 30 pitches or 50 pitches in order to save a pitcher for another game this week.
Heavens knows if a game goes long distance or more. Look what ten innings has done to these teams that still has another game this week. You see this sometimes in college and Major League baseball. A team has to play six games in five days and in one of those games you are getting beat 15-0 so the coach brings in the right fielder and says please finish the game we have no more pitchers.
I can see that high school baseball could very well be that you see people on the mount especially if you play three games in a week someone who the coach has out there because the pitch count has depleted his pitchers. The scores of games are going to rise and every high school coach in America will increase their grey hairs just trying to get through this game.
Both Rocky Mount and Nash Central lost their Wednesday games. Both used lots of energy in a ten inning game the night before. Did such a long game effect either Wednesday Night? Probably.
Tonight Southern Nash is proving to beat a team to look out for beating Northern Nash 5-2. That ties Southern with Hunt at 2-0. Rocky Mount and Fike are 1-1. Both Northern Nash and Nash Central start the week going 0-2.
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Hunt Takes Over First
Last night in extra innings pitchers and pitch count dominated coaches minds as Pat Smith wondered if Tuesday's game would
ever end to save his pitchers. Tonight having used Freshman Ben Seracki just enough that he could pitch again tonight.
Seracki gave a good effort while Hunt countered with Bryson Worrell and at the end of three innings they were locked in a 0-0 game. Seracki yielded three hits while Rocky Mount had none with only one base runner.
There is nothing made better than errors to break up a pitchers duel. THE Gryphons made two in the fourth inning after a walk and error and while Hunt tried to sacrifice bunt and the Gryphons trying to get the runner at third threw the ball away to give Hunt a 1-0 lead.
Hunt became generous in the Gryphons fourth after Spencer Ramsey got the Gryphons first hit. A walk and a strike out should have ended the inning but the strike out had to be thrown out at first and the ball thrown by the catcher sailed to right field and the score was 1-1.
Rocky Mount generosity didn't end there, two more errors and four Warriors hits would lead to six runs in the fifth. That would be enough to thrust themselves into first place as Worrell got help from Parker Farris who helped hold Rocky Mount to two hits both by Spencer Ramsey.
Hunt had 8 hits but one key note on this one as all eight runs in this game were unearned. Hunt is now 2-0 and for the moment led the Big East while Rocky Mount drops to 1-1.
last night Nash Central traveled to Fike where they lost 8-7. That is two one run losses for the Bulldogs this week. Fike is 1-1 and Nash Central 0-2 in conference play. Tonight Southern Nash 1-0 host Northern Nash 0-1
ever end to save his pitchers. Tonight having used Freshman Ben Seracki just enough that he could pitch again tonight.
Seracki gave a good effort while Hunt countered with Bryson Worrell and at the end of three innings they were locked in a 0-0 game. Seracki yielded three hits while Rocky Mount had none with only one base runner.
There is nothing made better than errors to break up a pitchers duel. THE Gryphons made two in the fourth inning after a walk and error and while Hunt tried to sacrifice bunt and the Gryphons trying to get the runner at third threw the ball away to give Hunt a 1-0 lead.
Hunt became generous in the Gryphons fourth after Spencer Ramsey got the Gryphons first hit. A walk and a strike out should have ended the inning but the strike out had to be thrown out at first and the ball thrown by the catcher sailed to right field and the score was 1-1.
Rocky Mount generosity didn't end there, two more errors and four Warriors hits would lead to six runs in the fifth. That would be enough to thrust themselves into first place as Worrell got help from Parker Farris who helped hold Rocky Mount to two hits both by Spencer Ramsey.
Hunt had 8 hits but one key note on this one as all eight runs in this game were unearned. Hunt is now 2-0 and for the moment led the Big East while Rocky Mount drops to 1-1.
last night Nash Central traveled to Fike where they lost 8-7. That is two one run losses for the Bulldogs this week. Fike is 1-1 and Nash Central 0-2 in conference play. Tonight Southern Nash 1-0 host Northern Nash 0-1
One For The Books
There is an old saying if you go to enough games you will see something you have never seen before. Rocky Mount behind David Harrison led Nash Central in the sixth inning 4-1 and even though it was not his best outing had control of the game until he hit that pitch count number of 105 he had to come out of the game.
Freshman Ben Seracki came in and one run scored in the sixth which went under David Harrison's number so the Gryphons led 4-2 heading into the seventh. Nash Central would not die managed to score one to make it 4-3 and with two outs with the bases loads Cameron Taylor was hit by a pitch to score the tying run. Joyous of getting on base Taylor slung his bat well above the head of a couple of players near the on deck area and walked Then here is where the game gets weird. Pat Smith inquired about the bat being thrown and after a discussion the runner was called out and ejected from the game. If he is called out that ends the game 4-3 Rocky Mount no tie. Willie Lanley's turn to to talk to the umpires and after the discussion the teams meet at home plate games over.
I am now heading to my car and told come back the ruling has been changed to the player tossed out and another runner took his place on first back to a tie game. The Gryphons get the next man out. I have no idea whether the call was right wrong or indifferent. Both teams go quietly in the eighth. Nash Central scores twice in the in the ninth and seems as both sides are fighting to find a pitcher that can survive this game. Rocky Mount strikes back in the 9th to tie and on to the tenth. their first run was a homer by David Harrison to make it 6-5. The gryphons score one more but could have gotten that all important third run but came up short.
Nash Central had a chance to score in the tenth with two one but came up empty. Rocky Mount opens the tenth with a Logon Pearce single. He is wiped out on a fielders choice. David Harrison steals second. Ben Seracki is intentionally walked to make runners on first and second for a possible double play. Victor ward up from the JV's get an infield hit to load the bases. Zack Keeter lays down a suicide squeeze and David Harrison scores the winning run.
There is just so much to tell and no space to tell it. Rocky Mount started the first four inning getting their first two batters on base in all four. Twice they had the bases loaded. managed only four runs when it looked like it could have been 10. Zack Patterson started for the Bulldogs and lasted just two and a third innings. Trey Whitley followed pitching two and two thirds and then Chris Godwin pitched the last 4 plus innings.
Harrison pitched five and a third Ben Seracki, Joe Petway and Josh Pittman combined for the next 4 and two thirds with Pittman getting the win.
Josh Pittman had four hits, Spencer Ramsey two, Victor Ward two, Logan Pearce 2, David Harrison 2, Ben Seracki one, and I don't know if Zack Keeter gets credit since he was never thrown out on the squeeze.
Nash Central was paced by Chase Minchew with two singles and several had one hit. Payton Bass, Colby Carter, Tyler Sherrod, Cameron Taylor,Davidson Winders, Garrett Killebrew, and Hunter Robinson.
After a game like this and Rocky Mount has pitched to some degree every pitcher they have they have another conference game tonight against Hunt.
Southern Nash beat Fike 3-2 and Hunt shutout Northern Nash 6-0
Freshman Ben Seracki came in and one run scored in the sixth which went under David Harrison's number so the Gryphons led 4-2 heading into the seventh. Nash Central would not die managed to score one to make it 4-3 and with two outs with the bases loads Cameron Taylor was hit by a pitch to score the tying run. Joyous of getting on base Taylor slung his bat well above the head of a couple of players near the on deck area and walked Then here is where the game gets weird. Pat Smith inquired about the bat being thrown and after a discussion the runner was called out and ejected from the game. If he is called out that ends the game 4-3 Rocky Mount no tie. Willie Lanley's turn to to talk to the umpires and after the discussion the teams meet at home plate games over.
I am now heading to my car and told come back the ruling has been changed to the player tossed out and another runner took his place on first back to a tie game. The Gryphons get the next man out. I have no idea whether the call was right wrong or indifferent. Both teams go quietly in the eighth. Nash Central scores twice in the in the ninth and seems as both sides are fighting to find a pitcher that can survive this game. Rocky Mount strikes back in the 9th to tie and on to the tenth. their first run was a homer by David Harrison to make it 6-5. The gryphons score one more but could have gotten that all important third run but came up short.
Nash Central had a chance to score in the tenth with two one but came up empty. Rocky Mount opens the tenth with a Logon Pearce single. He is wiped out on a fielders choice. David Harrison steals second. Ben Seracki is intentionally walked to make runners on first and second for a possible double play. Victor ward up from the JV's get an infield hit to load the bases. Zack Keeter lays down a suicide squeeze and David Harrison scores the winning run.
There is just so much to tell and no space to tell it. Rocky Mount started the first four inning getting their first two batters on base in all four. Twice they had the bases loaded. managed only four runs when it looked like it could have been 10. Zack Patterson started for the Bulldogs and lasted just two and a third innings. Trey Whitley followed pitching two and two thirds and then Chris Godwin pitched the last 4 plus innings.
Harrison pitched five and a third Ben Seracki, Joe Petway and Josh Pittman combined for the next 4 and two thirds with Pittman getting the win.
Josh Pittman had four hits, Spencer Ramsey two, Victor Ward two, Logan Pearce 2, David Harrison 2, Ben Seracki one, and I don't know if Zack Keeter gets credit since he was never thrown out on the squeeze.
Nash Central was paced by Chase Minchew with two singles and several had one hit. Payton Bass, Colby Carter, Tyler Sherrod, Cameron Taylor,Davidson Winders, Garrett Killebrew, and Hunter Robinson.
After a game like this and Rocky Mount has pitched to some degree every pitcher they have they have another conference game tonight against Hunt.
Southern Nash beat Fike 3-2 and Hunt shutout Northern Nash 6-0
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
HB2 Claims victim
Yes, Greenville South Carolina was the host of the NCAA South regional first and second round games. They hosted because North Carolina was banded because of that some people say a law discriminates. Can you tell me one law ever created didn't discriminate against someone? Laws are made to protect the masses not individual.
So the regional is moved from Greensboro to South Carolina who has been banded for the last 15 years because the State of South Carolina flew the Confederate flag over the statehouse. I guess it is ok to fly the confederate flag over the basketball arena in which two North Carolina teams were flying.
The ACC had it's worse weekend in the NCAA tournament since both Duke and North Carolina lose a double header in the semi finals of the eastern regional in Reynold's Coliseum in Raleigh in 1979. The following Monday four other ACC teams playing in the NIT all lost. That was called Black Sunday,Blue Monday.
After starting out 6-3 the first round the ACC was only 1-5 in the second round making them an overall 7-8 so far with only Carolina to get the ACC above water. Certainly 7-8 is not time to jump out of buildings but by the standards of the history of the ACC this is like a depression is in progress.
How did the ACC go from 6-3 to 1-5 in forty eight hours. First of all there are more so called mid majors than ever before. It use to be there was ten teams that could win the tournament and there were five mid majors that wanted to win the tournament. This year there are probably 50 teams that could win it and only five with no chance at all.
Virginia,Louisville, Florida State, Notre Dame all lost to teams quicker than they were. Now how can anybody else be faster than the Noles All three were beat by teams that wanted it more than they did.
Duke lost because they played, a team on their home turf South Carolina. You say but Columbia is 100 miles from Greenville. Remember this game was suppose to be played in Greensboro and in all the years of State, Carolina and Duke have played any body in Greensboro the place was full of our state's team fans who ever it was. Duke lost trying to win on the other teams home court with the Confederate flag flying over the stadium. The NCAA gave the ACC the shaft over HB2.
My opinion is this was one of the worse officiated games I've ever seen. I have seen worse calls made but these guys called enough fouls that 70 fouls shots were attempted. Duke shot as many free throws as South Carolina so they got their share of bad calls going their way. Too many fathom calls were made because these refs called what they thought was going to happen not what actually happened.
Worse call of the weekend was in the NC State women's game in Austin Texas on the home floor of the University of Texas. State drove to the basket and scored with eight seconds to play to take a one point lead. The person trying to block the pathway of the state scorer fell back as if taking a charge. The problem was this six feet five inch person didn't fall back until State is turning to run up the court?. If you watched any of the women's highlight that was on every update with ESPN calling it the worse call of the tournament.
Now all you Carolina fans like Louisville, Notre Dame and Florida State and Virginia Arkansas out played the Heels and should have won. The Hogs out hustled and wanted it more. Good for Carolina down late Arkansas shot five at least 25 foot three point shots the the last few minutes just as fast as they could shoot instead of running the clock. Guess how many they made? Zero!
You know in little league the worse thing a player can do is hit a home run. The next time at bat they think they can hit a home run every time up and strike out. Arkansas shoot moon shots all night long. After a while you are going to strike out. Instead of running the clock they were looking to be the hero who made the shot that knocked off Carolina.
The ACC had been the most successful conference in the history of the NCAA tournament. The ACC is just like the Yankees. You are going to get every teams best shot. You can't just show up and expect to win. Most of the time when ACC teams play to their top ability they win. Not enough teams showed up ready to play.
So the regional is moved from Greensboro to South Carolina who has been banded for the last 15 years because the State of South Carolina flew the Confederate flag over the statehouse. I guess it is ok to fly the confederate flag over the basketball arena in which two North Carolina teams were flying.
The ACC had it's worse weekend in the NCAA tournament since both Duke and North Carolina lose a double header in the semi finals of the eastern regional in Reynold's Coliseum in Raleigh in 1979. The following Monday four other ACC teams playing in the NIT all lost. That was called Black Sunday,Blue Monday.
After starting out 6-3 the first round the ACC was only 1-5 in the second round making them an overall 7-8 so far with only Carolina to get the ACC above water. Certainly 7-8 is not time to jump out of buildings but by the standards of the history of the ACC this is like a depression is in progress.
How did the ACC go from 6-3 to 1-5 in forty eight hours. First of all there are more so called mid majors than ever before. It use to be there was ten teams that could win the tournament and there were five mid majors that wanted to win the tournament. This year there are probably 50 teams that could win it and only five with no chance at all.
Virginia,Louisville, Florida State, Notre Dame all lost to teams quicker than they were. Now how can anybody else be faster than the Noles All three were beat by teams that wanted it more than they did.
Duke lost because they played, a team on their home turf South Carolina. You say but Columbia is 100 miles from Greenville. Remember this game was suppose to be played in Greensboro and in all the years of State, Carolina and Duke have played any body in Greensboro the place was full of our state's team fans who ever it was. Duke lost trying to win on the other teams home court with the Confederate flag flying over the stadium. The NCAA gave the ACC the shaft over HB2.
My opinion is this was one of the worse officiated games I've ever seen. I have seen worse calls made but these guys called enough fouls that 70 fouls shots were attempted. Duke shot as many free throws as South Carolina so they got their share of bad calls going their way. Too many fathom calls were made because these refs called what they thought was going to happen not what actually happened.
Worse call of the weekend was in the NC State women's game in Austin Texas on the home floor of the University of Texas. State drove to the basket and scored with eight seconds to play to take a one point lead. The person trying to block the pathway of the state scorer fell back as if taking a charge. The problem was this six feet five inch person didn't fall back until State is turning to run up the court?. If you watched any of the women's highlight that was on every update with ESPN calling it the worse call of the tournament.
Now all you Carolina fans like Louisville, Notre Dame and Florida State and Virginia Arkansas out played the Heels and should have won. The Hogs out hustled and wanted it more. Good for Carolina down late Arkansas shot five at least 25 foot three point shots the the last few minutes just as fast as they could shoot instead of running the clock. Guess how many they made? Zero!
You know in little league the worse thing a player can do is hit a home run. The next time at bat they think they can hit a home run every time up and strike out. Arkansas shoot moon shots all night long. After a while you are going to strike out. Instead of running the clock they were looking to be the hero who made the shot that knocked off Carolina.
The ACC had been the most successful conference in the history of the NCAA tournament. The ACC is just like the Yankees. You are going to get every teams best shot. You can't just show up and expect to win. Most of the time when ACC teams play to their top ability they win. Not enough teams showed up ready to play.
Monday, March 20, 2017
The Chase Begins
This week Big East Baseball and Softball crank up conference play and everyone is heading for four straight weeks of conference play until the Easter Break after April 15th. Then there is one week back to play the last week of the regular season. This week however has a jumbled schedule as some teams play back to back conference games Tuesday and Wednesday.
Softball: Who in their right mind would think Rocky Mount has the best overall record at 4-2 and they host Nash Central 3-4 Tuesday night. Rocky Mount has given up 38 runs in their two losses while scoring 70 and giving up 70 overall. Nash Central has scored 58 while yielding 74.
Fike 4-3 @ Southern Nash 4-3: Here is what I will look for in this game. To date Fike has scored 84 runs while only allowing 25. They have pitching that is allowing only 2.43 earn runs per game. Southern's batting average is only 125. Looks like this will be a hard game for the Lady Birds to score.
Hunt 2-3 @ Northern Nash 3-4: Neither team to date look imposing. Hunt has scored but 28 runs while giving up 42. Northern pitching ERA is 4.34. So far they have played 7 games giving up 55 runs. Almost half the runs that score on Northern are unearned.
Baseball: Nash Central 5-3 @ Rocky Mount 4-2: Nash Central's team batting average is 300 and pitching ERA is 4.42. Everyone in North Carolina knows they will face David Harrison who is his four appearances has given up one earned run. Neither team will have time to recover as both are back on the diamond Wednesday. Nash Central is at Fike while Rocky Mount host Hunt. Important games for Rocky Mount as both games at home while Nash Central is on the road both times.
Fike 4-3 @ Southern Nash 7-2: Fike has relied on two main pitchers to carry the load so far Dwight Daniels and Jaelynn Melton. Fike's offense is scoring 6.5 runs while 5.5 giving up. Southern Nash team batting average is 313 and team ERA 1.35. Pitching could carry the Firebirds a long ways this year. Thursday Southern host Northern Nash while Fike host Nash Central Wednesday. The Firebirds get two home games so like Rocky Mount must protect the home turf.
Hunt 3-4 @ Northern Nash 3-4: To date Hunt has scored 21 runs and the reason why only hitting 215 as a team. Their pitching has team ERA of 2.83 and the defense giving up 35 runs. Northern after losing their first four have won three in a row. They have scored 42 times or 6 per game. 36 runs have scored against them just a tad over 5.1 runs. Hunt heads to Rocky Mount Wednesday and Northern to Southern Nash Thursday.
Both Northern Nash and Nash Central have two games on the road this week so if either or both come away with two wins they will be riding high with five home games in the last eight.
Softball: Who in their right mind would think Rocky Mount has the best overall record at 4-2 and they host Nash Central 3-4 Tuesday night. Rocky Mount has given up 38 runs in their two losses while scoring 70 and giving up 70 overall. Nash Central has scored 58 while yielding 74.
Fike 4-3 @ Southern Nash 4-3: Here is what I will look for in this game. To date Fike has scored 84 runs while only allowing 25. They have pitching that is allowing only 2.43 earn runs per game. Southern's batting average is only 125. Looks like this will be a hard game for the Lady Birds to score.
Hunt 2-3 @ Northern Nash 3-4: Neither team to date look imposing. Hunt has scored but 28 runs while giving up 42. Northern pitching ERA is 4.34. So far they have played 7 games giving up 55 runs. Almost half the runs that score on Northern are unearned.
Baseball: Nash Central 5-3 @ Rocky Mount 4-2: Nash Central's team batting average is 300 and pitching ERA is 4.42. Everyone in North Carolina knows they will face David Harrison who is his four appearances has given up one earned run. Neither team will have time to recover as both are back on the diamond Wednesday. Nash Central is at Fike while Rocky Mount host Hunt. Important games for Rocky Mount as both games at home while Nash Central is on the road both times.
Fike 4-3 @ Southern Nash 7-2: Fike has relied on two main pitchers to carry the load so far Dwight Daniels and Jaelynn Melton. Fike's offense is scoring 6.5 runs while 5.5 giving up. Southern Nash team batting average is 313 and team ERA 1.35. Pitching could carry the Firebirds a long ways this year. Thursday Southern host Northern Nash while Fike host Nash Central Wednesday. The Firebirds get two home games so like Rocky Mount must protect the home turf.
Hunt 3-4 @ Northern Nash 3-4: To date Hunt has scored 21 runs and the reason why only hitting 215 as a team. Their pitching has team ERA of 2.83 and the defense giving up 35 runs. Northern after losing their first four have won three in a row. They have scored 42 times or 6 per game. 36 runs have scored against them just a tad over 5.1 runs. Hunt heads to Rocky Mount Wednesday and Northern to Southern Nash Thursday.
Both Northern Nash and Nash Central have two games on the road this week so if either or both come away with two wins they will be riding high with five home games in the last eight.
Sunday, March 19, 2017
NCAA Mania
The first full weekend of the NCAA basketball tournament is in full swing and both North Carolina and Duke are still alive as they both head into their second round games today. The ACC has three chances to win and advance as Louisville starts the TV coverage with a 12:10 tip with their game against Michigan. Carolina heads to the court at 6:10 and Duke will be the last to play today playing Carolina(South Carolina )in Grenville SC. The North Carolina State women play their second round game at 2:30 at the University of Texas and they play Texas on their home court.
You know the NCAA tournament is about the only time of year college basketball is center stage throughout America. Some 70 years ago the tournament to be in was the NIT now it is the JV playoffs. The WNIT has some importance to Gryphon fans this year as J'Kyra Brown now a junior at Virginia beat St Joes Friday night in Philadelphia. Brown scored 14 points on 6-8 scooting. They play today at James Madison at 2pm. I'm sure that game will be on some tv somewhere.
You know with the Triangle being called Tobacco Roads because of the great college basketball played in the area and surely Duke, Carolina and NC State having won the tournament 12 times between them it just might be fun to look at some historical number involving basketball teams in the NCAA.
Most appearances in NCAA: #1 Kentucky 57 times #2 UCLA and North Carolina 48 #4 Kansas 46 #5 Louisville 42 #6 Duke 41.
Most NCAA Basketball Titles: #1 UCLA 11 #2 Kentucky 8 #3 North Carolina, Duke and Indiana 5
All Time Tournament wins: #1 Kentucky 123 #2 North Carolina 117 #3 Duke 107 #4 UCLA 104 Kansas 100
All Time Losses: #1 Kentucky 50 #2 North Carolina 45 #3 Kansas 44 #4 Louisville 42 #5 Notre Dame 39 #6 Duke 35. Note There use to be regional and Finals 3rd place games giving some teams two losses in one tournament.
Regional Notes: Greenville South Carolina is the host for the regional where both Duke and North Carolina are playing. They are there after the NCAA pulled the regional from Greensboro over the HB2 law. This is the first year in 15 years the State of South Carolina has been eligible to host and NCAA event because they were banned from hosting because of the Confederate flag on the State House which was taken down last year.
How did Greenville get the bid over Columbia. NCAA spects state that any host city must provide hotels that can offer 3 meeting rooms per hotel at least 1200 square feet. Eight regional teams there must be 24 such meeting rooms in your city. Columbia meets the criteria but since the NCAA pulled the event from Greensboro back in the fall the biggest two hotels in Columbia were booked so Columbia could not provide 24 meeting rooms
That's how Greenville and Furman University are the host of our regional.j
You know the NCAA tournament is about the only time of year college basketball is center stage throughout America. Some 70 years ago the tournament to be in was the NIT now it is the JV playoffs. The WNIT has some importance to Gryphon fans this year as J'Kyra Brown now a junior at Virginia beat St Joes Friday night in Philadelphia. Brown scored 14 points on 6-8 scooting. They play today at James Madison at 2pm. I'm sure that game will be on some tv somewhere.
You know with the Triangle being called Tobacco Roads because of the great college basketball played in the area and surely Duke, Carolina and NC State having won the tournament 12 times between them it just might be fun to look at some historical number involving basketball teams in the NCAA.
Most appearances in NCAA: #1 Kentucky 57 times #2 UCLA and North Carolina 48 #4 Kansas 46 #5 Louisville 42 #6 Duke 41.
Most NCAA Basketball Titles: #1 UCLA 11 #2 Kentucky 8 #3 North Carolina, Duke and Indiana 5
All Time Tournament wins: #1 Kentucky 123 #2 North Carolina 117 #3 Duke 107 #4 UCLA 104 Kansas 100
All Time Losses: #1 Kentucky 50 #2 North Carolina 45 #3 Kansas 44 #4 Louisville 42 #5 Notre Dame 39 #6 Duke 35. Note There use to be regional and Finals 3rd place games giving some teams two losses in one tournament.
Regional Notes: Greenville South Carolina is the host for the regional where both Duke and North Carolina are playing. They are there after the NCAA pulled the regional from Greensboro over the HB2 law. This is the first year in 15 years the State of South Carolina has been eligible to host and NCAA event because they were banned from hosting because of the Confederate flag on the State House which was taken down last year.
How did Greenville get the bid over Columbia. NCAA spects state that any host city must provide hotels that can offer 3 meeting rooms per hotel at least 1200 square feet. Eight regional teams there must be 24 such meeting rooms in your city. Columbia meets the criteria but since the NCAA pulled the event from Greensboro back in the fall the biggest two hotels in Columbia were booked so Columbia could not provide 24 meeting rooms
That's how Greenville and Furman University are the host of our regional.j
Friday, March 17, 2017
Strike Early And Hang On
The Rocky Mount Gryphons traveled to Cleveland Friday afternoon and struck in the first inning and at one point lead 8-0 but hold on to win 9-6 in the final tuneup before conference play starts next Tuesday.
Spencer Ramsey starting at third base for the injured Jake Philbeck got the Gryphons going with a single followed by a Jamar Ellis single. Logan Pearce reached on an infield error to load the bases. David Harrison singled driving home two runs. A walked reloaded the bases and Zack Keeter singled drive home two more but was thrown out at second trying to get a double.
Ben Seracki got the start on the mound and sailed along through the first four innings. The Gryphons struck again in the fourth when leadoff batter Lane Butler walked, hits by Josh Pittman and Spencer Ramsey loaded the bases. Jamar Ellis walked getting an RBI and run number five.
Logan Pearce fly out produced run number six and David Harrison double drove home two more. Serackj hit the first batter in the fourth followed by a double and walk to load the bases. A sac fly scored Cleveland's first run. A single plated two more. Another walk a dropped fly ball scored two more. One more hit ended Seracki's day after the 6th run of inning scored. Zack Keeter came from behind the plate and got the final two outs in the fourth.
Now we have a ball game but Zack Keeter allows only one hit the last two innings. The Gryphons added a run in the sixth when Jamar Ellis walked, David Harrison got his second double walks to Seracki and Isaiah Stewart with Stewart earning an rbi.
Ben Seracki gets the win pitching four and a third innings allowing five hits and Keeter gets the save allowing a hit over two and a third innings.
David Harrison leads the offense getting three hits and four rbi. Lane Butler and Spencer Ramsey have two hits. Josh Pittman, Jamar Ellis, Isaiah Stewart and Zack Keeter have hits.
Nash Central beat SouthWest Edgecombe 1-0 on Friday to raise their record to 4-3
The Gryphons 4-2 open conference play Tuesday night at home hosting Nash Central.
Southern Nash Beat Farmville 11-1 to go to 7-2 on the season they play Fike to open conference play Tuesday.
Spencer Ramsey starting at third base for the injured Jake Philbeck got the Gryphons going with a single followed by a Jamar Ellis single. Logan Pearce reached on an infield error to load the bases. David Harrison singled driving home two runs. A walked reloaded the bases and Zack Keeter singled drive home two more but was thrown out at second trying to get a double.
Ben Seracki got the start on the mound and sailed along through the first four innings. The Gryphons struck again in the fourth when leadoff batter Lane Butler walked, hits by Josh Pittman and Spencer Ramsey loaded the bases. Jamar Ellis walked getting an RBI and run number five.
Logan Pearce fly out produced run number six and David Harrison double drove home two more. Serackj hit the first batter in the fourth followed by a double and walk to load the bases. A sac fly scored Cleveland's first run. A single plated two more. Another walk a dropped fly ball scored two more. One more hit ended Seracki's day after the 6th run of inning scored. Zack Keeter came from behind the plate and got the final two outs in the fourth.
Now we have a ball game but Zack Keeter allows only one hit the last two innings. The Gryphons added a run in the sixth when Jamar Ellis walked, David Harrison got his second double walks to Seracki and Isaiah Stewart with Stewart earning an rbi.
Ben Seracki gets the win pitching four and a third innings allowing five hits and Keeter gets the save allowing a hit over two and a third innings.
David Harrison leads the offense getting three hits and four rbi. Lane Butler and Spencer Ramsey have two hits. Josh Pittman, Jamar Ellis, Isaiah Stewart and Zack Keeter have hits.
Nash Central beat SouthWest Edgecombe 1-0 on Friday to raise their record to 4-3
The Gryphons 4-2 open conference play Tuesday night at home hosting Nash Central.
Southern Nash Beat Farmville 11-1 to go to 7-2 on the season they play Fike to open conference play Tuesday.
Hard To Make Heads Or Tails
Just about every high school sports season has so call non-conference games to get your team ready for the upcoming conflicts within the conference. How do you judge who is going to be the Big Dog when the conference race plays out? There are times when one team sticks out and everyone can tell look out for so and so they are loaded and they are showing it in their non conference schedule.
Looking at the Big East and the results so far during the non conference those that were in the eyes of many as the favorites don't look like contenders and the one team lately who has in the past been near the bottom looks better than anybody else.
It is very hard to judge how your schedule is as far as tough or easy because until the end of the season nears who knows where that team you played opening day will wind up. If they don't win a game all you or if they are conference champions in their very own league who knows if those you are playing now are helping you get ready for next weeks conference play or making you feel good when you shouldn't be.
Let's take a gander where the Big East is headed:
Southern Nash: 6-2 Any body who played the Firebirds last year had their hands full. They may have only won two games but their pitching kept them in every game. They could be the only team in the league with three starting pitchers from last year. They beat Cleveland last night 11-5
Rocky Mount: 3-2 Might have best pitcher in the league and so far his pitching is not giving anyone a reason why he is not. Three pro scouts were in the house to see David Harrison Monday so N C State may not have a lock on him yet. Rocky Mount has scored 18 runs in five games. They scored 13 in one so that leaves them going 2-2 and outscored 8-5 in the others. They must find some offense.
Nash Central: 3-3 In the minds of many Big East preseason favorites but record leaves many doubts. Weather has been a problem this week as their Monday game with Smithfield Selma was moved to Thursday night at 7pm because another game scheduled on the field in afternoon. They beat SSS 11-7 Play a double header today with SouthWest Edgecombe both games will be five innings.
Hunt: 3-4 This has been a horrible sports year in football and basketball for a program that is always near the top of the Wells Fargo standings. Baseball is certainly a mixed bag early on. Seems to this point they have lost in non conference to the historically good programs and beat the one not that good. Their next game is Saturday at home to Rose.
Fike: 4-3 Another team with a mixed bag to show so far this year. Played North Lenoir last night winning 11-0. They too at this point who can tell if they are a contender or pretender.
Northern Nash: 2-4 Had a game last night with SWE winning 12-0 and at Tarboro Today. Started out losing their first four games. This point and time like everyone else it is hard to tell what direction the Knights are heading this year.
Almost every year there is a dog fight within the Big East because most teams are good maybe not great and matchup well against each other. Could it be where the strength within the Big East lies in Bailey and everyone will chase the Firebirds all year. If that plays out then somebody will need to get on the ball in their remaining non conference games as overall record may limit the Big East in the number of who gets in the playoffs come May.
Looking at the Big East and the results so far during the non conference those that were in the eyes of many as the favorites don't look like contenders and the one team lately who has in the past been near the bottom looks better than anybody else.
It is very hard to judge how your schedule is as far as tough or easy because until the end of the season nears who knows where that team you played opening day will wind up. If they don't win a game all you or if they are conference champions in their very own league who knows if those you are playing now are helping you get ready for next weeks conference play or making you feel good when you shouldn't be.
Let's take a gander where the Big East is headed:
Southern Nash: 6-2 Any body who played the Firebirds last year had their hands full. They may have only won two games but their pitching kept them in every game. They could be the only team in the league with three starting pitchers from last year. They beat Cleveland last night 11-5
Rocky Mount: 3-2 Might have best pitcher in the league and so far his pitching is not giving anyone a reason why he is not. Three pro scouts were in the house to see David Harrison Monday so N C State may not have a lock on him yet. Rocky Mount has scored 18 runs in five games. They scored 13 in one so that leaves them going 2-2 and outscored 8-5 in the others. They must find some offense.
Nash Central: 3-3 In the minds of many Big East preseason favorites but record leaves many doubts. Weather has been a problem this week as their Monday game with Smithfield Selma was moved to Thursday night at 7pm because another game scheduled on the field in afternoon. They beat SSS 11-7 Play a double header today with SouthWest Edgecombe both games will be five innings.
Hunt: 3-4 This has been a horrible sports year in football and basketball for a program that is always near the top of the Wells Fargo standings. Baseball is certainly a mixed bag early on. Seems to this point they have lost in non conference to the historically good programs and beat the one not that good. Their next game is Saturday at home to Rose.
Fike: 4-3 Another team with a mixed bag to show so far this year. Played North Lenoir last night winning 11-0. They too at this point who can tell if they are a contender or pretender.
Northern Nash: 2-4 Had a game last night with SWE winning 12-0 and at Tarboro Today. Started out losing their first four games. This point and time like everyone else it is hard to tell what direction the Knights are heading this year.
Almost every year there is a dog fight within the Big East because most teams are good maybe not great and matchup well against each other. Could it be where the strength within the Big East lies in Bailey and everyone will chase the Firebirds all year. If that plays out then somebody will need to get on the ball in their remaining non conference games as overall record may limit the Big East in the number of who gets in the playoffs come May.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Drake And Gainey District # 3 Coaches Of The Year
The North Carolina High School Basketball Coaches Association has announce their All District teams and Nash County is well represented. Head coaches of Northern Nash Boys team Henry Drake and Pam Gainey of Rocky Mount girls basketball are the District 3 coaches of the year.
Drake in his second year at Northern Nash went 25-4 and a perfect 10-0 in the conference regular season. Last season the Knights were 13-12 in 2016/17 Knights so they almost doubled their win total. Gainey has been the head coach of the Lady Gryphons this entire century and then some led the Gryphons to an undefeated regular conference season and 22-4 overall. Both coaches teams made it to the fourth round of the state playoffs.
By the way last week we remarked about it is nice to be able to say you lost to the eventual state champion. The Rocky Mount girls can say that as Northern Guilford the team that beat them won the state title beating Jacksonville 42-37 while the team to end Northern's season Eastern Guilford lost to Cox Mill 70-66. You may ask where is Cox Mill? It's is a newer school in Concord.
The District 3 All District team features two players on the first team. Big East Player of the Year Montre' Cash of Nash Central and Darius Spragley of Northern Nash. Making the third team was Undray Cherry of Northern Nash.
Big East Player of The Year Michaela Nelms is a first teamer for the girls. She is joined by Keyanna Spivey and Michelle Gainey of Rocky Mount. The second team has two more from the Big East Nyia Spivey from Nash Central and Fike's Jada lee. The third team has Kayalin Mitchell of Nash central and Fike's Aniya Thigpen.
The Big East has announced it's all conference swim team. Sorry each person's school is not represented.
Female Swimmer Of the Year- Kaley Sharpe- Nash Central
Male swimmer Of The Year- Thomas Helms- Hunt
Female Co-Coaches of the Year-Myrl Ferrell Fike and Tracy Dodrill Northern Nash
All Conference Boys-
Cameron Beal, Jacob Richardson, Langdon Norris, Zachary Richardson, Charlie Graham, Ethan Maddrey, Tanner Jernigan, Thomas Helms, Zac Taylor, Nick Tew, Bryce Johnson
All Conference Girls-
Sarah Hicks, Allison Smith, Kaley Sharpe, Sarah Lamn, Sarah Jones, Cassie Jones, Katherine Moss,
Elizabeth Johnson, Sydney Seaman, Jenna Lavely, Madeline Harrell, Abby Hodge
Drake in his second year at Northern Nash went 25-4 and a perfect 10-0 in the conference regular season. Last season the Knights were 13-12 in 2016/17 Knights so they almost doubled their win total. Gainey has been the head coach of the Lady Gryphons this entire century and then some led the Gryphons to an undefeated regular conference season and 22-4 overall. Both coaches teams made it to the fourth round of the state playoffs.
By the way last week we remarked about it is nice to be able to say you lost to the eventual state champion. The Rocky Mount girls can say that as Northern Guilford the team that beat them won the state title beating Jacksonville 42-37 while the team to end Northern's season Eastern Guilford lost to Cox Mill 70-66. You may ask where is Cox Mill? It's is a newer school in Concord.
The District 3 All District team features two players on the first team. Big East Player of the Year Montre' Cash of Nash Central and Darius Spragley of Northern Nash. Making the third team was Undray Cherry of Northern Nash.
Big East Player of The Year Michaela Nelms is a first teamer for the girls. She is joined by Keyanna Spivey and Michelle Gainey of Rocky Mount. The second team has two more from the Big East Nyia Spivey from Nash Central and Fike's Jada lee. The third team has Kayalin Mitchell of Nash central and Fike's Aniya Thigpen.
The Big East has announced it's all conference swim team. Sorry each person's school is not represented.
Female Swimmer Of the Year- Kaley Sharpe- Nash Central
Male swimmer Of The Year- Thomas Helms- Hunt
Female Co-Coaches of the Year-Myrl Ferrell Fike and Tracy Dodrill Northern Nash
All Conference Boys-
Cameron Beal, Jacob Richardson, Langdon Norris, Zachary Richardson, Charlie Graham, Ethan Maddrey, Tanner Jernigan, Thomas Helms, Zac Taylor, Nick Tew, Bryce Johnson
All Conference Girls-
Sarah Hicks, Allison Smith, Kaley Sharpe, Sarah Lamn, Sarah Jones, Cassie Jones, Katherine Moss,
Elizabeth Johnson, Sydney Seaman, Jenna Lavely, Madeline Harrell, Abby Hodge
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Gryphon Softball Not The What You Expect
Girls softball at Rocky Mount has been on about a eight year decline when one win was a major accomplishment. Don't look now but heading into today's game the Lady Gryphon softball team is 4-1. Those of us who sit in the press box while a baseball game is going on can see the score board on the softball field from the box and we have joked in the past that the softball game would be over no later than the fourth inning because we could see the visiting team has scored nine runs in the first and eight more in the second. Mercy rule is coming fast. Not any more.
The Lady Gryphons are holding their own on how many they give up but not like the past this team can score. Softball is a game if you are holding the other side to two or three runs it is hard to lose and the reverse of that is if you can only score three it's hard to win.
Their opening game looked like the same old story as they fell at Southern Wayne 18-2. Since the Lady Gryphons have won four in a row and I know since fast pitch softball has been the way Rocky Mount played softball four wins in a row must be a record streak because there are almost no seasons with four wins on the docket.
They have beaten 4A Rose twice the first time scoring eight runs in the seventh to win 11-10. The second meeting they won 17-16. They actually beat Northampton 18-2 in three innings. This past Friday beat North Pitt 15-4. So this team is scoring runs which never hurts anybody.
Their is a new headmaster this year as Koron Nickelson has taken over the coaching duties. No longer is it who wants to be the softball coach? He has brought new life for a program that has been dead for years.
The key in softball is pitching and the Gryphons have a freshman pitcher Peyton Thompson who has won all four games. The past many runs would score on the Gryphons through walks and to date Peyton has issued only 14 in five games. Free passes lead to runs and that is a major improvement this year.
This team has a team batting average of 425 led by Jessica Little who has pounded out 11 hits in the first five games. She's getting plenty of help from London Green 700, Jedaelaza Mattocks 750 so this team is getting on base.
There is nothing like winning to make team morale good. Conference play starts next week and for the first time in a long time Rocky Mount is not an automatic win for every other team in the Big East.
I think all of the self righteous people of this world who have jumped on the band wagon about the HB2 law in North Carolina. The NBA pulling the NBA All Star game from Charlotte. Even the home grown ACC which has it's headquarters in Greensboro pulling the ACC baseball tournament from Durham. If that law is so disgusting why doesn't the ACC move it's headquarters out of North Carolina.
Now the most outrageous of all. The NCAA has been threatening that if the law wasn't change the chance of North Carolina ever getting sites for NCAA basketball weekends would never happen again. It's funny that the Duke women are a number two seed in the women's 2017 tournament and yet they will be hosting this weekend. What happened North Carolina is such a despicable place we will never go there again.
I think it is funny all these people who are self righteous as long as it doesn't hurt their pocketbook. Could the NCAA stand a law suite if Duke wasn't picked to host as the top 16 teams are all hosting.
We have become a country of protesters. I'll protest any thing as long as it will benefit me and my agenda. Every thing is all right as long as my protest doesn't start costing me money and then I will be ok to let you believe what you believe.
The Lady Gryphons are holding their own on how many they give up but not like the past this team can score. Softball is a game if you are holding the other side to two or three runs it is hard to lose and the reverse of that is if you can only score three it's hard to win.
Their opening game looked like the same old story as they fell at Southern Wayne 18-2. Since the Lady Gryphons have won four in a row and I know since fast pitch softball has been the way Rocky Mount played softball four wins in a row must be a record streak because there are almost no seasons with four wins on the docket.
They have beaten 4A Rose twice the first time scoring eight runs in the seventh to win 11-10. The second meeting they won 17-16. They actually beat Northampton 18-2 in three innings. This past Friday beat North Pitt 15-4. So this team is scoring runs which never hurts anybody.
Their is a new headmaster this year as Koron Nickelson has taken over the coaching duties. No longer is it who wants to be the softball coach? He has brought new life for a program that has been dead for years.
The key in softball is pitching and the Gryphons have a freshman pitcher Peyton Thompson who has won all four games. The past many runs would score on the Gryphons through walks and to date Peyton has issued only 14 in five games. Free passes lead to runs and that is a major improvement this year.
This team has a team batting average of 425 led by Jessica Little who has pounded out 11 hits in the first five games. She's getting plenty of help from London Green 700, Jedaelaza Mattocks 750 so this team is getting on base.
There is nothing like winning to make team morale good. Conference play starts next week and for the first time in a long time Rocky Mount is not an automatic win for every other team in the Big East.
I think all of the self righteous people of this world who have jumped on the band wagon about the HB2 law in North Carolina. The NBA pulling the NBA All Star game from Charlotte. Even the home grown ACC which has it's headquarters in Greensboro pulling the ACC baseball tournament from Durham. If that law is so disgusting why doesn't the ACC move it's headquarters out of North Carolina.
Now the most outrageous of all. The NCAA has been threatening that if the law wasn't change the chance of North Carolina ever getting sites for NCAA basketball weekends would never happen again. It's funny that the Duke women are a number two seed in the women's 2017 tournament and yet they will be hosting this weekend. What happened North Carolina is such a despicable place we will never go there again.
I think it is funny all these people who are self righteous as long as it doesn't hurt their pocketbook. Could the NCAA stand a law suite if Duke wasn't picked to host as the top 16 teams are all hosting.
We have become a country of protesters. I'll protest any thing as long as it will benefit me and my agenda. Every thing is all right as long as my protest doesn't start costing me money and then I will be ok to let you believe what you believe.
Monday, March 13, 2017
More Runs Than Hits
- It was cold, windy. The Thermometer read 45 degrees but felt like 35. Got a call from Pat Smith around 11am that today's game had been moved up to 3:30 trying to beat the impending rain due near 6pm.
So a raw day like today the ball doesn't fly very well for the pitcher his curve ball may not break like it would under normal weather so today if you were Pat Smith who would you throw today. The fastest best pitcher you have David Harrison.
Harrison goes the distance giving up five hits three fail to get out of the infield. He walked two batters and struck out nine Trojans of South Johnston. His only true hard inning was the 7th and the Gryphons defense made it suspenseful making two errors by putting the tying runs on base. Harrison ended the threat with a strikeout.
The Gryphons scored their first run after Jake Philbeck was hit by a pitch. Then Isaiah Stewart, Ben Seracki and Lane Butler walked and Butler got and rbi for his walk. One run on no hits.
Run number two came in the fourth when Zack Keeter walked advance to second on a ground out. Advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sac fly by Ben Seracki to center field. 2-0 Rocky Mount after four innings and the Gryphons have no hits yet.
They would get their only hit in the fifth on a ground ball infield single and it will be their only hit in the game. GRYPHONS win 2-0 over South Johnston to win their third game in five tries.
Friday will be the last warm-up before conference play next week. The Gryphons travel to 4-A Cleveland in Clayton. The Gryphons have shown to date they have the pitching to hang in during conference play but as of yet have not shown capable of scoring enough runs to be a threat for the conference crown.
Final Week Of Preparation
One thing about all high school sports when you can play two or more games a week it doesn't take long before it's conference time. Next week Big East Baseball kicks into high gear so this is the last week to figure who your starters will be.
So far this spring the Firebirds of Southern Nash have been the most impressive as they have won five of six contest. They have three games on tap this week as Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They have home games today with Cleveland, another home game Wednesday and they hit the road Friday at Farmville.
Rocky Mount 2-2 has played the least games to date and only have two more on the schedule this week. Today they host South Johnston 4pm. They finish off the week Friday at Cleveland. So far the strong point for the Gryphons has been pitching and the weak point defense and clutch hitting.
Nash Central 2-3 is off to a somewhat slow start. They too have a three game week and They are home today to Smithfield Selma. A road trip to SouthWest Edgecombe Tuesday and back home on Friday with Southwest Edgecombe.
The biggest struggle so far this season is Northern Nash. They have lost four of their first five. They have three games scheduled this week. Still plenty of time to turn things around. They are on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday week. They start it off today hosting Corinths Holders. The Cougars of SouthWest Edgecombe Wednesday and finish the week on the road at Tarboro.
Carolina earned a top seed in the South region of the NCAA basketball tournament and will play Friday in Greenville SC. They will meet Texas Southern. Duke jumps to a second seed in the east region but they also start in Greenville SC Friday meeting Troy.
Wake Forest making the tournament for the first time since 2010 has a play in meeting with Kansas St. In Dayton Ohio on Wednesday. They will be joined in Dayton by North Carolina Central who gets a shot at University of California-Davis.
The final North Carolina team in the Big Dance is UNC Wilmington and they will meet the Virginia Cavaliers. Fill out those brackets as the games begin Tuesday.
So far this spring the Firebirds of Southern Nash have been the most impressive as they have won five of six contest. They have three games on tap this week as Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They have home games today with Cleveland, another home game Wednesday and they hit the road Friday at Farmville.
Rocky Mount 2-2 has played the least games to date and only have two more on the schedule this week. Today they host South Johnston 4pm. They finish off the week Friday at Cleveland. So far the strong point for the Gryphons has been pitching and the weak point defense and clutch hitting.
Nash Central 2-3 is off to a somewhat slow start. They too have a three game week and They are home today to Smithfield Selma. A road trip to SouthWest Edgecombe Tuesday and back home on Friday with Southwest Edgecombe.
The biggest struggle so far this season is Northern Nash. They have lost four of their first five. They have three games scheduled this week. Still plenty of time to turn things around. They are on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday week. They start it off today hosting Corinths Holders. The Cougars of SouthWest Edgecombe Wednesday and finish the week on the road at Tarboro.
Carolina earned a top seed in the South region of the NCAA basketball tournament and will play Friday in Greenville SC. They will meet Texas Southern. Duke jumps to a second seed in the east region but they also start in Greenville SC Friday meeting Troy.
Wake Forest making the tournament for the first time since 2010 has a play in meeting with Kansas St. In Dayton Ohio on Wednesday. They will be joined in Dayton by North Carolina Central who gets a shot at University of California-Davis.
The final North Carolina team in the Big Dance is UNC Wilmington and they will meet the Virginia Cavaliers. Fill out those brackets as the games begin Tuesday.
Sunday, March 12, 2017
The Pride Of Southern Nash Returning Home
He just might be the greatest athlete in the history of Southern Nash High school. Julius Peppers is returning to the Carolina Panthers seven year after he left over money. There is no doubt the greatest sacker in the history of the Carolina Panthers 81 left the home state organization because of money. Money is the down fall of the world. The Panthers offered 54 Million for four years Peppers wanted 60. Neither side budged so Peppers parted company, parted town and parted his home state. A few years in Chicago and a few in Green Bay Julius Peppers come back home to finish out his career where it all started.
Just to remind you even as a freshman for the Firebirds he stood 6 feet five inches. His four years as a running back Peppers produced 3,501 yard rushing scoring 46 touchdowns. He made all conference is basketball all four years in high school. He even won a 4x400 relay in the state championships of track and field the first state championship ever for the Firebirds. He was a Parade High school All American. He was named the NCHSAA Male athlete of the year in 1998. Need any more proof of how gifted Julius Peppers was and still is.
Off to Carolina where in 1999 he led the nation in sacks (15). Won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the top Defensive player in the country. He took home the Lombardi Award Best lineman in the country and Bill Willis Award as best defensive lineman in the country. He walked on the Carolina basketball team his first two years and was on the Tar Heel team that went to the final four and scored 21 in an NCAA game.
Drafted by the home state team who's owner happens to be from Spring Hope, Peppers first seven years were a dream come true for the Nash Country native son. During his seven years as a Panther he recorded 81 sacks the Panthers all time leader. Won the NFL defensive rookie of the year in 2002. How good was his seven years in Charlotte. He made the NFL all decade team in 2010.
The numbers kept piling up at Chicago and Green Bay as his sack total has climbed to 143.5 fifth all time in NFL history seven sacks short of fourth while that can be obtained this season. His role with the Panther more than likely will be a third down pass rusher.
When you look back at Julius Peppers football career there are those who say he took time off while on the field and didn't give everything he had on every play. There are players who play whatever sport they play that make the game look easy. To us that watch it seems so simply to hit a slow curveball that takes forever to get to the plate, but until you are that person being blocked by a three hundred pounder that you are lined up with we have no idea what it takes to make one sack.
One year, two years who knows how much Julius Peppers still has in his tank at 37 years old. I'm glad he's back home because five years after the end of his NFL career Julius Pepper will be in the NFL Hall Of Fame. He will go in as a Carolina Panther, A Southern Nash Firebird and a Nash County Hero.
Just to remind you even as a freshman for the Firebirds he stood 6 feet five inches. His four years as a running back Peppers produced 3,501 yard rushing scoring 46 touchdowns. He made all conference is basketball all four years in high school. He even won a 4x400 relay in the state championships of track and field the first state championship ever for the Firebirds. He was a Parade High school All American. He was named the NCHSAA Male athlete of the year in 1998. Need any more proof of how gifted Julius Peppers was and still is.
Off to Carolina where in 1999 he led the nation in sacks (15). Won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the top Defensive player in the country. He took home the Lombardi Award Best lineman in the country and Bill Willis Award as best defensive lineman in the country. He walked on the Carolina basketball team his first two years and was on the Tar Heel team that went to the final four and scored 21 in an NCAA game.
Drafted by the home state team who's owner happens to be from Spring Hope, Peppers first seven years were a dream come true for the Nash Country native son. During his seven years as a Panther he recorded 81 sacks the Panthers all time leader. Won the NFL defensive rookie of the year in 2002. How good was his seven years in Charlotte. He made the NFL all decade team in 2010.
The numbers kept piling up at Chicago and Green Bay as his sack total has climbed to 143.5 fifth all time in NFL history seven sacks short of fourth while that can be obtained this season. His role with the Panther more than likely will be a third down pass rusher.
When you look back at Julius Peppers football career there are those who say he took time off while on the field and didn't give everything he had on every play. There are players who play whatever sport they play that make the game look easy. To us that watch it seems so simply to hit a slow curveball that takes forever to get to the plate, but until you are that person being blocked by a three hundred pounder that you are lined up with we have no idea what it takes to make one sack.
One year, two years who knows how much Julius Peppers still has in his tank at 37 years old. I'm glad he's back home because five years after the end of his NFL career Julius Pepper will be in the NFL Hall Of Fame. He will go in as a Carolina Panther, A Southern Nash Firebird and a Nash County Hero.
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Tobacco Roads Over Takes New York
There has not been much excitement in the City of New York about the ACC tournament. News papers it is on the back pages all week but not Friday as Duke and North Carolina meeting for the third time this year has become front page news in Gotham City. That traditional return to Friday night semi finals is back and every TV set in North Carolina is tuned in to see the Devils meet the Heels just like it use to be when the ACC was the ACC. Frenzy has over taken New York mostly because all of those Duke Graduates now live in the New York/New Jersey area. This is not the first meeting between these two in New York. They met each other in the semi finals of the NIT in 1971. Do you remember why they were there?
North Carolina was the regular season champion of the ACC with an 11-3 record. South Carolina in their last ACC season was second at 10-4 and Duke finished third at 9-5. NC State upset Duke in the first round at Greensboro 68-61 while South Carolina beat Maryland 71-68. The Gamecocks beat the Pack 69-56 while Carolina breezed through Clemson 76-41 and Virginia 78-68.
Then in the championship game the Tar Heels met South Carolina in one of the strangest endings in ACC history. I can't find any box score on the internet but from my semi not so good memory The Tar Heels led 51-50 and a jump ball was called in the foul circle in front of the Gamecocks basket with just a few seconds left. Lee Dedmon The Tar Heels center was jumping for North Carolina against John Roach a Gamecock guard who stood 6 feet one while Demon nine inches taller. No way right that South Carolina will win this jump or the game right?
Dedmon tapped the ball toward the South Carolina basket where a Gamecock player caught it and laid it in the basket as time expired. South Carolina stole the ACC title from the Tar Heels. South Carolina now goes to the NCAA as the only ACC Team the champion could go back then. The NCAA only had 24 team field back then so South Carolina got a bye in the opening round and then met Penn who destroyed the Gamecocks 69-54. How did we ever let them represent us?
North Carolina and Duke were both invited to the NIT. Carolina had gone in 1970 and lost in the opening round and the ACC excuse was "It was hard to get up for the NIT after not winning the ACC Tournament. So Carolina had to make up for the year before embarrassment. Duke was going for the first time which made it the first time the ACC had ever sent two teams to the NIT.
Carolina wins their opener 90-49 over U Mass. Duke takes down the Dayton Flyers 68-60. Round two Carolina slipped past Providence 86-79 while Duke beat Tennessee 78-64. Then it happened the only time in the history of the world that Duke and North Carolina played each other in a playoff game not called the ACC Tournament. Carolina won 73-67. They would then beat Georgia Tech 84-66 to win the 1971 NIT while Duke lost the 3rd place game to St Bonaventure 92-88.
North Carolina forgot once Berry got four fouls that they had controlled the game on the inside all night. I would like to see the stats Carolina's outside shooting totals the last 14 minutes. They didn't make many. They put on a show for 37 minutes these two from Tobacco Roads. It will not go down as a classic but this game felt like Greensboro and the way the ACC Tournament ought to feel. Just goes to prove. Checkers, badminton, State, Duke or Carolina when they play each other it is life or death regardless of where they play.
North Carolina was the regular season champion of the ACC with an 11-3 record. South Carolina in their last ACC season was second at 10-4 and Duke finished third at 9-5. NC State upset Duke in the first round at Greensboro 68-61 while South Carolina beat Maryland 71-68. The Gamecocks beat the Pack 69-56 while Carolina breezed through Clemson 76-41 and Virginia 78-68.
Then in the championship game the Tar Heels met South Carolina in one of the strangest endings in ACC history. I can't find any box score on the internet but from my semi not so good memory The Tar Heels led 51-50 and a jump ball was called in the foul circle in front of the Gamecocks basket with just a few seconds left. Lee Dedmon The Tar Heels center was jumping for North Carolina against John Roach a Gamecock guard who stood 6 feet one while Demon nine inches taller. No way right that South Carolina will win this jump or the game right?
Dedmon tapped the ball toward the South Carolina basket where a Gamecock player caught it and laid it in the basket as time expired. South Carolina stole the ACC title from the Tar Heels. South Carolina now goes to the NCAA as the only ACC Team the champion could go back then. The NCAA only had 24 team field back then so South Carolina got a bye in the opening round and then met Penn who destroyed the Gamecocks 69-54. How did we ever let them represent us?
North Carolina and Duke were both invited to the NIT. Carolina had gone in 1970 and lost in the opening round and the ACC excuse was "It was hard to get up for the NIT after not winning the ACC Tournament. So Carolina had to make up for the year before embarrassment. Duke was going for the first time which made it the first time the ACC had ever sent two teams to the NIT.
Carolina wins their opener 90-49 over U Mass. Duke takes down the Dayton Flyers 68-60. Round two Carolina slipped past Providence 86-79 while Duke beat Tennessee 78-64. Then it happened the only time in the history of the world that Duke and North Carolina played each other in a playoff game not called the ACC Tournament. Carolina won 73-67. They would then beat Georgia Tech 84-66 to win the 1971 NIT while Duke lost the 3rd place game to St Bonaventure 92-88.
North Carolina forgot once Berry got four fouls that they had controlled the game on the inside all night. I would like to see the stats Carolina's outside shooting totals the last 14 minutes. They didn't make many. They put on a show for 37 minutes these two from Tobacco Roads. It will not go down as a classic but this game felt like Greensboro and the way the ACC Tournament ought to feel. Just goes to prove. Checkers, badminton, State, Duke or Carolina when they play each other it is life or death regardless of where they play.
Friday, March 10, 2017
All Conference Wrestling Team
Southern Nash's Kendrick Watson who was the conference heavy weight champion was named Player of the year in Big East Wrestling. Coach of the year is Fike's Mike Wickham who had two wrestlers to finish in the top five in the state meet. The top Wrestlers per weight class is listed below.
(106) Blake Edwards- Fike .....Finished 4th in Regional
(113) Rashun Lawrence- Rocky Mount ...Regional champ
(120) Josiah Watterbarger- Hunt
(126) Daniel Martinez- Fike
(132) Rae Sae Settles- Fike Finished 2nd in state tournament earning All State Honors
(138) Linton Holmes -Fike...place 2nd in regional
(145) Aaron Bancroft- Fike finished 5th in state tournament
(152) Joshua Brice- Nash Central
(160) Isiah Proctor- Fike...finished 4th in regional
(170) Emanuel Williams- Nash Central
(182) Vyshaun Richardson- Southern Nash....4th in regional
(195) Alex Nobles- Nash Central
(220) Dillon Joyner- Northern Nash
(285) Kendrick Watson- Southern Nash... placed 2nd in regional
The ACC Tournament is heading for the old fashion Friday night semi finals and quite frankly the crowds have been better in the meaningless games than expected. The state game at 12 noon on Tuesday looked to have 12,000 in the arena. Of course Barlay's Center only holds a little under 18,000 so it is not like Greensboro when 12,000 looks empty.
I think one reason for the early game attendance is that this is the first time ever in New York for the tournament and everyone is using it as a vacation week to stay in New York. If that is the case people who stay for the whole week are outlaying big bucks. Since the conference went doubled in expansion those early games like every regional site the 12 noon game only have the people involved from those teams.
I love the fact that the one coach to claim New York is the capitol of basketball and not Greensboro Jim Boeheim was one and done. So goes the home court advantage.
(106) Blake Edwards- Fike .....Finished 4th in Regional
(113) Rashun Lawrence- Rocky Mount ...Regional champ
(120) Josiah Watterbarger- Hunt
(126) Daniel Martinez- Fike
(132) Rae Sae Settles- Fike Finished 2nd in state tournament earning All State Honors
(138) Linton Holmes -Fike...place 2nd in regional
(145) Aaron Bancroft- Fike finished 5th in state tournament
(152) Joshua Brice- Nash Central
(160) Isiah Proctor- Fike...finished 4th in regional
(170) Emanuel Williams- Nash Central
(182) Vyshaun Richardson- Southern Nash....4th in regional
(195) Alex Nobles- Nash Central
(220) Dillon Joyner- Northern Nash
(285) Kendrick Watson- Southern Nash... placed 2nd in regional
The ACC Tournament is heading for the old fashion Friday night semi finals and quite frankly the crowds have been better in the meaningless games than expected. The state game at 12 noon on Tuesday looked to have 12,000 in the arena. Of course Barlay's Center only holds a little under 18,000 so it is not like Greensboro when 12,000 looks empty.
I think one reason for the early game attendance is that this is the first time ever in New York for the tournament and everyone is using it as a vacation week to stay in New York. If that is the case people who stay for the whole week are outlaying big bucks. Since the conference went doubled in expansion those early games like every regional site the 12 noon game only have the people involved from those teams.
I love the fact that the one coach to claim New York is the capitol of basketball and not Greensboro Jim Boeheim was one and done. So goes the home court advantage.
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Defense Lacking
Every now and then you go to a baseball game that has no flow. The Bunn Rocky Mount baseball game had no flow what so ever. The game took almost two and half hours and only went seven innings.
Between the two Rocky Mount walked three batters and hit two more while Bunn walked four and hit two others. Between the two teams Rocky Mount committed three errors and those three brought home four Wildcat Runs. The Wildcats made two errors themselves and Rocky Mount's lone run scored off their error. Plain and simple this was hard game to watch.
The Wildcats got a double from David Morgan and scored on what should have been a groundout to end the inning but it went through the legs. Bunn was gracious by returning the favor in the first. Two outs Jamar Ellis scorched a ball down the line for a triple and scored on an error at short.
So we can start all over tied at one after one.Two outs with a runner on first with a walk Bunn had back to back singles and the second after centerfield miss played the ball with two runs scoring.
Rocky Mount started the bottom of second with two walks wiped out on a double play. Zack Keeter who started on the mound for the Gryphons gave up two hits in the third was relieved by David Harrison who gave up a wild pitch scoring one and another run scored on a squeeze play when the Gryphons had the runner on third dead to right but a wild throw plated another run.
Rocky Mount had two runners on in the third and came up with a goose egg. Twice more two runners were on or at least one runner on second but no cigar. Davie Morgan knocked in Bunn's sixth runner in the fourth which was only the second earned run of the game.
Bunn out hit the Gryphons eight to five, Jamar Ellis and Logan Pearce had two hits and Ben Seracki the other. Bunn had four base runners caught stealing. Bunn beats Rocky Mount 6-1
The umpires were not the best for either teams as the ump on the bases failed to call an infield fly rule which the ball was caught. He called and out when the first baseman never touched the base and the ump behind the plate you never knew from pitch to pitch what he was going to call. My guess is 250 pitches were thrown in this game with many batters with 3-2 counts. This game simply is one to throw away the score book.
Next action for the Gryphons is Monday as they host South Johnston.
Between the two Rocky Mount walked three batters and hit two more while Bunn walked four and hit two others. Between the two teams Rocky Mount committed three errors and those three brought home four Wildcat Runs. The Wildcats made two errors themselves and Rocky Mount's lone run scored off their error. Plain and simple this was hard game to watch.
The Wildcats got a double from David Morgan and scored on what should have been a groundout to end the inning but it went through the legs. Bunn was gracious by returning the favor in the first. Two outs Jamar Ellis scorched a ball down the line for a triple and scored on an error at short.
So we can start all over tied at one after one.Two outs with a runner on first with a walk Bunn had back to back singles and the second after centerfield miss played the ball with two runs scoring.
Rocky Mount started the bottom of second with two walks wiped out on a double play. Zack Keeter who started on the mound for the Gryphons gave up two hits in the third was relieved by David Harrison who gave up a wild pitch scoring one and another run scored on a squeeze play when the Gryphons had the runner on third dead to right but a wild throw plated another run.
Rocky Mount had two runners on in the third and came up with a goose egg. Twice more two runners were on or at least one runner on second but no cigar. Davie Morgan knocked in Bunn's sixth runner in the fourth which was only the second earned run of the game.
Bunn out hit the Gryphons eight to five, Jamar Ellis and Logan Pearce had two hits and Ben Seracki the other. Bunn had four base runners caught stealing. Bunn beats Rocky Mount 6-1
The umpires were not the best for either teams as the ump on the bases failed to call an infield fly rule which the ball was caught. He called and out when the first baseman never touched the base and the ump behind the plate you never knew from pitch to pitch what he was going to call. My guess is 250 pitches were thrown in this game with many batters with 3-2 counts. This game simply is one to throw away the score book.
Next action for the Gryphons is Monday as they host South Johnston.
Passing Thoughts
The Duke North Carolina basketball game is by far the greatest rivalry in all of sports. During Saturday night's broadcast I enjoyed watching the cameras as they followed the teams out onto the courts as a person who has done three state championship basketball games in the Dean Dome (SouthWest Edgecombe Girls 2005), (Rocky Mount boys 2010-2012) and been in those very same hallways I always get excited when ever I see something on the news and I can say that I have been right there.
Yet, as hated as this rivalry is between these two schools and you can't find many people who pull for Carolina that will tell you they like Mike Krzyzewski or a Duke fan who enjoys Roy Williams. Did anybody besides me see this the other night. The camera was following Coach K in the tunnel leading to the court and as you arrive at the floor fans are perched in their seats and any player or coaches from an opposing team here is where you are going to start hearing it from the fans. As he entered the court just about every fan had their cells phones on camera and were taking his picture. Everyone of those fans were wearing Carolina blue shirts.
Rivalries are great and despite how bad you hate the other team any fan that has any knowledge of the game recognizes greatness. They also understand the rivalry is great because coaches like K and Williams have kept their teams near the top of the college basketball world. When you stay on top then the world wants to watch.
This weekend's state basketball championships for the first time you can go on line and order tickets in advance. I know there are people who enjoy going to the games just to watch the event. There is only one advantage of ordering tickets early and that is you will not stand in line once you arrive at the event that you will be attending. Advance tickets sold by the schools participating are $9 and at the door $10. On line ordering are $10 plus processing fees so I would see no need to order in advance on line.
There is the old saying that what you hope happens is the team that knocked you out of the tournament wins it all. The Lady Gryphons lost in round four to Northern Guilford and Northern Guilford is still alive and Northern Nash lost in the fourth round to Eastern Guilford and Eastern Guilford is still alive. Both Rocky Mount and Northern just might be able to say it took the state champs to beat us.
Yesterday ended one of the more disappointing basketball season in the history of N C State basketball. One point they were 12-3 and ended up 15-17. Had no major injuries after the 12-3 start but to me as a Pack fan the team quit. I don't mind losing when the team gives effort but saw very little effort the more the losses came. That tells me something about players hearts and coaching to let the players not giving effort stay on the court. I would rather watch the guys on the end of the bench lose by 100 trying to win over what I have seen the whole month of February.
Rocky Mount baseball is at home this afternoon hosting Bunn. Rocky Mount's pitching continues to impress now having played 20 innings that have given up 2 runs and only one earned. Those of you who like numbers that's is an ERA of .045. I suspect you might see David Harrison on the hill today for the Gryphons. This past Saturday the Gryphons beat South Johnston 8-0 and you know that coach Pat Smith that had to be a joyous win beating the team which was your old stomping grounds where you had won a state championship in baseball.
Yet, as hated as this rivalry is between these two schools and you can't find many people who pull for Carolina that will tell you they like Mike Krzyzewski or a Duke fan who enjoys Roy Williams. Did anybody besides me see this the other night. The camera was following Coach K in the tunnel leading to the court and as you arrive at the floor fans are perched in their seats and any player or coaches from an opposing team here is where you are going to start hearing it from the fans. As he entered the court just about every fan had their cells phones on camera and were taking his picture. Everyone of those fans were wearing Carolina blue shirts.
Rivalries are great and despite how bad you hate the other team any fan that has any knowledge of the game recognizes greatness. They also understand the rivalry is great because coaches like K and Williams have kept their teams near the top of the college basketball world. When you stay on top then the world wants to watch.
This weekend's state basketball championships for the first time you can go on line and order tickets in advance. I know there are people who enjoy going to the games just to watch the event. There is only one advantage of ordering tickets early and that is you will not stand in line once you arrive at the event that you will be attending. Advance tickets sold by the schools participating are $9 and at the door $10. On line ordering are $10 plus processing fees so I would see no need to order in advance on line.
There is the old saying that what you hope happens is the team that knocked you out of the tournament wins it all. The Lady Gryphons lost in round four to Northern Guilford and Northern Guilford is still alive and Northern Nash lost in the fourth round to Eastern Guilford and Eastern Guilford is still alive. Both Rocky Mount and Northern just might be able to say it took the state champs to beat us.
Yesterday ended one of the more disappointing basketball season in the history of N C State basketball. One point they were 12-3 and ended up 15-17. Had no major injuries after the 12-3 start but to me as a Pack fan the team quit. I don't mind losing when the team gives effort but saw very little effort the more the losses came. That tells me something about players hearts and coaching to let the players not giving effort stay on the court. I would rather watch the guys on the end of the bench lose by 100 trying to win over what I have seen the whole month of February.
Rocky Mount baseball is at home this afternoon hosting Bunn. Rocky Mount's pitching continues to impress now having played 20 innings that have given up 2 runs and only one earned. Those of you who like numbers that's is an ERA of .045. I suspect you might see David Harrison on the hill today for the Gryphons. This past Saturday the Gryphons beat South Johnston 8-0 and you know that coach Pat Smith that had to be a joyous win beating the team which was your old stomping grounds where you had won a state championship in baseball.
Monday, March 6, 2017
BIG EAST Basketball Players Of The Year
Now that officially basketball season is over for all of the Big East teams as long as there is any team from the conference still alive in the playoffs the awards are not announced until all teams have finished the season.
Montre' Cash from Nash Central is the boys player of the year and Henry Drake of Northern Nash is the coach of the year. Cash scored at a 20.6 points per ball game. Averaged 3.4 rebounds per contest, 4.6 assists and 2.66 steals per game. Drake in his second year as the head basketball coach at Northern Nash led the Knights to the fourth round of the state playoffs and a 25-4 record the best record for the Knights this century.
The girls player of the year is Nash Central's Michaela Nelms and a tie between Rocky Mount's Pam Gainey and Nash Central's Terri Cash for coach of the year. Nelms scored at a 17.6 clip per game. Averaged 7.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.81 Steals per game. Pam Gainey led the Gryphons to a 22-4 record and to the fourth round of the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Terri Cash Bulldogs finished with a 18-9 record and made it to the third round of the playoffs after their top player was hurt in the first game of the year and did not return.
Big East Boys All Conference team:
Northern Nash Nash Central Fike
Darius Spragley Montre' Cash Samson Strickland
Raymond Bullock III Elijah Cole Ty Lucas
Undray Cherry HM HM
HM Dominick Dixon Ricky Fuller
Devontae Wiggins
Rocky Mount. Hunt Southern Nash
Artavious Richardson Ny'zhay Allen Tyler Brown
HM HM HM
Shyheim Battle K J Jones Tavarus Brown
Big East Girls All Conference team;
Rocky Mount Nash Central Fike
Keyanna Spivey Michaela Nelms Jada Lee
Michelle Gainey Myia Spivey Aniya Thigpen
Shelby Meeks HM HM
HM Kayalin Mitchell. Mason Blake
Ashley Hatfield
Hunt Northern Nash Southern Nash
Kayla Kent Kristian Johnson. Jessy Lucas
HM. HM HM
Bryson Lee Kylar Wiggins Aaliyah Newkirk
High school baseball scores from Monday Corinth Holders beat Rocky Mount 2-0. Ben Seracki pitch the first five innings and Zack Keeter the sixth.
Roanoke Rapids 11 Northern Nash 5. RR 16 hits to Northern's 5
Tarboro 5 Nash Central 3
Montre' Cash from Nash Central is the boys player of the year and Henry Drake of Northern Nash is the coach of the year. Cash scored at a 20.6 points per ball game. Averaged 3.4 rebounds per contest, 4.6 assists and 2.66 steals per game. Drake in his second year as the head basketball coach at Northern Nash led the Knights to the fourth round of the state playoffs and a 25-4 record the best record for the Knights this century.
The girls player of the year is Nash Central's Michaela Nelms and a tie between Rocky Mount's Pam Gainey and Nash Central's Terri Cash for coach of the year. Nelms scored at a 17.6 clip per game. Averaged 7.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.81 Steals per game. Pam Gainey led the Gryphons to a 22-4 record and to the fourth round of the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Terri Cash Bulldogs finished with a 18-9 record and made it to the third round of the playoffs after their top player was hurt in the first game of the year and did not return.
Big East Boys All Conference team:
Northern Nash Nash Central Fike
Darius Spragley Montre' Cash Samson Strickland
Raymond Bullock III Elijah Cole Ty Lucas
Undray Cherry HM HM
HM Dominick Dixon Ricky Fuller
Devontae Wiggins
Rocky Mount. Hunt Southern Nash
Artavious Richardson Ny'zhay Allen Tyler Brown
HM HM HM
Shyheim Battle K J Jones Tavarus Brown
Big East Girls All Conference team;
Rocky Mount Nash Central Fike
Keyanna Spivey Michaela Nelms Jada Lee
Michelle Gainey Myia Spivey Aniya Thigpen
Shelby Meeks HM HM
HM Kayalin Mitchell. Mason Blake
Ashley Hatfield
Hunt Northern Nash Southern Nash
Kayla Kent Kristian Johnson. Jessy Lucas
HM. HM HM
Bryson Lee Kylar Wiggins Aaliyah Newkirk
High school baseball scores from Monday Corinth Holders beat Rocky Mount 2-0. Ben Seracki pitch the first five innings and Zack Keeter the sixth.
Roanoke Rapids 11 Northern Nash 5. RR 16 hits to Northern's 5
Tarboro 5 Nash Central 3
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Moving Up The Ladder
The Rocky Telegram ran two articles on Saturday and Sunday about "Baseball" Britt Johnson rise through the ranks of baseball with his team Applaichian State having played this weekend in the baseball tournament at ECU. Both articles were written by Ethan Joyce. I especially enjoyed reading the Sunday article about the sacrifice and commitment Britt made once the decision was made to go to college coaching.
I am a family friend and knew of the cold turkey jump to start from scratch doing what he loved college baseball. Not many of us will leave a comfortable job and start doing something that pays nothing. The life of coaching is said you were hired to be fired. A few short years Britt has risen to assistant baseball coach and if they turn around the program at App State then it won't be long it will be his turn to be a head coach. It only proves hard work pays off.
Trying to keep it in the family today a friend of Britt Johnson Brooks Doughtie has a similar story. He is two years older than Britt and a graduate of Rocky Mount High and North Carolina State. He has a degree in Coastal Management environmental Science and spent six years riding fishing boats protecting species on the endangered list.
He too wanted more and started coaching triathlon athletes in Raleigh. He went to work in a bicycle shop to Have income plus bikes are one third of a Tri race.
Brooks had just returned Sunday from the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs Co where he was invited in special training sessions for coaches through the US Olympic Committee. Just so happen a Tri Athlon was held Saturday with runners all over the world were there.
Brooks has hundreds of athletes that he coaches around the US. 2016 his coached runners in all age groups won 17 races and 15 times his runners got on the podium in 2nd or 3rd. A proud moment one of his coached professional runners finished 3rd in a world event Saturday in Colorado Springs. It's a first podium for one of his professional athletes.
We are all hoping in the near future in the Doughtie family to hear if he will be named by the US Olympic Committee as a Tri coach for the October World Tri championship in Brussels Belgium.
Two locals Britt Johnson and Brooks Doughtie saw what they wanted to do and through hard work and sacrifice are reaping the rewards of their commitment.
I am a family friend and knew of the cold turkey jump to start from scratch doing what he loved college baseball. Not many of us will leave a comfortable job and start doing something that pays nothing. The life of coaching is said you were hired to be fired. A few short years Britt has risen to assistant baseball coach and if they turn around the program at App State then it won't be long it will be his turn to be a head coach. It only proves hard work pays off.
Trying to keep it in the family today a friend of Britt Johnson Brooks Doughtie has a similar story. He is two years older than Britt and a graduate of Rocky Mount High and North Carolina State. He has a degree in Coastal Management environmental Science and spent six years riding fishing boats protecting species on the endangered list.
He too wanted more and started coaching triathlon athletes in Raleigh. He went to work in a bicycle shop to Have income plus bikes are one third of a Tri race.
Brooks had just returned Sunday from the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs Co where he was invited in special training sessions for coaches through the US Olympic Committee. Just so happen a Tri Athlon was held Saturday with runners all over the world were there.
Brooks has hundreds of athletes that he coaches around the US. 2016 his coached runners in all age groups won 17 races and 15 times his runners got on the podium in 2nd or 3rd. A proud moment one of his coached professional runners finished 3rd in a world event Saturday in Colorado Springs. It's a first podium for one of his professional athletes.
We are all hoping in the near future in the Doughtie family to hear if he will be named by the US Olympic Committee as a Tri coach for the October World Tri championship in Brussels Belgium.
Two locals Britt Johnson and Brooks Doughtie saw what they wanted to do and through hard work and sacrifice are reaping the rewards of their commitment.
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Another Shutout
We just discussed on our last blog how pitching was going to be a big issue for all high school teams. Teams that play more than two games a week will need a boat load of pitchers with the number of pitches per day being counted and depending on how many a pitcher throws today determines how many pitches that he can throw the rest of the week.
South Johnston lost Monday to 4A New Hanover 5-4. Back on field Tuesday they beat 4A West Johnston 6-2. They hosted 4A Clayton Friday afternoon and lost 10-9. Today they give up 13 runs to Rocky Mount. Do you see a trend that pitching unless you are over run with throwers the more games you play each week the potential of running out of pitching will happen more than ever this year.
David Harrison gets the call to the mound as he has not thrown since Monday. The Gryphons opened the scoring in the third after Zack Keeter singled. He moved to second on a sac bunt by Ben Saracki and scored on a single by Josh Piitman.
Two outs in the 6th but the Gryphons plate three runs after two walks and a rbi single by Jamar Ellis. Zack Keeter follows with a double. That plates two more runs. David Harrison goes six inning giving up two hits and hit a batter and zero runs. He throws 72 pitches.
Rocky Mount bats a round in the seventh scoring 9 times. David Harrison doubled home a run. Logan Pearce doubled home two. Zack Keeter's third hit drove home another run. Chase Miller, Lane Butler and Josh Pittman walked with the bases loaded scoring three more. David Harrison rbi sac fly and a double by Isaiah Stewart scored runs 12 and 13. Ben Seracki gave up a double in the bottom of the 7th to give the Gryphons their second shutout or the year.
Final Rocky Mount 13 South Johnston 0.
David Harrison has opened the season pitching 9 innings giving up two hits an a hit batter. Freshman Ben Seracki has pitched five innings giving up three hits and a walk. Hard to lose when the other side fails to score.
Case in point Rocky Mount Saturday traveled to South Johnston playing their fourth game this week. Rocky Mount on the other hand played Monday and have at their disposal every pitcher that Pat Smith wants to use. All this pitch count works into next week and Monday Rocky Mount travels to Corinth Holders so despite this being only their second game of the week the number of pitches today effects Monday. You would figure Pat Smith needs to pitch some of his other throwers if for no other reason just to see what kind of pitching he has.
South Johnston lost Monday to 4A New Hanover 5-4. Back on field Tuesday they beat 4A West Johnston 6-2. They hosted 4A Clayton Friday afternoon and lost 10-9. Today they give up 13 runs to Rocky Mount. Do you see a trend that pitching unless you are over run with throwers the more games you play each week the potential of running out of pitching will happen more than ever this year.
David Harrison gets the call to the mound as he has not thrown since Monday. The Gryphons opened the scoring in the third after Zack Keeter singled. He moved to second on a sac bunt by Ben Saracki and scored on a single by Josh Piitman.
Two outs in the 6th but the Gryphons plate three runs after two walks and a rbi single by Jamar Ellis. Zack Keeter follows with a double. That plates two more runs. David Harrison goes six inning giving up two hits and hit a batter and zero runs. He throws 72 pitches.
Rocky Mount bats a round in the seventh scoring 9 times. David Harrison doubled home a run. Logan Pearce doubled home two. Zack Keeter's third hit drove home another run. Chase Miller, Lane Butler and Josh Pittman walked with the bases loaded scoring three more. David Harrison rbi sac fly and a double by Isaiah Stewart scored runs 12 and 13. Ben Seracki gave up a double in the bottom of the 7th to give the Gryphons their second shutout or the year.
Final Rocky Mount 13 South Johnston 0.
David Harrison has opened the season pitching 9 innings giving up two hits an a hit batter. Freshman Ben Seracki has pitched five innings giving up three hits and a walk. Hard to lose when the other side fails to score.
Pitching It's Every Thing In High School
We are a week into the high school baseball season and pitching is the talk of the baseball world. Rocky Mount has played once and got a pitching shutout. During that seven inning outing only one walk and two hits were given up and yet it took 97 pitches 64 from Ben Seracki and 33 by David Harrison.
Nash Central opened their season against Smithfield Selma winning 7-4. Bulldog veteran Zach Patterson threw 79 pitches. Cameron Taylor tossed 9 and Trey Whitley tossed 35. 123 pitches total. It is obvious from the early results that pitch counts are going to have a bigger say in who wins high school baseball than ever before.
Rocky Mount plays at South Johnston today at 1pm. Monday they are at Corinth Holders. Then Wednesday they are home against Bunn. Three games in five days. In a game where there wasn't any stress opening day they still threw almost 100 pitches. What's going to happen if they throw 125 pitches in all Three games next week. Looks like they could need six pitchers to get by.
The big question for Rocky Mount or any other team that plays three games in week where are they going to find six pitchers?
The first week of the baseball season has been a good one for Southern Nash. Last night they bested East Wake 8-7 to start the season 3-0. Earlier in the week they knocked off Princton12-2 and whipped SouthWest Edgecombe 11-0.
Nash Central has started 2-1 after falling to Rose Friday 9-2. They won twice earlier in the week 7-4 over Smithfield Selma and 11-1 over Tarboro.
The team suffering the most this first week is Northern Nash. Last night they suffered their third loss of the week to C B Aycock 7-1. Earlier they fell to Roanoke Rapids 14-2 and Bunn 3-2. They have given up 24 runs in their first three games.
Rocky Mount starts their first stretch of three games in a week. By Wednesday we will have some idea of how much pitching they have.
Nash Central opened their season against Smithfield Selma winning 7-4. Bulldog veteran Zach Patterson threw 79 pitches. Cameron Taylor tossed 9 and Trey Whitley tossed 35. 123 pitches total. It is obvious from the early results that pitch counts are going to have a bigger say in who wins high school baseball than ever before.
Rocky Mount plays at South Johnston today at 1pm. Monday they are at Corinth Holders. Then Wednesday they are home against Bunn. Three games in five days. In a game where there wasn't any stress opening day they still threw almost 100 pitches. What's going to happen if they throw 125 pitches in all Three games next week. Looks like they could need six pitchers to get by.
The big question for Rocky Mount or any other team that plays three games in week where are they going to find six pitchers?
The first week of the baseball season has been a good one for Southern Nash. Last night they bested East Wake 8-7 to start the season 3-0. Earlier in the week they knocked off Princton12-2 and whipped SouthWest Edgecombe 11-0.
Nash Central has started 2-1 after falling to Rose Friday 9-2. They won twice earlier in the week 7-4 over Smithfield Selma and 11-1 over Tarboro.
The team suffering the most this first week is Northern Nash. Last night they suffered their third loss of the week to C B Aycock 7-1. Earlier they fell to Roanoke Rapids 14-2 and Bunn 3-2. They have given up 24 runs in their first three games.
Rocky Mount starts their first stretch of three games in a week. By Wednesday we will have some idea of how much pitching they have.
Friday, March 3, 2017
Winter Sports Season Is Over
Already this year the Big East has produced state champions in indoor track. Rocky Mount football played in the state championship game in football. The Big East was represented by Northern Nash boys in the semi finals of the east regionals in basketball. Even Rocky Mount girls played into the fourth round and if they had not made it Nash Central would have been there. So far this has been a rather good year in Big East sports.
It has been about two weeks now since Mark Gottfried was released as the NC State basketball team. Anybody remember in the preseason when the Pack players were touting how much talent this team had. Some where along the way the players have never realized that playing as a team produces success If there was and hope that Gottfried getting cut loose would inspire the team to play better was sadly mistaken.
This modern world we live in people can give their opinions and the whole world knows about it in seconds. If the next coach at NC State comes from the twitter wish list then it will be former Wolfpack point guard Archie Miller. He is a former player, graduate assistant, former assistant coach and now is working on his fifth year winning 20 games in a season at Dayton.
Miller's wife in the past week with all the rumors swirling has sent out a tweet of a picture of her doing the Wolfpack sign with her hand. The Wolfpack nation has gone twitter crazy since then.
The Wolfpack nation will truly be in depression If He fails to take or get the job.
Heading into next week's ACC tournament looks like Carolina if they stay healthy could be right back in the NCAA finals again. They have been the most consistent team in the ACC all year. All of the money grab that has gone on in order that each school can get 50 million dollars a year from TV over 5 million has surely changed the landscape of college sports.
No longer does ECU go to William and Mary for a Conference game but to Tulsa Oklahoma. The eight team ACC use to be you could get in your car on a Saturday morning and ride to Washington to see a conference football game. It use to be that the Tar Heel state was the center of the universe of the ACC. 15 teams has diluted the product. It is that way now that in order to watch TV you pay to watch the news. We are set up for the day that in order to watch any type of sporting event that will be a premium charge to see it.
This has all happened in the name of progress. I dream of the day of the old way. It was so much more enjoyable.
It has been about two weeks now since Mark Gottfried was released as the NC State basketball team. Anybody remember in the preseason when the Pack players were touting how much talent this team had. Some where along the way the players have never realized that playing as a team produces success If there was and hope that Gottfried getting cut loose would inspire the team to play better was sadly mistaken.
This modern world we live in people can give their opinions and the whole world knows about it in seconds. If the next coach at NC State comes from the twitter wish list then it will be former Wolfpack point guard Archie Miller. He is a former player, graduate assistant, former assistant coach and now is working on his fifth year winning 20 games in a season at Dayton.
Miller's wife in the past week with all the rumors swirling has sent out a tweet of a picture of her doing the Wolfpack sign with her hand. The Wolfpack nation has gone twitter crazy since then.
The Wolfpack nation will truly be in depression If He fails to take or get the job.
Heading into next week's ACC tournament looks like Carolina if they stay healthy could be right back in the NCAA finals again. They have been the most consistent team in the ACC all year. All of the money grab that has gone on in order that each school can get 50 million dollars a year from TV over 5 million has surely changed the landscape of college sports.
No longer does ECU go to William and Mary for a Conference game but to Tulsa Oklahoma. The eight team ACC use to be you could get in your car on a Saturday morning and ride to Washington to see a conference football game. It use to be that the Tar Heel state was the center of the universe of the ACC. 15 teams has diluted the product. It is that way now that in order to watch TV you pay to watch the news. We are set up for the day that in order to watch any type of sporting event that will be a premium charge to see it.
This has all happened in the name of progress. I dream of the day of the old way. It was so much more enjoyable.
Thursday, March 2, 2017
TOO Tall
Tuesday night's 4th round girls basketball game between Rocky Mount and Northern Guilford came down to one thing. 5'9" just can't do anything with a good athletic 6'5" player. Only down one early in the fourth quarter the Lady Gryphons had no answer for Elissa Cunane who scores 24 points 20 rebounds and six block shots.
Too short to get rebounds the Lady Gryphons needed the defense to harass the Nighthawks. The final stats show that NG had 8 steals to only 6 for the Gryphons. The tale tell sign in this one is Rocky Mount had 17 turnovers to 10. We may have had a real ball game here if those numbers right there were reversed.
Despite the overwhelming size difference the rebounding was 41 for Northern Guilford with Cunane getting 20 of those. Rocky Mount pulled down 32 which says the Gryphons did a good job of getting the ones that Cunane didn't get. Ashley Hatfield led the Gryphons getting 11 missed shots.
Keyanna Spivey the main Gryphon inside player still pulled down 8 rebounds just a couple off her average but scored just eleven points nine points off her average and so it is the difference in this one comes back to that tree the Nighthawks had in the middle. There is bad news for everyone Cunane is only a junior.
I don't understand why certain places have tall people like the Greensboro area while out here in the east we run fast. It doesn't matter what sport you play even in football a running power football team going up against a speedy team the team that does what they do best will win most every time. If you run up on a game that two teams collide play up to their full potential there is where you get the great games. Last great game I saw was the Havelock/Rocky Mount football game as both teams defenses put on a show.
The bottom line is Northern Guilford did what they did best better than what the Lady Gryphons do best Defense. I know this is no consolation but other than the lone loss that the Nighthawks took against 4A NW Guilford this ten point loss for the Gryphons is the closes game Northern Guilford has played all year.
Shelby Meeks and Mya Pittman each scored 12 points for the Gryphons. The Lady Gryphons needed outside shooting and they went 5 for 15 from three point land. NG made just 2-18 so the inside dominance covers this game.
Who thought when the season started that this Gryphon team would be playing in a fourth round game. Nash Central was the preseason favorite but a major injury derailed them to not get past the Gryphons in the third round. A healthy Bulldog team with what they did without their star,, no telling what they may have been able to do.
Pam Gainey always seems to get more from her players that what the prospects look like early in a season. If you watch her coach she is a defense first coach. That old saying defense wins championships and in the case of this Gryphons girls basketball team that was so true until they ran into a Redwood tree.
Too short to get rebounds the Lady Gryphons needed the defense to harass the Nighthawks. The final stats show that NG had 8 steals to only 6 for the Gryphons. The tale tell sign in this one is Rocky Mount had 17 turnovers to 10. We may have had a real ball game here if those numbers right there were reversed.
Despite the overwhelming size difference the rebounding was 41 for Northern Guilford with Cunane getting 20 of those. Rocky Mount pulled down 32 which says the Gryphons did a good job of getting the ones that Cunane didn't get. Ashley Hatfield led the Gryphons getting 11 missed shots.
Keyanna Spivey the main Gryphon inside player still pulled down 8 rebounds just a couple off her average but scored just eleven points nine points off her average and so it is the difference in this one comes back to that tree the Nighthawks had in the middle. There is bad news for everyone Cunane is only a junior.
I don't understand why certain places have tall people like the Greensboro area while out here in the east we run fast. It doesn't matter what sport you play even in football a running power football team going up against a speedy team the team that does what they do best will win most every time. If you run up on a game that two teams collide play up to their full potential there is where you get the great games. Last great game I saw was the Havelock/Rocky Mount football game as both teams defenses put on a show.
The bottom line is Northern Guilford did what they did best better than what the Lady Gryphons do best Defense. I know this is no consolation but other than the lone loss that the Nighthawks took against 4A NW Guilford this ten point loss for the Gryphons is the closes game Northern Guilford has played all year.
Shelby Meeks and Mya Pittman each scored 12 points for the Gryphons. The Lady Gryphons needed outside shooting and they went 5 for 15 from three point land. NG made just 2-18 so the inside dominance covers this game.
Who thought when the season started that this Gryphon team would be playing in a fourth round game. Nash Central was the preseason favorite but a major injury derailed them to not get past the Gryphons in the third round. A healthy Bulldog team with what they did without their star,, no telling what they may have been able to do.
Pam Gainey always seems to get more from her players that what the prospects look like early in a season. If you watch her coach she is a defense first coach. That old saying defense wins championships and in the case of this Gryphons girls basketball team that was so true until they ran into a Redwood tree.
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