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.