A Pleasant Surprise

The 2017 Rocky Mount Gryphon Baseball team has by far exceeded any expectations I had after the first game of the season a 2-0 win over Roanoke Rapids.  There is no doubt that once a week Rocky Mount had a chance to win one game with N C State recruit flinging for the Gryphons David Harrison.  You would think that the Gryphons would win every time he pitches but that didn't happen during the first meeting with the Nash Central Bulldogs as that pitch count caught David in the 6th inning and the Gryphon defense gave up a 4-1 lead at home that they finally won in ten innings.

Harrison has not been super sharp every outing but when he wasn't he has kept the Gryphons in every game by not giving up many runs.  So one half of two day a week conference games have been solid.  I don't think anyone in their right mind even after seeing freshman Ben Seracki start that opening day game and pitched four shutout innings believed it was going to be this good with him on the mound.  Ben every time he has pitched has improved and his relief performance against Nash Central last Thursday night striking out the side in the 7th inning there is no team in the country college or pro could ask any more  for a reliever.

The Gryphons can not get by with just two pitchers and Zack Keeter, Joe Petway and Josh Pittman have shared the mound.  None are true pitchers but throwers who have had their moment .  Petway has a shutout of his own and Keeter has finished off a couple of relief stints that have saved games.  Pittman was on the hill for the first win against Nash Central in the 10th inning. 

So the pitching has been a dream come true as we have been in every game.  Defense right now stands as issue number one that has to improve.  Senior Spencer Ramsey since his insertion to the lineup has plugged some holes at second base and whenever pitching changes require movement of players around the diamond has been steady at 3rd and 1st.

Early on the Gryphons had to rely on pitching because hits were few and runs fewer.  Since Jake Philbeck returned to the lineup after an injury seems as if the offense has started rolling.  A team that has pitching limiting the other side to just a few it doesn't take many to win games.  The offense has picked up Rightfielder/Catcher Jamar Ellis had three hits in both games last week.  Center fielder Josh Pittman seems to get on base, Ramsey, Harrison, Seracki , Zack Keeter and Logan Pearce have been knocking in those runners who were not on base in the early season.

Funny isn't it that as each player has success the entire team starts having success and with success comes confidents.  You can just see it in the way they act.  Ben Seracki looks six inches taller standing on the mound now over the early season.  Jamar Ellis looks on every swing that he is going to hit it a mile where early on was swinging and wishing.

The Gryphons stand 10-3 overall an 5-1 in Big East play.  To this point they have accomplished nothing.  Most of their conference games have been razor thin close.  An error here or a walk there they could easily be 1-5 so it is not time to stand up and expect a state championship.  One thing for sure they will be in every game.  They must catch every fly ball which to this point has been more of an adventure than Pat Smith would like.

Tuesday the Gryphons who are 3-0 on the road in conference games travels to Hunt who to this point sits 6-0 and a 7-1 winner over Rocky Mount two and a half weeks ago.  All seven runs came off four errors.  You could almost say that to this point the Gryphons have been their own worse enemy.  Start playing defense, keep up the pitching and get timely hits and let's see how far this team can go.