Midgets Win Title.

The American League Midget (9/10) little league all stars have won the Tar Heel State Tournament which was played at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex this weekend.

The Rocky Mount Recreation Department sent five teams to play in three different tournaments and the American League Midgets were probably the least likely team of the four that played in the Senior and Midget tournament to win.

Several weeks ago when the city had a shootout between the American and National Midgets all stars to see who would be the host team in this weeks tournament, the National won the two out of three which sent the American League to the District tournament. They lost the championship game there but our district was sending two teams this year from the district tournament.

Jeremy Stewart's team took advantage of getting invited despite not winning the shootout or district and go undefeated in this tournament to win the Tar Little League Midget division. Their four games they won Thursday 13-3, Friday 15-13, Saturday 13-2 and today beat Zebulon 15-6 to win the title. This is the third State title for the Rocky Mount Midget division.

While Jeremy huddle up with his team before the awards ceremony I went into their huddle an invited them to appear with me next Sunday Night on the Stretchlon Sports Show.

Today did not go as smoothly for the Senior Little league American league team coached by Joe Bell. The only team undefeated all they had to do is win one out of two games today and it did not happen as the Senior American League lost a double header 11-10 and 6-5. The winning run was scored by Clayton in the bottom of the sixth inning to win the state crown.

This is the the forth straight year that a team has come out of the losers bracket to win the Senior title.

The news is not good at all from Asheboro in the State American Legion Tournament. Today Post 58 gets nine hits but could produce but three runs while Kernersville score four in the first enough to win this day but they added nine more before the game ended in the eighth inning.

Parker Helms had three hits,Matthew Berry had a couple along with Spencer Bell. Kyle Norville and Mike Smith closed out their Legion Careers with a hit. Not enough pitching and timely hitting and Post 58 comes home in two straight games for the second year in a row.

Even though Post 58 picked the last two games of the season to play their two worse games you have to remember they are still one of the top eight North Carolina Legion teams for the second year in a row.

Rocky Mount goes for Double State Titles

There have been whispers ever since the announcement was made that Rocky Mount was hosting all four divisions in the Tar Heel Little League State championship that Rocky Mount just might win a title in front of the home crowd.

I don't think in any one's wildest dreams they thought that two titles was possible. Tonight, it is possible as two team in two different divisions stand undefeated and must lose twice in two games not to win a title.

The Midgets winner's bracket game saw Jeremy Stewart's 9/10 year-old team remain undefeated as it won in four innings 13-2. At 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon, the American League Midgets go for the crown. If they win the 2 p.m. game, they are then State Champs. A loss and they play Zebulon again and their is no room for error in that one as it is for all the marbles. The American League team consists of: Silas Dorsey, Cody Fuller, David Harrison, Dylan King, Andrew Meade, Jacob Medlin, Zachery Patterson, Joshua Pittman, Tanner Rhodes, Tyler Sherrod and Will Stewart. Beside Jeremy Stewart, the Midgets are also coached by Matthew Dorsey and Bruce Rhodes.

If you thought getting two in the championship games was unbelievable, there was almost a third. Sam Toler's National Senior League team won twice in the losers' bracket to get to Saturday's two games. In the 1 p.m. loser's bracket game, the National League won setting up a battle with Clayton to get to the Championship game on Sunday. The Nationals had a 6-2 lead, but Clayton scored nine in one inning to knock the the Nationals to third in the state winning 13-7.

Beating the National League, this set up the state championship Sunday as Clayton must beat Joe Bell's American League squad who at 1 p.m. Saturday beat Clayton in the winner's bracket game 16-5, but it took six inning to get that score. The Senior Little League American League will join the Midget American League team in the finals and unfortunately, they both play at the same time - 2 p.m. Sunday.

The Senior Little League unit consists of Forrest Bell, Whit Casper, Wes Drake, Cody Goff, Will Hedgepeth, Blake Helms, Justin Hicks, Kaelan-James Jones, Zack Keeter, John Michael Kelly, Chad Nelms, Logan Pearce and Dawson Sikes. Joe Bell is joined by by veteran Little League coach Norman Chambliss and Jim Keeter.

Forrest Bell and Blake Helms have brothers playing on Post 58 American Legion team playing in Asheboro in the state legion tournament. Talk about putting pressure on the family as to who go follow. Joe Bell is, of course, Spencer and Forrest Bell's dad and he will be leading the American League team at the Sports Complex Sunday afternoon. Parker Helms is Blake's brother.

Speaking of Legioin, it plays in the loser's bracket game at 9.30 Sunday morning having lost today 10-8 to Rutherford County.

It's suppose to be hotter tomorrow than today, but come to the Sports complex and watch two Little League teams from Rocky Mount try to win state titles.

I would like to close with a praise of the Lord tonight. The 15 youth and seven adults of Sunset Avenue Baptist Church returned from their trip to North Pole, Alaska. This was a World Changer event and some worked on houses, others worked a week long yard sale raising money while others spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They traveled over 9,000 miles and made five jet flights and travel in vans more 700 miles.

They had fun while there going to a dog sled training facility, took a boat cruise and stuck their feet in the cold Pacific Ocean. Morgan's highlight of the trip was meeting the real Santa Claus who was home at the time they stopped by.

Praise God they all got home safe.

Coleman Pitt Post 58 opened play in the State championships in Asheboro this morning and there is just not enough cliches to use for this game so I won't use any. Rocky Mount collected only five hits and had opportunity to score twenty runs but it didn't happen.

I don't know whether it was a state Tournament record or not but it should be, Rutherford County pitchers hit eight batters and at one time three in a row. If that's not enough RC pitchers walked nine Rocky Mount batters. The RC defense helped all it could by making three errors. All that help from RC, Rocky Mount inning after inning couldn't get the big hit to blow the game open. Post 58 left 17 runners on base.

Rutherford County used the long ball, three homers two by Steven Crowe to drive in five runs. Dillon Pipp had a two run shot and a double scored two more. RC added a big run in the bottom of the eighth to head into the bottom of the ninth ahead 10-8.

Robert Johnson got Post 58 out in the ninth and Coleman Pitt Post 58 loses it's third straight game in the State Tournament in the last two years 10-8. Tyler Clark drove in three runs for Post 58 but 58 just didn't get the big hit to win the game.

Parker Helms failing to get out of the third inning takes the lost for Post 58. Trellis Ashley and Jeremy Trevathan finished the game for Rocky Mount on the hill.

The temperature was 93 degrees at games end but the field at Asheboro is artificial so the temperature on the field was estimated at 109.

Post 58 hits the losers bracket at 9.30 Sunday morning as they wait for the loser of Whiteville-Kernersville which will play at 4.30 .

Tar Heel Tournament Continues

Parts of Nash County got heavy rains around two pm Friday but at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex Mother Nature gave all the infields just enough water to settle the dust.

The Senior 11/12 Little league winners bracket game saw Rocky Mount American League all stars survive a pitchers duel and out score Hickory 2-0. This puts Joe Bell's Squad in the winner bracket Saturday game. The winner of that game will be sitting pretty as they are headed to the championship game Sunday while the loser will play again Saturday trying to make it to Sunday's finals.

Losing on Thursday night the Senior Little league National League team played a losers bracket game at 3.00pm. Sam Toler's bunch beat Hickory 13-2. This put them right back on the field against Ahoskie at 5.00pm and the National dispose of Ahoskie in four innings 11-1. Those two ten run wins saved Toler's pitching numbers as they will try to win twice again on Saturday.

Both of the Senior little league teams from Rocky Mount hit the diamond Saturday at 1.00pm. If the American wins their third game in three days they will wait for who ever comes out of the losers bracket. The Nationals must win at 1.00pm and turn around an play again. It is possible that if the American league loses their one pm game and the Nationals win their one pm game they will square off against each other with the winner going to the championship series and the loser finishing third in the state.

The Midget division 9/10 year old Jeremy Stewart's American league team won their winners bracket game today 15-13 to move to a one pm game Saturday. Tim Killebrew's National league squad who lost their opening game Thursday knocked off North Johnston 7-6 in their three pm game but fell in their second game to Hickory 7-5 knocking them out of the tournament.

The Rocky Mount Coach Pitch (7/8) team headed by Chad Fluno and Brad Bazemore played their opening game tonight and ran into a really good West Raleigh team that played excellent defense and scored enough runs to top the Nationals 7-0. This throws the Rocky Mount National Coach Pitch team into a loser bracket game at 3.00pm. Should they survive that they play again at 4.30 and if they win that another game at 6.00pm. Now you see why winning is so important that the winners bracket only has to win their one game each day while the losers bracket teams get worn out.

Post 58 Legion squad from Rocky Mount is in Asheboro waiting for a 9.30am Saturday morning start to their State Championship tournament. If they win it will throw them to 4.30pm Sunday. A lost and they are back on the diamond at 9.30 Sunday Morning playing to stay alive in the double elimination tournament.

There are two web site in which you can go to to hear the Legion game.The first one is http://www.wkxr.com/2010.html or htt://www.wkxr.com/live.html

Tar Heel Tournament Off And Running

The State Championships for Tar Heel Little League Baseball got underway tonight at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex and there were two common themes. It was hot and all the parking spaces were gone. Before we ever talk about who won the ball games, the big winner of the day was the Complex.

Lynn Driver, Athletic Director for the Complex, welcomed everyone at the opening ceremonies on the Rotary Field while 24 teams stood behind their teams signs in the outfield. Rocky Mount Mayor David Combs welcomed everyone to the city. The Tar Heel Little League Board of Directors was introduced as well as the umpires calling the games. Each team was announced to roars of approval from those who traveled far and wide to be in Rocky Mount this night.

Those youngsters who played on the National Senior Little League State Championship team last season saw the plaque on which their names are inscribed. It hangs on the fence as you enter the Little League end of the Complex. Driver reminded every team that losing the first game does not mean you can't win the tournament. Last year's National League winner lost its first game, then won six straight games in three days to win the title.

As the host of the tournament this year, Rocky Mount had an automatic qualifier in each age group. The Senior Little League National League, along with the Midgets Little League Nationals, had beaten the American League All-Stars last month and both got a free pass to the state tournament. They both lost tonight.

The senior 11/12-year old National League team who drew a tough draw in round 1 lost to North Raleigh 4-3. The National Midget team lost 8-3 to Williamston. Since neither of these teams had to go through the district tournament and both had played in many prep tournaments, being the host was no advantage tonight.

On the other hand, the American League Senior teams and Midget teams both won and advanced to the winner's bracket in the second round. Joe Bell's Seniors beat Hickory 11-7 and Jeremy Stewart's 9/10 year-old squad won 13-3 in four innings over Angier.

The winner's bracket plays again at 1 p.m. Friday afternoon, so the American Senior League plays on field No. 4, while the American Midgets play on field No. 5 also at 1 p.m. Their reward? They play in the heat of the day.

There is no reward yet for the National Senior League team coached by Sam Toler. It hits the loser's bracket at 3 p.m. and if it wins, it will play again at 5 p.m.

The same situation goes for Tim Killebrew's National League Midgets. They play a loser's bracket game at 3 p.m. and if they win, they play again at 5 p.m. - both games on field No. 6.

Let's throw the Coach Pitch 7/8 year old players into action. They start their tournament at 5.30 p.m on field No. 1.

Richard Sarmiento did two games tonight for WHIG-TV's Stretchlon Sports Show as he covered the Senior Rocky Mount teams and I covered the Midgets. I'll be behind the mic at the Rocky Mount Coach Pitch game Friday.

It's loads of fun and costs only $4. The Rocky Mount teams start play at 1 p.m.

Legion Heads To Asheboro Area One Champs

Coleman-Pitt Post 58 from Rocky Mount has won its second straight Area I championship tonight in Cary beating Post 67 by an 8-2 count. Tonight's win will put Post 58 on the diamond in the very first game of the state championships Saturday morning.

They will be playing either Area IV second place finisher Rutherford or Cherryville. Those two were playing their third and deciding game for the area four title tonight in Cherryville. Cherryville, if it should win the area title, it would be its fourth in a row and 15th in its history. Remember, Post 58 plays the loser of that game. Note: Cherryville did win that series and Post 58 plays Rutherford Saturday morning.

Post 58 will be heading to Asheboro Friday to take part in the opening ceremonies which includes a picnic for all the teams involved in the tournament and they will stay over to play early Saturday morning.

Post 58 was led by Tyler Clark who collected two hits and a home run. He was joined by Thomas Berry and Kyle Norville with two hits each. Cameron Ramsey also hit a homer for 58.

Hobbs Johnson got the start for Post 58 in three innings of work gave up the two-run homer. Coach Hank Jones then gave the pitching staff some work without wearing anyone out. Jeremy Sloop tossed a couple of innings. He was followed by Parker Helms who pitched two. Jeremy Trevathan and Bill Clark got an inning a piece. In six innings of shutout relief tonight, Post 58's relieving corps allowed only one run to Cary in over 15 innings of work in this series.

Cary only scored two runs which came on one swing of the bat for a two-run homer by Drew Woodall. Post 58 pitching held Post 67 to eight hits. Post 58 pounded out 12.

Regardless of the outcome in Asheboro, for the second year in a row, Post 58 is one of the top eight teams in the state. This is a double elimination tournament.

The Rocky Mount Recreation Department starts tomorrow what no one else in the state has ever tried - hosting all four age groups in the Tar Heel Little League State Tournament.

Why has no one else ever done it?

There is no other recreation department facility in the state that can handle four different tournaments all at one time. There is one catch to that. Yes, others can host all of them, but it would take a week to do it. The sheer number of fields available at the Sports Complex makes the difference, and barring rain, the tournaments will end Sunday.

Thursday night at 5 p.m. on field No. 7, there will be an opening ceremony. Both the 9/10 and 11/12 and 13/14 year-olds kick off their tournaments starting at 6 p.m.

Four of Rocky Mount's five teams in the tournament will begin play first at 6 p.m. and both the 9/10 and 11/12 National all stars hit the field in their first round games. The very next games on the same field the 9/10 and 11/12 American League All-Stars play in their first games. The National League Senior Little League team, coached by Sam Toler, is the defending state champions which the National League won last year in Valdese, N.C.

The last Rocky Mount team the Coach Pitch 7/8 year-old All-Stars hit the diamond for the first time Friday night at 5.30. By that time, all four of the teams that played on Thursday will have already played Friday afternoon games in their second round.

Show your support for all our teams. Admission is $4. The tournament starts out with 32 teams and if you figure with players and family each team has 50 people there to support them, there will be over 1,500 in attendance at the start Thursday night.

I will be there recording the Rocky Mount teams for The Stretchlon Sports Show Thursday. I don't know yet which games I will be on, but it doesn't matter as they are all representing us from Rocky Mount.

Good luck all Rocky Mount teams!

A Trip Back To Cary

There will be a game three in the two out of three series between Rocky Mount and Cary playing for the Senior Legion Area one championship.

Cary scored scored four times in the third off Post 58 starter Spencer Bell and took a 5-2 Lead . Dillion Rudio had a double scoring two runs to break a 2-2 tied.

Post 58 opened the night scoring a run in the first on an rbi single by Thomas Berry. Cary responded to tie the game in the bottom of the first. Tyler Clark lead off the top of the third with solo homer to right field to give Post 58 a 2-1 but Cary responded with the four runs in the bottom of the third. Bell would give up another run in the fourth before coach Hank Jones pulled Bell for Trellis Ashley. Ashley would once again do the job asked of him and finish the game for Post 58 not allowing another run in the game.

Cary Post 67 has knocked Post 58 starting pitching in the first two games of this series for 11 runs in only seven and two thirds innings but has been only able to score one run off the relieving staff in nine and one third.

The story of this game is Post 58 went nine up and nine down when reliever Daniel Sontag came on in the fourth, Sontag was relieved in the seventh by Caleb Clark and he preceded to get four more outs before Thomas Berry hit a solo homer to trim the lead to 6-3 which would be the final

score in the game.

Post 58 could only muster six hits, two by Thomas Berry, two by Collins Cuthrell, Tyler Clark, and Jeremy Sloop

Post 67 got 13 hits in the game but ten came off Bell in his three plus innings. Trellis Ashley in five and one third innings of relief allowed three hits walked only one.

Post 58 11 game winning streak is broken which is the second 11 game winning streak this year. should Post 58 go on another 11 games streak they would be near winning the Southeast regional by then. Trying to be optimistic

There will be a game three Wednesday night back in Cary. you can listen to the game on the Internet by going to Northcarolina.ihigh.com and clicking on live broadcast and there will be a choice of available games. Of course look for Cary-Rocky Mount.