I know it is June but the snow ball keeps getting bigger and bigger for Hank Jones and Coleman Pitt Post 58. Jones who during high school season is an assistant under Pat Smith at Rocky Mount Academy. Rocky Mount Academy played for the 2-A Private school title and no one can fault Hank for paying attention to what RMA was doing. Even through all the success of RMA Jones still had his invites to try out for Legion when try outs occurred.
Post 58 had two games with Cary vanish from the schedule the first week and I don't think anybody really care that much because it gave Post 58 another week to practice before the season started. Post 58 won their opening game 10-5 over Apex only to find out one of the players from Corinth Holder was ineligible because of age and CP 58 had to forfeit.
This past weekend was graduation for the private schools in the area so Hank took a depleted squad to Garner for three games over the weekend and to say the least in two of the three Post 58 got plastered. Friday against Randolph County and Sunday against Garner in which Hank Jones says that Garner is the best looking Legion team he has ever seen and you got to remember Hank played Legion back in the 80's. As the weekend passed three players have been injured and by the Saturday night game Post 58 only had eight healthy players to put on the field against Kernersville. Another forfeit had to be made but this one in the eighth inning down by one run.
Alright so the so called preseason games are over and Hank is not ashamed to try to play the best teams he can find in order to get his team prepared for conference play which started Monday night. Oh no a rain out with Windsor Post 37 so tonight looks like we will not only have our first conference game of the season but we are still searching for the first win of the season. Wouldn't you know it Albemarle the team from Elizabeth City is a no show so there was no game tonight. Yes Post 58 did get in their infield practice but Post 84 thought this game was later in the season so here we are 0-4 and in the middle of one of those seasons that you will be able to tell your grand children about later in life. It can't get any worse can it? Post 58 will travel to Windsor Thursday night to make up Monday night's rain out.
It is nice to hear when student athletes excel on the playing field and it is even better when those athletes do even better in the class room. Rachel Pearce Nash Central Softball Player and David Williams a Northern Nash Baseball player will be the high schools Valedictorians when they graduate this weekend at their own high school. You see the class room and the ball field can get along together when you try to make it happen. Rachel and David proved that.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Tar Heels Use up 18 Lives To Win -Pack Will Host
It will have to go down as the strangest inning in the history of UNC baseball but the Tar heels blow a four run lead in the ninth inning mostly off of bad call after a Florida Atlantic runner ran out of the base line and was called safe. They found themselves trailing 8-6 and managed to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth but then turn around and give up a three run homer in the 12th and the North Carolina Tar Heels score three themselves in the bottom of the 12th as the Tar Heels have used up 18 lives or the equivalent of two cats lives and Cody Stubbs bases loaded single in the 13th inning and Carolina survives to play another day 12-11. Carolina will host South Carolina in the Super Regional this weekend.
They thought they were a National Seed but didn't get it, but they got it. N C State will host a Super Regional for the first time ever after Rice beat Oregon 11-4 and in doing so State replaces Oregon as the #8 seed and will Host Rice.
Coleman Pitt Post 58 got a break from the weather tonight as their game was cancelled due to the weather. They are due to play a home game tonight against Albemarle. Hank Jones has already blocked off this weekend while the public schools have their graduations but after the weekend he has just been through trying to get enough player to put a team on the field with the private school graduations I bet you next season he will take notice of both schedules.
Under the file of where is he now former Nash Central Bulldog Xavier Macklin will begin the long road to recovery from his major shoulder surgery that he had last spring in which he missed the entire baseball season will start all over where his rookie season was in the New York Penn League. the NYPL starts about mid June after all the teams have a chance to sign the rookies that will be drafted this Thursday.
Also on the minor league baseball front Brian Goodwin continues to struggle with strike outs as he is averaging over one per game. He does lead the AA minors in triples with 6 and he has also hit four homers on the season. If you look at his stats everything is fine but those strike outs and he has to start improving there if he wants to move on up the ladder.
They thought they were a National Seed but didn't get it, but they got it. N C State will host a Super Regional for the first time ever after Rice beat Oregon 11-4 and in doing so State replaces Oregon as the #8 seed and will Host Rice.
Coleman Pitt Post 58 got a break from the weather tonight as their game was cancelled due to the weather. They are due to play a home game tonight against Albemarle. Hank Jones has already blocked off this weekend while the public schools have their graduations but after the weekend he has just been through trying to get enough player to put a team on the field with the private school graduations I bet you next season he will take notice of both schedules.
Under the file of where is he now former Nash Central Bulldog Xavier Macklin will begin the long road to recovery from his major shoulder surgery that he had last spring in which he missed the entire baseball season will start all over where his rookie season was in the New York Penn League. the NYPL starts about mid June after all the teams have a chance to sign the rookies that will be drafted this Thursday.
Also on the minor league baseball front Brian Goodwin continues to struggle with strike outs as he is averaging over one per game. He does lead the AA minors in triples with 6 and he has also hit four homers on the season. If you look at his stats everything is fine but those strike outs and he has to start improving there if he wants to move on up the ladder.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Heels Falter- Pack Advances -Post 58 Drubbed
North Carolina wasted six innings of no hit pitching by Hobbs Johnson, out hit Florida Atlanta 12-3 but the final score shows FAU 3 and Carolina 2. It sets up a winner take all game Monday with the winner heading to the Super Regional. The time of the game is in the hands of ESPN as they will wait to see how many other winner take all games there are as ESPN will try to air as many as possible live.
Rocky Mount's Hobbs Johnson cruised through six inning surviving a bases loaded jam in the sixth after two walks and a Carolina error. The lead off batter in the 7th walked which was Johnson 5th of the game and Mike Fox went to the bull pen but two batter later a three run homer and Carolina was behind. carolina was their own worse enemy as they left 15 men on base during the game.
Over in Raleigh Terran Senay's three run homer in the bottom of the first was all the Wolfpack needed but they got some insurance just in case. Senay had a two rbi 8th inning hit and lead the pack to a 9-2 victory and a spot in next week's Super Regional as of yet who they play will not be determined until Monday between Rice and Oregon. If Oregon Wins State travels to Eugene Oregon but if Rice wins they come to Raleigh. State's pitching allowed only three runs in the three games of the regional and only two were earned.
To say the least this weekend might be one that Hank Jones will erase from his memory as Coleman Pitt Post 58 lost three times once each on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I know on Friday there was a scramble to get enough players because of the private schools graduation but the lack of numbers hurt big time Saturday. In a dog fight ( I have been told it was 12-10) a Post 58 injury in the eighth inning forced CP58 to forfeit the game because they did not have enough players to put on the field. Then Tonight playing Garner at Garner CP 58 lose 14-8. Boy what a weekend for Post 58 to forget. they will be at home Tuesday night.
The ACC is more than holding their own in the NCAA Tournament as of this writing only Clemson and Miami won once are out and everyone else has won at least twice and FSU, Virginia and N C State have advanced to the next round.
Rocky Mount's Hobbs Johnson cruised through six inning surviving a bases loaded jam in the sixth after two walks and a Carolina error. The lead off batter in the 7th walked which was Johnson 5th of the game and Mike Fox went to the bull pen but two batter later a three run homer and Carolina was behind. carolina was their own worse enemy as they left 15 men on base during the game.
Over in Raleigh Terran Senay's three run homer in the bottom of the first was all the Wolfpack needed but they got some insurance just in case. Senay had a two rbi 8th inning hit and lead the pack to a 9-2 victory and a spot in next week's Super Regional as of yet who they play will not be determined until Monday between Rice and Oregon. If Oregon Wins State travels to Eugene Oregon but if Rice wins they come to Raleigh. State's pitching allowed only three runs in the three games of the regional and only two were earned.
To say the least this weekend might be one that Hank Jones will erase from his memory as Coleman Pitt Post 58 lost three times once each on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I know on Friday there was a scramble to get enough players because of the private schools graduation but the lack of numbers hurt big time Saturday. In a dog fight ( I have been told it was 12-10) a Post 58 injury in the eighth inning forced CP58 to forfeit the game because they did not have enough players to put on the field. Then Tonight playing Garner at Garner CP 58 lose 14-8. Boy what a weekend for Post 58 to forget. they will be at home Tuesday night.
The ACC is more than holding their own in the NCAA Tournament as of this writing only Clemson and Miami won once are out and everyone else has won at least twice and FSU, Virginia and N C State have advanced to the next round.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Well Worth The Trip
I had plenty of conversation after last night's NCAA game in Raleigh that I might ride to Raleigh pick up my son Brooks and see if we could buy a ticket to tonight's Pack- William and Mary game. One of the determining factors for me was wife Pat came home from work sick Friday afternoon and today she is in the bed with the covers over her head. Good way for me to get out of the house. Made arrangements with Brooks that we would go Saturday morning and Saturday was a workday for so by 3pm I'm home getting ready to go.
Brooks calls and has an issue with one of his athletes racing in the Triathlon Sunday in Raleigh and he needs to take care of that so it is down to me only. I ask Morgan whether she wanted to go but a teenager home for the summer from college doesn't want to get caught within a 100 miles of her father on a Saturday night.Ok then I will go by myself. Phone rings and it is Brooks he's back on again . Off to Raleigh to Pick up Brooks on the way.
We hit the parking lot about 5:50 and walk up to the ticket window and they are down to about 20 seats left in the bleacher and spaces on the grass hill. We choose the bleacher and buy the tickets and go stand in the line waiting for the gate to open to let everyone in. By the time we get to the end of the line the gates open and quickly we are inside the Doak. First stop the bathroom. I had not taken two steps out of the bathroom and I hear my name. I look five feet in front of me is Richard Sarmiento and a conversation breaks out. Richards has been to Mudcat Stadium and seen game two of the 4-A playoffs and now is here to see Rodon like everyone else.
Richard asked where you sitting and we tell him the bleacher and he says come on over and sit with me down the third base line in the shade. Richard has two seats but there is now three of us and the place is sold out so don't know whether this will work or not. Richard's seats are the last two seats near the first base dug out where we can watch Carlos Rodon pregame warmup but only this game State is the visiting team and across the field ,oh well.
Rodon starts the game not allowing a base runner for the first four innings. The Speed gun says he is hitting on the gun between 88-90 miles per hour. Top of fifth he hits the lead off runner. Top of the sixth William and Mary get their second runner of the game on base when Rodon hits another batter. The very next batter hits a ground ball where the first baseman should be if he were not holding the base runner on and Bill and Mary have their first hit. No problem as the speed gun is now showing Rodon is hitting 92 miles per hour. The seventh is almost a repeat of the sixth as Rodon hits his third batter of the game and the very next bloops a single to right field. No problem as the speed gun is now popping 94.
No one gets on base in the eighth or ninth but now Rodon is touching 95 an after every pitch everyone in the stadium looks to the out field to see how fast that one was. The last batter in the bottom of the ninth since William and Mary is the home team has to look at the two pitches that hit 96 on the radar gun.
State wins 1-0 and advances to the Sunday night possible Regional Championship game. Carlos Rodan in the last weekend of the regular season gave up six runs to Duke through the first three innings. They didn't get a hit after that as State won 7-6. Last Saturday Rodan gave up one hit in the ten innings he pitched against Carolina and tonight gave up two hits and struck out ten as he goes the distance for the win. His last 25 innings he has given up 3 hits and no earned runs. It seemed as if he didn't get loose until about the fifth inning. It is a beautiful thing to watch any athlete that has that groove and tonight Carlos Rodon was in the groove.
Brooks calls and has an issue with one of his athletes racing in the Triathlon Sunday in Raleigh and he needs to take care of that so it is down to me only. I ask Morgan whether she wanted to go but a teenager home for the summer from college doesn't want to get caught within a 100 miles of her father on a Saturday night.Ok then I will go by myself. Phone rings and it is Brooks he's back on again . Off to Raleigh to Pick up Brooks on the way.
We hit the parking lot about 5:50 and walk up to the ticket window and they are down to about 20 seats left in the bleacher and spaces on the grass hill. We choose the bleacher and buy the tickets and go stand in the line waiting for the gate to open to let everyone in. By the time we get to the end of the line the gates open and quickly we are inside the Doak. First stop the bathroom. I had not taken two steps out of the bathroom and I hear my name. I look five feet in front of me is Richard Sarmiento and a conversation breaks out. Richards has been to Mudcat Stadium and seen game two of the 4-A playoffs and now is here to see Rodon like everyone else.
Richard asked where you sitting and we tell him the bleacher and he says come on over and sit with me down the third base line in the shade. Richard has two seats but there is now three of us and the place is sold out so don't know whether this will work or not. Richard's seats are the last two seats near the first base dug out where we can watch Carlos Rodon pregame warmup but only this game State is the visiting team and across the field ,oh well.
Rodon starts the game not allowing a base runner for the first four innings. The Speed gun says he is hitting on the gun between 88-90 miles per hour. Top of fifth he hits the lead off runner. Top of the sixth William and Mary get their second runner of the game on base when Rodon hits another batter. The very next batter hits a ground ball where the first baseman should be if he were not holding the base runner on and Bill and Mary have their first hit. No problem as the speed gun is now showing Rodon is hitting 92 miles per hour. The seventh is almost a repeat of the sixth as Rodon hits his third batter of the game and the very next bloops a single to right field. No problem as the speed gun is now popping 94.
No one gets on base in the eighth or ninth but now Rodon is touching 95 an after every pitch everyone in the stadium looks to the out field to see how fast that one was. The last batter in the bottom of the ninth since William and Mary is the home team has to look at the two pitches that hit 96 on the radar gun.
State wins 1-0 and advances to the Sunday night possible Regional Championship game. Carlos Rodan in the last weekend of the regular season gave up six runs to Duke through the first three innings. They didn't get a hit after that as State won 7-6. Last Saturday Rodan gave up one hit in the ten innings he pitched against Carolina and tonight gave up two hits and struck out ten as he goes the distance for the win. His last 25 innings he has given up 3 hits and no earned runs. It seemed as if he didn't get loose until about the fifth inning. It is a beautiful thing to watch any athlete that has that groove and tonight Carlos Rodon was in the groove.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Tar Heels-Wolfpack Win -Legion Loses
North Carolina playing their first baseball game as the top seed in the NCAA Tournament ever wins their opening night game 6-3. Mike Fox elected like many coaches to hold his best pitcher for the winners bracket game Saturday night didn't quite get five innings from his second best pitcher Benton Moss but the Heels win and advance to the winners bracket in their Region and play Towson a surprise winner over Florida Atlantic at 6pm Saturday night..
Over in Raleigh State scored all they would need in the first inning scoring twice but Binghamton didn't fold under the pressure and gave the Pack a game before faltering 4-1. Elliot Avent has his big horse Carlos Rodon set to pitch the winners bracket game and they will play William and Mary who shocked Mississippi who held their top pitcher to play in the winners bracket game but now must pitch in the lose and go home game against Binghamton. State and William and Mary play at 7pm
The ACC went 5-3 on the day. Virginia Tech was one of the three losses losing at home an will play in the the losers bracket on their home field Saturday afternoon. Georgia Tech and Clemson will be playing to extend their baseball seasons in loser bracket games . Florida State, Miami and Virginia also will be playing in the winners bracket games in their Regional Saturday night. The other two North Carolina teams playing in this year's NCAA Tournament played each other and Elon Beat UNC W 10-7. Elon draws Virginia Saturday night while UNCW plays Army in the Virginia Region losers bracket game.
I don't care what sport it is these days there are no such games that are blow outs any more. There have been times when a #1 seed would ten run rule a #4 seed but there were very few high scoring games in the NCAA Tournament. Carolina won 6-3 and State won 4-1 but there were moments in each where fans we uncomfortable with the tightness of the games. Seems like everybody has at least one good starting pitching and if that one guy is on any body can lose. Let's see as we get to Sunday and see if the scores don't start going up as the pitching for the weekend begins to run low.
I heard that Post 58 was scrambling to get enough players to suit up tonight as a couple of high school graduations depleted the Post 58 roster. Post 58 lost 13-1 in Garner to lose their first game of the season. They play again Saturday afternoon in Garner.
Over in Raleigh State scored all they would need in the first inning scoring twice but Binghamton didn't fold under the pressure and gave the Pack a game before faltering 4-1. Elliot Avent has his big horse Carlos Rodon set to pitch the winners bracket game and they will play William and Mary who shocked Mississippi who held their top pitcher to play in the winners bracket game but now must pitch in the lose and go home game against Binghamton. State and William and Mary play at 7pm
The ACC went 5-3 on the day. Virginia Tech was one of the three losses losing at home an will play in the the losers bracket on their home field Saturday afternoon. Georgia Tech and Clemson will be playing to extend their baseball seasons in loser bracket games . Florida State, Miami and Virginia also will be playing in the winners bracket games in their Regional Saturday night. The other two North Carolina teams playing in this year's NCAA Tournament played each other and Elon Beat UNC W 10-7. Elon draws Virginia Saturday night while UNCW plays Army in the Virginia Region losers bracket game.
I don't care what sport it is these days there are no such games that are blow outs any more. There have been times when a #1 seed would ten run rule a #4 seed but there were very few high scoring games in the NCAA Tournament. Carolina won 6-3 and State won 4-1 but there were moments in each where fans we uncomfortable with the tightness of the games. Seems like everybody has at least one good starting pitching and if that one guy is on any body can lose. Let's see as we get to Sunday and see if the scores don't start going up as the pitching for the weekend begins to run low.
I heard that Post 58 was scrambling to get enough players to suit up tonight as a couple of high school graduations depleted the Post 58 roster. Post 58 lost 13-1 in Garner to lose their first game of the season. They play again Saturday afternoon in Garner.
State-Carolina Get It Going Today
The Pack and Heels start their quest to make it to Omaha today when the NCAA Regional baseball tournaments begin all across the country and two in the Triangle. Carolina as the top seed in the Tournament opens at 6pm against Canisius while State begins play against Bingham at 7. So two New York schools come south neither carrying much of a resume's to put fear in the hearts of Pack and Heel fans.
This is the first playoff game ever for Canisius who comes into this Chapel Hill tournament 41-15 and an RPI of 90. Last week Carolina played four games in winning the ACC tournament and all for teams RPI rankings don't add up to 90. N C State may not be happy making the top 8 in the field but they open against Bingham making their second NCAA appearance and an RPI of 171. State has only played two teams all year that have a higher RPI than Bingham.
There is no reason to feel that these two games today should be any more than a good practice for both teams but in sports no one makes tackles for you in football, no one puts it in the basket for you in basketball and no one can hit it for you in baseball they both have to earn their way to the winners bracket of their tournaments.
If you would like to go to either Chapel Hill or Raleigh this weekend here is how it works . Both school have been selling an all games package all week and there is a chance of it taking seven games if the winners bracket team loses once. If you would like to go to a single game be at the park sometime before the game you want to see and they will be selling single game tickets. They clear the stadium out after every game including people who have tickets for all games and then let people back in. Those that bought the entire package will be sitting between the dugouts and the single tickets are where ever you seat is at the time you bought it.
Coleman Pitt Post 58 begins a five games in five days tonight in Garner. The fifth game is a home game Tuesday night at Legion Field. If you have followed Legion Hank Jones will play any body the first couple of weeks not really caring about wins and losses only looking to see who he can count on once conference starts.
This is the first playoff game ever for Canisius who comes into this Chapel Hill tournament 41-15 and an RPI of 90. Last week Carolina played four games in winning the ACC tournament and all for teams RPI rankings don't add up to 90. N C State may not be happy making the top 8 in the field but they open against Bingham making their second NCAA appearance and an RPI of 171. State has only played two teams all year that have a higher RPI than Bingham.
There is no reason to feel that these two games today should be any more than a good practice for both teams but in sports no one makes tackles for you in football, no one puts it in the basket for you in basketball and no one can hit it for you in baseball they both have to earn their way to the winners bracket of their tournaments.
If you would like to go to either Chapel Hill or Raleigh this weekend here is how it works . Both school have been selling an all games package all week and there is a chance of it taking seven games if the winners bracket team loses once. If you would like to go to a single game be at the park sometime before the game you want to see and they will be selling single game tickets. They clear the stadium out after every game including people who have tickets for all games and then let people back in. Those that bought the entire package will be sitting between the dugouts and the single tickets are where ever you seat is at the time you bought it.
Coleman Pitt Post 58 begins a five games in five days tonight in Garner. The fifth game is a home game Tuesday night at Legion Field. If you have followed Legion Hank Jones will play any body the first couple of weeks not really caring about wins and losses only looking to see who he can count on once conference starts.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Hardly Ever Noticed Sportsmanship
Duke won their second Lacrosse title Monday beating Syracuse 16-10 after they were trailing in the second quarter 5-0. By games end Duke was in control and the last couple of minutes for them were the sweetest any athlete can have. Even while the game is in progress you know towards the end you have done what you set out to do win it all.
Duke like all teams had the national championship tee shirts and hats all printed and ready to distribute to each member when the game ended but coach John Danowski made his players remove the tee shirts and hats until after the end of the game handshake. He didn't want to insult Syracuse to have to look at the gear while they waded through the handshake line. Boy, when was the last time you saw sportsmanship like that.
If there was ever a coach that came to a team at the right time Danowski is it. If you remember he became coach after the Rape scandal hit the Blue Devils. The program for all intent and purpose was dropped like a hot cake only to find out lies had been told a coach fired who later sued Duke and won. In walks Danowski and seven years later Duke has two national championships under their belt.
Who would have ever thought that the Triangle area would be the center of the college Lacrosse world. UNC women won the championship giving the Triangle the top two trophies. Two is exactly two more than what the Big Three won in basketball.
UNC and N C State begin play in their respective baseball Regional Friday night. Carolina plays at 6pm and State will begin at 7. By the way all eight ACC teams that played last weekend in the ACC Baseball Tournament are all seeded no lower than #2 in the regional that each is playing. Five are hosting UNC, Virginia, Florida State, N C State and Virginia Tech. Clemson. Georgia Tech and Miami are traveling to other Regional sites. If the ACC doesn't get five to the Super Regional this weekend will be a big disappointment
Duke like all teams had the national championship tee shirts and hats all printed and ready to distribute to each member when the game ended but coach John Danowski made his players remove the tee shirts and hats until after the end of the game handshake. He didn't want to insult Syracuse to have to look at the gear while they waded through the handshake line. Boy, when was the last time you saw sportsmanship like that.
If there was ever a coach that came to a team at the right time Danowski is it. If you remember he became coach after the Rape scandal hit the Blue Devils. The program for all intent and purpose was dropped like a hot cake only to find out lies had been told a coach fired who later sued Duke and won. In walks Danowski and seven years later Duke has two national championships under their belt.
Who would have ever thought that the Triangle area would be the center of the college Lacrosse world. UNC women won the championship giving the Triangle the top two trophies. Two is exactly two more than what the Big Three won in basketball.
UNC and N C State begin play in their respective baseball Regional Friday night. Carolina plays at 6pm and State will begin at 7. By the way all eight ACC teams that played last weekend in the ACC Baseball Tournament are all seeded no lower than #2 in the regional that each is playing. Five are hosting UNC, Virginia, Florida State, N C State and Virginia Tech. Clemson. Georgia Tech and Miami are traveling to other Regional sites. If the ACC doesn't get five to the Super Regional this weekend will be a big disappointment
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
