Post 58 Up One game In Area Final

You know along the way this season I have made comments comparing this year's Legion team to last years which was the first time in a long time that Post 58 had made it to the finals in Legion Ball. When I go in the dugout to get the lineups the last few games coach Hank Jones will say something to me like "What do you mean last year is better than this year's team".

I think after tonight I have to admit this year's Post 58 team is better than last year. Last year was 20-6 so far this year is 23-5. This years team won eleven in a row at one point and since one lost are undefeated in the playoffs at 8-0 and were 3-0 after the lost of end the regular season.. That's is a 22-1 record over the last 23 games. Last years team hit in the short fences at Northern Nash. Gryphon Stadium is a longer poke to hit a homer. This year's team is averaging just about the same in run production. Only a few pitchers were reliable last year but this year's team I don't think there is one pitcher on the staff that Hank won't use at any time.

There is one other thing that I really like about this team. When you put a little pressure on them they respond. Case in Point, Last week when Collins Cuthrell was tossed from a game it was 2-2 at the time in the sixth inning, final score 6-3 Post 58. Even the next night without Cuthrell, Parker Helms filled in and played a big part in the victory.

Case in point: Tonight 58 jumps out to a 5-1 lead in the first on a bases loaded double by Matthew Berry clearing the bases. Spencer Bell and Mike Smith also had an rbi.

Cary had scratched a run across the plate in the first on Brandon Denton but going into the fifth inning Denton had yield five runs but not all was his fault. He was charged with three earned runs in four inning. Trellis Ashley pitch two good inning but the lead off batter for Cary in the top of the seventh hit a solo homer and Cary had tied the game 6-6.

Before that Post 58 had run themselves out of a couple of runs trying the first and third double steal of home which was out at home and being picked off third with the bases loaded. Matthew Berry belted his second double in the fourth to give 58 six runs.

Post 58 missed a chance in the seventh to score but would not be denied in the bottom of the eighth. Matthew Berry got his sixth rbi of the game with a two run homer to give 58 the lead 8-6. Just for good measure Spencer Bell got a hit ,stole second and Mike Smith collecting his fifth hit of the night drove in Bell.

Jeremy Trevathan held Cary Post 67 scoreless in the seventh and eighth and Bill Clark did the same in the ninth to give Post 58 a 9-6 victory of Cary . Game two of this series is in Cary Tuesday night at 7.00pm at Cary High school. If Post 58 wins Tuesday they are the Area one champions for the second year in a row. If it takes game three that will also be played in Cary at 7.00pm Wednesday.

Post 58 had 13 hits with Mike Smith having the night of his life going 5 for 5 and two rbi's. Matthew Berry was 3-5 with two doubles and a home run and six rbi's. Spencer Bell had two knocks with an rbi. Tyler Clark, Collins Cuthrell and Thomas Berry had a hit a piece.

Jeremy Trevathan gets the win but Trellis Ashley, Trevathan and Bill Clark pitched five innings of relief and only gave up one run.

Regardless of who wins this series both Cary and Rocky Mount are headed to the State American Legion Baseball Tournament in Asheboro Friday for the opening ceremonies. There will be a skills competition after the opening festivities.

Saturday Morning at 9.30 either Rocky Mount or Cary the winner of this week's battle will play in the first game of the tournament at 9.30. The loser of this week's action plays at 12.30 Saturday afternoon.

Post 58 sends the home folks home happy in their last appearance at home this season. All that is left is to finish this series in Cary and then Saturday the double elimination tournament in Asheboro. If they win the State the Southeast regional is in Columbia Tennessee.

A Hugh week Ahead

This week there will be six teams from Rocky Mount playing in baseball tournaments trying to win state championships. Five of those six will be playing right here in Rocky Mount as The Rocky Mount Recreation Department host the Tar Heel Little league State championship.

Thursday both the 9/10 year olds and the 11/12 will be on the field in back to back double headers. 5.30 Thursday night you can find these age 9/10 on one field and across the way the 11/12's crank up. As soon as they finish the second set of Rocky Mount teams play at 8.00pm.

The coach Pitch which is the 7/8 year olds don't begin until 5.30 Friday night. Sometime Friday we don't know at this time when the Coleman Pitt Post 58 American Legion team will play their first game. The time has not been set due to the fact their time to play will be determined by how they are seeded and that will not be known until after the up coming battle with Cary for the East Championship which starts Monday night in Rocky Mount. The winner will be seeded as the #1 team from the east and the loser as #2.

The midgets and Senior little league will play Friday afternoon in their second games in the double elimination tournament. Their times Friday will be determined by winning or losing on Thursday night.

Check out the Stretchlon Sports Show tonight at 8.00pm. We will be live and talk with a room full of folks taking part in the tournament being held here in Rocky Mount.

This week is state clinic week in Greensboro where all coaches head to Greensboro for meetings. Part of the entertainment each night is the East West all Star games and Rocky Mount will be front and center when the boys basketball game takes center stage. Head Gryphon basketball coach Mike Gainey will lead the East Boys and Tashawn Mabry will play in his last high school game before heading to Rhode Island for college basketball.

Post 58 will be home for the last time Monday night as they will host game one of the two out of three east playoff finals. Their last two home games there have been great crowds so for a good seat need to be there early. Game two and if necessary game three will be in Cary Tuesday and Wednesday

Our Modern World

Cary beat Clayton last night in legion ball and has advanced to play Post 58 in the East finals of the American Legion playoffs. Their victory plus Post 58's victory puts both teams in the state tournament starting Friday in Asheboro.

Cary and Rocky Mount will begin their two out of three for the #1 seed in the east Monday night at Gryphon Stadium. Cary is the higher seeded team but Cary High School is unavailable Monday night so game one will be played in Rocky Mount. Game two and if necessary game three will be played in Cary Tuesday and Wednesday. All this series is for is to claim the trophy as East champs so this series is big. East champs will be seeded higher in the state tournament.

Sunday night on the Stretchlon Sports Show we will be doing a live little league show to promote the upcoming Tar Heel Little league State tournament which starts Thursday at the sport complex. There will be four tournaments going on at once 7/8, 9/10,11/12 and 13/14 year old tournaments. Rocky Mount is well represented as they will field five teams in the weekend extravaganza.

Now to why my title tonight. This morning Pat and I took Morgan to RDU airport where she and 16 other youths and six adults left for North Pole Alaska. Sunset Avenue Baptist Church is heading to North Pole to work with World Changers next week repairing houses and spreading the gospel. I am proud of her and her commitment to Christ.

We did not come right back home but arrived around 8.00pm. We went on the Continental Airlines website and pulled up her flight and are tracking it as they zoom toward the top of the world. Right this minute as I write this they are passing the State of Washington heading up the Canadian border heading to Anchorage Alaska.

You know as I was growing up I never had air conditioning until I was 13. Color TV about the same time. When cable TV came along it was out of this world. Now I can sit in front of this contraption called a computer and watch a jet with our daughter and friends aboard and know where she is when I know she doesn't even know.

This surly is a modern world.

Post 58 Qualifies For State Tournament

Coleman-Pitt Post 58 will be heading to Asheboro next weekend but it will not be to visit the State Zoo. They beat Kinston again tonight 9-5 and swept the series and in doing so qualify to return to the state tournament for the second year in a row.

Weekend warrior Hobbs Johnson home for the weekend after this week at summer school at Carolina went the first five innings and left the game leading 6-3. He allowed six hits,walked three batters and struck out six. He picks up the win . Trellis Ashley pitched two scoreless innings and Bill Clark pitched two but he gave up two runs in the ninth.

All Nine starters collect at least one hit with Thomas Berry leading the way with three hits and four rbi's. Spencer Bell, Matthew Berry and Mike Smith had two each. T J Taylor had a hit with an rbi, Kyle Norville a double with two rbi's. Cameron Ramsey, Parker Helms and Tyler Clark reached base at least once with a hit.

Post 58 out hit Post 43 14-12. Post 58 put up three in the first. Scored once in the second and twice in the third to lead six nothing. Post 43 scratched one across in the fourth and two in the fifth to finish the night for Johnson.

Rocky Mount push another run across in the six and scored twice in the eighth to stretch the lead to 9-3 until Kinston scored twice in the ninth.

Rocky Mount even though they have qualified for the state tournament they still have the East title left starting Monday at either Cary or home against Clayton. What it amounts two they are playing for the #1 seed in the East which would throw them against a#2 seed from one of the other areas next weekend in their first game so the series next week is big for seedings in the state tournament.

This marks the second straight year Post 58 has made it to the double elimination State Tournament. Tonights win is number 22 on the season and they have yet to lose in the playoffs which is now at seven games.

Rocky Mount pitching in this series walked only seven batters in three games. Before tonight Kinston had walked 22 in two games and did not walk a batter tonight. Lead off batter Spencer Bell got hit in the bottom of the first was the only free pass tonight.

AsheBoro here we come Rocky Mount 9- Kinston 5

How Good Could They Be?

You hear this all the time from coaches. We need to keep the best players home. The college ranks hate to lose a top player from any North Carolina high school to Georgia or Florida State.

This is also true in local sports. This is the second summer in a row that Post 58 American Legion team from Rocky Mount is putting on a big push to make its second straight trip to the state baseball tournament.

Last season the trip to Greenville was a short one losing two straight one runs games in the double elimination tournament. If Post 58 can win tonight’s game before Kinston wins three they will return to this years tournament in Asheboro.

If you ask yourself the question, is this area a baseball area ? There is no doubt the answer is yes. Little league state titles,Babe Ruth titles and high school titles this area has had it share this last decade.

Whether legion can add a state title is to be seen. Legion has a rule that no player can play for two teams while playing legion. It is ok during the regular season but when the playoffs start you not eligible for legion playoffs.

Looking back at last year and comparing the two legion teams I think last years club was a better hitting team. This years is slightly better pitching. Both years we didn’t have all the best players in the area playing legion. Could we have won the state title last year if we did? Probably! Can we win it all with the team we have this year? Maybe! If we had all the area’s best players could we win it this year? Probably!

It is amazing with all the distraction players have these days that any of them want to spend their summers playing ball. Since sometime around May 25th Post 58 has played 26 games. That is about every other day. An away game puts you on the road by 3.00pm and in some cases midnight before returning home. Theses guys have to love it to want to do it this way during the summer. This doesn’t count practice time on days off.

I wish every player who is good enough to play legion would. Our high schools have talented players. When we put them all on the same team Nash County Legion is as good as it gets. We need them all to play for us not down the road.

Tonight Coleman Pitt Post 58 can punch it’s second straight ticket to the State Tournament. Yes there is one more series to go before the state tournament but both teams are in. Going into tonight Cary the team we beat last year leads Clayton two games to one. That series could end tonight also.

There was a nice crowd on hand Tuesday night. When you win and the games are important more people show up because you are winning and they are curious to see just how good you really are. If Post 58 wins tonight you will only have a chance to see this team once more in Rocky Mount. Who ever they play from the Raleigh area, that is a two out of three to be played in two days. Next weekend is the big show and that is in Asheboro.

Legion Goes For Sweep Friday Night at Home

Yes this year's Legion team has hit the ball and there has been some questions about how far our pitchers could carry the team the farther the playoffs continue. Tonight Parker Helms feeding off the Jeremy Sloop performance Tuesday night goes seven innings and holds Kinston to two runs and only one earned. When he left the game Post 58 lead 3-2.

Spencer Bell had given 58 the lead after three singled loaded the bases in the seventh and Bell's sac fly gave them the lead that they would not surrender.

A couple of walks and a Thomas Berry double gave Post 58 breathing room and brother Matthew drove in Thomas in the top eighth inning to stake Post 58 to a four run lead. Jeremy Trevathan pitched a scoreless eighth inning for Rocky Mount.

The game was tied 1-1 after one as after RM opened with a walk, a double by Collins Cuthrell, Thomas Berry sent a fly ball to left and T J Taylor scored. Kinston scored on a Tyler Potter single.

Mike Smith hit a solo homer for post 58 to give them a short lived 2-1 lead. Kinston came right back in the second on a Brad Hunter Double. The next five innings Parker Helms held Post 43 in check and gets credit for the win.

Rocky Mount can claim their second straight trip to the state tournament if they win game three Friday night at Gryphon Stadium.

Rocky Mount will play Friday's game without Collins Cuthrell who struck out in the sixth and as he was walking back to the dugout home plate umpire Ricky Crumpler rung him up. Michael Whitehead finished the game at shortstop. I would suspect that Parker Helms would play short Friday night.

Rocky Mount one game away from a return to state tournament, Friday night at Gryphon stadium.

Once again thanks to "DJ" Don Johnson for his inning by inning text. Tonight I was at the softball field where we did a double header for the Stretchlon Sports Show. SouthSide Baptist Beat Arlington Baptist two games to win both the regular season and tournament. Lee Gold the third baseman for Southside had 10 rbi's in both games to lead the way for SouthSide.

See at Gryphon Stadium Friday night.

Weather Cools Off Post 58

Game two of the the three out of five third round series game with Kinston has been rained out tonight in Kinston. This will now push game two to Thursday night in Kinston and the series will not return to Rocky Mount until Friday Night. If needed game four would be back in Kinston on Saturday and the deciding game would be Sunday in Rocky Mount. Post 58 only needs two more wins to clinch the series and advance to the state tournament in two weeks.

Sure do hope that the series is over by Sunday night as we are planning a big show Sunday on the Stretchlon Sports show. We will have a live show featuring Lynn Driver of the Rocky Mount Recreation Department and all six coaches to talk about their team that will be participating in the TarHeel Little league State Tournament.

Lynn will talk about Rocky Mount getting the State Tournament and the goings on at the Sports Complex. Both coaches from senior little league from the American and National League. Both of our Midget teams are in and one of the coach pitch teams have made the State. They will discuss their teams up coming chances of winning a state title in their division in front of the home folks in Rocky Mount.

The National league has won an All Star game. In Anaheim Tuesday night the Nationals beat the American league 3-1. It was the National's first win in 14 years.

Robbie Caldwell who has passed through both Carolina and N C State in his college football coaching career was hired today as the new coach at Vanderbilt. Bob Johnson resigned today and rumors are for health reason. Will pray for coach Johnson but am thankful for Robbie getting his shot as a head coach.

Finally there is probably not more known an owner of any sports team than George Steinbrenner of the New York Yankees. His death Tuesday at the age of 80 was not of a real surprise. He had been in failing health for some time. Steinbrenner would over pay for players just to keep some one else from getting them. I am sure if the truth be known many a team has put out the rumor that they were going to go after a player just to make George pay more for that player. Baseball will never be the same without him.