Moss Joins Jim Leggett At The Top

If there is one problem that Gryphons fans have become accustomed to it is they expect Benton Moss to be like Tiger Woods every time he toes the rubber.  Tonight the best that Moss had was maybe a B or B+ game but in the end Benton Moss is good enough to join Jim Leggett a top of the victory list in Rocky Mount pitching history as the Gryphons beat Nash Central 3-2 and Moss wins victory #28.

My favorite MLB pitcher of all time Jim (Catfish) Hunter told me once while he was still playing ball that about half the time you don't have your A game.  It's those games that make great pitchers when they still win.

Those of you old enough may remember the night that George Brett hit three home runs off Hunter in I think it was the 77 or 78 American League playoffs.  Howard Cozell who was the color man on the game kept saying that Bob Lemon the Yankee manager had to take Hunter out because he had nothing.  Finally when Lemon did take Hunter out of the game in the eighth inning  he lead five to  three and Cozell called it the greatest game of courage he had ever seen.

Tonight Benton Moss hit four batters and walked one.  The Gryphons made three errors and Nash Central collect three hits. Despite being in trouble in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh inning  Moss mowed down 14 Bulldogs to help the Gryphons win their fourth conference game.

The Gryphons started the scoring in the third on a Jeremy Johnson double and he was driven home by a Thomas Berry double.  Nash Central tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when Dillon Moore reached on an error and scored on a pass ball.

If you remember last years game at Nash Central the game was 1-1 in the seventh before Rocky Mount scored six runs to win that game 7-1.  Tonight the Gryphons could manage but two runs and they needed both.  Damien Smith and Jeremy Johnson singled and both scored on a Matthew Berry Double.

Nash Central got two back to back hits in the seventh, the first drove in run #2 for the Bulldogs on a rbi by Jordan Taylor.  Moss calmly struck out the last batter to end the game.

Jordan Taylor, Dillion Moore and Mason Wallace got the Bulldog hits.  Trellis Ashley gave up 10 hits to the Gryphons, walked two but deserved a better fate than being the losing pitcher.

The Berry Twins got all three Gryphon rbi with Matt getting two.  Thomas Berry, Matt Berry and Jeremy Johnson each had two hits.  Benton Moss,  Damien Smith, Collin Watson and Taylor Clontz each had singles.

There was a wild game at Hunt  as Hunt score four runs in the bottom of the seventh to beat Northern Nash 15-14.  The winning run scored on a bases loaded walk.

Hunt leads the way at 6-0.  Rocky Mount now owns second at 4-2.  Nash Central and Northern Nash are 3-3.  The Big East takes a two week break as Nash County is now out for Easter and Wilson County will be on break the week after Easter.

Everyone expects Benton Moss to wear a Superman Cape every time he pitches.  Tonight there was no S on his chest but he was still THE MAN.

Gryphon Track Sweeps Conference Title

The Rocky Mount Gryphons are leading in the Wachovia Cup standings after the winter  sports  but the race for the best over all excellence in all sports is up for grabs as spring is underway.  Today the Big East held their conference championships  and both the boys and girls bring home conference titles.

  The is one thing coaches have to endure during big events like the conference championships.  They take forever to get over.  Today at Nash Central the event started at 2.00pm and the last event was not finished until after 8.00pm.  The Gryphons already had both titles wrapped up well before 7.30.

The boys scores were Rocky Mount 184, Nash Central 131,Southern Nash 98, Fike 62, Northern Nash 43 and Hunt 32.  I don't have the girls scores but Rocky Mount romped.

The Gryphon softball team winning streak of one game is over.  They lost 14-2 at Northern Nash tonight to make up the rain out from last night.  Least they had 46 hours to enjoy a victory.

Thursday the Gryphons softball and baseball will be at Nash Central.  Northern Nash travels to Hunt and Southern Nash and Fike meet.  The top four teams in baseball inter mingle with Hunt First in the league playing the Knights who are tied for second.  The Gryphons and Bulldogs both practically tied for second  square off and the loser drops to fourth.

I would like to thank KarlRocket who informed me that the Big East does get four playoff teams in baseball this year and I verified that tonight as I went on the NCHSAA web site and looked it up.  Yes we do get four and the #4 seed starts out at Mid State #2 in the first round.

I really like telling you about my family when ever good things happen in their sports life.  About a month ago I told you that Brooks who has qualified to be a long distance Olympic Coach.  He  has a young women in Richmond that he is helping her training .  She works an everyday job but loves running and Brooks has her on a training program to help a 30 something woman be the best possible runner she can be.  This past weekend Catherine won her first race and for all purposes Brooks won his first race as a coach.

He was not there today at the conference championships but you may have seen him at previous Gryphon track events.  He's that guy that runs on the inside of the track with Gryphon long distance runners  helping them with their times.  What does Brooks do for pleasure. Ride a bike 60 miles.  Hard to believe he belongs to me.

Northern Tops Gryphons

Every week when there are two conference games to play Kent Cox has a decision to make whether to pitch Benton Moss or wait till the second game of the week.  Tonight Cox decided to hold Moss for Nash Central on Thursday so his starting pitcher was sophomore Jeremy Johnson.  Johnson did all you can ask of any pitcher it was the defense that let the Gryphons down as Northern edges Rocky Mount 7-6.

Braxton Bowden started the first inning off for the Fighting Knights with a home run to right field to give the Knights a 2-0 lead.  Rocky Mount responded with double by Benton Moss which scored Thomas Berry who had walked to lead off the inning.  Taylor Clontz followed with a two run shot to right center to give the  Gryphons their only lead of 3-2

Northern's half of the second is when Rocky Mount started giving Northern extra outs.  Hunter Watson lead off the second with a walk.  Wesley Pate hit a ground ball possible 6-4-3 double play that the Gryphons booted.  Fuller Weatherly got an infield single but  but while rounding 3rd the Northern Runner was caught in a run down.   It looked as if Rocky Mount might get out of the inning on a line drive to center which was dropped and Northern regained the lead 4-3.  Northern had a shot to add another run on a double by Jeremy Lucas but the runner coming home was thrown out .

Neither team got a man on base in the third.  Thomas Berry hit a solo shot  to center field to tie the game at four.  In the bottom of the fourth Northern got  hits from Hunter Watson and Fuller Weatherly.  They scored the lead run in the game on a steal of home while Rocky Mount was trying to get a runner out in a run down at first.

Northern's fifth inning  started on a drop fly ball to right.  Jeremy Lucas had an rbi single to get the lead to 6-4, then Madison Mayo clobbered a homer to give Northern the 7-4 lead.

Rocky Mount's last gasp was a  walk to Thomas Berry then a two run homer from Benton Moss to get the score to 7-6.  Jeremy Lucus proceded to get the next five outs to beat Rocky Mount.

Madison Mayo was 2 for 3 with two rbi' including the homer that proved to be the winning run.  Jeremy Lucas helped himself with two hits and run knocked in.Fuller Weatherly had two hits while  Braxton Bowden had a homered and Hunter Watson a double.

Rocky Mount collect five hits off of Jeremy Lucas and three left the park. Thomas Berry, Benton Moss and Taylor Clontz.  Moss also double in a run and Andy Morris had a single.

Jeremy Lucas was the winning pitcher giving up six earned runs on five hits.  He struck out 7 Gryphons.  Jeremy Johnson was the loser giving up only three earned runs.

Northern Now ties Rocky Mount for second in the Big East at 3-2.  Nash Central is 2-2.  Only three teams are making the playoffs so right now between Northern, Rocky Mount and Nash Central.  Northern plays Hunt on Thursday and if Northern wins that game then it will bring Hunt back into the talk about making the playoffs or not.  If Hunt wins then they will have at least a two game lead  on every body with four to play.

The Rocky Mount /Nash Central loser will have three conference losses.

Wednesday is conference championship day in Track and Field.  It will be held at Nash Central.   The championship is being held so early because of the two week Easter break by Nash and Wilson County Schools.

Today is a milestone of sorts.  This is my 1,000th blog on From The Press box.  Thanks for your support.  A few more people  keep coming on all the time.  The 32 months that I have been doing this we are up to averaging about 72 per day. The last six months there have been about  1,000 hits per week.  I hope I can keep you interested.