There will be no four way tie for third place in the Big East baseball as Northern won the game delayed from last night against Fike until tonight and they had to come from behind to do it. They pushed four runs home the last three innings to win 4-2 and by doing so captures third in the Big East.
By virtue of their sweep of Rocky Mount Southern Nash takes fourth and along with Northern will host Big East tournament baseball Monday night. Tied with Southern Nash Rocky Mount gets the #5 seed and Fike will finish at 3-7 gets the #6 spot. There will never be another Gryphon baseball game at Gryphon Stadium as they will now have a new home on campus next year.
That will leave all four teams to play each other again Monday. This time Rocky Mount will travel to Southern Nash and Northern will again host Fike. I need to get a clarification of this but in the past any time two teams were time and it was for the last playoff spot then the team that went further in the tournament got the fourth spot and if that is the case Rocky Mount at Southern will be winner take all and the winner in and the loser is out. One complication to that theory is Southern Swept Rocky Mount during the regular season. Those three Philadelphia lawyers and the Russian scientist are still trying to figure out all the possibilities for the playoffs. They have even called in a Buddist Monk for help.
The only thing I know for sure if either Rocky Mount or Fike won the tournament and the way this season has gone I would not put it past anybody that could happen. As soon as we know for sure we let you know what all the playoff scenarios are. Hunt who beat Nash Central 5-4 in eight innings Thursday will play the Southern Nash -Rocky Mount winner Tuesday and Northern-Fike winner get Nash Central Tuesday.
The Big East softball Tournament begins Monday at Glover Park in Nashville. Big East Girls soccer starts Monday and Rocky Mount as the #1 seed will be hosting on Tuesday. Baseball, Soccer and softball are all having their conference tournaments this week Monday, Tuesday and all three championships are Thursday.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Gryphons Hope For Muddled Mess
All they needed to do was win one game this week and they were headed to the playoffs. Tuesday they lost at Fike 7-6 and were faced with a must win tonight to insure a 3rd place playoff spot. Southern Nash was at Gryphon Stadium to play in the last regular season game in the history of stadium as far as high school games go.
Southern scored their first run on what would have been the third out of the second inning on a Gryphon throwing error. Run #2 scored when a Southern base hit advance to third on a wild throw on a pick off attempt and a followup base hit. The third run scored on the third hit of the fifth which gave Souther a 3-0. Rocky Mount scattered three hits until the seventh.
Collin Watson drew a one out walk followed by a single from Micah Varnell. Ben Winstead slapped a double over the head of the left fielder scoring two runs and the tying run on second. Damien Smith walk with still one out. A grounder to short got a force at third base making two outs and the tying run still on second who is now Damien Smith. Andy Morris hit a floating single to right field where the right fielder Kenny Rogister threw home and the Southern catcher Marques Taylor made a beautiful snap tag on a bang bang play at the plate Smith was call out when it looked as if he had clearly scored but it was close and just like that the game was over 3-2 Southern Nash.
Ryan Shearin pitched a complete game five hitter for the Firebirds and Will Edwards took the lost. Northern Nash's game with Fike was rained out and they will play Friday night. If Northern Wins and they get the 3rd seed in the conference tournament next week. If Fike wins then there is a four was tie for third and how are they going to see who is #3 through 6 who knows. What it comes down to is that Northern must lose in order for the Gryphons to have any chance to win any kind of draw it it winds up in a four way tie.
If Northern wins Friday night there will never be another game for the Gryphons at Gryphon Stadium unless Fike wins and then they will have to bring in three Philadelphia Lawyers and a Russian Scientist to figure out this mess if it comes to that.
Northern can solve the whole thing by winning and they claim 3rd, Southern get 4th Rocky Mount 5th and Fike 6th. Sure are a lot of chips stacked up against the Gryphons making the playoffs but all they had to do was win one game this week.
Southern scored their first run on what would have been the third out of the second inning on a Gryphon throwing error. Run #2 scored when a Southern base hit advance to third on a wild throw on a pick off attempt and a followup base hit. The third run scored on the third hit of the fifth which gave Souther a 3-0. Rocky Mount scattered three hits until the seventh.
Collin Watson drew a one out walk followed by a single from Micah Varnell. Ben Winstead slapped a double over the head of the left fielder scoring two runs and the tying run on second. Damien Smith walk with still one out. A grounder to short got a force at third base making two outs and the tying run still on second who is now Damien Smith. Andy Morris hit a floating single to right field where the right fielder Kenny Rogister threw home and the Southern catcher Marques Taylor made a beautiful snap tag on a bang bang play at the plate Smith was call out when it looked as if he had clearly scored but it was close and just like that the game was over 3-2 Southern Nash.
Ryan Shearin pitched a complete game five hitter for the Firebirds and Will Edwards took the lost. Northern Nash's game with Fike was rained out and they will play Friday night. If Northern Wins and they get the 3rd seed in the conference tournament next week. If Fike wins then there is a four was tie for third and how are they going to see who is #3 through 6 who knows. What it comes down to is that Northern must lose in order for the Gryphons to have any chance to win any kind of draw it it winds up in a four way tie.
If Northern wins Friday night there will never be another game for the Gryphons at Gryphon Stadium unless Fike wins and then they will have to bring in three Philadelphia Lawyers and a Russian Scientist to figure out this mess if it comes to that.
Northern can solve the whole thing by winning and they claim 3rd, Southern get 4th Rocky Mount 5th and Fike 6th. Sure are a lot of chips stacked up against the Gryphons making the playoffs but all they had to do was win one game this week.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Decision Change?
Montrezl Harrell the six seven power forward from North Edgecombe who his senior year he has played basketball at Hargrave Military Academy where Hargrave went 35-1. This past weekend Montrezl was the MVP of the Capital Classic where All Star seniors from around the nation play the All Stars of the DC Capital area and Montrezl score 28 points.
Monday he hears that his next year's coach has been fired at Virginia Tech and now all of a sudden maybe VATECH might not be Harrell's next stop. I am sure the folks in Raleigh would love to have him replace Painter who transferred to ODU.
Yesterday members of the NCHSAA voted to see whether they wanted private schools to remain members of the association. The reason for the vote is the possibility that schools such as Bishop Mcguiness who has won seven straight 1-A girls basketball titles and Charlotte Catholic is dominant in 3-A swimming and diving. might be breaking eligibility rules when athletes are given scholarships just to get into that school and then play sports.
Not only is this vote about private schools but what is the future of Prep schools such as Rocky Mount Prep who can take students from all over when public high schools are held to only certain areas to pull their students from. The announcement of the results will be made May Third at the next NCHSAA meeting. I have a feeling the private schools may get kicked out.
How about that Northern Nash Tennis team who has gone through the Big East undefeated and stand at 15-2 on the season. We have talked about this in the past where Michael Bracket the Knights #1 player did not play basketball to give his all to tennis and I would say it has paid off. Northern starts the playoffs Friday traveling to Eastern Wayne who has beaten the Knight both times they played each other this year. They won 5-4 both times.
Monday he hears that his next year's coach has been fired at Virginia Tech and now all of a sudden maybe VATECH might not be Harrell's next stop. I am sure the folks in Raleigh would love to have him replace Painter who transferred to ODU.
Yesterday members of the NCHSAA voted to see whether they wanted private schools to remain members of the association. The reason for the vote is the possibility that schools such as Bishop Mcguiness who has won seven straight 1-A girls basketball titles and Charlotte Catholic is dominant in 3-A swimming and diving. might be breaking eligibility rules when athletes are given scholarships just to get into that school and then play sports.
Not only is this vote about private schools but what is the future of Prep schools such as Rocky Mount Prep who can take students from all over when public high schools are held to only certain areas to pull their students from. The announcement of the results will be made May Third at the next NCHSAA meeting. I have a feeling the private schools may get kicked out.
How about that Northern Nash Tennis team who has gone through the Big East undefeated and stand at 15-2 on the season. We have talked about this in the past where Michael Bracket the Knights #1 player did not play basketball to give his all to tennis and I would say it has paid off. Northern starts the playoffs Friday traveling to Eastern Wayne who has beaten the Knight both times they played each other this year. They won 5-4 both times.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Save The Last For The Best
They have won but one game in the last three years of Softball at Rocky Mount High School. Tonight was the last game to ever be played on the "Mutt" Wilson field where Lady Gryphon softball has played since the inception of slow pitch softball in the early 80's. Tonight the last conference game of the year the Lady Gryphons win their first game of the year and can for ever say they won the last game there.
The Lady Gryphons beat Fike for the second year in a row 9-8. They took a 1-0 lead in the first only to see Fike score five in the top of the fourth. Rocky Mount responded with five in the bottom of the fourth to take a 6-5 lead. They added a run the fifth to lead 7-5. Fike responded with three in the top of the sixth to lead 8-7 but Rocky Mount got two in the bottom of the sixth to lead 9-8. The Lady Gryphons got the first two outs in the seventh but a hit and error found Fike with runners and second and third but a ground out ended the drought for the Lady Gryphons win 9-8.
With all the good news for softball the opposite occurred for baseball. Up at one point 4-0 the Gryphons lose at Fike 7-6. Northern Nash beat Nash Central 2-1 and Hunt beat Southern Nash in six innings 12-2. By winning Hunt can either win the regular season championship outright with a win over Nash Central Thursday or both will be tied. Hunt is now 7-2 while Nash Central is 6-3. Rocky Mount and Northern Nash are tied at 4-5 and Southern Nash and Fike are 3-6. The Rocky Mount loss guarantees Nash Central no worse than the #2 seed in next week's tournament.
Tonight Hunt High School named their baseball Field after the late Sid Boyette who was a county commissioner as well as a supporter for all types of sports at Hunt as well as all over Wilson County. You can see that naming ceremony Sunday night during the All New Sports Show on WHIG-TV
The Lady Gryphons beat Fike for the second year in a row 9-8. They took a 1-0 lead in the first only to see Fike score five in the top of the fourth. Rocky Mount responded with five in the bottom of the fourth to take a 6-5 lead. They added a run the fifth to lead 7-5. Fike responded with three in the top of the sixth to lead 8-7 but Rocky Mount got two in the bottom of the sixth to lead 9-8. The Lady Gryphons got the first two outs in the seventh but a hit and error found Fike with runners and second and third but a ground out ended the drought for the Lady Gryphons win 9-8.
With all the good news for softball the opposite occurred for baseball. Up at one point 4-0 the Gryphons lose at Fike 7-6. Northern Nash beat Nash Central 2-1 and Hunt beat Southern Nash in six innings 12-2. By winning Hunt can either win the regular season championship outright with a win over Nash Central Thursday or both will be tied. Hunt is now 7-2 while Nash Central is 6-3. Rocky Mount and Northern Nash are tied at 4-5 and Southern Nash and Fike are 3-6. The Rocky Mount loss guarantees Nash Central no worse than the #2 seed in next week's tournament.
Tonight Hunt High School named their baseball Field after the late Sid Boyette who was a county commissioner as well as a supporter for all types of sports at Hunt as well as all over Wilson County. You can see that naming ceremony Sunday night during the All New Sports Show on WHIG-TV
Monday, April 23, 2012
Decision Week
You would think that if you can beat the two teams tied for first in one week you should be able to handle the bottom team an another tied for fourth in the final week of the regular season. Rocky Mount winners of four straight conference games find themselves alone in third but both Southern Nash and Northern Nash trail by one game. Should at weeks end they find themselves tied with Northern they will get a higher seed in the tournament since they swept the Knights this season. If they tied Southern it most likely would be that Southern beats them Thursday then Southern would get the higher seed since they would have swept the series this year.
First place is on the line and the two square off this week as Hunt will play Nash Central for the top seed and the Bulldogs will play without head coach Jeff Mizzelle who is out for the remainder of the year after being suspended. Assistant coach Buck Edmonson guided the Bulldogs last Thursday in the 10-0 whitewash of the Golden Demons.
The Gryphons have started to come together in the last three weeks as those five sophomores in the starting lineup look more comfortable at the plate. They still are not knocking the cover off the ball but have found a way to get the big hit when it is needed. Those early season defensive lapses have been replaced by solid defense. They have even been able to display game saving plays in the field as they seemed to come up with in both the Bulldog upset and Hunt shutout.
All of a sudden the Gryphon starting pitching has been solid all year but when you play the likes of people like Greenville Rose who has lost only one game all year it is hard to tell when you are getting pounded. The pitching for the most part has been reliable all year it you just can't tell how good it is when you don't score runs which lately the offense is doing.
I would think for the Gryphons the most important game all season is Tuesday at Fike. It will show with a victory that yes thisteam has turned the corner but a loss like coach Kent Cox said " will have wasted beating the top two teams last week".
Senior night is Thursday and what could possible be the last home game for Rocky Mount High School at Gryphon Stadium. Should they get third or fourth spot for the tournament they will get a home game next Monday.which in all likely hood would be the last high school game ever at Gryphon Stadium.
First place is on the line and the two square off this week as Hunt will play Nash Central for the top seed and the Bulldogs will play without head coach Jeff Mizzelle who is out for the remainder of the year after being suspended. Assistant coach Buck Edmonson guided the Bulldogs last Thursday in the 10-0 whitewash of the Golden Demons.
The Gryphons have started to come together in the last three weeks as those five sophomores in the starting lineup look more comfortable at the plate. They still are not knocking the cover off the ball but have found a way to get the big hit when it is needed. Those early season defensive lapses have been replaced by solid defense. They have even been able to display game saving plays in the field as they seemed to come up with in both the Bulldog upset and Hunt shutout.
All of a sudden the Gryphon starting pitching has been solid all year but when you play the likes of people like Greenville Rose who has lost only one game all year it is hard to tell when you are getting pounded. The pitching for the most part has been reliable all year it you just can't tell how good it is when you don't score runs which lately the offense is doing.
I would think for the Gryphons the most important game all season is Tuesday at Fike. It will show with a victory that yes this
Senior night is Thursday and what could possible be the last home game for Rocky Mount High School at Gryphon Stadium. Should they get third or fourth spot for the tournament they will get a home game next Monday.which in all likely hood would be the last high school game ever at Gryphon Stadium.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Gryphon History
I have no knowledge to challenge my own statement here but I suspect that yesterday was probably the first time in history that a college doubleheader was played in Division 1 baseball and two former Gryphons were the starting pitchers for one team in that doubleheader.
Benton Moss pitch the first game of the North Carolina-Georgia Tech Double header in which Benton pitched into the sixth inning giving up four runs but only two were earned to win his fourth college baseball game with only two losses. Once again sloppy Carolina defense helped more runs cross the plate than what should have other wise Benton pitch as well as expected.
Carolina played a double header yesterday just about like all teams in North Carolina did that had a game scheduled for Sunday when the forecast called for weather like we are having outside today which was a good call to play two Saturday.
Carolina sent Hobbs Johnson to the mound in game two and certainly the way Hobbs has pitched this entire season he is getting more and more opportunity to be given the ball when something important is on the line not just mopped up duty. Hobbs carried a shutout into the seventh inning before he surrendered a home run and found himself in a 2-2 game.
My question at the pitching rotation Mike Fox used this weekend has Benton jumped up to be the Saturday Starter and has Hobbs pitched so well this spring he has jumped all the way from a lightly used pitcher to the #3 starter. Next weekend we will find out.
Benton Moss pitch the first game of the North Carolina-Georgia Tech Double header in which Benton pitched into the sixth inning giving up four runs but only two were earned to win his fourth college baseball game with only two losses. Once again sloppy Carolina defense helped more runs cross the plate than what should have other wise Benton pitch as well as expected.
Carolina played a double header yesterday just about like all teams in North Carolina did that had a game scheduled for Sunday when the forecast called for weather like we are having outside today which was a good call to play two Saturday.
Carolina sent Hobbs Johnson to the mound in game two and certainly the way Hobbs has pitched this entire season he is getting more and more opportunity to be given the ball when something important is on the line not just mopped up duty. Hobbs carried a shutout into the seventh inning before he surrendered a home run and found himself in a 2-2 game.
My question at the pitching rotation Mike Fox used this weekend has Benton jumped up to be the Saturday Starter and has Hobbs pitched so well this spring he has jumped all the way from a lightly used pitcher to the #3 starter. Next weekend we will find out.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
In My Opinion
A few weeks back I told you here that I had never asked any of the top brass at Rocky Mount High School how the search was coming for a new football coach. Like you I heard every rumor you did. Wednesday when the Rocky Mount Telegram ran a story about about the leading candidates I read with interest the comment s in the paper. It was about 50/50 for B W Holt to come back and elevate Jason Battle to the head job.
If you recall there was a fire storm three years ago when Dickie Schock got the job about 50% for Schock back then and 50% didn't want him. If the believe the paper the final two candidates were the coach that has the best winning percentage in Rocky Mount history B W Holt and Assistant Jason Battle.
I need to wake everyone up in the world of reality. There are a lot of you folks who thought that every coach worth his salt would apply for this job. I am willing to bet you that didn't happen. Why would any coach who is already a headman some where else and is already successful want to come to Rocky Mount when every time you turn around Rocky Mount is in the news cause somebody shot somebody or that the unemployment in this area is near the worse in the state. Guess what folks a pretty new football stadium ain't enough to get quality proven winners.
Yes everyone thinks B W Holt could have come back and brought back the glory days. He just might have but for how long. The biggest mistake made in the past three years was letting Holt get away the first time. There is no doubt the man loves to teach football and I bet before he dies he will be coaching somewhere because he can't get it out of his blood. But his time has past at RMHS.
The search committee made the right choice whether it turns out in the future to be a good choice or not. You have to remember Schock came to Rocky Mount highly recommended by Holt. That 50% that is against the Jason Battle hiring needs to remember that Duke back in 1980 hired Coach K who had a losing record at Army. Three years into his tenure they were ready to let him ride out of town and yet he is today the all time winningest coach in college basketball history.
All Gryphon fans need to stand up together and move forward with life. Jason Battle may just surprise you and be the next B W Holt. If he doesn't get everyone's support it will be just like tying one of his hands behind his back before he ever gets started. I am sure that Jason will call his own plays with what ever offense he decides to run. If I were him I would find A B Whitley's number and ask him to be in charge of my defense. If that was to happen then Jason will have started off making good decisions and good decisions lead to wins. Something we haven't had enough of lately.
If you recall there was a fire storm three years ago when Dickie Schock got the job about 50% for Schock back then and 50% didn't want him. If the believe the paper the final two candidates were the coach that has the best winning percentage in Rocky Mount history B W Holt and Assistant Jason Battle.
I need to wake everyone up in the world of reality. There are a lot of you folks who thought that every coach worth his salt would apply for this job. I am willing to bet you that didn't happen. Why would any coach who is already a headman some where else and is already successful want to come to Rocky Mount when every time you turn around Rocky Mount is in the news cause somebody shot somebody or that the unemployment in this area is near the worse in the state. Guess what folks a pretty new football stadium ain't enough to get quality proven winners.
Yes everyone thinks B W Holt could have come back and brought back the glory days. He just might have but for how long. The biggest mistake made in the past three years was letting Holt get away the first time. There is no doubt the man loves to teach football and I bet before he dies he will be coaching somewhere because he can't get it out of his blood. But his time has past at RMHS.
The search committee made the right choice whether it turns out in the future to be a good choice or not. You have to remember Schock came to Rocky Mount highly recommended by Holt. That 50% that is against the Jason Battle hiring needs to remember that Duke back in 1980 hired Coach K who had a losing record at Army. Three years into his tenure they were ready to let him ride out of town and yet he is today the all time winningest coach in college basketball history.
All Gryphon fans need to stand up together and move forward with life. Jason Battle may just surprise you and be the next B W Holt. If he doesn't get everyone's support it will be just like tying one of his hands behind his back before he ever gets started. I am sure that Jason will call his own plays with what ever offense he decides to run. If I were him I would find A B Whitley's number and ask him to be in charge of my defense. If that was to happen then Jason will have started off making good decisions and good decisions lead to wins. Something we haven't had enough of lately.
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