Coleman Pitt Post 58 heads to the second round of the Area One East division playoffs tonight against Pitt County Post 39. Post 39 the 6th seed dispensed the #3 seed Wayne County Monday night to earn their way to round two. The only earning Post 58 had to do was have enough players at the ball field at game time to receive a forfeit from Edenton to advance to round two.
The biggest worry that Hank Jones has right now is not how Post 39 will be when they get here tonight but will the players for Post 58 be playoff ready considering that in the last 19 days they have played a total of 13.5 innings of baseball. Post 58 played Windsor a double header on June 21st and both of those games went seven innings. June 28 Post 58 was leading Wilson Post 13 6-1 and batting in the bottom of the fifth when a flood fell and since Wilson had batted five times that was good enough to say it was an official game an a victory for P58.
Monday July one Kinston came to RM because their field was under water and that game went nine innings and Kinston won 3-1. A Tuesday trip to Garner was rained out and the trip to play Kinston again was rained out and then the decision to cancel the rest of the regular season which kept us from playing any of those make up games before Saturday July 6th. Under the new playoff format Edenton was suppose to be here Saturday night but forfeited the series to Post 58.
There is no doubt Post 58 should be fresh but there is also the possibility of being stale. P39 has three games under their belt while P58 wished they were playing somebody. Whether it hurts or helps we will find out tonight as Round two begins at 7pm at Legion Field.
If you are a fan of Junior Legion Baseball then Saturday Rocky Mount will be the place to be. There will be a qualifying tournament held at Legion Field and at RMA baseball field. I know for sure there are four games scheduled to be played at Legion Field starting at 10am. I am not sure how many will be played at RMA but I will talk with Joe Bell tonight at the Legion game and give you better details on this day of baseball.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Montrezl Harrell a Champion Again
As life goes by for Montrezl Harrell the former North Edgecombe Warrior basketball player the year 2013 will be one of the best years of his life. Spring time as one of the first off the bench for the Louisville Cardinal basketball team the then freshman was a major part in helping Louisville win the National Championship inNCAA Basketball.
This summer Harrell has been a member of the U19 team taking part in the World Championships. Harrell leading the team with 17 points has helped the USA team win the U19 World Championships. Harrell had 17 points leading the US in the championship game. A National Champion and now a World Champion in the span of about four months. What could possible be next for this Edgecombe County native. The Universe games? I think the Universe games are played in August and are played on the moon. The way this year has been for Montrezl I think he can get to the moon some how or other.
The Area One American Legion commissioner sent out an e-mail on Monday to all teams still alive in the playoffs that after the first round all four teams would be reseeded. Coleman Pitt Post 58 then had to pay close attention to the results of last night's game between Pitt County and Wayne County played in Mt Olive.
Yes there was rain down there too last night but after over an hour rain delay Pitt County the #6 seed beat Wayne County the #3 seed 9-3. The game was tied at 3 but PC scored 5 runs in the seventh inning to break the game open. Why is this so important for Post 58? Pitt Copunty is the lowest seed remaining in the tournament and there fore will be the team post 58 plays in round two.
The four teams left after Round one are Rocky Mount a 2-0 forfeit winner over Edenton. Kinston a 2 games to none winner over Albemarle. Wilson the #5 seed a two games to none winner over the number four seed Windsor. Pitt County the #6 seed a two games to one winner over Wayne County.
This reseeding will now pit the #1 seed Rocky Mount hosting #6 seed Pitt County and the #2 seed Kinston hosting the #5 seed Wilson Wednesday night. Quite frankly P 58 beat both Pitt County and Wilson twice during the season so yes it does mean CP 58 will play a lower seed but with this season most teams only playing a partial schedule if all games could have been played both Wilson and Pitt County just might have gotten higher seeding with a full season.
The bottom line is this Post 58 will play at 7pm Wednesday at home at Legion Field against Pitt County Post 39. I know with all the weather issues this season attendance has been down. I has been a hard year to know when the next game was or even what time they started. Help support this team during this playoff run. It helps motivate players and it surely helps pay expenses for Coleman Pitt Post 58.
This summer Harrell has been a member of the U19 team taking part in the World Championships. Harrell leading the team with 17 points has helped the USA team win the U19 World Championships. Harrell had 17 points leading the US in the championship game. A National Champion and now a World Champion in the span of about four months. What could possible be next for this Edgecombe County native. The Universe games? I think the Universe games are played in August and are played on the moon. The way this year has been for Montrezl I think he can get to the moon some how or other.
The Area One American Legion commissioner sent out an e-mail on Monday to all teams still alive in the playoffs that after the first round all four teams would be reseeded. Coleman Pitt Post 58 then had to pay close attention to the results of last night's game between Pitt County and Wayne County played in Mt Olive.
Yes there was rain down there too last night but after over an hour rain delay Pitt County the #6 seed beat Wayne County the #3 seed 9-3. The game was tied at 3 but PC scored 5 runs in the seventh inning to break the game open. Why is this so important for Post 58? Pitt Copunty is the lowest seed remaining in the tournament and there fore will be the team post 58 plays in round two.
The four teams left after Round one are Rocky Mount a 2-0 forfeit winner over Edenton. Kinston a 2 games to none winner over Albemarle. Wilson the #5 seed a two games to none winner over the number four seed Windsor. Pitt County the #6 seed a two games to one winner over Wayne County.
This reseeding will now pit the #1 seed Rocky Mount hosting #6 seed Pitt County and the #2 seed Kinston hosting the #5 seed Wilson Wednesday night. Quite frankly P 58 beat both Pitt County and Wilson twice during the season so yes it does mean CP 58 will play a lower seed but with this season most teams only playing a partial schedule if all games could have been played both Wilson and Pitt County just might have gotten higher seeding with a full season.
The bottom line is this Post 58 will play at 7pm Wednesday at home at Legion Field against Pitt County Post 39. I know with all the weather issues this season attendance has been down. I has been a hard year to know when the next game was or even what time they started. Help support this team during this playoff run. It helps motivate players and it surely helps pay expenses for Coleman Pitt Post 58.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Keeping Up With The Times
I don't care who you are if you don't keep up with the times by making good decisions that keep you in step with the world, there will be a day when you look back and say what happened. Sears had the best mail order catalog in the world at one point and now today they are lucky to still exist. Wooden Matches and clothes pins were at one point a thing that every family needed but they failed to keep up with the times.
North Carolina American Legion baseball is facing a crisis of competition from every angle. Travel leagues, wooden bat leagues and one area lost in the shuffle is there are no more vacant lots to play ball on. Today's children play baseball on a computer game and not outside running and catching.
The apathy has hit eastern North Carolina Legion first. We are of course the least populated. It is sometimes 30 miles from one town of 5,000 people to the next. The hot bed in North Carolina for Legion baseball is that I-85 corridor from High Point to Charlotte and I-77 towards Statesville. It is probably the hottest hotbed of Legion Baseball in the country. Just because they are so hot for Legion ball they can't see the end of their nose for trouble ahead.
North Carolina is one of the Last of the Mohican's that still plays nine innings every game. Nine innings is simply to many innings for pitchers pitch counts in today's modern world for players under 19 years old.. Those on that interstate Corridor turn away players because everyone still wants to play Legion in that area. Sagging numbers in Eastern North Carolina and the State Legion's answer is bring in any one that wants a team. If the already existing teams can't support a full compliment of players how is dividing those up with another team going to solve that.
That answer sounds like government at work. Any project not working like we want pour more money into it and it will then work worse than before. The answer is not getting more teams but keeping the ones you have and stock them with the very best players possible. Don't dilute what we already have that have been the main stay of Legion from the very first year of Legion ball.. Seven innings would help Eastern North Carolina but those toward the west that can't see the end of their nose that Legion Baseball is dying because those who make the rules are stuck in the 50's. There is not a player playing today that knows one thing about back then.
Day two of Area One East Division playoffs
Rocky Mount seeded #1 wins 2 games to 0 from Edenton who forfeited
Kinston the #2 seed Sunday beat Albemarle 8-2 to win that series 2-0
Wayne County the 3 seed beat Pitt County 11-5 to even that series at 1-1. Game three is 7pm Monday at Mt Olive College.
#5 seed Wilson beat #4 Windsor 4-0 Sunday to win that series 2-0 Wilson will open the second round at Rocky Mount at 7pm Wednesday at Legion Field.
North Carolina American Legion baseball is facing a crisis of competition from every angle. Travel leagues, wooden bat leagues and one area lost in the shuffle is there are no more vacant lots to play ball on. Today's children play baseball on a computer game and not outside running and catching.
The apathy has hit eastern North Carolina Legion first. We are of course the least populated. It is sometimes 30 miles from one town of 5,000 people to the next. The hot bed in North Carolina for Legion baseball is that I-85 corridor from High Point to Charlotte and I-77 towards Statesville. It is probably the hottest hotbed of Legion Baseball in the country. Just because they are so hot for Legion ball they can't see the end of their nose for trouble ahead.
North Carolina is one of the Last of the Mohican's that still plays nine innings every game. Nine innings is simply to many innings for pitchers pitch counts in today's modern world for players under 19 years old.. Those on that interstate Corridor turn away players because everyone still wants to play Legion in that area. Sagging numbers in Eastern North Carolina and the State Legion's answer is bring in any one that wants a team. If the already existing teams can't support a full compliment of players how is dividing those up with another team going to solve that.
That answer sounds like government at work. Any project not working like we want pour more money into it and it will then work worse than before. The answer is not getting more teams but keeping the ones you have and stock them with the very best players possible. Don't dilute what we already have that have been the main stay of Legion from the very first year of Legion ball.. Seven innings would help Eastern North Carolina but those toward the west that can't see the end of their nose that Legion Baseball is dying because those who make the rules are stuck in the 50's. There is not a player playing today that knows one thing about back then.
Day two of Area One East Division playoffs
Rocky Mount seeded #1 wins 2 games to 0 from Edenton who forfeited
Kinston the #2 seed Sunday beat Albemarle 8-2 to win that series 2-0
Wayne County the 3 seed beat Pitt County 11-5 to even that series at 1-1. Game three is 7pm Monday at Mt Olive College.
#5 seed Wilson beat #4 Windsor 4-0 Sunday to win that series 2-0 Wilson will open the second round at Rocky Mount at 7pm Wednesday at Legion Field.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
The Telegram's Spring Players Of The Year
We live in a world today where cut backs are everywhere. When we look back just 25 years there is not a business that in some way or another hasn't had a cut back in staff. One of the major industries of the world the newspaper is nothing like it was just ten years ago. Sunday is the exception to this rule but six days a week you might open the Telegram and on the front page not find one local story. Yes when you have a staff of just three sports writers the sports page is just like the front news page.
Jessie, Justin and Nick the three sports writers for the Rocky Mount Telegram they find themselves trying to cover seven high schools and all other people who would like coverage for what ever they have that is sports worthy. It is indeed a pleasure when ever they do the players of the year( three times a year) Fall, winter and spring for our local high schools. The guys at the telegram do a great job of feature writing and each and every player they profiled in the last week or so can be proud of what was written about them. Here is the Rocky Mount Telegram players of the year in spring sports.
Golf: Nathan Webb -South WestEdgecombe....It is unfortunate that most folks who read this blog probably have no idea how good Nathan is.
Tennis: Josiah Marshall- Northern Nash....Another sport only those mothers and fathers know of other tennis teams know about.
Track And Field: Takeyra Thomas- Rocky Mount....More people know her from basketball but she can fly on the track.
Track and Field: Jaquell Bryant- Rocky Mount.... State High Jump Champion. Just might be world class by the time his college career is over.
Soccer: Casey Cooke- Rocky Mount.... Prolific scorer, college could be a stepping stone for a player who knows how to put ball in net.
Softball: Hitter: Jessica Ricks- Northern Nash.... She found out hard work when used the proper way you can become better.
Softball Pitcher: Lindsey Sharpe- Nash Central.... A dominant pitcher can take a softball team a longs ways.
Baseball Pitcher: Jeremy Johnson- Rocky Mount.... I don't know whether JJ can throw the ball over 86 miles per hour but it doesn't matter he is a bulldog on the mound.
Baseball Hitter: Adam Bayless- Rocky Mount Academy.... Has there ever been another private school player on this list before? Adam has proven to me during Legion Season worthy of the Telegram honor.
Legion Playoff Results Saturday July 6th
Rocky Mount wins series over Edenton 2 games to none after Edenton forfeits series.
Kinston 12-Albemarle 9 Kinston leads series 1-0
Wilson 6 Windsor 4 Wilson leads series 1-0
Pitt County 9 Wayne County 5 Pitt leads series 1-0
Jessie, Justin and Nick the three sports writers for the Rocky Mount Telegram they find themselves trying to cover seven high schools and all other people who would like coverage for what ever they have that is sports worthy. It is indeed a pleasure when ever they do the players of the year( three times a year) Fall, winter and spring for our local high schools. The guys at the telegram do a great job of feature writing and each and every player they profiled in the last week or so can be proud of what was written about them. Here is the Rocky Mount Telegram players of the year in spring sports.
Golf: Nathan Webb -South WestEdgecombe....It is unfortunate that most folks who read this blog probably have no idea how good Nathan is.
Tennis: Josiah Marshall- Northern Nash....Another sport only those mothers and fathers know of other tennis teams know about.
Track And Field: Takeyra Thomas- Rocky Mount....More people know her from basketball but she can fly on the track.
Track and Field: Jaquell Bryant- Rocky Mount.... State High Jump Champion. Just might be world class by the time his college career is over.
Soccer: Casey Cooke- Rocky Mount.... Prolific scorer, college could be a stepping stone for a player who knows how to put ball in net.
Softball: Hitter: Jessica Ricks- Northern Nash.... She found out hard work when used the proper way you can become better.
Softball Pitcher: Lindsey Sharpe- Nash Central.... A dominant pitcher can take a softball team a longs ways.
Baseball Pitcher: Jeremy Johnson- Rocky Mount.... I don't know whether JJ can throw the ball over 86 miles per hour but it doesn't matter he is a bulldog on the mound.
Baseball Hitter: Adam Bayless- Rocky Mount Academy.... Has there ever been another private school player on this list before? Adam has proven to me during Legion Season worthy of the Telegram honor.
Legion Playoff Results Saturday July 6th
Rocky Mount wins series over Edenton 2 games to none after Edenton forfeits series.
Kinston 12-Albemarle 9 Kinston leads series 1-0
Wilson 6 Windsor 4 Wilson leads series 1-0
Pitt County 9 Wayne County 5 Pitt leads series 1-0
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Legion Road To Wilson Starts Tonight
URGENT
The playoff series for Post 58 against Edenton Post 40 is over before it starts. Post 40 has forfeited the series to Rocky Mount after they did not have enough players to make the trip tonight to Rocky Mount. Rocky Mount advances to round two which will start Wednesday night at Rocky Mount.
Those kids that started back in mid May hoping to play Legion ball will finally get to do what all of them want, play in the State Tournament in Wilson on July 21st. Coleman Pitt Post 58 the top seed from Area One East will open at home against Edenton Post 40 a team they tried to play a doubleheader with last Saturday only to have eight players show up for Post 40.
Coleman Pitt opens against a team in their own conference that they have not played due to all the weather misery Eastern North Carolina has endured this summer. The first level of the playoffs will be three sets of two out of three games with those from Area One East. It will take six wins to advance to play the Area One West winner. All of the weather problems that Legion ball has had this season Post 58 will have to win as many games in the next ten days that they won on the field all year. Yes, Post 58 won six games the old fashion way they earned them.
Game time is 7pm at Legion Field. Should Post 58 earn victories to make it to the State Tournament that will be held at Fleming Stadium in Wilson starting July 21-27. Wilson Post 13 as the host team is automatically is in the field so they do not have to win to get in. But they could keep somebody else from getting in.
Under the category of bombshell from left field: The Boston Celtic announced that they have hired Brad Stevens the up and coming college coach from Butler University. Stevens in less than ten years has taken Butler from not even being considered a mid major to one of the powerhouse mid majors in college basketball. Of all the coaches in waiting to take over the shoes of Coach K as the best college coach in America Stevens 36 leaves that for still the best known franchise in the NBA.
All the hub bub is over. Dwight Howard tweeted last night that he has decided to play for the Houston Rockets. Howard the ring leader for those teenagers that the NBA gives millions of dollars to that never grow up. He is part of the generation of people we have in this world now that every thing was given to him and has never had to really make a decision on what his family was going to eat tonight. He is another of those reasons that I don't watch the NBA anymore.
The playoff series for Post 58 against Edenton Post 40 is over before it starts. Post 40 has forfeited the series to Rocky Mount after they did not have enough players to make the trip tonight to Rocky Mount. Rocky Mount advances to round two which will start Wednesday night at Rocky Mount.
Those kids that started back in mid May hoping to play Legion ball will finally get to do what all of them want, play in the State Tournament in Wilson on July 21st. Coleman Pitt Post 58 the top seed from Area One East will open at home against Edenton Post 40 a team they tried to play a doubleheader with last Saturday only to have eight players show up for Post 40.
Coleman Pitt opens against a team in their own conference that they have not played due to all the weather misery Eastern North Carolina has endured this summer. The first level of the playoffs will be three sets of two out of three games with those from Area One East. It will take six wins to advance to play the Area One West winner. All of the weather problems that Legion ball has had this season Post 58 will have to win as many games in the next ten days that they won on the field all year. Yes, Post 58 won six games the old fashion way they earned them.
Game time is 7pm at Legion Field. Should Post 58 earn victories to make it to the State Tournament that will be held at Fleming Stadium in Wilson starting July 21-27. Wilson Post 13 as the host team is automatically is in the field so they do not have to win to get in. But they could keep somebody else from getting in.
Under the category of bombshell from left field: The Boston Celtic announced that they have hired Brad Stevens the up and coming college coach from Butler University. Stevens in less than ten years has taken Butler from not even being considered a mid major to one of the powerhouse mid majors in college basketball. Of all the coaches in waiting to take over the shoes of Coach K as the best college coach in America Stevens 36 leaves that for still the best known franchise in the NBA.
All the hub bub is over. Dwight Howard tweeted last night that he has decided to play for the Houston Rockets. Howard the ring leader for those teenagers that the NBA gives millions of dollars to that never grow up. He is part of the generation of people we have in this world now that every thing was given to him and has never had to really make a decision on what his family was going to eat tonight. He is another of those reasons that I don't watch the NBA anymore.
Friday, July 5, 2013
City Of Rocky Mount And Baseball
There is not many weekends that pass if you ride by the Sports Complex it looks like 10,000 people are there for some type of sporting event. If you recall not so long ago a couple of years I think the City hosted the Tar Heel State Championships in all age groups in which the Tar Heel Association sponsors. It was the first time ever that all divisions were able to play at the same place the same weekend. If you recall I think everyone who came from every where was extremely please with the outcome except for one thing. The entire tournament was played in 100 plus degree weather. If you recall it was 95 after dark that week.
Starting Tuesday July 9th the Tar Heel District Tournament will be held at the Sports Complex and once again all age groups will be here in Rocky Mount. The age groups are 7/8, 9/10 11/12 and 13/14 year old. There is a very good chance that Rocky Mount teams representing the Rocky Mount Recreation Department could win more than one division. If that happens the State Championships are not that far down the road as Williamston will be hosting this year.
During the just completed Little League season Lynn Driver held a ceremony at the Little League Tournament championships adding the latest State Champion to the Walk of Champions as you walk in from the parking lot. One of our little league teams won a State Championship last year and their plaque now hangs with the many others.
Next week for five days the future ball players of tomorrow will be strutting their stuff at the Sports Complex. This is the same complex where Hobbs Johnson use to play or Xavier Macklin or Benton Moss. If you want to see fun baseball. This has become the normal operation of the sports complex as just about every weekend stars of the future perform right here in Rocky Mount. If you are one of those who likes to say I remember seeing him or her play right out there in Rocky Mount. The future is today and everyday at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex.
Starting Tuesday July 9th the Tar Heel District Tournament will be held at the Sports Complex and once again all age groups will be here in Rocky Mount. The age groups are 7/8, 9/10 11/12 and 13/14 year old. There is a very good chance that Rocky Mount teams representing the Rocky Mount Recreation Department could win more than one division. If that happens the State Championships are not that far down the road as Williamston will be hosting this year.
During the just completed Little League season Lynn Driver held a ceremony at the Little League Tournament championships adding the latest State Champion to the Walk of Champions as you walk in from the parking lot. One of our little league teams won a State Championship last year and their plaque now hangs with the many others.
Next week for five days the future ball players of tomorrow will be strutting their stuff at the Sports Complex. This is the same complex where Hobbs Johnson use to play or Xavier Macklin or Benton Moss. If you want to see fun baseball. This has become the normal operation of the sports complex as just about every weekend stars of the future perform right here in Rocky Mount. If you are one of those who likes to say I remember seeing him or her play right out there in Rocky Mount. The future is today and everyday at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Area One Legion Throws In The Towel
Time was running out and there were to many games to make up and all eight teams of Area One American Legion Baseball decided Wednesday that as of end of play Wednesday the regular season would be over. Then it preceded to rain everyone out Wednesday night. Regardless of how many games you have played that will be your record for the regular season.
The original schedule called for the top four teams to play three out of five games against each other but the vote Wednesday was all eight teams will take part in the playoffs with 1/8-2/7-3/6-4/5 meeting in the first round which will start Saturday night instead of Sunday. Under this format Coleman Pitt Post 58 will be seeded #1 and will play Edenton Post 40 at home Saturday night at 7:00pm. Game Two will be Sunday in Edenton and game three if needed back in Rocky Mount Monday night.
I would be in favor next year of Albemarle, Edenton, Windsor and Ahoskie if all come back to play Legion to be in a league. Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville, Kinston and Wayne County be in another and at the end of the year the top two teams from each division play each other and the winners advance.
The extensive travel involved for say Wayne County to go to Albemarle and having to leave so early in the afternoon and the way the weather has been this year there has been lots of travel only to turn around and go back home to come play another day. The cost of putting a team on the field each summer the least of the cost should be travel but this summer of rain travel and umpires never getting on the field is killing the viability of Legion Baseball.
The way the playoffs are now set up you will have at least one more chance to see Coleman Pitt Post 58 play this season. Post 58 history over the years of making long runs in the playoffs that is where with building crowds the Legion can get back some of the losses taken in the pocketbook so they need your support starting Saturday night at Legion Field at 7:00pm.
The weather forecast after tomorrow looks as if we might be able to play three or four days in a row without concern for rain. I think everyone around here needs a day off from the rain.
The original schedule called for the top four teams to play three out of five games against each other but the vote Wednesday was all eight teams will take part in the playoffs with 1/8-2/7-3/6-4/5 meeting in the first round which will start Saturday night instead of Sunday. Under this format Coleman Pitt Post 58 will be seeded #1 and will play Edenton Post 40 at home Saturday night at 7:00pm. Game Two will be Sunday in Edenton and game three if needed back in Rocky Mount Monday night.
I would be in favor next year of Albemarle, Edenton, Windsor and Ahoskie if all come back to play Legion to be in a league. Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville, Kinston and Wayne County be in another and at the end of the year the top two teams from each division play each other and the winners advance.
The extensive travel involved for say Wayne County to go to Albemarle and having to leave so early in the afternoon and the way the weather has been this year there has been lots of travel only to turn around and go back home to come play another day. The cost of putting a team on the field each summer the least of the cost should be travel but this summer of rain travel and umpires never getting on the field is killing the viability of Legion Baseball.
The way the playoffs are now set up you will have at least one more chance to see Coleman Pitt Post 58 play this season. Post 58 history over the years of making long runs in the playoffs that is where with building crowds the Legion can get back some of the losses taken in the pocketbook so they need your support starting Saturday night at Legion Field at 7:00pm.
The weather forecast after tomorrow looks as if we might be able to play three or four days in a row without concern for rain. I think everyone around here needs a day off from the rain.
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