Nobody said that winning any tournament would be easy and Nash County opened the Babe Ruth SE Regional 13U Tournament this morning in Union City Tennessee with a rousing 14-13 victory over Tallahassee Florida. There are 10 teams in two brackets and Nash County is in the American bracket and during pool play they will play four games in three days. That will put Nash County right back on the field for the second game of the day Thursday night against Glen Allen Virginia who will be playing their first game. The top two teams from each bracket will then play a single elimination tournament with one from the American playing #2 from the National Bracket and the two winners play for the title.
Friday morning at 9am Nash County plays Gaffney SC so they will have played three games in basically 24 hours and will have a single game Saturday morning against Lexington TN. Most of the time in pool play you will need to win at least three games to qualify for the semi final round an accomplishment that Nash County did in 2004-2005-2006 when all three years Nash County made the World Series, Should there be a three way tie along the way and one of the tie breakers is the team that gives up the least runs. Even though Nash County won their first game 13 is a big number if a three way tie happens.
High school football practices are on going all around North Carolina and there is no area more thrilled than the folks at Northern Nash. Randy Raper now as the new coach hope abounds that he will be the answer to turn the program around. Part of turning a program around sometimes is as simple as to change things up and Friday night when the Knights finish practice at 9pm they are going to feed the team and they will then return to the practice field where Northern will have their brand of midnight madness. They will practice from 11pm until 12:01.
August 15th all four Nash County football teams will be taking part in a football jamboree at Nash Central. They hope to make this an annual event with each school hosting every four years. Right now Bertie, D H Conley and SE Halifax have committed to play in the jamboree. It starts at 6pm and the cost is $6 per person.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Our First Lustrum Together
Five years ago today the late Charles Alston set this blog up for me because I had no idea how to do it and I still don't know anything about the inner workings of the machinery of this blog other than how to publish. Sometimes I get very frustrated how slow this thing is on some days. I can type three words and it takes 30 seconds to pop up on the screen, then the next day it works like a charm. I had been up to then giving my opinions about once a week on the Gryphon Grapevine. I thought that I would find something to talk about about once a week.
Since then 1825 days have past and that once a week has turn into 1970 blogs or about 1.1 per day. Before the week is out more than 160,000 times you the reader have come to me. Over the five year period that is about 87 per day but over the last six months you all have been here about 150 times per day. From the bottom of my heart I thank you for the privilege you have given me to talk to you on a daily basis about anything sports related mostly that I might have information on.
Lets begin our second Lustrum:
Wilmington won the State American Legion Baseball title in Wilson beating Kernersville 3-2.
The Southeast Regional Babe Ruth 13U baseball Tournament starts today in Union City Tn. I don't know what time Nash County plays but if you google Southeast Regional Babe Ruth Baseball you might find a score card on all of the age groups all over the south that are playing in all age groups . You might be able to follow the Nash County game inning by inning when ever they play.
Today is the first official day of high school football practice. If you have been by any high school football field since Monday then you know they have been doing something on football fields but it is not called practice.
For you people who can't wait for the NFL there is a game Sunday night. Dallas plays in the Hall of Fame game. I think the kickoff is 8pm but don't hold me to that. I just don't care too much about preseason games until the fourth game when the starters play more than half the game. Even then you can't judge how your team is going to be until about the third week of the regular season.
Glad to see that NC Wesleyan has finally gotten back home to the Sports Complex to play their home football games. Since they will be the only team using the field for the time being it can truly be home to the Fighting Bishops. I have a suggestion for the Down East Viking Classic. Why don't some year NCW play Elizabeth City State in a game there.
Since then 1825 days have past and that once a week has turn into 1970 blogs or about 1.1 per day. Before the week is out more than 160,000 times you the reader have come to me. Over the five year period that is about 87 per day but over the last six months you all have been here about 150 times per day. From the bottom of my heart I thank you for the privilege you have given me to talk to you on a daily basis about anything sports related mostly that I might have information on.
Lets begin our second Lustrum:
Wilmington won the State American Legion Baseball title in Wilson beating Kernersville 3-2.
The Southeast Regional Babe Ruth 13U baseball Tournament starts today in Union City Tn. I don't know what time Nash County plays but if you google Southeast Regional Babe Ruth Baseball you might find a score card on all of the age groups all over the south that are playing in all age groups . You might be able to follow the Nash County game inning by inning when ever they play.
Today is the first official day of high school football practice. If you have been by any high school football field since Monday then you know they have been doing something on football fields but it is not called practice.
For you people who can't wait for the NFL there is a game Sunday night. Dallas plays in the Hall of Fame game. I think the kickoff is 8pm but don't hold me to that. I just don't care too much about preseason games until the fourth game when the starters play more than half the game. Even then you can't judge how your team is going to be until about the third week of the regular season.
Glad to see that NC Wesleyan has finally gotten back home to the Sports Complex to play their home football games. Since they will be the only team using the field for the time being it can truly be home to the Fighting Bishops. I have a suggestion for the Down East Viking Classic. Why don't some year NCW play Elizabeth City State in a game there.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Benvenue Shines During U S Amateur Qualifying
The only local golfer to make the field in the sectional qualifying for the U S Amateur Golf Championships Daniel Claytor failed to score low enough to make the top five which move on to Brookline Country Club in Brookline Ma where the U S Amateur will be held starting August 12th through the 18th.
Victor Wiggins from Gastonia scorched the Benvenue course firing a two round total of 136 to be the top medalist. Grant Hauser of Holly Springs, Andrew Decker of Greenville, Thomas Bradshaw of Columbia SC and Davis Womble from High Point shot 140 or better to follow Wiggins and they too get an invitation to the U S Amateur.
Didn't actually go on the course but did drive by and each pairing going around the course had groups of people like parents or girl friends following their play on the course. I think the members at Benvenue can be proud of their course to even be picked to host such an event as this qualifying .
The saga is finally over for the Garner Legion baseball team who protested Monday's forfeit and won their appeal and played Randolph County at 4pm this afternoon. RC won the game 9-4 and then Randolph County had to turn right around and play Kernersville tonight. Kernersville beat Randolph County 6-1 and Kernersville will play Wilmington with the winner moving on to the Southeast Regional
The State Championship for the North Carolina American Legion will be played at 1pm Wednesday afternoon at Fleming Stadium in Wilson. Randolph County who is playing host to this years Southeast Regional as the host team is already qualified for the Regional. You may ask how did North Carolina get to host the Regional as well as the World Series in Shelby. The Regional floats around year by year to every state that plays in the Southeast Regional and this just happens to be North Carolina's year to host and Randolph County won the bid to host.
Victor Wiggins from Gastonia scorched the Benvenue course firing a two round total of 136 to be the top medalist. Grant Hauser of Holly Springs, Andrew Decker of Greenville, Thomas Bradshaw of Columbia SC and Davis Womble from High Point shot 140 or better to follow Wiggins and they too get an invitation to the U S Amateur.
Didn't actually go on the course but did drive by and each pairing going around the course had groups of people like parents or girl friends following their play on the course. I think the members at Benvenue can be proud of their course to even be picked to host such an event as this qualifying .
The saga is finally over for the Garner Legion baseball team who protested Monday's forfeit and won their appeal and played Randolph County at 4pm this afternoon. RC won the game 9-4 and then Randolph County had to turn right around and play Kernersville tonight. Kernersville beat Randolph County 6-1 and Kernersville will play Wilmington with the winner moving on to the Southeast Regional
The State Championship for the North Carolina American Legion will be played at 1pm Wednesday afternoon at Fleming Stadium in Wilson. Randolph County who is playing host to this years Southeast Regional as the host team is already qualified for the Regional. You may ask how did North Carolina get to host the Regional as well as the World Series in Shelby. The Regional floats around year by year to every state that plays in the Southeast Regional and this just happens to be North Carolina's year to host and Randolph County won the bid to host.
Monday, July 29, 2013
Not Again
After the way the Regular Season and even the first round of the American Legion playoffs ended with so many forfeits don't you just know the State American Legion Tournament in Wilson is right in the middle of a forfeit hoop-la.
There are four teams left in the State Tournament, Monday afternoon Garner and Randolph County were scheduled to play the first game of the day at 1pm but at game time Garner only had 11 players. By rule in the State Tournament you must have 12 players to start a game so Garner forfeited or should we say they were told they lost by forfeit. Garner protested and by rule any game played under protest cannot be ruled on until 24 hours have past.
So the first game of the day was not played. The 5pm game the only undefeated team left Wilmington played Kernersville and Kernersville won 7-5 which places all four teams left in the tournament with one loss. Since Wilmington won their first three games they automatically play in the title game when ever it is played. Why do I say when ever it is played? Since the championship game is scheduled for Tuesday night. Should Garners protest be upheld then Garner and Randolph County will play at 1pm Tuesday but that only gets us down to three teams. The winner of the Garner/Randolph County game will then have to play Kernersville at 5pm shoving the championship game to Wednesday.
I don't see how if by number of players at the start of the game has violated a rule how Garner can win the protest. If they don't then Randolph County will play Kernersville at 1pm Tuesday. Now here is a little spice added to the soup. The Southeast Regional is being played in Randolph County this year so since they are the host team they are already in the Regional. If Randolph County makes it to the championship game then Wilmington will automatically get in the Southeast Regional win or lose.
During the regular season the rule on the number of players that a team must have is nine. I think it is a dumb rule to have 12 as the number in the State Tournament. It may be dumb but if that is the rule the only thing I can say is change it next year. You can't allow Garner to play because the rule is inconsistent. I would have to say that this Legion season has turned out to be one that people will remember for a long time for all the wrong reasons. It has become the year of the forfeit.
There are four teams left in the State Tournament, Monday afternoon Garner and Randolph County were scheduled to play the first game of the day at 1pm but at game time Garner only had 11 players. By rule in the State Tournament you must have 12 players to start a game so Garner forfeited or should we say they were told they lost by forfeit. Garner protested and by rule any game played under protest cannot be ruled on until 24 hours have past.
So the first game of the day was not played. The 5pm game the only undefeated team left Wilmington played Kernersville and Kernersville won 7-5 which places all four teams left in the tournament with one loss. Since Wilmington won their first three games they automatically play in the title game when ever it is played. Why do I say when ever it is played? Since the championship game is scheduled for Tuesday night. Should Garners protest be upheld then Garner and Randolph County will play at 1pm Tuesday but that only gets us down to three teams. The winner of the Garner/Randolph County game will then have to play Kernersville at 5pm shoving the championship game to Wednesday.
I don't see how if by number of players at the start of the game has violated a rule how Garner can win the protest. If they don't then Randolph County will play Kernersville at 1pm Tuesday. Now here is a little spice added to the soup. The Southeast Regional is being played in Randolph County this year so since they are the host team they are already in the Regional. If Randolph County makes it to the championship game then Wilmington will automatically get in the Southeast Regional win or lose.
During the regular season the rule on the number of players that a team must have is nine. I think it is a dumb rule to have 12 as the number in the State Tournament. It may be dumb but if that is the rule the only thing I can say is change it next year. You can't allow Garner to play because the rule is inconsistent. I would have to say that this Legion season has turned out to be one that people will remember for a long time for all the wrong reasons. It has become the year of the forfeit.
Helps On The Way
The years 2004-2005-2006 were great success for Rocky Mount area summer sports. Those three years Babe Ruth Teams from this area played in the World Tournaments. Some of those players who played on those teams found their way to Rocky Mount High school and a State High school Championship would come. This week our Babe Ruth U-13 team heads to Union City Tennessee to play in the Southeast Regional as the North Carolina Eastern State Champs. Sunday in Williamston our 11-12 year old representing Rocky Mount won the Tar Heel State Title.
This follows that some of these 11 year olds on the championship team were part of the 9/10 year old group that won the State title last summer. Looks our area high schools help is on the way and for the high school that captures the most of these champion all stars playing this summer a deep run could be in the offing like North Nash Did playing for the east title one spring and Rocky Mount winning it all once. All of that happened after the Babe Ruth run in 2006.
I hope you have seen the plight of the U-13 team. They leave this week for Union City Tennessee and should they stay all the way up to the championship game they might be there up to ten days. Not only is this a tremendous expense to the local Babe Ruth Association but think of the parents who most will be taking days off to go with their sons to play in Tennessee. Not many parents asked for this week off weeks ago thinking we are going to win the east State title and I had better ask for a week off just in case.
Today a sectional qualifying tournament is being held at Benvenue County Club. The only local golfer who has even made it this far in qualifying is Daniel Claytor the former Northern Nash Knight and three time College All American golfer at Barton. The top finishers Monday qualify for the U S Amateur that is coming in August.
Sunday night Garner and Wilmington were playing in the third day undefeated winners bracket at the American Legion State Championships going on in Fleming Stadium in Wilson.
This follows that some of these 11 year olds on the championship team were part of the 9/10 year old group that won the State title last summer. Looks our area high schools help is on the way and for the high school that captures the most of these champion all stars playing this summer a deep run could be in the offing like North Nash Did playing for the east title one spring and Rocky Mount winning it all once. All of that happened after the Babe Ruth run in 2006.
I hope you have seen the plight of the U-13 team. They leave this week for Union City Tennessee and should they stay all the way up to the championship game they might be there up to ten days. Not only is this a tremendous expense to the local Babe Ruth Association but think of the parents who most will be taking days off to go with their sons to play in Tennessee. Not many parents asked for this week off weeks ago thinking we are going to win the east State title and I had better ask for a week off just in case.
Today a sectional qualifying tournament is being held at Benvenue County Club. The only local golfer who has even made it this far in qualifying is Daniel Claytor the former Northern Nash Knight and three time College All American golfer at Barton. The top finishers Monday qualify for the U S Amateur that is coming in August.
Sunday night Garner and Wilmington were playing in the third day undefeated winners bracket at the American Legion State Championships going on in Fleming Stadium in Wilson.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
On The Verge
The Rocky Mount Senior League National League ALL Stars (11/12) year olds Have won the Tar Heel Little League State Championship. They beat Tarboro 8-0 to go through the Tournament undefeated.
The Coach pitch (7/8) year olds lost their only game Sunday but their bracket there were 16 teams playing so they finished 3rd going 4-2 over the weekend
The Rocky Mount Midget National League All Stars after losing in the winners bracket undefeated game had to win twice Saturday to make it to Sunday's Championship of the 9/10 year olds. They won once but lost in the losers bracket championship game to claim 3rd place.
The Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation Senior Little League National League All Stars are one game away from bringing home another State Tar Heel Little League State Title. During their third game of the State Tournament in Williamston the Nationals won that game Saturday and now play the winner of the losers bracket Sunday afternoon and all the Nationals have to do is win one out of two games. If they win the first game they are State champions, if they lose the first game they get a second chance to win Sunday afternoon.
Williamston has three State Tournaments going on at once and in the Coach Pitch (7/8) year old division there are 16 teams playing in the state tournament so if you get into that dreaded losers bracket like Rocky Mount did by losing Friday night that meant that in order to make it to Sunday they would have to win three times Saturday.
Since this is a coach pitch division there are no limits on how many innings a pitchers pitches so if the coach gets a sore arm by having to play three games that's ok. Rocky Mount won three times Saturday and that leaves them playing to win the losers bracket in their first game Sunday. If they win that then they have to beat the undefeated team twice so in order for them to win the Pee Wee division they have to win three games again today.
The Midget Division went into Saturday undefeated game and were beaten and that left them having to make their way through the losers bracket. At this time I don't have and update on how they did Saturday afternoon.
Friday's opening round of the State American Legion State Tournament being played in Wilson at Fleming Stadium the host team Wilson lost to Wilmington 9-1. The three other winners on Friday were Shelby, Garner and Lincoln County.
As soon as I hear how the Tournament in Williamston turns out I'll be blogging early Sunday night.
The Coach pitch (7/8) year olds lost their only game Sunday but their bracket there were 16 teams playing so they finished 3rd going 4-2 over the weekend
The Rocky Mount Midget National League All Stars after losing in the winners bracket undefeated game had to win twice Saturday to make it to Sunday's Championship of the 9/10 year olds. They won once but lost in the losers bracket championship game to claim 3rd place.
The Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation Senior Little League National League All Stars are one game away from bringing home another State Tar Heel Little League State Title. During their third game of the State Tournament in Williamston the Nationals won that game Saturday and now play the winner of the losers bracket Sunday afternoon and all the Nationals have to do is win one out of two games. If they win the first game they are State champions, if they lose the first game they get a second chance to win Sunday afternoon.
Williamston has three State Tournaments going on at once and in the Coach Pitch (7/8) year old division there are 16 teams playing in the state tournament so if you get into that dreaded losers bracket like Rocky Mount did by losing Friday night that meant that in order to make it to Sunday they would have to win three times Saturday.
Since this is a coach pitch division there are no limits on how many innings a pitchers pitches so if the coach gets a sore arm by having to play three games that's ok. Rocky Mount won three times Saturday and that leaves them playing to win the losers bracket in their first game Sunday. If they win that then they have to beat the undefeated team twice so in order for them to win the Pee Wee division they have to win three games again today.
The Midget Division went into Saturday undefeated game and were beaten and that left them having to make their way through the losers bracket. At this time I don't have and update on how they did Saturday afternoon.
Friday's opening round of the State American Legion State Tournament being played in Wilson at Fleming Stadium the host team Wilson lost to Wilmington 9-1. The three other winners on Friday were Shelby, Garner and Lincoln County.
As soon as I hear how the Tournament in Williamston turns out I'll be blogging early Sunday night.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Tar Heel Tournament Progress
Friday night all three Rocky Mount entries into the Tar Heel State Championships played in the winners bracket games and two of the three remain unbeaten. The 7/8 coach pitch team lost to Cleveland 11-9 to fall into the losers bracket during the Saturday action.
Both the Midgets(9/10) and Senior little league won advancing to the winners bracket game on Saturday. The Midgets crushed South Johnston 17-1 while the Seniors beat Tarboro 9-8. So far the Midgets have won their first two by ten or more while the Seniors have found the road tougher winning 2-0 and 9-8.
The Coach Pitch (7/8) won their first game on Saturday and have to play another game Saturday make it to the finals on Sunday. The Midgets (9/10) lost their winners bracket game Saturday morning and now have to win again Saturday night to make it to the championship on Sunday. The Senior Little League team won their winner's bracket game Saturday afternoon and are set to play for the State Championship Sunday. Who ever comes out of the losers brackets has to beat them twice Sunday .
Benvenue Country Club is holding on Monday a day of sectional qualifying for the U S Amateur Golf Championships. This is the biggest thing to happen in golf around here since the ACC Golf Championships left Northgreen 20 years ago.
Both the Midgets(9/10) and Senior little league won advancing to the winners bracket game on Saturday. The Midgets crushed South Johnston 17-1 while the Seniors beat Tarboro 9-8. So far the Midgets have won their first two by ten or more while the Seniors have found the road tougher winning 2-0 and 9-8.
The Coach Pitch (7/8) won their first game on Saturday and have to play another game Saturday make it to the finals on Sunday. The Midgets (9/10) lost their winners bracket game Saturday morning and now have to win again Saturday night to make it to the championship on Sunday. The Senior Little League team won their winner's bracket game Saturday afternoon and are set to play for the State Championship Sunday. Who ever comes out of the losers brackets has to beat them twice Sunday .
Benvenue Country Club is holding on Monday a day of sectional qualifying for the U S Amateur Golf Championships. This is the biggest thing to happen in golf around here since the ACC Golf Championships left Northgreen 20 years ago.
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