Open Letter To Sherrod Greene

NO LEGION GAME TONIGHT!  Durham has cancelled on their trip for a non conference game here tonight.  Our final regular season home game is June 28th 7pm against Garner

We have recently had several athletes in the Twin Counties that have been able to obtain schlorship offers from some very high caliber division one schools.  Todd Gurley from Tarboro  found the University of Georgia for his college home for football.  Montrezl Harrell went to Louisville in basketball and started out in high school at North Edgecombe.  Both Hobbs Johnson and Benton Moss played baseball at Carolina after pitching at RMHS.  All four were good enough that they are all playing professional sports.

We all that watched Todd Gurley at Tarboro all could see he was a man child and if healthy he was going to make it big.  He has been as he was offensive rookie of the year  in the NFL even after finishing his college career in a cast with a knee injury.

Montrezl was just plain bigger than anyone else around here but it surely looked like he had a real chance in pro basketball after a successful three years in Louisville and he was rewarded by being  a top 35 pick in the NBA draft and property of the Houston Rockets.

Both Hobbs and Benton as good as they were in college are plodding along in minor league baseball trying to each year step up to another level.  What this is all leading up too as all these players were highly sought after in high school just like what is happening to you Sherrod Greene right now.  Scouts have rated you at least a grade three prospect and in some cases a four.  You have been invited to all kinds of football camps including a recent trip to Bama who in turn after watching you offered you a football free ride.

I know it is a dream come true to hear from all these schools that you watch on tv every Saturday and they play in major Bowl Games or even in National Championship games.  Remember this where ever you go there are going to be a whole freshman class full of players just like you rated a three or four. Then you have the other sixty players with more college experience than you already on the team.

Remember your family if you go out of state they can drive to Greenville, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Durham or Winston six weekends out of the year  to watch you Play.  It will be hard to ever go to
Tuscaloosa once a season and Bama closes game to Rocky Mount over the next five years is Columbia SC or Knoxville Tennessee.

There is no doubt you are a special football player and plenty of people in the football world know about you.  My only advise go to a school where you can make a difference in the team.  Would you rather be on the kickoff team for a team that might play for the national championship  or be known as a player that helped turn a program around.  Boy when I was in high school I would have loved to have your decisions.

Tonight Coleman Pitt is home against Durham Post 7.  Until the playoffs Post 58 is down to tonight a another home game next Tuesday with Garner and four road games left.  If you haven't seen them yet you are running out of Opportunities.

Last Night John Haggerty was behind the plate in the losers bracket game between Florida and Texas Tech.  It has to be the biggest night of John's life in his baseball umpire life.  He had a really good game.  How does and umpire have a good game?  When it is over he walks off the field and during the tv high lights they make mention of you making the right call on one of the biggest plays of the game.

Shining Moment For Coastal Carolina

 Coastal Carolina is in Conway South Carolina.  Doesn't matter what sport Coastal plays one of the best recruiting tools they have is to say we are fives miles from Myrtle Beach.  Sunday night in their first game ever in the College World Series Coastal used  the the same formula that they use in the Raleigh Regional and in the Super Regional in Baton Rouge Pitching and timely hitting.

They knocked off the top team in the overall tournament Florida 2-1 to advance to the winners game in their bracket Tuesday against TCU.  Baseball however was not the biggest event of the day for Coastal.  Dustin Johnson is a former golfer from Coastal who over the last five years has more near misses in the Major golf tournaments than any other player.

He has had a penalty that knocked him out of a playoff. A three putt from ten feet on the last hole of last year's open cost  him dearly.  Sunday another penalty did not deter Johnson as he won going away to win his first major golf title.  Not a bad Sunday at all for  the beach school of 10,000 students.

I have not enjoyed at all watching the NBA finals.   There were too many blowouts and the fourth quarter Sunday night was a prime example of why I am not an NBA fan.  I hate the offense that the last four minutes the Cavs used letting LeBron stand outside the three point line and most of he time shoot or drive to the basket while his teammates all go find a corner and get out of the way.

The other end of the court the Warriors lived by the three and they died by it too.  Yes when three pointers go in it is exciting.  This season and last they made those ridiculous long range shots but during the four  losses they made nothing in any of the fourth quarters.

The biggest thing I hate  about the NBA is any shot taken inside of ten feet is like running off tackle in the NFL.  Too much pushing and shoving and tackling.

I could care less about LeBron winning a title and being the MVP.  I am glad for the city of Cleveland  who has gone through so many jokes about being a losers city.  There is something about winning a championship for any city that everyone who lives there proudly say I'm from Cleveland.  Just using Rocky Mount as an example the basketball team in 2010 winning the State Title in basketball after the 2009 economic depression we went through help us all feel better about life.  After four State titles in the last eight years everyone in the state knows about Rocky Mount.

Two Hit Whit

It has been about a month now since Whit Merrifield got the call to the major leagues.  All of those local Rocky Mount folks who know the Merrifield family still here in Rocky Mount are thrilled at a some what local player Whit Merrifield is tearing it up now that he calls The Kansas City Royals home.

Whit who has always known Advance as home and his only trips to the City On The Rise were to visit Kin folks.  Merrifield has now played in 27 games since he became a major leaguer and in those games has 39 hits or about a hit and a half per game.  The radio and TV crew for the Royals have nicknamed Whit "Two Hit Whit" since it seems he gets two hits every game.

His batting average is 339 in 27 games.  Ten doubles, a triple, two home runs and has 12 RBI in which four came Saturday night which is his career high in one game.  It has taken the hero of Carolina's (South Carolina) first College World Series victory into his sixth year before he got the call to play in the really big stadiums.  He is hitting so well and getting on base so much he has now become the Royals lead off hitter.

Merrifield is doing it on the field and he was even featured in the New York Times Sunday in a story featuring his family including Granddad Bill Sr.  Now at 86 he has been seen at many of the Royal away games having driven from Advance.  It took six years of riding buses in the minors.  The start that Whit Merrifield has had there will be no going back now.  He's in the Majors to stay.

The Rocky Mount Telegram featured a story also Sunday of John Haggerty from right here who this week is in Omaha Nebraska where he is working as an umpire.  All of us who have ever seen John umpire baseball games knows he is one of the best any where and making  it to Omaha proves it.

I remember several years ago making comment on this blog as I had been to Raleigh to see ECU and State baseball on a Wednesday night with Billy Godwin as coach of ECU and Elliot Avent for the Pack and Even the umpire behind the plate was from Nash County John Haggerty.

The World Series has two crews.  Two veteran College World Series Umps who are the crew chiefs, two rookies and four that have been there before.  Working in a crew of four that means by Tuesday night John will have worked a game behind  the plate.  That's the ultimate of a career that started while John was still in high school.  Congratulation Mr Clean!!!!!!!

Thoughts

I was thinking about possibly hopping a jet and fly to Oakland for game seven in the NBA finals.  I was thinking about a seat courtside and they are only 40,000 dollars.  It is hard to believe people are willing to spent that kind of money.

The weather has caused a jumble at the US Open  having to finish round two Saturday morning.  I really do like watching golf up to eight of clock on a Saturday night.  Darkness caused play to stop Saturday night so the leaders will play more than one round this day.  I do like watching the pros when a missed shot becomes a challenge and all of them have their moments when they look like me.  The only difference between me and them is I play like me on every hole and they play like me one hole a tournament.

I have just gone on the Syracuse Chiefs Website and voted for Brian Goodwin for the AAA All Star team.  It has nothing to do with being a Brian Goodwin homer.  So far this season Brian is having his best year in the pros.  He is hitting 304 which leads the Chiefs in batting.  He has played in 63 games batted 230 times with 70 hits.  He has scored 28 times, has 17 doubles, one triple, six home runs and 33 RBI leads the team.

These are really the type numbers that players get called to the big club.  However Brian is paid by the Washington Nationals who are loaded with outfielders and veteran players making big money. It looks as his only hope to play in Washington will be for a couple of major injuries have to attack the Nationals.  There are 31 other teams and the way he is playing he is now a hot commodity for others who might need an outfielder.  Sure seems his best shot to the majors is some where besides playing in the National's Organization.

Talking with coach Hank Jones in the Post 58 dugout before their game  Friday night against Durham he is very pleased with every players attitude on this year's squad.  There has been 19 players for most of the season and only 9 or 10  start any game if you use a DH.  There has not been any moaning and Groaning about playing time by anybody.

One of the ways Joe Bell the Athletic Officer who is the schedule maker with Hank they have tried to do every thing they can to make sure those who want to play travel ball on weekends or those that can't live without the beach they have had only one Saturday on the schedule.  There are so many things pulling on the lives of teenagers these days that in order for Post 58 to maintain a team they have had to change the old ways of making an announcement when tryouts are and thirty show up.

Infield Fly Rule Leads P 58

There is that old saying that you see something at the old park that you have never seen before and tonight it happened.  Trailing Durham Post 7 2-0 in the bottom of  the third Dawson Sikes started P 58's third inning with a walk.  Josh Pittman sacrifice bunt was well placed beating it out for a hit. Colby Carter reached base the hard way getting hit.  Bases loaded no outs time for a deep blast from Noah Schrock right.

Noah hit a pop up maybe ten feet toward first base but it was hit a mile high.  Looked like it was going to be foul.  The wind played tricks all night on many balls hit in the air and as the first baseman gets under the ball it is blown fair and the first baseman fails to even get a glove on the ball. Fair ball every base runner starts moving including Dawson Sikes who was on third.  The first baseball picks up the now fair ball and tosses home to the catcher who steps on the bag for a force out and throws to third where Josh Pittman looks  as if Durham is going to get a double play on a force play on Pittman.    The catchers throw sails to left field and Pittman scores what everyone thought cut the lead to 2-1.

Come to find out the fielding umpire called an infield fly rule on Noah Schrock which made him an automatic out.  Infield fly all runners advance at their own risk.  So with Schrock out there is no force at home and the catcher needed to tag Sikes out but he didn't because he thought it was a force play and threw wildly to third.

After the dust had settled and all the arguing was over Rocky Mount scored two runs on a fly ball that never went more than ten feet from home.   Whether it gave Coleman Pitt life or shook up Durham Rocky Mount scored six more runs before the inning ended.  There were two big hits as Logan Pearce knocked home two runs with a double rolling to the wall in left and Josh Pittman tripled  over the right fielder's head scoring two runs.

Coleman Pitt was missing two possible pitchers tonight as David Pittman and Reid Johnson were both playing in the State Games in Raleigh.  So Coleman Pitt sent Trey Wells to  the mound and he gave way to Trevor Mills who gave way to Zack Keeter and Josh Daniels pitched the ninth.  Coleman Pitt gave up five runs on 14 hits but were never in jeopardy in this one as they added three more runs in the eighth to win 11-5.

Josh Pittman for the second game in a row had three hits and 2 RBI.  Colby Carter reach with two hits and a RBI.  Noah Schrock, Tyler Barrett, Logan Pearce 2 RBI, John Michael Kelly RBI all had a hit.  Luke Fenlen led Post seven going 4-6 with five RBI.

The last two games Coleman Pitt played 25 innings and produced only seven runs.  The third inning CP 58 scored eight runs alone.  Coleman Pitt goes to 3-0 in division play and 6-3 over all winners of six straight.  Next time out for Coleman Pitt will be next Wednesday night when Durham returns in what will not be a division game.

Legion On The Field Tonight

I have to admit that Coleman Pitt Post 58 to date has surprised me in now standing at 5-3 on the season and 2-0 in division play.  Legion ball reflects how your high school teams fared and every team had a really good pitcher and then some throwers.  Those really good pitchers dominated in high school and now at the midway point in the season have done just as well in legion.  You know Legion is the next step up.  Not quite college but it is an all star team of the players from your area and what they can do against other all star teams.

Those of you parents that have been sold that bill of goods as the only way to get college coaches or the pros to look at your kids is travel ball Wednesday night there was a scout from the New York Yankees in the house.  He came to us, we didn't have to go to them.  So Legion is still very viable in kids who want to play at the next level of college or the extra special kid who could go pro right out of high school.

The last two games Post 58 pitching has allowed five  runs in which four  were earned in 25 innings. That is an ERA of 1.44.  Our defense has added help to pitching by getting an out on a ball headed for a hit but if this team continues to pitch and play defense the way they have the last five games we will be in every ball game.

If it has taken 25 innings to play two games and your team gave up only five runs then the real weakness of this team is it's ability to score runs themselves.  The hitting totals are improving each game but eleven hits Wednesday resulted in only three runs in 12 innings.  The hitting needs to get to where if the pitchers give up only three the seven runs we scored we were never in jeopardy of losing.  4-3 and 3-2 games could both have been losses if  it wasn't for the pitching and defense.

Contact when in the batters box is a key element to hitting.  Leadoff batter Josh Pittman looks like a slapper at the ball when he has batted both for the Gryphons this spring and P58 now. It just looks like there is no way he can hit the way he slaps at it. He has the knack to get on base with a slap to left field and he is a left handed batter.  He has speed and can beat out hits that start our as a simple grounder straight at a defensive player.  That speed it is hard to hit a ball in the air that he can't catch in the outfield.

In terms of Legion age this is a young team and most if they wish to do so and come back to Legion next year will be a year older.  Senior Legion is 17 and 18 year olds.  This team has as least two if not more that are still 16 years and we are very competitive with teams older than we are so the future is bright.

What did it mean for this year not to have a team last year. A couple of players could have been on this team last year.  Spencer Brickhouse from Bunn and a left handed pitcher from Roanoke Rapids.  Both players  Brickhouse for Wilson and the RR kid in Ahoskie.  Brickhouse of course is heading to ECU but is playing Legion in Wilson since he played there last year and they would have to sign a waiver in order for him to play for us and who in their right mind would give up a player of his statue because we didn't have a team last year.

Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda that's spilled milk  and we won three of the four games played against those two squads this year so the guys we got must be pretty good too.  Our future continues tonight as Durham Post 7 will be at Legion Field at 7pm.  We need to score more runs but I can tell you one thing the last two games 4-3 win over Wilson in 13 innings and 3-2 victory over Apex in 12 innings is as good of ball as you can see any where.  Come see for yourself.

It Takes More Than Nine Again

Coleman Pitt Post 58 American Legion Baseball team for the second Wednesday night in a row took extra innings to put away Apex Post 124 3-2.  It just happens to be the last two games have gone 13 and tonight 12 innings before CP 58 wins 3-2.

There is no doubt Rocky Mount pitching is the Secretariat of this ball club as the season has now reach eight games and five straight wins for the home team.  Tonight Cameron Taylor started on the hill and did exactly what was needed five innings of one run game on three hits.  He gave way to Trevor Mills tossed two and two thirds of one hit ball. Noah Shrock came in with two outs in the top of the eighth to quail potential trouble.  He carried the game into the 12th giving up one run on four hits.  His fourth hit allowed was a lead off double by Apex in the top of the 12th and in comes Reid Johnston who quickly got three straight outs.

Apex scored first in the fifth on a sac fly RBI by Ben High Fill.  Coleman Pitt tied it in the sixth on a walk then and error got Colby Carter to third.  Noah Shrock hit one off the pitcher's foot which rolled to the shortstop and his only play was to first with Carter scoring.

The top of the tenth Apex retook the lead on a lead off single by Alex Simpson and scored on an RBI single by Derek Beale.  Looked bleak for CP 58 but the bottom of the tenth with starting pitcher Jake Isbell removed after pitching nine innings giving up just one run on seven hits Matt Rogers took to the mound and was greeted by a Josh Pittman single, a sac bunt by Colby Carter, a wild pitch and a sharp single by Noah  Shrock tied it at two.

It drizzled during the middle innings and a drizzle started again in the 12th and looking at the radar time was running out on playing time on this game.  Josh Pittman led of the 12th with his third hit of the night.  Colby Carter hit a ball toward short and their force at second failed when Pittman beat the ball to second.  Noah Shrock loaded the bases with a hit and Reid Johnston who rewards his 12th inning pitching with the wining hit scoring Pittman and Rocky Mount wins 3-2.

Reid Johnson gets the win but all CP 58 pitching was excellent.  58 finished with 11 hits led by three hits from Josh Pittman and Noah Shrock and two RBI.  Reid Johnston added two hits and the game winning RBI.  Tyler Sherrod, Logan Pearce and Zach   Keeter reached with hits.

Coleman Pitt has won five in a row and 5-3 overall and 2-0 in division play.  They are back in action Friday night as Durham will be in town at 7 pm at Legion Field.