Knights Move To the Fourth Round

Brandon Denton tried to act like Nolan Ryan and struck out the first six batters. Denton goes the distance and strike out ten and allows only three hits leading the way as Northern Nash advances to round four of the NCHSAA 3-A baseball playoffs with a 7-0 whipping of Western Guilford.

Tyler Clark tried to do his Alex Rodriquez imitation as he went 4-4 including a three run homer and a two run double and added two singles for good measure.

Northern awaits the winner of the Webb/South Granville game and I will let you know when I find out. If Webb wins Northern travels there Tuesday. If South Granville wins Northern will host them on Tuesday.

The news is not good for Fike as they ran into a hornets nest in West Brunswick losing 16-4.

In the you need to know column Eastern Wayne got a walk off home run in the eighth inning to beat South Central 4-3.

I must tell you what I have heard of the sports banquet last night. I told you last night I had to leave early so I was not there for the big awards and the special presentation that was a surprise for everyone.

The booster club presented Grant Wilson's family a framed wrestling Jersey. I hear the tears were flowing by all as his family was there to receive it. Since this was the first dinner that Rocky Mount has had for the sports awards this tribute to Grant made the whole evening very special.

The Male and Female athletes of the year were:

Brian Goodwin and Erika Wesonga.

The Juan Chesson Sportsmanship award was won by:

Chris Pittman.

The scholastic Athletes of the year were:

Erika Wesonga and Richard Deans

I think the sports banquet was a big hit and would love to see it again next year.

Awards Dinner Brings A Full House

Rocky Mount High school held the winter and spring sports award program last night in the gym. Gardner's Barbecue set up their serving line in the hallway in front of the cafeteria and all who ate dined in the gym. The bleachers were pulled out for those who only came to see their kids receive awards could sit while the others ate.

My guess is nearly 400 ate and another 125 watched from the stands. I hope this can become an annual event.

I had a very busy night last night as the Tar River Children's Chorus had their season ending concert and had to leave to watch Morgan sing. Check the Rocky Mount high web site today as Charles Alston will post all of the year end awards handed out last night.

The Carolina Hurricanes when they lose most of the time is turnovers by the defense giving the otherside quick shots. That again last night was a big issue as the Pittsburgh Penquins scored three times in the third period to beat Carolina 7-4.

I hope you were still up to see Evgeni Maulkin's third goal of the game a back handed no look shot that went in the net at the only possible place he could have gotten the shot by Cam Ward. It is the greatest shot I have every seen in my very short hockey watching career.

Game six is Saturday night in Raleigh.

Is it possible that the TV networks executives may be getting ready to jump off a bridge. The two glamor players in the NBA Kobe Bryant and Lebron James the two teams that everyone predicts will play for the NBA title have both lost at home early in their series.

Denver looks better to me than LA. If I was Cleveland I would really be worried. Lebron goes 20 for 30 shooting and they still lose. Lookout Orlando just might play Denver for the title.

That is a TV executive's nightmare when they could get Kobe versus Lebron.

Tonight the Knights of Northern Nash and the Golden Demons of Fike High School try to continue in the baseball playoffs.

How a bout those Firebirds. The boys tennis team from Southern Nash has made it again to the state championship match.

Good luck to all still playing

Sports Awards

Tonight in the gym the winter and spring sports awards will be handed out. It has been a while but there will be a dinner served. I like having dinner with the awards, it just adds something to it.

Back in my day living in Ahoskie football always had a banquet that was always a sell out. All other sports we had assembly programs where you got your letter in front of the whole school. It was nothing more than getting out of class. Hopefully there will be enough there to as least break even on the food since the athletes are free.

The NEW-6 still has two teams alive. Northern and Fike are playing on. This being the last year of the NEW-6 this conference has proven to be a very good league when ever the playoffs have started in any sport. This is the second year in a row the conference has put two teams in the third round of the baseball playoffs.

The Rocky Mount Gryphons have had a marvelous overall record during the four years of the of the NEW-6. But during the playoffs their only real splash was last year winning the State title. The first two years they were first round losers and this year out in the second round.

Northern is on the road to Western Guilford in Greensboro Friday night while Fike travels to West Brunswick. Whenever their is a direction in a school you would think you could find the school by it's name. West Brunswick is near Shallotte which is east of highway 17 which is called the ocean highway. George Kelly former Gryphon Principal, athletic director and coach is the the principal at West Brunswick.

Now that Michael Vick is out of Prison talk is now being of which team wants him as their quarterback. I wish that who ever takes him would take him for minimum salary. Make him earn the big dollars.

I am shocked this morning to hear that Lebron and the Cleveland Caviliers lost last night. I watched maybe two minutes before I changed the channel to watch good TV Andy Griffith

Time Of Reflection

Conversation in the press box last night was some what reflective before the game. Not only is there always a chance of losing any game but last night possibly was going to be the last home game of the year regardless of whether they could have won the game or not. We knew for sure the next game was on the road and as it turned out it was the last game of the year.

Can you name the short stops for the Gryphons for the past eleven years? Actually there have only been three.

Adam Weaver called the six position home from 1999-2002. Will Johnson patrolled between second base and third 2003-2005 and Dillon Cockrell has been there ever since other than when he pitched.

Dillon Cockrell has played more baseball games for Rocky Mount than any player in history. Pat Smith put the skinny kid out at shortstop the first game of his freshman year.

Other team members are going to college to play ball or maybe even pro ball, others have had more press clipping than him. Trying to think back I not sure if Dillon ever even missed one inning in his career. I'm sure he has but right now I can't remember him not in the lineup.

There lies the story of Dillon Cockrell. Mr. dependability. You didn't have to check the lineup to see who was playing short, maybe if you thought he might pitch other wise you knew he was there.

He's not flashy, but when you needed a big defensive play Dillon delivered. If you needed a big hit Dillon delivered. If you needed a leader #10 did it quietly.

Like all the seniors Dillon will never wear #10 for the Gryphons again. I hear he wants to go to Carolina to be a doctor. That sounds like Dillon.

Whether you realize it or not Rocky Mount will try to find a new short stop next year and he will be hard to replace. Dillon Cockrell has done his job both in the classroom and on the ball field.

For me since I have be living in Rocky Mount since 1995 Dillon is my favorite player. I was some what like him but no where near as good but we are a like in Dillon has a lot of the stay with the plan regardless of the consequence attitude. That's why he showed up every day. That was the plan.



Good Luck Dillon

Defending Champs Ousted

Ethan Cockren Stroked three hits in the game to out hit Rocky Mount who could only get two. Then he turns in a complete game pitching victory over the Gryphons who's hopes of back to back State titles dies.

Tonight would be a night of opportunity of not to be as Three innings the Gryphons left runners on third base including the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded and only one out the Falcon's turn a 4-6-3 double play to end the game.

Brian Goodwin led off the bottom of the first with a hit and the Gryphons went hitless until the seventh inning when Hobbs Johnson got number two.

Benton Moss loses his first varsity game in taking the loss for the Gryphons. He will finish the season 7-1.

After hitting the leadoff batter in the fourth inning and down 4-1 Pat Smith brought in Hobbs Johnson who held South Central scoreless the rest of the way.

Gryphons finish the season 20-3 while South Central plays in Round three against Eastern Wayne.

The news is better for Northern Nash as Tyler Joyner pitches a five hitter striking out ten batters as Northen Nash the #2 seed in the NEW-6 knocks off the #1 seed home team Southern Alamance 4-1

Northern Nash is still alive and a waits the winner of the Triton Western Guilford game Friday. Western Guilford is the #1 seed and Triton is a #2 seed. If Western wins then Northern travels to Them but if Triton wins and both teams are #2 seeds the NEW-6 has the seeding priority and they would get a home game against Triton.

Right Where They Want Them

The Carolina Hurricanes have lost the opening game of the Eastern Conference finals in Pittsburgh tonight 3-2. This is the third straight series in which the Canes have lost the opening game and by doing so have the Penguins right where they want them down one game to none.

I am a Johnny come lately to hockey since I never even watch hockey until cable TV brought Wayne Gretsky and the Edmonton Oilers to my home in the mid 80's. So I don't under stand certain rules and I didn't see why Carolina got an interference penalty when a defensive player for Pittsburgh bowls over the Pittsburgh goalie and Carolina score practically with and empty net. Not only was the goal taken away but Carolina got a penalty on the deal.

Regardless of whether you are disappointed with the score or not this was an up and down hockey game when both team had chances to score ten goals a piece.

Game two is not until Thursday night due to the fact that Bruce Springsteen has concerts in the Igloo both Tuesday and Wednesday night. All games for the remainder of this series are on the Versus Network which is hard to find.

Playoffs are a matter of who loses who you might have played but you don't have to because they are knocked out. If you understand all of that then Fike might have the easiest game in round two Tuesday in high school baseball.

Fike's upset of C B Aycock has set up a home game for them against the #4 seed from the Coastal Conference in Washington. Fike is now the higher seed despite being the #3 from the NEW-6.

Northern Nash on the other hand has to travel to Graham to take on the #1 seed from the Mid States in Southern Alamance. Not an easy draw.

For those of you who think Rocky Mount should have a breather , think again. South Central is much like Fike is in our conference. Dangerous! Once again the Gryphons had better bring the bats to the game or this will not be an easy one. Central is only 13-10 but they beat Rose once which we were not able to do.

Sorry that it has taken me until today to mention this but the girls soccer team was knocked out of the playoffs by Burlington Williams Friday in round two of the playoffs. The Lady Gryphons did not go quietly as they fell in overtime by a 2-1.

Both the boys and girls soccer team were very competitive this year and first year coach Drew Nick can be proud of his first year coaching the Gryphons.

A Day Of Rest

Pretty slow day on the home front today as the only sport of any interest going on is two game sevens in the NBA. They don't really interest me that much.

The Carolina Hurricanes ready themselves to start a new series Monday Night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. If the Canes hold form they will lose 4-1 Monday night and then turn around and win the second game in the series.

They really do play better when their backs are to the wall. There worse games in the entire playoffs were when they lead the series 3-1 and lost two in a row.

There are a few athletes still doing their thing this spring other than baseball and that is the track team members who qualified for the state meet. The state championships are this week.

Baseball plays at home Tuesday night against South Central. The Coastal conference still has four teams alive if you include Rose who is in the 4-A bracket. Conley and Washington join Central as still alive in the playoffs.

Tiger Woods after having been off for nine months is not having his way in the golf world as he did prior to injury. Finishing in the top ten isn't bad but we have all become accustomed to him winning every time he plays. His long layoff has brought back an old old problem. His tee shot. He can't keep it in the fairway. His putting has only been average and has not saved him like it has in the past.

I think last Sunday was Tiger's first time ever of playing in the last group and coming up the 18th hole where he was irrelevant.

There is an old saying in NASCAR that if you run up front enough you are going to win every once in a while. Tiger still runs up. Finishing first may not come as often as in the past.

Don't forget to get your ticket to the sport banquet Thursday night. Dinner is $10 and all winter and spring sports will be in the spot light.