Soccer And Baseball Are Impressive.

You wonder coming out of any time off whether you have lost the big MO but Girls soccer and Varsity baseball come up Big the first time out after the Easter break.

The best defense is a good offense and that was the the Lady Gryphons soccer team formula today in downing Northern Nash 4-1. The ball stay in the offensive zone it seemed like the entire day and the Lady Gryphons attacked at will. Alison Raper and Kelsey Benson scored two goals a piece in leading the Lady Gryphons to their Tenth win in twelve outings. I didn't keep up with the shot totals but the Ladies had to have somewhere close to twenty and by not allowing the Lady Knights much in their offensive end I doubt whether they got more than five shots and one went in.

I did today game's for the Stretchlon Sports show and left there and went right straight to the baseball field where on arriving the Gryphons were taking infield but due to his new work schedule Wes Bradshaw was not in the house to do his PA thing. John Whitehead and Brian Clontz put the speakers up and by the time all the wires were hooked up it was time for the first pitch and I filled in for Wes on PA.

William Prince took the mound for Fike and Hobbs Johnson toed the rubber for the Gryphons and at games end both teams had collect five hits.

One of the Gryphons three left the park in the bottom of the second at Benton Moss hit a line drive to straight a way center field to get the Gryphons on the board. The third inning started with a single by Matthew Berry followed by two walks and then a bloop single by Hobbs Johnson to right which plated two runs.

Prince pitched a complete game for Fike allowing three hits, struck out six and walked four but the night belonged to Hobbs Johnson. Hobbs allowed two hits walked a single batter and fanned thirteen Golden Demons in winning his sixth game on the season. The Golden Demons only had one batter to reach second base and he stayed there.

The Gryphons are now 14-2 and head to Southern Nash Thursday Night to take on the Firebirds.

Down the street all is not bad news from softball. Fike beat the Varsity 11-1 in five innings but the JV Lady Gryphons trailed 12-2 and stormed back to win the first game of the year for any Gryphon softball team 14-13.

When you are champions special things come your way. Last night the city council of Rocky Mount honored the state champion basketball team and after it was over Hardees fed the team any and all they wanted. I understand that they really worked on those thick burgers.

Drive Time

Now that the Easter vacation is out of the way it's time to get serious with high school sports. Just about everyone is through with non conference games except for a rain out here and there that will be made up in the next couple of weeks.

Gryphon basketball floundered coming out of the exam break and any floundering by baseball will be noticed quickly as the Gryphons host Fike Tuesday night and both teams are tied for the lead at 2-0. Northern Nash and Nash Central collide as the Bulldogs find themselves tied for last with Southern Nash and Northern is 1-1 tied with Hunt who plays Southern Nash.

I ran into Steve Berry heading out of the grocery store this afternoon and asked him Thomas's conditions. He said Thomas is a ok and will play against Fike. Hobbs Johnson should be at full strength.

Softball plays the same schedule in conference softball and they are home Tuesday night against Fike. The Lady Gryphons are still looking for their first victory.

I will be at the Northern Rocky Mount soccer game at 5.00pm covering girls soccer for TV and will then drift over to the baseball game.

I don't know whether you had an opportunity to see the special Relay For Life show that we taped Sunday afternoon on WHIG-TV. We actually taped for next Monday night's show but Herb Greenberg decided to go live and we will replay it again next Monday night at 6.00pm.

My guest on the Relay Show was Amanda Griffin Rocky Mount's 2010 Junior Miss. Amanda a rising senior at Northern Nash was on the show to tell us about winning the Junior Miss but also to tell us of her fight with cancer in the seventh grade. Her mother and father told of the family's fight and the support they received from the community. I can tell you this Amanda will represent us well in the State Jr. Miss in February.

She will also be on the soccer field at Rocky Mount Tuesday afternoon. Northern and Rocky Mount collide.

The answer to the trivia question I asked a couple of days ago - Who played in the first college football game on ESPN. The answer NC State and ECU. ECU won 26-22. It marked the first game of Tom Reed at N C State and State with less than two minutes to go was inside the ECU twenty five yard line but through some fumbles by the coaching staff managed to run only four plays and marked the beginning of the end for Tom Reed.

Tiger Gets The Spotlight Phil Wins Green Jacket

There was a five year period in my life that I played gold five days a week. I was a member at Beechwood Country Club in Ahoskie which had a handicap rating 69.something. My handicap was 17 so I could shoot 85-90 regularly. Every now and then whenever I got into one of those moods when I didn't play well and decide I was never going to play again when ever I came back that first day I always played great. It didn't take long and old habits took over.

I think Tiger Woods had that problem this weekend. He has not played competitive golf for five months and his first two rounds were like he never left. Saturday things started coming back. Shots started flying all over the place and when the ball was all over so was the new and improved Tiger. No longer was he cool and collected but that fiery Tiger who threw clubs and even on Saturday had a cursing outburst.

I have never been a believer that if you have a problem a severe problem whether its drugs, alcohol or you know Tiger's problem that you can be cured in thirty days at any institution. Tiger's score was much better than his playing Saturday and Sunday.

His interview after he finished his round today I actually felt sorry for him. He never once gave any other player credit for their efforts only I did this , I did that. Never did he say he was glad to be back Tiger went home alone and after his Sunday round I don't see anything new about Tiger.

Today was almost good against evil. Phil who's wife continues fighting cancer was there at the finished to show the world what happens when there is more than just golf. He celebrated with his family and Tiger went home mad. He has a long way to go.

The Master no doubt is like no other. Several years ago Jack Nicklaus the man who owns the most green jackets said he never wanted to become the honorary starter. Thursday at age 70 he joined Arnold Palmer at 80 to hit the first shots at the Masters. The second biggest crowd of the week was there to watch it.

Tiger and Phil are as close to being Jack and Arnold as modern golf can get. If I am around then I would love to be there when it is there turn to be the honorary starters.

I have good news to report on Cousin Lauren Doughtie. She finished 28th in Daytona on Sunday an picked up a check of $750 dollars. Her first loot this season. She shot 2 under for the weekend. It is her best score since turning pro in June of last summer.

Heels versus Pack

I found myself in a dilemma watching the State-Carolina baseball game on the Internet Friday night. I wanted Brian Goodwin to have a good game for the Heels but I wanted State to win

Brian did have a good game collecting two hits, scored two runs and had three RBI's. Carolina beat the Pack by a 14-7 score but neither side seems to be very good. Between them they committed eight errors and Pack pitchers walk twelve batters. I hope both sides play better tomorrow night. I pulled up the Carolina game tracker to watch this one and saw that you could see the game live on the internet for free as all three games will be this weekend.

Today is moving day in the golf world. All eyes are on Tiger but look out for Phil. He's tied with Tiger. I just have a feeling a guy named Choi is going to win. He's been solid and nobody is paying attention to him with all eyes on Tiger.

Today is the last game of the season for the Carolina Hurricanes. Thursday it was announced that the RBC Center will host the NHL All Star game in February. I wonder whether my press pass for this blog can get me in to that game? The Hurricanes have won twenty of their last thirty one games and are out of the playoffs.

You know we are right in the middle of the high school baseball season but when that is over it will be time for Legion Baseball. Talking with Joe Bell who is going to be the man to keep Legion ball alive in the area again this year, he told me Hank Jones has committed to coach Nash County this year. Looks like the games will return to Rocky Mount 's Gryphon stadium.If we can get all the good pitchers to play legion in this area there is no reason why Nash County can't make another deep into the state playoffs.

Cousin Lauren Doughtie is back at the Futures tour event in Daytona Beach this week trying to make the cut and get her first pay check of the year. Yesterday's first round she shot a 71 which is one under par and finds herself six shot out of the lead. She needs to shoot 72 or better today to make the cut. A 75 might make the cut but she really needs some positive scores to turn her season around.

This is the third Futures Tournament of the year. The first event of the year was near Miami. Then two weeks ago they played in Baja Mexico and now back to Florida. That's a whole lot of expense traveling for a player who hasn't made the cut yet. Her father Mike is on her bag this week trying to bring her good luck. I hope to get to see her play in August as there is an event in Richmond.

Carolina's Blue-White football game will be live on one of the ESPN networks this afternoon. ESPN is pushing Carolina hard this spring as they are matched up against LSU on ESPN as the first Telecast of college football this fall.

Speaking of ESPN and college football does anybody remember the first college football game on ESPN way back in 1982. I'll give you today to think about that one.

Tiger's Back

I grew up in the country and I had a golf course around my house. I dug holes all over my yard which I put cans in the bottom of the hole. This worked great until it rained an the cans would pop out of the hole. I had plastic golf balls the ones that looked liked golf balls not the ones that had holes in them.

I would have to hit over my house, around a tree with a trusty seven iron. During my golfing days to hit a ball more than 240 yards it had to be in the middle of July and dry to get all the roll I could. It seemed I was always just off the green, hardly ever putting for birdie. Put that seven iron in my hand I always had a chance to chip it in.

I have only played golf maybe five times since I moved to Rocky Mount in 1995. The last time I played was 2003. It just happened to be in a best ball tournament with the company I was working for. I never help my team on any shot off the tee but on two holes I chipped one in and the other hung on the lip.

My point this morning is this Tiger Woods is back in his element the golf course. He happens to be playing the golf course suited for his game at Augusta. He can kill it off the tee and putt for eagles on all the par five's.

Yesterday a sixty year old man beat Tiger. TV was going crazy last night about Tiger shooting 68 his lowest score ever on the first day of the Masters. Take away two eagles and Tiger was par on the day. My point this morning is this Tiger will be killing the ball off the tee as long as he cares to play professional golf. His length will keep him in this tournament because he will have a chance to make a birdie on all the par fives.

It was the rest of his game that was average yesterday. He missed an eight foot eagle putt which his scored might have made him the leader. It's the other parts of golf putting, chipping, where the shots pile up quickly. he played well enough yesterday to shoot 64 but had a 68.

Tiger is going to be on the leader board all weekend. If I was CBS or ESPN and since I only have four minutes per hour for commercials and the price of a commercial on network TV is based on how many people watch that event don't you think I would make it seemed like Tiger was the leader knowing the world will watch if Tiger is in the hunt.

Tom Watson who says that he can't play Augusta beat Tiger yesterday. Fred Couples a senior tour player beat him. Thirty three golfers broke par yesterday. If there was ever a conspiracy theory, do you suppose the people at Augusta laid the course out as easy as possible hoping Tiger would shoot well.

I think they did and Tiger responded. I don't think the rest of his game is good enough to win over four days but I'll be watching to see. CBS is counting you will be watching too.

Bobcats Clinch Playoff Spot

It took six years as the doormat of the NBA, but the Charlotte Bobcats victory last night gave them two things that they have never had before - a winning season and a playoff spot. It looks like they will finish seventh in the NBA's Eastern Conference.

Less than three years after taking over the Demon Deacons with the death of Skip Prosser, Wake Forest has fired Dino Gaudio as their basketball coach. It seemed that Wake was a fast-starting team every year and limped home in February and March. Wake Forest joins Boston College and Clemson in looking for new coaches.

As Gomer Pyle would say, "surprise, surprise, surprise." John Wall declared for the NBA Draft last night and so did four other Kentucky Wildcats. It is possible that all five could go in the first round of the NBA draft.

Now that they are gone, the one-and-done players only help their schools if they win the championship. I would hope the NBA and the NCAA could come to some agreement like it has with Major League Baseball. Take'm right our of high school or leave them alone until after their junior year. Can you honestly say John Wall is better today for staying in college for one year over going pro right out of high school?

Three local teams are in the semifinals of the Tarboro Baseball Classic. The homestanding Tarboro Vikings, Rocky Mount Academy and Nash Central. I do like having a tournament where the private schools compete with the public schools. Baseball is one sport where it doesn't matter what size school you are if you have good pitchers, you are in every game.

Alex Pearce, the former Nash Central Bulldog who as a sophomore at UNC-Pembroke, has won the starting catcher's job hit his first college home run last weekend for the Braves. Alex has played in 27 games and started 22 for the 26-9 Braves, who are in the Top 20 in their division.

Xavier Macklin continues his torrid pace for the Aggies of N.C. A&T. X has hit seven home runs and driven in 30 runs and is still hitting .343. Overall, the Aggies are 12-16, but are 6-0 in the MEAC play.

Brian Goodwin is having a solid season in Chapel Hill. Brian has started all 31 games for the Tar Heels collecting 35 hits and driving in 33 runs, which is the team high. His average is right now .310.

Tomorrow, we will look at more locals and their baseball years at their respective colleges.

College Basketball Kings

We have had a day to absorb the National championship won by Duke. I think both teams played well but the third team in the game the refs, where did they find these NFL referees?

It is hard to find beauty during a tackling drill. Somewhere over the years physical play under the basket has come to mean tackle, push, shove and throw out of the way to get to the basket. Even the very last play of the game in order to get Butler’s man free for the mid court shot Kyle Singler was blocked by a pulling left guard on the Butler football team. .

This game would have been better off letting the player’s call fouls themselves like on the play ground. I just don’t enjoy watching a shooter drive to the basket like he’s running off left tackle at the goal line. That’s just not basketball. The end result was Duke was the best football team on the court.

Just think, the NCAA wants to expand and make this a 96 team tournament. I am not in favor of any expansion where any team gets a bye. If they follow through with this new format being tossed around then the top 32 teams will not play the first day. If that happens you are going to see a #1 seed lose to a 16 seed or even lower than that for the first time. The top teams will have a half to get use to the tournament atmosphere while everyone else is already use to it.

Does any body think that Carolina was worthy of playing for the national title. They finished 16-16 in the regular season and yet in a 96 team tournament they would be in. Whether it’s football or basketball if your next loss gives you a losing season you don’t deserve to be in a bowl game or a baseball or basketball playoff.

Everyone wrote off the ACC this year as a bad year and yet they are the national championship conference and sent Carolina to the final game of the NIT. The league went 10-5 in this years tournament which is 667 winning percentage. The ACC is the winningest in tournament history at 64% so this year they were as good as any year.

The ACC has won five out of the last ten tournaments and lost the final game in two others, and won eight of the last nineteen. Since 1981 the ACC has sent Virginia, Georgia Tech, Maryland, N C State, Carolina and Duke to the final four. Twenty three times in the past thirty years there has been an ACC team in the final four. Four different ACC teams have played for the title in the past tens years.

Duke has gotten this National title celebration down pat. I have not heard of any unruly celebrations or people being injured trying to prove they were superman jumping over any fire. No cars turned over in celebration. No arrest that I have heard of. The Duke students and fans acted like they had a good time celebrating instead of finding a reason to cause damage.

Duke is the seventy first NCAA national champion. Eleven times now the Nationals title flags have flown in the Research Triangle. North Carolina has been in the final four eighteen times. Duke has made fifteen trips and N C State three times danced until midnight. There is no doubt where the center of the college basketball universe is.

Tobacco Road Rules!!!!!