Spring Playoffs Begin This Week

Boys Tennis co-champions of the Big East begin the playoffs on Tuesday. The 12-2 Gryphons open play against Eastern Wayne one of the two losses they have on the year. Southern Nash the team Rocky Mount tied for first also opens the playoffs Tuesday against South Brunswick. Should both Big East teams win their first two rounds they would meet in the third round. Southern Nash is the other team who beat the Gryphons this season.

Girls soccer starts play in the Big East soccer tournament Tuesday at 5.00pm against either Nash Central or Northern Nash. The championship match is Thursday at Seven.

Big East conference champions baseball team tries to put the finishing touches on the final two games of the season this week with senior night Tuesday and a road game to Northern Thursday. The way the injury bug has hit this team this year their main goal this week is to stay healthy and remained focused.

Wednesday is Big East track and field championship at Nash Central.

It is a start but I think they are making the cut in the wrong place. There is a proposal in front of the NCHSAA to eliminate a week during the football season. If it passes the regular season will be cut in 2011 from 12 weeks to 11. If you play a Endowment game you will still be able to play 11 games but there will be no off week during the regular season.

I wish they would cut even further. Let's eliminate the first round and get rid of all the 2-8 teams in the playoffs that lose by forty the first week. If the figures were published, I bet the NCHSAA doesn't make any money that first week after expenses. But, if the opening playoff game there was a real chance the conference champions could lose then attendance would be up for the opening round games. By the way, if you haven't heard yet the Gryphon football team plays an Endowment game this year at Bertie.

Rode by the sports conplex last night about 6.30 just to see what was happening. Winnebago's, campers and tents were every where. It looked like Carter Finley before a football game with all the tail gating going on. I had to go to work for a little while Saturday morning an 7.30 yesterday the complex was already full then so the little league tournament stayed busy with good weather all day.

Rookie Camp

Terrell Hudgins is in Dallas going through through the Cowboy's rookie and free agent three day camp. Dallas's number one draft pick was Dez Bryant who is also a wide receiver and as a number one pick will make the Cowboy roster by the end of August. Terrell will really have to impress the Cowboy coaches in order to make the opening day roster.

Stephan Virgil doesn't have that worry as Buffalo's number one pick was a running back in C J Spiller of Clemson. Virgil's good fortune is there is a new coaching staff in place and all jobs are up for grabs. The starters have to impress as much as free agents trying to make the squad.

J J Arrington is not a free agent but J J back in March resigned with Denver. Arrington who was cut last season by the Bronco's underwent off season Microfracture surgery on his right knee and signed back in March with the Bronco's again. This must mean his injury is healing enough that they think he can make the team this year.

Rumors run rampant that now that C J Leslie has signed with N C State that Rocky Mount's Tashawn Mabry is on the verge of signing with the Pack. I am not sure when the last day of school is but with Leslie's signing he got the last scholarship that the Pack had. Until end of the semester Julius Mays is still on scholarship so graduation is May fifteenth and I don't think any thing will happen if Mabry does choose the Pack before then. May's family has said that Mays is leaving the Wolfpack and if he does State will have an open scholarship. We all think that when you sign with a school that you are tied to that school for four years but actually all scholarships are renewed year to year.

North Carolina Wesleyan coach Charlie Long won the coach of the year award in conference USA South. It is his third COY award since taking over for Mike Fox at Wesleyan.

Former Northern Nash baseball player Andrew Webb made the all conference baseball team for NCW. Funny how as a high school player Webbie only pitched when Northern was in dire straits He makes the all conference team as a pitcher with a 5-1 record and an ERA of 2.19. All of you parents that send your kids to any type of travel league and dedicate all your efforts in one sport, you never know that your child may be better in another sport. Kids develop at different ages and at 11 they might be a better baseball player but by fifteen better in soccer.

Tyler Clark NCW's freshman catcher from Northern Nash made the honorable mention all conference team and hit 336 this season.

Daniel Moore during the North Carolina Wesleyan sports banquet this week won the Scholar Athlete award for baseball. He also made all conference on the All Sportsmanship team.

Good going guys!

Triple Crown Border Wars Four

We all complain about how our tax dollars are spent and the reason why most of the time is you can’t see for ourselves what we get for those dollars. This weekend if you happen to go by the sports complex and since it has been open something is going on there every weekend and this weekend is a doozy.

120 little league teams will be converging on Rocky Mount. . One hundred twenty teams! There are so many teams in this weekends event that every field in the sports complex plus Stith Talbert Park and Grover Lucas fields are being used .

Every motel is filled up all the way to Wilson. Talked to Joel Dunn who is in charge of the sports complex and he told me that this weekend is the biggest tournament that the complex has hosted. 45 teams are from out of state including Virginia , Maryland and Illinois. Let’s just say for conversation that 100 teams will be staying the night. That’s 4,000 people here for two days eating, sleeping and buying from local merchants.

Let’s see if we can play a guessing game. If 2.8 people come with every player and those 2.8 people eat and buy $100 worth of food. That works out to At least $150,000 just from the 100 teams eating for two days.. That does not include the other 20 who probably go home each night and come back the next day.

All of those people staying will probably go to a movie or the mall and just say spend $20.00 on entertainment or shopping. That’s another $30,000 taxable monies. Have you checked the price of motels lately? Four people per room at $50.00 per night and you have 1000 rooms booked there’s another $50,000 taxable money. My guess would be I am very conservative on the spending. There is potential for at least $230,000 spent money coming to Rocky Mount this weekend.

I think the city has done a great job of having something going on at the complex on weekends from April through October. I know certain tournaments draw better than others but just think if the average weekend for 26 weekends brings in $150,000. That’s 3.9 Million dollars per year income for our area just from the sports complex.

All of this that we are talking about is weekends. Monday through Friday all the fields have softball and and regular season baseball going on. Last fall the soccer portion was opened that added to the draw of people using the complex.

Last Friday night when the Relay For Life was going on at the football stadium and all the sports complex had their games going people had to park all the way to the YMCA. Don’t try to tell me you can’t have fun unless drugs and alcohol are involved. About 10,000 people who were either at the ball games or the Relay can tell you different.

There is one job that I would want no part of this weekend. Who is going to be the person that keeps up with the brackets as each game is played and what field the winner and loser plays on next?


It surly seems the money spent on the sports complex is paying for itself, both money wise and enjoyment.

Gryphons Grab Title.

Two nights in a row in the two biggest games of the year Rocky Mount used the home run bats in the first inning and from that point on put it in the hands of the pitching staff to do the rest.

Collins Cuthrell two run homer in the first spotted Rocky Mount to a 2-0 lead and Benton Moss took care of the rest shutting out Fike 4-0 in Wilson. Moss struck out fifteen in getting the complete game win for the Gryphons.

The victory gives the Gryphons the conference crown as they now have a two game lead with two to play and the only team with two losses is Hunt who the Gryphons beat twice this year. There will be at least one playoff home game for the Gryphons this year as the #one seed.

Riding by the soccer field at Nash Central I saw with 28 minutes left that the Lady Gryphon soccer team was leading leading Nash Central 3-1 and I never heard a final.

Got home and asked Morgan the softball score and she didn't want to talk about it so I guess the Lady Gryphons remain winless.

I did the Northern Nash- Nash Central softball game tonight for TV and if there is one draw back doing games of the week and not covering one team all the time is you don't get a chance to know the players that you cover.

Northern behind the outstanding pitching of Betsy Braswell out dueled Ashley Bone of Central as Northern beat Nash Central 3-0.

Tonight was senior night for Ashley Bone and the seniors at Nash Central and Ashley was very emotional during the pregame ceremony. I think it effected her in the first inning and Northern scored three times and with Braswell's pitching never looked back.

Ran into Chuck Braswell after the game and we picked up on a conversation about Brian and the great year he is having for Campbell University and found out that Betsy the Northern Pitcher is his daughter. She was outstanding on the mound tonight and I asked the question was she getting any college offers. Betsy as a junior has made three visits to date and still has a year to get more offers. If she continues to pitch the way she did tonight there is no telling where her offers may wind up coming from.

Looked up Brian Braswell's latest stats and heading into this weekend, he is hitting 310 on the season. He has started 31 of the 37 games he has played and knocked in 26 runs. Chuck told me tonight that his entire family has their fingers and toes crossed that Brian playing his first season healthy since he has been at Campbell can attract some teams to draft him.

It would be a dream enough to get one of your children to go to college on a sports scholarship but the possibility of two would be outstanding for the Braswells.

Rocky Mount's Ben Fish Brian's backup had batted 13 times on the season with three hits and three rbi's.

Only Needed One Hit

Tonight's Big East battle for first place was a classic hitting team versus a pitching team. Hunt's lone conference lost was nearly three weeks ago when the Gryphons beat Hunt 7-3 at their place.

Matthew Berry Open the bottom of the first for the Gryphons reaching first base on a throwing error by the third basemen. Spencer Bell singles and Collins Cuthrell coaxed a walk from starting pitcher Ches Lamn. Thomas Berry came up with the bases loaded and when he got back to the dugout the Gryphons had four runs on the board after Berry deposited a Lamn pitch on the other side of the right center outfield wall.

If four Rbi's were not enough T Berry singled and drove in run number five in the third and even came to bat with two runners on and if he could have rapped another home run would have set a Gryphon record for rbi's in a game at eight, but he grounded out to second.

Thomas was the hitting star going two for three and five rbi's.Spencer Bell collect two hits and scored two of the five rbi's Berry had. Benton Moss was also two for three and Matt Berry and Collins Cuthrell each had a hit.

Hobbs Johnson threw over a hundred pitches as Hunt coaxed three base on balls and Johnson plunked two others. When it counted Hunt could get only two hits and the only base runner to reach third got there on Johnson's best fast ball of the night that cleared the head of Matthew Berry at first on a pick off attempt that the runner reached third on the over throw. Johnson still struck out eleven and the most important stat no one crossed the plate.

Gryphons 5 Warriors 0

Gryphons take control of Big East baseball race with three games to go and a two game lead. There is no time for celebrations as the Gryphons are right back at it Thursday with a conference game at Fike. The Gryphons win number 18 on the season and are now 7-0 in conference play.

Lady Gryphon soccer met arch rival Northern Nash tonight at Northern and two goals by Casey Cooke and Syndey Browder powered Rocky Mount over Northern 2-0. The ladies finish up the regular season Thursday at Nash Central and a victory would clinch the regular season championship for the Lady Gryphons.

Lady Gryphon softball falls to Hunt in another double digit loss. The ladies are still looking for their first win of the season.

I will be at Nash Central Thursday covering softball as Nash Central host Northern Nash.

Forecasted Out

If you remember back during football season during the week of the tropical storm, the forecast for three days was for the storm to move into our area on a Friday Morning. I think every school in eastern North Carolina played on that Thursday to beat the storm except for Northern Vance. If you recall Rocky Mount was the team that was suppose to play Northern Vance.

Today the weather forecast has called for scattered thunder showers with the potential of some being severe. Hunt and Rocky Mount got together and since the Hunt and the Rocky Mount baseball game could be for the championship, at least as of today it is for the lead they decided to reschedule for Wednesday night. Softball has been changed to Wednesday also.

I have no problem when games are changed because of potential safety reasons. I am in front of my computer now and if the game was going on it would probably be in the first inning. Unfortunately the sun is still shining. Looks like the judgement missed on this one but I say better safe than sorry.

This however is not good for me as Wednesday night is my groups night to cook supper at church and I am one of the bottle washers. We are usually finished just about 7.00pm which means I hope Wes can PA Wednesday night cause the first inning will be going by the time I'm there.

This forces Rocky Mount to play Hunt Wednesday and Fike at Fike Thursday. Talk about two vital games. If the Gryphons win both games they will clinch first place because they would have beaten Hunt twice and would own the tie breaker.

Lady Gryphon soccer has become a juggernaut. Monday they beat Southern 9-0. They will finish the regular season with back to back matches on Wednesday and Thursday. Northern and Nash Central. Next week is the Big East soccer tournament at Hunt. I would guess that the ladies will get a home game in the playoffs and the question comes up will they be forced to moved their home game away from school like the boys did in the playoffs last year because of the lights.

The tennis team is competing in the conference tournament this week at Barton College. I think this is the team week and next week the individuals take their shot.

The Charlotte Bobcats were swept by the Orlando Magic in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The good news is they were in every game and the Bobcats were very competitive this year. One more good player and they just might be a player in the NBA playoffs next year.

Academy Tops Faith

I was behind the microphone for the RMA-Faith baseball game played tonight at RMA. RMA's Fletcher Hunter went the distance for the Eagles in posting a 5-3 win over their arch rivals in Rocky Mount the Faith Christian Warriors.

RMA collected seven hits off Faith starter Zach Whichard who took the loss for the Patriots. Adam Bayless lead the way with two hits but the big blow was a two rbi double by Fredrick Frobose. Lucas Bayless collected a hit along with Brady Jackson, Colt Brake and Aston Love .

The three hits for Faith belonged to Christian Davis, and Nathan Everette. Ben Barnes doubled for the third hit. RMA and Faith win on their home field this season playing each other.

Rocky Mount girls soccer was suppose to play Southern Nash this afternoon and I don't know whether it was rained out or not. Baseball did cancel it's game with Louisburg which was a makeup from one rained out way back. Coach Kent Cox told me tonight with both Hunt and Fike the two biggest conference games of the year coming up this week he felt like he needed all his pitching available if needed in these two conference games. I don't fault him there. Will Matthew Berry be back to play against Hunt tomorrow night? A doctors appointment Tuesday will tell if he is well enough to get his bat back in the lineup.

Four N C State football players have been arrested on campus for smoking dope. I don't know how you feel about it but I don't care who you are, if you get a free ride to go to school whether it's a academic or athletic scholarship and you violate the law representing who ever then I think first of all they should be kicked out of school much less still be on the football field. This goes right along with the NFL discipline of Ben Roethlisberger, when you are on scholarship you should be held to a higher standard.

I'm not really sure whether Ben Roethlisberger thinks he did any thing wrong in getting his suspension. In his statement today he says he accepts the penalty but he did not commit a crime. I don't think he sees that when you have one of your employees lead a drunk college girl to a bathroom, then you follow her and get your employee to prevent anyone else from going into that bathroom and you don't see anything wrong with that. He'll be in jail within two years if he doesn't realize that picture is not quite right, cause he will do it again.

Oh by the way did you know that his body guard who is a Pittsburgh policeman was fired as a policeman for his actions during this fiasco. But Roethlisberger doesn't see he did anything wrong. Oh Brother!