Wins Are Not The Only Rewards

The Rocky Mount High School baseball team over achieved this season. They had one pitcher and  three other seniors.  It seemed the rest of the team was fresh out of Junior High which a couple were as freshman on this year's team.  Despite their extreme youth they managed 18 wins  which was two of every three they won.

Kent Cox seemed to be more relaxed as coach this season in his second season as the head Gryphon. Not a bad start to a coaching career to be 40- and 12 in your career. Cox got everything out of this year's team that they had and more.  Monday when the Gryphons clean out their lockers and turn in their uniforms there should be smiles on their faces for a job well done.

The playoffs have that suddenness to it that is shock when you lose and there is no practice on Monday or a game on Tuesday.  I bet when Thomas Berry and Benton Moss  are old and gray they will remember this team as much as the 2008 team in which they were freshman on the State Championship team.

There is truth to the saying "It is not whether you win or lose but how you play the game".  This team with not enough veterans but a whole lot of youngsters built a foundation for next year.  Next year will be the team that will play in the old stadium for the last time.  The foundation is there for next year.

Mount Olive College beat UNC-Pembroke in the winners bracket game Saturday and only has to win one game today to advance to the NCAA Division II World Series in Cary.  Mt Olive is the official host school for the event.  UNC-Pembroke lost Saturday night to Francis Marion 5-4 in the  bottom of the ninth.  FM now must beat the host school Mt Olive twice Sunday to move on to the World Series themselves.

The ACC baseball tournament starts next week at The Durham Bulls Athletic Park.  Virginia,Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Florida State, Miami, Clemson, North Carolina State and Wake Forest are the eight teams taking part.  Durham is a perfect place for the ACC baseball much like Greensboro is perfect for basketball.  Last year without Carolina in the tournament  it was one of the most attended tournaments of all time.  Now that Carolina is one of the best this year the tournament could be sold out.

Three Head To Third Round

Unlike the Big East baseball teams all three Big East girls softball teams that made it to the second round will play one more time after all three won Friday night.

Southern Nash the #4 from the Big East  and sporting a 8-13 record traveled up north of Greensboro to take on Morehead high school and the Lady Firebirds have done it again winning 6-3.  Up next Tuesday will be SW Randolph the #1 seed from the Mid-Piedmont who will be sporting a 23-4 record.

The #2 seed from the Big East Nash Central knocked off Havelock  by the same score that Southern Nash won by 6-3.  South Central of the Coastal and the #2 seed knocked of West Brunswick the #1 from the Waccamaw last night 2-0  and since the Big East has seeding priority over the Coastal conference this year the Lady Bulldogs will get another home game in the third round Tuesday.

The Big East #1 had their hands full on Friday meeting C B Aycock but the Lady Warriors prevailed 3-2.  Hunt will host D H Conley who will feature a 21-4 record while the Lady Warriors are now 21-3.

Just a follow up to the One Voice  Talent Show held last Friday at the Rocky Mount High School Auditorium.  Don't hold me to the exact figures but last year they raised almost $1,000 and this past Friday they raised nearly $1,700 which is going to the UNC Pediatric and Oncology Department.  It was a really good show and I hate you missed it.  The Gryphon Nation has many talented people that don't  play sports and they were on display last week.

The American Legion Baseball season begins Monday night at Post 58 host Cary a team that 58 has met the last two years on the way to the State Tournament.  Nash Central will be the home field for Coleman Pitt Post 58 this year.

Thursday night is the end of the year sports banquet for Rocky Mount High School.  It is $10 per person if you eat but if you just come to watch the awards given away it's free.