Feast Or Famine

The last year of football for the Gryphons at the Athletic Complex the football team failed to win a conference game. The Gryphon boys basketball team went undefeated at home in their last season in the gym and went on to win the State Title in Basketball.  So far in the last season of baseball to be played in Gryphon Stadium the light hitting Gryphons are finding it very difficult to win in conference as last night the Gryphon lost at home to Fike 5-1 and by doing so sank to last place in the conference at 0-3 and 3-8 overall.

Will Edwards got the call to the pitching mound and so far in three conference games the Gryphons have given up five runs in all three games but have managed only five runs in those  three and fall in the basement of the Big East.  You couldn't ask Edwards to do much best as he took the Gryphons into the sixth inning trailing 2-1 before a three run sixth put the game out of reach.

It isn't like  the Gryphons didn't get chances as they left 13 base runners on  including the first and sixth innings when they left the bases loaded.  Jeremy Johnson started of the first with a single, made it all the way around to third on a pick off throwing error by the Fike pitcher.  Andy Morris followed with a single to give the Gryphons a 1-0 lead.

Fike took the lead in the third after Sam Ellis singled to start the inning.  He came all the way around to score on a Gryphon pick off as the ball went deep into the right field corner . Hunter Cockrell doubled and scored on a single  by Dustin Edwards.

Edwards  lasted until the sixth when Fike opened  with a single and a walk.  Coach Kent Cox relieved Edwards with Spencer Ramsey. A walk and three hits later the Golden Demons had plated three runs.  Rocky Mount open their half of the sixth when Logan Smith Singled, Damien Smith has an infield single  and Ben Yates reached base on the third straight hit.  The top of the line up failed to plate anyone on base and the Gryphons lose their 8th game in 11 outings.

Next week which is  a two game conference week starts on Tuesday at Southern Nash and next Thursday the Gryphons host Northern Nash.  They  then hit that two week Easter vacation where Nash County schools are off the week before Easter and Wilson is out the week after so the Gryphon will once again be in the South Johnston baseball Tournament which starts on March 31.

Weekend Of Decision In Basketball Pools

If you are like me and are in a basketball pool this is the weekend of decision when we find out whether we have a chance or not.  Several years ago I was in a pool on ESPN and after the first day I was 16-0.  When I went to the list my name was at the top of about 6 million people in the pool.  Friday I was 8-8 on the day and fell to like 2 millionth. 

This guessing game called basketball pools is a crap shoot at best.  I always fill out two.  The first one I pick from feel Sunday night.  The second one I take the toss up games and pick the other team.  Just before game time when you hear things like the player from Syracuse was not eligible I took Syracuse from making the Final four to out all ready.

I find myself third out of about 125 heading into tonight's games and I can win nine of the remaining 13 games left.  I also find every body else in the top ten is just like me.  As long as Kentucky stays alive I can win it all or if they lose this weekend I can forget it.

I have never like to play fantasy baseball, football or any type fantasy stuff.  I am in a major pickle .  I have the Wolfpack losing Friday night in the pool to Kansas.  I have Kansas losing Sunday so I can get points from them beating the Pack but I need the Wolfpack to win more than I need the points.  I had Carolina making the final four and losing to Florida State who was going to lose to Kentucky.  I hope the Heels and Pack make it to Sunday.  As far as the pool goes Carolina playing on Sunday is a good thing and if the Pack makes it to Sunday that is a GREAT thing.

I find that basketball pools are like the lottery.  I get that feeling sometimes that tonight is the night  and I find out it was indigestion instead.

Gryphon Hero

If you read the Community section of the Rocky Mount Telegram on Sunday there was a picture in there of Mayor David Combs presenting four individuals for there heroic act of saving the life of Mike McCorquodale back on July 29th of last year.  The four were Chad Garbrandt, J R Perry, Jason Moore and Gryphon athlete Ahmad Harrell who is a member the the 2012 State Championship basketball team,

Harrell had a summer job working at the Sports Complex for the city of Rocky Mount when fire engulfed McCorquodale who was beside the YMCA.  Those four people helped save a life. In Harrell's case he grabbed a fire Extinguisher and help put out the flames.

Mike goes to my church at Sunset Avenue and you would be shocked at what miracles can do.  He was in the Burns Center in Chapel Hill about four months and just before Christmas he attempted to get back to church by wearing gloves  because if you touched him he was susceptible to infection.  He still can't work but if you didn't know him and saw him you would never know what he has been through.  He is alive today because those near him reacted in a positive way and saved his life.  I applaud each of our hero's.

Tuesday night Gryphon baseball suffered their second conference defeat at the hands of Hunt 5-2.  This years baseball team has two seniors, two juniors and the rest are sophomores.  Oddly enough the pitching staff is deeper this year than last.  The number 4-5-6 pitchers are better than last year.  I also know there is no replacement for Benton Moss as one of the best pitchers in the state at the top of the staff.  Pitching is not the problem it's scoring runs.

Speaking of Benton Moss if Benton pitches the third game of the N C State baseball series this weekend for the Tar Heels  we just might get to see him pitch on National TV.  This weekends series doesn't start until Saturday and the 1pm game is of Fox Sports South.  Sunday's game which is game two this weekend is on ESPN 3 or on the computer Sunday.  Game three will be Monday night at 7pm and will be live on ESPNU.  If Mike Fox keeps his weekend rotation in tact Benton should take the hill Monday night.  There is a good chance Hobbs Johnson will see relief during  some point in the three games over the weekend  and for me it will be my first look at these former Gryphons this year