Season Ends With More What If's

The 2014 Rocky Mount baseball season is over.  It was a season in which they beat every team in the league but one.  Three times they tried but not nary a victory over Nash Central.  Tonight Rocky Mount out hits the Bulldogs nine to four but when it counted failed to get any the last three innings and in the seventh they had the bases loaded but failed to get the big hit.  Nash Central advances to the semi finals of the Big East Baseball tournament with a 5-3 victory over the Gryphons.

Rocky Mount scored three in the second on a Will Edwards single after Blake Helms and David Harrison had reached with singles.  Andy Morris doubled with the bases loaded and after the three runs had runners on second and third that didn't score any more.

Nash Central tied it up in the bottom of the third after three walks, two errors and a wild pitch allowed the Bulldogs to cross the plate without getting a hit.  The fourth Nash Central plated two runs on a walk and a hit by Khalil Macklin.  Kyle Taylor's double scored the two runners and that would prove to be the winning runs. The Bulldogs chased Gryphon starter Cody Smith who allowed three hits but walked six and four of the walks scored. Smith struck out six Nash Central batters.  Blake Helms in relief gave up a hit  to the first batter he faced but that was it for the Bulldogs as Helms pitched two and one thirds innings striking out four of the seven outs he registered.

Kalalil Macklin went four innings for the Bulldogs and was rocked for all three runs and nine hits that the Gryphons got.  Macklin gets the win because he walked but one batter and his defense didn't give away runs.  David Sutton pitch the last three innings didn't give up a hit didn't walk any one until the seventh when he walked one and hit two batters and his only strikeout of the night was the last batter of the game.

The Bulldogs only other batter to get a hit was  a first inning single by Matt Askew. Andy Morris collect three hits for the Gryphons leading the hitting parade.  Forest Bell, Josh Carter, Blake Helms Ben Yates, Will Edwards and up from the jv's David Harrison got his first varsity hit playing as the DH.

Nash Central returns to the diamond Thursday night as they advance to play Northern Nash at Northern.  Also tonight Fike beat Southern Nash 10-5 so they play at Hunt Thursday.  That sets up a Wilson County-Nash County finals against the two winner Saturday at the highest seeded teams remaining.

There's Only One Thing To Do Win It

Two teams meet tonight in the 4/5 matchup in the Big East Baseball tournament that at this moment the losers season ends tonight.  Every team dreams of playoff victories but for 5-5 Nash Central and 5-5 Rocky Mount a victory still will not put them in the playoffs.  They must turn around Thursday and play the top seeded team Northern Nash 7-3 and should somehow they win that they still must win against probably the survivor of the Wilson County semi final game between Hunt 6-4 and Fike 6-4.

Should either Rocky Mount or Nash Central accomplish that feat they would then draw the second spot behind Northern Nash and would drop Hunt to third and Fike would then fall off the map of the playoffs.

Both the Bulldogs and Gryphons took opposite maps to find the 5-5 destination.  Nash Central started out winning four of their first six conference games including beating Rocky Mount twice.  Rocky Mount lost their first three conference affairs but finished 5-2 over the last seven games.

The way this season has gone when it seems that there is not a dominate team in this league, when there is not a team in the league sure they can score enough to win any game why isn't this year the year that one of those teams Nash Central or Rocky Mount can pull off the unthinkable and win the tournament.  Over the last seven games Rocky Mount is 5-2 and that is just as good as anybody else.

If either Nash Central  or Rocky Mount do run the table and win three games this week it would give them the an overall record by winning the tournament at 8-5.  If one knocks off Northern  Thursday Northern would be 7-4 and if one beats Hunt Friday they would be 7-5 and if it was Fike on Friday they would be 8-5.

The way this season has gone there is no guarantee that Southrrn Nash at 1-9 could scare the whole lot to death by taking the title.  If the season were over as of right now Northern gets a home game next week in the state playoffs. and due to the fact the overall record of any team that gets the second or third I would doubt  they would rate a high enough seed to get a home game.


Nash Central won four games against  Southern Nash and Rocky Mount against the top three could only win one of six games. Rocky Mount beat Southern twice and lost to the Bulldogs twice.  Against the top three they were 3-3.  So if there is a team tonight that should think they can win it all is Rocky Mount, they played chest to chest against this leagues best. Their only problem is they need to figure  out how to beat the Bulldogs  so they can take on the top three.  The top three where The Gryphons have been on even footing.

Edwards One Hits Firebirds

Senior lefty Will Edwards took one week to complete Senior night but for him it will be two nights to remember as Edwards gives up an infield single in the top of the fifth which would be the only base runner to reach by a hit.  The very next batter Edward's hit with a pitch but other than those two runners no Firebird reached base.

Not very often this season has the Gryphons got pitching and hitting the same night but the Gryphons but together ten hits and produced two runs in the third which was the first inning played tonight after the rainout in the top of the third last week. They scored twice in the fourth and put a six pack up in the fifth and best Southern Nash 10-0.

Micah Varnell at the plate put together one of his best night's ever going 3-3 with a home run  a double and single with three RBI on his final regular season game in a Gryphon uniform.  Seven other Gryphons got hits including doubles by Forest Bell who drove in the two runs that produced the mercy rule.  Josh Carter doubled and Andy Morris, Blake Helms, Khalidio Jackson Davis , Will Edwards, Ben Yates all reached base with a hit.

Earlier in the day Northern lost to Fike 12-0 and by Winning Fike clinched 3rd spot with a 6-4 record.    
Northern who clinched the top seed Friday will finish the regular season with  a 7-3 record the top seed in the tournament and in the NCHSAA  playoffs next week.

Tonight the last regular season game Nash Central  beat Hunt 6-4 finishes the regular season at 5-5 and with the Gryphons win they finish at 5-5.   Nash Central beat the Gryphons twice during the regulation and hold the tied breaker over the Gryphons.  That puts Rocky Mount traveling to Nash Central Wednesday in the first round of the Big East tournament.  Fike now as the Number three seed will host Southern Nash.

Emanuel King the power forward for the Gryphon basketball team will join teammate Dante Battle at Wallace State in Alabama.

Calling All Legion

The modern baseball player and in most of the cases it may not be the ball player but his parents that in order to see their sons ability on the baseball diamond  they think they must pay in some cases thousands of dollars to join travel league teams or showcase teams.

My question is why go so far to show case your child when I can assure you that if he is good enough  scouts will find him?  There is no better showcase for talented players than American Legion Baseball.  Rocky Mount Legion Post 58 will once again be coached by Hank Jones.  Joining him this year will be Cameron Ramsey and Colin Cuthrell.  Every now and then you might find Pat Smith in the dugout.  Tryouts will be Saturday May 17th at 2pm.  If The Big East Conference is any indication this team should have good pitching and the hitting will be suspect.

There is two weeks to go in ACC baseball regular season and North Carolina is on a slippery slope in order to even make it to the ACC tournament.  Carolina has a 13-11 record and stand at 6th spot.  If they finish in sixth they will avoid the Tuesday play in day which will be for the teams that finish 7th- 10th.

Carolina's problem is their six remaining games are against Florida State and Miami.  They are not guaranteed to even win one of those six and if they lose all six they could fall not only into the 7/10 bracket but that may also send them to 11th and out all together. They must some how or other win two or three games to stay in the tournament.

N C State has not been as fortunate as the Tar Heels.  They stand at 9-15 and in sole pocession of 11th spot and as of right now outside looking in on the tournament.  They need to pass one team in the next two weeks to get into play in Tuesday.  Just who can they pass?  Maryland 12-14 and only have three conference games to play against Pittsburgh.  It just may come down to the rainout that Maryland had.  Will that one game less make them one  from tying State or give them a better winning percentage and beat State out by a half game?

The Pack has a three game home series with Wake Forest and on the road at Virginia Tech.  They need  all six and hope somebody stumbles whether it's Maryland or one of the teams just ahead of a Maryland.

You would expect that the high hopes Carolina and State had in the preseason that their only worry would be whether they would meet on the diamond this year.  You know one of the reasons that rainout at the DBAP was not made up is neither can afford a loss now even though it would not count in the standings.  If they were both top ten teams in the country one loss would not hurt their RPI but right now neither one's RPI will help the other by winning but a lost would not help NCAA selection.

Clear As Mud

The only thing we know for sure is that Northern Nash doesn't have in a worry in the world come this Monday.  Neither does Southern Nash who if they beat Rocky Mount they are stuck in  6th for next week's tournament regardless.

Do now know why we couldn't fine the Nash Central- Southern Nash  game results.  They didn't play.  
Southern had their Prom Friday night. They tried to play Thursday but got rained out.  They played that game last night.  Five teams in the Big East  think  they have a shot to make the playoffs.

Saturday night the Firebirds of Southern Nash beat Nash Central 6-5 to win their first conference game of the year.  During this second cycle the Firebirds have been very competitive in every game unlike the first go round where they were being mercy ruled.  Nash Central has had a rocky road ever since coach Guzzo got the five game suspension. This lost drops Nash Central into a 4th place tie with Rocky Mount at 4-5.  There is still a chance of a three way tie for fourth.

Northern has the best overall pitching.  Their defense is average and their offense is so so.  Hunt of the conference members has the best hitting but defense and pitching doesn't scare anybody.  Fike has average pitching, defense and offense.  Nash Central has one great pitcher and the rest are average.  Their defense and offense like everyone else in this league  is wishful thinking.  Rocky Mount right now since they have gotten production from Blake Helms on the mound has as good of pitching as Northern.  Their defense at times has been poor and just about every game they have had the opportunity to get a big hit and failed.

The tournament next week is Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  Northern and whoever finally gets the two  get byes Wednesday.  Every team with the game on Monday plays three times and if you hope if you are seeded  three through six and think you can win the tournament you will have to play four times to win tournament.  There is one thing for sure anybody can win it.

Benton Moss the junior right handed pitcher for the university of North Carolina has for the second year in a row made been named to the All District All Academic team.  Benton carries a 3.85 grade point average. Moss made as a freshman the freshman All American All Academic team.

Northern Clinches Top Seed

Northern  Nash clinches first place in the upcoming Big East Baseball tournament and in doing that get the Big East number one seed in the upcoming state playoffs.  It wasn't easy as the Gryphons scored a run in the top of the seven to tie the game but then in the eighth inning committed an error allowing the winning run to score and Northern wins  3-2.

Over in Wilson County Hunt beat  Fike 4-3.  I have not heard anything on the Nash Central Southern Nash game but here is what we know.  Northern Nash is 7-2.  Hunt is 6-3 but Northern owns the tie breaker with Hunt having beaten them in both games played during the regular season.  Fike drops to 5-4 and Rocky Mount drops to 4-5.  Nash Central is 4-4 depending on the outcome tonight.

Here is what is still possible.  Hunt, Fike and Nash Central could still get into a three way tie for second which will mean one of those teams will not make the playoffs with 6-4 records.  There is still a possibility of a three way tie for third between Fike, Nash Central and Rocky Mount. These three teams can still get to 5-5 and if that happens two of these teams wil not make the playoffs.  There is of course the chance that Nash Central and Rocky Mount could finish 4/6 making Northern,  Hunt  and Fike the playoff teams.

Even if the coaches thought about not playing a conference tournament starting next Wednesday there are so many possible scenarios that they need to play a tournament just to figure who can win their way in.  The way this season has gone Southern Nash just might win the tournament and knock somebody else out.

Thomas Berry Record Setter

Thomas Berry a Gryphon grad who is a redshirt sophomore for Lander University in South Carolina has help his team finish their regular season  with a 43-6 record and for the first time in school history Lander won the Peach Belt regular season title.

Berry  set a school record walking 50 times in 49 regular season  games and in doing so set the school record when he walked for the 48th time.  His 50 walks leads the nation in division II. Lander will try to win their conference tournament next weekend.  "Baseball" Britt Johnson a 2001 Gryphon graduate and the assistant coach for Lander is responsible for Berry being at Lander.

Hobbs Johnson lost three straight games since my last report on him as he plays for Brevard A league team in Florida.  His first lost he gave up six runs in five innings but one outing  five innings of relief and another start he gave up no earn runs but lost twice.  This week he picked up his second pro win giving up one earned run for the  win  and in five appearances his ERA is 2.33 with a 2-3 record.

Brian Goodwin has been on a roller coaster playing for AAA Syracuse Chiefs. He started out just getting two hits  in his first 20 at bats them got 13 hits in his next 30.  He has managed only five in his next 38 to drop his batting average back down to 224.  Interesting Brian in those five hits has two triples which gives everyone hope than if he makes contact he 's going to get on base.

Back in January when I attended the funeral of  Darryl Allen in Ahoskie many people were there and even though I knew his health was not good then from cancer Richard Murray and I had several minutes to hash old times.

Other than my father Coach Murray was the person I most respected in my life.  1967 as a skinny freshman I had coach Murray in Civics and and I was a running back on the JV's for two years as he was the line coach.  I played varsity baseball for him for three years and as a senior I had him in a government class.

During my senior season I pulled a groin muscle two days before our first game. I was a third baseman and I never made an error in my career with the ball going through  my legs.  I threw many away making errors but I was a vacuum cleaner and my nickname was Brooks after the Baltimore third baseman Brooks Robinson. Now you know why I named my son Brooks.

The first four games of the season I was 1 for 15.  As a senior by this time I was working at the radio station on weekends and three nights a week a worked to midnight.  I was depressed about having a terrible season my senior year after having a really good first two.  After practice I waited in the looker room for coach Murray to come take his shower after all the other players had left.  I told
coach that I understood if he  needed to benched me to put someone in the line up who could play better than I was.  What he told me then help me change my season and there are not many days that go by  I don't think about that day.

He told me that as I went through life I would have people in my life that were going to depend on me and there would be days when I would not feel like going to work but when I looked at those depending on me I would get up and do what I had to do to take care of my family.  My teammates were depending on me now and I have to get up and go to work for them.

I finished the season on an upswing  graduated went directly into the radio business and spent 22 years working with him as the Athletic Director at Ahoskie and Hertford County High on a weekly basis doing football on the radio.

Murray was the line coach for Darryl Allen for every year that Allen was the head coach.  He was a man that could be second fiddle  and be perfectly happy watching others get the glory.  What kind of Athletic  Director was he?  He is in the NC Athletic Directors Hall of Fame.  Thursday Richard Murray moved on to join to join the Athletic Directors Hall of Fame in Heaven.  Richard Murray was one of the greatest men I ever knew.