Consistent Gryphons

There is one thing for sure you can count on this base ball season and that is if the Gryphons of Rocky Mount score once in a conference game they will win the game.  When they don't they lose. Trailing Wilson Fike by two games in the standings tonight was a big opportunity to jump right near the top in the league with a chance to possibly take first next week.

Fike sent Brandon Winstead to the hill while Rocky Mount countered with David Harrison.  Both pitchers put on a show as in his six innings pitched Harrison struck out nine Golden Demons. Winstead who has thrown a no hitter and a one hitter during conference play can now add a two hit shutout to his resume' as Fike scores twice in the fifth and that is all they need winning 2-0.

Harrison opened the fifth walking the only batter he walked all night.  Jase Lamm singled and with two outs a routine fly ball to center was misplayed and D J Daniels get a two RBI double and  that's all Fike needed in winning their seventh of eight conference games.

Rocky Mount's first hit didn't come until one out in the fifth when Channing Green hit a grounder towards third and beat it out for and infield single and the throw sent Green to second.  The play of the game happened after Green stole third and Forest  Bell hit a hot shot deep along the third base bag and Golden Demon third baseman Jase Lamm backhanded the ball and made a strong throw to first to nip Bell and save the shutout.

David Harrison  couldn't pitch any better for Rocky Mount as Rocky Mount lose  their fourth game by being shutout in conference play.  They fall to 4-4 and fall to third after Nothern Nash beat Nash Central  to take over second place at 5-3.   Hunt beat Southern Nash 1-0 and by doing so tie Rocky Mount at 4-4.

Fike clinches at least a bye in the upcoming Big East Tournament as they can lose no more than three conference games while everyone except Northern has at least four losses.  Northern can still tied for first as they draw Fike Tuesday and finish with Rocky Mount while Fike finishes next week with Hunt.

ACC Baseball Crowded At The Bottom

The Louisville Cardinals 19-2 at this point are the  run a way leader in the race of ACC baseball.  The upcoming tournament will have the top six teams getting a bye on the Tuesday when the seeds seven through  ten play.  Miami 15-6 and Florida State 14-7 are very comfortable in finishing  in top six.  That is it for teams who are comfortable.

Clemson 11-9, Notre Dame11-10, Carolina 10-10, State, 9-11, Boston College 9-11, Wake Forest 9-12, Georgia Tech 9-12, Virginia 9-12 and Virginia Tech 8-12 all could finish as high  fourth or as low as 12th and if they finish 11th no ACC tourney.  Pitt 6-15 and the host team Duke 5-15 look like they are outside looking in already.

All most every weekend series  has make it or break it regarding making that top ten to extend their seasons.  Notre Dame visits Wake, Boston College at Carolina.  Virginia at State, Clemson at Georgia  Tech.  Every one of these series can bump the team that sweeps to head of fourth  place class and the team that Gets broomed out of the tournament at least for this week.

Two high profile Major League Baseball players Alex Rodriguez  of the Yankees has played so far for the Yanks has been as good of player as the Yankees have had this year.  Even with that the Yanks are still trying to get out of the contract they are paying A-Rod close to a zillion dollars.  I just don't understand why teams continue to give players over 30 years of Age long term contracts.

The baseball career from almost the first day he was drafted until present day Josh Hamilton has had the fight to stay sober whether alcohol or drugs.  Kicked out of baseball for a period of time rehabbing Hamilton had a relapse just past Christmas and with it divorce.  It is sad when such a talented player is dominated by objects that can ruin a life.

His team the California Angels have asked MLB to suspend him for his latest relapse for drugs.  They like the Yankees are looking to unload a high price players  salary.  There are not many cases when players have been suspended for wrong doing that any team that gambles on signing them ever  gets their money's worth from that player.

Can Anybody Explain The Big East Baseball

We head down the stretch with each team having three games to go and when compared to football and Basketball Fike is the runaway leader.  They have a two game lead with three to play.  Let us ponder how this season has come to this point and you will see baseball is just like football and basketball.  It ain't over yet.

NASH CENTRAL: 3-12  2-5.... Started out winning their first two games.  Since then lost five straight conference games and four of those were by one run.  Imagine if they had of won those four they are 6-1.

SOUTHERN NASH:  6-10 2-5....Southern Nash lost their first four games all by one run.  Southern won all three games during the Easter Tournament in Wilson and have been a bad matchup for everyone in the Big East since.

HUNT:  3-4  7-8....Have won two games by pitching shutouts and have lost two by not scoring.  Have lost three in a row after starting 3-1.

ROCKY MOUNT:  4-3  8-6...  Have been shutout in their three losses.  Averaging 6.5 runs in their wins.

NORTHERN NASH:  4-3 8-8...  Three conference wins have been by shutouts and in their three losses they have given up six runs a game.

FIKE:  11-5 6-1...  Four of their six wins have been by one run.  They scored 15 in one game which is the only time all conference season any team has scored double digits.

Fike travels to Rocky Mount Friday night.  You could almost say as far as Rocky Mount is concerned this is their  shot at the top spot.  Only three Big East teams are guaranteed to be in playoffs.  If they fall back in the group with four losses they might miss playoffs.  They win and first is not out of the question.

Nash Central is at Northern.  You know this could be like basketball that 5-5 might grab the third playoffs spot.  Neither team needs to lose this one.  Northern can still win crown out right.  They don't have any wiggle room.

Hunt at Southern Nash..  Hunt is as close to not making the playoff as they have been since they joined Big East.  Southern Nash can still get to 5-5.  Another can't afford to lose game for both.

There have been 21 conference games to date with five shutouts pitched.   Three the winning team scored only two runs.  There is no doubt this league is dominated by pitching.  Every game rest of the way will be won by the team on that night has the best pitcher on the mound.

Wednesday the Big East held the conference Track and Field championships and Rocky Mount boys and girls win.

Shocking Night In Big East

Last Tuesday night Rocky Mount baseball walked off the field at Northern Nash having lost 7-0.  Hitting was weak and the defense had the looked of little leaguers.  Many Gryphon fans walked off the ball field wondering if they would win another game all year.

They had plenty of help from Nash Central Friday to win on the road and tonight Rocky Mount playing Hunt who like Rocky Mount stood 3-3 in conference and neither can afford another loss chasing Fike and Northern Nash.  Rocky Mount explodes for five hits in the first and scores six runs and Blake Helms dodges Hunt threats all night as Rocky Mount who lost 6-0 to Hunt in Rocky Mount beats the Warriors 7-4.  Rocky Mount has risen all the way to be tied for second with Northern Nash.

I have told you that every team in the Big East has one good pitcher and if he is pitching against you they just might clip you on that night.  As unexpected as Rocky Mount going to Hunt winning Southern Nash has taken down Northern Nash 5-4.  This knocks Northern to 4-3 and tied with Rocky Mount.  Southern rises to 2-5 in league play.  In order to make a shocking night final all this league needs now is for Nash  Central to beat Fike.  It almosted happened as Nash Central took Fike to extra innings before losing.

This sets up a Friday night showdown between first place Fike 6-1 11-5 against Rocky Mount 4-3 8-6.  Rocky Mount with a victory could still win first as they have already beat Fike at Fike  8-4.  A loss and they have no chance to finish first as they would fall three back with three to play.

Tuesday Collins Cuthrell was named as a semi finalist for DII player of the year.  The DII award is called the Tino Matinez Award.  As relayed on the blog yesterday with the stats he has how can he not be the best in DII?

He's At It Again

This past weekend Lander took on UNC P in Pembroke and two former Gryphons collided with each other.  When the dust settle after a three game sweep by Pembroke  Collins Cuthrell continues to add to his magical year as he hit three more home runs and by doing that has upped his home run total this year to 25  leads all DII players in home runs and in fact when you add DI he has more than doubled the National DI home run leader.

Cuthrell's gaudy numbers now stand at a 455 batting average which is in the top 20 in the nation.  He leads the Peach Belt in average doubles 22, HRs 25, rbi 71 and runs scored 70.  There is no other player in the DII hitter that compares to his so the only player who might beat him out for National Player of the year is a pitcher who has  gaudy pitching  numbers like he has hitting numbers. 

So for the second week in a row Cuthrell was named the Peach Belt hitter of the week.  He also garnered the Southeast region player of the week last week.  His 25 home runs is one short of the all time Pembroke record of 26 and he has four more games to play as this weekend is the last week of the regular season in the Peach Belt.

The opposite side of the field was Thomas Berry a former Gryphon teammate and 1st baseman for Lander.   Berry has a great weekend himself  but his numbers  are minor when compared to his former teammate.  Berry is hitting 327 on the year and if you remember walked over 60 times last year which was number one in DII.  Berry has walked 40 times and been hit by a pitch seven more times so his numbers have risen as the season has continued.  His problem Lander this year after making it all the way to the DII world series Lander is not high enough this year to even make the conference tournament so this weekend will end his season and numbers for this year.

Adding more to this past weekend Alex Pearce the former Nash Central Bulldog and in graduate school at Pembroke coaches first base for the Braves.  Over at third base for Lander is former Gryphon baseball player Britt Johnson  so there was a lot of "Old home week during this series."

Tonight if weather allows Rocky Mount plays Hunt.  Nash Central plays Fike and Northern and Southern Nash face off.

If you were one of the sellout crowd expected to see Charlotte and Carlos Rodon play the Durham Bulls in Durham Wednesday the Chicago White Sox haved devalued your ticket.  Rodon was called up to the Big House Monday and will not pitch in Durham.  Rodon makes it to the Majors just 11 months after throwing his last pitch for N C State.

Hobbs Johnson the former Gryphon is in AA playing for Biloxi has now started two games and to this point must be on a pitch count.  His first outing he went only 2.1 innings then his second went four innings.  So far he has pitched over six innings and given up only one earned run.  That relates to a 1.42 ERA.  Brian Goodwin is still on the injured list and has yet to play this season.  The UNC baseball game Sunday against Virginia Tech was rained out so Benton Moss did not get a chance to win his sixth game of the season for Carolina.

The NFL Dilemna

The NFL draft is not that far away and just maybe the top pick in the upcoming draft might be in court being sued.  The NFL has pulled in the wagons in the last few years about player conduct from drugs to behavior and many players have paid the consequences.

Jameis Winstead might be the top draft pick and there is no doubt his history of conduct does not meet the new standards the NFL is making their players adhere too.  Stealing seafood to cursing on  eating tables in the student union Winstead has a track record that should scare IBM from wanting him as an employee so why is he so valued in the NFL.   He throws passes and wins games.  His record will be liability for him trying to interview for any job in America other than the NFL.

He has no record in the court system because that's what happens when you have people pull strings for you when you win football games.  His conduct has also lead him to a he said, she said deal and now Winstead is being sued in Civil court for rape.  This is different from criminal court now the young lady  seeks damages.

I don't think anyone should think that college life is a scene of proper conduct and attending church daily.  A lot goes on that both parties agree too.  If he is guilty he should be punished.  If authorities covered up in order he be able to play they should be punished too.  If this is another attempt like the Duke Lacrosse case for a money grab that should be punished too.

Can the NFL if Winstead is the number one pick and he loses the civil case  afford to let him play? I realize if might be 2017 before the case comes to trial but could he have to sit over something that happened before his NFL days?

The next NFL issue is Adrian Peterson.  He says he wants no part of the Minnesota Vikings.  They say he is under contract with them and he either plays for them or sit.  You know this sounds like the Lebron James Cleveland Cavs spat after James jumped to Miami.  It is wonderful when a check comes in the mail for a million dollars how all sides learn to agree.

The Vikings have all the leverage.  He's under contract.  If Peterson was to get out he will need to get his agent to talk with teams about dealing their #1 draft pick plus another high profile player to the Vikes and they just might listen.  I bet either the Vikes win the draft lottery and trade him during the draft or Peterson plays for the Vikes next year.  If he sits out  he is the only person losing.

The Big East Made Just right

There are many factors when conferences are formed what goes in to making a conference.  Schools which are equal in size.  Ever since the first year of the Big East all six schools have ranged between a hundred students being the same size.  Hard to give the edge to any school because they have more athletes to choose from.  It is also hard to keep those schools about the same size when different areas have growth spurts due to the economy.

Everyone one has found that one of the biggest factors when joining a conference is being as near to one another as possible.  Just ten years ago Havelock was in the same conference with Northern Nash.  Try going to a Tuesday night basketball game at Havelock and go to work or even school on Wednesday.  It almost seems that the Big East is a perfect conference where 30 minutes is the big trip of the year.

We have found especially this year that with the location factor and size factor it has brought with it an equality to competition.  No team has just dominated any sport.  Football went to the wire before we knew who was going to be the champion and for that matter who was finishing fourth because going into the last game everybody was still alive.  Add basketball with the same outline.

It is plain to see baseball is on the same track.  Heading into Tuesday night's baseball games there are four more games to play and the regular season will be over. Fike is leading the way at 5-1 and 9-5 after beating Nash Central 2-1. Compared to football and basketball this is a runaway lead.  Northern Nash has since the Easter break showed off their pitching and are 4-2 - 8-7.  Hunt 3-3 -7-7 and Rocky Mount 3-3 - 7-6 are tied for third.  Nash Central started with a 2-0 record in conference but have lost four in a row stand 2-4 - 3-11.  Southern Nash rounds out the field at 1-5 -5-10.

Fike and Nash Central made up their rainout game from earlier this season Saturday and they will in turn play each other again Tuesday at Fike.  The two tied for third Hunt host Rocky Mount Tuesday and this truly is a make or break for both.  Finally Tuesday Northern Nash host Southern Nash in a must win for Northern to keep pace with Fike.

You might be interested to know who the conference leaders are?  Batting average:Jacob Williamson Hunt 478.  Home runs  Tie Kendall Parker Southern Nash and Cameron Vick Southern Nash 2.  Slugging % Bryson Worrell Hunt  717.  RBI Hunt  Bryson Worrell 13.  Runs scored  Andrew Brinson Hunt 13. Stolen Bases Kendall Parker  Southern Nash 13.  ERA Tyler Barrett Northern Nash .058.  Strikeouts Tyler Barrett Northern Nash 38.  Wins Tyler Barrett Northern Nash  Barrett 4.

The seeding for the state playoffs will be released on May 9th and who ever makes the playoffs begin first round May 13th.