Sometimes you get up in the morning and it is not your day. Gryphon shortstop Logan Pearce never went to school home with the flu so the Gryphons take on Corinth Holders Friday afternoon without their top hitter who is hitting over 500 for the season. Pat Smith moved Forest Bell to short which was no problem since Bell has been a two year starter at short. The problem lay that Bell is a probable pitcher in relief but can't because Bell needs to hold down short the entire game.
David Harrison got the start for the Gryphons and got the first two outs in both the first and second innings and in the first gave up a double and a single to give the Pirates a run. The second with two outs the Pirates got back to back doubles after the first two batters struck out.
The third inning was the Gryphon undoing as the lead off batter hit a roller back to Harrison who threw the ball into right field. The second batter walked and with runners on first and second a sacrifice bunt fielded by Harrison and for the second time in the inning found the right field with his throw. The flood gates were open. The Gryphons held it to three runs to trail 5 zip after three.
The Pirates committed three errors and the lone Gryphon scored came on a strike out throw'em out but the catcher tossed the throw to right. Zack Keeter pitched the sixth and seventh innings giving up a run in each to make the final score 7-1 Corinth Holders.
David Harrison and Jamar Ellis got the only two hits on the day. The Pirates collected 10 hits. They were aided by three Gryphon walks and two errors.
The Gryphons host Rose high next Wednesday at 4:30.
The Big Four will get a chance to break the four year drought of winning the ACC Tournament as Carolina slaughtered Notre Dame. The ACC championship is Saturday night.
Friday, March 11, 2016
Thursday, March 10, 2016
The ACC Tournament Belongs in Carolina
It is very hard to get up for the ACC Tournament whenever the tournament is outside of the Tarheel State. It just doesn't feel right. This is the 65th tournament and the state of North Carolina has hosted 53 times.
Greensboro has hosted 28 times to lead the way with the most hostings. Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh is next with the host 13 times. Charlotte has had three different buildings since their first host in 1967. The old Charlotte Coliseum on Independence Blvd eight times. The new Coliseum on Billy Graham Parkway three times. The down town arena call Time Warner Once. The city of Atlanta is next hosting six times. The Onmi three times, Georgia Dome twice and Phillips Arena once. The Capitol Center in Landover Maryland got in the act three times. This year's site the Verizon Center is hosting for the second time. St Petersburg Florida has had it once.
The Big Four schools of North Carolina have won the tournament 47 of the 53 games in North Carolina. The other 11 the Big Four has managed only six wins. Surely the Tar Heel State is a major home court advantage for the Big Four. The other ACC schools have won only 11 times ever but are now on a roll winning the last four.
The bigger the conference gets which now covers the eastern United States the less dominant the Big Four have become. The tournament will not return to North Carolina until 2019.
It might not be such a bad game for Duke losing Thursday. That will give them at least a week before they play their first round game in the NCAA. Duke is a tired team and a week off just might be what they need.. Depending on the draw Duke will have to play their butt of to get to the Sweet 16.
N C State had a season where they could play with everybody but played just good enough to lose. They are 16-17 on the year and yet the season may not be over. Like football there are so many tournaments now a days that teams with a losing record will be needed to fill out the brackets.
Heading into the semi finals where they will play Notre Dame the Tar Heels probably would have rather played Duke. I don't see the Fighting Irish beating the Heels but they sure are healthy compared to the Blue Devils. PNC is hosting the first weekend and Carolina and Virginia will probably be there insuring a sellout. Carolina and Virginia are probably headed to a showdown Saturday night. If it happens the Heels need to score 80 while the magic number for Virginia is holding the Heels to under 65.
Only one team from North Carolina is left. I don't care which team you pull for but everyone who lives in North Carolina needs to back the Tar Heels. The Old North State needs to put another ACC Tournament championship in the books. Go HEELs.
Greensboro has hosted 28 times to lead the way with the most hostings. Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh is next with the host 13 times. Charlotte has had three different buildings since their first host in 1967. The old Charlotte Coliseum on Independence Blvd eight times. The new Coliseum on Billy Graham Parkway three times. The down town arena call Time Warner Once. The city of Atlanta is next hosting six times. The Onmi three times, Georgia Dome twice and Phillips Arena once. The Capitol Center in Landover Maryland got in the act three times. This year's site the Verizon Center is hosting for the second time. St Petersburg Florida has had it once.
The Big Four schools of North Carolina have won the tournament 47 of the 53 games in North Carolina. The other 11 the Big Four has managed only six wins. Surely the Tar Heel State is a major home court advantage for the Big Four. The other ACC schools have won only 11 times ever but are now on a roll winning the last four.
The bigger the conference gets which now covers the eastern United States the less dominant the Big Four have become. The tournament will not return to North Carolina until 2019.
It might not be such a bad game for Duke losing Thursday. That will give them at least a week before they play their first round game in the NCAA. Duke is a tired team and a week off just might be what they need.. Depending on the draw Duke will have to play their butt of to get to the Sweet 16.
N C State had a season where they could play with everybody but played just good enough to lose. They are 16-17 on the year and yet the season may not be over. Like football there are so many tournaments now a days that teams with a losing record will be needed to fill out the brackets.
Heading into the semi finals where they will play Notre Dame the Tar Heels probably would have rather played Duke. I don't see the Fighting Irish beating the Heels but they sure are healthy compared to the Blue Devils. PNC is hosting the first weekend and Carolina and Virginia will probably be there insuring a sellout. Carolina and Virginia are probably headed to a showdown Saturday night. If it happens the Heels need to score 80 while the magic number for Virginia is holding the Heels to under 65.
Only one team from North Carolina is left. I don't care which team you pull for but everyone who lives in North Carolina needs to back the Tar Heels. The Old North State needs to put another ACC Tournament championship in the books. Go HEELs.
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Gryphons Swat Cougars
If the start so far this season for the Rocky Mount Gryphons is any indication you can expect the Gryphons in the running for the Big East title. So far this season they are hitting better than they have over the last two or three seasons. Early on their defense is much improved over last year. The big question mark is how deep is the pitching. The first four games they have mostly relied on three arms David Harrison, Forest Bell and Wesley Drake. The question if this team is to contend to the end or make any noise is who can help give innings as a fourth and fifth pitcher.
Today the Gryphons hosted SouthWest Edgecombe and Pat Smith sent Wesley Drake to the hill. Jarrett Mobley singled in the top of the first. Only to be wiped out on a 1-6-3 come backer to Drake to tossed to Shortstop Logan Pearce on to David Harrison to first.
After a highlight double play Logan Pearce led off with a double score on the second batter Josh Pittman's double. The Gryphon bats and the Cougar defense's two errors in the second produced seven runs. Will Hedgepeth drove home two runs, Logan Pearce 2nd double brought home two more. David Harrison single scored two others.
Five more scored in the third after a sac fly by Battle Shannon produced a RBI. The highlight for the Cougars was a solo home run from catcher Dylan Hodges in the fourth. The defense and Wesley Drake's pitching ended this one after the Cougars batted in the fifth.
Drake pitched five innings allowed five hits struck out five but here is where he was tough. He did not walk a single batter so he could afford giving up one hit every inning.
Logan Pearce went 3-4 with two RBI, Josh Pittman 1-2 RBI, David Harrison 1-4 four RBI, Battle Shannon 1-2 rbi, Isaiah Stewart 1-3, Wesley Drake 1-1, Will Hedgepeth 1-2 2 RBI. SWE was led by Garrett Aycock with two hits, by Hodges homer and singles by Jarrett Mobley and a single by Leaton White.
The Gryphons have now won three after and opening day loss to Bunn. Next action is Friday at 4pm home hosting Corinth Holders.
Today the Gryphons hosted SouthWest Edgecombe and Pat Smith sent Wesley Drake to the hill. Jarrett Mobley singled in the top of the first. Only to be wiped out on a 1-6-3 come backer to Drake to tossed to Shortstop Logan Pearce on to David Harrison to first.
After a highlight double play Logan Pearce led off with a double score on the second batter Josh Pittman's double. The Gryphon bats and the Cougar defense's two errors in the second produced seven runs. Will Hedgepeth drove home two runs, Logan Pearce 2nd double brought home two more. David Harrison single scored two others.
Five more scored in the third after a sac fly by Battle Shannon produced a RBI. The highlight for the Cougars was a solo home run from catcher Dylan Hodges in the fourth. The defense and Wesley Drake's pitching ended this one after the Cougars batted in the fifth.
Drake pitched five innings allowed five hits struck out five but here is where he was tough. He did not walk a single batter so he could afford giving up one hit every inning.
Logan Pearce went 3-4 with two RBI, Josh Pittman 1-2 RBI, David Harrison 1-4 four RBI, Battle Shannon 1-2 rbi, Isaiah Stewart 1-3, Wesley Drake 1-1, Will Hedgepeth 1-2 2 RBI. SWE was led by Garrett Aycock with two hits, by Hodges homer and singles by Jarrett Mobley and a single by Leaton White.
The Gryphons have now won three after and opening day loss to Bunn. Next action is Friday at 4pm home hosting Corinth Holders.
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
All BullDogs With Big East Awards
The Nash Central Bulldogs took top spots during the Big East Basketball season in both the boys and girls. Today when the Big East announced the all conference teams Nash Central swept players of the year and coaches of the year.
Josh Mullins Senior guard was named the boys Player of the year. He led the league in scoring at 23.6 points per game. He grabbed 4.5 rebounds and he helped teammates to scoring giving out 2.1 assist per contest.
Renny Taylor won the coach of the year award after there was a three way tie for first between Southern Nash, Rocky Mount and Nash Central. Normally the coach of the year is always the coach of the championship team so there is not much to who the coaches vote for. But with Robbie Kennedy and Mike Gainey's team tying Nash Central it actually came down to a close vote.
The girls player of the year was Bulldog five eight sophomore Robbie Allen. She scored at a clip of 14.6 points per outing pulled down 6:9 rebounds and provided 2.8 helpers to her teammates scoring. The bad news for the rest of the league is she has two more basketball seasons left in her high school career.
The Big East girls coach of the year is Terri Cash. Unlike the guys votes since Nash Central was the outright winner of the regular season the voting was pretty much expected. This is the first COY award for Cash since if my memory serves me 2008 when the Janna Oxendine led Lady Bulldogs made it all the way to the sectional finals losing at Goldsboro in the last seconds.
Big East All Conference:
Southern Nash
Marquise Wright Caitlin Batchelor
Damien Bryant
DaeOne Wilkins
Rocky Mount
Kyle Barnhill. Keyanna Spivey
Sherrod Green
Artavious Richardson
Nash Central
Josh Mullins. Robbie Allen
Ke- shun People's Miya Spivey
Elijah Cole Michaela Nelms
Hunt
Shemar Hudson Kayla Kent
Fike
Samson Strickland Jada Lee
Rebekah Langley
Northern Nash
Raymon Bullock III Jahlia Williams
Kayla Tucker
Honorable Mentions
Chris Lucas SN -Tatyana Pulley SN, Isaiah Morris RM- Michelle Gainey RM, Montre' Cash NC- Caresha Leonard NC, Dejuan Hill H - Destinee Pierce H, Chrishaun Braswell F- Dajah Horne F, Darius Spragley NN- Ceyanna Harrison NN.
Tuesday High School baseball :
Rocky Mount 16-Tarboro 0 3 innings
Josh Mullins Senior guard was named the boys Player of the year. He led the league in scoring at 23.6 points per game. He grabbed 4.5 rebounds and he helped teammates to scoring giving out 2.1 assist per contest.
Renny Taylor won the coach of the year award after there was a three way tie for first between Southern Nash, Rocky Mount and Nash Central. Normally the coach of the year is always the coach of the championship team so there is not much to who the coaches vote for. But with Robbie Kennedy and Mike Gainey's team tying Nash Central it actually came down to a close vote.
The girls player of the year was Bulldog five eight sophomore Robbie Allen. She scored at a clip of 14.6 points per outing pulled down 6:9 rebounds and provided 2.8 helpers to her teammates scoring. The bad news for the rest of the league is she has two more basketball seasons left in her high school career.
The Big East girls coach of the year is Terri Cash. Unlike the guys votes since Nash Central was the outright winner of the regular season the voting was pretty much expected. This is the first COY award for Cash since if my memory serves me 2008 when the Janna Oxendine led Lady Bulldogs made it all the way to the sectional finals losing at Goldsboro in the last seconds.
Big East All Conference:
Southern Nash
Marquise Wright Caitlin Batchelor
Damien Bryant
DaeOne Wilkins
Rocky Mount
Kyle Barnhill. Keyanna Spivey
Sherrod Green
Artavious Richardson
Nash Central
Josh Mullins. Robbie Allen
Ke- shun People's Miya Spivey
Elijah Cole Michaela Nelms
Hunt
Shemar Hudson Kayla Kent
Fike
Samson Strickland Jada Lee
Rebekah Langley
Northern Nash
Raymon Bullock III Jahlia Williams
Kayla Tucker
Honorable Mentions
Chris Lucas SN -Tatyana Pulley SN, Isaiah Morris RM- Michelle Gainey RM, Montre' Cash NC- Caresha Leonard NC, Dejuan Hill H - Destinee Pierce H, Chrishaun Braswell F- Dajah Horne F, Darius Spragley NN- Ceyanna Harrison NN.
Tuesday High School baseball :
Rocky Mount 16-Tarboro 0 3 innings
Monday, March 7, 2016
Is Regular Season Title Worth Automatic NCAA Bid
Monday during his weekly news conference Roy Williams stated that winning the regular season title should be worth and automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. First of all why should Roy care one way or the other because his Tar Heels are in regardless If they lose the first game they play this week in DC.
The Tar Heels won the regular season with a 14-4 record and are 25-6 over all. How can teams overall record be compared to others since teams don't play each other in every game. They have come up with a system call RPI. RPI is a computer system that compares all teams regardless of who they play and compares each and gives the NCAA a reasonable accurate ability telling the NCAA who has played the toughest schedule and how they stack up against other teams RPI. Carolina is 8th in RPI so their is no way the Heels don't play next week when NCAA starts.
The ACC champion officially is the tournament champion so there is no banner given by the ACC for winning the regular season and losing a game in the tournament. The ACC is at the top of the heap so over all their all time winning percentage is still the best all time. So why shouldn't the ACC get two automatic bids should the regular season champ get knocked off and the tournament champ get one too?
At the other end of the spectrum is the Big South Conference. They held their conference tournament At Campbell last weekend and look at the mess they have. High Point and Winthrop tied for the regular season title at 13-5. UNC Asheville and Coastal Carolina tied for second at 12-6. High Point was 21-10, Winthrop 23-9, Coastal 18-11 and UNCA 22-11. UNCA won the tournament and get the Big South Automatic bid.
High Point's RPI is 159 in the RPI and strength of schedule is rated 106 toughest. Winthrop is 130 and SOS is 52. Coastal Carolina is 170 and 8 in SOS and finally UNCA is 136 and 43 SOS. Just for perspective North Carolina State who's record is 15-16 is 115 in the RPI but SOS is 28th.
If Carolina thinks the regular season champ should get a automatic bid should the Big South even get an automatic bid with not one team in the top 100? It is obvious the tournament should have every conference represented. It can not be a national championship if every basketball league is not represented.
Tuesday at noon the ACC tournament starts in Washington DC and State and Wake play at noon. The winner plays Duke Wednesday at noon so by 2:30 Wednesday afternoon there will only be two North Carolina teams left in the tournament. The ACC tournament is sure more exciting when at least two North Carolina teams in the semifinals. Who would care if Virginia plays Miami in the finals. Only Virginia and Miami fans would.
The Tar Heels won the regular season with a 14-4 record and are 25-6 over all. How can teams overall record be compared to others since teams don't play each other in every game. They have come up with a system call RPI. RPI is a computer system that compares all teams regardless of who they play and compares each and gives the NCAA a reasonable accurate ability telling the NCAA who has played the toughest schedule and how they stack up against other teams RPI. Carolina is 8th in RPI so their is no way the Heels don't play next week when NCAA starts.
The ACC champion officially is the tournament champion so there is no banner given by the ACC for winning the regular season and losing a game in the tournament. The ACC is at the top of the heap so over all their all time winning percentage is still the best all time. So why shouldn't the ACC get two automatic bids should the regular season champ get knocked off and the tournament champ get one too?
At the other end of the spectrum is the Big South Conference. They held their conference tournament At Campbell last weekend and look at the mess they have. High Point and Winthrop tied for the regular season title at 13-5. UNC Asheville and Coastal Carolina tied for second at 12-6. High Point was 21-10, Winthrop 23-9, Coastal 18-11 and UNCA 22-11. UNCA won the tournament and get the Big South Automatic bid.
High Point's RPI is 159 in the RPI and strength of schedule is rated 106 toughest. Winthrop is 130 and SOS is 52. Coastal Carolina is 170 and 8 in SOS and finally UNCA is 136 and 43 SOS. Just for perspective North Carolina State who's record is 15-16 is 115 in the RPI but SOS is 28th.
If Carolina thinks the regular season champ should get a automatic bid should the Big South even get an automatic bid with not one team in the top 100? It is obvious the tournament should have every conference represented. It can not be a national championship if every basketball league is not represented.
Tuesday at noon the ACC tournament starts in Washington DC and State and Wake play at noon. The winner plays Duke Wednesday at noon so by 2:30 Wednesday afternoon there will only be two North Carolina teams left in the tournament. The ACC tournament is sure more exciting when at least two North Carolina teams in the semifinals. Who would care if Virginia plays Miami in the finals. Only Virginia and Miami fans would.
Sunday, March 6, 2016
College Baseball Off To A Good Start
UNC baseball missed out on making the NCAA last year for the first time under the Mike Fox. So far this season the Tar Heels are acting as if that will not happen Again as they have jumped out winning nine of their first ten games including beating UCLA two out of three to start the season in Los Angeles.
After the Wolfpack had a total collapse in the Regional at Texas A&M last year the question was will the Pack bounce back or have a hangover. So far Elliot Avent's crowd there has been no hangover winning ten of their first twelve to start the 2016 campaign.
There is still a Godwin coaching at ECU but no longer Rocky Mount Native Billy Godwin but Cliff Godwin. The Pirates beat Maryland today in the Keith LeClair Tournament. Nine and three so far including beating Virginia two of three.
This weekend NC Wesleyan swept William Peace to run their record for the season to 14-5 and 5-1 in conference USA South. Last seasons 12- twenty something record seems to be in the past for Charlie Long's Battling Bishops.
Rocky Mount has a three game week lined up as they try to improved on their 1-1 record. A visit to Tarboro Tuesday, home games Wednesday with SouthWest Edgecombe and Friday Corinth Holders is in town.
Southern Nash 2-1 host SouthWest Edgecombe Tuesday, home to Bunn Wednesday and on the road at Princton Friday.
Northern Nash is showing still 1-0 heading into the second week. They will be home to South Johnston Monday, have a game Wednesday at Roanoke Rapids and finish up the week at. CB Aycock.
Nash Central 1-1 host Bunn Monday will travel to Corinith Holders Wednesday and go to Smithfield Selma on Friday.
Don't know how long it will last but the temperature is suppose to be in the 70's by mid week making for a good day to go watch a baseball game.
After the Wolfpack had a total collapse in the Regional at Texas A&M last year the question was will the Pack bounce back or have a hangover. So far Elliot Avent's crowd there has been no hangover winning ten of their first twelve to start the 2016 campaign.
There is still a Godwin coaching at ECU but no longer Rocky Mount Native Billy Godwin but Cliff Godwin. The Pirates beat Maryland today in the Keith LeClair Tournament. Nine and three so far including beating Virginia two of three.
This weekend NC Wesleyan swept William Peace to run their record for the season to 14-5 and 5-1 in conference USA South. Last seasons 12- twenty something record seems to be in the past for Charlie Long's Battling Bishops.
Rocky Mount has a three game week lined up as they try to improved on their 1-1 record. A visit to Tarboro Tuesday, home games Wednesday with SouthWest Edgecombe and Friday Corinth Holders is in town.
Southern Nash 2-1 host SouthWest Edgecombe Tuesday, home to Bunn Wednesday and on the road at Princton Friday.
Northern Nash is showing still 1-0 heading into the second week. They will be home to South Johnston Monday, have a game Wednesday at Roanoke Rapids and finish up the week at. CB Aycock.
Nash Central 1-1 host Bunn Monday will travel to Corinith Holders Wednesday and go to Smithfield Selma on Friday.
Don't know how long it will last but the temperature is suppose to be in the 70's by mid week making for a good day to go watch a baseball game.
Live And a Die With Sports
Whenever it happens that any of our teams that we follow get on one of those rolls and a winning streak starts and as the streak continues there comes a chance that a championship can be won. We get all wrapped up in the prospects that we just might be the best and as the streak grows and we get closer and closer to the final steps of winning it all we start to get the feel of invincibility.
The more we win the more our life becomes the need to win. During the run by the Carolina Panthers
We lost our perspective of how close they came to losing because somehow or other they kept pulling out wins when it seemed they were beat. Remember they gave up 38 to New Orleans and have a big lead over the New York Giants but managed to keep the streak alive after the Giants scored their 38th point. The Super Bowl was a Panther flop as they played their worse game of the year and the day after as if we had a family member to die.
The Carolina-Duke live or die game second addition was last night in K Indoor Stadium. Carolina fans have already committed suicide once this basketball season and for many they would not be able to live the shame Duke administered to them two weeks ago and somehow or other have survived to pull for their Heels another night.
The Dookies have had two weeks or maybe even more since they are the defending national champions to live the life of being the best over Carolina. You see Duke is down in fifth in the standings of the ACC and Carolina receive a gift from Virginia Tech that win or lose in Durham they will be the number one seed in next week's ACC tournament.
So if Duke is fifth and Carolina first this season why is this so do or die for either team Since the outcome will not change the standings as far as one passing the other? Carolina played in Durham the way they did in Chapel Hill, the only difference they managed to hold on to the lead that they had in both games the entire way.
All the whining Carolina fans have done about this year's team they still won the regular season. I must admit you never quite know what Carolina team you are getting. Both State and Duke played with short decks this season and you take this season as did about all they could.
Today Carolina fans are back feeling proud. It only takes one win to put us back in heaven and one loss to send us down under. Next week the ACC tournament something that no longer has any real meaning except for the team that wins. The ones that lose next week will be down and out until the NCAA announcements and some will still have hope while some pack up the equipment until next year.
This up and coming NCAA seems to be wide open. Carolina to me is our only hope for another Big Four title or for that matter for the ACC. Carolina for the next three weeks will build up and build up the hope. If they slip and fall they will be down in the dumps but today hope abounds after winning one game.
The more we win the more our life becomes the need to win. During the run by the Carolina Panthers
We lost our perspective of how close they came to losing because somehow or other they kept pulling out wins when it seemed they were beat. Remember they gave up 38 to New Orleans and have a big lead over the New York Giants but managed to keep the streak alive after the Giants scored their 38th point. The Super Bowl was a Panther flop as they played their worse game of the year and the day after as if we had a family member to die.
The Carolina-Duke live or die game second addition was last night in K Indoor Stadium. Carolina fans have already committed suicide once this basketball season and for many they would not be able to live the shame Duke administered to them two weeks ago and somehow or other have survived to pull for their Heels another night.
The Dookies have had two weeks or maybe even more since they are the defending national champions to live the life of being the best over Carolina. You see Duke is down in fifth in the standings of the ACC and Carolina receive a gift from Virginia Tech that win or lose in Durham they will be the number one seed in next week's ACC tournament.
So if Duke is fifth and Carolina first this season why is this so do or die for either team Since the outcome will not change the standings as far as one passing the other? Carolina played in Durham the way they did in Chapel Hill, the only difference they managed to hold on to the lead that they had in both games the entire way.
All the whining Carolina fans have done about this year's team they still won the regular season. I must admit you never quite know what Carolina team you are getting. Both State and Duke played with short decks this season and you take this season as did about all they could.
Today Carolina fans are back feeling proud. It only takes one win to put us back in heaven and one loss to send us down under. Next week the ACC tournament something that no longer has any real meaning except for the team that wins. The ones that lose next week will be down and out until the NCAA announcements and some will still have hope while some pack up the equipment until next year.
This up and coming NCAA seems to be wide open. Carolina to me is our only hope for another Big Four title or for that matter for the ACC. Carolina for the next three weeks will build up and build up the hope. If they slip and fall they will be down in the dumps but today hope abounds after winning one game.
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