Cancer Day At Wesleyan

Just two weekends to go in the 2016 NC Wesleyan baseball season and to date the Battling Bishops are in the running for the conference regular season championship.  Overall they are 20-10  and 11-4 in conference games.  They trail Ferrum by percentage points who stands 9-3..

This weekend the Bishops start a three game series with conference foe Piedmont who is down in the standings at 4-8.  It is a real good chance the Bishops could get a sweep and put the pressure on Ferrum to stay on top in the standings.  Game times are 2:30 Friday and 1pm Saturday and Sunday.

April 14th The city of Rocky Mount will be hosting the Conference USA South Spring Sports Championships which over the past few years has been in Rocky Mount.  Time is running out to win the regular season top seed in the baseball tournament.

In the middle of all the pressure of winning a conference title the Wesleyan baseball players this season have join Vs Cancer Foundation in support of local children who have cancer and lose their hair.  The team has set a goal of raising 7,000 dollars and to date they are at 5,800 bucks.  Saturday's game several local barbers headed by the barbers at Englewood Barber Shop will be shaving the heads of many of  the Wesleyan players after the Saturday game.

The team is hoping that they can raise that last 1200 needed to hit their goal..  Several players will be going all the way to shave their heads while others will get haircuts.  What is making this a special afternoon  20 players from Piedmont have signed up to join in.  So Saturday will be a special day at Bauer Field as game time is scheduled for 1pm.  This will be a great day to watch the Bishops if you have never seen a game but most important watch the players supporting children with cancer.

Basketball Tournament Thoughts

I have for the past seven years been in one of this areas famous bracket busters that has well over 100 people.  I have finished 6th,  8th 11th 18th, 22nd and my worse year 33rd.  Heading to the last weekend I still have Carolina to win it but I am 85th.  It hasn't been all upsets the first weekend but heading into this weekend I had three of four in the final four right.  Virginia and Kansas killed me.  Even if Carolina wins it all I doubt I can finish any better than 50th.

It doesn't matter how well you play eight bad minutes by Virginia and they are home today.  I didn't see as well as they have played all year seeing this collapse coming.

Can anybody tell me what Brice Johnson did to get a technical?  The replay shows he never said anything and tossed the ball over his shoulder towards a referee.  How many times since the tournament started do refs call fouls before the play happens.  Replay many times have shown no contact at all but the refs anticipated there would be.

From about the ten minute mark in the first half Notre Dame waited at least 15 seconds before they shot to limit Carolina's scoring chances.  They still scored 88.

You can put to bed the 1974 eight points in seventeen seconds by Carolina over Duke as the biggest blown lead.  Northern Iowa 11 point lead the last 40 seconds has now surpassed that.  Texas AM won the game trailing by 11.  Carolina's 1974 comeback only got the game to overtime.  It was also a regular season game not the playoffs.

How many times have teams taken three point shots with 25 seconds still on the shot clock.  I have seen so many games that there was one game both teams shot three pointers in ten second and neither shots were made.  There is one thing about three point shots.  People make one and think they will never miss another.

All the talk about Coach K's conversation with one of the Oregon players is much about nothing.  Any body remember years ago when Dean Smith said something to a Clemson player while the game was going on and Clemson coach Rick Barnes went Ballistic.

All the upsets still one number one seed and two number twos have made final four.  Syracuse beat a 7-11 and a 15 before they beat Virginia.  So the only real upset the Orange had was beating Virginia.

I still don't understand how the tv networks have two games going at one time that started at least 20 minutes or more apart and yet when you flip the dial when the game you are watching goes to commercial the other game also has a commercial on.

Oklahoma's Buddy Hield is the best player in the tournament.  Don't know why he won't be the top pick in the upcoming draft.

I don't know how it happens but whenever a team hits that groove and everything falls in place and they start playing great is a beautiful to watch.  February 17th after Carolina   lost to Duke in Chapel Hill most Carolina fans were ready to fire Ole Roy.  Many were hoping all the knee misery Roy is having was going to make him want to retire.  Just 40 days  later the Heels are on the verge of winning their 6th national title.

Last Day Of Golden Leaf

It is amazing what a new day can do to a baseball team.  Rocky Mount started in the Golden Leaf Tournament in Wilson having lost both conference games earlier in the week.  Both games had leads but lost both games in the last at bat.

Enter David Harrison who pitches a one hitter and led  to a Monday victory.  Rocky Mount took to the high school field at Hunt just before lunch and Zack Keeter toed the rubber for the Gryphons.  Keeter allowed a run in the fourth and got one out in the sixth inning before Pat Smith brought on Forest Bell to pitch the last five outs. (Hope you saw the Extra Effort Award tonight on WRAL as Forest Bell was featured.)

Rocky Mount first run came in the third when Josh Pittman singled and scored on a gapper hit by Spencer Ramsey.  The Gryphons scored twice in the fourth  on a wild pitch and a walk with the bases loaded.  The Gryphons even their record to 6-6 on the year winning two of three in the Golden Leaf whipping Southern Wayne 3-1.

Southern Nash after winning over Faith Christian on Saturday beat Wilson Christian Monday night and entered Tuesday's game if they could beat Oakwood from Greenville they would be declared the champion of the Golden Leaf.  Oakwood clips the Firebirds 4-3.  Oakwood wins the title through a tie breaking  system going 3-0 and gave up less runs that Cardinal Gibbons.

Monday night the Eagles of Rocky Mount Academy took on Nash Central  at Faith Christian Academy Nash Central beats RMA 9-3.  Today in their final game RMA beat Raleigh Home School 7-3

Faith Christian in their final game beat Wilson Christian 10-1.  However they pulled off the upset of the tournament beating Corinth Holders 13-8 Monday night.  That was only the second loss of the year for the Pirates.

Today Northern Nash lost their third game in the tournament losing to Corinth Holders 6-4.

Nash Central's final game was played against Parrott Academy from Kinston.  Parrott scored one run in the bottom of the seventh to beat the Bulldogs 1-0.

What has been proven from this year's tournament is the private schools when match up against local public high schools not only can compete but they can win.

One Hitter For Harrison

The second day of the Golden Leaf baseball tournament in Wilson saw several wet fields and Rocky Mount  was scheduled to play at Barton college against Cardinal Gibbons.  Instead two changes were made as the Gryphons played at Fleming Stadium and played Ragsdale High from Jamestown. Better results today for the Rocky Mount Gryphons as David Harrison pitched a complete game one hit  2-0 shutout over Ragsdale of Jamestown.       This win breaks a three game losing streak for the Gryphons.

The first run of the game for the Gryphons scored in the third when Jamar Ellis walked, he then stole second and scored on  a Josh Pittman Single.  The game stayed 1-0 until the bottom of the sixth when David Harrison beat out an infield single and scored on a Jake Philbeck double.  The Gryphons conclude their Golden Leaf play at 11:30 Tuesday morning when they play Southern Wayne at Hunt High School.

Northern Nash took on Wayne County Rosewood High and inn a shootout Rosewood got more shots than the  Knights.  13-8 Rosewood.

Sorry that I didn't mention this before but Rocky Mount  Academy was the sixth high school in Nash County taking part in the Golden Leaf.  Saturday they took on Wilson Christian and they lost 5-1.  RMA played Nash Central but that game was moved to Faith Christian. By the time I posted here that game was not over.

Those that have never been to Faith they have maybe the best conditioned playing field in the area. Coach Clifton has done a great job with the baseball program since he left Northern Nash several years ago.  The baseball field is a pride and joy for the Patriots.

Southern Nash was playing Wilson Christian Monday night at Fleming and Faith was playing Hunt at Hunt.  The Golden Leaf Tournament continues Tuesday and it is also the last day of action.

There is a good chance that someone from Rocky Mount High might be featured as the Extra Effort Award winner this Thursday on WRAL sports at 6:22. The extra Effort award will be on air Tuesday-tonight as  Rocky Mount native Tom Suiter was in town to film the segment last week.

Easter Holiday Baseball

One of the best high school Easter  baseball tournaments goes on in our local area in Wilson. It is called the Golden Leaf.  Many teams within fifty miles of Wilson take part.  Five of Nash County High schools are taking part.  The four public high schools and Faith Christian all played their first games on Saturday.

Rocky Mount took on West Carteret at Fleming Stadium  and the first four innings it was all Gryphons as they pulled to a 6-0 lead.  The fifth inning the bottom fell out for the Gryphons including a collision in the outfield that sent one Gryphon to the hospital.  By innings end the score was 6-5.

Just in the last five games the Gryphons have given up the lead in three straight games in the last inning and four of the last five.  Saturday was no exception as West Carteret wins 7-6 scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh.  Monday the Gryphons will meet Cardinal Gibbons at 3pm at Barton College.  Tuesday they have an 11:30 date with Southern Wayne at Hunt High.

Faith Christian took on cross county public high school Southern Nash and the Firebirds held the The Patriots to three hits while Southern got only seven themselves.  Those seven hits were enough to beat Faith 3-0. Faith has one more game against Hunt Monday night at Fleming Stadium.

Southern Nash has action in Fleming Stadium against Wilson Christian and they finish up Tuesday playing Oakwood at Hunt at 1pm.

Northern Nash took on Cardinal Gibbons who has lost but once this season beat the Knights 9-5. Northern returns to tournament action Monday at 1pm against Rosewood.  Tuesday they finish Golden Leaf play in Fleming against Corinth Holders.

Nash Central on Saturday took on just maybe the best team in the field as they met CB Aycock.  Aycock convinced the Bulldogs winning 10-0.  Their only other game will be Tuesday when they take on Parrott Academy.

The ACC will send two teams to the final four but one of the two will not be UVA the third number one seed in the NCAA tournament to fall this weekend.  Syracuse played about ten minutes of perfect basketball in the second half and surprised UVA 68-62.

This opens the door for Carolina who matches up well withThe Orange.  The Tar Heels got a test from Notre Dame but down the stretch the Fighting Irish had no answer for the Tar Heels.  Carolina scored at will to advance to a Saturday Semi Final matchup with Syracuse.  Tar Heels 88 Irish 74.  Carolina goes to the final four for the 19th time the NCAA tournament record.  Tip time is 8:49 Saturday night.

This Is The Day Of Hope

Christians celebrate today, the day that our lord Jesus rose from the grave.  He was born in this world to forgive us of our sins.  Those who came to follow Jesus during his days on earth thought that he was to become king of the government but his kingdom was much more than that.

His teaching while on earth made heaven a place for everyone not just for the Jews of the Old Testament.  Those that were able to hear his teachings in person had a special event in their life but almost all misunderstood  him.  More feared him because they thought he was going to lead a movement to over throw the government.  While those that believed didn't understand what being born again meant.

His teaching were in order to enter heaven you had to be born again but most thought that was dying but the concept was you had to accept Jesus in your heart and when you did that he would fill your body with his spirit and you would be born again where Jesus was the most important reason in your life.  He promised if you accepted him he would have a place for you in heaven.

His death on the cross was a shock for those that thought he would be king of the government and for those believers who thought him as the religious leader thought he would never die.  Today we celebrate his rise from the grave and forty days after his resurrection from the grave his rise up to heaven to the kingdom he promise us if we believed in him.

Our day will start at Cavalry  Baptist Church for Sunrise service as our church Sunset Avenue Baptist alternates sunrise service every other year with them.  Praise be to the Lord as he has risen.

All ACC

All year long the University of Virginia has frustrated me with the willingness to hold their opponents to 60 points by holding the ball on offense.  So far in the NCAA tournament Virginia has been transformed into a demon attacking the basket.  They have the players when attacking just might be make them the best team in the tournament.

The Cavs jumped to a 12-2 lead, Iowa State  made it 12-4 but after that the biggest lead was 17 and never below a ten point lead the rest of the way.  The Wahoos cruise 84-71 over Iowa State.

That frustration that I had for Virginia's offense during the regular season was on full display why I hate that type offense as Wisconson held Notre Dame to 24 % shooting in the first half and most of their misses were three point shots.  Despite terrible shooting they trailed  the Badgers only 23-19 at the halfway

Wisconson never  able to get more than a six point lead Notre Dame finally started making shots and down three with 26 seconds left for the second game in a row the Fighting  Irish pull one out beating The Badgers 61-56.  I just hate it that when you hold the ball until late in the shot clock. There will be times when two or more minutes will pass when you miss a couple and when the other team makes two threes in a row that catch you and pass you by maybe only scoring six in a row.

Gonzaga and Syracuse are the last hope for the upset special in the final four.  The Cuse trailed most of the way but when they need stops they got them and when they needed to score they put the ball through the rim.  The Orange survived a terrible call after they had taken the lead inside of thirty seconds and came up with a steal as the Syracuse player was rule out of bounds on the baseline by the official thirty feet up the sideline. TV replay showed at least an inch was between the toe of the Cuse player from being out of bounds.

The Zags we given the ball back but a block of a jump shot at the foul line by the Cuse was recover by the Orange with one second left.  Syracuse 63 Gonzaga 60!

The North Carolina Tar Heels made it a perfect night for the ACC as the Heels were too tall and on fire from the three point line and proved to be too much for the Big Ten Champion Indiana.  Virginia has been an offensive juggernaut in the NCAA tournament while Carolina has become maybe the best defensive team in the tournament.  They are already the best offensive team.

Carolina led by 11 at the half and kept the petal to the metal  in the second half and kept the Hoosiers three point shooting at bay.  The Heels put 100 on Indiana 101-86.

There will be an ACC team in the National Championship game as all four teams will play each other Sunday and the two winners will meet each other in the National Semi Finals in Houston next Saturday.  Saturday the ACC takes the day off as Oklahoma plays Oregon and Villanova plays Kansas with those two winners meeting in the other National Semi next Saturday.

Who said some Mid Major just might sneak in the Final Four.  All four number ones are still alive...  The Heels play Sunday at 8:49 against Notre Dame.  Virginia and Syracuse play in the opener Sunday around 6.