Rainout Favors Post 58

Now instead of playing four games in five days Coleman Pitt Post 58 will try to finish it's regular season with three games in two days on Thursday and Friday.  I have not talked with Joe Bell Athletic Officer for Post 58 but this is my take on what went down to create Post 58 getting two home games instead one this week and will not play at Garner but instead two games against Garner here Thursday.

First possibility is that the rain on Tuesday and between Garner and Rocky Mount's final week schedule no other day could matched up to play by the end of the regular season.  I think we have detailed before the plight of Legion teams in the Triangle area and not having a home field to play their games and when ever they do find an available field they must rent that field for $750 to 1000 per game or even rent them by the hour.

If you recall in 2014 Garner played on Legion Field in Rocky Mount during the playoffs because rent or finding an available field in the Garner area was much easier for them just come play here than pay big bucks rent to stay close to Garner.  They also know the playing surface of the field is about as good as any anywhere.  The only negative about the field is the neighborhood in which it lies.

So Coleman Pitt now gets to play Garner twice on it's own field instead of one at  home and one somewhere in Wake or Johnston County.  The only way this can be an advantage is win both games. Playing two seven inning games and playing Cary Friday night at Cary nine innings  reduces by four innings worth pitch count on the pitching staff. That applies for Garner too.

Once Joe Bell told me before the season started that we were shifting to the western division I never in my wildest dream had any conception of winning five games this season.  I did think we would play 20 games so 5-15 was my guess.  The combination of having most of the best players in the area commit to Post 58 for the season and getting more home games than road games because we have a field to play on where others don't Post 58 is on the door step from possibly winning the western division outright or tie for the top spot.  Who in their right mind unsure if we would field a team again this season could anybody think we might be the top dog.

Thursday night the place to be will be at Legion Field as Garner 3-2 takes on Post 58 4-1.   Both teams can still finish first.  The entire season rides on Thursday night's outcome.

Post 58 has it's second college baseball commitment as Rocky Mount Academy pitcher Reid Johnston has announced he will join Legion teammate David Harrison and play baseball at NC State starting in the fall of 2017.

Much Needed

NO GAME TONIGHT WILL PLAY GARNER A DOUBLEHEADER THURSDAY NIGHT IN ROCKY MOUNT PROBABLE START TIME 6:00PM  Two seven inning games

Tonight Coleman Pitt Post 58 began their final week of the regular season with the first of four games in five nights.  Just the way the standings were heading into tonight these four could could lead to the regular season top seed in the tournament or as low as fourth.  I am being told now that the fourth place team will play the fifth place team with the winner Earning the fourth spot and will play the top seed in the next round.

Tonight Coleman Pitt sent Trey Wells to the mound after Coleman Pitt scored one run in the top of the first using old fashion baseball sacrificing a runner over and waiting for a defensive mistake to lead 1-0.  Run two for CP 58 was another runner advance by good baseball and and RBI created run number three.

Wells gave way to Tyler Sherrod in the third and Sherrod held Durham at bay through eight innings.  Three  runs were all that were needed as Coleman Pitt wins at Durham Post 7 3-2 after Noah Shrock pitched the ninth to earn the save.   Sherrod got the win for Post 58 pitching almost five innings.  A big difference tonight after Friday night at Apex didn't matter who was on the mound for Post 58 nobody could stop Apex.

This makes Post 58 4-1 in league play and 7-4 overall with three more games left this week. What the victory insures is Post 58 will not be involved in the 4/5 play in game so the worse they can be now is third.  Tuesday night CP 58 host Garner who was 3-2 in conference play and since we have them at Garner Thursday these next two games for the most part will be at least the battle for second depending on what Apex 5-2 does by the end of the week

Still first is available by finishing 7-1 or 6-2 might tie Apex and since we split with them your guess is as good as mine About the tie breaker. We cannot forget Garner because they too could finish 6-2 if they win all their games this week including the two against P 58.  The importance of finishing first or second is host three of the five games to be played in the next round.  Third place will travel three of the five games against the two seed.

The final home game of the regular season is Tuesday night hosting Garner.  It is down they stretch they come and for the most part Apex, Rocky Mount and Garner all can still win first, second or third.  Garner however is not yet home free of still finishing fourth and having to play in the 4/5 play in game so to say the least This game Tuesday is monumental for both teams.  Come watch these kids who made a commitment this season to play Legion ball and bring back to Rocky Mount the fun of must win baseball.  We didn't have it here last year and it was missed by all.

Coaching Movements in the Big  East and this one is somewhat a surprise that Stevie Hinnant has resigned as Athletic Director and football coach at Hunt High School.  The surprise is that Hinnant is stepping down to go in private business with 28 years of coaching at Hunt.

Final Week Stretch Run

Friday night is the last night of Legion regular season baseball.  There are only five teams in the western division so there will be a three out of five series between 1/4 and 2/3 starting Tuesday July 5th at the highest seed for the first game and alternate there after.

Coleman Pitt Post 58 stands at 3-1 in the division.  Apex is 5-2 and percentage wise is in a dead heat with Post 58 for first.  Their advantage is they have two more wins than we have and we must earn those victories this week.  Garner  is 3-2 and Post 58 meets them twice this week.  Durham stands 2-4 and Cary 1-5.

This afternoon at 5 pm post 58 travels to Durham and it is a must win for Post 58 in order to stay  ahead of them.  Tuesday Coleman Pitt host Garner and these two games with Garner will determine who gets second assuming Apex gets the top spot.  Friday night P 58 finishes up the regular season at Cary and that is another need to win to stay in front of Cary.

The winner of the 1/4-2/3 clash would then compete in the battle for the western division title and that winner would face the eastern division for seeding purposes for the state tournament.  This is the year the east has two teams iin the state tournament so the only reason to play would be to say East number one.  There have been in the past a coin flip by the teams so they would not waste pitchers for the state tournament.  If only one team got a bid then there would be a three out of five.

This week will be a four game week in five days which will be the busiest stretch all year.  It will surely test the depth of Post 58 pitching.  Should P 58 win all four they will at least tie for first and be either 1st or 2nd when the playoff starts and get three home games in a three out of five playoff.

If they go 2-2 depending on who the two losses are they could drop to third and only two home games in a three out of five series.  It would be a nice start to this final week if they can win tonight in Durham.  The game is at Trinity High at 5pm.

Every player of every sport performs better when they have people supporting them in the stands.  Tuesday night as Coleman Pitt heads down the stretch of another season their positioning for the playoffs they need bunches of people supporting them.  Why don't you be one of them.

Sports Is All About The Future

We as fans think that last night's game is the end of the world when we lose.  The Warriors were the talk of the NBA as one of the greatest teams ever and in a week they are never going to win again.  I guess the only question unresolved was Curry's knee injury not healed causing his terrible week?

Not that long ago people in Raleigh were ready to fire Mark Gottfried after the Pack basketball team failed to win as many games as losing and it seemed as if every player was jumping ship.  The twins left and who could blame Cat from leaving even though no one was predicting him as a first round pick.

The bottom of the world had fallen on NC State.  They would be a bottom of the barrell feeder again next year and it is time to find a new coach.  Since they have signed one of the best big men in the country and two guards that are at least four star  prospect that everyone wanted.  Several possible returning players who were rumored that might leave stayed and all of a sudden the Pack might turn into a top ten team if all these players are as good as rated.

Win a game today the world is great.  Lose tomorrow and the world is ending.  Football you have a week to celebrate or cry depending on the outcome of the last game.  Basketball you play at least twice a week so there is less time between.  Baseball can be an everyday game with only let's go again tonight.  There is that old saying you are never as good as you think and as bad as it seems.

Before Friday night both Arizona and Coastal Carolina were both on their death bed having lost their first games in the College World Series.  Both teams were facing teams that they were going to have to beat twice.  Arizona would have to take down Oklahoma  State and Coastal would get to face TCU.

Is it possible that one of those could win two in a row and upset the team that only needs one win  Friday or if it takes just one win on Saturday.  Lo and behold not only did Arizona  and Coastal Carolina win Friday but they both win again Saturday and the Big 12 will have no one in the finals after having three in the final eight.

Coastal Carolina just two weeks ago had to have a rain shower after midnight halt play in Raleigh.  Without the rain they lose and never get a chance to come back the next afternoon and beat NC State.

Taken To The Wood Shed

 Legion baseball season in most years is just a little more than a month and most seasons 20 games are played in 30 days.  That has not happened for Coleman Pitt Post 58 this season as tonight was one month to the day since the start of the season and Post 58 was playing game ten and only their fourth in the last two plus weeks.  There is something in our life to routine and it is hard to have a routine when you are not playing at least four nights a week.

Nine days ago Post 58 hosted Apex Post 124 and in Rocky Mount it took twelve innings before Post 58 pulled out a 3-2 win.  Tonight at Apex High School the first inning was a draw but Apex put together multiple runs in the second and third inning to run off to a 10-0 lead over Coleman Pitt.  Cameron Taylor started for Post 58 but he was replaced by TreyWells, Noah Shrock and Tyler Sherrod.

To Post 58's credit they didn't go quietly as they cut the lead to 10-2, Apex made it 11-2 then 11-3 and by the end of the sixth inning 13-3. P 58 added three in the 7th to cut the lead to 13-6.  It looked like they may not get mercy ruled tonight but Apex plates three in the bottom of the Seventh to win in seven 16-6.

Apex pounded out 20 hits in seven innings.  Post 58 must regroup suffering their first defeat in division play and return to action Monday night at Cary.  Tonight's loss stops a six game winning streak and the stand 6-4 and 3-1.

The College World Series is down to four teams and Friday the two undefeated teams Oklahoma St and TCU had chances to go undefeated in their Brackets and qualify for the two out of three final which starts Monday.

Arizona did everything they could do and by beating Oklahoma State 9-3 they have forced a winner take all double elimination game Saturday with the winner advancing to Monday's finals.  Coastal Carolina has become the darling of the College World Series and they sent their ace Andrew Beckwith back to the mound for the second time this week with the same result.  A 4-1 victory for  Coastal Carolina over TCU causing a double header Saturday winner take all for the right to make it to the final two teams.

Taken To The Wood Shed

 Legion baseball season in most years is just a little more than a month and most seasons 20 games are played in 30 days.  That has not happened for Coleman Pitt Post 58 this season as tonight was one month to the day since the start of the season and Post 58 was playing game ten and only their fourth in the last two plus weeks.  There is something in our life to routine and it is hard to have a routine when you are not playing at least four nights a week.

Nine days ago Post 58 hosted Apex Post 124 and in Rocky Mount it took twelve innings before Post 58 pulled at a 3-2 win.  Tonight at Apex High School the first inning was a draw but Apex put together multiple runs in the second and third inning to run off to a 10-0 lead over Coleman Pitt.  Cameron Taylor started for Post 58 but he was replaced by TreyWells, Noah Shrock and Tyler Sherrod.

To Post 58's credit they didn't go quietly as they cut the lead to 10-2, Apex made it 11-2 then 11-3 and by the end of the sixth inning 13-3. P 58 added three in the 7th to cut the lead to 13-6.  It looked like they may not get mercy ruled tonight but Apex plates three in the bottom of the Seventh to win in seven 16-6.

Apex pounded out 20 hits in seven innings.  Post 58 must regroup suffering their first defeat in division play and return to action Monday night at Cary.  Tonight's loss stops a six game winning streak and the stand 6-4 and 3-1.

The College World Series is down to four teams and Friday the two undefeated teams Oklahoma St and TCU had chances to go undefeated in their Brackets and qualify for the two out of three final which starts Monday.

Arizona did everything they could do and by beating Oklahoma State 9-3 they have forced a winner take all double elimination game Saturday with the winner advancing to Monday's finals.  Coastal Carolina has become the darling of the College World Series and they sent their ace Andrew Beckwith back to the mound for the second time this week with the same result.  A 4-1 victory for  Coastal Carolina over TCU causing a double header Saturday winner take all for the right to make it to the final two teams.

Gurley Makes NFL Top 25

The NFL for the past several years during the off season has filled tv time with a ten week Wednesday night NFL Top 100 Players. They have made it down to the top 20 and standing at number 22 is Tarboro High's Todd Gurley.

Not bad at all for a player drafted by the then St Louis Rams in the first round and Gurley was recovering from knee surgery that ended his college career before the end of his third season.  Top that off the Rams took extra special care and did not let Gurley see the field until the second half of game number three.

All he did was win rookie of the year rushing for over a thousand yards in just 13 games.  Now that the Rams call LA home Gurley will now perform in the second biggest market and we all know that if you play in New York the media capital of the world you get extra attention as the greatest players and now with LA and back in the limelight you know Gurley with be on highlight reels every time he carries the ball.  If he is the 22nd best player in the NFL and only played in 13 games where would he be  if he had of played every game?

Kinston's Brandon Ingram is the property of LA Lakers as he was drafted second in the NBA draft Thursday night.  Good time to be a Laker now that Kobe has finally retired.

We all are proud of our children for being the kind of people that they become and some  moments they achieve levels in life we never dreamed possible.  July my son Brooks who if you have looked at this blog much know that he is a Triathlon coach based in Raleigh and he has been invited to conduct three weeks of training camps for some  of the best Tri runners in the USA.

He will be heading to Colorado Springs Colorado to the US Olympic Training Center.  Top notch Tri Athlon  athletes the best the USA has will work with Brooks a week at the time. It will not happen this Olympic year but a father's hope is I can attend the next Olympics at watch him coach a metal winner.

Coleman Pitt Post 58 is on the road tonight in Apex.  They stand 3-0 in the Western Division of Area one.  They are home again Tuesday when they host Garner.

Coastal Carolina us still alive in College World Series after a 7-5 win over Texas Tech. They have to beat TCU twice tonight and Saturday.