ACC Week

The Last punishment for the state of North Carolina the ACC tournament moving out of state to Louisvile Kentucky gets underway this week. This year the top four seeds are in pods with two other teams. The Louisville Cardinals are the top seed and share pod A with 8th seed Florida State and the last team in Notre Dame. Pod B is headed by North Carolina joined by 11th seed Boston College and 7th seed North Carolina State.

Wake Forest comes to  Louisville with the third best record in the league.  Miami 6th and Georgia Tech 10th share Pod C.  Virginia heads up Pod D as the fourth best record. Clemson 5th and Georgia Tech 9th round out the pod.

Take a real good look you will notice that the two lowest seeds play each other first.  Let's look at Carolina's bracket.  State and BC play each other first.  If you look at all the pods the  two lowest seeds play each other first.

Each bracket is set up that the loser of each  lowest seed game is eliminated even though they have another game to play.  Should State beat BC each pod is set up that the first game for each top seed is against the lowest seed in each pod.  If overall seedings hold up BC would be out and NC/NCState would play  for the pod championship Friday Night

The two hottest teams in the league are State and BC. How's this for and oddity.  State is 1-5 this year against NC/BC.  They beat the Heels once and were swept by the Eagles.  State played both on the road.

The only way the top seed doesn't win their pod is one of the lower seed wins both.  Should all three in any pod all go 1-1 then the top seed moves to the semi  finals.

The important times this week for every ACC school in North Carolina is Tuesday 3pm State/BC....7pm Duke/Clemson.  Wednesday 3pm Carolina/BC...7pm Wake Forest/Georgia Tech.  Thursday 11am Virginia/Wake Forest...7pm NC State/Carolina.

The outcome of games will determine Saturday.

A Sweep For The Champs

The 2017 NCISAA State Champions played 25 games this season winning 24.  Their lone loss of the season I think you can say  more than made up and got their revenge.  Their lone loss on the season came at the hands of Northside Christian who today lost for the second day in a row to the Patriots.

The Patriots jump out once again early in today's first game or the second game of this Two out of three championship series. Unlike yesterday where when the Northside rally came the Patriots responded to to pull away for a 8-2 victory.

Today turned into a Barn burner that took a championship team to hang on. Tying  run on third a fly ball becomes the state championship out and the Patriots are NCISAA 2A they win 5-4.

No need for A third game.  What can you say about Greg Clifton who left public school to take over the program. He has the best field of any field in Nash County. It seems that every year he has been at FC They have got closer and closer until the mountain top today.  It never hurts to have good players that he has had a hand in making.

WAY TO Go Faith Christian Patriots. State Champions

Track And Field:
Michaela Nelms of  Nash Central  has won the 400 meter dash while Sherrod Greene of Rocky Mount has won the discus.  The Nash Central 4x400  relay team are state champions:  Michaela Nelms, Carisha Leonard, T'Keyah Macklin and Teona Hill

Nash Central Girls finished 6th over all while Rocky Mount girls are 12th. Rocky Mount boys finished 7th.

Here is a list of all Nash County athletes who scored points.
GIRLS:

Girls High Jump-Myia Spivey Nash Central 4th 4.5 points...Brittany Beckford Rocky Mount 2.5 points
Long Jump- London Green Rocky Mount 3rd 6 points
Shot put-Keyanna  Spivey Rocky Mount 4th  5 points
Discus-Keyanna Spivey Rocky Mount 6th 3 points
100 meter dash-Michael Nelms 6th 3 points
4x200 Nash Central 4th Michaela Nelms, Teona Hill, Naudica Howard and T'Keyah Macklin
400 meter dash-Brittany Beckford Rocky Mount 7th 2 points
800 meter run- Carisha Leonard 8th 1 point

1A
100 Meter Dash-  Akira Simmons Rocky Mount Prep 2nd 8 points

BOYS:
Triple Jump-  Shyheim Battle Rocky Mount 5th 4 points
Shot put -Sherrod Greene 2nd 8 points
4x800 relay Rocky Mount 8th 1 point:Maliek Small, Keyonte Williams, Donovan Dickins and Damien Moore
300 meter hurdles- Malcolm Wade Northern Nash 8th 1 point

Need Just One More

Faith Christian wins State Championship sweeping Northside winning today 5-4
Faith Christian is one step away from winning the NCISAA 2A state playoffs after giving Northside Christian Academy their fourth lost of the year.  The Patriots 23-1 got all they needed in the first inning scoring five times which would prove to be enough.

They added one in the second to stretch the lead to six. North side trimmed the lead to 6-2 but FCA put a duce on the board in the top of the 7th taking  away any suspense of any Northside Christian come back.

Saturday Faith can win it all by winning the first game at high noon Saturday and win the series 2-0.  If it takes three games to win that games follows near 3:30.

Keeping up. Northwood led Northern Guilford 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth and NG scored three times to beat the team that knocked out the Gryphons.

Big day in Greensboro as the state 3A track and field  championship will be held.  Maybe 10 miles from where Faith will be playing.


Thursday night Rocky Mount High School had their end of the years sports banquet honoring their athletes  for their play on the field and most of all for their accomplishments in the class room.  The top honor of the night went to Barkley Browder and Artavious Richardson  winning the Triple Crown.  The triple crown honors their academic achievements, athletic and their life on campus.

The scholar athletes of the year were Barkley Browder  and Kevin Pham

The Juan Chesson award that honors the life of former Gryphon Shelton Juan Chesson who displayed leadership, spirit, and loyalty  this year's winner is Michelle Gainey

The athletes of the year were Keyanna Spivey and Sherrod Greene

State Championship Day For Track and Field is Saturday

Nash Central headlines Nash County track stars heading to Greensboro Saturday to take part in the North Carolina 3A  state championships on the campus of North Carolina A&T in Greensboro.  The Bulldogs are hoping for a top five finish in the girls team championship.  Here is a list from all four Nash County schools and those that will be trying to become state champions.

Nash Central:Girls
Myka Hedgepeth 100 Meter Hurdles...Pole Vault
Michaela Nelms  100 Meter Dash...400 meter dash
Carisha Leonard  800 Meters Dash
Myia Spivey        High Jump
4x200 meter Relay
4x400 meter Relay
4x800 meter Relay

Nash Central: Boys
Quante Downing Pole vault

Rocky Mount : Girls
Brittany Beckford  400 Meter Dash....High jump
London Green   Long Jump
Keyanna Spivey  Discus....Shot Put

Rocky Mount: Boys
Shyheim Battle  Triple jump
Sherrod Greene  Discus....Shot Put
Mckenzy Wright  110 Meters Hurdles... 300 Meter Hurdles
4X800 Relay....Josh Harper,Damien Moore, Keyote Williams , Donovan Dickins and Maliek Williams

Southern Nash: Girls
Cassidy Pennington  300 Meter Hurdles

Northern Nash: Boys
Malcolm Wade  300 Meter Hurdles
Brandon Richardson  Long Jump

The meet starts at 8: 30 and hopefully by dark Saturday night  several state champions will be crowned from Nash County and we hope several will be repeat state champions!

Saturday is the last day for all athletics  for Nash County Schools for this school year 2016/2017.  The next events start in August when fall sports for the 2017/2018 year begin.

Faith Christian 22-1 begins their two out of three  NCISAA 2A state championship  baseball playoff in High Point today. They meet Northside Christian 20-3 from Charlotte. 4pm Today noon Saturday and if needed 3:30 Saturday afternoon  GOOD LUCK PATRIOTS!

American Legion Post 58 is having try outs today at 4pm at Legion Field on Howell street.

NOT Again

The Jacksonville Cardinals have been a great power in soccer for many years.  Anyone remember several years ago the Jacksonville boys playing Rocky Mount and the game was played at then the new fields at the sports complex and both teams went tooth and nail inside of two minutes a header  or a accidental bounce off the head of a Cardinal player went in for a 1-0 win.

Ever since then Rocky Mount always plays the Cardinal and seems always get the short end.  Tonight the Gryphons come up on the short end again after having several break-away shots early either missed or great goalie play by the Cardinals.  The Cards a shot hit the goal post and themselves denied by goal tending go 0-0 at the half.

It took one minute in the second half for a defensive lapse and the Cardinals were in the net for a 1-0 lead.  The Gryphons offense had multiple chances but nothing found the net. Then halfway home in the second   half a midfield kick found the net and it seemed to take the air out of the Gryphons.

Seems the Gryphons found their second wind but nothing could find the net including a scramble around the net with about two minutes left that the goal keeper nearly in order to save a shot almost ran into the net for the save that's how close it was.

So the road ends again at the hands of Jacksonville 2-0

This Friday May 19th tryouts for  the 2017 Coleman Pitt  Post 58 American Legion baseball will take place at 4pm at Legion field on  805 Howell Street in Rocky Mount. This will be a pro style workout.  Catchers should bring their own gear.   Questions need to be answered by Hank Jones at 252-904-4995.  Several members of the Faith Christian baseball will be missing since they will be in High Point for the NCISAA 2A state championship series.

If you are wondering how has Northwood done since beating Rocky Mount baseball last week in the second round of the state playoffs.  Tuesday night they beat Eastern Alamance 1-0 to advance to round four against the top seed in the east Northern Guilford.  The Northwood pitcher Davis Palmero pitched a no hitter.

Not All Rocky Mount Final

There is no doubt when quality teams meet up in the most important game of the year and the game is not decided until the last batter then you have a game to remember forever. Especially when the winning run scores in a way you can say you have never seen before.

Faith Christian met  Westchester Country Day  in a pitchers duel where the first run did not cross the plate until the bottom sixth and a sac fly by the Patriots gave them a 1-0 lead.

Landen Roupp carried a shutout into the 7th only to be rocked by a solo homerun to tie the score heading to the bottom of the 7th.  The Patriots loaded the bases with less than two outs when a pop up was ruled an infield fly rule which means the batter is out and runners advance at their own risk.   Since the batter is out there is no force play so no runner has to run.  The ball is dropped allowing the runner on third to score when the batter was already out and no need to catch the ball.

Faith earns the right to play in in the championship series starting Friday oddly enough being hosted by Westchester Country Day of High Point the team they Beat today.

There was hope for an all Rocky Mount final as Rocky Mount Academy made a long ride to Charlotte to play North side  Christian  and the results will leave the Eagles short of their 2nd state finals in four years.  The Eagles lose 15-6.  It will be a long ride home for RMA.

Faith will face North side Christian starting Friday at 4pm in High Point.  Game Two is set at noon Saturday and if needed game three will follow at 3:30.

The Rocky Mount Gryphons girls soccer team will host A third round 3A soccer match at 5pm Wednesday hosting Jacksonville.

The ACC baseball race  has reached the final weekend of the season with Louisville and North Carolina clinching top seeds in two of the four pods that the tournament is taking on this year.  Even if both teams lost all three games this weekend the Tar Heels and Cardinals are far enough ahead in their division to stay top seed.

Next Tuesday when the tournament gets underway in Louisville the teams will be bracketed with three teams in a bracket so this year the number of teams in the tournament will be 12 and as it stands now Boston College and Pittsburgh will not head to Louisville.  Neither is totally out but probably.

So the three teams in each pod will play round robin in their pod with the winner of each pod moving on the  Semi's on Saturday.  Starting Tuesday you will play two games in four days, if you advance to Saturday Semi final is your third game and the championship game on Sunday.  The biggest idea playing only two games to reach the semi is how do you go with your pitching rotation.  Some where your so call mid week starter will have to get a start if you get all the way to Sunday.  Even with this format the team with the best four starting pitchers will win.

If the tournament started today the pods would be. A Louisville, Florida State and Virginia Tech.  Pod B  North Carolina, Miami and Georgia Tech.  Pod C  Wake Forest, NC State and Notre Dame.  Pod D Virginia, Clemson and Duke.  Virginia Tech, Notre Dame and Duke need to win two out of three this weekend to keep Pitt and BC sitting home next week.

Now the funny business:  What happens if your bracket all three teams go 1-1.  It would take 12 Philadelphia lawyers to say keep Carolina out of the semi finals  With their overall record compared to others in their Pod.  Just hope the teams that are suppose to win do or lose both to take all the what if's out of play.

More Soccer To Be Played

The Lady Gryphons are heading to the third round in the Eastern bracket of the state soccer playoffs..  Southern Lee  proved to be an equal to  the Lady Gryphons in the first half scoring three times while the Gryphons got their share of three goals.

The second half the high octane Gryphons offense got rolling scoring four times while Southern Lee failed to net any shots in the second half. So far in the two playoff games the Gryphons have scored 11 goals or 5.5 scores per game while their four goals against averages two per game while on the season averaged 1.7 scores against.  The offense is right on average through the first two playoff games.

They will be meeting a team that it seems every year they play and they have been a great thorn in the side of the Gryphons. The Jacksonville Cardinals 15-5-3 who were a 5-4 winners  over Chapel Hill last week before the rains came.  Rocky Mount will host Wednesday now stands at 16-4-1.

On the other side of campus the Rocky Mount boys tennis team lost their first match all year and it brings to a close a year of high expectation for next year as the Gryphons lose only one player of this squad who made it to the third Round.  Chapel Hill advances to meet Terry Sanford on Wednesday. Terry Sanford is the second seed in the east.

Final score was 5-1.  The lone point was won by the Gryphons  #2 singles George Shannon.

The only baseball game still being played in Rocky Mount on Tuesday will be at Faith Christian.  The 21-1 Patriots are averaging just a pinch short of 7 runs a game while allowing a taste more than one.  Hard to beat a team with pitching like that.

Rocky Mount Academy might as well take a holiday from school Tuesday as the 13-8 Eagles have a trip to Charlotte to North side Christian Academy. North side is 19-3.

I know you haven't heard much about Legion Baseball so far this spring.  Joe Bell tells me try outs are on hold waiting on Faith and RMA finishing up baseball playoffs.  If you have ridden by Legion Field in the last couple of weeks it has looked like an abandon ball yard.  A lawn mower and other equipment will get the field ready this week.