For the first time since 1999, the Rocky Mount Invitational Baseball Tournament will have just six teams in its lineup. The 33rd edition of the event is set for Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, April 5, 7 and 8 at Gryphon Stadium.
As in 1999, schedule conflicts for schools due to an early Easter date and separated dates for spring breaks made it almost impossible to bring eight teams into the field.
Northern Nash, Wilson Hunt, Southern Nash and Rocky Mount all return from the 2007 field. Back in the lineup is Nash Central, which has participated in the Tarboro Classic the last few seasons.
New to the event is Fort Mill High School from Fort Mill, S.C. The Yellow Jackets won their conference last season and last year the school won S.C.'s version of the Wachovia Cup for overall sports excellence in the 4-A classification.
Since there is no single elimination round with six teams, a tournament champion will be crowned by the following means: if a team goes undefeated; should two or more teams tie for the best record, then the following tiebreakers will be used: fewest runs allowed; then head-to-head; then total runs scored.
Rocky Mount is the three-time defending champion and has won the event 11 times.
2008 SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 5
Game 1: Southern Nash vs. Nash Central, 1 p.m.
Game 2: Northern Nash vs. Fort Mill, S.C., 4 p.m.
Game 3: Rocky Mount vs. Wilson Hunt, 7 p.m.
Monday, April 7
Game 1: Rocky Mount vs. Fort Mill, S.C., 1 p.m.
Game 2: Southern Nash vs. Wilson Hunt, 4 p.m.
Game 3: Nash Central vs. Northern Nash, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 8
Game 1: Nash Central vs. Wilson Hunt, 1 p.m.
Game 2: Southern Nash vs. Fort Mill, S.C., 4 p.m.
Game 3: Rocky Mount vs. Northern Nash, 7 p.m.
Championship Qualifiers
Champion - One team goes undefeated
Tie-Breakers:
1. Fewest runs allowed
2. Head-to-Head
3. Runs scored
A 12-team All-Tournament Team will be voted on by the media
Individual Awards: MVP; Most Hits; Top Defensive Player
Past Rocky Mount Gryphons Easter/Invitational Baseball Tournament Champions
Here are the past champions of the Rocky Mount Gryphons Easter/Invitational Baseball Tournament. The event has been also called the Rocky Mount Breakfast Optimist Annual Tournament (1977-89, '91, '93, '95-'99) and the Wilson Breakfast Optimist Invitational Tournament (1990, '92, '94). Wilson's Optimists hosted the tourney in alternate years over a five-year period at Fleming Stadium.
PAST CHAMPIONS
2007 - Rocky Mount def. Southern Nash, 13-1
2006 - Rocky Mount def. Northern Nash, 6-2
2005 - Rocky Mount def. Northern Nash, 5-2
2004 - Wilson Hunt def. Washington, 5-3 (5 inn., rain-shortened)
2003 - Morrisville Green Hope def. Rocky Mount 6-1
2002 - Kernersville Glenn def. Durham Riverside, 7-3
2001 - Kernersville Glenn def. Wilson Fike, 4-1
2000 - Durham Jordan def. Rocky Mount, 8-6
1999 - round-robin w/6 teams - no champion
1998 - final day of tournament rained out (RMHS, Beddingfield made the finals)
1997 - Rocky Mount def. Durhan Jordan, 6-2
1996 - Rocky Mount def. Northern Nash, 8-5
1995 - Rocky Mount def. Wilson Beddingfield, 6-0
1994 - Rocky Mount def. Wilson Beddingfield, 7-2
1993 - Northern Nash def. Southern Nash, 6-5
1992 - Greene Central
1991 - Greene Central
1990 - Greene Central def. Roanoke Rapids, 8-2
1989 - Southern Nash
1988 - Rocky Mount
1987 - Roanoke Rapids
1986 - Southern Nash
1985 - Roanoke Rapids
1984 - Roanoke Rapids
1983 - Roanoke Rapids
1982 - Northern Nash
1981 - Rocky Mount
1980 - Rocky Mount
1979 - Rocky Mount
1978 - Sanderson
1977 - Garner
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