Happy Birthday, Coach!

To answer the question, from the Beatles' 1967 song,

"Will you still need me,
Will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?"

- the answer is a big affirmative!

Rocky Mount head football coach B.W. Holt turned 64 years young on Tuesday.

Happy Birthday Coach! We wish you many, many more! We will keep on feeding you and we certainly need you!

2008 NEW 6 Conference Football Master Schedule

(Scrimmages are subject to changes. Schools are allowed up to seven hours of scrimmage time. More scrimmages will be added to the schedule as announced. All regular season games are at 7:30 p.m.)

Tuesday, Aug. 12

South Johnston @ Northern Nash

North Lenoir @ Wilson Fike (Scrimmage)

Seventy First @ Rocky Mount (practice-scrimmage)


Thursday, Aug. 14

South Johnston @ Rocky Mount (practice-scrimmage)

Friday, Aug. 15

Rocky Mount, Wilson Fike, Northern Nash @ RM Football Jamboree, 4 p.m. (Scrimmage)
SW Edgecombe @ Tarboro Jamboree (Scrimmage), 6 p.m.
Nash Central @ Wakefield (Scrimmage) - moved to Sat.
Southern Nash @ North Johnston (Scrimmage) , ppd.


Thursday, Aug. 21

Havelock @ SW Edgecombe (Scrimmage)

Louisburg @ Southern Nash (Scrimmage), 6 p.m.


Friday, Aug. 22 (Regular season starts)

East Forsyth @ Rocky Mount
DH Conley @ Wilson Fike
Nash Central @ Tarboro
Northern Nash @ Beddingfield
Southern Nash, SW Edgecombe - open


Thursday, Aug. 28

Rocky Mount @ Wilson Hunt


Friday, Aug. 29

Southern Nash @ Bunn
Nash Central @ Smithfield-Selma
SW Edgecombe @ West Craven
DH Conley @ Northern Nash
Wilson Fike - open


Thursday, Sept. 5

Wilson Hunt @ Wilson Fike
Tarboro @ Northern Nash
Warren County @ Southern Nash
Beddingfield @ Nash Central
SW Edgecombe @ North Edgecombe


Friday, Sept. 12

Northern Nash @ Hertford County
Wilson Fike @ Eastern Wayne
Southern Nash @ Beddingfield
Rocky Mount @ JH Rose
Farmville Central @ SW Edgecombe
Wilson Hunt @ Nash Central


Friday, Sept. 19

Northern Nash @ Bertie
CB Aycock @ Wilson Fike
Hertford County @ Rocky Mount
Wilson Hunt @ Southern Nash
Nash Central @ Washington
SW Edgecombe @ Southern Vance


Friday, Sept. 26

Tarboro @ SW Edgecombe
North Johnston @ Southern Nash
Southern Wayne @ Rocky Mount (Homecoming)
Wilson Fike @ Wilson Hunt
Bunn @ Nash Central
Southern Vance @ Northern Nash

Thursday, Oct. 2

Rocky Mount @ Northern Vance, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 3

Wilson Fike @ Beddingfield
Northern Nash, Southern Nash, Nash Central, SW Edgecombe - open


Friday, Oct. 10 (NEW 6 Conference action starts)

Northern Nash @ Rocky Mount
Wilson Fike @ SW Edgecombe
Southern Nash @ Nash Central


Friday, Oct. 17

Rocky Mount @ SW Edgecombe
Nash Central @ Wilson Fike
Southern Nash @ Northern Nash


Friday, Oct. 24

Rocky Mount @ Southern Nash
Northern Nash @ Wilson Fike
Nash Central @ SW Edgecombe


Friday, Oct. 31

Rocky Mount @ Nash Central
Wilson Fike @ Southern Nash
SW Edgecombe @ Northern Nash


Friday, Nov. 7

Wilson Fike @ Rocky Mount
SW Edgecombe @ Southern Nash
Nash Central @ Northern Nash

Cary knocks out RM; goes on to win Jr. Legion title

KINSTON - Rocky Mount's Post 58 Junior American Legion baseball team had the same fate as Rocky Mount's varsity football team last season.

It lost to the team that went on to win the state title.

While Western Alamance got into the Gryphons' way, the Cary Jr. Legion team did the same to the Post 58 squad.

Post 58, the East's No. 2 seed thanks to a loss to Cary in district play, fell to Cary again 3-2 Saturday - a game it had to win to stay alive. Post 58, after falling to Cherryville 7-6 Thursday, beat Kinston 14-8 Friday to make it to Saturday's action.

Then Sunday at historic Grainger Stadium, Cary, the East's No. 1 seed, blanked Cherryville 7-0 in the early game and topped Mooresville 5-2 later in the afternoon for the 2008 N.C. Junior American Legion state championship.

Post 58 consisted of players from the Gryphons' varsity and junior varsity teams, and was coached by varsity assistant and former Gryphon Hank Jones.

These hands are record-setting!

These are the hands of Elon redshirt junior wide receiver Terrell Hudgins. The record-setting former Rocky Mount quarterback was in Spartanburg, S.C. earlier this week at the Southern Conference Football Rouser. Appalachian State was the coaches' preseason pick to win the title, while Elon got one first place vote and placed second in the voting.

Hudgins, who led all of the NCAA Division Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in receptions per game (10.6) and receiving yards per game (134.0) last year, was a First Team All-SoCon performer following his sophomore season. A five-time All-American last season, Hudgins set program records for single-game receptions (16 twice), single-game touchdown receptions (four), single-season receiving yards (1,474) and single-season touchdowns receptions (18). He also set school and league marks for single-season receptions (117) and a SoCon record for single-season games with at least 100 yards receiving (seven).

Following his sophomore season, Hudgins had piled up 2,501 receiving yards, second in school history. He was also a finalist for the 2007 Walter Payton Award.

Another former Gryphon may be on the team with him - 2007's leading tackler for the Gryphons, Emmanuel Davis. Davis will be attending Elon on an ROTC scholarship, but will be a walk-on with the Phoenix.

To watch a video of Hudgins talking about Elon and the Phoenix's chances at a title, click here.

(Photo/Tommy Fleming)

Updated NC Jr. Legion Baseball State Championship Scoreboard

Wednesday’s result

Game 1: Rowan County (West No. 2) 11, West Brunswick (East No. 3) 9

Thursday' resutls

Game 2: Cherryville (West No. 3) 7, Rocky Mount (East No. 2) 6
Game 3: Cary (East No. 1) 2, Pineville (West No. 4) 1 — 9 innings
Game 4: Mooresville (West No. 1) 4, Kinston 1

Friday

Game 5: 4:30 p.m. (LCC) — West Brunswick vs. Pineville (LOSER ELIMINATED)
Game 6: Rocky Mount 15, Kinston 8 (Kinston eliminated)

Game 7: 4:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Rowan County def. Cary
Game 8: 7:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Cherryville vs. Mooresville

Saturday

Game 9: 12:30 p.m. (LCC) — Rocky Mount vs. Cary (LOSER ELIMINATED)
Game 10: 4 p.m. (LCC) — Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8 (LOSER ELIMINATED)
Game 11: 12:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Roawn County vs. Winner Game 8
Game 12: 4 p.m. (Grainger) — Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 11 (LOSER ELIMINATED)
Game 13: 7 p.m. (Grainger) — Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11 (If Game 10 winner loses, it’s eliminated)

Notes: pairing for Games 12 and 13 will not match previous opponents against each other unless absolutely necessary (national representative has further instructions). … If three teams remain after Game 13, the winner of Game 11 automatically draws the bye in Game 14

Sunday

Game 14: 1 p.m. (Grainger) Winner Game 12 vs. Winner Game 13 (Champions; unless one of the team’s first losses)
Game 15: 4 p.m. (Grainger) Winner Game 14 vs. Loser G

Rocky Mount Post 58 Jr. Legion team in state tournament

KINSTON - Rocky Mount Post 58 Junior American Legion baseball team has qualified for the state tournament which is being played at both historic Grainger Stadium and Lenoir Community College starting Wednesday.

The double-elimination event will see Rocky Mount, seeded No. 2 in the East in the eight-team field, facing Cherryville, the West No. 3 seed, at 12:30 a.m. at Lenoir Community College.

Rocky Mount Post 58 is coached by Hank Jones, who assisted Pat Smith in guiding the Rocky Mount Gryphons to a 3-A state title on May 31.

Here is Wednesday's complete schedule:

9:30 p.m. (LCC) — Cary (East No. 1) vs. Pineville (West No. 4)

12:30 a.m. (LCC) — Rocky Mount (East No. 2) vs. Cherryville (West No. 3)

4:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Rowan County (West No. 2) vs. SW Shallotte (East No. 3)

7:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Mooresville (West No. 1) vs. Kinston (Host)

NFLJPD camp underway at RMHS

Rocky Mount head coach B.W. Holt (click on picture to enlarge) talks to the kids who turned out this week for the first-ever NFL Junior Player Development Camp to be held at Rocky Mount. RMHS is entertaining about 100 campers, from rising sixth graders to rising ninth graders, on the fundamentals of football. The campers are attending the camp free of charge - thanks to the NFL and the Carolina Panthers.

The campers will have a nice goody bag to take home once the camp ends on Thursday. The NFL provided each camper with an equipment bag, a football and a jersey.

The NFL also provided helmets and shoulder pads for each participant.

(Photo/David Hahula)

NFL to hold free football camp at Rocky Mount High

If you are a Twin County resident, a rising sixth through ninth grader and you want to learn all you can about the game of football, then Rocky Mount High's practice field will be the place for you next week.

For the second time this summer, RMHS will host an National Football League-sponsored camp - this time it will be a Junior Player Development football camp for younger kids who want to be introduced to the basics of the game. And like the previous camp, it is free to all comers - thanks to the NFL and the Carolina Panthers.

The camp will take place Monday through Thursday, July 14-17 (6-8:30 p.m.), while there will be a registration and equipment fitting this week - Thursday and Friday in RMHS' auxiliary gym from 5-7 p.m. All campers are required to bring a completed physical form, or a parent or guardian must sign a waiver form in lieu of the physical.

A nationally known football equipment company will provide campers with fitted helmets and shoulder pads for the duration of the camp.

With the diminishing number of middle school football programs across the country, JPD programs are rebuilding youth tackle football as an effective feeder system for high school programs. According to the NFLJPD website, the JPD programs ensure that all participants receive the full experience of instructional and developmental youth tackle football training in a readapted manner.

Coaches at the camp will stress the fundamentals and playing techniques of every position on the field as well as incorporate life skills into each practice. There will be continuous interaction with all campers while coaches try to impart a fun and entertaining curriculum to the participants.

For more information on the camp and all its activities, contact Rocky Mount head coach B.W. Holt during the day at 252-977-3164.

Pairings set for first-ever Rocky Mount Football Jamboree

Here are the pairings for the first-ever Rocky Mount Football Jamboree set for the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex on Friday, Aug. 15 starting at 4 p.m.

East team will scrimmage three times for 40 minutes each - playing from the 40-yard line out. There will be a five-minute break between each session. There is no structured competition. Each sessions' coaches may use whatever competition format they may want to use, i.e., 10 min. offense, 10 defense; 30 plays offense, 30 plays defense, etc.

The RMHS Booster Club is planning to make this a festive event - including selling barbecue chicken dinners during the evening.

Also, during the final session of the night, there will be a reunion of sorts. All four teams will have one person in common - Rocky Mount head coach B.W. Holt. Three of his former assistants will be coaching the other teams: Elbert Thomas at West Montgomery, Chad Smith at Northern Nash and Dickie Schock at Hillsborough Orange.

4:00 p.m.

West Montgomery vs. Northern Nash
South Central vs. Hillsborough Orange

4:45 p.m.

West Montgomery vs. Hillsborough Orange
South Central vs. Northern Nash

5:30 p.m.

Wilson Fike vs. Oxford Webb
Rocky Mount vs. Durham Riverside

6:15 p.m.

Wilson Fike vs. Durham Riverside
Rocky Mount vs. Oxford Webb

7:00 p.m.

South Central vs. Wilson Fike
Oxford Webb vs. Durham Riverside

7:45 p.m.

Hillsborough Orange vs. Northern Nash
West Montgomery vs. Rocky Mount

Farrow to become RMHS' new principal

- Leon Farrow

By now, I'm sure everyone knows that Leon Farrow will become the new principal at Rocky Mount High School starting July 1.

We know very little about Mr. Farrow, but here are some links down below to three sources so you can get an idea who he is.

We will dearly miss Judy Bradshaw, but we welcome Mr. Farrow to the Gryphon family and we hope he has a very productive career here!

West Craven principal leaving for post at Rocky Mount

West Craven's Leon Farrow is principal of the year

Leon Farrow bio

(New Bern Sun Journal photo)

Thomas tapped into Atkins HS Hall of Fame

WINSTON-SALEM - Former Edwards Middle School athletic director and coach Donald Thomas was recently inducted into the Atkins High School Hall of Fame during a formal ceremony and banquet held at the Benton Convention Center.

Thomas, a 1960 graduate of Atkins, played quarterback and cornerback for the Camels. As a senior and team captain, he was All-City, All-Western District and All-State. He also lettered in baseball, basketball and track.

Thomas went on to play football for N.C. Central University and has been inducted into NCCU's Sports Hall of Fame. He has also been honored with an induction into the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County High School Sports Hall of Fame.

Thomas, who holds a master's degree from Lynchburg College, retired from teaching in 2006.

Thomas' son Sean, who played football at Rocky Mount, is currently the head trainer at N.C. Central.

Nick selected as RMHS' new soccer coach

When Wilson Hunt joins the NEW 6 Conference the fall of 2009, Rocky Mount's new head soccer coach will have an inside track on that school's talent.

Why?

Because its former soccer coach is now the new head boys and girls soccer coach at RMHS.

Andrew Nick has been hired by Rocky Mount replacing Patrick Sensiba, who left for a position in his native Tidewater Virginia.

"I believe Mr. Nick can continue building this program," said Rocky Mount athletic director Michael Gainey. "His records at Hunt High speaks for itself. I look forward to working with him.

"Losing Patrick and Michelle (Huffman, head softball coach) was a surprise," he added. "I wasn't aware that they were looking at the time. Things happen and we deal with them. Patrick's knowledge of the game will be missed. Michelle's knowledge and fire power will be missed. She came in a worked really hard to gain the trust of the players. She made some big accomplishments this season.

"I thank them both for a job well done and I wish them the best on their next journey."

Leggett undergoes surgery

Rocky Mount's all-time winningest pitcher has undergone shoulder surgery.

Jim Leggett, who helped the Gryphons to a state championship last month, underwent surgery last Friday at Pitt Memorial Hospital to repair a partially torn labrum in his right shoulder.

His father Quentin says Jim is doing well and is home. He injured his shoulder during his late-regular season performance against Northern Nash, and yet managed to finish out the season - including recording three wins in the postseason.

Jim, who left RMHS with 28 career pitching victories (28-7), will attend Belmont Abbey next season and will redshirt his first baseball season there. The Crusaders went 41-22 last season and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Div. II South Atlantic Regionals at Mount Olive College. Mount Olive, of course, went on to win the Div. II national championship.

Belmont Abbey is a member of Conference Carolinas along with Barton and Mount Olive.

RMHS faces football coaching changes ... again

For the second straight summer, head football coach B.W. Holt has a dilemma. He has four vacancies on his staff and roughly only a month to fill them.

No longer on the staff are Ed Hiatt, Curtis Rushing, Chris Moore and Donovan Jackson. So Holt has to find a defensive coordinator, a special teams coordinator, a linebacker coach and a defensive line coach, respectively.

The problem, Holt has been told that the only RMHS teaching openings are in social studies (two) and mathematics (two).

Yikes!

He says he not too worried and he thinks he will find coaches for these vacancies.

Good luck, coach!

Gryphs to face the Brothers Crudup

- Kevin Crudup

Rocky Mount High's 2008 football team will face not just one coaching Crudup, but two.

One will be new Nash Central High football coach Kevin Crudup. The Bunn native and Mars Hill graduate was named the Bulldogs' head man Friday at a press conference at the school.

But Crudup has a brother in the high school coaching ranks.

Cedric Crudup is the head coach at Northern Vance High in Henderson. Both Nash Central and Northern Vance are on the Gryphons' slate this fall - both road games for RMHS.

The Gryphons travel to Henderson on Friday, Sept. 5, and will hit the road crosstown to the Dawg Pound on Halloween, Friday, Oct. 31.

No doubt, Cedric will be giving pointers to Kevin on how to stop the Gryphons!

A look at 2008's team stats - RMHS Baseball

After taking a gander at the final team stats for the 2008 Rocky Mount baseball team, they were pretty astounding.

Take a look. They are all school records!

27 wins (27-6)

236 runs scored

.324 batting average

298 hits

195 RBI

919 at-bats

59 doubles

10 triples

71 stolen bases

Meeting of the Minds!

Rocky Mount head football coach B.W. Holt and Northern Nash head football coach Chad Smith discuss instructional plans during the NFL High School Player Development Camp held at Rocky Mount High last week. The camp was for kids going to the ninth through 12th grades.

RMHS will hold another NFL Player Development Camp July 14-17 - a junior version for the younger kids - from the sixth to ninth grade.

For more information on the Junior NFL Camp, you can reach Holt after June 30 weekdays at 252-977-3164.

(Photo/David Hahula)

A new Gryphon in the house!

Rocky Mount assistant football coach Chris Lee and his wife Lindsay welcomed new son, Christopher Winston, into the world on May 12.

Winston, as the family will call him, weighed 9 pounds, 7 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long. He has a sister, Hope, who is 2 1/2 years old.

Best wishes on your new arrival!

It's been a banner year for Chris. His JV football team completed an undefeated season at 10-0 and is riding a 21-game winning streak. He assisted the varsity football team to a 14-1 campaign and he led the RMHS JV girls basketball team to an 18-1 season. Its only loss was in the season-opener!

Congrats again to the Lee family!

Former Gryphon gets principal post in Wilson Co.

Congratulations to former Gryphon athlete and former RMHS teacher Eddie Doll.

Doll, who played football and baseball for the Gryphons, was named principal at Elm City Middle School in Elm City Monday evening at a meeting of the Wilson County School Board.

Doll, a N.C. State and ECU graduate, had served the last few years as an assistant principal at Hunt High School. He taught at RMHS prior to going to Wilson County.

His father Wayne is a former RMHS principal and currently serves as the countywide athletic director for Nash-Rocky Mount Schools.

Donation for championship rings

Rocky Mount athletic director Michael Gainey (left) and Gryphon head baseball coach Pat Smith (center) accept a check for $2,000 from Donnie Tharrington of Don's Boby Shop that will go to defray the cost of championship rings for members of Rocky Mount's NCHSAA 3-A state champion baseball team.

The team was honored with a reception in the lobby of City Hall Monday before being honored by the City Council later in the evening.

(Contributed photo)

2008 NCHSAA 3-A Baseball State Champions - Rocky Mount Gryphons

Parents and friends, if you would like professional copies of these shots or any others from Game 3 of the NCHSAA 3-A State Championship series, contact David Hahula at dhahula@embarqmail.com.

Remember, click on the picture to enlarge it!

Bring the Wood - 2!

Here are more pictorial angles of Tom Jones' woodshed - in honor of the 2008 NCHSAA 3-A State Champions: The Rocky Mount Gryphons! The woodshed sat at the entrance to Five County Stadium to inspire the Gryphon players and supporters. (Photos/David Hahula)

Note: Click on any picture to enlarge!

Bring the Wood!

One of the great inspirations of Rocky Mount's quest for a 3-A state baseball title was this woodshed - built primarily by Rocky Mount alum and loyal Gryphon fan Tom Jones. You might say, he's got wood!

This shed, complimented by signatures by all the players above its front door, served as a rallying point for all the fans that turned out to support the Gryphons during its weekend stay at Five County Stadium in Zebulon.

Many had their picture taken while taking a seat inside.

Even football coach B.W. Holt took a load off in it on Friday, and lo and behold, RM baseball coach Pat Smith sat himself down in it minutes after the Gryphons broke a school 26-year title drought and the baseball program wiped away 28 years of hard-trying to get a title back to Gryphon Stadium.

There is no doubt that the Gryphons "brought the wood" this past weekend!

The five seniors: William Barringer, Chris Berry, Jim Leggett, Grant Johnson, Nick Phillips - each received a bat that adorned the front of the shed.

(Photo/Wes Bradshaw)

Rocky Mount Telegram Gryphon Slideshow

To get some glimpses of the action from Friday and Saturday's NCHSAA Games 1, 2 and 3 of 3-A state championship action with the Gryphons and East Rowan, click here to see a slideshow from the Rocky Mount Telegram!

Pictures taken by former Gryphon player Tom Jones will be forthcoming!

Leggett gets career win No. 28 as RM gets one game closer to a 3-A title

ZEBULON – A balanced Rocky Mount offensive attack banged out 10 hits and the Gryphons held off East Rowan 7-4 in the first game of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3-A baseball championship series on Friday at Five County Stadium.

East Rowan jumped in front 2-0 in the bottom of the first, but Rocky Mount tied it in the second when a run scored on a double play and then Collins Cuthrell delivered a run-scoring single to tie the game.

The Gryphons took a 5-2 lead with three in the fourth, with Gabe Brown’s two-run single the key blow, but East battled back to slice it 5-4 on Zack Smith’s two-out, two-run double. Rocky Mount then added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth after a two-out error, a triple by William Barringer that scored a run and then an RBI single by Grant Johnson.

Chris Berry was the only Gryphon with two hits. Every RMHS starter collected at least one hit. The bottom of the Gryphons' lineup was very effective - with batters Nos. 7-9 going 3-for-9 with five RBI and two runs scored.

Senior righthander Jim Leggett (8-3) went the route on the mound for the winners, allowing just three hits and getting his 28th career victory, to extend his Rocky Mount school record, while Corbin Shive was charged with the loss (11-2).

Smith provided the offensive punch for East Rowan with two hits in three trips and three runs batted in. The Mustangs dropped to 28-4 overall while Rocky Mount improved to a school record 26-5.

Game two in the best-of-three series is set for Saturday morning at eleven o’clock as Rocky Mount seeks to close out the series and win its first NCHSAA baseball title since 1980. Game three, if necessary, would be played Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

STATE 3-A BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES — GAME ONE

Five County Stadium, Zebulon

Rocky Mount 0 2 0 3 0 2 0 – 7 10 1

East Rowan 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 – 4 3 1

WP—Jim Leggett (8-3)

LP—Corbin Shive (11-2)

Leading hitters: Rocky Mount - Chris Berry 2-4, R; Ben Fish 1-2, R; Jim Leggett 1-2, R; Collins Cuthrell 1-3, 2 RBI, R; Gabe Brown 1-3, 2 RBI, R; Dillon Cockrell 1-3, RBI; Brian Goodwin 1-3; William Barringer 1-4, 3B, RBI, R; Grant Johnson 1-4. East Rowan - Zach Smith 2-3, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI; Ethan Fisher 1-3, 2B.

Barnes gets offer from Wake Forest; two Gryphons get special Shrine Bowl combine invite

Rocky Mount offensive lineman Whit Barnes received a football scholarship offer from Wake Forest University this week. The rising senior also received a scholarship offer from Duke University a few weeks ago.

But there will be more schools to chose from for the hard-working lineman.

He and defensive secondary specialist-kick returner Brian Goodwin have been invited to a select Shrine Bowl football combine to be held Saturday at Burlington Williams High School. The top 130 or so players who attended earlier regional combines have been invited to this special combine to receive more scrutiny from N.C. Shrine Bowl head coach Gary Fowler (Clayton) and his staff.

Barnes will be attending the combine, but Goodwin has some more pressing issues Saturday - trying to win a state baseball championship in Zebulon.

The Championship Venue

FIVE COUNTY STADIUM, ZEBULON - site of the NCHSAA 3-A, 4-A State Baseball Championship Series

Name: Five County sits in Wake County and is in earshot of Nash, Johnston, Franklin and Wilson.
History: Five County opened on July 3, 1991. Dimensions: LF-330, CF-400, RF-330; Capacity: 6,500
Scoreboard: Made by Daktronics.
Videoboard: Made by Lighthouse

Rocky Mount's Championship Results

Here are the results of the all the state championship games Rocky Mount has played in since winning its first title in 1963. Thanks to Ernie Murray for the complete 1963 and 1965 series scores.

1963 - 4-A Series
Rocky Mount 2, Greensboro Page
Rocky Mount 11, Greensboro Page 6
(RM wins series 2-0)

1965 - 4-A Series
Garinger 4, Rocky Mount 3
Garinger 2, Rocky Mount 1
(RM loses series 0-2)

1967 - 4-A Series
Game 1: Rocky Mount 7, West Mecklenburg 5
Game 2: West Mecklenburg 2, Rocky Mount 1
Game 3: Rocky Mount 4, West Mecklenburg 1
(RM wins series 2-1)

1973 - 4-A Series
Game 1: North Mecklenburg 5, Rocky Mount 2
Game 2: Rocky Mount 6, North Mecklenburg 3
Game 3: Rocky Mount 4, North Mecklenburg 1
(RM wins series 2-1)

1980 - 4-A Series
Game 1: Rocky Mount 7, Greensboro Grimsley 2
Game 2: Rocky Mount 7, Greensboro Grimsley 2
(RM wins series 2-0)

2008 - 3-A Series
Game 1: Rocky Mount 7, East Rowan 4
Game 2: East Rowan 6, Rocky Mount 2
Game 3: Rocky Mount 8, East Rowan 6
(RM wins series 2-1)

Gryphons set to play Friday at Five County Stadium

NCHSAA CLASS 3-A

STATE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

FIVE COUNTY STADIUM, ZEBULON

ROCKY MOUNT vs. EAST ROWAN

Game 1: Friday, May 30, 5 p.m.

Game 2: Saturday, May 31, 11 a.m.

Game 3: if necessary,

Saturday, May 31, 5 p.m.

Gryphons look good for No. 5

Rocky Mount senior pitcher Jim Leggett threw an astounding 61 pitchers in his complete-game, three-hit shutout of Wilson Fike Wednesday evening. (Photo/David Hahula)

(Note: Guys, here's Wilson Daily Times sports editor Paul Durham's blog entry after Rocky Mount's win over Fike Wednesday evening.)

By Paul Durham

Wilson Daily Times

WILSON - The season ended again in the fourth round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A baseball playoffs for Fike.

This time, it was NEW 6 Conference archrival Rocky Mount that sent the Golden Demons home. A year ago, Charles B. Aycock got past Fike on the way to the 3-A state title.

My money, if I had any, would be on Fike being ousted by another state champion.

I felt that going into Wednesday night's East Regional semifinal at Fike was the best matchup of remaining teams. Granted, I do plead a certain amount of ignorance about the West Regional semifinalists. But recent history has taught me the East might have the better baseball teams in the NCHSAA.

While I was thinking Fike had a championship-caliber team, I knew that Rocky Mount does for five reasons — pitching, pitching, pitching, pitching, pitching.

You see, as the NCHSAA playoffs turn into best-of-3 series at the regional and state championships, pitching depth becomes the single biggest factor in a team's success, in my humble opinion.

There's no doubt a team can ride a couple of hot bats and obscure mediocre pitching through the single-elimination part of the playoffs. But in order to win four games in five or six days (as is the case with the regional semifinals and finals) and then play a best-of-3 in two days in the state finals, you'd better have more than one good pitcher.

Fike had two pretty good pitchers in senior Bentley Massey and sophomore William Prince. I have to believe that if Demons head coach Will Flowers called on them, either Tripp Sauls, Matthew Pittman, Jacob Davis or Mitchell Wheeler could have given a credible effort on the mound.

But that's a moot point now.

It's the Gryphons who are headed to Winterville on Friday night to play D.H. Conley, a 1-0 victor against South Central on Wednesday night.

And Rocky Mount has four solid arms with more than 30 innings pitched this season plus junior Nick Hahula who emerged at midseason as a hard-throwing option.Gryphons head coach Pat Smith can use Hahula, Benton Moss, Chris Berry or Dillon Cockrell in the first two games and still have ace Jim Leggett, Wednesday night's winner, for some innings Saturday.

If Rocky Mount makes it to the 3-A finals, its mound quintet will have seven days of rest.

That's why I'm taking the Gryphons to win the fifth state title in school history.

By the way, the starting shortstop on Rocky Mount's 1973 4-A state champion was none other than Phil Ford, who opted to play basketball in college.

Thunderstorms move many 4th round baseball playoff games to Wednesday

Rocky Mount's Jim Leggett dives back to third base after escaping a rundown in the Gryphons' 3-1 NCHSAA third-round playoff win over South Johnston Saturday evening. (Photo/David Hahula)

Here are the pairings for the NCHSAA baseball state regional semifinals (Round 4).

All games were set for Tuesday. However, a long line of thunderstorms crossed the state late Tuesday afternoon and evening - forcing many postponements to Wednesday (bold face).

4-A

EAST

Leesville Road (17-8) at Greenville Rose (23-3), ppd., Wed.
Wilmington Hoggard (20-4) at. Raleigh Sanderson (17-6), ppd., Wed.

WEST

North Davidson (23-3) at Charlotte Ardrey Kell (25-4), ppd., Wed.
Charlotte Providence 10, South Caldwell 4

3-A

EAST

South Central (12-14) at DH Conley (17-9), ppd., Wed., 7 p.m.
Rocky Mount (22-5) at Wilson Fike (21-4), ppd., Wed., 7 p.m.

WEST

East Rowan 5, Mooresville 4
South Point 1, Rutherfordton-Spindale Central 0

2-A

EAST

Whiteville 4, South Lenoir 3
Hillsborough Orange (21-3) at North Lenoir (21-1), ppd., Wed.

WEST

Ledford 11, Starmount 0
East Rutherford 9, Lenoir Hibriten 4

1-A

EAST

Princeton (16-10) at Williamston (18-7), ppd., Wed.
Hampstead Topsail 7, Heidi Trask 1

WEST

South Stokes 8, Bishop McGuinness 3
Cherryville 5, Polk County 4

Rocky Mount football moving to 1390 AM

- RMSH alum Wes Bradshaw

When ESPN Sports Radio 1490 AM decided earlier this spring to not broadcast Rocky Mount football games on the air, the biggest Rocky Mount sports fan in Rocky Mount just wouldn't stand for it.

Ummm, now I am pretty big, but this guy is even bigger - physically and in his love for Gryphon sports - in particular, Rocky Mount varsity football!

Wes Bradshaw (RMSH Class of 2000) has been part of many Gryphon football radio broadcasts with 1490 as a color commentator.

Due to 1490's indifference to perhaps showcase possibly one of Rocky Mount's best teams in recent memory, Bradshaw has taken things into his own hands.

He has worked out a deal for Gryphon football to be on the radio as Rocky Mount will be returning to its roots - WEED 1390 AM. The station carried Rocky Mount football, lastly with Steve Dickens and myself providing area fans all the Gryphon gridiron action.

But Hurricane Floyd did in the broadcast three games into the 1999 season as the station, then located off Sunset Ave. just past Sam's Club, was flooded and destroyed.

The station, now called 1390 .. The Word, is a soul gospel station now, but was extremely receptive to having Rocky Mount football back on the air.

And for you Rocky Mount football fans living on the outskirts of town, 1390 AM has a stronger signal at night than 1490 AM - so that will be a plus!

We'll have more details about the broadcast as summer progresses, but Bradshaw will need the help of all area businesses who have been past sponsors of Rocky Mount football on-the-air, and all those new clients who might want to get on board.

After all, the product is first-class. RMHS was 14-1 last season and is 57-10 over the last five seasons. With 18 starters coming back next season, hopes are high for the best season ever!

And you businesses out there, you can go along for the ride!

Contact Bradshaw at 452-3280 or email him at blackbirdxpress@yahoo.com if you're interested in commercial time on the broadcast or any other advertising issues.

I'm pretty glad Bradshaw, who will handle play-by-play duties on the broadcast, has decided to make this undertaking. I just can't imagine Rocky Mount football playing to dead air!

NOTE: RM football will be a part of a "Game of the Week" series on WZAX 99.3 FM, but only two to three select games.

Hudgins voted Male Athlete of the Year at Elon

ELON – Sophomore All-American football wide receiver Terrell Hudgins (Rocky Mount, N.C./Rocky Mount) came away with Stein H. Basnight Outstanding Male Athlete Award honors to top all accolades bestowed at the 34th Annual Elon University Athletics Awards Banquet Tuesday evening at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Stein H. Basnight Outstanding Athlete Award has been presented annually since 1958 in memory of the late Stein H. Basnight of Chapel Hill by his family to the most outstanding Phoenix male and female athletes of the year, as determined by the Elon Department of Athletics’ administrative staff. Jesse Basnight, Jr. and his wife, Janis Basnight, represented the Basnight family at the banquet.

Hudgins logged 10 Elon, Southern Conference or NCAA records while pacing the Elon football team to its best season in eight years last fall. The Walter Payton Award finalist led the Football Championship Subdivision in receptions and receiving yards per game on his way to earning not only First Team All-Southern Conference recognition, but First Team All-America accolades as well. Behind Hudgins’ performances, Elon finished the 2007 campaign ranked 23rd in the FCS in both The Sports Network and the coaches polls.

Nash County winners!

Former Nash County standouts Brian Allen (Southern Nash) and Zach Woodley (Northern Nash), now freshman members of the Pitt Community College baseball team, hold the championship plaque at the NJCAA Region X tournament in Burlington on May 11. The Bulldogs won the tournament with a 6-1 victory over Louisburg College.

(Photo - Courtesy of Terry Woodley)

Until this season, the last time Rocky Mount's baseball team ...

... won a playoff game was ...

May 8, 2001 - Rocky Mount 5, Hillsborough Orange 0

At Orange, Rocky Mount senior pitcher Carter Harrell threw a one-hitter and struck out a school-record 19 batters en route to the win. RMHS had eight hits and Orange helped the Gryphons' cause with three errors. Future UNC signee Paul Jenkins was 3-for-3.


... had a no-hitter in the postseason was ...

May 9, 2000 - Rocky Mount 2, New Hanover 0

After recording seven one-hitters in his career, Carter Harrell finally got his first and only no-no in this first-round 4-A playoff matchup. He struck out 10 and walked one that evening, while RMHS got six hits and one run each in the second and sixth (a Harrell RBI-double). Not a bad effort outing since that Wildcat lineup included dangerous hitters in twins Darryl and Trevor Lawhorn - both of whom eventually went on to play at East Carolina.


.... won a second-round playoff game was ...

May 11, 2000 - Rocky Mount 3, South Johnston 1 (8 innings)

At South Johnston in the 4-A playoffs, Paul Jenkins not only got the win (five-hitter, 9 Ks), but he hit a two-run home run over the right-center field fence to help give RMHS a 3-1 victory. The head coach of South Johnston that day - our very own Pat Smith!


... won at least 20 games in consecutive seasons was ...

1995 and 1996

RMHS was 23-3 in 1995 and 23-4 in 1996. The 1995 squad lost to New Hanover in the third round, while the 1996 team fell to Lee County in the 4-A East finals - no best-of-three back in those days!


... scored as many as nine runs in a postseason game was ...

May 15, 1998 - Rocky Mount 9, Hope Mills South View 3

These two teams played in Cumberland Co. Down 3-2 going into the seventh, the Gryphs struck for seven runs to blow the game open. The winning pitcher - Rocky Mount assistant coach Jason Battle - who hurled a three-hitter.


... played a scheduled doubleheader was ...

March 19, 1999 - RM 5, Douglas Byrd 0; RM 5, Douglas Byrd 0

With both games going five innings, Rocky Mount swept visiting Douglas Byrd. Jon-Charles Harrell, older brother of Carter, got the win in both games. He allowed two hits and struck out six in the opener, and gave up three hits and K'ed three in the nightcap. Jimmy Bullard helped him out with a home run in the first contest, while brother Carter blasted one in game 2. RMHS had seven hits in each game. This season, RMHS split two-seven innings games at Gryphon Stadium with South Granville .. a 4-0 win, and a 6-5 defeat.


... won four straight Rocky Mount Invitational Baseball Tournament titles was ...

1994, 1995, 1996, 1997

RM beat Beddingfied in 1994 finals (7-2) and the Bruins again (6-0) in 1995, then stopped Northern Nash 8-5 in 1996 and beat Durham Jordan 6-2 in 1997. The current RMHS four-title winning streak is as follows:

• 2008 - Rocky Mount def. Northern Nash, 6-5, to finish 3-0 in round-robin format
• 2007 - Rocky Mount def. Southern Nash, 13-1
• 2006 - Rocky Mount def. Northern Nash, 6-2
• 2005 - Rocky Mount def. Northern Nash, 5-2

Barnes gets football scholarship offer from Duke

- RMHS offensive lineman Whit Barnes

When Rocky Mount offensive lineman Whit Barnes opened his mail Thursday afternoon, he had to catch his breath.

He received a letter from the Duke University football staff offering him a scholarship to play college football for the Blue Devils - under new head coach David Cutcliffe. To say he and his parents, Russ and Martha Barnes, were on Cloud 9 would be an understatement. An opportunity to get a free college education from Duke is what they thought most of. Football took a back-burner - at least for a few moments.

The 6-foot-4, 270-pound rising senior, who sports a 4.1 GPA, was named to the NCPreps.com 3-A All-State team after helping the Gryphons to a 14-1 season last year. He assisted RMHS in setting a school record for rushing yardage and total offense in 2007.Several more offers may come in before Barnes decides to accept Duke's.

With 18 starters coming back this fall, many feel this might be the year for the senior-ladened Gryphons. Barnes and many of his senior teammates may get several offers each before the first Wednesday of February, national signing day, rolls around.

Jenkins out of the hospital

Just as I was about to do blog feature on former Rocky Mount athlete Oliver (O.J.) Jenkins, he suddenly makes news for the wrong reason.

A senior center fielder for N.C. Central in its first season playing at the Div. I level, Jenkins and his Eagle teammates were playing the second game of a doubleheader at Chowan University last Saturday (April 26) when Jenkins ran into a pole in the outfield fence trying to make a catch.

Jenkins' injury was so serious that he was rushed to Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville where he spent time in the Intensive Care Unit. He apparently injured a kidney, but luckily it never stopped functioning.

He was released by midweek from the hospital and is recuperating at home.

Before his injury, the former Juan Chesson Award winner at RMHS had started 31 of 32 games for the Eagles and led the team in at-bats (101), runs scored (20) and base-on-balls (15). He was an All-CIAA performer last year.

Jenkins has played football the last four seasons as a wide receiver and long snapper.

Highlights of Fike-Rocky Mount baseball game

To watch highlights of Rocky Mount's 9-8, 11-inning loss at Wilson Fike Tuesday evening, click here:

Wilson Daily News video - Rocky Mount vs. Wilson Fike

The Holt Connection continues

Former Rocky Mount assistant football coach Brent David is now the head football coach at Winston-Salem Carver.

He is the 15th gentleman to have coached under or played for Rocky Mount head football coach B.W. Holt to become a high school head football coach.

David was an assistant at RMHS for four seasons before leaving in 2007 an assistant position at Carver - nearer the hometown of him and his wife in High Point. The last three seasons here he was the defensive coordinator.

Here is the list of those 15 men:

Brent David - head coach , Winston-Salem Carver ...... asst. to Holt at Rocky Mount

Scott Cummings - head coach, Knoxville-West (Tn.) ..... asst. to Holt at Tennessee High (Tn.)

Greg Stubbs - head coach, Tennessee High (Tn.) ..... asst. to Holt at Tennessee High (Tn.)

Scott Johnson, head coach, Starmount ..... asst. to Holt at Starmount

Joe Hutchens, head coach, Starmount ..... asst. to Holt at Starmount

Joey Weatherman, head coach, Dixon .... played for Holt at Starmount

Monte Chipman, head coach, East Wilkes ..... played for Holt at Starmount

Elbert Thomas, head coach, West Montgomery ..... asst. to Holt at West Montgomery, played for Holt at Starmount

Steve Johnson, head coach, Cummings ...... played for Holt at Franklinton

Dickie Schock, head coach, Orange/Franklinton ..... played for Holt at Starmount, asst. at West Montgomery/Rocky Mount

Charlie Haire, head coach, Wilkes Central, West Montgomery ...... asst. to Holt at Starmount

Tim Pruitt, head coach , Watauga, West Wilkes, Cherryville ...... asst. to Holt at Starmount

Tommy Piper, head coach, Franklinton ..... played for Holt at Franklinton, asst. to Holt at Franklinton

Stu Holt, head coach, New Smyrna Beach (Fl.) ...... played for Holt at Starmount

Chad Smith, head coach, Northern Nash ...... asst. to Holt at West Montgomery, Rocky Mount