Johnston County Easter Invitational All-Tournament Team; Matthew Berry makes squad

Rocky Mount senior Matthew Berry

Andy Pleasant Most Hits Award
Thomas Hill (West Johnston)

Will Raynor (South Johnston)

Pat Smith Outstanding Defensive Player Award

Jack Sherill (West Johnston)

John Stott Memorial MVP

Brad Ragan (West Johnston)

All-Tournament Team

Tre Joyner (Cleveland)
Matthew Berry (Rocky Mount)
Heinrich Zinkhan (Harnett Central)
Brian Taylor (Harnett Central)
Cam Austin (Hoke County)
Nate Driver (Smithfield-Selma)
Josh Harper (Smithfield-Selma)
Austin Lee (South Johnston)
Trey Thompson (South Johnston)
Logan Jernigan (South Johnston)
Taylor Davis (Clayton)
Jason Creasy (Clayton)
Matt Bunn (Clayton)
Aaron McGee (West Johnston)
Justin Carroll (West Johnston)
Matthew Parrish (West Johnston)
Kodi Whitley (West Johnston)

TOURNAMENT SCORES

Quarterfinals
Smithfield-Selma 14, Cleveland 4
Clayton 11, Hoke County 0
West Johnston 16, Rocky Mount 4
South Johnston 8, Harnett Central 7

Consolation, First Round
Hoke County 11, Cleveland 0
Harnett Central 10, Rocky Mount 6

Semifinals
West Johnston 7, South Johnston 1
Clayton 5, Smithfield-Selma 0

Consolation, Second Round
Rocky Mount 10, Cleveland 0
Harnett Central 11, Hoke County 8
South Johnston 8, Smithfield-Selma 2

Championship
West Johnston 3, Clayton 2 (8)


SEVENTH PLACE BOX
Rocky Mount 10, Cleveland 0
CLE 000 00 — 0 0 3
RMT 630 1x — 10 6 0
W—B.Moss; L—P.Banks.
HR: RMT—B.Moss.
Leading hitter: RMT—J.Johnson 2-3.

FIFTH PLACE BOX

Harnett Central 11, Hoke County 8

HCO 002 300 3 — 8 8 6

HCL 010 023 x — 11 10 5

W—B.Taylor; L—C.Carter.

HRs: HCO—C.Austin, K.Black; HCL—B.Taylor, J.Costa.

Leading hitters: HCO—C.Austin 3-4, C.Carter 2-4; HCL—H.Zinkhan 2-3, B.Taylor 2-4, Z.Hall 3-4.

THIRD PLACE BOX

South Johnston 8, Smithfield-Selma 2

SJO 101 310 2 — 8 9 4

SSS 000 200 0 — 2 2 0

W—T.Thompson; L—B.Youngblood.
HR: SJO—C.Lee.
Leading hitters: SJO—T.Thompson 3-4, W.Raynor 2-4.

CHAMPIONSHIP BOX
West Johnston 3, Clayton 2
CLY 010 000 10 — 2 3 3
WJO 001 010 01 — 3 8 2
W—A.Pittman; L—L.Howard.
HR: CLY—M.Bunn.
Leading hitters: WJO—A.Morrison 3-4, J.Sherill 2-4.

Gryphons to play in seventh place game of the JCEI

FOUR OAKS - For the first time since 2001, Rocky Mount will be playing in a seventh place game of an Easter baseball tournament.

The Gryphons, playing two games on the same day for only the sixth time in school history, didn't have things go their way in their first contests at Bruce Coats Field in the annual Johnston County Easter Invitiational. They lost their opener 16-4 to West Johnston Monday morning and 10-6 to Harnett Central in their loser's bracket game that afternoon.

Storms in the area Saturday forced tournament officials to add two of its unplayed games to Monday's schedule.

Rocky Mount hopes to salvage one win Tuesday at 12 noon when it will send senior Benton Moss to the mound against winless Cleveland High, a new high school located just south of Wendell in Johnston County. Cleveland fell 12-0 to Harnett Central Monday to drop to the seventh place game.

Moss (5-1 in 2011, 28-3 in his career) will be going for the school record of 29 pitching wins - a mark he currently shares with former Gryphon hurler Jim Leggett. He has won his last five starts and struck out 51 batters in his last three outings.


2011 JOHNSTON COUNTY EASTER INVITATIONAL
Bruce Coats Field, South Johnston High School, Four Oaks, NC

DAY 2 - MONDAY

GAME 3 - West Johnston 16, Rocky Mount 4

GAME 4 - Hoke County 12, Cleveland 0

GAME 5 - South Johnston 8, Harnett Central 7

GAME 6 - Harnett Central 10, Rocky Mount 6

GAME 7 - West Johnston 7, South Johnston 1

GAME 8 - Clayton 5, Smithfield-Selma 0

DAY 3 - TUESDAY

Seventh Place - Rocky Mount (12-7) vs. Cleveland (0-16), 12 noon

Fifth Place - Harnett Central (10-5) vs. Hoke County (7-12), 2:30 p.m.

Third Place - South Johnston (9-11) vs. Smithfield-Selma (7-10), 5 p.m.

Championship - Clayton (14-3) vs. West Johnston (10-7), 7:30 p.m.

2011 Johnston County Easter Invitational results/revisions

FOUR OAKS - Rocky Mount's baseball team made the trip to South Johnston High School's Bruce Coats Field Saturday for its opening game in the Johnston County Easter Invitational.

But the Gryphons never took the field as a rash of thunderstorms and tornadoes made their way across the state and knocked out the final two games of the day - including the Gryphons' meeting with West Johnston.

Now the Gryphons will play two games Monday. Tournament officials have tried to accomodate Rocky Mount with a change in the schedule since it makes the longest trip of any of the event's participants.

The schedule for Monday's play is below:

DAY 1 - SATURDAY

GAME 1 - Smithfield-Selma 15, Cleveland 5 

GAME 2 - Clayton 11, Hoke County 0

GAME 3 - Rocky Mount (12-5) vs.West Johnston (8-7), ppd., rain, storms

GAME 4 - Harnett Central (8-4) vs. South Johnston (8-10), ppd., rain, storms

DAY 2 - MONDAY - revised

10 a.m - GAME 3 - Rocky Mount (12-5) vs. West Johnston (8-7) 
12 noon - GAME 4 - Cleveland (0-15) vs. Hoke County (6-10)
2:30 p.m. - GAME 5 -  Harnett Central (8-4) vs. South Johnston (8-10)
4:30 p.m. - GAME 6 - Game 3 loser vs. Game 5 loser
6:30 p.m. - GAME 7 - Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner
8:30 p.m. - GAME 8 - Clayton (13-3) vs. Smithfield-Selma (9-7) 

DAY 3 - TUESDAY - revised

12 noon - Seventh Place - Game 4 loser vs. Game 6 loser

2:30 p.m. - Fifth Place - Game 4 winner vs. Game 6 winner

5 p.m. - Third Place - Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser

7:30 p.m. - Championship - Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner

RMHS' Brown named to 2010-11 NCPreps.com 3-A All-State Girls Hoops Team

Rocky Mount sophomore J'Kyra Brown drives to the basket against Northern Nash in the Big East Conference Tournament championship game. She was named MVP of the event.

(Photo/David Hahula)

HAMPTONVILLE - Rocky Mount sophomore J'Kyra Brown rebounded from missing her entire freshman season with a knee injury to making an All-State girls basketball team in her first campaign as a varsity player.

Earlier this week, Brown was named to the NCPreps.com 3-A All-State Girls Basketball Team. Brown led the Lady Gryphons to a school-record 25 wins (25-4), a share of the Big East Conference regular season title, the conference's tournament championship and an Eastern sectional final berth with eventual state champion South Central.

Brown scored 14.8 points a game, pulled down 5.3 rebounds an outing and dished out 3.1 assists a contest. She also popped in a team-leading 44 3-pointers.

NCPREPS.COM 3A GIRLS ALL-STATE TEAM

Ayana Avery, West Rowan
Ariel Bursey, Western Harnett
Danielle Butts, South Central
J'Kyra Brown, Rocky Mount
Jamie Cherry, West Craven
Amber Clark, South Central
Samantha Coffer, Northern Guilford
Janesha Ebron, South Central
Taylor Gibson, Tuscola
Shannon Hines, RS Central
Miranda Jenkins, Eastern Guilford
Jada Payne, Hickory
Hillary Sigmon, Hickory
Lindsay Simpson, Franklin
Mandessa Singletary, North Iredell
Jasmine Trawick, Westover

Danielle Butts, South Central - 3A Player of the Year
Mary Bryan Carlyle, South Central - 3A Coach of the Year

Gryphons' opener at Johnston County Easter Invitational moved up

FOUR OAKS - Rocky Mount's baseball team was scheduled to face West Johnston in its opening game of the Johnston County Easter Invitational Saturday at 5:30 p.m at South Johnston High School.

But with the inclement weather expected in the state sometime Saturday, the Gryphons' game time has been moved up to 4 p.m

If the entire schedule has been moved up 90 minutes, then here is the schedule for Day 1. The remaining games will be played Monday and Tuesday starting at 12 noon.

2011 Johnston County Baseball Invitational

DAY 1 - SATURDAY

10:30 a.m. - GAME 1 - Cleveland (0-14) vs. Smithfield-Selma (6-9)

12:30 p.m. - GAME 2 - Hoke County (6-11) vs. Clayton (12-3)

2:30 p.m. - Home Run Derby

4 p.m. - GAME 3 - Rocky Mount  (12-5) vs.West Johnston (8-7)

5:30 p.m. - GAME 4 - Harnett Central (8-4) vs. South Johnston (8-10)

DAY 2 - MONDAY

12:00 p.m. - GAME 5 - Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser

2:30 p.m. - GAME 6 - Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser

5 p.m. - GAME 7 - Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner

7 p.m. - GAME 8 - Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner

DAY 3 - TUESDAY

12 p.m. - Seventh Place - Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser

2:30 p.m. - Fifth Place - Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner

5 p.m. - Third Place - Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser

7:30 p.m. - Championship - Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner

2011 Big East Baseball Standings - April 8

2011 BIG EAST BASEBALL STANDINGS

Wilson Hunt        5-0, 12-2

Rocky Mount      3-1, 11-4

Nash Central      2-2, 12-3

Northern Nash    2-2, 9-4

Wilson Fike        1-3, 7-7

Southern Nash   0-5, 4-7

Last week's scores

WEDNESDAY

Rocky Mount 8, Wilson Fike 0

Nash Central 7, Northern Nash 4, 8 inn.

Wilson Hunt 11, Southern Nash 1, 5 inn.

THURSDAY

Rocky Mount 12, Southern Nash 0, 5 inn.

Northern Nash 10, Wilson Fike 4 (Fike gets 15 hits, but losses by 6)
Wilson Hunt 12, Nash Central 4

FRIDAY

Wilson Hunt 13, Southern Nash 2, 5 inn. (Hunt hits five HRs, scored 10 runs in the first inning.)

This week's games

TUESDAY
 Rocky Mount @ Northern Nash
Nash Central @ Southern Nash
Wilson Hunt @ Wilson Fike

THURSDAY

Rocky Mount @ Nash Central
Wilson Fike @ Southern Nash
Northern Nash @ Wilson Hunt

FRIDAY

Farmville Central @ Wilson Hunt
East Wake @ Northern Nash

SATURDAY

Rocky Mount vs. West Johnston @ South Johnston Baseball Invitational

Moss sets strikeout record while hurling one-hitter at Wilson Fike



RMHS senior Benton Moss

WILSON - Rocky Mount senior pitcher Benton Moss has, for the most part, been dominating all season.
He really showed that domination Tuesday evening as he struck out a school-record 20 batters en route to an 8-0 win over Wilson Fike.

Moss gave up just one hit - a single to Tyler Poythress in the fifth, and he hit one batter.

But that was it as he passed the RMHS record for Ks previously set at 19 by Carter Harrell ( vs. Hillsborough Orange, 2001) and Donnie Bobbitt (vs. Southern Nash, 1986)        

Over his last two outings in 14 innings of work, he has struck out an astounding 37 batters.

And it's always nice when you get some offensive support, too. And fellow senior Thomas Berry chipped in there. His grand slam to right center in the first inning gave him plenty of wiggle room, as if he would need it.

Ironically, Berry also hit first-inning granny last year in the Gryphons' late season win against another Wilson County team in Hunt.

RMHS BASEBALL RECORD BOOK

Most strikeouts in a game:
:
20, Benton Moss (vs. Wilson Fike, 2011);
19, Carter Harrell (vs. Hillsborough Orange, 2001);
19, Donnie Bobbitt (vs. Southern Nash, 1986);
17, Benton Moss (vs. Nash Central, 2011);
16, Benton Moss (vs. Southern Nash, 2010);
16, Scott Gibson (vs. Durham Jordan, 1995;
16, Scott Gibson (vs. Northern Nash, 1994);
16, Greg Proctor (vs. Wilson Fike, 1975);
15, Hobbs Johnson (vs. Tarboro, 2009);
15, Carter Harrell (vs. JH Rose, 2000);
15, Scott Lewis (vs. Kinston, 1988);
15, Larry Daughtridge (vs. Broughton, 1971);
14, Hobbs Johnson (vs. Southern Wayne, 2009);
14, Barrett Bodiford (vs. Garner, 1998);
14, Marcus Battle (vs. Kinston, 1994);
14, Danny Talbott (vs. Durham, 1963);
13, Hobbs Johnson (vs. Wilson Fike, 2010);
13, Carter Harrell (vs. Northeastern, 1999);
13, Scott Gibson (vs. Beddingfield, 1994);
13, Greg Proctor (vs. Northeastern, 1974);
13, Doug Henley (vs. Northern Nash, 1974);
13, Gary Ange (vs. Enloe, 1972);
13, Buddy Edgerton (vs. Durham, 1968);
13, Alton Oakley (vs. Goldsboro, 1958)
12, Benton Moss (vs. J.H. Rose, 2011);
12, Scott Lewis (vs. Wilson Hunt, 1988);
12, Buddy Edgerton (vs. Greensboro Smith, 1969);
12, Digit Laughtridge (vs. South Edgecombe, 1963)

RMHS-Hunt baseball games rained out

Rocky Mount's Big East baseball clash with Wilson Hunt, set for Gryphon Stadium Thursday evening, was rained out.

The game has been moved to Saturday at 7 p.m. The JV contest will be played at 4 p.m.

Rocky Mount (9-3, 1-0) opened with a 10-1 win over Nash Central, while Hunt (8-2, 1-0) beat Northern Nash 4-3.

Big East Baseball Roundup - Wilson Fike's Flowers wins 400th career game

WILSON FIKE 6, SOUTHERN NASH 2

WILSON - Veteran Wilson Fike High varsity baseball coach Will Flowers notched his 400th career win Tuesday night in the Golden Demons’ 6-2 victory over Southern Nash to open 3-A Big East Conference play.

Jackson Pardue picked up the win in relief for Fike, 7-5 overall, striking out three, walking one and yielding one hit in 2 2/3 innings of work. Southern Nash fell to 4-3 and 0-1.

Fike jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Matt Owens reached on an outfield error and scored on Pardue’s RBI-double. Dustin Edwards followed with an RBI-single to bring in Pardue for a 2-0 lead.

Fike only tallied five total hits for the game.

Chris Phillips was 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored, while Pardue was 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI and a run scored.

Southern Nash 000 101 0 — 2
Wilson Fike      202 002 0 — 6

WP - Jackson Pardue (2-0) 2 2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
LP- Zack Parris

WILSON HUNT 4, NORTHERN NASH 3

ROCKY MOUNT — Senior Ches Lamm earned the win on the mound and drove in what proved to be the winning run as Hunt opened 3-A Big East Conference varsity baseball play with a 4-3 victory at Northern Nash on Tuesday.

Lamm improved to 3-0 as he went five innings, yielding three runs on five hits and five walks while striking out eight. His fifth-inning single scored teammate Parker Lamm, who had doubled, with the winning margin. Northern Nash (7-3, 0-1 Big East) reached Lamm for two runs in the bottom of the inning but reliever Alex Nguyen allowed just one base runner over the final two innings to notch his first save of the season.

Spencer Boykin drilled a solo home run in the top of the first for the Warriors (8-2, 1-0 Big East). In the third, junior Jacob Page, who was 3-or-4, slapped an RBI-single and Hunt added another run on Ches Lamm’s grounder.

WILSON HUNT 4, NORTHERN NASH 3

Wilson Hunt     102 010 0 — 4
Northern Nash 010 020 0 — 3

WP - Ches Lamm (3-0) 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 8 SO.
LP - Jeremy Lucas
S - Alex Nguyen (1) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO

LEADING HITTERS — Hunt: Spencer Boykin 2-4, HR, RBI; Cory Nygard 1-4, 2B; Parker Lamm 2-4, 2B; Jacob Page 3-4, RBI; Ches Lamm 1-3, 2 RBI

(Courtesy of Wilson Times)

Big East Conference baseball action starts Tuesday

Big East Conference baseball action opens tonight at three sites. Here are the contests and the records of the combatants.

Game time for the three is 7 p.m.

BIG EAST CONFERENCE
BASEBALL SCHEDULE

Tuesday

Nash Central (10-1, 0-0) at Rocky Mount (8-3, 0-0)

Wilson Hunt (7-2, 0-0) at Northern Nash (7-2, 0-0)

Southern Nash (4-2, 0-0) at Wilson Fike (6-5, 0-0)

Bulldogs pushing Rocky Mount for Wachovia Cup lead

CHAPEL HILL - Rocky Mount had a solid lead in the Big East Conference's Wachovia Cup points standing after the fall season. But Nash Central is quicky gaining on the Gryphons.

And so is the rest of the league. Only nine points stand between the No. 1 and No. 4 schools.

After finishing first in women's swimming and wrestling, the Bulldogs are now nipping on the heels of the Gryphons at the conclusion of winter sports action.

Rocky Mount is still on top with 112.5 points, but it has a slim four-and a half-point lead over the Bulldogs (108 points) entering the spring sports season. The Gryphons managed to stay narrowly in front thanks to a tie for first in women's basketball and a second-place finish in boys basketball.

A solid winter season including a runner-up finish in men’s swimming kept Wilson Fike just in front of Wilson Hunt for the third spot in the conference with 104 points. Hunt (103.5 pts.) won the league's regular season men's basketball title. Northern Nash's first-place tie with RMHS in women's basketball helped keep it ahead of Southern Nash for fifth place.

Here are the conference standings through the winter sports season.

2010-11 Big East Conference Wachovia Cup Point Standings

(through winter season)

1. Rocky Mount 112.5
2. Nash Central 108
3. Wilson Fike 104
4. Wilson Hunt 103.5
5. Northern Nash 83.5
6. Southern Nash 82.5

Preview Baseball Capsules: Big East's Wilson County schools

Here is a preview look at Wilson County's representatives in the Big East Conference baseball race. Ironically, these teams finished at the top and the bottom of the coaches' preseason poll - Hunt at the top, Fike tied for the bottom.

Conference play begins Tuesday evening!

WILSON FIKE

Head coach - Will Flowers (29th season)

2010 record - 18-8, 6-4 Big East
Returning starters - 4
Strengths - Defense
Weaknesses - Pitching experience
Toughest non-conference game - Rosewood. North Johnston
Starters -
1B - Dustin Edwards, Jr.
2B - Matt Owens, Sr.
SS - Tyler Poythress, So.
3B - Hunter Cockrell, Fr.
C - Jackson Pardue, Sr.
LF - Richard Hinton, So.
CF - Travis Ricks, Jr.
RF - Nathan Everette, Jr.
Starting pitchers: Nathan Everette, Jr., Matt Owens, Sr.
Coach's expectations - " It's a transition year for us. Three starting pitchers graduated. We have a lot youth and we're rebuilding. But our goal remain the same - win the conference and go to the playoffs."


WILSON HUNT

Head coach - Jon Smith (4th season)
2010 record - 26-7, 8-2 Big East
Returning starters - 3
Strengths - Balance

Weaknesses - Inexperience

Toughest non-conference game - Holly Springs

Starters -

1B - Ches Lamm, Sr.

2B - Spencer Boykin, Sr..

SS - Parker Lamm, Jr.

3B - Corey Nygard, Sr.

C - Logan Butts, Jr.

LF - Dillan Howard, Jr.

CF - Jacob Page, Jr.

RF - Avery Harper, Sr.

Starting pitchers: Avery Harper, Sr., Ches Lamm, Sr.

Coach's expectations - "We'd love to compete for a conference championship."

Wilson Hunt picked to win Big East baseball title

Wilson Hunt didn't even win the Big East Conference baseball title last season. Yet, the Warriors ended up in the state championship series with East Rowan for the NCHSAA 3-A title.

With the 2011 conference season set to get underway next week, it could be a wide open race to see who will end up on top.

Despite having only three starters back this season, Hunt, by a small margin over Nash Central, has been voted to win the league title in a vote of the conference's head coaches.

Both teams received three first place votes, but Hunt, which tallied 23 total points, got two nods for second place, while the Bulldogs (21 points) got two votes for third place to give the Warriors the edge in the balloting. Nash Central returns seven starters.

Rocky Mount, the defending champion that went 10-0 in league play last season, received four second-place votes and a third-place nod to garner 19 points and third place in the voting. The Gryphons were also hit hard by graduation and only return four starters.

Northern Nash, with seven starters back for this season, placed fourth with 13 points. The Knights got three third-place votes and two fourth-place picks. Southern Nash and Wilson Fike finished in a tie for fifth place with seven points (each received two fourth-place votes and three fifth-place selections.

2011 Big East Preseason Baseball Coaches' Poll

(Teams received five points for first place, four points for second place, etc. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.)

1. Wilson Hunt - (3) 23 pts.

2. Nash Central - (3) 21 pts.
3. Rocky Mount - 19 pts.
4. Northern Nash - 13 pts.
5. Southern Nash - 7 pts.
5. Wilson Fike - 7 pts.

RMHS senior Benton Moss is WITN-TV7's Player of the Week

Nash County HS baseball preview capsules

Rocky Mount sophomore pitcher/center fielder Jeremy Johnson

Here are preview capsules of Nash County's high school baseball teams. Play is in its third week of action.

NASH CENTRAL

Head coach - Jeff Mizelle (3rd season)
2010 record - 14-9, 4-6 Big East
Returning starters - 7
Strengths - Two starting pitchers return, more team speed, more offensive power
Weaknesses - Young players on the field
Toughest non-conference game - J.H, Rose
Starters -
1B - Mason Wallace, Sr.
2B - Jordan Taylor, Jr.
SS - Khalil Macklin, Fr.
3B - Dillon Moore, Jr.
C - Jeremy Sloop, Sr.
LF - Bennett Williford, Sr.
CF - Jalen Hendricks, Jr.
RF - Colton Vaughan, So.
Starting pitchers: Trellis Ashley, Sr.; Jeremy Sloop, Sr.
Coach's expectations - "We expect to finish in the top three of the conference and get back to the playoffs. We expect to have a real good season."
2011 record - 6-0


NORTHERN NASH

Head coach - Eddie Loesner (4th season)
2010 record - 14-9, 4-6 Big East
Returning starters - 7
Strengths - Defense should be pretty good
Weaknesses - Lack of depth, must stay away from injuries
Toughest non-conference game - South Central
Starters -
1B - Madison Mayo, Sr.
2B - David Williams, Sr.
SS - Luke Joyner, Jr.
3B - Steve Williams, Jr.
C - Braxton Bowden, Jr.
LF - Hunter Watson, So.
CF - Fuller Weatherly, Sr.
RF - Wes Pate, Sr.
Starting pitchers: Jeremy Lucas, Sr., Hunter Watson, So.
Coach's expectations - "There's a lot of parity in the league. So if we play well, I think we can be part of the playoff mix. The league winner may have as many as three conference losses."
2011 record - 3-2


ROCKY MOUNT

Head coach - Kent Cox (2nd season)
2010 record - 22-3, 10-0 Big East
Returning starters - 4
Strengths - Pitching depth - seven possible arms, senior leadership
Weaknesses - Very young, hitting, lost of offense to replace
Toughest non-conference game - J.H, Rose
Starters -
1B - Thomas Berry, Sr.
2B - Andy Morris, Fr.
SS - Spencer Ramsey, So.
3B - Matthew Berry, Sr.
C - Collin Watson, So.
LF - Benton Moss, Sr.
CF - Jeremy Johnson, So.
RF - Taylor Clontz, Sr.
Starting pitchers: Benton Moss, Sr., Jeremy Johnson, So.
Coach's expectations - "We have to get good pitching and some timely hitting if we are going to win this season. We're going to have to do all the little things to get some wins, including scratching out hits and runs."
2011 record - 4-3


SOUTHERN NASH

Head coach - Jeff Flowers (10th season)
2010 record - 5-14, 0-10 Big East
Returning starters - 6
Strengths - Experience, many kids that have playing time; team speed
Weaknesses - Offensive, pitching experience
Toughest non-conference game - Louisburg
Starters -
1B - Chris Martin, Sr.
2B - Luke Mercer, Sr..
SS - Garrison Vick, Fr.
3B - Josh Barnes, Sr.
C - Daniel Tyson, Sr.
LF - Zack Parris, Jr.
CF - Tevin Boykin, Jr.
RF - Ronnie Robbins, So.
Starting pitchers: Daniel Tyson, Sr.; Zack Parris, Jr.
Coach's expectations - "I'd like to see us get the program back to the way it was a few seasons ago. We'd love to make a great improvement over last season."
2011 record - 2-2

Moss moving up all-time wins list for RMHS

Rocky Mount senior Benton Moss

Senior Benton Moss has moved into fourth place on Rocky Mount's all-time wins list for pitchers.

Moss, who has signed with North Carolina, has the best winning percentage in school history (.893). But he needs five more victories to pass Jim Leggett to move to the top of the heap in career wins.

Below are all Rocky Mount pitchers who have at least 20 career wins. Former Northern Nash pitcher Tyler Joyner has the Twin Counties' record for victories with 30.

Moss has set career record for the Gryphons in strikeouts.

His 18 Ks this season puts him at 230 - ahead of former hurler Jeremy Ward for the top spot all-time. The top five pitchers on that list are below.

RMHS pitchers with 20 career wins

28, (28-7) Jim Leggett (2005-08)
26, (26-6) John Kennedy (1978-80)
25, (25-6) Donnie Bobbitt (1984-86)
24, (24-3) Benton Moss (2008-present)
24, (24-7) Carter Harrell (1999-2001)
23, (23-3) Bill Wilkes (1979-81)
22, (22-7) Chad Womble (2004-07)
20, (20-9) Jeremy Ward (1993-96)

RMHS' top career strikeout leaders

230, Benton Moss (2008-present)
215, Jeremy Ward (1993-96)
210, Hobbs Johnson (2009-10)
189, Doug Henley (1973-75)
174, Scott Gibson (1994-95)

The 18th edition of the Tarboro Easter Classic starts April 27

TARBORO - The pairings have been released for the 18th Annual Tarboro Easter Baseball Classic to be held Wednesday through Friday, April 27-29, at Tarboro's Historic Municipal Stadium.

Here is the action for Day 1:

11 a.m. - Brooke Point (Va.) vs. Lawrence Academy

1:30 p.m. - Arlington Country Day (Fl.) vs. Washington
4 p.m. - Kerr-Vance Academy vs. SouthWest Edgecombe
7 p.m. - St. Maria Goretti (Md.) vs. Tarboro

Ticket prices are as follows:

Adults - 1-day pass $7, 3-day pass $16

School-Aged Children - 1-day pass $5, 3-day pass $10

Non-School-Aged Children - Free

Game times are the same each of the three days.

Brooke Point (attendance 1,700, nickname Black Hawks, located in Stafford, Va.) and Arlington Country Day (attendance 400, nickname Apache, located in Jacksonville, Fl.) are new to the tournament, while, as far as out-of-state schools are concerned, St. Maria Goretti has played every year of the tournament.

Lawrence Academy is the defending champion.

Gryphons to play in IMPACT Invitational Saturday

Rocky Mount's baseball team, which is off to an inauspicious 2-3 start, will play in the annual IMPACT Invitational High School Baseball Tournament Saturday at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary.

The Gryphons, under .500 for the first time since the 2004 season, will open the day (11 a.m.) against Forsyth Country Day, the No. 2-ranked school in ImpactBaseball's poll of NCISAA 3-A teams.

Here is the complete schedule for the day:

IMPACT Invitational

High School Baseball Tournament
Saturday - March 12, 2011

USA Baseball Complex

Thomas Brooks Park, 200 Brooks Park Lane, Cary

*Admission: $8 (covers all three games)
*Concessions: Will be run by the USA Baseball
*NO pets allowed passed gate

IMPACT Invitational Schedule

11:00 am: Forsyth Country Day vs. Rocky Mount 
1:45 pm: North Davidson vs. Kerr-Vance Academy
4:30 pm: Wesleyan Christian vs. D.H. Conley

I included the actual address for you guys who will use a GPS to find your way there!

2010-11 Big East All-Conference Basketball Teams released; Freeman, Brown voted top players

WILSON - The Big East 3-A Conference has released its 2010-11 All-Conference boys and girls basketball teams.

Three first-team players were awarded to the conference champion in each sport, two players each to the second- and third-place teams and each of the remaining teams received a player each. Each squad also was allowed an honorable mention selection. The Player of the Year and the Coach of the Year was also announced. 

So here they are:

BOYS 

First Team

Scottie Harris, Wilson Hunt
Damont Williams, Wilson Hunt
Tyrell Vinson, Wilson Hunt
Exzavier Cooper, Rocky Mount
Tevin Taylor, Rocky Mount
Jalen Hendricks, Nash Central
Demetrey Clark, Nash Central
Deshawn Freeman, Northern Nash
Josh Sessoms, Southern Nash
Antonio Hinnant, Wilson Fike

Honorable Mention

Quen Ballard, Wilson Hunt
Terrill Hilliard, Rocky Mount
Nathaniel Pittman, Nash Central
Darius Freeman, Northern Nash
Marcus Hicks, Southern Nash
Josh King, Wilson Fike

Coach of the Year - Dwight Taylor, Wilson Fike
Player of the Year - Deshawn Freeman


GIRLS

First Team

J'Kyra Brown, Rocky Mount
Tia Hudgins, Rocky Mount
Timisha Walker, Rocky Mount
Quinesha Lynch, Northern Nash
Alexus Hill, Northern Nash
Khadijah Richardson, Northern Nash
Jamika Ruffin, Wilson Fike
Meredith Pruden, Wilson Fike
Quanisha Brown, Wilson Hunt
Miya Bryant, Southern Nash
Jasmine Williams, Nash Central

Honorable Mention

Marquita Hines, Rocky Mount
Jessica Lyons, Northern Nash
Alisha Baines, Wilson Fike
Lizzie Madden, Wilson Hunt
Khadijah Manning, Southern Nash
Niya Styles, Nash Central

Coach of the Year - Pam Gainey, Rocky Mount/Grover Battle, Northern Nash
Player of the Year - J'Kyra Brown, Rocky Mount

Battling Bishops are going dancing!

For only the fifth time in the school's hisory, North Carolina Wesleyan's men's basketball team is going to the NCAA Div. III Tournament.

With a big trip to the dance hanging in the balance Sunday afternoon, the Battling Bishops held true to their name and held off Ferrum 74-70 in overtime in the championship game of the USA South Conference Tournament at Everett Gymnasium.

This will be Wesleyan's first NCAA excusrsion since 2002 and head coach John Thompson's second trip in his 16-year tenure. They have had several good teams under his watch, but with only the tournament champion receiving a bid and at-large bids a rarity, this is a tough postseason ticket to get.

Wesleyan (21-6) was the USA South's regular season champ and was the No. 1 seed in the tournament. Thompson, who has 10 winning seasons at NCWC - half the school's total, has a career record of 239-186. The 21 victories recorded by his squad this season is a career-best for him and three off the school record of 24.

NOTE: The NCAA announced the pairings for the Div. III Tournament Monday afternoon. NCWC's first-round game will be held in Virginia Beach as Virginia Wesleyan will host rounds 1 and 2. The Bishops will face perennial power Franklin & Marshall College (22-5) at 5:30 p.m. Friday. The host Marlins (23-4) will then face Delaware Valley College (17-10) at 7:30 with the two winners playing on Saturday for a spot in the sectionals.

Coats joins NCWC, promoting The Wesleyan Cup

Former Rocky Mount QB Eddie Coats

Former Rocky Mount quarterback Eddie Coats (1981-82), despite the career run by Terrell Hudgins, still holds some passing marks in the RMHS record book.

But he now would like to set some fundraising records at North Carolina Wesleyan College.

Coats has left the world of banking and has returned to his alma mater  to assume duties as its Assistant Vice President for Development.

Part of his new job is to assist with the supervision and success of Wesleyan’s fundraising efforts. And one of them is coming up in about a month.

The college will host The Wesleyan Cup golf tournament on April 8 at the Golf Club of Rocky Mount - located off N. Wesleyan Blvd.

Sponsored by Roger G. Taylor & Associates, the event is a significant source of academic, athletic and scholarship funding for Wesleyan students.

The college has a special commitment to the Rocky Mount area and to Eastern North Carolina. The Wesleyan community includes students from diverse cultural and racial backgrounds — many of whom are first generation college students. Historically, more than 90 percent of the students at Wesleyan receive financial aid to attend classes, and the demand for financial assistance has soared during the recession. Support from events such as this makes higher education opportunities possible for these worthy students.

This year’s Wesleyan Cup will be a four-person Captain’s Choice highlighted by a $10,000 hole-in-one contest, a Buick Regal hole-in-one contest, and a $10,000 putting contest. Additional prizes will be awarded for closest-to-the-pin and longest drive competitions.

Cost is $125 per person or bring a foursome for $500. This price includes lunch and awards dinner, green and cart fees, and a golf shoe bag full of surprises.

The staff and fun course layout of the Golf Club of Rocky Mount makes it one of the premiere golf courses in the area, so of all of the tournaments in which you can play, this will be one that people will not forget, event organizers said.

Hole sponsors are also needed.

For more information contact Tammy Robinson, coordinator of Institutional Advancement Services, at 252-985-5266 or trobinson@ncwc.edu . You may also contact Coats at ecoats@ncwc.edu.

I encourage all, area alumni especially, to grab those clubs out of the closet and start your year of golfing by coming out to support this event.

Red Oak Middle's Terry Pittman is a walking miracle

Last fall, fans attending a Rocky Mount High football game were asked to donate to a fund to help the family of Terry Pittman, a Red Oak Middle School student who had sufffered a spinal injury while playing football at the school.

At the time, he was a patient at East Carolina University's Medical Center. I hadn't heard much on Pittman's progress of late until I got this video on Facebook from Barbara Dickens, a former employee at Red Oak Middle.

While watching the video, I cried like a baby at the miracle of God's mercy. This young man is walking again!

If seeing this eighth grader's story doesn't inspire you, nothing can!