Rocky Mount's Jr. Legion baseball squad makes state tournament

CARY - Rocky Mount's Junior American Legion baseball team won two games Friday at the Eastern Qualifier at the USA Baseball Training Complex to advance to the the eight-team N.C. American Legion State Tournament. The event is set to start Friday in Asheboro at McCrary Park, home of the Coastal Plain League's Asheboro Copperheads.

No. 2 seeded Rocky Mount (23-3), beat the No. 11-seed Beaufort 6-1 in its opener. In game two, Rocky Mount downed West Johnston, the No. 6 seed, 10-1.

Nash Central (16-6), seeded seventh, topped Kinston 6-1 in its first contest, but got belted 15-0 in five innings by No. 1 seed Cary Bulls (42-2). Nash Central will have to advance through the loser's bracket Saturday and Sunday to grab the last remaining berth in the East. It will start that march by facing either Jacksonville or Beaufort Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Only the top four teams advance.

Pinetops (Edgecombe County), the No. 12 seed, fell in its opener 9-3 to Cary. There was no report on its second contest of the day.

The seedings so far have held true as the top three (Cary, Rocky Mount, Pikeville), by virtue of their 2-0 records Friday, have all qualified for a state berth.

The Rocky Mount team is coached byHank Jones and Tom Jones. It's comprised of several Gryphon varsity and JV players and even a few Edwards Middle School kids.

Congrats, guys, and good luck in Asheboro! Let's bring a another baseball title back to RM!

Here is Rocky Mount's roster:

Thomas Berry

Benton Moss

Taylor Clontz

Spencer Bell

Carter Varnell

Brandon Amerson

Jeremy Johnson

Parker Helms

Michael Whitehead

Collin Watson

Matthew Berry

Jeremy Trevathan

Elijah Blount

Post 58 in driver's seat

EDENTON - Nash County Post 58's baseball team was slow and methodical - but it got the job done at Historic Hicks Field Tuesday night. It beat Edenton Post 40 17-5 in seven innings in Game 2 of the American Legion Area One East Division semifinals.

A win at Northern Nash tonight will put Post 58 in the finals.

Nash County kept two themes going Tuesday night - scoring in every inning, and winning via the 10-run run rule. And for the13th time in 15 outings, Post 58 scored in double figures.

Several of its players had exceptional outings at the home of not only the Edenton High School Aces, but the Edenton Steamers of the Coastal Plain League. They had to if they tallied 21 hits in just seven innings!

Rocky Mount High School's all-time RBI leader Ben Fish continued doing what he does best - knock in runs. He parlayed three singles and a double into a five-RBI evening. He also scored three times.

Fish and third baseman Mike Williams, who went 3-for-6 last night, had the distinction of coming to bat in five consecutive innings (Nos. 3-7). A rare deed indeed!

Though Xavier Macklin, hitting in the No. 3 spot, was exceptional at the plate going 4-for-5 with a double and four runs scored and strangely, he had no RBI.

Then two of the smallest Nash County players had the biggest blasts of the evening - both coming in the seventh.

Shortstop Wesley Joyner (2-for-4) led off the frame by lifting a high fly ball to left, just inside the foul pole, over the double-decker fence for a solo home run.

After consecutive singles by pinch hitters Gabe Brown and Tyler Clark, leadoff hitter and center fielder T.J. Taylor, who is about 5-foot-7 and 140 pounds (and I am being generous), slammed a line-drive 350-foot shot over the fence in right center for a three-run bomb. Taylor closed out the evening 3-for-6 with four RBI.

But the performance of the night came from pitcher Dillon Cockrell. He had shaky start in the first by giving up a leadoff home run to Post 40's Nikolai Simonson, followed by a single by Tyler Barrington.

But he really settled down from that point on - only allowing one more hit in his six innings of work. He walked just one batter and struck out 11.

The biggest concern for the Post 58 faithful is the status of catcher/pitcher Alex Pearce.

He was beaned twice in Game 1, and last night he was hit twice more - once in the ear hole of his batting helmet in the second - which could be heard all the way back in Rocky Mount! The second time was on the left wrist in the fourth, which was unbelievably questioned by the home plate umpire.

An appeal to the field umpire got Pearce first base, but he was in a lot pain and was pulled from the lineup for Clark. Ironcially, in his last at-bats, he was walked and hit with the bases loaded - giving him two RBI.

I gather X-rays will be taken Wednesday and we may know more about his status this evening.

UPDATE: I just learned that Pearce's wrist is bruised and not broken or fractured. He will be able to pitch Wednesday, but not bat.

Rocky Mount tops Southern Nash for Babe Ruth 14/15U Tourney title

Congrats to the Rocky Mount 14-U Babe Ruth baseball team for winning their conference tournament 8-4 over Southern Nash Monday evening at Nash Central High School.

Despite having only the minimum nine players in attendance, Rocky Mount used a seven-run second inning to give it a comfortable lead early.

Bradley Jackson, who plays for Rocky Mount Academy, got the win for Rocky Mount, while Nolan Farmer was saddled with the loss for Southern.

Many of the Rocky Mount players played at Edwards Middle School last season and will be on the JV squad at Rocky Mount High next spring.

After the game, the Nash County 14-U All-Star team was announced. Yes, the same age group of kids that have had so much success for Nash County this decade. The team begins district play next week in Greenville.

Nash Co. 14/15U Babe Ruth Baseball Tournament
Finals (@ Nash Central HS), Monday

Rocky Mount 8, Southern Nash 4

SN 100 102 0 - 4 8 1
RM 170 000 x - 8 8 2

WP - Bradley Jackson (4IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 5K)
LP - Nolan Farmer (2IP, 8H, 8R, 3ER, 2BB, K)

Leading Hitters:

Southern Nash: Daniel Tyson 3-4, R; Zach Parris 2-3, R; Nolan Farmer 2-3; J.D. Sherrod 1-2, 2R.
Rocky Mount: Bradley Jackson 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI; Ashton Love 1-3, 2B, RBI; James Martin 1-3, RBI; Hunter Watson 1-3, RBI; Spencer Ramsey 1-4, RBI; Tyree Mack 1-3; Lucas Bayless 1-4.

Record: Rocky Mount 12-1

Nash County 14-U All-Star Roster for 2009

Christian Davis, Faith Christian
Jordan Braswell, Faith Christian
J.D. Sherrod, Southern Nash
Evan Brewer, SW Edgecombe
Colby Gilbert, Nash Central
Dillard Rackley, Nash Central
Joey Davis, Nash Central
Spencer Ramsey, Rocky Mount
Bradley Jackson, Rocky Mount
Tyree Mack, Rocky Mount
Adam Bayless, Rocky Mount
Terrance Pittman, Rocky Mount
Hunter Watson, Rocky Mount
Andrew Katkeveck, Rocky Mount

Waiting on a football coach

The Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education met Monday evening with a lot of issues on its plate.

One was to have been the voting on the hiring of Rocky Mount's new head football coach.

But many other personnel matters during these tough economic times, including the shuffling of principals and assistant principals and the resignation of longtime board member Richard Horner, took precendent on the evening.

So, an approval was not forthcoming for the Gryphons' new head man - at least not Monday evening.

And we will have to wait a few more days at least before the school's selection becomes official!

NASH CENTRAL - Also, there is no word on who will fill the shoes of Michael Mosley, who recently retired as head boys basketball coach and athletic director at Nash Central High.

The skinny out there is that those positions will be split and given to two individuals. But which two, Lord only knows. I'll let you know when I find out.

NEW 6 HOOP NEWS: Two NEW 6 Conference boys basketball players who combined to score almost 4,000 points over the last four seasons have seemingly found college homes.

Wilson Fike's Jeremy Atkinson will be signing this week with hometown Barton College, a Div II school, but he had hopes of latching on with a Div. I team. The 6-3 guard, a three-sport athlete for Fike (football, basketball, tennis) scored 2,001 points for the Golden Demons.

Nash Central guard Trey Sumler reportedly will be headed to Western Carolina to continue his hoop career. The No. 2 guard poured in 1,921 points for the Bulldogs.

Of course, the NEW 6 Conference is no more. The name for the league is now the Big East 3-A Conference - beginning with play this fall.

N.C. Wesleyan releases 2009 football schedule

I have to admit, seeing N.C. Wesleyan playing its home games at Northern Nash last season was a bit weird - since its first four seasons were played at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex.

Well, guess what folks? It will remain weird as the Battling Bishops will play season No. 6 at Death Valley, too.

With the RMAC's field conditions still in the "work-in-progress" stage, NCWC will play one more season in Red Oak.

Sadly, the Bishops will play only four games there. They played Methodist twice in a row at home and had six home contests out there last season. But that number will be just four for the 2009 campaign.

Here is the slate for second-year head coach Mark Henninger:

NCWC 2009 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Sept. 5 - at Hampden-Sydney College, 1 p.m.
Sept. 12 - SALISBURY UNIVERSITY, 1 p.m
Sept. 19 - at Emory and Henry College, 1 p.m.

Oct. 3 - FERRUM COLLEGE #, 1 p.m.*

Oct. 10 - at Greensboro College #, 1 p.m.

Oct. 17 - at Christopher Newport University #, 1 p.m.
Oct. 24 - MARYSVILLE COLLEGE #, 1 p.m.%
Oct. 31 - at Methodist Universary #, 1 p.m.

Nov. 7 - SHENANDOAH UNIVERSITY #, 1 p.m.$

Nov. 14 - at Averett University#, 1 p.m.

# - USA South Conference games

% - Homecoming

* - Take a Kid to the Game Day

$ - Parents/Senior Day

Gryphon baseballers participate in State Games

Several Rocky Mount High and area baseball players participated in the annual State Games of North Carolina last weekend.

The high school baseball games, played at UNC-Charlotte and at Hopewell High School, were divided into two categories. Graduated seniors played in a two-game series - pitting 20 players from the East against 20 from the West.

RM's Brian Goodwin and Ben Fish and Northern Nash's Tyler Joyner participated in those games - both played last Wednesday. The East fell in both, however, 6-2 and 4-1.

The other category was a round-robin tourney with rising seniors and juniors playing on teams that represented each of the eight regions of the state as set up by the N.C. High School Athletic Association.

Rocky Mount is in Region 3 and on that squad were Gryphons Hobbs Johnson and Benton Moss, Kyle Shields from Southern Nash and William Prince from Wilson Fike.

Playing in games from Thursday to Saturday, Region 3 beat Region 5 6-1 (Thurs.), defeated Region 7 2-1 (Fri.) and downed Region 1 7-3 (Sat.).

Region 3 advanced to the Gold Medal game Sunday against Region 6, a team from the Charlotte area that featured members of the NCHSAA 4-A state champion Ardrey Kell team.

Region 6 prevailed 7-5.

RMSH Class of '84 Reunion set for September

Having been on my Class of 1976 reunion committee a couple of times, I'm always glad to publicize any Rocky Mount High School class that may be celebrating a reunion.

The Class of 1984, which my youngest brother belongs to, will celebrate's its 25th Anniversary Reunion on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 11 and 12.

There will be an evening social at the Doubletree Hotel at Winstead Ave./US 64, Friday at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, there will be two events.

A picnic lunch will be held at Englewood Park, sometimes known as Stone Park, on Old Mill Rd. from 10 a.m-2 p.m.

That evening, a gathering will be at The Dunn Center for Performing Arts - Garner Lobby on the campus of my alma mater - N.C. Wesleyan College - from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight.

The cost is $50 per person for the weekend.

The Saturday night event is being touted as "An Oscar-Winning Evening with the Stars." Dress will be semi-formal.

Payment is due by August 23, and can be remitted to: RMSH Class of '84 Reunion, c/o Barrett, 1230 Sycamore Street, Rocky Mount, N.C. 27801

I hope it's a blast, guys!

Now I have to get ready for my 35th Anniverasry reunion in a couple of years!

Ughhh!! - 35 years since graduation!

Now, can anyone list a few of the standout athletes from that class?

Feel free to send me some names and their sport(s)! Just click on the comments link!

It's a Boy!

They say good things come in pairs, and it did this past week for new Gryphon head baseball coach Kent Cox.

Tuesday, he got his new job, and Friday, he became a daddy, again.

His wife Emily gave birth at 7:49 a.m. at Nash General Hopspital to son Caleb Patrick. He weighed eight pounds on the nose and measured 20.5 inches. Both mother and son are doing fine. Caleb has an older sister, Kenly, 3.

Kent got the best Father's Day gift ever when Caleb and his mom came home from the hospital on Sunday!

Smiths headed home

Former Northern Nash head football coach and Rocky Mount assistant coach Chad Smith has apparently found new employment close to his hometown of Pickens, S.C.

He reportedly will teach strength and conditioning at Easley High School in Easley, S.C., about eight miles southeast of Pickens in Pickens County in the northwest corner of the state.

For those of you who are geographically challenged, Pickens County is also the home of Clemson, S.C. and of course, Clemson University.

Smith, who last semester taught physical education at Edwards Middle School, will be moving back to an area where his parents have long resided and his wife Hannah's parents have relocated to.

But they'll be taking an extra little bundle back with them. Hannah is expecting their third child - due in November. So Hunter and Ashton will probably have a new playmate by Thanksgiving.

Good luck to the Smiths. We were blessed to have them in our area the last six years.

(Photo/Geoff Neville)

Holt's replacements

Word has gotten out that there are six viable candidates out there for the Rocky Mount head football coaching position. I've got five names and I'll share them with you.

1. Jason Battle - current offensive coordinator of the Gryphons - a RMHS alum

2. J.J. Jones - current co-defensive coordinator of the Gryphons - a RMHS alum

3. Dickie Schock - a former RMHS assistant coach and current head coach at Hillsborough Orange

4. Jack Ginn - the man who started N.C. Wesleyan's football program and current head assistant at Grand Valley State (Michigan) (UPDATE: Ginn took his name out of consideration and is now moving his family with him to Michigan. We wish them all well!)

5. Tom Nelson - current head coach at North Johnston, but was very successful as head coach at Wilson Beddingfield and former assistant at Wilson Hunt

The sixth person is allegedly an assistant coach at Louisburg College, but that person's name has not surfaced.

This is an interesting bunch.

You gotta a preference? Drop a comment to me down below and let me know!

Goodbye, B.W. and Barbara!

I guess all good things have to come to an end.

As most of you know, the B.W. Holt football era is over at Rocky Mount. He and his lovely bride Barbara headed west one last time Tuesday afternoon. The couple moved to their home in Bristol, Tenn.

Wes Bradshaw and I had the great pleasure of enjoying a meal with the Holts Sunday evening. We wanted to do something I know many Rocky Mount fans would have loved to do - properly say goodbye to them as they closed a wonderful six-year period in our midst.

Sure, we turned the clock backward and foreward during our two hours together. From the first day we met them back in July 2003 to their plans for the immediate future.

B.W. had earlier commented to me that he had heard that I had put a poll up on line of the top RMHS football moments coached by him. Barbara said she even voted in the poll and he asked what was the top vote getter so far.

"The New Bern game - double overtime win (35-34)," I said.

"I'm not surprised," he said.

He stated that one game put the spotlight on RM's program for the first time since he'd been here. It put the Gryphon program on the map - breaking the Bears' 29-game home winning streak and the team went on to an undefeated Big East 4-A season.

At some point during the evening, Barbara muses that she has no idea what she's going to do with three sofas! I think now she wishes she had conducted more than one yard sale to get rid of so many duplications brought on by maintaining two households.

But they are looking forward to the future, alright, and football will be a focal point.

Every single Saturday this coming fall, they will be watching one of their former Rocky Mount players hit the gridiron.

Barbara says the weekend calendar is about full. From catching Virginia Tech's Stephan Virgil play ECU in Greenville to seeing Terrell Hudgins go for more receiving records as his Elon squad travels to Wake Forest (Whit Barnes will likely be redshirted).

They may catch Nick Hahula and the N.C. Central Eagles take on Duke. Travel to see B.W.'s alma mater UNC-Pembroke and check out two of his most recent products, Chris Pittman and Nick Harrison.

They have tons of guys playing at Winston-Salem State. The Norfolk State (Kendall Noble)-WSSU matchup will be a must-see at the end of the season.

And they just might make it back to Rocky Mount should former Gryphon QB Jason Tyler start tossing to Keith Strickland when Elizabeth City State comes for the Down East Viking Classic.

So they will stay more busy than ever as they leave Rocky Mount. And that's a good thing. Retirement is for doing what you want to do when you want to do it.

And they'll certainly do that. Not to mention more visits to see the grandkids!

With B.W.'s mother living with his sister in the Fayetteville area, the couple will make regular trips back to eastern North Carolina.

So don't be surprised to see them slip into town a time or two.

But B.W. and Barbara - we will still miss you and we will never forget you!

NC/SC All-Star Baseball Challenge - teams split games

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - North Carolina came away with a 9-2 win in Game 2 of the N.C.-S.C. All-Star Baseball Challenge Friday after dropping rain-delayed Game 1 8-3 at BB&T Field, home of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

Rain in the Conway S.C. area Thursday evening curtailed Game 1 of the event which started at Coastal Carolina's Watson Stadium.

Game 1 was suspended with South Carolina leading 8-3 going into the bottom of the sixth inning. S.C. had plated seven runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead before play was stopped. But North Carolina had no luck in making a comeback when play was resumed.

In Game 3, Eastern Wayne's John Wooten, son of Rocky Mount alum Sonny Wooten (a member of the 1973 RMSH 4-A baseball state championship team), was the hitting star. The East Carolina-bound slugger, who led the state in home runs this past season (18), knocked in three runs.

Rocky Mount's Brian Goodwin and Ben Fish and Northern Nash's Tyler Joyner, who participated in the event, all got quite a bit of playing time in both games. In Game 3, Fish picked up a hit and scored a run, while Goodwin had two infield hits. Fish even caught Joyner for a time in Game 1 Thursday.

Womble to play in Hawaii this summer, then at NCWC

Former Rocky Mount pitcher Chad Womble (RMHS '07) is flying for the first time in his life this week. But what a destination for his maiden flight - HAWAII!

Womble (6-1, 175), who graduated from Florence-Darllington Technical College a few weeks ago (AA in Business Administration), got an offer to play summer baseball in the Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League. He'll be playing for the Kamuela Paniolos - one of six teams in the league.

In case you're wondering, a paniolo is a cowboy or horseman.

His first practice is Thursday morning - only hours after his flight arrived. Players from all over the country make up the team's roster - including two players from N.C.'s Gardner-Webb. On average, they will play a game a day six days a week. The season concludes with a tournament the last week of July.

From looking at their schedule, Womble and his teammates play the majority of their 35 games in the late morning or early afternoon which leaves plenty of time for surfing and sightseeing.

Womble, who had a career record of 22-7 while at RMHS, will be staying pretty close to home when he gets back home. He has decided to close his final two seasons of college baseball at N.C. Wesleyan, the first Gryphon baseball player in years to play for the Battling Bishops.

Post 58 Legion baseball season underway

You will have to forgive Coleman-Pitt Post 58 second-year head coach Matt Bryan for starting the bulk of his 2009 American Legion baseball season a bit late.

Quite a few of his players played for Northern Nash, which reached the NCHSAA 3-A East regional final series two weekends ago.

The team he's involved with during the school year, Eastern Wayne (as an assistant coach), not only beat Northern in that regional series, but lost out in the 3-A state championship series 2-1 to Lake Norman at Zebulon's Five County Stadium last weekend. So he's has had a lot on his plate.

But it will be totally clear this week as Post 58 get its season going full throttle. Bryan managed to make his team's opener Sunday at New Bern, but it fell to Post 24 14-4.

Post 58 was led Northern Nash's Mike Williams who had three hits. NN's Brandon Denton got the loss on the hill. He allowed seven runs on seven hits in his four innings of work. He recorded five strikeouts.

Ironically, the winning pitcher for New Bern that evening was named Gabe Brown. Of course, there is a Gabe Brown on Post 58's roster, too.

Post 58 faced Tarboro on the road Tuesday evening, but the game was rained out.

All its home games will be played at Northern, with the exception of its game Sunday with Edenton at N.C. Wesleyan's Bauer Field. Expect Post 58 to rotate from Northern Nash, to Rocky Mount to Nash Central as a home field during the coming years, says Bryan.

Right now, just 10 more games are on the schedule, but more contests may be added.

Bryan is still trying to solidify his lineup. He learned late last week that Rocky Mount senior Brian Goodwin would not be playing with the team. He was invited to play with a well-respected travel team (Midland Redskins) in Ohio for the summer.

But he has several players back from a squad that went 14-2 during the regular season in 2008 and won its division, but fell in two straight games to New Bern in the opening round of the Divisional Playoffs.

"I wish Brian all the best in whichever way he uses his talent - whether in college or professionally," said Bryan, a N.C. Wesleyan College graduate who now works at Spring Creek High School in Wayne County. "You know, we could use his bat because he could make us deeper. But right now, pitching arms are our biggest concern."

He is looking for pitching performances from Denton, Alex Pearce (UNC-Pembroke via Nash Central), Tyler Joyner (Northern Nash), Dillon Cockrell (Rocky Mount) and Mike Smith (Northern Nash),

"Our pitching is not deep at all," said Bryan, "but we've got guys that are good enough to get people out. What I need are arms!"

Bryan likes to break the game of baseball up into three phases: hitting, pitching and defense. He says his defense looks good, but he will be looking to some veterans for that hitting support.

"I'm looking for some older guys to step up like Gabe Brown (Rocky Mount), Cockrell, Wesley Joyner (Northern Nash) and Pearce (at catcher)," said Bryan.


Coleman-Pitt Post 58 American Legion Baseball Roster
Player, Name, Number, Position, Batting/Throwing, School

Gabe Brown - 1, IF, R/R, Rocky Mount
Bill Clark - 21, P, OF R/R, Home Schooled
Tyler Clark - 14, C, OF, R/R, Northern Nash
Dillon Cockrell -13, P, IF, R/R, Rocky Mount
Collins Cuthrell -16, IF, R/R, Rocky Mount
Brandon Denton - 20, P, OF, R/L, Northern Nash
Ben Fish - 17, C, R/R, Rocky Mount
Nick Hahula - 27. P, OF, R/R, Rocky Mount
Grant Johnson - 4, IF, R/R, Rocky Mount (ECU)
Tyler Joyner - 9, P, IF, L/L, Northern Nash
Wesley Joyner - 2 IF R/R, Northern Nash
Alex Pearce - 7, C, P R/R, UNC-Pembroke (Nash Central)
Cameron Ramsey -18 IF, R/R, Rocky Mount
Mike Smith - 3, IF/OF, R/R, Northern Nash
T.J .Taylor - 5, OF, P, L/L, Nash Central
Ray Velazquez - 8, P, R/R, Southern Wayne
Mike Williams -10, P, IF, R/R, Northern Nash

Head Coach: Matt Bryan (second season)

Coleman-Pitt Post 58 Schedule

June 7 - @ New Bern - L, 14-4 - (0-1, 0-0)
June 9 - @ Tarboro - ppd., rain
June 11 - @ Kinston - W, 7-2 - (1-1, 0-0)
June 14 - EDENTON - W, 15-6 - 2-1, 1-0)
June 17 - @ Tarboro - W, 28-3 - (3-1, 2-0)
June 18 - WILSON - W, 12-2 - (4-1, 3-0)
June 19 - @ Ahoskie - W 10-8 - (5-1, 4-0)
June 20 - @ Wilson - W, 14-3 - (6-1, 5-0)
June 21 - @ Edenton - L, 12-10 - (6-2, 5-1)
June 22 - AHOSKIE - W, 12-11 - (7-2, 6-1)
June 24 - TARBORO, 7 p.m.
June 27-28 - @ Garner Tournament, TBA

2009 NEW 6 Softball All-Conference Teams

Here are the NEW 6 All-Conference Softball Teams from the 2009 campaign:

First Team

• Brianne McKenney, Northern Nash
• Melissa Avent, Northern Nash
• Raven Lee, Northern Nash
• Taylor Braswell, Southern Nash
• Ashley Tharrington, Southern Nash
• Ashley Bone, Nash Central
• Tiffany Macklin, Nash Central
• Haley Wishall, SouthWest Edgecombe
• Katelyn Suggs, Wilson Fike
• Laura Alford, Rocky Mount

Second Team

• Samantha Gurganus, Northern Nash
• Lindsay Bailey, Northern Nash
• Lauren McGrath, Northern Nash
• Olivia Lamm, Southern Nash
• Tawny Richardson, Southern Nash
• Megan Murray, Nash Central
• Samantha Perry, Nash Central
• Kayla Hinton, SouthWest Edgecombe
• Leslie Finch, Wilson Fike
• Cary Mosher, Rocky Mount

Honorable Mention

• Betsy Braswell, Northern Nash
• Hilary Wilson, Southern Nash
• Lesley Murray, Nash Central
• Rebecca Wells, SouthWest Edgecombe
• Baker Sharpe, Wilson Fike
• Clyteshia Garner, Rocky Mount

Top Awards

• Player of the Year -- Ashley Bone, Nash Central
• Conference Coach of the Year -- Greg Tharrington, Northern Nash

Northern Nash's Bissette to play football at Ashland (Oh.)

RED OAK - Northern Nash senior Casey Bissette has agreed to an offer to attend Div. II Ashland University in Ohio as a punter/kicker for the nationally-ranked Eagle squad.

Bissette was a four-year year varsity soccer player as was considered to be one of the best goalies in school history. This past year, Bissette set school records as a goalie for most shutouts in a season, most consecutive shutouts and fewest goals allowed in a season.

In his senior year, Bissette decided to play football along with soccer in the same season. He soon showed his talent for kicking and punting and began attending national competitions and camps.

He was ranked 23rd in the nation with former Oakland Raider Ray Guy of Ray Guy Kicking and fourth in the southeast region. He soon began training with former Atlanta Falcon player Jimmy Rafter with Rafter Pro Training out of Atlanta, Ga. From there, he continued to consistently place in national competitions which earned him looks and offers from numerous colleges from Div-IA to Div. III levels.

Bissette felt Ashland had the best fit. The Eagles have an impressive football history with 16 championships, over 400 wins and over 100 All-Americans since their program began. The Eagles have participated in the NCAA Div. II National Playoffs in 2007 and 2008, and in 2008 were only one win away from making it to the championship game. National polls have Ashland ranked 14th in the nation for preseason.

Besides an outstanding football program, Bissette also chose Ashland based on its academic excellence. Bissette was also awarded the Provost's Scholarship from Ashland University for his academic achievements. He plans to major in pre-med. Ashland has a 99 percent success rate in graduating pre-med students with their first choice in medical internships.

Bissette is due to report to football camp Aug. 1.

Goodwin will not be in town for MLB Draft

I was really looking forward to being with Rocky Mount center fielder Brian Goodwin and his family this Tuesday while watching the Major League Baseball Draft. I wanted to be there to see the look on his face when his name was called - whatever round it may have happened.

But alas, I will not get that opportunity as Brian's plans for the night have changed. In fact, his plans for the summer have done an about face.

Goodwin, who had planned to play American Legion baseball here for Post 58 this summer, got a more interesting offer for his summer vacation. He'll be playing with a travel team called the Midland Redskins in Amellia, Oh. just outside of Cincinnati.

In fact, when the Draft starts, Goodwin will be on the playing field in a Midland contest - one about 35 the team plays in each summer.

But I plan to talk to him right after his game is over about his selection.

He will be flying back to North Carolina the following day. Then he will be headed to Myrtle Beach along with Gryphon teammate Ben Fish for the N.C.-S.C. Baseball Challenge. He'll attend RMHS' graduation Saturday and then hop a flight back to Cincinnati.

Stay tuned.

Vote for your most memorable football game coached by Holt!

Here is your chance to look back over the last six years of Gryphon football games under former head coach B.W. Holt and vote for the one that sticks with you the most.

I selected six very memorable games and you can vote for yours too at the top of the right column of this page.

Just looking at them conjures up such memories, don't they?

2009 NEW 6 Girls Soccer All-Conference Teams

Here are the 2009 NEW 6 Girls Soccer All-Conference teams. Rocky Mount. which finished second in the league, placed three girls on the first team and two on the second team.

Tramicka James, who almost single-handedly led Fike to a NEW 6 basketball tournament championship win over the Lady Gryphons, was voted girls soccer MVP.

FIRST TEAM

Kelsey Benson, Rocky Mount (Mid.);

Holly Campbell, Rocky Mount (Gk.);

Sarah Dillard, Fike (Gk.);

Ally Glover, Northern Nash (Gk.);

Tramicka James, Fike (For.);

Michelle Karr, Rocky Mount (Def.);

Meredith Pruden, Fike (Mid.);

Natalie Rich, Nash Central (Mid.);

Brittany Wells, Nash Central (Mid.);

Kimberly Williams, Northern Nash (Mid.);

Natalie Winslow, Fike (Def.)

SECOND TEAM

Hannah Brock, Southern Nash (Mid.);

Lauren Campbell, Rocky Mount (Def.);

Mackenzie Elliott, Northern Nash (Mid.);

Lydia Hunt, Nash Central (For.);

Macey Phelps, Northern Nash (Mid.);

Allison Raper, Rocky Mount (Soph.);

Melanie Sloop, Nash Central (Def.);

Michelle Smith, Fike (Def.);

Jameka Thompson, Fike (Def.);

Morgan Varnell, SW Edgecombe (For.);

Ti'era Worsley, Southern Nash (Gk.)

Former Gryphon QB takes head football job at South Brunswick

Roman Kelley, son of former Rocky Mount head football coach George Kelley, has now followed in his dad's footsteps and become a high school head coach.

Kelley, a 1997 RMHS grad, is the new head football coach at South Brunswick High in Southport. He was hired last week, one of 55 applicants for the job. He'll replace Gordon Walters, who took a very lucrative head coaching job in South Carolina.

Kelley didn't begin his life after college seeking a career in coaching. He started out in the business world, but a friend wanted him to help him coach at South Granville as a volunteer. He started there and was hooked.

He later took an assistant position at Topsail and later at South Brunswick, where there they found their new man right under their noses. By the way, he managed to find time to get married after he took the Topsail position.

Ironically, his dad George is the principal at West Brunswick. I wonder which side of the field mom Doris will be sitting on when the two schools meet this fall?

Kelley had a solid career as QB for the Gryphons. His career stats: 142-for-327 for 2,110 yards. He threw 27 touchdowns, but hurled 24 interceptions while under center in 1995 and 1996.