Pam Gainey nearing 250 career victories

Rocky Mount girls basketball coach Pam Gainey is nearing another milestone in her coaching career.

Gainey, a native of Goldsboro and a former player at East Carolina, is in her 15th season at Rocky Mount and in the coming two weeks or so should reach the 250-win plateau. RMHS, currently sporting a fine 14-1 record, travels to Nash Central and Northern Nash next week before returning home on Tuesday, Feb. 5 with Southern Nash.

Should her girls win all three contests, Gainey will have her 250th victory.

Gainey, who has been the victorious East head coach at the NCCA East-West All-Star Game, will be an assistant for the N.C. girls squad in the Carolinas Classic N.C.-S.C. All-Star Games at Winthop University in South Carolina in March.

Below is a breakdown of her 15 seasons at RMHS.

PAM GAINEY

2007-08 - 14-1 (through 1/25/08)
2006-07 - 16-11, playoffs
2005-06 - 8-18, playoffs
2004-05 - 17-8, Big East champs, playoffs
2003-04 - 23-5, Big East champs, tourney champs, playoffs
2002-03 - 22-3, Big East champs, tourney champs, playoffs
2001-02 - 20-3, Big East champs, tourney champs, playoffs
2000-01 - 24-3, Big East champs, tourney champs, playoffs
1999-00 - 20-5, Big East champs, tourney champs, playoffs
1998-99 - 20-6, playoffs
1997-98 - 12-12, playoffs
1996-97 - 12-13, playoffs
1995-96 - 14-10, playoffs
1994-95 - 15-10, playoffs
1993-94 - 10-14

Career - 247-122, .670 winning percentage (15th season)

RMHS announces 2007 fall sports award winners

Varsity Football (NEW 6 Champion)

MVP - Emmanuel Davis
Defensive Player of the Year - Brian Goodwin
Offensive Player of the Year - Marquavis Alston
Billy Smith Award - Ezra Hudgins

JV Football (NEW 6 Champion)

MVP - Offense - Collins Cuthrell
MVP - Defense - Marcus Jones

Volleyball (NEW 6 Champion)

Best Offensive Player - Rashida Davison
Best Defensive Player - Corinne Fischer

JV Volleyball

Best All-Around - Lauren Campbell
Most Outstanding Server - Heather Hunter

Girls Tennis (NEW 6 Co-Champion)

MVP - Kate Gray
Coach's Award - Hannah Becilla

Boys Soccer (NEW 6 Champion)

MVP - Kingsley McLeod
Defensive MVP - Stephen Peacock
Coaches Award - Matthew Moore

JV Boys Soccer

Most Improved - Jaron Fields

Coaches Award - Trevor Smith

Boys Cross Country

Outstanding Performer - John Deans
Coach's Award - Robert Westpahal
Leadership Award - Brandon Evans

Girls Cross Country

Oustanding Performer - Latoya Applewhite
Coach's Award - Nancy Thai
Leadership Award - Erica Wesonga

Triple Crown Winner (fall) - John Deans

NEW 6 All-Conference fall athletes:

FIRST TEAM

Girls Tennis: Caroline Gray, Kate Gray, Ashley Pearsall
Boys Soccer: Jack Becilla, Kingsley McLeod, William Barringer
Girls Cross Country: Latoya Applewhite
Volleyball: Rashida Davison (Player of the Year), Devon Eby, Corrine Fischer
Football: Emmanuel Davis (Defensive Player of the Year), Ezra Hudgins, Nick Hahula (K), Brian Goodwin (two positions: DB, KR), Torey Lee, Whit Barnes, Jacobi Jenkins, Marquavis Alston, Keith Strickland, Nick Harrison

SECOND TEAM

Girls Tennis: Hannah Becilla
Boys Soccer: Stephen Peacock, Matt Moore, Matt Wayland
Boys Cross Country: Richard Dean, Brandon Evans
Volleyball: Danita Whitaker

Football: Nick Hahula (RB), Dedrick Silver, Brandon Dennis

HONORABLE MENTION

Boys Soccer: Justin Adams
Volleyball: Holly Campbell
Football: Chris Pittman

Rocky Mount Invitational Baseball Tournament kicks off April 5

For the first time since 1999, the Rocky Mount Invitational Baseball Tournament will have just six teams in its lineup. The 33rd edition of the event is set for Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, April 5, 7 and 8 at Gryphon Stadium.

As in 1999, schedule conflicts for schools due to an early Easter date and separated dates for spring breaks made it almost impossible to bring eight teams into the field.

Northern Nash, Wilson Hunt, Southern Nash and Rocky Mount all return from the 2007 field. Back in the lineup is Nash Central, which has participated in the Tarboro Classic the last few seasons.

New to the event is Fort Mill High School from Fort Mill, S.C. The Yellow Jackets won their conference last season and last year the school won S.C.'s version of the Wachovia Cup for overall sports excellence in the 4-A classification.

Since there is no single elimination round with six teams, a tournament champion will be crowned by the following means: if a team goes undefeated; should two or more teams tie for the best record, then the following tiebreakers will be used: fewest runs allowed; then head-to-head; then total runs scored.

Rocky Mount is the three-time defending champion and has won the event 11 times.

2008 SCHEDULE

Saturday, April 5

Game 1: Southern Nash vs. Nash Central, 1 p.m.
Game 2: Northern Nash vs. Fort Mill, S.C., 4 p.m.
Game 3: Rocky Mount vs. Wilson Hunt, 7 p.m.

Monday, April 7

Game 1: Rocky Mount vs. Fort Mill, S.C., 1 p.m.
Game 2: Southern Nash vs. Wilson Hunt, 4 p.m.
Game 3: Nash Central vs. Northern Nash, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, April 8

Game 1: Nash Central vs. Wilson Hunt, 1 p.m.
Game 2: Southern Nash vs. Fort Mill, S.C., 4 p.m.
Game 3: Rocky Mount vs. Northern Nash, 7 p.m.

Championship Qualifiers

Champion - One team goes undefeated
Tie-Breakers:
1. Fewest runs allowed
2. Head-to-Head
3. Runs scored

A 12-team All-Tournament Team will be voted on by the media
Individual Awards: MVP; Most Hits; Top Defensive Player

Past Rocky Mount Gryphons Easter/Invitational Baseball Tournament Champions

Here are the past champions of the Rocky Mount Gryphons Easter/Invitational Baseball Tournament. The event has been also called the Rocky Mount Breakfast Optimist Annual Tournament (1977-89, '91, '93, '95-'99) and the Wilson Breakfast Optimist Invitational Tournament (1990, '92, '94). Wilson's Optimists hosted the tourney in alternate years over a five-year period at Fleming Stadium.

PAST CHAMPIONS

2007 - Rocky Mount def. Southern Nash, 13-1
2006 - Rocky Mount def. Northern Nash, 6-2
2005 - Rocky Mount def. Northern Nash, 5-2
2004 - Wilson Hunt def. Washington, 5-3 (5 inn., rain-shortened)
2003 - Morrisville Green Hope def. Rocky Mount 6-1
2002 - Kernersville Glenn def. Durham Riverside, 7-3
2001 - Kernersville Glenn def. Wilson Fike, 4-1
2000 - Durham Jordan def. Rocky Mount, 8-6
1999 - round-robin w/6 teams - no champion
1998 - final day of tournament rained out (RMHS, Beddingfield made the finals)
1997 - Rocky Mount def. Durhan Jordan, 6-2
1996 - Rocky Mount def. Northern Nash, 8-5
1995 - Rocky Mount def. Wilson Beddingfield, 6-0
1994 - Rocky Mount def. Wilson Beddingfield, 7-2
1993 - Northern Nash def. Southern Nash, 6-5
1992 - Greene Central
1991 - Greene Central
1990 - Greene Central def. Roanoke Rapids, 8-2
1989 - Southern Nash
1988 - Rocky Mount
1987 - Roanoke Rapids
1986 - Southern Nash
1985 - Roanoke Rapids
1984 - Roanoke Rapids
1983 - Roanoke Rapids
1982 - Northern Nash
1981 - Rocky Mount
1980 - Rocky Mount
1979 - Rocky Mount
1978 - Sanderson
1977 - Garner

2008 NEW 6 Basketball Standings - Jan. 8

BOYS

School	Conf.	Pct.	Overall	Pct.
Wilson Fike	0-0	.000	11-2	.846
Nash Central	0-0	.000	9-3	.750
SW Edgecombe	0-0	.000	8-3	.727
Rocky Mount	0-0	.000	7-3	.700
Northern Nash	0-0	.000	6-6	.500
Southern Nash	0-0	.000	4-7	.364

GIRLS

School	Conf.	Pct.	Overall	Pct.
Rocky Mount	0-0	.000	9-1	.900
SW Edgecombe	0-0	.000	7-4	.636
Southern Nash	0-0	.000	7-4	.583
Northern Nash	0-0	.000	7-5	.600
Wilson Fike	0-0	.000	7-6	.538
Nash Central	0-0	.000	6-6	.500

Wilson Hot Stove League Banquet set for Jan. 21

If you are a fan of local baseball, then you can't miss out on this.

The 34th annual Wilson Hot Stove League banquet will be held Monday, Jan. 21, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Bill Ellis Convention Center.

Special guest for the event will be Josh Hamilton, who was recently traded from the Cincinnati Reds to the Texas Rangers, is a former Raleigh Athens Drive High School star. Hamilton was the No. 1 pick in the 1999 Major League Baseball draft by the Tampa Bay Rays.Hamilton will be receiving the Trot Nixon "Gamer" Award.

The 26-year-old Hamilton was one of baseball's best comeback stories last season, when he finally made it to the majors after years of alcohol and drug abuse nearly ended his career. He batted .292 in his first major league season with 19 homers and 47 RBIs in 298 at-bats.Other former major leaguers and guests will be announced later as their plans to attend are confirmed.

Tickets for the banquet, which includes a meal, are $20 each and can be obtained at Dick's Hot Dog Stand, EB Sports, the Wilson Tobs office or North Carolina Baseball Museum -- both located in Fleming Stadium.

All proceeds benefit the North Carolina Baseball Museum.

I had the pleasure of attending last year and I had a blast. I took the biggest Boston Red Sox fan in town (Wes Bradshaw - in terms of girth, but I am right behind him - in second) with me and he was blown away to meet Trot Nixon, even though Nixon became a Cleveland Indian just days before.

It was also the first time in a few years that I had been able to speak to in-person former N.C. Wesleyan and now UNC head baseball coach Mike Fox.

Get your tickets soon! There were nearly 1,000 people at last year's affair, which honored Goldsboro native and former Yankee manager Clyde King.

2008 RMHS varsity baseball schedule

- Senior Jim Leggett needs just six victories to become Rocky Mount's all-time leader in pitching wins (26). Donnie Bobbitt (Class of '86) has the record with 25 (25-6).


FEB. 19 - 3:30, Scrimmage @ South Johnston
FEB. 21 - 3:30, Scrimmage - BUNN
FEB. 25 - 4:00, J.H. ROSE
FEB. 28 - 5:00, @ South Granville
MAR. 1 - TBA. @ USA Baseball Complex, Cary vs. Jamestown Ragsdale
MAR. 4 - 4:30, WASHINGTON
MAR. 7 - 4:30, SOUTH GRANVILLE
MAR. 10 - 4:30, @ Washington
MAR. 13 - 4:30, ROANOKE RAPIDS
MAR. 15 - 1:00, @ D.H. Conley
MAR. 17 - 5:00, @ Roanoke Rapids
MAR. 26 - 7:00, NORTHERN NASH
MAR. 28 - 7:00, @ Southern Nash
APRIL 1 - 7:00, SOUTHWEST EDGECOMBE
APRIL 3 - 7:00, WILSON FIKE
APRIL 5 - TBA, RM EASTER TOURNAMENT
APRIL 7 - TBA, RM EASTER TOURNAMENT
APRIL 8 - TBA, RM EASTER TOURNAMENT
APRIL 12 - 1:00, @ J.H. Rose
APRIL 15 - 7:00, @ Nash Central
APRIL 17 - 7:00, @ Northern Nash
APRIL 22 - 7:00, SOUTHERN NASH
APRIL 24 - 7:00, @ SouthWest Edgecombe
APRIL 29 - 7:00, @ Wilson Fike
MAY 1 - 7:00, NASH CENTRAL
MAY 5 - 7:00, @ Bunn (Endowment)
MAY 9 - TBA, NCHSAA 1st Round - 3-A Playoffs


Junior center fielder Brian Goodwin, who has verbally committed to UNC, should be an offensive and defensive spark plug for the Gryphs.

NEW 6 sports schedules rotated

Rocky Mount High sports fans may not have noticed it but the sports schedules involving NEW 6 Conference games have been rotated.

Meaning, Rocky Mount won't start the league season with SouthWest Edgecombe and it won't end it with Northern Nash like it has the previous two years in the conference.

The old order for Rocky Mount was:

SW Edgecombe, Southern Nash, Nash Central, Wilson Fike, Northern Nash

The new order for RMHS, starting with the winter sports, is:

Northern Nash, Southern Nash, SW Edgecombe, Wilson Fike, Nash Central

The Gryphons will really experience the change next Friday (Jan. 11) when Northern Nash makes a return trip to RMHS' gym for their NEW 6 basketball openers.

Now, what will really feel funny is when the Knights come to Gryphon Stadium for their NEW 6 baseball opener on Wednesday, March 26 - at 7 p.m., no less.

How many of us can ever say say that you had to bundle up for a Rocky Mount-Northern Nash regular season baseball game?

There is a possibility that the league's football schedules could see some changes next fall, too.

Stay tuned!

Rocky Mount "Battles" its way to tournament titles

Montrell Battle and Dyonna Battle were the only Rocky Mount basketball players who had ice treatments Friday before hitting the court for their respective tournament championship game.

Seems like both took turns puttting Northern Nash on ice later that evening as the two claimed MVP honors at the Nash County Christmas Tournament at Rocky Mount High.

Montrell scored 42 points over the two-tournament and pulled down 13 rebounds. Dyonna had 34 points in her two games.

A closer look at the All-tournament team revealed some trends.

Southern Nash's Alyse Hall and Nash Central's Trey Sumler, both juniors, and Northern Nash senior Nikki Battle made the team for the third straight season.

Making their second straight appearance on the All-Tournament team were Rocky Mount's Tashawn Mabry and Nash Central's Jasmine Sessoms.

Here's a look at the last three Nash County Christmas Tournament All-Tournament teams:

2007

BOYS

Tim Brathwaite, Southern Nash
Trey Sumler, Nash Central
Octavius Lyons, Northern Nash
Toncellis Davis, Northern Nash
Tashawn Mabry, Rocky Mount
Montell Battle, Rocky Mount - MVP

GIRLS

Jasmine Sessoms, Nash Central
Alyse Hall, Southern Nash
Nikki Battle, Northern Nash
Danielle Edmondson, Northern Nash
Deaudra Brown, Rocky Mount
Dyonna Battle, Rocky Mount - MVP

2006

BOYS

Marcus Howard, Southern Nash

Brian Thomas, Northern Nash

Matthew Cooper, Rocky Mount

Tashawn Mabry, Rocky Mount

Trey Sumler, Nash Central - MVP

Michael Speight, Nash Central

GIRLS

Alyse Hall, Southern Nash

Stephanie Allen, Rocky Mount

Nikki Battle, Northern Nash

Doneka Whitehead, Northern Nash

Jasmine Sessoms, Nash Central

Janna Oxendine, Nash Central - MVP

2005

BOYS

Chastain Dickens, Rocky Mount - MVP

Tory Parker, Rocky Mount

Marcus Howard, Southern Nash

Trey Sumler, Nash Central

Steven Baker, Northern Nash

GIRLS

Kha'isha Thomas, Nash Central - MVP

Jelissa Ward, Nash Central

Nikki Battle, Northern Nash

Shay Holloway, Northern Nash

Alyse Hall, Southern Nash