Ten questions with Dickie Schock

So you Rocky Mount football fans could to get to know new head coach Dickie Schock a bit better, I posed 10 questions for him to answer - five about the football program and five about him personally.

Here are his responses - in italics!

1. Will you be bringing in any assistant coaches with you? If so, are any on board yet?

Hopefully. Nothing is finalized yet.

2. What is the biggest thing you have learned in your two weeks on the job about the program?

There's never enough time to do everything you want to do. There's barely enough time to do the things you have to do. So Prioritize.

3. The most-often asked question I have gotten from RM fans since you were hired is "will he pass more than BW?" OK, will you? Do you embrace the passing game more than BW did?

Embrace winning. Running or throwing is far less important.

4. Does having a complete rookie starting offensive line your biggest concern of 2009?

No. My biggest concerns are filling out the coaching staff and getting to know our players and what they do best.

5. What do you plan to coach this fall? You had the "D" and special teams last time you were here and you were OC at WF-R. So what will you do here?

I will run the offense. The defensive side of the ball is in good shape staff-wise. Coach (J.J.) Jones and Coach (Kent) Cox called the defense last year and did a great job. Coach (Gerald) Costen is over there to keep them straight. Coach (Alan) Hess is an asset on special teams, so that leaves me with the offense.

6. Now some to some personal stuff. What are your favorite professional football, basketball and baseball teams?

Raiders, Knicks, Reds.

7. You've heard this one before, but I always find the answers interesting. If you could host a dinner party of five and anyone, alive or dead, could attend, what four persons would you invite and why?

No time for dinner parties until after the season. By then, I'll know whether to invite Lombardi or Bryant - or maybe both.

8. What is your favorite movie of all-time?

The books are always better - "To Kill a Mockingbird."

9. Who are your all-time favorite actor and actress?

I'm not that interested in movies.

10. If you were stuck on a desert island with a portable DVD player with one DVD of one of the episodes from a TV classic, what show would it be?

Probably an episode of NCIS, though it's hardly a classic.

Nash County Post 58's last hurrah

(Photo/David Hahula) - click on picture to enlarge

Nash County Post 58's players (above) welcome home Collins Cuthrell and Xavier Macklin to home plate after Macklin slamed a two-run home run in the third inning of its game Sunday with Shelby Post 82 - a loser's bracket contest of the N.C. American Legion State Tournament held at Greenville's Guy Smith Stadium.

The homer gave Post 58 a 2-1 lead.

Sadly, they were the only runs Post 58 would get as it would give up a two-run shot later in the game in its 3-2 loss to Shelby. Macklin's dinger was his 12th of the season despite playing in just 16 games. Post 58's season ended with a 20-6 record.

In its opener Saturday, Post 58 suffered a 5-4 loss, despite being struck out 15 times. Macklin and Ben Fish both homered in the game.

NASH COUNTY POST 58
SCHEDULE/RESULTS

June 7 - @ New Bern - L, 14-4 - (0-1, 0-0)
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 25 - TARBORO - W, 26-1 - (8-2, 7-1)

PLAYOFFS

Round 1 - Area One East
June 30 - PITT CO. #39 - W, 9-3 - (9-2)
July 1 - @ Pitt County #39 - W, 10-0 (10-2)
July 2 - PITT CO. #39 - W, 12-2 (11-2)

Round 2 - Area One East
July 6 - EDENTON #40 - W, 25-6 (12-2)
July 7 - @ Edenton #40 - W, 17-5 (13-2)
July 8 - EDENTON #40 - W, 6-4 (14-2)

Area I East finals
July 12 - WILSON #13 - L, 14-9 (14-3)
July 14 - @ Wilson #13 - L, 6-5 (14-4)
July 15 - WILSON #13 - W, 32-5 (15-4)
July 16 - @ Wilson #13 - W, 16-4 (16-4)
July 17 - WILSON #13 - W, 11-10 (17-4)

Area I finals
July 18 - CARY #67 - W, 15-0 (18-4)
July 19 - @Cary #67 - W, 7-6 (19-)4)
July 20 - CARY #67 - W, 8-5 (20-4)

N.C. State Tournament
July 25 - MOORESVILLE #66 - L, 5-4 (20-5)
July 26 - SHELBY #82 - L, 3-2 (20-6)

Season Complete

Dudley's star QB could have been a Gryphon

GREENSBORO - You just never know who you are going to see at a high school football game - especially one with statewide appeal like the annual East-West All-Star Football Game. The fans in the stands represent mostly the coaching staffs of the schools that the players on the field represent and their family and friends.

I was speaking to Martha Cobb, wife of SouthWest Edgecombe head coach Raymond Cobb who served as head coach of the East, near the main entrance of Jamieson Stadium Wednesday evening when in walked two characters from my past that immediately recognized.

James Wright and Ricky Lewis were the guys. Wright was a class behind me and is brother of Carolina Stallions head coach Michael Wright (who played in the 1970 game). The other, Lewis, had been going to church with me since we both were six. We graduated together from RMHS in 1976.

I had seen Lewis sparingly over the years, but when I approached him, I told him that I had heard about the death of his mother (age 89) recently and gave him my condolences.

On a lighter note, I later asked what in the world brought him here to the game. He replied, "to see his son play!"

Then the wheels began rolling in my head - and I then blurted out - 'your son is Ricky Lewis Jr.?'

He said, "one in the same."

The senior Lewis had gone to N.C. A&T after graduating from RMHS, I knew that. But I had no idea he was still in the area.

In case you don't know, Ricky Lewis Jr., at quarterback, led Greensboro Dudley to the last two NCHSAA 3-AA state football championships. I knew that, of course. I even watched him beat Charlotte Catholic in their first title game in Chapel Hill in 2007. He was the AP's first-team QB on its 2008 All-State team. But I never connected the two. I figured Jr.'s dad would be a bit younger than us - a spry 51!

But Jr. is the last of three Lewis kids. I never took that into account.

I kidded Sr., who is a counselor at Smith High School in Greensboro, that if he had stayed in Rocky Mount, Jr. could have possibly brought his alma mater a title.

He responded, "he still can. He's going to A&T in the fall."

Hahula, Lee play vital roles in All-Star Game Wednesday

Former Gryphons Nick Hahula (top) and Torey Lee, playing for the East squad, are introduced to the crowd at the 61st NCCA East-West All-Star Football Game Wednesday in Greensboro. The East won the game 6-0. (Photos/David Hahula)

GREENSBORO - Both former Rocky Mount football standouts Nick Hahula and Torey Lee said they had the time of their lives playing for SouthWest Edgecombe football coach Raymond Cobb's East squad at the NCCA East-West All-Star Football Game Wednesday night.

Both played vital roles in the East's win in the event (a 6-0 victory over the West) before an announced crowd of 8,643 at Grimsley High's Jamieson Stadium.

Lee, playing at left guard, helped make holes for the East backs on their only scoring drive of the night - a 13-play, 71-play drive that culminated in a 5-yard scoring run by Chapel Hill's Steven Moore with 9:11 left in the game.

Hahula, who handled the night's kicking duties, missed the ensuing PAT (blocked), but seconds later, he buried the kickoff into the end zone that penned the West at its 20. Twice more in the quarter, Hahula kicked punts that took all the steam out of a West comeback drive. He nailed kicks of 49 and 42 yards on the East's last two possessions to keep the West bottled up.

Apparently former teammates Kendall Noble and Nazir Levine set the winning tone for the pair. The two offensive linemen, now playing at Norfolk State and Winston-Salem State, respectively, helped the East start their now three-game winning streak with a 22-14 victory in the 2007 game.

Hahula will be kicking for N.C. Central University in the fall, while Lee will be attending a new institution, the Central Carolina Sports Academy, in Guilford County. He will attend Guilford Tech for his classes and play football for the Academy in hopes of transferring to a four-year school.

Hahula and Lee are the 45th and 46th players to represent Rocky Mount High School in the contest (including current RMHS assistant principal Linwood Weeks who played in the 1980 game). They are also the fifth and sixth players selected under former head football coach B.W. Holt. Along with Noble and Levine, the other two Holt players who have played were Robert Hart and Terrell Hudgins (2005).

Big East 3-A Conference coaches to meet Aug. 12

The new Big East 3-A Conference will have its sports coaches meet for the first time on Wednesday, Aug. 12 at Hunt High School.

During the gathering the league's football coaches will meet with the media and talk about the upcoming season. They will also make the preseason picks on who will end up on top of the heap once the season is over.

There will be four new head coaches in the league this season - Rocky Mount's Dickie Schock, Wilson Fike's Kim Brown, Northern Nash's Mickey Crouch and Hunt's Randy Raper.

Southern Nash's Brian Foster and Nash Central's Kevin Crudup are the only coaches returning from last season. And perhaps there is nothing new about Raper. After all, he may be coming up on his 20th season at Hunt.

NEW 6 Conference's final hurrah

By Paul Durham

Wilson Times

GREENSBORO - The now defunct 3-A NEW 6 Conference celebrated one final hurrah on the East sidelines of the 61st annual N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star football game in Greensboro Wednesday.

Leading the East was head coach Raymond Cobb of SouthWest Edgecombe, who had on his staff three former NEW 6 rival coaches in Brian Foster, head coach at Southern Nash; Grover Battle, an assistant at Northern Nash; and Greene Central's Kenneth Grantham, formerly head coach at Nash Central.

"All of us have been together in the NEW 6 the past few years," Cobb said. "We've got a great staff. We've met a lot and put a lot of time into it. We feel like we've picked some high-quality character kids and that's the key to it."

Cobb ran the offense with help from Grantham, who coached the offensive line. Jimmy Williams of East Wake and Ken Whitehurst of D.H. Conley directed the tight ends. Foster was the defensive coordinator while Battle handled the line. Whitehurst and Williams coached the linebackers and secondary.

"We did like we do at SouthWest," Cobb said. "We worked on both sides of the ball."

Except this time, the former NEW 6 coaches were working together.

"I think it's been fun. I've always thought they were good guys and they care about the kids and that's important to me," said Foster, who was chosen to participate in last year's game but declined for personal reasons.

Grantham expressed mild surprise at his first experience as an East-West coach after 18 years in the coaching ranks, including six as a head coach.

"It's a honor, No. 1, to be selected especially with the number of years I've coached. I'm still a young guy," Grantham commented. "It'll be good to reconnect with all those guys from Nash County and the NEW 6."

The familiarity extended to the East roster as five players from The Wilson Times readership area, including three from the former NEW 6, will play: Southern Nash's T.J. Batchelor, Fike's Rashad Parker, SouthWest Edgecombe's Marquis Hines as well as Jumal Rolle from Beddingfield and DaRon Tripp of Greene Central. Three more NEW 6 players -- Nash Central's Danny Allen and Nick Hahula and Torey Lee of Rocky Mount -- were on the team.

"I'm was just honored to be coaching with them," Battle said. "I think we've had pretty good crowd of athletes and kids and the coaches are just outstanding."

Cobb planed on bringing his wishbone offense to Greensboro and Parker got a prominent role. Ryan Hill of West Brunswick was the East starter at quarterback.

Defensively, Foster had to work around such rule changes as no blitzing and playing an odd front.

"It definitely gave the offense the upper hand but was an all-star game," reminded Foster.

Foster pointed to his defensive line, with players such as Fayetteville Jack Britt's Ralph Bonner and Havelock's Deylan Buntyn, along with the linebacking corps featuring Raleigh Leesville Road's Mark Walker, Justin Rodgers of Bunn and Danile Collins of Holly Springs.

Foster added the defense would certainly find a place for Rolle, of whom Foster echoed Beddingfield head coach Tyrone Johnson's sentiments: "That kid can play!"

"We've had some really, really, really good kids," Foster related. "It's amazing when you talk to principals and hear what some of these kids have done."

The players arrived in Greensboro on Thursday and two-a-day practices began Friday. Players took in the all-star basketball games Monday and soccer games Tuesday. Despite the relaxed atmosphere, the East players and coaches were all business in attempting for its third straight win which started when the East ended the West's five-game winning streak in 2007.

"I tell you what, I've talked to all of them this summer," Cobb said of his players. "They all sounded so positive, all claim to have been working hard and staying in shape. ... We've became one in a quick short time. I think this crowd's worked hard."

Nash County starts its state title drive Saturday

(Photo/David Hahula)

GREENVILLE - East Carolina University's Clark-LeClair Stadium will serve as the venue for the 2009 American Legion North Carolina Baseball State Tournament that will run from Saturday, July 24 to Wednesday, July 29.

Pitt County Post 39 (J.H. Rose and D.H. Conley are its primary representative schools) will serve as host of the event and it will have its baseball team in the field - representing Area I - one of four Areas the state is divided in. This is the 10th year the tournament has existed in an eight-team, double elimination format.

A total event ticket package (15 games) is available for $30, while session tickets (first two morning or second two evening) for each day are available for $10 per session.

Saturday's opening day will have game 1 at 9:30 a.m. - Shelby Post 82 vs. Wilmington Post 10. In game 2 at 12:30 p.m. - Duplin-Sampson Post 22 vs. Rowan County Post 342. In game 3 at 4:30 p.m. - Nash County Post 58 vs. Mooresville Post 66. At 7:30 p.m. in game 4 - Cherryville Post 100 vs. Pitt County Post 39.

The winner of the tournament will advance to the Southeast regionals at Riley Park in Sumter, S.C. with winner there advancing to the American Legion World Series in Fargo, N.D.


2009 N.C. American Legion State Baseball Tournament
July 25-29
Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium
East Carolina University, Greenville

Saturday

Game 1: 9:30 a.m. - Shelby Post 82 vs. Wilmington Post 10
Game 2: 12:30 p.m. - Duplin-Sampson Post 22 vs. Rowan County Post 342
Game 3: 4:30 p.m. - Nash County Post 58 vs. Mooresville Post 66
Game 4: 7:30 p.m. - Cherryville Post 100 vs. Pitt County Post 39 (host)

Sunday

Game 5: 3 p.m. - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 3 - at Guy Smith Stadium
Game 6: 7 p.m. - Loser of Game 2 vs. Loser of Game 4 - at Guy Smith Stadium
Game 7: 3 p.m. - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 3
Game 8: 7 p.m. - Winner of Game 2 vs. Winner of Game 4

Monday

Game 9: 12:30 p.m. - Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 7
Game 10: 4:30 p.m. - Loser of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 5
Game 11: 7:30 p.m. - Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8

Tuesday

Game 12: 3 p.m. - Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 9
Game 13: 7:30 p.m. - Winner of Game 12 vs. Winner of 11

Wednesday

Game 14: 1 p.m. Championship game - Winner of Game 13 vs. Winner of Game 12
Game 15: if needed, 45 minutes after Game 14

NOTE 1: If possible, the teams involved in games 12 & 13 will not be matched against opponents they have already faced in the tournament.

NOTE 2: If, after game 13, there are three teams remaining with one loss, the team which won game 11 receives a bye to game 15 for the title.

PREVIOUS STATE CHAMPIONS

1928 - Raleigh Post 1
1929 - Asheville Post 70
1930 - Gastonia Post 23
1931 - Roanoke Rapids
1932 - Gastonia Post 23
1933 - Gastonia Post 23
1934 - Charlotte Post 9
1935 - Gastonia Post 23 (NATIONAL CHAMPION)
1936 - Charlotte Post 9
1937 - Charlotte Post 9
1938 - Gastonia Post 23
1939 - Charlotte Post 9
1940 - Albemarle Post 76 (NATIONAL CHAMPION)
1941 - Gastonia Post 23
1942 - Shelby Post 82
1943 - Whiteville Post 137
1944 - Albemarle Post 76 (NATIONAL RUNNER-UP)
1945 - Shelby Post 82 (NATIONAL CHAMPION)
1946 - Kannapolis Post 115
1947 - Kannapolis Post 115
1948 - Hickory Post 48
1949 - Gastonia Post 23
1950 - Gastonia Post 23
1951 - Shelby Post 82
1952 - Kannapolis Post 115
1953 - Cherryville Post 100
1954 - Gastonia Post 23 (NATIONAL RUNNER-UP)
1955 - Rowan County Post 14
1956 - Wilmington Post 10
1957 - Shelby Post 82
1958 - Shelby Post 82
1959 - Wilmington Post 10
1960 - Wilmington Post 10
1961 - Kannapolis Post 115
1962 - Wilmington Post 10
1963 - Greensboro Cone Post 386
1964 - Charlotte Post 9 (NATIONAL RUNNER-UP)
1965 - Charlotte Post 9 (NATIONAL CHAMPION)
1966 - Asheboro Post 45
1967 - Greensboro Cone Post 386
1968 - Greensboro Burtner Post 53
1969 - Rowan County Post 342
1970 - Wilmington Post 10
1971 - Rowan County Post 342
1972 - Hamlet Post 49
1973 - Rocky Mount Post 58
1974 - Hamlet Post 49
1975 - Sanford Post 382
1976 - Newell Post 287
1977 - Newell Post 287
1978 - Asheboro Post 45
1979 - Hamlet Post 49
1980 - Wilmington Post 10
1981 - Cherryville Post 100
1982 - Hamlet Post 94
1983 - Hamlet Post 49
1984 - Rowan County Post 342
1985 - Whiteville Post 137
1986 - Caldwell County Post 29
1987 - Hamlet Post 49
1988 - Kernersville Post 36
1989 - Whiteville Post 137
1990 - Caldwell County Post 29
1991 - Caldwell County Post 29
1992 - Kernersville Post 36
1993 - Rowan County Post 342
1994 - Wilmington Post 10
1995 - Wilmington Post 10
1996 - Whiteville Post 137
1997 - Cherryville Post 100
1998 - Cherryville Post 100 (NATIONAL RUNNER-UP)
1999 - Garner Post 232
2000 - Caldwell County Post 29
2001 - Shelby Post 82
2002 - Rowan County Post 342
2003 - Cherryville Post 100 (NATIONAL RUNNER-UP)
2004 - Vacant (Garner Post 232 vacated due to an ineligible player)
2005 - Pitt County Post 39
2006 - Morehead City Post 46
2007 - Cherryville Post 100
2008 - Randolph County Post 45

Happy for Watson, happier for Cink

There is no bigger Tom Watson fan in these parts than me. And the same goes for Stewart Cink.

I never envisioned either in a playoff for the British Open title, but like seeing my two favorite teams in the World Series (it just may happen this season: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Boston Red Sox), I was looking forward to their playoff tilt and I would have been happy with whoever won.

I have been a fan of Watson since he wasted his first opportunity to win a major title in the 1974 U.S. Open at Winged Foot. He was always a fighter - extremely aggressive on the course with a tight, but rhythmic swing. He seemingly had practiced every trouble shot imaginable, but most of them didn't work that Sunday that saw Hale Irwin win the first of his three Open titles with an unlikely seven over par. Watson was known as a choker early in his career, but winning the 1975 British Open title changed that moniker forever.

But at the age of 59 with a replaced knee, he looked every bit the player that has earned eight majors.

As for Cink, I got to see his beautiful swing (Tom Weiskopf reincarnated) in person for three years when and he and his Georgia Tech teammates played here in Rocky Mount at the ACC Golf Championships at Northgreen Country Club (1991-94). The Ramblin' Wreck won the last three tournaments held at Northgreen. His last time here, his junior season, he had the support of his parents, wife Lisa and then baby son Connor.

I got the pleasure of meeting them all. His parents were so down-to-Earth and just glad they were able to make it up to see Stewart and his team play. And if college isn't tough enough, imagine being married and with a small child! But he handled everything so well - his school work, his role as husband and father, and his golf game. And with all that, he actually graduated the next year - on time - with a degree in Management.

But Stewart was always humble and polite - a somewhat about face from his teammate David Duval, with whom he can now share the experience of having the Claret Jug to kiss.

From that point, I felt he would break out of Duval's collegiate shadow. And he did.

He went on to become the NCAA Player of the Year his senior season, played on the Nationwide Tour and won enough times to be its Player of the Year and given a ticket to the PGA TOUR. That was 1996, and he's not looked back.

He perhaps should have won more times (six career victories, but has played on four Ryder Cup and three President Cup teams) and he's had his moments in the majors. But the only thing that has changed about him is his hairline. Believe it or not, he had a full head of hair in his college days.

But his demeanor is the same. He's still approachable, humble and personable - the very qualities we all want in our champions.

It's Rocky Mount vs. Wilson, again!

By Paul Durham
Wilson Times

With Wilson Post 13's 6-3 win Friday at Kinston Post 43 in game 5 of the American Legion baseball Area One Eastern Division semifinals, a classic matchup has been set for the best-of 5 Eastern finals series.

Rocky Mount Post 58 (although technically, it's Nash County Coleman-Pitt Post 58 but we like 'Rocky Mount' better), the North Conference champion, will meet Wilson, beginning Sunday night at Northern Nash High School.Neither post has had a particularly successful history.

Wilson's last trip to the Area One Eastern Division finals was in 2004. Its last Eastern crown was in 1990. Wilson's only Area One title came in 1980 but Post 13 did win N.C. American Legion East championships in 1941 and '42 (prior to the start of Area One).

Wilson lost to Shelby Post 82 in the '42 state championship series, three games to two.

Rocky Mount won its only American Legion state championship in 1973 and played in the East championship in 1959 and 1962. Rocky Mount's last trip to the Area One Eastern finals was 1995.

Post 58's last Area One title was in 1986 when it successfully defended its crown.

This year, Wilson is 14-10 and has won 9 of its last 11 games but was handed consecutive defeats, 12-2 and 14-3, by Post 58. Those were Post 13's only North Conference losses.

Rocky Mount, which has won eight straight, is 14-2 with its only defeats coming at the hands of New Bern and Edenton, which it swept in the Eastern Division semifinals this past week.

Post 58 was averaging 16 runs per game at home until its last win, a 6-4 series-clinching victory over Edenton on Wednesday.

Editor's Note: Sunday's game may be a washout. Thunderstorms are predicted for the area Sunday and Monday. And since Northern Nash's field is not known for holding up well in any type of rain storm, Nash County may suffer just its second rainout of the season. Keep your eye on the weather radars!

Editor's Note No. 2: Did you know that one of the rarist plays in baseball occured in Post 13's series ender with Kinston Friday night? Yes, Post 13 pulled off a triple play - one play that I have never seen in 35 years of watching high school baseball.

Here's the setup.

In the bottom of the ninth with no outs and Kinston runners on first and second, the next Kinston batter hit into a simple 4-6-3 (second baseman Michael McLawhorn to shortstop Chris Johnson to first baseman Tripp Sauls) play.

But the runner who was at second rounded third and headed home. First baseman Tripp Sauls then threw home to catcher Chris Lamm who tagged the runner out - a 4-6-3-2 triple play!

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.