Merrifield delivers for the Gamecocks

Bill Merrifield got the job done for the 1980 Rocky Mount Gryphons with winning a state baseball title. But he couldn't lead his Wake Forest college teams to an NCAA championship.

His son Whit, a junior, got that job done last night as his single to right in the 11th inning knocked in the winning run to give South Carolina a 2-1 win over UCLA in the final national title game at Rosenblatt Stadium.

Ironically, Wake Forest is the only ACC school ever to win a national baseball title - and USC is a former ACC member.

It's South Carolina's first national championship after previous NCAA title appearances in 1975, 1977 and 2002. The Gamecocks beat the Bruins on Monday 7-1 to go up 1-0 in the title series.

South Carolina finishes the year 54-16. UCLA ends its season 51-17.

I talked to both Merrifields the summer before Wes' freshman season and I wondered why he didn't go to Wake - like his dad. After all, dad Bill is still involved with Wake as a vice president of ISP Sports.

Whit said he wanted to make his own mark, which would have been pretty tough after his dad had been a two-time ACC Player of the Year and voted to Wake Forest's Sports Hall of Fame.

In May of 2007, he said the following in an interview with ImpactBaseball.com about his goals in life.

"Well, my first goal in life is to raise a loving family and be a great dad. My second goal is to graduate from USC with a degree in whatever I choose to major in. Then, I think like any baseball player, my long term goal is to make it to the big leagues.

"But first I want to go to USC and earn a starting job and work from there. I want to know that when I hang up my cleats, even if I didn't reach my goal, I know that nobody worked harder than me and I did all I could to reach my goal. But I look forward to a long career in baseball and feel like God has blessed me with enough talent to reach my goals. So I am excited to see what the future has to hold for me."

We've seen a portion of his future and it's pretty bright.

After last night, I'd say he's made his mark at South Carolina.

Goodwin playing in Cape Cod League

You had to know that Brian Goodwin would probably spend his summer doing something special.

And he is.

Last summer, the former Gryphon star, who led North Carolina in several offensive categories after his freshman season, helped the Midland Redskins to the Connie Mack World Series title.

This summer, he is playing in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League, which is celebrating its 115th year of existence.

Goodwin is playing for the Harwich Mariners, who will have a 44-game schedule this summer. They play their home games at the 4,000-seat Whitehouse Field in Harwich, Ma., a town of about 12,000 people located on Cape Cod about a 90-minute ride southeast of Boston.

After 10 games in the wood bat league, Goodwin is batting .342 (13-38 - ranked fifth in the League) with seven runs scored and three RBI.

And there is another Rocky Mount connection that might have drawn Goodwin to Harwich, perhaps.

The Mariners' general manager is Ben Layton, who spent many years as the director of new Rocky Mount Sports Complex - across from the Gryphons' football home.

Perhaps Goodwin can help Harwich, which has had current pros Tim Lincecum, Jason Bartlett and Carlos Pena as alums, to a Cape Cod League title.

The last time it won the championship was in 2008 when another Tar Heel helped that effort - former all-time UNC great Dustin Ackley who signed with Seattle.

Harwich will also get help from East Carolina's John Wooten, son of former Gryphon baseballer Sonny Wooten.

A regular season Goodwin adversary will also try to get Harwich a title. N.C. State's Pratt Maynard, who faced Goodwin not ony with the Wolfpack, but in his high school days at South Granville, is one of Harwich's main sluggers.

Gryphons ranked 19th in preseason football poll

NCPreps.com has released its 2010 Top 20 Preseason High School Football Teams for each classification.

Rocky Mount has been voted 19th in the 3-A Class poll.

These polls were voted on by the state's head coaches.

This information and much more will be included in the newest edition NC Prep Football News Yearbook that will be available around the first of July. The book will have 138 pages this year.

Anyone that wishes to buy a copy can contact Deana King at http://us.mc537.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=gatarams@yahoo.com for details. The cost is $20 at a store or $25 priority mail.

3A CLASS

1. West Rowan
2. South Point
3. A.L. Brown
4. Asheville
5. Havelock
6. Tuscola
7. Crest
8. Eastern Alamance
9. Hertford County
10. Concord
11. Anson County
12. Hibriten
13. N. Guilford
14. Char Catholic
15. South Johnston
16. Ashbrook
17. Douglas Byrd
18. NE Guilford
19. Rocky Mount
20. Burns

RMHS ties in Omaha

Whit Merrifield takes a cut in the batting cage. (Photo/The State)

South Carolina may be on the verge of elimination at the College Baseball World Series, but one former Gryphon is still glad to be in Omaha.

Former Rocky Mount two-sport athlete Bill Merrifield (RMHS Class of '80) is in Omaha watching his son Whit play for the Gamecocks as they face elimination today when they play Arizona State.

Whit, a junior infielder/outfielder, and his teammates lost their opening game to Oklahoma (4-3). Two losses and they're headed back to Columbia.

Whit, who had a 26-game hitting streak going earlier this season, was picked in the ninth round of the 2010 MLB Draft earlier in the month. He was the 269th overall pick in the draft by the Kansas City Royals.

Whit also recently received 2009-10 Earnest Brooks Co-Male Student-Athlete of the Year honors at South Carolina. He shared the award with golfer George Bryan IV.

He played his prep career at Davie County High School.

Post 58 win its 10th straight game

With the likes of Rocky Mount's all-time RBI leader Ben Fish and former Nash Central great Xavier Macklin gone from the squad, some may have thought there might be an offensive drop off with the 2010 version of Coleman-Pitt Post 58's American Legion baseball team.

So far, the offense hasn't diminished a bit as Post 58 registered its10th straight victory in beating Ahoskie Post 13 13-2 in eight innings Monday evening at Hertford County High School.

The win was also its fourth in three days as it won a doubleheader over Ahoskie at home Saturday (11-0, 5-0) and beat longtime rival Wayne County Post 11 8-4 Sunday at N.C. Wesleyan Bauer Field.

Players like Nash Central's T.J. Taylor and Rocky Mount's Collins Cuthrell have provided much of the pop to Post 58's offense this summer.

Taylor, who will play at Wake Community College next season, and Cuthrell, who has signed with Barton College, hit back-to-back homers Monday to power Post 58 past Ahoskie. For Taylor, who leads off for Post 58, it was his team-leading seventh dinger of the season while Cuthrell unloaded his fifth.

Tyler Clark, a rising sophomore at N.C. Wesleyan and a former Northern Nash Knight, joined the team last week and has made an immediate contribution. He had a two-run home run Monday as part of Post 58's 12-hit attack.

Clark, who has played just six games, leads the team with a .476 batting average.

Despite not playing home games at the smaller field at Northern Nash, Post 58's offensive prowess has continued (a .315 team batting average, 22 home runs and nearly eight runs a game through 15 contests). Five Post 58 starters are batting at least .400 (the others are Thomas Berry .438; Cuthrell .421; Taylor .420; and Matthew Berry .400).

Where the team (12-3, 5-0 Area I East) may have improved most is in its depth of pitching. Former Tarboro standout and current Barton player Kyle Norville, who is more known for his bat, got the win in Ahoskie - going 5 1/3 innings. Eight different Post 58 pitchers have recorded at least one win this summer.

Even former Rocky Mount lefty Hobbs Johnson, who is in summer school at North Carolina, returns to play for the squad on the weekends. He got the win Sunday in Post 58's victory over Wayne County.

Rocky Mount Post 58 outslugs Pitt Co. Post 39

WINTERVILLE — Rocky Mount Post 58 extended its winning streak to six games as it pulled away in a one-run game in the seventh to record an 8-5 win over Pitt County Post 39 Thursday evening at Pitt Community College.

The loss was just the second of the season (9-2) for Post 39 as several of its players are participating in the State Games of North Carolina. It managed just seven hits and left an amazing 15 base runners stranded.

Up 4-3 to start the seventh, Post 58, which banged out 14 hits on the evening, exploded for three two-out runs to move in front 7-3. Four hits in the frame did the trick for Rocky Mount including a Matthew Berry RBI-triple followed by a two-run home run by Kyle Norville.

Post 58 started the game with Berry on the hill, but four pitchers later, Spence Bell was on the hill to record the final outs. Berry got the win on the night.

Rocky Mount will return to action Saturday at home with a doubleheader against division member Ahoskie Post 102. Game 1 starts at 3 p.m.

Rocky Mount Post 58, Pitt County Post 39

Post 58 201 010 301 — 8 14 5

Post 39 002 100 011 — 5 7 3

WP — Matthew Berry (1-0), LP — Jesse Wilbourn

Leading hitters: RM — Matthew Berry 3-4, 3B, 3 RBI; Kyle Norville 2-4, 3 RBI, R; Collins Cuthrell 3-4, 3R; Tyler Clark 2-5, 2R. Pitt — Cameron Cecil 1-4, 2R; Wilbourn 1-5, RBI; Sean Peters 2-5.

Records: RM Post 58 8-3; Pitt Co. Post 39 9-2.

First Dudley Whitley Memorial Award presented to Foster

Presenting the first Dudley Whitley Outstanding Coach Award to Southern Nash's Brian Foster were Sheila Whitley, wife of the late Dudley Whitley, son Dee Whitley (far left) and daughter Beth Pridgen (far right). (Contributed photo) - click on image to enlarge

NASHVILLE - Friends and family of Dudley Whitley, longtime coach and administrator, recently established an annual award to honor his memory. The Dudley Whitley Memorial Award recognizes a coach who exemplifies Whitley’s goals, character and sportsmanship as well as one who serves as a positive role model for students.

Whitley served both Rocky Mount City Schools and Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools during his 35-year career in education. Whitley began his career as a teacher and coach. Later, he served as Assistant Principal, Principal, Athletic Director for Rocky Mount High School, NRMPS Director of Special Services, Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent. His most recent role in the education was as Athletic Director for Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools.

The role Whitley cherished most and will long be remembered for is that of coach. During his tenure, Whitley experienced triumphs as the head coach of the 1963 4-A State Championship Baseball team and defeats as the head coach of the football team ending the season with a 0-10 record.

However, his athletes most frequently remember that Coach Whitley taught them to be humble winners and to be dignified in losses and to always strive to be the very best person possible both on and off the field.

The first Dudley Whitley Memorial Outstanding Coach’s Award was recently presented to Southern Nash High School Coach Brian Foster.

Foster serves as an outstanding role model not only for athletes, but for fellow coaches as well. He stresses character and excelling in the classroom as much if not more than excelling on the field of play.

Foster has been a role model and a mentor to athletes throughout his career and has been instrumental in shaping and impacting the lives of many student-athletes at Southern Nash High School.

NRMPS Athletic Director Angie Miller commented, “The award presented tonight is a very special award that shows true dedication to the athletic program at Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools. Mr. Whitley was a well-respected man with the highest values and principles. This first memorial award went to a very deserving coach and teacher, Brian Foster. He is extremely dedicated to his students and athletes. Foster is a strong role model for students at NRMPS. It has been my honor to have known Mr. Whitley and Coach Foster. These two men are what make athletics such a powerful and rewarding profession.”

Southern Nash High School Principal, Rosalie Bardin added, "Mr. Foster is the epitomy of a role model for our students and staff. He is caring, dedicated and sincere with all students. In many instances, Brian is a father figure to students. He is a person that students can rely and depend upon to provide guidance and advice on issues they are facing. Mr. Foster helps students make the right decision both on and off the field. We are truly grateful that Brian is member of the SNHS team and congratulate him on receiving the very first Dudley Whitley Memorial Award."

Moss, Johnson, Cuthrell, T. Berry make first-team All-Big East

- Benton Moss, Hobbs Johnson, Collins Cuthrell, Thomas Berry

WILSON - With second-place team Wilson Hunt making it all the way to the NCHSAA 3-A state championship series, the release of the Big East Conference All-Conference baseball team was delayed.

But Tuesday, the honorees were announced.

Rocky Mount, which claimed the regular season title, led the squad with four selections to the first team - topped by junior Benton Moss, who was also voted Pitcher of the Year. Moss will sign with North Carolina this fall. Seniors Collins Cuthrell (Barton), Hobbs Johnson (North Carolina) and junior Thomas Berry also received first-team nods.

Only one other Nash County squad had a first-teamer. Nash Central.Bulldog center fielder and senior T.J. Taylor was that selection. Taylor reportedly will be playing for Wake Community College next season.

Southern Nash, Northern Nash and Nash Central each had players selected to the second team. The Knights saw senior Brandon Denton and junior Jeremy Lucas tabbed for the second team. Southern Nash saw senior Kyle Shields and junior Luke Mercer also make the second team.

The Bulldogs' lone second-team selection was Jalen Hendricks.

Wilson Hunt senior Zach Houchins was voted Player of the Year, while Hunt head coach Jon Smith was accorded Coach of the Year honors. Houchins, a senior who started his career at Wilson Fike, batted .530 (53-100), scored 41 runs, knocked in 33 runs and tallied 14 doubles, a triple and six home runs.

2010 Big East Baseball All-Conference Teams

First team

Thomas Berry, Rocky Mount

Collins Cuthrell, Rocky Mount

Zach Houchins, Wilson Hunt

Hobbs Johnson, Rocky Mount

Zack Lee, Wilson Hunt

Benton Moss, Rocky Mount

Kyle Pittman, Wilson Hunt

William Prince, Wilson Fike

T.J. Taylor, Nash Central

Mitchell Wheeler, Wilson Fike

Second Team

Matthew Berry, Rocky Mount

Spencer Bell, Rocky Mount

Cody Britt, Wilson Hunt

Michael McLawhorn, Wilson Fike

Cullen Carter, Wilson Fike

Jalen Hendricks, Nash Central

Brandon Denton, Northern Nash

Jeremy Lucas, Northern Nash

Luke Mercer, Southern Nash

Kyle Shields, Southern Nash


Honorable Mention

Tevin Boykin, Southern Nash

Tyler Mizelle, Nash Central

Jackson Pardue, Wilson Fike

Fuller Weatherly, Northern Nash

Michael Whitehead, Rocky Mount

Seth Wiggs, Wilson Hunt

Player of the Year

Zack Houchins, Wilson Hunt

Pitcher of the Year

Benton Moss, Rocky Mount

Coach of the Year

Jon Smith, Wilson Hunt

Post 58 makes it two in-a-row over Post 13

- Post 58's Matthew Berry

ROCKY MOUNT - You might say Wilson Post 13 has suffered a twin killing from Rocky Mount Post 58 - literally.

Not only has Post 58 taken two straight from Post 13, its twin combo of Matthew and Thomas Berry provided the important ammo.

Last week, Thomas' solo bomb in the 10th garnered Post 58 an 8-7 Area 1 East victory. Monday night, Matthew had the honor of slamming a three-run homer in the first to stake Rocky Mount to a 4-0 lead and an eventual 9-3 win.

Jeremy Sloop got the win for Rocky Mount as he went 7 1/3 innings. He allowed three runs on nine hits - eight of which were singles. His defense also helped him out by turning four double plays through five innings of action.

Bill Clark came on in relief in the eighth and allowed just one base runner on a single in the ninth.

Michael McLawhorn got the loss for Post 13. Mitchell Wheeler and Avery Harper also time on the mound for Wilson.

Also homering for Post 58 was center fielder T.J. Taylor. He hit a solo shot to dead center field in the sixth. Collins Cuthrell had three hits on the night and scored three times,

N.C. Wesleyan's Tyler Clark joined the team Monday evening and responded with a 1-for-3 effort with a double and two runs scored.

Post 58 will host Pitt County Post 39 Wednesday at 7 p.m.


Rocky Mount Post 58 - 9
Wilson Post 13 - 3

Post 13 000 020 010 - 3 10 3
Post 58 401 100 21x - 9 11 1

WP - Jeremy Sloop (7.1IP, 9H, 3R, 3ER, 3R, 0BB, 2K)
LP - Michael McLawhorn (2IP, 3H, 5R, 5ER, 1BB, 0K)

Leading hitters:

Post 13 - Seth Wiggs 2-3, R; Zach Houchins 2-4, 2B; Cody Britt 2-4, David Gibbons 1-3, RBI.

Post 58 - Collins Cuthrell 3-4, 2B, RBI, 3R; Matthew Berry 2-4, HR, 3 RBI, R; T.J. Taylor 2-4, HR, RBI, 2R; Spencer Bell 2-2, 2 RBI; Tyler Clark 1-3, 2B, 2R; Thomas Berry 1-5, RBI, R

Record - Post 13 2-4, 0-2 Area I East; Post 58 7-3, 2-0

Cuthrell signs with Barton College

Rocky Mount senior Collins Cuthrell signs to play baseball for Barton College next season. Seated with Cuthrell are (front, l-r) are father J.C., sister Hunter and mother Dawn. Standing in the rear are RMHS athletic director Mike Gainey and head baseball coach Kent Cox. (Photo/David Hahula) - Click on picture to enlarge

Thursday was a big day for Rocky Mount senior Collins Cuthrell.

The two-sport star decided to concentrate on one sport at the next level as he signed to play baseball at Div. II Barton College in Wilson.

He is the third Gryphon in this decade to play of the Bulldogs (Michael Parker, RMHS Class of '03, Will Johnson, '05). Both became starters in the program.

Cuthrell had entertained ideas of playing both baseball and football at Div. III and USA South Conference member Methodist University, a fellow league member with N.C. Wesleyan College. But he felt that playing both would be problematic with all the preparation required for both sports.

Cuthrell led the Gryphon baseball team with a school-record of home runs (7), RBI (27) and runs scored (29) while batting .385, second highest average on the team. A three-year starter (third base and shortstop), he concluded his career with a .333 batting average (81-for-233), knocked in 67 runs (second all-time behind Ben Fish's 82) and scored 70 runs.

He also piled up 10 career home runs - just one behind Fish's career mark of 11.

His stats on the gridiron were impressive, too.

He amassed up just over 2,500 yards passing to rank third all-time in yardage behind Terrell Hudgins and Eddie Coats. He also tossed 16 touchdown passes in completing 51 percent of his attempts. He helped guide the Gryphons to a 21-6 record in his two seasons as the starting quarterback.

Goodwin earns Freshman All-America honors

TUCSON, Ariz. - Former Rocky Mount High School baseball standout and UNC freshman Brian Goodwin was honored Wednesday with a spot on the 2010 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American Team, as chosen by the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. For the ninth straight season, North Carolina has had at least one freshman garnering All-America honors.

Goodwin started all 60 games this season in the outfield compiling a .291 batting average with seven home runs and a team-leading 63 RBI. The freshman tied the single season school record with eight triples in 2010, a record that has stood in Tar Heel history since 1949.

The Rocky Mount native registered a .409 on-base percentage en route to reaching base seven times, which is believed to be a UNC record, March 16 against Princeton. The rookie notched a team-best eight assists from the outfield and was named to the NCAA Norman Regional All-Tournament Team last weekend.

2010 Coleman-Pitt Post 58 results - June 13

5/26: RMT Post 58 @ Durham Post 7 - W, 7-2
RMT Post 58 @ Durham Post 7 - L, 2-3

5/29: RMT Post 58 @ Thomasville Post 284 - W, 12-2

5/30: RMT Post 58 @ Shelby Post 82 - L, 6-8
RMT Post 58 @ Shelby Post 82 - L, 4-5

6/1: RMT Post 58 @ N. Raleigh Post 297 - W, 6-2

6/2: Durham Post 7 @ RMT Post 58 - ppd., rain

6/5: N. Raleigh Post 297 @ RMT Post 58 – W, 8-7

6/7: RMT Post 58 @ Clayton Post 71 – W, 11-7

6/8: RMT Post 58 @ Wilson Post 13 – W, 8-7 (10 inn.) **

** Area 1 East contest

Post 58 will next hit the field Monday when it entertains Wilson Post 13. Game time is 7 p.m. at Gryphon Stadium.

To keep up with Post 58 action, click here!

2010 Rocky Mount Coleman-Pitt Post 58 American Legion Roster

ROSTER

Player, Name, Number, Position, Batting/Throwing, School, HS Class

Trellis Ashley, 13, P, IF, R/R, Nash Central HS, 2011
Spencer Bell, 22, IF, P, R/R, Rocky Mount HS, 2010
Matthew Berry, 3, IF, P, OF, R/R, Rocky Mount HS, 2011
Thomas Berry, 14, C, L/R, Rocky Mount HS, 2011
Bill Clark, 21, P, OF, R/R, Home-school, 2010
Collins Cuthrell, 20, IF, R/R, Rocky Mount HS, 2010
Brandon Denton, 12, P, OF, C, L/R, Northern Nash HS, 2010
Parker Helms, 8, OF, P, IF, R/R, Rocky Mount HS, 2010
Hobbs Johnson, 2, P, OF, R/L, Rocky Mount HS, 2010
Benton Moss, 23, P, OF, R/R, Rocky Mount HS, 2011
Kyle Norville, 4 OF, P, IF, L/L, Barton College, 2009 (Tarboro HS)
Cameron Ramsey, 6, OF, IF, R/R, Wake Community College, 2009 (Rocky Mount HS)
Jeremy Sloop, 11, C, P, IF, OF, R/R, Nash Central HS, 2011
Mike Smith, 5, IF, OF, R/R, Northern Nash HS, 2009
Grant Stallings, 17, C, R/R, Northern Nash HS, 2010
TJ Taylor, 7, OF, P, L/L, Nash Central HS, 2010
Jeremy Trevathan, 10, P, OF, IF, R/R, Rocky Mount HS, 2011
Fuller Weatherly, 1, OF, R/R, Northern Nash HS, 2011
Michael Whitehead, 9, IF, R/R, Rocky Mount HS, 2010

Head Coach: Hank Jones (#26)
Asst. Coach: Britt Johnson (#25)
Athletic Officer: Joe Bell

2010 Coleman-Pitt Post 58 American Legion Baseball Schedule

- Head coach Hank Jones


Sat., June 5 - N. Raleigh Post 297 (RMHS), 12 noon

Sun., June 6 - vs. TBA , (Durham Athletic Park), 2;30 pm

Tues., June 8 - Wilson Post 13 at Wilson (Fleming Stadium), 7 pm**

Mon., June 14 - Wilson Post 13 (RMHS), 7 pm**

Wed., June 16 - Pitt Post 39 (RMHS), 7 pm

Thurs., June 17 - Pitt Post 39 at Greenville (Guy Smith Stadium) 7 pm

Sat., June 19 - Ahoskie Post 102 (RMHS), 3 pm** (DH)

Sun., June 20 - Wayne County Post 11 (NCWC's Bauer Field), 3 pm

Mon., June 21 - Ahoskie Post 102 at Ahoskie (Hertford County HS), 7 pm**

Tues., June 22 - Wilson Post 13 (RMHS), 7 pm**

Wed., June 23 - Edenton Post 40 (RMHS), 7 pm**

Sun., June 27 - Edenton Post 40 at Edenton (Hicks Field), 5 pm** (DH)

Mon., June 28 - Wayne County Post 11 at Mt. Olive (Mt. Olive College), 7pm

** Conference Games

Home Games in Bold

(DH) - Double Header (Two 7-inning Games)