Big East baseball coaches weigh in on N.C.-tinged World Series

1999 Athens Drive graduate Josh Hamilton




2007 South Caldwell graduate Madison Bumgarner

 

Since this year's World Series has such a Tar Heel flavor (Texas Rangers centerfielder Josh Hamilton and San Francisco pitcher Madison Bumgarner), I decided to poll the six head baseball coaches of the Big East Conference on Wednesday to find out their pick for the Series' winner along with how many games it would take for the victor to come out on top.

The poll was taken before the start of Game 1.

Here is what they said:

Nash Central coach Jeff Mizelle -

"I like Texas in six. Josh Hamilton has come so far as a player and he will lead them to the title."

Northern Nash coach Eddie Loesner -

"The Giants in six. You won't see any crooked numbers in this Series. Giants will win the close ones."

Rocky Mount coach Kent Cox -

"Texas in seven. I think Texas has to many offensive weapons and is playing well as a team right now."

Southern Nash coach Jeff Flowers -

"Rangers in six."

Wilson Fike coach Will Flowers -

"I think it will be a great Series. The Yankees are my team and since the Rangers beat them, I will pull for the Rangers to win in six games."

Wilson Hunt coach Jon Smith -

"Texas in five. I believe Texas will win because they have great team chemistry, adequate pitching after Cliff Lee, and they have a good offense. Not to mention Molina should be able to give the Rangers' hitters a decent scouting report. Cody Ross will cool off and Texas will win it in five."

NCWC gets back on winning track with win at Maryville Saturday

MARYVILLE, TN - North Carolina Wesleyan's football team bounced back from last week's disappointing league loss to Christopher Newport with a 34-16 USA South road victory at Maryville College on Saturday, ruining the Scots' 2010 Homecoming. The win leaves the Blue & Gold with a 4-3 overall record and 3-1 mark in conference action.

Wesleyan struck first with a 12-play, 48-yard drive that saw junior Kevin Quicker boot home a 26-yard field goal to put the Battling Bishops up 3-0 with 12:17 left in the first quarter.

The Scots struck back at the 8:36 mark. Led by a 26-yard reception from Dustin Williams to Wesley Idlette, Darrell Tate finished things up with a 1-yard touchdown run. Andrew Noboa’s kick put Maryville up 7-3, and Noboa later pushed that lead to 10-3 with a 37-yard field goal with 1:12 remaining in the first.

Kevin Quicker followed up on Noboa’s job, connecting on a 22-yard field goal to bring the Bishops back to within four, 10-6, with 14:07 on the clock during the second quarter.

After a fumbled punt by Demetrius Christian on a Bishop punt later in the period, Wesleyan took over the ball on the Maryville 2-yard line. On the next play, Teron Bush found the end zone, putting Wesleyan up 13-10 with 6:38 remaining in the half. From there, the Bishops wouldn’t look back as NCWC found six more just minutes later. A 10-play, 76-yard drive ended with Jordan Vann finding Tyreck McFadden for 14 yards and a 20-10 advantage.

The Scots were able to grab a score just before the end of the half when Noboa recorded his second field goal of the evening. The Scots trailed at halftime, 20-13.

Wesleyan again found a score off a Scot turnover to open the third quarter. Senior Antonio Harris stepped in front of Willams’ pass, returning it 72 yards to hang points on the board. Just 1:33 into the second half, the Bishops held a 27-13 advantage.

Williams led the Scots down the field on their next drive, setting up Naboa's third field goal of the evening for a 27-16 tally with 8:14 left in the third, but the Battling Bishops answered with the game's last score when Vann connected with Laqwan Bodie from 11 yards out just before the end of the quarter. Quicker’s PAT provided the 34-16 final score as neither offense would get on board over the final 15:00.

Vann finished 24-of-34 for 271 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and senior Teron Bush hauled in seven catches for 124 yards. Defensively, Harris finished with 11 tackles, the interception for a TD and sack, while James Carter added ten takedowns.

Wesleyan returns home next Saturday when the Bishops host USA South foe Methodist University. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. at the Northern Nash Football Complex.

Big East Boys Soccer Tournament Pairings - Inclement weather pushes event back

The 2010 Big East Boys Soccer Tournament was scheduled to get underway Monday at Northern Nash.

But heavy rains washed out Monday's play and moved the start of the tournament to Tuesday. Even more rain Tuesday morning cancelled first round play that evening.

Now, the event will run Wednesday through Friday.

Here are the pairings for the event:

BIG EAST BOYS SOCCER TOURNAMENT

@ Northern Nash

Wednesday

No. 3 seed Wilson Fike vs. No. 6 Nash Central, 5 p.m.

No. 4 seed Southern Nash vs. No. 5 seed Northern Nash, 7 p.m.

No. 1 seed Rocky Mount, No. 2 seed Wilson Hunt byes

Thursday

No. 1 seed Rocky Mount vs. Southern Nash/Northern Nash, 5 p.m.
No. 2 seed Wilson Hunt vs. Wilson Fike/Nash Central winner, 7 p.m.

Friday

Championship, 7 p.m.

More rain is in the forecast for Wednesday, so more schedule changes may be in store.

Gryphons end, continue streaks

Home sweet home!

The students, fans and alumni (four class reunion groups included) that attended Rocky Mount's Homecoming win over Wilson Fike Friday had to know that perhaps a little home cooking might help the Gryphons end their four-game losing streak.

And after five weeks away from the friendly confines of the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex, it did with a 14-7 victory. But if they had lost, it would have fed the longest losing streak (five) by the Gryphons since 1993 when they dropped six games in a row en route to a 3-7 campaign.

That season, the Gryphons dropped consecutive contests to Tarboro, Southern Nash, Wilson Fike, East Wake, Greenville Rose and Northeastern.

Also winning on Homecoming night has become old hat for the Gryphons. They have won their Homecoming game the last seven years. 

One had to also wonder if a conference win was ever going to come Rocky Mount's way after its 0-2 start this season. Since one finally came to past, they won't have to worry about tying the 1966 Rocky Mount team for fewest conference wins - none. In fact, the 1966 squad didn't win any games - the only time since the school opened in 1953 that has happened.

Scoring has been a Gryphon issue this season. But it may come as surprise to many that Rocky Mount scored two touchdowns in the second half for the first time since their season-opening triumph at Bertie. And weren't they important. Rodquez Greene's 26-yard run for a score late in the fourth quarter got them the win.

The Fike victory also kept another streak alive. It was the eighth straight time the Gryphons had beaten the Golden Demons, Rocky Mount's oldest rival (first faced each other in 1958). Not since 2001 has Fike won in the series - one RMHS now leads 30-21-2.

Even though its streak of regular season winning slates has ended at eight, a three-game winning streak to end the season might just put the Gryphons in the playoffs.

Of course, Southern Nash and Northern Nash will have a lot to say about that!

Gryphon makes Hall of Fame

Rocky Mount High School graduate Howard McCullough ('72) was inducted last Saturday into the Louisburg College Athletic Hall of Fame. McCullough played baseball for the Hurricanes in the 1970s, and was a star catcher for Jerry Carter during his Gryphon playing days. He currently lives in Greenville and is a scout for Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks. In the above photo, McCullough gives his acceptance speech. (Photo/Geoff Neville)

New No. 1 Tarboro to host SW Edgecombe Friday

It took the end of the nation's longest current high school football winning streak for it to happen, but a Twin Counties' football team has reached the No. 1 spot in the weekly Associated Press poll.

It's defending 2-A state champion Tarboro. The Vikings, who have been in the Top five all season, were voted to the No. 1 spot after defending 2-AA state champion and previous No. 1 Reidsville saw its nation-leading 55-game winning streak end last Friday with a 28-7 loss at home to Burlington Cummings. A few weeks ago, then No. 3 Tarboro leap frogged SouthWest Edgecombe in the polls when the Cougars were upset by Kinston. The Reidsville loss made the Vikings No.1.

Now can the Vikes, who got to that spot despite close calls with Northern Nash and Greene Central, keep that spot with No. 6 and all-time rival SouthWest coming to town this Friday night? 

If you thought getting into last year's clash at SWE was tough, can you imagine the traffic jams at Howard Ave. and U.S. 64 Alt. Friday afternoon? I can't emphasize it enough - get there real early and tailgate! Tarboro leads their all-time series 22-11.

With Rocky Mount coming home for the first time in five weeks with its Homecoming date with its longest all-time rival Wilson Fike, I just wish I could be in two places at one time just once this Friday.

Associated Press 2-A Football Poll - released Tuesday for Week 10

1. Tarboro (10) (8-0) 125 2
2. Lincolnton (1) (8-0) 114 3

3. Thomasville (2) (8-0) 106 4

4. Boonville Starmount (8-0) 78 5

5. Newton-Conover (8-0) 63 7

6. SouthWest Edgecombe (8-1) 59 6

7. Reidsville (7-1) 47 1

8. South Iredell (8-0) 40 9

9. Burlington Cummings (8-1) 37 NR

10. Polk County (7-1) 16 10

RMHS winter sports season just around the corner

The winter sports season at Rocky Mount High School will begin on Nov. 1. All potential winter sports (boys/girls swimming, boys/girls basketball, wrestling, indoor track) athletes must have an updated physical to try out.

Here is a list of tryout dates:

Swimming - Tryouts will be held at the RM Swim Centrer from 5:30-7 p.m.

Girls Basketball - Tryouts will be held in the main gym at 3 p.m.

Boys Basketball - Tryouts will be held in the main gym at 5 p.m.

Wrestling - Tryouts in the Wrestling Room at 6 p.m.

Indoor Track - Tryouts at the football practice field on Nov. 15 at 3 p.m.

Athletic physical forms are available in the RMHS Athletic Office in the student commons. Please see Athletic Director Mike Gainey for a form. Again, the results of a physical exam must be completed on this form to participate.

GRYPHON FAN PRODUCTS: Gainey has several Rocky Mount fan items for sale in his office.

Here are some of those items:

· Season sports passes - $100, adults; $40 (RMHS) students

· RMHS letterman jackets - $160

· 2010 Boys Basketball State Champions T-shirts - $10

· Select Booster Club items.

· 2010 Boys Basketball State Championship watches - $50 (in limited supply)

Rocky Mount vs. Wilson Hunt - The Series

Rocky Mount travels to Wilson Hunt Friday night for a chance to even its Big East Conference football record. Hunt (6-1, 1-0) is the defending conference champion.

RMHS leads the series with the Warriors 16-11. Hunt broke a seven-game losing streak to the Gryphons last season with its 28-14 victory. The Warriors will be going for consecutive wins over Rocky Mount for the first time since 2001.

ROCKY MOUNT vs. WILSON HUNT (RM leads 16-11)

2009 - Hunt wins, 28-14

2008 - RM wins, 44-6

2007 - RM wins, 28-21

2006 - RM wins, 21-7
2005 - RM wins, 31-7
2004 - RM wins, 46-14
2003 - RM wins, 27-19
2002 - RM wins, 7-0
2001 - Hunt wins, 24-0
2000 - Hunt wins, 29-22 OT
1999 - Hunt wins 24-0
1998 - Hunt wins, 14-7
1997 - Hunt wins, 23-21
1996-1993 - no contests
1992 - Hunt wins, 48-16
1991 - Hunt wins, 28-21
1990 - RM wins, 28-14

1989 - RM wins, 14-0

1988 - RM wins, 22-12

1987 - RM wins, 31-17

1986 - Hunt wins, 37-7

1985 - RM wins, 25-6

1984 - Hunt wins, 14-7

1983 - RM wins, 7-0

1982 - RM wins, 26-7

1981 - RM wins, 30-6

1980 - RM wins, 38-0
1979 - Hunt wins, 9-7

Follow RMHS' new campus construction via webcam



Construction progresses on Rocky Mount High School's new campus on Bethlehem Rd. The 64-acre site should be completed by July 2012. (Photo/David Hahula)



You can follow progress on the construction of Rocky Mount High School's new campus (Bethlehem Rd.) online via a webcam.

 

To access the web cam, click here.

Be aware that in order to view images from the webcam, you will need to install Silverlight, Microsoft's multimedia framework. (similar to Adobe Flash)

A Sliverlight button will appear after clicking the above link. Click the silverlight button and follow the installation instructions. You may need to restart your browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox,....) in order for webcam application to run.

The zoom slider on the left side of the screen allows you to zoom in/out. The playback controls on the left side provide a time-lapse view of the construction site.

Enjoy. It won't be long before the dream of every Gryphon alum will be coming true!

A GRYPHON GLIMPSE - Roman Kelley

Roman Kelley
(Photo/WECT.com)

Like father, like son.

Well, it didn't quite start out that way for former Rocky Mount quarterback Roman Kelley.

Kelley, a 1997 RMHS graduate, played football for Ray Durham as a two-year starting QB for the Gryphons. After a career that made Kelley the eighth-leading signal caller in yardage (2,110) and the No. 4 QB on the touchdown passing list (27), he went into the business field after graduating from N.C. State.

He was headed in a different career direction than dad George, who spent many years on the Rocky Mount sidelines before becoming head coach of the Gryphons. The elder Kelley was Rocky Mount's head coach for 10 seasons.

But a request from a friend changed everything.

That friend asked him to come out and help volunteer coach the team at South Granville. That experience did the trick. The coaching bug finally bit him.

After going back to school to get certified to teach, Kelley joined the coaching staff at South Granville. He also later served as the athletic director there.

That led to an assistant position at Topsail. He then went on to South Brunswick as an assistant. Two seasons ago, then-SB coach Gordon Waters left for a job in South Carolina and Kelley was selected as his replacement.

This season, his squad is experiencing great success. In fact, they were undefeated (7-0) going to last Friday's game with also undefeated South Columbus at home.

But a weird thing happened late in the contest. With less than four minutes left on the clock after the Cougars narrowed their deficit to 34-21 with a touchdown, the power went out. RM football fans may remember a similar occurance a few years ago at Southern Nash.

Nothing could be done with the power and school officials continued the game Monday afternoon at South Brunswick. The Cougars were forced to start the resumption with an onside kick, but they failed to recover the ball. South Columbus went on to win 40-21.

But that aside, the Cougars, after a 5-5 campaign last season, are 7-1 and looking good to make it deep into the 3-A state playoffs.

"I put in the Pro-I on offense and the 5-0 on defense and it looks just like the ole' Gryphons," said the 31-year-old second-year head coach. "We are 7-1 right now averaging 40-plus points on offense and have a very stingy defense. I couldn't be more pleased with how things are going. Of course, we have a long way to go and three tough games left in the Waccamaw (Conference). But it has been a lot of fun!"

(A Gryphon Glimpse is a regular series of posts featuring former Rocky Mount High School athletes or coaches.)

Big East Volleyball Tourney set to start Monday; RMHS is No. 1 seed

Rocky Mount won the 2010 Big East Conference regular season volleyball title and will be the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament that starts Monday at Wilson Hunt.

The Gryphons ran the table in the regular season at 10-0 and are 17-3 overall entering postseason play.

Here are the pairings for the event:

2010 BIG EAST 3-A CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

@ Hunt High School, Wilson

MON - Quarterfinals


5 p.m. - No. 3 Northern Nash (7-10) vs. No. 6 Southern Nash (1-17)
7 p.m. - No. 4 Nash Central (9-12) vs. No. 5 Wilson Fike (12-7)
No. 1 Rocky Mount (17-3), No. 2 Wilson Hunt (13-4) byes

TUES - Semifinals


5 p.m. - No. 1 Rocky Mount vs. No. 4/5 winner (Nash Central) - Rocky Mount wins
7 p.m. - No. 2 Wilson Hunt vs. No. 3/6 winner (Northern Nash) Wilson Hunt wins


THURS - Championship
 
7 p.m. - Rocky  Mount (18-3) vs. Wilson Hunt (14-4)

Rocky Mount vs. Nash Central - The Series

Nash Central's football team has never beaten Rocky Mount. But that could that change Friday night. We will have to see as the Gryphons travel to the Dawg Pound for their annual meeting with the Bulldogs.

Rocky Mount holds a 7-0 advantage over the Bulldogs in a series that has been close at times, but no cigar for Nash Central.

Here is how the two teams have fared the past seven seasons.

ROCKY MOUNT vs. NASH CENTRAL

2009 - RM wins, 25-13

2008 - RM wins, 35-7

2007 - RM wins, 17-0

2006 - RM wins, 47-0

2005 - RM wins, 21-6

2004 - RM wins, 30-20

2003 - RM wins, 42-14

McCullough to go into Louisburg College Sports Hall of Fame

Howard McCullough loved baseball so much that he made a successful career out of the sport.

And along the way, his contributions to Louisburg College baseball has led to him to become an honoree in the school's Athletic Hall of Fame. He will be inducted on Oct. 16.

McCullough, a long-time professional scout, was a diamond star at Rocky Mount High School before graduating in 1972. He decided to stay close to home to begin his college career at Louisburg College under Russ Frazier.

During his two years at LC, McCullough was a standout who claimed the school’s Moon Award in 1974 as the Most Outstanding Student-Athlete.

After receiving his associate’s degree from Louisburg, McCullough played two years at East Carolina where he was an All-Southern Conference pick in 1975.

Wanting to remain involved with the sport after graduating, McCullough planned well by earning a bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education and a master’s in Education from ECU.

McCullough spent four years in the Granville County Schools system as a teacher, coach and Athletic Director before he accepted assistant coaching position with the University of North Carolina — where he would stay from 1982-85.

McCullough then got involved with scouting, working as an area scout for the Boston Red Sox for 10 seasons.

Beginning in 1996, McCullough accepted a position with the Arizona Diamondbacks as an area scout and East Coast/Southeast Supervisor. McCullough was with the organization when the Diamondbacks won the World Series in 2001. Four years later, the Diamondbacks honored McCullough with their Scout of the Year Award. That same season, McCullough was tabbed as the Professional Baseball Representatives Scout of the Year.

Other superlatives that McCullough has received include Mid Atlantic Scouts Association Hall of Fame (2007), Goldklang/Topps Baseball Hall of Fame (2009) and the Raleigh Hot Stove League’s Willie Duke Lifetime Achievement Award (2010).

McCullough and his wife, Eva, reside in Greenville. Their son, Clayton, has followed in Howard’s baseball footsteps — he is currently a manager for the Class A Dunedin Blue Jays in the Florida State League.

- Geoff Neville

FRIDAY NIGHT PREVIEW: Monday Night Edition - J.H.Rose

Here is a capsulized look at the J.H. Rose Rampants, Rocky Mount's football opponent Monday evening!

J.H. ROSE

LOCATION: Greenville

HEAD COACH: Todd Lipe

CONFERENCE: Mideastern

CLASS: 4A

COLORS: Kelly Green/Columbia Blue

MASCOT: Rampants

2010 RECORD: 3-2

2009 RECORD: 5-6, 2-3

SERIES with ROCKY MOUNT: Tied at 23-23

OFF. FORM: Pro-I

DEF. FORM: 4-3

STRENGTHS: "We will be strong at QB, WR, DB, LB, and CB."
WEAKNESSES: "We have concerns at RB, DT and safety."

2010 OUTLOOK: "We should be a little bit better than last year. Our coaching staff is intact. We have a good mix of size and skill." - Todd Lipe

2010 SCHEDULE

Aug. 20 - @ SOUTHERN DURHAM - Won, 21-13

Aug. 27 - D.H. CONLEY - Won,  46-6

Sep. 3 - @ SOUTH CENTRAL - Won, 40-13
Sep. 10 - @ DAVIE COUNTY - Lost, 41-27
Sep. 24 - SCOTLAND COUNTY - Lost, 45-26
Oct. 4 - ROCKY MOUNT
Oct. 8 - @ ASHLEY* 
Oct. 15 - LANEY* 
Oct. 22 - @ HOGGARD*

Oct. 29 - NEW HANOVER* 

Nov. 5 - NEW BERN*

* - conference games 

KEY SENIORS:

NIGEL RAINBOW (RB/LB, 5-8, 205); ANDREW HART (FB/DE, 6-0, 225) All-County, 59 tackles, four sacks in 2009; DANTRELL BLOUNT (WR/DB, 6-1, 180); TYLER DARDEN (RB, 6-0, 185); AUSTIN CHAING (QB/WR, 6-0, 175); A.J. FLORES (QB, 6-0, 185); GRAY WORDSWORTH (FB/LB, 5-11, 185) All-County, 95 tackles, two sacks in 2009.

NCWC claims first USA South football win at Ferrum; Homecoming this Saturday

FERRUM, Va. - North Carolina Wesleyan's football team began defense of its 2009 USA South title on Saturday with a 24-14 victory over Ferrum College on the road, spoiling the Panthers' Homecoming festivities.

Trailing 14-10 with just over seven minutes left in the game, Wesleyan turned back-to-back Panther fumbles into a pair of touchdowns to secure the come-from-behind win. The Bishops have now evened their overall season record at 2-2.

Ferrum took control early with a game-opening 77-yard drive that gave the Panthers a quick 7-0 lead. That opening drive, however, would produce the only points of the half as Ferrum took that same 7-0 advantage into the break.

In the third quarter, Wesleyan finally got on the board with a 46-yard scoring drive on the Bishops' second possession of the half. The touchdown came on a one-yard rush by Teron Bush, marking the eighth running play of the drive.

After James Carter forced and recovered the first of four Ferrum fumbles on the Panthers' next possession, the Bishops got a program-record 46-yard field goal by junior Kevin Quicker for a 10-7 lead with 2:17 left in the period. Unfortunately, that lead was shortlived as Ferrum quarterback Marcus Mayo found Justin Donnelly for a 59-yard TD completion to give the Panthers a 14-10 advantage, setting the stage for NCWC's fourth quarter comeback.

Ironically, the late back-to-back Ferrum fumbles were both recovered by NCWC's Sebastin Schulz at the FC 31-yardline. Jamal Smith took the first one in from 12 yards out for a 17-14 NCWC lead, while freshman QB Jordan Vann did the honors on the second with an 8-yard run. Any thoughts of a Ferrum comeback were put to rest shortly thereafter when yet another fumble gave the Bishops the ball back, enabling NCWC to run out the clock.

Vann completed 15-of-28 passes for 206 yards while rushing for 68 more, and the duo of Smith and Bush combined for 125 yards on the ground with the pair of TDs. Laqwan Brodie, Greg Edwards and Keenan Carter hauled in four receptions apiece. Defensively, freshman Tazmon Foster again paced the Bishops with 11 tackles, while Antonio Harris tallied nine takedowns and two sacks.

Wesleyan continues USA South play Saturday at home when the Bishops host Greensboro College in their 2010 Homecoming game. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at the Northern Nash Football Complex.