RMHS faces football coaching changes ... again

For the second straight summer, head football coach B.W. Holt has a dilemma. He has four vacancies on his staff and roughly only a month to fill them.

No longer on the staff are Ed Hiatt, Curtis Rushing, Chris Moore and Donovan Jackson. So Holt has to find a defensive coordinator, a special teams coordinator, a linebacker coach and a defensive line coach, respectively.

The problem, Holt has been told that the only RMHS teaching openings are in social studies (two) and mathematics (two).

Yikes!

He says he not too worried and he thinks he will find coaches for these vacancies.

Good luck, coach!

Gryphs to face the Brothers Crudup

- Kevin Crudup

Rocky Mount High's 2008 football team will face not just one coaching Crudup, but two.

One will be new Nash Central High football coach Kevin Crudup. The Bunn native and Mars Hill graduate was named the Bulldogs' head man Friday at a press conference at the school.

But Crudup has a brother in the high school coaching ranks.

Cedric Crudup is the head coach at Northern Vance High in Henderson. Both Nash Central and Northern Vance are on the Gryphons' slate this fall - both road games for RMHS.

The Gryphons travel to Henderson on Friday, Sept. 5, and will hit the road crosstown to the Dawg Pound on Halloween, Friday, Oct. 31.

No doubt, Cedric will be giving pointers to Kevin on how to stop the Gryphons!

A look at 2008's team stats - RMHS Baseball

After taking a gander at the final team stats for the 2008 Rocky Mount baseball team, they were pretty astounding.

Take a look. They are all school records!

27 wins (27-6)

236 runs scored

.324 batting average

298 hits

195 RBI

919 at-bats

59 doubles

10 triples

71 stolen bases

Meeting of the Minds!

Rocky Mount head football coach B.W. Holt and Northern Nash head football coach Chad Smith discuss instructional plans during the NFL High School Player Development Camp held at Rocky Mount High last week. The camp was for kids going to the ninth through 12th grades.

RMHS will hold another NFL Player Development Camp July 14-17 - a junior version for the younger kids - from the sixth to ninth grade.

For more information on the Junior NFL Camp, you can reach Holt after June 30 weekdays at 252-977-3164.

(Photo/David Hahula)

A new Gryphon in the house!

Rocky Mount assistant football coach Chris Lee and his wife Lindsay welcomed new son, Christopher Winston, into the world on May 12.

Winston, as the family will call him, weighed 9 pounds, 7 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long. He has a sister, Hope, who is 2 1/2 years old.

Best wishes on your new arrival!

It's been a banner year for Chris. His JV football team completed an undefeated season at 10-0 and is riding a 21-game winning streak. He assisted the varsity football team to a 14-1 campaign and he led the RMHS JV girls basketball team to an 18-1 season. Its only loss was in the season-opener!

Congrats again to the Lee family!

Former Gryphon gets principal post in Wilson Co.

Congratulations to former Gryphon athlete and former RMHS teacher Eddie Doll.

Doll, who played football and baseball for the Gryphons, was named principal at Elm City Middle School in Elm City Monday evening at a meeting of the Wilson County School Board.

Doll, a N.C. State and ECU graduate, had served the last few years as an assistant principal at Hunt High School. He taught at RMHS prior to going to Wilson County.

His father Wayne is a former RMHS principal and currently serves as the countywide athletic director for Nash-Rocky Mount Schools.

Donation for championship rings

Rocky Mount athletic director Michael Gainey (left) and Gryphon head baseball coach Pat Smith (center) accept a check for $2,000 from Donnie Tharrington of Don's Boby Shop that will go to defray the cost of championship rings for members of Rocky Mount's NCHSAA 3-A state champion baseball team.

The team was honored with a reception in the lobby of City Hall Monday before being honored by the City Council later in the evening.

(Contributed photo)

2008 NCHSAA 3-A Baseball State Champions - Rocky Mount Gryphons

Parents and friends, if you would like professional copies of these shots or any others from Game 3 of the NCHSAA 3-A State Championship series, contact David Hahula at dhahula@embarqmail.com.

Remember, click on the picture to enlarge it!

Bring the Wood - 2!

Here are more pictorial angles of Tom Jones' woodshed - in honor of the 2008 NCHSAA 3-A State Champions: The Rocky Mount Gryphons! The woodshed sat at the entrance to Five County Stadium to inspire the Gryphon players and supporters. (Photos/David Hahula)

Note: Click on any picture to enlarge!

Bring the Wood!

One of the great inspirations of Rocky Mount's quest for a 3-A state baseball title was this woodshed - built primarily by Rocky Mount alum and loyal Gryphon fan Tom Jones. You might say, he's got wood!

This shed, complimented by signatures by all the players above its front door, served as a rallying point for all the fans that turned out to support the Gryphons during its weekend stay at Five County Stadium in Zebulon.

Many had their picture taken while taking a seat inside.

Even football coach B.W. Holt took a load off in it on Friday, and lo and behold, RM baseball coach Pat Smith sat himself down in it minutes after the Gryphons broke a school 26-year title drought and the baseball program wiped away 28 years of hard-trying to get a title back to Gryphon Stadium.

There is no doubt that the Gryphons "brought the wood" this past weekend!

The five seniors: William Barringer, Chris Berry, Jim Leggett, Grant Johnson, Nick Phillips - each received a bat that adorned the front of the shed.

(Photo/Wes Bradshaw)

Rocky Mount Telegram Gryphon Slideshow

To get some glimpses of the action from Friday and Saturday's NCHSAA Games 1, 2 and 3 of 3-A state championship action with the Gryphons and East Rowan, click here to see a slideshow from the Rocky Mount Telegram!

Pictures taken by former Gryphon player Tom Jones will be forthcoming!

Leggett gets career win No. 28 as RM gets one game closer to a 3-A title

ZEBULON – A balanced Rocky Mount offensive attack banged out 10 hits and the Gryphons held off East Rowan 7-4 in the first game of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3-A baseball championship series on Friday at Five County Stadium.

East Rowan jumped in front 2-0 in the bottom of the first, but Rocky Mount tied it in the second when a run scored on a double play and then Collins Cuthrell delivered a run-scoring single to tie the game.

The Gryphons took a 5-2 lead with three in the fourth, with Gabe Brown’s two-run single the key blow, but East battled back to slice it 5-4 on Zack Smith’s two-out, two-run double. Rocky Mount then added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth after a two-out error, a triple by William Barringer that scored a run and then an RBI single by Grant Johnson.

Chris Berry was the only Gryphon with two hits. Every RMHS starter collected at least one hit. The bottom of the Gryphons' lineup was very effective - with batters Nos. 7-9 going 3-for-9 with five RBI and two runs scored.

Senior righthander Jim Leggett (8-3) went the route on the mound for the winners, allowing just three hits and getting his 28th career victory, to extend his Rocky Mount school record, while Corbin Shive was charged with the loss (11-2).

Smith provided the offensive punch for East Rowan with two hits in three trips and three runs batted in. The Mustangs dropped to 28-4 overall while Rocky Mount improved to a school record 26-5.

Game two in the best-of-three series is set for Saturday morning at eleven o’clock as Rocky Mount seeks to close out the series and win its first NCHSAA baseball title since 1980. Game three, if necessary, would be played Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

STATE 3-A BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES — GAME ONE

Five County Stadium, Zebulon

Rocky Mount 0 2 0 3 0 2 0 – 7 10 1

East Rowan 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 – 4 3 1

WP—Jim Leggett (8-3)

LP—Corbin Shive (11-2)

Leading hitters: Rocky Mount - Chris Berry 2-4, R; Ben Fish 1-2, R; Jim Leggett 1-2, R; Collins Cuthrell 1-3, 2 RBI, R; Gabe Brown 1-3, 2 RBI, R; Dillon Cockrell 1-3, RBI; Brian Goodwin 1-3; William Barringer 1-4, 3B, RBI, R; Grant Johnson 1-4. East Rowan - Zach Smith 2-3, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI; Ethan Fisher 1-3, 2B.

Barnes gets offer from Wake Forest; two Gryphons get special Shrine Bowl combine invite

Rocky Mount offensive lineman Whit Barnes received a football scholarship offer from Wake Forest University this week. The rising senior also received a scholarship offer from Duke University a few weeks ago.

But there will be more schools to chose from for the hard-working lineman.

He and defensive secondary specialist-kick returner Brian Goodwin have been invited to a select Shrine Bowl football combine to be held Saturday at Burlington Williams High School. The top 130 or so players who attended earlier regional combines have been invited to this special combine to receive more scrutiny from N.C. Shrine Bowl head coach Gary Fowler (Clayton) and his staff.

Barnes will be attending the combine, but Goodwin has some more pressing issues Saturday - trying to win a state baseball championship in Zebulon.

The Championship Venue

FIVE COUNTY STADIUM, ZEBULON - site of the NCHSAA 3-A, 4-A State Baseball Championship Series

Name: Five County sits in Wake County and is in earshot of Nash, Johnston, Franklin and Wilson.
History: Five County opened on July 3, 1991. Dimensions: LF-330, CF-400, RF-330; Capacity: 6,500
Scoreboard: Made by Daktronics.
Videoboard: Made by Lighthouse

Rocky Mount's Championship Results

Here are the results of the all the state championship games Rocky Mount has played in since winning its first title in 1963. Thanks to Ernie Murray for the complete 1963 and 1965 series scores.

1963 - 4-A Series
Rocky Mount 2, Greensboro Page
Rocky Mount 11, Greensboro Page 6
(RM wins series 2-0)

1965 - 4-A Series
Garinger 4, Rocky Mount 3
Garinger 2, Rocky Mount 1
(RM loses series 0-2)

1967 - 4-A Series
Game 1: Rocky Mount 7, West Mecklenburg 5
Game 2: West Mecklenburg 2, Rocky Mount 1
Game 3: Rocky Mount 4, West Mecklenburg 1
(RM wins series 2-1)

1973 - 4-A Series
Game 1: North Mecklenburg 5, Rocky Mount 2
Game 2: Rocky Mount 6, North Mecklenburg 3
Game 3: Rocky Mount 4, North Mecklenburg 1
(RM wins series 2-1)

1980 - 4-A Series
Game 1: Rocky Mount 7, Greensboro Grimsley 2
Game 2: Rocky Mount 7, Greensboro Grimsley 2
(RM wins series 2-0)

2008 - 3-A Series
Game 1: Rocky Mount 7, East Rowan 4
Game 2: East Rowan 6, Rocky Mount 2
Game 3: Rocky Mount 8, East Rowan 6
(RM wins series 2-1)

Gryphons set to play Friday at Five County Stadium

NCHSAA CLASS 3-A

STATE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

FIVE COUNTY STADIUM, ZEBULON

ROCKY MOUNT vs. EAST ROWAN

Game 1: Friday, May 30, 5 p.m.

Game 2: Saturday, May 31, 11 a.m.

Game 3: if necessary,

Saturday, May 31, 5 p.m.

Gryphons look good for No. 5

Rocky Mount senior pitcher Jim Leggett threw an astounding 61 pitchers in his complete-game, three-hit shutout of Wilson Fike Wednesday evening. (Photo/David Hahula)

(Note: Guys, here's Wilson Daily Times sports editor Paul Durham's blog entry after Rocky Mount's win over Fike Wednesday evening.)

By Paul Durham

Wilson Daily Times

WILSON - The season ended again in the fourth round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A baseball playoffs for Fike.

This time, it was NEW 6 Conference archrival Rocky Mount that sent the Golden Demons home. A year ago, Charles B. Aycock got past Fike on the way to the 3-A state title.

My money, if I had any, would be on Fike being ousted by another state champion.

I felt that going into Wednesday night's East Regional semifinal at Fike was the best matchup of remaining teams. Granted, I do plead a certain amount of ignorance about the West Regional semifinalists. But recent history has taught me the East might have the better baseball teams in the NCHSAA.

While I was thinking Fike had a championship-caliber team, I knew that Rocky Mount does for five reasons — pitching, pitching, pitching, pitching, pitching.

You see, as the NCHSAA playoffs turn into best-of-3 series at the regional and state championships, pitching depth becomes the single biggest factor in a team's success, in my humble opinion.

There's no doubt a team can ride a couple of hot bats and obscure mediocre pitching through the single-elimination part of the playoffs. But in order to win four games in five or six days (as is the case with the regional semifinals and finals) and then play a best-of-3 in two days in the state finals, you'd better have more than one good pitcher.

Fike had two pretty good pitchers in senior Bentley Massey and sophomore William Prince. I have to believe that if Demons head coach Will Flowers called on them, either Tripp Sauls, Matthew Pittman, Jacob Davis or Mitchell Wheeler could have given a credible effort on the mound.

But that's a moot point now.

It's the Gryphons who are headed to Winterville on Friday night to play D.H. Conley, a 1-0 victor against South Central on Wednesday night.

And Rocky Mount has four solid arms with more than 30 innings pitched this season plus junior Nick Hahula who emerged at midseason as a hard-throwing option.Gryphons head coach Pat Smith can use Hahula, Benton Moss, Chris Berry or Dillon Cockrell in the first two games and still have ace Jim Leggett, Wednesday night's winner, for some innings Saturday.

If Rocky Mount makes it to the 3-A finals, its mound quintet will have seven days of rest.

That's why I'm taking the Gryphons to win the fifth state title in school history.

By the way, the starting shortstop on Rocky Mount's 1973 4-A state champion was none other than Phil Ford, who opted to play basketball in college.

Thunderstorms move many 4th round baseball playoff games to Wednesday

Rocky Mount's Jim Leggett dives back to third base after escaping a rundown in the Gryphons' 3-1 NCHSAA third-round playoff win over South Johnston Saturday evening. (Photo/David Hahula)

Here are the pairings for the NCHSAA baseball state regional semifinals (Round 4).

All games were set for Tuesday. However, a long line of thunderstorms crossed the state late Tuesday afternoon and evening - forcing many postponements to Wednesday (bold face).

4-A

EAST

Leesville Road (17-8) at Greenville Rose (23-3), ppd., Wed.
Wilmington Hoggard (20-4) at. Raleigh Sanderson (17-6), ppd., Wed.

WEST

North Davidson (23-3) at Charlotte Ardrey Kell (25-4), ppd., Wed.
Charlotte Providence 10, South Caldwell 4

3-A

EAST

South Central (12-14) at DH Conley (17-9), ppd., Wed., 7 p.m.
Rocky Mount (22-5) at Wilson Fike (21-4), ppd., Wed., 7 p.m.

WEST

East Rowan 5, Mooresville 4
South Point 1, Rutherfordton-Spindale Central 0

2-A

EAST

Whiteville 4, South Lenoir 3
Hillsborough Orange (21-3) at North Lenoir (21-1), ppd., Wed.

WEST

Ledford 11, Starmount 0
East Rutherford 9, Lenoir Hibriten 4

1-A

EAST

Princeton (16-10) at Williamston (18-7), ppd., Wed.
Hampstead Topsail 7, Heidi Trask 1

WEST

South Stokes 8, Bishop McGuinness 3
Cherryville 5, Polk County 4

Rocky Mount football moving to 1390 AM

- RMSH alum Wes Bradshaw

When ESPN Sports Radio 1490 AM decided earlier this spring to not broadcast Rocky Mount football games on the air, the biggest Rocky Mount sports fan in Rocky Mount just wouldn't stand for it.

Ummm, now I am pretty big, but this guy is even bigger - physically and in his love for Gryphon sports - in particular, Rocky Mount varsity football!

Wes Bradshaw (RMSH Class of 2000) has been part of many Gryphon football radio broadcasts with 1490 as a color commentator.

Due to 1490's indifference to perhaps showcase possibly one of Rocky Mount's best teams in recent memory, Bradshaw has taken things into his own hands.

He has worked out a deal for Gryphon football to be on the radio as Rocky Mount will be returning to its roots - WEED 1390 AM. The station carried Rocky Mount football, lastly with Steve Dickens and myself providing area fans all the Gryphon gridiron action.

But Hurricane Floyd did in the broadcast three games into the 1999 season as the station, then located off Sunset Ave. just past Sam's Club, was flooded and destroyed.

The station, now called 1390 .. The Word, is a soul gospel station now, but was extremely receptive to having Rocky Mount football back on the air.

And for you Rocky Mount football fans living on the outskirts of town, 1390 AM has a stronger signal at night than 1490 AM - so that will be a plus!

We'll have more details about the broadcast as summer progresses, but Bradshaw will need the help of all area businesses who have been past sponsors of Rocky Mount football on-the-air, and all those new clients who might want to get on board.

After all, the product is first-class. RMHS was 14-1 last season and is 57-10 over the last five seasons. With 18 starters coming back next season, hopes are high for the best season ever!

And you businesses out there, you can go along for the ride!

Contact Bradshaw at 452-3280 or email him at blackbirdxpress@yahoo.com if you're interested in commercial time on the broadcast or any other advertising issues.

I'm pretty glad Bradshaw, who will handle play-by-play duties on the broadcast, has decided to make this undertaking. I just can't imagine Rocky Mount football playing to dead air!

NOTE: RM football will be a part of a "Game of the Week" series on WZAX 99.3 FM, but only two to three select games.

Hudgins voted Male Athlete of the Year at Elon

ELON – Sophomore All-American football wide receiver Terrell Hudgins (Rocky Mount, N.C./Rocky Mount) came away with Stein H. Basnight Outstanding Male Athlete Award honors to top all accolades bestowed at the 34th Annual Elon University Athletics Awards Banquet Tuesday evening at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Stein H. Basnight Outstanding Athlete Award has been presented annually since 1958 in memory of the late Stein H. Basnight of Chapel Hill by his family to the most outstanding Phoenix male and female athletes of the year, as determined by the Elon Department of Athletics’ administrative staff. Jesse Basnight, Jr. and his wife, Janis Basnight, represented the Basnight family at the banquet.

Hudgins logged 10 Elon, Southern Conference or NCAA records while pacing the Elon football team to its best season in eight years last fall. The Walter Payton Award finalist led the Football Championship Subdivision in receptions and receiving yards per game on his way to earning not only First Team All-Southern Conference recognition, but First Team All-America accolades as well. Behind Hudgins’ performances, Elon finished the 2007 campaign ranked 23rd in the FCS in both The Sports Network and the coaches polls.