USA South Conference inaugural Hall of Fame class includes two NCWC icons

The USA South Athletic Conference has announced its inaugural Hall of Fame class.

The 2010 class includes six former student athletes, three coaches and one administrator. The inductees will be officially honored and recognized during the final day of the USA South Basketball Tournaments at Christopher Newport University on Feb. 27.

USA South Commissioner Rita Wiggs stated, "The USA South Athletic Conference (formerly the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) was established in 1963. A strong tradition of exciting teams, outstanding student-athletes and stellar coaches and administrators has filled the 46 years of the Conference’s history.

"Establishing this Conference Hall of Fame gives us a platform to honor those outstanding individuals who played, coached and guided the Conference administratively through the years. This inaugural class is comprised of exceptional student-athletes and coaches and one of the founding fathers of the Conference. We look forward to a moving and memorable induction ceremony."

North Carolina Wesleyan College has two members in the Hall's first class.

Mike Fox led the NCWC (1983-1998) baseball program for 15 seasons. He compiled a 540-141-4 record, good for an .800 winning percentage.

His 540 wins ranks 15th all-time in NCAA Division III baseball. Fox led the Bishops to 10 Conference titles, 14 NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, eight NCAA Division III Regional crowns and the 1989 National Championship. He earned seven Conference Coach of the Year honors, eight NCAA Division III South Region Coach of the Year accolades and one national Coach of the Year honor. A total of 29 players under Fox garnered NCAA Division III All-American honors, while 55 were selected as first team All-Conference members.

Currently, he is in his 12th season as head baseball coach at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Fox was named Baseball America's National Coach of the Year in 2008.

Don Scalf taught for 36 years, coached for 18 years and coached for 18 years and served as Athletic Director for six years at NCWC.

During his coaching career, Scalf's teams won Conference championships in basketball (1966) and golf (1970, 1971, 1972, 1973). He earned Conference Golf Coach of the Year honors on four occasions.

In addition to his role as the first coach in both Bishop basketball and golf history, he also served as head coach for the College's inaugural women's volleyball team in 1974. A founding father of the USA South (then the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) in 1963, Scalf served as its Secretary-Treasurer for 25 years.

For this reason, the conference presents its prestigious Don Scalf Award to one deserving male and female student-athlete on a yearly basis.

Mabry nearing one more area milestone

A couple of weeks ago, Rocky Mount senior Tashawn Mabry became Rocky Mount's all-time leading scorer - boys or girls.

Likely next week, he will become the Twin Counties' all-time leading scorer - boys or girls.

Currently, two girls stand above the 6-foot-5 forward.

Mabry is at 2,188 points, but he has to pass SW Edgecombe's Tyneshia Lewis and Tarboro's Marquetta Dickens to stand on top of the heap. Both young ladies had solid collegiate careers playing for the late Kay Yow at N.C. State.

Dickens is No. 1 at 2,241 and Lewis, who I saw in one game score an amazing 10 points in just a 15-second span, is No. 2 at 2,207.

With Mabry averaging 24 points a game and needing 54 points to get this record, he might just pull it off in the Gryphons' regular season finale at Northern Nash Friday.

Below are those players who scored more than 1,400 points. Rocky Mount's players are in bold and navy!

TWIN COUNTIES' ALL-TIME LEADING SCORERS

1. 2,241 – Marquetta Dickens, Tarboro, ‘03

2. 2,210 – Tashawn Mabry, Rocky Mount, ‘10 - updated (22 pts. vs. Hunt Wed.)

3. 2,207 – Tynesha Lewis, SW Edgecombe, ‘97
4. 2,131 – Alphelia Jenkins, SW Edgecombe, ‘81
5. 2,093 – Phil Ford, Rocky Mount, ‘74
6. 1,921 - Trey Sumler, Nash Central, ‘09
7. 1,857 - Carisse Moody, Northern Nash, ‘99
8. 1,760 – Monique Hudson, SW Edgecombe, ‘07
9. 1,727 – Pam Gorham, SW Edgecombe, ‘88
10. 1,644 - K.J. Cooper, North Edgecombe, '08

11. 1,616 – Bridget Jenkins, SW Edgecombe, ‘82
12. 1,600 – Kim Taylor, Rocky Mount, ’83
13. 1,516 – Jontae Sherrod, Tarboro, ‘07
14. 1,515 – Alyse Hall, Southern Nash, ‘09
15. 1,482 – Terrie Condery, SW Edgecombe, ‘88
16. 1,472 – Danielle Powell, Rocky Mount, ‘92
17. 1,413 – Phyllis Gorham, SW Edgecombe, ‘88
18. 1,402 – Charles “Buck” Williams, Rocky Mount, ‘78

Artist rendering of the new Rocky Mount High School

(click to enlarge)

Above is an artist's rendering of the new Rocky Mount High School campus, which is set to open in August of 2012 on Bethlehem Rd.

Nash-Rocky Mount School Board members voted Monday night to award a construction contract to build the new Rocky Mount High School to Branch Associates of Roanoke, Va. at a price tag of $34,769,200.

Here are some of the features slated for the new digs!

The facility will be a two-story, “H” plan facility with a central atrium that serves as the commons for the school.

The design includes 1,500-seat gymnasium, 300-seat auxiliary gym, 250-seat black box multi-purpose theatre, media center, culinary arts program, automotive technology, JROTC, weight room, training room and construction technology.

It will also feature a masonry construction lab, self-contained and exceptional children learning center, technology and production labs, science classrooms, distance learning lab, and multiple teacher and student collaboration/ project rooms.

Energy and environmental design features include a geothermal ground source heating system that achieves an efficiency rating of over 50 percent better than baseline design parameters.

Classroom daylighting and indoor environmental air quality will create an optimal educational learning environment and the site design reflects a considerate application to the natural ecology of the area.

Moody to be recognized by Northern Nash

Northern Nash girls basketball coach Grover Battle has plans on honoring one of the very best to ever wear the old gold and green - center Carisse Moody.

Battle and the school will honor Moody during the Rocky Mount-Northern Nash basketball game Friday evening. A few years ago, he did the same former with NNHS standout and All-ACC forward (Maryland) Marcia Richardson.

Moody, of course. led Battle's 1998 squad to the NCHSAA 4-A state championship. As a four-year starter, she scored 1,857 career points and grabbed 900 rebounds. She was named the 1998 Gatorade N.C. Player of the Year. She was the Big East Conference Player of the Year three times and she played in a school record 112 games for Northern.

Moody was a 1999 AP second-team All-State selection and she played in the 1999 N.C. East-West All-Star Girls Basketball Game before heading to N.C. State.

There, she scored 1,050 career points and pulled down 490 rebounds. She was an All-ACC Honorable Mention selection in 2003 and 2002, a second-team All-ACC pick in 2001 and made the ACC All-Tournament team in 2001.

Bishops picked to finish third in USA South baseball race

N.C. Wesleyan has been picked to finish third in the upcoming USA South Conference baseball race.

The Battling Bishops placed third in the balloting with 25 points and one first place vote. They will be attempting to build on a successful 2009 season that was highlighted by the program's 1000th overall victory, 16th regular season USA South Championship, sixth USA South Tournament title, and 21st NCAA Tournament bid.

Head coach Charlie Long returns 16 players from that squad, including seven pitchers and four position starters. Leading the way are seniors Joel Creef (.282 avg.) and John Child (6 saves, 3.58 ERA), who was an Honorable Mention All-Conference selection last season after boasting a 2.82 ERA in league play. The two helped the Battling Bishops to a 27-21 overall record and an 8-4 league mark in 2009.

For the first time in many years, an ex-Gryphon will be on the Bishops' roster. Pitcher Chad Womble transfered to the school this year after two years at Florence-Darlington Community College (S.C.). The junior right-hander is expected to contribute to Long's bullpen.

Returning to the program are ex-Northern Nash players Daniel Moore and Andrew Webb. Freshman Tyler Clark, who helped carry the Knights to the playoffs last season, hopes to follow in the footsteps of his dad Greg at the school. The elder Clark is a member of the school's Athletic Hall of Fame and is one of only five former NCWC baseball players to have his number retired.

One of those other players is also a former Knight - pitcher Carl Payne.

Also making the move up from the community college ranks is former Southern Nash standout Brian Allen. Allen, who like in his Firebird days, played football for the Bishops last fall and will be playing in the infield and pitching for NCWC this spring.

Allen comes to Wesleyan after two seasons at Pitt Community College.

Wesleyan opens its season Saturday in Virginia Beach, Va. in the USAC/ODAC Spring Challenge. It will play Virginia Wesleyan College in a doubleheader beginning at 12 noon.

2010 USA South Baseball Coaches Poll

Rank (1st place votes) Pts.
1. Shenandoah (5) 35
2. Methodist 29
3. N.C. Wesleyan (1) 25
4. Christopher Newport (1) 24
5. Ferrum 17
6. Greensboro 9
7. Averett 8

Macklin to play for CPL's Asheboro Copperheads

Former Nash Central star baseball player Xavier Mackin will play in the Coastal Plain League this coming summer for the Asheboro Copperheads.

Macklin is looking to continue the offensive form that earned him first-team All-MEAC honors as a freshman and landed him on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s first team Freshman All-American squad.

Macklin, a 6-2, 190-pounder, hit .364 for the Aggies last spring with 12 homers and 51 RBI. He led the team in hits and also stole 14 bases. Macklin played briefly with the Wilson Tobs in the CPL last summer, but returned here to play American Legion ball and led his team to the state tournament by hitting close to .500.

He was named Area I Player of the Year.

Asheboro opens its season against Wilmington on Wednesday, May 26 at home at McCrary Park.

Twin County athletes sign football LOIs

Four Twin County athletes have signed national letters-of-intent to play college football.

Here are bios on those players. Good luck to you all at the next level!

DUKE

Takoby Cofield (Offensive line, 6-6, 300) Tarboro, Tarboro High School

Three-year letterman at Tarboro under coach Jeff Craddock ... Tabbed the 40th-top offensive tackle in the nation and the 15th-best overall prospect in North Carolina by Rivals.com ... Listed as the third-best offensive lineman in North Carolina and the 17th-top overall prospect in the state by the Charlotte Observer ... All-Mid Atlantic Region choice by SuperPrep ... Started 42 career games while helping Tarboro to a three-year record of 36-8 with three state playoff berths, one runner-up finish (2008) and one championship (2009) ... In 2009, helped Tarboro to 15-1 overall record and the 2-A state championship with a 28-3 win over Burnsville Mountain Heritage in the title game ... Carded over 100 pancake blocks on offense while registering 40 tackles and 20 tackles for loss on defense as a senior ... 2009 Honorable mention All-Southern selection by the Orlando Sentinel ... 2009 First team 2-A All-State pick by NCPreps.com ... Helped Tarboro to 14-2 ledger and state runner-up finish in 2008 ... Two-time first team all-conference and all-area selection ... Helped North Carolina to a 24-14 win over South Carolina in the annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas on December 19, 2009 in Spartanburg, S.C. ... Also lettered in track and field ... Born January 22, 1992 ... Son of Ava and Toney Cofield

Cofield Video


ELON

Phillip Dobbins (Offensive line, 6-3, 275) Elm City, Southern Nash High School

Dobbins was a starter in the 2009 Shrine Bowl as well as a first-team All-Big East Conference pick by the league’s coaches. A team captain, Dobbins was chosen as the academic athlete of the year. The 6-3, 275-pound lineman helped Brian Foster’s team to the fourth round of the North Carolina 3-AA playoffs. The squad posted its best season in 20 years in 2009, going 11-4. Phillip is the son of Terry and Jeanette Dobbins and currently has a 4.47 GPA.

Dobbins Video


WOFFORD

Andrew Gehring (Defensive Back, 6-2, 179) Elm City, Southern Nash High School

Gehring is a three-sport athlete at Southern Nash High School, lettering three years in basketball, twice in football and twice in baseball. As a senior, started at cornerback and safety as the football team was 11-4 and reached the Eastern Finals. Named All-Conference and All-Area as a junior and senior. Also named All-Conference honorable mention in basketball and received the team’s Golden Glove award in baseball.


LENOIR-RHYNE

DeMarcus Jones (Defensive End, 6-3, 220), Bailey, Southern Nash High School

Jones exploded on the scene as a standout defensive end this past season with 59 tackles, 13 for loss; 8 1/2 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Gainey closing in on No. 300

Rocky Mount head girls basketball coach Pam Gainey is growing ever nearer to 300 wins for her career.

With the Lady Gryphons' 58-46 victory over Nash Central last Thursday, Gainey picked up win No. 292 for her career. She's in her 17th season as RMHS' head coach.

Four conference games remain, and if they keep winning, two more Lady Gryphon wins will come in the Big East tourney. Sadly, Rocky Mount will not make up its regular season games at home with J.H. Rose or at Hertford County.

So the odds are, if Rocky Mount wins its second round playoff game, Gainey will reach the milestone this season.

But you never know when a team, even a good one, will stump its toe, so we'll have wait this one out.

THE PAM GAINEY FILE

2009-10 - 14-2 (through 1/28/10)
2008-09 - 22-5, NEW 6 3-A champ, tourney champ, playoffs
2007-08 - 23-2, NEW 6 3-A champ, tourney champ, playoffs
2006-07 - 16-11, playoffs
2005-06 - 8-18, playoffs
2004-05 - 17-8, Big East 4-A champs, playoffs
2003-04 - 23-5, Big East 4-A champs, tourney champs, playoffs
2002-03 - 22-3, Big East 4-A champs, tourney champs, playoffs
2001-02 - 20-3, Big East 4-A champs, tourney champs, playoffs
2000-01 - 24-3, Big East 4-A champs, tourney champs, playoffs
1999-00 - 20-5, Big East 4-A champs, tourney champs, playoffs
1998-99 - 20-6, playoffs
1997-98 - 12-12, playoffs
1996-97 - 12-13, playoffs
1995-96 - 14-10, playoffs
1994-95 - 15-10, playoffs
1993-94 - 10-14

Career - 292-130, .692 winning percentage (17th season)

(Eight conference titles, seven conference tournament crowns, eight 20-win seasons, one sectional title, 15 straight playoff appearances)

Whitley honored by Wilson Hot Stove League

Dudley Whitley, the former Rocky Mount High School coach and athletic director who passed away on Jan. 3 of last year, was recently honored by the Wilson Hot Stove League at its annual banquet.

Whitley was also a baseball standout for Rocky Mount, N.C. State, the Rocky Mount Leafs and the Wilson Tobs. He played seven seasons in the minor leagues.

The banquet program was dedicated in memory of Whitley, along with Wilsonians Don Thompson, Bennett Flowers and Tom Lofton.

Gilbert Ferrell, who served as a coach at Wilson Fike and later as Wilson County's high school athletic director, spoke about all four at the banquet, including Whitley.

"He was a first-class guy," Ferrell said. "The one thing he taught me most was that there's a difference between rivals and enemies. You can have rivals without having enemies."

Top N.C. HS Boys Basketball Scorers; Mabry's No. 16

Rocky Mount senior Tashawn Mabry (background) buries a 3-pointer against Northern Nash that put him past Phil Ford on the school's all-time scoring list. The game was halted seconds later to honor Mabry for his feat. (Photo/David Hahula)

When Rocky Mount senior Tashawn Mabry moved past Phil Ford last week on Rocky Mount's all-time scoring list, he also moved into the top 20 of the state's all-time scorers.

Check out where Mabry stands right now, below:

1. 3,307 JamesOn Curry Eastern Alamance 2000-2004
2. 2,846 Akeem Richmond Southern Lee 2005-09
3. 2,758 Lawrence "Cotton" Clayton Kitrell Zeb Vance 1956-59
4. 2,577 Josh King Trinity 2000-04
5. 2,575 Vernon Odom Bandys 1979-82
6. 2,574 Donald Williams Garner 1988-91
7. 2,503 Mike Cottrell Cullowhee 1984-87
8. 2,481 Chris King Hobbton 1984-88
9. 2,469 Scooter Sherrill West Rowan 1996-2000
10. 2,424 Julius Powell Newton-Conover 2001-05
11. 2,388 Justin Johnson Cherryville 2004-08
12. 2,382 Claude "Sleepy" Taylor Bartlett Yancey 1970-74
13. 2,375 Tony Byers Lincoln Academy/Bessemer City 1966-70
14. 2,366 Shon Coleman West Iredell 1992-96
15. 2,285 Brian Frazier Roanoke Rapids 1987-91
16. 2,210 Tashawn Mabry Rocky Mount 2006-present

17. 2,203 Brian Hege Ledford 1988-92
18. 2,157 Anthony Oliver North Duplin 1985-881

19. 2,135 James McCleave Bandys 1975-79
20. 2,122 Justin Strickland East Davidson 2002-06
21. 2,104 Jason Thompson Chatham Central 2000-04
22. 2,102 Jenis Grindstaff McDowell 1993-97
23. 2,100 John Virgil Elm City 1974-76
24. 2,093 Phil Ford Rocky Mount 1972-74
25. 2,087 Courtney Alexander Durham Jordan 1991-95
26. 2,087 Donte Minter West Rowan 1998-2002
27. 2,082 Russell Stephens Williams Township 1986-89
28. 2,071 Jay Moody Blue Ridge 1993-97
29. 2,063 Michael Ellis South Iredell 2001-04
30. 2,059 Trellonie Owens Bladenboro 1986-90
31. 2,042 Ray Respess Pantego 1958-61
32. 2,039 Jerry Stackhouse Kinston/Oak Hilll 1989-92
33. 2,035 Joe Ladd Lowell 1951-55
34. 2,031 Kevin Strickland North Surry 1984-87
35. 2,015 Donnie Seale Morehead 1986-89
36. 2,007 Dewayne Grant Davie County 1973-77
37. 2,000 Jeremy Atkinson Wilson Fike 2005-09

Gryphons grab top spot in CarolinaPreps.com 3-A poll

SANFORD - Rocky Mount's boys basketball team was voted to the top 3-A team in the state in the latest CarolinaPreps.com poll released Sunday evening.

The Gryphons pulled off three victories last week (86-59 vs. Wilson Fike; 105-75 vs. Southern Nash; 76-45 vs. SouthWest Edgecombe).

CarolinaPreps.com Boys Basketball Poll

3A

1. Rocky Mount 13-1

2. Northern Guilford 14-2

3. South Central 15-1

4. North Forsyth 12-3

5. Hickory 15-2

6. Carson 15-2

7. Hunter Huss 13-2

8. CB Aycock 14-2

9. Concord 10-5

10. Northern Vance 13-2

Honorable Mention

DH Conley 11-5

Jacksonville 13-5

North Buncombe 11-4

Mabry goes for record Tuesday

It looks like Tashawn Mabry will have to have an above average night to become Rocky Mount's leading scorer.

The senior forward is averaging 21 points a game this season - almost five points under his average of a year ago - basically he's getting a lot more scoring help from his teammates this season.

He needs 23 points against Northern Nash at home Tuesday to past the immortal Rocky Mount and UNC great Phil Ford on the school's all-time scoring list. Mabry is at 2,071 and Ford stands at 2,093. So a mark that has stood for 36 years is about to come down. I was there in Greensboro when Ford scored that final point in the 1974 4-A playoffs.

But Ford got used to seeing his marks go down last season when his 2,290 points scored at UNC - the school record for 31 years, went down to Tyler Hansbrough.

But Ford will likely hold on to one other prep record which leads the state - career points per game at 27.7. Ford played in 75 games during his career (1971-74). Mabry has played in 87 going into Tuesday's contest - with at least eight more to play in.

Ironically, another area player is next on the state's all-time scoring list after Ford - former Elm City and UNC standout John Virgil at 2,100 points.

Gryphon alum entertains former teammates in China

- 2005 RMHS grad Adam Kluger playing club soccer in China

When former Gryphon soccer player Adam Kluger asked his friends and former RMHS soccer teammates to come visit him over Christmas and play a little soccer while they were in town, they went a little further than across the state, or even the country.

How about halfway across the world!

Kluger, who graduated from UNC in 2009, made his way to China and began teaching and tutoring English there.

And over Christmas, his brother Alex, along with brothers Andrew, Scott and Stephen Peacock, and brothers Dennis and Justin Adams made the trip to Shanghai to see their buddy ... and sibling.

Adam has recently taken a position in busines finance with an Italian company based in Shanghai. But he still tutors in his spare time.

The above picture is him playing for Team Azzurie. Adam arranged for all seven of them to practice together with the team. He was second in their league in scoring the season before, despite joining the team in mid-season.

Imagine - seven former Gryphons playing on a soccer field in China! How cool is that?

2010 Big East 3-A Conference Master Varsity Baseball Schedule

Big East Conference baseball fans - print this one out! Here is a master schedule for every game played by all six league members for the upcoming season - including the Easter Tourneys five of them will play in.

Enjoy!

(subject to change)

March 1

Southern Nash @ Beddingfield, 5:00

March 2

JH Rose @ Rocky Mount, 4:00
Fike @ North Johnston, 4:30
Roanoke Rapids @ Nash Central, 4:30
CB Aycock @ Hunt, 5:00

March 3

Southern Nash @ Bunn, 4:00
Eastern Wayne @ Northern Nash, 4:30

March 4

Southern Nash @ Bunn, 4:00
Nash Central @ Smithfield-Selma, 4:00
Northern Nash @ South Central, 4:30
Fike @ North Johnston, 4:30
Hunt @ Beddingfield, 5:00

March 5

Rocky Mount @ Durham Riverside, 4:00
Beddingfield @ Fike, 5:00
Southern Nash @ Roanoke Rapids, 5:00
Bunn @ Nash Central, 7:00

March 6

Hunt @ South Central, 1:00
Rocky Mount vs. Ardrey Kell - Impact Classic, Cary, TBA

March 8

Louisburg @ Southern Nash, 4:30
Goldsboro @ Fike, 7:00

March 9

Rocky Mount @ JH Rose, 4:00
DH Conley @ Northern Nash, 4:30
Hunt @ CB Aycock, 5:00
Nash Central @ Tarboro, 7:00

March 10

Eastern Wayne @ Hunt, 5:00
Roanoke Rapids @ Southern Nash, 5:00
Fike @ Goldsboro, 7:00

March 11

Durham Riverside @ Rocky Mount, 4:00
Bunn @ Southern Nash, 4:00
Northern Nash @ DH Conley, 4:30
Fike @ Beddingfield, 5:00
Tarboro @ Nash Central, 7:00

March 12

Nash Central @ Roanoke Rapids, 5:00

March 13

Oxford Webb @ Rocky Mount, 1:00
Bunn @ Fike, 1:00

March 15

Southern Nash @ Southern Vance, 4:00

March 16

Nash Central @ Bunn, 7:00

March 17

Smithfield-Selma @ Nash Central, 4:00
Rocky Mount @ Roanoke Rapids, 5:00
Fike @ Bunn, 6:00
Holly Springs @ Hunt, 6:30

March 18

Northern Nash @ CB Aycock, 5:00
Beddingfield @ Southern Nash, 5:00

March 19

Princeton @ Fike, 4:00
Beddingfield @ Hunt, 5:00

March 20

Tarboro @ Rocky Mount, 1:00
Hunt @ Eastern Wayne, 1:00

March 22

Southern Vance @ Southern Nash, 4:00
Hertford County @ Nash Central, 7:00

March 23

Rocky Mount @ Oxford Webb, 4:00
Farmville Central @ Hunt, 5:00

March 24

Roanoke Rapids @ Rocky Mount, 4:30
Rosewood @ Fike, 5:00
Northern Nash @ Eastern Wayne, 5:00

March 25

Nash Central @ Hertford County, 7:00

March 26

Southern Nash @ Louisburg, 4:30

March 27

Northern Nash @ East Wake, 2:00

March 30

Fike @ Southern Nash, 7:00
Northern Nash @ Hunt, 7:00
Rocky Mount @ Nash Central, 7:00

March 31

Nash Central @ Fike, 7:00

April 1

Southern Nash @ Northern Nash, 7:00
Rocky Mount @ Hunt, 7:00

April 3

Rocky Mount vs. Smithfield-Selma - Johnston Co. Easter Invitational, 11:00
Fike - Louisburg Easter Tournament, TBA
Northern Nash - George Whitfield Invitational, Kinston, TBA

April 5

Fike - Louisburg Tourney, TBA
Rocky Mount - Johnston Co. Tourney, TBA
Northern Nash - Whitfield Tourney, TBA

April 6

Hunt vs.Champmanville (WVa.) - Forest Acres Classic (A.C. Flora HS, Columbia, S,C.), 11:00
Fike - Louisburg Tourney, TBA
Rocky Mount - Johnston Co. Tourney, TBA
Northern Nash - Whitfield Tourney, TBA

April 7

Nash Central vs. Jefferson Forest (Va.) - Tarboro Classic, 1:30
Hunt vs. Sumter (SC) - Forest Acres Classic (A.C. Flora HS, Columbia, S,C.), 2:00

April 8

Hunt vs. Westminister (Miami,Fl.) - Forest Acres Classic (A.C. Flora HS, Columbia, S,C.), 2:00
Nash Central - Tarboro Classic, TBA

April 9

Nash Central - Tarboro Classic, TBA
Hunt vs. TBA - Forest Acres Classic (A.C. Flora HS, Columbia, S,C.), TBA

April 13

Nash Central @ Northern Nash, 7:00
Fike @ Rocky Mount, 7:00
Hunt @ Southern Nash, 7:00

April 15

Fike @ Northern Nash, 7:00
Nash Central @ Hunt, 7:00
Rocky Mount @ Southern Nash, 7:00

April 20

Northern Nash @ Rocky Mount, 7:00
Nash Central @ Southern Nash, 7:00
Fike @ Hunt, 7:00

April 22

Southern Nash @ Fike, 7:00
Hunt @ Northern Nash, 7:00
Nash Central @ Rocky Mount, 7:00

April 26

Rocky Mount @ Louisburg, 6:00

April 27

Nash Central @ Fike, 7:00
Hunt @ Rocky Mount, 7:00
Northern Nash @ Southern Nash, 7:00

April 29

Northern Nash @ Nash Central, 7:00
Rocky Mount @ Fike, 7:00
Southern Nash @ Hunt, 7:00

May 4

Fike @ Northern Nash, 7:00
Nash Central @ Hunt, 7:00
Southern Nash @ Rocky Mount, 7:00

May 6

Rocky Mount @ Northern Nash, 7:00
Nash Central @ Southern Nash, 7:00
Hunt @ Fike, 7:00

May 10

South Central @ Northern Nash, 7:00

May 14

NCHSAA Baseball State Playoffs - First Round, TBA

Gryphons to play in the Johnston Co. Easter Invitational

- Gryphon senior lefty Hobbs Johnson

For the first time since 1976, Rocky Mount's baseball team will being playing in someone else's Easter tournament.

Rocky Mount will join Smithfield-Selma, Cardinal Gibbons, West Johnston, Fayetteville Academy, Clayton, Harnett Central and host South Johnston in the 2010 Johnston County Easter Invitational April 3, 5-6.

The Gryphons will open the event on Day 1 (Saturday) at 11 a.m. against Smithfield-Selma.

The event, which was started in 1991 by former South Johnston and Rocky Mount head coach Pat Smith, will also have a Home Run Derby on Day 1 at 3 p.m. - between Game 2 and Game 3.

Smith, who led not only led the Gryphons to a state title, but the Trojans also in 1990, has an event award named for him - the Pat Smith Most Outstanding Defensive Award. An Outstanding Hitter (Andy Pleasant) Award along with the (John Stott Memorial) MVP will be given out after the championship game.

A 17-member All-Tournament team will be selected with four going to the first place team.

Here is Day 1's schedule:

2010 Johnston County Easter Invitiational
@South Johnston HS

SATURDAY, APRIL 3

Game 1 - Rocky Mount vs. Smithfield-Selma, 11 a.m.
Game 2 - Cardinal Gibbons vs. West Johnston, 1 p.m.
Home Run Derby, 3 p.m.
Game 3 - Fayetteville Academy vs. Clayton, 5 p.m.
Game 4 - Harnett Central vs. South Johnston, 7:30 p.m.

Clayton is the defending champion.

JOHNSTON COUNTY EASTER INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONS

2009 - Clayton
2008 - Middle Creek
2007 - South Johnston
2006 - Jack Britt
2005 - Jack Britt
2004 - South Johnston
2003 - Smithfield-Selma
2002 - South Johnston
2001 - Cape Fear
2000 - South Johnston
1999 - Clayton
1998 - Clayton
1997 - Fuquay-Varina
1996 - Fuquay-Varina
1995 - Clayton
1994 - South Johnston
1993 - South Johnston
1992 - Princeton
1991 - Rosewood

JOHNSTON COUNTY EASTER INVITAIONAL
HOME RUN DERBY CHAMPION

2009 - Josh Elmore, Fayetteville Academy
2008 - Kris Richards, West Johnston
2007 - Quincy Lattimore - Middle Creek
2006 - Trenton Lansgton - Smithfield-Selma



- Photo, Baseball America

Jenkins win ECU Football Award

East Carolina redshirt freshman Jacobi Jenkins was honored with an award on Saturday, Jan. 9 as the Pirate football program closed the 2009 season with the team, parents, coaches, athletic staff and Pirate Club members gathering for the annual awards banquet held at the Greenville Convention Center.

Jenkins, a standout defensive back for the Gryphons, received the Special Teams Crunch Award.

As a receiver, Jenkins played in 11 games and caught two passes for 11 yards during the season.

ECU, which claimed claiming back-to-back Conference USA Championships and subsequent AutoZone Liberty Bowl appearances, closed the season with a 9-5 record.

Deloach helps end NSU's losing streak

TALLAHASSEE, Fl. - Former Northern Nash star guard Michael Deloach scored a game-high 25 points to help Norfolk State snap its school-record 11-game losing streak with a 78-65 win over Florida A&M Monday night at the Alfred Lawson Center.

Deloach, a senior, scored 14 points in the second half as the Spartans (2-12, 1-2 MEAC) outscored the Rattlers (3-12, 1-2) 49-36. NSU got its first win since a 72-71 decision over Maine on Nov. 16.

The win also snapped the Spartans’ 11-game road losing streak but was their fifth win in a row over FAMU. NSU’s last victory away from Echols Hall was a 68-62 triumph at Hampton on Jan. 31, 2009.

Deloach is averaging 21 points a game and 4.7 rebounds per contest.

Though Deloatch was a Knight, his dad Michael and uncle Steve were both Gryphons!

Gainey nearing 300 wins

Rocky Mount head girls basketball coach Pam Gainey is nearing 300 wins for her career.

With the Lady Gryphons' 51-30 victory over Nash Central last Friday, Gainey picked up win No. 286 for her career. She's in her 17th season as RMHS' head coach.

With a little luck and possibly her ninth regular season conference title along the way, Gainey could pick up that coveted victory sometime late this season.

Only two other current area coaches have that many wins - SouthWest Edgecombe's girls coach Sandra Langley and Northern Nash's girls coach Grover Battle. Those two combined have also claimed five state titles.

PAM GAINEY

2009-10 - 8-2 (through 1/08/10)
2008-09 - 22-5, NEW 6 3-A champ, tourney champ, playoffs
2007-08 - 23-2, NEW 6 3-A champ, tourney champ, playoffs
2006-07 - 16-11, playoffs
2005-06 - 8-18, playoffs
2004-05 - 17-8, Big East 4-A champs, playoffs
2003-04 - 23-5, Big East 4-A champs, tourney champs, playoffs
2002-03 - 22-3, Big East 4-A champs, tourney champs, playoffs
2001-02 - 20-3, Big East 4-A champs, tourney champs, playoffs
2000-01 - 24-3, Big East 4-A champs, tourney champs, playoffs
1999-00 - 20-5, Big East 4-A champs, tourney champs, playoffs
1998-99 - 20-6, playoffs
1997-98 - 12-12, playoffs
1996-97 - 12-13, playoffs
1995-96 - 14-10, playoffs
1994-95 - 15-10, playoffs
1993-94 - 10-14

Career - 286-130, .688 winning percentage (17th season)

(Eight conference titles, seven conference tournament crowns, eight 20-win seasons, one sectional title, 15 straight playoff appearances)

Ginn passed over for Grand Valley head job

The new head coach at Grand Valley State is not Jack Ginn.

The former N.C. Wesleyan head coach was passed over for the position by the team's defensive coordinator Matt Mitchell. Mitchell is a six-year veterean of GVSU's staff and is the school's seventh head coach.

Ginn, I know, will get his chance to be a head coach once again. Ginn is expected to stay on as wide receivers coach at the school.

In other NCWC football-related news, former Battling Bishop linebqacker and Northern Nash Knight Bo Brown is now a graduate assistant at Mississippi State. Brown, who also served as an assistant coach at NCWC last season, will also be working as a strength and conditioning coach for the MSU program.

He and his wife Brittany relocated to Starkville over the Christmas holidays.

Ginn up for Grand Valley State head job

Former N.C. Wesleyan head football coach Jack Ginn is a candidate for the head football job at Grand Valley State (Allendale, Mi.).

Ginn, who has been an associate head coach/wide receivers coach at the Div. II powerhouse the last two seasons, is reported to be one of three current assistants up for the job.

The opening came about when new Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly hired Grand Valley State head man Chuck Martin to be his defensive coordinator earlier this week. Kelly is also a former head coach of the Lakers.

Ginn started the football program at N.C. Wesleyan six years ago and was a candidate for the Rocky Mount head football job last summer. Ginn was having trouble selling his home here and was commuting back and forth from Michigan. He was considering moving back to Rocky Mount. With that possibility, he was interested the Gryphon football job opening.

But when his home finally sold early this past summer, he withdrew his application for the RMHS job and moved his family to Michigan with him.

In his four years at NCWC, Ginn compiled a 23-17 overall record and an 18-9 USA South mark, having produced the first-ever undefeated conference champion with a 7-0 league record in 2007. Additionally, Ginn produced 42 All-Conference players, two Defensive Rookies of the Year, two Offensive Rookies of the Year, and two Offensive Players of the Year.

Prior to coming to NCWC, Ginn served two years as an assistant coach at Shepherd College, an NCAA Division II school in Shepherdstown, WV. During his tenure, Shepherd compiled a two-year record of 15-5, and set 16 offensive school records. From 1997-2000, Ginn was the Offensive Coordinator at Wartburg College, a NCAA Division III school in Waverly, IA . His offense averaged 35 points per game over the four-year period, setting 19 school records and helping Wartburg achieve a 35-6 record.