USA South Conference announces partnership with the City of Rocky Mount

FAYETTEVILLE - The USA South Athletic Conference has announced a partnership with the city of Rocky Mount, North Carolina to host the 2013 and 2014 USA South Spring Sports Festivals. The festival features the tournaments of all six Conference spring sports.

The upcoming 2012 spring tournaments will be hosted by the city of Burlington, North Carolina. Burlington has played host to the USA South Spring Sports Festival for the past six years.

“I am delighted that the USA South has elected to bring their spring athletic championships to Rocky Mount in 2013,” said Rocky Mount Mayor David W. Combs. “Rocky Mount has been fortunate to host a number of conferences, tournaments, and other events for large groups in recent years, and we have proven ourselves to the state and to the region to be a hospitable community with ample resources to accommodate their needs.”

"On behalf of the Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation Department, I would like to say that am very excited at the opportunity for the City of Rocky Mount to host the USA South Spring Championships in 2013,” shared Dale Smith, Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation Director. “The Parks and Recreation department prides itself on outstanding staff and facilities. We look forward to providing the highest level of service to the Conference and its athletes."

Rocky Mount's city limits fall within Edgecombe and Nash Counties. The city, named an All-America City in 1970 and 1999, is located halfway between New York and Florida directly on I-95 and US 64. Rocky Mount has played host to numerous collegiate events as well as regional and national recreation tournaments. The city is also home to USA South member North Carolina Wesleyan College.

"We look forward to partnering with Rocky Mount as we plan for future USA South Sports Festivals," stated Rita Wiggs, USA South Commissioner. "This is a huge event for our student-athletes and coaches and our continued challenge will be to make it a valued event in the student-athlete experience. The bar has been set high in the past six years and the Rocky Mount contingency has committed its personnel, venues and community support to ensuring that the student-athletes of the USA South will have a superior tournament experience in the years to come."

The baseball tournament will be the only competition not played within the city limits of Rocky Mount. The tournament will split time between Fleming Stadium in Wilson, North Carolina and Five County Stadium, home of the current minor league (Double-A) affiliate Carolina Mudcats, in Zebulon, North Carolina. The number of games played at each stadium has yet to be determined.

The softball tournament will be held at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex. This facility contains four softball fields with two 2,000 square foot concession areas with restrooms. This facility has hosted numerous national recreation softball tournaments.

The women's lacrosse tournament will be held at City Stadium which is within the Rocky Mount Sports Complex. The stadium is located adjacent from the softball fields and has a 5,000-seat capacity. The venue has hosted Elizabeth City State's “Down East Viking Football Classic” for the past 13 years.

The men's golf tournament will take place at Benvenue County Club. The 6,635-yard, par 72 course was designed by Donald Ross and has a course rating of 72.0 with a slope rating of 120. The facility also contains full locker rooms for each team.

The men's and women's tennis facility will be in its first year of existence once tournament play begins. Construction on the facility, which will be on the campus of N.C. Wesleyan, has begun and it will feature 12 lighted hard surface courts with ample spectator seating, locker rooms and restrooms.

Specific details and game schedules of each tournament have yet to be finalized. Once official schedules have been determined, they will be available on the USA South website. Finally, it is the USA South's goal to continue providing live statistics and video of tournament contests when available.

2011 Rocky Mount Coleman-Pitt Post 58 American Legion Baseball schedule released

Coleman-Pitt Post 58 athletic officer Joe Bell has released its 23-game 2011 American Legion baseball schedule.

Play will open on Monday, May 23 against Cary Post 67 at home at 7 p.m. It will be the first of 11 games Post 58 will play at their new home, Nash Central High School's Dawg Pound. Its third different home in three seasons. It spent last season at Rocky Mount's Gryphon Stadium, and the season before at Northern Nash's Death Valley. 

Head coach Hank Jones, an alum of Post 58 during his playing days at Rocky Mount (Class of '86), returns for his second season. Another Rocky Mount alum, Britt Johnson ('02), will assist him. He comes back to town after serving his first season as an assistant baseball coach at Lander University in Greenwood, S.C.

I hope to have the final roster posted in the coming days. That season-opening roster will depend on how long Rocky Mount and Nash Central stay alive in the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs.

Just a note. Although it's a long way off, American Legion officials have moved its the permanent home of its World Series to Shelby.  

2011 Rocky Mount Coleman-Pitt Post 58 American Legion Baseball Schedule

Home games played at Nash Central HS and listed in bold

Mon., May 23 - Cary Post 67, 7 p.m.
Tue., May 24 - @ Pitt County Post 39 (Guy Smith Stadium), 7 p.m.
Wed., May 25 - Durham Post 7, 7 p.m.
Fri., May 27 - Pitt County Post 39, 7 p.m.
Sat., May 28 - @ Durham Post 7 Showcase (Durham Athletic Park), TBA
Sun., May 29 - @ Durham Post 7 Showcase (Durham Athletic Park), TBA
Tue., May 31 - @ Ahoskie Post 102 (Hertford Co. HS), 7 p.m.**
Thu., June 2 - Ahoskie Post 102, 7 p.m.**
Fri., June 3 - @ N. Raleigh Post 297 (Millbrook HS),  7 p.m.
Sun., June 5 -  @ Rowan County Post 342 (Salisbury), TBA
Mon., June 6 - @ Ahoskie Post 102 (HCHS), 7 p.m.**
Tue., June 7 -  N. Raleigh Post 297, 7 p.m.
Wed., June 15 - @ Wilson Post 13 (Fleming Stadium), 7 p.m.**
Thu., June 16 - @ Wayne County Post 11 (Mt. Olive College),  7pm
Sat., June 18 - Edenton Post 40, 3 p.m.** (DH)
Mon., June 20 - Cary Post 67, 7 p.m.
Wed., June 22 - Wilson Post 13, 7 p.m.**
Thu., June 23 -  Wayne County Post 11, 7 p.m.
Fri., June 24 - @ Edenton Post 40 (Historic Hicks Field), 7 p.m.**

Sun., June 26 - Wilson Post 13, 7 p.m.**

Fri., July 1 - Wilson Post 13 Showcase (Fleming Stadium), TBA

Sat., July 2 - Wilson Post 13 Showcase (Fleming Stadium), TBA

** Conference Games

Home games are listed in bold and will be played at Nash Central High School

(DH) – Doubleheader (two 7-inning games)

PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

July 3-5 - Area 1, East/West Quarterfinals (Best of Three series)

July 7-9 - Area 1, East/West Semifinals (Best of Three series)

July 11-15 - Area 1, East/West Finals (Best of Five series) ***

July 17-19 - Area 1, Finals (Best of Three series)

July 21-25 - State Championship Tournament (Puck O'Neil Field at Big Rock Stadium,

Morehead City)

*** Both the Area 1 East champion and Area 1 West champion qualify for the State Championship Tournament

N.C. Baseball Musuem to host Celebrity Golf Tournament fundraiser

I am always glad to give golf fundraisers some pub. And when it comes to the North Carolina Baseball Museum in Wilson, it was a no-brainer.

Two former Cy Young Award winners will be part of the lineup at the North Carolina Baseball Museum’s ninth annual Celebrity Superball Golf Tournament on Tuesday, May 17, at Wedgewood Public Golf Course in Wilson.

Williamston native Jim Perry, the 1970 American League Cy Young winner for the Minnesota Twins, and Mike McCormick, the 1967 National League Cy Young recipient from the San Francisco Giants, will be joined by 11 former major league baseball players and one former manager will, along with three former NFL players and a host of former minor league and collegiate players and coaches.

Perry, who pitched for four AL teams, was a three-time All-Star and compiled 215 career victories and 1,576 strikeouts in 17 major league seasons. McCormick was a member of five teams in his 16-year career that began with the New York Giants in 1956.

Among the other celebrities expected to attend are former MLB players Billy Harris, Monty Montgomery, Fred Valentine, Mike McCormick, Floyd Wicker, Marion Talton, John Donaldson, Bob Perry, Carl Long, Hubert Wooten and Ken Free; former MLB manager Grady Little; former NFL players Milt Plum, Tony Collins and Johnny Evans; former minor league baseball players Jimmy Tyer and Johnny Ellen; former collegiate standouts Alex Cheek, Earl Boykin, Leander Green, Wayne Dunn, Freddie Combs, Francis Combs, Clay Johnson and Vic Sorrell.

The tournament, a fundraiser for the N.C. Baseball Museum, will begin with lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45. A celebrity photo opportunity will be held at 1 p.m. with a shotgun start at 1:15 p.m.

The cost per foursome is $200 with one celebrity added and teams are wanted. Mulligans are available. Tee sponsorships are $100. Forms are available at Wedgewood, N.C. Baseball Museum and Dick’s Hot Dog Stand.

For more information, telephone Kent Montgomery at 252-299-4312. Thanks to the Wilson Times for the information.

Rocky Mount, Nash Central, Northern Nash baseball playoff-bound

Three Nash County high school baseball teams have earned a berth in the 2011 NCHSAA 3-A state playoffs and their play will begin Thursday evening.

Rocky Mount, which earned the No. 2 seed from the Big East Conference, will host Hertford County Thursday at 7 p.m. at Gryphon Stadium. The Bears (14-7) are the No. 2 seed from the Northeastern Carolina Conference.

The Gryphons will have senior hurler Benton Moss (7-1) on the hill as he attempts to break the Twin Counties' record for career pitching victories. He is currently tied with former Northern Nash star Tyler Joyner with 30 (Moss 30-3, Joyner 30-7).

Nash Central head coach Jeff Mizzell expected that his team would finish at least third in the Big East, and that's exactly what happened.

The Bulldogs (16-7), by virtue of their regular season win Monday over Northern Nash, claimed that No. 3 seed and they will travel to Jacksonville for a date with the Cardinals, the No. 2 seed from the Coastal Conference. The game is set for Friday at 7 p.m.

Jacksonville (19-3), which started the season with a 13-game winning streak, ended the regular season going 2-2, including an 8-1 loss in its regular season finale to West Carteret to fall out of first place tie with D.H. Conley in the league.

The Bulldogs will go with either seniors Jeremy Sloop or Trellis Ashley as pitching starters.

Northern Nash (12-7), the No. 4 seed from the Big East, will travel to Sanford Friday for a matchup with Southern Lee, the No. 1 seed out of the Cape Fear Valley Conference. Game time is 7 p.m. The Cavaliers (15-9) edged out Union Pines for the top spot in that league.

Senior Jeremy Lucas is expected to start on the mound for the Knights.

Gryphons making first-ever trip to golf state tournament

2011 RMHS boys golf team (Contributed photo - click on picture to enlarge)

When Chris Lee left Rocky Mount to become the head football coach at Louisburg High School in the winter of 2009, he not only left a void on the football coaching squad, but his absence left the school without a boys golf coach, too.

In stepped Ken Cox, retired Tarboro athletic director and father of Gryphon head baseball coach Kent Cox, as head coach.

In three seasons, the Gryphons have gone from just being competitive to qualifying for the NCHSAA state tournament for the first time ever in the program's history.

Rocky Mount pulled off the feat via its third place finish at the NCHSAA 3-A East Regionals held Monday at Reedy Creek Golf Course outside Four Oaks. The Gryphons shot a combined 333 at the par 72 course. Big East Conference champion Wilson Fike claimed its eight regional title in nine years by firing a 308 - led by medalist Bailey Rose with a 2-under par 70.

West Carteret was second with a 316. Big East member Southern Nash placed fifth with a 342.

Rocky Mount, which finished a surprising second in the Big East regular season race, got a 79 from Dylan Matthews (eighth place), an 82 from James Martin, and 86's from Gardner Noble and Tyler Howard. Dean Leonard (90) and Clark Covolo (104) round out the team roster. The team's top four scores count toward the team total.

Rocky Mount, along with 11 other teams and several individual players from across the state, will now decend onto Pinehurst and Foxfire Golf and Country Club (par 72, 6,742 yds.) for a practice round Sunday then two rounds of championship tournament play Monday and Tuesday.

Moss gets a piece of another RMHS record

Who would have thought that Rocky Mount senior Benton Moss, who has set almost every meaningful career pitching record at the school, would actually get a piece of a single game hitting record.

But he did Tuesday night as he had four hits, including his first grand slam, against Southern Nash in the Gryphons' 13-1, five-inning Big East Conference victory. He knocked in seven runs, which tied a school record for a game. Look below to see the players he tied.

He went also 4-for-4 - the first Gryphon to do so since Collins Cuthrell did the trick against Northern Nash in 2009. Five hits in a game is the school record set by Danny Talbott (5-for-6) 1961 vs. Fayetteville High (now called Terry Sanford) and Dee Whitley (5-for-6) in 1978 against Northern Nash.

RMHS BASEBALL RECORD BOOK

Most RBI in a game:

7 - Benton Moss vs. Southern Nash, 2011
7 - Jon-Charles Harrell vs. New Bern, 1998

7 - Bill Wilkes vs. Wilson Fike, 1981

7 - Tommy Warrick vs. Northern Nash, 1974

2011 Angello-Chesson Scholarship Award winner announced



Rocky Mount senior Brittany Battle is seated with Shelton Chesson, father of late RMHS athlete Juan Chesson (Contributed photo) 



RALEIGH - Rocky Mount High School senior Brittany Battle is the 2011 recipient of the Angello-Chesson Scholarship. Battle is headed to N.C. A&T University next fall to major in Architectural Engineering.

Battle is the eighth recipient of the $1,000 award sponsored by donations to the Gryphon Fund, a foundation set up to honor the memory of late Gryphon athletes Joe Angello (RMHS '87) and Juan Chesson ('85).

Past winners have gone on to further their education at North Carolina State, North Carolina Central, UNC-Charlotte, East Carolina and North Carolina Wesleyan.

For those wishing to donate or would like more information on The Gryphon Fund, send an email to gryphonfund@aol.com. Your donation is tax-deductible and will help future graduates of Rocky Mount High School.

If you would like to donate now, make your check out to the Triangle Community Foundation (http://www.trianglecf.org/) and memo the check to "The Gryphon Fund" and mail to: The Gryphon Fund, c/o Triangle Community Foundation, 324 Blackwell Street, Suite 1220, Durham, N.C. 27701.

Here is a complete list of recipients:

Angello-Chesson Scholarship Winners

2011 - Brittany Battle

2010 - Collins Cuthrell

2009 - Hunter Perry

2008 - Malcolm Armwood

2007 - Taylor Huffman

2006 - Jonathan Tyndall

2005 - Kelion Lawrence

2004 - Terrance Thorne

Gryphon Announcements

SENIOR NIGHT - Senior Night for Rocky Mount's spring sport athletes will take place Thursday at Gryphon Stadium as a prelude to the Gryphons' 7 p.m. baseball home game with Big East foe Northern Nash.

Senior athletes in girls and boys track, boys golf, boys tennis, girls soccer, baseball and softball and their parents will be recognized just before game time.

Rocky Mount; however, will have one more home regular season baseball game - a makeup contest with Wilson Fike on Monday, May 9. Game time is 7 p.m.

BANQUET - The Rocky Mount Booster Club will sponsor the school's Annual Sports Banquet on Thursday, May 26 at 5 p.m. in the school's main gym. Ticket information will be forthcoming.

Rocky Mount Coleman-Pitt Post 58 Legion Baseball Tryouts scheduled

The Rocky Mount Coleman-Pitt Post 58 Senior American Legion baseball team will be holding its tryouts at N.C. Wesleyan College's Bauer Field on Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15 at 3:00 p.m.

It will be a Pro-Day style tryout - timed 60, fielding and throws from infield and outfield. Pitchers will throw and all will hit. Players need to bring their own gloves and bats and catchers' gear for catchers.

Players will not have aged out of participation as long they have turned 19 on or after Jan. 1, 2011.

Hank Jones enters his second season as head coach as Post 58 attempts to reach the state tournament for the third straight year.

Look for Post 58's playing schedule right here as soon as it's finalized.

Damper on Wilson Fike vs. Rocky Mount, again!

Rocky Mount's home baseball game with Wilson Fike, set back twice due to rain, was put off yet again by the wet stuff Wednesday afternoon.

The Gryphons will finally get to entertain the Golden Demons on Monday, May 9 - after RMHS' scheduled season-ending contest at Wilson Hunt.

With that cancellation, Rocky Mount will go two weeks between games. The Gryphons last hit the field on Tuesday, April 19 versus Cleveland High in the final day of the Johnston County Easter Invitational.

Rocky Mount will end the reguar season with four games in seven days. It will travel to Southern Nash Tuesday evening, entertain Northern Nash on Thursday night and play at Hunt (3 p.m.) Saturday - along with the Fike makeup!

We're now not sure if the Northern Nash or Fike contest will serve as Senior Night for graduating spring sports athletes. We will let you know.

Rocky Mount-Wilson Fike baseball game rained out - again!

For the second time, Rocky Mount's baseball team had its home contest with Big East Conference rival Wilson Fike rained out Tuesday evening. And with it, Fike players with have to wait one more day before they can start their spring break. 

The game has been moved to 5 p.m. Wednesday at Gryphon Stadium. But the two teams still aren't guaranteed they will get clear skies for the rescheduled contest. The JV contest between the two has been canceled.

Rain had struck twice earlier in the day Tuesday, but the Gryphon coaches had worked hard to get the field into playing shape only to have a line of showers pass through the area around 6:30 p.m. that was too heavy to cope with.

The original game was scheduled to be played on Friday, April 1.

RMHS senior pitcher Benton Moss (6-1 in 2011, 29-3 career) is slated to take the hill for the Gryphons. He will be going for his 30th career victory and it will tie him with former Northern Nash standout Tyler Joyner (30-7) for the most wins ever by a Twin Counties high school hurler.

Northern Nash's home game with Nash Central was also rained out and that game has been moved to Wednesday at 7.

The Moss File

Rocky Mount senior Benton Moss

Benton Moss has the top two career pitching marks in the Rocky Mount record book - career wins and strikeouts. There is one more pitching record that he's in reach of - total innings pitched.

He might reach Jim Leggett's mark, but that will depend on how the Gryphons do the rest of the season, and postseason.



Most career pitching victories:

29, (29-3), Benton Moss (2008-present);

28, (28-7) Jim Leggett (2005-08);

26, (26-6), John Kennedy (1978-80);

25, (25-6) Donnie Bobbitt (1984-86);

24, (24-7) Carter Harrell (1999-2001);

23, (23-3) Bill Wilkes (1979-81);

22, (22-7), Chad Womble (2004-07);

20, (20-9), Jeremy Ward (1993-96)

Most career strikeouts:

314, Benton Moss (2008-present);

215, Jeremy Ward (1993-96);

210, Hobbs Johnson (2009-10);

189, Doug Henley (1973-75);

174, Scott Gibson (1994-95)



Most career innings pitched:

237.2, Jim Leggett (2005-08);

209.0, Benton Moss (2008-present)

155.2, Kenny Wilson (1993-96);

145.1, Jeremy Ward (1993-96);

141.2, Doug Henley (1973-75)

Johnston County Easter Invitational All-Tournament Team; Matthew Berry makes squad

Rocky Mount senior Matthew Berry

Andy Pleasant Most Hits Award
Thomas Hill (West Johnston)

Will Raynor (South Johnston)

Pat Smith Outstanding Defensive Player Award

Jack Sherill (West Johnston)

John Stott Memorial MVP

Brad Ragan (West Johnston)

All-Tournament Team

Tre Joyner (Cleveland)
Matthew Berry (Rocky Mount)
Heinrich Zinkhan (Harnett Central)
Brian Taylor (Harnett Central)
Cam Austin (Hoke County)
Nate Driver (Smithfield-Selma)
Josh Harper (Smithfield-Selma)
Austin Lee (South Johnston)
Trey Thompson (South Johnston)
Logan Jernigan (South Johnston)
Taylor Davis (Clayton)
Jason Creasy (Clayton)
Matt Bunn (Clayton)
Aaron McGee (West Johnston)
Justin Carroll (West Johnston)
Matthew Parrish (West Johnston)
Kodi Whitley (West Johnston)

TOURNAMENT SCORES

Quarterfinals
Smithfield-Selma 14, Cleveland 4
Clayton 11, Hoke County 0
West Johnston 16, Rocky Mount 4
South Johnston 8, Harnett Central 7

Consolation, First Round
Hoke County 11, Cleveland 0
Harnett Central 10, Rocky Mount 6

Semifinals
West Johnston 7, South Johnston 1
Clayton 5, Smithfield-Selma 0

Consolation, Second Round
Rocky Mount 10, Cleveland 0
Harnett Central 11, Hoke County 8
South Johnston 8, Smithfield-Selma 2

Championship
West Johnston 3, Clayton 2 (8)


SEVENTH PLACE BOX
Rocky Mount 10, Cleveland 0
CLE 000 00 — 0 0 3
RMT 630 1x — 10 6 0
W—B.Moss; L—P.Banks.
HR: RMT—B.Moss.
Leading hitter: RMT—J.Johnson 2-3.

FIFTH PLACE BOX

Harnett Central 11, Hoke County 8

HCO 002 300 3 — 8 8 6

HCL 010 023 x — 11 10 5

W—B.Taylor; L—C.Carter.

HRs: HCO—C.Austin, K.Black; HCL—B.Taylor, J.Costa.

Leading hitters: HCO—C.Austin 3-4, C.Carter 2-4; HCL—H.Zinkhan 2-3, B.Taylor 2-4, Z.Hall 3-4.

THIRD PLACE BOX

South Johnston 8, Smithfield-Selma 2

SJO 101 310 2 — 8 9 4

SSS 000 200 0 — 2 2 0

W—T.Thompson; L—B.Youngblood.
HR: SJO—C.Lee.
Leading hitters: SJO—T.Thompson 3-4, W.Raynor 2-4.

CHAMPIONSHIP BOX
West Johnston 3, Clayton 2
CLY 010 000 10 — 2 3 3
WJO 001 010 01 — 3 8 2
W—A.Pittman; L—L.Howard.
HR: CLY—M.Bunn.
Leading hitters: WJO—A.Morrison 3-4, J.Sherill 2-4.

Gryphons to play in seventh place game of the JCEI

FOUR OAKS - For the first time since 2001, Rocky Mount will be playing in a seventh place game of an Easter baseball tournament.

The Gryphons, playing two games on the same day for only the sixth time in school history, didn't have things go their way in their first contests at Bruce Coats Field in the annual Johnston County Easter Invitiational. They lost their opener 16-4 to West Johnston Monday morning and 10-6 to Harnett Central in their loser's bracket game that afternoon.

Storms in the area Saturday forced tournament officials to add two of its unplayed games to Monday's schedule.

Rocky Mount hopes to salvage one win Tuesday at 12 noon when it will send senior Benton Moss to the mound against winless Cleveland High, a new high school located just south of Wendell in Johnston County. Cleveland fell 12-0 to Harnett Central Monday to drop to the seventh place game.

Moss (5-1 in 2011, 28-3 in his career) will be going for the school record of 29 pitching wins - a mark he currently shares with former Gryphon hurler Jim Leggett. He has won his last five starts and struck out 51 batters in his last three outings.


2011 JOHNSTON COUNTY EASTER INVITATIONAL
Bruce Coats Field, South Johnston High School, Four Oaks, NC

DAY 2 - MONDAY

GAME 3 - West Johnston 16, Rocky Mount 4

GAME 4 - Hoke County 12, Cleveland 0

GAME 5 - South Johnston 8, Harnett Central 7

GAME 6 - Harnett Central 10, Rocky Mount 6

GAME 7 - West Johnston 7, South Johnston 1

GAME 8 - Clayton 5, Smithfield-Selma 0

DAY 3 - TUESDAY

Seventh Place - Rocky Mount (12-7) vs. Cleveland (0-16), 12 noon

Fifth Place - Harnett Central (10-5) vs. Hoke County (7-12), 2:30 p.m.

Third Place - South Johnston (9-11) vs. Smithfield-Selma (7-10), 5 p.m.

Championship - Clayton (14-3) vs. West Johnston (10-7), 7:30 p.m.

2011 Johnston County Easter Invitational results/revisions

FOUR OAKS - Rocky Mount's baseball team made the trip to South Johnston High School's Bruce Coats Field Saturday for its opening game in the Johnston County Easter Invitational.

But the Gryphons never took the field as a rash of thunderstorms and tornadoes made their way across the state and knocked out the final two games of the day - including the Gryphons' meeting with West Johnston.

Now the Gryphons will play two games Monday. Tournament officials have tried to accomodate Rocky Mount with a change in the schedule since it makes the longest trip of any of the event's participants.

The schedule for Monday's play is below:

DAY 1 - SATURDAY

GAME 1 - Smithfield-Selma 15, Cleveland 5 

GAME 2 - Clayton 11, Hoke County 0

GAME 3 - Rocky Mount (12-5) vs.West Johnston (8-7), ppd., rain, storms

GAME 4 - Harnett Central (8-4) vs. South Johnston (8-10), ppd., rain, storms

DAY 2 - MONDAY - revised

10 a.m - GAME 3 - Rocky Mount (12-5) vs. West Johnston (8-7) 
12 noon - GAME 4 - Cleveland (0-15) vs. Hoke County (6-10)
2:30 p.m. - GAME 5 -  Harnett Central (8-4) vs. South Johnston (8-10)
4:30 p.m. - GAME 6 - Game 3 loser vs. Game 5 loser
6:30 p.m. - GAME 7 - Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner
8:30 p.m. - GAME 8 - Clayton (13-3) vs. Smithfield-Selma (9-7) 

DAY 3 - TUESDAY - revised

12 noon - Seventh Place - Game 4 loser vs. Game 6 loser

2:30 p.m. - Fifth Place - Game 4 winner vs. Game 6 winner

5 p.m. - Third Place - Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser

7:30 p.m. - Championship - Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner

RMHS' Brown named to 2010-11 NCPreps.com 3-A All-State Girls Hoops Team

Rocky Mount sophomore J'Kyra Brown drives to the basket against Northern Nash in the Big East Conference Tournament championship game. She was named MVP of the event.

(Photo/David Hahula)

HAMPTONVILLE - Rocky Mount sophomore J'Kyra Brown rebounded from missing her entire freshman season with a knee injury to making an All-State girls basketball team in her first campaign as a varsity player.

Earlier this week, Brown was named to the NCPreps.com 3-A All-State Girls Basketball Team. Brown led the Lady Gryphons to a school-record 25 wins (25-4), a share of the Big East Conference regular season title, the conference's tournament championship and an Eastern sectional final berth with eventual state champion South Central.

Brown scored 14.8 points a game, pulled down 5.3 rebounds an outing and dished out 3.1 assists a contest. She also popped in a team-leading 44 3-pointers.

NCPREPS.COM 3A GIRLS ALL-STATE TEAM

Ayana Avery, West Rowan
Ariel Bursey, Western Harnett
Danielle Butts, South Central
J'Kyra Brown, Rocky Mount
Jamie Cherry, West Craven
Amber Clark, South Central
Samantha Coffer, Northern Guilford
Janesha Ebron, South Central
Taylor Gibson, Tuscola
Shannon Hines, RS Central
Miranda Jenkins, Eastern Guilford
Jada Payne, Hickory
Hillary Sigmon, Hickory
Lindsay Simpson, Franklin
Mandessa Singletary, North Iredell
Jasmine Trawick, Westover

Danielle Butts, South Central - 3A Player of the Year
Mary Bryan Carlyle, South Central - 3A Coach of the Year

Gryphons' opener at Johnston County Easter Invitational moved up

FOUR OAKS - Rocky Mount's baseball team was scheduled to face West Johnston in its opening game of the Johnston County Easter Invitational Saturday at 5:30 p.m at South Johnston High School.

But with the inclement weather expected in the state sometime Saturday, the Gryphons' game time has been moved up to 4 p.m

If the entire schedule has been moved up 90 minutes, then here is the schedule for Day 1. The remaining games will be played Monday and Tuesday starting at 12 noon.

2011 Johnston County Baseball Invitational

DAY 1 - SATURDAY

10:30 a.m. - GAME 1 - Cleveland (0-14) vs. Smithfield-Selma (6-9)

12:30 p.m. - GAME 2 - Hoke County (6-11) vs. Clayton (12-3)

2:30 p.m. - Home Run Derby

4 p.m. - GAME 3 - Rocky Mount  (12-5) vs.West Johnston (8-7)

5:30 p.m. - GAME 4 - Harnett Central (8-4) vs. South Johnston (8-10)

DAY 2 - MONDAY

12:00 p.m. - GAME 5 - Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser

2:30 p.m. - GAME 6 - Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser

5 p.m. - GAME 7 - Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner

7 p.m. - GAME 8 - Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner

DAY 3 - TUESDAY

12 p.m. - Seventh Place - Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser

2:30 p.m. - Fifth Place - Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner

5 p.m. - Third Place - Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser

7:30 p.m. - Championship - Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner

2011 Big East Baseball Standings - April 8

2011 BIG EAST BASEBALL STANDINGS

Wilson Hunt        5-0, 12-2

Rocky Mount      3-1, 11-4

Nash Central      2-2, 12-3

Northern Nash    2-2, 9-4

Wilson Fike        1-3, 7-7

Southern Nash   0-5, 4-7

Last week's scores

WEDNESDAY

Rocky Mount 8, Wilson Fike 0

Nash Central 7, Northern Nash 4, 8 inn.

Wilson Hunt 11, Southern Nash 1, 5 inn.

THURSDAY

Rocky Mount 12, Southern Nash 0, 5 inn.

Northern Nash 10, Wilson Fike 4 (Fike gets 15 hits, but losses by 6)
Wilson Hunt 12, Nash Central 4

FRIDAY

Wilson Hunt 13, Southern Nash 2, 5 inn. (Hunt hits five HRs, scored 10 runs in the first inning.)

This week's games

TUESDAY
 Rocky Mount @ Northern Nash
Nash Central @ Southern Nash
Wilson Hunt @ Wilson Fike

THURSDAY

Rocky Mount @ Nash Central
Wilson Fike @ Southern Nash
Northern Nash @ Wilson Hunt

FRIDAY

Farmville Central @ Wilson Hunt
East Wake @ Northern Nash

SATURDAY

Rocky Mount vs. West Johnston @ South Johnston Baseball Invitational

Moss sets strikeout record while hurling one-hitter at Wilson Fike



RMHS senior Benton Moss

WILSON - Rocky Mount senior pitcher Benton Moss has, for the most part, been dominating all season.
He really showed that domination Tuesday evening as he struck out a school-record 20 batters en route to an 8-0 win over Wilson Fike.

Moss gave up just one hit - a single to Tyler Poythress in the fifth, and he hit one batter.

But that was it as he passed the RMHS record for Ks previously set at 19 by Carter Harrell ( vs. Hillsborough Orange, 2001) and Donnie Bobbitt (vs. Southern Nash, 1986)        

Over his last two outings in 14 innings of work, he has struck out an astounding 37 batters.

And it's always nice when you get some offensive support, too. And fellow senior Thomas Berry chipped in there. His grand slam to right center in the first inning gave him plenty of wiggle room, as if he would need it.

Ironically, Berry also hit first-inning granny last year in the Gryphons' late season win against another Wilson County team in Hunt.

RMHS BASEBALL RECORD BOOK

Most strikeouts in a game:
:
20, Benton Moss (vs. Wilson Fike, 2011);
19, Carter Harrell (vs. Hillsborough Orange, 2001);
19, Donnie Bobbitt (vs. Southern Nash, 1986);
17, Benton Moss (vs. Nash Central, 2011);
16, Benton Moss (vs. Southern Nash, 2010);
16, Scott Gibson (vs. Durham Jordan, 1995;
16, Scott Gibson (vs. Northern Nash, 1994);
16, Greg Proctor (vs. Wilson Fike, 1975);
15, Hobbs Johnson (vs. Tarboro, 2009);
15, Carter Harrell (vs. JH Rose, 2000);
15, Scott Lewis (vs. Kinston, 1988);
15, Larry Daughtridge (vs. Broughton, 1971);
14, Hobbs Johnson (vs. Southern Wayne, 2009);
14, Barrett Bodiford (vs. Garner, 1998);
14, Marcus Battle (vs. Kinston, 1994);
14, Danny Talbott (vs. Durham, 1963);
13, Hobbs Johnson (vs. Wilson Fike, 2010);
13, Carter Harrell (vs. Northeastern, 1999);
13, Scott Gibson (vs. Beddingfield, 1994);
13, Greg Proctor (vs. Northeastern, 1974);
13, Doug Henley (vs. Northern Nash, 1974);
13, Gary Ange (vs. Enloe, 1972);
13, Buddy Edgerton (vs. Durham, 1968);
13, Alton Oakley (vs. Goldsboro, 1958)
12, Benton Moss (vs. J.H. Rose, 2011);
12, Scott Lewis (vs. Wilson Hunt, 1988);
12, Buddy Edgerton (vs. Greensboro Smith, 1969);
12, Digit Laughtridge (vs. South Edgecombe, 1963)