Greenville sports store has ties to NCWC national title

If you were in town in June of 1989, you have to remember North Carolina Wesleyan's baseball team winning the NCAA Div. III national championship in Bristol, Ct. in the wee hours of that special Monday morning.

The guy who propelled the Battling Bishops to that 8-7 win over California State -Stanislaus with his 13th-inning home run, then-senior Eric Jarman, now is in the sports equipment business in his hometown of Greenville.

Jarman, who played baseball for Ron Vincent at Greenville Rose, now owns Stadium Sports in Greenville which is located at the corner of 14th Street and Charles Blvd,  just down from Minges Coliseum and Clark-LeClair Stadium.

The store specializes in equipment for baseball, fast pitch softball and volleyball, while carrying other sports equipment as well. Half of the store is an East Carolina University Spirit Store and it is an official ECU Licensed Retail Champion.

Some of our brands it carries include Easton, Wilson, DeMarini, Mizuno, Louisville Slugger, Combat, Marucci, Russell, The Game, Cutter & Buck, Asics, Under Armour and Hurley.

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Rocky Mount Coleman-Pitt Post 58 Statistical Leaders - 23 games

(Top 5 in each category)

 

HITTING

Aparicio

Batting Avg.

                                                                                               

.452 - Jay Aparicio                      

.421 - Jeremy Lucas

.400 - Andy Morris

.377 - Spiers Miller

.373 - Khalil Macklin

Doubles

10 - Khalil Macklin

8 - Spiers Miller

8 - Matthew Berry

Macklin

5 - Jay Aparicio

3 - Colton Vaughn

3 - Jordan Taylor

Triples

1 - Khalil Macklin

1 - Jay Aparicio

1 - Spencer Ramsey

Home Runs

2 - Jay Aparicio

1 - Spiers Miller

Berry

1 - Jeremy Sloop

RBI

20 - Jay Aparicio

19 - Matthew Berry

16 - Khalil Macklin

16 - Tyler Wooten

15 - Spiers Miller

Runs Scored

30 - Spiers Miller

21 - Khalil Macklin

19 - Jay Aparicio

19 - Matthew Berry

18 - Kyle Pratt 

PITCHING

Lucas

Victories

4 - (4-0) Jeremy Lucas

4 - (4-1) Cam Webb

3 - (3-0) Jeremy Trevathan

2 - (2-2) Tyler King

1 - (1-0) Dillon Moore

1 - (1-0) Aron Crumb

1 - (1-0) Jeremy Sloop
1 - (1-0) Chase Johnson

ERA

2.45 - Jeremy Trevathan

2.97 – Jeremy Lucas

Trevathan

3.86 - Tyler King

5.80 - Cam Webb   

7.36 - Dillon Moore

Strikeouts

30 - Jeremy Lucas

30 - Cam Webb

14 - Jeremy Trevathan

11 - Tyler King

8 - Spenser Ramsey

Innings Pitched

Webb

35.7 - Cam Webb

30.3 - Jeremy Lucas

22.0 - Jeremy Trevathan

21.0 - Tyler King

16.3 - Spenser Ramsey

Aparicio grand slam sends Pitt County packing

Jay Aparicio

Ever since Jay Aparicio moved into Rocky Mount Post 58's starting lineup, he's been getting extra-base hits.

Tuesday evening, he went even deeper.

Aparicio slammed a walk-off grand slam to left off reliever Brock Rouse to send Pitt County Post 39 back down N.C. 43 with a 10-0 loss.

It was the climax to a seven-run seventh inning that gave Post 58 a 10-run rule victory.

While Aparicio was guiding the offense, Rocky Mount's pitching was sublime. Post 58 starter Jeremy Sloop had his best outing of the season in throwing a three-hit shutout.

Jeremy Sloop

Sloop (1-0) walked one battler, hit one batter and struck out five. In getting his first win of the season, he even worked his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning. 

How impressive has Aparicio been this season? 

He's only played in 11 of Post 58's 23 games, yet he leads the team in RBI with 20. He is also the team leader with a .452 batting average. Tuesday evening he was 2-for-4 with a double and four RBI.

Andy Morris, who was just added to the lineup, was 1-for-3 with three RBI. Khalil Macklin was 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.

ADDITIONAL GAMES -  With the loss of two games on its schedule this week, two more games have been added to Post 58's schedule to round out the regular season.

Post 58 will travel to Apex High School Saturday (7 p.m.) to face Area I West member Apex Post 124. Apex will come to Rocky Mount Monday at 7 p.m.

Rocky Mount Post 58 10

Pitt County Post 39 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E	L
Pitt County Post 39	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			0	3	0	7
Coleman-Pitt Post 58	0	3	0	0	0	0	7			10	9	2	8

WP: Jeremy Sloop (1-0, 7IP, 3H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 1HB, 5K)
LP: Damien Jenkins (5IP, 6H, 3R, 3ER, 1BB, 3HB, 6K)
 
Leading hitters: Post 39 - Thomas Conlon 1-1, Walker Gaddis 1-3, Gary Dixon 1-3.

Post 58 - Jay Aparicio 2-4, 2B, grand slam HR, 4 RBI, 2R; Khalil Macklin 3-4, 2B, 2R; Jeremy Lucas 2-3, 2R; Andy Morris 1-2, 3 RBI, R; Kyle Pratt 1-3, 2 RBI, R

Records: Pitt County Post 39 11-5, Rocky Mount Post 58 18-5.

Post 58's regular season ends Tuesday evening

Rocky Mount Coleman-Pitt Post 58's baseball team will end its regular season Tuesday evening when Pitt County Post 39 comes to visit. 

Post 58 is coming off a doubleheader win at Elizabeth City (10-2, 15-0) Sunday.

But it wasn't originally supposed to be the Rocky Mount's last regular season game.

Post 58 was scheduled to end its regular season Thursday evening with Area 1 East Southern Conference member Wayne County Post 11 making a visit.

But Post 11 has two makeup games with New Bern Post 24 left on its calendar, so it was forced to cancel.

Monday night, Post 58 was scheduled to host Edenton Post 37, but only seven Post 37 players showed up and it was forced to forfeit - moving Post 58 to 18-5 overall and it closed its Northern Conference title run with a 14-1 mark.

It's also hard to believe that Rocky Mount has played 22 games, while teams like New Bern and Kinston Post 43 in the Southern Conference have played less than 15.

Things have been really rocky in the Southern Conference since West Craven (Whitehurst-Ware) Post 539's team was disbanded the weekend of June 16 for a lack of participation.

Of course, it wasn't that long ago when New Bern had to cancel its season because of a lack of players.

Let's hope playing more games helps Post 58 come playoff time - which starts on Thursday, July 12.

STATE TOURNAMENT -  While this year's American Legion State Tournament will be held in Lenoir, it was announced Monday that the 2013 State Tournament will be held in Wilson at Fleming Stadium. 

With an Area I squad as a host team, Wilson Post 13 will get an automatic bid to the tournament, and any other Area I team would have to win the Area I playoffs next season to advance. Normally, the Area winner and its runner-up move on to the State Tournament.

That was the case when Pitt Co. hosted the State Tournament three summers ago at East Carolina's Clark-LeClair Stadium and Post 58 won the Area I title - beating Area I West winner Cary Post 67.

Tempers, temperatures soar as Post 13 falls to Rocky Mount 16-12

Jeremy Trevathan

By Tom Ham
Wilson Times 

WILSON - Ah! American Legion baseball in the stifling Friday night heat.

Mix in the overheated environment with the festering Wilson-Rocky Mount rivalry, and about anything can happen. And plenty did happen before the lights shut down well over four hours later in Fleming Stadium.

After four lead changes and two ties, Rocky Mount claimed the marathon 16-12 to clinch regular-season Area One East Division North Conference supremacy. Post 58 completed a sweep of the three-game, regular-season series in climbing to 11-1 in the conference and 15-5 overall.

Post 13 sank to 8-6 in the conference and 10-9 overall. Wilson ends league play with a test at Ahoskie this evening.

After 28 runs, 30 hits, six errors, eight stolen bases, 10 walks, seven wild pitches, three passed balls and numerous delays, the outcome was settled.

There’s more.

Starting Rocky Mount catcher Spencer Ramsey and his replacement, Jeremy Sloop, had to leave the game because of problems with the heat.

Tempers flared. The bickering began with an exchange between Post 13 catcher Logan Butts and Rocky Mount base runner Khalil Macklin. Along the third-base line, an exchange occurred between Rocky Mount head coach Hank Jones and fans. Players from both teams emerged from their respective dugouts.

Then, to start the top of the sixth inning, Butts and home-plate umpire Don Spiers were involved in an exchange. Butts was ejected and, thus, will not be eligible to play in today’s conference finale at Ahoskie. Witnessing the proceedings was Area One Commissioner Bob Figulski of Cary.

Wilson changed pitchers after one batter in the top half of the eighth inning and that’s when home-plate umpire Spiers collapsed from heat exhaustion, received emergency treatment and was transported to the hospital.

Base umpire Scott Simpson then agreed to assume duties behind the plate. The proceedings were delayed several minutes as Simpson collected his behind-the-plate gear. Former high school and college baseball umpire Don Johnson, who has been inactive for a couple of years, agreed to serve as the base umpire.

Play resumed and Post 58 erased a 12-11 deficit with two runs in the top half of the eighth. The tying run scored on a wild pitch and the go-ahead run on a passed ball. Rocky Mount added three insurance runs in the top half of the ninth.

Right-hander Jordan Taylor, the third Rocky Mount pitcher, worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the eighth and then retired Wilson in order in the ninth to notch the save and preserve the win for right-hander Jeremy Trevathan, who relieved starter Cam Webb.

Left-hander Matt Ballance, the third of four Wilson pitchers, took the loss. Each team collected 15 hits.

Rocky Mount right fielder Jonathan Aparicio batted 4 for 6, scored twice and drove in three runs. Designated hitter Matthew Berry, third baseman Jeremy Lucas and Sloop each rapped two hits. Lucas delivered the biggest Rocky Mount hit — a three-run double in the fifth.

For Post 13, shortstop Cory Nygard and second baseman Spencer Boykin each drilled three hits. Center fielder Parker Lamm, Butts, first baseman Nathan Boykin and designated hitter Charlie Vaughan contributed two hits each. Butts drove in three runs. Nygard and Parker Lamm each scored three times and Parker Lamm had two RBIs.

Nathan Boykin hammered a bases-loaded, three-run double in the fourth to snap a 6-6 deadlock and stake Wilson to its biggest lead of 9-6. But Rocky Mount benefited from three consecutive walks and Lucas’ double to retaliate with five runs the top half of the next inning.

Spectators left grumbling and seeking air-conditioning.

“I mean to tell you, this is pitiful,” remarked one spectator as he climbed into his car.

Maybe it was just too danged hot.

What a difference a day made!

Jeremy Sloop

"What a difference a day made, twenty-four little hours ..."

Those lyrics from that great Dinah Washington standard kept waffling through my mind Wednesday evening as Rocky Mount Coleman-Pitt Post 58 had its rematch with Johnston County Post 71.

Literally, 24 hours after Post 58 had played perhaps its best overall game of the season, it came up with a stinker last night.

Johnston County rebounded from its first loss of the season by burying Post 58 14-2 in seven innings. Run-wise, it was Post 58's worst defeat of the season.

And the extra-base hit was Post 58's undoing.

Post 71 had only 10 hits, but they also banged out three doubles and a triple to help tally those 14 runs.

Rocky Mount managed just three hits on the night (singles from Spiers Miller, Khalil Macklin and Jeremy Sloop) and two of them came after Post 58 trailed 8-1.

Post 71 sent Post 58 starter Tyler King packing after 2 1/3 innings. He allowed seven runs on seven hits, walked two and only posted one strikeout.

Head coach Hank Jones then called on Dillon Moore, Spenser Ramsey, Jay Aparicio and Chase Johnson, but to no avail. It was Post 71's night.

Post 58 gets back into Area I East Northern Division play Friday when it makes its lone trip to Wilson to face Post 13. Game time is 7 p.m.

Johnston County Post 71 14

Rocky Mount Post 58 2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E	LOB
Johnston County Post 71	0	4	3	1	5	1	0			14	10	0	6
Coleman-Pitt Post 58	0	0	0	1	1	0	0			2	3	3	7

WP: Matt Bunn (4IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 3K)

LP: Tyler King (2-2, 2.1IP, 7H, 7R, 7ER, 2BB, 1K)

 

Leading hitters: Post 71 - Austin Lee 2-5, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, R; Cody Alphin 3-4, 2B, 4 RBI; Ben Youngblood 1-3, 3 RBI. Post 58 - Jeremy Sloop 1-2, R; Spiers Miller 1-4; Khalil Macklin 1-3.

Records: Johnston County Post 71 13-1, Rocky Mount Post 58 14-5.

Macklin invited to USA Baseball tourney

Khalil Macklin

From the Nashville Graphic

CARY - Rocky Mount Coleman-Pitt Post 58 starter Khalil Macklin got a surprise invitation last week.

The rising Nash Central junior was asked to be among the top prep baseball talent in the nation and play in USA Baseball's Tournament of Stars competition held at its complex in suburban Cary. The event ran from Wednesday through Sunday.

USA Baseball's officials got word about Mackin's abilities and he was invited to participate despite being a 16-year-old and playing in the 18-under division.

The Tournament of Stars was made up of 144 of the nation's best ballplayers who were vying for an eventual spot on USA Baseball's 18U National Team. That team would travel internationally and represent the USA. Players were picked for teams representing one of USA Baseball's seven National Member Organizations (AABC, American Legion, Babe Ruth, Dixie, PONY, NABF and RBI) and an "at-large" team selected by USA Baseball. 

"I thought it was a great honor to be selected and named as one of the top 144 high school baseball players in the country," said Macklin, who is currently first or second in virtually every offensive category for Post 58.

USA Baseball and Major League Baseball covered all player costs associated with the event. The eight teams faced each other in pool play throughout the weekend. The event was used to pare those 144 players down to 40.

Fittingly, Macklin played for the American Legion team. He got to play in three of the team's four games while also participating in an all-day skills showcase  for scouts Thursday that was held on all four of USA Baseball's fields.

Unfortunately, Macklin didn't make the cut. But he was seen, and now his name will be on the tongues of the event's organizers for future teams.

"I wasn't necessarily disappointed," said Macklin about not making the top 40. "I just looked at it as another opportunity to get better for next year's tryouts. I was blessed for the experience.

Macklin, who will be suiting up for football in the next month or so for the Bulldogs, thought the whole adventure will help him focus on his talents for the future.

"I actually learned a lot of important tips this past week to help me improve my game," said Macklin, who will return to Post 58's lineup Wednesday evening when it hosts non-divisional foe Johnston County Post 71. " I think I did the best I could do. I think my experience will help me with Legion ball and high school ball because I know what I'm capable of doing, and if i keep working hard and stay hungry and humble, anything's possible."
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                       - Charles Alston

Lucas leads Post 58 past Johnston County

Jeremy Lucas

SMITHFIELD - It was the type of evening Coleman-Pitt Post 58's baseball team was waiting for. It was a time when everything just came together  - Tuesday evening with timely hitting, solid defense and reliable pitching. 

Plus, all that came against a formidable opponent at Smithfield-Selma High School's baseball field .

Post 58 went to Johnston County to take on Post 71 and returned home with a 4-1 victory. The contest, which was postponed from the first week of the season, was made into the first part of a doubleheader. 

As they were playing on back-to-back days in non-conference meetings (Post 71 comes to RM tonight), both games were shortened to seven innings.

Former Northern Nash hurler Jeremy Lucas had his best outing of the season in throwing a six-hitter. He allowed no walks and struck out five in his complete-game outing. He also moved to 4-0 on the hill this season.

The Post 58 (14-4) win was also Post 71's first defeat (12-1) of the summer.

Rocky Mount Coleman-Pitt Post 58 4

Johnston County Post 71 1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E	LOB
Coleman-Pitt Post 58	0	1	0	2	0	1	0			4	9	1	7
Johnston County Post 71	0	0	1	0	0	0	0			1	6	2	5

WP: Jeremy Lucas (4-0, 7IP, 6H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 5K)

LP: Ben Youngblood (5IP, 7H, 3R, 0ER, 1BB, 5K)

Leading hitters: Post 58 -  Jeremy Sloop 1-3, 2 RBI; Jay Aparicio 2-3, 2R; Colton Vaughn 2-3. Post 71 - Blake Mitchell 3-3, Bradley Ragan 1-3, RBI.

Post 58 sweeps Edenton Post 40

Jay Aparicio

EDENTON - Rocky Mount Coleman-Pitt Post 58 extended its winning streak to seven games with a sweep of a doubleheader Sunday with Edenton Post 40 at Historic Hicks Field. 

Post 58 won the opening game 16-5 - thanks to big games from Jay Aparicio and Matthew Berry. Aparicio went 2-for-5 with a grand slam home run and five RBI. Berry went 2-for-4 with two doubles and knocked in four. 

Spiers Miller also homered, knocked in two runs and scored four times.

In game 2, Post 58 broke a 5-all tie in the top of the 10th with a run to win 6-5.

Next up is a non-divisional home matchup with Johnston County Post 71 Wednesday at 7 p.m.

GAME 1

Coleman-Pitt Post 58 16

Edenton Post 40 5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E	LOB
Coleman-Pitt Post 58	1	0	3	0	0	6	6			16	14	0	6
Edenton Post 40	0	1	2	0	0	0	2			5	10	3	9

WP: Cam Webb (4-1)

LP: S. Edge

Leading hitters: Post 58 - Jay Aparicio 2-5, grand slam HR, 5 RBI, R; Matthew Berry 2-4, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 3R; Spiers Miller 2-3, HR, 2 RBI, 4R; Jeremy Lucas 3-5, RBI, R; Tyler Wooten 3-4, RBI, R. Post 40 - Darren Armstrong 3-4, 2 2B, RBI; S. Edge 2-3, 2 RBI; Nathaniel Simpson 2-3, 2B.

GAME 2

Coleman-Pitt Post 58 6

Edenton Post 40 5

(10 inn.)

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E	LOB
Coleman-Pitt Post 58	0	0	3	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	6	11	1	11
Edenton Post 40	0	0	1	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	9	0	10

WP: Jeremy Trevathan (2-0)

LP: R Veliky, 

SV: Jeremy Lucas

Leading hitters: Post 58 - Spiers Miller 3-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI; Colton Vaughn 3-5, 2 2B 

Record: Post 58 13-4, 9-1

Scrimmage first event at new Gryphon Stadium

New Gryphon Stadium (click on photo to enlarge) - Photo/Chris Hughes

A scrimmage with Roanoke Rapids will be the first official event held at Rocky Mount High School's new football stadium.

The 2012 edition of the Gryphons, under new head coach Jason Battle, will entertain the Yellow Jackets, coached by former Northern Nash assistant Russell Weinstein, at Gryphon Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 6 p.m.

The Gryphons will then hit the road the following Friday (Aug. 10) to participate in a jamboree at North Johnston High School in Kenly. Action there begins at 7 p.m.

The regular season will begin a week later (Aug. 17) when Rocky Mount hosts Bunn in the regular season opener - the first of three consecutive home games to open the 2012 campaign.

Macklin, Pridgen, Cobb making news

If you missed seeing Nash Central product and current Coleman-Pitt Post 58 center fielder Khalil Macklin in Rocky Mount's last game (vs. Albemarle Post 84) Tuesday evening, he had a good reason for being out of the lineup.

Macklin was selected to play in the USA Baseball's Tournament of Stars event that is being held at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary.

The event, dominated by mostly 18-year-old Div. I-bound players, invited the 16-year-old Macklin to be a part of the prestigious event.

The Tournament of Stars (TOS) is made up of 144 of the nation's best ballplayers that are international age-eligible (born in 1994 or 1995) for 18U National Team consideration. They are invited by USA Baseball to play for one of our seven National Member Organizations (AABC, American Legion, Babe Ruth, Dixie, PONY, NABF and RBI) or via an "at-large" team selected by USA Baseball (Stars).

Macklin, a rising junior who has been red hot hitting for Post 58, is playing for the American Legion team.

USA Baseball and Major League Baseball cover all costs associated with the event which includes players' travel, lodging (USA Baseball Host Family Program) and uniforms. TOS participants form the pool of talent from which USA Baseball will select its 18U National Team to represent our country in international competition.

Macklin will be playing in Cary until Monday when the national team will be selected. Good luck to Khalil. 

Pridgen

PRIDGEN - You won't see Richie Pridgen on the sidelines at Northern Nash varsity football games this coming fall.

The Knights' assistant coach, who for 14 seasons was the head coach at Wilson Fike, is now an assistant at Wilson Hunt.

Pridgen, 55, has signed a contract to become a full-time substitute teacher at Hunt. He will also coach the Warriors' offensive line. His position at Northern Nash, where he worked for 2 1/2 years, was eliminated - opening the door to his new opportunity at Hunt.

Pridgen will join 22-year head coach Randy Raper along with assistants Stevie Hinnant, Andrew Farris, Keith Byrum and Paul Willoughby.

Cobb

COBB - It looks like Raymond Cobb will be making his 25th year as a head football coach his last.

Cobb, who will be 55 in Aug.,  has said that this coming season at SouthWest Edgecombe will be his last.

A high school classmate of Richie Pridgen's at South Edgecombe ('75), Cobb will enter his last coaching season with the same number of career victories as another Edgecombe County legend - Jim Brett.

Brett had not one, but two stops at Tarboro. He had two stints at Northern Nash and brief stays at West Carteret and West Brunswick. He ended his career with 247 wins and 104 losses in 28 seasons.

Cobb has 247 victories and 74 losses in 24 seasons - averaging 10 wins a season for his career! He's done this despite his worst two years - a 6-6 mark at North Edgecombe and his last season at SouthWest (4-7).

Rocky Mount Coleman-Pitt Post 58 Baseball Stat Leaders

(through 12 games - top five leaders)

HITTING

Batting Average

.481 - Spiers Miller

.395 - Khalil Macklin

.378 - Jeremy Sloop

.376 - Kyle Pratt

.342 - Matthew Berry

Doubles

8 - Khalil Macklin

6 - Spiers Miller

4 - Matthew Berry

3 - Jordan Taylor

2 - Jeremy Sloop

Triples

1 - Khalil Macklin

Home Runs

1 - Jeremy Sloop

RBI

14 - Khalil Macklin

10 - Spiers Miller

10 - Chase Johnson

10 - Tyler Wooten

8 - Jeremy Sloop

Runs Scored

16 - Khalil Macklin

15 - Spiers Miller

13 - Chase Johnson

10 - Jeremy Sloop

9 - Jordan Taylor

PITCHING

Victories

3 - (3-0) - Jeremy Lucas

3 - (3-1) - Cam Webb

1 - (1-0) - Jeremy Trevathan

1 - (1-1) - Tyler King

Innings Pitched

24.7 - Cam Webb

22.3 - Jeremy Lucas

10.7 - Spenser Ramsey

10.3 - Tyler King

9.0 - Jeremy Trevathan

ERA

0.87 - Tyler King

3.00 - Jeremy Trevathan

3.63 - Jeremy Lucas

5.25 - Cam Webb

8.44 - Spenser Ramsey

Strikeouts

24 - Jeremy Lucas

24 - Cam Webb

6 - Spenser Ramsey

5 - Jeremy Trevathan

4 - Dillon Moore