NC/SC All-Star Baseball Challenge - teams split games

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - North Carolina came away with a 9-2 win in Game 2 of the N.C.-S.C. All-Star Baseball Challenge Friday after dropping rain-delayed Game 1 8-3 at BB&T Field, home of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

Rain in the Conway S.C. area Thursday evening curtailed Game 1 of the event which started at Coastal Carolina's Watson Stadium.

Game 1 was suspended with South Carolina leading 8-3 going into the bottom of the sixth inning. S.C. had plated seven runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead before play was stopped. But North Carolina had no luck in making a comeback when play was resumed.

In Game 3, Eastern Wayne's John Wooten, son of Rocky Mount alum Sonny Wooten (a member of the 1973 RMSH 4-A baseball state championship team), was the hitting star. The East Carolina-bound slugger, who led the state in home runs this past season (18), knocked in three runs.

Rocky Mount's Brian Goodwin and Ben Fish and Northern Nash's Tyler Joyner, who participated in the event, all got quite a bit of playing time in both games. In Game 3, Fish picked up a hit and scored a run, while Goodwin had two infield hits. Fish even caught Joyner for a time in Game 1 Thursday.

Womble to play in Hawaii this summer, then at NCWC

Former Rocky Mount pitcher Chad Womble (RMHS '07) is flying for the first time in his life this week. But what a destination for his maiden flight - HAWAII!

Womble (6-1, 175), who graduated from Florence-Darllington Technical College a few weeks ago (AA in Business Administration), got an offer to play summer baseball in the Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League. He'll be playing for the Kamuela Paniolos - one of six teams in the league.

In case you're wondering, a paniolo is a cowboy or horseman.

His first practice is Thursday morning - only hours after his flight arrived. Players from all over the country make up the team's roster - including two players from N.C.'s Gardner-Webb. On average, they will play a game a day six days a week. The season concludes with a tournament the last week of July.

From looking at their schedule, Womble and his teammates play the majority of their 35 games in the late morning or early afternoon which leaves plenty of time for surfing and sightseeing.

Womble, who had a career record of 22-7 while at RMHS, will be staying pretty close to home when he gets back home. He has decided to close his final two seasons of college baseball at N.C. Wesleyan, the first Gryphon baseball player in years to play for the Battling Bishops.

Post 58 Legion baseball season underway

You will have to forgive Coleman-Pitt Post 58 second-year head coach Matt Bryan for starting the bulk of his 2009 American Legion baseball season a bit late.

Quite a few of his players played for Northern Nash, which reached the NCHSAA 3-A East regional final series two weekends ago.

The team he's involved with during the school year, Eastern Wayne (as an assistant coach), not only beat Northern in that regional series, but lost out in the 3-A state championship series 2-1 to Lake Norman at Zebulon's Five County Stadium last weekend. So he's has had a lot on his plate.

But it will be totally clear this week as Post 58 get its season going full throttle. Bryan managed to make his team's opener Sunday at New Bern, but it fell to Post 24 14-4.

Post 58 was led Northern Nash's Mike Williams who had three hits. NN's Brandon Denton got the loss on the hill. He allowed seven runs on seven hits in his four innings of work. He recorded five strikeouts.

Ironically, the winning pitcher for New Bern that evening was named Gabe Brown. Of course, there is a Gabe Brown on Post 58's roster, too.

Post 58 faced Tarboro on the road Tuesday evening, but the game was rained out.

All its home games will be played at Northern, with the exception of its game Sunday with Edenton at N.C. Wesleyan's Bauer Field. Expect Post 58 to rotate from Northern Nash, to Rocky Mount to Nash Central as a home field during the coming years, says Bryan.

Right now, just 10 more games are on the schedule, but more contests may be added.

Bryan is still trying to solidify his lineup. He learned late last week that Rocky Mount senior Brian Goodwin would not be playing with the team. He was invited to play with a well-respected travel team (Midland Redskins) in Ohio for the summer.

But he has several players back from a squad that went 14-2 during the regular season in 2008 and won its division, but fell in two straight games to New Bern in the opening round of the Divisional Playoffs.

"I wish Brian all the best in whichever way he uses his talent - whether in college or professionally," said Bryan, a N.C. Wesleyan College graduate who now works at Spring Creek High School in Wayne County. "You know, we could use his bat because he could make us deeper. But right now, pitching arms are our biggest concern."

He is looking for pitching performances from Denton, Alex Pearce (UNC-Pembroke via Nash Central), Tyler Joyner (Northern Nash), Dillon Cockrell (Rocky Mount) and Mike Smith (Northern Nash),

"Our pitching is not deep at all," said Bryan, "but we've got guys that are good enough to get people out. What I need are arms!"

Bryan likes to break the game of baseball up into three phases: hitting, pitching and defense. He says his defense looks good, but he will be looking to some veterans for that hitting support.

"I'm looking for some older guys to step up like Gabe Brown (Rocky Mount), Cockrell, Wesley Joyner (Northern Nash) and Pearce (at catcher)," said Bryan.


Coleman-Pitt Post 58 American Legion Baseball Roster
Player, Name, Number, Position, Batting/Throwing, School

Gabe Brown - 1, IF, R/R, Rocky Mount
Bill Clark - 21, P, OF R/R, Home Schooled
Tyler Clark - 14, C, OF, R/R, Northern Nash
Dillon Cockrell -13, P, IF, R/R, Rocky Mount
Collins Cuthrell -16, IF, R/R, Rocky Mount
Brandon Denton - 20, P, OF, R/L, Northern Nash
Ben Fish - 17, C, R/R, Rocky Mount
Nick Hahula - 27. P, OF, R/R, Rocky Mount
Grant Johnson - 4, IF, R/R, Rocky Mount (ECU)
Tyler Joyner - 9, P, IF, L/L, Northern Nash
Wesley Joyner - 2 IF R/R, Northern Nash
Alex Pearce - 7, C, P R/R, UNC-Pembroke (Nash Central)
Cameron Ramsey -18 IF, R/R, Rocky Mount
Mike Smith - 3, IF/OF, R/R, Northern Nash
T.J .Taylor - 5, OF, P, L/L, Nash Central
Ray Velazquez - 8, P, R/R, Southern Wayne
Mike Williams -10, P, IF, R/R, Northern Nash

Head Coach: Matt Bryan (second season)

Coleman-Pitt Post 58 Schedule

June 7 - @ New Bern - L, 14-4 - (0-1, 0-0)
June 9 - @ Tarboro - ppd., rain
June 11 - @ Kinston - W, 7-2 - (1-1, 0-0)
June 14 - EDENTON - W, 15-6 - 2-1, 1-0)
June 17 - @ Tarboro - W, 28-3 - (3-1, 2-0)
June 18 - WILSON - W, 12-2 - (4-1, 3-0)
June 19 - @ Ahoskie - W 10-8 - (5-1, 4-0)
June 20 - @ Wilson - W, 14-3 - (6-1, 5-0)
June 21 - @ Edenton - L, 12-10 - (6-2, 5-1)
June 22 - AHOSKIE - W, 12-11 - (7-2, 6-1)
June 24 - TARBORO, 7 p.m.
June 27-28 - @ Garner Tournament, TBA

2009 NEW 6 Softball All-Conference Teams

Here are the NEW 6 All-Conference Softball Teams from the 2009 campaign:

First Team

• Brianne McKenney, Northern Nash
• Melissa Avent, Northern Nash
• Raven Lee, Northern Nash
• Taylor Braswell, Southern Nash
• Ashley Tharrington, Southern Nash
• Ashley Bone, Nash Central
• Tiffany Macklin, Nash Central
• Haley Wishall, SouthWest Edgecombe
• Katelyn Suggs, Wilson Fike
• Laura Alford, Rocky Mount

Second Team

• Samantha Gurganus, Northern Nash
• Lindsay Bailey, Northern Nash
• Lauren McGrath, Northern Nash
• Olivia Lamm, Southern Nash
• Tawny Richardson, Southern Nash
• Megan Murray, Nash Central
• Samantha Perry, Nash Central
• Kayla Hinton, SouthWest Edgecombe
• Leslie Finch, Wilson Fike
• Cary Mosher, Rocky Mount

Honorable Mention

• Betsy Braswell, Northern Nash
• Hilary Wilson, Southern Nash
• Lesley Murray, Nash Central
• Rebecca Wells, SouthWest Edgecombe
• Baker Sharpe, Wilson Fike
• Clyteshia Garner, Rocky Mount

Top Awards

• Player of the Year -- Ashley Bone, Nash Central
• Conference Coach of the Year -- Greg Tharrington, Northern Nash

Northern Nash's Bissette to play football at Ashland (Oh.)

RED OAK - Northern Nash senior Casey Bissette has agreed to an offer to attend Div. II Ashland University in Ohio as a punter/kicker for the nationally-ranked Eagle squad.

Bissette was a four-year year varsity soccer player as was considered to be one of the best goalies in school history. This past year, Bissette set school records as a goalie for most shutouts in a season, most consecutive shutouts and fewest goals allowed in a season.

In his senior year, Bissette decided to play football along with soccer in the same season. He soon showed his talent for kicking and punting and began attending national competitions and camps.

He was ranked 23rd in the nation with former Oakland Raider Ray Guy of Ray Guy Kicking and fourth in the southeast region. He soon began training with former Atlanta Falcon player Jimmy Rafter with Rafter Pro Training out of Atlanta, Ga. From there, he continued to consistently place in national competitions which earned him looks and offers from numerous colleges from Div-IA to Div. III levels.

Bissette felt Ashland had the best fit. The Eagles have an impressive football history with 16 championships, over 400 wins and over 100 All-Americans since their program began. The Eagles have participated in the NCAA Div. II National Playoffs in 2007 and 2008, and in 2008 were only one win away from making it to the championship game. National polls have Ashland ranked 14th in the nation for preseason.

Besides an outstanding football program, Bissette also chose Ashland based on its academic excellence. Bissette was also awarded the Provost's Scholarship from Ashland University for his academic achievements. He plans to major in pre-med. Ashland has a 99 percent success rate in graduating pre-med students with their first choice in medical internships.

Bissette is due to report to football camp Aug. 1.

Goodwin will not be in town for MLB Draft

I was really looking forward to being with Rocky Mount center fielder Brian Goodwin and his family this Tuesday while watching the Major League Baseball Draft. I wanted to be there to see the look on his face when his name was called - whatever round it may have happened.

But alas, I will not get that opportunity as Brian's plans for the night have changed. In fact, his plans for the summer have done an about face.

Goodwin, who had planned to play American Legion baseball here for Post 58 this summer, got a more interesting offer for his summer vacation. He'll be playing with a travel team called the Midland Redskins in Amellia, Oh. just outside of Cincinnati.

In fact, when the Draft starts, Goodwin will be on the playing field in a Midland contest - one about 35 the team plays in each summer.

But I plan to talk to him right after his game is over about his selection.

He will be flying back to North Carolina the following day. Then he will be headed to Myrtle Beach along with Gryphon teammate Ben Fish for the N.C.-S.C. Baseball Challenge. He'll attend RMHS' graduation Saturday and then hop a flight back to Cincinnati.

Stay tuned.

Vote for your most memorable football game coached by Holt!

Here is your chance to look back over the last six years of Gryphon football games under former head coach B.W. Holt and vote for the one that sticks with you the most.

I selected six very memorable games and you can vote for yours too at the top of the right column of this page.

Just looking at them conjures up such memories, don't they?

2009 NEW 6 Girls Soccer All-Conference Teams

Here are the 2009 NEW 6 Girls Soccer All-Conference teams. Rocky Mount. which finished second in the league, placed three girls on the first team and two on the second team.

Tramicka James, who almost single-handedly led Fike to a NEW 6 basketball tournament championship win over the Lady Gryphons, was voted girls soccer MVP.

FIRST TEAM

Kelsey Benson, Rocky Mount (Mid.);

Holly Campbell, Rocky Mount (Gk.);

Sarah Dillard, Fike (Gk.);

Ally Glover, Northern Nash (Gk.);

Tramicka James, Fike (For.);

Michelle Karr, Rocky Mount (Def.);

Meredith Pruden, Fike (Mid.);

Natalie Rich, Nash Central (Mid.);

Brittany Wells, Nash Central (Mid.);

Kimberly Williams, Northern Nash (Mid.);

Natalie Winslow, Fike (Def.)

SECOND TEAM

Hannah Brock, Southern Nash (Mid.);

Lauren Campbell, Rocky Mount (Def.);

Mackenzie Elliott, Northern Nash (Mid.);

Lydia Hunt, Nash Central (For.);

Macey Phelps, Northern Nash (Mid.);

Allison Raper, Rocky Mount (Soph.);

Melanie Sloop, Nash Central (Def.);

Michelle Smith, Fike (Def.);

Jameka Thompson, Fike (Def.);

Morgan Varnell, SW Edgecombe (For.);

Ti'era Worsley, Southern Nash (Gk.)

Former Gryphon QB takes head football job at South Brunswick

Roman Kelley, son of former Rocky Mount head football coach George Kelley, has now followed in his dad's footsteps and become a high school head coach.

Kelley, a 1997 RMHS grad, is the new head football coach at South Brunswick High in Southport. He was hired last week, one of 55 applicants for the job. He'll replace Gordon Walters, who took a very lucrative head coaching job in South Carolina.

Kelley didn't begin his life after college seeking a career in coaching. He started out in the business world, but a friend wanted him to help him coach at South Granville as a volunteer. He started there and was hooked.

He later took an assistant position at Topsail and later at South Brunswick, where there they found their new man right under their noses. By the way, he managed to find time to get married after he took the Topsail position.

Ironically, his dad George is the principal at West Brunswick. I wonder which side of the field mom Doris will be sitting on when the two schools meet this fall?

Kelley had a solid career as QB for the Gryphons. His career stats: 142-for-327 for 2,110 yards. He threw 27 touchdowns, but hurled 24 interceptions while under center in 1995 and 1996.

Fish signs with Campbell University

Rocky Mount senior catcher Ben Fish signed a national letter of intent to play baseball at Campbell University Thursday evening after the school's winter/spring sports banquet.

Pictured above (l-r) on the front row are father Don Fish, Fish and mother Ashley Fish. On the back row are RMHS assistant baseball coach Kent Cox, head baseball coach Pat Smith, assistant coaches Tom Jones and Hank Jones and RMHS athletic director Mike Gainey.

Fish finished the 2009 season as the team's leading hitter with a .427 average (32/75) and tops on the list in runs batted in with 28. He also had six doubles, three home runs and scored 20 times.

He completed his three-year varsity career with a school record 81 RBI, to go along with his 71 runs scored, 18 doubles and 11 home runs. He finished his career with 95 hits (fourth highest in school history) and a batting aveage of .380.

Bulldogs ease in through the back door

I was totally shocked, but extremely happy that Nash Central's varsity baseball team made the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs. The pairings were released by the NCHSAA Wednesday.

But how happy should I be?

The Bulldogs, who closed out the regular season with a 7-13 record, received a wild card entry into the postseason and will travel to face Coastal No. 1 seed D.H. Conley (14-9) in Hollywood Friday evening.

Three years ago, Nash Central made the playoffs as a wild card, but it had a whopping15 victories and a decent chance of making some headway in the playoffs. However, things must have been pretty bad in the eastern 3-A ranks this season for a wild card to get in with seven wins.

SouthWest Edgecombe must be really kicking itself. It had eight wins, but needed just one more win in NEW 6 play last week to head to the diamond party.

Who could've seen this coming? Early reports to me suggested either Eastern or Western Alamance had the wild cards spots sewn up.

But when Northern Guilford had to forfeit all its baseball wins Wednesday (as well as its boys 3-A basketball state title) as part of the school's messy multi-sport ineligibility scandal that is still ongoing, the door for the Bulldogs may have opened.

I wish the 'Dogs luck. They will need it!

The rest of the NEW 6: Rocky Mount will get the postseason party started Thursday when it hosts Eastern Carolina No. 4 seed Southern Wayne (12-14). Game time is 7 p.m.

Friday, weather permitting (my guess is that no one will get a game in around here Friday), NEW 6 No. 2 seed Northern Nash (14-7) will host Bartlett Yancey at 7 p.m. Early notice on the Knights' opponent was off, too.

At first, some thought Dudley would be coming to Red Oak, then it changed to Northern Guilford. But things can change in a couple of days, so the school that produced WTVD11's Larry Stogner will be headed to Nash County.

Southern Nash (8-13), the NEW 6 No. 4 seed, will travel to Erwin to face Cape Fear Valley No. 2 Triton (18-5) Friday. NEW 6 No. 3 Wilson Fike (12-8) will visit ECC No. 2 seed C.B. Aycock (18-6) and play each other for the third time this season come Friday.

Really early start: Two teams in the east got the playoffs going even earlier than Rocky Mount and Southern Wayne.

West Carteret and Currituck played their 3-A east opener in Barco Wednesday, with the Patriots winning on the road 10-1. They now await the winner of the Eastern Wayne-Northeast Guilford contest next Tuesday.

RMHS baseball stat leaders

Now that the regular season is technically over, you might want a gander at the Gryphons' team stat leaders - after 20 games. Here is the top five in each category. The NEW 6 Conference leader in each field will be in parenthesis at the bottom of the category.

BA

.453 - Ben Fish
.397 - Collins Cuthrell
.388 - Brian Goodwin
.327 - Thomas Berry
.316 - Dillon Cockrell

(.440 - Cuthrell)

RUNS

24 - Collins Cuthrell
20 - Brian Goodwin
19 - Ben Fish
16 - Michael Whitehead
14 - Carter Varnell

(12 - Cuthrell, Goodwin)

RBI

25 - Ben Fish
16 - Brian Goodwin
16 - Dillon Cockrell
13 - Thomas Berry
12 - Collins Cuthrell

(16 - Fish)

DOUBLES

7 - Brian Goodwin
6 - Thomas Berry
5 - Ben Fish
5 - Dillon Cockrell
4 - Collins Cuthrell

(4 - Berry, Fish)

TRIPLES

1 - Brian Goodwin
1 - Collins Cuthrell
1 - Thomas Berry

(1 - Cuthrell)

HRs

3 - Ben Fish
3 - Brian Goodwin
2 - Carter Varnell
2 - Chris Pittman
2 - Collins Cuthrell

(3 - Goodwin)

STOLEN BASES

15 - Brian Goodwin
10 - Collins Cuthrell
5 - Hobbs Johnson
4 - Michael Whitehead
3 - Parker Helms

(6 - Goodwin)

PITCHING WINS

7 - Benton Moss
7 - Hobbs Johnson
3 - Nick Hahula
1 - Dillon Cockrell

(5 - Moss)

ERA

0.00 - Dillon Cockrell
0.97 - Benton Moss
1.04 - Hobbs Johnson
1.82 - Nick Hahula

(0.28 - Moss)

STRIKEOUTS

95 - Hobbs Johnson
50 - Benton Moss
19 - Nick Hahula
5 - Dillon Cockrell
2 - Parker Helms

(44 - Johnson)

• RMHS is averaging seven runs a game and allowing 1.5.
• The team's batting average is .319.
• The squad's team ERA is 1.32.
• RMHS has hit 13 home runs in 20 games. The 2008 team only 12 in 33 games.

Coach 'Diggs' says goodbye

(Click on picture to enlarge) Rocky Mount's seniors (l-r: Nick Hahula, Gabe Brown, Chris Pittman, Cameron Ramsey, Ben Fish, Brian Goodwin, Dillon Cockrell) huddle around Coach Diggs (aka. Jammy Mitchell) after the Wilson Fike game on Senior Night. (Photo/Don Fish)

It's so hard to believe its been four years since would-be ninth graders Ben Fish, Cameron Ramsey, Brian Goodwin, Dillon Cockrell and Gabe Brown played on that Nash County Babe Ruth 14-Year-Old All-Stars baseball team that made it to the World Series championship game.

All those memories came flowing back when I ran into Jammy Mitchell, the assistant coach on that great team, in the press box before Wednesday's Senior Night game with Wilson Fike. Of course. RMHS PA announcer Wes Bradshaw, who Jammy was talking with before my arrival, had the pleasure of broadcasting those games back to the area on WRMT 1490 AM.

Where has the time gone!

Mitchell came out to honor his boys. Their head coach Travis Ward would have also been in attendance too, but he was celebrating his first anniversary with his wife with a trip to New York City. But I know he was thinking of them when they hit the field for their last regular season home game.

More that likely, Mitchell will take in Northern Nash's home finale with Nash Central Friday to send off their seniors from his squad: Tyler Clark, Mike Williams and Tyler Joyner. Clark's dad Greg was an assistant with Mitchell on the team.

Fike's Flowers to be inducted into Barton's Athletic Hall of Fame

Barton College announced the 2009 induction class to its Athletic Hall of Fame Friday. Among the honorees will be Wilson Fike head baseball coach Will Flowers.

A member of Barton's Class of 1976, Flowers, a baseball standout at the school, is in his 28th season as the Golden Demons' head coach.

Flowers, who led Fike to the 1999 NCHSAA 3-A state championship, has a career record of 372-264 going into the last week of the 2009 baseball regular season.

The College's Bulldog Club and Hall of Fame Induction Banquet will be held as part of Homecoming Week on Friday, Oct. 23. This event will also feature a celebration of 100 years of intercollegiate athletics at the institution and a memorabilia display.

Congrats, coach!

2009 NEW 6 Boys/Girls Track and Field Results

Here are the complete results from Wednesday's NEW 6 Conference Boys/Girls Track and Field Meet held at Nash Central High School. RMHS' results are in bold:

GIRLS

Rocky Mount (RM) 204, Nash Central (NC) 99, Fike (F) 85, SouthWest Edgecombe (SWE) 61, Southern Nash (SN) 51, Northern Nash (NN) 45.

Results

SHOT PUT -- Denise Harrison (SWE), 34 ft., 8 in; Whitaker (RM), Alzer (NN), Harper (F), Battle (NC), Hinton (NC).

DISCUS -- Denise Harrison (SWE), 106-11; Johnson (SN), Whitaker (RM), Ward (RM), van Bree (F), Pittman (SWE).

LONG JUMP -- Jessica Barnes (SWE), 16-7 1/2; Applewhite (RM), Cofield (NC), Farmer (RM), Blizzard (F), Davis (RM).

TRIPLE JUMP -- Domonica Coleman (SN), 35- 1/2; Applewhite (RM), Brown (RM), Farmer (RM), Washington (NC), Mills (SN).

HIGH JUMP -- Jasmine Williams (NC), 5-8; Battle (RM), Flinn (F), Pitchford (NC), Bass (NC), Batten (NN).

POLE VAULT -- Rachel Boykin (SN), 8-0; Thai (RM), Worley (RM), Pitchford (NC), Emig (SN), Davis (RM).

4 X 800 RELAY -- Rocky Mount (Michaela Thorne, Marquita Hines, Nancy Thai, Erika Wesonga), 10:31; Fike, Northern Nash, Nash Central.

100-METER HURDLES -- Xaviera Bass (NC), 16.81; Sledge (RM), Thompson (RM), Barnes (RM), Williams (SN), Pitt (F).

100 -- Jessica Barnes (SWE), 13.25; James (F), Cofield (NC), Brown (RM), Harper (F), Tyner (RM).

4 X 200 -- Nash Central (Garbielle Foster, Jennifer Cofield, Jasmine Williams, Tyrqua Washington), 1:52.80; Rocky Mount, Northern Nash, SouthWest Edgecombe.

1,600 -- Jentzen Jones (F), 5:47; Hanson (F), C. Warren (NC), Wesonga (RM), Thorne (RM), K. Warren (NC).

4 X 100 -- Fike (Shaa Locus, Jaleesa Harper, Tramicka James, Talaya Hall), 52.87; Rocky Mount, SouthWest Edgecombe, Nash Central, Northern Nash, Southern Nash.

400 -- Jasmine Williams (NC), 1:01.18; Applewhite (RM), Farmer (RM), Hines (RM), Whitehead (SWE), Cooper (NC).

300 HURDLES -- Domonica Coleman (SN), 51.96; Thompson (RM), Sledge (RM), Barnes (RM), Clark (NN), Springer (NN).

800 -- Erika Wesonga (RM), 2:30.31; Jones (F), Thorne (RM), Hines (RM), Batten (NN), Ross (NN).

200 -- Jennifer Cofield (NC), 27.49; Euwell (SWE), Brown (RM), Tyner (RM), Bullock (NN), Foster (NC).

3,200 -- Hanson (F), 12:45; McKenney (NN), C. Warren (NC), Reaves (F), Davis (F), Thai (RM).

4 X 400 -- Rocky Mount (Erika Wesonga, Marquita Hines, Micheala Thorne, Latoya Applewhite), 4:24.82; Northern Nash, Southern Nash, Nash Central.

BOYS

Nash Central (NC) 184.3; Northern Nash (NN) 126.5; Fike (F) 115.4; Southern Nash (SN) 47.5; Rocky Mount (RM) 46.9; SouthWest Edgecombe (SWE) 36.4.

Results

SHOT PUT -- Keith Thomas (NN), 46 ft.; Jordan Crudup (NC), C.J. Baines (F), Howard (SN), Evans (NC), Young (NN).

DISCUS -- Jordan Crudup (NC), 134-02; Baines (SN), Pittman (NC), Thomas (NN), Williams (SN ), Evans (NC).

LONG JUMP -- Darrus Parker (F), 21-8; Brake (NC), Dunican (F), Jenkins (SWE), Wiggins (NN), Rogers (NC).

TRIPLE JUMP -- Jory Stephens (F), 42-8; Powell (SN), Brake (NC), Alston (RM), Bovia (F), Copeland (NC).

HIGH JUMP -- Martez Finch (F), 6-2; Bovia (F), Hicks (SN), (tie) Richardson (NC), J. Dupree (SWE), Copeland (NC), Simmons (RM), Stephens (F).

POLE VAULT -- Devin Williams (NN), 12 ft.; Chambless (RM), Bowers (RM), Taylor (NC), (tie) Barrett (SN), Lara (NC).

4 X 800 RELAY -- Fike (Joseph Speight, Calvin Dorvilier, Jonathon Bennett, Cody Jones), 8 min., 20 sec.; Nash Central, Northern Nash, Southern Nash, Rocky Mount.

10-METER HURDLES -- Danny Allen (NC), 14.86; Leonard (NC), Banks (NN), Wiggins (NN), Jones (RM), Thomas (SN).

100 -- Michael Farr (F), 11.46; R. Parker (F), Michael (NC), Wiggins (SWE), Howard (SN), J. Dupree (SWE).

4 X 200 -- Northern Nash (Devin Williams, Danny Fretz, Tavis Richardson, Travon Banks), 1:31.02; Fike, SouthWest Edgecombe, Nash Central, Rocky Mount, Southern Nash.

1,600 -- Dillon Hawley (NC), 4:30.15; White (NC), Williams (NN), Hannon (RM), Frazier (F), Judd (NC).

4 X 100 -- Fike (Michael Farr, Zamese Braswell, Rashad Parker, Melvin Howard), 43.79; Nash Central, SouthWest Edgecombe, Southern Nash, Rocky Mount, Northern Nash.

400 -- Devin Williams (NN), 50.09; D. Jenkins (SWE), Felix (NC), Deans (RM), (tie) Simmons (RM), Williams (NN).

300 HURDLES -- Travon Banks (NN), 39.82; Allen (NC), Leonard (NC), Thomas (SN), Brake (NC), Wiggins (NN).

800 -- Danny Fretz (NN), 2:01.2; McLaughlin (NN), Richardson (NC), Jones (F), Bennett (F), Alfaro (RM).

200 -- Devin Williams (NN), 22.82; T. Michael (NC), C. Michael (NC), Mosley (NC), D. Dupree (SWE), Coppedge (SN).

3,200 -- Dillon Hawley (NC), 9:43; White (NC), Williams (NN), Hannon (RM), Frazier (F), Warren (NC).

4 X 400 -- Northern Nash (Travon Banks, J.J. McLaughlin, Tavis Richardson, Danny Fretz), 3:30.7; Nash Central, Fike, SouthWest Edgecombe, Southern Nash, Rocky Mount.

NN's Joyner has milestones vs. Gryphons

Gryphons baseball fans may not want to see this, but here you go.

As many who attended the first Rocky Mount-Northern Nash baseball game a few weeks ago saw, Northern senior pitcher Tyler Joyner recorded 15 strikeouts. Among those Ks was his 300th career strikeout. But Joyner and the Knights lost the contest, 2-0.

Well, when Tyler and his boys faced the Gryphons last week in their 2-0 victory, the win was Tyler's 25th of his career. After beating Wilson Fike in the first of two games in Northern's historic doubleheader (never had a league doubleheader been played) Tuesday, Joyner, who has signed with East Carolina, moved to 26-8 for his four-year career.

And his draft stock has also picked up in the last few weeks - going by the number scouts seen at his recent games. Even his future head coach Billy Godwin checked in on his lefty signee at the most recent RN-NN war.

We may see him and Brian Goodwin drafted on June 9.

B-Good makes run at RMHS record book

Rocky Mount senior Brian Goodwin has already set some school baseball records, but even more are in reach of the talented, 6-1, 180-pound Gryphon.

Check out his records and the records that may be in reach by the player, many say, will be drafted in the first round of the MLB Draft on June 9.

As the season progresses - after each game, I will update these numbers!


RECORDS (updated - 5-25-09)

Game (this record is still in research)

Most hits: 4 (4-4) Collins Cuthrell vs. Northern Nash, 2009; 4 (4-4) Brian Goodwin vs. Tarboro, 2009; 4 (4-5) Brian Goodwin vs. Southern Nash, 2007; 4, (4-4) Gabe Brown vs. Franklin, 2007; 4 (4-5) Carter Harrell vs. Durham Jordan, 2001; 4 (4-4), Ben Hedgepeth vs. New Bern, 1999; 4 (4-4), Ben Hedgepeth vs. Northern Nash, 1999; 4 (4-4), Ben Hedgepeth vs. Northern Vance, 1999; 4 (4-4), Jason Battle vs. Terry Sanford, 1998; 4 (4-4), David Ange vs. Conley, 1997; 4 (4-5), Jeremy Ward vs. Northern Nash, 1995

Most doubles: 4, Brian Goodwin vs. Tarboro, 2009;

Season

Most hits: 44, Brian Goodwin, 2008;
Most runs: 45, Brian Goodwin, 2008;
Most doubles: 15, Brian Goodwin, 2008;

Career

Most hits: 126, Brian Goodwin (2006-09)
Most runs: 109, Brian Goodwin (2006-09);
Most doubles: 35, Brian Goodwin (2006-09);
Most walks: 65, Brian Goodwin (2006-09); 65, Jeremy Ward (1993-96)

RECORDS BEING CHASED!

Career

Most at-bats (min. 200 at-bats): 331, Adam Weaver (1999-2002); 323, Brian Goodwin (2006-09);

Most triples: 12, Adam Weaver (1999-2002); 10, Brian Goodwin (2006-09);

Most RBI: 81, Ben Fish (2007-09); 66, Chris Berry (2006-08); 66, Jeremy Ward (1993-96); 62, Brian Goodwin (2006-09)

Most stolen bases: 60 (60/66), Adam Weaver (1999-2002); 53 (53/58), Brian Goodwin (2006-09)

Highest BA: .399 (83-203), Tommy Crocker, (1973-75); .390 (126-323), Brian Goodwin (2006-09);

Games played: 106, Dillon Cockrell (2006-09); 104, Brian Goodwin (2006-09); 99, Jeremy Ward (1993-96); 97, Hank Jones (1983-86); 92, Adam Weaver (1999-02)

Games won: 86, Dillon Cockrell (86-20 - 2006-09); 84, Brian Goodwin (84-20 - 2006-09); 82, Jim Leggett (82-26, 2005-08); 71, Jeremy Ward (71-28 - 1993-96); 68, Ben Fish (68-15 - 2006-09); 68, Hank Jones (68-28-1 - 1983-86); 66, Grant Johnson, Wiliam Barringer, Chris Berry (66-18 - 2006-08); 63, Adam Weaver (63-29 - 1999-02)

Donation to Relay for Life

(click on picture to enlarge)

Mike Gainey (far left) of Rocky Mount High School and Henry Drake (far right) of Northern Nash High School turned over a check for $950.90 to the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life event held at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex Friday and Saturday. Amanda Bell and Sherry Harris, co-chairpersons of Relay for Life, accepted the donation for the American Cancer Society.

Proceeds from the Rocky Mount-Northern Nash Faculty Basketball Challenge last Tuesday at Rocky Mount's gym made the donation possible. Incidently, Rocky Mount beat the Knights 49-31.

(Contributed photo)

Jenkins shines in ECU's Purple-Gold Game

Former Rocky Mount star athlete Jacobi Jenkins showed some of his speed and pass catching talent in East Carolina's annual Purple-Gold football game at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Jenkins, the NCHSAA 3-A state champion in the 110 hurdles in 2008, signed with the Pirates in February last year and was redshirted this past fall. But it looks as though he is in the Pirates' offensive plans for the 2009 season.

Playing for the Pirates, the 6-foot, 175-pound wide receiver caught five passes for 55 yards in a 31-10 loss to the ECU squad.

RMHS' Battle signs with Queens University

Rocky Mount senior Dyonna Battle signed a national letter-of-intent Wednesday to play basketball at D-II Queens University in Charlotte next school year.

Pictured above (click on picture to enlarge) is Battle flanked by her mother Gail and and her father Donnell. Looking on are, left, Dyonna's coach Pam Gainey and Rocky Mount athletic director Mike Gainey.

Read more about her signing on Rocky Mount's sports website rockymounthigh.ihigh.com next week. (Photo/David Hahula)

Cobb explains why he chose Arizona

I reached former Rocky Mount athlete Travis Cobb recently and he sent me an explaination as to why in February he signed to play football at the University of Arizona next fall.

Cobb, a member of the RMHS Class of 2005, played on the football team, but started at second base in baseball. He is now at Blinn Junior College in Texas. Here is what he said about his recent journeys.

"Well, I decided to go to the University of Arizona, I came to that decision around December. I have two friends out there that play on the team already from this junior college (Blinn JUCO, Tx.) last year, so I was real comfortable out there had a need. They needed a reciever with some experience to step in because their main receiver is going into the NFL Draft this year.

I wanted to come in and fill that need. I will be there in June at the begining of summer workouts.

My coming down to Blinn in Texas went like this.

I was at Louisburg College in N.C., but they weren't trying to get me a spot anywhere at the next level. So I took it upon myself to make a move. I came to a combine at Blinn and I ran a 4.35 in the 40 and the coaches just fell in love with me.

That first season I had to sit out because all my credits from Louisburg didn't transfer over.

But I had 1,000 total yards of offense the next season and that helped me a lot with getting recruited. Now all I have to do is do a minimester here, then I will be Arizona-bound."

Former Gryphon assistant gets another head job

I never thought when Mark Hoover left Rocky Mount as an assistant football coach that he'd be a head coach three times in a seven-year span.

But that's what the Pennsylvania native has done.

Hoover, an assistant under former Gryphon head coach John Hammett for two seasons in the early part of the decade, has just been hired as the head football coach at Central Davidson High in Lexington.

Hoover, who is currently an assistant coach at West Forsyth, has had head jobs at Chatham Central and West Lincoln before getting his new gig. Both those positions involved turning programs upside down to get the wins coming in - including putting an end to Chatham Central's massive 28-game losing streak.

Central Davidson hasn't been a consistent winner of late, so let's see if he will inject some wins into the 1-A program.

After all, he'll be running the Wing-T!

Website predicts Goodwin to go to the Yankees!

Rocky Mount senior centerfielder Brian Goodwin is predicted to be the 28th pick of the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft which is set for Tuesday, June 9.

The website myMLBDraft.com has Goodwin going to the New York Yankees with their first pick in their mock draft.

For a look at the site's prediction, including former Conley pitcher and current UNC hurler Alex White going in the top three picks, click here!

It would hurt my feelings to see him in pinstripes considering that I've been a Red Sox fan for over 40 years, but at least we'd see him more playing for an East coast team.

We wish him all the best when the time comes!

Twin Counties Football in 2009: NORTHERN NASH

Northern Nash, with new head coach Mickey Crouch, has relesed its 2009 varsity football schedule.

Right away, I noticed that Hertford County and Bertie have disappeared. Cary is making a return to the Knights' ledger. Also new is South Central.

So, how many wins do you see for Coach Crouch's bunch?

2009 NORTHERN NASH SCHEDULE

• Aug. 21 -- BEDDINGFIELD
• Aug. 28 -- CARY
• Sept. 4 -- at Tarboro
• Sept. 11 -- SOUTH CENTRAL
• Sept. 18 -- at South Johnston
• Sept. 25 -- at Southern Vance
• Oct. 2 -- OPEN
• Oct. 9 -- WILSON HUNT*
• Oct. 16 -- at Southern Nash*
• Oct. 23 -- at Nash Central*
• Oct. 30 -- WILSON FIKE*
• Nov. 6 -- ROCKY MOUNT

Twin Counties Football in 2009: SW EDGECOMBE

About a week ago, I called SouthWest Edgecombe head coach Raymond Cobb and he revealed to me his 2009 football schedule and a look at his new Eastern Plains 2-A slate.

It has some interesting matchups on it.

First, Cobb, who hasn't played that many endowment games since moving over to SouthWest, has one next season. He'll make his first-ever trip to Elizabeth City Northeastern. Although, he has been just across the river from Elizabeth City at Camden County - where he won a fateful 8-6 playoff game there in 1998 that helped send his North Edgecombe team to Chapel Hill and a shot at the 1-A state title against Starmount. NE lost to a Rams team - one year removed from B.W. Holt's exit.

But Holt and Cobb finally did get to meet and their teams are now great rivals - albeit, Rocky Mount holds a 4-1 edge in their recent meetings. SouthWest comes calling on the Gryphons on Sept. 18.

The EPC will be one tough league - with the likes of 2008 eastern champ Tarboro, a Kinston and Beddingfield squad that dropped from the 3-A ranks, and an up-and-coming North Pitt team.

Another interesting note about SWE's schedule is that Cougars end the season with an open date. Whether that's good or bad is debatable. If you're playoff bound and you have kids with some nagging injuries, the break can be good. But it could be a momentum buster, depending on how the season is going. I hope it works out for the Cougars.

2009 SW EDGECOMBE SCHEDULE

• Aug. 21 -- at Northeastern (E)

• Aug. 28 -- CURRITUCK

• Sept. 4 -- NORTH EDGECOMBE

• Sept. 11 -- at Wilson Hunt

• Sept. 18 -- at Rocky Mount

• Sept. 25 -- KINSTON*

• Oct. 2 -- at Farmville Central*

• Oct. 9 -- BEDDINGFIELD*

• Oct. 16 -- at North Pitt*

• Oct. 23 -- TARBORO*

• Oct. 30 -- @ Greene Central*

• Nov. 6 -- OPEN

Twin Counties Football in 2009: SOUTHERN NASH

As I receive area 2009 high school football schedules, I will share them with you right here.

First up is Southern Nash's football slate, which has an interesting twist.

I guess they are taking a page out of Wilson Fike's scheduling book. For the past few years, Hunt and Fike have played twice - home and home. Because they are natural rivals, the gates for both games have been tremendous.

This coming fall, Southern Nash will be doing the same thing with Nash Central - playing once as a non-conference meeting and once as a league game.

A problem with Firebirds' slate is that they play six of their last eight games on the road!

(home games are listed in CAPS):

2009 SOUTHERN NASH SCHEDULE

• Aug. 21 -- FRANKLINTON
• Aug. 28 -- BUNN
• Sept. 4 -- WILSON BEDDINGFIELD
• Sept. 11 -- at Roanoke Rapids
• Sept. 18 -- at South Granville
• Oct. 2 -- at Nash Central
• Oct. 9 -- at Wilson Fike*
• Oct. 16 -- NORTHERN NASH*
• Oct. 23 -- at Wilson Hunt*
• Oct. 30 -- at Rocky Mount*
• Nov. 6 -- NASH CENTRAL*

Barton's Johnson on a tear!

Barton senior and former Gryphon Will Johnson is congratulated by his teammates Sunday after hitting one of his two home runs in a victory over Pfeiffer. (Photo/Tom Ham, Wilson Daily Times)

RMHS alums Don and Wanda Johnson had three sons (Britt, Will and Grant) who spent a nine-year stretch playing varsity sports at Rocky Mount High School.

But the only one who played sports collegiately on scholarship was middle son Will.

Now a senior second baseman at Barton College, Will is tearing the cover off the ball as the Bulldogs are fighting for a title in Conference Carolinas - a D-II league.

Over the past two weeks, Johnson has been hotter than a firecracker. And on Senior Day Sunday, he belted two home runs, back-to-back, to help the Bulldogs beat Pfeiffer.

Johnson's pair of solo shots pushed his season's total to four. In the last seven games, Johnson has batted a scorching .522 (12 for 23), scored 10 runs and knocked in seven. All four of his homers have come during the stretch - including a two-run bomb against my alma mater, N.C. Wesleyan, last week in a 7-4 Barton win at Fleming Stadium.

"His power numbers have caught everybody that knows him by surprise," Barton head coach Todd Wilkinson told the Wilson Daily Times. "However, he has worked hard in the weight room and has great timing right now. His addition at the bottom of the lineup has been a huge boost for our team."

"Everybody has been asking me the same thing and I have no idea," Johnson, an All-Conference and All-Area performer who led RMHS in pass receiving his senior season, told the WDT of a binge that earlier included hits in eight consecutive at-bats. "My swing feels good and everything is clicking and working out well."

Of his power surge, Johnson laughed and added: "If I knew, I would have been doing it all four years."

Editor's Note: As of the weekend of May 2, Barton (30-17) was waiting to see if it would get an at-large bid to the NCAA Div. II baseball regionals. If Johnson's career is through, his senior season certainly will have been a memorable one. He would have closed it with a .337 batting average, six doubles, six home runs (second on the team), 20 RBI and the team's second highest slugging percentage (.598).

Way to go out, Will!

RM's Battle to sign with Queens University

Rocky Mount senior forward Dyonna Battle will be taking her game to the next level.

On April 15, she is expected to sign a letter-of-intent to play basketball for Queens University in Charlotte. Queens, a D-II school, is a member of the Conference Carolinas Conference, which calls Barton College and Mount Olive College home.

Battle had an outstanding career at RMHS - finishing as the school's No. 3 girls' basketball scorer with 1,290 points. Only all-staters Kim Taylor and Danielle Powell finished ahead of her.

She was a four-time NEW 6 Conference All-Conference selection and was the league's MVP in 2008. She was the league's tournament MVP last month. Battle, who led the league in scoring this past season with a 16.6 avearge and hauled down 6.6 rebounds a game, helped Rocky Mount to successive NEW 6 regular season and tournament titles.

Her last two games of her career were truly memorable. Both in the NCHSAA playoffs, she scored a combined 56 points - including a career-high 31 points against Havelock in the second round. In those two contests, she was 23-for-23 at the free throw line. She finished the season shooting 81 percent from the charity stripe.

The Royals went 15-13 this past season under head coach Trudi Lacey, the former All-American player from N.C. State.

Her family and friends will get to see her play at least twice each season when Queens comes east to Wilson and Mount Olive.

Fish picks Campbell

Rocky Mount senior catcher Ben Fish has made his decision as to where he'll play his college ball. Ben has picked Campbell University.

He'll sign in the coming days with the Camels. He made his decision after a campus visit on Monday.

For the first time since 2001, at least three D-I recruits are playing on a Rocky Mount team at the same time. The 1980 team won the 4-A state title with five D-I players: David Downs, Kevin Bunn and Bill Merrifield all signed with Wake Forest, while catcher Jeff Newsome inked with UNC-W and then-junior pitcher Bill Wilkes later signed with Campbell, which may have been in the NAIA back then. Check back with me on that.

In 2001, Paul Jenkins, Carter Harrell and Adam Weaver all verbally committed to UNC, although Weaver signed one season later.

From the current team, senior Brian Goodwin has signed with UNC, while junior lefty hurler Hobbs Johnson has verbally committed to the Tar Heels.

Congrats to Ben and his family (shoutout to Ashley, Macauley and Don!). And he's only a few RBI away from becoming the top Gryphon on that list.

The record is currently held by Jeremy Ward and Chris Berry at 66. Fish entered his senior campaign with 54. He currently stands at 61.

NCWC's Long wins 300th game; Bishops post victory No. 1,000

NCWC Sports Information

North Carolina Wesleyan College head baseball coach Charlie Long earned the 300th win of his career on Sunday as the Battling Bishops turned in a 5-2 victory over USA South rival Methodist University in Fayetteville.

Coupled with Saturday’s 5-4 defeat of the Monarchs, the Bishops were able to sweep the series and take over sole possession of first place in the league standings with 3-1 conference record. Wesleyan has now won 10 of its last 11 contests to move to 14-11 overall.

Long, a Northern Nash graduate, chalked up his 299th victory on Saturday in NCWC’s series-opening 5-4 victory.

Wesleyan took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first when senior Luke Williford singled, stole second and third, and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

The Monarchs (16-7, 2-2) answered with a pair of runs in the third to take a 2-1 lead, but the Bishops countered with two of their own in their next at-bat. Sophomore Zach Alexander led off the inning with a solo blast to right-center, and Williford later drove in a run with an RBI-single to right.

Down 3-2, Methodist again plated a pair in the fourth and maintained its 4-3 advantage until the eighth inning. It was then that Williford struck again, this time with a two-out, two-run single that proved to be the game-winner.

NCWC starter Jonathan Lucas went six complete, allowing four runs on 11 hits and striking out four in the no-decision.

Freshman Ben Franceschi (2-0) earned the win in relief after tossing a scoreless 2.0 innings, which set the stage for junior John Child’s fourth save of the season.

Williford finished 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored, while Zollie Woodlief and Alexander each had two hits. Wesleyan ripped 10 hits as a team in the contest.

Saturday’s victory set the stage for Long’s milestone win on Sunday, and senior righty Ben Moore made sure his coach did not have to wait.

Moore (3-1) tossed a complete game, scattering six hits and allowing just two runs while striking out five and walking one.

Long’s 300th coaching victory is the second major milestone for the N.C. Wesleyan baseball program in the past two weeks.

The Battling Bishops also turned in the program’s 1,000th overall victory with a recent 12-10 win over Piedmont College at Bauer Field.

NCWC has three players from Nash County on its roster and all three are Northern Nash alums: Andrew Webb, Daniel Moore and Lucas.

Hahula, Lee headed to Greensboro this summer

Rocky Mount football players Torey Lee and Nick Hahula will play for the East at the Annual NCCA East-West All-Star Football Game on Wednesday, July 22 at Grimsley High School's Jamieson Stadium.

All told, five Twin County area players will be participating (in bold). The head coach for the East will SouthWest Edgecombe's Raymond Cobb. Check out the list of his assistants and you will see some familiar names, too!

East Roster

• Taylor Hanson, Offensive Lineman, Wake Forest-Rolesville

• Dorian Edwards, Offensive Lineman, Kinston

• Roy Marsh, Offensive Lineman, East Wake

• Torey Lee, Offensive Lineman, Rocky Mount

• Marquis Hines, Offensive Lineman, SouthWest Edgecombe

• Charles Crank, Offensive Lineman, Richmond Senior

• A.J. Ferguson, Tight End, South Brunswick

• Danny Allen, Wide Receiver, Nash Central

• Rashad Parker, Running back, Wilson Fike

• Hakeem Strickland, Running Back, Louisburg

• Brad Simmons, Running Back, Northside

• Steven Moore, Running Back, Chapel Hill

• KaRonne Jones, Fullback, Cape Fear

• Nick Hahula, Fullback/Kicker, Rocky Mount

• Ryan Hill, Quarterback, West Brunswick

• Antwan Thorpe, Quarterback, Oxford Webb

• Reggie Geddie, Defensive Lineman, Erwin Triton

• Dylan Buntyn, Defensive Lineman, Havelock

• Darian Tripp, Defensive Lineman, Greene Central

• Ralph Bonner, Defensive Lineman, Fayetteville Jack Britt

• Keegan Ray, Defensive Lineman, Chapel Hill

• T.J. Batchelor, Defensive Lineman, Southern Nash

• Daniel Collins, Linebacker, Holly Springs

• Joseph Blanks, Linebacker, Purnell-Swett

• Mark Walker, Linebacker, Leesville Road

• Carlos Fields, Linebacker, Northern Vance

• Marcus Allen, Linebacker, Pine Forest

• Justin Rodgers, Linebacker, Bunn

• Tyreese Prince, Safety, Harnett Central

• Jared White, Safety, Fayetteville Jack Britt

• Greg Gilbert, Cornerback, South Brunswick

• Jamal Rolle, Cornerback, Wilson Beddingfield

East Coaching Staff

• Head Coach Raymond Cobb (SouthWest Edgecombe)

• Assistant Coach Brian Foster (Southern Nash)

• Assistant Coach Kenneth Grantham (Greene Central)

• Assistant Coach Grover Battle (Northern Nash)

• Assistant Coach Jimmy Williams (East Wake)

• Assistant Coach Ken Whitehurst (D.H. Conley)