Big East 3-A Conference coaches to meet Aug. 12

The new Big East 3-A Conference will have its sports coaches meet for the first time on Wednesday, Aug. 12 at Hunt High School.

During the gathering the league's football coaches will meet with the media and talk about the upcoming season. They will also make the preseason picks on who will end up on top of the heap once the season is over.

There will be four new head coaches in the league this season - Rocky Mount's Dickie Schock, Wilson Fike's Kim Brown, Northern Nash's Mickey Crouch and Hunt's Randy Raper.

Southern Nash's Brian Foster and Nash Central's Kevin Crudup are the only coaches returning from last season. And perhaps there is nothing new about Raper. After all, he may be coming up on his 20th season at Hunt.

NEW 6 Conference's final hurrah

By Paul Durham

Wilson Times

GREENSBORO - The now defunct 3-A NEW 6 Conference celebrated one final hurrah on the East sidelines of the 61st annual N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star football game in Greensboro Wednesday.

Leading the East was head coach Raymond Cobb of SouthWest Edgecombe, who had on his staff three former NEW 6 rival coaches in Brian Foster, head coach at Southern Nash; Grover Battle, an assistant at Northern Nash; and Greene Central's Kenneth Grantham, formerly head coach at Nash Central.

"All of us have been together in the NEW 6 the past few years," Cobb said. "We've got a great staff. We've met a lot and put a lot of time into it. We feel like we've picked some high-quality character kids and that's the key to it."

Cobb ran the offense with help from Grantham, who coached the offensive line. Jimmy Williams of East Wake and Ken Whitehurst of D.H. Conley directed the tight ends. Foster was the defensive coordinator while Battle handled the line. Whitehurst and Williams coached the linebackers and secondary.

"We did like we do at SouthWest," Cobb said. "We worked on both sides of the ball."

Except this time, the former NEW 6 coaches were working together.

"I think it's been fun. I've always thought they were good guys and they care about the kids and that's important to me," said Foster, who was chosen to participate in last year's game but declined for personal reasons.

Grantham expressed mild surprise at his first experience as an East-West coach after 18 years in the coaching ranks, including six as a head coach.

"It's a honor, No. 1, to be selected especially with the number of years I've coached. I'm still a young guy," Grantham commented. "It'll be good to reconnect with all those guys from Nash County and the NEW 6."

The familiarity extended to the East roster as five players from The Wilson Times readership area, including three from the former NEW 6, will play: Southern Nash's T.J. Batchelor, Fike's Rashad Parker, SouthWest Edgecombe's Marquis Hines as well as Jumal Rolle from Beddingfield and DaRon Tripp of Greene Central. Three more NEW 6 players -- Nash Central's Danny Allen and Nick Hahula and Torey Lee of Rocky Mount -- were on the team.

"I'm was just honored to be coaching with them," Battle said. "I think we've had pretty good crowd of athletes and kids and the coaches are just outstanding."

Cobb planed on bringing his wishbone offense to Greensboro and Parker got a prominent role. Ryan Hill of West Brunswick was the East starter at quarterback.

Defensively, Foster had to work around such rule changes as no blitzing and playing an odd front.

"It definitely gave the offense the upper hand but was an all-star game," reminded Foster.

Foster pointed to his defensive line, with players such as Fayetteville Jack Britt's Ralph Bonner and Havelock's Deylan Buntyn, along with the linebacking corps featuring Raleigh Leesville Road's Mark Walker, Justin Rodgers of Bunn and Danile Collins of Holly Springs.

Foster added the defense would certainly find a place for Rolle, of whom Foster echoed Beddingfield head coach Tyrone Johnson's sentiments: "That kid can play!"

"We've had some really, really, really good kids," Foster related. "It's amazing when you talk to principals and hear what some of these kids have done."

The players arrived in Greensboro on Thursday and two-a-day practices began Friday. Players took in the all-star basketball games Monday and soccer games Tuesday. Despite the relaxed atmosphere, the East players and coaches were all business in attempting for its third straight win which started when the East ended the West's five-game winning streak in 2007.

"I tell you what, I've talked to all of them this summer," Cobb said of his players. "They all sounded so positive, all claim to have been working hard and staying in shape. ... We've became one in a quick short time. I think this crowd's worked hard."

Nash County starts its state title drive Saturday

(Photo/David Hahula)

GREENVILLE - East Carolina University's Clark-LeClair Stadium will serve as the venue for the 2009 American Legion North Carolina Baseball State Tournament that will run from Saturday, July 24 to Wednesday, July 29.

Pitt County Post 39 (J.H. Rose and D.H. Conley are its primary representative schools) will serve as host of the event and it will have its baseball team in the field - representing Area I - one of four Areas the state is divided in. This is the 10th year the tournament has existed in an eight-team, double elimination format.

A total event ticket package (15 games) is available for $30, while session tickets (first two morning or second two evening) for each day are available for $10 per session.

Saturday's opening day will have game 1 at 9:30 a.m. - Shelby Post 82 vs. Wilmington Post 10. In game 2 at 12:30 p.m. - Duplin-Sampson Post 22 vs. Rowan County Post 342. In game 3 at 4:30 p.m. - Nash County Post 58 vs. Mooresville Post 66. At 7:30 p.m. in game 4 - Cherryville Post 100 vs. Pitt County Post 39.

The winner of the tournament will advance to the Southeast regionals at Riley Park in Sumter, S.C. with winner there advancing to the American Legion World Series in Fargo, N.D.


2009 N.C. American Legion State Baseball Tournament
July 25-29
Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium
East Carolina University, Greenville

Saturday

Game 1: 9:30 a.m. - Shelby Post 82 vs. Wilmington Post 10
Game 2: 12:30 p.m. - Duplin-Sampson Post 22 vs. Rowan County Post 342
Game 3: 4:30 p.m. - Nash County Post 58 vs. Mooresville Post 66
Game 4: 7:30 p.m. - Cherryville Post 100 vs. Pitt County Post 39 (host)

Sunday

Game 5: 3 p.m. - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 3 - at Guy Smith Stadium
Game 6: 7 p.m. - Loser of Game 2 vs. Loser of Game 4 - at Guy Smith Stadium
Game 7: 3 p.m. - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 3
Game 8: 7 p.m. - Winner of Game 2 vs. Winner of Game 4

Monday

Game 9: 12:30 p.m. - Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 7
Game 10: 4:30 p.m. - Loser of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 5
Game 11: 7:30 p.m. - Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8

Tuesday

Game 12: 3 p.m. - Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 9
Game 13: 7:30 p.m. - Winner of Game 12 vs. Winner of 11

Wednesday

Game 14: 1 p.m. Championship game - Winner of Game 13 vs. Winner of Game 12
Game 15: if needed, 45 minutes after Game 14

NOTE 1: If possible, the teams involved in games 12 & 13 will not be matched against opponents they have already faced in the tournament.

NOTE 2: If, after game 13, there are three teams remaining with one loss, the team which won game 11 receives a bye to game 15 for the title.

PREVIOUS STATE CHAMPIONS

1928 - Raleigh Post 1
1929 - Asheville Post 70
1930 - Gastonia Post 23
1931 - Roanoke Rapids
1932 - Gastonia Post 23
1933 - Gastonia Post 23
1934 - Charlotte Post 9
1935 - Gastonia Post 23 (NATIONAL CHAMPION)
1936 - Charlotte Post 9
1937 - Charlotte Post 9
1938 - Gastonia Post 23
1939 - Charlotte Post 9
1940 - Albemarle Post 76 (NATIONAL CHAMPION)
1941 - Gastonia Post 23
1942 - Shelby Post 82
1943 - Whiteville Post 137
1944 - Albemarle Post 76 (NATIONAL RUNNER-UP)
1945 - Shelby Post 82 (NATIONAL CHAMPION)
1946 - Kannapolis Post 115
1947 - Kannapolis Post 115
1948 - Hickory Post 48
1949 - Gastonia Post 23
1950 - Gastonia Post 23
1951 - Shelby Post 82
1952 - Kannapolis Post 115
1953 - Cherryville Post 100
1954 - Gastonia Post 23 (NATIONAL RUNNER-UP)
1955 - Rowan County Post 14
1956 - Wilmington Post 10
1957 - Shelby Post 82
1958 - Shelby Post 82
1959 - Wilmington Post 10
1960 - Wilmington Post 10
1961 - Kannapolis Post 115
1962 - Wilmington Post 10
1963 - Greensboro Cone Post 386
1964 - Charlotte Post 9 (NATIONAL RUNNER-UP)
1965 - Charlotte Post 9 (NATIONAL CHAMPION)
1966 - Asheboro Post 45
1967 - Greensboro Cone Post 386
1968 - Greensboro Burtner Post 53
1969 - Rowan County Post 342
1970 - Wilmington Post 10
1971 - Rowan County Post 342
1972 - Hamlet Post 49
1973 - Rocky Mount Post 58
1974 - Hamlet Post 49
1975 - Sanford Post 382
1976 - Newell Post 287
1977 - Newell Post 287
1978 - Asheboro Post 45
1979 - Hamlet Post 49
1980 - Wilmington Post 10
1981 - Cherryville Post 100
1982 - Hamlet Post 94
1983 - Hamlet Post 49
1984 - Rowan County Post 342
1985 - Whiteville Post 137
1986 - Caldwell County Post 29
1987 - Hamlet Post 49
1988 - Kernersville Post 36
1989 - Whiteville Post 137
1990 - Caldwell County Post 29
1991 - Caldwell County Post 29
1992 - Kernersville Post 36
1993 - Rowan County Post 342
1994 - Wilmington Post 10
1995 - Wilmington Post 10
1996 - Whiteville Post 137
1997 - Cherryville Post 100
1998 - Cherryville Post 100 (NATIONAL RUNNER-UP)
1999 - Garner Post 232
2000 - Caldwell County Post 29
2001 - Shelby Post 82
2002 - Rowan County Post 342
2003 - Cherryville Post 100 (NATIONAL RUNNER-UP)
2004 - Vacant (Garner Post 232 vacated due to an ineligible player)
2005 - Pitt County Post 39
2006 - Morehead City Post 46
2007 - Cherryville Post 100
2008 - Randolph County Post 45

Happy for Watson, happier for Cink

There is no bigger Tom Watson fan in these parts than me. And the same goes for Stewart Cink.

I never envisioned either in a playoff for the British Open title, but like seeing my two favorite teams in the World Series (it just may happen this season: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Boston Red Sox), I was looking forward to their playoff tilt and I would have been happy with whoever won.

I have been a fan of Watson since he wasted his first opportunity to win a major title in the 1974 U.S. Open at Winged Foot. He was always a fighter - extremely aggressive on the course with a tight, but rhythmic swing. He seemingly had practiced every trouble shot imaginable, but most of them didn't work that Sunday that saw Hale Irwin win the first of his three Open titles with an unlikely seven over par. Watson was known as a choker early in his career, but winning the 1975 British Open title changed that moniker forever.

But at the age of 59 with a replaced knee, he looked every bit the player that has earned eight majors.

As for Cink, I got to see his beautiful swing (Tom Weiskopf reincarnated) in person for three years when and he and his Georgia Tech teammates played here in Rocky Mount at the ACC Golf Championships at Northgreen Country Club (1991-94). The Ramblin' Wreck won the last three tournaments held at Northgreen. His last time here, his junior season, he had the support of his parents, wife Lisa and then baby son Connor.

I got the pleasure of meeting them all. His parents were so down-to-Earth and just glad they were able to make it up to see Stewart and his team play. And if college isn't tough enough, imagine being married and with a small child! But he handled everything so well - his school work, his role as husband and father, and his golf game. And with all that, he actually graduated the next year - on time - with a degree in Management.

But Stewart was always humble and polite - a somewhat about face from his teammate David Duval, with whom he can now share the experience of having the Claret Jug to kiss.

From that point, I felt he would break out of Duval's collegiate shadow. And he did.

He went on to become the NCAA Player of the Year his senior season, played on the Nationwide Tour and won enough times to be its Player of the Year and given a ticket to the PGA TOUR. That was 1996, and he's not looked back.

He perhaps should have won more times (six career victories, but has played on four Ryder Cup and three President Cup teams) and he's had his moments in the majors. But the only thing that has changed about him is his hairline. Believe it or not, he had a full head of hair in his college days.

But his demeanor is the same. He's still approachable, humble and personable - the very qualities we all want in our champions.

It's Rocky Mount vs. Wilson, again!

By Paul Durham
Wilson Times

With Wilson Post 13's 6-3 win Friday at Kinston Post 43 in game 5 of the American Legion baseball Area One Eastern Division semifinals, a classic matchup has been set for the best-of 5 Eastern finals series.

Rocky Mount Post 58 (although technically, it's Nash County Coleman-Pitt Post 58 but we like 'Rocky Mount' better), the North Conference champion, will meet Wilson, beginning Sunday night at Northern Nash High School.Neither post has had a particularly successful history.

Wilson's last trip to the Area One Eastern Division finals was in 2004. Its last Eastern crown was in 1990. Wilson's only Area One title came in 1980 but Post 13 did win N.C. American Legion East championships in 1941 and '42 (prior to the start of Area One).

Wilson lost to Shelby Post 82 in the '42 state championship series, three games to two.

Rocky Mount won its only American Legion state championship in 1973 and played in the East championship in 1959 and 1962. Rocky Mount's last trip to the Area One Eastern finals was 1995.

Post 58's last Area One title was in 1986 when it successfully defended its crown.

This year, Wilson is 14-10 and has won 9 of its last 11 games but was handed consecutive defeats, 12-2 and 14-3, by Post 58. Those were Post 13's only North Conference losses.

Rocky Mount, which has won eight straight, is 14-2 with its only defeats coming at the hands of New Bern and Edenton, which it swept in the Eastern Division semifinals this past week.

Post 58 was averaging 16 runs per game at home until its last win, a 6-4 series-clinching victory over Edenton on Wednesday.

Editor's Note: Sunday's game may be a washout. Thunderstorms are predicted for the area Sunday and Monday. And since Northern Nash's field is not known for holding up well in any type of rain storm, Nash County may suffer just its second rainout of the season. Keep your eye on the weather radars!

Editor's Note No. 2: Did you know that one of the rarist plays in baseball occured in Post 13's series ender with Kinston Friday night? Yes, Post 13 pulled off a triple play - one play that I have never seen in 35 years of watching high school baseball.

Here's the setup.

In the bottom of the ninth with no outs and Kinston runners on first and second, the next Kinston batter hit into a simple 4-6-3 (second baseman Michael McLawhorn to shortstop Chris Johnson to first baseman Tripp Sauls) play.

But the runner who was at second rounded third and headed home. First baseman Tripp Sauls then threw home to catcher Chris Lamm who tagged the runner out - a 4-6-3-2 triple play!

Rocky Mount's Jr. Legion baseball squad makes state tournament

CARY - Rocky Mount's Junior American Legion baseball team won two games Friday at the Eastern Qualifier at the USA Baseball Training Complex to advance to the the eight-team N.C. American Legion State Tournament. The event is set to start Friday in Asheboro at McCrary Park, home of the Coastal Plain League's Asheboro Copperheads.

No. 2 seeded Rocky Mount (23-3), beat the No. 11-seed Beaufort 6-1 in its opener. In game two, Rocky Mount downed West Johnston, the No. 6 seed, 10-1.

Nash Central (16-6), seeded seventh, topped Kinston 6-1 in its first contest, but got belted 15-0 in five innings by No. 1 seed Cary Bulls (42-2). Nash Central will have to advance through the loser's bracket Saturday and Sunday to grab the last remaining berth in the East. It will start that march by facing either Jacksonville or Beaufort Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Only the top four teams advance.

Pinetops (Edgecombe County), the No. 12 seed, fell in its opener 9-3 to Cary. There was no report on its second contest of the day.

The seedings so far have held true as the top three (Cary, Rocky Mount, Pikeville), by virtue of their 2-0 records Friday, have all qualified for a state berth.

The Rocky Mount team is coached byHank Jones and Tom Jones. It's comprised of several Gryphon varsity and JV players and even a few Edwards Middle School kids.

Congrats, guys, and good luck in Asheboro! Let's bring a another baseball title back to RM!

Here is Rocky Mount's roster:

Thomas Berry

Benton Moss

Taylor Clontz

Spencer Bell

Carter Varnell

Brandon Amerson

Jeremy Johnson

Parker Helms

Michael Whitehead

Collin Watson

Matthew Berry

Jeremy Trevathan

Elijah Blount

Post 58 in driver's seat

EDENTON - Nash County Post 58's baseball team was slow and methodical - but it got the job done at Historic Hicks Field Tuesday night. It beat Edenton Post 40 17-5 in seven innings in Game 2 of the American Legion Area One East Division semifinals.

A win at Northern Nash tonight will put Post 58 in the finals.

Nash County kept two themes going Tuesday night - scoring in every inning, and winning via the 10-run run rule. And for the13th time in 15 outings, Post 58 scored in double figures.

Several of its players had exceptional outings at the home of not only the Edenton High School Aces, but the Edenton Steamers of the Coastal Plain League. They had to if they tallied 21 hits in just seven innings!

Rocky Mount High School's all-time RBI leader Ben Fish continued doing what he does best - knock in runs. He parlayed three singles and a double into a five-RBI evening. He also scored three times.

Fish and third baseman Mike Williams, who went 3-for-6 last night, had the distinction of coming to bat in five consecutive innings (Nos. 3-7). A rare deed indeed!

Though Xavier Macklin, hitting in the No. 3 spot, was exceptional at the plate going 4-for-5 with a double and four runs scored and strangely, he had no RBI.

Then two of the smallest Nash County players had the biggest blasts of the evening - both coming in the seventh.

Shortstop Wesley Joyner (2-for-4) led off the frame by lifting a high fly ball to left, just inside the foul pole, over the double-decker fence for a solo home run.

After consecutive singles by pinch hitters Gabe Brown and Tyler Clark, leadoff hitter and center fielder T.J. Taylor, who is about 5-foot-7 and 140 pounds (and I am being generous), slammed a line-drive 350-foot shot over the fence in right center for a three-run bomb. Taylor closed out the evening 3-for-6 with four RBI.

But the performance of the night came from pitcher Dillon Cockrell. He had shaky start in the first by giving up a leadoff home run to Post 40's Nikolai Simonson, followed by a single by Tyler Barrington.

But he really settled down from that point on - only allowing one more hit in his six innings of work. He walked just one batter and struck out 11.

The biggest concern for the Post 58 faithful is the status of catcher/pitcher Alex Pearce.

He was beaned twice in Game 1, and last night he was hit twice more - once in the ear hole of his batting helmet in the second - which could be heard all the way back in Rocky Mount! The second time was on the left wrist in the fourth, which was unbelievably questioned by the home plate umpire.

An appeal to the field umpire got Pearce first base, but he was in a lot pain and was pulled from the lineup for Clark. Ironcially, in his last at-bats, he was walked and hit with the bases loaded - giving him two RBI.

I gather X-rays will be taken Wednesday and we may know more about his status this evening.

UPDATE: I just learned that Pearce's wrist is bruised and not broken or fractured. He will be able to pitch Wednesday, but not bat.

Rocky Mount tops Southern Nash for Babe Ruth 14/15U Tourney title

Congrats to the Rocky Mount 14-U Babe Ruth baseball team for winning their conference tournament 8-4 over Southern Nash Monday evening at Nash Central High School.

Despite having only the minimum nine players in attendance, Rocky Mount used a seven-run second inning to give it a comfortable lead early.

Bradley Jackson, who plays for Rocky Mount Academy, got the win for Rocky Mount, while Nolan Farmer was saddled with the loss for Southern.

Many of the Rocky Mount players played at Edwards Middle School last season and will be on the JV squad at Rocky Mount High next spring.

After the game, the Nash County 14-U All-Star team was announced. Yes, the same age group of kids that have had so much success for Nash County this decade. The team begins district play next week in Greenville.

Nash Co. 14/15U Babe Ruth Baseball Tournament
Finals (@ Nash Central HS), Monday

Rocky Mount 8, Southern Nash 4

SN 100 102 0 - 4 8 1
RM 170 000 x - 8 8 2

WP - Bradley Jackson (4IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 5K)
LP - Nolan Farmer (2IP, 8H, 8R, 3ER, 2BB, K)

Leading Hitters:

Southern Nash: Daniel Tyson 3-4, R; Zach Parris 2-3, R; Nolan Farmer 2-3; J.D. Sherrod 1-2, 2R.
Rocky Mount: Bradley Jackson 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI; Ashton Love 1-3, 2B, RBI; James Martin 1-3, RBI; Hunter Watson 1-3, RBI; Spencer Ramsey 1-4, RBI; Tyree Mack 1-3; Lucas Bayless 1-4.

Record: Rocky Mount 12-1

Nash County 14-U All-Star Roster for 2009

Christian Davis, Faith Christian
Jordan Braswell, Faith Christian
J.D. Sherrod, Southern Nash
Evan Brewer, SW Edgecombe
Colby Gilbert, Nash Central
Dillard Rackley, Nash Central
Joey Davis, Nash Central
Spencer Ramsey, Rocky Mount
Bradley Jackson, Rocky Mount
Tyree Mack, Rocky Mount
Adam Bayless, Rocky Mount
Terrance Pittman, Rocky Mount
Hunter Watson, Rocky Mount
Andrew Katkeveck, Rocky Mount

Waiting on a football coach

The Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education met Monday evening with a lot of issues on its plate.

One was to have been the voting on the hiring of Rocky Mount's new head football coach.

But many other personnel matters during these tough economic times, including the shuffling of principals and assistant principals and the resignation of longtime board member Richard Horner, took precendent on the evening.

So, an approval was not forthcoming for the Gryphons' new head man - at least not Monday evening.

And we will have to wait a few more days at least before the school's selection becomes official!

NASH CENTRAL - Also, there is no word on who will fill the shoes of Michael Mosley, who recently retired as head boys basketball coach and athletic director at Nash Central High.

The skinny out there is that those positions will be split and given to two individuals. But which two, Lord only knows. I'll let you know when I find out.

NEW 6 HOOP NEWS: Two NEW 6 Conference boys basketball players who combined to score almost 4,000 points over the last four seasons have seemingly found college homes.

Wilson Fike's Jeremy Atkinson will be signing this week with hometown Barton College, a Div II school, but he had hopes of latching on with a Div. I team. The 6-3 guard, a three-sport athlete for Fike (football, basketball, tennis) scored 2,001 points for the Golden Demons.

Nash Central guard Trey Sumler reportedly will be headed to Western Carolina to continue his hoop career. The No. 2 guard poured in 1,921 points for the Bulldogs.

Of course, the NEW 6 Conference is no more. The name for the league is now the Big East 3-A Conference - beginning with play this fall.

N.C. Wesleyan releases 2009 football schedule

I have to admit, seeing N.C. Wesleyan playing its home games at Northern Nash last season was a bit weird - since its first four seasons were played at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex.

Well, guess what folks? It will remain weird as the Battling Bishops will play season No. 6 at Death Valley, too.

With the RMAC's field conditions still in the "work-in-progress" stage, NCWC will play one more season in Red Oak.

Sadly, the Bishops will play only four games there. They played Methodist twice in a row at home and had six home contests out there last season. But that number will be just four for the 2009 campaign.

Here is the slate for second-year head coach Mark Henninger:

NCWC 2009 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Sept. 5 - at Hampden-Sydney College, 1 p.m.
Sept. 12 - SALISBURY UNIVERSITY, 1 p.m
Sept. 19 - at Emory and Henry College, 1 p.m.

Oct. 3 - FERRUM COLLEGE #, 1 p.m.*

Oct. 10 - at Greensboro College #, 1 p.m.

Oct. 17 - at Christopher Newport University #, 1 p.m.
Oct. 24 - MARYSVILLE COLLEGE #, 1 p.m.%
Oct. 31 - at Methodist Universary #, 1 p.m.

Nov. 7 - SHENANDOAH UNIVERSITY #, 1 p.m.$

Nov. 14 - at Averett University#, 1 p.m.

# - USA South Conference games

% - Homecoming

* - Take a Kid to the Game Day

$ - Parents/Senior Day

Gryphon baseballers participate in State Games

Several Rocky Mount High and area baseball players participated in the annual State Games of North Carolina last weekend.

The high school baseball games, played at UNC-Charlotte and at Hopewell High School, were divided into two categories. Graduated seniors played in a two-game series - pitting 20 players from the East against 20 from the West.

RM's Brian Goodwin and Ben Fish and Northern Nash's Tyler Joyner participated in those games - both played last Wednesday. The East fell in both, however, 6-2 and 4-1.

The other category was a round-robin tourney with rising seniors and juniors playing on teams that represented each of the eight regions of the state as set up by the N.C. High School Athletic Association.

Rocky Mount is in Region 3 and on that squad were Gryphons Hobbs Johnson and Benton Moss, Kyle Shields from Southern Nash and William Prince from Wilson Fike.

Playing in games from Thursday to Saturday, Region 3 beat Region 5 6-1 (Thurs.), defeated Region 7 2-1 (Fri.) and downed Region 1 7-3 (Sat.).

Region 3 advanced to the Gold Medal game Sunday against Region 6, a team from the Charlotte area that featured members of the NCHSAA 4-A state champion Ardrey Kell team.

Region 6 prevailed 7-5.

RMSH Class of '84 Reunion set for September

Having been on my Class of 1976 reunion committee a couple of times, I'm always glad to publicize any Rocky Mount High School class that may be celebrating a reunion.

The Class of 1984, which my youngest brother belongs to, will celebrate's its 25th Anniversary Reunion on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 11 and 12.

There will be an evening social at the Doubletree Hotel at Winstead Ave./US 64, Friday at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, there will be two events.

A picnic lunch will be held at Englewood Park, sometimes known as Stone Park, on Old Mill Rd. from 10 a.m-2 p.m.

That evening, a gathering will be at The Dunn Center for Performing Arts - Garner Lobby on the campus of my alma mater - N.C. Wesleyan College - from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight.

The cost is $50 per person for the weekend.

The Saturday night event is being touted as "An Oscar-Winning Evening with the Stars." Dress will be semi-formal.

Payment is due by August 23, and can be remitted to: RMSH Class of '84 Reunion, c/o Barrett, 1230 Sycamore Street, Rocky Mount, N.C. 27801

I hope it's a blast, guys!

Now I have to get ready for my 35th Anniverasry reunion in a couple of years!

Ughhh!! - 35 years since graduation!

Now, can anyone list a few of the standout athletes from that class?

Feel free to send me some names and their sport(s)! Just click on the comments link!

It's a Boy!

They say good things come in pairs, and it did this past week for new Gryphon head baseball coach Kent Cox.

Tuesday, he got his new job, and Friday, he became a daddy, again.

His wife Emily gave birth at 7:49 a.m. at Nash General Hopspital to son Caleb Patrick. He weighed eight pounds on the nose and measured 20.5 inches. Both mother and son are doing fine. Caleb has an older sister, Kenly, 3.

Kent got the best Father's Day gift ever when Caleb and his mom came home from the hospital on Sunday!

Smiths headed home

Former Northern Nash head football coach and Rocky Mount assistant coach Chad Smith has apparently found new employment close to his hometown of Pickens, S.C.

He reportedly will teach strength and conditioning at Easley High School in Easley, S.C., about eight miles southeast of Pickens in Pickens County in the northwest corner of the state.

For those of you who are geographically challenged, Pickens County is also the home of Clemson, S.C. and of course, Clemson University.

Smith, who last semester taught physical education at Edwards Middle School, will be moving back to an area where his parents have long resided and his wife Hannah's parents have relocated to.

But they'll be taking an extra little bundle back with them. Hannah is expecting their third child - due in November. So Hunter and Ashton will probably have a new playmate by Thanksgiving.

Good luck to the Smiths. We were blessed to have them in our area the last six years.

(Photo/Geoff Neville)

Holt's replacements

Word has gotten out that there are six viable candidates out there for the Rocky Mount head football coaching position. I've got five names and I'll share them with you.

1. Jason Battle - current offensive coordinator of the Gryphons - a RMHS alum

2. J.J. Jones - current co-defensive coordinator of the Gryphons - a RMHS alum

3. Dickie Schock - a former RMHS assistant coach and current head coach at Hillsborough Orange

4. Jack Ginn - the man who started N.C. Wesleyan's football program and current head assistant at Grand Valley State (Michigan) (UPDATE: Ginn took his name out of consideration and is now moving his family with him to Michigan. We wish them all well!)

5. Tom Nelson - current head coach at North Johnston, but was very successful as head coach at Wilson Beddingfield and former assistant at Wilson Hunt

The sixth person is allegedly an assistant coach at Louisburg College, but that person's name has not surfaced.

This is an interesting bunch.

You gotta a preference? Drop a comment to me down below and let me know!

Goodbye, B.W. and Barbara!

I guess all good things have to come to an end.

As most of you know, the B.W. Holt football era is over at Rocky Mount. He and his lovely bride Barbara headed west one last time Tuesday afternoon. The couple moved to their home in Bristol, Tenn.

Wes Bradshaw and I had the great pleasure of enjoying a meal with the Holts Sunday evening. We wanted to do something I know many Rocky Mount fans would have loved to do - properly say goodbye to them as they closed a wonderful six-year period in our midst.

Sure, we turned the clock backward and foreward during our two hours together. From the first day we met them back in July 2003 to their plans for the immediate future.

B.W. had earlier commented to me that he had heard that I had put a poll up on line of the top RMHS football moments coached by him. Barbara said she even voted in the poll and he asked what was the top vote getter so far.

"The New Bern game - double overtime win (35-34)," I said.

"I'm not surprised," he said.

He stated that one game put the spotlight on RM's program for the first time since he'd been here. It put the Gryphon program on the map - breaking the Bears' 29-game home winning streak and the team went on to an undefeated Big East 4-A season.

At some point during the evening, Barbara muses that she has no idea what she's going to do with three sofas! I think now she wishes she had conducted more than one yard sale to get rid of so many duplications brought on by maintaining two households.

But they are looking forward to the future, alright, and football will be a focal point.

Every single Saturday this coming fall, they will be watching one of their former Rocky Mount players hit the gridiron.

Barbara says the weekend calendar is about full. From catching Virginia Tech's Stephan Virgil play ECU in Greenville to seeing Terrell Hudgins go for more receiving records as his Elon squad travels to Wake Forest (Whit Barnes will likely be redshirted).

They may catch Nick Hahula and the N.C. Central Eagles take on Duke. Travel to see B.W.'s alma mater UNC-Pembroke and check out two of his most recent products, Chris Pittman and Nick Harrison.

They have tons of guys playing at Winston-Salem State. The Norfolk State (Kendall Noble)-WSSU matchup will be a must-see at the end of the season.

And they just might make it back to Rocky Mount should former Gryphon QB Jason Tyler start tossing to Keith Strickland when Elizabeth City State comes for the Down East Viking Classic.

So they will stay more busy than ever as they leave Rocky Mount. And that's a good thing. Retirement is for doing what you want to do when you want to do it.

And they'll certainly do that. Not to mention more visits to see the grandkids!

With B.W.'s mother living with his sister in the Fayetteville area, the couple will make regular trips back to eastern North Carolina.

So don't be surprised to see them slip into town a time or two.

But B.W. and Barbara - we will still miss you and we will never forget you!

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!