What will RMHS' state championship rings look like?

Above are prototype shots of what the championship rings Rocky Mount's boys basketball team, coaching staff, managers, statisticians and trainers will likely receive.

The top picture is the top angle, the left side with the person's name with number or position, the other side will show the mascot name, the state with the classification and the year.

The hard part will be raising money to purchase the rings. Just ask the baseball players from two years ago.

Please contact head coach Mike Gainey if have any ideas on how to raise the money for these wondering symbols of accomplishment.

I am really happy for assistant coach Jason Battle. He'll be the only individual who will have one from 2008 and 2010!

Record day of baseball in Roanoke Rapids

Did the Rocky Mount school records ever drop on the baseball field Wednesday in Roanoke Rapids!

On the same field where the Gryphons struggled for a 3-2 win last season, Rocky Mount pounded the homestanding Yellow Jackets 19-0 in five innings.

How potent was Rocky Mount's offense? The most potent - ever!

Its 19 runs tied a school record with the 19-12 victory over New Bern in 1999 (that was very, very windy Saturday afternoon at Gryphon Stadium with the wind blowing out to left center!)

The 21 hits Rocky Mount recorded was the second most in school history. The record was 24 against Northern Nash in 1974.

Rocky Mount slammed five home runs - also a school record. Collins Cuthrell, Matthew Berry, Parker Helms, Spencer Bell and Jeremy Trevathan all went yard. The record had been four - at Nash Central last season (by Ben Fish, Brian Goodwin, Chris Pittman and Carter Varnell).

Cuthrell tied the school record for hits in a game with four (he was 4-for-5) - held by 13 different players - including Cuthrell.

In fact, he was the last Gryphon to actually perform the feat prior to Wednesday - in the conference tiebreaker game at Northern Nash last season (13-1 win). Thomas Berry (vs. South Granville) and Brian Goodwin (vs. Tarboro) were the other RM players who tallied four hits in a game in 2009.

Ironically, all three went 4-for-4 in their respective outings.

2009-10 Big East 3-A All-Conference Basketball Teams

BOYS

1st Team

Jerrel Williams, Wilson Fike

Tashawn Mabry, Rocky Mount

Dominique Holloway, Nash Central

Brandon Ward, Wilson Hunt

Darius McKnight, Rocky Mount

2nd Team

Schuyler Jones, Wilson Fike

Darius Freeman, Northern Nash

Kadeem Williams, Southern Nash

Detrail Jenkins, Rocky Mount

Chris Woodard, Wilson Hunt

Honorable Mention

A.J. Hines, Wilson Fike

Tyrell Vinson, Wilson Hunt

Terrance Copeland, Nash Central

Mitchell Wells, Northern Nash

William Young, Rocky Mount

Josh Sessoms, Southern Nash

Player of the Year - Jerrel Williams, Wilson Fike

Coach of the Year - Brent Secrest, Wilson Fike

GIRLS

1st team

Alexus Cooper, Nash Central

Danita Whitaker, Rocky Mount

Ciara Perry, Wilson Fike

Erica Arrington, Wilson Hunt

Timishia Walker, Rocky Mount

2nd team

Valesha Brown, Wilson Hunt

Jameka Thompson, Wilson Fike

Kadjrah Richardson, Northern Nash

Brittany Clark, Nash Central

Latoya Applewhite, Rocky Mount

Honorable Mention

Aquila Drake, Wilson Fike

Quanisha Brown, Wilson Hunt

Xaviera Bass, Nash Central

Jessica Lyons, Northern Nash

Tia Hudgins, Rocky Mount

Shaleea Burns, Southern Nash

Co-Player of the Year - Danita Whitaker, Rocky Mount

Co-Player of the Year - Ciara Perry, Wilson Fike

Coach of the Year - Pam Gainey, Rocky Mount

Hudgins receives special gift

Elon receiver and former Gryphon Terrell Hudgins and Pro football Hall of Famer Steve Young pose for a shot Monday in Elon. Young was in the Triad area promoting some entrepreneurial ideals and stopped by Elon to give Terrell a football signed by himself and his former San Francisco teammate Jerry Rice.

Terrell broke Rice's NCAA pass receiving records last season.
(Photo/Elon SID office)

Join the pep rally should the Gryphons return triumphant

At least two bus loads of fans will be leaving Rocky Mount High School Saturday afternoon for the state 3-A title game.

The number of fans driving to Chapel Hill may number in the thousands.

Now, if the Gryphons should come home triumphant Saturday night, fans returning to Rocky Mount are charged with one more job.

Drive straight to Rocky Mount's gym and join in the fun of a pep rally for the team. The more the merrier.

If you were in the parking lot at Gryphon Stadium on Saturday, May 31, 2008 when the Rocky Mount baseball team returned home with their championship trophy, you had to be beaming with pride for the boys. Twenty-six years of state title emptiness was subsided.

And when the great one, former head baseball coach Pat Smith, spoke to the crowd as daylight was waning, he was as emotional as I'd ever seen him in his tenure here.

The NCHSAA doesn't allow fans on the floor after a championship game, so fans and players can't exchange hugs and good wishes.

So when this prep rally ends, should RM win, gather on the floor like RM fans traditionally do after every home game, grab a player and give him a handshake or hug.

They will have deserved it!

2010 Big East Baseball Preview Capsules

NASH CENTRAL

Head Coach: Jeff Mizelle (2nd season)
2009 Record: 7-14, 2-8 NEW 6
Returning starters: 6
Strengths: better defense, six starters back
Weaknesses: young hitters, including three sophomores
Toughest non-conference opponent: Smithfield-Selma
Probable starters:
1B - Mason Wallace, Jr.
2B - Matthew Bowling, Sr.
SS - Jordan Taylor, So.
3B - Tyler Mizelle, Sr.
C - Jeremy Sloop, Jr.
LF - Bennett Williford, Jr.
CF - T.J. Taylor, Sr..
RF - Mike Narron, Sr.
Top pitchers: 1. Trellis Ashley, Jr., 2, Jeremy Sloop, Jr.
Coach's expectations: We have to have a good non-conference to get ready for league play. But it won't be easy playing teams like Smithfield-Selma, Tarboro and Roanoke Rapids.

NORTHERN NASH

Head Coach: Eddie Loesner (3rd season)
2009 Record: 17-9, 9-1 NEW 6
Returning starters: 2
Strengths: use to working hard, use to winning
Weaknesses: lack of varsity experience
Toughest non-conference opponent: C.B. Aycock
Probable starters:
1B - Madison Mayo, Jr.
2B - Drew Smith, So.
SS - Luke Joyner, So.
3B - Jeremy Lucas, Jr.
C - Grant Stallings, Sr.
LF - Fuller Weatherly, Jr.
CF - Mackenzie Mayo, Jr.
RF - Hunter Watson, Fr.
Top pitchers: 1. Brandon Denton, Sr., 2. Jeremy Lucas, Jr.
Coach's expectations: No reason we can't win if we played hard; we must play with focus; we can't worry about the guys we lost, so we have to get it done with the guys we have and play to win.

ROCKY MOUNT

Head Coach: Kent Cox (first season)
2009 Record: 20-3, 9-1 NEW 6
Returning starters: 7
Strengths: pitching and defense, senior leadership
Weaknesses: hitting - losing the school's best-ever RBI man (Ben Fish, 82) and top hit man (Brian Goodwin, 126)
Toughest non-conference opponent: Ardrey Kell, Greenville Rose
Probable starters:
1B - Matthew Berry, Jr.
2B - Michael Whitehead, Sr.
SS - Collins Cuthrell, Sr.
3B - Spencer Bell, Sr.
C - Thomas Berry, Jr.
LF - Jeremy Trevathan, Jr./Matt Williams, Jr./Taylor Clontz, Jr.
CF - Parker Helms, Sr.
RF - Benton Moss, Sr/Hobbs Johnson, Sr..
Top pitchers: 1. Hobbs Johnson, Sr., 2. Benton Moss, Jr.
Coach's expectations: We hope to repeat as conference champions and make the state playoffs. We have a target on our backs. We'll have average speed, so we won't be stealing a ton of bases.

SOUTHERN NASH

Head Coach: Jeff Flowers (9th season)
2009 Record: 8-13, 3-7 NEW 6
Returning starters: 4
Strengths: speed on the bases, No. 1 pitcher
Weaknesses: young, a lot of kids in new spots, four sophomores on the varsity
Toughest non-conference opponent: Beddingfield
Probable starters:
1B - Chris Martin, Jr.
2B - Josh Barnes, Jr.
SS - Luke Mercer, Jr.
3B - Tyler Jenkins, Sr.
C - Daniel Tyson, Jr.
LF - Tevin Boykin, Soph.
CF - Zack Parris, Soph.
RF - J.B. Sherrod, Soph.
Top pitchers: 1. Kyle Shields, Sr., 2. Daniel Tyson, Jr.
Coach's expectations: Going to try to improve throughout the season. We want to be better in May than we were in March. Our young kids will have to learn as they go. It is a rebuilding year.
NOTE: Southern is playing only 20 regular season games and is the only Big East team not playing in an Easter tournament this season.

WILSON FIKE

Head Coach: Will Flowers (29th season)
2009 Record: 14-9, 6-4 NEW 6
Returning starters: 3
Strengths: pitching (three seniors)
Weaknesses: experience
Toughest non-conference opponent: North Johnston
Probable Starters:
1B - Dustin Edwards, Soph.
2B - Matthew Owens, Jr.
SS - William Prince, Sr./Michael McLawhorn, Sr.
3B - Mitchell Wheeler, Sr.
C - Jackson Pardue, Jr./Jordan Crumpler, Fr.
LF - Richard Hinton, Fr.
CF - Daniel Moore, Sr..
RF - Cullen Carter, Sr.
Top pitchers: 1. William Prince, Sr., 2. Mitchell Wheeler, Sr.
Coach's expectations: I expect us to make a run at the conference title and go deep into the playoff. But this is the youngest team I have had in years and we may have to reload a bit.

WILSON HUNT

Head Coach: Jon Smith (3rd season)
2009 Record: 17-6, EEC member
Returning starters: 7
Strengths: six seniors, experience, chance to be real good offensively
Weaknesses: will rely on pitchers to deliver solid performances
Toughest non-conference opponent: C.B. Aycock
Probable Starters:
1B - Ches Lamm, Jr./Deion Doubledeen, Jr.
2B - Cody Britt, Sr.
SS - Zack Lee, Sr.
3B - Zach Houchins, Sr.
C - Kyle Pittman, Sr.
LF - Seth Wiggs, Sr.
CF - Jacob Page, Soph.
RF - Avery Harper, Jr.
Top pitchers: 1. Ches Lamm, Jr., 2. Zack Lee, Sr.
Coach's expectations: We feel like we have good players who want to finish first in the conference.

To the RMHS radio sponsors, thank you!

Hopefully, a few thousand Rocky Mount residents will make the trek to Chapel Hill to support the Gryphons in the NCHSAA 3-A state boys basketball championship game against Concord in the Dean Dome Saturday evening.

It is unrealistic to think that the city will just shut down for this event. There will be no rolling up the streets here.

That's why I am so glad that a group of area businesses have made it possible for those who cannot attend, or those who are, say, Rocky Mount alums that may be 3,000 miles away (like former RM athletes Bo McDiarmid, Class of '75, and Danielle Powell, Class of '92, who both live in the Pacific Northwest) may listen to the game - live!

Jammin' 99.3 FM WZAX Radio is not only broadcasting the game live over the airwaves, but it is streaming it live on the Internet. The link to the broadcast is: 99.3 Jammin 99 - WZAX

So to this glorious list of sponsors, Gryphon Nation thanks you!

Walt's Clothing

First Class Limo

Don Bulluck Chevrolet

Big Griff Bailbonding

Pizza Inn

Western Sizzlin'

Hester, Moore and Tucker Law Firm

Carolina Plumbing Supply

Batts, Batts and Bell Law Firm

Hardee's Restaurants

Edmondson Accounting Services

Impact Invitational results

Here are the results of the 5th Annual IMPACT Invitational Baseball Tournament held Saturday.

Rocky Mount, in its third edition of the event, dropped to 1-2 in the tournament all-time after a 7-2 loss to Ardrey Kell.

Kell, the defending 4-A state champion and is loaded with college-bound talent (six players have already signed and two more about to commit), dropped its first two games of the season before meeting the Gryphons.

5th Annual IMPACT Invitational
High School Baseball Tournament
Saturday - March 6, 2010
USA Baseball Complex & Durham Athletic Park

IMPACT Invite Scores

Ragsdale 6, JH Rose 2
Pinecrest 10 Providence 0
Ardrey Kell 7 Rocky Mount 2
West Rowan 7. Northwood 1
Watauga 5, Graham 0
CB Aycock 8, Smithfield-Selma 4
Southern Alamance 10, Middle Creek 9
Forsyth Country Day 14, Whiteville 3
DH Conley 8, Orange 5

Gryphons are the Big East baseball coaches' choice for 2010

Rocky Mount has been elected as the favorite to win the 2010 Big East Conference baseball regular season title in a vote of the league's coaches this week.

The Gryphons, going for their fourth straight 20-win season, received five first place votes, the most they could receive (coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.) RMHS finished with 25 points.

RMSH has won or shared a conference title the last four seasons.

New kid on the block, Wilson Hunt, got the other first place nod and garnered 21 points. The Warriors were 17-6 last season and were the third seed in their old league, the Eastern Carolina Conference. They are led by third-year head coach Jon Smith.

Wilson Fike finished third in the voting with 17 points, followed by Northern Nash (12 points), Southern Nash (9) and Nash Central (6).

Rocky Mount, Northern Nash, Wilson Fike, Southern Nash and Nash Central all made the playoffs last season with the Northern going the furthest - bowing out in two games in the NCHSAA 3-A East finals series.

2010 Preseason Big East 3-A Baseball Coaches Poll

1. Rocky Mount (5) - 25 pts.

2. Wilson Hunt (1) - 21 pts.

3. Wilson Fike - 17 pts.

4. Northern Nash - 12 pts.

5. Southern Nash - 9 pts.

6. Nash Central - 6 pts.

(Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team. Five points for first place, four points for second place, etc.)

2009 NEW 6 3-A Baseball Standings (FINAL)
School	Conf.	Pct.	Overall	Pct.
Rocky Mount	9-1	.900	20-3	.870
Northern Nash	9-1	.900	17-9	.654
Wilson Fike	6-4	.600	14-9	.609
Southern Nash	3-7	.300	8-13	.381
Nash Central	2-8	.200	7-14	.333
SW Edgecombe	1-9	.100	8-15	.348

Alas, the wives have the last say!

My good friend Wes Bradshaw and I were talking the other day and he remarked "imagine if the sons of Sonny Wooten, Ricky Joyner and Bill Merrified had gone to Rocky Mount, how many more state titles they might have won!"

That comment came after he had just left one of East Carolina's weekend baseball games with visiting South Carolina - where all three sons had spots in the dugouts.

Ironically, all three daddies earned state titles for the Gryphons. But sadly for RMHS, none of these guys decided to live in Rocky Mount.

Wooten was a stalwart for the 1973 squad that won a title for Jerry Carter. Merrifield and Joyner played for the George Kelley-coached 1980 team that claimed the 4-A state crown.

Now their sons, all three all-state performers in high school, are at the college level.

John Wooten, who led the state in home runs coming out of Eastern Wayne last year, is a freshman starter for the Pirates and currently leads them in home runs. Tyler Joyner, who piled up 30 wins hurling for the Northern Nash Knights, is in ECU's bullpen as a freshman.

Whit Merrifield, named for one of his dad's best friends, former Gryphon standout athlete Dee Whitley, is a junior outfielder for the Gamecocks, has been one of USC's most consistent performers the last two seasons. He played at Davie County.

I really shudder to think If their wives had made these dadies stay in Rocky Mount!


(Pictured, top to bottom, John Wooten, Tyler Joyner, Whit Merrifield)

North Carolina Wesleyan announces plans for 2010 Athletics Gala

The North Carolina Wesleyan Department of Athletics has announced plans for its 2010 Athletics Gala to be held on Thursday, May 6 at 6:15 p.m. in the Dunn Center. In addition to both silent and live auctions, the evening will feature Notre Dame head men's basketball coach Mike Brey as the keynote speaker.

Brey is currently in his 10th season on the Irish sidelines and 15th season overall, having amassed over 300 coaching victories in his career. In 14 years as head coach, he has won three conference titles and advanced 12 of his teams to postseason play, including seven to the NCAA tournament.

Brey's name has become synonymous with Notre Dame basketball
and success. His tenure has seen him earn BIG EAST Coach of the Year honors on two occasions (2007, 2008) after leading the Irish to one conference championship, five NCAA tournament berths, and a trip to the Sweet 16. He has also mentored two BIG EAST Player of the Year honorees in the form of Troy Murphy and Luke Harangody.

Prior to making the trip to South Bend, Brey served as head coach at the University of Delaware from 1995-2000 and assistant coach alongside Duke's Mike Krzyzewski from 1987-1995. His Delaware stint saw Brey garner America East Co-Coach of the Year honors in 1997, while his Blue Devil tenure resulted in six NCAA Final Four appearances and two National Championships.

Brey began his coaching career as an assistant to legendary coach Morgan Wootten at DeMatha High School, where he also played for two seasons. He spent five years as an assistant at his alma mater before beginning his collegiate coaching career at Duke. In 2003, he was called back to DeMatha to receive its Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Brey played collegiately at Northwestern Louisiana State (now Northwestern State) and George Washington University. In his final season at GWU, he served as team captain and earned Most Valuable Player honors. He graduated from George Washington in 1982 with a degree in physical education.

Known for his contagious enthusiasm, Brey possesses a true passion for the game and genuinely cares for the young men he coaches. His positive demeanor and willingness to become involved resulted in the veteran coach traveling to Kuwait in May of 2007 as part of Operation Hardwood IV, an event sponsored by the United Service Organization (USO) and Armed Forces Entertainment. Most recently in 2008, he was the recipient of the inaugural Skip Prosser award named after the late Wake Forest head coach and one of Brey's closest friends in the coaching profession.

Currently in his third year on the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Rules Committee, Brey also serves on the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Board of Directors. He is married to the former Tish Schlapo, and the couple has two children: Kyle (22) and Callie (19).

Brey's keynote speech will highlight an exciting evening of events designed to provide support for our Battling Bishop student-athletes.

The evening dedicated to “Spreading the Bishop Pride” will begin at 6:15 p.m. with a reception and silent auction in the Mims Gallery followed by dinner in the Garner Lobby at 7:00 p.m. In addition to Brey’s address, a viewing of Wesleyan’s 2009-2010 highlight video will be offered in the Garner Lobby, which is also the site of the always entertaining live auction. Various auction items will include vacation packages, autographed sports memorabilia, golf outings, and jewelry, to name a few.

Tickets will be sold for $100/individual and $175/couple. Tables are also offered for purchase, and sponsorship opportunities are available. All proceeds will go directly to the North Carolina Wesleyan Department of Athletics.

For more information and/or to reserve tickets, please contact Martha Proctor by phone at 252-985-5213 or by email at mproctor@ncwc.edu. Interested supporters may also contact Director of Athletics John Thompson by phone at 252-985-5218 or by email at jthompson@ncwc.edu.

UNC's Goodwin gets first collegiate hit Sunday

CHAPEL HILL - It took three days for it to come, but it came in style.

Former Rocky Mount centerfielder Brian Goodwin got to start in UNC's baseball season opener Friday - part of a three-game set with visiting George Washington. The freshman started in right field.

After a 6-5, 10-inning win on Friday where he went 0-for-4 with an RBI, Goodwin was 0-for-4 in the Tar Heels' 4-2 victory Saturday.

UNC closed out the series with a 6-3 triumph over the Colonials on Sunday and Goodwin finally got that elusive first hit. He was 1-for-3 with that historic hit being a triple in the third inning that scored two runs.

"So relieved," Goodwin said to TarHeelsBlue.com Sunday. "It felt like it had been forever since I'd been on base."

Goodwin is Rocky Mount's all-time leader in hits with 126.

North Carolina (3-0) will continue their 2010 campaign Tuesday hosting in-state foe UNC Greensboro (3-0) at 3 p.m. at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels will entertain Maine in another three-game series this weekend.

Top Rocky Mount hoop scorers meet

Rocky Mount senior forward Tashawn Mabry (left) got the opportunity to meet Gryphon legend Phil Ford (right) when the Rocky Mount varsity boys basketball team took in a Charlotte Bobcats game at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte recently.

Ford, who is an assistant coach with the Bobcats, was the school's all-time leading scorer (2,093 points) until Mabry moved passed the N.C. Sports Hall of Famer last month.

Mabry has scored 2,242 points going into Wednesday's Big East Tournament semifinal game with Nash Central.

Below is a team shot with Ford on the court. (Photos contributed)

Smith named head football coach at Easley High (S.C.)

Chad Smith (above, middle), who coached football at Rocky Mount and Northern Nash over the last last decade, will open this new decade as head coach of the school he likely didn't care for in his high school playing days.

Smith and his family returned to his native Pickens County, S. C. last summer when he took a strength and conditioning teaching position at Easley High School - the main rival of his alma mater Pickens High (Class of 1997).

This past month, Smith, 31, got the second head coaching position of his young career when he was promoted to head football coach at Easley High.

Easley High is the county's largest school (approximately 1,600 students) and plays in the South Carolina High School League's Division 4-A in Region I. The school's colors are kelly green and white and the mascot in the Green Wave.

For the record, Easley has the lead in the series with Smith's old high school, 35-18-1. But the Blue Flames, Pickens' nickname, handed Easley a 37-17 loss last season. Easley was 1-10 last season and 0-11 the year before. Its last winning season was in 2006 (7-4).

Smith's athletic director Chris Carter had some simple advice for him.

"If you want to be happy for an hour, eat a steak. If you want to be happy for a day, play a round of golf. If you want to be happy for a week, go on a cruise. If you want to be happy for a month, buy a new car. If you want to be happy for a year, win the lottery.

“But if you want to be happy the rest of your life, beat Pickens every time you play them!"

Easley's principal did have some more good news for Smith just after he was announced as head coach. Like at Rocky Mount, Easley is having a new campus built - due to be opened in the fall of 2011. Ironically, it will cost almost the same amount - to the dollar - as RMHS' new digs - a hair under $38 million.

But budgetary issues had held up whether the new school would get a new football stadium. The principal, right after announcing him as head coach, gave him the good news that a new stadium will be built at the new campus.

Congrats Chad, Hannah, Hunter, Ashton and newborn Shepherd!

Former NN star Moody enjoys the moment

Northern Nash's all-time leading scorer Carisse Moody (top) is honored at center court at Friday's Northern Nash-Rocky Mount basketball game. She is escorted by her former coach Grover Battle. A plaque declaring her accomplishments (below), was revealed at the ceremony. (Photos/David Hahula) -

Rocky Mount-Ardrey Kell to tangle in IMPACT Invitational

For the third straight season, the Rocky Mount varsity baseball team will be participating in the Impact Invitational High School Baseball Tournament which will be held this spring on Saturday, March 6.

After starting out at Wilson's Fleming Stadium, then moving to the USA Baseball Complex in Cary, the event, with 18 of the best high school baseball teams in the state in the field, will be splitting fields with USA Baseball and the old Durham Bull Park, now called Durham Athletic Park.

The Gryphons will face the No. 1 preseason team in the 4-A ranks - defending NCHSAA champion Ardrey Kell. Game time will be 4:30 p.m. at Field 2 at the USA Baseball Complex.

Rocky Mount is ImpactBaseball's No. 1 preseason team in the 3-A ranks.

IMPACT Invitational
High School Baseball Tournament
Saturday - March 6, 2010
USA Baseball Complex & Durham Athletic Park

The annual IMPACT Invite is the most scouted high school baseball event in North Carolina every spring.

*Admission: $8 (covers all games)
*Concessions: Will be run by USA Baseball.
*NO pets allowed passed gate.

*USA Baseball Complex Address: 200 Brooks Park Lane, Cary

*Durham Athletic Park Address: Corner of Washington and W. Corporation Streets, Durham

IMPACT Invitational Schedule

USA Complex

Field 2
11:00 AM: Ragsdale vs. J.H. Rose
1:45 PM: Pinecrest vs. Providence
4:30 PM: Ardrey Kell vs. Rocky Mount

Field 3
11:15 AM: Northwood vs. West Rowan
2:00 PM: Watauga vs. Graham
4:45 PM: C.B. Aycock vs. Smithfield-Selma

Durham Athletic Park (Former Durham Bulls Park)
11:00 AM: Southern Alamance vs. Middle Creek
1:45 PM: Forsyth Country Day vs. Whiteville
4:30 PM: D.H. Conley vs. Orange

Mabry tops the Twin Counties

I guess it was the perfect way to end his final regular season game.

Rocky Mount senior Tashawn Mabry scored 32 points in the Gryphons' 90-63 win at Northern Nash Friday. And that performance moved him past Tarboro's Marquetta Dickens (N.C. State) as the Twin Counties' all-time leading scorer at 2,242 points.

Both Rocky Mount teams ended up as Big East Conference regular season champs.

Between the games Friday, one the players on that all-time scoring list was honored - former Lady Knight center Carisse Moody.

She was especially happy that the Northern girls upset Rocky Mount 36-35. I will have an article on her on her return to her alma mater later next week.

Both Rocky Mount teams will return to action in the Big East Tournament semifinals Wednesday (boys) and Thursday (girls) at Wilson Hunt.

TWIN COUNTIES' ALL-TIME LEADING SCORERS

1. 2,242 – Tashawn Mabry, Rocky Mount, ‘10 - updated (32 pts. vs. Northern Nash)

2.. 2,241 – Marquetta Dickens, Tarboro, ‘03
3. 2,207 – Tynesha Lewis, SW Edgecombe, ‘97
4. 2,131 – Alphelia Jenkins, SW Edgecombe, ‘81
5. 2,093 – Phil Ford, Rocky Mount, ‘74
6. 1,921 - Trey Sumler, Nash Central, ‘09
7. 1,857 - Carisse Moody, Northern Nash, ‘99
T8. 1,760 – Monique Hudson, SW Edgecombe, ‘07
T8. 1,760 - Marcia Richardson, Northern Nash, '80

10. 1,727 – Pam Gorham, SW Edgecombe, ‘88
11. 1,644 - K.J. Cooper, North Edgecombe, '08

12. 1,616 – Bridget Jenkins, SW Edgecombe, ‘82
13. 1,600 – Kim Taylor, Rocky Mount, ’83
14. 1,516 – Jontae Sherrod, Tarboro, ‘07
15. 1,515 – Alyse Hall, Southern Nash, ‘09
16. 1,482 – Terrie Condery, SW Edgecombe, ‘88
17. 1,472 – Danielle Powell, Rocky Mount, ‘92
18. 1,413 – Phyllis Gorham, SW Edgecombe, ‘88
19. 1,402 – Charles “Buck” Williams, Rocky Mount, ‘78

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mabry nearing one more area milestone

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TWIN COUNTIES' ALL-TIME LEADING SCORERS

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

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

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

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

Artist rendering of the new Rocky Mount High School

(click to enlarge)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Moody to be recognized by Northern Nash

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

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

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

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

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

Bishops picked to finish third in USA South baseball race

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2010 USA South Baseball Coaches Poll

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

Macklin to play for CPL's Asheboro Copperheads

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

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

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

He was named Area I Player of the Year.

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