RMHS-Bertie football series

The last time Rocky Mount played Bertie in football, the Falcons got their only win in their short-lived series, 27-21.

Now, the Gryphons have avenged that loss of 30 years ago!

Here is the series lineup between Rocky Mount and Bertie which the Gryphons now lead 6-1!

2010 - Rocky Mount 26, Bertie 7
1980 - Bertie 27, Rocky Mount 21
1979 - Rocky Mount 43, Bertie 22
1978 - Rocky Mount 19, Bertie 0
1977 - Rocky Mount 26, Bertie 6
1976 - Rocky Mount 47, Bertie 26
1975 - Rocky Mount 20, Bertie 8

But give the Bertie program great credit. It has won two state titles (1995 3-A, 2000 3-A) since the two teams last played and the Roy L. Bond Stadium, named after the late coach who led those Falcons teams to those championships, is 100 times better looking than it was the last time I traveled to Windsor for a football game.

New bleachers, a re-sodded field (thanks to baseball and assistant football coach Randy Whitaker), new scoreboard and new concession stand - all make the Falcons' refurbishhed home so inviting for visiting teams.

And there is a Gryphon walking the Bertie sideline now. Head trainer Billy McCallop, who has had several stops on the football training express (more recently Hertford County), is a Gryphon alum and learned his trade at the hands of Hall of Fame Rocky Mount head trainer Bernie Capps.

Ironically, there have been some other RMHS connections to Bertie over the years.

Former Rocky Mount principal (my principal) Elton Newbern taught there in the early sixties. Ray Durham, a former head football coach at Rocky Mount, taught and coached there before coming to RMHS in 1967 as an assistant.

Even recently-retired Rocky Mount band director Hosea Brower taught at Bertie just before coming here to lead the Gryphon Marching Band.

It just took us 30 years for us to get re-connected on the football field.


Rocky Mount 26, Bertie 7

Rocky Mount 7 6 6 7 — 26
Bertie 0 0 0 7 — 7

First Quarter
RM - Damien Richardson 1 run (Fernando Alfaro kick), 9:12

Second Quarter
RM - Miguel Valdez 67 pass from Diandre Harris (kick failed), 7:03

Third Quarter
RM - Rodquez Greene 72 fumble return (run failed), 6:24

Fourth Quarter
RM - Damien Strickland 12 pass from Tevin Taylor (Alfaro kick), 11:17
B - Pashon Cherry 66 fumble return (Johnathan Wilson kick),:47.4


RM B
First downs 10 12
Rushes-yards 30-129 49-181
Passing 3-5-0 2-2-0
Passing yards 82 14
Total yards 211 195
Fumbles lost 2 5
Penalties 6-36 5-35

Individual statistics

RUSHING – RM: Nah’jerrelle Graves 8-59, Damien Richardson 3-44, Mason King 4-29, Elijah Blount 1-5, Michael Hines 2-4, Rodquez Greene 4-(-1), Diandre Harris 2-(-4), Tevin Taylor 6-(-7). B: Corbin Rascoe 12-73, Erik Bowen 12-44, Darius Moody 9-34, Dontai Barnes 1-19, Malcolm Cherry 8-8, Dequan Perry 1-3, Johnathan Wilson 5-0.

PASSING – RM: Diandre Harris 1-3-0 67, Tevin Taylor 2-2- 15. B: Malcolm Cherry 2-2-0 14.

RECEIVING – RM: Miguel Valdez 1-67, Damien Strickland 1-12, Damien Richardson 1-3. B: Pashon Cherry 1-11, Desmon Askew 1-3.

Weekend review

Gryphon and UNC-bound senior Benton Moss got to pitch one inning of the Under Armour All-Star Baseball Game at Wrigley Field in Chicago Saturday. Playing for the East in his fifth-inning adventure, he prepares to send a pitch to home plate.

Moss, who has an astounding 23-2 career record on the mound for the Gryphons, needs just six victories to become school's career leader in wins. (Photo/Ashley Moss)


RMHS junior Nah'jerrelle Graves (32) runs through Garner's defense Saturday in the opening game of the HighSchoolOT.com Jamboree at Southeast Raleigh High School. Garner posted two late second-half scores on a 20-yard pass and a six-yard run for the Gryphons to fall 12-0.

Rocky Mount opens the regular season Friday as it renews a rivalry that's been dormant for 31 years as it travels to one-time conference foe Bertie. Game time is 7:30 p.m. (Photo/HighSchoolOT.com)

WZAX 99.3 FM High School Football "Game of the Week"

WZAX Jammin 99.3 FM will provide a high school football "Game of the Week" each Friday of the upcoming football season - beginning Friday when Northern Nash travels to Wilson Beddingfield.

The broadcast, which at last reference will include Paul Andre and Bob Maloney doing the play-by-play and color, respectively, will begin each game night's coverage at 7 p.m.

The Beddingfield faithful will happy to know that its games will be covered six times this season to lead the schools that will be aired.

Those of you who live outside the range of the station can listen online at http://jammin99.3.com

Here is the complete 2010 season's coverage. Games involving Nash County schools will be in bold.

Aug. 20 - Northern Nash @ Wilson Beddingfield
Aug. 27 - Wilson Hunt @ Wilson Fike
Sept. 3 - Southern Nash @ Wilson Beddingfield
Sept. 10 - Wilson Hunt @ SW Edgecombe
Sept. 17 - C.B. Aycock @ Wilson Fike
Sept. 24 - Wilson Beddingfield @ Greene Central
Oct. 1 - Kinston @ Wilson Beddingfield
Oct. 8 - Southern Nash @ Wilson Fike
Oct. 15 - Wilson Beddingfield @ Farmville Central
Oct. 22 - SW Edgecombe @ Tarboro
Oct. 29 - Northern Nash @ Wilson Fike
Nov. 5 - Tarboro @ Wilson Beddingfield
Nov. 12 - NCHSAA playoffs - TBA

RMHS band director retires

One faithful member of the Rocky Mount football support staff won't be on the sidelines this season.

Rocky Mount High School band director Hosea Brower has retired from Nash-Rocky Mount Schools after 20 years at RMHS and over 30-plus years of teaching music across the state.

Brower replaced the much-beloved John Sykes as the band's director in 1990 when Sykes retired and Brower came over from then-Edwards Junior High.

So the Gryphon band has had just two directors in 40 years. Too bad football coaches don't have that type tenure.

Brower will be sorely miss by the Rocky Mount faithful.

But worry not, a new man is on the job.

Dominique Reynolds, who comes to Rocky Mount High from the Richmond, Va. area, has taken over for Brower. We hope Reynolds can continue the tradition of fine marching bands at RMHS.

And one more thing.

Someone will have to teach him how "I'm so glad I go to Senior High" goes!

Hudgins watch

Former RMHS standout Terrell Hudgins had his biggest play of his short pro career with the Dallas Cowboys when he caught a 40-yard pass from reserve quarterback Matt Nichols Thursday evening.

The Cowboys (1-1), in their preseason home opener, lost to the Oakland Raiders 17-9.

Dallas will now pack its bags for a two-week stay in Oxnard, Calif. before retuning the Dallas for the start of the regular season.

If Hudgins continues to show these flashes of brilliance, how can he not make their 53-man final roster.

To watch Hudgins' catch. click here!

RMHS gridiron coaching changes

It never fails. Changes are inevitible, even in the best of high school football programs.

At Rocky Mount High, it's no different.

There have been coaching changes on second-year head coach Dickie Schock's staff. Let's look at the additions.

A.B. Whitley, the defensive coaching specialist who can sport three, count them, three state championship rings, will be helping the Gryphons stop opponents in 2010.

His influence can't hurt. After all, Rocky Mount gave up 20 points a games in 2009, almost 10 points more a contest than it did in 2008 when it allowed just 9.8 per contest.

Whitley, who helped North Edgecombe (1-A: 1994,1997), and more recently Tarboro (2-A, 2009), win state titles, has joined the Gryphon coaching staff. Whitley has also coached at Northern Nash and SouthWest Edgecombe.

How many people can claim that have had a hand in guiding five of the Twin Counties' seven high school football program?

Back in the Gryphon gridiron fold is Jason Battle, the one-time three-sport RMHS athlete who took a year break from coaching football last season.

Sadly, gone after just one season is Will Harrell. But I can't blame him for leaving. He had two motivating influences - his dad and a new school!

As mentioned in an earlier blog entry, Will will be joining his dad Clark, who is the head coach at Franklinton High School.

He will be coaching the defense for the Rams. Just like RMHS, Franklinton is also building a new campus, but it is expected to be open the next school year.

Gryphons picked to place third in Big East gridiron race

STANHOPE - Rocky Mount was voted to finish third in Big East Conference football in a vote of the league's head coaches Wednesday morning.

The vote came during the league's annual coaches' meeting held at Southern Nash High School. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.

Leading the balloting was Southern Nash. The Firebirds, who return two 1,000-yard rushers in Tracy Coppedge and Terron Huffman, received four first-place votes and gathered 24 points. Southern, which finished third in the league last season, made it to the NCHSAA 3-AA eastern finals where it lost to South Johnston in the final minutes of the game.

Coming in second was Wilson Hunt with two first-place votes and 22 total points. The Warriors, the defending conference champions, fell to Southern Nash in the second round of last year's playoffs. They return the league's second-leading rusher in senior Caleb Driver.

Southern and Hunt combined to get every first- or second-place vote by the coaches.

The Gryphons, who will face the 2010 season without the school's all-time leading rusher (Marquavis Alston) and the program's third-leading passer (Collins Cuthrell), placed third in the voting with 15 points.

One conference coach voted Rocky Mount to come in last in the league. Two voted it second and two voted it to place third. RMHS was the runner-up to Hunt in the conference race last season (7-5, 4-1) and a second-round 3-AA playoff victim to South Johnston.

Northern Nash, which won just two games last season under first-year head coach Mickey Crouch, finished one point behind Rocky Mount in fourth with 14. The Knights received four third-place nods and one coach had them fourth.

Nash Central received nine points and placed fifth, Wilson Fike, which has only three starters back for the 2010 season, was sixth with six points.


2010 BIG EAST 3-A CONFERENCE PRESEASON FOOBALL COACHES POLL

1. Southern Nash (4) - 24 pts.
2. Wilson Hunt (2) - 22 pts.
3. Rocky Mount - 15 pts.
4. Northern Nash - 14 pts.
5. Nash Central - 9 pts.
6. Wilson Fike - 6 pts.

Southern, Northern in same event Friday

Nash County will be buzzing with prep football by this weekend.

While Rocky Mount and Nash Central will open their football preseasons in the same event, so will Northern Nash and Southern Nash, but a day earlier.

The two will be playing Friday in the annual North Johnston High School Football Jamboree in Kenly.

Along with the Knights and the Firebirds, the field will include host North Johnston, South Johnston, new Corinth-Holders' JV squad, Wilson Beddingfield, North Duplin, Dixon, Rosewood, Spring Creek and Louisburg.

It's at Louisburg where former longtime Rocky Mount assistant coach Chris Lee will begin his second season as head coach.

Play is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. with the teams using a round-robin format.

Southern Nash will kick off its regular season campaign with a visit to Franklinton on Friday, Aug. 20. Northern Nash will open on the same day against Wilson Beddingfield on the road.

Speaking of Franklinton High, that's the destination of former Rocky Mount assistant coach Will Harrell. Harrell, who spent one season with the Gryphons, will join his father, Red Rams' head coach Clark Harrell, on the staff and will be coaching the defense.

Gryphons make 2010 debut in HighSchoolOT.com event Saturday

RALEIGH - Rocky Mount will open its 2010 football season Saturday by participating in the 2nd Annual HighSchoolOT.com Jamboree. It will be held at Southeast Raleigh High School and this year the field of teams has been expanded to feature 10 teams in five games.

Nash Central will also be participating in the event.
Last season was the first year that Southeast Raleigh hosted the event. The format of the scrimmage will be a bit different.

Instead of teams getting the ball for 10 plays and rotating, the entire scrimmage is played like a normal game. Teams have four downs to get a first down, score, or punt the ball away.

The only real difference will be kicking plays. They will not be live as NCHSAA rules does not allow them in a preseason scrimmage.

Like last season's scrimmage, teams from Wake County will be placed up against teams from outside of the county. A running score will be kept throughout the night. The Wake County schools won the event last year.

This year, vendors will be at the event providing additional entertainment for spectators. HighSchoolOT.com, WRAL, and 99.9 FM The Fan ESPN Radio, along with VYPE High School Sports Magazine will be on hand to provide coverage of the event.

TGI Friday's is a sponsor of this year's event.

Here is the schedule for the 2nd Annual HighSchoolOT.com Jamboree:

3:00 p.m. - Garner vs. Rocky Mount
4:15 p.m. - Broughton vs. Clayton
5:30 p.m. - Middle Creek vs. Nash Central
6:45 p.m. - Wake Forest-Rolesville vs. West Johnston
8:00 p.m.- Southeast Raleigh vs. Southeast Guilford

Busy week at Rocky Mount High

For a preseason sports week, it will be a busy one at Rocky Mount High School.

Monday (today), a Mandatory Parent and Player meeting for fall athletes will be held at 6 p.m. in the main gym. The first gathering of the season for the Rocky Mount Athletic Booster Club will take place in the gym immediately after the first meeting.

It is also the first day of tryouts for the girls tennis team. They will be held from 3:30-5:30 p.m. by head coach Barry Nethercutt at the Sunset Park courts.

On Tuesday, the fall sports (football, volleyball, cross country, girls tennis, boys soccer) picture day will take place at the Nash St. football practice field at 3 p.m.

Wednesday, the Big East Conference will hold its annual coaches meeting at Southern Nash High School beginning at 9:30 a.m. Also, the league's football coaches will face area media and vote on the preseason pick to win the conference.

Saturday, the Gryphon football team will hit the field in its first scrimmage - a date with Garner at the HighSchoolOT.com Jamboree at Southeast Raleigh High School.

The two will meet in the first scrimmage of the day in the event at 3 p.m.

Area football fans will also get to see the Nash Central Bulldogs in action directly after RMHS leaves the field. Here are the lineups for the rest of the event: Middle Creek vs. Nash Central; Wake Forest-Rolesville vs. West Johnston, Southeast Raleigh vs. Southeast Guilford.

Hudgins makes pro debut

Being a lifelong Washington Redskins fan, it's normally pretty hard for me to sing the praises of any Dallas Cowboy.

And I'm not today, but I will recognize that former RMHS three-sport athlete Terrell Hudgins got some primetime action in Sunday night's NFL Hall of Fame Game pitting the Cowboys and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Ranked real low on the Cowboys' depth chart at wide receiver, Hudgins caught two passes for 17 yards, including a 12-yarder for a first down.

For someone that low down the totem poll, you have to make plays when given the opportunity to do so.

Hudgins did that, especially on his diving grab on his first reception.

Good on ya' Terrell - and I hope you get many more opportunities to show the Cowboys your wares.

And since he was in the same stadium as the man whose all-time college receiving records he broke (NFL Hall of Fame inductee Jerry Rice), I will have to find out if he got to meet him.

Earlier this year, Hall of Fame QB Steve Young gave Hudgins a ball signed by Rice after he broke several of Rice's NCAA career receiving records. I'm sure he would have liked to thank Rice in person this past weekend for his gesture.

N.C. Wesleyan 2010 Football Schedule

N.C. Wesleyan, the defending USA South Conference champion, will have five home games this season - including Homecoming on Oct. 9 with Greensboro College.

September
4	Sat.	at Salisbury University	6:00 p.m.	Salisbury, MD
11	Sat.	at Hampden-Sydney College	1:00 p.m.	Hampden-Sydney, VA
25	SAT.	LaGRANGE COLLEGE	1:00 P.M.	ROCKY MOUNT
October
2	Sat.	* at Ferrum College	1:00 p.m.	Ferrum, VA
9	SAT.	* GREENSBORO COLLEGE	1:00 P.M.	ROCKY MOUNT
16	SAT.	* CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIV.	1:00 P.M.	ROCKY MOUNT
23	Sat.	* at Maryville College	2:00 p.m.	Maryvillle, TN
30	SAT.	* METHODIST UNIVERSITY	1:00 P.M.	ROCKY MOUNT
November
6	Sat.	* at Shenandoah University	1:00 p.m.	Winchester, VA
13	SAT.	* AVERETT UNIVERSITY	1:00 P.M.	ROCKY MOUNT

* USA South Conference games

Battling Bishops picked to defend USA South football title

MARYVILLE, Tn. - The USA South Athletic Conference released its 2010 Preseason Coaches Poll on Tuesday at the league's annual Football Media Day hosted by Maryville College. The Battling Bishops, under the direction of third-year head coach Mark Henninger, were picked to defend their 2009 league title, the program's second in the past three seasons.

Last fall, Henninger's Bishops turned in an 8-3 overall record and 7-0 league mark en route to his first USA South Coach of the Year honor. Wesleyan returns 62 players from that squad, including seven All-Conference selections. Leading the way is returning All-Region performer Carmeron Deaver on the offensive line.

Henninger’s biggest task this season will be replacing the league’s 2009 Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in the form of quarterback Bo Jordan and defensive lineman LeeRon Boykin. With a strong running game that features former Offensive Rookie of the Year Teron Bush and a defense that returns seven starters, the Bishops, however, are poised to make a run at their third title in the past four seasons.

"We're excited about the direction we're heading this fall," said Henninger as he addressed the media. "We have some definite holes to fill on both sides of the ball, but our coaching staff has worked hard to secure a solid recruiting class."

Wesleyan received five of eight first place votes for 45 points in the balloting. Averett University finished second in last year's standings and second in the balloting with 41 points and two first place votes. Christopher Newport University, six-time USA South champions, placed third in the poll with 40 points and the remaining first place vote, while Ferrum College was fourth with 28 points.

The bottom half of the preseason poll featured a tie between Greensboro College and Maryville College with 21 points, Shenandoah University with 20 points and Methodist University with eight points.

The Bishops kick off their 2010 slate on Sept. 4 at Salisbury University. Wesleyan then travels to Hampden-Sydney College the following weekend, and after the team's bye week, will open its home scheduled on Sept. 25 versus first-time opponent LaGrange College.

For the third straight season, all 2010 home games will be played at the Northern Nash Football Complex.


2010 USA SOUTH ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PRESEASON FOOTBALL POLL

1. North Carolina Wesleyan (5) 45 pts.
2. Averett (2) 41 pts.
3. Christopher Newport (1) 40 pts.
4. Ferrum 28 pts.
5. Greensboro 21 pts.
5. Maryville 21 pts.
7. Shenandoah 20 pts.
8. Methodist 8 pts.

Northern Nash's Ruffin selected to coach in East-West game in 2011

Northern Nash head boys basketball coach Rick Ruffin has been selected as an assistant coach for the East squad for the 2011 N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star Men's Basketball Game.

The game is set for July 18 at the Greensboro Colisuem.

Ruffin, a Rocky Mount High School ('80) and East Carolina University ('84) alum, had coaching stints at Wilson Fike and Southern Nash before landing at Northern. He is also the golf coach for the Knights.

Wallace-Rose Hill head boys basketball coach Steve Robinson will be the head coach of the East.

Ruffin is added to the list of many active Twin Counties coaches who have served in the East-West games.

Among those are Northern Nash's Grover Battle (women's basketball/asst. football), SouthWest Edgecombe's Raymond Cobb (football) and Sandra Langley (women's basketball), Southern Nash's Brian Foster (football), Tarboro's Jamie Willoughby (women's basketball) and Rocky Mount's Mike Gainey (men's basketball) and Pam Gainey (women's basketball).

Kernersville Post 36 moves on to regionals

COLUMBIA, Tn. - The team that knocked Rocky Mount Post 58 out of the N.C. American Legion Baseball State Tournament and went on to win the state title will start regional play this week.

Kernersville Post 36 (Forsyth County), which sent Post 58 home with a 13-3 win, will start its move to the American Legion World Series Thursday with play in the Southeast Regionals. The eight-team field will be playing at Dave Hall Field at Columbia State Community Collge.

You will be able to listen to all the live action at the regional on the Internet by clicking on
http://www.tennesseesportsnet.com/. The broadcast will begin 20 minutes before the first pitch of each game.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOUTHEAST REGIONAL TEAMS

NC
KERNERSVILLE POST 36

SC
SUMTER POST 15

PUERTO RICO
BAYAMON POST 48

GA
CONYERS POST 77

FL
BOYNTON BEACH POST 164

TN
DYERSBURG POST 30 (Columbia, Tn. Post 19 won the state title and Dyersburg finished second and gets the bid since Columbia is hosting.)

AL
TUSCALOOSA POST 34

HOST
COLUMBIA POST 19

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2010 American Legion Southeast Baseball Regionals

Dave Hall Field, Columbia State Community College - Columbia, Tn. (all times are eastern)

Thursday, Aug. 5

Game 1 - Tuscaloosa (43-16) vs. Kernersville, NC (31-15), 11:00 am
Game 2 - Bayamon, PR vs. Boynton Beach
Game 3 - Sumter, SC (31-3) vs. Dyersburg, TN (33-12), 6:00 pm
Game 4 - Conyers, GA (22-7) vs. Columbia, TN (32-12)

Friday, Aug. 6

Game 5 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3, 11:00 am
Game 6 - Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 4
Game 7 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3, 6:00 pm
Game 8 - Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 4

Saturday, Aug. 7

Game 9 - Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7, 11:00 am
Game 10 - Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8, 2:00 pm
Game 11 - Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 8:00 pm

Sunday Aug. 8

Game 12 - Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 11, 2:00 pm
Game 13 - Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11, 6:00 pm

Monday Aug. 9

Game 14 - Winner Game 12 vs. Winner Game 13, 5:00 pm
Game 15 - if necessary, 8:00 pm

Note 1: Pairings for Game 12 & 13 will not match previous opponents against each other unless absolutely necessary.

Note 2: If three teams remain after Game 13, the winner of Game 11 automatically draws the bye

NCPreps.com predictions for local HS football

When NCPreps.com sends its ballots out to high school head football coaches across the state, the vote takes place in the late winter and early spring - long before summer workouts, long before the end of the head coaching carousel, and certainly long before the official first day of practice.

Some of their picks make sense and some don't.

I think when the coaches get together in mid-August to officially vote on their preseason choices, these polls will pretty much hold true.

You be the judge! The coaches also voted on their pick for the Player of the Year in their respective leagues.

Here are the NCPreps.com high football coaches' preseason picks for the Big East 3-A Conference, the Eastern Plains 2-A Conference and the Tar-Roanoke 1-A Conference:

Big East 3-A:

1. Southern Nash
2. Rocky Mount

3. Wilson Hunt
4. Nash Central
5. Wilson Fike
6. Northern Nash

Player of the Year: RB - Tracy Coppedge - Southern Nash

Eastern Plains 2-A:

1. SouthWest Edgecombe
2. Tarboro
3. Kinston
4. Beddingfield
5. Farmville Central
6. Greene Central
7. North Pitt

Player of the Year: RB - Quandre Pittman - SouthWest Edgecombe

Tar-Roanoke 1-A:

1. North Edgecombe
2. Southeast Halifax
3. Gates County
4. Weldon
5. Northampton-West
6. Northampton-East
7. KIPP Pride

Player of the Year: RB - Matthew Peebles, Northampton-West

As far as the Gryphons' opponents this upcoming season in non-conference play, here's how the coaches voted in their respective conferences:

Bertie - Northeastern Coastal 3-A/2-A, fifth

Northern Durham - PAC 6 4-A, seventh

East Duplin - East Central 2-A, first

Hertford County - Northeastern Coastal 3-A/2-A, first

SouthWest Edgecombe - (above)

J.H. Rose - Mideastern 4-A, tie w/Hoggard first

New RMHS campus with sports venues

Here's an artist's rendering of the layout of Rocky Mount High School's new campus on Bethlehem Road. (click on picture to enlarge)

For the first time ever, every sport will be played on campus. To give you a perspective of the location, Old Mill Rd. going southwest is in the bottom right corner, while Bethlehem Rd, headed northeast toward U.S. 301, is in the top right of the shot.

The 64-acre, $38 million facility, which will sport over 240,000 square feet of building space, is scheduled to be completed in July 2012 and the school will relocate there the following month.

The most asked question about the campus that I have received is will there be a new football stadium built there. You can see for yourself in the upper left corner!

Post 58 State Tournament top hitters

vs. Rutherford Co.

Post 58 top hitters: Kyle Norville 2-4, R; Spencer Bell 1-3, RBI, 2R; Tyler Clark 1-4, 2B, 3 RBI, R; Thomas Berry 1-3, R; Collins Cuthrell 1-5. T.J. Taylor 0-3, 2RBI, R; Mike Smith 0-1, 2R

vs. Kernersville

Post 58 top hitters: Parker Helms 3-4, 2 2B, RBI; Matthew Berry 2-3, RBI, R; Mike Smith 2-4, RBI; Spencer Bell 2-4, 2B; Kyle Norville 1-4, R; Tyler Clark 1-3, R

Play-by-Play: Rocky Mount Post 58 vs. Kernersville Post 36, Gm. 5 - N.C. American Legion Baseball Tournament

GAME #5 - 9:30AM -
ROCKY MOUNT VS KERNERSVILLE
Loser's Bracket

ROCKY MOUNT IN THE 1ST


**NICK RHODES PITCHING FOR KERNERSVILLE**

TAYLOR KO..OUT 1
CLARK GROUNDS TO 3B..OUT 2
CUTHRELL WALKS
T BERRY GROUNDS TO 2B..OUT 3

RUNS 0
HITS 0
ERRORS 0
LOB 1

AFTER TOP OF THE 1ST
ROCKY MOUNT 0
KERNERSVILLE COMING TO BAT
-----------------------------------
KERNERSVILLE IN THE 1ST
**HOBBS JOHNSON PITCHING FOR ROCKY MOUNT**

SWIM GROUNDS TO 1B..OUT 1
HARRISON FLIES TO CF..OUT 2
ODELL WALKS
McKINNEY 2 RUN HOMER
A SMITH SINGLES
ORENSTEIN 2 RUN HOMER
ROBINSON WALKS
BECKER HIT BY PITCH
ANDERSON KO..OUT 3


RUNS 4
HITS 3
ERRORS 0
LOB 2

AFTER 1 COMPLETE
ROCKY MOUNT 0
KERNERSVILLE 4
---------------------
ROCKY MOUNT IN THE 2ND

M BERRY GROUNDS TO SS..OUT 1
NORVILLE SINGLES/TAKES 2B ON PASS BALL W/1 OUT
BELL KO..OUT 2
M SMITH WALKS
HELMS DOUBLES IN NORVILLE
TAYLOR KO..OUT 3

RUNS 1
HITS 2
ERRORS 0
LOB 2

AFTER 1 & 1/2 INNINGS
KERNERSVILLE 4
ROCKY MOUNT 1
-------------------------

KERNERSVILLE IN THE 2ND

SWIM GROUNDS TO SS..OUT 1
HARRISON DOUBLES
ODELL FLIES TO DEEP CF..OUT 2 AS RUNNER MOVES TO 3B
McKINNEY GROUNDS TO SS..OUT 3

RUNS 0
HITS 1
ERRORS 0
LOB 1

AFTER 2 COMPLETE
KERNERSVILLE 4
ROCKY MOUNT 1
--------------------
ROCKY MOUNT IN THE 3RD

CLARK KO..OUT 1
CUTHRELL GROUNDS TO 3B..OUT 2
T BERRY GROUNDS TO 1B..OUT 3

RUNS 0
HITS 0
ERRORS 0
LOB 0

AFTER 2 & 1/2 INNINGS
KERNERSVILLE 4
ROCKY MOUNT 1
--------------------------
KERNERSVILLE IN THE 3RD

A SMITH SINGLES
ORENSTEIN WALKS SENDS SMITH T0 2B
**JEREMY SLOOP PITCHING FOR ROCKY MOUNT**
ROBINSON WALKS TO LOAD BASES
BECKER FIELDERS CHOICE AS ROBINSON IS FORCED AT 2B
**2 RUNNERS SCORED ON OVERTHROW**
ANDERSON FLIES TO CF..OUT 2
SWIM DOUBLES IN BECKER
HARRISON FLIES TO LF..OUT 3

RUNS 3
HITS 2
ERRORS 1
LOB 1

AFTER 3 COMPLETE
KERNERSVILLE 7
ROCKY MOUNT 1
------------------------------
ROCKY MOUNT IN THE 4TH

M BERRY HIT BY PITCH
NORVILLE GROUNDS TO 2B..OUT 1 AS M BERRY GOES TO 2B
BELL KO..OUT 2
M SMITH SINGLES IN M BERRY
HELMS SINGLES M SMITH TO 2B
TAYLOR FILEDERS CHOICE AS HELMS IS FORCED AT 2B..OUT 3

RUNS 1
HITS 2
ERRORS 0
LOB 2

AFTER 3 & 1/2 INNINGS
KERNERSVILLE 7
ROCKY MOUNT 2
-------------------------
KERNERSVILLE IN THE 4TH

ODELL SINGLES..OUT STEALING 2B..OUT 2
McKINNEY KO..OUT 1
A SMITH WALKS
ORENSTEIN WALKS SENDS A SMITH TO 2B
** RUNNERS MOVE TO 2B/3B ON PICK OFF ATTEMPT**
ROBINSON WALKS TO LOAD BASES
**BILL CLARK NOW PITCHING FOR ROCKY MOUNT**
BECKER SINGLES IN A SMITH/ORENSTEIN
ANDERSON GROUNDS C TO 1B..OUT 3

RUNS 2
HITS 2
ERRORS 1
LOB 2

AFTER 4 COMPLETE
KERNERSVILLE 9
ROCKY MOUNT 2
--------------------
ROCKY MOUNT IN THE 5TH

CLARK INF. SINGLE STEALS 2B W/1 OUT
CUTHRELL KO..OUT 1
T BERRY WALKS
M BERRY SINGLES IN CLARK AS T BERRY OUT AT 3B ON THE PLAY..OUT 2
NORVILLE FLIES TO RF..OUT 3

RUNS 1
HITS 2
ERRORS 0
LOB 1

AFTER 4 & 1/2 INNINGS
KERNERSVILLE 9
ROCKY MOUNT 3
------------------------

KERNERSVILLE IN THE 5TH

SWIM SINGLES
HARRISON HITS INTO A 6-4-3 DOUBLE PLAY..OUT 1/2
ODELL POPS TO 2B..OUT 3

RUNS 0
HITS 1
ERRORS 0
LOB 0

AFTER 5 COMPLETE
KERNERSVILLE 9
ROCKY MOUNT 3
-----------------------
ROCKY MOUNT IN THE 6TH

BELL DOUBLES
M SMITH SINGLES AS BELL MOVES TO 3B
HELMS KO..OUT 1
TAYLOR KO..OUT 2
CLARK HIT BY PITCH LOADS BASES
CUTHRELL FIELDERS CHOICE AS CLARK IS FORCED AT 2B..OUT 3

RUNS 0
HITS 2
ERRORS 0
LOB 3

AFTER 5 & 1/2 INNINGS
KERNERSVILLE 9
ROCKY MOUNT 3
-----------------
KERNERSVILLE IN THE 6TH

McKINNEY SINGLES
A SMITH WALKS SENDS McKINNEY TO 2B
ORENSTEIN POPS TO 3B..OUT 1
ROBINSON HITS INTO A 6-4-3 DOUBLE PLAY..OUT 2/3

RUNS 0
HITS 1
ERRORS 0
LOB 1

AFTER 6 COMPLETE
KERNERSVILLE 9
ROCKY MOUNT 3
-------------------
ROCKY MOUNT IN THE 7TH

T BERRY KO..OUT 1
M BERRY SINGLES
WEATHERLY(PH) FIELDERS CHOICE AS M BERRY FORCED AT 2B..OUT 2
BELL SINGLES
M SMITH FLIES TO CF..OUT 3

RUNS 0
HITS 2
ERRORS 0
LOB 2

AFTER 6 & 1/2 INNINGS
KERNERSVILLE 9
ROCKY MOUNT 3
-------------------------
KERNERSVILLE IN THE 7TH

BECKER DOUBLES..SCORES ON FIELDERS CHOICE
ANDERSON SINGLES BECKER TO 3B
SWIM FIELDERS CHOICE AS ANDERSON IS FORCED AT 2B..OUT 1
HARRISON FIELDERS CHOICE AS SWIM IS FORCED AT 2B..OUT 2
ODELL SINGLES HARRISON TO 3B
McKINNEY POPS TO 1B..OUT 3

RUNS 1
HITS 3
ERRORS 0
LOB 2

AFTER 7 COMPLETE
KERNERSVILLE 10
ROCKY MOUNT 3
-------------------
ROCKY MOUNT IN THE 8TH
** EVAN ORENSTEIN PITCHING FOR KERNERSVILLE**

HELMS DOUBLES
TAYLOR GROUNDS TO 2B..OUT 1 AS HELMS TAKES 3B
RAMSEY KO..OUT 2
CUTHRELL WALKS
T BERRY POPS TO 3B..OUT 3

RUNS 0
HITS 1
ERRORS 0
LOB 2

AFTER 7 & 1/2 INNINGS
KERNERSVILLE 10
ROCKY MOUNT 3
------------------------
KERNERSVILLE IN THE 8TH
**BRANDON DENTON PITCHING FOR ROCKY MOUNT**

A SMITH SINGLES
ORENSTEIN FLIES TO RF..OUT 1
SURFACE SINGLES A SMITH TO 2B
**WILD PITCH MOVES RUNNER TO 2B/3B**
BECKER FLIES TO LF..OUT 2
ANDERSON KO..WILD PITCH BATTER ADVANCES TO 1B AS A SMITH SCORES
SWIM SINGLES IN SURFACE
HARRISON WALKS TO LOAD BASES
ODELL WALKS TO SEND IN ANDERSON TO END THE GAME ON 10-RUN RULE

RUNS 3
HITS 3
ERRORS 0
LOB 3

FINAL
KERNERSVILLE 13
ROCKY MOUNT 3
------------------------
ROCKY MOUNT ELIMINATED (24-8)

(Play-by-Play courtesy of NCPiedmontSports.com)

Rocky Mount-Kernersville - Gm. 5, N.C American Legion State Baseball Tournament

Rocky Mount Post 58 will face Kernersville Post 36 (Forsyth County) in a loser's bracket game Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

To listen to the game with WKXR 1260 AM, click here.

To follow the game, play-by-play via Twitter with Rocky Mount Telegram sports writer Nick Cammarota, then enter: Nick Cammarota.

Play-by-Play - Rocky Mount vs. Rutherford County - Gm. 1 - NC American Legion State Baseball Tournament

GAME #1 - Rocky Mount vs Rutherford Co

SATURDAY JULY 24
9:30AM

ROCKY MOUNT (24-6) VS. RUTHERFORD COUNTY (18-9)

STARTING LINEUPS

ROCKY MOUNT

CF TJ TAYLOR
C TYLER CLARK
SS COLLINS CUTHRELL
DH THOMAS BERRY
1B MATTHEW BERRY
LF KYLE NORVILLE
3B SPENCER BELL
2B MIKE SMITH
RF CAMERON RAMSEY
P PARKER HELMS

RUTHERFORD CO

SS DANNY FRAGA
2B KYLE HOLMSTROM
RF DYLAN HIPP
CF STEPHEN CROWE
1B NICK HOUSER
CF JOHN HAMLET
3B DEREK DEATON
DH TYLER BYERS
C DAKOTA WHITAKER
P CAM WILKINS

RUTHERFORD IN THE 1ST

FRAGA GROUNDS TO 2B..OUT 1
HOLMSTROM ERROR 3B
HIPP SINGLES HOLMSTROM TO 3B..STEALS 2B
CROWE SINGLES IN 2 RUNS
HOUSER FLIES TO CF..OUT 2
HAMLET FLIES TO CF..OUT 3

RUNS 2
HITS 2
ERRORS 1
LOB 1

AFTER TOP OF THE 1ST
RC 2
RM COMING TO BAT
-----------------------------
ROCKY MOUNT IN THE 1ST

TAYLOR GROUNDS TO P
CLARK ERROR SS
CUTHRELL ERROR P..CLARK TO 2B
PASS BALL RUNNERS MOVE TO 2B/3B
T BERRY WALKS TO LOAD THE BASES
WILD PITCH SCORES CLARK
M BERRY WALKS TO LOAD BASES
NORVILLE GROUNDS INTO 1-2-3 DOUBLE PLAY OUT..2/3

RUNS 0
HITS 0
ERRORS 2
LOB 2

AFTER 1 COMPLETE
RC 2
RM 1
------------------------------------------
RC IN THE 2ND

DEATON KO..OUT 1
BYERS KO..OUT 2
WHITAKER GROUNDS TO SS..OUT 3


RUNS 0
HITS 0
ERRORS 0
LOB 0

AFTER 1 & 1/2 INNINGS
RC 2
RM 1
--------------------------------
RM IN THE 2ND

BELL HIT BY PITCH
SMITH SAC BUNTS BELL TO 2B..OUT 1
RAMSEY KO..OUT 2
TAYLOR ERROR 1B
CLARK DOUBLES IN BELL/TAYLOR
CUTHRELL HIT BY PITCH
T BERRY POPS TO 2B..OUT 3


RUNS 2
HITS 1
ERRORS 1
LOB 2

AFTER 2 COMPLETE
RC 2
RM 3
--------------------------
RC IN THE 3RD
FRAGA SINGLES
HOLMSTROM WALKS
HIPP GROUNDS TO 1B AS RUNNERS MOVE UP TO 2B/3B..OUT 1
CROWE 3 RUN HOMER
HOUSER HIT BY PITCH..OUT 3
HAMLET HIT BY PITCH..HOUSER TO 2B
***RM NEW PITCHER TRELLIS ASHLEY***
DEATON SINGLES TO LOAD BASES
BYERS FC AS HOUSER IS FORCED AT HOME
WHITAKER POPS TO 2B..OUT 3



RUNS 3
HITS 3
ERRORS 0
LOB 3

AFTER 2 & 1/2 INNINGS
RC 5
RM 3
-----------------
RM IN THE 3RD
M BERRY FLIES TO RF..OUT 1
NORVILLE WALKS..WILD PITCH/ADVANCES TO 2B
BELL WALKS
SMITH HIT BY PITCH TO LOAD BASES
RAMSEY KO..OUT 2
TAYLOR WALKS BRINGING IN NORVILLE
CLARK POPS TO CF..OUT 3


RUNS 1
HITS 0
ERRORS 0
LOB 3

AFTER 3 COMPLETE
RC 5
RM 4
-----------------------
RC IN THE 4TH
FRAGA FLIES TO CF..OUT 1
HOLMSTROM WALKS..WILD PITCH TO 2B
HIPP FLIES TO CF..OUT 2
CROWE 2 RUN HOMER
HOUSER ERROR SS..TO 2B ON OVERTHROW..TAKES 3B ON WP
HAMLET FLIES TO LF..OUT 3

RUNS 2
HITS 1
ERRORS 1
LOB 1

AFTER 3 & 1/2 INNINGS
RC 7
RM 4
---------------------------
RM IN THE 4TH
CUTHRELL FLIES TO LF..OUT 1
T BERRY SINGLES
M BERRY FLIES TO RF..OUT 2
NORVILLE SINGLES T BERRY TO 3B
BELL GROUNDS TO 1ST

RUNS 0
HITS 2
ERRORS 0
LOB 2

AFTER 4 COMPLETE
RC 7
RM 4
---------------------------
RC IN THE 5TH

DEATON WALKS
BYERS POPS TO 3B..OUT 1..DEATON CAUGHT OFF 1B..OUT 2
WHITAKER GROUNDS TO C..OUT 3


RUNS 0
HITS 0
ERRORS 0
LOB 0

AFTER 4 & 1/2 INNINGS
RC 7
RM 4
------------------------
RM IN THE 5TH

SMITH HIT BY PITCH
RAMSEY WALKS
**NEW PITCHER FOR RUTHERFORD COUNTY ALEX WILLIAMS**
TAYLOR SAC BUNT SENDS SMITH/RAMSEY TO 2B/3B..OUT 1
CLARK SAC FLY..OUT 2 SCORING SMITH
CUTHRELL GROUNDS TO 3B..OUT 3

RUNS 1
HITS 0
ERRORS 0
LOB 1

AFTER 5 COMPLETE
RC 7
RM 5
------------------------
RC IN THE 6TH

FRAGA SINGLES
HOLMSTROM FLIES TO CF..OUT 1
HIPP 2 RUN HOMER
CROWE WALKS..PICKED OFF 1B..OUT 2
HOUSER POPS TO P..OUT 3

RUNS 2
HITS 2
ERRORS 0
LOB 0

AFTER 5 & 1/2 INNINGS
RC 9
RM 5
-------------------------
RM IN THE 6TH

T BERRY WALKS..OUT 1 3B TO 2B
M BERRY FIELDERS CHOICE..ERROR ON 2B ON THROW AND TAKES 2B
NORVILLE POPS TO 2B..OUT 2
BELL SINGLES SCORING M BERRY
SMITH HIT BY PITCH
RAMSEY HIT BY PITCH LOADS BASES
TAYLOR HIT BY PITCH SCORING BELL
WILD PITCH SCORES SMITH
** NEW PITCHER FOR RUTHERFORD COUNTY ROBERT JOHNSON**
CLARK WALKS TO LOAD BASES
CUTHRELL FLIES TO CF..OUT 3


RUNS 2
HITS 1
ERRORS 1
LOB 3

AFTER 6 COMPLETE

RC 9
RM 8
------------------------
RC IN THE 7TH
**JEREMY TREVATHAN NOW PITCHING FOR ROCKY MOUNT**

HAMLET ERROR SS...PICKED OFF 2B..OUT 2
DEATON FLIES TO CF..OUT 1
BYERS HIT BY PITCH
WHITAKER FIELDERS CHOICE AS BYERS IS FORCED AT 2B

RUNS 0
HITS 0
ERRORS 1
LOB 1

AFTER 6 & 1/2 INNINGS
RC 9
RM 8
-------------------------
RM IN THE 7TH

T BERRY WALKS
M BERRY WALKS
NORVILLE SAC BUNT SENDS T BERRY/M BERRY TO 2B/3B
BELL KO..OUT 2
SMITH GROUNDS TO 2B..OUT 3

RUNS 0
HITS 0
ERRORS 0
LOB 2

AFTER 7 COMPLETE
RC 9
RM 8
------------------------
RC IN THE 8TH

FRAGA POPS TO SS..OUT 1
HOLMSTROM FLIES TO RF..OUT 2
HIPP DOUBLES
CROWE INT WALK..OUT 3
HOUSER FIELDER CHOICE AS CROWE IS FORCED AT 2B

RUNS 0
HITS 1
ERRORS 0
LOB 2

AFTER 7 & 1/2 INNINGS
RC 9
RM 8
------------------------
RM IN THE 8TH

RAMSEY KO..OUT 1
TAYLOR KO..OUT 2
CLARK GROUNDS TO SS..OUT 3

RUNS 0
HITS 0
ERRORS 0
LOB 0

AFTER 8 COMPLETE
RC 9
RM 8
-------------------------------
RC IN THE 9TH

ALLEN (PH) GROUNDS TO 2B..OUT 1
DEATON SINGLES..STEALS 2B W/2 OUTS
BYERS FLIES TO CF..OUT 2
JOHNSON WALKS
FRAGA SINGLES IN DEATON
**BALK SENDS RUNNERS TO 2B/3B**
HOLMSTROM GROUNDS TO SS..OUT 3

RUNS 1
HITS 2
ERRORS 0
LOB 2

AFTER 8 & 1/2 INNINGS
RC 10
RM 8
---------------------------------
RM IN THE 9TH

CUTHRELL SINGLES
T BERRY FLIES TO CF..OUT 1
M BERRY FLIES TO RF ..OUT 2
NORVILLE SINGLES CUTHRELL TO 2B
BELL GROUNDS TO P..OUT 3

RUNS 0
HITS 2
ERRORS 0
LOB 2

FINAL
RUTHERFORD COUNTY POST 423 10
ROCKY MOUNT POST 58 8

**RUTHERFORD COUNTY PLAYS @ 4:30 PM SUNDAY**
**ROCKY MOUNT PLAYS @ 9:30 AM SUNDAY**

RUTHERFORD COUNTY - 10 RUNS 11 HITS 4 ERRORS
ROCKY MOUNT - 8 RUNS 6 HITS 3 ERRORS

Directions to Asheboro's McCrary Park

For those who may be direction-challenged, here are direction to McCrary Park in Asheboro, site of the N.C. American Legion Baseball Tournament where Rocky Mount Post 58 will open play Saturday morning against Rutherford County.

For some parents and fans, this may be old hat. Quite a few of its players were members of Post 58's Junior Legion team that played in the state tournament on the very same field last summer.

The directions start on N. Winstead Ave. as you head northward toward U.S. 64:

N. Winstead Avenue to McCrary Park, Asheboro

Direction - mileage
1. Head northeast on N Winstead Ave - 0.1 mi
2. Turn left to merge onto US-64 W toward I-95 - 47.1 mi
3. Merge onto I-440 E - 2.6 mi
4. Merge onto I-40 W - 7.9 mi
5. Take exit 293 for I-440/US-64 W/US-1 toward Raleigh/Sanford/Wake Forest - 0.2 mi
6. Keep left at the fork to continue toward US-1 S/US-64 W - 0.3 mi
7. Take exit 293A for US-1 S/US-64 W toward Sanford/Asheboro - 0.3 mi
8. Keep left at the fork to continue toward US-1 S/US-64 W - 0.3 mi
9. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for US-1 S/US-64 W/Apex/Sanford/Asheboro and merge onto US-1 S/US-64 W - 3.2 mi
10. Take exit 98B to merge onto US-64 W toward Pittsboro/Asheboro - 59.1 mi
11. Turn right at N Carolina 42 W - 2.6 mi
12. Continue onto W Salisbury St 0.1 mi
13. Slight right at Lexington Rd 0.3 mi
14. Take the 2nd right onto Mountain Rd 289 ft
15. Take the 1st right onto Pine St 0.1 mi
16. Take the 1st right onto Southway Rd

Destination will be on the left 0.2 mi - 138 Southway Rd, Asheboro

(Source: Yahoo Maps)

Post 58 tops Cary Post 67 8-2 for second-straight Area I title

(Photo/David Hahula)

CARY - Hitting home runs did the trick for the 2009 Rocky Mount Post 58 squad on its way to an Area I title and a state tournament berth.

Wednesday night, playing its second straight night on Cary Post 67's turf, Post 58 used the long ball to establish its offense, Then pitching took over in the end in giving it an 8-2 win over Cary and its second straight Area I title in Game 3 of their series.

Post 58 will now open the N.C. American Legion State Baseball Tournament with Rutherford County whick lost its Area IV series to Cherryville two games to one. The two teams will meet Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at Asheboro's McCrary Park.

Matthew Berry plated two runs on a double in the top of the third to put Post 58 up 2-0. But Cary countered in the bottom of the frame when Charleston Southern baseballer Drew Woodall pounded a two-run homer to square it at 2-all.

Rocky Mount Post 58 started to pull away in the fourth. No. 9 hitter Cameron Ramsey sent a solo shot out of the park to put RM up 3-2. After T.J. Taylor walked, Tyler Clark went yard - a two-run blast that gave Post 58 a 5-2 advantage.

Post 58 scored twice more in the fifth and one more in the sixth to close out the evening's scoring.

Meanwhile, starter Hobbs Johnson (4-0) and relievers Jeremy Sloop, Parker Helms and Bill Clark combined for an eight-hitter and kept Cary off the board after the third. The bullpen allowed just four hits in six innings of work.

Berry led Post 58 at the plate going 3-for-4with a double, two RBI and a run scored. Thomas Berry and Kyle Norville and Clark each collected two hits. Post 58 had 12 hits on the night.

AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL

AREA I FINAL SERIES

GAME 3 @ Cary High School, Cary

Rocky Mount Post 58 8
Cary Post 67 2

Post 58 002 321 000 — 8 12 1
Post 67 002 000 000 — 2 8 2

WP: Hobbs Johnson (4-0, 3IP, 2R, 2ER, 4H, 0BB, 4K)
LP: Joe Pistacchio (3.2IP, 4R, 4ER, 6H, 2BB, 4K)

Leading hitters:

Post 58 - Matthew Berry 3-4, 2B, 2RBI, R; Thomas Berry 2-5, 2B, 3R; Tyler Clark 2-5, HR, 2RBI, 2R; Kyle Neville 2-5; Cameron Ramsey 1-4, HR, RBI, R; Spencer Bell 1-3; T.J. Taylor 1-4, R.

Post 67 - Woodall 2-4, HR, 2RBI, R; Colantino 2-4, 2B; Josam 1-2.

Records: Post 58 24-6; Post 67 21-8.

Cary ties series with 6-3 victory Tuesday

CARY - A 30-minute weather delay Tuesday night seemed to really affect Rocky Mount Post 58 more than it did Cary Post 67 in the Game 2 battle for the American Legion Area I title.

Post 58 saw a 2-1 lead disappear as Cary scored four runs in the third on its way to a 6-3 victory. Post 58 will travel back to Cary Wednesday for Game 3. The first pitch will be at 7 p.m.

After RM took a 1-0 lead in the first, Post 67 countered with a run in the bottom of the second to tie it at 1-all. Tyler Clark slammed a solo home run to lead off the third to put Post 58 up 2-1. Collins Cuthrell followed with a double, but was left stranded at second base.

A two-run double from Dillon Rubio and an RBI triple from Anthony Colantino off Post 58 starter Spencer Bell fueled a four-run uprising from Cary to put it up 5-2.

After Cary posted another run in the fourth for a 5-3 advantage, Thomas Berry put a dent in Cary's lead with a solo home run in the eighth.

Post 58, however, couldn't muster any more firepower on a night that saw it only record six hits. Mike Smith, who tallied five hits in Game 1 Monday, didn't even reach base Tuesday.

American Legion Area I Final Series
Game 2 @ Cary High School, Cary

Cary Post 67 6
Rocky Mount Post 58 3

RM 101 000 100 - 3 6 0
Cary 014 100 00x - 6 12 1

WP - Daniel Sondag (3IP, 0H, OR, 0ER, 0BB, 1K)
LP - Spencer Bell (3IP, 7H, 6R, 6ER, 1BB, HBP, 2K)

Leading hitters:

Post 58 - Collins Cuthrell 2-4, 2B; Tyler Clark 1-4, HR, RBI, R; Thomas Berry 1-3, HR, RBI, R; Jeremy Sllop 1-3.

Post 67 - Grant Shambley 4-5, 2B; Stephen McKinney 2-4, 2 RBI.

Records: Post 58 23-6, Cary 19-6

Berry's two-run shot rallies Post 58 to Game 1 win

Matthew Berry and Mike Smith had the kind of night baseball players dream of.

Monday night, both were very much awake as they helped propel Rocky Mount Post 58 to a 9-6 victory over Cary Post 67 to go up 1-0 in the best of three series for the American Legion Area I title.

The two teams will meet in Game 2 Tuesday at Cary High School. Game time is 7 p.m.

With game tied at 6-all, Berry slammed a two-run home run over fence in left center to push Post 58 ahead. Minutes later, Mike Smith gave the squad some insurance when he singled in Spencer Bell from second to put Rocky Mount (23-5) up 9-6.

Berry had a three-run double in the first inning to fuel a five-run uprising by Post 58. It batted around to go up 5-1 after 1.

But Post 67 (18-6) hung around and hung around. Dillon Rudio's solo shot in the sixth tied it at 6-apiece before Berry's mammoth blast.

Berry ended the evening with six RBI (3-for-5 with two doubles and a homer), while Smith was 5-for-5 at the plate, collected a double and knocked in two runs.

Neither starter was around at the end, but Jeremy Trevathan (3-1) got the win with his two innings of work while Post 58 rallied for the win.

Rocky Mount Post 58 - 9
Cary Post 67 - 6

Post 67 100 220 100 - 6 11 1
Post 58 500 100 03x - 9 13 2

WP - Jeremy Trevathan (3-1; 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 1K)
LP - James Todd (5 IP, 7H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 4K)

POST 67

Hitting results:

Grant Shambley - 3-4, RBI, R
Drew Woodall - 1-4, RBI (sac fly, 4th)
Stephen McKinney - 0-3, 2BB
Blair Betts - 0-3, 2K (lifted in the 4th)
sub - James Todd - 0-0, BB (thrown out at 2nd, 6th)
Antonio Colatino - 2-5, RBI (scored Shambley in the 1st), R
Dillon Rudio - 2-4, HR (solo shot to left center off Trellis Ashley, 5th), RBI, 2R
Joe Pistaccio - 2-3, R (lifted 5th)
sub - David Josam - 1-2
Gerrit VanGenderen - 0-3, RBI (sac fly, 5th)
Daniel Mason - 0-0
David Hamm - 0-4 (3Ks, 6-3 DP)

Pitching results

VanGenderen (2.2IP, 6H, 5R, 5ER, 7BB, 0K)
Todd (5IP, 7H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 4K) - Loss
Caleb Clark (.1IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 0K)

POST 58

Hitting results

T.J. Taylor - 0-3, 3BB, R
Tyler Clark - 1-4, 2B, R
Collins Cuthrell - 1-3, 2BB, 3R
Thomas Berry - 1-3, 2B, BB
Matthew Berry - 3-5, 2 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 2R
Kyle Norville - 0-4 - lifted 6th
sub - Parker Helms - 0-1
Spencer Bell - 2-4, RBI, 2R, 2SB
Mike Smith - 5-5, 2B, 2 RBI, SB
Cameron Ramsey - 0-2, 2BB - lifted 7th
sub - Fuller Weatherly - BB

Pitching results

Brandon Denton (4IP, 8H, 5R, 3ER, 3BB, 6K) - threw 107 pitches
Trellis Ashley (2IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 1K)
Jeremy Trevathan (2IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 1K) - Win
Bill Clark (1IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 1K)

Game Notes:

•Post 58 batted around in the first - 10 batters came to the plate - half of them scored.
•Post 58 had success in the bottom of the lineup (7,8,9) - it went 7-for-11 with a double, four RBI, four BB and two runs scored.
•Each team's final pitcher on the evening were home schooled and both were named "Clark" - Caleb Clark, Post 67; Bill Clark, Post 58.
•Post 58 is now 8-0 in the postseason (23-5 overall). It has won 22 of its last 23 games.
•Post 58 left 13 runners on base - at least one every inning, Post 67 left 10.
•Post 67's staff combined to walk 11 Post 58 batters.
•Post 67's Shambley reached base four straight times (1B, 1B, E6, 1B) before flying out to center in the 8th.
•Post 67 had four hits in the 5th that led to two runs. Post 58 had four hits in the first on the way to five runs.
•Bunts didn't go Post 67's way as it struck out twice on bunt attempts.
•Post 67 had only two hits over its last four innings - Rudio's HR (led of the 6th) and a Pistaccio single (7th).

Mabry cans winning free throw to give the East a comeback win

GREENSBORO - Now the Gaineys are even, thanks to Rocky Mount's all-time scorer.

Both Mike and Pam Gainey can both claim a head coaching victory in a N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star Basketball Game. Monday night, Mike Gainey, head coach of the East mens squad, saw his star come through for him one more time.

Tashawn Mabry, who led the Gryphons to an NCHSAA 3-A state title last winter, made a free throw with 3.6 seconds remaining to give the East a 99-98 comeback win over the West at Greensboro Coliseum.

Mabry, who is headed to Rhode Island, ended the game with 17 points, slighty behind UNC-bound Reggie Bullock, who scored a game-high 20 points. Bullock received the game's MVP honors for his performance (10 rebounds, five assists, three steals).

Pam Gainey led the East women to a 64-47 triumph over the West when she was a head coach in 2002.

Not since 2002 had a Rocky Mount boys basketball player played for the East team. That player was Jolly Manning.

For the fourth straight season, RMHS had at least one athlete participate in the East-West games.

WEST (98) — Corey Hensley 10-15 1-2 22; De’Mon Brooks 4-12 5-7 13; Jordan Downing 3-96-6 13; Darius Carrier 5-8 0-0 12; Jeremy Ingram 3-9 1-2 9; Jack Sumner 3-5 0-0 8; Aaron Toomey 2-3 1-2 7; Evan Shelton 3-4 1-2 7; Justin Cheek 1-10 2-2 4; Kendall Bethea 0-0 3-4 3. Totals 34-75 20-27 98.

EAST (99) — Reggie Bullock 8-19 2-4 20; Preston Ross 7-13 4-7 19; Tashawn Mabry 4-14 8-11 17; Jake Lliteras 4-7 0-0 10; Jerrel Williams 3-3 4-6 10; Emanuel Chapman 2-9 2-2 6; Dory Hines 2-4 2-6 6; Jamaal Williams 1-10 2-4 4; Robert Carpenter 2-6 0-0 4; RaSean Brewington 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 34-87 24-40 99.

Halftime: West 56-44.

3-point goals—West 10-25 (Toomey 2-2; Sumner 2-3; Carrier 2-2; Ingram 2-6; Hensley 1-3; Downing 1-4; Cheek 0-4; Brooks 0-1), East 7-21 (Lliteras 2-5; Bullock 2-6; Ross 1-1; Brewington 1-1; Mabry 1-4; Carpenter 0-2; Jamaal Williams 0-1; Chapman 0-1).

Fouled out—None.
Rebounds—West 50 (Brooks 13), East 56 (Bullock 10).
Assists—West 17 (Toomey 5; Brooks 5), East 13 (Chapman 3).
Total fouls—West 22, East 16.
A—2,892

American Legion Baseball Area I Playoff Schedule, Cary Post 67 Roster

AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL AREA I EAST FINALS
(best of three)

CARY POST 67 (19-6) vs. ROCKY MOUNT POST 58 (23-6) - Series tied 1-1

GAME 1 - Rocky Mount Post 58 9, Cary Post 67 6

GAME 2 - Cary Post 67 6, Rocky Mount Post 58 3

GAME 3 - Rocky Mount Post 58 @ Cary Post 67 (Cary HS), Wednesday, July 21, 7 p.m.

CARY POST 67 ROSTER

No. - Player, Class, School, College

1 - David Josam, 2010, Green Hope, will attend UNC-Charlotte

2 - Caleb Clark, 2010, Home schooled, will attend Liberty University

3 - Dillon Rudio, 2010, Athens Drive

4 - Grant Shambley, 2010, Green Hope. signed with Wake Forest

6 - Gerrit VanGenderen, 2010, Athens Drive, will attend Appalachian State

7 - David Hamm, 2010, Athens Drive, will attend N.C. State

9 - Daniel Sondag, 2011, Green Hope

11 - Daniel Mason, 2010, Athens Drive, will attend Appalachian State

12 - Will Yoder, 2011, Green Hope

13 - James Todd, 2009, Cardinal Gibbons, plays for Rhodes College (Memphis, Tn.)

15 - Drew Woodall, 2009, Athens Drive, plays for Charleston Southern

16 - Stephen McKinney, 2010, Cary, signed with UNC-Pembroke

17 - Joe Pistacchio, 2010, Green Hope, will attend Appalachian State

23 - Anthony Colantino, 2011, Green Hope

25 - Blair Betts, 2010, Athens Drive, signed with Indiana

Head coach - Neil Woodall
Assistant coaches - Bryan Booth, Clay Council, Robert Stephenson
Athletic Officer - Don Daniels

Follow Post 58 in Game 2 and, or Game 3 on the Internet

CARY - Rocky Mount Post 58 fans who may not be able to make the trip to Cary for the team's Area I title series with Cary Post 67, may listen to Game 2 and, if needed, Game 3 of the American Legion Baseball Area I title series on the Internet.

Cary High School's David Maney, who is the webmaster of Cary High's iHigh.com site, will handle the play-by-play broadcast of the game(s) from Cary High School on North Carolina.iHigh.com beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday and, if necessary 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Go to NorthCarolina.iHigh.com - click on the following link - http://northcarolina.ihigh.com, then click on the game in the list of iHigh broadcasts at the top of the page.

For a direct link to Game 2, click here! Game 1 will be played at Gryphon Stadium Monday at 7.

Game 1 will be played at Gryphon Stadium Monday at 7 p.m. There was a conflict Post 67 had with Cary High School's Summer League team, which plays its last home game of the regular season at home Monday. So, the best-of-three series will start for the defending Area I champion at home and conclude on the road.

Look for more on the State Tournament on the NorthCarolina.iHigh.com site later this week! p.m.

There was a conflict Post 67 had with Cary High School's Summer League team, which plays its last home game of the regular season at home Monday. So, the best-of-three series will start for the defending Area I champion at home and conclude on the road.

RM Post 58 finishes off Kinston Post 43; next up is Cary Post 67

For the second straight season, Rocky Mount Post 58 is the Area I East baseball champion.

It earned the title after a 9-5 win over Kinston Post 43 Friday at Gryphon Stadium that earned it a 3-0 sweep in a best-of-five series over the team from Lenoir County.

Post 58 will now host Cary Post 67 Monday in Game 1 of the Area I championship series (best of three). Due to a conflict for the use of Cary High's baseball field with the school's Summer League team, the series will begin at Gryphon Stadium Monday at 7 p.m.

Game 2, and if necessary, Game 3 will be played at Cary High Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

Cary comes into the series at 18-5, while Post 58 sports a 22-5 record.

Hobbs Johnson moved to 3-0 on the season in recording the win. He logged five innings on the mound. He gave up three runs on six hits, walked three and struck out six.

NOTES:

• Two Kinston Post 43 errors in the first two innings opened the door for five Post 58 runs with starter Scottie Ginn on the mound .


• Post 58's Matthew Berry stole home in the third on Post 43 reliever Landon DeBruhl to put it up 6-0


• Post 43 got on the board in the fifth with three runs - biggest hit was Tyler Potter's triple.


• Ty Eason hit a solo home run to left center in the eighth off Post 58 reliever Trellis Ashley.


• Kinston hit into three double plays to end several big inning possibilities for Post 43.


• Post 58 has gone 7-0 in the postseason.
  

Rocky Mount Post 58 9
Kinston Post 43 5

Post 43 000 120 002 — 5 12 3
Post 58 321 001 02x — 9 14 1

WP- Hobbs Johnson (3-0, 5IP, 3R, 3ER, 6H, 3BB, 6K)
LP - Scottie Ginn (2IP, 6R, 2ER, 4H, 1BB, 0K)

Top hitters -
Post 43 - Tyler Potter 3-4, 2B, 3B, R; Ty Eason 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, R; Everett Charlton 2-4, R; Brad Hunter 1-4.

Post 58 - Thomas Berry 3-4, 4 RBI; T.J. Taylor 2-4, 2 RBI; Kyle Norville 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI

Records: Post 43 14-9. Post 58 22-5