2009-10 RMHS sports award winners

FALL SPORTS

Varsity Football

Collins Cuthrell - Outstanding QB/Receiver
Nah'jerrelle Graves - Outstanding DL
Marquavis Alston - Outstanding RB
Aaron Barnes - Outstanding LB
Marcus Jones - Outstanding DB
Zebebee Battle - Billy Smith Lineman Award

JV Volleyball

Evie Hunter - Most Valuable Player
Alexus Threatt - Best Defensive Player

Varsity Volleyball

Lauren Campbell - Coaches Award
Kendria Worley - Extra Effort Award
Danita Whitaker - Most Outstanding Player

Girls Varsity Tennis

Lindsay Thomas - Most Valuable Player
Kate Gray - Coaches Award
Addie Keeter - Coaches Award

Cross Country/Boys

Daniel Hannon - Most Valuable Player
James Bonds - Most Improved

Cross Country/Girls

Neferteti Thigpen - Most Improved
Zikeena Parker - Co-Most Valuable Player
Latoya Applewhite - Co -Most Valuable Player

Boys Soccer

Justin Marsigli - Outstanding Offensive Player
Drew Gorham - Outstanding Defensive Player
Andrew Morales - Most Valuable

Girls Golf

Morgan Lewis - Top Golfer
Emily Brown - Most Improved

WINTER SPORTS

Indoor Track

Boys:
MVP - Winston McLaughlin
Most Improved - Culpriest Clark
Coaches' Award - Christopher Miller

Girls:
Outstanding Performer - Zikeena Parker
Outstanding Performer - Michaela Thorne

Swimming:

Girls:
MVP - Kristi Barnes
Coaches' Award - Lauren Campbell
Most Improved - Janeeka Harris

Boys:
MVP - Zachary Vestal
Coaches' Award - Ross Bradley
Most Improved - Clark Covolo

JV Cheerleaders:

Best Attitude - Brandi Whitaker
Most Spirited - Brittney Chambers

Varsity Cheerleaders:

Best All Around - Aerostata Brown
Coaches' Award - Brandy Murray
Coaches' Award - McAuley Fish

JV Girls Basketball:

Most Outstanding - Precious White
Most Improved - Kelsey Daniels

Varsity Girls Basketball:

MVP - Danita Whitaker
Coaches' Award - Latoya Applewhite
Most Improved - Timisha Walker

JV Boys Basketball:

Co-MVP - Mason Hines
Co-MVP - Kenneth Peoples

Varsity Boys Basketball:

Most Valuable - Tashawn Mabry
Offensive MVP - William Young
Gryphon Pride Award - Hakeem Parker

Wrestling:

Co-MVP - Chandler Phillips
Co-MVP - Janicento "JK" Wiliamson
Coaches' Award - Mason Holt

SPRING SPORTS

Boys Track:

Most Valuable Runner - Devonte Jenkins

Coaches' Award - Paul Lilley

Most Improved - Culpriest Clark

Girls Track:

Most Valuable Performer - Zikeena Parker

Leadership Award - Nancy Thai

Gryphon P.R.I.D.E. Award - Marquita Hines

Girls Soccer:

MVP - Sydney Browder

Defensive Player of the Year - Kate Gray
Offensive Player of the Year - Allison Raper
Player of the Year - Kate Gray

Varsity Baseball:

Cy Young Award - Hobbs Johnson
Most Improved - Spencer Bell
Mr. Consistency Award - Collins Cuthrell
Charlie Hustle Award - Michael Whitehead

JV Baseball:

Most Improved - Abu Bakar Raja

Armed Services Award: Addie Keeter, Andrew Bowers

JUAN CHESSON AWARD - Carter Varnell

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Danita Whitaker

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Marquavis Alston

FEMALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Addie Keeter

MALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Andrew Bowers

SWE gym named for Langley; Jenkins sisters enshrined in Hall of Fame

By Tom Ham, Wilson Times

PINETOPS -- The steeped girls basketball tradition at SouthWest Edgecombe High originated with the Jenkins sisters, Alphelia and Bridget, and their coach, Sandra Langley.

In their combined five varsity seasons, the Jenkins sisters, with Alphelia a year older than Bridget, combined for nearly 4,000 points and a pair of N.C, High School Athletic Association championships.

Since the sisters' departure, Langley, the only head girls basketball coach in the school's history, has guided the Lady Cougars to two more state titles and Langley is nearing 700 career wins.

Alphelia and Bridget Jenkins were honored at the start of SouthWest's athletic banquet on Monday night with their induction as the fifth class into the SouthWest Edgecombe High Athletic Hall of Fame, increasing membership to 11.

The pair unexpectedly shared the spotlight when first-year Principal John Westberg dropped a proverbial bombshell upon Langley.

Westberg announced that the Edgecombe County Board of Education, earlier in the day, approved naming the SouthWest gymnasium as "Sandra Shelton Langley Gymnasium." Langley, banquet master of ceremonies, was stunned, visibly shaken.

Alphelia Jenkins described she and her sister, who was not present, being inducted into the hall of fame on the same evening that the school gym was named in Langley's honor as "remarkable."

"I'm very happy for her," added Alphelia Jenkins, who now resides in Newport News, Va. She explained that Bridget Jenkins, now a resident of Suitland, Md., and employed by the Department of Transportation, could not attend because of a conflict.

"This is quite an honor, obviously with the program's history that we started. It's a long time coming. It means a lot to both of us. When we got the nominations, we were both very ecstatic," said Alphelia Jenkins, who accepted both commemorative plaques.

Langley hailed the Jenkins sisters as "two good role models."

Both Jenkinses starred for the 1981 team that defeated Burnsville Mountain Heritage 65-64 for the state championship. Bridget Jenkins then ignited the 1982 Lady Cougars to a state-championship triumph against Shelby Crest High. Both teams were undefeated. Alphelia and Bridget Jenkins are the program's only two first-team Converse All-Americans.

Alphelia Jenkins, a tremendous leaper at 6-foot-1, scored 2,007 career points, trailing only Tyneshia Lewis among SouthWest's career scorers. The Associated Press proclaimed Alphelia Jenkins as all-state in 1981.

She continued her career at Old Dominion University and was joined by her sister as two of the nine players on ODU's 1985 national championship team. Upon her graduation from ODU in 1985, Alphelia Jenkins played professionally in Ireland and, at age 32, tried out with the Charlotte Sting and the New York Liberty in the fledgling WNBA. She also toured Spain with the U.S. National Team.

Alphelia Jenkins' life after basketball includes finance, banking and youth services.

Bridget Jenkins amassed 1,958 career points and starred for the two state-championship teams that were nationally ranked by USA Today. The 1982 team was ranked in the top 15. Heralded as a "pure jump shooter," Bridget Jenkins was proclaimed All-State in 1981 and 1982.

She signed with East Carolina University but transferred to ODU after one year. ODU's 1985 national-championship team earned a spot in the finals against Georgia thanks to Bridget Jenkins blistering the nets for 22 points in the final eight minutes of the semifinal against Northeastern Louisiana.

Bridget Jenkins, Old Dominion's Most Valuable Player in 1987 -- the year she graduated, enlisted in the U.S. Army and landed All-Army acclaim before ending her basketball career with a major knee injury.

Alphelia Jenkins' jersey No. 32 and Bridget Jenkins' jersey No. 23 at SouthWest have been retired.

"We accept these awards with much pride and dignity," Alphelia Jenkins spoke in behalf of her sister. "And we are both fully aware that our legacy began right here at SouthWest Edgecombe."

SouthWest Edgecombe is where Langley never left after launching her esteemed coaching career with brief stints at North Edgecombe and West Edgecombe. She is a graduate of South Edgecombe.

Struggling to regain her composure, Langley commented: "It doesn't get any better. I love my community, love basketball and love my former players. I've had good players, good support and good administrators.

"I've been in the right place at the right time. (First SouthWest Principal Cecil) Long saw something in me and decided to give me the job. I came in with some superstars (including Jenkins sisters); I can't take credit for it. I'm shocked."

Langley became SouthWest's athletic director in 1991. She joked that her love for the school is extensive to the point her husband, Gerald, once suggested: "Why don't you just go and sleep out there."

"But I was determined to show," she added in a serious tone, "that you can be a female, have a family (two sons), God in your life, work -- all of it -- if you are willing to do it the right way."

Former Gryphon assistant football coach calls it quits at Winston-Salem Carver

By Mason Linker, Winston-Salem Journal

WINSTON-SALEM - Brent David's stay as Carver's football coach is over after two seasons.

Saying he thought that there might be a better person to coach the team, David turned in a letter of resignation late last week.

David, 39, coached Carver to a 19-8 record, including 8-5 last fall. The Yellowjackets' 2009 season ended with a 16-14 loss to Lincolnton in the second round of the NCHSAA 2-A playoffs.

"It's a great place over here, and as far as the talent, it's here," David said. "They have a very good team coming back. The nucleus is here. But everyone in the entire program needs to be heading in the same direction, not only the head coach but the assistants and everyone involved.

"Those are the key components to win a state championship, and I didn't think that was happening with me as head coach.

"I wish the kids the best of luck and (Athletics Director) Aaron Bailey, who does a good job, and I am sure they will find the right fit for Carver."

Bailey said that the position will be advertised and that there's a possibility of naming an interim head coach from the current staff.

"We want to make sure the program stays afloat and that there's a common voice the players can relate to," Bailey said. "Coach David has been going to workouts, he has consistently been in the weight room with the kids. I don't know what changed.

"I think Coach David did a good job. From what I saw, he is a very knowledgeable football coach and knows the game without a shadow of a doubt. He did a good job, and his results indicated that."

David, a native of High Point who played linebacker at Appalachian State, took over at Carver in 2008 after several seasons as an assistant at Rocky Mount. Carver finished 11-3 in his first season, losing 20-16 to West Rowan in the Class 3-A quarterfinals. West Rowan, winner of the last two 3-A titles, needed two long, trick-play touchdowns to win.

David said he planned to continue to teach physical education at Carver and take a year off from coaching. He said he would like to continue working with athletes in the weight room and that he would do anything he could for the players.

"I'll do anything that will help this team," he said. "That was the reason for me stepping down. I think the program was taking a hit. I felt like we were trying to do it the right way, we were going in the right direction, but I felt like it might be a little better without me.

"By no means am I done as a coach. I will continue to work on my craft, do some scouting and take in as many seminars and clinics as I can and try to get better. I am kind of proud of the decision I made.

"I have waited all my life for a head-coaching job, and this was a good opportunity. But sometimes you have to do a self-assessment and see if I am what this situation needs. Someone else might be able to do a better job over here."

RMHS boys basketball team awarded rings Thursday

Here are shots of Rocky Mount head boys basketball coach and athletic director Mike Gainey's state championship ring.

Duplicates of this ring were awarded to team members, assistant coaches and team managers and trainers of the team Thursday evening at the school's annual athletic banquet and awards ceremony.

Click on each shot to enlarge.

2010 Rocky Mount football schedule released

Gryphon fans, get ready to hit the road for the 2010 football season!

Rocky Mount will have seven road games on the schedule, which was released Tuesday.

And two new teams will be on the slate. Well, really one new team and one team the Gryphons haven't faced in over 30 years!

An endowment game has been added - a road trip to Bertie on Aug. 20. The Falcons and the Gryphons haven't met on the gridiron since 1979 - the last year Bertie was a 4-A school.

Gone is Northampton-East and added is newbie East Duplin (Beulaville), a 2-A school. The Panthers are members of the East Central Conference.

Have a look!

2010 Rocky Mount Football Schedule

August 20^th - @ Bertie (E)

August 27^th - NORTHERN DURHAM

September 3^rd - @ East Duplin

September 10^{th -} HERTFORD

September 17^th - @ Southwest Edgecombe

September 24^th – open-

October 1^st - @ JH Rose

October 8^th - @ Nash Central*

October 15^th - @ Hunt*

October 22^nd - WILSON FIKE*

October 29^th - @ Southern Nash*

November 5^{th -} NORTHERN NASH*

Mabry decision likely this week

By Tim Stevens

Raleigh News and Observer

Tashawn Mabry, the career basketball scoring leader at Rocky Mount High, expects to make his college commitment this week.

He is expected to pick from among N.C. State, Providence, Connecticut, UNC Wilmington, Western Kentucky and Rhode Island.Mabry said State had offered him a scholarship and had been recruiting him since his freshman year.

Last Thursday he went to campus and talked with players and coaches."I'll make my final decision next week," he said Friday.

Mabry is a 6-foot-5 forward who led Rocky Mount to the NCHSAA 3-A championship. He was the most valuable player in the championship game, an 84-79 victory over Concord. He had 26 points and 10 rebounds in the win.He averaged 24.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.5 blocks, 1.5 steals and 1.4 assists.

He finished his career with 2,411 points, passing former Gryphons point guard Phil Ford to become the school's all-time scorer."I am achieving everything that I had dreamed of," Mabry said. "It is really unbelievable."

Mabry said he talked regularly with Raleigh Word of God's C.J. Leslie, a McDonald's All American who also is considering N.C. State."C.J. is my boy," Mabry said. "We talked about what a great class it would be if we both decided to go there with Ryan Harrow and Lorenzo Brown, but both of us need to make the best decision for ourselves and our families."

Mabry said his decision would come down to where he thought he could get the best education and where he could develop his basketball abilities the most.

Virgil has signed with the Bills

According to Roanoke.com, three Virginia Tech players not selected in last week's NFL Draft have signed free-agent deals with NFL clubs, including former Rocky Mount standout Stephan Virgil.

Guard Sergio Render, whose draft stock waned in the past year, has signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs took two Tech players in the draft -- punter Brent Bowden in the sixth round and safety Cody Grimm in the seventh round on Saturday.

Defensive tackle Cordarrow ''Taco'' Thompson has signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who selected Tech defensive end-linebacker Jason Worilds in Friday's second round.

Stephan Virgil, who saw his draft stock go down because of a knee injury that caused him to miss several games and hurt his speed, has signed with the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo took Tech's Ed Wang in Saturday's fifth round of the draft.

Hudgins to sign with Dallas Cowboys

From staff reports
Burlington Times-News

He broke a multitude of records and goal lines across the college football landscape.

Now Elon University receiver Terrell Hudgins will try to break in at the highest professional level — the National Football League.

According to a report that surfaced Saturday night, Hudgins has agreed to a rookie free-agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys after being passed over through seven rounds and 255 picks of the NFL Draft.

Phoenix 14 News, which produces student-run television programs at Elon, said Hudgins (Rocky Mount, N.C.) is expected to sign with the Cowboys on Sunday.

Donations go to ring purchases

Mike Gainey, athletic director and head boys basketball coach at Rocky Mount High School, accepts a check for $164.00 from Choice Health Management Service (South Village). The company had a fundraiser for the team and made a donation. Shown are (l-r) Mandy Smith (Admissions/Marketing) and Cynthia Avent (social worker).

Donnie Tharrington (middle, green shirt), of Don's Body Shop in Rocky Mount, makes a donation of $2,500 to the RMHS boys basketball team toward to purchase of championship rings. Tharrington has been a dedicated and committed member of the Rocky Mount community for many years and has supported causes in both the Nash-Rocky Mount and Edgecombe County school systems.

Flanking Tharrington and Gainey are (l-r) senior basketball players Marcus Jones, Darius McKnight, T.J. Walker, Tashawn Mabry, Detrail Jenkins, Jaquan Edmondson and William Young.

Click on each picture to enlarge. (Photos contributed)

Groundbreaking of new RMHS campus

Above are several pictures taken last week by David Hahula of the groundbreaking ceremony and the grounds of the new campus for Rocky Mount High School on Bethlehem Road.

Included in the shots are members of both the Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education and the Nash County Commissioners, as well as other school system dignitaries.

Enjoy this small part of Rocky Mount history! Click on picture to enlarge!

2010 Johnston County Easter Invitational - Day-by-Day results

DAY 3 - TUESDAY, APRIL 6

7th Place - Cardinal Gibbons 15, Fayetteville Academy 5 (6 inn.)
5th Place - Smithfield-Selma 10, South Johnston 5
3rd Place - West Johnson 9, Harnett Central 6
Championship - Clayton 7, Rocky Mount 5


DAY 2 - MONDAY, APRIL 5

Game 5 - Smithfield-Selma 7, Cardinal Gibbons 6
Game 6 - South Johnston 17, Fayetteville Academy 1 (5 inn.)
Game 7 - Rocky Mount 8, West Johnston 2
Game 8 - Clayton 11, Harnett Central 5


DAY 1 - SATURDAY, APRIL 3

Game 1 - Rocky Mount 9, Smithfield-Selma 8 (9 inn.)
Game 2 - West Johnston 8, Cardinal Gibbons 7

Home Run Derby - winner, Matt Dupree, West Johnston

Game 3 - Clayton 7, Fayetteville Academy 0
Game 4 - Harnett Central 8, South Johnston 1


2010 JCEI All-Tournament Team

Matt Reid, Clayton
Jacob Stewart, Clayton
Jason Creasy, Clayton
Blade Pardue, Clayton
Hobbs Johnson, Rocky Mount
Michael Whitehead, Rocky Mount
Matthew Berry, Rocky Mount
Bradley Ragan, West Johnston
Tyler Tant, West Johnston
Justin Carroll, West Johnston
Dyan Brown, Smithfield-Selma
Tate Parrish, Smithfield-Selma
Brian Taylor, Harnett Central
Zach Cabe, Harnett Central
Max Schrock, Cardinal Gibbons
Josh Elmore, Fayetteville Academy
Logan Jernigan, South Johnston

Pat Smith Defensive Award - Max Schrock, Cardinal Gibbons
Most Intense Award - Alex Hadding, Clayton
MVP - Alex Hadding, Clayton

2010 Johnston County Easter Invitiational

2010 Johnston County Easter Invitiational
@South Johnston HS


JOHNSTON COUNTY EASTER INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONS

2010 - Clayton
2009 - Clayton
2008 - Middle Creek
2007 - South Johnston
2006 - Jack Britt
2005 - Jack Britt
2004 - South Johnston
2003 - Smithfield-Selma
2002 - South Johnston
2001 - Cape Fear
2000 - South Johnston
1999 - Clayton
1998 - Clayton
1997 - Fuquay-Varina
1996 - Fuquay-Varina
1995 - Clayton
1994 - South Johnston
1993 - South Johnston
1992 - Princeton
1991 - Rosewood

JOHNSTON COUNTY EASTER INVITAIONAL
HOME RUN DERBY CHAMPION

2010 - Matt Dupree, West Johnston
2009 - Josh Elmore, Fayetteville Academy
2008 - Kris Richards, West Johnston
2007 - Quincy Lattimore - Middle Creek
2006 - Trenton Lansgton - Smithfield-Selma

Get your baseball fix during Easter break!

If you don't plan to go to the beach or head out of state during the Easter break, how about taking in an Easter baseball tournament.

Below are schedules of what is going on with high schools teams in both Nash and Edgecombe Counties, along with the Big East Conference members in Wilson County.

Teams will be participating in events in Tarboro, Louisburg, Four Oaks, Kinston and Columbia, S.C.

2010 Tarboro Baseball Classic

April 7-9, Historic Municipal Stadium, Tarboro

Wednesday, April 7

GAME 1 - Lawrence Academy 9, Roanoke Rapids 5
GAME 2 - Nash Central 10, Jefferson Forest (Va.) 9
GAME 3 - Rocky Mount Academy 12, SouthWest Edgecombe 10
GAME 4 - Tarboro 10, St. Maria Goretti (Md.) 0

Thursday, April 8

GAME 5 - Jefferson Forest (Va.) 11, Roanoke Rapids 5
GAME 6 - SW Edgecombe 15, St. Maria Goretti (Md.) 5 (5 inn.)
GAME 7 - Lawrence Academy 16, Nash Central 3 (5 inn.)
GAME 8 - Tarboro 7, Rocky Mount Academy 1

Friday, April 9

GAME 9 - Roanoke Rapids 17, St. Maria Goretti (Md.) 16 - 7th Place
GAME 10 - Jefferson Forest (Va.) 12, SW Edgecombe 0 (5 inn.) - 5th Place
GAME 11 - Nash Central 10, Rocky Mount Academy 2 - 3rd Place
GAME 12 - Lawrence Academy 7, Tarboro 3 - Championship

2010 Tarboro Easter Classic All-Tournament Team

Jay Donahue, St. Maris Goretti (Md.)

Bobby Jones, Roanoke Rapids

Eric Heiligenstadt, Jeffereson Forest (Va.)

Adam Hyland, SW Edgecombe

Tyler Mizelle, Nash Central

Adam Bayless, Rocky Mount Academy

Scott Norville, Tarboro

Chase Johnson, Tarboro

Scott Edge, Lawrence Academy

Cameron Peed, Lawrence Academy

Chad Whitehead, Lawrence Academy - Brandon Whitlark Memorial MVP Award

The remaining Big East Conference schools are playing the following schedules. Southern Nash is the only Big East team that will not be playing during the Easter break. I will update all these scores during the Easter break!

Friday, April 2

Lawrence Academy 3, Fike 1 - Louisburg Easter Tournament

Saturday, April 3

Rocky Mount 9, Smithfield-Selma 8 (9 inn.) - Johnston Co. Easter Invitational
Fike 10, Bunn 0 (5 inn.) - Louisburg Easter Tournament
Northern Nash 4, West Craven 3 - George Whitfield Invitational, Kinston

Monday, April 5

Fike 10, Warren County 0 (6 inn.) - Louisburg Tourney
Rocky Mount 8, West Johnston 2 - Johnston Co. Tourney
Parrott Academy 5, Northern Nash 2 - Whitfield Tourney

Tuesday, April 6

Hunt 19, Champmanville (WVa.) 11 - Forest Acres Classic (A.C. Flora HS, Columbia, S,C.)
Clayton 7, Rocky Mount 5, championship - Johnston Co. Tourney
Northern Nash 5, Kinston 3

Wednesday, April 7

Nash Central 10, Jefferson Forest (Va.) 9 - Tarboro Classic
Hunt 9, Sumter (SC) 3 - Forest Acres Classic (A.C. Flora HS, Columbia, S,C.)

Thursday, April 8

Westminister Christian (Miami, Fl.) 7, Hunt 6 - Forest Acres Classic (A.C. Flora HS, Columbia, S,C.)
Lawrence Academy 16, Nash Central 3 - Tarboro Classic

Friday, April 9

Nash Central 10, Rocky Mount Academy 2, Tarboro Classic
Hunt 7, Dreher 2 - Forest Acres Classic (A.C. Flora HS, Columbia, S.C.) - Third Place

Rocky Mount leads Wachovia Conference Cup race

After taking titles in boys and girls basketball this past winter, Rocky Mount remains in first place in the Big East 3-A Conference race for the Wachovia Conference Cup.

Wachovia Bank, along with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, announced Monday the standings for winter sports in the Wachovia Conference Cup competitions for the 2009-10 academic year.

The Conference Cup is awarded to schools with the best overall interscholastic athletic performance in each individual conference.

Rocky Mount, which also finished second in wrestling, is in the lead at 107.5 points. Wilson Fike, which took conference titles in boys and girls swimming and finished second in boys basketball, is in second with 98.5 points.

Nash Central, which was fourth after the fall season, vaulted past Wilson Hunt into third place in the standings with 94.5 points thanks to a second-place finish in men's swimming and third-place finishes in wrestling and boys basketball.

Wilson Hunt has 91.5 points for fourth place, followed by Northern Nash (81 points) and Southern Nash (76 points). The Wachovia Conference Cup will be awarded to the winning school at the conclusion of the spring sports season.

2009-10 Big East Wachovia Conference Cup Standings

1. Rocky Mount 107.5
2. Wilson Fike 98.5
3. Nash Central 94.5
4. Wilson Hunt 91.5
5. Northern Nash 81.0
6. Southern Nash 76.0

Goodwin off to good start at UNC

Brian Goodwin takes a swing during UNC's series at Duke two weekends ago. (Photo/David Hahula)

Former Rocky Mount baseball standout Brian Goodwin has had a stellar start to his collegiate career at North Carolina.

After 21 games (he has started all 21), he is batting .333 (tied for third on the team) with five doubles (third), three triples (first), three home runs (tied first) and knocked in 22 RBI (third).

He got in a little trouble last week when he reverted to being a high school baseball player - for one play.

In an at-bat versus Princeton, he hit a high fly ball toward third base that he thought would be caught. He threw his bat to the ground and eventually ran to first. Well, the Princeton third baseman dropped the ball. If he had hustled out of the batter's box, he would have been at second base, not first.

UNC head coach Mike Fox took him out of the game minutes after that play.

It was a hard lesson for Goodwin to learn, but he quickly found out that you never stop hustling in the game of baseball.

Never!

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!