GREENSBORO - The 2007 State Games of North Carolina are being held in the Triad Area this summer and the high school baseball tournament, with rising juniors and seniors, is being played at three sites: UNC-G, First Horizon Park and War Memorial Stadium.
The state is divided into eight regions by the NCHSAA, and the Rocky Mount area is in Region 3. Two Rocky Mount players and one from Northern Nash are representing this area. Gryphons Jim Leggett and Brian Goodwin and Northern's Tyler Joyner. Leggett is also playing for ImpactBaseball.com's Dirtbags traveling team, while Goodwin and Joyner are staples on the Nash County Post 58 squad.
Region 3 begins play Thursday at 3 p.m. versus Region 1 (northeatern NC) at UNC-G. Friday, it plays a 7 p.m. contest against Region 5 (Triad Area) at UNC-G. Saturday, Region 3 moves over War Memorial Stadium for a 1 p.m. tilt with Region 7 (northwestern NC).
The Gold Medal game will played at 2 p.m. Sunday at UNC-G. The Region 3 team is coached by Dave Kline (Kerr-Vance Academy). For more on the tournament, go to http://www.ncsports.org/.
Region 3 roster
Bryan Bass - Northern Durham
Kevin Bratcher - Ravenscroft
Landon Adams - Middle Creek
Cameron Richards - Knightdale
Jacob Dixon - Roanoke Rapids
Jim Leggett - Rocky Mount
Kris Richards - West Johnston
Tyler Joyner - Northern Nash
Jeremy Dowdy - Wakefield
Blaze Tart - Riverside
Steele Myers - Durham Jordan
Brian Goodwin - Rocky Mount
Zack Howell - Garner
Dylan Kipp - Green Hope
Zac Crumpler - Fike
Jerry Glover - South Johnston
Jake Dailey - Cedar Ridge
Pratt Maynard - South Granville
Cameron Connor - Fuquay-Varina
Corey Thompson - Apex
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Rocky Mount without an endowment game - for now!
Due to an oversight, Rocky Mount's 2007 football season opener with Goldsboro (an endowment game) has been cancelled.
A verbal agreement was made with Goldsboro's head coach earlier in the year to play not one, but two endowment games at Rocky Mount the next two seasons. But that agreement was with a head coach who has since resigned.
In the meantime, Goldsboro signed fellow Wayne County school Rosewood to fill out its schedule. It left the Gryphons with no opener - during a time where almost every school has its schedule set for the next two seasons.
Rocky Mount is making efforts to find another endowment opponent. If one can't be found, RMHS will likely play a second scrimmage.
I will keep you informed on RMHS' search for another season-opening opponent.
A verbal agreement was made with Goldsboro's head coach earlier in the year to play not one, but two endowment games at Rocky Mount the next two seasons. But that agreement was with a head coach who has since resigned.
In the meantime, Goldsboro signed fellow Wayne County school Rosewood to fill out its schedule. It left the Gryphons with no opener - during a time where almost every school has its schedule set for the next two seasons.
Rocky Mount is making efforts to find another endowment opponent. If one can't be found, RMHS will likely play a second scrimmage.
I will keep you informed on RMHS' search for another season-opening opponent.
2007 All-NEW 6 Baseball Team
Here is the 2007 All-NEW Baseball Team as voted by the head coaches of the league:
First team
Jason Gay, Northern Nash (40/82, .488; 9 2B, 12 HR, 32R, 43 RBI)
Andrew Webb, Northern Nash (30 R)
Zach Woodley, Northern Nash (10-2, 1.76 ERA,86K)
Tyler Joyner, Northern Nash (10-3, 128 K)
Chad Womble, Rocky Mount (7-3, 1.60 ERA; .300, 13R, 17 RBI)
Brian Goodwin, Rocky Mount (.356, 29R, 17 RBI, 13 SB, HR)
Bentley Massey, Fike (9-3, 2.28 ERA, 80 K)
Thomas Moore, Fike (.418, 32R, 2 HR, 37 RBI)
Brian Allen, Southern Nash (.389, 23R, 30 RBI; 2-1, 36K)
Xavier Macklin, Nash Central (.368, 2HR, 20 RBI)
Second team
Daniel Moore, Northern Nash
Dillon Cockrell, Rocky Mount
Jim Leggett, Rocky Mount
Chris Berry, Rocky Mount
Jacob Davis, Fike
David Gibbons, Fike
Brian Graley, Southern Nash
Alex Pearce, Nash Centra
lScott Tharrington, SouthWest Edgecombe
Patrick Goodwyn, SouthWest Edgecombe
Honorable Mention
Ben Fish, Rocky Mount
Jeremy Proctor, Northern Nash
Zach Crumpler, Wilson Fike
Ben Wilson, Southern Nash
Cody High, Nash Central
Player of the Year: Jason Gay, Northern Nash
Conference Champion Coach: Pat Smith, Rocky Mount; Al Carter, Northern Nash
First team
Jason Gay, Northern Nash (40/82, .488; 9 2B, 12 HR, 32R, 43 RBI)
Andrew Webb, Northern Nash (30 R)
Zach Woodley, Northern Nash (10-2, 1.76 ERA,86K)
Tyler Joyner, Northern Nash (10-3, 128 K)
Chad Womble, Rocky Mount (7-3, 1.60 ERA; .300, 13R, 17 RBI)
Brian Goodwin, Rocky Mount (.356, 29R, 17 RBI, 13 SB, HR)
Bentley Massey, Fike (9-3, 2.28 ERA, 80 K)
Thomas Moore, Fike (.418, 32R, 2 HR, 37 RBI)
Brian Allen, Southern Nash (.389, 23R, 30 RBI; 2-1, 36K)
Xavier Macklin, Nash Central (.368, 2HR, 20 RBI)
Second team
Daniel Moore, Northern Nash
Dillon Cockrell, Rocky Mount
Jim Leggett, Rocky Mount
Chris Berry, Rocky Mount
Jacob Davis, Fike
David Gibbons, Fike
Brian Graley, Southern Nash
Alex Pearce, Nash Centra
lScott Tharrington, SouthWest Edgecombe
Patrick Goodwyn, SouthWest Edgecombe
Honorable Mention
Ben Fish, Rocky Mount
Jeremy Proctor, Northern Nash
Zach Crumpler, Wilson Fike
Ben Wilson, Southern Nash
Cody High, Nash Central
Player of the Year: Jason Gay, Northern Nash
Conference Champion Coach: Pat Smith, Rocky Mount; Al Carter, Northern Nash
Post 58 tops Wilson Co. by a touchdown, 17-10
By Tom Ham
Wilson Daily Times
WILSON - Credit the Wilson American Legion baseball team with enough moxie to avoid being victimized by the 10-run lead rule Tuesday night.
Otherwise, Post 13's 2007 miseries in Fleming Stadium continued with a 17-10 Area One Eastern Division North Conference loss to Post 58 of Rocky Mount-Nash County. Nine Wilson errors led to 13 unearned Post 58 runs as Post 13 tumbled to 5-4 overall and 2-2 in the conference.
Post 58, undefeated in four games, pounded three Wilson pitchers for 15 hits in notching its second conference victory.
"We can't play at home," Wilson head coach Rusty Dail flatly said. "We just can't play right now. It's frustrating.
"We have to make up our minds to come to play. Some of us are just going through the motions. I don't have the answer. If I'd had nine more (players) I would have put them out there."
The contest lingered nearly three hours and the regulation nine innings as the result of Wilson, down 17-4, scoring five runs in the bottom of the eighth.
Down to its last out, Post 13 forced the ninth inning on center fielder Zach Moore's two-run single.Leading 10-4, Post 58 sent 11 batters to the plate in pouring across seven runs in the top of the eighth.
Third baseman Chris Berry batted 3-for-6 and drove in three runs for Post 58. Center fielder Daniel Moore, shortstop Andrew Webb, second baseman Brian Allen, right fielder Xavier Macklin and left fielder Dillon Cockrell each collected two hits. Allen scored four runs and Daniel Moore, Webb and Gay three each.
Gay doubled in a run and scored on Macklin's single to stake Post 58 to a 2-0 lead in the top of the opening inning against starting Post 13 pitcher Matthew Watson, a left-hander.But Wilson retaliated with four runs in the bottom of the first.
The bases were loaded when first baseman Thomas Moore cleared them with a one-out triple.
Third baseman Brett Allen singled in Moore.
Post 58 reclaimed the lead for keeps with three unearned runs in the top of the second. The bases were loaded but wound up empty when Watson's pick-off throw toward first base wound up in the right-field corner.
After the opening inning, Post 58 starting pitcher Zach Woodley blanked Wilson on three hits the next six innings. Woodley completed his evening's work by working out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh. Woodley, 2-0, had thrown just six pitches the previous three games.
"I hadn't thrown in four weeks (except for the six pitches) and you've got to find your rhythm," Woodley reasoned. The right-hander noted the approach is different for nine-inning Legion games as compared to seven-inning outings on the mound for Northern Nash High.
"I would have liked to have done a little better," Woodley evaluated. "I threw a lot of off-speed pitches after the first inning because I couldn't get the fastball in the zone. I had to try something. We won, we're 4-0 — I'll take it."
Wilson wound up with 11 hits, including two each from Zach Moore, second baseman Joseph Toler and Thomas Moore. Toler also tripled. Designated hitter-right fielder Jacob Davis scored three runs.
Watson, Post 13's ace last season, took the loss to even his mark at 1-1. Right-handers Jeremy Efird and Tony Whitehead followed him to the mound.
"We are just as good as they are," Dail insisted. "They threw their best and we put the ball in play. But we were passive at the plate and you're not going to win against anybody when you commit nine errors."
Wilson steps outside the conference to welcome New Bern this evening at 7 in Fleming Stadium.
Dail's post-game message to his player was brief: "Be here at 4:30."
Post 58 17
Wilson 10
POST 58 WILSON Post 13
AB R H BI AB R H BI
D Moore 5 3 2 0 Moore 4 2 2 2
Webb ss 5 3 2 2 Toler 2b-ss 4 1 2 1
Bn Allen 2b 4 4 2 0 Lamm c 5 0 0 0
Gay 1b 4 3 1 1 Davis dh-rf 4 3 1 0
Macklin rf 5 0 2 2 T Moore 1b 3 1 2 3
Jhnson pr-rf 1 1 0 0 Emdn ph-1b 2 1 1 1
Pierce c 5 1 1 1 Taylor lf 3 0 0 0
Berry 3b 6 1 3 3 Nygard ph-lf 2 1 1 0
Hodges dh 5 0 0 0 Bt Allen 3b 3 0 1 1
Woodley p 0 0 0 0 Jones ss 4 1 1 1
Womble p 0 0 0 0 Massey 2b 1 0 0 0
Joyner p 0 0 0 0 Whithd rf-p 4 0 0 0
Cockrell lf 5 1 2 2
Totals 45 17 15 11 Totals 39 10 11 9
Score by innings:
Post 58 230 023 070 — 17
Wilson 400 000 051 — 10
E-Watson 2, Bt. Allen 3, Lamm, T. Moore, Toler 2, Berry, Webb, Pierce. DP-Post 58. LOB-Post 58, Wilson 7. 2B-Gay, Berry. 3B-T. Moore, Bn. Allen, Toler. SB-Bn. Allen, Macklin, D. Moore 2. S-Webb.
Pitching
IP H R ER BB SO
Post 58
Woodley (W 2-0) 7 6 4 2 3 3
Womble 1 4 5 2 1 2
Joyner 1 1 1 0 1 0
Wilson
Watson (L) 42/3 7 7 2 3 7
Efird 21/3 4 7 2 2 0
Whitehead 2 4 3 0 0 0
HBP-D. Moore (by Efird), Gay (by Efird). WP-Joyner. PB-Pierce 2.
Wilson Daily Times
WILSON - Credit the Wilson American Legion baseball team with enough moxie to avoid being victimized by the 10-run lead rule Tuesday night.
Otherwise, Post 13's 2007 miseries in Fleming Stadium continued with a 17-10 Area One Eastern Division North Conference loss to Post 58 of Rocky Mount-Nash County. Nine Wilson errors led to 13 unearned Post 58 runs as Post 13 tumbled to 5-4 overall and 2-2 in the conference.
Post 58, undefeated in four games, pounded three Wilson pitchers for 15 hits in notching its second conference victory.
"We can't play at home," Wilson head coach Rusty Dail flatly said. "We just can't play right now. It's frustrating.
"We have to make up our minds to come to play. Some of us are just going through the motions. I don't have the answer. If I'd had nine more (players) I would have put them out there."
The contest lingered nearly three hours and the regulation nine innings as the result of Wilson, down 17-4, scoring five runs in the bottom of the eighth.
Down to its last out, Post 13 forced the ninth inning on center fielder Zach Moore's two-run single.Leading 10-4, Post 58 sent 11 batters to the plate in pouring across seven runs in the top of the eighth.
Third baseman Chris Berry batted 3-for-6 and drove in three runs for Post 58. Center fielder Daniel Moore, shortstop Andrew Webb, second baseman Brian Allen, right fielder Xavier Macklin and left fielder Dillon Cockrell each collected two hits. Allen scored four runs and Daniel Moore, Webb and Gay three each.
Gay doubled in a run and scored on Macklin's single to stake Post 58 to a 2-0 lead in the top of the opening inning against starting Post 13 pitcher Matthew Watson, a left-hander.But Wilson retaliated with four runs in the bottom of the first.
The bases were loaded when first baseman Thomas Moore cleared them with a one-out triple.
Third baseman Brett Allen singled in Moore.
Post 58 reclaimed the lead for keeps with three unearned runs in the top of the second. The bases were loaded but wound up empty when Watson's pick-off throw toward first base wound up in the right-field corner.
After the opening inning, Post 58 starting pitcher Zach Woodley blanked Wilson on three hits the next six innings. Woodley completed his evening's work by working out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh. Woodley, 2-0, had thrown just six pitches the previous three games.
"I hadn't thrown in four weeks (except for the six pitches) and you've got to find your rhythm," Woodley reasoned. The right-hander noted the approach is different for nine-inning Legion games as compared to seven-inning outings on the mound for Northern Nash High.
"I would have liked to have done a little better," Woodley evaluated. "I threw a lot of off-speed pitches after the first inning because I couldn't get the fastball in the zone. I had to try something. We won, we're 4-0 — I'll take it."
Wilson wound up with 11 hits, including two each from Zach Moore, second baseman Joseph Toler and Thomas Moore. Toler also tripled. Designated hitter-right fielder Jacob Davis scored three runs.
Watson, Post 13's ace last season, took the loss to even his mark at 1-1. Right-handers Jeremy Efird and Tony Whitehead followed him to the mound.
"We are just as good as they are," Dail insisted. "They threw their best and we put the ball in play. But we were passive at the plate and you're not going to win against anybody when you commit nine errors."
Wilson steps outside the conference to welcome New Bern this evening at 7 in Fleming Stadium.
Dail's post-game message to his player was brief: "Be here at 4:30."
Post 58 17
Wilson 10
POST 58 WILSON Post 13
AB R H BI AB R H BI
D Moore 5 3 2 0 Moore 4 2 2 2
Webb ss 5 3 2 2 Toler 2b-ss 4 1 2 1
Bn Allen 2b 4 4 2 0 Lamm c 5 0 0 0
Gay 1b 4 3 1 1 Davis dh-rf 4 3 1 0
Macklin rf 5 0 2 2 T Moore 1b 3 1 2 3
Jhnson pr-rf 1 1 0 0 Emdn ph-1b 2 1 1 1
Pierce c 5 1 1 1 Taylor lf 3 0 0 0
Berry 3b 6 1 3 3 Nygard ph-lf 2 1 1 0
Hodges dh 5 0 0 0 Bt Allen 3b 3 0 1 1
Woodley p 0 0 0 0 Jones ss 4 1 1 1
Womble p 0 0 0 0 Massey 2b 1 0 0 0
Joyner p 0 0 0 0 Whithd rf-p 4 0 0 0
Cockrell lf 5 1 2 2
Totals 45 17 15 11 Totals 39 10 11 9
Score by innings:
Post 58 230 023 070 — 17
Wilson 400 000 051 — 10
E-Watson 2, Bt. Allen 3, Lamm, T. Moore, Toler 2, Berry, Webb, Pierce. DP-Post 58. LOB-Post 58, Wilson 7. 2B-Gay, Berry. 3B-T. Moore, Bn. Allen, Toler. SB-Bn. Allen, Macklin, D. Moore 2. S-Webb.
Pitching
IP H R ER BB SO
Post 58
Woodley (W 2-0) 7 6 4 2 3 3
Womble 1 4 5 2 1 2
Joyner 1 1 1 0 1 0
Wilson
Watson (L) 42/3 7 7 2 3 7
Efird 21/3 4 7 2 2 0
Whitehead 2 4 3 0 0 0
HBP-D. Moore (by Efird), Gay (by Efird). WP-Joyner. PB-Pierce 2.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Gryphon athletes sign on the dotted line
Demetric Marshall and Jason Tyler signed to play football at West Hills Community College in Coalinga, California last week. They are joined by RMHS athletic director Michael Gainey, assistant football coach Chris Lee, head football coach B.W. Holt, Jason's father Rossie Tyler and RMSH principal Judy Bradshaw. Absent from the picture was C.J. Ford, who has also signed with the school.
Chad Womble signed to play baseball for Florence-Darlington Technical College in Florence, S.C. last week. He is joined by his parents Charlene and Dennis Womble. Looking on are RMHS athletic director Michael Gainey, head baseball coach Pat Smith and RMHS principal Judy Bradshaw.
Photos/David Hahula
Saturday, June 9, 2007
2007 NEW 6 Boys Tennis All-Conference Team
Here is the 2007 NEW 6 Boys Tennis All-Conference team. Southern Nash's Tyler Harris, who went undefeated in team play, was Player of the Year.
First Team
Tyler Harris - Southern Nash
Michael Barnes - Southern Nash
Kevin Murray - Southern Nash
Ethan Page - Southern Nash
Griffin Benton - Fike
John Lucas - Northern Nash
Second Team
Kyle Ramsey - Southern Nash
Justin Davis - Southern Nash
Alex Durham - Rocky Mount
Sameer Prasada - Rocky Mount
Robert Lapp - Nash Central
Matthew Fleck - Fike
Player of the Year - Tyler Harris, Southern Nash (headed to N.C. Wesleyan)
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Edgecombe's new Legion squad full of Nash Co. players
When Coleman-Pitt Post 58 heads over to Tarboro Wednesday evening for its North Division, Area 1 East matchup with new Edgecombe Co. Post 316 at Municipal Stadium, it may seem more like a reunion than a baseball game.
Post 316, head coached by Charles Johnson and assisted by Mills Davis, Todd Brewer and Rick Norville, will have six players who played in Nash County this past spring.
Cody High, Drew Fairman and Justin Murray played at Nash Central, Deseray Rosser and Courtney Arrington closed out their careers at Northern Nash, and Brian Graley was a standard on the mound at Southern Nash. Former Northern Nash Knight Jeff Davis, who just completed his first year at Barton, is also on the squad.
Post 316's other players are from Tarboro High (Patrick Ruffin, Drew Davis, Kyle Norville, Matthew Boykin), SouthWest Edgecombe (Patrick Goodwyn, Scott Tharrington, Nick Wells), Williamston (A.J. Peaks, Trey Peaks) and Hobgood Academy (Adam Whitehead).
Post 316, head coached by Charles Johnson and assisted by Mills Davis, Todd Brewer and Rick Norville, will have six players who played in Nash County this past spring.
Cody High, Drew Fairman and Justin Murray played at Nash Central, Deseray Rosser and Courtney Arrington closed out their careers at Northern Nash, and Brian Graley was a standard on the mound at Southern Nash. Former Northern Nash Knight Jeff Davis, who just completed his first year at Barton, is also on the squad.
Post 316's other players are from Tarboro High (Patrick Ruffin, Drew Davis, Kyle Norville, Matthew Boykin), SouthWest Edgecombe (Patrick Goodwyn, Scott Tharrington, Nick Wells), Williamston (A.J. Peaks, Trey Peaks) and Hobgood Academy (Adam Whitehead).
Monday, June 4, 2007
Coleman-Pitt Post 58 American Legion Schedule
Here is Coleman-Pitt Post 58's American Legion baseball schedule for this summer.
Go out to Alexander Field at Rocky Mount Academy and support these boys! They have 17 home games, including a few doubleheaders - like the one they swept over New Bern Post 24 Saturday in their season openers (4-1, 5-4). There is no excuse to not catch them a few times this season!
Four Gryphon players are on Post 58's roster this summer: Chad Womble, Chris Berry, Grant Johnson, Dillon Cockrell.
They are joined by five from Northern Nash (Jason Gay, Andrew Webb, Zach Woodley, Daniel Moore, Tyler Joyner), two from Nash Central (Xavier Macklin, Alex Pearce) and one from Southern Nash (Brian Allen). Adam Hodges is the lone player from Rocky Mount Academy.
Lance Peck is back for his second season as head coach. Ted Williams (Northern Nash, NC Wesleyan) is his assistant.
The Northern Conference of the Area 1 Eastern Division is comprised of Tarboro, Edenton, Ahoskie, Wilson, Washington and Post 58 (Nash County).
Go out to Alexander Field at Rocky Mount Academy and support these boys! They have 17 home games, including a few doubleheaders - like the one they swept over New Bern Post 24 Saturday in their season openers (4-1, 5-4). There is no excuse to not catch them a few times this season!
Four Gryphon players are on Post 58's roster this summer: Chad Womble, Chris Berry, Grant Johnson, Dillon Cockrell.
They are joined by five from Northern Nash (Jason Gay, Andrew Webb, Zach Woodley, Daniel Moore, Tyler Joyner), two from Nash Central (Xavier Macklin, Alex Pearce) and one from Southern Nash (Brian Allen). Adam Hodges is the lone player from Rocky Mount Academy.
Lance Peck is back for his second season as head coach. Ted Williams (Northern Nash, NC Wesleyan) is his assistant.
The Northern Conference of the Area 1 Eastern Division is comprised of Tarboro, Edenton, Ahoskie, Wilson, Washington and Post 58 (Nash County).
COLEMAN-PITT POST 58 LEGION SCHEDULE
(home games in bold)
June 2 - DH vs. NEW BERN (4-1 W; 5-4 W) 2-0 overall, 0-0 conf.
June 6 - @ Tarboro (20-1 W - 7 inn.) 3-0 overall, 1-0 conf.
June 12 - @ Wilson – 7 pm (17-10 W) 4-0 overall, 2-0 conf.
June 13 - PITT CO. 39 – 7 pm - PPD.
June 14 – TARBORO – 7 pm
June 15 - @ Pitt 39 – 7 pm (Guy Smith Stadium) - PPD.
June 16 - DH - EDENTON – 3 pm
June 17 - @ Kerr Lake - 5 pm (TBA)
June 18 - PITT CO. 160 - 7 pm
June 19 - @ Ahoskie - 7 pm
June 21 - @ Washington – 7 pm
June 22 – WASHINGTON – 7 pm
June 23 - @ Raleigh Post 297 - 7 pm (Millbrook HS)
June 24 - AHOSKIE – 7 pm
June 26 - RALEIGH POST 297 – 7 pm
June 27 - KERR LAKE - 7 pm
June 29 - CLAYTON POST 71 – 7 pm
June 30 - DH – BENSON – 3 pm
July 3 - PITT CO. POST 39 - 7 pm
July 5 – DURHAM, 7 pm
July 6 - @ Pitt Co. Post 39 - 7 pm
July 8 – DH vs. APEX – 3 pm
July 9 - @ Pitt Co. 160 (South Central HS)
July 10 - @ Snow Hill, 7 pm
July 11 – WILSON, 7 pm
July 12 - SNOW HILL, 7 pm
July 14 - DH @ DURHAM, 5 pm (Old DBAP)
July 16 – League Playoffs Begin
Saturday, June 2, 2007
NFL is coming to RMHS ... sort of!
The National Football League is coming to Rocky Mount High June 18-21 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the RMHS gym. Here is an overview of the program from NFL.com:
The NFL High School Player Development program addresses the many issues facing high school football programs in communities-in-need.
The following issues have been identified by a number of professionals, including, urban-based high school coaches, college football recruiters in Divisions I – III, collegiate coaches in Divisions I – III, NFL General Managers and Player Personnel Directors:
• A lack of feeder systems and introduction to the game results in decreased interest in playing high school football.
• Today’s players are deficient in game fundamentals.
• Academics disqualify many football players.
Objectives
The program sets out to achieve the following objectives:• Provide high school players from inner-city public schools with academic support through counseling in areas such as class standings, core course selection, maintaining a GPA, preparing for standardized tests and preparing for life after school.
• Increase exposure of urban-based, high school football players to college coaches and recruiters in Divisions I-III.
• Increase access to academic records for college recruiters.
• Create a new pool of quality and fundamentally sound athletes from communities-in-need through innovative teaching methods and drills developed by leading NCAA and NFL coaches who contribute their input and signature on position skill development exercises and methods.
How the program works
NFL High School Player Development provides incoming, fall season, sophomores, juniors and seniors a program focusing on academic counseling as well as specific football skill training by position. Each participant gains a full awareness of what it takes to become a successful high school and collegiate student-athlete, along with the resources and information to meet NCAA Clearinghouse requirements.
The program is comprised of an online academic and life skill curriculum and 10 hours of on-field, fundamental skill development by position. All program participants spend five hours of on-field programming at an offensive position and the remaining five hours at a defensive position of their coach’s choice.
Guest speakers address participants on life skills and football issues for 20 minutes prior to each practice. At the conclusion of the program, each participant receives a personalized portfolio.
This portfolio measures each player’s skill development by position and provides a complete breakdown of that player’s skill techniques. It also notes issues that need to be addressed in order to improve and advance to the next skill level.
Participants have the opportunity to meet with counselors to review and evaluate their academic standings and to receive an academic recommendation action plan.
This plan positions them to be eligible and fully prepared to meet NCAA Clearinghouse requirements and student-athlete demands while in college.
Led by Rocky Mount head football coach B.W. Holt, several RM assistant coaches as well as other coaches from area schools will be instructing at this camp. This may be the most important camp an aspiring high school football player may ever attend.
And it is free! Yes, free. The NFL is underwriting all the cost, so all you have to do is show up and participate. This is open to all football players in the surrounding Twin County area.
Mark your calendars now!
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Gryphons find a place to play!
Rocky Mount senior football players Demetric Marshall, Jason Tyler and C.J. Ford will be h
eading west to pursue their college football careers.
All three will be attending West Hills Community College in California. They should be signing with the school sometime next week.
Senior pitcher Chad Womble hopes to keep his baseball career going at Florence-Darlington Technical College - a JUCO where the baseball program has had great success in just three seasons of play. Womble is expected to sign with the Tech Stingers sometime in the next couple of weeks.
Look for info on all these upcoming signings on Rocky Mount's iHigh.com site .....
New coaches to face Gryphs
There was one - and after next week, there will be two. Two what? Two of the Gryphons' football opponents this season will have new head coaches.
Goldsboro, RMHS' endowment game opponent the next two seasons, saw head coach Maurice Jackson step down not long after Christmas. Eric Reid is the Cougars' new head coach and he will bring his squad to Rocky Mount twice the next couple of seasons. The Cougars have agreed to play both endowment contests at Rocky Mount.
The second new head coach is part of breaking news. Hertford County, where the Gryphons will head on Sept. 14, will see its very successful coach Greg Watford leave for Northampton-East as its new football coach and athletic director. That move will be announced officially on Monday. No word on who will replace Watford ...
eading west to pursue their college football careers.All three will be attending West Hills Community College in California. They should be signing with the school sometime next week.
Senior pitcher Chad Womble hopes to keep his baseball career going at Florence-Darlington Technical College - a JUCO where the baseball program has had great success in just three seasons of play. Womble is expected to sign with the Tech Stingers sometime in the next couple of weeks.
Look for info on all these upcoming signings on Rocky Mount's iHigh.com site .....
New coaches to face Gryphs
There was one - and after next week, there will be two. Two what? Two of the Gryphons' football opponents this season will have new head coaches.
Goldsboro, RMHS' endowment game opponent the next two seasons, saw head coach Maurice Jackson step down not long after Christmas. Eric Reid is the Cougars' new head coach and he will bring his squad to Rocky Mount twice the next couple of seasons. The Cougars have agreed to play both endowment contests at Rocky Mount.
The second new head coach is part of breaking news. Hertford County, where the Gryphons will head on Sept. 14, will see its very successful coach Greg Watford leave for Northampton-East as its new football coach and athletic director. That move will be announced officially on Monday. No word on who will replace Watford ...
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
NCHSAA Baseball Championship Schedules
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
2007 STATE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES — 91st ANNUAL
(All series best-of-three)
CLASS 4-A: FIVE COUNTY STADIUM, ZEBULON
WILMINGTON ASHLEY (24-5)) vs. SOUTH CALDWELL (27-3)
WILMINGTON ASHLEY (24-5)) vs. SOUTH CALDWELL (27-3)
Game 1: Friday, June 1 at 8 p.m.; Game 2: Saturday, June 2 at 2 pm; Game 3: if necessary, Saturday, June 2 at 8 pm (5 pm if no third game in 1-A)
CLASS 3-A: DOAK FIELD, NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, RALEIGH
SOUTHEAST GUILFORD (23-5) vs. PIKEVILLE CHARLES B. AYCOCK (28-4)
SOUTHEAST GUILFORD (23-5) vs. PIKEVILLE CHARLES B. AYCOCK (28-4)
Game 1: Friday, June 1, 5 pm.; Game 2: Saturday, June 2, 11 am; Game 3: if necessary, Saturday, June 2 at 5 pm
CLASS 2-A: DOAK FIELD, NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, RALEIGH
NORTH LENOIR (24-2) vs. EAST RUTHERFORD (29-1)
Game 1: Friday, June 1, 8 pm; Game 2: Saturday, June 2 at 2 pm; Game 3: if necessary, Saturday, June 3 at 8 pm (5 pm if no third game in 3-A)
CLASS 1-A: FIVE COUNTY STADIUM, ZEBULON
PRINCETON (23-6) vs. EAST SURRY (25-8)
Game 1: Friday, June 1 at 5 pm.; Game 2: Saturday, June 2 at 11 am.; Game 3: if necessary, Saturday, June 2 at 5 pm
Monday, May 21, 2007
Baseball records update
I was under the impression that the 19 strikeouts posted by Carter Harrell in 5-0 one-hitter at Hillsborough Orange in 2001 was a school record.
It is the record, but as I have found out recently, Harrell actually tied someone who already had the record. I have confirmed that Donnie Bobbitt (Class of 1986) actually set the record of 19 in a, would you believe, 6-5, 11-inning loss to Southern Nash during the 1986 Breakfast Optimist Easter Tournament at old Municial Stadium.
Bobbitt went all 11 innings, as did Southern's winning pitcher Phil Bryant.
Another record correction is that Bobbitt, a three-year starter who played his college days at Wake Forest (along with former Gryphon standout Neil Avent), has the school record for career pitching wins with 25 - one more than Harrell.
But current RMHS junior hurler Jim Leggett has an excellent chance of breaking that mark his senior season. Leggett will have 20 victories going into the 2008 campaign.
It is the record, but as I have found out recently, Harrell actually tied someone who already had the record. I have confirmed that Donnie Bobbitt (Class of 1986) actually set the record of 19 in a, would you believe, 6-5, 11-inning loss to Southern Nash during the 1986 Breakfast Optimist Easter Tournament at old Municial Stadium.
Bobbitt went all 11 innings, as did Southern's winning pitcher Phil Bryant.
Another record correction is that Bobbitt, a three-year starter who played his college days at Wake Forest (along with former Gryphon standout Neil Avent), has the school record for career pitching wins with 25 - one more than Harrell.
But current RMHS junior hurler Jim Leggett has an excellent chance of breaking that mark his senior season. Leggett will have 20 victories going into the 2008 campaign.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Gryphon gridiron alum tidbits
Brandon Arrington, who led Rocky Mount High in receiving two seasons ago, has left N.C. Wesleyan's football program and will be playing at UNC-Pembroke next season.
He leaves a program that was three years old to join one that hasn't even played a game. The Braves, who will play at the NCAA Div. II level, will hit the field this fall for the first time.
Arrington played in eight games for the Battling Bishops, who posted their first-ever winning season (6-4). A freshman reserve wide receiver, Arrington caught eight passes for 90 yards last season.
Arrington says he's just ready to get away from the area and get out on his own. Good luck Brandon! ....
Former Gryphon wide receiver Mike Mason, who spent his last season of college ball at Tennessee State, has signed a free agent contract with the Cleveland Browns. After a solid performance in the NFL Combines, Mason was hoping to be drafted. But that didn't happen.
Check out Mike right here on the Browns' website ...
Associated Press second-team All-America Terrell Hudgins, who is coming off a super redshirt freshman season at wide receiver for Elon, won't have his record-setting quarterback tossing the ball to him this fall.
Rising senior Wes Pope has been suspended from school for the 2007 fall semester due to an academic honor code violation. Pope was a redshirt junior last season when he passed for over 2,500 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Hudgins, who caught 69 passes for 1,027 yards and eight scores, says that he expects either redshirt junior Shayne Milligan or incoming freshman Scott Riddle out of Eastern Randolph to take Pope's spot.
Ironically, both Milligan and Riddle have a connection to Nash County football. Both QBs had a part in knocking a Nash County football team out of the playoffs.
Milligan did his thing to Rocky Mount in a game the Gryphon faithful will never forget - their 4-A first-round collapse to Wakefield in 2002. Riddle, as a junior, knocked Northern Nash out of the 2005 3-A first round.
Hudgins, a 2005 Gryphon alum who holds virtually every Rocky Mount passing record, also said recently that he's not interested in trying to compete for the signal calling duties.
He likes what he's doing now just fine!
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Chip off the old block!
Whit Merrifield came by his talents honestly. He has his dad's genes.
The Davie County senior infielder has signed to play baseball for the University of South Carolina next year.
His dad is Bill Merrifield, who led the Gryphons to the NCHSAA 4-A state baseball title in 1980. The elder Merrifield had a fabulous college career at Wake Forest - including winning two ACC Baseball Player of the Year awards. He set many ACC records during his days in Winston-Salem. He is also a member of the Wake Forest Athletic Hall of Fame.
Click here to read ImpactBaseball.com's Q&A with the younger Merrifield and why he chose to be a Gamecock and not a Demon Deacon, like his dad!
Too bad he was never a Gryphon!
You can also check out a video piece on young Merrifield right here.
The Davie County senior infielder has signed to play baseball for the University of South Carolina next year.
His dad is Bill Merrifield, who led the Gryphons to the NCHSAA 4-A state baseball title in 1980. The elder Merrifield had a fabulous college career at Wake Forest - including winning two ACC Baseball Player of the Year awards. He set many ACC records during his days in Winston-Salem. He is also a member of the Wake Forest Athletic Hall of Fame.
Click here to read ImpactBaseball.com's Q&A with the younger Merrifield and why he chose to be a Gamecock and not a Demon Deacon, like his dad!
Too bad he was never a Gryphon!
You can also check out a video piece on young Merrifield right here.
NEW 6 Baseball Still Around for Round 2
Most of you might remember the horror of last year's baseball playoffs for the NEW 6 3-A Conference.
Does Black Tuesday ring a bell?
Well, it was Black Thursday for Rocky Mount and Nash Central. Luckily, Friday was a lot kinder to Northern Nash, Southern Nash and Wilson Fike.
The Knights' bats stayed hot with three home runs en route to a 13-1, five-inning rout of Southern Lee. Wilson Fike's Bentley Massey no-hit Hertford County and the Golden Demons posted a 7-0 win in Ahoskie.
The Southern Nash Firebirds, down 6-5, scored two runs in the sixth and made it hold up for a 7-6 road upset over No. 1 seed South Johnston.
Tonight, Northern Nash is home to Union Pines, and the Firebirds have to make a trip to Saxapahaw to visit Southern Alamance.
Southern actually helped out the Knights a bit with its big win. Should Northern win tonight, it will stay home for one more week and meet the Southern Alamance-Southern Nash winner. If Southern had fallen Friday and South Johnston won its second round game, the Knights would have had to hit the road for Round 3.
The No. 1 seeds, like South Johnston, were falling all over the place. In the 3-As, T.C. Roberson, South Central, Charlotte Catholic and Mooresville all bit the dust Friday.
At the 4-A level, the top seeds pretty much held serve. But it will be a bit funny not seeing five-time state champion J.H. Rose competing in the late playoff rounds. The Rampants' season ended Friday night with a 5-1 home loss to Wilmington Laney. I guess playing in Guy Smith Stadium wasn't as big of an advantage as it could have been.
Give upstart Ardrey Kell High some love! The new Charlotte school won 17 games in its first-ever season and made the playoffs. Then went out and posted a win over No. 1 seed West Mecklenburg in its first-ever playoff game.
Can't wait to see what surprises Round 2 may hold!
Does Black Tuesday ring a bell?
Well, it was Black Thursday for Rocky Mount and Nash Central. Luckily, Friday was a lot kinder to Northern Nash, Southern Nash and Wilson Fike.
The Knights' bats stayed hot with three home runs en route to a 13-1, five-inning rout of Southern Lee. Wilson Fike's Bentley Massey no-hit Hertford County and the Golden Demons posted a 7-0 win in Ahoskie.
The Southern Nash Firebirds, down 6-5, scored two runs in the sixth and made it hold up for a 7-6 road upset over No. 1 seed South Johnston.
Tonight, Northern Nash is home to Union Pines, and the Firebirds have to make a trip to Saxapahaw to visit Southern Alamance.
Southern actually helped out the Knights a bit with its big win. Should Northern win tonight, it will stay home for one more week and meet the Southern Alamance-Southern Nash winner. If Southern had fallen Friday and South Johnston won its second round game, the Knights would have had to hit the road for Round 3.
The No. 1 seeds, like South Johnston, were falling all over the place. In the 3-As, T.C. Roberson, South Central, Charlotte Catholic and Mooresville all bit the dust Friday.
At the 4-A level, the top seeds pretty much held serve. But it will be a bit funny not seeing five-time state champion J.H. Rose competing in the late playoff rounds. The Rampants' season ended Friday night with a 5-1 home loss to Wilmington Laney. I guess playing in Guy Smith Stadium wasn't as big of an advantage as it could have been.
Give upstart Ardrey Kell High some love! The new Charlotte school won 17 games in its first-ever season and made the playoffs. Then went out and posted a win over No. 1 seed West Mecklenburg in its first-ever playoff game.
Can't wait to see what surprises Round 2 may hold!
Monday, May 14, 2007
Welcome Gryphon Sports Fans!
Hi Gryphon Fans!
I'm Charles Alston, the webmaster of RockyMountHigh.iHigh.com - the sports website for Rocky Mount High School (N.C.) sports. The website, in a couple of formats, has been up since March 2000 and I am proud that I have posted nearly 2,000 stories about your school's sports activities on the sites.
But a lot of times, I have information on RMHS and NEW 6 Conference sports that may not warrant an outright story. For example, a change in a sports schedule, or perhaps a new hire in the area - even if it's at another Nash County school, or some small tidbit of info that I want to share, but I may be able to add more facts to later.
So, I came up with the idea of starting a Rocky Mount High School sports blog ... and I am calling it the "Gryphon Grapevine." I will put links to the blog on the website - starting Tuesday, May 15.
So use this wisely, and it can be fun!
Charles
I'm Charles Alston, the webmaster of RockyMountHigh.iHigh.com - the sports website for Rocky Mount High School (N.C.) sports. The website, in a couple of formats, has been up since March 2000 and I am proud that I have posted nearly 2,000 stories about your school's sports activities on the sites.
But a lot of times, I have information on RMHS and NEW 6 Conference sports that may not warrant an outright story. For example, a change in a sports schedule, or perhaps a new hire in the area - even if it's at another Nash County school, or some small tidbit of info that I want to share, but I may be able to add more facts to later.
So, I came up with the idea of starting a Rocky Mount High School sports blog ... and I am calling it the "Gryphon Grapevine." I will put links to the blog on the website - starting Tuesday, May 15.
So use this wisely, and it can be fun!
Charles
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