NCPreps.com has posted the final 2009 high school baseball and softball statistics.
Hunt senior Jake Strickland tied for 15th in RBIs with 36 but wasn't listed in the home run totals. Strickland ended with 11 which should have tied him for fifth. I've notified NCPreps.com of the oversight so hopefully it will be amended.
Showing posts with label high school softball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label high school softball. Show all posts
Friday, July 3, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Ready for another trip to Walnut Creek?
Two more teams in The Wilson Times readership area are going to play for a shot at a state championship as softball teams from Charles B. Aycock and North Johnston advanced to the state final four in their respective classifications Friday night.
Aycock will make its fifth trip to Walnut Creek Softball Complex this decade for the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A final four while North Johnston returns to the 1-A final four for the first time since 2005. Both teams went that year and both came pretty close to winning it all but came home empty-handed.
I have made two trips to Walnut Creek and here's a few things I can tell you.
1) Bring water and sunscreen. Both of my previous jaunts there have coincided with the arrival of the hot, muggy summer weather. We got a little taste of it the past few days so I expect next weekend to be fierce.
2) It's almost essential for teams to win their first game in the double-elimination format. It's nearly as important for them to win their first two games in order to avoid pitching issues.
3) While many teams have one star pitcher that gets them to Walnut Creek, usually the teams who win it all have pitching depth. If they don't, they'd better win three straight games spaced over the better part of two days.
4) Along with the heat and humidity, expect rain delays. And not just rain but severe thunderstorms that sends everyone scurrying since there aren't many places to take shelter.
5) Expect several 1-0, 15-inning (or more) games. There aren't many blowouts in the final four and runs come at a premium.
But of all the state championships I've been to, I have to rate the softball final four as one of the best. You can mosey around Walnut Creek and catch a glimpse of all top 16 teams left in the state. It's truly a festival and the only one that has all the state semifinalists in one spot.
Aycock will make its fifth trip to Walnut Creek Softball Complex this decade for the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A final four while North Johnston returns to the 1-A final four for the first time since 2005. Both teams went that year and both came pretty close to winning it all but came home empty-handed.
I have made two trips to Walnut Creek and here's a few things I can tell you.
1) Bring water and sunscreen. Both of my previous jaunts there have coincided with the arrival of the hot, muggy summer weather. We got a little taste of it the past few days so I expect next weekend to be fierce.
2) It's almost essential for teams to win their first game in the double-elimination format. It's nearly as important for them to win their first two games in order to avoid pitching issues.
3) While many teams have one star pitcher that gets them to Walnut Creek, usually the teams who win it all have pitching depth. If they don't, they'd better win three straight games spaced over the better part of two days.
4) Along with the heat and humidity, expect rain delays. And not just rain but severe thunderstorms that sends everyone scurrying since there aren't many places to take shelter.
5) Expect several 1-0, 15-inning (or more) games. There aren't many blowouts in the final four and runs come at a premium.
But of all the state championships I've been to, I have to rate the softball final four as one of the best. You can mosey around Walnut Creek and catch a glimpse of all top 16 teams left in the state. It's truly a festival and the only one that has all the state semifinalists in one spot.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
CBA softball on the verge of returning to Walnut Creek
After back-to-back second-round exits from the state 3-A playoffs the past two years, the Charles B. Aycock softball is back within earshot of a trip to Walnut Creek Softball Complex.
The Raleigh venue is the site of the N.C. High School Athletic Association softball final four, which CBA reached four times in five years from 2002 to 2006 under former head coach David West. Now under the direction of Brad Matthews, in his second season, the Golden Falcons can book passage to Walnut Creek by beating D.H. Conley on Friday night in Pikeville.
But that's no easy task as the Vikings have won 23 of 24 games, including a 1-0 victory against CBA in early March in Winterville. Aycock went on to win 20 straight games and looked forward to the non-conference rematch late in the season but it was rained out. CBA (24-2), the Eastern Carolina Conference queen, was ranked fifth in the N.C. Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association final 3-A poll while Conley retained its top spot.
The Falcons haven't had an easy path to Friday's East Regional semifinals date with the Vikings. In the second round, CBA had to go through defending state champion South Central before edging past Washington 1-0 in Tuesday night's third-round battle. Those two teams were the ones which ended Aycock's seasons the past two years.
I covered CBA's playoff runs in 2005 and 2006, all the way to Raleigh but missed out on both their playoff exits the past two years. Standing beside the home dugout Tuesday night, it seemed only natural to be at a late-May postseason game at Aycock. It was my first look at the Falcons this year and while some of the names seemed familiar, it was only through family connections.
Starting pitcher Cynthia Burroughs is the younger sister of former CBA standout Kandace Burroughs while freshman third baseman Rachel Jordan is the sibling of former CBA starting pitcher Emily Jordan. Then there's freshman left fielder Connor Davis, whose dad, Charles, is the CBA athletic director and head baseball coach.
Aycock has forged an eastern 3-A dynasty over the past decade or more and it's good to see a new group of players looking to revive that tradition after a short break.
The Raleigh venue is the site of the N.C. High School Athletic Association softball final four, which CBA reached four times in five years from 2002 to 2006 under former head coach David West. Now under the direction of Brad Matthews, in his second season, the Golden Falcons can book passage to Walnut Creek by beating D.H. Conley on Friday night in Pikeville.
But that's no easy task as the Vikings have won 23 of 24 games, including a 1-0 victory against CBA in early March in Winterville. Aycock went on to win 20 straight games and looked forward to the non-conference rematch late in the season but it was rained out. CBA (24-2), the Eastern Carolina Conference queen, was ranked fifth in the N.C. Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association final 3-A poll while Conley retained its top spot.
The Falcons haven't had an easy path to Friday's East Regional semifinals date with the Vikings. In the second round, CBA had to go through defending state champion South Central before edging past Washington 1-0 in Tuesday night's third-round battle. Those two teams were the ones which ended Aycock's seasons the past two years.
I covered CBA's playoff runs in 2005 and 2006, all the way to Raleigh but missed out on both their playoff exits the past two years. Standing beside the home dugout Tuesday night, it seemed only natural to be at a late-May postseason game at Aycock. It was my first look at the Falcons this year and while some of the names seemed familiar, it was only through family connections.
Starting pitcher Cynthia Burroughs is the younger sister of former CBA standout Kandace Burroughs while freshman third baseman Rachel Jordan is the sibling of former CBA starting pitcher Emily Jordan. Then there's freshman left fielder Connor Davis, whose dad, Charles, is the CBA athletic director and head baseball coach.
Aycock has forged an eastern 3-A dynasty over the past decade or more and it's good to see a new group of players looking to revive that tradition after a short break.
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