Thompson also hit dual scoring milestones at Fike

I'd like to point out that I was (channeling Arthur Fonzarelli) wr---, wr---, wrong in a story I wrote this week, sort of.

I wrote that Fike senior Tramicka James is believed to be the first female at the school to score 1,000 points in basketball and 100 goals in soccer. And I guess I was right because I believed that Tramicka was but I was wrong to have forgotten, too quickly as it turns out, that one of her former teammates had pulled off the feat.

Barksdale Thompson, who graduated in 2007, hit those milestones first. I don't have Barksdale's career totals but I know that she was easily past both benchmarks.

Like James, Thompson was a two-time all-state selection by the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association. Two of Fike's other three 100-career goal scorers — Sarah Winslow and Elizabeth Spencer — were also two-time all-state picks while Ginny Farris earned that distinction once.

I was reminded of this by one staff member with a longer and better memory than me.

White Oak's 4th straight title dredges up old memories

The N.C. High School Athletic Association crowned four champions in girls soccer Saturday.

Raleigh Leesville Road got past Charlotte Ardrey Kell in a shootout following a scoreless match in the 4-A title game.

In the 1-A final, Polk County made it past Raleigh Charter when Anna Trakas scored the only goal of the match in the last three minutes.

Swansboro won its second 2-A crown in four years when Lindsay Redfearn put in a golden goal in the first five-minute sudden-death overtime against Forbush, which has lost two straight years in the finals. Both teams played in The Brittany V in March.

Finally, seniors Stephanie Rose, a forward, and goalkeeper Rea Segoviano helped Jacksonville White Oak down Kings Mountain 5-0. The Vikings finished 22-0 and won their fourth straight 3-A championship.

Followers of Fike's girls soccer teams might remember those two names. Four years ago, Rose had two goals in White Oak's 3-2 defeat of Fike in the third round of the state playoffs. Segoviano replaced senior Ashley Bailey in goal and shut out the Golden Demons in the second half, making several great saves among the seven she totaled.

That Fike team featured Sarah Winslow, Barksdale Thompson, Erin Menzel, Dillon Sauls and Sarah Sallenger, among others. The Demons led twice at White Oak that night four years ago and had several chances to tie the game in the second half. Instead the Vikings escaped and went on to win four straight state crowns.

It's been a great run for head coach Buddy Carroll and the Vikings but I can't help but think how close Fike was that warm May night in Jacksonville four years ago. Maybe if Winslow had gotten to the ball a split-second before Bailey (who was injured but made the save). Maybe if the game was in Wilson, on Fike's field and not the White Oak football field, the Demons would have fared better.

But four years later, White Oak has built a dynasty and Fike is still searching for that elusive state title, or even a state championship appearance. I've got to believe that some day the Demons will break through and maybe, just maybe, White Oak will be the victim. After losing in the playoffs for five straight years to White Oak, the Demons deserve some karma.

Gay to step down as Fike AD, girls basketball coach

John Gay reportedly will not return as Fike athletic director or varsity girls basketball coach next year.

Circumstances are still unclear but I am told that Gay could stay at Fike as a teacher or he may retire. The end of this school year will be his 30th as a teacher and a coach.

Gay took over as Fike AD around the beginning of 1998 and became the second Fike girls basketball coach since merger when he succeeded the late Eddie Summerlin in March, 1999. Gay, a Saratoga native, coached at North Edgecombe, East Burke and Kinston before coming to Fike in the 1993-94 school year.

I, for one, will be sorry to see Gay leave Fike. He has always been one of the most thoroughly prepared and helpful ADs around, which makes life much easier for the perpetually under-prepared sports editor.

His departure would be another in a tumultuous spring at Fike. Longtime football coach Richie Pridgen retired in January and was replaced by assistant coach Kim Brown while George Drawhorn is stepping aside after 19 seasons as boys basketball coach and former assistant Brent Secrest is taking over. Both Pridgen and Drawhorn held the title of longest-tenured coach in their respective sport in Fike history and Gay was the unbroken chain from the legendary Summerlin.

I'm wondering if the next bit of news from Fike is that baseball coach Will Flowers will call it a career. Hopefully not, even though Flowers might just have the longest tenure of anyone in Fike history not named Jim Boykin Jr. who clearly drinks daily from the fountain of youth.

Stay tuned for more details on Gay's departure and possible successors.

Flowers has his own cheering section

Taking in the action at the Fike-Triton 3-A playoff baseball game are former Fike players Robin Rose, center, and Dennis Wilkerson, right, along with Jerry Rose, left.
Following his team's 3-0 defeat of Erwin Triton in the second round of the state 3-A baseball playoffs, Fike head coach Will Flowers called a few of his players over to meet a couple of guys they had probably never heard of.

While current Demons Bentley Massey and Jacob Davis might not have been aware of who they were, the sight of Flowers standing alongside his former teammates Robin Rose and Dennis Wilkerson was a treat for me.

Those names are recognizable to anyone familiar with Fike baseball in the early 1970s. Wilkerson, Rose and Flowers all played for Gilbert Ferrell in 1972.

Wilkerson, now a Wilmington resident, is best known for his feats on the football field. He is one of three Fike players to achieve All-America status, doing so in his senior season in 1971. One of five brothers who left their marks on Wilson sports, Wilkerson was a standout on the basketball court and baseball diamond. He is a member of the Fike High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Rose, graduated in 1973, a year behind Flowers and Wilkerson, Rose's first cousin. He played at Louisburg College and was an NAIA All-American at Atlantic Christian (now Barton) College. Now living in Cary, Rose is a member of the Barton sports hall of fame. Rose and Flowers were teammates at Atlantic Christian.

I grew up reading about them playing for Fike and AC. Rose grew up across the street from me on Thurston Drive, not far from Wilkerson's house on Third Street.They were both physical education student-teachers at Vinson-Bynum Elementary School and me and some of my buddies would go to Fleming Stadium to watch them play way back in the wood-bat era.

There's at least a touch of gray on the heads of all three men but I could easily picture Rose firing a tennis ball at Flowers holding a bat in front of the bricks of the Rose home, as I saw them do so many times way back when Richard Nixon was president.

Demons downshift right out of a home playoff game

I was excited about the prospect of the Fike-SouthWest Edgecombe 3-A NEW 6 Conference varsity boys basketball tournament semifinal Wednesday at Fike.

After all these teams had each won on the other's courts during the season and were part of a four-way tie — with Rocky Mount and Nash Central — for first place in the regular season. Plus, each team boasted an exciting lead performer in Fike junior Jeremy Atkinson and SWE senior Eugene Jenkins which almost assured an explosive meeting.

But the first quarter saw the Cougars struggle to an 18-9 deficit. At least the Golden Demons were doing their part, especially guard A.J. Hines who nailed a trio of 3-pointers. Fike had four 3-balls in the quarter.

Then in the second, the Demons became deliberate, almost looking like they were in a slowdown. Naturally, the Cougars chipped away at the lead until they caught them late in the third quarter. By then, Fike's offense had devolved into what it had done during a midseason losing skid — standing around and waiting for Atkinson to do something.

"They just stood around. We didn’t play ball like we played all year," said a clearly disappointed Demons head coach George Drawhorn. "Just walked the ball down the floor. I guess it’s just one of those games.

"I kept changing point guards and saying push the ball but sometimes that’s all you can do as a coach. We just got outplayed tonight and, in the playoffs, instead of playing at home, we’re going on the road."

Drawhorn was right. The Demons forfeited a chance at the NEW 6's top seed for the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A playoffs and lost the No. 2 seed outright. Now they must face Nash Central, a 74-71 loser to Rocky Mount in Wednesday's first semifinal, at 4:30 p.m. Friday for the conference's No. 3 seed.

Gone is the first-, and possibly second-round home playoff game for Fike. Now its first-round foe will be a No. 1 or No. 2 seed.

"Third (seed), you go to (Oxford) Webb or four, you go to Greensboro Dudley — so pick your poison," Drawhorn said.

The Demons are just going to have put Wednesday night behind them quickly and let any finger-pointing ride. It's do-or-die time and seasons have a way of ending all too quickly for team's not focused.

Flowers out of the hospital

Alton Britt sent some good news came today concerning Fike High School baseball head coach Will Flowers, who was hospitalized last Tuesday.

Will has finally been released from Pitt Memorial Hospital, Alton said, and is at home and "progressing nicely."

Let's hope for a full recovery because I know Will will be itching to get on the diamond in a few weeks.

From the Hot Stove to the cold field

Did you know the Barton College baseball season is nearly upon us?

Less than two weeks after the annual Wilson Hot Stove League banquet, baseball is back on the field.

The Bulldogs open their 2008 campaign Friday, Feb. 1, in sunny Boca Raton, Fla., as the guest of Lynn University for a three-game set. The home opener will be Tuesday, Feb. 4, against Wingate. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

As usual, Todd Wilkinson has enlisted a sturdy list of non-conference opponents for his Bulldogs, including Kutztown (Pa.), Francis Marion, Catawba, USC-Aiken and UNC-Pembroke.

2008 Barton baseball schedule

Look for a season preview on the Bulldogs in the Wilson Daily Times early next week.

Sticking with the summer game in the dead winter, Fike will be one of high school baseball teams playing the IMPACT Baseball Invitational on March 1 in Cary.

The IMPACT field has doubled since four teams, including eventual N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A champion Charles B. Aycock, played in Fleming Stadium last March.

Joining the Golden Demons at the USA Baseball National Training Complex will be their 3-A NEW 6 Conference rivals Northern Nash and Rocky Mount.

IMPACTBaseball.com has the schedule for the 2008 Invitational.

Flowers condition improves

The latest word I've received on the condition of Fike baseball coach Will Flowers is that his condition has improved and that's great news.

Will was admitted to Wilson Medical Center on Tuesday morning with a possible stroke. He has since been transferred to Pitt Memorial Hospital.

Fike Athletic Director John Gay said Flowers has regained mobility in his limbs and could be released as early as this weekend.

A group of Fike coaches and baseball players visited Will on Wednesday evening which I'm sure made his day.

Let's keep him in our thoughts and prayers.

Fike in third place in Wachovia Cup competition

The N.C. High School Athletic Association released the fall sports standings for the Wachovia Cup competition today and Fike is tied for third in the 3-A classification.
The Golden Demons are knotted with Asheville T.C. Roberson with 147.5 points, trailing first-place Charlotte Catholic (227.5) and Asheville (180).
Fike finished second in the state in boys soccer and girls golf while the girls cross country program also competed as a team at the state meet.
Eastern Wayne of the 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference is No. 7 in the 3-A standings while Fike’s NEW 6 Conference foes Rocky Mount and Nash Central are eighth and 13th, respectively.
In the 2-A standings, Greene Central is tied for 11th with Brevard, Reidsville and Boonville Starmount — each with 80 points. The 2-A leader is Cardinal Gibbons with 222.5 points.
Kernersville Bishop McGuiness leads the 1-A standings and Charlotte Myers Park — the largest school in the state — heads the 4-A list.
The Wachovia Cup, in its 29th year, is sponsored by the NCHSAA and Wachovia Bank and is given to the schools that have the best overall athletic showing each year.
The NCHSAA Web site does a pretty good job of explaining the points system used in Wachovia Cup competition so I’ll them handle it.

“Wachovia Cup points are determined by a system based on performance in state-championship events. All schools that finish in the top eight positions (plus ties) earn points. In the playoff events involving teams from more than one classification, Wachovia Cup points are awarded based on the school’s standing against other schools in its own classification. If fewer then eight schools from a classification compete in a sport, only those schools that are represented are eligible to receive the Wachovia Cup points.

Points are awarded for all sports as follows: 50 for first, 45 for second, 40 for third, 35 for fourth, 30 for fifth, 25 for sixth, 20 for seventh and 15 for eighth. In the event of a tie, the schools receive an equal number of points based on the number of teams that tie and the number of teams that finish higher in the standings. Five points are awarded for each sanctioned sport in which a school competes.

Wachovia Cup standings are announced three times each school year: once after the fall and winter sports, and concluding with the winner after the spring sports season ends in June. The engraved silver cups are presented during NCHSAA Day activities at UNC-Chapel Hill each fall.”

Wachovia Cup standings

Fike's Flowers hospitalized with possible stroke

Will Flowers, the long-time Fike baseball coach, reportedly suffered a stroke early this morning and was taken to Wilson Medical Center but has been transferred to Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville.
Fike Athletic Director John Gay told me the early test results were positive.
Will has been at Fike as head coach since the early 1980s after serving as Alton Britt’s assistant coach for a few years. He’s a Wilson native who played collegiately at Atlantic Christian (now Barton) College.
I’ve often kidded him that he was a relic from the wood-bat era in college baseball but in all seriousness, Will’s much too young for this.
Hopefully, it will be a minor setback for him and the Fike baseball team. Let’s keep him in our thoughts and prayers today.