Greensboro Sports

Charleston, W.Va. — A.J. Battisto suffered his first loss of the season after giving up an eighth-inning that gave West Virginia the two-game sweep with the 4-3 victory and extended Greensboro’s currently skid to six games.

The Hoppers’ jumped on top early as Bryan Petersen hit a solo home run in the top of the first inning; it was is 14th of the season and second in as many days for Greensboro. Starter Jay Voss struck out six batters and left the game in a 3-3 tie after five innings of work.

Steven Cishek tossed two scoreless innings for Greensboro and the score remained knotted at three before Battisto entered the game to pitch the eighth.

With Power runners on second and third, Battisto intentionally walked Eric Fryer, who homered earlier in the game, to get to Ulrich Snijders. Snijders struck out for the second out of the inning before Battisto hit Curt Rindal with the bases loaded to plate Zelous Wheeler, the game’s eventual winning run.

Greensboro put a runner on in the ninth as Hunter Mense singled with one out, but Corey Frerichs retired the next two batters in order to earn his sixth save of the season; Reed Dickert was credited with the win.

The Hoppers lug their six-game losing streak back to NewBridge Bank Park where they will look to create some fireworks on the field in a four-game series against Delmarva before fans are treated to fireworks after the game. Post-game fireworks will be on display following Greensboro’s Thursday, Friday and Saturday contests. All three games are scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. before Sunday’s series-finale kicks off at 5:00 p.m.

*****from Justin Stottlemyre Hoppers’ media assistant*****

From Coach Derrick Johnson the man in charge of baseball for the Smith Golden Eagles we got this note and it was deleted from the News and Record’s All-Area Baseball team within their on-line edition. Here are the Ben L. Smith players that got left out:

Smith HS Charles Glover, Avery Hardy & LA Allen were All Area Honorable Mention

From one of our readers that is a huge Softball fan we learned:
Greensboro Batting Center has put together a 16 & under girls travel softball team coached by Erica Brown,who was Greensboro College’s pitcher until she graduated this year. She has put together a great team. 4 of the players have made all-conference and 3 have made all area. They have 5 pitchers. Some of these high school girls are already being looked at by colleges. One is a freshman, way ahead of her years, who hit 2 home runs in one game. I will try to give you more info, I think they play over 100 games this summer. They defeated the 16 and under Triad Power team the last time they met them in a tournament. They are playing in the world series at Myrtle Beach in August. Believe me, they are fun to watch.

If you’ve seen GBC Team Acceleration play, you’d think GBC stands for Good Baseball Club. REAL GOOD!! But it doesn’t. It stands for Greensboro Batting Center, the home to the accomplished club since 2005. After proving to be the class of a strong field at the USSSA Super NIT in Charlotte, GBC Team Acceleration is most deserving of a featured article. Not that they weren’t already. They’ve only lost six games in their age division since 2006. Two of those losses came in the 9U AAU National Championship last summer where they finished 5th.

Starting in 2005 GBC Team Acceleration was then known as GBC Storm. Four years later well known and respected, nine boys from that roster play today. A credit to the coaching staff, giving their knowledge, time, patience and dedication to a team shows to have paid off. GBC primarily plays an 11U tournament schedule where they’ve been having great success, winning six championship games.

A well traveled team GBC is one of only a handful of 10U teams to play in multiple national championships in 2007. They’re the defending Triple Crown Summer National Champs and had an impressive showing in the AAU Nationals. They’ll double up on National events again this season, heading to Cooperstown Dreams Park in June and traveling back to Myrtle Beach to defend their Triple Crown Summer Nationals title.

Expect continued success from GBC as they have built up an impressive resume. To go along with the above mentioned strong national showings, GBC is also the 2007 AAU Chet Lemon’s Fall National Champs, the 2007 USSSA 11U Major Fall State Champs (NC), 2007 AAU Spring National Champs and the 2006 AAU National Champs (8U Coach Pitch). Wow!!!

Winning is nothing new to GBC but is something not discussed by coaches. Managed by Scott Clemons he says “the team doesn’t talk about winning.” Instead they focus on the mental side of the game. Attention to detail is a sign of all accomplished teams, as it’s doing the little things well that makes a good team great.

A strong defensive minded team, GBC trots out ten pitchers, a huge asset for any club. But it’s their hitting that they’re probably best known for. One of the country’s best lineups top to bottom, GBC has power hitters that look like contact hitters, another credit to the hard work they put in and the great instruction the coaches have passed on. 10U GBC is part of a model program that combines competitiveness and sportsmanship to make them one of the classiest clubs in the country. Look for them to remain in the TBS Top 10 and maybe finish as the country’s #1.

*****from Carmine Pagano:CSCS Carolina Acceleration Sports Training*****

We have received a very quick response on our request for Softball information. Here’s the District 5 All-District team made up of players from our area courtesy of Coach Hyde:

3A
Morgan Myers Parkland
Ashley Myers Parkland
Katey Beck Parkland
Victoria Cook Parkland
Rebecca Rothrock Glenn
Kelsey Barnes Glenn
Anna Weavil Glenn
Kat Zimmer Glenn
Meredith Mills Glenn
Anna Maness Southwestern Randolph
Holly Berry Southwestern Randolph
Cynthia Hayes Southwestern Randolph

3A Player of the Year
Kelsey Barnes, Glenn

3A Pitcher of the Year
Anna Maness, Southwestern Randolph

4A
Tisha Mahon North Davidson
Elisha Elliot North Davidson
Hannah Alexander North Davidson
Tara Aldridge North Davidson
Tess Swing North Davidson
Amelia Griffin North Davidson
McKenna Stutts Grimsley
Jordan Sanford Grimsley
Cantrell Hyde Grimsley
Michelle Curl Grimsley
Jordan Fulton West Forsyth
Austyn French West Forsyth

4A Player of the Year
Tisha Mahon, North Davidson

4A Pitcher of the Year
Hannah Alexander, North Davidson

1st Team.. McKenna Stutts Grimsley/SR/P Powerful right-hander posted a 1.38 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 121 innings. She also slugged 1.040 with a team-high five home runs and 35 RBIs en route to her third consecutive All-Metro 4-A selection. Committed to Meredith College.

Kelly Simmons Northwest Guilford/JR/P Metro 4-A player of the year went 19-3 with a 0.67 ERA, including a 12-0 record in conference play. She also hit .417.

Kelsey Barnes Glenn/SR/2B Piedmont Triad 3-A player of the year led the Bobcats with a .560 batting average, .691 on-base percentage and .867 slugging percentage. She also hit four home runs, stole 13 bases, scored 43 runs and drove in 29. Committed to Barton College.

Holly Berry Southwestern Randolph/JR/CAn All-Mid-Piedmont 3-A selection her first two seasons, Berry took player of the year honors this year after hitting .485 and leading the Cougars to the 3-A championship game. Coach Steve Taylor: “A silent captain on and off the field.”

Anna Maness Southwestern Randolph/JR/PA Virginia commitment, Maness went 12-2 with a 0.48 ERA in her third consecutive All-Mid-Piedmont 3-A season. In the state semifinals, she tossed a complete game five-hit shutout and added a two-run home run.

Megan Rembielak Bishop McGuinness/SR/SS-P The daughter of Wake Forest baseball coach Rick Rembielak, Megan was an All-Northwest 1-A selection after hitting .500 with a .633 on-base percentage and 11 stolen bases. Coach Rick McHone: “Very smart player. Tenacious competitor.” Committed to Appalachian State.

Jordan Kennedy East Forsyth/SR/OF All-Metro 4-A selection hit .300 for the Eagles, who won their first playoff game in almost a decade. Coach Karen Dull: “She’s always worked hard, but I’ve just seen her really go after it to get better.”

Ashley Allred Asheboro/JR/P-1BA two-time All-Mid-Piedmont 3-A selection, Allred hit .423 with a .635 on-base percentage and didn’t commit an error all season.

2nd Team: Bethany Gesell High Point Christian/FR/1B- PTAC player of the year hit .475; went 13-4 with 3 no-hitters on mound.

Gina Antonucci Central Davidson/SR/C Hit .417 with 32 RBIs for 2-A champions.

Scout Albertson Trinity/SO/3B All-Mid-Piedmont 3-A selection hit .385 with five triples.

Rebecca Rothrock Glenn/JR/C .500 avg, .602 OBP, 35 RBIs, 0 errors

Holly Summers NW Guilford

Heather Taylor Randleman/SR/3B Aiken Tech signee hit .333 with 20 RBIs.

Anna Weavil Glenn/JR/OF.545 avg, .610 OBP, 19 stolen bases

Lindsay Braddock Southeast Guilford/SR/SS All-Mid-Piedmont 3-A honoree hit .321 with 8 stolen bases

Ashley Farrar Eastern Guilford/SR/OF All-North State 2-A selection hit team-high .405

Honorable Mention: Asheboro: Jessica Pendry, Laura Sykes; Central Davidson: Hannah Buie; East Forsyth: Ashley Norman, Ellen Rothfuss; Eastern Guilford: Megan Clapp, Chelsea McMasters; Grimsley: Cantrell Hyde; High Point Central: Caitlin Kennedy, Taylor Hussey, Traci Lester; High Point Christian: Christy Gonzalez; North Davidson: Tisha Mahon, Elisha Elliott, Hannah Alexander, Tess Swing; Northern Guilford: Heather Baker, Natalie Clemmons, Ashley Trogdon; Northwest Guilford: Carolyn Blough; Page: Courtney Penn, Melissa Addington; Randleman: Heather Taylor, Tori Ryan, Sarah Hussey; Reidsville: Abigail Settles, Raquel McCain; Southeast Guilford: Amy Beasley, Chelsea Parker; Southwest Guilford: Rachel Hill, Kathy Miller, Lauren Clement; Southwestern Randolph: Cynthia Hayes; Trinity: Hayley Hicks; Western Guilford: Shannon McMorrow

*****This comes our way courtesy of Coach Tim Hyde who also says,”It is easier to get mad and make excuses than it is to work hard and make adjustments.“Appreciation is a free gift that you can give to anyone you encounter – it is completely your choice. And each time you choose to thank someone for a job well done, you are making the world a better place.”*****

Mark Binker of the News & Record has done an excellent job tracking the progress of these devices that have come to replace video poker machines around the state. It appears as if Senate Bill 180 is going to close the loop hole that allows these machines to operate in North Carolina in the next few days.

Personal Note: While I have not played these machines, I have benefited from the winnings.

As far as I can tell, these are unregulated gambling machines, playing games extremely similar to those found where gambling is legal. I have no problems with gambling as I know that just like the lottery - everybody looses. Pandora’s Box was opened with the State Lottery, it’s too late to close the door. Let’s go ahead and make these machines legal and regulated. At least, then you can see a real payout table.

We need some news on Girl’s Softball. If anyone has anything for us, send it to durhamandy@live.com and we will print it. If you know of a local tournament or a big game coming up involving two of our local rivals please let us know and we will try to get out there.

We have not been receiving much info on Softball but we will print what we get and we have had some news come in previously from Danny Shutt with the Triad Power local girls softball team.

If you have it we need it and we may have to send one of our reporters over to the Time Out Lounge to see if they are sponsoring a team again this season. Their former coach Dave Thomas has moved on to help with the UNCG volleyball team and he now is working out of the Lawndale Drive-In.

Again if you have some info we could sure use it. We are not trying to neglect the girl’s softball action, we just need some good contacts so we can see what’s happening.

With the Fourth of July falling on a Friday Night, there was already a demand for tickets to the Grasshoppers. Now, the Grasshoppers are asking that Season Ticket Holders, who will not be attending Friday’s game, take advantage of the Season Ticket Buy-Back Program.

All available Chair-Back seats have been sold for Friday’s game, leaving only Lawn Tickets (Right Field Family Area, Grandstand and Natty’s Hill). So if you are a season ticket holder and are NOT planning to attend, you can sell back your ticket to the Grasshoppers, for resale.

The Grasshoppers will have Fireworks THREE Nights this week - Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The Colt Baseball end-of-season tournament is under way this week at War Memorial Stadium and there are also early round games being played at Ed Price Field in High Point.

Monday evening I stopped in at WMS to get the inside scoop and I found out that the weather has effected the tournament already as the guys get ready for round two today at the Stadium. Yesterday when I arrived at the ballpark they were completing a game from Sunday that never got going because of the rain. Page got off to a steady start before Northeast Guilford came running back to make it 6-5 Page.

Game number two on Monday had Jamestown(Ragsdale) with Coach Donnie Manness taking on High Point Central. I would be shocked if HPC beat Jamestown but you can’t take anything for granted because on Sunday, the #2 Dudley team called Dudley-Smith, topped the much higher seeded Southwest Guilford Cowboys and SWG is gone.

Dudley #1 defeated Northwest#2 on Sunday and now faces Dudley-Smith in round two action. Northwest Guilford #1 meets the Page vs. NEG winner. In the third game at WMS on Monday night it was Western Guilford taking on High Point Wesleyan. The winner of WG vs. HPW will meet the Jamestown/HPC victor.

At the bottom of the overall bracket you have Northern and Grimsley set to face off on Wednesday in the quarterfinals at War Memorial Stadium. Northern topped Eastern in the Nighthawks first game and Grimsley eliminated High Point Andrews.

Action continues this evening at WMS and Northwest Guilford’s number one team is the top seed in the tourney and the favorite to win it all. I believe the Vikings only lost one game in the regular season. If you have any more details than what we have here, please send them our way.

Our summer road tonight will take us by the Stadium briefly and then it’s on to girl’s Summer League basketball action at Dudley. Last night I returned to the Tobias baseball workouts for a training session with Josh Tobias and his dad. They return to action on Wednesday with another Easten Randolph Post 81 game down at ER.

*****Today’s(Tuesday) matchups include Northwest Guilford#1 vs. Northeast Guilford at 6:30pm at War Memorial Stadium and then tonight at 8:30pm it will be Dudley#1 vs. Dudley#2(Dudley-Smith)….
On Wednesday the quarterfinals continue with Grimsley vs. Northern Guilford at 6:30 and then it’s Jamestown(Ragsdale) going up against Western Guilford at 8:30pm……*****

Since coming back home the Power has gone 2-0 defeating Cary American Legion 10-1 and Burlington-Graham Legion 5-1. Michael Dimock was the winning pitcher at Cary and Estarlin Paulino was the winner against Graham with Timmy Dezearn getting the save. Matt Nettesheim led off the game at Cary with a home run.

The Power goes to Winston tonight to play their Legion team and will be in Caldwell County Saturday and Radford Virginia on Sunday.
*****Info from Power staff*****

Charleston, W.Va. — Bryan Petersen returned to the Grasshoppers roster after a 4-for-4 performance with four RBI for Double-A Carolina on Sunday and broke a 3-3 tie with his 13th home run of the season in the top of the sixth inning.

Greensboro scored twice more to take a 6-3 through five and a half innings before West Virginia responded with seven, sixth-inning runs en route to a 10-6 victory over the Hoppers.

Right-handed pitcher Brett Durand threw four scoreless before he and Kevin Gunter gave up all 10 Power runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Durand was tagged with the loss and fell to 7-4. Gunter faced just three batters and failed to record an out; all three batters eventually scored.

At the plate, Torre Langley, Justin Jacobs and Ozzie Martinez each had two hits in the contest; Greensboro finished with nine hits in all.

The final game of a quick two-game set will take place Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. It is the last time Greensboro and West Virginia will meet this season.

*****from Justin Stottlemyre Hoppers’ media assistant*****

With the Wyndham Championship coming to town the week of August 11-17, I had what I thought was a good idea. A friend and ex teammate of mine, a name we all know now, Bob Mckillop-Davidson basketball coach- I was hoping to add to the Pro-am field if media man, Rob Goodman and tournament director, Mark Brazil could approve of the idea.

I got in touch with Rob yesterday afternoon and presented the possibility of one of the biggest names in college coaching playing in the Pro-am. Well, here’s the no room at the inn- a great sign for the tournament-the Pro-am has been filled-sold out for players since March! Rob thought it was a terrific idea and liked the intent,but when you have NO rooms-no spots open-no way Rocco [he is scheduled to play, by the way-last name- Mediate, for the non golfers] Non pro players pay a sizeable fee to play in the Pro-am. The funds raised go to area charities……so it’s all good at Sedgefield.

Back to coach Mckillop for a few lines. Most folks don’t know Bob played East Carolina his first two years before transferring to Hofstra. He was a terrific point guard and helped us get to the Southern Conference finals where we lost to Lefty and the Davidson Wildcats. I’ll never forget getting named to first team All Tournament at the old Charlotte Coliseum-capacity 11,666-biggest arena in the state at the time-and watching the Davidson boosters give Lefty a big, beautiful red Buick convertible, which they drove onto the court during the post game ceremonies-hoping to persuade Lefty to stay at Davidson. Well, he drove the Buick to Maryland!

I don’t think Bob will be leaving Davidson anytime soon. He just signed a long term contract with the school. Today Bob will be leaving for Argentina, where he will be coaching the USA 18 and under national team this summer. Bob recruits all over the world, especially Europe, where he has many camps in the summer and lots of contacts for players.

Good luck to the USA 18 and under team and to all the fine people involved in the Wyndham Championship.

Don’t forget those dates the tournament-August 11-18 at the historic Sedgefield Country Club.

*****from Jim Modlin, Golf Columnist and senior writer for GREENSBOROSports.com*****

Most first year basketball programs are mere filler games on established school baskeball schedules, but don’t look for Veritas Sports Academy to back down from even the toughest competition. Warrior head coach Keith Gatlin has put together an impressive array of basketball talent that will be able to compete initially at the highest level.

“We have a nice group of young talented kids to work with over the next three to four years” stated an excited Gatlin as he talked about filling out the remaining spots on Veritas’ already talented team. “Our goal is to mold these kids both on and off the court.”

The team sports a strong line-up that includes a 7’1” junior center from Sudan now living in France supported by a cast of junior forwards from Charlotte, Greensboro and Dover, DE. The backcourt sports a talented group of sophomores from Charlotte, Greensboro, Washington, DC and Maryland along with a 6’5” junior swing guard from Charlotte.

Giving even more credibility to the Warrior basketball program are assistant coaches Byron Dinkins who played collegiately at UNCC and in the NBA with the Rockets and Spurs. Coaching the big men is Willie Chapman who played under Gene Bartow at University of Alabama Birmingham and then professionally in Europe.

Veritas recently signed a three year contract with Nike for its basketball program and will play in several Nike basketball programs as well as nationally recognized basketball programs in the Baltimore/DC, Atlanta, and Virginia Beach areas. In addition to a national schedule, Gatlin is looking to play the top public and private schools in North Carolina. “We are going to be exciting to watch and want to showcase our talent right here in our own backyard” said an excited Gatlin.
The focus at Veritas Sports Academy is not just about basketball and athletics. The school will feature baseball, wrestling and golf and will add football when it moves to its permanent location on Beeson Road in Kernersville, NC in 2009.

According to founder Gary Newell, “Veritas Sports Academy is a dedicated sports ministry where qualified high school athletes will train in a world-class facility, and be educated in a state-of-the-art, college preparatory academic setting.” All student/athletes will receive full scholarships and up to twenty students will have the opportunity to study for a career in sports medicine and sports management.

There is a lot to smile about at Veritas Sports Academy as the school makes preparations for an August 20 start date for students. Warrior basketball opponents may not be so happy.
For more information about Veritas Sports Academy contact Jim Beck, Sports Information Director, at jbeck@veritassportsacademy.org .

INAUGURAL BREAKTHROUGH SERIES, SPONSORED BY MLB AND USA BASEBALL,
WILL PROVIDE EXPOSURE FOR TALENTED YOUNG PLAYERS

Major League Baseball has collaborated with USA Baseball to sponsor the inaugural
Breakthrough Series at the MLB Urban Youth Academy in Compton, California, during the week of July 21, 2008.

The event is designed to showcase rising high school junior and senior baseball players from urban areas throughout the United States who have not participated in other travel and high-end tournaments, giving the players considerable exposure. The Breakthrough Series will consist of instruction and a round-robin series of games among three teams of selected players from July 22-24.

Many college coaches are expected to attend the event to recruit players who demonstrate outstanding potential but who may not have had the opportunity for exposure through other summer events. The tournament will consist of three teams selected by the Major League Scouting Bureau, the MLB Urban Youth Academy and the Atlanta-based organization Mentoring Viable Prospects (MVP), which focuses on supporting young athletes in both academic and athletic settings to obtain college scholarships. At the event, USA Baseball will work with the athletes to facilitate communication between players and college recruiters.

“Major League Baseball is very pleased that our partnership with USA Baseball will yield this important forum in which deserving young athletes will get additional exposure and potential opportunities, ”said Jimmie Lee Solomon, MLB’s Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations. “The Breakthrough Series is another step in our comprehensive ongoing efforts to bolster the foundation of our game in the areas that most need support.”

“We are extremely excited to partner with Major League Baseball on this initiative,” said Paul Seiler,
Executive Director/CEO of USA Baseball. “This will be a great enhancement to our charter to grow the game of baseball in America.”

*****from Raymond Crawford Sr.:
My son Raymond Crawford II from Dudley High School recently attended one of these tryouts. Ray was chosen to represent North Carolina and will be flying to Compton for this event. We are very proud of him and his accomplishments this year and wanted you to know. We thank you for your support of not only Ray but the entire Dudley Baseball program.*****

+++++Congrats to both Rays and I just saw the Dudley trainer/strength and conditioning coach, Mr. McMillian and he said that the Dudley defense has five guys across the front line that can bench press 300 pounds plus and that the Panthers will be ready to defend their State 3-A Title this fall. Coach Mac is a good one and he has done so much to help the Dudley program. I ran into Coach Mac at the Food Rite Market and Deli on East Market Street. I spoke to Dudley Panther basketball coach David Price last week at the State Games at the Coliseum Special Events Center and he told me that Sean May, the son of Scott May, will be ready to play a key role for the Charlotte Bobcats and Coach Larry Brown this fall. Coach Price said the ‘Cats will bring May along much slower this season and that he should reach a peak performance level right about the time the NBA playoffs get started.+++++AD

Veritas Sports Academy-Triad has named Keith Gatlin, former University of Maryland point guard from 1984-1988 as head basketball coach for the 2008 season. Gatlin helped lead the Terps to the 1984 ACC Championship over the Duke Blue Devils and then went on to play 13 years professionally in the CBA, WBL, USBL and overseas.

In addition, the Warriors have named former Guilford College All-American golfer Robert Linville as golf coach. Linville is a member of the Guilford College Hall of Fame and most recently served as golf coach for Greensboro College where he was named National Coach of the Year among NCAA Division III coaches as selected by the Golf Coaches Association of America.

Rounding out the Veritas coaching staff is wrestling coach, Jim Georgevich from Clarion University and former Kansas City Royals pitching instructor Tommy Adcock. Georgevich participated on the undefeated Clarion University wrestling team in 1985 and has spent 19 years in the Guilford County School System as a teacher and coach. Adcock has conducted camps at Florida State University and has enjoyed a successful career as a high school coach in Georgia.

Veritas Sports Academy will open its doors to student/athletes on August 20 at a temporary location at First Christian Church in Kernersville, NC. The school will move to its permanent site in 2009 on Beeson Road in Kernersville.

For more information contact Jim Beck, Sports Information Director at jbeck@veritassportsacademy.org.