A6
SportS
the courier-times | roxboro, Nc
saturday, april 11, 2015
Afternoon racing action cranks up today at South Boston SOUTH BOSTON, VA. — America’s Hometown Track will return to action on today with the running of the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center NASCAR Late Model 150 racing program. The afternoon of racing action will get cranked up at 2 p.m. and will feature five events on the historic four-tenths mile asphalt oval. The featured attraction of the day will be a 150-lap battle for the competitors in the NASCAR
Whelen All American Late Model Stock Car Division. Other events scheduled Saturday afternoon include races for the Limited Sportsman Division, the Budweiser Pure Stock Division, the Modified Division and the Budweiser Hornets Division. Two-time NASCAR Whelen All American Series national champion Lee Pulliam, who is coming off a pair of triumphs last weekend, has the early points lead in the chase for the
2015 Late Model Stock Car Division championship at South Boston Speedway. Pulliam is 10 points ahead of a second-place tie between Matt Bowling and Bobby McCarty. Danny Willis Jr., who has won the past two Limited Sportsman Division titles, claimed triumphs in the division’s opening two events last month. Stuart Crews won the seasonopening race for the Budweiser Pure Stock Division, while Jimmy Humblet claimed the open-
ing victory in the Modified Division and Eric Winslow was the first Budweiser Hornets competitor to visit Victory Lane this season. Registration and pit gates will open today at 9 a.m. with practice for all division scheduled from 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Grandstand gates will open at noon and qualifying time trials will get cranked up at 12:30 p.m. Adult admission is $10. Children, ages six and under, will be admitted free with an adult.
South Boston Speedway will once again host the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown this year. The eighth annual event is scheduled for April 23. A limited number of $20 advanced tickets and suite tickets remain on sale for the event and can be purchased at the speedway office. The Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown benefits the Denny Hamlin Foundation and its ongoing support of Cystic Fibrosis research and treatment. Among the competitors who are
scheduled to compete in this year’s event are Chase Elliott, the 2014 NASCAR XFINITY Series champion, along with other NASCAR stars such as David Ragan, Timothy Peters, Hermie Sadler, Jeb Burton and Gray Gaulding. For more information visit the track’s website or phone the track at (434) 572-4947 or toll free at 1-877-440-1540. Information can also be found by following South Boston Speedway on Facebook or Twitter.
Person baseball wins two of three in Wilson, host Riverside Tuesday in key PAC-6 showdown By Kelly Snow courier-times sports editor kellysnow@roxboro-courier.com
The Person High School varsity baseball team gained some much-needed momentum heading into the final few weeks of the regular season with a strong showing in the Golden Leaf Invitational in Wilson this week. The Rockets dropped their opening game of the tournament to eventual champion Wilson Fike, 7-0, but rallied to end the trip with two wins. Person rode the right arm of pitcher David Solomon to a 4-0 victory against Rocky Mount Monday and followed that with a 5-4 walkoff win against Southern Nash Tuesday. The Rockets entered the tournament losing six of their previous seven games, but head into a pivotal week with confidence. “After the RCS game (April 1, 7-0 loss), we came back together and started working again on the fundamentals and we were just trying to find where everyone was at,” Person coach John Koket said. “They’ve bounced back and responded really well. They’ve answered everything I’ve asked of them, and played good baseball in Wilson.” Solomon was outstanding on the mound against the Gryphons, surrendering just four hits in the complete-game vicSee PERSON, Page 7
] bulldog baseball [
RCS goes undefeated at Golden Leaf, four name All-Invitational honors By Kelly Snow courier-times sports editor kellysnow@roxboro-courier.com
The Roxboro Community School varsity baseball team put on an impressive performance in the Golden Leaf Invitational this week in Wilson, winning all three of its games. The Bulldogs overcame seven errors to knock off Nash Central 8-7 last Saturday and followed that with a 5-0 shutout of Raleigh Homeschool behind a two-hit shutout by Parker Brann. RCS wrapped up the week with a 3-2 victory against Greenville Oakwood in Tuesday’s final game. The Bulldogs finished third in the 20-team field, and was one of only three teams to win each game of the Easter week event. Wilson Fike was the overall invitational champion, with the tiebreaker being determined by the record of its opponents See RCS, Page 7
] phs tennis [
Person heads into final week of regular season with win against Spartans By Kelly Snow courier-times sports editor kellysnow@roxboro-courier.com
The Person High School tennis team stepped out of conference and defeated Kerr Vance Academy 6-2 Wednesday at home. The victory improved the Rockets’ record to 5-10 overall heading into the final week of the regular season. Person picked up victories in the top-two singles matches and were awarded default wins in the fifth and sixth-seeded flights. Matthew Mayer cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 win against Zach Willington in the top-seeded singles match, while Jalen Carver defeated Kerr-Vance’s second seed Pierce Parker 6-2, 6-1. Spartans’ third-seed Curtis Murphy knocked off Layne Cole 6-3, 6-1, while fourth-seed Daniel Adkins defeated Dalton Blume 6-1, 6-2. The Rockets won two doubles matches with Mayer and Luke Gillie edging Ellington and Parker 8-2. Person won the third-seeded doubles match by default. The second-seeded match was suspended due to the lightning with Person’s Cord Roberts and Cole leading Murphy and Adkins 7-3. The Rockets will be back in action Tuesday when they travel to Riverside for a 4 p.m. match.
Kelly sNow | courier times
Roxboro Community School’s Ashton Morris is tagged out at third by Person’s Tanner Rogers while trying to steal a base in the third inning of Thursday’s game in the Person JV Baseball Invitational. The Rockets won 4-0.
Rockets blank RCS to open JV tournament
Goodwin tosses complete-game shutout in win, phs advances to championship game tonight By Kelly Snow courier-times sports editor kellysnow@roxboro-courier.com
Person High School JV baseball pitcher Gavin Goodwin didn’t exactly blow away batters with a blistering fastball, but the freshman was plenty good enough to shutout Roxboro Community School 4-0 in Thursday’s first game of the Person JV Baseball Invitational. Goodwin painted the corners and used a filthy breaking ball to baffle Bulldog hitters for the complete-game victory. The Rockets’ left-hander gave up just three hits and struck out seven for the win. “Gavin has good mechanics and has good location,” Person coach Amp Daye said. “He doesn’t have to throw the ball all that hard if he can spot his pitches like that. His location was excellent and his breaking ball was on.”
The Rockets got on the board with two runs in the first inning, but were unable to fully take advantage of a bases-loaded, no outs situation. Sherron Torain led off the first with a walk and moved to third after a Goodwin looper into shallow left field. Torain later scored on a wild pitch, and Goodwin came home when the Bulldogs’ second baseman misplayed a flyball off the bat of Drew Clayton. The Rockets loaded the bases with no outs, but RCS pitcher Clayton Day was able to curb the early damage. He induced a force out at home and struck out two Person batters to keep the score at 2-0. Person added a run in the second inning on an infield error and another in the fourth on Kelly sNow | courier times a single through the left side of Person pitcher Gavin Goodwin tossed a complete-game shutout the infield by Tanner Rogers. See JV, Page 7
in the Rockets’ 4-0 victory against Roxboro Community School Thursday in the JV Invitational.
SPORTS
SATURdAy, ApRil 11, 2015
The coURieR-TimeS | RoxboRo, Nc A7
RCS: pitching, clutch hitting carry bulldogs to undefeated Golden leaf FROM PAGE 6 in the tournament. Fike’s opponents, Person, Wilson Christian and C.B. Aycock were a combined 4-3 during the Golden Leaf, while RCS’s foes were 1-8. Parrott Academy finished undefeated in the invitational with its opponents combined record of 2-7. Brann, Seth Gentry, Travis Hodgin and Samuel Whitt earned All-Invitational honors, with Whitt also being recognized for academic distinction. Whitt tossed a complete-game,
eight-hitter to lead the Bulldogs past Oakwood in Tuesday’s final game. The Eagles outhit RCS 8-3, but committed two crucial errors in the game. Whitt got two of the Bulldogs’ three hits, including the eventual game-winning RBI in the sixth inning. Brann tripled and drove in a run, while Tanner Powell chipped in an RBI. Cody Morast added a single. The Bulldogs will be back in action Tuesday when they travel to River Mill Academy for a 4 p.m. game.
PeRSOn: Rockets head into huge week, host pirates Tuesday Kelly SNow | coURieR TimeS
Person leadoff man Sherron Torain is called safe after successfully stealing home in the first inning of Thursday’s game against Roxboro Community School. Torain scored three times in the 4-0 victory.
JV: Rockets to face South Granville for title tonight, RcS play for third FROM PAGE 6 Day picked up the loss for the Bulldogs despite giving up just two earned runs and three hits. The sophomore walked six Rockets, with his defense committing four errors behind him. Torain scored all three times he reached base and hit a oneout double to left in the second inning. Noah Carver finished 2-for-3 for the Bulldogs and Marshall Duncan doubled in the sixth inning. RCS loaded the bases in the sixth inning after Duncan’s double with walks to Will Jacobs and Day, but Goodwin struck out pinch-hitter Ethan Warren to keep the shutout. Goodwin sat down the Bulldogs in order in the seventh to secure the win. The Rockets will face South Granville in the championship game of the tournament tonight at 7 p.m. Both teams were victorious in Kelly SNow | coURieR TimeS two games, with South Granville Person JV baseball player Tanner Rogers successfully steals third during Thursday’s game with upending Voyager Academy and Roxboro Community School after third baseman Will Jacobs is unable to corral the throw from Roxboro Community School on catcher Alex Wade. back-to-back nights.
ClAyTOn neARly hiTS fOR The CyCle in ROCkeTS’ win AgAinST fRAnklin ACAdemy Sophomore Drew Clayton had a huge game at the plate to help carry the Person JV baseball team to the championship game in its own tournament with a 133, five-inning romp of Franklin Academy Friday at home. Clayton finished 3-for-3 and was a just a triple away from the cycle. The Rockets’ shortshop drove in six runs, with the first two coming on a homer to center in the first inning. Clayton had a bases-loaded double to left-center in the fourth inning that scored all three and wrapped up day with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. As a team, Person pounded out 12 hits. Michael Gray picked up the win after giving up three runs on just two hits, but walked six in four innings of work. Brett Dunn came in and pitched a scoreless fifth. The Rockets started the game fast with three runs in the first
inning and put the game away with nine in the fourth. Person brought 13 batters to the plate in that inning. Sherron Torain and Gavin Goodwin each had two hits and scored twice, while William Wrenn finished 1-for-3 with a two-run single in the fourth inning. Matt Long, Brett Dunn, Jerrick Landrum and JoJo Berryhill each finished with basehits.
eRRORS dOOm BulldOgS in lOSS TO SOuTh gRAnVille The South Granville High School JV baseball team took advantage of a host of Roxboro Community School fielding mistakes to cruise to a 17-7, six-inning win in the Person JV Baseball Invitational. The Bulldogs committed 11 errors in the game that led to seven unearned runs. Both teams were able to bat around in the first inning, with South Granville taking a 5-3 lead into the second. The first two RCS batters were
CLAYTON & HURDLE DISPOSAL SERVICE
720 Charlie Long Road Hurdle Mills, NC
336-599-5832
Complete Garbage Service • Commercial/ Roll-off Boxes • Residential • Recycling • Weekly Roadside Trash Pickup
retired but the next six were able to reach base after a wild pitch on a third strike, three hit batsmen and two walks of Ethan Warren and J.J. Owens scored runs. The Vikings answered with two runs in the second and scored in each of the six innings. The Bulldogs managed just two hits on the game. Seth Yarbrough singled to leadoff the second inning, but was picked off during the next at-bat. A couple of pitches later, Marshall Duncan doubled to left field. The Bulldogs will face Northern Durham in the third-place game today at 4 p.m. The Knights are 2-0 in the tournament with wins over Franklin Academy and Voyager
Aacdemy, but have surrendered more runs than either of the other two undefeated teams — Person and South Granville. Franklin and Voyager will face each other in the fifth-place game at 1 p.m. The teams, along with Roxboro Community School, are 0-2 and all play in the 1-A North Central Athletic Conference.
FROM PAGE 6 tory. The junior right-hander struck out six and walked just two. At the plate, Solomon was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and earned All-Invitational honors. “(Solomon) was lights out,” Koket said. “He’s improving every time he gets on the mound. The biggest thing for him was his strike-to-walk ratio. His control was where we needed it to be.” The Rockets needed a little heroics in their final swing to upend Southern Nash. The Firebirds rallied to take a 4-3 lead into the seven, but sophomore Will Walker delivered a two-run, walk-off basehit to left field to lift the Rockets to the win. The win was Person’s third this season in its last at-bat. Casey Nichols was 2-for-4 with a run scored, while DeAngelo Lunsford and Ethan Phillips each had RBI singles. Antonio Williams had a double, while Solomon pitched in an RBI basehit. Trey Golden got the win after recording the final out in the seventh inning. Cale Mizelle started
the game and tossed five innings, giving up two unearned runs on two hits. Person will step back into PAC-6 play Tuesday when it hosts Riverside in a pivotal game. The Rockets are currently 0-3 in the conference, while the Pirates are tied with Northern Durham at 3-0 in league play. “They are starting to believe in what we’re doing,” Koket said. “It’s coming out and working hard everyday. We need to focus on what we’re in control of. If we do that and concentrate on the little things and get better everyday, we’ll be okay. We’re not where we want to be, but the goal is to be our best at the end of the season. We could easily be 2-1 instead of 0-3. You never know what could happen in the conference. Jordan, East Chapel Hill, Riverside, Northern Durham and us are all pretty much right there together. Any one of us could get hot and get on a run.” First pitch for Tuesday’s game is set for 7 p.m. NOTE — Person freshman Casey Nichols was honored with academic distinctions of participating teams in the Golden Leaf Invitational.
SUBSCRIBE
EXPERIENCED IT?
TODAY! CALL ERIC at 336-599-0162
GDT Summer Day School Program
Hurting? Need Healing? We offer one-on-one peer counseling.
Pregnancy Support Center 336.597.2811
199 Flat River Church Rd., Roxboro • 336-597-2259 •Lic #73000197
Now Enrolling for Summer ‘15!! 9 Week Summer Program • June 10th - August 14th • 6am - 6pm Ages 5-12 •Full Day & Half Day Available Breakfast, Lunch & PM Snack Included Arts, Crafts, General Sports, Games, Creative Play, Hands On Activities, and Field Trips
We are a nonprot 501-C3 organization.
For advertising service,
Contact Brooke or Lea at The Courier=Times, 336-599-0162
ROXBORO ANIMAL HOSPITAL’s
Urgent Care Service To better serve you and your pets.
Extended Hours: Saturday & Sunday 12 Noon-5 pm
We Talk TRASH Proudly Serving Person & Surrounding Counties for 36 Years
ABORTION...
585 Patterson Drive • Roxboro, NC • 336-599-8303