NEW-6 Predictions

Official practices get started up tommorow, anyone want to provide some insight on the NEW-6 conference?

 

NEW 6: 3 HORSE RACE

1. Rocky Mount
Wilson Fike
Northern Nash
4. Nash Central
5. SW Edgecombe
6. Southern Nash

My prediction: Regular season is going to be a battle between Rocky Mount, Wilson Fike , & Northern Nash. These 3 are going to make some noise come playoff time.

 

There are others who know better than I but here is my $.02.

Rocky Mount- should win conf and be in the hunt for a State Championship.

Wilson Fike- plenty good, can give RM a run for it's money. A transfer from Southern Nash will help an already talented team. Their ace can beat anyone.

Northern Nash- Can beat anyone in the state with Joyner on the mound. They are pretty good but could surprise some with just how good. If their #2 arm pitches to potential they could be in the middle of the conf race.

Nash Central- A new coach should inject some energy. They are a young team and should have nights they compete with anyone but may be inconsistant.

Southwest Edgecombe- Very good coach but have had a talent drought for the last several years. They are a smaller school and will drop to 2A next year. They should be solid and competitive.

Southern Nash- Lost 2 key players who transfered to other schools. They should be athletic and could very well come out some nights (especially if not facing the top starter) and put some runs on the board. They are usually tough at home.

Rocky Mount, Fike and Northern Nash should finish in the top 3. Smart money would be on RM to win it as they have probably 4 DI guys on that team, but it would not surpirse me to see them lose a game or two in the conference as Fike and NN's aces can beat anyone.

 

If you were to equalize the talent at RM, Fike, and NN, then RM gets the edge because of coaching. Generally, they will be put in position to win more games than their opponent. I've seen it too many times over the last four or five years. Something has to go terribly wrong for RM not to be competitive in every game. It has happened, but not often.

 

RM shows up to play

Agree 100% with you, RM never shows up flat and they always have a bounce in their step. Coach Smith is a well respected coach and always does a great job with his teams year in and year out. I'm looking forward to the matchup's this spring, so many studs!

 

Will Flowers (Fike) & Pat Smith (Rocky Mount)

are both excellent coaches! Both Will Flowers (1999 3A State Champion) & Pat Smith (2008 3A State Champion) have won it all! I know absolutely nothing about Northern's coach. I think he is going into his second season with NN. Maybe a Northern fan can share with us his history.

 

Rocky Mount

5 starters returning: Brian Goodwin, Ben Fish, Dillon Cockrell, Collins Cuthrell, & Gabe Brown.
Will have a strong pitching staff:Hobbs Johnson, Benton Moss, Dillon Cockrell, & Nick Hahula
Strong JV program: Will probadly produce some starters.
Strong Coaching Staffat Smith & crew
Lost 4 strong players:Jim Leggett, Chris Berry, William Barringer, & Grant Johnson.
Lost 13 wins from last year on mound:Jim Leggett (8), & Chris Berry (5).
Lost 4 out of top 6 hitters:Leggett, Berry, Johnson, & Barringer
Hitting:After Goodwin & Fish, this could be a problem area.

Analysis: Ranked #1 and deserve to be!

 

That look's like a pretty solid group right there!

 

Wilson Fike

6 starters return: David Gibbons, Mitchell Wheeler, William Prince, Michael McLawhorn, Tripp Sauls, & Michael Brown.
Will have a strong pitching staff:William Prince, Mitchell Wheeler, & Michael Mclawhorn.
Strong coaching staff:Will Flowers & crew.
Strong defensively:Entire infield returns:Wheeler, Prince, Mclawhorn, & Sauls.
New Addition;Brett Allen (transfer from Southern Nash) can play any infield spot when Prince, Wheeler, or McLawhorn are pitching.
Strong Outfieldavid Gibbons & Michael Brown return.
Lost 3 strong players:Bentley Massey, Jacob Davis, & Zac Crumpler.
Biggest Question mark:Who replaces Crumpler at catcher?

Analysis:Will be contending once again!

 

College Choices?

I know Goodwin is heading to UNC if not the pros, anyone else in the conference sitting on offers or committed yet?