Championship Central: Weekend Schedule

CLASS 4-A: FIVE COUNTY STADIUM, ZEBULON

GREENVILLE ROSE (26-4) vs. CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE (28-2)

Game 1: Saturday, June 12 at 2 p.m.
Game 2: Sunday, June 13 at 1 p.m.

Game 3: if necessary, Sunday at 4 p.m or 7 p.m. depending upon third game in 1-A

CLASS 3-A: DOAK FIELD, NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, RALEIGH

WEST BRUNSWICK (20-8) vs. WEST ROWAN (28-3)

Game 1: Friday, June 11, 8 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, 2 p.m.

Game 3: if necessary, Saturday 5 or 8 pm depending on third game in 2-A.

CLASS 2-A: DOAK FIELD, NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, RALEIGH

SOUTHWEST EDGECOMBE (23-7) vs. EAST RUTHERFORD (30-2)

Game 1: Friday, June 11, 5 pm
Game 2: Saturday, June 12 at 11 am

Game 3: if necessary, Saturday at 5 pm

CLASS 1-A: FIVE COUNTY STADIUM, ZEBULON

PRINCETON (19-8) vs. SOUTH STOKES (28-3)

Game 1: Saturday, June 12 at 11 a.m.
Game 2: Saturday at 7 p.m.

Game 3: if necessary, Sunday, June 13 at 4 p.m.

 

get to the game on time!

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Zebulon is the last NC entry "NC: Zebulon / Five County Stadium"

for the NC State location, go to "NC: Raleigh / Doak Field"

 

This weekend's series:

JH Rose (26-4) vs. Independence (28-2)
West Brunswick (20-8) vs. West Rowan (28-3)
Southwest Edgecombe (23-7) vs. East Rutherford (30-2)
Princeton (19-8) vs. South Stokes (28-3)

Rose has good pitching and some power bats, Indy has good pitching and the most complete all-around game in the state.

West Brunswick comes out of the combo 4A/3A Mideastern conference that also includes perenial 4A state powers Hoggard, Ashley and Laney. West Rowan is the best hitting team 1-9 in the state and features over-powering Elon bound pitcher Patrick Adams.

Both East Rutherford and South Stokes are attempting "Three-peats" as state champions. East Rutherford is lead by UNC-bound Chad Flack and a host of hitters. South Stokes has the best pair of arms in 1A ball in Tim Smith (Sr) and Nick Conaway (Jr).

Lets here some predictions (or at least some hype).

 

State Championship Predictions....

JH Rose over Independence 2-1

West Rowan, East Rutherford and South Stokes all sweep.

 

tj21: I dunno .... you may be right ....

Here's a little background on some of the key players this weekend:

1A Battle:
South Stokes (28-3):
Nick Conaway: .538 average, 10 home runs, 11-0 1.78 ERA.

Princeton (19-8):
Dustin Myers: .395 average, 7-2, 3.28 ERA.

2A Battle:
East Rutherford: (30-2)
Chad Flack: 18 home runs (2004), 43 career home runs. Average: .464 Stephen Harris: 12 home runs (2004) average: .453
Chris Whittemore: 9-0, 2.45 ERA
Garland Jones: 11-1, 1.67 ERA

Southwest Edgecombe (22-7):
Thomas Evans: Average: .483
Jonathan Proctor: 10-3, 2.48 ERA, Conference POY

3A Battle:
West Brunswick (20-8):
Brett Hickman: Average .390
Chris Bland: Average .378, 4 home runs

West Rowan (28-3):
Craig Beasley: .461 average
Bryan Graham: .438 average
Seth Waller: .409 aveage, 6 home runs
Patrick Adams: 10-0, 1.14 ERA
Wade Moore: 9-1 1.64 ERA

4A Battle:
JH Rose (26-4):
Justin Hardee: .420 average
Mark Letchworth: .391 average, 7 home runs
Garrett Bullock: 9-0 1.75 ERA
Kevin Hodges: 9-1

Independence (28-2):
Marc Nicholson: .545 average
Aaron Bray: .447
Daniel Cooke: 37 stolen bases
Robbie Bray: 13-0 0.70 ERA

My picks:
1A: South Stokes - Timmy Smith and Nick Conaway come up big
2A: East Rutherford - Flack and the Cav bombers continue hitting
3A: West Rowan - Too much Patrick Adams, too many sticks
4A: Independence - Rose has won 20 in a row, Indy 27 of last 28. (If this series goes 3 games, advantage shifts to Rose)

 

State Championship Predictions....

NCBBALLFAN, I don't think Indy will sweep Rose and thats why I'm picking Rose, possibly in 3 games (like I said earlier). Because (like you said) I think the advantage shifts to Rose if these teams play 3 games. There's no doubt that this will be the best series to watch for the fans. Don't get me wrong, I'll be pulling for all the local teams, so I'm wishing Indy the best, but Rose is awful tough to pick against.

Btw, do you think I'm going out on the limb picking 3 sweeps? If so, which matchups do you see as closer than I do?

 

The West Rowan/West Brunswick matchup has potential to be one of the best in recent 3A memory. West Brunswick comes out of the Mideastern conference which is a 3A/4A combo conference. Of the 7 members, 5 are 4A schools (Hoggard, Laney, Ashley, Jacksonville, New Hanover) and the other 3A member of the conference is White Oak.

West Brunswick had big wins over Ashley and Laney and Hoggard in consecutive games which says a lot about their program and pitching potential.

If any team in the 3A East can stay with the likes of West Rowan/Crest/TC Roberson type of teams, it's West Brunswick. They have a very good catcher in Stuart Champion, (but I like Ryan Wilson, C at West Rowan better).

 

State Championships.....

NCBBALLFAN, I agree that West Rowan catcher Ryan Wilson is one of the best behind the plate. But he also brings so much more to his team with his leadership and a nice switch-hitting stick too. Then theres guys like Adams, Moore, Waller, Graham, Overcash, Hatley, and on and on.... These West Rowan kids are not only loaded with talent,,,, but they are also on a mission after they feel that they slipped up last season.

West Brunswick is going to have to play awfully good to beat West Rowan twice this weekend...

Sorry, but I'll stick with my prediction about West Rowan winning,,,,, and no disrespect meant towards West Brunswick either, but this could possibly be a WR sweep.

 

I think WR will sweep too, I just think West Brunswick is going to be a tough opponent for them. It won't be a blow-out.

East Rutherford and South Stokes MAY blow out the other teams.

Indy/Rose looks hotter than a 2 dollar pistol. That's going to be fun.

 

State Championships....

We agree,,,,,, Indy/Rose (on paper) looks like the best matchup for fans.