All six Pitt County baseball teams keep their championship hopes alive as the playoffs get under way today.
The North Pitt Panthers (18-6) will host Franklinton (11-11) tonight at 7 to start the Class 2-A bracket.
John Swartz/The Daily Reflector |
North Pitt baseball coach Ryan Meadows hits the ball during infield practice during the Panthers' workout on Wednesday.
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The Panthers finished second in the Eastern Plains Conference behind North Lenoir, but North Pitt head coach Ryan Meadows said all the teams are now on equal footing in the playoffs.
"This is fun," he said. "This is why you put into it all that you do. There are no favorites now. We're happy to be one of 64 teams left, and our goal is to be one of 32 remaining on Friday. That's the only way you can look at it."
Also playing today will be Ayden-Grifton (10-12), which will travel to East Bladen (13-8) in the 1-A playoffs.
The Coastal Conference 4-A/3-A champion J.H. Rose (20-3) is hosting Jack Britt (11-13) on Friday at 7 p.m.
"Jack Britt has some good players and they play in a good conference," said Rose coach Ronald "RV" Vincent, who added that no team should think itself assured a win, even in the first round. "We have to be ready to play. Good teams have to play well. We've been doing that, and we've got to keep it going."
Vincent also said he plans to start Mark Wilder on the mound.
Also on Friday, D.H. Conley is another Coastal team hosting a game after taking the top seed from the 3-A squads in the league. The Vikings host Burlington Williams (9-12). South Central (9-14) will hit to road to face Jacksonville (7-12), and Farmville Central (14-10) will travel to Mayodan McMichael (17-7) for 6 p.m. start.
Softball
In softball action, the Coastal Conference has yet to set its final standings. The J.H. Rose Rampants host West Craven today to wrap up the regular season. Tonight's game is also senior night for the Rampants.
Ayden-Grifton's playoff hopes are still in the balance. The Chargers finished tied with Rosewood for fourth in the Carolina Conference. The two teams will square off today at Spring Creek, a neutral site. The winner will take the league's final playoff berth.
In the 2-A ranks, North Pitt will take a trip to West Stokes to start the postseason. Farmville Central travels to Eastern Guilford.
All first round games are on Tuesday.
John Swartz can be reached at (252) 329-9592 or jswartz@coxnc.com.
