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March Madness and Martinsville, that is why I like spring. Well, I like the warmer weather too, but
Martinsville is on my mind at the moment.
The smell of brakes and the racing fuel. A whole field of cars inches apart on a half-mile track, where anything can happen. Beating up fenders and small margin for error. Yes, that is Martinsville and the first NASCAR race there of 2014 comes this Sunday.
Both Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, who looked like either could win this past weekend at California should be the favorites coming into Martinsville. Both are searching for their ninth win at the Virginia short track. Gordon took care of business last time by winning in the fall. Johnson won last year’s spring race. Denny Hamlin will also be a factor if he gets well enough to race. Hamlin, who has won at Martinsville four times, gave way to Sam Hornish this past weekend after illness blurred his vision.
Drivers who could upset include Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne, Clint Bowyer, Matt Kenseth or Brian Vickers. Nobody on this list has won at Martinsville, but come close in years past.
Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart are veterans that could play apart of how things end this weekend. Both have won here in the past.
Noteworthy, Danica Patrick finished in the top 20 last year in both Cup races here as a rookie. Will the streak end? Also, the last seven Martinsville winners have started ninth or better.
My thoughts, a ton of cautions for crashes, maybe an angry driver or two and Kevin Harvick finishing second to Jimmie Johnson.
Rutherford County softball was strong this week R-S Central (3-3, 3-2) softball knocked off South Mountain Athletic Conference leader Kings Mountain this week. East Rutherford (5-3, 3-1) walloped what looked to be a surging Draughn, 16-2.
And Chase (4-1, 3-1) outlasted R-S Central 6-5 in 11 frames, then took down new school Cramer 15-2 to end the week. Thomas Jefferson (3-3, 1-3) split this week by beating Pine Lake, but falling to Community School of Davidson.
On the baseball field, Thomas Jefferson’s Brandon Riggs threw a two-hitter from the mound as Thomas Jefferson (3-4, 1-3) downed Community School of Davidson in baseball 4-0. TJCA split this week and is now 3-4, 1-3. East Rutherford (5-1, 3-0) remained with one loss on the season as they clipped Shelby 2-0 as they face Crest, R-S Central and Chase in its next three contests. Chase mistakes gave R-S Central (5-3, 2-3) a 4-2 win, while the Hilltoppers lost to Kings Mountain 5-4 to end the week.
Rivalry week begins with East Rutherford visiting R-S Central on Thursday (3/27) in baseball and the softball teams play each other Friday (3/28). Chase goes to East Rutherford for softball and baseball on Tuesday (4/1).
NCAA Tourney
Well, I was nearly correct. I knew the ACC would be competitive in the NCAA tourney, but only one is left among those schools. Virginia escaped Coastal Carolina in the second round, but then showed Memphis why they were selected as a number one seed in a 78-60 win in round three. They are the only ACC school to make it to the Sweet 16 and
Duke was a shock, losing to Mercer in round two. Although, you have to like what Coach K said during halftime of that game. He said they had to play like men because that’s who they were facing. It wouldn’t happen. Give credit to Mercer coach Bob Hoffman and his team. There is a style they play and they played it as well as a team could on Friday. Hoffman impressed me, especially in interviews before eventually losing in round three.
Syracuse, UNC and Pitt all advanced to the round 32. Syracuse and UNC both gave up late leads on the way to losing and Pitt was just outmatched by Florida. N.C. State did win in the first round and seemed to be onto round three with a 16-point second half lead against St. Louis…until it disappeared. The Wolfpack would end the season in an overtime loss five minutes later.
