Rocky Mount High coach Pat Smith is not worried. No reason to worry. Not now, not later and not at any point during the rest of the postseason. Starting pitcher Jim Leggett is not worried, either. Center fielder Brian Goodwin is not worried.

Why worry? Really, why worry now?

Even after Smith, Leggett, Goodwin and the rest of the Gryphons walked off a perfect green field at Gryphon Stadium on Friday night with the images of a 1-0 loss to the Wilson Fike Golden Demons fresh in their minds, no player or coach appeared worried.

Really, why worry now?

"I think people just need to have more confidence," Goodwin said. "We just have to have confidence and stay loose."

Yes, the Gryphons lost to the Golden Demons, 1-0, in a pitcher's duel of a one-game playoff on Friday night, their second loss in four days after an otherwise perfect run through the NEW 6 Conference. They also squandered the opportunity to secure the top spot in the conference and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern bracket of the NCHSAA 3-A state playoffs. And the memory of a slide down the stretch last season – when their bats slumped and they lost the last game of the regular season, a one-game playoff and the first game of the state playoffs – started to creep back toward the field and the dugout.

But this a different season.

"Last year means nothing," Smith said. "Two different teams, two different situations."

On Friday, the Gryphons (19-5) appeared poised for a different finish, too.

Leggett started for the Gryphons, fired strike after strike from the first inning through the seventh, and allowed only a solo home run to Golden Demons second baseman Michael McLawhorn on the ninth pitch of the night.

But that was enough for the Golden Demons (18-4) to win the game.

"Those pitches happen," Leggett said. "I wish I could take it back. I really wish I could get it back."

Leggett allowed a run and seven hits over seven innings. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.

Wilson Fike right-hander Bentley Massey shut out the Gryphons on four hits over seven innings. He struck out seven and delivered one intentional walk.

The Gryphons had one opportunity during the sixth inning to rally and, perhaps, to grab the lead. But with runners on first and third base, and two outs, right fielder Chris Berry grounded out to second.

"When you have two great pitchers," Smith said, "that's what it comes down to."

Matt LaWell can be reached at 407-9952 or mlawell@coxnc.com

WF 100 000 0 – 1 7 0

RMH 000 000 0 – 0 4 0

WP: Bentley Massey (7-2, 7IP, 0R, 0ER, 4H, 1BB, 7K); LP: Jim Leggett (5-3, 7IP, 1R, 1ER, 7H, 0BB, 7K).

2B: William Barringer (RMH), Brian Goodwin (RMH); Tripp Sauls (WF); HR: Michael McLawhorn (WF).