Sports06-22-16WEB - Gazette News Online

Gazette Newspapers
Week of Wednesday, June 22, 2016
The MiraCLE Track Officials Banquet
at the OraCLE
BY ALLAN MONONEN
Gazette Newspapers
BY BYRON C. WESSELL
Gazette Newspapers
CLEVELAND - Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Championship Finals was
close for the entire first quarter - close enough for everyone rooting for
Cleveland to completely buy into the All In and the Believeland hysteria
sweeping across the city of Cleveland and all of Ohio.
The second quarter, the Warriors started to pull away behind the
home crowd. The Cavs were down 7 going into halftime. Still we had to
believe. It was an “Elf” movie moment for me - where everyone had to
believe in that Christmas Spirit, except this time it was the Cleveland
Spirit that needed to be All In. And I was a witness to that. With Cleveland cheers being started almost every ten minutes at least.
The Cavs trimmed the lead quickly in the third quarter, before the
Warriors had a couple more streaks in them. JR Smith brought us back
with a pair of threes after the Warriors built the lead up to 8 points.
Kyrie made his plays and then LeBron took over, scoring or assisting
on over 50 percent of the Cavs’ points, including 13 of the 18 in the
fourth quarter.
The Cavs were only down one going into the fourth quarter and it
was anyone’s game. With LeBron and Kyrie as two of the best finishers
in the game, the odds were finally in our favor. LeBron made one of the
biggest blocks in NBA history and Kyrie Irving made the shot that will
now be remembered as The Shot for Cleveland.
I don’t know what was more amazing in this 2016 NBA finals - coming back after being down 3-1 to win the championship? The first team
ever to do so. Handing Golden State three losses in a row for the first
time in almost two years. Beating Golden State four out of the last five
games. Winning at the Oracle in back-to-back games there. Winning a
game 7 Finals road game for the first time since the Washington Bullets
did in 1978. LeBron James becoming the third player to have a triple
double in a Finals game 7, joining James Worthy in 1988 and Jerry West
in 1969. LeBron James leading every player on both teams in points
(208), rebounds (79), assists (62), steals (18) and blocks (16) - the first
time any player has done so in any post-season series.
Or that the championship drought was finally over for Cleveland.
“I came back for a reason,” LeBron James told reporters after the
game. “I came back to bring a championship to our city. I knew what
I was capable of doing. I knew what I learned in the last couple years
that I was gone, and I knew if I had to — when I came back — I knew I
had the right ingredients and the right blueprint to help this franchise
get back to a place that we’ve never been. That’s what it was all about.”
If Cleveland was to ever break the curse, beat the odds and end the
52-year drought, this would be the time to do so, against seemingly
insurmountable odds in the greatest and most poetic justice way of
doing it.
In fact, former Cleveland Cavs Craig Ehlo, who was defending Michael Jordan during the famous “The Shot,” called it “poetic justice.”
Fans have suffered through the Fumble, The Drive, The Move, The
Mesa blown save, the grounder Fernandez couldn’t field, the Decision of
our beloved LeBron James taking his talents to dreaded South Beach.
None of that matters now because of the Miracle in game 7. Now
instead of hearing Shaq’s unfulfilled words of, “Win a ring for the king,”
I will sit back and laugh every time I hear, “It don’t mean a thing if you
don’t win the ring,” a sentiment echoed by most of the Golden State Warriors players after winning 73 games, but not the last one that mattered.
The Golden State Warriors, who had the best regular season win
total in NBA history with a 73-9 record, will now go down in sports lore
with the New England Patriots’ 16-0 perfect regular season record and
then winning its first two post-season games only to lose in the Super
Bowl, the 116-win Seattle Mariners, who didn’t even make the World
Series. The Golden State Warriors - who came up one win short in their
quest to 16 more wins finished 15-9 in the post season, matching their
regular season loss total in only 24 games.
The Cleveland Cavaliers pieced those 16 victories together, fittingly
like the movie Major League, a hometown favorite, where the team
WARREN - The annual banquet
of the Mahoning Valley Track Officials Association was held Thursday, June 9 at Enzo’s in Warren.
This association is composed of
officials from Ashtabula and
Mahoning counties. The organization sponsors awards to crosscountry and track senior athletes.
After an invocation by Hobart Shiflet, attendees enjoyed a fine dinner.
Awards began with cross-country. In Ashtabula County, Brittany
Aveni of Geneva, and Tim Bowling,
of Geneva,were recognized.
Heidi Hoffman of McDonald
and Tristan Dahmen of Maplewood
won the Mahoning County awards.
Hoffman was tenth and her team
won the DII division. Dahmen won
the cross-country meet his junior
and senior years
and the Ohio DIII 3200 track
event his junior year.
In track, it was a Geneva sweep.
Brittany Aveni won the Ohio DI
800 meter run in a state record
2:07. She will attend Duke University.
Allie Thompson was second in
the DI Pole Vault, Thompson holds
the Ashtabula County Gilrs record
at 13’ 1”.
Calhoun finished sixth in the
Shot Put at State in DI. He will
attend Mount Union and play
football and run track.
For Mahoning County, Justice
Richardson of Warren Harding
was the Honoree. Richardson won
the Ohio DI 100 and 200 meter
dashes. According to her coach,
Richardson was the only Mahoning County athlete, male or female, to win those two events four
straight years at State.
Collin Harden, of Girard, was
the Male Honoree. Harden was DII
State Champ in the 300 Hurdles.
The Association also sponsors
two Memorial Awards, the Bogan
Reed and Paul Gore awards, in
honor of two outstanding Mahoning County athletes and officials.
Justice Richardson won the
Paul Gore and Collin Harden won
the Bogan Reed Award.
MVTOA Cross-Country and Track
Honorees, left to right: Heidi
Hoffman, of McDonald, Allie
Thompson, of Geneva, Brittany
Aveni, of Geneva, Seth Calhoun,
of Geneva, Tim Bowling, of
Geneva, Collin Harden of Girard,
Justice Richardson, of Warren
Hardin, and Tristan Dahmen, of
Maplewood.
MVTOA Honorees, Justice
Richardson, of Warren Harding,
received the Paul Gore Award
and Collin Harden, of Girard,
received the Bogan Reed
Award.
See CAVS on page 4
PHOTO BY BYRON C. WESSELL
Cleveland Cavaliers fans flood the streets
of Cleveland after the Cavs ended a 52PHOTOS BY ALLAN MONONEN
year championship drought with 93-89 Ashtabula County Honorees at the Mahoning Valley Track Off. Assn. left to right: Allie Thompson, Brittany
win over Golden State.
Aveni, Seth Calhoun and Tim Bowling, all of Geneva.
2 • Gazette Newspapers • WEEK OF wednesday, june 22, 2016
Sports
Changes to OHSAA Cross Country Tournament Structure Approved
Board of Directors agrees to modifications in process
for divisional alignment and qualifiers and increases
number of state qualifiers.
Several changes to the high school cross country
postseason will take effect this fall after the Ohio High
School Athletic Association’s Board of Directors approved a list of proposals from the OHSAA Cross Country Subcommittee earlier this week. The changes alter
how schools are placed into divisions and how qualifying
teams and individuals advance to the regional and state
tournaments.
“The subcommittee’s task was to look at several concerns that were brought to the OHSAA’s attention,” Dale
Gabor, the OHSAA’s administrator for cross country
and track and field, said. “These changes will result in
a more consistent and fair tournament structure, which
has been in place for other OHSAA sports. I was very
pleased with the committee’s thoroughness and ability
to look at the issues from all sides.”
First, the board approved a proposal that reversed its
2012 ruling which changed how schools are placed into
their respective cross country tournament divisions (I, II
or III). The 2012 proposal called for a school’s girls and
boys enrollment to be combined, so that a school’s girls
and boys teams were always in the same tournament
division. That method achieved its goal of reduced travel
costs for schools and eased the burdon on schools that
have one person serving as the girls and boys coach, but
it resulted in competitive disadvantages for some schools
if one of their squads was forced to compete up a division.
Second, the board approved changes to the representation process by which schools and individuals advance
from the district tournament to the regional tournament, and then onto the state tournament. Previously,
the four regional tournaments across Ohio all fielded
the same number of teams in each division, meaning
that in some cases, teams from one district were sent
to a regional tournament across the state. This was
done so that the same number of team and individual
state qualifiers came from each regional (top four).
The changes approved by the board this week result in
Collaborative effort at
Pymatuning reservoir
improves fishing
opportunities
A recent collaborative effort between organizations in
Ohio and Pennsylvania has led to improved fishing opportunities for anglers according to the Ohio Department of
Natural Resources (ODNR).
Crews from the ODNR Division of Wildlife teamed up
with ODNR Division of State Parks and Recreation, the
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission,
the Pymatuning Lake Association, and numerous volunteer
organizations to place structure into Ohio’s largest inland
lake - Pymatuning Reservoir. Wooden structures, called
“Porcupine Juniors”, replace the woody structure that has
been slowly degrading away since the reservoir was formed
back in the 1930’s. This structure is critical to fish populations across the lake and they are also critical to anglers
since fish can be located on these “hot spots”.
“This is, by far, our largest structure placement project
in the state each year. The help of the various state agencies and the numerous of volunteer groups go a long way
to improve fishing opportunities on Ohio’s largest inland
lake,” explained Matt Wolfe, fish biologist who oversees this
project for the ODNR Division of Wildlife.
Working out of the Wilson Boat Launch, the structures
were placed across two sites.
40 structures were placed in about five to seven feet of
water at:
N 41o 39’ 29.6” / W 80o 30’ 19.6” to N 41o 39’ 26.2” / W
80o 30’ 19.1”
85 structures were placed in about six to seven feet of
water at:
N 41o 39’ 42.1” / W 80o 29’ 42.5” to N 41o 39’ 40.1” / W
80o 29’ 43.3”.
The map
datum on your GPS unit
should be
set at NAD 83
to find the
structures.
The coordinates provided are
in degrees,
minutes, and
seconds.
Be aware of
t h e
reciprocal fishing regulations that are in effect on Pymatuning
Reservoir.
The goal of this project is to introduce struc- t u r e s
into the waters of northeastern Ohio in order to improve
fishing opportunities for anglers.
A downloadable Google Earth file defining all of the
structure placements throughout northeast Ohio is available by contacting the Wildlife District Three office. To view
pictures of the structure placements, visit the Wildlife News
page at wildohio.gov.
For inquiries about the project and structure placements,
contact the Wildlife District Three office in Akron at (330)
644-2293.
regional qualifiers being comprised only of teams from
that specific district (see chart below), which means the
four regional tournaments will have a unique number of
qualifiers in line with the number of the teams within
that division in their district. Thus the number of state
qualifiers will different from each regional based on how
many teams in each division are competing there, which
is the case in other OHSAA sports, in accordance with
the representation formula.
In addition, the board approved an increase in the
number of state tournament team qualifiers from 16
to 20 per division. The maximum number of individual
state tournament qualifiers (runners who finish in the
top 20 overall who are not on an advancing team) coming from each regional would be four times the number
of qualifying teams in each division from that regional.
“This system will more fairly assign schools to the
regional tournaments and more fairly determine the
qualifiers to the state tournament,” Gabor said. “It keeps
schools closer to home for regionals and uses the actual
number of teams in each division at each regional site
to determine the number of state qualifiers coming from
that site. And we are pleased to increase the number of
state tournament qualifiers so more student-athletes
and schools can experience the state tournament, which
is among the biggest and best in the country.”
It was also noted that at all regional tournaments,
head coaches in charge of the girls and boys teams for
a school will be compete at the same regional.
The subcommittee was comprised of OHSAA staff,
three members from the state board of directors and
10 members who are school administrators or coaches.
from Central, 6 from East, 8 from Southeast), 17
Div. III (7 from Central, 3 from East, 7 from Southeast)
Boys state qualifiers to include 5 Div. I, 6 Div. II and 5
Div. III
Girls regional qualifiers to include 16 Div. I, 18 Div. II (6
from Central, 5 from East, 7 from Southeast), 17
Div. III (4 from Central, 7 from East, 6 from Southeast)
Girls state qualifiers to include 5 Div. I, 6 Div. II, 5 Div. III
Boardman: Qualifiers Northeast District
Boys regional qualifiers to include 25 Div. I, 20 Div. II, 11
Div. III
Boys state qualifiers to include 8 Div. I, 6 Div. II and 4
Div. III
Girls regional qualifiers to include 25 Div. I, 21 Div. II, 13
Div. III
Girls state qualifiers to include 8 Div. I, 6 Div. II, 4 Div. III
Tiffin: Qualifiers from the Northwest District
Boys regional qualifiers to include 7 Div. I, 12 Div. II, 22
Div. III
Boys state qualifiers to include 2 Div. I, 4 Div. II and 7
Div. III
Girls regional qualifiers to include 6 Div. I, 12 Div. II, 22
Div. III
Girls state qualifiers to include 2 Div. I, 4 Div. II, 7 Div. III
Troy: Qualifiers from Southwest District
Boys regional qualifiers to include 17 Div. I, 12 Div. II, 14
Div. III
Boys state qualifiers to include 5 Div. I, 4 Div. II and 4
Div. III
Girls regional qualifiers to include 17 Div. I, 13 Div. II, 12
Pickerington: Qualifiers from the Central, East and Div. III
Girls state qualifiers to include 5 Div. I, 4 Div. II, 4 Div. III
Southeast Districts
Boys regional qualifiers to include 15 Div. I, 20 Div. II (6
2016 OHSAA Cross Country
Regional Tournaments
Max Blair wins Dick Litz Memorial
Zimmer’s Service Center United Late Model Series
visited Eriez Speedway for the Annual Dick Litz Memorial, a 29-lap feature paying $2900 to win. Litz, the 1983
Eriez Speedway champion and one of the track’s all-time
favorite drivers is remembered every summer with this
event. Coincidentally, 29 racers took time trials with Max
Blair setting fastest time of 15.133 seconds. Dave Hess Jr
was second fast with Rob Blair, (Eriez points leader), third
quick, and John Lobb, fourth fastest.
The first feature of the evening was the Nelson Lynwood
Nursery Street Stocks with Jimmy Kennerknecht and
points leader Chris McGuire on the front row. Kennerknecht
led the first two laps with McGuire taking over at the front
on lap three. Mark Ramsey spun out in turn three at four
laps complete, slowing the event the first time. After green
defending champion Don McGuire came to second with
three time winner Brandon Groters third when Ken Lamp
Jr spun in turn three at five laps compete. Brent Crandall
was sent to the rear for his part in the caution. Groters was
second at the end of six when caution again flew, this time
for Tanner Ramsey, who had slapped the wall in turn three.
Don McGuire was back to second after the race resumed,
chasing his nephew until lap ten when Mike Moon spun in
turn two, got the car righted, then spun again while trying to get moving. After the next green, Groters got back
to second at eleven laps complete but Chris McGuire was
pulling away, then Kennerknecht spun from fifth place
with two laps left. McGuire sped away the final two laps
to his second win of the season over Groters, Don McGuire,
Wesley McCray, and Bill Applebee.
Kyle Fellows started from the pole in the Waterford
Hotel Economod feature but it was outside front row sitter
Ty Rhoades leading laps one and two before Geoff Conn
spun out on turn four. Rhoades again led after restarting
with Mike Boyd drawing even in turn four at lap four but
Rhoades stayed in front until lap six when Boyd drew
even at the flag then got by on lap seven. Boyd then began
opening his lead for another lap until pole sitter Fellows
spun in turn four, again slowing the race. Boyd drove on
to his first win of the season with Bob Vogt Jr coming to
second over Rhoades, Eric Reinwald, and Keith Felicity.
Boyd noted that although he had won in the past this was
his first Economod feature win.
The evening’s main event was the Plyler Overhead Door
29-lap, $2900 to win Dick Litz Memorial for the Zimmer
Service Center ULMS Super Late Models. Four cars who
had signed into the pits were not able to make the starting
field. John Volpe and John Lobb led the 26-car starting
field to green with Volpe jumping out to the lead in turn
one but third starting Max Blair was leading at the end of
lap one. By lap five Blair was nearly a quarter lap ahead of
Lobb, now second, Volpe, last week’s winner Dave Hess Jr,
and Bump Hedman. Hedman got by Hess at seven laps for
fourth. Eric Andress “swapped ends” on the front straight
with eight laps completed, eliminating Blair’s lead. One
lap after green Hess was up to third and was using the
extreme outside to get alongside Lobb at eleven complete
and edge ahead at lap twelve. Hedman also got by Lobb at
lap thirteen. Yellow flew at lap fourteen as Chris Hackett
spun in turn three. At halfway it was Blair, Hess, Hedman,
Rob Blair, and Lobb in the top five. Volpe got by Lobb for
fifth at nineteen complete. Rob Blair got by Hedman for
third a lap later and began challenging Hess for second
with five laps left as yellow flew again for Dutch Davies,
stopped in turn four. Hess tried getting by Max Blair on
the final restart using the topside but Blair pulled away
at lap twenty six, going on to the $2900, plus contingency
awards, win. Hess wound up second with Rob Blair third,
Volpe fourth, and Chub Frank up to fifth at the checkers.
The Ran-Den Excavating E-Mod feature was next with
reigning champion Joel Watson and David Pangrazio sharing the front row. Watson, looking for his first feature win
this season at Eriez took off to the immediate lead with
Pangrazio second, Mike McGee third, Ken Zimmer fourth,
and four time winner David Scott fifth at the time of the
first caution, for Steve Samuelson. By the end of six Scott
was fourth with Watson starting to open an advantage
over Pangrazio. Running against the wall, Scott was next
to McGee at nine laps in but fell back behind him at eleven.
Scott then moved to the bottom but quickly went back up the
track when that didn’t work. Up front Watson was slowly
opening his lead when he got into the tail running car of
Steve Samuelson, running slow in turn three, eliminating
the leader from the event. Scott headed to the pit at the
same time. The top five for the restart were Pangrazio,
McGee, John Boyd third, Butch Southwell fourth, and Alan
Atkinson fifth. Boyd immediately came to second after green
as Pangrazio was opening his lead. Ken Zimmer came into
the top five just as yellow flew for a two car incident in turn
four between Steve Simon and Steve Sornberger Jr. With
four laps left Sornberger spun again on turn two after the
restart. With the white flag flying Robert Page spun in turn
three slowing the race for the final time. Pangrazio led to
the checkers for his first Eriez Speedway feature win over
Steve Simon, McGee, Southwell, and Atkinson. It was the
high school senior’s first-ever win.
Mike Lozowski and Max Blair brought the Bonnell’s
Collision RUSH Crate Late Models to green with Blair assuming his usual place at the lead while Ryan Scott came
to second at the end of one lap and Darrell Bossard to third.
Blair stretched his lead to a quarter lap by halfway with
Scott still second, Bossard third, Andy Boozel fourth, and
last week’s winner Jason Genco fifth when caution flew for
a spin by Scott Gurdak. With eight laps remaining Boozel
came to third then suddenly slowed from third place and
headed pitside at four laps left. Blair, the points leader,
proceeded to go on to his second win of the season with Scott
second, Bossard third, last week’s winner Genco fourth, and
Wyatt Scott fifth.
Pat Hanlon and Skip Jackson brought the Kandy’s
Gentleman’s Club Super Challenger feature to green with
Hanlon leading Jackson for the first three laps with fifth
starting and two time winner Andy Proper coming to third.
At halfway it was Hanlon, Jackson, Proper, Joe Syzmanski,
and Travis Darling leading the way. Proper got to second on
the final lap but Hanlon won his first of the season. Jackson
wound up third with Darling fourth and Matt Marcy fifth.
See BLAIR on page 17
Sports
Gazette Newspapers • WEEK OF wednesday, june 22, 2016 • 3
Aveni
Titans edge out Falcons Brittany
finishes first at State
BY BYRON C. WESSELL
Gazette Newspapers
ASHTABULA – The
Ashtabula Titans hosted
the Jefferson Falcons in a
recent summer league baseball game. The Titans won
a close game 4-2 behind the
arm of Matt Lunghofer.
Jefferson took a 1-0 lead
in the top of the first inning.
Christian Marte singled and
went to third on a single by
Sam Chaney. Marte would
later score after a delayed
Chris Moorehouse plays
third base for the Ashtabula
Titans during a game
against Jefferson.
steal for the first run of the
game.
Lunghofer struck out the
side in the inning to keep the
game at 1-0.
Lunghofer then picked up
two straight one-two-three
innings in both the second
and third inning. He stuck
out two batters in the second
inning before striking out
the side in the third inning.
Lunghofer had eight strikeouts through three innings
of play.
The Dragons tied the
game at 1-1 in the second
inning. Grant Kingston singled, Lance Velez reached on
an error and Chris Moorehouse walked with one out.
Jacobs looked to get out of
the inning with a strikeout
for the second out of the
inning. However, Kingston
was able to score on a passed
ball, tying the game at 1-1.
Lakeside took the lead
in the third inning. David
Westover drew a walk and
stole second base. Lunghofer
then helped himself with an
RBI single.
Jefferson answered to tie
the game at 2-2 in the top of
the fourth inning. Nathan
Jacobs walked to lead off the
inning and stole second base.
Sam Chaney tied the game
at 2-2 with an RBI single.
Ashtabula responded
with a run in the bottom
of the fourth inning. RaeShawn Johnson singled and
later scored on a triple by
Shawn Matlock.
Ashtabula added a run in
the fifth inning as Lunghofer
doubled and made his way
over to third base. Lunghofer
then stole home on the throw
back to the pitcher and after
being caught in a pickle
scored on an overthrow,
making the score 4-2.
ReaShawn Johnson took
over to pitch in the sixth
inning with a 4-2 lead. The
Falcons were unable to put
a number on the board despite a single from Nathan
Jacobs.
Jefferson looked to get to
Johnson in the sixth inning
as Mason Swiney hit a leadoff double. Sam Chaney then
drew a walk putting runners
on first and second with
no outs. Ashtabula made a
pitching change as Grant
Kingston entered to pitch
for the Titans. Chase Wilber
singled to load the bases.
Evan Kingston recorded a
strikeout to the next batter, but had a 3-0 count on
Evan Capela. Kingston fired
a strike and the Titans recorded the second out of the
inning when Swiney was out
trying to steal home. Kingston then ended the game
Tournament for Geneva
By Angelo Velotta
Gazette Newspapers
GENEVA - When you get to the track and field state
playoffs that finish line is decided by matters of milliseconds. Sometimes you finish on the winning end of that mere
fractions of moments, and other times you are that close
from all of the glory.
This year Geneva senior Brittany Aveni was on the winning end, and captured first place in the 800 race at the
2016 state playoffs.
“It was very rewarding,” Aveni said of crossing the finish line first.
“Hard work does pay off. We’ve gotten so close as a team,
so to finally come back to get a state championship was
huge,” Aveni added.
“My coaches were very happy. And Allie (Thompson)
PHOTOS BY BYRON C.
and
Deidra (Marrison) did very awesome,” she mentioned
WESSELL
Matt Lunghofer pitches for of her teammates who also competed at the state playoffs
the Ashtabula Titans during for the Lady Eagles.
For Aveni she has had an interesting journey to crossing
a baseball game against
the
finish line in first place during her senior year.
the Jefferson Falcons.
“I ran on and off with my mom growing up, sometimes
doing 5ks,” she said.
“I was big into playing soccer. First my Dad was my
coach and then I played travel. A friend told me that I was
fast and to try track,” Aveni added.
“I started as a sophomore. I kept doing soccer in the fall
until I was senior when I did cross country in the fall when
I had already signed,” she said.
That big signing is the fact that Brittany Aveni will now
go onto Duke University to continue running track and field.
“Definitely really exciting, how life will continue with
running in college,” Aveni added.
But before dashing off at Duke, and even before winning
first at Geneva, Aveni started her running path officially
as a sophomore.
“It was definitely a little intimidating. Geneva is really
competitive. Through the practices I learned it was something I wanted to pursue. Track was something I wanted
to do,” she added.
“I run the 800, and it changed a little throughout the
seasons as I ran the 400, 4 X 800, and the mile,” she said.
“I ran the New Balance Nationals,” Aveni said also.
“I made it to state all three years running,” she said.
“First year at state was nerve wracking, so many fans,
Raeshawn Johnson pitches for the Titans during a summer really. I got 10th place and it motivated me to work harder.
league baseball game.
The second year I sent a personal record at 2:07.6. Then
the Titans held on for the this year I got first place,” Aveni added.
“A lot of hard work. Make sure you are eating right and
with his second strikeout as 4-2 win.
hydrated. Working hard as a team. Practicing super hard.
When Emily Dearing left that was big as she was really
good,” she said.
“This year I got 2:07.3. I’ve battled back and forth with
Rachel Banks at Chardon. I was happy to be representing
my team and my school,” Aveni added.
“We wanted to still qualify at state for 4 X 800, and we
placed 5th which is still great,” Aveni added.
With a first place championship and a bright future
ahead at Duke University Aveni said looking back on her
team at Geneva “I’ll miss my teammates and coaches, we
had a close relationship.”
Christian Marte plays
shortstop for the Jefferson
Falcons during a baseball
g a m e a g a i n s t t h e Jacob Johnson plays third base for the Jefferson Falcons during a recent baseball
Ashtabula Titans.
game.
Rangers edge Nationals
Christian Hall pitches for the
Jefferson Rangers during a
recent major league game.
Amir Henry bats for the
Rangers during a major Dylan Cotton bats for the
league game against the Nationals during a game
against the Rangers.
Nationals.
Austin Berkowitz plays
first base for the Jefferson
Nationals during a recent
major league game.
PHOTOS BY BYRON C.
WESSELL
Brayden Throop pitches
for the Nationals during a
major league game against
the Rangers.
Pastime Tournaments Score
Elite Baseball Events for Erie
Two Weekend Tournaments Scheduled for Summer 2016
The Erie Sports Commission (ESC) is pleased to announce Pastime Tournaments will host two baseball tournaments in Erie this summer, as The Erie T.O.C. is held
from June 23-26, and the Great Lakes Super Select is held
July 28-31. Both tournaments will be played at Mercyhurst
University.
The June tournament is a 15U/16U tournament, with
all teams receiving four guaranteed games, weather permitting. Eight teams will participate in the tournament.
Registration is currently waitlisted. The July tournament
will feature 17U and 18U teams, also with a four game
guarantee. The tournament will feature 12 teams, and
registration is currently open.
Pastime Tournaments is recognized as one of the nation’s largest self-sanctioned tournament series, and hosts
elite baseball events across the country for players between
the ages of 14 and 18. In 2015, the Erie tournament series
featured teams from Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Canada.
“Erie was a great location for our tournament last year
and we couldn’t think of a better area to host elite baseball
talent again in 2016,” said Pastime Tournaments President
Thomas Davidson. “With the help of the Erie Sports Commission and Mercyhurst University, we hope to set a stage
for success in Erie that will last for many years.”
“Pastime Tournaments’ proven track record of executing
elite-level baseball events is a great complement to Erie’s
summer sports schedule,” said ESC Executive Director Ron
Sertz. “The ESC is excited to work with the organizers of
Pastime Tournaments once again to make this an annual
event for the Erie region.”
Complete Erie event information and team registration
is available by visiting www.pastimetournaments.com.
Sports
4 • Gazette Newspapers • WEEK OF wednesday, june 22, 2016
Jack Hinkle Memorial
Bruisers mercy Eagles
Scholarship Golf Scramble
BY BYRON C. WESSELL
Gazette Newspapers
JEFFERSON - The fifth annual Jack Hinkle Memorial
Scholarship Golf Scramble will be held on Saturday, August
6 2016 at Hickry Grove Golf Course in Jefferson. There
will be a shotgun start at 9am. The entry fee is $65 per
golfer or $260 for a four-person team. The price includes: a
continental breakfast, 18 holes of golf, beverage cart, lunch
and dinner. Prize money will be awarded for first, second
and third plae. There will also be a $10,000 Hole-In-One
Contest. Special prizes and other raffles will be awarded.
Skins game is extra. No pros or semi pros. For more information contact Marsha Hinkle at (440) 813-8855 or Greg
Del Prince at Hickory Grove (440) 576-3776.
BLAIR
From page 2
Plyler Overhead Door ULMS Super Late Models:
Heat 1: Max Blair, Bump Hedman, Dutch Davies, Jared
Miley, Jake Finnerty, Matt Urban, Breyton Santee, Mickey
Wright
Heat 2: Dave Hess Jr, Chub Frank, Dave Scott, Greg
Oakes, Kyle Scott, Charles Powell Jr, Bob Dorman
Heat 3: Rob Blair, Darrell Bossard, Steve Kania, Steve
Kania, Boom Briggs, Ward Schell, Damon Lewis, Chris
Peterson
Heat 4: John Lobb, John Volpe, Chris Hackett, Rich
Gardner, Eric Andress, Chuck Parker, Mike Oakes
Feature: Max Blair, Dave Hess Jr, Rob Blair, John Volpe,
Chub Frank, David Scott, Bump Hedman, Jared Miley,
John Lobb, Darrell Bossard, Greg Oakes, Chris Hackett,
Ward Schell. Steve Kania, Charles Powell Jr, Boom Briggs,
Bob Dorman, Kyle Scott, Breyton Santee, Matt Urban,
Eric Andress, Devin Lewis, Dutch Davies, Rich Gardner,
Chuck Parker, Michael Oakes, Jake Finnerty (DNS), Chris
Peterson (DNS), Chad Wright (DNS)
JEFFERSON – The 15U
Bruisers baseball team defeated the visiting NEO
Eagles 13-1 in a recent 15U
match-up.
Frank Sloan started on
the mound for Bruisers as he
gave them four solid innings.
The Eagles scored their only
run of the game after loading
the bases in the first inning.
Drew Mulhern stated things
with a one-out single and
Ty Van De Motter followed
with a double. Ian Barnes
then loaded the bases with a
walk. Sloan looked to get out
of the inning with a pop-up
for the second out. However,
Matt Burnhard hit an RBI
single to give the Eagles a
1-0 lead.
Joey Smith walked to
lead off the bottom of the
first inning for the Bruisers
and tied the game after scoring on three passed balls.
Brandon Smith and Logan
Newell also drew walks in
the inning. Nick Reichek
gave the Bruisers their first
lead with a two-run double,
making it 3-1.
Sloan worked around an
error in the second inning to
keep the game at 3-1.
The Bruisers added a run
in the third inning as Brandon Smith singled. Reichek
then hit his second double
of the game to score Smith.
Sloan pitched a quick
one-two-three third inning
as the Bruisers led 4-1.
The Bruisers then scored
six runs in the fourth inning to take a commanding 10-1 lead. Frank Sloan
walked with one-out, Austin Smith singled and Brandon Smith reached on an
error. The inning would
have come to an end after
another error occurred on
a flyball that allowed all
three runners to score.
The Bruisers then piled it
on with back-to-back RBI
doubles by Reichek and
Owen Myers, making it 9-1.
Mikey Ferl then capped the
inning with an RBI single.
The Bruisers then ended
the game in the fifth inning Logan Newell, of Grand Valley, plays first base during a
as they went up 12 runs 13- 15U baseball game against the NEO Eagles.
1. Brandon Smith made it
11-1 with an RBI single. The
Bruisers then added another
run on an error before Vincent Varckette hit an RBI
single, making ti 13-1.
Bonnell’s Auto Group RUSH Crate Late Models:
Heat 1: Jason Genco, Mike Lozowski, Ryan Scott, Wyatt
Scott, Khole Wanzer, Devin Lewis
Heat 2: Darrell Bossard. Max Blair, Andy Boozel. Scott
Gurdak, Brandon Porter
Feature: Max Blair, Ryan Scott, Darrell Bossard, Jason
Genco, Wyatt Scott, Scott Gurdak, Khole Wanzer, Devin
Lewis, Mike Lozowski, Brandon Porter, Andy Boozel
Ran-Den Excavating E-Mods:
Heat 1: Mike McGee, John Boyd, Dave Scott, David
Pangrazio, Alan Atkinson, Percy McDonald, Billy Henry
Heat 2: Steve Sornberger, Burch Southwell, Mike Kinney, Ken Zimmer, Kurt Thorpe, Troy Carr, Steve Samuelson
Heat 3: Joel Watson, Steve Simon, Troy Johnson, Casey
Bowers, Ryan Scott,, Bruce app well, Robert Page
Feature: David Pangrazio, John Boyd, Mike McGee,
Butch Southwell, Alan Atkinson, Ken Zimmer, Troy Johnson, Bruce Powell, Percy McDonald, Ryan Scott, Kurt
Thorpe, Steve Simon, Troy Carr, Steve Sornberger, Robert
Page, David Scott, Bob Vogt, Steve Samuelson, Casey Bowers, Mike Kinney, Billy Henry (DNS)
Waterford Hotel Economods:
Heat 1: Eric Reinwald, Ty Rhoades, Mike Boyd, Keith
Fellicitty, Jason Brightman, Jim Muma,Mitchell Wright
Heat 2: Bobby Vogt, Kyle Fellows, Geoff Conn, Gary
Olson, Dennis Dellinger (DNS)
Feature: Mike Boyd, Bob Vogt Jr, Ty Rhoades, Eric Reinwald, Keith Fellicitty, Geoff Conn, Mitch Wright, Jason
Brightman, Kyle Fellows, Jim Muma, Ashley Rogers, Gary
Olson, Dennis Dellinger
PHOTOS BY BYRON C.
WESSELL
Joey Smith, of Madison,
bats for the 15U Bruisers
during a game against the
Frank Sloan, of Edgewood, pitches for the Bruisers during NEO Eagles.
a recent baseball game.
Nelson Lynwood Nursery Street Stocks:
Heat 1: Don McGuire, Pat McGuire. Dan Maxim, Bill
Applebee, Brent Crandall, Dana Maybe, Tanner Ramsey
Heat 2: Brandon Groters, Jimmy Kennerknecht, Mike
Moon, Mark Ramsey, Casey Burch, Kenny Lamp, Wesley
McCray
Feature: Chris McGuire, Brandon Groters, Don McGuire,
Wesley McCray, Bill Applebee, Mark Ramsey, Ken Lamp,
Brent Crandall, Bill Best, Jimmy Kennerknecht, Mike
Moon, Casey Burch, Dana Maybe, Tanner Ramsey, Dan
Maxim (DNS)
Kandy’s Gentlemen’s Club Super Challengers:
Heat 1: Andy Proper, Skip Jackson, Joe Sysmanski,
Brandon Huffman, Spencer Marcy, Josh McNaughton,
Jessica Harvey
Heat 2: Pat Hanlon, Todd Hanlon,Travis Darling, Wes
Stull, Thomas Cupp, Andrew Goild, Matt Marcy
Feature: Pat Hanlon, Andy Proper, Skip Jackson, Travis
Darling, Matt Marcy, Brandon Huffman, Spencer Marcy, Wes
Stull, Thomas Cupp, Jessica Harvey, Jos Sysmanski, Andrew
Gould, Todd Hanlon (DNS), Josh McNaughten (DNS)
Sports stringers neeeded
Like to attend high-school and youth sports
games? The Gazette is looking for talented writers and/or photographers to cover sports games
in both Lake and Ashtabula counties. If interested,
please send samples of your work and a letter of
interest to Sports Editor Byron Wessell at sports@
gazettenews.com.
Nick Reichek, of Grand
V i n c e n t V a r c k e t t e , o f Valley, plays third base
Owen Myers, of Madison, leads off second base during Geneva, plays shortstop during a recent baseball
game.
for the 15U Bruisers.
a recent game against the NEO Eagles.
CAVS
took off pieces from the cardboard cut-out. Instead, the
Cavs had a replica of the Larry O’Brien Trophy made into
puzzle pieces and after every win in the post season, they
put that puzzle together, with the last replica piece being
in the shape of Ohio.
“Together, that’s how you win a championship,” player
James Jones said on the replica trophy. “Individually we are
all just a piece. Everyone had to have their role, everyone
has to have their piece.”
I’m not sure what I will remember more. The Kyrie
three-pointer over an out-stretched Stephen Curry, the
fact that we held Golden State scoreless for about four and
a half minutes and holding Golden State to only 13 fourthquarter points, LeBron James blocking Andre Iguodala,
From page 1
Kevin Love, of all people, sticking to Curry like glue in
their final possession, LeBron sobbing on the floor, JR’s
heart-moving post game interview, thanking his parents
on Father’s Day, or the simple fact that we finally did it,
everyone hugging complete strangers and the streets of
Cleveland being shut-down.
We can call ourselves champions once more, along with
the Lake Erie Monsters winning the Calder Cup Championship and Stipe Miocic being the UFC Heavyweight
Champion. I want to thank you for getting the ball rolling.
The ball is in our court now and with the curse broken
anything can happen.
Believeland. Where were you?
Sports
Gazette Newspapers • WEEK OF wednesday, june 22, 2016 • 5
Kingsville wins junior league game
BY ALLAN MONONEN
Ezzone singled. With all that
scoring the Warriors went
up 8-0.
Conneaut tried to battle
back in their first, Jaden
Drew was hit by a pitch,
Lydia Mozzocco doubled and
Ally Tattrie singled. Conneaut was able to cut the
lead to 8-2.
That was as close as Conneaut would get as the visitors added two in the third
and batted around plus in
the fifth for the 25-4 final.
“We were down 8-0 in the
first came back with two in
the first but dug too deep a
hole,” Conneaut coach Ryan
Tattrie said.
Elizabeth Ezzone paced
the Kingsville hit parade
with four, Kaylee Hummer
added three hits, Heather
Farr and Sidney Melaragno
had two hits each.
Ally Tattrie scores for Conneaut during a softball game
against Kingsville. Pitching for Kingsville is Kaylee
Hummer, while at short is Juliana Sloan.
Hummer was the win- hits, Annalee Hagstrom
ning pitcher. Ally Tattrie had a double and Atira Lors
singled.
was the losing pitcher
As the season winds down
Lydia Mozzocco had two
hits and two RBI for Con- tournament play begins in a
neaut. Tattrie had two couple weeks, already.
Katie Elliott, of Kingsville rounds third en route to scoring
a run.
Conneaut’s Annalee Hagstrom fires home, at third is
Carissa Shellhammer and at first is Brianna Strader.
Gazette Newspapers
CONNEAUT-The neighborhood rivalry between
Conneaut and Kingsville
is always competitive. In
the summer it continues in
the youth leagues. Monday,
June 13 Conneaut junior
league softballers hosted the
Kingsville squad.
In an offensive onslaught,
the visitors hit the ball well,
pitched well and took advantage of local miscues to take
a 25-4 victory.
Kingsville put up eight
runs in the first. Kaylee Hummer doubled, Kristen Drake
was hit by a pitch, Juliana
Sloan doubled, Sara Drake
tripled, Elizabeth Ezzone singled, Triana Wolford singled,
Jenna Wolfe reached on
an error, Sara Howard and
BY BYRON C. WESSELL
Gazette Newspapers
PHOTOS BY ALLAN MONONEN
Erie Stops Bruisers Post 151 in Legion Baseball
BY ALLAN MONONEN
Gazette Newspapers
CONNEAUT - The
Conneaut Cowle Post 151
hosted the Erie Outlaws on
Wednesday, June 15.
“They’re a good team,”
Post 151 coach Joe Zappitelli
said.
Erie soon proved that to
be true. The visitors scored
four runs in their third and
continued on to an 8-0 victory.
Conneaut threatened in
the second. Nick Reichek
beat out an infield hit,
and Vince Varckette then
reached on an infield hit.
Mike Ferl was safe on a
fielder’s choice, but then the
next batter struck out.
The visitors struck first
in their third. Alex Baldi
walked, and scored all the
way on a Jaydin Vavreck single. Rockne Siedel blooped a
double over the infield. Colin
Kelly grounded to short but
a high throw went over the
first baseman’s head for two
runs. Jimmy Colvin singled
for the final tally.
Erie added a run in their
fourth. Nate Nelson was hit
Minotaurs
shut-out Falcons
by a pitch, and Paul Causgrove singled. A line drive to
the outfield by Nick Ranella
sent home the run. 5-0.
The hosts tried to come
back in the fifth. Jake Zappitelli walked, Joe Smith
reached on an error, Brandon Smith walked to load
the bases with two outs.
But a quick throw to first
by Erie catcher Luke Moon
picked off the runner to end
the inning.
That was the locals final
offensive threat.
Erie added three runs in
the seventh and set down the
Conneaut batters in order
for the 8-0 win.
“This was a good warmup
for our tournament, “ Erie
coach Jim Colvin said.
“The bats came alive
with extra base hits, and
the pitchers did well. If you
pitch well, hit well and play
good defense good things
happen,” Colvin added.
Erie hosted a tournament
last weekend.
“We had a lot of mental
mistakes, a lack of communication, we have things to
work on,” Bruisers coach Joe
Zappitelli said.
JEFFERSON – The Minotaurs stayed perfect during the summer league baseball season with a 7-0 win
over the Jefferson Falcons.
Jefferson loaded the bases in the top of the first
inning off of Minotaur starting pitcher James Walsh.
Christian Marte singled,
Spencer Jones walked and
Chase Wilber singled all
with one out. Walsh was able
to induce a double play ball
off the bat of Nathan Jacobs
to end the threat.
The Minotaurs took a 2-0
lead in the bottom of the first
inning off of Jefferson starter Chase Wilber. Brent Bell
walked to lead off the inning
and stole a base. Tyler Jones
made it first and third with a
single. Matt Licate followed
with a sac-fly RBI, making
it 1-0. Wilber would look to
get out of the inning with
little damage done, however
Jones was eventually able to
score on a passed ball. Wilber recorded the strike-out
a couple of pitches later, but
the Minotaurs led 2-0.
Walsh dominated the
second inning as he quickly
struck out the side.
The Minotaurs added
to their lead in the second
inning as Anthony Crum
and Vaughn Johnston each
set the table with singles.
Daniel Wilmsett reached on
an error allowing both Crum
and Johnston to score. Jacob
PHOTOS BY BYRON C.
WESSELL
James Walsh pitches for
the Minotaurs during a
baseball game against
Jefferson.
PHOTOS BY ALLAN MONONEN
Nick Reichek, of Post 151, hurries back to first on a pickoff attempt.
Reid relieved Wilber on the
mound and was able to get
out of the inning despite giving up a single to Brent Bell.
Jefferson had a pair of
baserunners in the third
inning as Evan Capela and
Colton Tackett drew walks.
Walsh was able to keep the
shut-out intact with a pair
of strike outs and a pop-up.
The Minotaurs went back
to work in the third inning
with three more runs. Zak
Wolfe plated the firset run
of the inning with an RBI
single to score Tyler Jones.
Tysen Hunt also singled
in the inning and Anthony
Crum was hit by a pitch.
Daniel Wilmsett had the big
hit in the inning with a twoout, two-run single, upping
the lead to 7-0.
Reid was able to settle
down the rest of the way as
he worked around a double
to James Walsh in the fourth
inning to retire the next
three hitters. Reid then
pitched a one-two-three fifth
inning.
The Falcons would be unable to get on the board as
they had lone baserunners in
the fourth and fifth inning.
Zach Kemp singled in the
fourth inning, Jacob Reid
walked in the fifth.
Jefferson threatened in
the sixth inning as Andrew
Vance was hit by a pitch and
Spencer Jones reached on a
single. However, new pitcher
Tyler Jones pitched out of
the jam with a strike out and
a pop-up to end the game.
Nathan Jacobs plays third
base for Jefferson during
a recent summer league
baseball game.
Post 151 pitcher Vince Varckette keeps an eye on an
Erie baserunner.
Dave Gray named OHSAA Interim Commissioner
Former OHSAA Board
of Directors President and
Franklin Monroe Superintendent will serve while
Dr. Dan Ross recovers from
health issues
Former OHSAA Board
of Directors President Dave
Gray has been named Interim Commissioner of the
Ohio High School Athletic
Association following action
by the OHSAA Board of Directors at a special meeting
last week. Gray, who spent
37 years in the Franklin
Monroe Local School District
in Pitsburg, Ohio, before
retiring in 2012, will fill in
for OHSAA Commissioner
Dr. Dan Ross, who is recovering from a series of health
setbacks.
Gray, who has served
as chair of the OHSAA’s
Student Eligibility Appeals
Panel for the past three
years, begins his duties
Monday (June 20). While
a member of the OHSAA’s
Southwest District Athletic
Board for 29 years, he served
two stints as an officer of the
OHSAA Board of Directors,
including vice president in
1992-93 and president in
2010-11.
“The Board of Directors
felt that our number one priority was for Dan to regain
his strength and strictly concentrate on getting healthy,”
said Steve Stirn, current
president of the OHSAA
Board of Directors. “At the
same time, we recognize that
the commissioner’s position
has so many duties and
the office staff has a lot on
their plates, so we believe
the appropriate move was
to appoint someone to help
ensure that we do not fall off
course and continue to provide all of the services that
our member schools expect.
Dave is well respected, has
long ties to the OHSAA and
See GRAY on page 8
Brent Bell plays shortstop for the Minotuars during a
summer league baseball game against the Jefferson
Falcons.
Sports
6 • Gazette Newspapers • WEEK OF wednesday, june 22, 2016
Allison Golic going
to Eastern Illinois
By Angelo Velotta
Gazette Newspapers
MENTOR - Mentor Lady
Cardinal pitching ace Allison Golic will be heading
from Mentor to pitch at
Eastern Illinois University
this upcoming fall.
“I’m just nervous for all
of our practices,” Golic said
of the upcoming challenge.
“She’s a nice humble girl,
always has a smile. She’s
very social. An awesome
pitcher and athlete and just
so humble,” Mentor head
coach Michelle Thompson
said of Golic.
“I wanted to coach her
more than one year. It was
awesome for me,” Thompson
added.
Golic’s senior year was
another great one, as she
finished 10-2 with a whopping 179 strikeouts.
“She’s a tremendous
pitcher. When she was on
the mound she kept games
close,” Thompson said.
“To have Allison Golic
on the mound is a coach’s
dream come true. She’ll put
100 percent into it,” Thompson added.
When looking back
on what she has learned
throughout her four years
at Mentor Golic said “I’ve
learned teamwork. That’s
how to build the team up.
My whole coaching staff
throughout has helped me
pitching and hitting.”
“She has all the talent
in the world but she treats
every teammate the same,
she’s always there for them,
to keep them up. Even if you
made an error, she kept em’
up,” Thompson said.
Golic would continue to
do that throughout another
exciting Lady Cardinal postseason.
“It was challenging.
When we played Madison
we didn’t score until the 6th
inning, and then being down
to Riverside 3-0,” Golic said.
“Then no team could hit
off me or Madi (McCrady),”
she added of the loss to the
eventual division 1 finals
winners in Walsh Jesuit,
who defeated Mentor 3-0 in
a pitcher’s duel.
“When a team scores on
her she plays even harder,”
Thompson said.
When looking back on
a few special moments
throughout her career Golic
mentioned “Being a freshman and going to a final 4
game, and beating Elyria
this year. It was their only
loss outside of one in Florida.
It was our first time beating
them in four years.”
“My second pitcher was a
freshman, Meri Bobrowski,
and they were buddies. If
you are going to look up to
someone let it be Allison,”
Thompson said.
“You don’t get many
pitchers like that,” Thompson added.
“I will miss everyone
I played with, but bonds
like that I will always have
those,” Golic said of all of
her teammates throughout
four years.
In looking forward to
Eastern Illinois, she said “I
used to play CSU winter ball
and she coached there.”
The coach then moved to
Eastern Illinois and now Allison has a great opportunity
to continuing playing softball there as a college player.
Another good start to her
career is that she already
knows the girl she will be
rooming with, who will also
be a freshman pitcher.
“It will help a lot, nice
knowing to remind me when
softball is, ask if things are
working with each other. I
played with her as a kid, so
it will be nice since I know
her well,” Golic added.
“She’s such a hard worker, she’ll step into the challenge. Her roommate is a
freshman pitcher also. Golic
has great work ethic and
will do awesome,” Thompson
added.
Mustangs rally in extra innings
BY BYRON C. WESSELL
Gazette Newspapers
ORWELL – The Grand
Valley Mustangs junior
league softball team hosted
the Kingsville Warriors in
an extra innings softball
game. The Warriors built an
8-1 lead, but the Mustangs
rallied to win the game in
the 9th inning 15-14.
Kaylee Hummer singled
and stole a base for Kingsville in the opening inning.
Christine Drake then drove
in the first run of the game
with an RBI single.
Alexis Cooper led off the
bottom of the first inning
with a single for Grand Valley. Cooper would later score
when Izzy Scarberry reached
on an error to tie the game
at 1-1.
Kingsville regained the
lead in the second inning
and went up 6-1. Sarah
Howard started the inning
with a walk, Triana Wolford
singled and Jordan Lyle
was hit by a pitch. Sydney
Melaragno drove in the first
run of the inning on a ground
out. Kingsville added a run
on an error to go up 3-1.
Heather Farr then had the
big hit in the inning with a
three-run triple, upping the
score to 6-1.
The Warriors added to
their lead in the third inning
as Lyle and an RBI double
and Hummer picked up an
RBI single.
Summer Poyer helped the
Mustangs cut the lead to 8-2
in the bottom of the third inning with an RBI double to
score Hallie Soltis.
Kingsville answered with
five more runs in the fifth
inning. Melaragno walked
and scored on an error. Lili
Branch made it 11-2 with
a two urn triple. Kingsville
added another run on an error, before Beth Ezzone made
it 13-2 with an RBI single.
Grand Valley was able to
continue the game in the fifth
inning by scoring six runs.
Izzy Scarberry started
the scoring with an RBI
groundout to plate Soltis
who was hit by a pitch. Obreonna McLean made it 13-4
with an RBI single. Megan
Hopes kept the inning going with an infield single.
Olivia Prah reached on an
error allowing another run
to score. Hopes later scored
on a passed ball cutting the
lead to 13-6. Prah also scored
in the inning on a throw to
first base, making it 13-7.
Ashley Marcum capped the
inning with an RBI single,
trimming the lead to 13-8.
Grand Valley went on to
tie the game at 13-13 to send
it into extra innings.
Summer Poyer pitched
a perfect 8th inning for the
Mustangs to give them a
chance to win in the bottom
half of the inning. Grand
Valley got a single from
Cooper, who made her way
to third base after a walk
to Soltis. Poyer then hit a
fly ball deep enough to right
field to score Cooper on a sacfly. However, it was deemed
she left too early as the game
went into the 9th inning.
Kingsville took a 14-13
lead in the ninth inning as
Farr singled and scored.
Grand Valley rallied once
again in the ninth to win 1514. Angel Hostetler singled
to start the inning. Obreonna McLean followed with
an RBI double to tie the
game at 14-14. Olivia Prah
kept the rally going with a
walk before Ashley Marcum
hit into a fielder’s choice allowing McClean to score the
winning run.
PHOTOS BY BYRON
C. WESSELL
Summer Poyer
p i t c h e s f o r t h e Kaylee Hummer pitches for the Kingsville Warriors during
G r a n d V a l l e y a softball game against Grand Valley.
Mustangs junior
league softball
team.
Heather Farr bats
for Kingsville
during a recent
junior league
softball game.
PHOTO BY ANGELO VELOTTA
Allison Golic plays for the Mentor Cardinals softball team.
GazetteNewspaper
Olivia Prah, of Grand Valley, bats during a junior league Obreonna McLean plays third base for Grand Valley
game against Kingsville.
during a softball game against Kingsville.
Sports
Gazette Newspapers • WEEK OF wednesday, june 22, 2016 • 7
Pinckney gets first-ever
Lake Erie Storm 12U goes
.500 in Geauga Knights Classic Raceway 7 feature win
The Lake Erie Storm 12U
boys had another good weekend going 2-2 in the Geauga
Knights Baseball Classic
from June 10-12. The boys
once again played some very
good fundamental baseball
with some excellent pitching
and good defense, though
just couldn’t find many holes
at the plate as they hit into a
lot of loud outs all weekend
and just were never able to
string together several hits
in an inning.
That said, they played in
three hotly contested ballgames in pool play against
some good pitching and very
sound defensive teams losing 4-3 to the Diamondboys,
winning 8-7 over the Kenston Bombers and losing 5-4
to the Lake Erie Warhawks
White before beating Grand
Valley 11-5 in a consolation
game. They lost two one run
games to the two teams who
ended up in the finals.
The highlight of the
weekend was a comeback
from a 6-0 deficit in the late
innings to Kenston and a
walk-off single to left field
in the bottom of the seventh
by Anthony Clark to bring
home Cole Marut! Great
win and exciting finish boys!
While they did not place in
the tournament they played
three very good pool games
that were all decided by one
run against three very good
teams.
Story submitted by Tony
Lastoria.
Nick DeCapua plays for the Lake Erie Storm during a
recent 12U baseball game.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JENNIFER HEJDUK
Aiden Staton throws the ball for the Lake Erie Storm 12U
Ashton Wheelock pitches for the Lake Erie Storm during
baseball team.
a recent game.
Captains edged in first-half
finale, fall short of playoff berth
The Lake County Captains battled to stay in playoff contention going into the
final day of the first half,
but came up just short in the
end. A three-run sixth inning by the South Bend Cubs
sunk the Captains in a 3-1
loss at Four Winds Field on
Sunday afternoon. With the
loss, Lake County finished
the first half in third place
and South Bend clinched
the final playoff spot in the
Eastern Division.
Lake County starting
pitcher Brock Hartson was
stellar on the mound. Hartson mowed down the Cubs,
retiring the first 12 men in
order with five strikeouts.
The right-hander took a perfect game into the fifth, but
lost it on a leadoff double by
Elooy Jimenez. Still, Hartson was able to work around
the two-base hit and tossed
the first five frames without
allowing a run.
The Captains’ offense
accomplished something
it had not done in the first
three games of the series,
as Lake County tallied the
first run. In the third inning,
Anthony Miller knocked a
one-out single up the middle
andOrdomar Valdez pulled
a double down the right
field line. With runners on
second and third, Nathan
Lukesswung at the first
pitch and hit a fly ball to
centerfield, allowing Miller
to score the game’s first run
on a sacrifice fly.
Behind Hartson’s dominance, the Captains held
the 1-0 lead into the sixth
inning, but that is when the
Cubs broke through. Josh
Silver led off the inning trying to bunt for a hit. Silver
popped the bunt in the air
and Hartson dove toward
the third base line to try
to make the catch, but the
ball bounced out of his outstretched glove for a single.
Bryant Flete then tried to
sacrifice bunt, but he skied
his bunt into Hartson’s mitt
for the first out. The next
batter drove home the Cubs’
first run.
Carlos Sepulveda, South
Bend’s leadoff hitter, slashed
a high fly ball to the gap in
left-centerfield. Lukes raced
over from center and dove,
but the ball evaded his glove
and skipped to the track for
a triple. Silver scored from
first with the game-tying
run.
After Hartson struck out
P.J. Higgins, the Cubs took
the lead. Ian Rice worked
a two-out walk and
Jimenez belted a
fly ball to the leftcenter gap. The
ball split the
Captains’
outfielders
for a double
that scored
both Sepulveda and Rice
to put South Bend
on top, 3-1.
Matt Esparza came
out of the bullpen for the
first time this year and
successfully held the Cubs’
offense over two innings, but
the Captains’ offense could
not come back. Cubs reliever
Pedro Araujo pitched a pair
of perfect frames in the
eighth and ninth. He struck
out the side in the eighth
and tallied another punchout in the ninth to earn his
second save.
South Bend starter Kyle
Miller pitched seven strong
frames to beat Lake County.
Miller (2-1) allowed just one
run on four hits to earn the
win in just his third start of
the year. He struck out five
and walked a pair.
Hartson (5-3) earned a
quality start, but took the
loss. In his third start of the
season, Hartson allowed
only three runs over six
frames, with all runs coming
in his final inning of work.
Hartson gave up a mere four
hits, walked one and struck
out six.
Lake County finished the
first half in third place with
a 40-30 record. The Captains
will send four players to the
Midwest League All-Star
Game on Tuesday in Cedar Rapids, IA. LHP Tom
Pannone, SS Willi Castro,
2B Tyler Krieger and C
Francisco Mejia will all represent the Eastern Division
in the Midsummer Classic.
Krieger and Mejia will start
the game. The Captains will
then begin the second half
on Thursday night at Classic Park with a 7:00 p.m.
first pitch against the Great
Lakes Loons.
Watson gets sixth of year, Haefke gets third win, Bates
wins second, and Easler wins fourth.
The annual autograph session at Raceway 7 was a successful event with nearly all cars on the front straight for a
session allowing fans to get up close with drivers and team
members. Bicycles were given away by three teams and
candy, photos, hero cards, and event tee shirts were given
away to kids of all ages. On the track Wendall Pinckney
finally got toRaceway 7’s Victory Lane after grabbing the
lead by powering around former champion Dennis Lunger
on an early race restart. Joel Watson continued his “dream
season”, winning his sixth feature in six appearances with
the Bonnell’s Collision Center EMods. Steve Haefke went to
Victory Lane in the Bonnell’s Auto Sales Economod finale
and Rob Bates collected his second Campbell’s Mini Storage
Street Stock win. In a wild McDonald’s Sand & Gravel Mini
Stock feature Jason Easler leading every lap after starting
on the outside front row for his fourth appearance in Victory
Lane this season.
The first feature of the evening was the Campbell’s Mini
Storage Street Stocks with Don McGuire and two-time winner Chris McGuire on the front row. Young Chris McGuire
shot out to the lead at green but Brian Mulichak and Garrett
Calvert tangled in turn one, negating the start. When green
was again shown the younger McGuire again led with Don
McGuire second until the end of lap two when points leader
Rob Bates came to second then took over at the front when
leader Chris McGuire slowed and spun in turn three, then
headed pitside under the caution. Fawcett charged up to
challenge the leader on the first lap back under green but
Bates, the opening night winner, pulled back to the front
by the end of the circuit. At lap six Chris Hochschild spun
in turn two, slowing the race under yellow. At the halfway
point it was Bates leading Fawcett, Don McGuire, Garrett
Calvert, and Ken Lamp. Hochschild got back to fifth at the
end of eight as Bates and Fawcett were locked in a torrid
battle for the lead. Hochschild got back to fourth a lap later
with Lamp fifth. On lap fourteen Fawcett got next to the
leader but was unable to complete the pass with Bates back
in front at the white flag. Bates went on to his second win of
the season. After Victory Lane Bates needed towed pitside
with apparent rear axel problems.
The Bonnell’s Auto Sales Economods were led to green
by Bobby Vogt and two-time winner Steve Haefke. Points
leader Rick Prosser started in six with last week’s winner
Eric Reinwald starting ninth. Vogt grabbed the lead at the
start but Haefke took over at the end of the back straight.
Caution flew after one lap when Jim Muma spun in turn
three. Prosser was second in turn one after the race restarted
but slipped wide in turn four and was back to third at the
end of two. Kyle Reinwald came to a halt at the pit entrance
at the end of lap three, again slowing the race. At the end of
four Prosser was second. Yellow flew again for Kyle Reinwald
when he spun in turn three. Haefke, Prosser, and Vogt led
the field back to green with Haefke opening a big lead by the
end of six laps. At halfway the order was Haefke, Prosser,
Vogt, Eric Reinwald and Chuck Steinle Sr. Mitch Wright
and Gary Miller got together in turn four with six laps left.
Haefke, looking for his third in of the season, brought the
race back to green with Vogt getting by Prosser for second but
caution again was in the air with Jim Myers, Jim Van Cise,
and Kevin Sergeff all wrecked in turn four. At green Prosser
went wide in turn one allowing Vogt and Eric Reinwald to
get by for second and third. Wright and Gary Olson spun in
turn four for the final caution. At the checkers it was Haefke
over Vogt, Eric Reinwald, Prosser, and Steinle Sr.
Casey Harmon was scheduled to start on the pole position
of the McDonald’s Sand and Gravel Mini Stock feature but
due to mechanical problems used a “back-up” car so had to
drop to the rear of the field, as did heat winner Hoyt Mihalak,
leaving Justin Boardman and points leader Jason Easler on
the front row. When the green flew pandemonium broke loose
with five cars piling up on the front straight and the race
under the red flag.. After the red flag was lifted and racing
resumed, Easler led with Bud Sergeff coming to second and
Justin Boardman to third. With three laps complete last
week’s winner Brad Cole was up to third. At halfway it was
Easler, Sergeff, Cole, Boardman, and Kyle Adkins fifth.
Sergeff came to a halt in turn two of lap eight as Boardman
erupted in smoke at turn three. Easler again led after green
with Cole now second and Adkins third. Hoyt Mihalak was
up to fourth after starting at the rear due to needing a “back
up” car. Mihalak was third with two to go but at the checkers
it was Easler for his fourth win of the season over defending
champion Cole, then Mihalak, Adkins, and Casey Harmon,
also coming from the rear at the start in a “back-up” car.
Dennis Lunger and Wendall Pinckney started from the
front row of the Evergreen Lake Park Campground CARS
Crate Late Model feature. At the end on one lap it was
Lunger leading with Pinckney just barely ahead of Bossard
for second. Pinckney owned the spot at the end of three with
Bossard third, Dave Airgood fourth, and Chris Withers fifth.
With six complete Hunter Hulley pulled to the infield then
drove back to the edge of the track and waited for yellow.
After green Pinckney powered his way by Lunger for the lead
with Mike Swansiger, Corey Ruffo, Hunter Hulley, and Ed
Bolyard spun in turn four. Pinckney continued to lead after
green with Bossard coming by Lunger for second. Airgood
and Lunger ran side by side at the end of seventeen with
Lunger again holding the spot at eighteen complete. At the
checkers it was Pinckney, Bossard, Lunger, Airgood, and
Withers. It was Pinckney’s first-ever Raceway 7 feature win.
Dennis Lunger started the Bonnell Collision Center E-
See WIN on page 8
Sports
8 • Gazette Newspapers • WEEK OF wednesday, june 22, 2016
Conneaut Youth basketball Camp
BY ALLAN MONONEN
Gazette Newspapers
CONNEAUT -The Conneaut Bench Club held its
annual basketball skills
camp for young players last
week. CHS varsity basketball coach Tim Tallbacka
and other coaches supervised the camp along with
the assistance of Spartan
players.
“Thanks to Steve Wahonick, he plays a big role
in camp. Thanks to coach
Marcus Paradise and CHS
alumni Tim Richards who
purchased the T-Shirts and
basketballs. Thanks to Monica Brown, our trainer and
Artemis Mermis and Emily
Wacker who helped with
registration. In the winter
the City Recreation Board
sponsors a basketball league
for fifth and sixth graders. I
coach a travel team of fifth
and sixth graders,” Conneaut Coach Tim Tallbacka
said.
Players in grades one
thru four worked at nine am
until noon. Players in grades
five thru eight practiced
from noon until two pm. The
camp began Monday,June
13 thru Thursday, June 16.
“We had 26 kids in the
morning session, twelve in
PHOTOS BY ALLAN
MONONEN
Basketball camper Patrick
Kantola shoots over CHS
student Nathan Lower.
the afternoon. That was
slightly down but allowed
them to have more individual attention. We work
on fundamentals, passing,
shooting, dribbling, layups,
foul shooting,” Tallbacka
said.
“This is a good camp,
a good way to kick off the
summer and get kids into
the gym. It is nice to see the
kids improve over the course
of the week and look forward
to doing it again next year,”
Tallbacka added.
Campers and CHS students receive T-shirts and basketballs for participating.
Aiden Davison tries a three from the top of the key.
Bunch holds GRAY
football camp
BY BYRON C. WESSELL
has a wealth of experience, so he is the perfect person to
help lead us during Dan’s absence. We’re excited that he
has accepted this role.”
No timetable has been set for the duration of Gray’s appointment, as Dr. Ross will have the option of returning to
his position as commissioner once he returns to good health.
“I am honored and humbled to serve the OHSAA in this
new capacity while Dr. Ross is recovering from his health
issues,” Gray said. “In my years on the Board of Directors,
the Southwest District Board and the OHSAA Appeals
Panel, I have enjoyed being a part of the OHSAA and all
the great things that interscholastic sports can provide for
young people. I look forward to working with the OHSAA
staff on a daily basis on behalf of all the constituents that we
serve. Together, we’ll help keep Ohio as a national leader.”
Gray was the superintendent at Franklin Monroe during
his last 20 years in the district (1992-2012). He served as a
coach, athletic administrator and principal before becoming
also participated in a game
of flag football at the end.
Gazette Newspapers
“For me to come back,
ASHTABULA
- there are no excuses for
Ashtabula graduate Jarrod the other young adults in
Bunch recently held a USA the community to say they
Football FUNdamentals never saw anyone have
clinic at Lakeside High that kind of success. I was
School.
raised here, I grew up here,
During the camp partic- I played on a field very
ipants worked on passing, much like this one, I went
catching and hand-offs. to the same school, the
They were also timed in same YMCA and I made
the 40-yard dash, mea- it to that level. There’s no
sured in the broad jump reason that the kids here
along with counting how cannot have just as much
many push-ups and sit-ups success as anyone anythey could do. The campers where else,” Bunch said.
Mod feature from the pole, his second pole start of the night,
with Josh Ferry to his right. Lunger led the charge through
the first lap with Ferry under siege from Percy McDonald,
who got by at the end of lap two. Ferry and McDonald got
together in turn two, with Ferry getting sideways and
McDonald spinning out. Since Ferry did not stop he was
restored to second for the green with Troy Johnson third
and Jesse Gould fourth. Twelfth starting Joel Watson was
third at the end of three laps, looking for his sixth win of
the season. Johnson slowed from second to a stop in turn
two at five complete, slowing the race under yellow. For
the restart it was Lunger, Gould, Watson, Ferry, and Paul
Schreckengost. At seven complete Watson was the leader and
pulling away. Nine laps in Watson, Lunger, and Gould were
leading the way when Ferry looped his mount in turn two.
Gould and Lunger were side by side at halfway with Gould
second one lap later. Watson went on to his sixth win in six
appearances this summer at Raceway 7 with Gould second,
a quarter-lap behind. Lunger was another half straight back
Participants wait in line for a passing drill during the Jarrod with Schreckengost fourth and Mike Kinney fifth.
wIN
Bunch football camp.
Participants of the Jarrod Bunch football camp play in a
game of flag football.
From page 5
the district’s leader. He began his career in education in
1973 in the Twin Valley Community Local School District
in West Alexandria. A graduate of Arcanum High School,
Dave was a member of the school’s 1969 state championship basketball team and he scored a small-school state
tournament record 45 points in the semifinals. He went on
to earn NAIA All-America honors in basketball at Earlham
College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree, and he earned
a master’s degree at the University of Dayton.
Gray and his wife, Susan, reside in Greenville and have
three children and have six grandchildren.
Dr. Ross is completing his 12th year as commissioner after
beginning his duties as the OHSAA’s ninth commissioner on
August 1, 2004. Health issues have limited him in his position
since November 2015. Associate Commissioner Bob Goldring
had been serving as the association’s acting commissioner
since mid-March and will return to his position, which includes
director of operations.
From page 7
Schreckengost, Mike Kinney, Percy McDonald, Ed Wilson,
Josh Ferry, Dan McDonald, Troy Johnson, Josh McDonald,
Bill Taylor (DNS)
Bonnell’s Auto Group Economods:
Heat 1: Eric Reinwald, Rick Prosser, Mike Harmon, Jim
Van Cise, Brian Lacey, Tyler Frankenberry
Heat 2: Steve Haefke, Gary Miller, Bobby Vogt, Mitch
Wright, Jim Muma, Ashley Rogers
Heat 3: Chuck Steinle, Kyle Reinwald, Kevin Sergeff,
Gary Murphy, Gary Olson, Jim Myers
Feature: Steve Haefke, Bob Vogt Jr, Eric Reinwald, Rick
Prosser, Chuck Steinle Sr, Mike Harmon, Gary Murphy,
Brian Lacey, Jim Van Cise, Jim Muma, Mitchell Wright,
Gary Olson, Ashley Rogers, James Myers, Kyle Reinwald,
Kevin Sergeff, Gary Miller, Tyler Frankenberry (DNS)
Campbell’s Mini Storage Street Stocks:
Heat 1: Don McGuire, Chris McGuire, Garrett Calvert,
Kenny Lamp Jr, Rob Bates
Heat 2: Shawn Fawcett, Chris Hochschild, Tony SpaEvergreen Lake Park Campground CARS Crate ghetti, Brian Mulichak, John Bailey
Feature: Rob Bates, Shawn Fawcett, Don McGuire, Chris
Late Models:
Heat 1: Dennis Lunger, Kyle Zimmerman, Wendall Pinck- Hochschild, Ken Lamp Jr, Tony Spaghetti, Brian Mulichak,
ney, Khole Wanzer, Ed Bolyard, Hunter Hulley, Breyton Santee Garrett Calvert, Chris McGuire, John Bailey
Heat 2: Darrell Bossard, Dave Airgood, Chris Withers,
McDonald’s Sand and Gravel Mini Stocks:
Mike Swansiger, Corey Ruffo, William Pinckney
Heat 1: Kyle Adkins, Brad Cole, Justin Boardman, Casey
Feature: Wendall Pinckney, Darrell Bossard, Dennis
Lunger, Dave Airgood, Chris Withers, Kyle Zimmerman, Harmon, Emily Stoyer, Cale Sousa,, Corey Wick, Tyler Burr,
Khole Wanzer, Breyton Santee, Mike Swansiger, Ed Bolyard, Jessica Harvey
Heat 2: Hoyt Mihalak, Jason Easler, Brian McGarvie,
Corey Ruffo, Hunter Hulley, Will Pinckney (DNS)
Bud Sergeff, Wes Stull, Pat Drennan, Alex Forbes, ZoeyGill,
Derrick Tuttle,
Bonnell Collision Service E-Mods:
Feature: Jason Easler, Brad Cole, Hoyt Mihalak, Kyle
Heat 1: Joel Watson, Troy Johnson, Josh Ferry, Percy
Adkins, Casey Harmon, Wes Stull, Pat Drennan, Cale
McDonald, Mike Kinney, Dan McDonald
Heat 2: Dennis Lunger Jr, Jesse Gould, Paul Schrecken- Souza, Zoey Gill, Tyler Barr, Alex Forbes, Corey Wick, Brian
McGarvie, Jessica Harvey, Bud Sergeff, Justin Boardman,
gost, Josh McDonald, Bill Taylor, Ed Wilson
Feature: Joel Watson, Jesse Gould, Dennis Lunger, Paul Derrick Tuttle, Emily Stoyer