It’s been a whirlwind past few days for Grove City senior pitcher Zak Sigman, who celebrated his commitment to Ohio State as a preferred walk-on with a four-hit shutout of Hilliard Darby in a regional semifinal. (PressPros Feature Photo by John Hulke...
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Sigman Tames Darby In Grove City’s Advance
June 1, 2023All Mac Final In Div. IV Regional…St. Henry And St. John Meet For Trip To State
In two excellently played games St. Henry, behind Lucas Clune (above) and surprising Delphos St. John, behind freshman Can Elwer, prevailed to meet in Friday's Division IV northwest regional final...with a trip to Akron waiting for the winner....
June 1, 2023Russia Averts Disaster With Eight-Inning Advance
Calls at the plate weren't Russia's friend until this one -- indisputable when Hayden Quinter knocked the ball from Berne Union's Nate Nemeth -- went the Raiders' way amid their game-winning four-run rally in the Division IV regional semifinals (Pres...
June 1, 2023Orange Survives 6-Run Rally In 7th, Upsets Liberty
The Division I regional semifinal between rivals Olentangy Liberty and Olentangy Orange went down to the final swing, and the high-five shared by Orange’s Charlie Scholvin (right) and Diego Astacio conveyed the emotion of the Patriots' narrow advance...
June 1, 2023Bradford Offense Goes Silent In Regional Exit
Bradford took a gamble at the outset, saving ace Tucker Miller in hopes of using him Friday in the regional finals. The Railroaders, however, couldn't get there, falling to Southeastern in a 6-0 loss. (PressPros Feature Photo by Sheri Hooley)....
June 1, 2023The Reader Speaks…June 1, 2023
Reader comments on umpiring...college and high school...why is baseball necessary...and "you could do more if you tried". Enjoy the latest!...
May 31, 2023Things Noticed During The Year, And Things Anticipated At Its End….
Regional weekend in baseball, and state tournament in softball highlight the sports week...and the school year draws to a close with time for reflection on what we've seen, heard, and what we might yet see over the next ten days. The last, and best,...
May 30, 2023Reilly: Bobbers And Bait Still The Best Way To Catch Bluegills
An Ohio native who has traveled the country looking for the next great adventure graces the pages of Press Pros for the first time, and as an upcoming regular feature. We hope you enjoy a good story, now and in the future, from Ray Reilly. I begin th...
May 30, 2023Memorial Day, And Facts About Liberty…And Music
It’s a well-recognized tune, one of the most famous in America, but for the sake of fact…some words about a “national” tune not written by John Phillip Sousa, but one he admitted that he liked as much as his own. A holiday tribute in today's Press P...
May 28, 2023What We’ve Lost…On Memorial Day
To fully understand the significance, and the lives honored on Memorial Day, you really need to leave home for a site of ultimate sacrifice at least once in your life. In my case…I make it a yearly pilgrimage. It’s another Memorial Day w...
May 28, 2023Miller’s Marathon At-Bat Puts Parkway Over Finish Line
Getting just enough contact to extend her decisive plate appearance, Parkway's Adria Miller finally found her pitch and came through for the Panthers with a two-run triple that lifted them to a regional championship and berth in the state semifinals....
May 27, 2023Oh, What A Relief…St. Henry Outlasts Marion To Reach Regional Round, At Last
Despite a strong start (Logan Link scoring the game's first run in the third inning, above), St. Henry had to endure a shaking finish to beat Marion Local in the Division IV district finals, advancing to the regional round of the tournament for the f...
May 27, 2023Photo Finish Gives Pick Central Regional Title
Pickerington Central senior Troy Lane won the 100, and his team edged in front in the last event to win the team title, but the night also featured plenty of frustration for Lane and the Tigers in a drama-filled regional championship. (PressPros Feat...
May 26, 2023Troy’s Run Ends, Throttled By #2-Ranked Mason In District Final
A different level of baseball proved to be the undoing of Division I Troy, as the Trojans fell in the district finals to the state's #2-ranked team, the Mason Comets. The Trojans' Caleb Akins shows his disgust following the final out (above). Read m...
May 26, 2023Gritty Grove City Edges Watterson, Wins District
Grove City third baseman Zak Sigman points at ace Keegan Holmstrom, who went all the way in a 4-3, extra-inning win over Bishop Watterson...the Greyhounds' second straight district title and 26th win in 28 career decisions by their Ohio State-bound l...
May 25, 2023St. Henry, Marion, Advance To District Final In Division IV Baseball
St. Henry and pitcher Devin Delzeith (above) knocked out New Bremen in the first game of a district doubleheader...and Marion Local scored the improbable win over Convoy Crestview in the nightcap...to advance to the Division IV district finals in bas...
May 25, 2023Orange Overcomes Obstacles, Claims District Title
Jacob Tabor rose to the task in the biggest start of his career, striking out 11 in a complete-game, one-hitter to help Olentangy Orange to a 7-1 victory over Pickerington North that gives the Pioneers a district title and a berth in the Division I r...
May 24, 2023Troy Not Sharp…Wins Anyway, Behind Frey, To Advance to District Final
They had some bad moments defensively...and they had one spectacular moment defensively (Ryder Kirtley, above). But the Troy Trojans overcame it all to score five runs on six hits to beat Beavercreek in Tuesday's district semi-final game at Market S...
May 23, 2023Sturwold’s Homecoming…Bradford Knocks Out #6 Fort Loramie In D-IV
In one of the OHSAA baseball tournament's most unlikely stories, first-year coach Bill Sturwold (above) and the Bradford Railroaders knocked out #1-seed Fort Loramie Monday in the Div. IV district semi-final....
May 22, 2023What Coaching, NIL, And Empty Talk Can’t Change About College Baseball….
The season ended with an air of great excitement, and a nine-game win streak - anticipation for the future. It'll all be gone by Memorial Day, and then we can anticipate another year of baseball indifference, while shivering in the cold north winds ...
May 21, 2023Buckeyes Sweep Michigan, End 2023 On Nine-Game High
The season ended on the high note anticipated throughout. The ups and downs of 2023 were for the time put aside, as the Buckeyes finished 31-25 with a sweep of the team up north. Read more.........
May 20, 2023Sayre Tosses Masterpiece As Bradley Blanks Berlin 4-0
Chloe Sayre allowed hard-hitting Olentangy Berlin to just two hits, helping Hilliard Bradley capture its first Division I district softball title since 2017. Andrea Day's second-inning homer gave the Jaguars a 4-0 lead they wouldn't relinquish....
May 19, 2023What’s Better? The Home Runs, The Win, Or The Quotes?…Bucks Take Series From Michigan
They hammered four home runs (Marcus Ernst, above) and got the kind of start from Isaiah Coupet that you'd expect. Buckeyes extend win streak to 8 with 9-5 win over TTUN....
May 19, 2023Coldwater’s Leugers, New Bremen’s Eyink Garner Press Pros Scholar Athlete Awards
Coldwater's Jenna Leugers and New Bremen's Evan Eyink (above) have been chosen as the 2023 MAC Conference Scholar-Athlete award winners, with stunning credentials. Read more in today's Press Pros....
May 19, 2023Pretty Much Perfect…Bucks Top Michigan For Seventh Straight Win
Good starting pitching, timely hitting, and flawless work by the bullpen resulted in a 7-3 win over Michigan Thursday...and the Buckeyes seventh straight victory. Read about the game.......
May 18, 2023Pleiman, Turner Named 2023 Shelby County League Press Pros Scholar-Athlete Award Winners
Botkins' Carter Pleiman and Fort Loramie's Ava Turner have been selected for the 2023 Press Pros Shelby County Scholar-Athlete Sponsors' Scholarship, and again head a list of impressive applicants destined for success in whatever future competition t...
May 17, 2023Heart Stopper…Piqua Squanders Big Lead Late, Responds To Win In District Opener Over Northmont
The irony of the moment...Piqua's Brady Ouhl celebrates the winning run in Tuesday district tourney win for the Indians, while Northmont's Dylan Allamon suffers his wild pitch (in background) that allowed Ouhl to score. Piqua survives losing an eigh...
May 16, 2023Is This The Team You Wrote About In February….?
With a week left in the season, we find that what we wrote back in February is being compared to what played out. And would we rewrite...if we could?...
May 14, 2023Buckeyes Sweep, Streak Reaches 6…Michigan Awaits In Season Finale
They played winning baseball again, good pitching, timely hitting, and with an air of confidence at the perfect time. Michigan is next for the season finale. Read more........
May 14, 2023More Predictable Baseball…Buckeyes Sweep Doubleheader To Go 27-25
The Buckeyes got the long ball from Henry Kaczmar (above), Mitchell Okuley (twice) and Hank Thomas to deliver what they've wanted all year - predictable, error-free baseball in a doubleheader sweep of UNC-Greensboro....
May 13, 2023Undisputed Champs…Loramie Sweeps Russia For Outright SCL Baseball Title
The rematch had overtones of their first meeting three weeks ago. Loramie took advantage of one disastrous inning (the fourth) to beat rival Russia 4-1, and capture the outright baseball title Thursday in the Shelby County League....
May 11, 2023Davidson Distance Ace Shooting For The Moon
On the heels of a state title in cross country last fall, Hilliard Davidson senior Connor Ackley hopes to pull off a rare 1,600/3,200 double state championship on the track. The Syracuse signee may have the juice to do it. Steve Blackledge writes fo...
May 11, 2023Buckeyes’ Kaiser Rolls With The Punches, And Punches Back….
After four years of patient commitment to team and his principles, Ohio State’s Caden Kaiser has seen his work pay dividends, and gained some personal appreciation for good things happen to those who wait. Columbus, OH – It finally happen...
May 11, 2023Ohio State Smacks Around Central Michigan
Two players with a hand in victory number 25 were freshman shortstop Henry Kaczmar, and catcher Cole Andrews. Both players have been positives all season. But Olentangy Liberty alum Mitchell Okuley had a hand in it, too, watching his sixth home run ...
May 11, 2023Ernst, Clegg Lead Buckeyes Over Central Florida
The team's biggest goal is trying to avoid a second straight losing season, and with that in mind...why coach Bill Mosiello is promising major changes with the roster for 2024....
May 10, 2023Troy Sweeps Season Series With Piqua…No Doubts In A 10-2 Win
The ball beat him to the plate...but somehow Troy's Eli Smith scored during the Trojans' four-run sixth inning in Tuesday's 10-2 over Piqua at Market Street Field. Troy swept the two game series with the Indians, moving to 20-4 for the season. Read...
May 9, 2023Buckeyes Salvage Getaway Day Win Over Iowa…
Desperate for a redeeming conclusion to the weekend, Ohio State scored three times in the seventh inning...Justin Eckhardt gave them three good innings out of the bullpen...and Landon Beidelschies provided the shutdown finish in the ninth for 5-2 win...
May 7, 2023The Interesting Local Choices For Tournament Softball, Baseball….
Troy's pitching (with Andrew Helman, above), makes the Trojans a favorite come tournament play in two weeks. But for those who wonder who some of the other teams are that have impressed (softball and baseball), we share in today's inside feature....
May 7, 2023Who’s Hot: Coldwater’s Kendra Clune
at she did personifies that once-in-a-lifetime moment that we all live for, or wish for our children - that positive, uplifting moment of achievement Kendra Clune will carry with her for the rest of her life....
May 7, 2023Buckeyes Drop Second Straight To Iowa…Hawks Score In Double Figures
The Buckeyes issues exposed for the second game in a row...Iowa strafes OSU pitching for 19 hits and 15 runs...Bucks' offense held to just six hits in 15-3 loss....
May 7, 2023Hawkeyes Beat Up On Outmanned Buckyes In Iowa Opener
Missing a starting pitcher and their starting centerfielder, the Buckeyes stumbled in the Iowa opener Friday, losing to the Hawkeyes, 16-9....
May 6, 2023Not As Good As Expected…But Troy Outlasts Piqua For 17th Win
It wasn't easy...Staked to an early lead Troy struggled on the mound, to keep Piqua at arm's length, and got a little twisted before it was over. In the end they succeeded, taking Friday's Miami Valley League showdown between the two rivals, 5-4....
May 6, 2023Clune’s Blast Lifts Coldwater Past #2 Minster…6-3
Tied 3-3 in the top of the seventh, Kendra Clune (far left) touches home plate with the scoreboard as a backdrop...her dramatic three-run homer shocked everyone and lifted Coldwater past #2-ranked Minster in a MAC thriller, 6-3....
May 4, 2023Troy’s Helman, Mercer Dominant…Beat Sidney In Combined Perfect Game
Troy seniors Andrew Helman (above) and Trayce Mercer combined for a five-inning no-hit, perfect game shutout of Sidney Wednesday. The offense did the rest in a 12-0 run-rule win. So...are the Trojans that good? Read more....
May 3, 2023The Reader Speaks…May 3, 2023
The latest from Press Pros readers (and a lot of new ones)....on 'winning'...on officiating...on high school spring sports...and Bill Mosiello....
May 3, 2023Ohio State Sleepwalks Through A Wright State Sweep…Lose 3-1 To Raiders
Having lost 3-0 to Wright State in Columbus a month ago, the Buckeyes hit the quinella Tuesday in Fairborn, held to just 5 hits as the Raiders swept them in the rematch, 3-1. Read more in Wednesday's Press Pros....
May 2, 2023Forgotten Hits: The Song Everyone Loves, And Knows Nothing About….
It was written as a score for a prison movie 65 years ago, and Bobby Hatfield’s recording of it still stops people in their tracks. When there it's too wet for sports we love to spin old music...and share what you probably don’t know about ‘Unchained...
May 1, 2023Remembering Bob Kennedy…Big Man, Big Voice, And A Big Heart
We learned that the public address voice of the Buckeyes passed away suddenly on Sunday, a guy a lot of people never knew...except by his unmistakable personality behind all the announcements....
May 1, 2023The Realities Of Spring Baseball Begin To Sink In…..
A month into the baseball season the reality of the state of high school baseball is this. Fewer kids are playing, fewer people seem to care, and those in parts where baseball is still relevant are faced with the possibility…that sometime soon there ...
May 1, 2023Buckeyes Bust Loose To Win First Big Ten Weekend….15-9 Over Illinois
Mitch's big day...Mitchell Okuley (and some other Buckeyes) enjoyed an offensive feast in the Buckeyes' Sunday 15-9 win over Illinois. Okuley went 3 for 5 with his fifth home run of the season. Read more.......
April 30, 2023Who’s Hot: Fort Loramie’s Maverick Grudich
Delivering perhaps the most appreciated performance in any sport, Fort Loramie’s junior pitched his team to a critical win this week to knock off the defending state champions…and take control of the league standings in baseball. Fort Lor...
April 30, 2023Buckeyes Get Pitched To…Shut Out By Illini’s Wenninger
Not the Bucks' day....Shut out on one hit, Ohio State dropped the second game of their weekend series to Illinois. Read more about it in the latest Press Pros update....
April 29, 2023What Goes Around, Comes Around…Buckeyes Take Series Opener From Illinois
The Buckeyes took advantage of Illinois walks to score early...Bruni gives them a chance with five strong innings...Hunter Rosson has a memorable night with some fireworks of his own....
April 29, 2023Magoto Delivers, Niemeyer’s Two-Out Hit In 6th Drops Fort Recovery
They needed a well-pitched game and a timely hit at the end to support it. Minster’s Louis Magoto and James Niemeyer delivered both Thursday to beat Fort Recovery. Minster, OH – Mike Wiss and the Minster Wildcats needed a win – bad...
April 27, 2023Amelung’s Homer Lifts Liberty Over Orange, 3-2
The first of three scheduled meetings between Olentangy Liberty and Olentangy Orange, both ranked in the state's Top Ten in Division I, was everything anticipated Wednesday with Josh Stickel. Mason Onate and Liberty skipping away with a 3-2 victory. ...
April 26, 2023Grudich Throws A Gem…Loramie Bests Russia In SCL Baseball Showdown
Fort Loramie righthander Maverick Grudich spun a gem from the mound Tuesday, and the Redskins collected enough hits in one big inning to seize control of the Shelby County League baseball standings over Russia...at least for now....
April 25, 2023The Leaders On Chestnut Street…State-Ranked Covington Slashes Its Way To 16th Win
Ranked in the state's top 10, Covington (Division IV) raked 14 runs, 18 hits, and improved to 16 wins against 3 losses with an impressive Monday win over Versailles. Senior Meg Rogers (above) won her ninth game on the mound, and collected four hits...
April 24, 2023Buckeyes Crushed In Series Finale…PSU Scores 10 In 4th To Sweep
The crushing blow...Everyone watched as a three-run home run by Penn State's Bobby Marsh off Landon Beidelschies highlighted a 10-run fourth inning...the Nittany Lions then cruised to a weekend series sweep of Ohio State....
April 23, 2023Buckeyes Fall To Last Place Is Hard To Write, Patient To Explain
No one saw saw it coming like it has, but the Buckeyes' slide in the Big Ten baseball standings can probably be explained in simple human terms. Fear of failure is an enemy worse than Maryland or Michigan....
April 23, 2023Tortured Reality…Buckeyes Drop Penn State Series, Get Just Two Hits
On a night that saw Isaiah Coupet return and pitch his heart out, the Buckeyes bats went silent...just two hits in a 7-2 loss to Penn State. Read more in Sunday's Press Pros....
April 22, 2023Frustration Boils, Buckeyes Conference Woes Continue…Drop Opener To Penn State
How it went for the Buckeyes in Unhappy Valley....Trey Lipsey made a circus catch in the first inning, but Penn State put up ten runs in what turned out to be an unusually 'frustrating' loss for the Buckeyes. Read more.......
April 22, 2023Ohio State Takes Advantage Of UD Walks To Win
The Buckeyes scored two runs in the seventh and four in the eighth, two on a tying single by Marcus Ernst, to improve to 20-17 on year, prep for Penn State....
April 19, 2023The Debate Over How Much You Should Throw…And How Much Should You ‘Pitch’
After more than fifty years of throwing a baseball, former big league pitcher and coach Tom House (the man who caught Henry Aaron's 715th home run) is still reinventing the science of pitching and the physical realities of throwing a baseball. Read ...
April 19, 2023Versailles Makes Its Case…Tigers Run-Rule Minster In Shutout Win
Versailles bludgeoned the baseball with the bats, turned a pair of impressive double plays, and got a 3-hit shutout from starting pitcher AJ Griesdorn to gain a statement MAC win - 10-0 - over Minster....
April 18, 2023Heroes Prevail…Pettorini’s Big Day Salvages Finale Over Maryland
Hats off to Pettorini...A couple of key overlooked contributions, and the career-day by designated hitter Tyler Pettorini (above, #42) pushed the Buckeyes past Maryland, 13-8, to take the series finale....
April 16, 2023Gilbert On Spring Game: Buckeyes No Closer To Naming QB1
Kyle McCord plays four quarters while Devin Brown watches with a bandage around his throwing hand. About the middle of August is when Ryan Day will let everyone know what he's thinking....
April 15, 2023A Question Of What’s Wrong…Buckeyes Leave Bases Loaded Twice In Series Loss to Maryland
They got great starting pitching from Jonah Jenkins (above). But for a second day timely hitting cost the Buckeyes a chance for a win, and a chance to compete for a series on Sunday. Saturday's latest late-inning letdown doomed them to a 3-2 loss t...
April 15, 2023Extra! Extra! Troy Puts The Squeeze On Butler In 10 Innings
Troy's Owen Harlamert dropped a perfect bunt that allowed teammate Caleb Akins to score in the top of the 10th ... and the Trojans' pitching did the rest in the bottom of the inning for a key Miami Valley League victory on Friday night....
April 15, 2023Buckeyes Learn The Hard Way…Comeback Falls Short In Friday Loss To Maryland
They gave themselves a chance, twice, and even three times, but the Buckeyes couldn't complete the deal, suffering a three-run homer in the top of the eighth Friday in a 7-5 loss to Maryland....
April 15, 2023Buckeyes Have Plenty Of Incentive…Terps Come To Town With A Familiar Look
The Buckeyes put their brief moment of good feeling on the line this weekend against a Big Ten opponent that’s been anything but courteous in recent meetings – the Maryland Terrapins. Columbus – In brief, there should be no Big Ten ...
April 14, 2023Gilbert: Only Half OF A Quarterback Battle This Saturday
The annual Spring Game means fans get to see all the things they've hearing about the past few weeks. They also get to decide who they like the most in position battles. But only Kyle McCord will be on display Saturday while Devin Brown misses the fe...
April 14, 2023Clutch Hitting, Pitching Lifts Minster Past St. Henry
Minster's off-season bonding has helped the Wildcats' on-field success .... which continued with a 6-0 victory against St. Henry on Thursday. While Minster was making the most of six hits, including three for extra-bases, pitcher Brooklyn Olsterloh w...
April 13, 2023Lipsey, Timmerman Lead Way For Buckeyes Against BG
The team's third victory in four games was powered by Lipsey hitting a single and scoring and hitting a two-run homer and Timmerman throwing four hitless innings....
April 12, 2023Never A Dull Moment…Tipp’s Extra Inning Comeback Beats Bethel In Softball
It's why so many people show up to watch a softball game. Wild and woolly, you never know what's going to happen. And Tipp proved it with a four-run comeback in the bottom of the eighth - pitcher Ella Henn (above) driving in the winning run - to be...
April 12, 2023Znidar: Ohio State Bounces Akron, 15-1, in 7 Innings
The Buckeyes hit four home runs, in all, to smash the Zips, including three-run shots by Matt Graveline, Josh McAlister and Henry Kaczmar. Columbus, OH – This kind of fun stuff is what Bill Mosiello envisioned for his baseball team game after g...
April 12, 2023Russia ‘Unranked’, Unbeaten, And Unfazed…Shuts Out Jackson Center For Eighth Win In A Row
They paid no attention to a pre-season rankings snub, and have since gone unbeaten in their first eight games. Braylon Cordonnier (above) and the Russia Raiders looked every bit the part of a defending state champion Tuesday in a 9-0 shutout win ove...
April 11, 2023Troy Flexes Its MVL Muscle In Ugly Run-Rule Win Over Fairborn
A team of high expectation, experienced pitching, and senior experience, the Troy Trojans flexed its muscle Monday in the home opener at Market Street Field...21 hitters came to the plate in the second inning and 12 scored, in a 15-2 run-rule whoopin...
April 10, 2023The Reader Speaks…April 10, 2023
This month's Reader Speaks features a number of new and first-time correspondence, with response to our coverage of the state tournament, rough play in basketball...complaints about why winners get all the attention...and some love for Tri-Village an...
April 10, 2023Potential, And Reality…Buckeyes Can’t Build On Impressive Win, Split DH With ‘Sparty’
Impressive in a a 13-2 opening game win in Saturday's double-header with MSU (starter Gavin Bruni, above), the Buckeyes lose the nightcap 16-3...and an opportunity to learn from the opposite dugout....
April 8, 2023Buckeyes Bats Chilled, Beaten By MSU In Series Opener
In their most frustrating offensive effort of the year, the Buckeyes collected just three hits, and one run, and saw Isaiah Coupet (above) forced from the game with an injury in a cold 7-1 loss to Michigan State in the weekend series opener....
April 7, 2023St. Henry’s Late Rush Crushes Coldwater In Early MAC Showdown
St. Henry's Devin Delzeith (above) turned out to be the difference. What started as a pitcher's duel for the first five innings turned into ten-run avalanche in the end, sending the Redskins home with a run-rule 'eye-opening' win over Coldwater. Re...
April 6, 2023Spencer Cordonnier…Press Pros 2023 Area Boys Basketball Coach of The Year
Undertaking an unthinkable situation following a tragic loss, Russia's Spencer Cordonnier stepped in at the 11th hour to guide the the Raiders to a share of the Shelby County League title, the sectional, district and regi0nal title, and all the way t...
April 5, 2023Ohio State Nips Kent State With Some Replay Luck
Mitchell Okuley hit his second home run of the season (above), Henry Kaczmar hit his second homer later in the game, and the Buckeyes survived some good luck (for a change) to eke out a hard-fought non-conference win Tuesday over the Kent State Golde...
April 5, 2023Softball Skins’ Game…Loramie Edges St. Henry In Their Final At Bat
Well-pitched and close throughout, Fort Loramie evened its early record with a run in the bottom of the seventh to edge St. Henry in a Monday softball thriller. Loramie coach Brad Turner (above) watches Ella Hoelscher score the winning run. Read mo...
April 3, 2023Who’s Surprised….Tri-Village Coach Brad Gray Is Our Area COTY Year In Girls Basketball
After 17 seasons fate and talent finally smiled on Tri-Village girls coach Brad Gray in 2023, whose Patriots claimed the school's second state basketball title...and just as important, and well-earned, the girls' first. It's earned him our recogniti...
April 3, 2023Guessing Game…Bucks Drop Series Finale To Gophers, Now 6 Of Last 7
It figures...on a rotten day at the yard, even the video reviews turned up empty, as the Buckeyes dropped the series finale to Minnesota, 6-2. Read more about how it went down in the latest Buckeyes baseball update....
April 2, 2023Roy Hobbs Is Playing Shortstop For The Buckeyes…And Henry Kaczmar Never Heard Of Him
The Buckeyes freshman shortstop comes as close to a natural assimilation to college baseball as one could imagine. And no saw it coming this quickly. Columbus, OH – Ohio State freshman Henry Kaczmar probably never heard of Roy Hobbs. He’...
April 1, 2023The Plan Comes Together…Buckeyes Even Series With 6-2 Win Over Gophers
Game of firsts...Freshman Henry Kaczmar connected for his first collegiate home run (above) in the eighth, starting pitcher Gavin Bruni collected his first collegiate win, and the Buckeyes nailed down their first conference in in 2023 with Saturday's...
April 1, 2023Buckeyes Lose Heartbreaker To Gophers In Weekend Opener
In the span of just two hitters, a masterful shutout effort by Isaiah Coupet came undone in the top of the ninth, as the Minnesota Gophers hit back to back homers (Weber Neels, above) on their way to a 3-2 win in the Friday opener....
March 31, 2023The Reader Speaks: “Where’s The Team You Wrote About?” … And Buckeyes Prepare For Minnesota
The Buckeyes come home to recoup, and regroup, from a disappointing league opening road trip to Bloomington...a reader questions about where's the team we wrote about in February...and how can Minnesota be 5-19 after all those great players and all t...
March 29, 2023Ohio State’s Bad Stretch Continues In Loss To Xavier
The Buckeyes' regrettable, forgettable week continues with their fourth loss in a row. Tuesday they were down 5-0 after four innings, and never had much of a chance to compete against the Xavier Musketeers. Mark Znidar writes....
March 29, 2023Gilbert: Day’s Go-Win Practice Strategy Not A Tough Sell
Ryan Day makes Saturday's practice and scrimmage about winners and losers. And if keeping score now keeps going the way he wants, winning when it matters just might follow. Jeff Gilbert writes for Press Pros Magazine.com....
March 27, 2023Buckeyes Drop Sunday Twinbill…IU Sweeps The Weekend
Too much of one, too little of the other...Indiana's Matt Ellis (background) watches his three-run home go up on the scoreboard behind Buckeyes pitcher Nolan Clegg, the dramatic blow in Indiana capturing the first game of Sunday's double-header, and ...
March 26, 2023OSU (Wind)Blown Out In Conference Opener…
In horrible conditions, the Buckeyes squandered a 6-0 first inning lead...didn't score again...watched fly balls become home runs in a gale wind...and watched Indiana score two unanswered touchdowns in a 14-6 Big Ten opening loss....
March 25, 2023Buckeyes-IU Big Ten Opener Rained Out…1 Game Saturday And Twinbill Sunday
Steady rain in central Indiana has postponed the Big Ten opener for the Buckeyes and Indiana, and they'll try to play one Saturday and two Sunday to complete the three-game series. Where do the Buckeyes and Hoosiers rank at the one-third mark of the...
March 24, 2023Gilbert: Sawyer ‘At Home’ And Where He Belongs At Defensive End
Last year Jack Sawyer was a square-pegged defensive end in the round hole defensive coordinator Jim Knowles calls the Jack. The experiment didn't work and Knowles still doesn't have a Jack, but the guy named Jack is ready to team up with J.T. Tuimolo...
March 23, 2023Chilling, Thrilling…Buckeyes Use Powerball To Prep For League Play, Beat Toledo
Chilling, and thrilling night at Bill Davis....They played from behind for most of the game, but four solo homers and a dramatic finish by the bullpen pulled the Buckeyes past Toledo for 6-4 win, and momentum for Indiana on Friday....
March 22, 2023Mosiello: Ohio State “Super Lethargic” Against Wright State in 3-0 Loss
Throw-Away Night....Cole Andrews lost his bat, and the Buckeyes had a seven-game winning streak snapped by Wright State. The Raiders shut them down on three hits Tuesday night at Bill Davis Stadium....
March 21, 2023What We Saw At The State Tournament This Weekend……
We saw the same thing a lot of you saw if you were there…and came away with the same questions that most of you have about respect for competition, the game, officiating, and asking too much of athletes in too short a time. A final reflection on bas...
March 21, 2023Blackledge: Upstart Akron Hoban Ruins Pick Central’s Bid For Repeat
Purple Pain....Perhaps gassed from an emotional semifinal win over top-ranked Centerville the previous night, Pickerington Central could not recover from an 11-3 fourth quarter run by a motivated Akron Hoban team that fed off an underdog role to capt...
March 20, 2023McCoy: More Than Lip Service From OSU’s Lipsey
Ohio State's Trey Lipsey entered a game Sunday against the University of Dayton with a .071 batting average due to groin injury that sidelined him for 10 games. He exploded against the Flyers for a home run (pictured), double and a single to drive in...
March 20, 2023Matters Of Size…Lutheran East Brings Ottawa-Glandorf’s Quest To A Close In Division III
There was no lack of desire and scrap...just the dominant size of Lutheran East, who won another state basketball title win a 67-61 win over Ottawa-Glandorf in the Division III final....
March 19, 2023Richmond Heights In A League Of Its Own After Winning Div. IV Title
Buoyed by a 29-0 third quarter deluge and a 35-0 run spanning 11 minutes, 30 seconds, Richmond Heights re-wrote the Ohio High School Athletic Association record book with a 70-26 rout of Convoy Crestview....
March 19, 2023Buckeyes Finish Strong, Take Fourth In NCAA
Ohio State came away from the NCAA Wrestling Championships with some satisfactory consolation prizes...a trophy to mark its fourth-place finish and more than half its wrestlers securing All-American status....
March 19, 2023Buchtel’s Boyce Makes The Plays It Takes To Win State
Oh, what a relief.....Akron Buchtel's Steven Diamond's expression of relief over review of the final shot. It was ruled late, giving Diamond and the Akron Buchtel Griffins the Division II state title in basketball. Jeff Gilbert writes for Press Pro...
March 19, 2023Johnson’s Dream Shot In Lane Sends Pick Central To Title Game
The rematch of 2022's big-school title game predictably came down to the wire again. While the last two Mr. Basketball winners, Devin Royal of Pickerington Central and Gabe Cupps of Centerville, put on a show, it was Markell Johnson's 10-foot, left-h...
March 18, 2023Lutheran East Heeds Coach’s Plea, Uses “Bigs” To Wallop Harvest Prep
With its best player sidelined, Harvest Prep faced an uphill climb against tall and talented Lutheran East. After a sluggish start due to its over-reliance on the three-point shot, East finally went inside and buried the Warriors....
March 18, 2023O-G Provides The Tourney Thriller (So Far)…Beats Africentric In Double Overtime
3/10ths of a second late...Dailyn Swain's shot at the horn was estimated to be 3/10ths of a second late, lifting Ottawa-Glandorf to a 48-47 win and into Saturday's Division III finals with Lutheran East. Jeff Gilbert writes the story for Press Pros....
March 18, 2023How Some Athletes Are ‘Tuning’ Up For The Tournament…..
It's not all shooting and drills this week as high school and college athletes prepare for their respective post-season tournaments. A growing number of them are taking care of themselves with a tuneup...from their local chiropractor....
March 18, 2023McCoy: Buckeyes Survive ‘Freezer’ Bowl Against UD
The temperature was 36, the wind chill factor was 27, the wind was 17 miles per hour, but that didn't stop Ohio State and the University of Dayton from playing a competitive baseball game in OSU's home opener, a 7-2 win when the Buckeyes broke a 2-2 ...
March 18, 2023Sasso Reaches Finals; Romero All-American Again
Kaleb Romero put aside the disappointment of a quarterfinal loss on Friday to win his next two matches via major decisions, clinching the third All-America finish of his Ohio State career and keeping a third-place finish at 184 pounds in range....
March 18, 2023Russia Falls In State Semis…And Plays To A Higher Purpose
Russia saw its emotional season derailed by a bigger, quicker Richmond Heights whose sole purpose was to advance to the title round on Sunday. The Raiders gave it all they had along the way, while playing for something far more precious. Read Satur...
March 18, 2023Hiland Puts Game On A ‘T,’ Crestview Capitalizes
Crestview siezed upon an opening that arose midway through the third quarter to leave Hiland behind and secure its advance into the Division IV state championship game. Dayton, OH – There are some quaint ways of saying things in Amish Country, and on...
March 17, 2023Ready Runs Into Buzz Saw, Falls To Buchtel In State Semi-Finals
Bowed but not broken....Bishop Ready's Kaleb Schaffer is supported by teammates as he leaves the court following Friday's Division II semi-final loss to Akron Buchtel. Read about the game in the latest Press Pros update....
March 17, 2023Div. II Shocker: CJ Stunned By Last-Second Lutheran West Shot
In the tournament's first Division II semi-final, Lutheran West survived a back-and-forth battle to knock out Chaminade-Julienne with a last-second shot from Matthew Meyer (above)....
March 17, 2023Upon Further Review…Buckeyes “Sloppiness” A Matter Of Perspective, And Time
Their nine wins in fifteen games provides some statistical evidence that the Buckeyes are taking on a different personality, which at times is as awkward as first kiss. The reality? The more you do it the better you get at it....
March 16, 2023Curious Seeding Stiffens Romero’s NCAA Path
Sammy Sasso is the No. 2 seed at 149 pounds, where he hopes to interrupt a three-time champion's quest to join elite company at the NCAA Championships in Tulsa....
March 15, 2023Bucks Extend Win Streak To Five With ‘Surreal’ Win Over Marshall
Old Greets New...Coaches Bill Mosiello and Greg Beals exchange greetings prior to meeting on the field Wednesday in Charleston. The Buckeyes extended their win streak to five games with a 5-1 decision over Marshall....
March 15, 2023Four Really Compelling Games In This Week’s Boy’s State Tournament…
For area fans in the Press Pros market, here's our pick of four of the most compelling games (and players - Pickerington's Devin Royal, above) during this weekend's boys' state tournament at UD Arena - something old, something new, something borrowe...
March 14, 2023OSU-Marshall Game Full Of Irony, Devoid Of Drama
Wednesday's baseball game in Charleston, West Virginia begs all the attention you can think of for the fact of irony. But Marshall coach, and former Buckeyes coach, Greg Beals has but one thing on his mind...just playing baseball....
March 13, 2023Buckeyes Now Two Games Over .500…Sweep Cal-Bakersfield In Three-Game Set
Their offensive ways continued Sunday, as the Ohio State Buckeyes scored 28 runs in a double-header sweep of Cal State-Bakersfield and moved to 8-6 on the season....
March 13, 2023Tournament Week: “We Keep Kicking The Can Down The Road…”
Since the Marion Local/Crestview game last Friday, a number of you have written with opinions about players dictating the outcome of the game...when clearly the whistle should have been blown. We share in today's Press Pros....
March 13, 2023McCoy: Second Half Cold Spell Freezes Flyers
After leading by 11 points early in the second half, the University of Dayton froze up and went the final 11 minutes without a field goal and lost the Atlantic 10 championship game to Virginia Commonwealth, 68-56. ...
March 12, 2023Who’s Hot: The Tri-Village Patriots, 2023 Girls State Champions
They proved that it's not just talent that ultimately wins a title, but the uniqueness of the 'collection' of talent. The 2023 Tri-Village girls built off past experience, and disappointment, to finally break through....
March 12, 2023Buckeyes Pound Their Way To .500, Beat The Elements And Cal Bakersfield
Ohio State pounds out 15 hits, get three-hit games from Ernst, Kern and Andrews, Ernst blasts his fourth home run, and the Buckeyes evened their record in Bakersfield with a 17-run win over the Cal-Bakersfield Roadrunners....
March 12, 2023Ready, Africentric Figure It Out In 2nd Half, Roll To Regional Titles
Columbus Bishop Ready and Columbus Africentric left the Convocation Center Saturday hoisting gold trophies, but it wasn't as easy as the final scores might suggest. Ready relied on its bone-crunching half-court defense to stymie Fairfield Union and A...
March 11, 2023McCoy: UD Flies Into A-10 Title Game
The Fordham Rams tried a public mugging defense on the University of Dayton in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 conference tournament, but it didn't work. The Flyers muscled their way to a 78-68 victory, placing them in the championship game Sunday ...
March 11, 2023Royal Clutch Down Stretch In Central’s Triumph
Olentangy Orange defenders Mikey McCollum (14) and Jordan Edwards (2) stand their ground and draw a charge against Pickerington Central's Devin Royal late in the fourth quarter of the Division I regional final, but it was Royal who led the charge for...
March 11, 2023At Last…A Title And Happy Tears For Tri-Village
Tri-Village seemingly had the Division IV state championship won a few times Saturday, then had to win it again with some late clutch scores from its core of three seniors, who finally realized a career quest with a 52-50 triumph over Toledo Christia...
March 11, 2023Offensive Shutdown And Maddening Finish Spells Doom For Marion In Regional Final
They couldn't have started better, or finished in a more frustrating fashion. A six-point fourth quarter costs Marion Local a shot at the Finals in a half-of-a-last-second loss to Convoy Crestview....
March 11, 2023Olmsted Falls’ Late Surge Dooms Pick Central
Pickerington Central's Trinity Jackson shoots over Olmsted Falls' Danielle Cameron, but the Tigers' size inside couldn't hold up against the five-guard lineup that erased their fourth-quarter lead and completed a comeback in the Division I state semi...
March 11, 2023Russia Edges Jackson Center In Pulsating Final
There was no flow in the third meeting of SCL co-champions Jackson Center and Russia with a Division IV regional title on the line...a final game for one and a launching pad for another to the state tournament...all of it hinging on a final shot that...
March 11, 2023Africentric Throttles Wheelersburg, Seeks 8th Title
Africentric’s Ashtan Winfrey gets a shot over the Wheelersburg defense, which could not cope with the Nubians' speed in their 55-37 Division III semifinal victory at University of Dayton Arena. (PressPros Feature Photo by John Hulkenberg)....
March 10, 2023Buckeyes In Bakersfield: They Have A Chance To Build……
Coming off an impressive showing in Texas, the Buckeyes are in Bakersfield this weekend hoping to build on the confidence earned from wins over Mississippi State and Oklahoma....
March 10, 2023Big Man Has Big Game, But Watterson Falls in Region Semis To Chaminade-Julienne
Watterson's Cole Rhett filled up the lane and the basket, but Chaminade Julienne had too much and ended the Eagles' season at the Division II regional tournament for the second time in three years. Jeff Gilbert writes for Press Pros Magazine....
March 10, 2023Royal, Defense Lift Central Past South In Semis
Westerville South’s Amari Hodges finds space to shoot ahead of the close-out from Pickerington Central’s Gavin Headings, but the Tigers allowed precious few open looks in advancing to their second straight Division I regional final. (PressPros Featur...
March 10, 2023Sagester And Company Power Patriots Into Final
Tri-Village settled an old score, defeating Berlin Hiland in the Division IV state semifinals to avenge a loss to the Hawks from the 2012 state tournament and climb within a victory of the first girls state basketball championship in school history....
March 9, 2023McCoy: UD Flyers Survive Wild Finish
The University of Dayton Flyers seemingly had a secure victory in hand, an eight-point lead over Saint Joseph's with 61 seconds to play in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament. But the Hawks scored five quick points and drew to within three with 39...
March 9, 2023The Reader Speaks, March 9, 2023
The latest from an expanding base of first-time readers, and sharing their two cents worth...on college baseball, high school basketball, the ones we miss...and a test of our Reds' history facts....
March 9, 2023East Arrowed Out Of The Tournament…Cold Shooting Night Costs Vikings Any Shot
Their best season in years came to an end Wednesday night as the rims shrunk, and the considerable size and pressure from the best Preble Shawnee team in three decades sent Miami East packing from the tournament....
March 9, 2023McCoy: Time For UD To Turn On The Search Light
The University of Dayton basketball team has been installed by KenPom.com as the favorite to win the Atlantic 10 tournament when they play in a quarterfinal game Thursday at Brooklyn's Barclays Center and the Flyers must win the tournament to make th...
March 9, 2023Harvest Prep Puts Tri-Village In Defensive Vice
Tri-Village started well, but the burden of bearing up under Harvest Prep’s oppressive pressure proved too difficult in the Division III regional semifinals. Kettering, OH – The phenomenon that doomed Tri-Village to a frustrating exit from the ...
March 8, 2023Orange Dumps Newark To Gain First Regional Final
Olentangy Orange’s Jordan Edwards, shooting over Newark's Austin Rose, stuffed the stat sheet admirably to power Olentangy Orange to a comfortable victory that advances the Pioneers to their first regional championship game. (PressPros Feature Photo ...
March 8, 2023Gilbert: The Road To QB1 Starts Now For Buckeyes
Spring practice begins and so does Ryan Day's next season of evaluation to determine his next quarterback: Kyle McCord or Devin Brown. New Buckeye beat writer Jeff Gilbert reports from ground zero....
March 8, 2023Russia Bears Up Under Troy Christian Duress
It wasn't easy, nor did Russia expect its regional semifinal vs. Troy Christian to be, but the Raiders hung tough down the stretch to creep within one game of advancing to the state semifinals....
March 8, 2023Mullenhour Is Man of The Hour In Tigers’ Romp
It might be their all-senior starting lineup, or perhaps their grounding in solid fundamentals, but there's no panic in Jackson Center, which shook off a slow start for the second straight game to advance ever closer to a regional championship....
March 8, 2023Marion ‘Sizes’ Up Patrick Henry In Second Half, Wins Regional Semi Final
Overcoming a slow start and a stubborn resistance by Patrick Henry, Tate Hess (scoring above) and Marion Local used its power and size in the second half to pull away for a 56-42 Division IV regional semi-final win at Bowling Green. Read about the g...
March 7, 2023Mid-Terms Are Here…How The Buckeyes Stand After A Month
At four weeks and the stiffest non-conference competition in their history, the glass is half full on the baseball Buckeyes at the first check point of the season. They check a lot of boxes. There’s just some issues of growth and 'OTJ' that make you ...
March 7, 2023Buckeyes Win Frisco Classic, Beat National Runner-Up Oklahoma In A Thriller
It wasn't clean, or classic. But for pure guts and grit to persevere the Buckeyes more than proved they can play alongside the best with a 12-9 win over national runner-up Oklahoma in Sunday's finale of the Frisco Classic. Coach Bill Mosiello (abov...
March 6, 2023Slippery Sasso Turns Big Trouble Into B1G Title
Ohio State heavyweight Tate Orndorff celebrates a win Sunday at the Big Ten championships, where the Buckeyes rode Sammy Sasso's title at 149 pounds and Kaleb Romero's runnerup showing at 184 pounds to a fourth-place finish....
March 5, 2023