Most of Rusty Allen’s baseball players are multi-sport athletes … and that’s just fine with the Ohio Starz 15U baseball coach. Allen and Monroe Swarm coach Ed Beck prefer trying a variety of sports compared to specialization, even if it means having to share athletes or find replacements for family vacations.

It was a simple moment. But what was supposed to be a quick game of toss to fill time before a game ended up forming a lasting bond. The Butler County Bombers 16U baseball team earned a fan for life when they befriended 7-year-old Cody.

With emphasis…Cooper Cole’s grand slam (below) was the hitting highlight, while pitcher Kaden Echeman threw a complete-game gem in Saturday’s Miami Valley Prospect’s shutout win over Texas-Ewald. Greg Billing writes about it for Press Pros.

Often in opposite dugouts during the spring high school season, the Ohio Diamond Hawks come together to play the game they love as the boys of summer. The Hawks — a collection of players from Anthony Wayne, Findlay, Millbury Lake and Oregon Clay — teamed up again in the Best of Midwest tournament at Newton High School on Friday.

The weather was throwing heat on Saturday. That didn’t slow the Canes 16U team at the Best of Ohio Buckeye Wood Bat Classic. The four-day 15U, 16U and 18U tournaments wrap up Sunday at select sites in the Miami Valley.

In a rematch of the 2020 18U championship game, the Miami Valley Prospects gave defending champ Springfield Armoloy a scare in the bottom of the seventh in the Best of Ohio Wood Bat Classic. Armoloy pitcher Nick Whalen -pictured (Springfield Shawnee) was dialed in Thursday. Read the “Best of Ohio Wood Bat Classic” by Greg Billing inside today’s PressPros.

Skipp Miller (below) overcame an admitted case of early nerves to pitch a one-hit shutout…and the Bradford Railroaders garnered universal praise as they won the Division IV title in softball – the first team title in the history of the school. Greg Billing writes the story for Press Pros.

The Bradford Railroaders steamrolled into the Division IV state title game with an 11-0, five-inning victory against New Riegel on Friday afternoon. Skipp Miller threw a 12th no-hitter and the Railroaders’ offense backed her up with a five-run first inning. The ‘Roaders return Sunday for a shot at the school’s first-ever team state title.

The Bradford Railroaders kept their season rolling Sunday afternoon as sisters Skipp Miller and Austy Miller put on a show in the D-IV regional finals. Skipp had the winning hit, Austy scored the winning run to send Bradford to the D-IV state semifinals. Greg Billing writes for Press Pros.

The Greenville Green Wave were one hit away from a trip to the D-II state semifinals. Instead, the Lakewood Lancers staged an improbable comeback with plenty of offense of their own. When the dust cleared Lakewood scored a stunning 21-20 regional final victory on Saturday afternoon. Read Greg Billing inside today’s Press Pros

Greenville rode the Green Wave’s defense and clutch hitting into the D-II regional title game. That’s before the Green Wave battled back from a couple controversial calls against Springfield Shawnee Braves in a thriller at Mason High School. Read Greenville Softball By Greg Billing inside today’s Press Pros.

In a D-IV regional final matchup many anticipated from the start of the season, Bradford and Mechanicsburg made it a reality with semifinal wins on Wednesday. Russia, which hoped to play spoiler against the ‘Burg, suffered some early inning jitters and fell in the program’s first regional appearance.

Arms up…Brookville pitcher Steve Jones raised his arm in triumph as the umpire in the background raised his signaling the final out in Brookville’s 3-0 win over Versailles in Division III sectional action on Tuesday. Read about the game in today’s Press Pros.

Three outs separated Troy from a first-round sectional tournament victory against Centerville. But the Elks didn’t oblige, sending 14 batters to the plate and scoring 10 runs in the seventh (including Ardyn Hopf’s grand slam, above) for a 14-6 victory on Monday.