A seven-time Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association writer of the year, Blackledge spent the final 34 years of a four-decade career as the chief prep beat writer for the Columbus Dispatch. A Delaware, Ohio native, Blackledge graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1982 with degrees in journalism and communications. He served as sports editor of the Wilmington News-Journal for three-plus years. He also worked at the Lake County Telegraph and the Delaware Gazette. In addition to the prep beat, Blackledge has covered the Browns, Indians, Reds, Bengals, Columbus Crew and various Ohio State sports.
With All-Ohio guard Gigi Bower sidelined by an illness, Claire Mikola stepped up with 18 points and 11 steals to help Liberty clinch a share of the OCC Central championship. Powell, OH – Not everything went exactly as coach Tommy Waterwash drew up it up Friday as his Olentangy Liberty girls basketball team took on
With a slew of deft ball-handlers, a balanced attack and two Division I recruits, Delaware moved to 14-1 and is taking aim at its first district title since 1986. Delaware, OH – After watching the Delaware Hayes boys basketball team run up and down the floor a half-dozen times, one thing becomes glaringly apparent: The
The tightly-contested tip between Orange's Devin Brown (5) and Bradley's Gavin Lightning (24) foreshadowed what would prove a tightly-contested affair throughout until Brown's late free throws made the difference. Steve Blackledge has the story from Lewis Center....(PressPros Feature Photo by Brian Bayless).