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.
Scuffling at the plate the past two games, Cooper Tracy ripped a two-RBI double as part of a three-run, four-hit explosion in the seventh, lifting Olentangy over Grove City 4-2 for its first regional title since 2006. He also got the pitching win in relief. Lancaster, OH – The biggest day in the lives of
Pitcher Nick Weiss and his Big Walnut teammates delivered under pressure, advancing to only their second regional title game. New Albany also got a one-hit pitching gem from Cam Simmons to blank St. Charles in the other semifinal. Grove City, OH – Facing a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the seventh inning of a Division II
Sophomore left-hander Rocco Bucci scattered three hits in a splendid complete-game effort and he led a small army of hitters powering red-hot Olentangy to its 14th win in 15 games and a ticket to the regional final. Lancaster, OH – Except for folks in certain parts of southern Delaware County, it was irritatingly difficult to
Thanks to some clutch hitting and solid relief pitching by Carson Welsh, Grove City got the final run in a topsy-turvy game with more than its share of odd twists. Lancaster, OH – Cool as a cucumber on a hot, sun-splashed afternoon at Beavers Field, Grove City left-handed pitcher Carson Welsh didn’t let a sixth-inning