April 21, 2005

sports

Jake Fulton pitched a one-hit shutout last Thursday against Jefferson, as the Bulldogs won 10–0 at Gaunt Park. Fulton struckout 11 and did not walk a batter.

Bulldog sports roundup

Compiled by Lauren Heaton

Tennis team nets sixth straight
After losing its first two matches of the season, the YSHS tennis team bounced back to win six straight contests in the last two weeks, improving to 6–2 overall and 1–0 in the Metro Buckeye Conference

Gaining four starting players, the Bulldogs pounced on Dayton Christian at home on April 5, giving up just one second singles match to win 4–1. Breezing through four straight set wins were Duncan Silvert-Noftle at first singles, Jesse Rothman at third, Scott Keyes and Carey Dixon at first doubles and Nick Rittenhouse and Wes Richeson at second doubles.

The following day against Northeastern was a repeat 4–1 win for the Bulldogs, who again lost only their second singles match. Silvert-Noftle put away an easy win in the first slot, but Dixon struggled at second singles in a gruelling third set tie breaker, which he lost 14–12. Jesse Rothman again won the third singles match in two sets, while Mori Rothman and Keyes gave up just six games during their first doubles win. The second doubles team of Rittenhouse and Erin Silvert-Noftle eeked out a 6–2, 4–6, 7–6 victory.

The Bulldogs met with greater challenge against the Miami Valley B team on April 11, but came away with a 5–0 victory. Silvert-Noftle and Mori Rothman had relatively simple wins at first and second singles. Jesse Rothman won the third singles in two sets. The doubles teams of Keyes and Rittenhouse and Dixon and Alex Turner also won.

The April 13 match against Stivers was all over the map. The Bulldogs gave up just seven games in quick victories by Silvert-Noftle at first singles and Keyes and Rittenhouse at first doubles. Dixon lost at second singles, while Paia LaPalombara lost the third singles match, tying the team score at 2. But the Rothman brothers pulled out a win at 6–2, 7–6 (7–3) to save the day.

The team’s 3–2 win on April 15 against Catholic Central was also close. Dixon pulled out a stunning first singles win after splitting the first two sets, running away with the third set, 6–0. Solid victories from Jesse Rothman at third singles and Silvert-Noftle and Keyes at first doubles sealed the win.

The Bulldogs won their match against Greenon, 5–0, on April 18, with three setters for Mori Rothman at second singles and Keyes and Turner at second doubles.

Borchers sets record
Sophomore Sam Borchers gave the boys YSHS track team a big boost with a first place 1:58.58 finish in the 800 meter event during last Friday’s Xenia Invitational meet. His performance set not only personal and meet records but also a track record. His time is also currently the leading mark for Division III runners in Ohio.

Competing against all Division I schools last week, the boys track team finished in sixth place. For the girls, Carly Bailey finished fourth in the high jump (four feet four inches), and Tina Peters ran the 3200 meters in a season best time of 13:24.

The boys team also gained points from Brad Benning-Clark’s solid first place high jump (six feet even) and the first-place finish by the 3200 relay team of Jeremy Upton, David Warren, Matt Halm and Borchers. The Bulldogs had no second place finishers, but Benning-Clark placed third in the 300 hurdles, and Warren finished the 3200 meters in third place. Two sprint relay teams, the 400 relay (Benning-Clark, Anthony Carter, Issa Walker and Hull) and the 800 relay team (Caleb Keller-Pitstick, Ron Cobb, Jacquan Brewton and Keith Brewton) placed fourth.

Walker placed fifth in the high jump, and Andy Peters finished sixth in the 3200. Dan Noll threw a personal best in the discus at 71 feet three inches, and Ben Adams ran his fastest time of the year in the 1600, finishing in 5:44.1.

Baseball team falls to 2–5
At the level of baseball where pitching is the most important commodity, the YSHS baseball team was treated roughly by Cedarville and Troy Christian last week. The Bulldogs lost to Cedarville, 16–3, on Wednesday, April 13, and 24–6 to Troy on Friday, April 15.

Yet the Bulldogs hung on to their pride as pitcher Jake Fulton tossed a one-hitter against Jefferson, leading YSHS to a 10–0 win. Fulton struck out 11 and did not walk a batter.

Then on Monday, April 18, the ’Dogs lost 6–5 to Ridgeville Christian. YSHS is now 2–5.

Against Cedarville the ’Dogs jumped out to a 2–0 lead on singles by Kilan Brown and Clayton Wolfe and an Indian error. Going into the bottom of the third, the score was tied at 3 when the pitching crumbled. Nine walks, two errors and five Indian hits put the game out of reach.

Against Jefferson, the Bulldogs scored 10 runs thanks to timely hitting by Brown, Wolfe, Aaron Willis and Kyle Truitt.

On Friday, the ’Dogs fell behind 6–0 to Troy, but thanks to five Eagle miscues, they rallied to cut the Eagles’ lead to 9–6 after three innings. In the fourth, the Eagles scored 15 runs on 5 hits and 8 walks and 3 Bulldog errors. Brown and Wolfe had a perfect day at the plate.

At home against Ridgeville, the Lions jumped ahead early, 5–1, on 5 hits and a couple of Bulldog errors.

YSHS battled back with the help of a triple by Truitt and a single by Sheets. In the fourth Truitt walked and stole his way around to knot the score at 5. In the fifth, the Lions scored once on a double and a single. The ’Dogs had chances to tie or go ahead, but they couldn’t get the clutch hit. Fulton took the loss in a relief. Sheets turned in three picture perfect plays at third base.

Sea Dogs spring clinic

The Yellow Springs Aquatic Club will hold its annual Spring Stroke and Turn Clinic for swimmers in grades kindergarten through eight at the Antioch College swimming pool.

The session will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., beginning April 25 and ending June 1. There will be no session on Memorial Day, May 30.

Participants should register at the pool during the clinic’s first week.

The fee for the six-week session is $50 per swimmer.

For more information call Coach Dave Wishart at 767-1415 or team organizer Aïda Merhemic at 767-9280.

YSHS boys soccer team meeting on fall season

All boys who are planning to play soccer for the Yellow Springs High School soccer team this fall should attend a short meeting Friday, April 22, 7:30 p.m., in the YSHS cafeteria. Each player and his parents are asked to attend. For more information, call coach Jim Hardman at 767-2200.

Youth baseball tryouts

The Yellow Springs Youth Baseball Major Leagues will hold a second round of tryouts and registration Saturday and Sunday, April 23 and 24, 5–7 p.m., at Gaunt Park.

Registration is required for all participants. The Major League is open to girls and boys ages 11 to 14. Players should bring a glove and bat if possible; balls and catcher’s equipment will be supplied.

The seven-week season runs May 21 to July 10. For more information, call Bob Morrison at 767-1703.

Spring sports season is here!

Click here to view the Bulldogs' Spring Sports Schedule online!