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June 8, 2006
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June 8, 2006 |
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sports Borchers takes first in state; YSHS track team grabs fifth
It was another impressive showing for the Yellow Springs High School Bulldogs track and field team at the state track meet on Saturday, as star runner Sam Borchers captured two first place finishes and the Dogs finished respectably in four other events in the Division III boys small school category. The Bulldogs finished fifth overall, with 23 total points. Borchers, a junior, has been lighting up the competition all year with impressive victories against challengers from larger schools in and out of state. His performance Saturday at the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium will be forever etched in the minds of the many fans, alumni and parents who made the trip to root for the Bulldogs. The junior phenom defended his state title in the 1600-meter run (the mile), beating back Toledo Christian’s Steve Lane with a time of 4:16.54. Lane turned in a time of4:19.37. Pesky Dayton Christian runner John Lutrell finished a distant third at 4:20.50. Lutrell was believed by some along press row to be able to give Borchers a run for first place. But midway through the race, almost in unison, the challengers seemed to wave the white flag. “Geez, I guess this one is in the bag for a repeat,” one area veteran sportswriter said. “The kid from Yellow Springs is just toying with everybody out there.” The 800-meter run almost played out as a carbon copy
of the 1600, as the confidant Borchers once again made mincemeat out of
the competition. He ran a winning time of 1:54.19, well ahead of Fayette’s
Heath Armstrong (1:55.81), who struggled to keep his balance down the
stretch while chasing Borchers’ shadow. “I threw up before the race because I didn’t want to lose my title,” Borchers said. “When it was time for the 800 I figured I might as well go for it.” And after winning the 800, he described the double state first-place finishes as “icing on the cake.” Borchers also anchored the sixth place 3200-meter relay, which featured Andy Sontag, Evan Firestone and Andy Peters. They ran a time of 8:13.33. Findlay Liberty Benton won the event with a time of 8:07.13.
Firestone finished 13th in the 3200-meter run, with a time of 10:02.21 and Brad Benning-Clark ran the 300-meter hurdles in a time of 41.59 during Friday’s semifinals. He did not qualify for Saturday’s final in that event. If you wanted to truly understand the impressive results of the state track meet and the even larger superlatives of the YSHS track program, you needed to venture no further than the grandstand seat of Hall of Fame coach and YSHS Principal John Gudgel. He is the tie that binds all of the legends from the past to the current superstars like Borchers, the one who makes the track experience seem like a family affair. “Track isn’t like most of the other sports such as basketball, soccer and track,” Gudgel said. “With track, the times sort of speak for themselves. When someone is putting in the effort and running winning times like Sam Borchers it speaks for itself. “Great runners from the past like Andrew Pierce, Scott Leighty and Jeffrey Johnson have all passed along their well wishes to Sam,” he said. Gudgel mentioned that Borchers has run against challengers from big schools in and out of state and in highly regarded meets such as the Wayne Invitational and Roosevelt relays. Of course, he won in those races too. One very successful YSHS track and field alumnus, Joel Robinson, was in the crowd Saturday to cheer on Borchers and the Dogs . He exemplified what Gudgel was talking about. “Sam is an amazing runner and fun to watch,” Robinson said. “He is very focused, but I had to laugh before the start of the 1600. He (Borchers) saw me and my family in the stands and waved to say hello right when the race was starting.” Robinson learned from Gudgel that many athletes who run the mile as well as the two mile won’t compete against Borchers when it comes down to state. “Some of them don’t want to run against Sam because they know that they can’t win,” Gudgel said. “They’re scared of him.” Firestone also made his coach proud this year, making it to state in his first year of varsity track competition. He had to compete against several runners who made the 3200 their specialty because they did not want to run against Borchers. YSHS alums Greg and Kevin Harris emerged from press row with cameras and notepads in hand. The siblings run a sports company called Ohio Recruits Magazine, and were enjoying their high school alma mater’s triumphant day. “It is really amazing at what Gudge does for this program and how well somebody from the program does every year at state,” Greg said. “My brother and I have documented on video and digital camera the success of Borchers and the other guys this year at state.” The Harris boys are working on the final cut of a film of the state meet to hopefully have it ready for showing on local access television for the fans that could not make it Saturday. Gudgel, with a duffle bag full of YSHS track information present and past, took time to think about many of the names and faces that have made track and field something special. Flipping through the official program of the state meet, Gudgel stopped to make his point on page 65. The heading on ink beneath his finger said, “Most Team State Championships — Boys.” Right beside the number 7, in black and white, the words “Yellow Springs” jumped off the page. “You got 13 for Cleveland East Tech and they had Jessie Owens, 13 (later in the day 14) for Cleveland Glenville and that’s Ted Ginn Jr. Jefferson had a great runner Tony Lee — they have nine. And then there is us at seven,” he said. “We have just had so many people who have worked very hard.” Opening up another booklet from his duffle bag, Gudgel talked about others who made YSHS track so special. Richard “Fleece” Benning from the 60s, Dorian Benning (Brad’s father), Mike Smith, Steve Nelson, Nathan Graham, the Pierce boys (Andrew, Alfred, Billy), Lynn Smith, Victor Glass, Marco Comegys, Brent Newsome, Tony Victoria, Dennis Jackson, Larry Peterson, Greg Felder, Mike Slaughter, Scott Leighty, Joel Robinson, and of course Gudgel himself, who dominated when he ran. The names and events seemed endless. As Jerome Borchers, with two of his son’s first place state medals draped around his neck, gave his boy a hug, you could see another family adding to the success of the track and field one. Dylan Borchers called his brother’s day an “awesome one.” Assistant YSHS coach Vince Peters, who also heads the girls’ program, was thrilled as his daughter Tina, a track phenom herself, took photos. “I have actually turned Sam over to Vince for coaching,” Gudgel said. When things began to wind down and the Bulldogs packed up their tent for the day, all of the athletes made their way to the team van and headed for a restaurant in German Village. “Sam picked it out,” they said. Before loading into the van, Borchers had just led his teammates on a short run to “cool down,” he said. With that, the Bulldog track and field team rode off again with another success story and more wonderful memories to pack into Gudgel’s duffle bag. Adorable kids, ‘mud-luscious’ fun “when the world is mud-luscious…[and]
puddle-wonderful.” “I’m going to rest,” 6-year-old Sam Wildenhaus announced as he walked behind his father, Bill, and me on his way to second base. He’d been hitting home run after home run on the big diamond where it’s 90 feet from home to first, and another 90 feet to second, third, and back home again. That’s 360 feet all tolled, a pretty fair jog for a 6-year-old. And he’d done it — as had the other 12 or so wonderful rapscallions we had out there on the big diamond for Perry League’s opening night — about 16 times. “Okay,” we said and Sam sauntered over to the small, 3x3 foot mud puddle in front of second base. He walked right into it and then just stood there, dead center. Resting. The mud and water coming to the tops of his tennis shoes. A moment later, Kristopher Michael Rogers, 6, stepped into the other, much bigger puddle just past second base — this one was a good 7–8 feet long and 4–5 feet wide, with the water an inch to 2" deep. “I’m stuck!” Kristopher cried out, his face lit up like a ferris wheel. I could not resist. I went over and climbed in with him. Then Brady Uker, 5, came over to join us. Followed by Steffi Cooper. And Sam Bloom. And Christian Elam and his sister Reese Elam. “It’s quicksand!” we yelled. Gracie Wilke came over next. With Sam Wildenhaus, Keegan Chlanda, and Sean Smith close behind. “Help! Help!” we cried, 12 or 13 of us lifting our voices to the heavens, all of us mushing, squishing, mucking, and squashing about, the muddy suction of that puddle holding our feet like chunks of metal to a huge electromagnet. It was too deliriously wonderful. Elliot Wiggins, 6, in a pair of luscious purple, blue, white and fuchsia flip-flops, the boy as neat as a pin, not a speck of dirt or mud anywhere on his person, came over. He was tentative, curious. “Are you really stuck?” he asked. “No,” I said, “we’re just pretending.” In a flash, he slipped and slid right into the muck along with the rest of us, his beautiful, I’m afraid they were brand new, flip flops immediately a boggy beige brown. Ruth Hoff appeared on the diamond next, radiant in her joy, following close on the heels of her brilliant dreamboat of a son, five-year-old Zenya Hoff-Miyazaki. Zenya was barefoot, eyeing us, his face an animation, the boy eagerly wondering as he circled us, giving us a wide berth, Can this be? Can they really be doing this? And why? Why oh why!? Amy Uker, Brady’s mom, started shooting with her digital camera. Bill Wildenhaus, Sam’s dad, who had had the kids making mud balls earlier, stood next her, smiling so wide I think he’s gonna need a prescription. And this is why I love Yellow Springs — here we are, a dozen or so kids and their silly coach, a grown man in his 60s who ought to know better, standing ankle deep in the middle of a glorious mud puddle, all of us just a-hollering and a-carrying on, howling to the high heavens, “Helll-lllp! Hell-lllp!” As happy as pigs in a poke. And what are the Yellow Springs parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles doing? They’re all smiles, nodding their heads, beaming their approval, granting their permission, some even coming out to join us, to get a little closer to the fire of joy and wonder that burns so vividly in the heart of a young child. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” I say to a bunch of them for their tolerance, for their loving kindness, for their willingness to let their kids get really dirty, for not minding that we do this, for finding it as enjoyable as we mud-ball t-ballers ourselves do. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” I say. “Oh, it’s adorable!” Dan Uker says. And I am blessed, feeling the love and healing pour over and through me once again. Adorable. Yes. It is. Adorable. Absolutely adorable. And that’s the Perry League. T-ball in Yellow Springs. Adorable. Every Friday night at Gaunt Park from 6:30–8 p.m. for the rest of the summer (till our potluck trophy night Aug. 4). So hitch up your wagon and roll on out. We’d love to have you. We really would. Challenger soccer camp offered Yellow Springs Soccer, Inc., a nonprofit organization which promotes the enhancement of soccer in the Yellow Springs community, will host a Challenger Sports British Soccer Camp, Monday–Friday, June 26–30. This soccer camp will be held at the boys’ soccer practice field located behind the Yellow Springs High School. Kids ages 9–14 must preregister for this soccer camp as space is limited to 12–14 individuals per session. The first soccer camp session will be held 9 a.m.–noon. If there are enough soccer players, a second session will be offered from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Participants will receive a free soccer ball and T-shirt if they register before June 12. The cost of the camp is $100 for the week-long session. YSSI will also host a free Coaches Clinic, Saturday, July 1, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the same location. Registration information may be obtained from the camp coordinators, Lauren Miller and Hans Jacobson, at 767-2072. YSSI is currently selling hooded sweatshirts to raise funds for the renovation of the soccer fields slated to begin spring 2007. Hooded sweatshirts will be available at the Street Fair on June 10, or may be ordered by contacting Miller at 767-2072. Minor League underway Rain delayed the start of the Minor League season, but in the opener of the double-header on Sunday, the Pirates jumped out to a 6-run first inning lead that continued for a 23–3 victory over the Yankees. In the second game the Indians withstood a furious Reds rally and prevailed with a 12–11 victory In the first game, veteran Isaiah Taylor hit the season’s first home run, along with 3 doubles. Andrew Sherwood not only scored 1 run on 6 hits, but also played excellent infield defense, throwing out multiple runners at first base. Alexander Sutton and William Evans each added 4 hits and 4 runs, while Adrianne Beer and newcomer Augie Knemeyer each scored 3 runs on 4 hits. First-year players Nate Baggett and Rebecca Kleinen also contributed multiple runs and hits. Meanwhile Shardé Scott pounded out 3 consecutive hits and scored 1 run. While the young Yankees struggled, there’s no doubt the team will be a future contender. Ian Chick, Kelsey McKinley and Chelsea Horton all scored, with at least 1 hit each also coming from Jacob Whetsel, Zoey and Kenney McKinley, Jaron Fox and Danny Horton. In Sunday’s second game, the Indians built a big lead after 3 innings. Fielding Lewis had 3 hits and scored 2 runs, while Theron Orme drove in 3 runs with his 3 hits. The Reds rallied in the fourth with 7 runs to tie the game at 11. Simone Collins knocked in the first run and Oliver Parks had a 2-run double. In the Indians last at-bat, Cayden Tong-Defusco and Paloma Wiggins led off with singles, followed by Adam Green’s game winning RBI. For the Reds, Christian Werner had three hits and scored 3 runs, Ethan Dewine had three hits and played outstanding defense, and Oliver Parks had 4 runs batted in. Minor League games are played Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings at 7 p.m., followed by a Saturday morning double-header starting at 10 a.m. All games are played at the minor league field on the far east side of Gaunt Park. The league’s scores, schedules, and other game information are posted on the web at http://HTOSports.com/?ysminorleague. For more information, contact Tim and Jennifer Sherwood at 767-8702. Traveling baseball team The Yellow Springs Bulldogs will soon begin their second season in the Dayton Amateur Baseball Commission 14 and under traveling division. The team is comprised of 14 boys who are showing dramatic improvement in their baseball skills thanks to a commitment to practices and the coaching of Hal Moon, Reggie Stratton and Ted Donnell. Players include Asa Casenhiser, Ben Clonch, Lucas Donnell, Tarren Finch, Cole -Honeycutt, Chris Johnson, Jake Kepler, Jamie -Kitzmiller, Jarrett Moon, Alexis Onfroy-Curley, Jeremy Paul, Matthew Rowe-Jones, Brandon Semler and Conor Stratton. Persons interested in contributing to the team through the Yellow Springs Recreation League should call Ted Donnell at 767-9967. The Bulldogs’ home games will be played at Gaunt Park and are as follows: Monday, June 5, 7 p.m., vs. Huber Heights; Saturday, June 10, 11 a.m., Patterson Park Flyers; Tuesday, June 13, 7 p.m., Pinewood; Saturday, June 17, 11 a.m., Riverside; Tuesday, June 20, 7 p.m., Patterson Park Raiders; Thursday, June 22, 7 p.m., Cedarville; and Saturday, June 24, 11 a.m., Westwood. For more information, contact Karen Wintrow at 767.9967 or kwintrow@yellowsprings.com. Summer baseball schedule Youth Baseball Yellow Springs starts its season June 10. The schedule is as follows (home team is listed second): June 10, 3 p.m.: Indians vs. Yankees; 6 p.m.: Reds vs. Athletics; June 11, 3 p.m.: Red Sox vs. Indians; 6 p.m.: Yankees vs. Reds; June 14, 6 p.m.: A’s vs. Red Sox; June 17, 3 p.m.: Yankees vs. A’s; 6 p.m.: Indians vs. Reds; June 18, 3 p.m.: Reds vs. Red Sox; 6 p.m.: A’s vs. Indians; June 21, 6 p.m.: Red Sox vs. Yankees; June 24, 3 p.m.: Indians vs. A’s; 6 p.m.: Yankees vs. Red Sox; June 25, 3 p.m.: Red Sox vs. Reds; 6 p.m.: A’s vs. Yankees; June 28, 6 p.m.: Reds vs. Indians; July 1, 3 p.m.: Red Sox vs. A’s; 6 p.m.: Yankees vs. Indians; July 2, 3 p.m.: Reds vs. Yankees; 6 p.m.: Indians vs. Red Sox; July 5, 6 p.m.: A’s vs. Reds; July 8, 3 p.m.: Indians vs. Yankees; 6 p.m.: Reds vs. A’s; July 9, 3 p.m.: Red Sox vs. Indians; 6 p.m.: Yankees vs. Reds; July 12, 6 p.m.: A’s vs. Red Sox; July 15, 3 p.m.: Red Sox vs. Yankees; 6 p.m.: A’s vs. Indians; July 16, 3 p.m.: Reds vs. Red Sox; 6 p.m.: Yankees vs. A’s; July 19, 6 p.m.: Indians vs. Reds. July 22, 6 p.m.: first playoff game — 4th vs. 5th; July 23, 3 p.m.: first semifinal — 2nd vs. 3rd: 6 p.m.: second semifinal — 1st vs. winner 4th/5th; July 24, 6 p.m.: championship game. July 26, 6 p.m.: Dragon’s Game — in uniform; July 27, 6 p.m.: trophies, picnic and a parents’ game. For more information, contact Bob Morrison at 767-1703.
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