April 9, 2009

sports

Versailles Invitational meet

Yellow Springs High School finished fifth at the annual Versailles Track & Field Boys Invitational on Saturday, April 4. The Bulldogs scored 66 points. Minster won with 185.

Although the Bulldogs were missing several athletes because of spring break and SAT testing, the meet did give a clear indication to Head Coach John Gudgel that Yellow Springs will again be a contender for the league championship by season’s end.

Leading the way Saturday were seniors Jake and Brock GunderKline, who teamed with junior Birch Robinson-Hubbuch and sophomore Mitchell Brickson to place fourth in the 4x800-meter relay. Brock came back to win the 800-meter run in 2:04.18 and to run a leg of the runner-up 4x400-meter relay. In that event he teamed with senior Anthony Pettiford, junior Alexis Onfroy and sophomore Josh Meadows to record a fast season-opening at 3:39.56. Twin brother Jake got his win in the 3200-meter run, breaking loose in the final 150 meters to post an area-leading 10:13. Jake finished fifth in the 1600m run in 4:49.4.

In the short sprints, Mario Cosey set the standards for the Bulldogs. The sophomore finished fourth in the 100-meter dash in 11.84, with freshman Logan Norris-Sayres placing sixth. The duo teamed with Tony Parker and Raphael Allen to place fourth in the 4x200 relay. Anthony Pettiford was fifth in the 400-meter dash in 55.66.

In the field events, Yellow Springs junior Chris Johnson leapt 18’5” to place second in the long jump. Raphael Allen was seventh, scoring 2 points, with a jump of 17’3". Earnest Johnson hurled the discus 118’4” to place seventh in that very competitive event.

The Tuesday, April 7, meet at Welcome Stadium in Dayton was canceled due to weather. The Bulldogs’ next meet is Saturday, April 11, at Cedarville University for the annual Impson Invitational, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 14, they compete in the Tipp City Quad meet.

Softball season canceled
Yellow Springs Athletics Director Vince Peters made the tough decision last week to cancel the high school softball team’s spring season. After only eight girls participated in the team’s first game with Cedarville, Peters and YSHS Principal John Gudgel met with the team. A poll of the athletes indicated only seven girls could make the next game and only five the game after that.

McKinney School track starts
The girls and boys of the McKinney School traveled north to Greenon High School on Friday, April 3, for the Indian Valley Invitational track & field meet. Despite the frigid temperatures and stiff breeze, it was a high energy and fun outing for the Bulldogs, according to Coaches Peter and Isabelle Dierauer.

Leading the way was the McKinney girls 4x200-meter relay squad. The team surprised the field from 12 area middle schools by winning the event in 2:07.16. The winning squad — Angela Allen, Lois Miller, Talia Boutis and Camera Cross — edged the favored host Indian Valley foursome by just eight-hundredths of a second.

That same excitement was spread throughout the meet for the Bulldog girls.

Seventh-grader Talia Boutis added a seventh place in the 100-meter dash with a fine time of 14.12. In the 400-meter dash, eighth-grader Lois Miller showed the way by winning her heat in 70.96 seconds. She missed winning the event by four-hundredths of a second to Meridith Wesco, who finished the second heat in 70.92 seconds, about two inches faster than Miller. Michaela Roe was seventh in the same race.

In the 4x400-meter relay, Miller and Boutis teamed with Roe and Andee Pettiford to place fifth in 5:19.10.

In the field events, the discus threesome of Ah’Teyonna Coquitt, Sierra Butler and Angela Allen placed fourth with a combined distance of 148’ 2”. Coquitt and Carly Weiner teamed in the shot put for a seventh-place finish to complete the scoring for the girls.

The boys team didn’t score as many points as the girls, but still had their stars. Tops was Eli Biggs in the 400-meter dash with a time of 1:07.4 and Roland Newsome in the high jump. Also scoring points was the long jump threesome of Newsome, Biggs and Carter Collins.

The Coaches Dierauer commended the performances of all the athletes as they attempt the various track and field events.

The middle school teams were to compete Wednesday, April 8, in a quad meet at Dayton’s Welcome Stadium. Thursday, April 16, they host the Yellow Springs Invitational.

Baseball season kicks off

The Yellow Springs High School baseball season kicked off in perfect baseball weather last week with three home games. Opening day was Monday against cross-county rival Cedarville. An extended basketball season kept the Bulldogs from opportunities to practice and they started the season a bit rusty. Cedarville bats were hot early with seven runs in the first two innings and, as hot as their bats were, the Bulldogs were cold, with the only run coming from a hit from Kevin Sikes-Gilbert in the fifth inning before the run rule ended the game.

Tuesday night proved a much better night for the Dogs as they came out the winner of a very close contest with Dayton Belmont. Starting pitcher Lucas Donnell pitched six innings, fanning 12 of the 21 batters he faced and giving up only three hits. Jeremy Paul made his pitching debut in the seventh inning, finishing the shut out with three strikeouts and no hits. The bats were hotter in this game with singles from Sikes/Gilbert, Tyler Fox, Fugate, Donnell and Severtson and a double by Matt Finn. When this very exciting game ended, the Bulldogs were on top 3–0.

Then on Thursday, the Bulldogs faced an always competitive Dayton Christian team. Joe Fugate pitched five strong innings and the Dogs scored a run in the first to keep the Dogs within two runs until the fourth inning. After throwing over 80 pitches, Fugate had enough and was relieved by Cory Daniels, followed by Paul, with Jake Fugate, in his freshman debut, ending the game. Sikes-Gilbert continued to get on base and score with three hits along with three hits from Jamie Kitzmiller. Unfortunately, the Dogs were defeated by the hard hitting Dayton Christian team, 12–3.

Youth baseball seeking coaches

Volunteers are needed for the upcoming Yellow Springs youth baseball season. Several coaches are needed for Minor League teams (ages 6–11), as well as a general coordinator for the Minor League. It is anticipated there will be enough interest to organize Major League teams this year for those ages 11–15, and depending on the number of teams formed, additional coaching volunteers may be needed. The season will begin in early June and run through mid to late July. Parents of players are especially encouraged to participate by volunteering to coach. Anyone interested in the rewarding experience of coaching is encouraged to contact Tim or Jennifer Sherwood at 767-8702. More information about registration for the upcoming season will be published later this month.

Seadogs seek coaches, assistants for new season

The Yellow Springs Seadogs are gearing up for another swimming season. Coaches and assistants are currently being sought for paid and volunteer positions. A Webmaster is also needed to set up a Seadog Web site. For more information or to submit a letter of interest, contact Rick Walkey and Ali Thomas at 767-9931 or e-mail thomaswalkey@sbcglobal.net.

Youth recreational spring soccer leagues to begin

The spring season of Yellow Springs Youth Recreational Soccer will resume the week ending Saturday, April 11. Leagues will be organized as follows: Copper Cup (ages preschool–kindergarten), Bronze Cup (first–third grades), and Silver Cup (fourth and fifth grades), which will all play Saturday mornings at Gaunt Park. Gold Cup (sixth–eighth grades) will play Friday evenings at Yellow Springs High School practice field just south of the track stadium. Coaches will contact their players to organize practices prior to their first game.

For more information, call Jim Hardman at 767-2200, Bill or Lynn Hardman at 767-8433 or e-mail hardmansoccer@sbcglobal.net.