April 16, 2009

sports

Boys track takes fifth at Impson
The Yellow Springs High School distance runners dominated the Impson Cedarville Invitational on Saturday, April 11, by capturing first place in four events to help the team win 66 points overall for a fifth place finish.

With Alexis Onfroy-Curley rushing back from college visits in Chicago on the overnight Greyhound, the Bulldog squad of Onfroy-Curley, Birch Robinson-Hubbuch, Brock GunderKline and Jake GunderKline took the 4x800 in a season leading 8:38.89 after Brock broke the race wide open on the third leg with a split of 2:06 for the 800-meter distance.

Onfroy-Curley finished the metric mile with a last minute kick in 4:42.59. Brock GunderKline then used the same lethal tactic in the 800 meters to run down Greeneview’s Eddie Bock for the win in 2:04.13. Jake GunderKline faced the stiffest challenger of the day, defending state cross country champion Isaiah Bragg in the 3200-meter run, but he finally moved easily away in the final stretch to win by five seconds in 10:03.10.

The Bulldogs also excelled in the sprints with Mario Cosey placing fourth in the 100-meter dash in 12.23 on the very windy day. In the 400-meter dash, Anthony Pettiford placed sixth in 55.50. Josh Meadows and Pettiford then teamed with Onfroy-Curley and Brock GunderKline to finish second to Dixie in the 4x400-meter relay in 3:38.54.

The relay squad of Tony Parker, Sam Morrison, Mario Cosey and Raphael Allen also earned points for the Bulldogs in both the 4x100-meter and 4x200-meter relays. In the men’s long jump, Allen soared 18'4" to place seventh, with Chris Johnson just out of the money in ninth. Ernest Johnson was eighth in the men’s discus in 106' 2".

Girls track finishes eighth
YSHS senior Melody Wright scored points in all four of her events to lead the Yellow Springs girls track team to an eighth-place finish at Saturday’s Impson Invitational. The Bulldogs finished in an eighth-place tie with Mechanicsburg with 35 points.

On a windy day, Wright anchored the 4x200 relay team into the teeth of the gusts, teaming with Brenda Jones, Reini Brickson and Ryder Comstock to slice through the biting cold and take the Bulldogs home to an unexpected runner-up finish in 2:00.74. The three seniors and junior reunited to place third in the 4x400-meter relay. In between the two relays Wright added a third place in the 200-meter dash in 30.05 seconds, and then placed fifth in the discus with a toss of 74'3."

Adding points to the women’s team were Jones with a sixth-place finish in the 100 high hurdles and a fifth-place finish in the 100 dash. Brickson snagged a 24-second personal record for a fifth-place finish in the 3200-meter run.

Youth Baseball registration opens

Registration is now open for the 2009 Yellow Springs youth baseball program. Boys and girls who have turned age six by Jan. 1 through those that have not turned 12 by June 1 are eligible for the Minor League. This is a coach-pitch league and teams typically play no more than two games per week, Saturday mornings, and one or more weeknights. This year’s fees are $25 per player, which includes a team t-shirt and cap. However, no one will be turned away as scholarships are available. Siblings are placed on the same team and every effort will be made to place returning players on the same team as last year, although some shifts may be necessary depending on the total number of players and teams. First-year players will be assigned to a team.

Eleven-year-olds can choose to play another year in the Minor League or may move up to the Major League, which returns this year. Boys and girls who have turned 11 by June 1 through those who have not turned age 15 by June 1 are Major League eligible. This is the more traditional player-pitch baseball, and it is anticipated that teams will play no more than two games a week on weekends and/or one or more weeknights. Fees for 2009 are $40 per player, which includes a uniform shirt, pants and a cap. Scholarships are available.

Registration for both leagues can now be submitted at the program Web site, www.leaguelineup.com/ysoyouthbb.

Anyone without a computer can call 767-8702 and make arrangements to pick up a form or have it sent to them. Registration can also be completed on Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Gaunt Park across from the swimming pool.

Volunteer coaches are still needed, especially for the Minor League. Anyone interested in being a coach is encouraged to contact Tim or Jennifer Sherwood at 767-8702 or sherwt@woh.rr.com or jsherwood@woh.rr.com.

Challenger Soccer to return to village

Yellow Springs Soccer, Inc., a non-profit organization which promotes the enhancement of soccer in the Yellow Springs community, will host the third annual Challenger Sports British Soccer Camp this summer. The soccer camp will be held June 22–26 at the boys’ soccer practice field located behind the Yellow Springs High School.

Kids between the ages of 3–18 have a wide variety of camps to choose from, including shortened camps for the youngest to half and full day camps. Given the success of previous camps, this year organizers are offering more choices for soccer camps, including a goalkeeping camp.

Participants will receive a free soccer jersey if they register online by May 8. A soccer ball and t-shirt are provided to those who register before the start of camp.

The cost of the camp varies depending on which camp is attended, with a range between $65 and $149 for the week-long camps. Brochures are available at all Yellow Springs schools, the Yellow Springs Community Library and the Bryan Community Center. For additional information and registration go to www.challengersports.com. Questions may also be directed to Daniel Miller at Challenger Sports, 866-255-4229, or to the local camp coordinator, Lauren Miller, at 767-2072.

YSSI continues to sell hooded sweatshirts to raise additional funds for the renovation of the soccer fields on the corner of East Enon Road and Dayton-Yellow Springs Road, which began last year. These sweatshirts may be purchased by contacting Miller at 767-2072. Tax deductible donations of any amount will be greatly appreciated and may be made be to Yellow Springs Soccer Inc, P.O. Box 813, Yellow Springs, OH 45387.

3on3 youth bball tourney planned

The Yellow Springs girls summer 3on3 program is sponsoring a 3on3 tournament for boys and girls on Street Fair day, June 13, at the Bryan Community Center outdoor courts. 

The goals of the tournament are to stimulate interest in basketball and to raise funds to support the girls summer 3on3 program, which is aiming to expand to include teams for all grades from middle through high school. Last summer, a group of middle school girls traveled to several tournaments in Ohio, improved their skills, and had lots of fun in the process. 

Planning for the Street Fair tournament has already begun. Additional volunteers are needed to handle various aspects of the tourney as well as to organize and transport teams to tournaments in other towns. Contact Rich Miller for more information at richmiller1@gmail.com.