The Rundown 4/30-

Etta Express In OAC Driver’s Seat- With Saturday’s double header sweep at Baldwin-Wallace the Pioneers have moved to within one win of guaranteeing an OAC playoff birth. While in early March it seemed like a possibility Marietta may be left out of the post-season all together, the Etta Express have managed to post the majority of their 18 wins in league play.

Thanks to a 12-4 in conference record the Pios have moved into sole possession of second place, and remain just a game back of first place Heidelberg. With two league games remaining against woeful Ohio Northern, should Marietta sweep the double header they could find themselves hosting the league tournament, something they haven’t done since 2003.

While Marietta hosts Ohio Northern this weekend, Heidelberg hosts the Blue Streaks of John Carroll, who as of last Saturday remained tied for second with Marietta at 10-4 in league. With John Carroll still vying for second if not first in league play, Heidelberg’s quest to host the tournament at the Peaceful Valley in Tiffin may take a serious detour.

For the Etta Express, hosting the league tournament may not be as imperative as it once was. It seems this season the friendly confines of Don Schaly Stadium may not be as friendly as they had hoped. Having dropped four games in league play, the schedule shows all four losses came at home. Having lost games to John Carroll and Mount Union, and the community day sweep by resurgent Otterbein it may be that three of the four teams poised for OAC tournament play have managed convincing victories in Marietta.

On the flip side, the team leading the league, Heidelberg, fell twice to Marietta in the early season 3-2, 10-6. This could bode well for the Pios as it seems that even with a loss to John Carroll, statistically speaking, Heidelberg has played the most consistent baseball as of late.

With their record hovering just above .500, the Etta Express must win the league tournament if they hope to defend their regional title. After winning 12 consecutive league titles from 1990 to 2002, and 21 titles in 25 years, Coach Brewer’s squads have failed to win an OAC title, something I am sure coaches and players are well aware of.

Lady Pioneers Bid For OAC Tournament Denied-The quest for four straight league tournaments came to an end Saturday in Marietta as the Lady Pioneers suffered twin extra inning set backs at the hands of John Carroll (6-4 in 12 innings, 7-5 in 8 innings).
The losses dropped Marietta to 9-9 in league play just out of the top four spots, and catapulted the victors into the fourth and final spot. Marietta’s run of NCAA tournaments appearances will likely come to an end as well unfortunately. The Lady Pioneers will play their season finale Tuesday at 4pm versus Bethany (WV). Playing their final games for the Blue and White are seniors Krista Huffman, Brandy Jacob, and Nikki Veigel.

Crazy SEOAL Softball Season- Just a week ago the Marietta Tigers were battling for their second consecutive league title. Within nine days the Tigers now find themselves in fourth place behind Warren, Athens, and Logan. With losses coming this week to Warren and Logan, the Tigers 6-4 league record and tie breakers moved them behind the 5-4 Cheiftains. Warren, 5-2 in the SEOAL, picked up a big victory at Marietta this week then withstood a charge from Logan to stay in the league’s top spot. Despite a loss to Athens, the Warriors maintained a slim lead over the bulldogs with only a couple contests remaining on the schedule.

Marietta Times Cutbacks Hurting Local Athletes

I don’t know if any of you have followed my career, but maybe some of you recognize the fact I used to write sports for the Marietta Times.

Many have asked me why I left, and often it turns into quite the spirited debate.

In addition to my wanting a bit more freedom in my writing, and also thinking the Marietta Register was a better organized outfit, I am sure to tell persons that I was in-fact let go from the Marietta Times.

The Times was forced to let me go because of budget cutbacks, likely because of the loss of several advertising accounts. This is simply the way things are going for the newspaper business. (Well actually, business at the Register is doing quite well, and for that we give many thanks.)

I am not bitter or anything about my departure, far from it, I am relieved at the change. The Marietta Register is more my speed. What I am though is worried. Not about newspapers in general, but more specifically our high school athletes in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

What many of you have noticed, or soon will, is that with those cutbacks, coverage of your local team (with the exception of Marietta High) is about to be drastically reduced. Granted spring sports are the least covered anyway, it is hard to notice now, but for those of you who have, you know what I am speaking of.

Instead of the game story about Waterford, Fort Frye, or Warren baseball or Softball you are getting only brief synopsis. This is because of their being unable to pay sports stringers. Essentially the Times has become a two man outfit when it comes to high school athletics. While their editor is forced to do pagination each night from 5pm to midnight, their lone staffer is prowling the countryside trying to give due coverage to our local athletes. When the veterans of the staff can cover MHS and Marietta College, the sports department’s newest workhorse is finally sent out in the county to cover the “other” schools.

This won’t go on forever; the newest staffer won’t make it long if it does.
So what does this mean? It means that outside of Marietta High athletics, Washington County schools will now be devoid of exposure. This is bad news for anyone hoping to procure some sort of scholarship for athletics.

It is difficult enough for smaller schools or county schools without a hometown newspaper already. When you add in the fact the major news outlet in the county now finds it inefficient to provide you coverage, this spells disaster.

So what do you do as a player, parent, or fan of your beloved school that is now an afterthought in the local sports landscape?

Resources such as JJHuddle, Southeasternohiopreps, and Max Preps are vital to getting your schedule and rosters. Game stories have to be made, with statistical information, and have to be published to the web. I would suggest your school’s newspaper, or having an informed parent construct a website with your information. Fans can access this, opponents can gather information, and print media outlets can track your progress, in the event they can come down off their throne and provide you coverage.

I don’t have all the answers, only a few suggestions. The writing has been on the wall for a while, and now that it is starting to happen those who hope to keep high school athletics king in the valley need to act now before its too late. This fall will be a trying time for fans of Fort Frye, Frontier, Waterford, Warren, and Wood County Christian, and without a little foresight on your part volleyball, soccer, and cross country records may be made without acclamation.

Duke Football Spring Game Pics

Just in case some of you don’t know, these are the helmets Duke football players will be wearing in their first bowl game since 1995

courtesy of Blue Devil Nation.com

Victory Sweet for Busch at Talladega

Having earned the nickname “Wild Thing” from his peers, a show of patience was the last thing we expected to see out of Kyle Busch.

With the race posting eight caution flags and a flagged finish, history suggested Busch would have been pushing his car back into the garage early in the afternoon.

Were it not for his conversation on “the big picture” with NASCAR VP Robin Pemberton after Martinsville, Busch may have further cemented the moniker. Surprisingly for Busch, and the Aaron’s 499 crowd, the only pushing Busch did on Sunday was out of his car and onto the roof in victory lane.

Crediting his newfound streak of patience to a recent holistic view of the NASCAR point standings, Busch opted for the subtle approach in chasing the field on Sunday.

After falling a lap down early because of a fault in the pits, Busch quietly maneuvered his way back into the race thanks to some fortuitous caution flags. After starting fifth and falling to the back of the field, Busch benefited from Carl Edwards blown tire on Lap 117, ultimately make his way back onto the lead lap and eventually back into the top twenty.

Following a caution flag and restart at lap 164, Busch moved into the top ten where he began his assault on then race leader Ryan Newman. Recognizing that last year in the Aaron’s 499, Busch and Newman tangled in a chase that ultimately led to a wreck that ended Busch’s day, the #18 M&M had ample motivation.

Finding himself without a draft-mate Busch managed to pass Newman on lap 173, yet remained under constant duress thanks to Denny Hamlin and Juan-Pablo Montoya. After finishing second, Montoya was quick to acknowledge his helping Busch move back through the field.

“I really helped Kyle. I managed to get on his bumper, and when you can get on somebody’s bumper you can actually push them all the way around the corner… It was a pretty cool, interesting race.”

The victory for Busch and Joe Gibbs racing was his second in the last seven events, and moved him to within 22 points of Sprint Cup leader Jeff Burton.
Busch, driving a Toyota, broke a stranglehold at Talladega as 16 of the last 17 races had been won by Chevrolets. Joe Gibbs racing also made waves, as the win broke a streak of 4 straight wins by Hendrik Motor sports drivers.

(montoya quote taken from FoxSports.com article)

Parkersburg Rundown 4/30-

The Rundown 4/30-
Woodridge Plantation In Danger of Closure- If you are looking for further proof of recession, look no further than the closures of entertainment venues. Case in point, Woodridge Plantation course has been for sale for over two years now and with no buyers on the horizon and the course hemorrhaging money, residents of the golf-course community are being encouraged to prepare for home value declination. Since filing for bankruptcy in August of 2005, financiers have been eyeing a prospective buyer to provide debt relief.

Now, I haven’t played the course in a couple years, and to be honest the last time I played it, the course was in poor shape to say the least. They claimed the greens were being aerated, but in fact that process concluded a few weeks before my group arrived. Additionally the price to play had gone up considerably since Ron Jaworski’s group had taken over. This was likely done to make up for a few poor seasons, but the fact remains, since opening in 1991 the course has become progressively worse.

Is the course worth saving? That is a good question. The course is a still a great play and the greens are some of the tougher tests in the valley. Under the right ownership group, and by right group I mean one that will be creative with events and will encourage affordable memberships, the Plantation course can again thrive. Managers at the course indicated that there are two standing offers to buy the course, and assuming those bids are to keep the course open, golfers everywhere can rejoice. The bottom line is that, whoever assumes control must make improvements to the course’s playability and provide more incentive to become a member. If the new group can improve local relations, the Plantation course can again become the valley’s toughest and most enjoyable play.

Rich Rod Saga-New developments in the case against Rich Rodriguez!
It turns out that Rich Rod contacted Michigan first! Within nine days of blowing chunks against Pitt, Rich Rod was already shopping, having his agent Mike Brown call the University of Michigan about the coach’s services. By December 16th, Rodriguez had bolted the Mountain State.

Given the new developments, the case may swing in favor of WVU as there now appears to be documentation that the former coach sought departure without just cause, thus making the argument about the 4 million dollar buyout clause a moot point.

If depositions occur, it could be a long day for Rodriguez as it seems the coincidence that he would sign the same 4 million dollar clause at U of M would be used to pay his impending fine. If Michigan only knew the baggage that Rodriguez was bringing to Ann Arbor.

Turn on your TV, Hockey is Relevant Again- Being that Suddenlink Cable has declared our viewing area “Pittsburgh Sports Country” the time has come for us to embrace the only team in the Steel City worth rooting for, the Penguins.

With round one of the Stanley Cup playoffs having already been completed, bandwagon jumpers can now embrace a winner. I highly suggest cling-ons jump on the Penguin bandwagon this post-season. The Pens demolished the Ottawa Senators in round one sweeping them four games to none, and now face the hated New York Rangers in round two.

The Rangers turned a few heads in the national media by beating Marty Brodeur and the Devils in round one, thanks to a series of questionable face guarding non-calls. As a result the NHL took a stand and revised the rules, MID-SERIES, yeah it was that bad. Pittsburgh goalie Marc Andre Fleury hopes to avoid the Rangers’ cheap shots in round two, while the NHL’s top tandem Evgeni Malkin and Sydney Crosby hope to make the Rangers netminder Henrick Lundqvist look worse than his 1.29 GAA in career playoff games.

Warren High School Alumni Softball Tournament

Just got word that the tournament is a go.
The first week of September this year the high school will host a Softball tournament as a fundraiser for the Warren baseball program.

All alumni are encouraged to participate in the tournament as the hope is the weekend will raise 6,000 dollars for field renovations.

The cost is 150 dollars per team, with a home run derby and various awards to be given.

btw, I love this idea because as great as alumni basketball is, alum softball would be even better. I know many alums play as is, and it would be nice to know that the money will go to fixing up the field so many of us called home.

Stay turned for more info, or just email me and I will stay in touch with Coach Bradford.

(image courtesy of JJHuddle.com)

Warren’s Wagner Signs with West Virginia State

VINCENT— Every time Warren hurler Daniel Wagner toes the rubber, opposing batters know they are in for a fight.

Boasting an above average fastball, effective change-up, and a curveball teammates affectionately call “the hammer”, Wagner has become one of the more dominant pitchers in Southeast Ohio. For those who have followed the career of the Warriors stout hurler, it comes as no surprise that Wagner has decided to take his talents to the next level.

On Wednesday April 16th, before family, friends, teammates and coaches, Wagner made it official signing a letter of intent to play collegiate baseball with the Yellow Jackets of West Virginia State.

Wagner, a senior, has served as staff ace for the Warriors this season while also carrying a bit of the load offensively in the middle of the order. Recently the right-hander picked up his team leading fourth victory of the season, adding another tally to his already impressive resume. Boasting a 25-3 cumulative record and a paltry 1.32 ERA this season, Wagner has become the latest in a line of products from the western Washington County high school.

Wagner shunned requests from various division one schools, opting to sign with the division II school feeling as if West Virginia State was a better fit for him athletically and academically.

“They really had a lot to offer me as a player. Coach Bailey has been there for 30 years now and they have won 30 or more games a few years in a row. Around the state they are considered a powerhouse and at the school they treat it like one. It is a program that I felt comfortable coming in to, and it looks like a place I can make a difference at in my freshman year.”

West Virginia State, a member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC), has long been baseball royalty in the Mountain State, playing in the DII regional tournament ten of the last twelve years, winning the league tournament last season after posting a 45-9 record.

Managed by legendary coach and former Pittsburgh Pirates farmhand Cal Bailey, the Yellow Jackets have had 18 players drafted by major league clubs, and have had countless others sign professional contracts.

Wagner hopes to be important part of the Yellow Jacket’s formidable staff next season.

“They brought in a real good class along with myself, and it looks like there will be some good competition for spots. My goals are to compete for a spot in the rotation the day I get there.”

Current Warren coach Jeff Bradford feels Wagner made a decision that will serve him well in the coming years, and will benefit West Virginia State.

“Daniel made a good decision, West Virginia State is a real good program and Coach Bailey knows his stuff. Daniel is a great player, works hard, knows how to play the game, Coach Bailey is getting a great player and a great kid.”

With his college choice having been made, Wagner now finds it easier to focus on the Warriors upcoming tournament run.

“It feels like there was a weight taken off my shoulders. I was putting some pressure on myself out there, and now that the decision has been made and the process is over with I can really give more to my teammates.”

With Wagner now singularly focused on the season and the recruiting process has finally concluded, there is no doubt that with Wagner on the hill, the Warriors will be a tough out in the tournament this May.

The Rundown 4/22-

Etta Express Drops Community Day Slugfest- For those of you who didn’t stick around for the nightcap Saturday, the Etta Express fell in dramatic fashion to visiting Otterbein 19-15. After falling behind 16-0, Marietta mounted a near spectacular comeback, posting eight unanswered runs, cutting the lead in half. After yielding three runs in the top of the 8th, Marietta answered with three of their own, keeping the margin at eight. Yielding a run in the ninth, Marietta proceeded to plate four runs in the bottom half thanks to Tony Piconke’s grand slam down the left field line. Sadly for the Etta Express they would fail to dent the plate again, securing the 19-15 final.

With the losses Marietta fell into a second place tie in the OAC with John Carroll at 10-4. Heidelberg, whom Marietta swept earlier this season, took two from Baldwin-Wallace upping their OAC record to 11-3. With Saturday and Sunday’s Ohio Northern/Capital contest rained out until Monday, the hunt for the top four spots looks like this.

1. Heidelberg 25-7, 11-3
2. John Carroll 20-9, 10-4
3. Marietta 14-16, 10-4
4. Mount Union 17-12, 8-6
5. Otterbein 18-10, 7-5
6. Baldwin-Wallace 15-14, 7-7

Lady Tigers Fall at Logan, Now Tied With Warren- By virtue of Thursday night’s loss at Logan, the Lady Tigers fell into a statistical first place tie with county rival Warren, each having just one league loss. Thursday’s 2-1 decision was especially stinging for coach John Doughty’s group as the Tigers committed four errors in the contest, two of which led to the unearned runs in the game’s third inning.

In the contest Marietta out-hit Logan 4-2, and as expected the Tiger’s ace Layne Carpenter again dazzled, this time nearly out-dueling Logan ace Ariel Zugg, yielding just the two hits while fanning seven and walking just three.

With the loss on Thursday the Lady Tiger’s league record fell to 5-1, however with Friday night’s victory over Athens, Marietta has re-upped its record to 10-3 overall and 6-1 in the league. Warren holding a 4-1 record in the league, jumped into a first place tie thanks to the Marietta loss and Friday’s win versus Zanesville. With the team’s scheduled to play this week, the SEOAL’s North Division championship may be riding in the balance.

Upstart Tigers Now Second- Thanks to Friday night’s dramatic 3-2 win over visiting Athens, the Tigers squared their league record at 3-3 good enough for second place in the SEOAL’s North Division.

Despite trailing undefeated Zanesville, the Tigers have crept back into contention thanks to this week’s victories at Logan and over Athens. Having won four of their last six contest, Larry Burke and Jim Thrash’s group have turned quite a few heads given the youth on this year’s roster. With both Logan and Warren sputtering, Marietta may find themselves as the lone threat to Zanesville’s coronation as league champions. With their third and final tilt scheduled for this Friday, the Tigers are hoping to exact a bit of revenge after falling 3-2 earlier this month.

Tiger Track Fairs Well at Russ Parsons Invite- The Tiger Boys and Girls track teams had a good weekend as both took second place at the Clear Channel MOV Radio/Russ Parsons Invite in Parkersburg.

The boys fell by the slimmest of margins to meet favorite Akron Buchtel 118-107, while the girls finished just out of first behind Hurricane (WV). While failing to take top honors the most significant thing the Tigers took home with them was a meet victory over SEOAL rivals Gallipolis and Logan. With Gallia and Logan positioning themselves in the league’s top four, Marietta’s meet victory over the league schools should give them much needed confidence in advance of the league meet in a few weeks.

Players Circle Community Day on Calendar

As little leaguers we all dreamt of playing in the major leagues.

In our grandest of visions, the stands were always full, fans were always in a frenzy cheering our name, and we always delivered in the clutch. Whether it was hitting a walk-off grand slam with two down in the ninth or getting the final out to seal our perfect game, we always came through and the fans loved us for it.

While the boys in pinstripes have played far more games than most of did, they aren’t immune to big-league dreams.

That is why everyone who has every player who has put on a uniform at MC loves the concept of community day.

There is no doubt that the sports marketing department prepares the day’s events with the fan in mind. Free admission, free food, and complimentary tee-shirts pretty much ensure fans of all ages make it out to the ball-park. However with Community Day celebrating its tenth anniversary, its high time we learn what the day means to those on the field.

“I know personally I circled this day on my calendar when our schedule came out, said former Pioneer shortstop Ryan Belanger. It was a huge day for me because I knew the stands would be full and the fans would be really energetic. As a player it is awesome to be a part of this because for a day you feel like a mini-celebrity. You get to live the high-life for a day, but more importantly it is great motivation for a league double-header.”

While the outcome of Saturday’s games was not the trend in Community Day double headers, it did evoke some memories of community day’s past. The 16 run deficit experienced by the Pios in game two was something former Pioneer Mike Eisenberg remembers all too well.

“The way Otterbein came out reminded me a lot of the way we got behind against Baldwin-Wallace a few years back, said Eisenberg. We were down ten I think, and spent the entire game clawing back. Having the fans there cheering us on made it really exciting.”

It was irony that in the midst of the interview with Eisenberg, Belanger got to chime in on the amazing comeback.

“That game was definitely the most memorable of the games we got to play on community day. It was pretty dramatic, I was standing on third with the score tied, and made it home on a passed ball to give us the win.”

Having been apart of a few community day contests myself I look back with fondness at some of the first games. The most notable of those games was a 6-5 loss to Heidelberg back in 2001, a game in which former Yankee hurler Matt DeSalvo struck out 18 Heidelberg batters, setting the single game game record and breaking the all-time Marietta College career strikeout record.

While most certainly for the fans, community day and all of the hoopla isn’t lost on players. Just as fans fill the stands hoping to catch a foul ball, or make it back to the stands after downing a couple free hot-dogs, players make sure their uniforms are looking sharp, cleats are polished, and eye-black is on straight.

On a day that showcases the professionalism that the sports marketing department and Marietta College possess, players soak in that same professionalism and envision themselves as major-leaguers….at least for a day.

Coach Stew Now THE Man in Morgantown

After their 14-3 victory in the 1969 Peach Bowl, West Virginia athletics director Red Brown was left in a compromising position.

Following their most successful season in a decade, coach Jim Carlen left the ten win Mountaineers in favor of greener pastures. In 1969 Lubbock, Texas and Texas Tech University was a greener place than Morgantown. Being that WVU was still toiling as a former member of the Southern Conference, it wasn’t hard to fathom.

To those familiar with WVU football history, this isn’t anything you haven’t heard before. However, in case you haven’t heard the story before, let me remind you.

Faced with the task of hiring a new football coach at a basketball school (remember Jerry West was at WVU in 1966), athletics director Red Brown turned to then 35 year-old assistant coach Bobby Bowden.

That move seemed to work out well for WVU as Bowden would guide the Mountaineers to a 42-26 record in five seasons, including a win in the 1975 Peach Bowl over NC State.

In 1969 athletics director Red Brown sided with players and opted to promote offensive coordinator Bobby Bowden. In 2008 A.D. Ed Pastilong made a similar choice, and if Saturday’s spring game serves as any indication, WVU appears headed in a similar direction.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not claiming that Bill Stewart is Bobby Bowden, although Stewart already has a better winning percentage in BCS games. However, having seen their performance in the Fiesta Bowl and having seen portions of the spring game, I am confident in saying that in 2008, fans in Milan Puskar Stadium will not be clamoring for a new coach or the return of Rich Rodriguez.

Here’s why I am confident Stewart can win the Big East and guide the Mountaineers to another BCS bowl, if not the national championship.

First, Bill Stewart may sound and look like some genteel do-gooder who is out of touch with today’s college football culture, but make no mistake, Coach Stew is a master motivator.

Somewhere on YouTube you can find the video of Stewart’s pre-game speech before the Oklahoma game. I am not a huge WVU fan, but I can tell you I had chills. Rich Rod may have spoke about the “Pride of West Virginia” but Bill Stewart lives it. I think fans know they have a keeper when in his teachable moments where he claims Scouts Honor and quotes Jim Bridger. That type of character is something WVU should be proud of, and long for following the tyrannical regime that preceded him.

Second, Bill Stewart has no ego, and will do whatever is necessary to allow his team to win.

That is the kind of coach every player wants to play for. When you devote the best years of your life to a coach and university, you want assurance that if given the chance the coach will opt to make himself look bad if he thinks it will help the team win. Rich Rodriguez would make decisions that kept him above criticism and wouldn’t allow himself to be second guessed. Bill Stewart will never do that.

So rest easy fans of the Blue and Gold, your program is safe for the foreseeable future. While questions about his ability to recruit and the program’s longevity persist, one can be sure that when September rolls around Bill Stewart will have his team ready to play football. Given the struggles Rodriguez had in keeping his team focused, the results under Stewart should be a welcomed change.