Darke County Ohio Sports News

GTI drops season finale to Piqua, By George Starks
GREENVILLE- With the temperature said to be 103 degrees, GTI-I took the field against Piqua. GTI pitcher Austin Weimer took the bulk of that heat right out of the gate. Forced to throw 49 pitches in the first inning alone, coupled with four errors by his defense, added up to a 9-5 loss for GTI Thursday. If the heat and shaky defense wasn’t enough, the GTI offense was held to one hit through the first three innings... read more

Eldora Speedway... Chevrolet Performance Fastrak a National Points Race
ROSSBURG– With Saturday’s (June 30) Chevrolet Performance event for FASTRAK Pro Late Models being designated by series officials as a National points race, drivers from throughout the eastern third of the nation are expected to compete for the $5,000 top prize. Completing Saturday’s tripleheader program will be the UMP DIRTcar Modifieds and Eldora Stock Cars; followed by a gigantic fireworks display to kick-off the Independence Day week. Based out of Carnesville, GA, the... read more

The Bleacher Report... Reds to honor Morgan with statue
CINCINNATI -- Legendary Reds second baseman Joe Morgan is securing his legacy with Cincinnati even further, as the club selected Morgan to be the second in a series of four bronze sculptures to be permanently installed on the perimeter of Great American Ball Park. Morgan’s statue will go alongside fellow Big Red Machine teammate Johnny Bench, whose bronze sculpture was dedicated in 2011... read more

Cincinnati Reds... Reds can’t complete sweep of Brewers
CINCINNATI -- Homer Bailey was knocked around for two home runs as Brewers starter Zack Greinke helped send the Reds to an 8-4 loss Wednesday that prevented them from completing a three-game series sweep. Bailey pitched four-plus innings and allowed five runs, four earned, with seven hits, one walk and one strikeout. He was lifted after not retiring either of his two batters in the fifth. In the top of the second inning, Corey Hart smoked a drive to the warning track in center field. The ball went into... read more

Wave soccer: High heat; positive attitudes, By George Starks
GREENVILLE- On Tuesday, the Greenville boy’s soccer team had already been in a conditioning program that started in December. For the past month, it’s been every day, twice a day. In the middle of June, temperatures soared into the 90’s on a few occasions. Monday and Tuesday, the temps were very nice, staying in the upper 70’s to lower 80’s. Starting today, nice won’t be the word as 100... read more

Yahoo sports... Smoke is rising in the Sprint Cup Chase
The race is done, and that means it’s time for Power Rankings. Each week throughout the season, we’ll size up who’s rising and who’s falling, based on current standings, behind-the-scenes changes, expected staying power, recent history and general gut feelings. It is not scientific, nor is it meant to be. And remember, whoever your favorite driver is, we’re biased against him and like someone else better. We continue with a guy who’s back again... 1. Tony Stewart: You know, just when you’re... read more

Ohio State Football... Buckeyes taking spring game to Cincy
In a press release Monday, Ohio State announced that the school was in discussions with the Cincinnati Bengals that could move the 2013 Ohio State LiFE Sports Spring Game to the Queen City while historic Ohio Stadium undergoes renovations. While nothing is finalized, the move would potentially give the Buckeyes extra exposure in a part of the state that has traditionally been less “pro-OSU” than other regions... read more

Greenville Elks #1139 Hosts Local “Soccer Shoot”
Saturday, May 12, 2012 marked the 4th annual Elks Soccer Shoot held under the direction of Soccer Shoot Chairman, Rich Hadden II. There was a fantastic turnout for the event as we saw 98 participants ranging in ages from 5 to 13 years old. “It’s such a pleasure to see so many of our youth compete in the spirit of good sportsmanship while practicing important skills for the game of soccer”, said Hadden... read more

Chapman blows save... Twins beat Reds
reds.com - CINCINNATI -- Josh Willingham took away one run on defense and hit a two-run home run off Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman in the ninth inning Sunday to lift the Twins to a 4-3 win against the Reds at Great American Ball Park. Willingham’s home run followed Joe Mauer’s double on a 10-pitch at-bat and landed in the second-deck bleachers. It answered the two-run homer Cincinnati’s Joey Votto hit in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Reds the lead after Scott Diamond... read more

Yahoo Sports... Sandusky found guilty in child sex case
BELLEFONTE, Pa. – Juror No. 4, the foreman, gray-haired and middle-aged, stood high in the back row of the jurors’ box, looked down at some sheets of paper, then at Jerry Sandusky and began to deliver a verdict a long, sad time coming. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. Of indecent assault. Of endangering the welfare of children. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Of terrorizing the poorest and... read more

The Bleacher Report... Hall should be ready
Bengals cornerback Leon Hall was having a very good year in 2011 before he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the ninth game of the season. Despite that injury, the Bengals expect him to be ready to have another good year in 2012. The Bengals’ website reports that “the Bengals got a huge rehab from cornerback Leon Hall,” (I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of a “huge rehab” before... read more

Bleacher Report... Forecasting Bengals 8 Toughest Games on the 2012 Schedule
Last season, the Cincinnati Bengals took advantage of an easy schedule and some unbelievably good luck to earn their second playoff berth in the past three seasons. Not only did the Bengals get to face teams that were on their level such as Arizona, Buffalo, Seattle and Jacksonville, Cincy also got to play a wounded Indianapolis team that was spiraling out of control and... read more

Indians sweep Reds
Tribe keeps Ohio Cup - CLEVELAND -- The makings of a great road trip for the Reds eroded to one that was merely .500. Its conclusion certainly felt worse than that. In a thud that was probably felt four hours south down Interstate 71, the Reds were roughed up for an 8-1 loss by the Indians on Wednesday at Progressive Field as Justin Masterson dominated with a three-hit complete game. “They... read more

Darke County Soccer Association… Galaxy U12 Boys Soccer wraps up season in finals
The DC Galaxy U12 Boys soccer team of the local Dark County Soccer Association (DCSA) capped their splendid and fun season with making the Finals in the Creek Classic Soccer Tournament the weekend of June 2nd & 3rd. In addition, while developing teamwork, skill building, and great sportsmanship, the DC Galaxy won the spring 2012 MVYSA (Miami Valley Youth Soccer Association) League... read more

OHSAA Officials... Hall of Fame to Welcome 14 New Members Saturday
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio High School Athletic Association Officials Hall of Fame Committee will enshrine its 2012 class into the Officials Hall of Fame Saturday night at its annual induction banquet in Columbus. Each of the 14 inductees in the 2012 class is being honored for their significant contributions to interscholastic officiating in the state of Ohio. While the OHSAA’s Circle of Champions... read more

Greenville Say Soccer Season Registration Deadline June 23
The Darke County Soccer Association is proud to announce the upcoming Greenville Say Soccer Season. The Registration Deadline is June 23rd. Players can register at North Park on Saturday from 11am to 2pm or go to www.darkecountysoccer.com and register online. Greenville Say Soccer Home Games will be played will be held at Greenville’s North Park or the Fairgrounds Soccer fields and will be the only soccer in Greenville this Fall, so don’t miss out on a great opportunity to play soccer... read more

Reds drop second straight to Indians
CLEVELAND -- Aroldis Chapman has stood out from the rest because of his triple-digit velocity. But in one respect, he’s just like any other closer. Fall behind in the count, and you pay. The Reds certainly did on Tuesday night. Chapman gave up a two-run home run to Asdrubal Cabrera in the bottom of the 10th inning for a crushing 3-2 walk-off loss to the Indians. “When you’re down in the count, you have to... read more

Darke County Soccer Assn… Spring Soccer “Thank You” event scheduled for June 23
Darke County Soccer Association has just wrapped up Youth Soccer at North Park for the Spring Season. It was DCSA’s first year running the program DCSA would like to announce they had over 200 players this spring. DCSA would like to thank the program’s Sponsors: Greenville National Bank, Second National Bank, Greenville Federal, Randall Insurance, Jim Gable State Farm and Cavalier Clothing... read more

Cincinnati Reds... Reds streak snapped at six
CLEVELAND -- Progressive Field could have been mistaken for the bandbox feel of Great American Ball Park on Monday night. But no matter the facility, leads proved too disposable for the Reds. There were three of them, all of them blown by starter Mat Latos in the early innings, before the Indians emerged with a 10-9 victory and snapped the Reds’ season-high-tying six-game win streak. Latos took some responsibility for the... read more

Ohio State Championship Pull... Benefit tractor pulls set for Saturday
GREENVILLE- The 5th Annual Ohio State Championship Pull benefiting Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation will be held this Saturday, June 23rd at the Great Darke County Fairgrounds. This year’s event is a Lucas Oil Champions Tour event with national 5 classes on 2 tracks. There is a Kiddie Pedal Pull at 4 pm under the Grandstands and the main event, starting at 6:30. Grandstand seats are $15 and Pit passes are $20. Kids 12 & under... read more

Nascar... Jr. gets monkey off his back
Having gone four years without a victory, you’d have expected Dale Earnhardt Jr. to go a little nuts when he crossed the finish line first Sunday at Michigan International Speedway. He didn’t. Instead, Junior calmly said over his radio, “I don’t know what to say,” then asked his crew chief Steve Letarte if, in fact, he’d really won. Letarte confirmed he had and, well, Junior was relieved. Oh, there will celebrations... read more

Major League Baseball Standings, June 17, 2012
American League: East – New York; Central – Chicago; West – Texas. National League: East – Washington; Central – Cincinnati; West – Los Angeles... read more

Cleveland Indians... Indians lose to Pirates
CLEVELAND -- Search for Asdrubal Cabrera’s name on YouTube and you’ll find numerous defensive highlight videos. The Indians shortstop has made a name for himself with such remarkable defensive plays as an unassisted triple play and a behind-the-back flip. The Indians didn’t need any remarkable plays out of Cabrera on Sunday -- just the routine ones. Unfortunately for Cleveland, he failed to deliver. Cabrera committed three errors that eventually led to eight runs as the Indians lost to the... read more

Cincinnati Reds... Reds Sweep Tribe then sweep Mets
NEW YORK -- Reds manager Dusty Baker was aware of what the Mets did in their previous series, a three-game sweep of the Rays, before meeting the Reds this weekend. That just made him even more impressed with Cincinnati’s performance the past three days. With a 3-1 victory on Sunday at Citi Field, the Reds held New York -- which scored 29 runs in three games off the Rays... read more

GTI takes two from Wayne, By George Starks
GREENVILLE- Coming in with a solid 8-2 mark, the GTI1 team swept two from Wayne Thursday, 11-1 in five and 11-4 in seven. In a route going five inning performance in the opener, pitcher Ian Cook was near perfect. The GTI right-hander, allowed just one hit through the first four innings before allowing three hits in the fifth, and a run, to get the victory. “My starter (Cook) was on top of his game tonight,” said coach... read more

OHSAA Scholarships… $66,000 in scholarships to be presented at annual banquet
OHSAA to Present College Scholarships to 54 Students at Annual Banquet Friday, $66,000 in scholarships to be handed out at 20th Annual OHSAA Scholar-Athlete Banquet. COLUMBUS, Ohio - A total of $66,000 in college scholarships will be handed out to 54 students during the 20th Annual OHSAA Scholar-Athlete Scholarship Banquet Friday night in Columbus. The evening will begin at 6:00 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel at the Crosswoods/Worthington. The scholarship winners were selected by... read more

Cincinnati Reds... Reds sweep Tribe
reds.com - CINCINNATI -- Brandon Phillips homered and drove in four runs, while Joey Votto had a three-run home run to give the Reds a 12-5 win and three-game series sweep over the Indians on Thursday. Cleveland opened a quick 2-0 lead on starter Mike Leake when Shin-Soo Choo began the game with a homer to right field and Asdrubal Cabrera followed with a double and later scored on a groundout. Other than a... read more

2012: the year that was and wasn’t, By George Starks
It was a year in Darke County Sports that many will soon never forget. While some would just as soon forget. For this sports minded person, it was one that boggled my mind at times. The winter sports season got it all started off by watching the Versailles athletes take control in two areas. Football saw the mighty Tigers make it to the playoffs for the first time since the days of the legendary... read more

Cincinnati Reds... Reds close to signing top pic
reds.com - CINCINNATI -- The Reds are closing in on signing their first-round pick from the 2012 First-Year Player Draft. Since his selection last Monday, negotiations have moved quick with the 14th-overall selection, right-handed pitcher Nick Travieso from Archbishop McCarthy High School near Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “We’re pretty close,” Reds general manager Walt Jocketty told MLB.com on Sunday. “I think we’re just trying to finish up a couple things... read more

Cincinnati Bengals... Hall on target for summer camp - NFL call on Jones
bengals.com - Bengals cornerback Leon Hall says he’d be shocked if he went on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) and said he believes he’ll take the first snap of practice at training camp on July 27. Before the first Bengals practice of the mandatory minicamp Tuesday, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis stopped just short of confirming it, but said Hall’s rehab has exceeded expectations... read more

Major League Baseball Standings, June 11, 2012
American League: East - Tampa Bay; Central – Chicago; West – Texas. National League: East – Washington; Central – Pittsburg; West – Los Angeles... read more

Cincinnati Reds... Reds Chapman lets one get away
reds.com - CINCINNATI -- A Reds bullpen with the best ERA in the National League was at manager Dusty Baker’s disposal, as was arguably one of the best closers around in Aroldis Chapman. To secure a win on Sunday night, Baker went all-in with his best relievers in the late innings. Then he watched it all come apart in a painful 7-6 loss to the Tigers in which Chapman took his second loss in a row during a... read more

Lady Wave Softball... Wolter, Martin earn all-state honors
GREENVILLE – Greenville senior catcher Paige Wolter and shortstop Kelly Martin earned all-state honors this week for Lady Wave softball. Wolter was named to the first team while Martin was a second team player in D-II softball. Both Wolter and Martin are four year starters. “Both these kids were very deserving of these awards,” said Wave coach Jerrod Newland. “I’m very proud... read more

Eldora Speedway... Clanton gets Dirt Late Model Dream Win
Ferris Commercial Mowers Sponsored Victory Worth $100,000 - ROSSBURG, Ohio (June 9) – He had just captured Saturday’s Dirt Late Model Dream presented by Ferris Commercial Mowers at Eldora Speedway in a flawless run, when the question was asked near the end of his press conference – “which win is your favorite, tonight’s Dirt Late Model Dream or the World 100 in 2008?” Shane Clanton started on... read more

Big changes coming for Lady Wave Softball, By George Starks
Diamond Three to become Lady Wave Stadium - GREENVILLE- Go by Stebbins Field these days and the silence is almost unnerving. It won’t be that way much longer. After the summer leagues are completed, diamond three, the home of Lady Wave Soft Ball (LWSB) will undergo a huge face lift. Plans are in the making and funds are trying to be raised for the new home of LWSB. It will still be... read more

Pro Football Weekly... Ochocinco released by Patriots
The Patriots released WR Chad Ochocinco on Thursday, the team announced. Ochocinco was not at the team’s OTA practice on Thursday, his first absence among the sessions open to the media. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Pats tried unsuccessfully to trade Ochocinco before deciding to release him. Acquired from the Bengals last July for a fifth-round pick, Ochocinco was a nonfactor... read more

Yahoo Sports... I’ll Have Another out of Racing
I’ll Have Another is out of the Belmont Stakes, out of the Triple Crown and retired for good - A leg injury has taken I’ll Have Another out of the Belmont Stakes and out of the running for the Triple Crown. The issue is with a swollen left-front tendon. Trainer Doug O’Neill said something was first noticed in the leg on Thursday, but hoped I’ll Have Another had “just hit himself.” I’ll Have Another... read more

Busch wins annual Prelude to the Dream
WHIO-TV Video - ROSSBURG– After knocking on the door to victory lane countless times in his five previous runs in the Prelude To The Dream at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, Kyle Busch finally broke through Wednesday night to score his first win in the all-star dirt Late Model race benefiting Feed The Children. “This is cool,” said Busch, who outlasted strong challenges from Kasey Kahne and Clint... read more

2012 Lady Wave State Runner-ups recognized, By George Starks
GWOC: Newland Coach of the Year; Martin Player of the Year - Newland says team is special - GREENVILLE- When the rest of the Greenville spring sports teams received their awards, the Lady Wave softball team had unfinished business to attend to. The very next day, the team was scheduled to leave for Akron to play for a state title. “We really didn’t want to take away from the business... read more

reds.com... Reds great Borbon dies at 65
CINCINNATI -- Former reliever Pedro Borbon, the Reds’ all-time leader in appearances and a member of two World Series championship teams, died on Monday. Borbon was 65 years old. Borbon was a key figure in the Reds’ bullpen from 1970-79 -- when he appeared in more games than any pitcher in the NL. He broke into the Majors in 1969 with the Angels and spent the final two seasons of his career with the.... read more

Versailles Track Finals... Prakel earns State Gold in Two Events
Versailles Team takes Third Place - COLUMBUS — Versailles’ Samuel Prakel sent a message to the rest of the state Saturday. That message being, “here I am, beat me.” Saturday, the Tiger junior won the state championships in the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs, helping to lead Versailles to a third place finish in the state track and field meet at Ohio State behind Akron St. Vincent-St. Marys and Dunbar. “What... read more

Wave Nation out in Force... The support was there, By George Starks
AKRON- Over the course of the past 23 years, it has been a privilege for me to have been allowed to be a part of many sporting events. Ohio State-Michigan, the year the Buckeyes won the national title in football. Game two of the 1990 World Series as well as the Brickyard in 1999, as well as covering numerous Reds and Bengals games. Closer to home, going to state on several... read more

Eldora Speedway... Definition of ‘Dream’ Personified
Five-Day Span (June 5-9) at Ohio Speed Plant to Feature Racing, Music, Reception and Pageant - ROSSBURG, OH (June 1) – Webster’s Dictionary defines ‘dream’ as a strongly desired goal or purpose; something that fully satisfies a wish. Over a five-day span, Eldora Speedway will personify and satisfy that definition with its presentation of Dream Week 2012. During that June 5-9 period, dreams will come true for race fans, race teams, drivers and aspiring queens; on and off the race... read more

Emotions run high... Greenville seniors get diplomas early, By George Starks
AKRON- It was supposed to have been a surprise but the cat was long out of the bag. Win or lose, there was no way the Greenville Lady Wave seniors were going to make their graduation ceremonies. A 4 p.m. starting time in Akron for the D-II state title in softball guaranteed they would never get back in time. So the next best thing happened. Board of Education member Ben Studebaker... read more

LaGrange: "Greenville is a class act"... Lady Wave take state silver, By George Starks
AKRON- Getting to the Ship and winning was the goal. “Silver is not an option.” The goal fell short Saturday as Greenville fell 7-2 to LaGrange Keystone in the OHSAA state finals at Firestone Stadium in Akron. “I’m proud of my kids,” said an emotional Jerrod Newland. “I don’t know what else to say. These kids came in, played their hearts out and we left it all on the field.” For four and a half... read more

Going to the ‘Ship’... Lady Wave in finals, By George Starks
AKRON- “We’re going to the Ship.” The Championship, that is. Those were the words of Greenville softball Coach Jerrod Newland Friday after the Lady Wave tripped up Circleville Logan Elm, 3-0, in the state semi-finals at Akron’s Firestone Stadium. “It’s been the journey all year and today, we punched our ticket,” said Newland. The Lady Braves proved to be no competition for the Wave... read more

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