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From football to
track, it’s been a stellar year in sports for many Darke County
Athletes. For others, it was a year they would like to forget. CNO File
Photos
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 Al Hetrick. Led by a sophomore
quarterback, Nick Campbell and his senior brother, Mitchell, the Tigers
had a few rough games but went to the playoffs.
In the opener, the Tigers whipped West Liberty-Salem into shape before
eventually losing to another MAC team in the second round, Coldwater.
On that night, Nick Campbell was injured early in the game, forcing him
out and leaving the Tiger offense vulnerable to the Coldwater defense.
Even in losing, the Tigers had a good reason to hold their heads high.
It had been a long dry spell in the OHSAA tournament and Versailles was
back and as strong as ever.
In cross country, it was again two V-Tigers that took center stage but
not just for an appearance but for state titles. Senior Tammy Berger
and junior Sam Prakle ran themselves to gold to end the fall year of
2011 in Tiger town.
In volleyball, Scott Brewer had another powerhouse of a team at
Mississinawa Valley. The Blackhawks, led by Mallory Livingston, had one
of the best teams in the Cross County Conference and in Darke County.
Livingston, the all-everything player, was among the best of the best
in the conference. Although not being named Player of the Year was a
travesty, Livingston was a force and a true player to watch in action.
The winter sports saw one of the four best girls basketball teams in
the state come out of the county. Tri-Village!
Led by all-state player Kayla Linkous, the Lady Patriots rocked the
world of all CCC teams except Miami East during the regular season to
finish with a 19-1 season record before heading into the sectionals.
At that point, all eyes were on Tri-Village. While some of the better
teams in the county fell by the wayside early, the Patriots were on a
mission. A mission called STATE!
After being eliminated by Ft. Loramie two years in a row, T-V was not
to be denied a third time. After barely getting by New Knoxville in the
regional semi-finals, the Patriots destroyed Loramie in the finals
earning them a trip to Columbus.
That mission would end in a loss in the state semi’s but the Patriots
had made school history as the first girls hoops team to go to state
and the second girls sports team to get there. The first being the 1980
Lady Patriots softball team.
On the boys side, Tri-Village and Versailles made strong runs deep in
the tournament, only to fall short in their respective bids.
Overall in the winter sports scene, Darke County had sectional,
district and a regional champion.
After the winter sports season, the county had two state champions in
cross country and a state final four team in girls basketball.
A pretty good year for most counties but we still had spring sports and
that meant Lady Wave Softball and Versailles track
In Greenville, the girls softball team rolled through to the state
finals, losing to LaGrange Keystone 7-2 in the championship game.
It was also a season the Wave would like to forget in terms of the
baseball team as Greenville, one of the better teams in the area, would
be forced to sit out because of an ineligible player. What a shame.
Greenville was a possible state contender. With a pitcher named Burke,
the Wave had not only the pitching but the defense and the offense to
make a serious run.
Now, we will never know.
It was also a year when the football coach/athletic director would
resign as well as the superintendent and the girls basketball coach.
WOW... What a year!
In track, Versailles would see the Lady Tigers bring home the gold
while the boys would take third at state. Throw in the bowling,
swimming and wrestling teams and this county had a lot to hang its hat
on in 2012.
What will 2013 bring?
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