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Lady Wave tennis drops 3-2 decision to Miamisburg The Greenville girls tennis team lost 3-2 to Miamisburg Tuesday in Greenville. At first singles Greenville’s Sophia Navas-Davis lost to Carly Sickenger 6-1, 6-7, 6-4. In second singles Michelle Borgerding beat Mikaela Hindenlang 6-1, 6-3. The Lady Wave’s Raquel Navas-Davis lost to Jada Strickland 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. In first doubles Greenville’s Madison Bixler and Abby Monnin beat Chelsea Hohenbrick and Amy Cox 6-4, 1-6, 6-1. At second doubles the Lady... read more Full slate of races scheduled for today, By George Starks GREENVILLE- A full slate of harness horse races are scheduled for today at the Great Darke County Fair. The Saturday afternoon post time is set for 1 p.m. with 12 races on the card. The evening card will have nine races with a 7 p.m. scheduled post time. Admission to the races is free with betting windows always open for wagering. Saturday Afternoon Schedule Race 1- Pace Maiden-$800 Purse 1. Barley’s Grin (Scott Furgeson) ... read more Harness racing kicks off tonight, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Harness horse racing will kick off tonight at the Great Darke County Fair with 10 races set for the opening night card. Local drivers like Jeff Nisonger, Don Bolyard, Chris Hope and Gavin Bixler, just to name a few, big money will be up for grabs during the week. The big headliner will be the Gene Riegle Memorial. Last year, the purse was at 10,000 dollars for the inaugural race. This year, promoters are looking at a 15,000... read more Versailles boys golf team wins Kendig Memorial…Drees leads Tiger efforts PIQUA- The Versailles boys golf team won the Dan Kendig Memorial Tournament Wednesday at Echo Hills Golf Course in Piqua. Versailles won the 15-team tournament, which also included Darke County teams from Arcanum, Franklin Monroe and Tri-Village. Versailles shot a 319 to win the invitational by two strokes as Russia finished second with a 321. Milton-Union finished third with a 329, Arcanum finished fourth with.... read more Austin Dillon to Unveil Artifacts from Eldora Speedway Victory at NASCAR Hall of Fame Dillon’s No. 39 American Ethanol Chevrolet truck among artifacts to debut on Tuesday, Aug. 13 - Austin Dillon made history as the first driver to win a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on dirt on July 25 at Eldora Speedway in New Weston, Ohio, also marking the first time in four decades NASCAR has run on a dirt track in its top three series. Dillon will be on hand for a press conference that unveils three artifacts from the victory at the... read more Wave mistakes costly in soccer scrimmage, By George Starks GREENVILLE- The Greenville boys soccer team welcomed Stebbins on Monday evening and it wasn’t pretty for the Wave. On a night when the play of the Wave was as cold as the air temperature, mistakes proved costly in a 5-1 loss to the Indians. “This is a top-notch program,” said Greenville coach Brent DeVoss. “We play the best competition we can get because we want to get better and this is how you get better... read more V-Tigers second in golf tournament MINSTER — The Versailles boys golf team finished one stroke behind Minster to finish as the runner up at the Cardinal Invitational Tuesday at Arrowhead Golf Course in Minster. Versailles shot a 321 to finish only behind Minster, who shot a 320 to win the tournament. Russia shot a 338, Wapakoneta shot a 340, St. Marys shot a 344, Anna shot a 362, Lehman Catholic shot a 363, Botkins shot a 364, Fremont St. Joe shot a 367... read more nascar.com…Austin Dillon subbing for Tony Stewart at Michigan BROOKLYN, MICH.- Austin Dillon was tabbed by Stewart-Haas Racing on Monday to be the replacement driver for Tony Stewart at Michigan on Sunday. Dillon currently leads the Nationwide Series points standings by three points over Sam Hornish. “I’ve watched Austin for many years and at each stage of his racing career he’s been successful,” Stewart said in a team release. “He’s proven to be a very fast learner, and he’s able to adapt... read more Wave looks decent in Monday scrimmage, By George Starks GREENVILLE- The Greenville Wave football team welcomed Wilmington in Monday for an early morning scrimmage. With offense, defense and special teams being looked at closely by Wave coach Aaron Schaffer, the overall outlook on the team was a positive one by the second year coach. “I think we are leaps and bounds ahead of last year at this time,” said Schaffer. “We don’t try to over prepare for this because it was nothing more than... read more Davidson Rolls 300 Game at Bowling's US Open It had been 8 years since Doug Davidson competed at the most prestigious and grueling bowling tournament Major in the world, Bowling's US Open. He had competed back in 2005 at The Open in New Jersey after winning a US Open Qualifier spot in Dayton, Ohio. The trip to The Open was not much different. "With the incredibly busy summer with trade shows and coaching Michael in the Teen Masters and Junior Gold, I had no plans in... read more nascar.com…Busch takes Nascar’s Watkins Glen WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Surviving a succession of restarts in the final 15 laps of Sunday’s Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International, Kyle Busch edged Brad Keselowski for the victory in a two-lap shootout. Busch collected his third NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win of the season, his second at the 2.45-mile road course and the 27th of his career -- but nothing about it was easy. Aric Almirola’s Ford nosed into a tire barrier after a blowing.... read more “Heat” looking for more players The Miami Valley Heat is adding an 11U team for the 2014 season and is looking for players from the Darke County and surrounding areas. Players will practice indoors at The Academy in Greenville in the late fall and winter months and play all home games at Sater Park in Greenville. Players can expect to play between 50-60 games including 6-7 tournaments from April through July. Players must still be 11 years-old or younger on May 1, 2014 to be eligible. For more information and to schedule a... read more Kramer, Pitts thrill packed house at Eldora ROSSBURG, OH (August 10, 2013) — Prior to a dazzling fireworks display that capped off Family Fun Night, feature race winners Joey Kramer (UMP DIRTcar Modifieds) and Dean Pitts (Stock Cars) helped to wow a large and appreciative crowd with a sensational show of their own. Drivers from eight states and one province helped to swell the pit area for a wild doubleheader night of action. Kramer, the defending track champion, became the sixth different Modified driver to win in six races at ... read more Old coach looks to redeem MV football, By George Starks UNION CITY- In the last 25 football games at Mississinawa Valley; the Hawks haven’t exactly overwhelmed their opponents. In fact, they have overwhelmed none of them going 0-25 in that stretch. Now a familiar face has resurfaced in Blackhawk Nation. That being the familiar face of John Graher. Graher was the last coach to get the Hawks into the post season and since his departure, MV football has fallen on... read more Fan involvement at Eldora Family Fun Night ROSSBURG, OH (August 6) – While action on Eldora’s fabled .500-mile clay oval is the attraction, Saturday’s (August 10) Family Fun Night focuses upon fan and driver involvement in a relaxed atmosphere.   For the UMP DIRTcar Modified and Eldora Stock Car drivers, their chase towards the 2013 Eldora championship title will continue; for the fans, it will be an opportunity to mingle with, and greet, the drivers during an extensive pre-race autograph session.   And for the kids, there will be inflatable bounces... read more Eldora Speedway… High flying action at Monster Jam In front of a huge crowd of Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam fans on hand for the sport’s first weekend of competition ever at Eldora Speedway both 2013 Monster Jam World Champion drivers grabbed victories, but not in the categories they won at this year’s Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam World Finals presented by NGK Spark Plus in Las Vegas. Reigning freestyle champ Tom Meents won the Eldora racing bracket in his 10th... read more Francis takes Horseshoe Pitching championship, By Don McDermott, Special to County News Online ST. GEORGE, UT– Alan Francis won a Guinness Book of World Records' 18th Men's Class A World Horseshoe Pitching championship at the Dixie Convention Center here on Saturday, Aug. 3. The National Horseshoe Pitchers Association-sanctioned tournament started July 22 and concluded August 3. From Defiance, OH, Francis was 15-0 in the championship round-robin series. Francis threw an incredible 593 ringers out of 650 attempts, a ringer... read more Jets looking to make strong run in soccer, By George Starks PITSBURG- Coming off a strong 16 win season a year ago, the Franklin Monroe Jets will once again look to go deep into the post season. With only two losses in 2012, head coach Danny Diceanu will lead his team into battle in 2013. The Jets were undefeated in the Cross County Conference last season and were ranked second in the Miami Valley rankings. According to the Jets boss, it’s a team that needs to gel. “We are looking at about ... read more Stewart suffers broken leg in sprint car race, By nwcn.com/sports OSKALOOSA, Iowa -- Three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart has broken his right leg and had surgery following a crash in a sprint car race at Southern Iowa Speedway Monday night. A spokesman for Stewart said the 42-year-old driver broke his right tibia and fibula. A scheduled test for the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing NASCAR team at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Tuesday was canceled. No replacement driver for this weekend's race... read more Snap Fitness takes 14U Annie Oakley Baseball Classic title Snap Fitness Baseball 14U team wins Annie Oakley Baseball Classic by finishing with a 4-0 record and defeating the Professional Baseball Institute of Illinois 11-3 in the championship game. Snap Fitness is made up of players from Greenville, Franklin-Monroe, Tri-Village and Piqua and is coached by Jim Beyke and Mark Ridgeway. Players include: Logan Ressler, Jonny Wilson, Travis Smith, Tanner Ross, Kyle... read more Eldora Speedway…2nd Pit Party Added for Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam® Due to Overwhelming Demand, Fans will enjoy a 2nd Pit Party THIS weekend for Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam® at Eldora Speedway (New Weston, Ohio – July 30, 2013) – Due to a tremendous public response, Advanced Auto Parts Monster Jam® officials have announced that tickets are now on sale to the just added 2nd Party In The Pits for Friday, August 2’s event at Eldora Speedway. The Party in the Pits gives Monster Jam fans the opportunity to get a view of the trucks up close and ... read more OHSAA Football Preseason Notebook; Fall Sports Practices Set to Begin Thursday 714 schools sponsoring football, vying for 224 football playoff spots COLUMBUS, Ohio – Practices are slated to begin Thursday, Aug. 1, for member schools of the Ohio High School Athletic Association in the sports of girls tennis, golf, cross country, field hockey, soccer and volleyball. In addition, schools that begin classes Aug. 16 or earlier may begin football practice Thursday, Aug. 1, while all other all schools may begin football ... read more Fall sports coming soon to a school near you; Focus on football, By George Starks DARKE COUNTY- Today is the first of August and it starts the official beginning of prep football. The conditioning and camps are over and two-a-days/three-a-days in the case of Greenville, will start today. August 30 marks the opening night of the season with all six team being in action. So who are the contenders in Darke County? In my opinion, it all starts in Versailles and Bradford. The Railroaders went to the post season for the first time in 20 years... read more Wave has a long road ahead in 2013, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Coming off a three win season a year ago, the Wave boys soccer team will have a tough road to hold in 2013. Graduating 12 seniors off last years squad, Greenville coach Brent DeVoss will have only six seniors on his roster this year. With 28 kids total, the 2013 season will be a tough one for the Wave but DeVoss is optimistic. "We are a little low on numbers," said DeVoss. "We would like to see more come out. We have plenty... read more Union City looks to improve from a year ago, By George Starks UNION CITY, IND. - Coming off a stellar 7-4 season a year ago, the Union City Indians will look to be right back in the thick of the Tri-Eastern Conference under head coach Keith Malloy. Malloy, a former player and the coach of the now disbanded Randolph County Rage, has high hopes for his Indians as his team finished third in the TEC a year ago. “I really think we’re in good shape,” said Malloy. “We lost quite a few seniors last year and they were a big... read more Heat turns up the heat in title game…Indiana Elite no match, By George Starks TIPP CITY- In 18 years of coaching, Mark Eldridge never had a team win 50 games in a season. That all changed Thursday in Tipp City. In a tight 2-1 game heading into the fifth, the Miami Valley Heat lived up to its name. Heat! Miami Valley turned the thermostat up a notch or two against Indiana Elite, hitting three homeruns, four in the game, to defeat the Elite 11-5 for the Midwest Ohio League title. “This is s great feeling for not only the kids... read more Dillon wins NASCAR Truck race; Eldora makes history again, By George Starks ROSSBURG- It was 43 years ago when Richard Petty drove his #43 to victory at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in a dirt race. Wednesday, NASCAR returned to the dirt and history was made at Eldora Speedway. For the final 40 laps, Austin Dillon, Ryan Newman and Kyle Larson swapped paint and waged war in a three lap dash to the finish. In the end, it was Dillon, who started 19th in the field of 30, that made the history making... read more Arcanum hosts eight teams in 7 on 7 scrimmage, By George Starks ARCANUM- Arcanum coach TJ Powers welcomed in eight teams from around the area Thursday for a huge seven on seven passing scrimmage. Locally, the scrimmage saw Ansonia and Randolph Eastern Indiana taking part in the drill that lasted four hours with each team getting five scrimmages in. On the day, the Trojans were 3-2 with the Indians going 2-3 and Ansonia 0-5. Powers and Union City coach Keith Malloy were positive with... read more Davis doing well in AZL SURPRISE, Ariz. — Greenville native Tripp Davis is off to a strong start in his first month of professional baseball, posting a 2.45 ERA for the AZL Royals. Davis, a left handed pitcher, has pitched in eight games for the Royals including one start and seven relief appearances in his first month with the team. In 18.1 innings on the mound, he has a 2-1 record and two saves with 14 hits given up, four walks allowed and 12... read more Three states represented in Annie Oakley Tournament GREENVILLE - Forty-two teams from Ohio, Indiana and Illinois flocked to the annual Annie Oakley baseball tournament held at Sater Diamonds. The tournament started Thursday and concluded Sunday as four age divisions played for championships. In the 8U Gold Division, the Southern Ohio Sting won the title with Bradford coming in fourth, while the Indiana Bandits won it all in the Silver Division of the age group. In the 10U age... read more nascar.com…NASCAR coming to Eldora tonight ROSSBURG- For the first time in 42 years, NASCAR will return to a dirt track with Eldora Speedway serving as the host. Festivities for the inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Eldora are set to begin today and continue through Wednesday night, with the 150-lap Mudsummer Classic set to begin at 9:35 p.m. Wednesday’s race will mark NASCAR’s first race on dirt since Sept. 30, 1970, when Richard.... read more Ludwick set to begin rehab assignment CINCINNATI -- Reds left fielder Ryan Ludwick will begin a Minor League rehab assignment with Class A Dayton on Wednesday. Ludwick has been on the disabled list since separating his shoulder with a headfirst slide against the Angels on Opening Day. The injury required surgery to repair a torn labrum. For about two weeks, Ludwick has been hitting, and he began taking batting practice on the field with the team Thursday. "I feel good," Ludwick... read more Koontz looking forward to more success; Lady Wave tennis in high gear, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Two years ago, the Lady Wave tennis team won the GWOC North title outright. A season ago, the Wave shared that title with Troy and Butler as Greenville topped Troy but fell to Butler while the Aviators eventually defeated the Trojans. Those losses by all three schools forced a three-way tie for the conference title. Now, Wave coach Jim Koontz will look to rebound from that three-way tie and win the conference without sharing... read more Keller wins national title SAVANNAH, Ga- Darke County YMCA’s Paige Keller won the 2013 national champion for the vault at the 2013 YMCA gymnastics national championships. YMCA of Darke County sent 19 gymnastic members to the national championships. The girls competed over a total of three days. More than 2,200 gymnasts competed, and Ohio had the largest number of teams that competed. There were approximately 690 gymnasts from Ohio that... read more Lady Wave soccer under new coach, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Once again, the Greenville girls soccer program is under new direction. The new coach for Lady Wave soccer is Steve Shepard and with a new coach, comes a new style. After a one win season a year ago, Shepard has his work cut out for him. With only 18 girls having come out for the team, it’s an uphill battle for the Wave. “Eighteen is not a good number for us,” said Shepard. “We would like to have 24-28 girls come out. I’m not sure at... read more Schaffer heading into second season with high hopes, Wave football looking to improve, By George Starks GREENVILLE - Coming off a dismal 1-9 record from a season ago, Greenville has nowhere to go but up. Now in his second season as the varsity head coach, Greenville graduate Aaron Schaffer is looking for a marked improvement in his football team’s performance in 2013. “When I got here last year, I was late getting here and... read more Major League Baseball… In duel, AL prevails over NL to earn home field, mlb.com Mariano named ASG MVP; Junior Circuit wins for first time since 2009 - NEW YORK -- Over the past half-century, some of baseball's greatest pitchers have passed through the borough of Queens. Tom Seaver once called Shea Stadium home. Nolan Ryan did, too, sharing a mound with Dwight Gooden, Pedro Martinez and so many others. So it was only fitting that Tuesday evening, with Seaver in attendance at the borough's first All-Star Game in 49 years, pitching ruled the night. American League... read more Powers gearing up for 2013 football season; Trojans looking to rebound from 3-7 season By George Starks - ARCANUM - In his initial campaign at Arcanum, head coach TJ Powers suffered through the growing pains of a 3-7 campaign. This season, Powers is looking to get things squared away as he conducted his annual football camp in Trojan nation. “This game is 90 percent mental,” said Powers. “We need to get past what we did a year ago and focus on what lies ahead. We won three games last year and I would like to see... read more NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race at Eldora Speedway…CarCash Mudsummer Classic Presented by CNBC Prime’s ‘The Profit’ Debuts July 24 ROSSBURG, Ohio (July 10, 2013) – Eldora Speedway officials and Marcus Lemonis, chairman and CEO of Camping World and star of CNBC Prime’s “The Profit”, announced today that 1-800 CarCash will serve as title sponsor of the inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. CarCash sells your vehicle at the highest possible ... read more Eldora Speedway… Sweet Earns Crown in 30th Kings Royal ROSSBURG, Ohio. - July 13, 2013 - It was only a matter of time until Brad Sweet tasted victory lane at Eldora Speedway in World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series competition. However, no one would have guessed it would have been in one of the most prestigious races anywhere in dirt track racing, the Kings Royal. Sweet, of Grass Valley, Calif., started outside of Brandon Wimmer for the 30th running of the historic event and jumped out to... read more Eldora Speedway… Madsen captures second World of Outlaws Sprint win; Shaffer takes NRA Knight Before the Kings Royal is Final Tune-Up for the Kings Crown - ROSSBURG, OH (July 12, 2013) — STP World of Outlaws (WoO) sprint car driver Kerry Madsen and NRA Sprint Invaders hotshoe Tim Shaffer tuned up for Saturday’s 30th annual Kings Royal with victories Friday night at Eldora Speedway. On the Knight Before the Kings Royal, Madsen rallied for his second win in three WoO races at the 0.500-mile speedplant. But first he... read more OHSAA Awards $66,000 in College Scholarships to 54 Students Each of the six District Athletic Boards has selected recipients for OHSAA and OHSAA Foundation Scholarships - COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio High School Athletic Association will hand out total of $66,000 in college scholarships to 54 recent high school student-athlete graduates following final selections made recently by the OHSAA’s six District Athletic Boards. The OHSAA has conducted its annual college scholarship... read more Eldora’s over-sized throne is most cherished chair in sprint car racing ROSSBURG, OH (July 8) - There is no chair in Sprint Car racing more cherished than the over-sized throne that graces the stage once a year at Eldora Speedway for the Kings Royal. It is the throne, 42” above the stage, reserved for the annual King of Kings, who after 40-laps around Eldora reigns supreme. The climb up the three steps indicates a $50,000 paycheck in the fabled event that is celebrating its 30th edition Saturday night (July 13). Weighing 287 pounds, the overall height of the legendary ... read more GTI handles Russia in tournament action, By George Starks CASSTOWN- With the exception of a bad first inning, GTI I pitcher Austin Weimer threw one of his best games of the season. Weimer threw seven strong innings of baseball Tuesday as Greenville sent Russia to the losers bracket of the summer league baseball tournament, posting an 8-3 victory at Miami East High School. When the final out had been recorded, Weimer had allowed just two hits, striking out four and walking four. His biggest glitch ... read more V-Tigers fall in eight to Miami East, By George Starks CASSTOWN- If there is one rule to winning in sports, one rule will always remain in effect. A team must make plays on defense. Wednesday, at Miami East, Versailles failed to make the much needed plays to beat the host Miami East Vikings, losing in eight innings, 9-8, in opening round sectional tournament action. “The things that really hurt us were a couple of mishaps on defense tonight,” said Tigers coach Will Borchers. ... read more bleacherreport.com… MLB Umpire Brian Runge Reportedly Fired Following Drug Violation The reasoning behind Major League Baseball umpire Brian Runge's strange midseason dismissal has reportedly come to light. According to reports from Ben Walker of the Associated Press, two sources close to the situation have confirmed Runge's firing came as a result of a failed drug test, as he then failed to complete the terms of his agreement to stay on the staff. The drug that led to Runge's dismissal is unknown at this time. As part... read more reds.com…Reds pour it on early, take rain-shortened win…Frazier homers, drives in four to back Arroyo in six-inning victory CINCINNATI -- After a nightmare road trip that saw the Reds get shut out twice and lose six of eight, manager Dusty Baker's team needed some sort of spark. On a rain-soaked Monday night at Great American Ball Park, that spark was Todd Frazier, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs in an 8-1 win over the Giants.... read more Cincinnati Reds… Reds end rough road trip with loss in Texas, reds.com ARLINGTON -- A road trip that was only eight games, but lasted 10 days over three cities, felt like an eternity to the Reds. As much could be said about the club's entire month of June. Both the trip and the month are now over, but not before one final disappointment. A 3-2 loss to the Rangers on Sunday completed a 2-6 road trip through Arizona, Oakland and Texas and gave the Reds losses in seven of their last nine games. "We definitely expected better," right fielder Jay Bruce said. "Now we... read more Kenseth wins action packed Quaker State 400, nascar.com SPARTA, Ky. -- About the only thing that could cast a cloud over Matt Kenseth's fourth victory of the season was the hard hit Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin suffered in Sunday's Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway, a race postponed from Saturday because of rain.But Hamlin recovered quickly, and Kenseth had cause to celebrate after the driver of the No. 20 Toyota took advantage of a spin by the race's dominant car... read more Matt Osborne, pro wrestling's Doink the Clown, dies at 55, latimes.com Matt Osborne -- who as the original Doink the Clown brought delight and probably more than a little terror to professional wrestling fans everywhere -- has died at age 55. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth is reporting that Osborne died in a local hospital after his girlfriend found him unresponsive inside their Plano, Texas, apartment. There was no word on the cause of death, although investigators are saying it appears to be accidental... read more Cueto injured, while offense again comes up empty Righty suffers tight right lat muscle; Reds scoreless in past 22 innings - reds.com - ARLINGTON -- Triple-digit temperatures and high humidity haven't caused hallucinations. The Reds are indeed in the midst of a Texas-sized funk that was compounded on Friday by the loss of their ace for the third time this season. As Johnny Cueto went down with an injury in the second inning, the Reds lineup stayed down for a 4-0 loss to the Rangers... read more DC Heat take first place in soccer competition DARKE COUNTY — The DC Heat U14 Soccer team of the Darke County Soccer Association (DCSA) had a successful spring soccer season, coming in first place in the U14 Miami Valley Youth Soccer Association (MVYSA) Division 1 League with a 6-0-2 record while exhibiting great sportsmanship, teamwork and individual skills. With the help of guest players from the (DCSA) DC Elite U13 team (coach Mark Coppess ... read more Announcing The Ford Soccer Skills Challenge! Get Your Soccer Cleats On! Dave Knapp Ford Lincoln and Darke County Soccer Association are excited to bring the Ford Soccer Skills Challenge to our community! We've teamed up with iSoccer, the Nation's premier online skills assessment tool, to develop fun and exciting challenges to allow children ages 8-13 to show off, compete and improve their skills and get them on track to becoming a better soccer athlete! All registered participants will receive a complimentary two-month premium plus membership... read more reds.com...Losing trend continues as Reds shut out by A's Griffin Backed by two hits, Bailey allows big fourth; club has lost five of six- OAKLAND -- It didn't matter how good or bad Homer Bailey pitched for the Reds vs. the A's on Wednesday. His lineup went down quietly, too quietly. Oakland jumped Bailey for four quick runs in the fourth inning, but the Reds managed to scrape together just two hits against A.J. Griffin during a 5-0 loss to drop both games in the two-game series at O.co Coliseum. The complete game and shutout were the first of Griffin's young career. In... read more Hernandez charged with murder, espn.com ATTLEBORO, Mass. -- Aaron Hernandez has been charged with murdering his friend after the two had a dispute during a trip to a nightclub. Hernandez was arrested Wednesday and charged with the first-degree murder of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro football player whose body was found in an industrial park about a mile from the former New England Patriots tight end's home. Hernandez, who was released by the Patriots less than... read more GTI holds on for narrow victory, By George Starks VERSAILLES- GTI II jumped on Versailles for seven runs in the opening two innings Tuesday but forgot about one thing. Versailles is a team that has the ability to jump right back. Leading 11-4 going into the bottom of the seventh, GTI gave up five runs before putting the game away, clinging to a slim 11-9 victory over the Tigers. “We were looking good,” said GTI coach Jacob Burke. “We quit throwing strikes, just like the game at Vandalia. We didn’t... read more Truex Jr. ends drought with win at Sonoma, nascar.com SONOMA, Calif. -- For Martin Truex Jr., a welcome oasis called Sonoma Raceway at long last ended one of the longest droughts in NASCAR racing. With a convincing victory in Sunday’s Toyota Save Mart 350, Truex ended a winless streak of 218 races dating to June 4, 2007 at Dover, where he finished 7,355 seconds ahead of runner-up Ryan Newman. On Sunday at Sonoma, Truex beat second-place Jeff Gordon by an even bigger margin -- 8.133 seconds -- as Juan Pablo Montoya dropped from the... read more Reds.com… Reds take finale vs. D-backs behind Latos Given early lead, starter ties career high with 13 strikeouts - PHOENIX- Back-to-back losses already made the series vs. the D-backs a lost cause for the Reds by Sunday, but the three-city, eight-game road trip is far from that. That made leaving Phoenix with a win heading into Monday's off-day a little more paramount. Boosted by first-inning home runs by Shin-Soo Choo and Brandon Phillips, Mat Latos tied a career high with 13 strikeouts before the Reds hung... read more Eldora Speedway… Haudenschild hold to true ‘Wild Child’ moniker with Eldora All Star win Wooster, OH Veteran Captures 8th All Star Win in Leg #2 of Ohio Sprint Speedweek as Sutter & Craig Shine - ROSSBURG, OH (June 22) – By no means is he a kid anymore, but his moniker remains ‘the Wild Child’ and Jac Haudenschild lived up to those expectations with a classic Eldora Speedway run Saturday night.  For the 55-year old Wooster, OH native, it was his 8th career UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car victory on the famed .500-mile clay oval and it came in leg #2 of the... read more Heat Baseball Looking For Players The Miami Valley Heat Baseball Organization is looking for players for the 2014 season. Heat Baseball is a select baseball team, based out of the Greenville area and is open to players from the Darke, Miami, Mercer and Randolph (IN) counties and surrounding areas. Players will play 50 plus games per season, compete in the Midwest Ohio Baseball League and travel to 6-7 tournaments throughout Ohio, including Findlay, Columbus... read more Former sports editor elected to PVHS Hall of Fame Don McDermott, sports editor of the Greenville Daily Advocate from 1962 through 1966 and 1987 through 2001, has been elected to the Pahrump Valley High School (PVHS) Athletics Hall of Fame as a major community contributor. McDermott was the sports editor of the Pahrump Valley Times from June 2001 through April 2012. He retired (again), but returned to the newspaper business in July 2002 as editorial manager of the Pahrump Valley Mirror... read more Glad to have known him, By George Starks Don McDermott was the sports editor of the Greenville Daily Advocate from 1962 through 1966 and 1987 through 2001, has been elected to the Pahrump Valley High School (PVHS) Athletics Hall of Fame as a major community contributor. Don began his Pahrump Valley Times tour on May 7, 2001, after more than 40 years of working for newspapers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Delaware and North Carolina. He has covered many of the major sports events in the... read more GTI I loses on the road...Coldwater pitching too much, By George Starks COLDWATER- It’s a rarity when two high school pitchers are throwing no hitters.What makes it even worse is someone has to lose. Such was the case for GTI I pitcher Tyler Netzley Wednesday night at Coldwater. With the Greenville based team recently coming off a big 7-5 win over Coldwater last week, Netzley and head coach Tray Wolters wanted to make it two in a row. Despite a stellar pitching performance by the incoming... read more Cincinnati Reds… Hit batters bother Latos more than snapping streak Choo takes another pitch off body as ace loses first game since August - reds.com - CINCINNATI -- Mat Latos' personal unbeaten streak came to an end Tuesday night against the Pirates, but that wasn't what drew the ire of the Reds' starting pitcher. The Reds lost a 4-0 game to Pittsburgh, but the tally Latos focused on was the hit batters between the two clubs this season. In that battle, the Pirates have a 10-6 lead, which includes Shin-Soo Choo being hit six times alone. Choo was hit in the leg on Pirates... read more Prakel and Murphy represent Darke County FORT WAYNE, In.- The Midwest Meet of Champions saw Versailles' Sam Prakel and Tri-Village's Clayton Murphy represent Darke County at Spuller Stadium in Ft. Wayne recently for graduating seniors. Both ran the 1600 meters against runners from Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. In the event, Prakel finished first with a time of 4:09.92 while Murphy was second coming across the line in 4:15.11. Murphy and Prakel were state champions... read more GTI II run-ruled in six, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Looking for the second win of the season, the GTI II team had the wind taken out of its sails early Tuesday by Vandalia- Butler. All hopes for that second win were pretty much dashed for the Greenville team as Butler threw 10 runs on the board in the opening frame. Greenville did put up three runs the rest of the way but when then final out was made, the scoreboard had GTI losing 14-3. “Give Vandalia credit, they are... read more GTI III remains undefeated after beating Eaton, By George Starks GREENVILLE- GTI III coach Matt Netzley could not have been happier with his young eighth grade team Monday. Netzley watched his pitcher, Kyle Mills, go six strong innings at Sater Diamonds as GTI posted a convincing 6-1 victory over Eaton Monday, to go to 3-0 on the season. Mills allowed one run in the six inning stint on six hits, striking out three while not allowing a walk. “My pitching was stellar tonight. Kyle was strong... read more bleacherreport.com…Cingrani making it tough on Baker For Tony Cingrani, pitching out of the bullpen in Cincinnati is preferable to starting for Louisville. And for the time being, the feeling is mutual. Cingrani, who was called up while Johnny Cueto was on the disabled list and kept in reserve on Sunday in case Cueto reinjured himself, will stick with the Reds for now. “He fills what we need -- we need a power arm in the bullpen, we need a left-hander,” Reds manager Dusty Baker... read more reds.com…Four homers back Leake as Reds win series opener Righty goes seven strong; Cozart, Frazier, Votto, Bruce all go deep reds.com CINCINNATI -- Four Reds hit solo home runs on Monday night against the Pirates that traveled an estimated combined distance of 1,701 feet. Surely, those will make the highlight shows, because homers always draw attention. On the other hand, in less exciting form, Mike Leake keeps rolling. Leake's seven innings were the foundation of the Reds' 4-1 win... read more Biffle emerges late, lands Michigan victory, nascar.com BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Greg Biffle feels right at home at Michigan International Speedway. He took the lead for good on a late restart and ran away from the field in the closing laps to win Sunday's Quicken Loans 400. The No. 16 Ford driver won his second straight race here and the 19th of his career. Four of those victories have come at MIS. "It's definitely a special day," Biffle said after delivering Ford Motor Company its 1,000th victory in... read more Greenville grad signs with Kansas City, njithighlanders.com KANSAS CITY, MO—The Kansas City Royals signed 2013 NJIT graduate Tripp Davis to a free agent contract this week, Royals scout Jordan Wyckoff confirmed. Wyckoff reported that Davis, who was a four-year left-handed ace starting pitcher for the Highlanders from 2010 until the end of the 2013 season late last month, flew to Arizona on Thursday morning and completed the paperwork to turn pro with the Royals organization... read more Cueto quiets Crew in return from DL, reds.com CINCINNATI -- In the first inning of the Reds' 5-1 win over the Brewers on Sunday, Johnny Cueto was thinking too much. Coming back from injury for the second time this season, he said he was trying too hard to be perfect in locating his pitches. But mostly, he couldn't stop thinking about getting hurt again. As a result, Cueto didn't come out as sharp as he would have liked. Three batters into the game, he gave up a solo home run to Carlos Gomez. In... read more Cincinnati Reds… Reds looking to start Cueto Sunday, bleacherreport.com CHICAGO — Tony Cingrani was called up to make a start Tuesday at Wrigley Field, but if things go according to plan, it will be his only start with the reds for the foreseeable future. Right-hander Johnny Cueto threw 35 pitches off the mound during a bullpen session before Tuesday’s game and the Reds are hopeful he will start the next time his spot comes up in the rotation, Sunday against the Brewers at Great American Ball Park. Sunday is the first day Cueto is eligible to come off the disabled list... read more Sprint car driver dies in horrific crash, foxnews.com BRIDGEPORT, N.J. –  NASCAR driver Jason Leffler died after an accident Wednesday night in a heat race at a dirt car event at Bridgeport Speedway. The 37-year-old Leffler, a two-time winner on the NASCAR Nationwide Series who had the nickname "LefTurn" above the driver's side window on his race cars, was pronounced dead shortly after 9 p.m., New Jersey State Police said. "NASCAR extends its thoughts, prayers and... read more GTI holds on for win over Coldwater, Ward pitches well in victory, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Despite having six errors committed behind him by his defense, GTI pitcher Cole Ward went six solid innings Wednesday, overcoming the odds that would eventually plague him. Ward went six solid innings, allowing six hits and five unearned runs as GTI topped Coldwater 7-5 to go to 4-6 on the summer league season. “Cole is a gamer,” said GTI coach Trey Wolters. “Cole is very good at keeping his head in the game, every pitch of  ... read more Vanover resigns position at Greenville, Wave looking for varsity coach, By George Starks GREENVILLE- After two short season as the head basketball coach for the Lady Wave, Kyle Vanover has called it quits, sighting personal reason according to Greenville Athletic Director Randy Swisher. "I never seen this coming," said Swisher in a phone interview. "I was hoping he would have stayed on and turned this program around and get it going. I'm not getting much out of him either even though he never said why he was leaving so personal ... read more reds.com...Reds complete sweep of Cubs Frazier hits go-ahead HR; Cincy wins 12th straight at Wrigley - CHICAGO -- In a battle between friends and former teammates, Mike Leake might have had a bit more momentum on his side than Cubs starter, and former Red, Travis Wood. Leake, with the help of his Cincinnati teammates, outdid Wood on Wednesday afternoon, and the Reds' 2-1 victory extended their winning streak at Wrigley Field to 12 games, the most ever by an opponent at the Friendly Confines. The similarities between the two starters.. read more Eldora Speedway… Ms. Eldora Speedway pageant to kick off Kings Royal – July 11 Three young women to be chosen to represent Eldora Speedway in Victory Lane - ROSSBURG, OH (June 12) – Entry applications for Eldora Speedway’s annual ceremony to select representatives to assist with trophy presentations and other functions around the historic speed plant can now be downloaded from www.EldoraSpeedway.com. The 8th annual Ms. Eldora Speedway pageant (July 11) will be the... read more Learning Is Cool Academic Achievement, bengals.com CINCINNATI- More than two dozen Bengals players helped the Marvin Lewis Community Fund celebrate the "Learning Is Cool" Academic Achievement on Monday night at the Cincinnati Zoo. The event honored students from Cincinnati Public, Covington Independent, North College Hill and Middletown City school systems who have achieved the "A" honor roll twice in the 2012-2013 school year. Since the inception of the "Learning Is Cool"... read more Phillips' slam lifts Reds amid heavy fog at Wrigley Bailey strong over eight; Cincinnati wins 10th straight on North Side - reds.com - CHICAGO -- It wasn't so much the distance, but Brandon Phillips' third-inning grand slam was hit out of sight for many of the spectators at Wrigley Field. Phillips crushed a 1-1 curveball from Cubs starter Scott Feldman through a thick fog that blanketed the air all night and into the left-field seats for his fifth career grand slam and 10th homer of the year. Those four runs in... read more nascar.com…Johnson rebounds at Pocono for third win of season LONG POND, Pa. -- It’s not a good idea to rile up Jimmie Johnson. A week after a penalty for jumping the final restart at Dover knocked Johnson out of a near-certain victory, Johnson absolutely scorched the field in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Party in the Poconos 400, beating Greg Biffle to the finish line by 1.208 seconds. The win was Johnson’s third of the season, his third at the Tricky Triangle and the 63rd of his career. Johnson increased... read more reds.com…Reds upended by Cardinals in extras Bullpen meltdown ends with St. Louis' seven-run 10th reds.com CINCINNATI -- The Reds had a chance to win a series against the St. Louis Cardinals for the first time in almost a year and, more importantly, pull within two games of the National League Central leaders. They even had a two-run lead in the seventh. Unfotunately for the Reds, they couldn't hold that lead, they lost a... read more Eldora Speedway… Vintage Bloomquist style rewards Tennessee driver with $100,000 at Eldora Patience Key to 6th Rich Dirt Late Model Dream by Ferris Commercial Mowers Payday - ROSSBURG (June 8) — As the race leaders pulled away in the Dirt Late Model Dream XIX presented by Ferris Commercial Mowers, veteran Scott Bloomquist bided his time. It was vintage Bloomquist at Eldora Speedway on Saturday night as the Mooresburg, Tenn., driver, known for his classic late lap charges through the field, replicated that effort to pocket another $100,000-to-win, 100-lap victory at the historic... read more Cincinnati Reds… Latos continues to stymie Cards as Reds even set Righty extends streak to 20 regular-season starts without a loss - CINCINNATI -- Mat Latos did it again. Facing the Cardinals for the third time this season, Latos delivered yet another solid outing, guiding the Reds to a 4-2 win in front of a sellout crowd of 40,740 at Great American Ball Park on Saturday. "That's a great lineup," Latos said. "They used to kick the crap out of me pretty good, but this year I've adjusted to them." Latos -- who allowed just one... read more Eldora Speedway… Matt Miller and Dennis Erb, Jr., rule Night Two of the Dream ROSSBURG, OH (June 7, 2013) — Matt Miller’s Dream week continued at Eldora Speedway on Friday night, as he won his second 25-lap feature in as many nights on the famed .500-mile clay oval.  With twin 25-lap A-Features on the docket, Joining him on the victory stage was Dennis Erb Jr.  Both drivers scored $5,000 for their winning efforts. The payday — and the laps, of course — amp up Saturday (June 8) for the Dirt Late Model Dream XIX presented by Ferris Commercial Mowers. The 100-lap feature... read more Eldora Speedway…Tremendous Racing Highlights Start Of New Expanded Dream Format ROSSBURG, OH – June 6, 2013 – Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., and Matt Miller of Whitehouse, Ohio, kicked off the new expanded Dirt Late Model Dream XIX Presented by Ferris Commercial Mowers weekend with victories in Thursday night’s Twin 25-lap features at Eldora Speedway. With the DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned event’s 84-car field split in half by time-trial results, Richards captured the frenetic first A-Main for odd-numbered qualifiers and Miller soared to the checkered flag in the nightcap... read more Versailles track looks to become the first in the MAC, By George Starks VERSAILLES- The Midwest Athletic Conference has long been revered as one of the best in the state. With domination in football and more recently, volleyball and basketball, the MAC owns 102 state titles over its 40 years of existence. With some of the best athletes in Ohio, the conference has never taken a state title in track. The Tigers will looks to add that championship in track this year. Versailles enters Friday and Saturday’s... read more “Say Hey” Shay is headed back to STATE! By Don Selanders Shay LaFollette will be returning to Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY to compete in the 100 Meter Hurdles with Josh Hoelscher and Bailey Brewer joining her. All had record setting seasons with Lafollette setting seven records to date - quite an accomplishment. Hoelscher broke the Pool Vault record set by Dean Shafer from 1958 at the height of 11’6”. The new record set by Hoelscher is now 12’2”. Brewer set... read more Votto, Phillips lead way at positions in NL ASG vote Reds first baseman far and away in front at spot; Choo within striking distance - All season long, Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips have paced the Reds and been two of the most exciting players in baseball. It's not surprising, then, that the heart of the Cincinnati order and the right side of the club's infield lead the way at their respective positions in the first National League All-Star balloting update, released Tuesday. Votto, who ranked fourth in the... read more Lady Wave pitcher named to first team all Ohio, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Rarely will a sophomore make all-state on any team. Lady Wave pitcher Ally Russell has done exactly that by the Ohio High School Fastpitch Coaches Association, making her the 11th Wave player in as many years to receive all-state status. Russell was just one of 17 players in D-II in Ohio to be named as a first team player. "She was very deserving of this honor," said Wave coach Jerrod Newland. "I'm very proud of her. She kept... read more Lady Wave falls short of state appearance, by George Starks MASON- Looking to make another trio to Akron, the Greenville Lady Wave softball team fell one game short of that goal Saturday. Giving up six first inning runs to Kenton Ridge in the regional final, Greenville could overcome that deficit, falling to the Cougars 6-2. "It was very disheartening," said Wave coach Jerrod Newland. "The better team won this time." Going into the game, the Wave was ranked number one in D-II ... read more huffingtonpost.com…Deacon Jones dies at age 74 David "Deacon" Jones, the original sackmaster, has died. The Hall of Fame defensive end, credited with coining the word "sack" for how he knocked down quarterbacks, was 74. The Washington Redskins said Jones died of natural causes at his home in Southern California on Monday night. "Deacon Jones was one of the greatest players in NFL history. Off the field, he was a true giant," said Redskins general manager Bruce Allen ... read more Reds.com…Arroyo dominates Rox backed by Bruce's bat…Righty throws eight scoreless as right fielder goes 3-for-4, homers CINCINNATI -- After a dreadful outing in Cleveland last week, Bronson Arroyo said he didn't have the "weapons" to be successful on that night. So on Monday, when he tossed eight shutout innings against the potentially lethal Rockies offense, he must have felt much better about what he had to work with. Right? "I didn't particularly have amazing stuff," Arroyo said after. ... read more Wave tracksters place at regionals, by George Starks DAYTON- Two Greenville girls placed in the top eight in the girls pole vault to earn spots on the podium Friday night in an Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I regional track and field meet at Dayton’s Welcome Stadium. Junior Paige Keller placed sixth in the girls pole vault with a vault of 10 feet 6 inches while junior Harmony Kolling tied for eighth place with a vault of 10 feet. Greenville senior Emily Hayes also competed Friday night, finishing 15th in the girls 800-meter run with a time of. ... read more Reds.com… Reds squander early lead in extra-innings loss to Bucs Miss chance at a sweep to fall into a tie for second in the NL Central - PITTSBURGH -- The Reds and pitcher Mat Latos may have wanted to gain a measure of revenge on behalf of Brandon Phillips against the Pirates on Sunday for his plunkings over the past two days. But, the real and lasting satisfaction that could have been gained from sweeping a series got away in rather ugly fashion: a 5-4 Reds loss to the Pirates in 11 innings that... read more Russia downs Arcanum in regional semis, By George Starks SPRINGFIELD- With things knotted up at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth, it looked as if Arcanum and Russia were going to need extra innings to decide who was going to move on in the OHSAA baseball tournament. Then came the bottom of the sixth. After senior Grady Garno had retired the first two hitters for Russia, the wheels fell off the lefty’s wagon on his way to the final out of the frame. Garno then issued three straight... read more Lady Wave ranked number one in state GREENVILLE — The Greenville softball team jumped to the number one spot in the Division II state rankings in the final Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association poll of the 2013 season. The Lady Wave received a total of 91 points and three first-place votes in the final poll of the year. It is the first time this season the Lady Wave have been ranked No. 1. Greenville has been ranked throughout the first five weeks of the 2013 season... read more Offense delivers more than enough for Latos, reds.com CINCINNATI -- Even with a 3-1 lead heading into the seventh inning of Tuesday's game against the Indians, Reds manager Dusty Baker had an uneasy feeling. "I didn't like the way that game was going," Baker said. "It was similar to the game we had the other night against the Cubs where we had a lot of opportunities to score and didn't score." Cincinnati lost that game on Sunday to Chicago, 5-4, in extra innings, and after watching his club put... read more Dalton already working on the long pass, bleacherreport.com CINCINNATI- Andy Dalton saw A.J. Green lined up on the outside and let it fly, lofting the ball deep down the sideline. Nobody had to guess what the Bengals are focused on during their offseason team practices. Throw deep. As much as possible. Dalton is trying to refine the long-distance connection that was missing in their biggest games late last season. He tried repeatedly to get the ball to Green way down the field, but missed most of... read more CNO Sports Roundup... Lady Wave heading back to regionals WEST CARROLTON- Greenville senior Erin Albright hit two consecutive home runs Saturday as the Lady Wave softball team spanked Valley View, 13-2 in the district title game Saturday. The district title is the seventh for the Wave in their last eight appearances at that level. With the regular season being well completed and put to rest, the second season is a one and done deal for all teams. “Any given day anything can happen, each day... read more Eldora’s Appleseed Classic produces pair of first-timers and pair of repeaters Busy 24-Event Program Presented by Miller Lite Attracts Stellar 129-Car Field - ROSSBURG, OH (May 26) – A pair of new names were etched into the Johnny Appleseed Classic by Miller Lite record books Sunday night at Eldora Speedway, while another pair of veterans returned to familiar roots on the coveted Eldora stage.   Ruling over a jammed pit area of 129 race teams were Jeff Babcock (Sunoco American Late Model Series) and... read more Harvick wins for second time this season, second time at Charlotte, nascar.com CONCORD, N.C. -- After 389 laps in NASCAR’s motorsports marathon, the 54th running of the Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600 Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway came down to an 11-lap shootout -- and Kevin Harvick won it. Harvick pulled away during an 11-lap green-flag run to the finish to beat Kasey Kahne to the finish line by 1.491 seconds. The victory was Harvick’s second of the season, his second at Charlotte and the 21st... read more Arcanum tops Southeastern in nine; Trojans move on to district, By George Starks COVINGTON- With one down in the bottom of the ninth, Grady Garno ripped a single to centerfield scoring Austin Ripple as Arcanum got by Southeastern 7-6 Wednesday at Covington. The victory secured the sectional title for the Trojans and put them into the district game tonight at Newton against Lehman Catholic. It was a night when Arcanum coach Randy Baker was forced to pull out all the stops with the final one being Garno. Baker  ... read more Franklin Monroe wins sectional title; Patriots bow out after 12 inning marathon, By George Starks PLEASANT HILL- If there was one thing Mike Morris (Franklin Monroe) and Mike Fisherback (Tri-Village) could concur on was the fact that it was a shame someone had to lose in this game. The two Cross County Conference rivals took to the field Tuesday at Newton High School with one thing in mind. Leaving with a sectional crown. It took 12 innings to decide who would move on to the district but for Morris and his Lady Jets, the wait was well worth it... read more Brookville edges Arcanum for section title; Trojans finish with 19-5 mark, By George Starks CLAYTON- Okay sports enthusiasts. Question: How many times has this happened? A team with a slightly better seasonal record upends the team with the best record and considered the favorite to win… but loses in the end. Answer: More times than we have fingers and toes. This was the case scenario for Arcanum Monday in its sectional title game with Brookville. When the dust had settled at Clayton Northmont, the Blue-Devils had pulled... read more Chad Johnson out on bail after turning himself in, bleacherreport.com NFL.com confirmed last Thursday that a warrant was issued for the arrest of former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson after he allegedly violated several terms of his probation. On Monday, Johnson turned himself in. The Broward Sheriff's office told NFL.com that Johnson turned himself in at the courthouse Monday. Court documents confirm that Johnson indeed was arrested. Johnson then was booked into a Broward County jail and later released after posting... read more Cincinnati Reds…Shutout with clout: Reds stage rout in Philly Masterful… Arroyo backed by Hanigan's big fly; Votto reaches six times PHILADELPHIA -- Perhaps Saturday was a day for several Reds to bury some unflattering narratives. Bronson Arroyo and the team got past their bad track record in Philadelphia. Ryan Hanigan kicked more dirt over the struggles he endured the first month of his season. And Joey Votto continued to refute any suggestions his power might still be sapped from last season's knee surgery... read more Eldora Speedway…Craig keeps right on winning…Mobil 1 Family Fun Night Doubleheader Action Entertains Huge Crowd as Fireworks Fill the Skies ROSSBURG, OH (May 18) – While Jerry Bowersock (UMP DIRTcar Modified) completed his 3-2-1 countdown, Barney Craig (Stock Car) remained stuck on number 1 in Saturday’s Mobil 1 Family Fun Night feature race action at Eldora Speedway. In the three Modified events this season, veteran Bowersock (Wapakoneta, OH) finished third on opening night, second two weeks ago ... read more Nascar.com…Johnson wins again at Concord CONCORD, N.C. -- The Brothers Busch won the first four segments of Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but Jimmie Johnson took the one the counted -- the 10-lap dash to the finish -- and continued to build his legacy, not to mention his bank account. Speeding away from Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne after a restart on Lap 81 of 90, Johnson won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series all-star exhibition race for a record fourth time, beating charging Joe ... read more T-V senior achieves dream…Pipenger to play at Huntington, By George Starks NEW MADISON- Tri-Village senior Kyle Pipenger signed his letter of intent Thursday at Tri-Village High School to play college basketball for Huntington University. Pipenger, the son of Joel and Teresa Pipenger, is the third member of Tri-Village’s boys basketball team to sign a letter of intent this year to play college basketball. “It’s something I always dreamed about doing, going to the next level and playing college basketball,” Pipenger said. “It’s a lot... read more OHSAA Membership Approves Seven of Nine Referendum Issues Changes to Transfer Bylaw Approved; Competitive Balance Issue Fails for Third Consecutive Year - COLUMBUS, Ohio — Seven of the nine proposed Ohio High School Athletic Association constitution and bylaw revisions passed as voted upon by OHSAA member schools, Commissioner Daniel B. Ross, Ph.D., has announced. Highlighting the voting was approval of a significant change to the transfer bylaw, but a proposal to change how schools are placed into their tournament divisions for team sports failed... read more Greenon no match for Lady Wave… Luce goes deep in Greenville win, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Haleigh Luce has been a terror all season for the Greenville Lady Wave softball team at the plate and Thursday night at Lady Wave Stadium, the scenario was no different. Luce accounted for four of the eight runs Greenville put on the board as the Wave shutout Greenon, 8-0 to move on in sectional play. “It was a great night for Lady Wave Softball,” said coach Jerrod Newland after the game. “It’s that time of the year when... read more Harness horse racing… DCHHA releases card for upcoming matinee GREENVILLE- The Darke County Harness Horsemans Association has released the race card for its annual Spring Matinee this Sunday, May 19th, starting at 1 p.m. at the Darke County Fairgrounds. This year’s card will feature 20 races and it's free admission to the public. There will also be a chicken dinner at the barns from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dinners will be $7.50. Sponsors for the 20 races, in order of race sponsorship, are: Snack Shop... read more Overcoming a sports injury is your decision, By Ashley Studebaker CHICAGO -- An injury as serious as an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) takes around eight to twelve months to completely heal, but... That’s just the physical part. For some athletes, most athletes, there is also a mental hurdle to jump over to be able to assure themselves confidence of coming back again to the game they love. Fans may become extremely impatient waiting for this athlete to make a... read more Bradford pounds Yellow Springs in sectional play, By George Starks BRADFORD- It was a night that belonged to Mindy Brewer. In the pitching circle, Brewer fanned six and walked one while slamming two home runs and knocking in four, in a 22-0 winning sectional softball effort over Yellow Springs Tuesday night at Bradford. Bradford, seeded seventh in the sectional, jumped on the Bulldogs early and never looked back, scoring 10 runs in the first inning, helped along by three Bulldog errors... read more Eldora Speedway… Eldora’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Event Tickets for July 23 Added Event, Which Includes Eldora Dirt Late Model Invitational, Go On Sale Today - ROSSBURG, OH (May 15) – Although all available tickets for the inaugural running of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Mudsummer Classic on Wednesday, July 24 have been sold, fans now have an added opportunity to catch a glimpse of the historic event.  The Tuesday Night Tailgate (July 23)... read more Cincinnati Reds... Staked to early lead, Bailey goes distance, reds.com MIAMI -- A five-run rally and nine strong innings from Homer Bailey helped the Reds start their nine-game road trip on a positive note. Xavier Paul's bases-clearing double capped a five-run second inning that gave Bailey all the support he would need, as the Reds beat the Marlins, 6-2, before 14,694 at Marlins Park on Tuesday night. "He saved my bullpen," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "That's a great way to start a road trip. We... read more Lady Trojans win in walk-off fashion; Arcanum advances in sectionals, By George Starks ARCANUM- Despite four innings of perfect softball and an early 3-0 lead, the Arcanum Lady Trojans were forced to play two extra innings with Tri-County North Monday. It took a ninth inning solo homerun by Tara Simpson to keep the Trojans alive in the OHSAA sectional tournament as Arcanum defeated the visiting Panthers, 4-3. The Trojan offense set the table in the bottom of the first when Simpson drew a walk, followed by a double off... read more Tyler Eifert already has multiple roles in Bengals’ offense, bleacherreport.com Tyler Eifert has been with the Bengals for all of one day of practice, but he already plays an important part in Cincinnati’s offense. Actually, multiple important parts. Eifert, the tight end the Bengals took in the first round of the NFL draft, said after the first day of rookie minicamp that he’s going to be a lot more than just a tight end. “A lot of the things I’m learning are a lot of the same plays we had in with two tight ends — move... read more Major League Baseball Standings - May 13, 2013 American League... East - New York Yankees; Central - Cleveland Indians; West - Texas Rangers; National League... East - Atlanta Braves; Central - St. Louis Cardinals; West - San Francisco Giants... read more Reds.com… Lutz's first HR backs terrific Arroyo in sweep Prospect knocks three-run shot as righty throws 6 2/3 scoreless frames - CINCINNATI -- Mother's Day is recognized in Germany, too, so Reds rookie outfielder Donald Lutz made sure to call his mother, Marlen, at home about an hour before Sunday's game vs. the Brewers. "It was pretty funny when I called her [to say] Happy Mother's Day," Lutz said. "She said, 'What's wrong with your voice?' Because I've seen sick. She said, 'Make sure you take... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Former Pittsburgh Steeler John Clay Added to Bengals Minicamp CINCINNATI- The Cincinnati Bengals are about to open this weekend’s rookie minicamp, and there will be several players attending on a tryout basis, the most notable of which being former Pittsburgh Steelers fullback and Wisconsin Badger John Clay: "Full #Bengals rookie minicamp roster released. Most intriguing tryout guy is former Wisconsin RB John Clay." — Geoff Hobson (@GeoffHobsonCin) May 10, 2013... read more Eldora Speedway... Rain moves in to halt Night One of Traxxas TORC event at Eldora Saturday Night Leg of Off-Road Baja Style Truck Racing Not Affected - ROSSBURG, OH (May 10) – Rain and a developing storm system to the southwest that moved into the region early Friday afternoon (May 10) have brought a halt to the Preliminary Night of the Traxxas TORC (The Off Road Challenge) Championship Series event at Eldora Speedway.  The cancellation has not affected Saturday’s program, which will feature four classes of... read more Lady Patriots win continuation game with Blazers…T-V erupts for five in the third, By George Starks NEW MADISON- After trailing 1-0 on the original date of the game, Tri-Village and National Trail were forced to continue their Cross County Conference game Thursday, resuming the game in the bottom of the second inning. After going down quietly in the bottom of the frame, the third proved to be magic for the Patriots. With senior Shea Thomas leading off the inning with a bunt single, the Patriots would eventually send nine to the dish, scoring five... read more cincinnati.com...Cueto to start rehab assignment Thursday CINCINNATI- Johnny Cueto will don a Dayton Dragons uniform for the first time since 2006 on Thursday as he will make a rehab appearance for the Reds’ Class-A team against the Lansing Lugnuts at Fifth Third Field. Cueto has been on the disabled list since April 15 with a strained right lat. He was scheduled to go on a rehab assignment last week, but he had soreness in his oblique, causing him to bump a start in Pensacola. “I feel pretty good, but we’ll see ... read more bleacherreport.com...Missing pieces the Bengals could still fill CINCINNATI- Fortunately for the Cincinnati Bengals, there are not many holes to fill on the current roster. In fact, after the draft, the Bengalsshould have their starters almost set in stone for 2013. However, there are some missing pieces that could be added to improve depth or provide positional battles in camp. While looking at the Bengals' roster, there are some noticeable voids at certain positions behind the incumbent... read more Lady Wave forced to share conference title; Piqua turns the tide on Greenville, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Not even a 30 plus minute rain delay could slow down Piqua senior pitcher Sierra Miller Tuesday. After going to Piqua Monday and pulling out a 1-0 GWOC North victory in the seventh inning, Miller and the Indians managed to turn the tide on the Wave Tuesday. Scoring two in the first and three in the seventh, Piqua posted a 5-0 victory over Greenville Tuesday, leaving the Wave with a 9-1 conference record and a share of the... read more Reds walk-off on Braves on consecutive homers with two outs in ninth, reds.com CINCINNATI- The 27th out was just one strike away from being notched by the Braves on Tuesday night and the Reds were just about done against closer Craig Kimbrel. If anyone has seen "The Princess Bride," they know there's a big difference between being mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive. And then along came Devin Mesoraco and Shin-Soo Choo to bring the Reds all the way back to life. Mesoraco... read more Seven local schools will host first round softball action DARKE COUNTY- The Ohio High School Athletic Association released the brackets for its postseason tournament Sunday and seven of the eight county schools will host post season tournament games. The state wide tournament starts Monday, May 13 with the state final four coming in June. The Greenville softball team (20-4) earned the No. 1 seed in its Division II Tecumseh sectional. The Lady Wave, who have a first-round bye in the tournament... read more Gruden Adjusts, RB Snaps, & Tyler Eifert & 2-TE Sets, bleacherreport.com After expanding the playbook significantly last year once there was a full-offseason to utilize, Cincinnati Bengals Offensive Coordinator Jay Gruden doesn’t plan on making any significant changes to his offense this year, and will instead focus on how to properly implement new players like Gio Bernard into the system: Obviously we’ll tweak it quite a bit as we go, but we’ll be interchanging instead of overhauling. It’s just changing the personnel a little bit... read more Pittman, Henry end 4-year drought at Eldora Pittman Captures World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Finale; Henry Prevails Over UMP Modifieds ROSSBURG, OH (May 4) – Daryn Pittman (World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series) and Jon Henry (UMP DIRTcar Modifieds) both returned to the Victory Lane stage at Eldora Speedway on Saturday night, putting an end to winless streaks in their respective divisions that carry back to 2008. Pittman, who started seventh in the WoO main event, turned in his race car for a... read more Australian Madsen finally breaks into Eldora’s hallowed Victory Lane WoO STP Sprint Car win goes to Madsen, as Craig makes it #2 for Stock Cars - ROSSBURG, OH  (May 3) – While World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series hotfoot Kerry Madsen has finally reached Eldora Speedway’s coveted Victory Lane stage,  Stock Car driver Barney Craig doesn’t want to leave it. Madsen slipped past Craig Dollansky with 17 laps to go in Friday night’s 30-lap feature; then maneuvered through lapped traffic to score... read more Lady Tigers use long ball in victory over Marion Local…Versailles still undefeated in MAC play, By George Starks VERSAILLES- Designated player Kayla McEldowney hit her tenth homerun of the 2013 season and collected four runs batted in Thursday, leading Versailles to a 9-3 MAC win over visiting Marion Local. McEldowney picked up her first two runs batted in in the opening frame off a double to center, scoring Miranda Huddle and Madison Monnin,... read more Cincinnati Reds...Bailey, offense don't click in rubber-game defeat Reds done in by Cards' three-run sixth, saddling righty with third loss -  ST. LOUIS -- Somewhere in Chicago during Thursday's off-day after 20 games in 20 days, the Reds will need to find a recharging station for their bats. Wednesday's 4-2 defeat vs. the Cardinals marked the 13th time in 29 games this season that the Reds were held to two runs or fewer. It has happened in five of the seven games on a road trip where they're 2-5, with three games left... read more Spring matinee set for May 19 The Darke County Harness Horsemens Association annual matinee will be Sunday May 19 with no rain date. The races start at 1:00 p.m. at the Darke County Fairgrounds, Greenville, OH. Admission is free. Entries will be taken on Thursday May 16th from 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. by calling 937-548-9977. Entries will be posted on the County News Online sports page. Cost of entry per horse is $20 or $15 for DCHHA members. Chicken dinner... read more Patriots use six run inning in victory, By George Starks NEW MADISON- Tri-Village baseball coach Jim Maples, could have suffered heart failure Tuesday in the Patriots Cross County Conference game with Newton. Down 4-3 heading into the sixth, Maples watched his crew put up a six spot on the visiting Indians in a 9-4 Tri-Village victory. “Games like this are tough,” said Maples. “You just can’t let teams like this hang around. We caught some breaks in the sixth inning and we came out... read more Wave run rules Rams in five; Russell fans nine, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Putting up four runs in the first, the Greenville Lady Wave softball team remained perfect in the GWOC North Monday with an 11-0 victory over Trotwood-Madison in a five inning affair. Coming off a 1-2 road trip to Loudonville, the Wave got back on track against the Rams in a games that could have been worse that it was. “We don’t get too many games like this,” said Greenville coach Jerrod Newland. “We are fortunate for what... read more Cincinnati Bengals... Bengals beef up depth, bengals.com CINCINNATI- The Bengals did what contenders do this weekend in head coach Marvin Lewis's 11th NFL Draft. While knocking out their two biggest needs—running back and safety—they filled in the rest with big. As in five of their 10 picks put their hand in the AFC North dirt. Some of them may be asked to do more, but the first thing they have to do is line up on the line. Throw in the signing of right tackle Andre Smith , and the Bengals... read more Cincinnati Reds... Dominant Cingrani in top form as Reds take finale, reds.com WASHINGTON -- Reds rookie pitcher Tony Cingrani had one of those days where everything just seemed to work perfectly for him. Cingrani set a career high with 11 strikeouts, including four in an inning, and the Reds avoided a four-game sweep with a 5-2 victory over the Nationals on Sunday. Cingrani, who was making just his third Major League start, threw six scoreless innings and gave up just two hits with one walk, improving to 2-0 on... read more Post and Yelton grab first-ever Eldora wins ROSSBURG, OH (April 27) – While Brian Post (UMP DIRTcar Modifieds) and Logan Yelton (Waynesfield Tuff Trucks) scored their first career Eldora Speedway victories it was Barney Craig (Stock Cars) picking up where he left off from last season as Eldora Speedway finally celebrated its 60th season opener on Saturday with some dramatic racing. Dubbed Saturday Night SpeedFest, it was the historic track’s third attempt to race this season.  Mother Nature tried to intervene again, as light rain fell... read more Bailey on wrong end of pitchers' duel in DC; Righty impressive, but bats held to one hit for second straight game reds.com - WASHINGTON -- Reds manager Dusty Baker sat at his desk after Friday night's game and tried to explain one of the great mysteries of baseball. The skipper had just watched his team take some very good hacks at Washington right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, and come away with almost nothing. Zimmermann pitched very well, but the Reds hit the ball in this game. Sometimes they hit it hard, other times not. But in the end, they finished with just one hit for the second straight... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Bengals get a play-maker for Dalton, bengals.com CINCINNATI- After an off-season the Bengals kept the NFL's sixth-best defense intact, their first blow in the NFL Draft Thursday night secured a playmaker for an offense that didn't score a touchdown in its playoff loss in Houston. For the second time in four years the Bengals plucked the best tight end off the board at No. 21 in Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert  and plan to team him with two-time Pro Bowl tight end Jermaine Gresham  in double... read more Cincinnati Bengals…Bengals board may get tested CINCINNATI- With the first round of the NFL Draft riding into its long day's journey into night on the usual plethora of rumors, Paul Brown Stadium on Thursday morning looked as resolute as head coach Marvin Lewis last week. The Bengals are hoping they can re-sign right tackle Andre Smith and it is believed they'll keep discussions open with him Thursday as the 8 p.m. draft looms. But nothing looked imminent early in the day as the Bengals... read more Huffington Post…LB Caught In Prostitution Sting: Quentin Groves Arrested For Solicitation A Cleveland Browns linebacker was arrested in a prostitution sting last week in Ohio. Quentin Groves was arrested on charges of soliciting a prostitute after being caught in a police sting at a local hotel on April 17. He had agreed upon a price during a phone call before the meeting, according to the police report. "[Groves] made arrangements for certain acts ... and requested 'full service' and stated he would bring condoms," the police report stated. A .... read more Greenville Elks 1139…Local Teen Takes 3rd in Regional Elks Competition Maddie Shepard, daughter of Steve and Stef Shepard of Greenville, participated in the Regional Elks Soccer Shoot on March 9th in Hagerstown, Maryland. Maddie won the local Greenville soccer shoot back in May of 2012 and then won the state soccer shoot in July.  She advanced to the regional (and final) competition along with other representatives from Ohio.  The Greenville Elks #1139 are proud to say that Maddie did a sensational job with a 3rd... read more mlb.com…Nats have tough task ahead as Reds visit, By Joey Nowak Things aren't getting any easier any time soon for the struggling Nationals. The defending National League East champions are coming off a mid-week sweep at the hands of the Cardinals, dropping them to 10-11 -- a sub-.500 record for the first time since the last day of the 2011 season, when they ended the year at 80-81. And now the Nats get the Reds, who just finished off a series win against the Cubs and whose starting pitchers' collective ERA dropped to 2.99 after a 1-0 win Wednesday. Reds... read more Lady Wave back in Champions Challenge…Wave no stranger to Loudonville, By George Starks GREENVILLE–Today, the Greenville Lady Wave softball team will once again step back onto familiar ground as they return to Loudonville for the annual Champions Challenge tournament. Greenville first went there in 2008 after winning the state title in 2007. The Wave returned to Loudonville a year later, beating Tallmadge 6-3 in the semi-finals with the game winning hit coming off the bat of Mollie Ruble who jacked a three run home-run. Tonight, the Wave... read more Votto sends game to extras, Reds fall in 10th inning, reds.com Cingrani strikes out nine in second Major League start - CINCINNATI -- Even though it wasn't so visible at the time on Monday night after a thrilling comeback win over the Cubs in the 13th inning, there was a downside lurking for the Reds from that game. It was a depleted bullpen that became exposed when extra innings came once again on Tuesday. Hence, lefty Manny Parra found himself getting a second inning of work in the 10th inning... read more Lady Wave sweeps Troy; Still undefeated in GWOC North, By George Starks TROY- Greenville sophomore Ally Russell was virtually unhittable Tuesday, holding the Troy Lady Trojans to just two hits while walking three and striking out nine as Greenville spanked Troy for the second time in as many days, 6-0. “She knew coming in what she had to do today,” said Wave coach Jerrod Newland. “She’s starting to learn to adjust this weather. She’s use to 110 degree weather but to me this is a great day. Sixty degrees today is... read more Bruce keys win in 13 over Cubs, espn.com CINCINNATI -- Reds manager Dusty Baker's mind was worn out from another long, long game. At least he could smile. The Chicago Cubs? Numb, just like always. Jay Bruce hit a tying double and scored on Cesar Izturis' two-out single in the 13th inning Monday night, rallying Cincinnati to a 5-4 victory that gave the Cubs their fourth straight loss. The Reds used seven pitchers, 11 position players and one pinch hitter during their latest overtime win, this one lasting 4 hours, 35 minutes... read more Lady Wave train continues to roll; Greenville handles Troy, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Greenville used a five run fourth inning to break open a 2-0 lead on Troy before posting an 8-1 victory over the visiting Trojans Monday. The inning saw nine Wave hitters going to the plate with run scoring hits from senior Erin Albright, freshman Jazzlyn Petry and freshman Allison Minnich. “It was a good day,” said Wave coach Jerrod Newland. “Troy is solid and has four or five really neat kids. Their pitcher is solid and it’s good for us to... read more Reds erupt in eight-run seventh to claim set vs. Fish, reds.com Votto hits second homer in as many games; Choo reaches five times - CINCINNATI -- Even though he was getting on base in more than half of his plate appearances, there has been a constant buzz of worry in some circles that Joey Votto was in a hitting funk. Votto was drawing walks -- a Major League-most 25 to be exact -- but where were the home runs? Where were the RBIs? "I'm not concerned about the home runs," Votto said. "The Reds pay me to be good. That's all I try to do -- to be the best... read more Werner signs letter to IU East NEW MADISON- Tri-Village senior Matt Werner signed his letter of intent to play basketball at IU East in Richmond, IN. Friday. IU East is a NAIA D-II school and Werner will start is college play beginning with the 2013-14 basketball season. According to Werner, it has been a dream of his since he was a youngster and feels blessed to be able to do this. Werner will lay for Mark Hester at the Indiana based school as Hester liked the leadership... read more Kenseth wins in Kansas, nascar.com KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Matt Kenseth likened his victory in the STP 400 to a game of musical chairs -- you had to be leading when the music stopped. If you looked at statistics alone, you'd say that Kenseth dominated Sunday at Kansas Speedway in the eighth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race of the season. After all, Kenseth won the event from the pole and led 163 of the 267 laps. In reality, Kenseth prevailed in a race of extraordinary... read more Cincinnati Bengals...Harrison Steels away to Who Dey welcome It's hard to tell who is more excited about the two-year deal the Bengals reached Friday with James Harrison. Head coach Marvin Lewis or his locker room. Both have watched Harrison define the Steelers defensive dominance over the AFC North while pushing the Bengals around during the past decade. Now in one of those moves you just never thought would happen and still seems a little surreal, he's expected to bring his 64 career sacks and... read more Eldora Speedway… Cold temperatures nix Eldora/USAC event Third Attempt at Season Opener Set for April 27 with Saturday Night SpeedFest - ROSSBURG, OH (April 20) -- An unexpected wintry mix of precipitation hit Eldora Speedway overnight, with  National Weather Service issued freeze warnings throughout Darke and Mercer Counties .  The bitter cold temperatures this morning are hampering the track crew's diligent efforts to rework the high-banked .500-mile clay oval into optimal condition... read more Cincinnati Reds… Latos dominates, but Reds fall on ninth-inning homer Chapman surrenders solo shot; four-game winning streak snapped - reds.com - CINCINNATI -- The Marlins' Justin Ruggiano delivered a 418-foot reminder for Reds fans who are accustomed to shutdown performances from Aroldis Chapman. Chapman can be beaten. It happened Friday when Ruggiano slugged the decisive home run that handed the Reds a 2-1 loss vs. the Marlins on a wet, frigid night at Great American Ball Park and snapped a... read more Cincinnati Reds… Leake leads way on hill, with bat as Reds rout Phils CINCINNATI -- It's very possible the Reds' rotation will eventually miss injured ace Johnny Cueto at some point, but that time is not yet. Not when the team saw the three performances it got while burying the Phillies for a three-game sweep. Following the efforts of Bronson Arroyo and Homer Bailey before him, Mike Leake not only pitched a fantastic game, he was a dual threat, too, during an 11-2 Reds rout of the Phillies on Wednesday at ... read more Bradford to host softball tournament BRADFORD — The Bradford softball team will host its first Bradford Tournament Saturday. Bradford, Mechanicsburg, Russia and Southern will play in a single-elimination tournament, which also will include a consolation game. Bradford will play Mechanicsburg in the opening game at 10 a.m. Saturday, and then Russia and Southern will play at noon. The consolation game is scheduled for 2 p.m., with the championship game set to begin at 4 p.m. Eldora Speedway… Eldora makes second attempt to kick off 60th anniversary season Hines banking on Eldora experience as propellant to victory - ROSSBURG, OH (April 16) – Coming into Saturday’s (April 20) USAC (United States Auto Club) National Sprint Car event at Eldora Speedway, only one of the top five in the 2013 cumulative point standings has pulled their Sprint Car into victory lane at the historic .500 mile clay oval.  Tracy Hines, the veteran of the quintet at 40 years of age, has nine USAC Sprint Car triumphs to... read more NFL great dies at 82, espn.com DALLAS -- Pat Summerall was the calm alongside John Madden's storm. Over four decades, Summerall's deep, resonant voice described some of the biggest games in America. Simple, spare, he delivered the details on 16 Super Bowls, the Masters and the U.S. Open tennis tournament with a simple, understated style that was the perfect complement for the "boom!" and "bang!" of Madden, his partner for half of the NFL player-turned-... read more Franklin Monroe gains big CCC win; Jets break it open late, By George Starks PITSBURG- Holding a 2-1 lead through the first five innings, the Franklin Monroe Lady Jets put three runs on the board in the bottom of the sixth to post a 5-1 Cross County Conference victory over Mississinawa Valley Monday. Even though the Jets got the win, it wasn’t a game that coach Mike Morris was overly pleased with. “We came out flat today. We didn’t play very well,” said Morris. “Kristen (Stryker) pitched very well today, but our... read more Darke County Harness Horsemen… DCHHA makes donation GREENVILLE- The Darke County Harness Horsemens Association recently donated $500.00 to the Gene Riegle Memorial Race purse. The Gene Riegle Memorial Race is held during the harness races at the Great Darke County Fair in August of 2012. Riegle was a successful harness racing driver and trainer from Greenville. In 1951, Riegle, at 17 years of age won the first start of his career with Victory Dale at the Darke County... read more ALMS in 19th year ROSSBURG – It was back in 1995, and with an alphabet soup of Late Model sanctioning bodies traveling throughout the country, that Eldora Speedway’s Earl Baltes decided local racers needed a series in their back yard. One that didn’t involve intensified traveling. He joined forces with Gene Frankart (Attica Raceway Park) and Ken Langhals (Limaland Speedway) to establish the American Late Model Series (ALMS) as a taste of chasing a series title for local Late Model racers. That theory... read more Winchester Speedway Tentative Schedule for 2013 Xtreme Speed Challenge/Triple Crown Sat May 18th - Open practice for All Divisions Sun May 19th - Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint & Super Modified Series, Modifieds and Vores FWD Compacts ARCA Weekend Sat June 29th - ARCA Practice/Qualifying, CRA Super Series & ARCA Trucks Features Sun June 30th - ARCA 200 Feature with... read more nascar.com...Busch sweeps Texas FORT WORTH, Tex.- The record book will say that Kyle Busch won the NRA 500 on Saturday night. If truth be known, Busch started the process on Friday afternoon and applied the coup de grace with 20 laps left on Saturday evening. Yes, Busch capped a perfect weekend when he took the checkered flag .508 seconds ahead of runner-up Martin Truex Jr. But Busch’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory at Texas, his second of the season and the 26th of his career started with a pole-winning... read more Cincinnati Reds...Reds celebrating Jackie Robinson Day today PITTSBURGH -- The Reds and Major League Baseball will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day on today to honor the legacy of the legendary Hall of Famer. All players and on-field personnel will wear No. 42. In 1997, under the direction of Commissioner Bud Selig, Robinson's No. 42 was retired across all of Major League Baseball in an unprecedented tribute. The annual celebration to commemorate the 66tth anniversary of Robinson breaking baseball's... read more Cook, Pipenger honored; Accolades continue for Tri-Village NEW MADISON- Even though prep basketball has been over in Ohio for quite sometime, Tri-Village is still is the hoops spotlight. Patriot senior Kyle Pipenger and junior Tyler Cook will be playing in an upcoming showcase event at Capital University on April 21st. Pipenger will play in the Division III and IV boys game, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The Tri-Village senior guard led all Darke County players with 21.2 points a game this season while also... read more Eldora Speedway… 60th Season opener postponed due to rain Season Will Now Open April 20 With USAC National Sprint Cars - ROSSBURG, OH (April 12) – The heavy rains and severe thunderstorms that saturated the Eldora Speedway grounds and caused localized flooding in neighboring areas have forced a cancellation of Saturday’s (April 13) planned 60th Season Opener at Eldora Speedway. With the cancellation, Eldora will now kick off the season on Saturday, April 20 with the United States Auto... read more Stebbins Field… Lady Wave Stadium a milestone for Greenville, By Bob Robinson “Newland has probably done more for Greenville and this county than he might know.” CNO Sports Editor George Starks called me not long ago and said I should stop by the new Lady Wave Stadium… Stebbins Field. “It knocks some college fields out of the park,” he said. It’s been a few years since I’ve been to a college baseball game… try decades. Texas A&M in the 70s, Cal State Fullerton in the 90s. Neither one was major impressive... read more Versailles gets win in tough game; Tigers top Russia, By George Starks VERSAILLES- Versailles scored single runs in the first, third, fourth, fifth and sixth Tuesday and was forced to hold on for a tight 5-3 victory over its backyard rivals, Russia. Through six innings, the Tiger pitching had checked the visiting Raiders on just four hits while allowing a lone run, that coming in the fifth. At that point, Versailles had built a 4-1 advantage and things seemed to be in cruise control. That’s when things got a little dicey for sophomore... read more Eldora Speedway… Inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race At Eldora Historic Event To Offer Unique Qualifying, Race Procedures - DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 9, 2013) – NASCAR announced today the qualifying and race procedures for the inaugural “Mudsummer Classic” – the highly anticipated NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Eldora Speedway on Wednesday, July 24. Unlike asphalt tracks, dirt tracks have historically used a format much different than typical races and... read more Arroyo's perfect start erased in four-run sixth inning, reds.com ST. LOUIS -- Even as he retired batter after batter in order -- 15 Cardinals in a row to begin his night -- Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo knew he couldn't relax on Tuesday night. "To be honest with you, I hate being in ballgames when you have a no-hitter and you're only winning 1-0," Arroyo said. "I always feel like the guy with the no-no always loses it. I've seen that happen so many times, it's ridiculous." This time it happened to him. Arroyo took a perfect... read more Eldora Speedway… Eldora’s 60th Season Launches April 13 ROSSBURG, OH (April 5) – When the green flag waves over Eldora Speedway on Saturday, April 13 it will be a historic moment as it will launch the start of the 60th consecutive season of racing action at the historic speed plant. Conceived in the fall of 1952 by area farmer/band leader Earl Baltes, Eldora was unveiled to the world on June 6, 1954 as a .250-mile mile clay oval.  Two years later, the ingenious Baltes increased the size... read more Cincinnati Reds… Reds overcome Choo's errors, plate nine in ninth Phillips ignites big frame, center fielder caps it with three-run double - ST. LOUIS -- The Reds knew acquiring career corner outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and installing him in center field would require a trade off of sorts. Would Choo be as gifted defensively as predecessor Drew Stubbs? No chance. Clearly, Cincinnati was willing to give up some defense to get a whole lot more production offensively from the leadoff spot. All the merits of that December deal... read more Johnson first to get second win in 2013 following victory at Daytona, nascar.com MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Jimmie Johnson made eight the easy way. Leading 347 of 500 laps in Sunday's STP Gas Booster 500 at Martinsville Speedway, Johnson racked up his eighth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at the .526-mile short track and the 62nd win of his career. For the second straight event at Martinsville, Johnson won from the pole. Clint Bowyer ran second, followed by Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne... read more Tiger Classic brings in top competition...Versailles and Greenville finish well, By George Starks VERSAILLES- Despite cool winds that often seemed to hamper the athletes, the annual Versailles Tiger Classic provided top notch athletes the chance to compete against excellent competition. With only two divisions in the meet versus three in the past, the meet hosted 21 teams including Greenville, Bradford, Ansonia and Franklin Monroe as well as the host Tigers. In the Black Division (bigger schools) it was Covington that took... read more A-Lady Tigers earn big victory...Fischer fans eight, By George Starks ANSONIA- Coming in with a meager 1-3 mark, the Ansonia Lady Tigers softball team was in a much needed win situation.  The Tigers got that win Thursday with a 5-0 victory over Ft. Recovery. “We played well tonight,” said Ansonia coach Floyd Jenkins. “Catey (Fischer) pitched for us and pitched a pretty good game.” Fischer more than dominated the Indians bats, holding the Tribe to three hits (all singles) while striking out eight and allowing one walk ... read more Cincinnati Reds… Reds belt trio of homers to win Opening Series CINCINNATI- The Reds hit three home runs but had to hold on for another close game as they earned a 5-4 win over the Angels on Thursday afternoon. After dropping the season opener in 13 innings, Cincinnati took the final two games of the series -- both times by one run. Facing Angels starter Joe Blanton, the Reds led off each of the first two innings with home runs to take a 2-0 lead. On Blanton's first pitch, Shin-Soo Choo went to the opposite field to hit his first long ball as a Red -- and sixth leadoff... read more Bleacher Report… Adam Jones sued in Ohio for unpaid Las Vegas judgment CINCINNATI- It’s been six years since Adam “Pacman” Jones’ notorious “make it rain” moment in Las Vegas, which resulted in the shooting of Tommy Urbanski. Urbanski, who was hit four times and paralyzed, received a $13.4 million judgment last year against Jones. But Jones hasn’t paid any of the money, which has prompted Urbanski to attempt to recover a portion of Jones’ NFL salary. According to Michael O’Keeffe of the ... read more Eldora Speedway… April 6 Test and Tune Day Cancelled 60th Season Opener Now First on Eldora Menu – April 13 / Little Eldora Still on for Sunday - ROSSBURG, OH (April 1) – The untypical spring weather that has plagued the Midwest with continued cold temperatures and record snowfalls over the past few weeks has also played havoc with the Eldora Speedway track crew and their efforts to produce an ideal racing surface for Saturday’s (April 6) scheduled Test and Tune Day.  As a result, the session has been canceled... read more CNO Sports Roundup… Versailles rolls over FM and more VERSAILLES- The Versailles Tigers took advantage of virtually everything given to them by Franklin Monroe in routing the Jets 16-1 in five innings. The Tigers batted around twice in the fourth, collecting nine hits and taking six walks in a 13 run inning, blowing the game wide open. Versailles picked up a dozen hits in the game with Nick Moorman and Mike Davidson getting two hits each. With the Tigers getting 12 hits, FM pitching allowed 12 walks in the... read more Greenville holds first meet of the season, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Greenville hosted its first track meet of the season Tuesday as Piqua and Troy supplied the competition. When the last runner had crossed the line, the Wave boys finished first, winning 75-51 over the Trojans, while the Lady Wave came in second, falling to Troy, 88-52 while Piqua scored 35 points. It was the second meet of the year for the Wave girls who finished fifth out of 10 teams Saturday in the... read more Ryan Ludwick out three months following shoulder surgery, bleacherreport.com CINCINNATI- Ryan Ludwick suffered a dislocated right shoulder while sliding into third base yesterday and the Reds announced that he’ll undergo surgery tomorrow to repair torn cartilage. There’s no official timetable for his return yet, but the Reds placed Ludwick on the disabled list and obviously he’s going to be out for a while. Chris Heisey is the obvious fill in, although if Ludwick’s injury keeps him out for months rather than... read more Choo does his part, but bats stifled as Reds fall in 13, reds.com CINCINNATI- The Reds had it all designed in the offseason. Shin-Soo Choo was acquired in a trade to get on base and create chances for the rest of their lineup. The part where Choo needed to reach base worked great. It's the getting him home -- the most important of the two parts -- that lacked in a big way during the Reds' 3-1 loss to the Angels in 13 innings on Monday's Opening Day. Choo reached base three times and had... read more Another history making day; A great day for two, By George Starks GREENVILLE- The weather couldn’t have been much better Saturday for the grand opening of Lady Wave Stadium at Stebbins Complex. After both Greenville and Wayne took infield practice, the moment that everyone had been waiting from finally came. The ribbon cutting and the official opening of the newest softball field in Darke County, Greenville’s Lady Wave Stadium. “To Lady Wave softball, its here and forever,” said Wave coach... read more Lady Wave starts season off right; New stadium proves a good fit, By George Starks GREENVILLE- After a Cincinnati Reds opening day victory, the late Joe Nuxhall often would say, “You can’t go undefeated if you don’t win the first game.” It’s yet to be seen if the 2013 edition of Greenville Lady Wave Softball will go undefeated, but the first game out of the gate pointed in that direction Saturday as Lady Wave Stadium host its inaugural game against Wayne. A year ago, on opening day, the Wave fell to the Warriors, 2-1 in... read more Ansonia to be represented in senior showcase, By George Starks Three Ansonia boys will get one more chance to take their talents to the hardwood today as Derek Kiser, Luke Kimmel and Logan Moody will participate in the Indiana vs. Ohio High School All Star Basketball Games. Ansonia coach Derrick Barga said of his kids, "I think this is great because they get to play together one more time together." The Indiana vs. Ohio all-star games will feature three girls games and four boys games and will be... read more Nascar… Owner of the No. 22 car says he hopes for speedy recovery In the days since the accident that left him with a fractured vertebra, Denny Hamlin has received text messages from both on-track rival Joey Logano and Roger Penske, the owner of Logano’s No. 22 car. Logano also addressed Hamlin on Twitter, tweeting "Wish @dennyhamlin a speedy recovery. Hope he gets back to the track soon. And thanks to all of my fans for their support." Hamlin acknowledged the... read more Bleacher Report… Reds coach diagnosed with cancer Reds third base coach Mark Berry told the team and reporters Sunday morning that he has been diagnosed with cancer in his tonsils and two lymph nodes on the left side of his neck. “I have cancer,” Berry told reporters after the team meeting (Cincinnati.com). “I know it sounds bad, the word cancer, but there are plenty of people in this clubhouse that have had it, and I know people around the game who have beaten it... read more A little help needed here; A time to change gears, By George Starks Being a part of the local sports scene, it should come as no surprise that basketball season is my favorite. I have often said that if it were my decision to make, the season would take a month or two off and start up again, maybe wait until right after spring sports is over. It’s also no secret that the winter sports season is also the busiest and most strenuous of all the seasons, but now that it’s over, it’s a sad time for me. With 16 basketball team, three wrestling... read more Spring sports start Saturday; Weather permitting, By George Starks DARKE COUNTY- Now that basketball season is over and the winter sports season is officially over, it's time to move it all back outside again. Saturday, spring sports will get into gear with a solid slate of softball and track with four baseball games. In baseball, Greenville will be traveling to Stebbins and a date with the Indians. The Wave had a great season a year ago and was looking to make a solid run in the post season before it was revealed that... read more A scene I never will get used to, By George Starks COLUMBUS- I cannot begin to tell you how many times I’ve been to an athletic event at the state level.The first time, it was wrestling in Indianapolis at the old Hoosier Dome. Winchester High School had several wrestlers there and my thought was at least one would get through. None of them made it. Like the kids, I was devastated only because I wanted to see a state champion in a sport. I didn’t care what sport it was, I wanted to experience that... read more A masterful performance...A tough loss, By George Starks COLUMBUS- “We had a great tournament run but what we saw today, is something you don’t see very often.” Those were the words of Versailles boys basketball coach Scott McEldowney after his Tigers loss to Ottawa-Glandorf, 67-46, Saturday in the D-III boy’s state basketball game, as McEldowney spoke of the Titan’s star basketball player T.J. Metzger. Metzger dropped in nine of 14 from three point range (64.4 percent) and scored 36 points... read more V-Tigers fall a game short of D-III title; Glandorf too hot to handle, By George Starks COLUMBUS- When a kid as good as T.J Metzger comes out hot, there is no stopping him. Metzger, a senior, came out and lit up the Tigers for 36 points as Ottawa-Glandorf rolled to a 67-46 D-III state championship Saturday at Value City Arena in Columbus. Playing hard for 32 minutes, the Tigers were over matched by the senior laden Titans. Through it all, Tigers coach Scott McEldowney had nothing but praise for his team. “I’ve never been... read more Local boy makes Top 10 on Sports Center...Ahrens wows crowd and ESPN, By George Starks In yesterday’s game story on the Versailles victory over LaBrae High School in the D-III state semi-final game Thursday in Columbus, I referred to a first quarter dunk by Tiger junior Kyle Ahrens as a 'Thunder Dunk'. To be honest, it should be a poster shot as he nearly took out Vikings defender Carl Brown. Not only did this bring a huge crowd to its feet but at that moment, silenced the Vikings student section. This one handed slam was, without doubt... read more Versailles looks to go undefeated in state championship...Titans-Tigers square off at 10:30, By George Starks COLUMBUS- When the OHSAA boys basketball tournament got underway, Versailles coach Scott McEldowney said, “As of right now, we are 0-0.” Three weeks ago, records didn’t matter for one reason. It was one and done. One loss and the season was over. Ignore the 23-5 mark that Versailles now sports or the 25-3 record Ottawa-Glandorf has, both teams are 0-0 with one game left to play. Glandorf was able to get past Ironton Thursday, 61-60, in overtime and only...read more OHSAA, Petition Originator Agree to Alternative Proposal Regarding Separate Tournaments Referendum; Referendum to Separate OHSAA Tournaments into Public and Non-Public Schools Removed from Ballot; Replaced by Competitive Balance Proposal that Deals With Out-of-District Athletes COLUMBUS, Ohio – A petition that would have placed a referendum item on the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s (OHSAA) May ballot that called for all OHSAA tournaments to be conducted separately for public schools and non-public schools... read more Versailles defense holds down strong LaBrae offense, By George Starks Tigers heading into state final with huge win over Vikings COLUMBUS- With the Versailles offense struggling through the second quarter, the Tigers walked off the Versailles defense holds down strong LaBrae offense. Then, the Tigers defense came to life and a 2-3 zone shut LaBrae down, holding the Vikings to a mere 15 points in the second half as the Tigers rolled to a 64-52 victory in... read more Local coach and players receive all-state honors, By George Starks DARKE COUNTY- Tri-Village boys basketball coach Josh Sagester was named the Division IV boys basketball co-coach of the year by the AP along with Michael Bates of Columbus Africentric and Eric Rosenbeck of St. Henry. Sagester led the Patriots to an undefeated regular season, earning the Patriots the No. 1 ranking in Division IV from the AP. He also led his team to the regional tournament for just the second time in program... read more OHSAA To Honor Former Standouts in Circle of Champions Program At Basketball Tournaments Other Special Awards Recipients Will Also Be Recognized - COLUMBUS, Ohio – For the seventh consecutive year, the Ohio High School Athletic Association has selected individuals who had prominent roles in the history of Ohio interscholastic athletics to be honored as part of the Association’s Circle of Champions program. This year’s five honorees will be recognized during the OHSAA Boys State Basketball Tournament March 21-23 at Ohio State’s Jerome Schottenstein Center... read more First homestand action packed for fans, mlb.com CINCINNATI- With Cincinnati's favorite holiday - Reds Opening Day - less than two weeks away, fans can't wait for the 2013 season to get underway, especially with a big Opening Week on tap at Great American Ball Park. Find out more about the Reds' first homestand, how Reds players are getting involved with "March Madness" and more in this edition of the Redlegs Insider. Reds Opening Day is always a festive occasion, and this year promises to be no different. However, in 2013, there's... read more Versailles going to Columbus with high hopes, By George Starks McEldowney looks at when season turned around - VERSAILLES- The last time the Versailles Tigers stepped foot on the floor of the Schottonstein Center at Ohio State University was in the state final against St. Henry. Coaching Versailles was Roger McEldowney. Now, its nine years later and the Tigers are going back with a McEldowney at the helm. Scott McEldowney. It’s been an up and down, up and down season for the Tigers but since the... read more Defense key in Tigers success, By George Starks VERSAILLES- When Versailles coach Scott McEldowney put his five starters on the floor today; he will need offensive output if the Tigers are to go the championship game Saturday against either Ironton or Ottawa-Glandorf. It’s always been known in the realm of sports at Versailles that no matter how much offense there is, it’s defense that wins those titles. Today when Versailles (22-5) tips off against LaBrae, it will be no different... read more Lady Wave Stadium nearing completion; Opening day in 11 days, By George Starks GREENVILLE - It was just a little over 90 days ago, December 6, 2012 that a new era in Greenville sports started to unfold. The ground was broken and the construction of Lady Wave Stadium (Championship Field) was underway. The new complex is nearing completion and on March 30, the Wave will hook up with Wayne for the inaugural game at the new complex. “This is exciting,” said Greenville coach Jerrod Newland... read more LaBrae next for Versailles Thursday, By Joe Scalzo/George Starks VERSAILLES- While the Versailles Tigers watched sophomore Kyle Ahrens calmly sink two free throws with 3.5 seconds remaining in regulation to take a 56-53 victory over Roger Bacon, the Tigers next opponent, LaBrae, was experiencing a scene of its own. The difference for the Vikings was that LaBrae was putting the smack down on Beachwood, 17-2 with 31 seconds having elapsed in the second quarter. According to writer... read more Thomas humbled by all-state honors, By George Starks NEW MADISON - Taking into consideration everything Tri-Village senior Shaye Thomas has been awarded this basketball season, it would inflate the egos of most. By the end of the season, Thomas had been named MVP of the Bill Burkett Tournament, was named Southwest District Player of the Year, was Player of the Year in the Cross County Conference, Co-Player of the Year by Jim Dabbelt of the Debbelt Report, scored her 1,000th... read more Versailles Fries Bacon in Regional Final...Tigers Heading to Columbus, By George Starks KETTERING- It’s been a long time coming but the Versailles Tigers finally did it. Not since 2004 when Versailles lost to St. Henry, 61-49, in a game that would be dubbed as the battle of the MAC. On that day, the Tigers would suffer their only loss of the season, finishing with a 27-1 mark. Saturday in the regional finals at Trent Arena in Kettering, the Tigers proved they could withstand a pressure cooker situation. In a game that had more”... read more Plenty of Tickets Remain for 2013 OHSAA State Basketball Tournaments Sales of Boys Single-Session Tickets and Four-Game ‘Specials’ Begin Today COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ticket sales continue for the 2013 OHSAA Boys State Basketball Tournaments, and plenty of purchasing options are available for individuals and groups. The OHSAA Girls State Basketball Tournament is next Thursday through Saturday (March 14-16) and the OHSAA Boys State Basketball Tournament is the following week (March 21-23), and.... read more nascar.com...Kahne wins Food City 500 at Bristol Kyle Busch swept Saturday in true Rowdy fashion but it wasn't enough to beat Kasey Kahne. He led both Cup practices and won the Jeff Foxworthy’s Grit Chips 300. For Sunday’s Food City 500, Busch sat on the pole after setting a new track record during Friday’s Coors Light Pole qualifying. Kasey Kahne, who led most of the race last week at Las Vegas, started outside of Busch. Rookie Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and David Ragan had... read more District 9 Senior All-Star Game Set...Thomas Named First Team All-Ohio, By George Starks Tri-Village senior Shaye Thomas has earned virtually every award a high school senior can earn. Thomas joins Kayla Linkous as an all-stater for the Patriots as Linkous was all-stare first team in both her junior and senior years. Thomas was named MVP of the Bill Burkett Tournament, Southwest District Player of the Year, Player of the Year in the Cross County Conference, Co-Player of the Year by Jim Dabbelt of the Debbelt Report, scored her 1,000th... read more Eleven locals to play The 36th annual District 9 Basketball Coaches Association all-star games will be held March 28-29 at Edison State College in Piqua, as the top seniors will come together for one final time.  The girls game will be March 28, with the Division 1,2,3 all-stars playing at 6:30, followed at 8 p.m. by the Division 4 game.  The boys will follow suit on March 29, with the same game times. The teams are comprised of seniors picked by the coaches of District 9, and... read more Versailles rolls into regional final; Roger Bacon next, By George Starks KETTERING- If Versailles coach Scott McEldowney was looking for a sign from his team; he might have received it Wednesday. When the Tigers took the floor against Worthington Christian Wednesday in the D-III boys regional semi-final at Trent Arena in Kettering, it was like watching a whole different team. Right from the opening tip, it was the Tigers that took control, downing the Warriors, 63-48, to advance to the regional finals Saturday night.... read more The Bleacher Report... Baker wants a decision on Chapman soon GOODYEAR, Ariz. — If Dusty Baker has his way, we’ll know Aroldis Chapman’s role shortly. “I’d like to decide soon and get my team together,” Baker said. “I don’t like having guys in the middle. That’s a bad situation when you’re in the middle of anything. An unknown. Then everybody else is in an unknown situation. That’s unfair to him or us — the situation he’s been put in. He was in that same situation last year. “I’d like to make a decision in the next week or so, so I can get my team together. The... read more Perfect season comes to an end; Patriots bow out of tournament, By George Starks KETTERING - Coming in with a 26-0 record and ranked number one in the state, the Tri-Village Patriots needed four more wins to make the 2012-13 season a clean sweep, capped off by a state championship. After winning the district title over Cincinnati Seven Hills, the Patriots were forced to face a team they had already beaten once in Troy Christian. When the Patriots played the Eagles the first time around, it was Tri-Village coming... read more Cap Space Could Prompt Changing of the Guard in AFC North, bleacherreport.com CINCINNATI- The Cincinnati Bengals are currently enjoying $44.9 million in cap space while heading deeper into the offseason. Re-signing core players to long-term deals has been the mantra of head coach Marvin Lewis since the end of the 2012 season. The Bengals began re-signing key players this past week, starting with placing the franchise tag on defensive end Michael Johnson. They then inked punter Kevin Huber to a five-year deal and... read more Bradford shines at state lift competition, goroaders.com KENTON- Congratulations to the Bradford Power Lifting team and Coach Hale for another exceptional season. Coach Hale had this to say about the 2012-13 Power Lifting program. “This is the 26th year I have been going to the state meet. This is the 25th with Bradford. The boys team placed 4th, the girls team placed 2nd. We had 25 lifters place at State today. Four State Champions: Justin Parke 145 lb. boys class, Nathan Voisard 165 lb. class... read more Third win at Las Vegas comes on Kenseth's 41st birthday, nascar.com Matt Kenseth’s car was superb for the third time in three races this season. This time, the No. 20 team saw it pay off in the final standings. Kenseth piloted his Dollar General Toyota to a win Sunday in the Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway -- on his 41st birthday, no less -- holding off a hard-charging Kasey Kahne in a final 30-lap duel. The key was a late pit stop during caution in which Kenseth took fuel only, allowing him jump into first place coming out of pit road while most... read more Bengals re-sign Mike Nugent, bleacherreport.com CINCINNATI- Mike Nugent will remain the Bengals’ kicker. Nugent, who was slated to become an unrestricted free agent on Tuesday, has re-signed with Cincinnati, according to the team’s website. Last season Nugent made 19 of his 23 field goal attempts, with a long of 55 yards, and had 21 touchbacks on 65 kickoffs. Nugent ended the season on injured reserve with a calf injury, and Josh Brown kicked very well in Nugent’s absence... read more Lady Patriots end season on down note; Boys resume tonight, By George Starks TIPP CITY- When Tri-Village’s Kayla Linkous graduated a year ago; many thought the Lady Patriots had little to know chance of getting back to state to finish what was started a year ago. As for me, I was one of the few that thought they could. Granted, losing Kayla meant losing a big chunk of offense as well as a presence on the glass. What it meant was Teha Richards, Shaye Thomas, Lexi Bruner, Krystal Falknor and Echo Brown was going to need to... read more Lady Patriots Fall Short in State Qualifier, By George Starks TIPP CITY- Like a hot knife going through butter, the Ft. Loramie Lady Redskins went through the Tri-Village defense. For the fourth time in four years, the two teams have met in the regional finals with the Redskins winning two of the last three and moving on to state.Now, it’s three of the last four. On a night when the Redskins were just too much for the Patriots, Ft. Loramie wore the Patriots down and walked off with a 69-46 victory. Through the first... read more Versailles move on to ‘Sweet 16’, By George Starks DAYTON- When it came to acts of great escapes, Harry Houdini was the best in the business. Thursday at the University of Dayton Arena, the Versailles Tigers pulled off an escape of their own that might have amazed the great Houdini, being forced to come from behind to beat Stivers, 65-54, to advance to the ‘Sweet 16’ of the OHSAA basketball tournament . “This is just awesome,” said Versailles coach Scott McEldowney. “I told the kids tonight... read more Thomas honored as co-Player of the Year TIPP CITY - Tri-Village senior Shaye Thomas was honored Wednesday night as the Dabbelt Report Division 4 co-Player of the Year by Jim Dabbelt, the website's Executive Director. Thomas, who was also named the Cross County Conference and Southwest District Player of the Year, led the Lady Patriots into the Division 4 regional finals with a 47-43 win over Mechanicsburg at Tippecanoe High School. "Shaye has enjoyed... read more Patriots sting Seven Hills in district title game, By George Starks TV wins second district in school history - KETTERING- It didn’t take long for the Tri-Village Patriots to establish their dominance Wednesday at Kettering’s Trent Arena in their district title game against the Seven Hills Stingers. The Patriots jumped out to a commanding 10-0 lead and never looked back, posting a 71-33 victory to advance to the regional semi-finals Tuesday. It was the size difference... read more Lady Patriots move on to regional finals, By George Starks TIPP CITY- When asked to sum up the game between Mechanicsburg and Tri-Village, the words “ very physical” came to the minds of most. Physically brutal may better describe it. With bodies hitting the floor left and right Wednesday night at Tipp City, there were times the game between the two teams more resembled an over the top rope Battle Royal. In the end, it was Tri-Village that was able to hold on... read more Keller eleventh in state competition; Brisco said “no regrets”, By George Starks HILLIARD- Gymnastics may not be the premier sport in Darke County, but Darke County is well known for its gymnastics in the area. Saturday at Hilliard-Bradley High School, Greenville’s Paige Keller let the state know Darke County is alive and well in gymnastics. The Wave junior placed fourth on the vault (9.625) Saturday and was 12th on the balance beam, giving her an 11th place finish in the all-around competition for Darke County and head... read more My Word… Anna-Versailles game… “Something Resembling War”, By Bob Robinson Sports Editor George Starks’ article, “A three point winner vs a big time loser,” went “ballistic” with over 10,000 hits. It has elicited dozens of comments, mostly verbal, but also a few emails. While most preferred not to publish, one writer, Sam Schlagetter, Sidney, gave his permission. This letter has also elicited some comments, one pretty hard-hitting against the County News Online sports editor. At this time CNO is waiting for permission to publish... read more Versailles Lady Bowlers Place 5th at State The time finally came for the Versailles High School Lady Bowlers. The OHSAA State Bowling Tournament took place at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl on Friday, March 4th. 16 Teams were competing for the State Title from all over the State. Unlike most other sports, there are more Divisions than just one. Bowling still only has one Division for the Boys and the Girls. However, due to the fast growth, bowling will be 2 Divisions starting next season. The format was 3 Regular Games and 3 Baker Games... read more Versailles Varsity Bowling… Michael Davidson Wins State Bowling Title 2013 Boys Individual State Champion goes to Davidson for a 664 Series - Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl was the venue for the 2013 Boys State Bowling Championships. There were (16) 5 Person Teams and 16 Individuals that were competing for the Individual State Title. All bowlers would bowl 3 Games. The high 3 game series would determine the winner. The team competition would then continue with 3 Baker Games to determine the top 8 teams for... read more Don’t Miss LIVE VIDEO as the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars Invade Las Vegas March 6-7! The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars are back in action this week in Las Vegas as they kick off their six week West Coast swing. With only three races under their belts, the Outlaws are more than ready to get back in the seat. If you’re unable to make it out to Vegas for what is sure to be an incredible two-day show, DIRTVision.com will bring fans the opportunity to see it all unfold from the comfort of their own home. Watch both nights for just $29.99, that’s less than the cost of a ticket for just one... read more Three teams still looking for big finishes; T-V and Versailles still going strong, By George Starks Darke County- Just as predicted at the start of the season, there are still two schools with three teams total, still going strong in the OHSAA basketball tournament. Coming off a hard fought 46-40 battle with Franklin Monroe Saturday in the D-IV sectional finals in Troy, Tri-Village will hit the hardwood at the University of Dayton Arena in the district final. In that game against the Jets, senior Kyle Pipenger led the way with 18 points while junior Tyler Cook... read more Barga turning heads at Yellow Springs, By George Starks TIPP CITY- When it comes to producing some of the best coaches around, Versailles has done it. Versailles native Tim Barga is one of the best. After putting together one of the best programs around, Barga left Versailles and surfaced at Fairlawn. Now, in only his second year at Yellow Springs, Barga has taken a struggling program to the top. For the first time in school history, the Lady Bulldogs has won a conference title as well as their first ever sectional... read more T-V wins district title, By George Starks Lady Patriots run over Bulldogs - TIPP CITY- “We still have work to do.” Tri-Village senior Elizabeth Collins said it all and then said, “We have unfinished business to attend to.” When tournament time comes along, no knows better than Patriots coach Brad Gray knows you have to take it one game at a time. The beat rolled on for Tri-Village Saturday as senior Teha Richards scored a game high 27 as the... read more Lady Jets flame out in district game, By George Starks TIPP CITY- The Franklin Monroe Lady Jets came out like a ball of fire, jumping on Ft. Loramie, 9-4 early. After that, the fire was soon extinguished as the Redskins poured out an 82-41 district victory. The loss ended the Jets season at 12-13 overall and a district runner-up trophy. “The girls worked hard this year and they came out and played hard today,” said FM coach Gavin Spitler. “We just played a very good.... read more Patriots beat FM for third time, By George Starks Tri-Village advances to districts - TROY- A sold out Troy High School gymnasium witnessed two Darke County foes go at it for the third time this season. In a classic battle for the sectional title, Franklin Monroe and Tri-Village locked horns in an old fashioned barn burner. In a game that went down to the wire, the Patriots held off a late charge by the Jets, pulling out a 46-40 victory. With 1:58 remaining.... read more Versailles Varsity Bowling...Versailles Lady Bowlers District Runner-Ups On Monday, February 25th, the Lady Tiger Bowlers went up against 23 other teams in the Southwest District Tournament. The top 5 teams would then advance to the State Finals in Columbus on Friday, March 1st. With Versailles being the 3rd highest team in all 4 Sectionals, they were seeded in 3rd to start the tournament. “To finish as high as we did in all of the Sectionals is a big advantage at Districts... read more Versailles Boys Bowlers Miss State by 17 Pins With High School Bowling still being only 1 Division, which will finally be changing to 2 Divisions in the 2013-14 Season, the road to State was going to be a tough one. “All of you guys need to be on your game today. This is a tough field of teams, but there is no doubt in my mind you guys can end up in the top 4.” With 24 teams competing in the Southwest District, only 4 Boys teams would qualify for the State Championships in Columbus this weekend. This year’s District Championships were held at the... read more Versailles Varsity Bowling… Davidson wins Gold at Districts, Advances to State As in wrestling, swimming and golf, bowlers can qualify for the State Championships as an individual if their team does not make it through Sectionals and/or Districts. The Versailles Boys Bowling Team just missed making it to State for the first time ever this past weekend at Beaver-Vu Bowl in Beavercreek by 17 pins. (see separate article) “Michael has had a goal to make it to the State Bowling Championships since his freshmen year. As a coach, I can say this... read more Local teams shoot for titles; Two gymnasts head to state, By George Starks DARKE COUNTY- Darke County as a whole has a lot riding on it with sports today as local basketball teams will be shooting for titles as well as two local gymnasts. On the courts today, the 23-2, Tri-Village Lady Patriots will get things started at Tipp City against the 18-7 Yellow Springs Lady Bulldogs. Tri-Village, seeded first, is coming out of the Brookville sectional having scored huge wins over Jefferson, 101-22 and a 107-13 victory over Emmanuel... read more V-Tigers declaw Panthers in sectional action, By George Starks Tipp City- it didn’t take long for the Versailles Tigers to show their dominance Tuesday in the sectional semi-final against Twin Valley South. The team from the Cross County Conference proved to be no match for Versailles, as the Tigers dropped a 30 point bomb on the Panthers, 69-39. It was the night of nights for Evan Philpot as the Versailles player came off the bench to score a career high 16 points, 10 coming in the second quarter.  ... read more Patriots topple Newton, By George Starks TROY- “It wasn’t pretty.” Those were the words of Tri-Village coach Josh Sagester Wednesday after his sectional semi-final victory over Newton. Newton, a team Sagester and the Patriots know well gave the New Madison based team fits before the Patriots pulled away in the fourth quarter to take a 66-39 victory. After jumping out to a 20-5 first quarter lead, the Indians decided it was time to play ball and play ball is exactly what they did.  ... read more Defense pays off for FM... Jets rise to the occasion, By George Starks TROY- For some teams, the best offense is a good defense. In the case of Franklin Monroe, that could not be truer as the Jets prevailed in a defensive battle to post a 43-37 victory over the Southeastern Trojans in their sectional semi-final game at Troy Wednesday. Holding a slight two point edge at the half (21-19) FM and Southeastern combined for 10 points of offense in the third quarter, making the defense look that much better. “Our defense was... read more CNO Prep Gymnastics… Keller and Shook move on to state competition Brisco named Coach of the Year, By George Starks - LIBERTY TOWNSHIP- With four athletes taking part in the district competition Saturday at Lakota East High School, Paige Keller and Samantha Shook moved on to the state level in gymnastics from Darke County. Keller (Greenville High School), placed first in the vault (9.575), third in the beam, seventh in the floor exercise and 21st on the bars. Even with a low score of 8.1 on the bars, Keller... read more Bulldogs bite Trojans; Arcanum eliminated, By George Starks TROY- Trailing 13-9 with one quarter in the books, the Arcanum Trojans were never able to get a lead and hold it Tuesday, falling out of the OHSAA basketball sectional tournament with a 59-49 loss to Yellow Springs. We had to put it out there and lay it all on the line,” said Brian Gunter, head coach at Arcanum. “We came out ready to play. This was the best possible draw we could have wanted.” Looking at a slim four-point deficit, the Trojans outscored... read more Wave grapplers end season at districts BOWLING GREEN- Forty-eight teams entered the district meet at Bowling Green this past week-end. Greenville left, finishing 32nd overall, scoring 12 points in the tournament. The best for the Wave came at the 220 pound class when Nick Woodruff finished sixth. Woodruff recorded two pins on the day before being pinned by Wauseon senior Zane Krall in 2:16, the he lost to Beau Swank of Ben Logan by a 7-2 decision... read more Buchy talks about horses and Ohio Agriculture; The two go hand in hand, By George Starks GREENVILLE- When State Representative Jim Buchy addressed the Darke County Harness Horseman’s Association Saturday night at the Turtle Creek Golf Course, he spoke of the future of harness racing in Ohio and the impact that casinos and racinos would have on the industry. He also spoke in detail that all Equine can benefit by the future of the casinos. “We want to promote all Equine segments of the sport in Ohio,” said Buchy. “I don’t care if it’s... read more Nascar.com… Johnson holds off Dale Jr. for Daytona 500 win DAYTONA, FLA.- Jimmie Johnson emerged from the pack after a tense restart with six laps left to win the 55th Daytona 500 on Sunday at Daytona International Speedway. Johnson, who also won the Great American Race in 2006, held off Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. at the finish. Mark Martin, Brad Keselowski and Ryan Newman completed the top five. Danica Patrick made... read more Pipenger named top player in CCC; Sagester named top coach NEW MADISON- Tri-Village made it a clean sweep in the Cross County Conference this season, compiling a 22-0 (12-0) seasonal/conference record. The undefeated season brought the Patriots team two more accolades as senior Kyle Pipenger was named the Player of the Year in the CCC and the head coach of the Patriots was named Coach of the Year in the conference. Pipenger led the Patriots with a scoring average of 21.2 points a game with nearly... read more CNO Sports Roundup… Patriots breeze through first round TROY – The post season started out right where it ended for Tri-Village Friday night as the 22-0 Patriots topped Emmanuel Christian, 92-28 in the opening round of the OHSAA boys sectional tournament. The Patriots took a commanding 26-8 first quarter lead and never looked back, leading 54-15 at the break and 75-22 after three quarters. Shade Brubaker led all in scoring with 16 points in the first half while Andrew Wilcox took care of business... read more Local harness horseman honored; Buchy guest speaker, By George Starks (Writers Note: This is the first of two parts that will feature State Rep. Jim Buchy and a speech he presented to the DCHHA Saturday night.) GREENVILLE- The annual Darke County Harness Horseman’s Association (DCHHA) honored the best of the best Saturday night at the Turtle Creek Golf Course. Also on hand was State Representative, Jim Buchy, who talked about the changes in the state that will directly affect the horseman in Ohio... read more CNN… Injuries as debris flies into Daytona stands during fiery NASCAR crash By Greg Botelho, John Newsome and Joe Carter - Sat February 23, 2013 - Kyle Larson, driver of car No. 32, and Brian Scott, driver of car No. 2, collide at the finish of the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 23 in Daytona Beach, Florida. The multicar crash happens at the end of a Nationwide Series race in Daytona speedway. Debris, including an engine, ends up airborne -- some reaching the... read more World of Outlaws… The Magic of Racing: A Story of the Sport’s Healing Power An ill youngster is headed to Las Vegas to watch World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series - LAS VEGAS - Feb. 22, 2013 - Every breath is a battle, a fight between willpower and a curse of nature. He's unable to swallow and he can't hold himself up, which confines his small body to a powered wheelchair and requires assistance and attention 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. Christopher Lindor is 6-years-old and he has Spina Bifida. "His spinal cord didn't close all the way when he was... read more V-Lady Tigers lose classic battle, By George Starks Great game marred by ugly scene - TIPP CITY- When Versailles beat Arcanum Wednesday for the right to play for a sectional title against Anna, one thing was agreed on. It was a shame that someone had to lose. When the second seed Anna Rockets and the third seed, Versailles Tigers squared off Saturday at Pat Wampler Gymnasium at Tipp City High School; it was a game that had the entire... read more A three point winner vs. a big time loser, By George Starks TIPP CITY- Over the course of my career that goes back to September of 1988, I’ve seen a lot of stupid acts. All of which were at the professional level of the sports world. All until Saturday that is. Over the course of the 25 plus years I’ve been at this, I’ve seen a lot of silly things happen at the prep sports level. I honestly believe not much could top what happened in the sectional final of the D-III girls game at Tipp City... read more Ansonia bows out in sectional action, By George Starks PIQUA- The Ansonia Tigers gave it all they had Friday in the opening round of the D-IV boys sectional at Piqua. Sometimes, all you got just isn’t enough. The Tigers went in charging hard against the third seed, Fairlawn. In the end, the Jets, with fully loaded guns, shot the Tigers right out of the gym with a 72-47 loss. “We played hard for most of the game,” said Ansonia coach Darrick Barga. “We had to... read more Richards credits her team for milestone night, By George Starks NEW MADISON-   With the first half in the books, Tri-Village senior knew she was getting close to entering the record books as a thousand point scorer. With 16 minutes gone against Emmanuel Christian, Richards had pumped in 27 of the 34 points needed to hit the 1,000 point plateau. When the team went to the locker room, she made it clear that she did not want to know how many more points she needed... read more Patriots silence Lions with ease; Richards has career game, By George Starks BROOKVILLE- On a night when the game itself was never in doubt, only one question needed to be answered. Could Tri-Village senior Teha Richards do it? After scoring 32 points Saturday against Jefferson in a 101-22 opening round sectional romp, Richards needed 36 points to eclipse the 1,000 point mark at Tri-Village. When the final buzzer sounded, the Patriots had rolled to a 107-13 victory over Emmanuel Christian and Richards had a career... read more Versailles Varsity Bowling… Girls Team Sectional Champions! The Versailles Varsity Girls Bowling team competed in the 2013 OHSAA Sectional Bowling Tournament at Marian Lanes in Huber Heights on Wednesday, February 13th.  The team format for the Sectional Championships consists of 3 games of regular bowling followed by 6 baker games.  The 4 teams with the highest total pin count advance to the District tournament. Schools competing in this Sectional were:  Ansonia, Bellefontaine, Benjamin... read more Versailles Varsity Bowling… Boys Bowlers Advance to District Tournament The Versailles Varsity Boys Bowling team competed in the 2013 OHSAA Sectional Bowling Tournament at Marian Lanes in Huber Heights on Friday, February 15th.  The team format for the Sectional Championships consists of 3 games of regular bowling followed by 6 baker games.  The 6 teams with the highest total pin count advance to the District tournament.   The following teams competed in the sectional:  Ansonia, Bellefontaine... read more Gymnasts gear up for district - Keller and Shook shine, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Greenville’s Paige Keller and Ansonia’s Samantha Shook took first and second overall in the All Around competition recently in the Dayton City Gymnastics Tournament. Keller scored an 8.80 on the bars and 9.50 in the vault, both good enough for first place finishes. In addition, Keller was second on the beam and ninth with her floor routine. Combined, this scored her a 36.075 and first in the All Around. “I thought Paige had a great ... read more Versailles too powerful for Trojans - Arcanum puts up a good fight , By George Starks TIPP CITY- Having faced Versailles earlier in the season, Arcanum coach Rachel Fearon knew what to expect from the Tigers in the D-III sectional semi-final game at Tipp City Wednesday. There are times when knowing doesn’t help. Versailles was just too overpowering Wednesday night as the Tigers rolled to a 71-19 victory, ending the Trojans season a little earlier than Arcanum would have liked. Playing a solid first quarter, the Trojans trailed... read more Lady Jets squeeze by Southeastern; FM to play Covington in sectional final, By George Starks BROOKVILLE- After watching Southeastern barely get by Twin Valley South in the opening round of sectional play Saturday at Brookville, Franklin Monroe coach Gavin Spitler saw a much different bunch of Lady Trojans Tuesday. Led by freshman Lexie Perry with 15 points, the Southeastern Lady Trojans gave Franklin Monroe fits. Trailing the Trojans, 20-17 at the break, Franklin Monroe outscored the Trojans, 12-4 in the third quarter and was... read more Lady Hawks eliminated from tourney action; Murphy nets 17 to lead all scorers, By George Starks BROOKVILLE- Looking for a shot at a sectional title, first year coach Todd Murphy led his Mississinawa Valley Lady Hawks onto the floor to do battle with Cross County Conference rival Covington. Murphy walked off with his group, disappointed. Leading 19-16 at halftime it was a scoreless third quarter that proved to be the demise of the Hawks, seeded sixth, Tuesday as MV fell to Covington, 45-33... read more Wave grapplers seventh at sectionals; Four move on Greenville sent four on to the district round of the OHSAA wrestling tournament Saturday. Nelson Roberts, Nick Woodruff, Ian Warner and freshman William Niebert all qualifird for district action. Roberts, a senior, became only the ninth wrestler in Greenville history to become a four time district qualifier, finishing first in the 138 pound weight class. Woodruff was second overall while Warner and Niebert took fourth place finishes... read more Fox Sports Ohio to televise 145 Reds games, bleacherreport.com Fox Sports Ohio, which recently acquired Cleveland Indians broadcasting rights, has announced a full slate of Cincinnati Reds games for the 2013 season, the Cincinnati Business Courier reports. The network will televise 145 of the Reds' 162 regular season games this year. It's also adding a new show, Reds Weekly, that airs in 30-minute weekly segments, featuring interviews, highlights recaps and previews of upcoming games... read more Tracking the combine, bengals.com The NFL Scouting Combine has come to this when it gets underway Wednesday as the college prospects begin reporting to Indianapolis. It makes Clif Marshall, director of Cincinnati's Ignition Sports and that new breed of coach known as "NFL Combine Trainer" wake up the echoes of his central Kentucky roots. "I will feel like Bob Baffert at the Kentucky Derby," Marshall says of the fabled trainer. "They know who the trainer is now. That's who... read more Kevin Harvick Wins Sprint Unlimited, espn.go.com DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Kevin Harvick thought he could win the debut race of NASCAR's new Gen-6 car, and he had a solid reason for his confidence. "Nobody in the whole field had any clue what was going to happen," he said, "so we felt like we had a good chance." Harvick dominated Saturday night's exhibition Sprint Unlimited, winning the kickoff to Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway for the third time in five years... read more Sectional action resumes tonight, By George Starks BROOKVILLE- The second round of the OHSAA sectional girls basketball tournament will resume tonight in Brookville. Two county teams that took first round byes will be in action tonight. In the 6 pm opener, Franklin Monroe enters with a 9-10 record after coming off a loss at Tri-County North on February 9 in Lewisburg, 62-53.  The Jets will face Southeastern tonight. The Trojans squeaked by Twin Valley South Saturday, 22-19, in a game that held a... read more Late push leaves Bradford short, By George Starks Lady Roaders eliminated - BROOKVILLE- Coming in with a 9-12 record, the Bradford Lady Railroaders looked to pull off a first round upset over Cross County Conference rivals, Covington. Earlier in the season, the Roaders lost to Covington, 51-36, but Saturday, the Roaders were ready. Trailing 42-27 at the end of the third quarter, Bradford put on a fourth quarter push, only to fall short in the end, 54-48 in first round... read more Enis named Coach of the Year, goroaders.com Bradford football coach Curtis Enis has been named The Marvin Lewis Community Fund 2012 Coach of the Year. The Marvin Lewis Community Fund Coach of the Year Award is presented to a high school football coach in the Greater Cincinnati region. The winner is chosen based on teaching skills, sportsmanship, dedication to players on and off the field and commitment to education. Coach Enis is... read more CNO Sports… Thomas named CCC Player of the Year DARKE COUNTY — Tri-Village’s Shaye Thomas was named the Cross County Conference girls basketball player of the year, topping the awards earned by Darke County players. Thomas, a senior guard, was named the player of the year while Miami East’s Preston Elifritz was named the coach of the year. Thomas averaged 14.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 3.5 steals per game this season. Along... read more Blackhawks cruise in end of tight game, By George Starks UNION CITY- When Ansonia and Mississinawa Valley hook up on the basketball court, throw the records out the door, the records don’t matter. Through three quarters of play, the two teams went after each other as the Tigers led 23-17 after one but trailed 35-34 at the half. Mississinawa Valley took a 54-48 lead into the final eight minutes. That was as close as it would ever get as the Hawks would open it up in... read more OHSAA board approves updated policy for concussions, submitted by Tim Strieb ohsaa.org - The board approved an updated OHSAA policy for concussion management. In December 2012, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed into law House Bill 143, which legislates concussion prevention, recognition and management and includes many of the same policies that the OHSAA already mandated. The law, which goes into effect April 26, 2013, adds several aspects to previous OHSAA regulations. To be fully compliant with the law, modifications have been made to the OHSAA’s... read more Could Andy Dalton's Future Look a Lot Like Joe Flacco's Present, bleacherreport.com When trying to come up with an ideal trajectory for the career of a young quarterback, the best-case scenario is to see a bit of Tom Brady or Peyton Manning in his future—a Super Bowl ring, maybe more than one; a host of broken records in his name; a sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Fame enshrinement; an unprecedentedly high payday. These are the stuff of quarterback dreams, something everyone who plays the position at the... read more Versailles romps over West Liberty Salem; Tigers advance to play Arcanum, By George Starks TIPP CITY- It was just a year ago when Versailles rolled in to Tipp City High School to take on Northridge in a game that many believed would be a cake walk for the Tigers. That game ended in an embarrassing loss for Versailles and an early first round exit from the OHSAA state basketball tournament. Thursday, Versailles made the trip back to Tipp City to take on West Liberty Salem (WLS) in the sectional opener for the two... read more Former teammates now rivals on the court... Tri-Village grads reunited, By George Starks PIQUA- In their high school days, Drew Moore and Evan Barger wore the same uniform during basketball season at Tri-Village. Moore graduated two years ago and has since moved on to play at Sinclair. Barger graduated a year ago and is playing his college basketball at Edison State in Piqua. Wednesday, the two were reunited for the second time this season on the Chargers home floor. Recently, the two hooked up at Sinclair in a game the... read more Cincinnati Reds… Cueto's oblique feels fine after offseason, Rolen not with club in Arizona GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Reds ace Johnny Cueto is fully recovered from the strained right oblique injury that marred his and the team's postseason. "I don't feel anything. I feel good," Cueto said Tuesday after Reds pitchers and catchers completed their first workout of Spring Training. "I've been throwing and working since October." Cueto has not been named to represent the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. "I don't know yet," Cueto said of his status. "I want to." Cueto went a career-best... read more Edison Community College... Brunswick NJCAA Player of the Week For the first time in the athletic department’s history, one of Edison’s student-athletes was awarded the Player of the Week for the NJCAA. Kendra Brunswick continued a fantastic sophomore campaign that has her as conference's leading scorer (25.5 ppg) in OCCAC play. The sophomore forward shot a sizzling 24-for-35 from the field overall, 5-for-7 from 3-point range and 5-for-6 from the foul line in two wins. In a 76-68 home victory over Owens ... read more Hardballtalk.com… Topps baseball cards refuse to mention Pete Rose This year’s Topps baseball cards include “career chase” notes on the back that list how far players are away from various statistical records. For instance, on the back of Mets reliever Bobby Parnell‘s card it says: “With 249 games pitched, Parnell is 1,003 away from Jesse Orosco’s all-time record of 1,252.” However, Rob Harris of ChicagoSideSports.com noticed that all of the “career chase” notes mentioning hit totals do so without actually using Pete Rose’s name... read more It’s time to dance, By George Starks DARKE COUNTY- With the 2013 basketball season in the books for the Darke County girls basketball teams, the ladies are now looking to the second season, a.k.a. the sectionals. The run to state starts tonight for many teams across Ohio and actually started Wednesday for some. Locally, the Versailles Tigers will get things going at Tipp City against West Liberty Salem in the first round. Tip time is scheduled... read more Spring Youth Soccer Registration open for 2013 The Darke County Soccer Association would like to announce the 2013 Spring Youth Soccer Registration is now open for the upcoming season.  Games will be played at Greenville North Park. Last year DCSA had over 220 participants and is expecting even more this year. This year’s season will be open to all youth between the ages of 3 to 12 years old.  Age groups will be 3,4 and 5 year olds playing on Mondays and Saturdays, 6, 7 and 8 year olds playing on Wednesdays and Saturdays and 9,10,11... read more Versailles Boys Bowlers defeat New Bremen The final match of the season was held at 20th Century Lanes in Lima on Saturday. The Tigers were going up against the New Bremen Cardinals. Unfortunately, Senior Nathan Peters was out with the flu all week and had to miss his last match. “With Nate out, everyone else would need to step up their games a little bit to make up for his absence.” The Tigers started out with a 1st game win 939-810. The second game also went to Versailles 966-783. Going into the Baker games, things were well in hand... read more Lady Trojans turning the corner; Fearon positive about the future, By George Starks ARCANUM - In her first year at the helm, Arcanum coach Rachel Fearon suffered through the pains of transition. In the 2011-12 season, the Trojans celebrated just three victories with only one Cross County Conference victory. Now that the 2012-13 year has concluded, the Trojans were 10-11 on the season at the time of this writing, with one game left to play before the start of sectional action. With the spring comes graduation, and on Saturday, the Trojans... read more Versailles Varsity Bowling… Versailles Varsity Girls Bowling win the WOHSBC As the weeks passed during the season, the excitement continued to build for the match of the season, Versailles vs. last year’s State Champion and the last 4 years Conference Champions Coldwater Cavaliers. Both teams records were unblemished at 12-0. They were to face off at 1pm at 20th Century Lanes in Lima. The match was originally to be bowled more toward the middle of the bowling center, but both coaches decided to move the match... read more Boys sectional pairings released; T-V seeded in the top spot, By George Starks DARKE COUNTY- Sunday, the 2013 boys sectional pairing were put in the books and to the surprise of no one, the Tri-Village Patriots received the top seed in the D-IV sectional. The sectional games will begin on Friday, February 22 at Piqua High School as the Ansonia Tigers will square off against the Fairlawn Jets. The Tigers will be the only Darke County team to play on the opening night of the tournament... read more Diceanu named best in the state, By George Starks PITSBURG- When Franklin Monroe hired Danny Diceanu to head up the Jets soccer program, the powers at the time knew exactly what they were doing. Diceanu took the position 10 years ago and was recently named Coach of the Year in the state of Ohio. Over the course of time that the Romanian born Diceanu has been at the helm, he has amassed a record of 130-44-7, producing teams that have been recognized... read more Lady Trojans send seniors off with big victory, By George Starks ARCANUM- It was only fitting, on senior recognition day; two of the three Arcanum Lady Trojans (Morgan Buck and Rebecca Denniston) would score the opening two buckets of the game. The third senior (Hannah Prestel) would get the fifth basket of the game and the Trojans would go to 10-11 on the season posting a 54-46 victory over Milton Union Saturday. “When Morgan and Rebecca got the first two scores of the... read more Richards, Roberts our January Athletes of the Month, By George Starks The January Athletes of the Month are both seniors that are having stellar seasons. Tri-Village, through the month of January, went 17-1 and currently at 19-1 overall with its lone loss coming at the hands of Miami East. A large part of that success can be credited to the outstanding play of Teha Richards. The Patriots went undefeated in the month and Richards averaged double digit points... read more Versailles Bowling… Versailles Boys Bowlers Ruins Coldwater’s Undefeated Season Versailles Girls remain undefeated - The Coldwater Cavaliers Boys Bowling team, last year’s State Champions, was looking to keep their 2012-13 Season record unblemished along with locking up the WOHSBC title. The Tigers had different plans. Not only did they want to knock off the only undefeated team in the conference, they needed to win to keep their hopes alive for next season’s Ohio High School Kickoff Bowling Championships in Columbus. When Versailles matches up against Coldwater in High... read more Jets suffer flame out on senior night, By George Starks PITSBURG- Before the start of the Cross County Conference game Friday between Covington and Franklin Monroe, the Jets staff and faithful honored their graduating senior. That would be the only highlight of the night as the Buccaneers dishonored the FM seniors, dropping a 71-48 loss on the Jets in the Hangar. “This wasn’t us,” said a very disgruntled Troy Meyers. “This is probably the most embarrassing loss we’ve taken all year. When you... read more Cincinnati Bengals… LB Brandon Joiner joins Bengals after prison term CINCINNATI- Rookie linebacker Brandon Joiner has been activated by the Cincinnati Bengals after completing a prison term. The Bengals signed Joiner out of Arkansas State as an undrafted free agent last year, knowing he would be going to prison in Texas over a robbery that led to his indictment in 2008. He was placed on a reserve list and missed all of last season while completing his sentence. Joiner is out of prison and was reinstated... read more Arcanum can’t hold lead in loss to Covington, By George Starks Lady Trojans experience fourth quarter meltdown - COVINGTON- In only her second year at the helm of Lady Trojan basketball, Arcanum head coach Rachel Fearon has seen vast improvements in her team. A year ago, the Trojans had a dismal season, getting just one CCC victory. In the 2012-13 season, Arcanum has won six conference games. Thursday, the Trojans ventured to Covington to do battle with the Buccs in a Cross County... read more Tri-Village seniors hit huge milestones Pipenger eclipses 1,000 point mark, By George Starks NEW MADISON- While most players at the high school level can only dream of achieving goals in a four year time span, Tri-Village senior, Kyle Pipenger as done it in three. Unlike his female counter-part, Shaye Thomas, Pipenger had no idea that he had even hit the 1,000 point mark as a scorer. Seemingly, few others knew of the achievement as well. Pipenger got the milestone bucket in the Jet Tournament at the end of December. Not knowing ... read more Milestone reached in final home game... Thomas hits 1,000 point mark at Tri-Village, By George Starks NEW MADISON- Going into her senior season in basketball at Tri-Village, Lady Patriot Shaye Thomas was getting close to achieving milestone numbers in scoring. The coveted 1,000 point mark. Thomas got that point last Saturday at home against Brookville. With approximately 40 seconds left in the game, Thomas squared up in the corner and unloaded a 21 foot shot that found the bottom of the net. Patriot fans started yelling in ... read more Versailles Wrestling... V-Tigers wrestlers heading to state VERSAILLES- It's not the first time in the history of the Midwestern Athletic Conference that two teams has squared off for a shot at going to state in any sport. In the recent past, Versailles and St. Henry played each other in basketball for the state title. The Redskins brought home the gold that time. Wednesday, in the inaugural state team wrestling duals, the Tigers and MAC rival Coldwater went head to head on the mat. This time,... read more Cincinnati Reds… Nothing new on Rolen, arb-eligible guys, bleacherreport.com CINCINNATI- No news out of Redsland today. Walt Jocketty was still waiting to hear back from Scott Rolen’s agent. “I’m kind surprised I haven’t heard by now,” he said. “They’ve got some other stuff going on.” Time is also winding down on the remaining arbitration-eligible players — Mat Latos, Homer Bailey, Mike Leake and Shin-Soo Choo. “We really haven’t made a lot of progress on the big ones,” Jocketty said. “You’re always hopeful that you can get it done before you get the hearing... read more Lady Jets tripped up by National Trail, By George Starks NEW PARIS- Franklin Monroe coach Gavin Spitler watched a close game, that was in reach, slip away in one fail swoop. That being the fourth quarter. Trailing by a 37-35 score heading into the fourth quarter, Spitler watched his defense fall apart and his offense struggle. In eight minutes time, Franklin Monroe could put just four points on the board, all from the charity stripe. Spitler saw a two point deficit become a 10 point Cross County... read more Lady Wave softball looks to return to Canton, By George Starks GREENVILLE- After making an exciting run to the state finals a year ago and bringing home the silver, Greenville softball coach, Jerrod Newland, is looking forward to a new season. With the 2013 winter sports season nearing its end, the Lady Wave softball schedule is loaded with some great competition. Greenville will get things started with four scrimmages, beginning March 17 against Shelby High School... read more Super Bowl XLVII… It’s just my take, By George Starks The Super Bowl pre-game hype seemed to go on forever Sunday, leading up to what I thought was going to be a game that would hold little interest to a Bengals fan. Let’s face it. If you’re a fan of the black and orange in Cincinnati, it was a little difficult to get wound up over the two teams Bengals fans severally detest. First of all the Baltimore Ravens play in the same division in the AFC North so therefore, it goes without saying that rooting for the Ravens might... read more Ohio State Rivals… Buckeyes take Badgers in OT Ohio State remains undefeated - MADISON, Wis. - In a reversal of much of the 2012 season the Ohio State defense saved the Ohio State offense as Carlos Hyde punched in the game winner in overtime to give the Buckeyes a 21-14 win against Wisconsin and the outright championship of the Leaders Division of the Big Ten. Braxton Miller was held largely in check with 48 yards on 23 carries (2.1 YPC) and 10-18 passing for 97 yards and three sacks. Hyde led the Buckeyes with 87 yards... read more The countdown is on… Hoops season is nearing, By George Starks DARKE COUNTY - It’s the most wonderful season of the year. No, I’m not talking about Christmas but about basketball. When it comes to prep sports, I usually look forward to the fall sports ending so we can get basketball underway. Please, don’t misunderstand me. Football, tennis, cross country and the rest of the fall sports are important but, because of my love for hoops, it’s my favorite season of... read more Ohio Student Athletes make a difference in Ohio Communities From ohsaa.org - Columbus, Ohio – The OHSAA Foundation has announced the 2012 Foundation Game schedule as part of the sixth annual statewide community service initiative, “Foundation Service Week.” Many schools already incorporate community service as an extension of learning in the classroom. “Foundation Service Week” provides an opportunity for OHSAA member schools to participate in a community service project(s), as well as a platform to highlight the community service... read more Bleacher Report… Jones doubtful for Sunday Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis shook his head when asked about avoiding a letdown when the 4-5 Bengals play the 1-8 Chiefs on Sunday in Kansas City. "I don't know if we can have a letdown. We haven't had a buildup," Lewis said after Friday's practice. "I'm still waiting for a buildup. We have nothing to let down. We haven't gotten very far. We know we have to go play good football and make plays. We haven’t accomplished anything." The... read more Bleacher Report… Bruce wants to be a Red for life CINCINNATI- Jay Bruce is 25 years old and already under the Reds’ control through 2017 as part of a $51 million deal inked in December of 2010, but Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports that the outfielder wants to add six more years to his contract. Here’s what Bruce’s agent, Matt Sosnick said: Bruce made it clear that he wants to be a Red his entire career. [Joey] Votto is in his wedding in a couple of... read more Lady Trojans tuning up for new season, By George Starks ARCANUM- If a coach had a good reason to be excited about a team; Arcanum coach Rachel Fearon has every reason. Thursday, her Lady Trojans welcomed Lehman Catholic in for the third scrimmage of the season. Despite a power outage in Arcanum and a 30-minute wait before taking the floor, the Trojans never lost focus on the task at hand. Arcanum won all four quarters in stellar fashion over... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Whitworth looks forward to pain-free '13 CINCINNATI- Bengals left tackle Andrew Whitworth felt doubly invigorated after Sunday's Pro Bowl. Not only was it his first foray into the all-star game as well as his first chance to ever play right tackle, but it's also going to the last time he'll play with the pain he's had in his knee for the past two seasons. He said Monday that he plans to have a procedure to deal with some scar tissue that will take him out of the spring practices but have him back... read more CNO Sports Roundup… Patriots clinch CCC title with win over Ansonia NEW MADISON- The Tri-Village Patriots clinched a share of the Cross County Conference title Friday when the Patriots dismantled Ansonia 97-36. Getting out of the gate quickly, the Patriots were flexing their muscle early and often. Led by Kyle Pipenger's 11 and Tyler Cook's eight first quarter points, Tri-Village cruised to a 23-7 lead with eight minutes in the books. By the end of the opening half, the only thing left to be determined was the final... read more Cavaliers come up lame against Versailles; Tigers defense proves supreme, By George Starks VERSAILLES- The Versailles Tigers used good, solid defense that stymied Coldwater in the third quarter, holding the Cavaliers to just three points. That defense, coupled with 11 points scored on offense, gave the Tigers a 42-24 lead that eventually led to a 55-38 MAC victory. “I’m happy with the win,” said Versailles coach Scott McEldowney. “We were able to progress in some areas again and get a little better, especially ball distribution... read more Tri-Village and Versailles ranked in top 10 The Tri-Village Lady Patriots and the Versailles Lady Tigers were both ranked in the top 10 this week in the AP's statewide polls. In D-IV, the Patriots were ranked third overall with a 15-1 record behind Ottoville and Berlin Hiland. Versailles is ranked eighth in Division III by the AP. The Lady Tigers are ranked behind Smithville, Archbold, Firchwood North Union, Proctorville Fairland, Columbus Africentric, Orrville and Gates Mills Gilmour. Below is how a state panel of sports writers... read more Lady Trojans thump Bethel ARCANUM- It was a dominating performance by the Arcanum Lady Trojans Thursday as Arcanum steam-rolled Bethel 50-12 in Cross County Conference play. Led by freshman Alexis Abner with 16 and junior Abby O'Donnell with 12, the Trojans were never threatened, holding the buzzless Bees to a mere three points, 33-3, at the break. The victory was the third in a row for the Trojans. Arcanum will be idle until Thursday when the Trojans play at Covington... read more Lady Patriots ground Jets, By George Starks Senior night a success - NEW MADISON- Senior night at Tri-Village proved to be a huge success as seniors Shaye Thomas, Teha Richards (four year starters) and Elizabeth Collins went out in style, dropping a 52-37 Cross County Conference loss on Franklin Monroe Thursday. It was even better for Richards as she led all in scoring with 18 points; 11 in the second half. "I thought Teha had a big night for us... read more Versailles Varsity Bowling… Versailles Boys Varsity Wins Home Match Girls Varsity Undefeated; JV teams score wins - The Varsity Boys Bowlers won a tough match this past Saturday against St. Henry at McBo’s Lanes in Versailles to increase their record to 10-3. During the 15 week season, each team only has one home match as all of the teams compete against each other on the same day in the same bowling center. The first game went to the Tigers by a slim margin of only 10 pins. It was Versailles 962 and St. Henry... read more CNO Sports Roundup… JV Boys and Girls Bowling After 8 weeks of competition, the Boys JV Bowling Team remains in 2nd place at 8-2 behind Coldwater, who is now 10-0. The boys faced the New Bremen Saturday in St. Marys. With New Bremen not having a full team, this was going to be an easy win. The boys rolled 846 and 798 in the regular games. In the Baker Games they rolled 139, 184, 112, 137 and 165. The Tigers were led by Zach Marshal with a 211-202, Ryan Watren with a 195 and Michael Hemmelgarn with a 169. ... read more Versailles Girls Improves to 11-0 Versailles was set to face off against the Mississinawa Valley Blackhawks at their home match. The Tigers started off with an 898 to the Blackhawks 684. The 2nd game also went to Versailles 933 to 684. The Baker Games all went to Versailles as well, 170-121, 177-118, 192-115, 151-128 and 177-147. “This was a total team effort for these 8 girls. All 8 girls were able to showcase their bowling talents today in front of their home fans.” said Coach Phlipot.... read more CNO Sports Roundup… Arcanum hangs loss on Newton Jets Grounded by Coldwater - PLEASANT HILL- Freshman Rebecca Deao scored 22 while junior Abby O'Donnell added 16 as the Arcanum Lady Trojans trounced Newton in the Tee Pee, 49-35. The Cross County Conference victory was the second straight for the Trojans after excaping with a victory over Ansonia last Thursday, 45-36 Arcanum will host Bethel tonight in another CCC battle. Jets... read more Patriots pound Panthers, By George Starks T-V still perfect - WEST ALEXANDRIA- Despite kids battling the flu virus at Tri-Village, it never seemed a affect senior Kyle Pipenger Tuesday. The Patriots drove into West Alexandria to do battle with the Panthers and Pipenger put the whole team on his shoulders and carried them. While the Panthers scored 33 points as a team, Pipenger scored 32 by himself as Tri-Village cruised to a 52-33 Cross County... read more Local wrestling teams learn their fate for sectionals DARKE COUNTY- Greenville, Versailles and Arcanum were given its sectional tournament draws for the upcoming OHSAA wrestling tournament Sunday. The Wave grapplers, D-II, will be in the Tipp City sectional starting at 10 a.m. on the 16th of February. In that sectional, the Wave will be up against Bellefontaine, Ben Logan, Carroll, Milton-Union, Franklin, Oakwood Tipp City, Valley View and Monroe. In the D-III sectional, Arcanum and Versailles... read more Wave wrestlers have off day GREENVILLE- With the second round of the state duels coming up on Wednesday at Greenville High School, the Wave ventured to Miami Trace over the weekend, the Greenville Wave didn’t have one of their best days on the mat. With 16 teams on hand, Greenville finished 15th in the competition. Senior Nelson Roberts placed second while freshman William Nibert placed eighth. Roberts moved up to 11th in Career Wins with a record of... read more Green lights Pro Bowl with three TDs, bengals.com Wide receiver A.J. Green  added another chapter to his growing legend Sunday night when he became the first Bengal to score three touchdowns in a Pro Bowl during a scintillating 119-yard performance that was one of the few bright spots in the AFC's 62-35 loss in Honolulu's Aloha Stadium. Green's four career Pro Bowl touchdown catches are the most in Bengals history, passing the two each of Chad Johnson... read more CNO Sports Roundup… Second half surge gets T-V past St. Henry ST. HENRY- The Tri-Village Lady Patriots used a second half scoring surge to pull out a 53-44 victory over St. Henry Saturday. With the score knotted at 26 points each with 16 minutes in the books, the Patriots got things together in the second half. With the Patriots holding a 15-10 lead after one, the Redskins put on a surge to gain the tie at the break in a game where the Pats never trailed by more than two points... read more Lady Wave no problem in loss to Versailles, By George Starks VERSAILLES- When it comes to team sports and winning at Versailles, it all starts with one word. Defense! Holding a 25-16 halftime lead, the Versailles Lady Tigers employed their defensive prowess against Greenville Saturday, holding the Wave to just nine second half points in a 54-25 victory. In the second half, the Tigers allowed just three field goals. “Those are great numbers,” said Versailles coach Jackie... read more World of Outlaws… Unique Gator Trophy Serves More Than One Purpose Swindell uses UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit award for protection - BARBERVILLE, Fla. - Jan. 24, 2013 - If it wasn't bronzed, the gator, which stands three feet long and weighs a little more than eight pounds, would appear lifelike. To say that the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment has a unique trophy is an understatement. It certainly catches attention, including that of last season's winner - Sammy Swindell. "I've had a bunch of different... read more MV grad make Chancellor's list RICHMOND, Ind. – Mississinawa Valley graduate Mallory Livingston was one of 28 Indiana University East student-athletes named to the IU East Chancellor’s List or Dean’s List during the 2012 fall semester. The 28 IU East student-athletes making the IU East Chancellor’s List or Dean’s List during the 2012 fall semester is the highest total in the program’s history. Seven Red Wolves made the Chancellor... read more Tri-Village exterminates Bees in The Hive, By George Starks Pats closer to conference title - TIPP CITY- Led by senior Tyler Cook’s 25-point performance Friday, the Tri-Village Patriots got one step closer to clinching a Cross County Conference crown. The Patriots, ranked third in D-IV, marched through the Bee Hive and came out untouched, blasting Bethel 62-40 in Cross County Conference action. The three keys to beating the (7-1 CCC record) Bees were very... read more Cincinnati Reds… Votto ready for spring training Franchise player Joey Votto should be ready to go for spring training, Reds GM Walt Jocketty said Thursday. The first baseman had two knee surgeries in 2012, and he missed 48 games from mid-July through early September. “Everything as far as we know is good,” Jocketty said. Matt Krause, the Reds’ strength and conditioning coordinator, recently visited Votto’s offseason home in Florida. “Matt was down there a couple weeks ago to see him and said he looks very good, his strength looks good... read more Arcanum struggles at Ansonia in conference victory, By George Starks ANSONIA- For the third time this season, the Arcanum Lady Trojans and the Ansonia Tigers squared off on the hardwood. For the third time, the Trojans came away with a victory but it wasn’t easy. Holding as much as a 13 point lead in the fourth quarter, Arcanum was forced to hold on in the end for a hard fought, 45-36 Cross County Conference victory over the Tigers. “I told my girls all week that we had to be ready for this game,” said Arcanum... read more NFL.com... It's a family affair Somewhere between Jim Harbaugh's little-brother temper tantrum and John Harbaugh's cool big-brother congrats via CBS's cameras, this Super Bowl became a Christmas card certainty. The Harbowl. The family week in New Orleans. The Harbaugh parents' dream-slash-nightmare: The NFL's only brother head coaches facing each other in something much bigger than a backyard brawl. It started when Jim Harbaugh, coach of the San Francisco 49ers ... read more Keyword of Ambitious Eldora Schedule... 60th Season To Feature Multitude of Divisions & Sanctioning Bodies ROSSBURG, OH (Jan. 19) – Eldora Speedway owner Tony Stewart officially released the 2013 Schedule of Events for the historic half-mile’s 60th consecutive season of racing at Saturday’s (January 19) Annual Awards Banquet held before a capacity crowd at the Eldora Ballroom. And, as has become an Eldora trademark, diversity is the keyword with a lineup of traditional specials, a return of fan favorites, local family fun and one of the most anticipated events in all of sports. Joining the long-standing ... read more Greenville beats Dunbar in regional semis… Wave grapplers get Tipp City in finals, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Before the match even started, the Wave wrestlers had all but won their match with Dunbar Wednesday in the regional semi-finals of the state wrestling duels hosted by Greenville. Dunbar surrendered 42 points to forfeits while Greenville gave up 12 to start the match. That put Greenville in the driver’s seat as the Wave cruised to a 66-18 victory over the Wolverines. It’s unfortunate for Dunbar because they have some good looking... read more Wish granted: Reds to host 2015 All-Star Game Midsummer Classic will be fifth played in Cincinnati, first since 1988 - CINCINNATI -- Amid a large crowd of Reds owners, players, management, fans and local corporate and civic leaders, Cincinnati heard the words Wednesday it has long hoped would come from the mouth of Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. The Reds will get to serve as hosts of the 2015 All-Star Game. Joined on a stage that featured Reds CEO Bob Castellini, Selig revealed the news during an afternoon.... read more Greenville handles Troy in key GWOC contest Wave now in first place tie - GREENVILLE- Oh what a difference a year makes. Coming off a dismal 3-18 season a year ago with just one victory in the GWOC North, the Greenville Lady Wave has turned things around. Led by senior Megan Galloway's 18 points and Tara Guillozet's 11 in support, the Wave grabbed a 42-31 victory from Troy Tuesday, moving into a first place tie with the Trojans in... read more Capacity Crowd joins Tony Stewart in congratulating Eldora Champions VanWormer, Kramer, Craig and Ruhlman Head Up Huge List of Recipients - ROSSBURG, OH (Jan. 20) – A capacity crowd of drivers, owners, race teams and fans joined track owner Tony Stewart Saturday evening in the Eldora Ballroom to celebrate 2012 season championship titles captured by Jeep VanWormer (Late Models), Joey Kramer (UMP DIRTcar Modifieds), Barney Craig (Stock Cars) and Brian Ruhlman (Sunoco American Late Model Series)... read more Cross County Battle… First half propels T-V to victory, By George Starks ARCANUM- A lackluster first half of offense proved to be the demise for Arcanum Monday as the Lady Trojans hosted Tri-Village in a CCC clash that had been postponed from the previous Thursday. Tri-Village’s Krystal Falknor dumped in 17 first half points for the Patriots as Tri-Village rolled to a 57-34 victory over Arcanum. With both teams having a lengthy lay-off between games, the Patriots seem more bothered by it than the Trojans despite a commanding... read more Still Undefeated… Versailles Girls Varsity Remain in 1st Place Going into week 10, the Lady Tigers remained undefeated with the 2012 State Champion Coldwater Cavaliers. Versailles was set to face off against the Van Wert Cougars. The Tigers started off on fire rolling a 911 to Van Werts’s 649. The 2nd game also went to Versailles 846 to 645. The Baker Games all went to Versailles as well, 148-140, 191-132, 191-170, 149-103 and 161-143. “One of the areas the girls need to improve on the rest of the year is their... read more Versailles Varsity Bowling… Versailles Boys Varsity Defeats Van Wert The Varsity Boys Bowlers rolled over Van Wert in WOHSBC action to increase their record to 9-3. The match was held at Ottawa Lanes in Ottawa, Ohio. The Tigers got off to an early lead with a 1,026 to 898 first game. The second game was not much different with Versailles winning that game 997 to 907. With a 218 pin lead going into the Baker Games, things were looking very good. The boys continued to roll the ball pretty good winning 4 out of 5 Baker... read more Coaches vs. Cancer night at Bradford Thursday, goroaders.com BRADFORD- Thursday, January 24th High School Girls Basketball Tri Village @ Bradford will be a Coaches vs. Cancer night. Both schools are selling T-Shirts, key chains and headbands with the proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society. Along with both schools collecting donations that will benefit an individual with the school and/or family that is currently battling cancer.  During the game, T-shirts, key chains and headbands will be... read more World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Adds Merced Speedway to Spring Swing The March 29 race is part of a dozen events throughout Nevada, Arizona and California - CONCORD, N.C. - Jan. 18, 2013 - The spring Western swing has now become the Western dozen as the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series has added Merced Speedway to the schedule. The March 29 event marks the third consecutive year for the series at the tight third-mile oval, where Sammy Swindell has won each of the two previous... read more Bailey, Choo among six to swap figures with Reds CINCINNATI- At Friday's deadline, the Reds and their six remaining players eligible for arbitration exchanged salary figures. Starting pitcher Homer Bailey filed at $5.8 million, while the club offered $4.75 million. Bailey, 26, made $2.4 million during 2012, when he avoided arbitration for the first time. Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo filed for $8 million. The club countered at 6.75 million. Choo, acquired in last month's trade with the Indians, made $4.9 million last season. This is his third and final time being... read more CNO Sports Roundup… Robison, Diceanu receive big honors PITSBURG- Franklin Monroes Brian Robison and coach Danny Diceanu received all-state honors from the Ohio Scholastic Coaches Association for their accomplishments during the 2012 soccer campaign. Diceanu was named the D-III coach of the year, taking the Jets to a 15-2-1 season. Robison, a sophomore, led the team with 26 goals (7th in the state) and 15 assists and is the... read more Bradford powerlifters open up at WLS goroaders.com - The Bradford Powerlifting Team competed at West Liberty-Salem High School on Saturday. The Boys Team placed 2nd, and the Girls team placed 3rd. Boys team results: 1st West Liberty-Salem 2nd Bradford 3rdS. Shawnee. Girls team results: 1st S. Northeastern 2nd S. Shawnee 3rd Bradford... read more The Bleacher Report… Phillips thrilled to play for Team USA in Classic Initially apprehensive, Reds second baseman swayed by team manager Torre CINCINNATI -- Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips was one of 27 players named on Thursday to Team USA's provisional roster for the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Phillips, who is currently the lone Reds player on the American squad, was elated to receive the invitation. "I'm very honored to represent the country," Phillips said. "I can't wait to wear the red, white and blue on my... read more Nationals sign Craig Stammen to two-year deal; Versailles grad inks big contract, hardballtalk.com WASHINGTON-Hey look, a rare multi-year deal on a day filled with one-year contracts! Craig Stammen and the Nationals have agreed to a two-year, $2.25 million deal. Stammen had been arbitration eligible for the first time after the right-handed reliever threw 88 innings with a 2.34 ERA and 87/36 K/BB ratio last season. As a “Super Two” player he’ll still have two more years of arbitration eligibility after the two-year contract is up, so Stammen is under the... read more Patriots sink Buccs ship on the road; Pipenger proves dominant on offense, By George Starks COVINGTON- After a slow start out of the gate Tuesday against Miami East, the Tri-Village Patriots could ill afford to have a repeat performance. Senior Kyle Pipenger made sure that was not going to happen. Pipenger poured in a game high 20 points Friday as Tri-Village sunk the Covington Buccs, 53-28 in Cross County Conference play. Of the 20 scored, Pipenger steamrolled Covington in the first half. Going into the locker room up 30-16, Pipenger... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Bengals to cut ticket prices It worked so well last season, the Cincinnati Bengals are once again cutting some season-ticket prices for the upcoming season. The team said Monday it will lower prices for tickets in 20 sections of Paul Brown Stadium for the 2013 season. Tickets in several sections that were priced at $50 per game last season will fall to $40. And the Bengals will reduce tickets in many sections that had been $60 per game to $50. “When we reduced some sections to $40 for 2012, the demand was high and they... read more Versailles Boys Varsity Complete 4 Matches The Varsity Boys Bowlers recently competed in 4 WOHSBC matches against Marion Local, Russia, Ansonia and Lima Central Catholic. The 4 matches consisted of (2) Double Shifts, one in Union City and the other in St. Marys. The format was modified to allow for enough time to complete 2 matches in one day. The format was 2 regular games and 2 Baker Games. “Our Baker Games have been our strong point about all season. So, with only 2 Baker Games, it is very important... read more JV Boys and Girls Bowling  After 8 weeks of competition, the Boys JV Bowling Team remainis in 2nd place at 6-2 behind Coldwater, who is now 8-0. The boys faced the Russia Raiders Saturday in Wapakoneta. The 1st two games were 692-492 and 809-580. The Baker Games were 189-136, 213-93, 169-143, 160-87 and Zach Marshal with a 211, Ryan Watren 178 and John Poepplman with a 176. The Girls JV Bowling Team’s record improved their record to 3-5 after 8 weeks of competition. The Versailles Girls JV Team... read more Versailles Girls Varsity Bowlers 9-0 Versailles was set to take on the Russia Raiders to try and keep their record without a loss. The Lady Tigers started out by rolling games of 801-432 and 892-453. In the Baker Games, they continued to roll on by winning all 5 games: 175-91, 162-141, 191-81, 135-93 and 168-91. This was the highest team total for the year for the Tigers. They rolled a 2,524 to Russia’s 1,382. The Tigers were led by Megan... read more Jets survive scare in the Hangar, By George Starks PITSBURG- Trailing 13-4 at the end of the first quarter, the Mississinawa Valley Blackhawks looked like they had no business on the floor with Franklin Monroe Thursday in Cross County Conference action. Then, the lights were turned on and on the strength of solid defense and some outstanding offense; the Hawks put on a scoring clinic, outscoring the Jets 17-7, taking a one point lead at the break, 21-20... read more Wave split in double dual action EATON- The Greenville wrestling team split a double dual meet at Eaton Wednesday. In the Wave opener, Greenville scored a 47-27 victory over West Carrollton but lost a 58-11 decision to the host Eagles. In the victory over the Pirates, Greenville recorded one pin, that by freshman William Niebert at 152. Senior Nelson Roberts at 138 scored a 17-2 tech. fall in his 138 pound match. Roberts also scored another tech. fall in the Eaton match, scoring a... read more T-V cheerleaders some of the best - Patriots prove themselves at state , By George Starks NEW MADISON- In a competition held in the early fall, the Tri-Village cheer team qualified for a trip to Columbus and a chance to perform in the state cheer/dance competition. The Patriots did not fail. When the girls returned home on Sunday, they brought back the gold in the dance and finished fourth in the state in the cheer competition. “It’s a wonderful feeling to know that you can go somewhere, where no one knew who we were, we were... read more Lady Wave stop Butler GREENVILLE-The Greenville Lady Wave continued their improvement on the 2012-13 season Wednesday with a 51-23 victory over the Butler Aviators. Trailing by a point heading into the break, the Wave blitzed Butler 33-4 in the second half as the Greenville defense shined. Greenville senior Megan Galloway paced the winning Wave with 18 points while Haley Luce added 11 in support. With the win, Greenville goes to 7-7 on the season and is now ... read more Basketball games rescheduled GREENVILLE-With the announcement of Greenville hosting the first ever state wrestling duals to be held Wednesday, January 23, the Lady Wave basketball game set for that date will now be played on Tuesday, January 22 with a 6 p.m. tip time for the junior varsity. The game will be with the Troy Trojans. Also, due to the flu epidemic hitting Arcanum, the Tri-Village at Arcanum girls was postponed Thursday and has been rescheduled for Monday, January 21. Cook nets 20 in Patriot rout of Miami East, By George Starks T-V still undefeated - NEW MADISON- Thirty minutes before the start of the junior varsity game, Tri-Village coach Josh Sagester had his game face on. With 5:05 remaining in the game, Sagester finally smiled. The Tri-Village Patriots used a combination of third quarter offense and defense on a Miami East Vikings team that had Sagester’s Patriots in knots in the opening eight minutes. Trailing 25-24 at the half, the... read more Greenville and Versailles to host state duals; Wave coach weighs in, By George Starks GREENVILLE- It was brought to life Monday. Former Versailles wrestling coach Bill Rolle helped get the ball rolling on the idea of the state wrestling duals and it was approved by the OHSAA. Monday, both Greenville and Versailles received number one seeds in their respective regions and both schools will host, at the very least, a first round state dual meet. With action starting on Wednesday, January 23, the Wave and the Tigers will receive first... read more OHSAA approves seven division format for football COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio High School Athletic Association Board of Directors met Thursday in Columbus for its regularly scheduled January meeting. The following are highlights from the meeting. The complete set of meeting minutes will be posted at OHSAA.org. - The Board approved a recommendation from the OHSAA staff regarding the seven-division tournament format for the 2013 football state championships. There will be one game... read more Trojan wrestlers take aim at tournament LEWISBURG- With only eight wrestlers, Arcanum was more than will to show the competition what it was made of at the Tri-County North Invitational as the Trojans finished sixth overall Saturday. "It was an outstanding effort considering we only had eight wrestlers," said Arcanum coach Andy Marker. "The tough schedule we've had is starting to pay off." On the day, Arcanum had Keegan Artz place first at the 138 pound class, while four others... read more Wave wrestlers place at Woodland The Greenville wrestling team placed eight wrestlers in the top five Saturday in the Woodland Invitational. Nick Woodruff placed second overall for the Wave. Also, Woodruff is currently fourth in career pins in Wave history with 56, passing Mat Delaplane who finished with 55 between 1991-1994. Nelson Roberts moved into 19th place on the Greenville win list as well. Roberts currently is 104-53, passing John Hiller who finished his career... read more Public Sale of Tickets For OHSAA State Basketball Tournaments Sales Begin January 15 for Boys and Girls All-Session Tickets - COLUMBUS, Ohio – The date to purchase all-session tickets for both the 2013 OHSAA Boys and Girls State Basketball Tournaments has been moved earlier this year for fans interested in watching some of the best high school basketball in the nation. All-session tickets for both tournaments will go on sale beginning Tuesday, January 15, at 10:00 a.m. through Ticketmaster or in person at The Ohio State University’s Jerome Schottenstein... read more Local gymnasts score well in Saturday meet; Keller has stellar day, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Saturday, 10 teams and eight individuals converged on the Darke County YMCA in Greenville for the only high school meet to be held here this season. Overall, Greenville junior Paige Keller shined taking top honors in the uneven bars, scoring a 8.650. She was also third overall in the floor exercise, fifth in the beam and second in the vault. Her efforts earned her the top spot in the all around competition, scoring 34.825 points... read more Local gymnasts perform well in YMCA competition, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Ten high schools, including teams from the Cincinnati area, and eight individuals gathered at the Darke County YMCA Saturday for a huge gymnastics competition. Locally, no schools have a varsity gymnastics program but there were four girls from the county that were in competition. Greenville was represented by junior Paige Keller and Freshman Tesse Schatz while Ansonia saw junior... read more V-Tigers fall from the unbeaten ranks , By George Starks St. Henry too much for Tigers; Tri-Village boys remain undefeated - ST. HENRY- If there’s one thing most teams in the MAC don’t need, its inspiration. That is exactly what St. Henry got Friday night before its game with Versailles. With both teams coming in undefeated in the conference, The Redskin faithful and team were honoring its past state champions, including the 2004 team that beat Versailles for the state title. It was made apparent right... read more V-Lady Tigers remain undefeated in MAC play, By George Starks Versailles rolls St. Henry - VERSAILLES-  “This team is not an oven, we’re a microwave. It takes time for us to heat up,” said Versailles Lady Tigers coach Jackie Stonebreaker of her team. Stonebreaker referred to her team in this manner after the Tigers steam-rolled St. Henry Thursday in MAC play, 54-25. While the victory looked like a runaway from the start with the 19 point difference, it was anything but... read more Fisherback gearing up for junior season, By George Starks Former Wave stays dedicated - GREENVILLE- On Monday, former Greenville softball standout, Jordyn Fisherback, turned 21 years of age. She was legal to do what she pleased but instead of being out partying with her friends, Fisherback chose another route. There was no celebration as Fisherback spent her 21st birthday at The Academy. With the first full day of practice coming up at Middle Tennessee... read more Fisherback ready for upcoming season, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Greenville graduate Jordyn Fisherback will start her junior season as the ace pitcher of Middle Tennessee Lady Blue Raiders softball team. As a sophomore, Fisherback made only 12 appearances on the rubber for the team, suffering with some arm issues. Currently, she is ready for the 2013 season and in the coming few days, will be talking with this writer on her upcoming season at MTSU... read more Wave split two on senior night, By George Starks Roberts gets 100th win - GREENVILLE- Seniors Nelson Roberts (138) and Nick Woodruff (220) varsity and Troy Vore (170 junior varsity) all found success on the wrestling mat Tuesday during the Wave senior night for the wrestlers. Woodruff recorded a pin over Maurice Ickles of Sidney, putting his shoulders to the mat at the 1:01 mark of the opening period. Roberts picked up two tech. falls over Sidney... read more NCAA… Bama bashes Notre Dame 42-14 in BCS title game MIAMI, Fla.- The championship was locked up by halftime. By the time the confetti landed, Alabama was already looking ahead to the next one. That's the way it is for the latest dynasty in Tuscaloosa. Win a title. Move on. Quieting the Irish on the very first drive, Eddie Lacy, AJ McCarron and the No. 2 Crimson Tide rolled top-ranked Notre Dame 42-14 for the BCS championship Monday night, locking up... read more What's Next for the Bengals After Being Eliminated from 2013 NFL Playoffs? For the second consecutive year, the Cincinnati Bengals went one-and-done in the NFL playoffs, losing, as they did last season, to the Houston Texans. The 19-13 loss spells the end of their season and the beginning of getting geared up for next year, when the outcome will hopefully be much sweeter. Here's what may lay ahead for the Bengals in the immediate future. The first thing to think—or maybe... read more CNO Sports… Wave, Trojan wrestlers compete in Troy Invitational TROY- The Greenville Green Wave and the Arcanum Trojans traveled to Troy Saturday for the annual Troy Invitational. On the day, the Wave finished 13th in the 19 team field while the Trojan grapplers were 18th overall. Individually for Greenville, Nick Woodruff (220) finished second for Greenville with Nelson Roberts came in third at 138 pound division. Top Finishers for Arcanum found junior Keegan Artz placing eighth at 138. Artz was forced to default his... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Texans hold 'em as Bengals run ends HOUSTON — It was hard to figure what was more amazing about the Bengals 19-13 loss to the Texans in Saturday's Wild Card game at Reliant Stadium. That they played so badly on offense while failing to score a touchdown or convert a third down. Or that they still had a chance with 2:57 left to win it, when quarterback Andy Dalton overthrew an open A.J. Green in the end zone by so much that his Pro Bowl wide receiver couldn't touch it even as he stretched out his 6-4 frame... read more Lady Patriots suffer first loss of the season, By George Starks CASSTOWN- It was just a year ago when Tri-Village and Miami East hooked up for the game that would ultimately decide the Cross County Conference title. In that game, the Vikings out-lasted the Patriots and went on to a undefeated season in the conference. Saturday, the Patriots traveled to Casstown for the rematch and a shot at the CCC crown. In the end, the outcome was the same as Miami East dumped a 51-44 loss on the Patriots... read more CNO Sports Roundup… Patriots stop Panthers in CCC contest NEW MADISON- it was a game that was never in doubt Friday at The Battleground. Tri-Village put five players in double figures as the Patriots rolled over Tri-County North, 90-31. The Patriots never trailed, leading 19-9, 45-16 and 74-25 at the breaks T-V will see action again Tuesday when the Patriots host Troy Christian. Versailles remains undefeated VERSAILLES- The Versailles Tigers went to 7-0 on the season Friday, taking Parkway... read more Wave bid falls short for first win, By George Starks GREENVILLE - When a kid plays with the heart of a champion, sometimes that heart just isn't quite enough. Such was the case for Clay Guillozet Friday at The Ocean. The Greenville freshman put the Wave on his back and did all he could to will Greenville to its first win of the season. Despite leading all scorers with 19 points, Guillozet netted six of those points in the final 33 seconds, giving the Wave their first and only lead of the game 50-47... read more Jets snap Arcanum win streak; Streak ends at four PITSBURG - Coming in on a four game winning streak, the Arcanum Lady Trojans and head coach Rachael Fearon was looking to make it five. That thought was only a thought as Franklin Monroe rolled to a 58-45 Cross County Conference victory. It was a tale of two halves for the Trojans. Hanging close in the first half, trailing 17-11 after one and 26-23 at the break, Arcanum’s trouble started in the third quarter and the adversity never stopped... read more The Bleacher Report... Bengals' Green-Ellis ready to carry load CINCINNATI- BenJarvus Green-Ellis is no stranger to the NFL postseason, having played in four playoff games with the New England Patriots, including a start in last year’s Super Bowl. The Bengals running back channeled his inner-Bill Belichick this week when asked what he learned from his former coach about how to approach the playoffs. “Just go out there and play ball, basically,” Green-Ellis said. That simple?... read more The Bleacher Report... Reds done with major moves this offseason CINCINNATI -- Having checked off all of their offseason needs in rapid fashion in late November and December, the Reds are poised to keep more additions to a minimum in the final weeks of the Hot Stove season. Reds general manager Walt Jocketty re-signed closer Jonathan Broxton and outfielder Ryan Ludwick, traded for center fielder Shin-Soo Choo and signed infielder Jack Hannahan as a free agent. His primary focus this month will... read more The Bleacher Report...Bengals vs Texans: Complete Preview for 2013 AFC Wild Card Game The Houston Texans boasted the AFC’s best record for most of the season, but they’ll be forced to face the Cincinnati Bengals on Wild-Card Weekend after two straight losses. While the Texans will enter the contest cold, Cincinnati is scorching after winning seven out of its last eight games. Houston is capable of recapturing its status as a top Super Bowl contender with just one win. But if the Bengals are too hot to handle, its... read more Big week-end in prep sports - The break is over; DARKE COUNTY- County schools will have a full slate of activities this week-end starting tonight. In basketball action tonight, the Wave will host Piqua in a GWOC North game while the Versailles Tigers will look to remain undefeated on the year as they will entertain Parkway in a crucial MAC contest. In the Cross County Conference, National Trail will visit Ansonia and Tri-County North will travel to New Madison for a date with the Patriots. The ... read more Help support our teens; CNO offers a new fundraiser for local sports lovers County News Online has launched a new fundraising offer for local sports lovers. CNO Sports Editor George Starks and Sports Photographer Dylan Knoop are making their game photos available in high resolution format in return for your donations. Check them out under the Sports tab: “Get Your Favorite Sports Photo Here.” Not only can you get your favorite photo for a small donation - $5 each – you can get the game story that went with it where... read more Girls hoops resume tonight; Wave wrestle at Versailles, By George Starks DARKE COUNTY - With the exception of Bradford and Greenville, all Darke County girls basketball teams will be back in action. Coming off the long Christmas break, many teams will be seeing action for the first time since school was dismissed in December. The Tri-Village Lady Patriots will look to remain undefeated tonight as the Pats will travel to National Trail and a tough date with the Blazers. These two teams met December 1 at The Battleground with... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Bengals unsure about Green-Ellis The biggest concern for the Bengals is the status of running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis. He injured his hamstring during pre-game warm-ups and didn't play in the regular-season finale against Baltimore. "I don’t know how severe he is," coach Marvin Lewis said after the game. "He just didn’t feel right in warm-ups today, so we held him out. He didn’t feel right, he was a little tight, and so we held him out of things.” Green-Ellis missed practice time this week with an... read more Versailles Girls Varsity Bowlers Remain Undefeated Northland Lanes in Lima was the setting for the Lady Tigers of Versailles going up against the Lady Redskins of Wapakoneta. “Wapak is not quite as strong as in years past, but this should still be a tough match for the girls,” said Coach Phlipot. Versailles jumped to an 84 pin  lead after game 1 by rolling and 815 to Wapak’s 731. The second game also went to Versailles 837-743. 4 out of the 5 Baker... read more Versailles Boys Varsity Bowlers Now 5-2 The Varsity Boys Bowlers recently competed in 2 more WOHSBC matches against Ottawa Glandorf and Parkway. They faced Ottawa Glandorf at Speedway Lanes in New Bremen and Parkway at Community Lanes in Minster. The match against the Titans was set to be a good one. On paper, the Tigers and the Titans were very close in total team average. OG came out strong the first game rolling a 1,028 to... read more Tipp City Invitational… Trojan grapplers do well in Tipp Invite TIPP CITY- Five Arcanum wrestlers placed in the top 10 at the Tipp City Invitational. With 19 teams on hand, Arcanum coach Andy Marker said the Trojans placed 10th in the competition with Centerville winning the tournament. "My young guys wrestled well," said Marker. "Placing tenth was very satisfying with only seven wrestlers competing." Freshman Caleb Sanders... read more   CNO Sports Roundup… Versailles repeats in holiday tournament VERSAILLES – For the second straight year of the two year tournament, Versailles and Miami East hooked up in the championship game of the holiday tournament. For the second straight year, the outcome was the same, a Tiger victory. Miami East held Kyle Ahrens and Chad Winner to a total of 21 points but in the end, the Tigers were able to remain undefeated, dropping a 54-46 loss on the Vikings in the championship game... read more Tri-Village wins Jet Tournament; Two teams set two tournament records PITSBURG - In 50 years of the Jet Holiday Tournament, a record was broken Saturday in the championship game between Franklin Monroe and Tri-Village. The record was for the least amount of points scored in a game. With the two high-powered offenses unable to generate point production, 70 points scored would result in a 41-29 Tri-Village victory, breaking a three year championship run by the Jets. “It wasn’t pretty but I’ll take it,” said Patriots coach... read more Hawks get past Arcanum in Jet consolation; Stump the difference maker, By George Starks PITSBURG- Mississinawa Valley coach Rodney Saintignon wanted to see only one thing from his team. Four quarters of basketball. Saturday night in the consolation game with Arcanum, Saintignon got exactly that. Mississinawa Valley put three players in double figures led by Brandon Byers and Carson Stump with 19, Dane Blumenstock 18 but it was Bryson Pollic that made the difference in the final outcome. Pollic scored just two points on the night but... read more Changes to Franklin Monroe basketball schedules Franklin Monroe Athletic Director and girls basketball coach Gavin Spitler has announced dates of re-scheduled games. In addition to the make-up game at Twin Valley South on January 5 starting at 11 a.m., the Lady Jets will host Tri-County North on February 9 at noon, and will play at National Trail on Tuesday, February 5 starting at 5:30 p.m. Also the boys varsity game scheduled with Ft. Recovery will be played January 6 at 6 p.m. at Ft. Recovery. Jet Tournament... Hot second half powers Patriots past Arcanum, By George Starks PITSBURG- After a less than desirable performance in the first half Friday night in the opening round of the Jet Tournament, the Tri-Village Patriots took out a week’s worth of frustration on Arcanum in the second half. Going into the locker room at the break with a slim 23-14 lead over the Trojans, it didn’t take Tri-Village long to whip things into shape in the third quarter. A stellar third quarter defense by the Patriots proved to be more than the... read more Jet Tournament... Jets use fourth quarter surge to fly past Hawks, By George Starks PITSBURG- For three straight quarters, Mississinawa Valley had its way with Franklin Monroe. So much that the Jets were staring at a loss in the opening round of their own tournament and a consolation game with Arcanum. Trailing the Blackhawks, 34-30 with eight minutes left to play, Franklin Monroe literally out-ran the Hawks in the fourth quarter to post a 47-37 victory. “We’ve not played four quarters of basketball in a game this year,” said MV coach... read more Thursday sports postponed Darke County- The winter storm that dropped 11 inches of snow in Darke County brought the postponement of many high school sporting events Thursday. The biggest of those events saw the undefeated Tri-Village Lady Patriots playing at Miami East. That game will now be played on Saturday, January 5 with the junior varsity tipping off at noon. The Franklin Monroe Lady Jets were to play at Twin Valley South Thursday... read more Girls softball title run - Wave 2012 team to be honored GREENVILLE – Before the start of basketball action tonight at Greenville between the junior varsity and varsity game between the Lady Wave and West Carrollton, the girl’s softball team from a season ago will be honored. The Wave softball program will receive yet another honor this Friday when State Representative Jim Buchy will present coach Jerrod Newland and members of the program with a certificate of accomplishment. The certificate is being presented due... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Bengals beat Steelers to make playoffs PITTSBURGH — With a playoff berth on the line Sunday at sun-splashed Heinz Field, the Bengals got the brilliant defensive effort they needed with two hellacious red-zone stands in the third quarter that kept the game tied at 10 and fittingly it was a 21-yard bullet from Andy Dalton to wide receiver A.J. Green that set up Josh Brown's 43-yard field goal with four seconds left that gave Cincinnati back to postseason berths for the first time.... read more Versailles Bowling… Competition Tough through Week 5 Versailles bowlers have faced tough competition through Week 5. Records to date for Boys Varsity: 3-2; Girls Varsity: 5-0; Boys JV: 4-1; Girls JV: 1-4. Click below for articles on each. Recent leading Boys Varsity scorers are Jordan Groff, Michael Davidson and Ben Ahrens. Recent leading Girls Varsity scorers are Danielle Cochran, Brooke Wehrkamp and Megan Monnin. Recent leading Boys JV... read more First month of hoops unbelievable, By George Starks T-V still undefeated - DARKE COUNTY- With the girls basketball teams nearing the first half of play, two teams have risen to the top. With a 9-0 mark, Tri-Village has yet to lose a game. While both teams have had their share of scares, Versailles recently avoided a big scare from Minster to post a 46-36 victory. With Tri-Village, the Patriots have survived scares from teams like National Trail and more... read more Arcanum gets fourth straight The Arcanum Lady Trojans went to 5-6 on the season Saturday with a 49-24 victory over Yellow Springs. Junior Abby O'Donnell netted 19 for the Trojans while pulling down seven rebounds. Samantha Johnting chipped in nine for the Trojans. Arcanum will play at Franklin Monroe on January 3, 2012 at 5:30. Also on Saturday, the Greenville boys lost a heartbreaker to... read more Lady Patriots dismantle New Bremen, By George Starks T-V remains undefeated - NEW MADISON- Coming in with a 5-4 seasonal record, the New Bremen Lady Cardinals rolled into New Madison Saturday looking to upset Tri-Village and hand the Patriots their first loss of the season. It’s no secret when a team from the Midwest Athletic Conference is on the schedule, the record makes no difference. It is the MAC and that says it all! Fortunately, no one from Tri-Village... read more The Bleacher Report… Pete Rose Jr. named manager of Great Falls rookie team Pete Rose Jr. will manage the Great Falls Voyagers, the advance rookie affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, according to multiple media outlets. Rose will be joined by returning coaches Brian Drahman as pitching coach, Charlie Poe as hitting coach, and Kevin Pillifant as the trainer. New to the staff will be George Timke as strength and conditioning coach. Rose, 43, had been the manager of the Bristol White Sox for the past two seasons. Nick Capra enters his second season as the White Sox... read more Eldora Speedway… 2012 Season fuels anticipation of 2013 campaign Event Expansion, Facility Improvements and New Events to Highlight 60th Season - ROSSBURG, OH (Dec. 20) -- As the calendar pages of 2012 wind down, the anticipation for the arrival of the 2013 season at Eldora Speedway is running at a feverish pace; fueled by the success and excitement generated through the 2012 campaign. Leading the way were memorable moments and breathtaking racing during Eldora’s traditional marquee events: Shane Clanton’s surprising domination of the Dirt Late Model Dream... read more Trojan wrestlers fare well in tri-meet TIPP CITY- The Arcanum wrestling team lost two matches Thursday in a Tri meet in Tipp City. Arcanum, with seven wrestlers, held their own against solid teams. In the end, the Trojans fell to Lima Sr. 42-29 and Tipp City, 57-22. "What more can I ask for," said Arcanum coach Andy Marker. "We wrestled seven against Tipp City and won six of the matches we wrestled. We gave up 36 points in forfeits. If you... read more Patriots survive Covington T-V still undefeated - NEW MADISON – The Tri-Village Lady Patriots continued their winning ways Thursday surviving a huge scare from Covington in Cross County Conference play. Led by seniors Teha Richards and Shaye Thomas with 12 points each, the Patriots held off a stubborn bunch of Buccs to claim a 49-45 victory. Echo Brown chipped in with 10 points of her own in the winning effort. The win over Covington... read more Versailles holds off Minster in MAC scare, By George Starks VERSAILLES- With four minutes left in the game, Versailles coach Jackie Stonebreaker stood; hand on hips, staring at her team in total amazement. Stonebreaker had watched her team lose a 34-23 third quarter lead and was holding on to a slim 35-34 advantage. Less than two minutes later, Stonebreaker looked to see a 36-36 tie, with 1:44 remaining. At that point, the Tigers went on a 10-0 run to take... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Bengals hopes hinge on week 16 win CINCINNATI- Though the Cincinnati Bengals have two games ahead of them, only this Sunday's contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers is of any immediate consequence. With a win in Pittsburgh, they clinch themselves a playoff spot at the very least. A win against the Steelers and a victory in Week 17 over the Baltimore Ravens and the Bengals clinch the AFC North title. However, a loss the Steelers means that beating the... read more National Football League Standings, December 20, 2012 AFC: East – New England; North – Baltimore; South – Houston; West – Denver. NFC: East – Washington; North – Green Bay; South – Atlanta; West – San Francisco.... read more CNO Sports Wrap-up… Trojans fall to Tri-Village NEW MADISON- It's becoming a well said phrase, "They were no match for the Patriots." That phrase was echoed again Tuesday in New Madison as the Patriots dropped a 72-28 loss on Arcanum in Cross County Conference play. It was a game that was never in doubt as the Pats held leads of 21-9, 42-16 and 52-22 at the breaks. Led by a 22 point effort from senior Kyle Pipenger, Tri-Village put three in double figures as Matt Werner dropped in 13 with Colto Linkous chipping in with... read more Cincinnati Reds… Rolen to return for another season What does it all mean? CINCINNATI- Scott Rolen has been an important part of the Cincinnati Reds organization for the last three-and-a-half years. The veteran third baseman is currently mulling over a return and GM Walt Jocketty says that he should have an answer for the situation "in the next week to 10 days." On the field, Rolen was a big part of the team's NL Central title in 2010, slashing... read more Jets win tough battle with Mississinawa Valley, By George Starks Hawks push FM before falling - UNION CITY- To say Franklin Monroe had a tough time with Mississinawa Valley Tuesday in the Hawks Nest would be a gross understatement. In fact, when Carson Stump dropped in a trey at the buzzer, ending the first quarter, it was obvious that things could get a little dicey. And it did. The triple Stump dropped in brought the first quarter to a close and saw a six point Franklin... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Bengals add John Conner for playoff run CINCINNATI-In 2010, the Jets drafted fullback John Conner out of Kentucky. He became a darling of HBO’s Hard Knocks, a hard-hitting blocker about whom coach Rex Ryan routinely raved. Earlier this season, the Jets cleared Conner off the roster with an injury settlement. They didn’t rule out the possibility of bringing him back. Before they could, the Bengals intervened, signing Conner... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Bengals control postseason destiny CINCINNATI- After the dust cleared Sunday with the Bengals taking their third day of a three-day weekend, the possibility still existed that they could play for the AFC North title in the Dec. 30 finale at Paul Brown Stadium against the Ravens. It is still head coach Marvin Lewis's best scenario: win the last two and they're in the postseason. Both the Ravens and Steelers lost for the second straight week... read more Lady Trojans get three in a row, By George Starks ARCANUM - The Arcanum Lady Trojans made it three straight Monday by holding off Bradford, 40-36, in a close Cross County Conference game. With junior Abby O'Donnell in foul trouble at the end of the third quarter, Trojan coach Rachel Fearon was forced to pull her for a few minutes. According to Fearon, in a phone interview, that's when the Roaders started to make hay. "I never really got nervous... read more CNO Sports… Wave Wrestling Individual Update The Greenville wrestling program is coming back to the to and new names are leading the stats board for coach John Shutts. Senior Nelson Roberts leads the team with the most takedowns (22) while Daniel Cline has 21. Cline is also fourth in reversals with three while Roberts has two. Freshman William Niebert leads the team with 10 in that category. Roberts also leads the way with 12 near falls and... read more Lady Patriots rock Bethel, Story Submitted New Madison- The Battlefield was more than the Lady Bees from Bethem could deal with as Tri-Village rolled the Bees, 102-20 Saturday. It was a tenacious defense that mesmerized the Bees as T-V held leads of 29-1, 53-6 and 77-11 and the breaks.  The Varsity girls carried on…but struggled against the pressure for Tri-Village who got off to a 29-1 first quarter lead. With 102 points on the board, all of the Patriots starters scored in double figures... read more Trojans shine in five way meet; Arcanum gets first win of the season, By George Starks VERSAILLES- It was a huge day for the Arcanum wrestling program and first year coach Andy Marker. After going 0-10 in its first two dual matches, Brookville and Greenville) the Trojans pulled off a complete 180, going 3-2 at the Versailles Invitational Saturday. After losing to Tri-County North and Triad, the Trojans rebounded, scoring wins over Triad, Lehman Catholic and National Trail. “We could have won the match with West Liberty Salem... read more Versailles wins Invitational, By George Starks VERSAILLES- With the top two seeds going at it in the final round of the day, Versailles wrestling coach A.J. Bey knew it would all come down to his Tigers and Covington. With both Versailles and Covington having scored wins over National Trail, Tri-County North, Urbana and Celina, both teams headed in to the final round with 4-0 marks. Versailles took a 33-22 victory over the Buccs giving them a 5-0 mark on the day and the tournament... read more Eldora Speedway staff support area food pantries Over $7000 in Cash and Truck Load of Non-Perishable Items Benefit Darke & Mercer Counties - ROSSBURG, OH (Dec. 12) – It was a classic tale of the celebration of two seasons recently at Eldora Speedway.  Speedway staff members and vendors gathered Saturday evening (Dec. 8) to celebrate the completion of a successful 2012 racing season at the venerable .500-mile clay oval speed plant; and in the spirit of the Christmas season, the theme was ‘Pack the Pantry'... read more Jets win big on homecoming night , By George Starks PITSBURG- It’s no secret that when coaches and kids hit the floor, field or track, the goal is always the same. Go undefeated. With that in mind, there are some games during a season that are must wins for all schools. One of those is homecoming. That portion on the Franklin Monroe season happened Friday in The Hangar as the Jets unloaded a blitz screen on Newton, dropping a 60-43 bomb on the Indians. While the 17 point effort was big for head coach... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Bengals hold serve in win over Philly PHILADELPHIA — After his NFL Network televised Thursday night's less-than-artistic 34-13 Bengals victory over the Eagles, Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders came into the Cincinnati locker room looking for wide receiver A.J. Green. "Hey Superman," Sanders said. But the offense of Green and quarterback Andy Dalton looked all too human and needed a Herculean effort by the defense to generate a season-high five turnovers—four in a stunning span of 6:25 linking the... read more Arcanum gets much needed win The Arcanum Lady Trojans got past a first quarter 9-4 deficit to Tri-County North Thursday to pull out a 44-37 Cross County Conference victory. Junior Alli Ashworth led Arcanum with 11 points with three treys while senior Morgan Buck added eight. Arcanum will look to make it two in a row today at Twin Valley South in a CCC game. Darke County... read more Reds a winner in Choo deal The Cincinnati Reds' biggest need going into this offseason was a true leadoff hitter and center fielder. Michael Bourn or Angel Pagan would have been a great fit, but both free agents were out of the Reds' price range. With Shin-Soo Choo, Cincinnati gets a batter who won't just be a slap hitter and stolen-base threat at the top of the order. He can provide 20 home runs and 80 RBI—impressive run... read more T-V remains undefeated, By George Starks A-Tigers no match for mighty Lady Patriots - ANSONIA- After falling to Tri-Village, 85-19, in the opening round of the Bill Burkett, the Ansonia Lady Tigers looked better against the Patriots Thursday in Ansonia but still presented little problems for the girls from Tri-Village. The Patriots put five in double figures, led by senior Teha Richards with 22 as Tri-Village dropped a 97-23 loss on Ansonia in... read more Cincinnati Reds… Reds acquire Choo and Donald from Indians Send Stubbs and Gregorius to Cleveland - CINCINNATI - Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Walt Jocketty today announced acquisition of leadoff hitter and CF Shin-Soo Choo, IF Jason Donald and cash from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for CF Drew Stubbs and SS Didi Gregorius. "It was very difficult giving up home-grown talent, but we think Choo can fill the missing parts in our lineup... read more Greenville splits double duel - Wave now 9-3 on season GREENVILLE- With three teams and Greenville hitting the wrestling mats Tuesday, the Wave wrestlers squared off with Tipp City and Coldwater in a double duel. Against the Red Devils, Greenville scored a 48-33 victory. In the match, Greenville recorded five pins while Tipp surrendered 18 points by forfeit while the Wave gave back six of those points in the 285 pound class. The Wave didn't fare as well against Coldwater, dropping a 46-36 contest.... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Bengals try to get drop on Eagles after Cowboys escape The Bengals had a one-game lead over the Steelers with three games to play right in their hands Sunday. Up 19-10 with 7:15 left. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo staring at a third-and-10 from the Cincinnati 42 against the ravenous Bengals pass rush. The Paul Brown Stadium sellout delirious with San Diego's blowout of Pittsburgh coinciding with Cincinnati's fifth straight victory. And then the Bengals dropped it. A 20-19 loss at the gun on Dan Bailey's field goal. “We’re inches away from that... read more Cincinnati Reds… Ludwick signs two-year deal with Reds CINCINNATI- Ryan Ludwick is returning to Cincinnati. The left fielder officially signed a two-year, $15 million deal with a mutual option to return to the Reds on Monday. "Ryan was very important to our success last year, and we're looking to keep that momentum going into next season," general manager Walt Jocketty said. "He and his agents made it clear he enjoyed his time here last season and that he wanted... read more V-Tigers remain undefeated in duels, By George Starks VERSAILLES- The Versailles wresling team remained undefeated, 7-0, in duels Tuesday, beating Indian Lake 39-27. Indian Lake came in wanting nothing more than to upend the Tigers in The Jungle but the Lakers would fall short in the end after winning the opening two matches. "We knew they were going to be pretty tough," said Versailles coach A.J. Bey after the match. "They've had some kids that... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Cowboys stun Bengals in last 7 minutes CINCINNATI- With the Paul Brown Stadium faithful of 63,590 cheering the Chargers rout of the Steelers on Sunday, the Bengals tried to leap ahead of their arch-rival for the second wild card spot but couldn't finish off the Cowboys in the red zone or in the second half and blew a nine-point lead in the last seven minutes as Dan Bailey's 40-yard field goal at the gun gave the Cowboys a 20-19 victory. When the dust cleared, the 7-6 Bengals remained... read more Cleveland Browns... Richardson ties Brown's records CLEVELAND- Cleveland Browns rookie running back Trent Richardson put himself into elite company during Sunday’s 30-7 win over the Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns Stadium, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown and Browns legend Eric Metcalf in the team’s record book. Richardson carried 18 times for 42 yards, but scored the team’s two offensive touchdowns with a pair of one-yard runs. The two rushing... read more Host Wave now 8-2 in Duels; Monroe takes Annual Wave Duels Greenville- Once again, the annual Wave duels were snatched away from host Greenville Saturday. A year ago, it was Celina that handed the Wave grapplers their lone defeat, taking home the coveted American Eagle trophy. Two years ago, the Wave went 1-4 in the tournament. With a loss to Celina earlier in the day, the Wave needed a win over Monroe to force a three-way tie as the Hornets had already topped the Bulldogs... read more NFL.com... Josh Brent arrested after crash kills Cowboys player IRVING, TX.- Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent was charged Saturday with intoxication manslaughter connected to the death of Cowboys practice squad linebacker Jerry Brown Jr., Irving, Texas, police confirmed to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. Irving police confirmed Brent is being processed on the charge, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years of imprisonment and a... read more Patriots win in romp over Northridge, By Dale Barger NEW MADISON- It took Tri-Village just eight minutes to accomplish what it couldn’t do in 24 minutes Friday night against Franklin Monroe. The Patriots scored 30 points in the opening quarter to take a commanding 30-6 lead over the visiting Northridge Polar Bears. Tyler Cook jump-started the Patriots with 15 first quarter points. Cook abused Northridge in the paint who had no answer on how to defend the big... read more Wave grapplers falter in varsity tournament, By George Starks Arcanum looks good overall - GREENVILLE- When the last match of the day was over for the Wave wrestlers, there was no one more disappointed in Greenville High School than wrestling coach John Shutts. Going into the final match with Monroe, Greenville had lost just one round in the four wrestled, losing only to Celina. Then came the Hornets and the buzz was more that the Wave could handle... read more TV over FM; A-Tigers over Roaders Patriots tested by FM in The Hangar - Railroaders run out of steam in home opener - PITSBURG- Trailing by as much as 13 in the second half, the Tri-Village Patriots found themselves with their back to the wall at Franklin Monroe Friday in CCC action. On the strength of 10 fourth quarter points by senior Kyle Pipenger, the Patriots remained undefeated on the season, taking a hard fought 47-44 victory. Trailing... read more Cardinals push Tigers to the limit, By George Starks Versailles has rough time with New Bremen - VERSAILLES- It’s no secret that no lead is ever safe. Especially in the MAC. Versailles held what looked like a commanding 39-23 lead at the break Friday against New Bremen but the Cardinals weren’t about to roll over for the Tigers. Getting as close as five points to Versailles in the fourth quarter, the Tigers had to run hard before taking a 72-63 MAC... read more Alphabet Sprint Car sanctioning bodies return to Eldora Special Event Slate Includes WoO, ASCoC, USAC and NRA - ROSSBURG, OH (Dec. 6) – Eldora Speedway’s 60th consecutive year of racing will again have a strong open wheel flavor, as the alphabet soup of sanctioned Sprint Car racing that Eldora has come to be known for, continues into 2013.  The mix includes World of Outlaw STP Sprint Car Series (WoO), UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC), United States Auto Club (USAC) and National Racing Alliance (NRA)... read more Arcanum falls at Trail; One bad quarter the difference, By George Starks NEW PARIS - Despite losing 57-36 to National Trail, the Arcanum Lady Trojans played three solid quarters of basketball Thursday in their Cross County Conference game with the Lady Blazers. But basketball consists of four quarters that requires consistency on both ends of the floor. Arcanum coach Rachel Fearon didn’t get that team effort in the second frame against Trail. In fact, on offense, she got nothing as Trail outscored Arcanum... read more From Vision to Reality… Construction begins on new stadium, By George Starks GREENVILLE- The sign at Stebbins Field simply says, ‘you build it and they will come’. It wasn’t long ago, in his mind, that Greenville softball coach Jerrod Newland was entertaining thoughts of a massive project. Thursday, the vision Newland once had became a solid reality when the first dirt was turned on what will soon be Lady Wave Stadium. “This is a big day for Lady Wave Softball,” Newland said. “This is awesome. I’ve been... read more Cincinnati Bengals...Bengals trying out kickers With Mike Nugent shelved Wednesday, published reports say the Bengals are going to try out three veteran kickers Thursday and one of them is old friend Neil Rackers. It's going to be an interesting roster move. Can the Bengals afford to keep two kickers on the roster and who gets cut to make room if they do? Nugent didn't go on the field Wednesday and has been seen moving gingerly around the facility 10 days removed from... read more Cleveland Browns...Thomas named Browns Man of the Year Offensive lineman Joe Thomas has been selected as the Cleveland Browns 2012 Walter Payton Man of the Year. Thomas is the only player in team history to earn the honor twice as he was also the club’s selection in 2010. Renamed in 1999 after legendary Chicago Bears Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, this honor recognizes a player’s off the field community service activities as well as his playing.... read more “Shoot for Dough”… double your money at halftime Greenville Athletic Boosters would like to announce during half-time of the Boys JV and Varsity games, “Shoot for Dough.” Participants, for $1.00, get the opportunity to double their money with a made basket from behind the three point line. All proceeds will go to the Greenville Athletic Boosters General Fund. We wish everyone good luck. ... read more Jocketty: Ludwick talks continuing amid quiet scene Activity at Meetings slowing, Reds could have free-agent infielder Hannahan on radar NASHVILLE, Tenn.- The Reds' efforts to re-sign free-agent left fielder Ryan Ludwick continued on Wednesday during the third day of the Winter Meetings. But a deal wasn't quite in reach yet. "We had a conversation with his agent today. And I spoke with Ludwick," general manager Walt Jocketty said. "We're still a little ways apart. I hope we get something resolved." Jocketty has not set a deadline on ending talks to... read more 2012 Organization Of The Year: Cincinnati Reds The team that hatched the idea of professional baseball and brought fans the Big Red Machine still hasn't won a playoff series this century. But a decade spent largely in the catacombs of the National League Central makes the Reds' present perch seem lofty. After missing the playoffs for 14 straight seasons, Cincinnati has gone to the playoffs in two of the past three years. What... read more Tri-Village remains undefeated with win over Houston, By George Starks Ansonia up next for Lady Patriots - NEW MADISON- Even with three of his big guns on the bench with first quarter foul problems, Tri-Village coach Brad Grey was quite pleased with the effort his team displayed against Houston Tuesday at The Battleground. In fact, with Shaye Thomas, Lexi Bruner and Krystal Falknor watching, senior Teha Richards stepped up and took the reins, leading the team as a true senior... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Bengals: A team on the rise After Sunday's 20-13 win, the Bengals felt as if they had won a big AFC North game on the road. The offensive line had just provided a third consecutive 100-yard rushing day by the same back for the first time in 13 years, while the defensive line helped keep a team out of the end zone for the second time in three games. "This is a win by a team that is rising," head coach Marvin Lewis said. "We’re good... read more Arcanum drops to 1-3; Lady Trojans fall short against Troy Christian ARCANUM- Despite a 21 point, 14 rebound performance from junior Abby O’Donnell Saturday, the Arcanum Lady Trojans fell to Troy Christian Saturday, 53-42. The loss dropped Arcanum to 1-3 on the season after falling to Miami East earlier, 78-15. Arcanum will travel to National Trail Thursday in a CCC battle... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Bengals Hold Chargers to Zero 2nd-Half Points in win bleacherreport.com - SAN DIEGO-Quarterback Andy Dalton snapped his three-week streak of no interceptions while his offense showed signs of its previous inconsistency, but the Cincinnati Bengals still managed to pull out their fourth straight win and defeat the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, 20-13. It wasn't perfect, but in the NFL, it rarely ever is. However, the win keeps the Bengals in playoff contention and further serves to... read more Versailles Varsity Bowling… Bowlers compete in Ohio Invitational Tournament Girls bowlers finish third - The Boys and Girls Varsity Bowling team traveled to the 64 Lane Palace Lanes in Columbus on Saturday, December 1st to compete in the Ohio Invitational Kickoff Classic. This is the largest High School Bowling Team Tournament in the United States.  They were competing with the best teams in the State of Ohio based on last year's achievements. There were 31 boy’s teams and 31 girls teams competing... read more Tri-Village drops Trail in no contest game; T-V inducts three in HOF tvpatriots.com - NEW MADISON- Tri-Village picked up where they left off from Friday night’s opening 85-35 victory over Mississinawa Valley with a 76-29 win over National Trail. Trail scored first taking a 2-0 lead, their only lead of the night. Matthew Werner hit a trey to give the Patriots a 3-2 lead. A lead they would never lose the rest of the game. Leading 7-6, midway through the first period, Tri-Village went on a seven point run extending their lead... read more Lady Patriots stave off big scare; T-V remains undefeated, By Dale Barger tvpatriots.com - NEW MADISON - The Lady Patriots had yet to be tested this season coming in with a 3-0 record. National Trail was ready to give them that test and the Patriots needed the entire 32 minutes to complete it. In the end the Patriots passed on the scoreboard… but further evaluations showed there is plenty of room for improvement. The Trailblazers grabbed the lead to start the game and held it throughout the contest. They jumped on... read more Lady Wave get first win of the season, By George Starks GREENVILLE - After dropping its first three games of the season, the Greenville Lady Wave got their first victory of the season Saturday over Xenia. Led by senior Megan Galloway's 26 points, the Wave took a 58-45 victory over the visiting Buccaneers. After losing to Celina, Wayne and Miamisburg, getting that first 'W' was huge for Wave coach Kyle Vanover. "This was a big day for us," said Vanover. "I've been telling the girls once we get that first win... read more Hawks bounce back after season opening loss; MV wins Battle of the Hub, By George Starks UNION CITY- After suffering a season opening loss Friday at Tri-Village, Saturday brought on Mississinawa Valley's cross town rivals, Union City. While all coaches wants to win every game, there are a few games marked on the calendar that are must wins. In the case of the Blackhawks, that game is against the Union City Indians. That win came to pass Saturday night as the Hawks were forced to hold off a determined bunch from the Indiana... read more Wave grapplers go undefeated in season opener Greenville won the Brookville Dual Tournament Saturday to start the season 5-0. The Wave topped Arcanum (57-21), Northridge (65-18), Tri-County North (47-33), Twin Valley South (66-18) and host Brookville, 46-36. Now 5-0, the Wave will host their 8th annual varsity tournament on Saturday starting at 9 a.m... read more Eldora Speedway… Opening of Public Sales to Eldora Traditional Marquee Events Seats and Campsites for Dirt Late Model Dream, Kings Royal and World 100 Available - ROSSBURG, OH (Nov. 30) – As is tradition at Eldora Speedway, the first Saturday of December marks the annual public sale date of event tickets and campsites for the legendary facility’s marquee events, Dirt Late Model Dream Week (June 6, 7 & 8), Kings Royal Weekend (July 12 & 13) and World 100 Week (September 5, 6 & 7).  Beginning at 10 a.m., race fans will be able to secure their seats and... read more Jets hold flight ops in Ansonia, By George Starks ANSONIA- To say it was Franklin Monroe basketball at its best would be pushing. But it sure resembled it Friday in Ansonia. It’s no secret that FM coach Troy Myers wants a team that resembles the Jets of the past and Friday night that resemblance was there. A relentless defense, coupled with control of the boards and three people in double figures in scoring with junior Trey Mong scoring 11 points and... read more Patriots win big in season opener, By Dale Barger NEW MADISON- It’s been eight months for Tri-Village to live with a heart-breaking overtime loss to the number one Jackson Center Tigers in the District finals. With almost the entire team back from last year they couldn’t wait to hit the hardwood on a mission to take care of unfinished business. Visiting Mississinawa Valley was the unfortunate team to have to face Tri-Village. The Patriots took the first step toward... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Keeping Playoff Hopes Alive in Week 13 CINCINNATI-The Cincinnati Bengals' Week 12 blowout of the Oakland Raiders marked their third straight win as well as the second time this season they have strung together a chain of three victories. It also propelled them to a 6-5 record, which has them on the cusp of snagging a wild-card playoff berth. While there are five games left in the season in which anything can happen, the Bengals seem to have put behind them the mistakes that led to the four-game losing streak that preceded... read more Tri-Village remains undefeated… Pats top Newton 68-22, By Dale Barger Lady Jets win, Lady Roaders unsuccessful - NEW MADISON- For the third straight game the lady Patriots got out to a quick start scoring 25 points in the opening quarter. Teha Richards scored 10 points and Krystal Falknor found success inside for eight points to pace the Patriots. However, Newton was able to find success against the T-V half court defense scoring 10 points early on to try and keep pace... read more Hawks hold on for two point victory, By George Starks MV struggles against scrappy Ansonia team - ANSONIA- “We are very fortunate to get the victory tonight.” Those were the words of first year Mississinawa Valley head coach Todd Murphy after his Lady Hawks squeaked out a narrow 37-35 victory over Ansonia Thursday in Cross County Conference action. After dropping their first three games of the season, St. Henry, Russia and Minster, the... read more Cincinnati Reds… Cook, Hawkins back at practice CINCINNATI- Center Kyle Cook made his regular-season practice debut Wednesday, and injured wide receiver Andrew Hawkins also returned to action. Cook suffered an ankle injury in the third preseason game and was placed on Injured Reserve with the designation for return. His appearance at practice today begins a three-week clock in which the Bengals must add him to the 53-man roster or shelve him for the season. “\We knew for a couple weeks now that this would be the... read more Eldora Speedway… NASCAR Camping World Truck Series coming to Eldora Inaugural Mudsummer Classic marks another historic first in Speedway’s 60th Season Celebration ROSSBURG, OHIO (Nov. 28, 2012) – Eldora Speedway and NASCAR announced today another milestone event in the legendary half-mile oval’s rich history as the 60-year-old track will play host to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2013. The Inaugural Mudsummer Classic on Wednesday, July 24 will mark the first NASCAR-sanctioned National Tour event held on dirt since September ... read more Boys hoops starts tonight… Abbreviated schedule both nights DARKE COUNTY- The 2012-13 boys basketball season will tip-off tonight with an abbreviated schedule on tap. In New Madison, the Tri-Village Patriots has unfinished business to attend to this season. Coming off a great season that ended in the district title game to West Liberty Salem, the Patriots journey begins tonight as Tri-Village will host Mississinawa Valley in a CCC contest. Also Friday, Greenville entertains Miamisburg while ... read more Cincinnati Reds… Jonathan Broxton, Reds Reportedly Agree on Multi-Year Deal Looking to maintain their dominance in the National League, the Cincinnati Reds made a move that will help them do just that. According to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, the Reds have reached a multi-year deal with reliever Jonathan Broxton. Broxton deal with the Reds is three years, $21M. Also the club has an option for 2016. Salaries of $4M-$7M-$9M, with $1M buyout on $9M option. The righty was a... read more OHSAA releases state pairings This Friday, the action will get underway in Canton and Massillon as six state champions in football will be crowned with four area teams being in action, three on Friday with Marion Local (MAC), Clinton Massie and the Rams of Trotwood Madison (GWOC). Friday, it all gets stated with the D-VI schools as Marion Local and Newark Catholic will do battle at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon. The second... read more Girls hoops resume tonight Boys to start Friday - DARKE COUNTY- With six county teams kicking off the 2012-13 girls basketball season, a full slate of game will highlight the docket tonight around Darke County and Ohio. Over the past weekend, Versailles won the OVISCO Classic in Celina, topping the host Lady Bulldogs 54-53, to start the season at 2-0. The Tigers topped Wayne in the tournament opener Friday, 51-42. Tonight... read more CNO Sports… School spirit is strong at the prep level, By George Starks DARKE COUNTY - It’s been obvious for years. Go to a high school sporting event and look for the student cheering section. Some kids have more imagination than one might think. For instance, Saturday night at Tri-Village, the Patriot students had a theme and Saturday, it was toga. I remember when Greenville introduced 2 Live Stage Crew. One night it was a rodeo theme, the next night it was a night at the beach. No matter where I go, it... read more Versailles Varsity Bowlers Victorious… Boys Varsity Bowlers Defeat Minster Girls Varsity Down St. Marys - The Varsity Boys Bowlers bounced back strong after the close match last week against St. Marys. The match started out very close with Versailles winning the 1st game 878 to 834. “Home Field” advantage may have had something to do with this. However, the Tigers showed the Wildcats they are for real again this year by firing a 988 to their 769 the second game. The Baker Games were dominated by Versailles... read more Cleveland Browns... Turnovers, penalties costly to Steelers browns.com - The Steelers committed eight turnovers and nine penalties for 68 yards in a 20-14 loss to the Cleveland Browns Sunday. The Steelers committed eight turnovers and the Browns were able to capitalize enough for a 20-14 win. “I’m surprised it was that close considering the turnover situation,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. The Steelers also had eight turnovers against the Browns on Sept. 10, 1989 at Three Rivers Stadium. Pittsburgh lost that one 51-0, still its most lopsided defeat in... read more Oakland gets rude welcome at Paul Brown bengals.com - The Carson Palmer Reunion bash Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium against the Raiders had a couple of different entrances and exits before 56,503 that saw Palmer get lit up by a day-long Bengals pass rush to go along with a bizarre fourth-quarter brawl that saw three players ejected. Racing to a 24-0 halftime lead, the Bengals withstood a horrendous third quarter and rebounded to step over their former franchise quarterback... read more Ohio State-Michigan… Perfection achieved COLUMBUS, Ohio - Urban Meyer was expected to do great things at Ohio State when he was hired last November. And after only one season, the coach left no one doubting that he's perfect for the job. Let the record show it. Meyer's first Ohio State team became the seventh in school history to run the table with an undefeated and untied record after battling to a 26-21 victory over Michigan on Saturday on a cold and cloudy Saturday before 105,899, the largest crowd ever to watch... read more Patriots’ defense creates havoc for FM, By George Starks Tri-Village retains tourney title - NEW MADISON - The Tri-Village Lady Patriots won their third straight Bill Burkett championship Saturday with an overwhelming 76-34 victory over Franklin Monroe. Led by seniors Teha Richards with 24 points, Shaye Thomas with 16 and Lexi Bruner with 14 points and 10 rebounds, the Patriots offensive firepower was more than the Jets could handle... read more Arcanum holds off stubborn Ansonia bunch, By George Starks NEW MADISON- The Arcanum Lady Trojans might have beat Ansonia by 16 points, 42-26, Saturday night but it wasn't as easy as the final score indicates. In fact, it was anything but easy. Ansonia came out ready to play, jumping out to an 8-4 first quarter lead at the 5:35 mark of the opening stanza. Struggling on offense and defense, Arcanum got the lead with 1:46 remaining in the quarter on a shot by... read more Boxer Hector "Macho" Camacho pronounced dead after gunshot to head cbsnews.com - SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico-  Hector "Macho" Camacho, a Puerto Rican boxer known for skill and flamboyance in the ring as well as for a messy personal life and run-ins with the police, was declared dead on Saturday, four days after being shot in the face. He was 50. Shot while sitting in a parked car outside a bar Tuesday with a friend in the city of Bayamon... read more Jets fly high in Burkett opener, By George Starks Trojan guns silenced - NEW MADISON- Before Franklin Monroe coach Gavin Bixler came out of the dressing room, one thing was heard loud and clear. “Defense Wins!” That was the battle cry of the Lady Jets Friday night after they rolled to a decisive 60-37 victory over Arcanum in the opening round of the annual Bill Burkett Girls Basketball Tournament at Tri-Village. It was a night when a relentless defense... read more Patriots take first step in defending title, By George Starks T-V has no problem with Ansonia - NEW MADISON- Tri-Village put four players in double figures Friday, led by senior Teha Richards with 19, as Tri-Village took the first step in defending its Bill Burkett title, posting a lopsided 85-19 victory over Ansonia. “We came out and did what we had to do tonight,” said Patriots coach Brad Grey. “Early on, we came out and jumped on them the way we should have and... read more Tri-Village to induct three to its Hall of Fame Tri-Village will host its 9th annual Hall of Fame Induction on Saturday, December 1, 2012. Those being inducted between the girls and boys varsity games at approximately 7:00 p.m. will be: Kara Schlechty Graham, Kent Hofacker and Mike Stump. The public is invited to attend a reception held in the commons area following the varsity game to honor the new inductees. Kara Schlechty Graham - Kara is a 2002... read more goroaders.com... Canan up for big award BRADFORD- Bradford senior James Canan has been nominated for the Ohio National Guard/JJ Huddle Player of the Year. Canan, a senior running back for the Railroaders was recognized as the J J Huddle Player of the Week for his week three performance against National Trail. Canan led his team to a 61-41 victory over the Blazers by rushing for 455 yards and 7 touchdowns in that record-breaking performance. Congratulations to James Canan and the... read more Arcanum Lady Trojans... Lady Trojans look for marked improvement, By George Starks ARCANUM- Coming off a three win season a year ago, second year Arcanum coach Rachel Fearon is looking for bigger and better things from her Lady Trojans. With the 2012-13 season kicking off tonight at Tri-Village, Fearon believes she has the team to beat at the Bill Burkett. “I think we are strong enough to win this,” Fearon said. “We have a good combination of talent, speed and height. I believe we can get this done this year.” ... read more Versailles Girls Varsity Bowlers Win 1st Match The WOHSBC kicked off the 2012-13 season at Plaza Lanes in Celina. The Lady Tigers went up against the Van Wert Cougars. Typically, the lane pattern at Celina is very conducive to higher scores, but not for these two teams. (please see the boys varsity article on the lane pattern explanation). This year for most of the matches, the Varsity Girls will follow the Varsity Boys. (the lanes are not re oiled in between shifts) Normally, this is not too bad, but with the issue they had with 9-16 with... read more Versailles Boys Varsity Bowlers Suffer 1st Loss The WOHSBC kicked off the 2012-13 season at Plaza Lanes in Celina. The Tigers went up against a tough opponent, the St. Marys Roughriders. Typically, the lane pattern at Celina is very conducive to higher scores, but not for these two teams. “During warm-ups, I noticed the lane pattern was extremely dry. Something was not right, but was not sure exactly what. I told the boys that there would not be a lot of strikes today, so their spare game was going to be even more critical.” Bowling lanes... read more Sports Illustrated… Danica Patrick announces divorce after seven years of marriage CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Danica Patrick and her husband are divorcing after seven years of marriage. Patrick announced the split with Paul Hospenthal on her Facebook page Tuesday. "I am sad to inform my fans that after seven years, Paul and I have decided amicably end our marriage," she said. "This isn't easy for either of us, but mutually it has come to this. He has been an important person and friend in my life and that's how we will remain moving forward." Hospenthal is a physical... read more Trojans looking to improve from a year ago, By George Starks Chemistry a big key for Arcanum success - ARCANUM- A year ago, Arcanum coach Brian Gunter was faced with a young team and the growing pains were a part on the Trojans 2011-12 basketball season. Because of that youth, the Trojans finished 8-13 at the end of the season. A year later, Gunter still has a young team. With four seniors dressing at the varsity level, Gunter looks to strong leadership and... read more Cincinnati Reds… Club's No. 4 prospect protected from Draft CINCINNATI -- Ahead of Tuesday's deadline, the Reds added six players to their 40-man roster to protect them from being selected in next month's Rule 5 Draft. The list includes two top 20 prospects in the organization, as ranked by MLB.com -- right-handed starting pitcher Daniel Corcino (No. 4) and outfielder Yorman Rodriguez (No. 19). Also protected were right-handed pitchers Carlos Contreras, Curtis Partch and... read more State Semi-Final football playoff sites released The OHSAA has released the sites that will hold the state semi-final football games this Friday and Saturday. In the D-V match-up that features Coldwater and Findlay Liberty Benton, the undefeated Cavaliers (13-0) will play at Lima Stadium Saturday, starting at 7 p.m. The D-VI semi-final between Maria Stein Marion Local (11-2) and McComb (13-0) will be played Friday night at Wapakoneta Harmon Field. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The D-V state championship game will be played on Saturday... read more New head coach ready to go in Arcanum; Small community attracts Marker, By George Starks ARCANUM- The 2012-13 version of Arcanum wrestling won’t see things that other teams will see. The biggest being the amount of wrestlers on the team. With only 10 kids on the squad, first year head coach Andy Marker will take his crew into battle and watch the chips fall where they may. Now Marker wants to build on the program that former coach Rick Stone started. “He (Stone) built a great foundation,” said Marker. “Rick had... read more How Serious Is An ACL Injury? By Ashley Studebaker, CNO Teen Reporter It can be difficult to understand what happens when an injury occurs, especially one as serious as an anterior cruciate ligament, ACL, injury.  Your ACL is the ligament that keeps your knee stable, so you can imagine all the issues that can come about when injuring this part of your body. Many people hear of ACL injuries occurring mostly during a sporting event. An ACL can be injured in several different ways, such as your joint being bent backwards, from... read more CNO Football Playoffs... Marion Local holds off St. Henry; Coldwater knocks Covington out of post season WAPAKONETA- Sophomore Jacy Gottenmoller ran for 157 yards on 20 carries and crossed the end zone twice Friday as Marion outlasted St. Henry 28-21. Marion Local will take on McComb High School in the state semi-finals to be played  Friday. The site has yet to be determined by the OHSAA. The defending state D-VI state champions will head to the semi-finals next week. If successful, the Flyers will get the winner of the Magodore-Newark Catholic contest... read more Cleveland Browns... Defense registers seven sacks Browns lose in OT - clevelandbrowns.com - ARLINGTON, Texas- The Cleveland Browns registered seven sacks for 56 lost yards in Sunday’s 23-20 overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys in front of 81,936 fans at Cowboys Stadium Sunday afternoon. It was their most sacks in a single game this season, one more than they registered in a 34-27 loss at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 16, and the most since the Browns sacked Ben Roethlisberger eight times in a 13-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on... read more Bengals back to .500 in romp over K.C. bengals.com - KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Bengals running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis is known as a stickler for game-plan details, so during this past week he stopped head coach Marvin Lewis in the locker room for a quick review of the offense's three goals for Sunday's game against the Chiefs. "Coach, I know two of them and I'm trying to remember that third one," Green-Ellis said, and it turned out that two out of three ain't bad... read more Ohio State Rivals… Buckeyes take Badgers in OT Ohio State remains undefeated - MADISON, Wis. - In a reversal of much of the 2012 season the Ohio State defense saved the Ohio State offense as Carlos Hyde punched in the game winner in overtime to give the Buckeyes a 21-14 win against Wisconsin and the outright championship of the Leaders Division of the Big Ten. Braxton Miller was held largely in check with 48 yards on 23 carries (2.1 YPC) and 10-18 passing for 97 yards and three sacks. Hyde led the Buckeyes with 87 yards... read more The countdown is on… Hoops season is nearing, By George Starks DARKE COUNTY - It’s the most wonderful season of the year. No, I’m not talking about Christmas but about basketball. When it comes to prep sports, I usually look forward to the fall sports ending so we can get basketball underway. Please, don’t misunderstand me. Football, tennis, cross country and the rest of the fall sports are important but, because of my love for hoops, it’s my favorite season of... read more Ohio Student Athletes make a difference in Ohio Communities From ohsaa.org - Columbus, Ohio – The OHSAA Foundation has announced the 2012 Foundation Game schedule as part of the sixth annual statewide community service initiative, “Foundation Service Week.” Many schools already incorporate community service as an extension of learning in the classroom. “Foundation Service Week” provides an opportunity for OHSAA member schools to participate in a community service project(s), as well as a platform to highlight the community service... read more Bleacher Report… Jones doubtful for Sunday Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis shook his head when asked about avoiding a letdown when the 4-5 Bengals play the 1-8 Chiefs on Sunday in Kansas City. "I don't know if we can have a letdown. We haven't had a buildup," Lewis said after Friday's practice. "I'm still waiting for a buildup. We have nothing to let down. We haven't gotten very far. We know we have to go play good football and make plays. We haven’t accomplished anything." The... read more Bleacher Report… Bruce wants to be a Red for life CINCINNATI- Jay Bruce is 25 years old and already under the Reds’ control through 2017 as part of a $51 million deal inked in December of 2010, but Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports that the outfielder wants to add six more years to his contract. Here’s what Bruce’s agent, Matt Sosnick said: Bruce made it clear that he wants to be a Red his entire career. [Joey] Votto is in his wedding in a couple of... read more Lady Trojans tuning up for new season, By George Starks ARCANUM- If a coach had a good reason to be excited about a team; Arcanum coach Rachel Fearon has every reason. Thursday, her Lady Trojans welcomed Lehman Catholic in for the third scrimmage of the season. Despite a power outage in Arcanum and a 30-minute wait before taking the floor, the Trojans never lost focus on the task at hand. Arcanum won all four quarters in stellar fashion over... read more Cincinnati Reds... Baker second in NL Manager of the Year voting CINCINNATI - Although the Reds were regarded by many as a preseason favorite to win their division, and finished first in the National League Central by a wide margin, it was a journey filled with adversity. Leadership took on added importance as times got tough. It was on this front in 2012 that Reds manager Dusty Baker had one of the best years of his 19-season career in a dugout. On Tuesday, Baker came in second in NL Manager of the Year ... read more Bleacher Report... Dalton wins Player of the Week in AFC CINCINNATI- After picking apart the Giants’ secondary on Sunday, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has been named the AFC offensive player of the week. Dalton completed 21 of 30 passes for 199 yards, with four touchdowns and no interceptions, as the Bengals dominated the Giants on the way to an easy 31-13 win. It’s been an up-and-down season for the Bengals, who are long shots to return to the playoffs this season, but beating the... read more SW District taps Canan, Enis... Bradford takes big honors BRADFORD– After posting a very impressive 8-3 record during the 22012 prep football season, Bradford senior James Canan was named the Southwest District's D-VI Offensive Player of the Year. Canan totaled a remarkable 2,254 yeards during the Railroaders run to the post season and scored30 touchdowns on 194 carries. In addition, Canan set rushing records for a game, the season and in a career at Bradford. Putting the cherry on the cake, coach ... read more Galloway to play for Detroit Mercy GREENVILLE – The Greenville Lady Wave are gearing up for the 2012-13 basketball season. Senior Megan Galloway has set her career for the next four years. The Wave senior recently signed a letter of intent to play at Detroit Mercy in Michigan. Galloway said this is a great step up for here. The coach there (Autumn Rademacher) is awesome,” Galloway stated. “I think this is a good fit for me.” Galloway is going to Detroit Mercy because of its... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Dalton up for Player of the Week Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has been recognized by the NFL for his efforts in last Sunday's 31-13 victory over the defending NFL champion New York Giants. Dalton is one of three finalists for FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week along with Saints QB Drew Brees and Ravens QB Joe Flacco. Dalton completed 21 of 30 passes for 199 yards and a career-high four touchdowns in leading the Bengals to a decisive victory. Bengals fans can vote for Dalton now through Friday, November 16 at 3... read more National Football League Regular Conference Standings, November 14, 2012 NFC: East – New York; North – Chicago; South – Atlanta; West – San Francisco. AFC: East – New England; North – Baltimore; South – Houston; West – Denver... read more Lady Wave showing promise after third scrimmage, By George Starks New coach pleased with progress - GREENVILLE- With three scrimmages in the books and one left to play before the start of the season, Greenville girls basket coach Kyle Vanover, had a lot to see Tuesday night as his Lady Wave scrimmaged Troy Christian. A year ago, head coach Tom Rettig found himself fighting things that were out of his control. Rettig had no true point guard to run the team on... read more Late Model Drivers anxious for added Eldora laps and money Expanded Dirt Late Model Dream and World 100 Weekends Offer Sought After Laps ROSSBURG, OH  (November 12) – Laps, more laps!   To a driver, that is the biggest key to success at Eldora Speedway.  “I’ve got a lot of laps up there, but it’s not ever enough,” offered Billy Moyer, one of only five drivers that have triumphed in each of Eldora’s signature events, the Dirt Late Model Dream and the World 100. That need has been satisfied with the recent ... read more Blueprint resurfaces for stretch bengals.com - After the Bengals vacuumed the top five Giants passing game in Sunday's 31-13 victory at Paul Brown Stadium, cornerback Leon Hall said it all started with defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer's game plan. But all Zimmer used is the blueprint that started the year in an all-purpose strategy crafted during the offseason. A relentless four-man pass rush that cut down on gambling blitzes. A sure tackling corps of linebackers... read more OHSAA releases tournnament info oshaa.org - The following is a breakdown of tournament football parings and a review of the past 14 years of football playoff information since the OHSAA went from the top four in the respective regions to the current eight team format. Also is the breakdown of the finals and radio and television information. FOURTEENTH YEAR WITH 192 QUALIFIERS: This is the 14th year that the OHSAA football tournament field consists of 192 total qualifiers. Each of the 24 regions qualified eight teams... read more Bengals cut Giants down to size Cincy breaks losing streak - bengals.com - CINCINNATI- It was a Big and Tall Man's game all the way, symbolized by the ball 327-pound Bengals defensive tackle Pat Sims yanked from the rack during his first game in 350 days. Sims, a run specialist, plucked it out of the air for his first NFL interception as linemates Geno Atkins and Michael Johnson harassed Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning in what evolved into a stunningly common occurrence... read more Area teams still looking for state gold The second week of the OHSAA football run for state gold saw Minster and Marion Local battling each other in D-VI, Region 24. Friday night, the Flyers outlasted Minster 41-34. Now, two more MAC teams will do battle in the regional finals when St. Henry will hook up with Marion Local in a game to be played Friday at Harmon Field in Wapakoneta starting at 7:30. In the D-V, Region 20 finals, the 12-0 Covington Buccs will lock horns with the third team from the MAC, 12-0 Coldwater to be played... read more Local student ready for a different winter sport, By George Starks Ansonia junior already giving back - ANSONIA- In Darke County, high school sports fans are usually gearing up for one of three main sports. Basketball, wrestling and swimming. Add to that bowling and the winter sports season is rounded out. Right? No so fast. Add one more sport... gymnastics. There is a handful of high school athletes that are involved in this sport and compete throughout the winter months, starting... read more The Bleacher Report… Keys to a Bengals win CINCINNATI- Cincinnati’s’ losing streak has reached four games, and the Bengals have reached near must-win mode. A loss this weekend will force Cincinnati to win-out if it wants to have a realistic chance at making the playoffs. Of course, a win this week is much easier said than done. All the New York Giants, the Bengals' next opponent, have done in the past 12 months is win the Super Bowl and get off to a start this season worthy of another championship run. To pick up a win, the Bengals... read more Wave basketball coach sees plenty in scrimmage, By George Starks PITSBURG - Pre-season scrimmages are designed to show a coach three things. The good, the bad and the ugly that his team possesses. In the case of Greenville coach Mike Bashore, he saw a little bit of everything Friday night at Franklin Monroe. Bashore commented on all three after the Wave scrimmage against the Jets. “I think we played hard and that was the good,” Bashore pointed out. “We were more... read more First night out proves positive for Jets in scrimmage, By George Starks Jets have room for improvement - PITSBURG - Under new leadership (Troy Meyers), the Franklin Monroe Jets, like their opposition, Greenville, has a long way to go and less than a month to get there. The opening scrimmage of the season brought out many things for the new bench boss to look at. “I think our team had a real good first week of practice and I think it carried over to tonight,” Meyers said. “We... read more Wave ready to roll GREENVILLE- The Wave bowlers will look to get the 2012-13 season started with a few strikes. The Wave schedule opens with the GWOC tournament on December 8 (Girls) and December 9 (Boys) at Poelking South. The Wave home opener will be December 14 vs. West Carrollton. To date, the Wave swimming schedule has yet to be posted. Pictured: The 2012-13 edition of Wave... read more Prakel nominated as Heisman finalist, By George Starks Versailles senior humbled - VERSAILLES- A two time state cross country champion, Versailles senior Samuel goes about his daily business as a student at Versailles. Recently, Prakel was named as a finalist for the Wendy's High School Heisman Award in a ceremony at Versailles High School. With his parents, Mike and Christy on hand for the ceremony, Prakel said he was totally surprised. "When we were... read more Patriots primed to get back to glory days, By George Starks NEW MADISON- Rarely can anyone talk about a boys and a girls team from the same school that may have enough of what it takes to make it to state. Tri-Village is the exception in the 2012-13 season. The Lady Patriots made their first appearance in Columbus last season and was eliminated in the semi-final game. Gone from that team is one of the best the state had to offer in Kayla Linkous, now at Cedarville... read more OHSAA releases second round football pairings oshaa.org - With the first round of football playoff games in the book, the OHSAA second round parings have been released. Locally, the Covington Buccaneers will take on Summit Country Day at Centerville. Both teams will enter this game with 11-0 marks with the Buccs being the third seeded team in D-V, Region 20 behind Coldwater and Summit Country Day. Coldwater, the top seed will battle West Liberty Salem at Piqua. Both games will be played Saturday starting at 7 p.m... read more Boldin catch propels Ravens, Browns fall 25-15 browns.com - CLEVELAND- Baltimore wide receiver Anquan Boldin made a big catch in Sunday's win over the Cleveland Browns. If the Baltimore Ravens go on to do great things this season, they could very well point to a play that in their 25-15 victory over the Browns on Sunday that was pivotal to that end. Their coach, John Harbaugh, said as much. Trailing, 15-14, with just over 81⁄2 minutes left, and with their offense stuck in neutral and their lead in the AFC North in jeopardy, the Ravens stepped up... read more Hamilton and Goodwin shine in futures game reds.com-SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Good leadoff hitters are the ones who are catalysts, who make things happen at the top of the lineup. If the Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars Game is any indication, there are two good ones speeding their way to the big leagues. Both Billy Hamilton of the Reds and Brian Goodwin of the Nationals had their skills on display as 5,713 fans came to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick to watch Goodwin's East... read more Cincy woes continue… Bengals grind Broncos but can't finish bengals.com - With his team left for dead on the side of the road at 17-3 when the opening kickoff of the second half went against the Bengals for 105 yards, cornerback Terence Newman picked off the un-pickable Peyton Manning at each end of the field late in the third quarter to stake the Bengals to a 20-17 fourth-quarter lead. But then he barely missed finishing a tackle on third-and-three to lead to one touchdown before a flag he was sure he was... read more Roaders show pride in playoff loss, By George Starks MARIA STEIN- After 30 years, the Bradford Railroaders got back to the OHSAA football playoffs. The historic season came to an end Friday night as Marion Local dropped a 53-27 loss on the Roaders at Maria Stein. Even though the final score doesn't reflect it, the Roaders played with heart and pride, leaving it all on the field after the game. "Marion Local is a good football team," said Bradford coach Curtis... read more Tri-Village; A force to be reckoned with , By George Starks Patriots cheerleaders ready for state - NEW MADISON- Recently in a regional cheer competition held at Tri-Village, two teams came out of the competition qualifying for the state tournament to be held in January. Tri-Village and Arcanum emerged from the local competition as the best but only the Patriots will be making the trip. Arcanum will not be competing in the statewide competition for reasons undisclosed by Trojans advisor, Cherie... read more The Bleacher Report… Reds lose two valuable assets The Cincinnati Reds lost two valuable assets to their team Wednesday, as outfielder Ryan Ludwick and relief pitcher Ryan Madson chose to decline their 2013 club options and venture into free agency. Madson signed a one-year deal worth $8.5 million last offseason but missed the entire 2012 season after suffering a torn ligament in his right elbow that led to Tommy John surgery... read more Wave under new management The Greenville Wave varsity basketball team will take the floor on Friday, Nov. 30, 2012 with Mike Bayshore at the helm. Bayshore is replacing Duane Warvel from a year ago. Warvel left the program for personal reasons, will be sorely missed but will look to move forward under the guidance of Bayshore. Greenville will open the season at home with Miamisburg. The Wave 2012-13 varsity schedule is as follows: ... read more Lady Wave looking to get back on track GREENVILLE- Under new head coach Kyle Vanover, the Greenville Lady Wave will try to get back on track from a season ago. Under the leadership of Kyle Vanover, Greenville will look to replace a key scoring threat and find a point guard for the team. Last season, Jenna Dowler filled both those roles for the Lady Wave. Now a graduate, Dowler is attending Bowling Green University, leaving Vanover the daunting task of filling a huge hole left. ... read more National Football League Standings, October 31, 2012 NFC: East – New York; North – Chicago; South – Atlanta; West – San Francisco. AFC: East - New England; North – Baltimore; South – Houston; West – Denver.... read more Cleveland Browns… Browns beat Chargers despite Mother Nature CLEVELAND- The Cleveland Browns not only battled the San Diego Chargers in their 7-6 home win at Cleveland Browns Stadium, but they also had to contend with Mother Nature throughout the game. The game-time temperature was 44 degrees and the 19-miles-an-hour wind out of the northeast made it feel like 36 degrees. In addition to the cold conditions, players and coaches had to contend with constant rain that made the footballs heavy and the field slick. “I’m proud of the team,” Browns coach... read more Tickets on sale for Bradford-Marion Local… Info provided by Don Selanders Bradford will play at Marion Local on Friday, November 2, 2012 at 7:30 pm. Pre-sale tickets are $7 and Bradford Schools receives a portion of all pre-sale tickets sold. All tickets at the gate are $9. Today’s Agenda at Bradford: Pre-Sale tickets are available in the athletic office during the day. Bradford Schools will receive a portion of all pre-sale tickets sold. 7:30 pm – Community Bon Fire Pep Rally... read more High School Hoops… Ansonia basketball schedule set The 2012-13 Ansonia Tigers will hit the hardwood Friday night when the Tigers will host Cross County Conference rival, Franklin Monroe. Four of the Tigers first five games will be on the road as Ansonia will travel to Ft. Loramie on Saturday, Dec.1. Ansonia will then head to Bradford, Ft. Recovery and Arcanum before returning home on Tuesday, December 18 to face Twin Valley South... read more High School Girls Hoops… Lady Tigers set to start the season The Ansonia Lady Tigers hope their defense will carry them through to a successful season. The conference portion of the season will get underway on Thursday, November 30 at home with Mississinawa Valley. The Lady Tigers will follow that up with three road games at St. Henry, Newton and Parkway before returning home to face the Patriots for the second time in 2013. The following is the Lady Tigers... read more Eldora Speedway… Bone chilling temperatures overcome by historic racing Blue Collar Bash Produces First-Ever Female A-Feature Winner and Oldest Winner ROSSBURG, OH (October 28) --  Eldora Speedway history was created this weekend, as the inaugural Blue Collar Bash produced the first-ever female A-Feature winner and the oldest known driver to capture an A-Feature on the legendary .500 mile clay oval.   Paige Polyak drove a determined race to capture the 305 Sprint trophy while 74-year old Art Ball captured his 299th career and first-ever Eldora victory in the Fremont/Attica Truck division... read more Darke County record: 18-32 - A down year for area football teams, By George Starks DARKE COUNTY - When the start of football season arrives, all schools look for success. They all want that magical season that says, "we earned the right to play for a state title". Even for this sports writer, I have high hopes for all teams, hoping we can get at least two teams into the post season. The 2012 football season was a disappointment for Darke County. With the exception of the 8-2 Bradford Railroaders, the other five schools combined... read more Eldora Speedway… Five winners in Inaugural Blue Collar Bash Hall, Nuckles, Chamberlain, Hehman and Covey Carry Checkered Flags - ROSSBURG, OH (Oct. 27) – Five down – eleven to go - and the inaugural 16-division Blue Collar Bash will become history at Eldora Speedway.   Capturing feature events Saturday evening were Luke Hall (BOSS Non-Winged Sprints), Bryan Nuckles (Legends), Duane Chamberlain (Late Models), Jason Hehman (Oakshade Sportsman) and Mason Covey (UMP Pro Late Model).   The remaining 7 classes; Fremont/Attica... read more OHSAA releases football pairings The 2012 OHSAA football pairings were released Monday. Bradford (the 6th seed) will travel to Maria Stein to take on the Marion Local Flyers. Both teams sport 8-2 records with the Flyers coming out of the MAC while the Railroaders play in the Cross County Conference. In other games of interest, St. Henry (4) with host Ft. Loramie (5) while number two Minster will welcome Tri-County North... read more San Francisco Giants… Giants sweep Detroit to win World Series DETROIT-  Sergio Romo stared at catcher Buster Posey's sign for the final pitch of the 2012 season and shook his head. That may have been the only moment of discord the San Francisco Giants experienced during October. Like everything else the Giants did this month, it all worked in the end. Refusing Posey's request on a 2-2 count for a slider, his best pitch, Romo preferred a simple fastball, which he flung at 89 mph past Miguel Cabrera... read more San Francisco Giants… Giants primed for another title DETROIT -- If pitching is the currency of baseball, as some say, then the Giants continued to sit on a gold mine Saturday night. The next time they leave that perch could be to collect more riches -- their newest World Series rings. Relying on clutch pitching from Ryan Vogelsong and Tim Lincecum, San Francisco crept one victory away from its second championship in three years by edging Detroit, 2-0, in Game 3 of the World Series. The Giants increased their Series lead over the Tigers to... read more Buckeye Sports… Miller stands tall in win over Penn State STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - When Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller went down with an injury last weekend it made the entire Buckeye fan base wonder if Miller would be up to his old tricks this week at Penn State. Three touchdowns later and 277 yards of total offense proved that the sophomore signal caller was feeling no ill effects as the Buckeyes (9-0, 4-0) took care of Penn State (5-3, 3-1) 35-23. The Ohio State defense... read more One game at a time… Roaders set sights on post-season, By George Starks BRADFORD- When the 2012 football season began, Bradford welcomed Ansonia in for the opening game of the season. The Roaders beat the Tigers that night, then won against them just a few weeks later. With only two losses on the season (Covington 10-0 and Miami East), Bradford will be heading to the post season. It looks as if Bradford will travel to play Marion Local in Maria Stein (according to jjhuddle... read more Roaders win season finale, By George Starks Bradford set for post season - WEST ALEXANDRIA- On the final night of the 2012 football season, it was only fitting that Bradford would go out on a winning note. Bradford posted a 30-20 victory over Twin Valley South Friday to finish the regular season at 8-2. After the host Panthers struck for a 55 yard score, it took a little time before Bradford could get the offense into gear. Despite getting off to a sluggish... read more Eldora Speedway… Inaugural Blue Collar Bash intact for weekend Inclement Weather Cancels Friday Optional Practice Session - ROSSBURG, OH (Oct. 25) – With the National Weather Service forecasting strong chances of inclement weather Friday evening, Eldora Speedway officials have adjusted the schedule for this weekend’s inaugural Blue Collar Bash and canceled the optional Friday evening practice session to preserve optimal track conditions for the weekend. With sunshine forecasted for the balance of the weekend, all previously... read more San Francisco Giants… Stout pitching carries Giants to 2-0 Series lead SAN FRANCISCO - Thursday night at AT&T Park had a 2010 feel, and not just because ex-Journey crooner Steve Perry appeared live on the scoreboard while "Lights" played during the middle of the eighth inning. The Giants' starting pitching is again muting opposing offenses, just as it did two years ago when the club won its first World Series since the franchise moved to San Francisco in 1958. Madison... read more Mission Impossible now Mission Accomplished, By George Starks LEXINGTON, Ky.-  Lexington might only be four hours down the interstate and over the course of my life, I’ve been through there several times. Funny, it took me 45 years to obtain that 4 hour drive to the ultimate basketball arena, known as Rupp. Thursday, upon arrival with my good friend, Coach Roger Collins, his wife Janice and their daughter Dawn, we got parked and entered the greatest venue in sports... read more Jets lose in final seconds to Dayton Christian, By George Starks GERMANTOWN-With 12 seconds showing on the game clock and a 3-3 score, Dayton Christian had the upper hand on Franklin Monroe in their district final soccer match. With time running out, the Warriors were able to capitalize on the corner kick to claim a 4-3 victory over the Jets. Holding a 2-0 lead at the break, Jets coach Danny Diceanu knew the Warriors had plenty of what was needed to... read more Bleacher Report...Off season problems facing the Reds CINCINNATI- After another season of Cincinnati Reds baseball, the team is moving into the offseason looking to upgrade in hopes of making a run at a World Series in 2013. The Reds have three big problems to address this offseason. The first is the leadoff spot in the order. All in all, nine different players occupied the first spot in the Reds lineup. Those nine players hit a combined .208/.254/.327 with 16 HR, 38 RBI and 83 runs scored. Everyone seems to single in on Drew Stubbs... read more San Francisco Giants...Giants ride Panda-monium in Game 1 SAN FRANCISCO -- Pablo Sandoval possesses Babe Ruth's build, Reggie Jackson's flair and Albert Pujols' formidable presence at the plate. Wednesday, Sandoval shared a characteristic with all three men: their swing. Sandoval joined Ruth, Jackson and Pujols in baseball lore by clobbering three home runs, matching a postseason record while launching the Giants to an 8-3 triumph over the Detroit Tigers in... read more National Football League, October 24, 2012 National Football Conference – East: New York; North: Chicago; South: Atlanta; West: San Francisco. American Football Conference – East: New England; North: Baltimore; South: Houston; West: Denver... read more Lady Jets fight to the end in district soccer loss, By George Starks BETHEL TOWNSHIP - The 2012 soccer season came to an end for the Franklin Monroe Lady Jets Tuesday. In a fight to the finish, the Jets gave it all they had but a one loss Troy Christian team was just too much as FM dropped a 3-0 decision. “These kids played their tails off,” said a very proud Scott Howell. “We played a great first half and the kids played the game plan to a tee. They played with heart... read more Despite win, Roaders can't catch a break, By George Starks BRADFORD- Even though Bradford won big last week over Mississinawa Valley, Roaders coach Curtis Enis and his team can't catch a break. Last week, Bradford was tied for fourth with Minster but the Wildcats 20-14 win over Versailles last week gave Minster the number four spot in the computer rankings. With St. Henry on the prowl, Bradford fell from fourth to sixth with the Redskins taking over the five spot... read more Jets keep rolling with win over Bethel, By George Starks LEBANON- Monday night, the Franklin Monroe Jets took their show on the road in district action at Lebanon High School to face Bethel for the right to play for the District Title against Dayton Christian. The Bees were no stranger to the Jets as Franklin Monroe and Bethel are Cross County Conference foes. On a night when the winning goal would be an own goal, coming off a throw by Devon Foreman early in the contest... read more The final frontier, By George Starks Today, I will embark on my final destination. Today, I will fulfill a dream that I have wanted to do since I was a kid. After 26 years in sports, I will reach the pinnacle of my career. As a lifelong Kentucky Wildcats basketball fan, I’ve always wanted to attend a game at Rupp Arena. Of course, getting tickets to a Cats game is like pulling teeth with a straw…it’s impossible. So I guess the next best thing is in order and that will happen tonight as the annual blue/white... read more Cleveland Browns… Colts earned 17-13 win over the Cleveland browns.com - INDIANAPOLIS - With one score in the second half, the Indianapolis Colts sealed a 17-13 victory over the Cleveland Browns in today’s game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kicker Adam Vinatieri extended Indianapolis’ lead over the Browns to 17-13 with a 38-yard field goal at the 3:19 mark of the third quarter. The Colts marched 61 yards in 17 plays and took 8:34 off the third-quarter clock with the scoring drive, their third of the game. Cleveland rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden completed a... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Bengals dealing with third straight loss bengals.com - The Steelers did what they didn’t do all year Sunday night and won a road game by holding a fourth-quarter lead with their running game that finally drained the clock instead of their patience in Sunday night's 24-17 victory over the Bengals at sold-out Paul Brown Stadium. The NBC audience was supposed to see an "Orange Out" with the crowd of 63,411 urged to wear the colors. Instead Pittsburgh's... read more Kenseth survives wild one on Kansas nascar.com - KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Fans who came to Kansas Speedway on Sunday thought they were attending a Sprint Cup Series race. Instead, they witnessed the latest episode of "Survivor." Matt Kenseth won a wild war of attrition, otherwise known as the Hollywood Casino 400, beating Martin Truex Jr. to the checkered flag by .495 seconds to claim his third victory of the season, his first at Kansas... read more Ohio State Rivals… Meyer wraps up wild win COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has been around a lot of games during his coaching career but even he admitted that he hasn't been around one that has as much going on as Saturday's game against Purdue. The Buckeyes fell behind by two scores, lost their starting quarterback and had zero total yards over the span of the second quarter. None of those bode well for an unbeaten team trying to stay that way. But Kenny Guiton came off the bench when Braxton Miller got... read more Hawks can't overcome powerhouse Russia, By George Starks All county teams eliminated - TIPP CITY- The start of action Saturday found tw county teams left in the OHSAA sectional tournament. In Tipp City, Mississinawa Valley was at war with Russia while in Brookville, the Versailles Tigers were doing battle with Anna. After getting to the sectional finals to face Russia, the Hawks couldn't overcome a loaded Raiders team. Fighting hard to the end, MV was... read more Dayton Business Journal… NCAA First Four games in Dayton sell out, by Joe Cogliano Friday, October 19, 2012 - Tickets for the 2013 NCAA First Four games in Dayton have sold out, which could provide momentum as the community works to land the event on a long-term basis. The First Four Local Organizing Committee announced Friday it has secured enough early commitments to declare the two-day event a sell out. This would be the first sellout since the First Four — and... read more Bleacher Report… Ludwick will turn down $5M option; Reds still hope to re-sign him Reds outfielder Ryan Ludwick will turn down his $5 million mutual option for 2013, but sources say the Reds will talk about a new deal to keep him in Cincinnati after his big season in 2012. Both sides are very interested in him staying after his terrific season. The Reds understand Ludwick will turn down the option; off the year he had, he would be interested in a multiyear deal. The decision to rebuff the option is a no-brainer after Ludwick hit .275 with 26 home runs and 80 RBI. He also had... read more Eldora Speedway… Aggressive Expansion set for Eldora 60th season Details Released for 2013 Dirt Late Model Dream, Kings Royal and World 100 - ROSSBURG, OH (Oct. 17) – Today’s exciting announcement and release of 2013 major event dates by Eldora Speedway officials can be summed up with two words – aggressive expansion.  The 19th annual Dirt Late Model Dream (June 6-7-8) and the 43rd annual World 100 (September 5-6-7) will each encompass more days, offer more racing and see a significant increase in prize money.  The storied Kings... read more V-Tigers knocked out of the play-off picture, By George Starks Loss to Minster ends all hope - VERSAILLES- It was a game that was all or nothing for Versailles Friday night at H.B. Hole Field. The Tigers came in with a 5-3 record and a needed a win over Minster if they were to even think about a playoff spot in the post season. Leading 14-0 in the second quarter, the Tigers couldn't hold that lead as Minster scored 20 unanswered points to post a 20-14 victory over Versailles... read more Roaders drop bomb on Hawks, By Don Selanders Darke County Football Roundup - BRADFORD- A lot of pink could be seen at Friday night’s football game and awareness of cancer and curing is the focus. The Railroader family had a reality check this year with Coach Cruse, Coach Hale, Brandon Wirrig, and other family members within the community. If we have learned anything, it is that our community people are fighters. They don’t sit on their hands and... read more Cincinnati Reds… Returning core could keep Reds on track in 2013 CINCINNATI - It wasn't even 30 minutes after the Reds were given a devastating exit from the playoffs by the Giants in Game 5 of the National League Division Series. Rookie shortstop Zack Cozart already had designs of next season. "I will be using this experience," Cozart said. "We have a good core group of guys here. We'll be back next year. I'm ready to get to Spring Training now. You don't realize how cool it is to be here until you don't have to show up the next day. It's hit us like... read more Nisonger takes Virgina Breeders race, By George Starks RICHMOND, Va.- Recently, Darke County native Jeff Nisonger won one of the biggest races on the harness horse circuit, the Breeders race for two year old colts and geldings in a blistering time of 1:56.430.0. During the 2012 Darke County Fair, Nisonger took the pacer to the winners circle twice. "A friend of mine, John Ingram, trains the horse and I've been the only one to drive... read more Bleacher Report...Can Bengals get back on track Pittsburgh and Cincinnati are very similar midwestern cities. In 2012, their respective NFL teams are anything but similar. The Steelers (2-3) have struggled against weak teams, due in large part to injuries to key players on defense. Safety Troy Polamalu has missed three of his team's first five games this season. Linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley have also been usual suspects on the injury report in this young season. The remaining Steelers haven't been able to pick up the slack,... read more Gene Riegle painting donated to Harness Racing Museum During the 2012 Little Brown Jug races in Delaware, Ohio, Darke County Harness Horsemens Association members, Darke County Ag Society officials, Gene Riegle family & friends, and artist Ann Lufkin donated a painting of local harness racing great, Gene Riegle, to Janey Terhune, Director of the Harness Racing Museum. The Harness Racing Museum is located in Goshen, New York. ... read more Loss hurts Versailles while Bradford holds steady after defeat The statewide OHSAA computer polls were released Tuesday and despite a loss to Miami East, the Bradford Railroaders remained unscathed, coming in a tie for fourth place with the Minster Wildcats in the D-VI, Region 24 polls. In the D-V, Region 20 polls, the Versailles Tigers dropped to 11th after losing last week to Delphos St. John. With two weeks left on the remaining schedule, neither team can afford another... read more Franklin Monroe boys advance, By George Starks Soccer team scores shutout - Versailles hammers Dixie - PITSBURG - If there is one thing any coach wants to do is beat his alma mater and his former high school coach. Such was the case for interim Tri-Village soccer coach, Noah Welbaum. While sometimes dreams come true, it wasn't going to happen for Welbaum. Franklin Monroe sophomore Brian Robison scored three goals Tuesday and... read more Lady Jets play tough in sectional loss, By George Starks MV topples Yellow Springs - PIQUA-If games were played on paper and seasonal records meant anything, the Franklin Monroe and Triad might still be slugging it out. However, that is not the case. With both the Jets and Cardinals sporting nearly identical records, it was Triad the advanced to the sectional final Monday, scoring a 25-18, 25-17, 25-17 victory at Piqua. "Triad had a real scrappy defense," said Jets coach Jodi Bauman. "We... read more A-Tigers bow out of sectional, By George Starks PIQUA- Jason Hemmelgarn and his assistant Craig Riethman are still going through the growing pains that young teams will deal with. Monday night in second round sectional action at Piqua, the Tigers grew a little bit more. Going against Lehman Catholic, seeded second, Ansonia bowed out of the OHSAA tournament, falling to the Cavs, 25-4, 25-3 and 25-11. "You have to give a lot of credit to Lehman, they are playing at a top notch level and... read more Cincinnati Reds… Baker signs two year contract with Reds CINCINNATI -- The feeling of unfinished business and the desire for stability left no doubt between the Reds and manager Dusty Baker. They wanted to keep moving forward together.That's why it was with relative speed that the two sides agreed on Monday to a two-year contract extension that keeps Baker in Cincinnati through the 2014 season. Terms were not revealed, but Baker said it was essentially the same deal he had before... read more Dayton Business Journal… NCAA March Madness tickets in Dayton on sale this weekend, by Joe Cogliano Friday, October 12, 2012 - Tickets for March Madness — expected to provide a $10 million economic boost to Dayton — will go on sale this weekend. The NCAA plans to start selling tickets on Saturday for the Men’s Basketball tournament, which includes 10 games at the University of Dayton Arena during a six-day period. On March 19 and March 20, the University of Dayton Arena will host the First Four and then host second and third round games on March 22 and March 24.... read more Listless offense has Yankees in 0-2 hole Kuroda fans 11; Girardi ejected after incorrect call at second - newyorkyankees.com - NEW YORK -- Hiroki Kuroda came back on short rest for the first time in his career and summoned the energy to provide an 11-strikeout effort, but it was the Yankees' hitters who once again appeared fatigued in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series. Anibal Sanchez limited New York to just three hits over seven scoreless innings, taking advantage of the prolonged brownouts through the... read more Cards bust out, rely on 'pen to ink Game 1 win Relievers toss 5 1/3 shutout innings to make early burst stand up - cardinals.com - SAN FRANCISCO -- Manager Mike Matheny gave the directive to bullpen coach Dyar Miller, who summoned Joe Kelly to join him in a jog to the 'pen. A once-seemingly safe six-run St. Louis lead had already shrunk to two, and Lance Lynn was giving little indication that he was about to stop a surging San Francisco offense. And so, as Lynn faced pinch-hitter Aubrey Huff -- a batter he'd eventually walk -- Kelly rushed... read more Cincinnati Bengals... Bengals lose battle of Ohio bengals.com - CLEVELAND — In a swirling wind in excess of 20 miles per hour Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium, the Bengals saw their playoff hopes blown into the critical stage when the winless Browns exploded for a 27-3 run in the first 22 minutes of the second half that gave them a 34-24 victory. As the skies opened with a downpour, it seemed even the heavens were about to acknowledge the end of the... read more Eldora Speedway… Mother Nature captures another win at Eldora Tripleheader Program Falls Victim to Rain; Craig Captures Stock Car Title - ROSSBURG, OH (Oct. 13) – Persistent rain showers and the threat of additional precipitation in the immediate area forced the cancellation of the UNOH (University of Northwestern Ohio) Sprintacular on Saturday. The show featuring the All Star Sprints, NRA (National Racing Alliance) Sprint Invaders and the Eldora Stock Cars in a triple-header program will not be rescheduled. Guests who purchased tickets or pit... read more Versailles toppled by Delphos… The loss may have put the Tigers playoff hopes on ice In Friday's league match, the host St. John's Bluejays football squad scored a close 20-18 victory over the Versailles Tigers. In their next game, the Bluejays clash with the New Bremen Cardinals (New Bremen, OH) in a Midwest Athletic match, on Friday, October 19. St. John's will attempt to move on its 5-5 season record. The Cardinals enter the match with a 2-6 record after their 21-13 league loss to... read more Lady Trojans season ends at sectional, By George Starks Anna proves to be too much - BROOKVILLE- At the time of the sectional volleyball draw, both Anna and Arcanum had nearly identical records. The Trojans were 12-6 while the Rockets were sporting a 12-8 mark. The difference being the caliber of competition. While the Trojans play in the Cross County Conference, the Rockets are in the very tough Shelby County League, playing teams like Ft. Loramie... read more Miami East silences Bradford in second half, By George Starks Post season still possible for Roaders - CASSTOWN- With both Miami East and Bradford looking at possible play-off berths, it was the Vikings that had more to lose than did Bradford. The Vikings entered the night with a 4-3 mark and was rated 19th in the latest computer polls in D-V, Region 20. Bradford came in with a solid 6-1 record and was fifth in the D-VI, Region 24 polls. Friday, the Vikings needed a win in... read more CNO Sports… Jets/Wave ready for tournament action Greenville will take its 2-11 record on the road to play the 10-3 Cougars of Kenton Ridge in the opening round of the D-II boys soccer sectional. Kenton Ridge was a two seed at the draw while the Wave received an 11 seed. That game will be played on Tuesday, October 16. In the D-III sectional, Franklin Monroe, 11-0-1 will host the 0-8-2 Tri-Village Patriots on Tuesday, October 16. The Jets were seeded second at the time of the draw... read more Miami East too hot to handle, By George Starks Patriots put up gallant effort in CCC loss - NEW MADISON- More often than not, a score will tell the whole story in virtually any sporting event. Thursday, that wasn’t the case with Tri-Village. Miami East, one of the best D-III teams in Ohio, rolled into New Madison and did what was expected, topping Tri-Village in three games, 25-6, 25-10 and 25-8. Looking at the score, one would be inclined to say that the Patriots, in losing by an average 17 points... read more Bleacher Report… Reds bow out of post season play Cincy makes history - CINCINNATI- The Reds made history Thursday — not the kind of history you want to make. They became the first National League team to fail to advance to the NL Championship Series after winning the first two games of the Division Series. They are only the fifth team out of 43 overall that went up 2-0 not to advance. And they did it by losing at home in three straight games. They had not lost three in a row at home until... read more Eldora Speedway… UNOH Sprintacular event set for Saturday ROSSBURG, OH (Oct. 9) – He may not be able to capture a championship title Saturday evening when the All Star Sprints return to Eldora Speedway for the UNOH (University of Northwestern Ohio) Sprintacular, but Dale Blaney can gain valuable ground within a couple of win lists. The All Stars will join the NRA (National Racing Alliance) Sprint Invaders and Eldora Stock Cars for a tripleheader program kicking off at 6 p.m. this Saturday night. Blaney, coined ‘the low rider’ based upon his driving style, is... read more CNO Sports Update… Big night of football will feature key games, By George Starks DARKE COUNTY - Tonight will mark week eight in the prep high school football season. It will also feature two key games for local schools. The biggest surprise of the year has been Bradford. In the season opener against Ansonia, the Roaders ran over the Tigers and then did it again in the CCC game a few weeks later did it again at Ansonia. Last week, the Curtis Enis coached team rolled through Arcanum, blew their train whistle and pulled... read more CNO Sports... Local teams gearing up for girls soccer tournaments The Franklin Monroe and Greenville girls soccer teams are gearing up for the 2012 OHSAA sectional tournament. The Jets will play Newton Wednesday October 17 while the Lady Wave will hook up with Carroll on Saturday, October 20 at 7 p.m. The 2012 OHSAA girls soccer brackets have been posted with the Franklin Monroe girls playing their rivals from the Cross County Conference at Franklin Monroe. The Jets held a 6-3-5 record and was ... read more Cincinnati Reds… NLDS sweep eludes Reds, who fall in 10th CINCINNATI- Since they came in holding a commanding 2-0 lead, it would normally have been difficult to call a National League Division Series Game 3 a must-win for the Reds. But considering the uncertainty with their rotation, it might have been just that. The Reds certainly hoped to avoid a Game 4, but that appointment is now set following a 2-1 loss to the Giants in 10 innings on Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park. Not only was a superb one-hit performance by starter Homer Bailey rendered... read more Trojans survive senior night scare… FM provides push in tight match, By George Starks ARCANUM- After Arcanum won a hard fought match Monday over Troy Christian on a night when Terri Day said her team was sluggish and ugly in the opening game. Day watched her team drop a 3-0, 25-16, 25-20, 25-22  Cross County Conference loss on Franklin Monroe Tuesday but when asked what she thought of her teams play, her response was a simple one. "What a great senior night," said Day. "We... read more County schools gearing up for volleyball sectionals The OHSAA volleyball pairings were decided Sunday and the Greenville Lady Wave will get their sectional action started Saturday at Tecumseh at noon against the Greenon Rams. The Wave was 8-10 got a nine seed at the time of the draw while the Rams were 9-11 overall and seeded 10th. In the D-II sectionals, the 16-3 Versailles Tigers took a first round bye and will play the winner of the... read more Eldora Speedway… Four Point Titles decided at UMP Championships Feger and Hoffman Capture Featured Events - ROSSBURG, OH (October 6) – After completing 22-races for the 172 UMP (United Midwestern Promoters) DIRTcar Modifieds and Late Models on hand, four point championships were decided in front of a loyal crowd of racing fans that braved the cold and damp conditions in an all-day marathon Saturday at Eldora Speedway.  With Jason Feger (Late Models) and Nick Hoffman (Modifieds) captured the feature events, the annual UMP... read more Arcanum withstands push from Troy Christian, By George Starks ARCANUM- If Arcanum coach Terri Day was looking for a battle, she found it in Troy Christian. It took everything Arcanum had to overcome a tough Troy Christian team Monday. After dropping the first game to the Eagles, 25-23, the Trojans won the next three games, 25-18, 25-23 and 25-6 Monday in non-conference action. "This was very scrappy bunch," said Day. "They had a couple of nice hitters and the one was very hard to gauge on where... read more CNO Sports… Murphy takes first in Anna Invitational ANNA - Tri-Village senior Clayton Murphy won the Anna Invitational Saturday going the 5k distance in 16:05.20, a full 27 seconds ahead of second place finisher Jake Graham of Columbus Grove. The Patriots, as a team, did not finish in the top 26 teams. Bradford finished 21st overall as a team with Mikey Barga coming in 88th in the field. See below for the top 10 finishers... read more OHSAA Football Rankings… Bradford & Versailles remain in top eight after big wins After big week seven wins, Bradford (6-1) D-IV Region 24 and Versailles (5-2) D-V Region 20, remained unchanged in the weekly computer polls. Versailles is coming off a big win over Mation Local last week, 42-8, will travel to Delphos St. Johns this week to battle with the Blue Jays. In the D-V rankings, the Tigers remain seventh behind West Jefferson while the indefeated Coldwater Cavaliers remain in the top spot at 7-0. Covington is also 7-0 and sits... read more Bleacher Report… Cueto says he's fine All of southwestern Ohio drew in a collective gasp of fear when their Cy Young candidate Johnny Cueto (19-9, 2.78) was forced to leave Game 1 of the NLDS against the San Francisco Giants after only eight pitches due to back spasms. After striking out Angel Pagan, Cueto threw one pitch to Marco Scutaro before being removed from the game. While Cincinnati had a remarkable performance by Mat Latos (on three days' rest) that... read more Versailles takes fifth in Coldwater Invite Prakel the best of the boys - COLDWATER- Versailles senior Sam Prakel did his usual thing by winning the Coldwater Invitational last Thursday. Prakel, one of the top distance runners in the state, finished the 5k run in 15:34.05. That time was over 30 seconds better than the second place finish of Jared Fleming of Van Wert. Fleming crossed in a time of 16:07.99. Final team scores saw Van Wert finish first, taking second, third and sixth in the top 10... read more Cincinnati Reds... 'A' game: Reds up 2-0 behind Arroyo, red-hot bats Starter allows one hit over seven as Cincinnati takes command of NLDS reds.com - SAN FRANCISCO -- There is clearly no doubt about who has the overwhelming momentum in the National League Division Series. It's the Reds, and it's not even close. After all, they earned an emphatic 9-0 win over the Giants in Game 2 on Sunday night that included one-hit baseball from starter Bronson Arroyo over seven innings... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Dolphins stifle Bengals CINCINNATI- The Bengals vaunted offense that rolled to an average of 400 yards per game in its three-game winning streak couldn’t keep it going Sunday against Miami's exhaustive defense in a 17-13 loss before 61,162 at sold-out Paul Brown Stadium. Facing a fourth-and-five from the Dolphins 23 with 3:05 left, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis eschewed going for it even though Mike Nugent's 41-yard field goal would only cut the lead to 17-16. But Nugent it sliced it right for his first... read more Cincinnati Reds… What a relief: Reds persevere for Game 1 win Bullpen steps up after Cueto's injury; Phillips provides big lift - SAN FRANCISCO -- The Reds this season have already persevered when closer Ryan Madson was lost for the year with an elbow injury in Spring Training. When a knee injury knocked best player Joey Votto out for six weeks in July, they rallied and, yes, even prospered. So what did Cincinnati do when ace Johnny Cueto was overtaken by... read more Ohio State University… Buckeyes roll over Nebraska COLUMBUS, Ohio - On a night when pyrotechnics were part of the halftime activities, the Ohio State and Nebraska offenses provided their own impressive fireworks show. But the Buckeyes had lots more firepower in their arsenal. With quarterback Braxton Miller and running back Carlos Hyde lighting the fuse, No. 12 Ohio State recovered from a slow start and burned No. 21 Nebraska with plenty of big... read more Major League Baseball (mlb.com)… St. Louis gears up for Washington in NLDS St. Louis takes advantage of three Atlanta errors, infield fly ruling - ATLANTA -- The chant rang out in unison, as the champagne sprayed and the beer poured and hugs were exchanged. "Happy flight! Happy flight!" It was last year's postseason rally cry returning for a club that -- pitted as underdogs against a team that had a stronger regular season and was starting a pitcher who doesn't lose -- foiled the Braves' script for a second straight year. A critical infield fly ruling went the Cardinals' way in the eighth... read more Ohio National Guard Recognizes Bradford Football Team, By Don Selanders goroaders.com - Bradford – James Canan and the Bradford Football Team were recognized by the Ohio National Guard on Thursday in a presentation at Bradford High School. Canan, a senior running back for the Railroaders was recognized as the J.J. Huddle Player of the Week for his week three performance against National Trail. Canan led his team to a 61-41 victory over the Blazers by rushing for 455 yards and 7 touchdowns... read more Versailles clips Cardinals wings, By George Starks VERSAILLES - With the weather making life difficult for everyone, the Versailles Tigers were able to overcome the elements Friday night. Despite the rain and the mud, junior quarterback Nick Campbell threw for two scores and senior running back Mike Rutschilling ran in for two more as Versailles continued to roll in the MAC, unloading a 42-8 loss on New Bremen. “With the conditions it was hard to get everything going,” said Versailles coach... read more Bradford train blows whistle in Arcanum, By Don Selanders, goroaders.com Miami East next stop - BRADFORD- The Bradford Railroaders put up 46 points in the first half to spoil the Arcanum Trojans homecoming, 46 to 13. When your defense spends most of the night in your opponents’ backfield, only one thing can happen and that would be a first half shut out. That is where our defense spent most of the night giving the Arcanum offense fits all night long. Every time the Trojans would get something going the Railroader... read more Eldora Speedway… UMP DIRTcar National Championships Revised Time Schedule Sees Saturday Action Starting 12:30 - ROSSBURG, OH (October 5) – Intermittent rain showers that moved into southwestern Ohio have altered the schedule for this weekend’s UMP DIRTcar National Championships at Eldora Speedway.  Originally scheduled for two-days, the racing program will now be contested tomorrow (Saturday, October 6) with a revamped time format. Competitor registration and pit pass sales will continue as scheduled today (Friday, October 5)... read more Cincinnati Reds… As number 2 seeds, Reds ready for Giants in NLDS ST. LOUIS -- The waiting for an opponent is now over. The Reds know who they will face in the National League Division Series. It will be the Giants, with Game 1 of the best-of-five series beginning at 9:37 p.m. ET on Saturday at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Although the Reds were the first team to clinch a playoff spot and a division flag, they've waited 11 more days for the bracket to be settled. "We finally know where we are going," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "We finally know who we're... read more Major League Baseball… Detroit's Miguel Cabrera wins Triple Crown KANSAS CITY -- In the ultimate sign of respect for a visiting player, Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera received a standing ovation from the crowd at Kauffman Stadium as he stepped into the batter's box Wednesday night. Then, he stepped into history. With a .330 average, 44 home runs and 139 RBIs, Cabrera became the first player in 45 years to achieve the Triple Crown, leading the American League in all three categories. Save for a two-homer game from ex-teammate Curtis Granderson... read more V-Tigers overpowers Delphos, By George Starks Blue Jays fight hard in loss - VERSAILLES- If you want to beat the Versailles volleyball team, bringing your ‘A’ game may not be good enough. You had better bring your ‘A+’ game and hope for the best. Like a pack of wild animals on the prowl, Versailles brought out its attack and unleashed a 25-11, 25-23, 25-11 victory over Delphos St. Johns Thursday. With the first and third games being blowouts, the... read more Cincinnati Reds… Cueto, Arroyo, Latos to start first three of NLDS ST. LOUIS -- The Reds don't yet have an opponent for the National League Division Series, but they have a rotation set. Not surprising is that Johnny Cueto will start Game 1, followed by Bronson Arroyo in Game 2 and Mat Latos in Game 3. "We've been planning this for a while. It didn't take a genius to see how we planned it," Baker said on Tuesday. "What you see is what it is right now." It appears... read more Bradford royalty crowned Friday night, Bradford crowned its 2012 Homecoming King and Queen. This year, the Bradford king was Corey Rench while his queen was Makayla Getz. It was a successful homecoming for the Roaders as Bradford topped Tri-County North 35-34 in a thriller. Bradford, 5-1, will travel to Arcanum Friday and do battle with the Trojans. Arcanum, 2-4, got by a scrappy Ansonia squad a week ago.... read more V-Tigers make big jump Bradford/Versailles both in playoff picture, By George Starks DARKE COUNTY- It was just a week ago when Bradford was the only team in Darke County that was in the OHSAA prep football post season. Last week, the Railroaders upended Tri-County North by a single point, 35-34. The win allowed Bradford to hold on to the fifth spot in the D-VI Region 24 computer polls this week. Minster took over the fourth spot after Jefferson fell to seventh. The Wildcats hold an overall computer average of 6.9667.... read more CNO September Athletes of the Month  Soccer players take center stage in September DARKE COUNTY- Greenville's Sam Bowers and Franklin Monroe's Allyson Manning have been leaders on their respective soccer teams. Bowers, a senior, is the keeper for the Wave. At the end of September, Bowers had recorded 84 saves this season. Despite the Wave being 2-11 this year, Bowers has been rock solid at his position and a leader for the team. "Sam works hard and sets a great example... read more Cincinnati Reds… Reds turn away Cards, stay tied for best record Club impressed with Chapman's 38th save; Latos wins No. 14 - ST. LOUIS -- The Reds may not know where they're going, but they know they have already been put through a pretty good pre-playoffs test. Facing a Cardinals club trying to clinch a Wild Card spot, the Reds took a 3-1 win on Tuesday night at Busch Stadium that kept them alive for the top seed in the National League postseason heading into Game 162. "There was a lot of energy for sure," said right fielder Jay Bruce, who... read more OSU leads Division, Ranks 12 in nation After a big win over Michigan State Saturday, the Ohio State Buckeyes remained on top in the Leaders Division of the Big 10 Standings. In addition, Ohio State is ranked 12th in the nation overall. In the Legends Division, the NortHwestern Wildcats remained undefeated and is 24th in the nation with Arkansas holding the 21st overall spot... read more Wave topped by Butler, By George Starks Greenville plays best game of the year - GREENVILLE- Without a doubt, it was the best game the Greenville boys soccer team has played this season. In a hard fought 80 minutes of soccer, Greenville, despite its best efforts, couldn’t overcome two first half Vandalia-Butler goals, eventually falling to the visiting Aviators, 2-1 Tuesday. “Tonight was definitely the best we’ve played until... read more Patriots survive big scare from Franklin Monroe, By George Starks TV scores non-conference victory - NEW MADISION - If it’s been said once, it’s been said a thousand times. “It’s tough to beat the same team three times in a season.” For the third time this season, Franklin Monroe and Tri-Village squared off on the volleyball court. The first time, in August, the Patriots beat the Jets in the county tournament in Bradford. The second time was just a week ago at Franklin Monroe. It was a night... read more V-Tigers roll over Parkway, 47-zip, By Dean Eversole It was all Versailles Friday night at Parkway as the Tigers rolled to an easy 47-0, but that is only a part of the story. The real story is the Tigers' defense. In the beginning (of the season), it was ugly. Receivers were running open, touchdowns were being scored and many Versailles' fans were scratching their heads. But since the second half of the Anna game, the Tigers have surrendered 21 points in their last ten quarters. Six of those points came a fluke play. Friday night Parkway ran 16 first half plays, 8 of... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Bengals thrash Jaguars 27-10 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The skeptics can talk about how the Bengals are 8-1 over the past two seasons against losing teams after Sunday's 27-10 thrashing of the Jaguars, but the fact remains that the defense made inactive four first-round picks from its secondary and was still able to produce its best defensive effort in 20 games. After head coach Marvin Lewis flashed the depth of his roster with a no-frills bulldozing... read more Cincinnati Reds… Reds rise up in ninth, steal series from Bucs Cueto misses win No. 20, but club clutch; Cincy tied for best record - PITTSBURGH -- The Reds were all pulling for ace Johnny Cueto to finish his regular season with 20 victories on Sunday. On the other hand, postseason preparation carried more weight. That meant there would be no moving heaven and earth, and no giving Cueto one more inning. He was finished after the seventh and trailing, so he didn't benefit personally when... read more Cincinnati Reds… Reds pull even, then fall to Bucs on walk-off homer Bats slumping, club falls game back in race for MLB's best record - PITTSBURGH -- With the National League Central division clinch a full week in their rearview mirror and the postseason on the horizon, what can be made of the Reds' recent offensive funk? Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Pirates, which ended on Andrew McCutchen's walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, was... read more Eldora Speedway… Blue Collar Bash questions answered Highly Anticipated 16-Division Race Meet Invades October 26-27-28 - ROSSBURG, OH (Sept. 28) – One of the most frequently asked questions since the 2012 Eldora schedule was released has now been answered with the release of the entry form and details surrounding the Blue Collar Bash (BCB).   The inaugural event that showcases the ‘weekly’ racer will be contested on Eldora’s legendary .500-mile clay oval over the weekend of October 26-27-28. The Blue Collar Bash will afford many... read more Greenville homecoming not pretty, By George Starks Butler defense and special teams the difference - Guillozet and Keller are Homecoming Royalty - GREENVILLE - While all teams want to win, there are special nights when a victory means everything. One of those nights is homecoming. Friday, Greenville welcomed in Butler and the Aviators were not gracious guests. On a night when everything that could go wrong for Greenville did, it was... read more Railroaders win thriller over Tri County North, By Don Selanders BRADFORD- Have you heard about the cardiac kids? Well they are alive and well in Bradford. If you didn’t go to the game Friday night, you missed out on one of the most exciting games that has been played in a very long time, in a 35-34 thriller. The first quarter started out just as all the Railroader coaches and fans wanted to see 14 to 0 Railroaders. The second quarter didn’t go as well ending up 14 to... read more National Football League Standings, Sept. 28, 2012 AFC: East – New York; North – Baltimore Ravens; South – Houston; West – San Diego. NFC: East – Dallas; North – Minnesota; South – Atlanta; West – Arizona... read more Cleveland Browns… Ravens keep Browns winless BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Ravens improved to 3-1 on the season and remained at the top of the AFC North Division with their 23-16 win over the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium Thursday night. The loss dropped the Browns to 0-4 on the season. Browns kicker Phil Dawson converted a 52-yard field goal attempt and drew the team to within seven points, at 23-16, of the Ravens with 4:33 left... read more CNO Friday Football Preview...Week six; questions to be answered, By George Starks DARKE COUNTY- With five weeks of prep football in the books, there are many questions that are left to be answered and some will be answered tonight. The big game features the Tri-County North Panthers at Bradford. The Panthers come in with a 3-2 mark, 3-1 in the CCC, in a four-way tie with Bradford, National Trail and Twin Valley South. While North is coming off a 48-14 loss to Covington, the 4-1 Railroaders, 3-1 CCC, is fresh off a win at... read more National Football League... NFL referees to return to the field The NFL reached an eight-year agreement with the NFL Referees Association on Wednesday night to end the lockout, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the refs will be back on the field starting Thursday night. The new collective bargaining agreement is the longest between the league and game officials in NFL history. "The long-term future of our game requires that we seek improvement in every area, including officiating," Goodell said in a statement released by the league. ... read more FM gets late goal to tie Rockets, By George Starks PITSBURG- Rarely is a soccer coach ever pleased when a game ends in a tie. Tuesday was one of those rare occasions. Franklin Monroe coach Scott Howell would rather have had the win but was forced to settle for a 1-1 tie Tuesday against regional powerhouse Anna. "I'm not unhappy about a tie with this team," said Howell. "Anna is one of the best teams in the Miami Valley and they have some outstanding... read more Jets fly high in CCC victory, By George Starks PITSBURG - The Franklin Monroe Lady Jets improved their season Tuesday with a 3-0 victory over Newton in a Cross County Conference showdown. Winning 25-17 in the opener, things got a little intense in the second game before the jets pulled out a 25-23 victory. In the third game, Franklin Monroe trailed throughout the first half of the game. Down 16-13, the Jets were able to gain a 17-16 advantage, holding... read more Lady Wave netters top Sidney GREENVILLE- After winning the GWOC a year ago, the Greenville Lady Wave tennis team was forced to share the conference title this year. After losing to Butler a week ago, Greenville needed some help from Troy, a team the Wave had already recorded a win over. Troy got Butler and Greenville topped Sidney 5-0 Tuesday to claim a three way share of the title. Junior Sophia Navas-Davis out-lasted... read more Cincinnati Reds… Playoffs not enough for Reds this time around CINCINNATI -- The signals were sent -- both explicitly and implicitly -- from the Reds throughout the 2012 season. And now that Cincinnati has clinched its second National League Central title in three seasons, it's become even clearer. Just making it to the playoffs this time won't be good enough for this team. "We've played very successful baseball this year, and we've competed with the best teams at a very high level," first baseman Joey Votto said. "We've done a lot of winning this year, but... read more Lady Hawks get third win of the season over Ansonia, By George Starks ANSONIA- To beat the same team twice in the same season isn't an easy task. To beat that team three times is next to impossible. Monday at Ansonia, that's exactly what Mississinawa Valley did to to the Tigers. In a Cross County Conference match, the Lady Hawks too care of business in three games, 25-18, 25-19, 25-20. "Ansonia has improved a lot since we played them the last time," said MV coach Scott Brewer. "We just didn't stick to our... read more Bradford in the middle of the picture; Versailles still in the hunt, By George Starks The weekly computer rankings from the OHSAA reveled if the season were to end after five weeks of play, the lone Darke County team to make the post season would be Bradford. After a 48-14 victory over Ansonia last week, the Railroaders remained in the fifth spot behind the Jefferson Broncos. Jefferson has a 3-2 record and a 5.1 average while the Roaders are 4-1 overall with a 5.0 average. A week ago, Minster held the fourth spot but... read more Major League Baseball Standings- September 24, 2012 American League: East – New York; Central – Chicago; West – Texas. National League: East – Washington; Central – Cincinnati; West – San Francisco... read more V-Tigers shoot down Flyers, By Dean Eversole VERSAILLES- The Versailles Tigers used a suffocating defense Friday-Saturday night to down the Marion Local Flyers 24-14. Versailles allowed just 14 points to a Flyer team that came into the contest with four straight 40 plus outputs. In a game that was postponed Friday night, Versailles took a quick lead off a Flyer fumble just :54 seconds into the game. Then the lighting hit and the game was pushed to Saturday night. Not much changed... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Bengals pull out all stops in win over Washington LANDOVER, Md. — The Bengals pulled everything out of their bag in Sunday's first half except the Fifth Amendment here on the outskirts of Washington D.C and were rewarded with a 38-31 win over Redskins at FedExField before 80,060. After watching the Redskins tie the game at 24 late in the third quarter, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton responded with two huge scoring drives and hit slot receiver... read more Eldora Speedway… Leg One of Four Crown Nationals Cancelled Leg Two still not affected - ROSSBURG, OH (Sept. 21) – With rain in the immediate area and the forecast for more storms approaching from the West, the first night of the 31st annual Four Crown Nationals has been canceled and will not be rescheduled.   Conversations with meteorologists and weather stations in the area confirmed that approaching storms would invade the Darke County area shortly after the advertised race time of 8 p.m.; preventing the possibility of a complete race... read more Cincinnati Reds… Reds' party on hold after Dodgers win in 10 Marshall falters as magic number to clinch NL Central down to one - CINCINNATI -- All the elements for a division clinch celebration were in place for the Reds on Friday night, and everybody among the charged atmosphere inside Great American Ball Park knew it. How perfect it could have been. Alas, the Reds will have to wait at least one more day after dropping a 3-1 loss to the Dodgers in 10 innings with Matt Kemp's two-out, two-run single in the top of the 10th being the decider. "We know... read more Buckeyegrove.com… Another slow start for Buckeyes COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State was expected to cruise past Alabama-Birmingham in his final tune-up before the start of its Big Ten schedule, but the Blazers wouldn't go down easily Saturday. The slow starts that have plagued the No. 16 Buckeyes in non-conference play continued for the fourth straight week before a 21-point second quarter and just enough defense helped Ohio State avoid a stunning upset with a 29-15 victory before 105,019 mostly silent fans in Ohio Stadium... read more Bradford gets back on winning track, By George Starks Ansonia remains winless - ANSONIA- With football being shoved back once again due to weather on Friday, the Bradford Railroaders had to wait a few hours to get back on the winning track against Ansonia. After a week four loss to Covington, the Roaders had something to prove. Once the game got underway Saturday, it didn’t take long for the visiting Roaders to flex their muscle. With 2:49 having elapsed... read more Cincinnati Reds… Reds clinch playoff berth CHICAGO -- Reds ace Johnny Cueto's goal of reaching 20 victories was still alive, but that was secondary to just having a good start. A loser of three straight starts coming in, Cueto pitched six scoreless innings for his 18th victory as the Reds earned a 5-3 win for a series sweep over the Cubs. "I was more relaxed," Cueto said through an interpreter. "I was concentrating more today and used the fastball more today. I felt good, like always. I always feel good." Cincinnati became the first team in... read more Wave netters win two after Butler loss, By George Starks GREENVILLE- After dropping a heartbreaker to Vandalia-Butler Tuesday, 3-2, the Greenville girls tennis team bounced back Wednesday with a 4-1 victory over Middletown-Madison. Thursday, the Wave traveled to Eaton and clipped the Eagles wings, 5-0. Wednesday, Sophia Navas-Davis went three sets with Riley Markle before losing 6-7, 6-4, 7-5, a match that went the limit from start to finish. It was the third loss... read more Tri-Village wins slugfest over FM, By George Starks PITSBURG- Coming into Thursday's confrontation with Franklin Monroe, Tri-Village had a solid 10-2 seasonal mark. On the flip side, the host Jets were nearly the exact opposite, sporting a dismal 3-7 mark. So much for records. It was a classic TV-FM dogfight Thursday and when the final point was recorded, the Patriots had won a hard fought match, 25-20, 25-23 and 25-18. "I'm thrilled we won," said Patriots... read more Eldora Speedway… Title Chase dates Confirmed ROSSBURG, OH (Sept. 17) – Eldora Speedway officials have confirmed the concluding dates for the Eldora Stock Car, UMP DIRTcar Modifieds and UMP DIRTcar Late Model division cumulative point chases on the historic .500-mile clay oval. For the Modifieds and Late Models, the UMP National Championship weekend (October 5 & 6) will serve as their final point opportunity, while the Stock Cars will see their title chase end October 13, as part of the annual UNOH (University of Northwestern Ohio).... read more Cincinnati Reds… Reds work overtime, trim magic number to three CHICAGO -- As the Reds try to prepare themselves for the postseason, they were given two optimistic signs on Wednesday. In a 6-5 victory over the Cubs in 11 innings, Joey Votto's run production drought ended and Drew Stubbs emerged from his lengthy funk to get three hits, including the game-winning RBI single in the top of the 11th. "Joey's been swinging the bat pretty well," said acting manager Chris Speier, who filled in while Dusty Bake... read more Cincinnati Reds… Charged by battery, Reds' magic number at four Hanigan backs Bailey's 7 1/3 with clutch three-run double - CHICAGO -- The air has turned cooler and the calendar reads September instead of August, but there has been a feeling of late that the dog days have set in on the Reds' lineup. The offense has been slogging and notched only four hits in Tuesday's game. But it only took one clutch hit and Homer Bailey's superb pitching to secure a 3-1 win over the Cubs, which lowered the Reds' magic number to clinch the National League... read more Eldora Speedway… Four Crown Nationals to feature multiple divisions Despite Title Name, September Ritual Highlights Five Divisions - ROSSBURG, OH (Sept. 14) – Historically, the name remains as the Four Crown Nationals, but as has been the practice in recent years, the traditional fourth-week in September event will again offer five distinct divisions of racing on Eldora Speedway’s .500-mile clay oval over a two-night period; September 21 and 22. Kicking off the race-chaser’s dream weekend on Friday night will be a full program for the winged Sprint... read more National Football League… NFL films president Steve Sabol dies at 69 The football world says goodbye to a legend of the sport on Tuesday. Steve Sabol, president of NFL Films, has died at the age of 69 after an 18-month battle with brain cancer. Sabol took over the mantle as president of NFL Films in 1985 from his father Ed, who founded the company. Steve learned in March of 2011 that he had a brain tumor that could not be removed. He introduced his father during Ed's emotional... read more Butler/Greenville wage classic battle, By George Starks VANDALIA - The date was August 28 and the opponent was Troy. The Lady Wave tennis team and Troy were squaring off at Greenville in a match that carried a lot of weight in the Greater Western Ohio Conference North Division. The winner would have the inside track to the GWOC North title, a title Greenville won outright a year ago. Greenville won that night, 3-2 and that would leave one team the Wave would... read more Major League Baseball Standings - Sunday, September 16, 2012 National League: East – Washington, Central – Cincinnati, West – San Francisco. American League: East – New York, Central – Chicago, West – Texas... read more Lady Hawks defeat Monroe Central in three, By George Starks UNION CITY- It wasn't the prettiest win but no matter how ugly, it's still a win. The Mississinawa Valley Lady Blackhawks went to 7-5 on the season after defeating the Monroe Central Golden Bears in three straight games, 25-22, 25-19 and 25-15 Monday. "A win is a win and we'll take it," said Hawks coach Scott Brewer. When Mississinawa Valley walked off the court Monday night, it was obvious, some things needed... read more Cincinnati Reds... Baker's defensive switch helps Reds hold on MIAMI - Reds manager Dusty Baker made two defensive changes before the bottom half of the 11th inning with the Reds holding a one-run lead against the Marlins. Drew Stubbs went to center field and Chris Heisey, who started the game there, moved over to left for Ryan Ludwick, whose RBI single off Carlos Zambrano gave Cincinnati the lead in the top half of the frame. Jonathan Broxton walked Donovan Solano with two outs before John Buck... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Bengals get first win of the season CINCINNATI- Cornerback Adam Jones jump-started the Bengals Sunday's Paul Brown Stadium opener with an 81-yard punt return and wide receiver Andrew Hawkins finished it off with an electrifying Road Runner twisting 50-yard touchdown catch on third down as the Bengals celebrated their first victory of the season, 34-27, over the Browns before a sold-out 63,036 gathering of the faithful. Quarterback Andy Dalton, piloting his first 30-point game at PBS while hitting 24 of 31 throws for 318... read more Prep sports schedule features big games this week, By George Starks DARKE COUNTY- With the prep fall sport schedule well underway, this week will feature some interesting events. Monday will see the Lady Wave volleyball team hosting the Eaton Eagles, while Franklin Monroe will travel to Ansonia. Bradford will host Houston with Monroe Central (Indiana) going to Mississinawa Valley. Also on Monday, Troy Christian will visit Tri-Village for soccer while Arcanum and... read more Bradford falls from the ranks of the unbeaten, By Don Selanders BRADFORD - It was a game that was billed as the game of the week in Darke County. It turned out to be anything but a game. After it was all said and done, the 3-0 Bradford Railroaders fell to 3-1 while the Covington Bucc remained undefeated at 4-0, rolling to a lopsided 56-6 Cross County Conference victory. Covington took the opening drive of the night, scoring to make it 7-0. Bradford answered when James... read more CNO Sports Roundup… Greenville gets first win of the year GREENVILLE – It was described by one person as the best game ever. On a night when things looked grim for the Wave and a 0-4 record was staring them in the face, Greenville pulled off a huge play that was started by Nick Woodruff. Woodruff found West Carrolton Pirate's quarterback Quenton Woods, forced the fumble and recovered at the Wave 43 yard line. At that point, Greenville got things... read more National Trail Blazes through Ansonia, By George Starks Tigers now 0-4 overall - ANSONIA- Going into Friday's contest with National Trail, it was all to boil down to the Ansonia running game and the Blazers passing game. The biggest difference came in the form of a former Greenville student. National Trail quarterback, Garrett Griffin was the difference maker in a 52-28 National Trail victory over Ansonia in Cross County Conference action. At 6-4 and... read more Lady Wave declaw Wildcats, By George Starks Wave netters at 12-2 for season - GREENVILLE- In a phone conversation with Jim Koontz recently, the Lady Wave tennis coach said there would be no more cupcakes on the schedule for his team after defeating Wayne and Piqua in easy fashion earlier in the week. Thursday, the Wave netters welcomed the Springfield Wildcats and a clash between the GWOC North leaders (Greenville) and one of the best from... read more Tri-Village to host state qualifying cheer competition, By George Starks NEW MADISON - It's time to get your cheer on and your spirit in line. The Tri-Village Athletic Boosters are sponsoring the 7th Annual Patriot Championship 2012 on Sunday, September 23 at the Tri-Village High School gym. The annual event now has a twist to it. It's not just a cheer competition but now is a state qualifying event with plenty to be gained. A win in this competition, will automatically earn your team a trip to the state competition and.... read more Dayton Business Journal…Bengals, Reds in middle on ‘smartest spenders’ list Tuesday, September 4, 2012 - The Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals both rank in the middle of professional sports teams when it comes to the smartest spenders. According to Bloomberg Businessweek, the Reds ranked No. 73 and the Bengals No. 78 out of 122 professional sports teams. Bloomberg said it used payroll data to calculate how much teams spent per win over the last five seasons, “then compared every.... read more Cincinnati Reds... Reds racing toward Central crown after sweep Magic number at 8; Hoover's first save seals win for Bailey - CINCINNATI -- In close ballgames, every little play counts. In one-run ballgames, those little plays are amplified into game-deciding acts. The Reds executed all the little things properly Wednesday as they brought out their brooms and completed a sweep of the Pirates by edging out a 2-1 win at Great American Ball Park. The win moved the Reds a season-high 30 games above .500 and lowered their magic number to clinch the National... read more Cincinnati Reds… Reds take Pirates again Magic number at 11 - CINCINNATI -- There's a sign hanging in Dusty Baker's office that reads, "The most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen, and not necessarily in that order." It's a mantra the Reds' skipper has lived up to throughout his managerial career, and one that came into effect again Tuesday night. The Reds used seven different relievers in Monday night's 14... read more Lave Wave netters stay hot, By George Starks GREENVILLE - The Greenville girls tennis team continued to roll this week with two big GWOC North victories. Monday, the Wave took it to Wayne, sweeping the Warriors 5-0. Tuesday, Greenville duplicated that feat against Piqua. In both matches, all Wave players rolled to straight set wins making Greenville 11-2 on the season and 3-0 in conference play. Tonight, Greenville will host Springfield (4:30... read more Lady Trojans overcome push from Blazers, By George Starks ARCANUM- It was once said that anything worth having is worth fighting for. If that's the case, then nothing good comes easy. Tuesday, the Arcanum Lady Trojans had the fight of the season on their hands with CCC rival, National Trail. In what turned out to be a true slug fest, Arcanum held off a stubborn bunch of Lady Trail Blazers to get game wins of 25-17, 25-23 and 25-17 to take a much needed conference... read more Magic number at 12… Reds get walk-off win CINCINNATI -- All the dogs from "Bark in the Park" night at Great American Ball Park had long retired to their kennels at home. Many of the handfuls of the punchy 16,577 human fans that remained let out giddy howls in the wee hours of the night. But as Monday night became Tuesday morning, this was no laughing matter for the Reds or Pirates as both teams needed this game for different reasons. It took 5 hours and 22 minutes over 14 innings before the Reds finally claimed a 4-3 victory on... read more Cincinnati Bengals… A Monday night downer for the Bengals BALTIMORE — The Bengals bid to compete with the elite of the AFC North blew up badly in front of a Monday Night Football audience at M&T Bank Stadium when the Ravens went into the fourth quarter scoring two points for every minute they had the ball. Bengals-killer Ed Reed completed the bloody deed with a 34-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the third quarter when he converted quarterback Andy Dalton's overthrow of wide receiver Brandon Tate during a 44-13 loss that stands as... read more World 100… Birkhofer earns $50,000 for one hour of work Globe #2 holds of Bloomquist one more time - ROSSBURG, OH (Sept. 8) -- Brian Birkhofer can get used to punching the clock at these rates. The Muscatine, Iowa driver successfully held off Scott Bloomquist on three restarts during the final nine laps to capture Saturday’s 42nd annual World 100 and $50,000 at Eldora Speedway.  And he got the job done in 58.31 seconds to make for a healthy hourly wage. It was Birkhofer’s second World 100 championship; having also captured the 2002 version... read more Greenville girls soccer woes continue… Sidney drops 10-0 loss on Lady Wave, By George Starks GREENVILLE- The Sidney Lady Yellow Jackets came into Greenville looking to make an improvement on their GWOC soccer record. Greenville was looking to get its first win of the season. It didn't take the Lady Jackets long to make it known they would not be denied. It took Sidney less than two minutes to take the lead as Sidney rolled to a 10-0 GWOC North victory Monday. Sidney's Morgan Nasal accounted for three of the Jackets... read more Edison Community College… Lady Chargers go 2-2 in season opener Locals Tory Shimp, Versailles, and Marissa Wirrig, Bradford on Lady Charger Roster The volleyball team opened up the 2012 season this past weekend by competing in the Holiday Tournament at Owens where our Lady Chargers played some of the top teams in the country.  Edison played well and went 2-2 for the weekend. Most recently Edison travel to OSU-Lima last night where they defeated the Barons... read more Bradford out duels Trail on the road, By Don Selanders Click below for Team wrap-ups for the weekend - NEW PARIS - In a game that was postponed Friday and rescheduled for Saturday at 7 pm, three and a half hours and 102 points later Bradford came up with a solid 61-41 victory over National Trail. While the Roaders gained the victory, it was not one that came easy for Bradford. The Trail Blazers started the scoring in the first with 8:57 to go, 7-0. Nine... read more Coldwater takes Verailles in MAC opener, By George Starks VERSAILLES- There were three keys to Versailles beating Coldwater Friday/Saturday in the Tigers MAC season opener. Key one: Play solid defense against the team that beat them twice a year ago and in the post season. Result: The Tigers held the state finals team to just 21 points. Key two: Keep the turnovers to a minimum. Result: The Tigers had no turnovers. Key three: Present the Cavaliers a... read more Eldora Speedway… Rain washes out World 100 Action ROSSBURG, OH (Sept. 7) – Severe thunderstorms and persistent rains washed out Friday’s portion of the 42nd annual World 100 at Eldora Speedway, after 45 of the 123 cars on hand had taken their turn against the timing clocks.   As a result, the track officials have announced contingency plans for Saturday. The admission gates will open at 10:00, with the driver meeting at 11:00 a.m. to review the format for Saturday’s chase for the fabled globed trophy and the $45,000 victory check... read more Elks Lodge, Greenville… Local Youth compete in Elks State Soccer Shoot On July 28, 2012, eight of our local youth competed in a state level competition.  The Ohio Elks hosted its annual Soccer Shoot in Coshocton, OH at the Kids America Sports Complex.  The competitors from our area represented the Ohio Elks Southwest district and competed against the winners of the five other Elks districts in Ohio.  Each competitor was treated to a free night’s stay... read more Sluggish Tri-Village too much for Ansonia, By George Starks Tigers still looking for first win - NEW MADISON - When Tri-Village caught fire on the volleyball court Thursday against Ansonia, head coach Jackie Barnes was visibly pleased. The problem was that Barnes could never stay pleased as the fire was usually put out in quick fashion. Despite the Patriots sluggish play at times, Tri-Village won its Cross County Conference match against Ansonia in three... read more Greenville too much for Brookville - Wave now 10-2 overall , By George Starks GREENVILLE- The Greenville Lady Wave tennins team made quick work of Brookville Wednesday, sending the Blue-Devils down to a 4-1 defeat. Now 10-2 overall, losing to Milton-Union and Miamisburg earlier in the season, Wave coach Jim Koontz is pleased with the performance of his team thus far. "I am really happy with the way the girls are playing right now," said Koontz in a phone interview. "We are 10-2 and these kids have ... read more Eldora Speedway… 42nd Annual World 100 available live online ROSSBURG, OH (Sept. 4) – For the first-time in its 42-year history, the legendary World 100 will be broadcast live via online streaming pay-per-view on Eldora Speedway’s newly revamped www.EldoraSpeedway.com. Eldora’s Dustin Jarrett will host an all-star team of announcers with national touring series pros Rick Eshelman and James Essex leading the play-by-play and Ozzie Altman working pit road and incidents with trackside reports. An unprecedented eight cameras complete... read more Manning scores hat trick in FM victory, By George Starks PITSBURG - Coming off a loss to Stebbins, the Greenville Lady Wave rolled into Pitsburg Tuesday looking for their first win of the 2012 soccer season. Franklin Monroe was coming off a tie with Newton and wanted to get back on the winning side of the standings. Give the nod to the Lady Jets. It was a night when the Jets played with fervor and FM coach Scott Howell knew it. "Our goal today was to come out... read more Eldora Speedway… First Time Appearances common in World 100 line-ups Past Three Years Have Seen 17 Drivers Making Initial Starts, 1998 Most Impressive Year ROSSBURG, OH (Sept. 1) – Without a doubt, the famed globed trophy that signifies a World 100 victory at Eldora Speedway is the most sought after prize in all of dirt Late Model racing. But, to many drivers, just making it into the starting line-up for the century grind is considered a victory as well, especially to drivers making their initial start in the world’s largest dirt race. Annually attracting the greatest field of entrants for any dirt Late Model race, combined with the current parity of drivers... read more Eldora Speedway… Hurricane Isaac wipes out Baltes Classic 100 Race Teams Had Converged Upon Eldora With Hopes That the Storm Would Pass Over ROSSBURG, OH (Sept. 2) – After a rain-free afternoon, remnants of Hurricane Isaac filtered in just prior to the scheduled hot lap sessions Sunday evening to wipe out the Wix Filters Baltes Classic.  A talent-laden pit area of 36 Sunoco American Late Model Series entrants, 47 UMP DIRTcar Modifieds and 17 Stock Cars jammed the pit area with hopes that the... read more Harness Racing: More than just a sport, By George Starks GREENVILLE - With the rise of casinos, it is expected that harness horse racing will make a huge comeback in Ohio. Once a billion dollar industry, the amount of money generated from the sport has fallen off in the past few years, but according to two people that are heavily involved in the sport, that comeback is right around the corner. "Harness horse racing generates over 700 million dollars... read more V-Tigers clip Graham's wings VERSAILLES - After a sloppy showing a week ago in Celina, falling to the Bulldogs 46-26, the Versailles Tigers (1-1) got things on the right track Friday at H.B. Hole Field. It was a night of old fashioned Versailles football as the Tigers took the Graham Falcons to the cleaners, rolling to a 40-7 non-conference victory. It was a night when the Falcons never got on track while the Tigers offense and defense... read more CNO Athletes of the Month… Canan, Navas-Davis best in August, By George Starks DARKE COUNTY- With the 2012 sports season barely in full swing, two Darke County athletes have already made their presence felt. Bradford's James Canan and Greenville's Sophia Navas-Davis are the top athletes for County News Online in August. Navas-Davis, Greenville Tennis - Recently when the Troy Lady Trojans visited Greenville, it was Navas-Davis who turned the tide for the Wave... read more Eldora Speedway… World 100 weekend offers five races with $1,000 payouts ROSSBURG, OH (August 30) --  While $45,000 is the coveted prize at the end of the World 100 rainbow, the unrivaled event for dirt Late Models offers five additional races over the course of the weekend (Sept. 7 & 8) that pay $1,000 to win and reward valuable points towards the UMP (United Midwestern Promoters) DIRTcar Late Model National Championship.  And, with each of those wins comes a trip to the famed Eldora stage and victory lane ceremonies. No other event throughout the season... read more OHSAA Unveils New Online School Directory and Schedules Features Real-Time Athletic Schedules and School Information - COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) has unveiled a new public interface for its online school directory that includes athletics schedules and school contact information. The new online directory,http://schedules.myohsaa.org/, features the athletic schedules of all junior high and high school OHSAA member schools. Schedule information is entered by member schools and appears in the... read more TC North too much for Arcanum, By Levi Wicker ARCANUM - Tri-County North had as close of a perfect first half as any team could possibly have as they scored eight touchdowns on seven possessions en route to a 56-0 halftime lead before the reserves took over for them in the second half. Tri County North left Arcanum with a smile on their face posting a 56-13 Cross County Conference victory. The Trojans opened the game looking good with an 11 yard bruising run by Senior tailback Parker Buhrman. But with little explosive plays, and... read more Bradford remains perfect with win over Bethel, By Don Selanders Darke County Scoreboard - BRADFORD- The Bradford Railroaders took the sting out of the Bethel Bees Friday with a 26-13 Cross County Conference victory. Bradford took the opening kick-off at the start of the game and moved the ball right down the field only to come up short and turning the ball over on downs to the Bees. The Bees moved the ball to midfield and the Roaders defense stiffened and forced... read more Red-Devils too hot to handle, By George Starks Wave fall to 0-2 on the season - GREENVILLE- With two games in the 2012 football season, Greenville football coach Aaron Schaffer is still looking for his first varsity football victory. After opening the season on the road at Eaton and a 47-6 loss to the Eagles, coming home to the friendly confines of Harmon Field would hopefully prove to be a better result. That wasn't the case for the Wave. A week... read more Lady Jets can't get past Newton, By George Starks Game ends in a tie – PITSBURG - When Franklin Monroe went up 1-0 early from a goal by Hannah Lehman at 30:19 and then 2-0 when Allyson Manning scored at the 22:03 point of the opening half; things were looking good for the Lady Jets. The momentum was in the Jets favor. Everything pointed to a Franklin Monroe victory but it would not end the same way it started for the ladies soccer team. When the second... read more Drama and heroics gets FM past Newton, By George Starks PITSBURG- With 38:03 having elapsed off the second half clock, it was looking as if a 0-0 tie was in the offing. In a match that was played in a very physical manner by both Newton and Franklin Monroe, it all changed with 1:57 left in the match. Off an assist from sophomore striker Brian Robison, Daniel Wiseman scored the only goal of the night, giving the Jets a 1-0 Cross County Conference... read more Major League Baseball – August 30, 2012, American League: East – New York; Central – Chicago; West – Texas. National League: East – Washington; Central – Cincinnati; West – San Francisco.... read more Cincinnati Reds… Reds first to 80 wins after sweeping D-backs Latos keeps game close, teammates erupt for four late home runs. PHOENIX -- Reds fans should take a moment to appreciate what they're seeing, because seasons like this haven't come around very often in Cincinnati. A 6-2 victory over the D-backs on Wednesday iced a three-game series sweep and improved the Reds to a Major League-best 80-52. It is the quickest to 80 wins for the club since the 1976 team won No. 80 in its 125th game. This also marked the first time since '76 that... read more Run for the Rails date set in Bradford... Railroad Museum to benefit, BRADFORD- The first of what will be an annual 5K run in Bradford will take place September 29 starting at 9 a.m. The run/walk will raise funds for the Capital Improvements at the Bradford Ohio Railroad Museum. Registration for the race will be held at the museum from 8-8:45 on the day of the race or you can pre-register at www.bradfordrrmuseum.org. Pre-registration fees received by September 1 will be 15 dollars or 20 dollars if you want a tee-shirt... read more Greenville upends Troy in GWOC North match, Lady Wave on top in division, By George Starks GREENVILLE- When Greenville tennis coach, Jim Koontz sends his team to the tennis courts; he sends two juniors and a freshman out for singles action at the varsity level. With the second and third singles having posted two set wins over the visiting Troy Trojans, all Greenville needed was one more victory and the match belonged to the Wave. The first doubles team had already lost in straight sets and... read more Eldora Speedway… World 100 “warm up” among featured events Sunday ROSSBURG, OH (August 27) – A last chance opportunity to gain valuable ‘track time’ prior to the World 100, a return to the ‘traditional start’, the determination of 2012’s Stock Car champion, and recognition of the track founders are among the story lines for Sunday’s (September 2) WIX Filters Baltes Classic at Eldora Speedway. For the Sunoco sponsored American Late Model Series (ALMS), the 30-lap chase will be yet another, albeit the final, opportunity to... read more Stebbins send Lady Wave to 0-3 on the season, By George Starks Wave energy zapped early - GREENVILLE - When Greenville took the early 1-0 lead on Stebbins Tuesday, scoring on a goal off the foot of Jessica Kerg, it looked as if the Lady Wave had the momentum to fuel a much needed victory. Kerg scored the Wave goal with 29:13 remaining in the opening half. Forty-eight seconds later, Stebbins’ Nicole Brandt unloaded a kick from nearly 30 yards. The kick... read more Cincinnati Reds… Arroyo's homer lifts Reds in Arizona Righty awarded tiebreaking long ball after video review - PHOENIX- As the Reds moved their weary selves into Arizona for a three-game series with the promise of the much-needed off-day on the other side, they will accept contributions from all corners of the clubhouse. In a 3-2 Reds win over the D-backs, most of the storylines happened to come from Bronson Arroyo's corner. Not only did Arroyo... read more Tripp Davis, GHS 2009 Graduate… Local pitcher doing well at the college level, By George Starks GREENVILLE - When Tripp Davis graduated from Greenville, he, like so many others, wasn’t exactly sure what to expect at the next level. After high school, Davis was off to the New Jersey Institute of Technology to pitch for the Highlanders baseball team. A member of the Great West Conference, Davis has shined in his first three years in a Highlanders uniform. A lefty to boot, Davis is a rare commodity... read more Darke County Fair… Destruction in the fair ends with a bang, By Dylan Knoop Another great year at the Great Darke County Fair came to an end Saturday and it went out with a boom as Back to Back Promotions presented the annual demolition derby. Competitors came from as far out as Sidney to participate this year. What a better way to end the week. There were a few new classes this year at the derby... read more There’s a new Nisonger in town, By George Starks GREENVILLE- If it wasn’t enough that harness horse drivers had to contend with Darke County native, Jeff Nisonger, now there’s a new Nisonger in town. Stacey! Friday, the bride of Jeff Nisonger took to the track at the Darke County Fair. In the third race of the day, the lady climbed into the sulky behind JJ’s Rosie. In that race, her husband was driving Lil Miss Alibi, a horse owned by Cindy Austin who once... read more OHSAA State Football Finals All-Session Ticket Sales Begin 2012 Finals to be Held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 in Canton and Massillon - COLUMBUS, Ohio – All-session tickets go on sale Monday, August 27, beginning at 9:00 a.m. for the 2012 Ohio High School Athletic Association State Football Finals. The six championship games will take place on Friday, November 30, and Saturday, December 1, at Fawcett Stadium in Canton and Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon. 2012 marks the 23rd year that Stark County will host the state football... read more Hawks bow to Union City in season opener, By Levi Wicker Special to CNO - Union City - It was sloppy play from both teams Friday night that ultimately saw special teams becoming the deciding factor in Union City’s victory over Mississinawa Valley, 34-12. Mississinawa Valley took the opening possession and from the very beginning it was obvious that the Blackhawks were going to have to work for every yard that they could get. The Union City defense was relentless in their pursuit all night. The Hawks senior quarterback, Brandon Byers, was.. read more Darke County Fair… Too much excitement in one night at the fair, By George Starks GREENVILLE- With well over 60 races in the books at the Great Darke County Fair Friday, including the much acclaimed Gene Riegle Memorial Pace, the final race of the fair ended with a very bad twist. With the final race nearing completion, the P.A. announcer came across saying, "Horse down in the backstretch." At that point a horse down meant a driver down. Before long, the horse was up and running loose... read more Riegle Memorial heads final race card at the fair, By George Starks Ladies race proves interesting - GREENVILLE  - The final night of harness horse racing brought the spotlight on two areas Friday at the Darke County Fair. The seventh race of the night brought on the much anticipated, Gene Riegle Memorial Pace. With a $10,000 purse at stake, five of the best pacers the business has to offer took to the half mile track with the possibility of a new... read more Bradford pops Ansonia in week one upset, By Don Selanders BRADFORD- It’s been awhile since the Bradford Railroaders have put a notch in the win column against the Ansonia Tigers, but as they, every dog has its day or in this case every Railroader will have their day. Bradford kicked off the season in winning fashion by posting a 48-12 score over the visiting Tigers. The Railroaders went on defense first holding the Tigers to four plays and out. The offense... read more Local drivers/trainers have stellar day of racing, By George Starks GREENVILLE- It was another stellar day for local drivers and trainers as well as owners at the Darke County Fair Thursday. Jeff Nisonger, Tom Hope and Jeff Bolyard all got wins while many others got second and third place finishes. Nisonger picked up four more wins on the day, putting his win total into double digits. The first of the day came in the opening race of the afternoon with Off Likea Prom... read more Singer; A huge part of the Darke County Fair, By George Starks GREENVILLE- On the back of Joe Singer's Escalade, the plate says it all. "5 Sleds" It has nothing to do with snow or going sledding but has everything to do with the Darke County Tractor Pullers Association (DCTPA) and the Darke County Fair. Singer, a 1977 graduate of Tri-Village, was one of the founders of the DCTPA and has been there from the inception. Now, Singer is serving as president... read more Attendance down from opening night… By George Starks GREENVILLE- A year ago, the idea was being thrown around to have two nights of tractor pulls at the Darke County Fair. With sellout crowds attending the one-day affair, a second day sounded like a great idea for the largest county fair in the nation. With the majority of the tickets sold for the Tuesday night show, the Wednesday attendance may have been somewhat disappointing. According to... read more Small town girl has big city dreams… By George Starks GREENVILLE- Since Brooke Netzley was a little girl, singing in front of a large crowd has become second nature to her. Belting out the Star Spangled Banner at Sater Diamonds to doing it at the fair before the start of the races and more recently, performing with the group Foreigner Sunday night at the fair, Netzley has set the bar for herself. Reaching and holding that bar is the goal the 16 year old has in mind... read more Drivers fare well at the fair, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Darke County/local drivers fared well in the Darke County Tractor Puller annual event at the Darke County Fair Tuesday. In the 4500 lb. antique class, Charlie Starkie won with a pull of 169.43 feet. Closer to home in the top 10, Rich Royer of New Madison was fourth, Ron Hileman, Greenville (6th) and Tom Baker of Greenville was ninth. The 5500 lb. antiques saw Greenville's... read more Racing action concludes at the fair Riegle Pace happens Friday night - GREENVILLE- The Gene Riegle Memorial will take place Friday night as 17 races line the final speed card for the Great Darke County Fair. The Riegle Pace will feature five entries 1. Crossthreaded 2. Lost Jewels 3. T Russell Lou 4. Lucky Lime and 5. Sharp Returns. Post time for racing action will be at 1 and 7 p.m. The inaugural memorial race will be the seventh... read more Miller strives to be a cut above the rest, By George Starks GREENVILLE - In a crowd of people, Devon Miller is just another pretty face. On the track, she is a fierce competitor. Miller has been coming to the Darke County fair since she was a little girl. Her grandfather, R. J. Brown, is very well known in the racing circles. A native of Troy, Ohio, Miller came to the Darke County fair and was eager to learn at a very young age. Now, at the age of 24, Miller has become known as someone to contend with... read more Darke County Fair...Harness racing resumes Thursday, GREENVILLE- Harness horse racing action will continue Thursday at the Darke County Fairgrounds. Local driver Jeff Nisonger has dominated to the first two days of action, looking to continue that Thursday. The following is the speed card for Thursday's racing action. Darke County Fair Entries Thursday Aug 23, 2012 Post Time:1:00 PM ... read more Cincinnati Reds... After defensive spills, a walk-off thrill for Reds Three miscues spoil Latos' start, but Hanigan comes through in ninth - CINCINNATI -- Another walk-off win was achieved by the Reds on Sunday afternoon, but manager Dusty Baker was a little edgy nonetheless. Sure, the final score showed the Reds as 5-4 winners over the Cubs on Ryan Hanigan's game-ending RBI single that gave them three of four in the series and a 5-2 homestand. But two columns over... read more Nisonger dominates on second day of action at the fair, By George Starks Chris Hope gets second career win - GREENVILLE- When it comes to harness horse racing at the Darke County Fair, Jeff Nisonger has become a name that everyone is familiar with. Saturday was no exception. Nisonger drove in multiple races in both the afternoon and evening sessions Saturday and never missed a beat. When the evening session had been completed, Nisonger had racked up five wins... read more Racing action kicks off at the county fair, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Nine races lined the speed card at the Great Darke County Fair Friday as multiple drives picked up two victories on the night. Tom Hope got victories in the second with Memory Miles and again in the seventh with Hollywood Hustler, a horse trained by his son Christopher Hope. Jeff Nisonger also got wins in the third and eighth races of the night. Nisonger drove I look Foxy to the win in... read more Eldora Speedway… Action swings over to Kart Track Sunday Sunday Afternoon Action Offers Free General Admission - ROSSBURG, OH (August 16) – Eldora Speedway’s racing action this weekend switches from the famed .500-mile clay oval to the 1/7th mile oval, Little Eldora Speedway, on Sunday afternoon, with a full program of go-kart racing and free general admission.   Built three years ago, the compact version of Eldora sits within the... read more Racing continues at The Darke County Fair Race Card for Saturday, August 18 - A big day of racing is on tap at the Darke County Fair today with 21 races to be contested. Saturday will start off with a 1 p.m. post and will get started with a madien race for pacers. Twelve races will go in the afternoon session with nine more in the evening session. Saturday's speed card is as follows: Darke County Fair Entries Saturday Aug... read more FM-Arcanum shows marked improvement, By George Starks Newton joins in on three-way scrimmage - PITSBURG - What a difference a practice can make. It was just two days before when Franklin Monroe coach Jodi Bauman was pointing out things that nned improvement after a four way scrimmage at Mississinawa Valley. At the end of action that night, Bauman had talked about the lack of communication on the floor and kids not knowing where to be in certain... read more MV holds four-way scrimmage… Three county schools participate, By George Starks UNION CITY- Franklin Monroe, Tri-Village and Botkins invaded Mississinawa Valley Tuesday for a rare four-way scrimmage. According to Jodi Bauman (FM), Jackie Barnes (TV) and Hawks coach Scott Brewer, it was a prosperous night for all involved. FM brings youth and a little inexperience and Bauman saw that exploited in the Lady Jets first scrimmage of the season. “I’ve got only one... read more  Darke County Fair gearing up for Riegle Memorial, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Make no mistake about it. When Gene Riegle passed away last fall, Darke County lost a legend and the harness horse racing world lost one of its best. In honor of the man who built a dynasty, the Darke County Fair racing program will see the first Gene Riegle Memorial on Friday night, August 24. On that night, the first 1,000 fans to buy a race program, will receive a bobble head of the famed horseman. Under the grandstands, on the concrete wall, will hang framed photos of Riegle and his horses... read more  Harness Racing Card, Friday… Nine races Friday night at 7 p.m. the first racing card will be contested at the Darke County Fair. Nine races will be on the card. Darke County Fair Entries Friday Aug 17, 2012 Post Time:7:00 PM; 1st $600 W1K-5K'12 Pace - 1. Miss Bikini Beach (TBA), 2. Winsmith Delight (Ma Winters Sr), 3. Republic Of Panama (Cr Bowman), 4. Sandbar Slugger (Sa Noble III), 5. Jjs Rosie (TBA), 6. Serina Request (De Miller), 7. Trigger Jim (TBA)... read more  Wave boys battle tough alumni team, By George Starks  GREENVILLE- With seven college players on the field for the Greenville alumni Saturday, the 2012 Wave soccer team had a very tough test on their hands. The alumni dressed 25 players and scored two big goals putting the varsity team down by a two spot. The varsity would come back to score two of its own and finish with a 2-2 tie. "That was quite a strong alumni team," said Wave coach... read more  Remembering the best there was By Don McDermott  September 23, 1993 is the signature day in Gene Riegle's life as a harness racing Hall of Fame trainer, driver and owner. It was the day Life Sign, a 3-year-old colt driven by another Hall of Famer, John Campbell, won the Little Brown Jug, one of pacing's prestigious Triple Crown events at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in rural central Ohio. The win by Life Sign, in a down-to-the-wire... read more  Lady Wave look good in annual alumni scrimmage , By George Starks   GREENVILLE- The Lady Wave offense got off to a slow start against the Greenville alumni Saturday but came on strong, gaining a 4-0 victory in the annual scrimmage.The Wave scored a late first half goal then scored three in the second half, much to the delight of Wave coach Justin Gonzalez. "We have a force out there in Aubrey DeVoss and Jessica Kerg" said Gonzalez. "Combine them  ... read more  Eldora Speedway... Craig, Kramer & Winks capture Family Fun Night wins Huge Crowd Cheers Craig As A Tow Truck Pulls Him to Victory Lane - ROSSBURG, OH (Aug. 11) – Barney Craig’s victory lap, following his sixth Stock Car feature win of the season, was likely his most unforgettable. The rear end of Craig’s No. 71C gave out after racing through the final turn; but the division points leader had enough of a lead to coast across the finish line for the win. A tow truck slowly... read more   Matt Light joins forces with Ohio National Guard Charity event draws big numbers, By George Starks - LIBERTY TOWNSHIP- Matt Light and The Matt Light Foundation hooked up with National Guard member Saturday at Chenowith Trails. The goal would see two charity organizations benefit from the event. Right at 400 runners took part in what will hopefully be an annual event to benefit The Apache Warrior Support Team and The Light... read more  Tough season ahead... Brewer set to engage the 2012 season, By George Starks UNION CITY- Coming off a stellar 16-7 season a year ago, the Mississinawa Valley Lady Blackhawks will have virtually a whole new look on the floor. Losing six excellent players from a year ago, including Mallory Livingston, Shelby Rehmert, Haley Cox, Chelsie Saintignon and a host of others, Hawks coach Scott Brewer is getting his team ready for what will be a tough year. “We lost a lot off that team from a... read more Cassidy Kasier does well in competion… Kaiser brings home five medals COLUMBUS, Ind. – Cassidy Kaiser brought home three gold medals and two silvers from the USA Swimming Central Zone Championships held in Columbus, Ind., this past weekend. Cassidy received individual gold in the 100-meter backstroke and individual silvers in both the 50-meter and 200-meter backstroke. She also led team OHIO’s (11-12 girls) 200 and 400 medley relays to... read more Wave gets best in scrimmage opponent, By George Starks GREENVILLE- With two weeks left before the start of the 2012 football season, Greenville Coach Aaron Schaffer got a good idea what his team will bring to the table during the upcoming season. One of the best teams, if not the best, in the MAC, Coldwater, invaded Greenville Friday for some scrimmage time and it gave Schaffer a good idea where his team is at with opening night right around the... read more Tough season ahead... Brewer set to engage the 2012 season, By George Starks UNION CITY- Coming off a stellar 16-7 season a year ago, the Mississinawa Valley Lady Blackhawks will have virtually a whole new look on the floor. Losing six excellent players from a year ago, including Mallory Livingston, Shelby Rehmert, Haley Cox, Chelsie Saintignon and a host of others, Hawks coach Scott Brewer is getting his team ready for what will be a tough year. “We lost a lot off that team from a year ago... read more Special to CNO… Class of 98 wins softball tournament, By Chuck Runner VERSAILLES – For the second year in a row the weather had organizers scrambling to get games in at the Versailles alumni softball tournament. Last year the winner had to be declared off the field because of rain on the final day of the tournament. While Friday night’s contests went as scheduled, storms wreaked havoc on Saturday’s games. Rains Saturday morning pushed games back two hours. With the... read more The Bleacher Report... Cueto dominating the National League CINCINNATI- Reds’ fans are witnessing the greatness of Johnny Cueto for a second consecutive year. The Dominican starter has firmly entrenched himself as the Reds’ No. 1 starter, their true ace. Cueto’s numbers have been dazzling this season, and he’s getting what he desperately needs for the Cy Young race: wins. With a 14-5 record, Cueto shares the title of MLB’s most wins along with highly praised names like.... read more Versailles looks good in first scrimmage, By George Starks VERSAILLES- The Versailles Tigers took to the field Tuesday in the first full scrimmage of the year. With opening night of the high school football season just 20 days away, teams across the state are fine tuning the offense and defense in preparation for opening night, August 24. Head coach Adam Miller watched his team take on Brookville and overall was somewhat pleased with what he witnessed. “If I had to give my team a grade today they... read more Nascar... Pocono madness shakes up wild-card picture Gordon in second spot on tie-breaker; Kyle Busch’s woes costly to Chase hopes - LONG POND, Pa.- Talk about silver linings. Thanks in part to Jimmie Johnson’s late-race misfortune Sunday, Hendrick Motorsports went from having two cars in position to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup to having four, just as owner Rick Hendrick predicted prior to the season. Jeff Gordon’s win Sunday at Pocono Raceway flipped his status from also-ran to Chase contender. Gordon was tied for 15th in... read more Lady Wave Stadium getting closer to becoming a reality, By George Starks GREENVILLE — The Lady Wave softball team is taking huge new steps to improve its program. As reported by CNO after the spring awards for the Lady Wave Softball team at the Elks in Greenville, coach Jerrod Newland said funds were being raised for the project that was originally set to begin in September on Diamond three. “This is an exciting time for Lady Wave softball... read more Eldora Speedway… Famed Globed World 100 Trophy chase is on Entry Blank for September 7 & 8 Event Details Format Twists & Purse Increase - ROSSBURG, OH (Aug. 4) -- The chase for the famed globed trophy, the most cherished hardware in dirt Late Model racing, is officially on!  Entry blanks for the 42nd annual World 100 at Eldora Speedway, to be contested over the weekend of September 7 & 8, have been finalized. Some exciting twists have been added to the time-honored event; including an enhanced format, increased opportunities for competitors... read more Cincinnati Reds... Reds can’t solve Burnett, snap win streak at five CINCINNATI -- They can’t win ‘em all. It hasn’t seemed that way recently in Cincinnati, as the Reds had won 22 of their past 25 entering Sunday, but a lights-out performance down the stretch from Pirates starter A.J. Burnett snapped the Reds’ five-game win streak in a 6-2 defeat at Great American Ball Park. Like they did in the first two games of the series, the Reds got on the board first, chalking up a run in the opening frame on an RBI double from Jay Bruce. Two first-inning hits and one run... read more Major League Baseball Standings, August 5, 2012 American League: East - New York, Central – Chicago, West – Texas. National League: East – Washington, Central – Cincinnati, West – San Francisco... read more CNO Fall Sports… Bradford-Ansonia to play twice, By George Starks Troy Christian without varsity football - Darke County - In something of a rarity, Troy Christian will not have a varsity football team in 2012. With Bradford having the Eagles on its schedule and the Tigers looking for a replacement for Perry, Bradford and Ansonia will now hook up twice, with the season opener to be played at Bradford August 24. That game will be a non-conference contest with the Cross County... read more Cincinnati Reds... Dominant Latos, Reds blank contending Bucs Starter homers in 7 1/3-inning gem; Heisey hits inside-the-parker - CINCINNATI -- For those who predicted an inside-the-park home run, a shutout of the fifth-best team in baseball and another homer from a pitcher batting .122 on the year, go collect the winnings. It may not have been the exact gameplan the Reds had drawn up, but they’ll certainly take it. Cincinnati rode a superb showing from starting pitcher Mat Latos both on the mound and at the plate to steal the series opener from Pittsburgh... read more CNO Fall Sports Schedule… Hawks look to compete in all sports UNION CITY- Mississinawa Valley has seen more than its share of hard times in the prep sport scene. After another down year in football, the Hawks will look to get the 2012 season off on the right foot then they open at home against cross town rivals, Union City (Ind.). The following week, the Hawks open the CCC portion of the schedule at home with Covington. In volleyball, Scott Brewer has brought success... read more Eldora Speedway... Office Depot Family Fun Night focuses on Fun! Three Divisions of Racing, Autograph Session and Gigantic Fireworks Extravaganza On Tap - ROSSBURG, OH (Aug. 2) - Through its ‘special event’ status versus a ‘weekly racing series’ venue, Eldora Speedway has the unique ability to mix up their menu of events throughout the season and cater to many different demographics with a variety of race meets and promotions. Such is the upcoming Office Depot Family Fun Night on Saturday, August 11, which is a sharp contrast from the recently... read more Cincinnati Bengals… Scrimmage benefits Children’s Hospital The Bengals annual intrasquad scrimmage, set for 3 p.m. Saturday at Paul Brown Stadium, is hopefully the start of a championship season. It is already a championship event because it benefits Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. When fans arrive at the stadium for the free scrimmage, volunteers from the Cincinnati Children’s Champion program plan to collect donations. Every donation generates an extra benefit because the Bengals plan to add a sizable donation based on the total... read more Cincinnati Reds... Boosted by six-run second, Cueto earns 14th win Reds ace fans nine over 7 1/3; Frazier’s homer sparks big frame – CINCINNATI - Aided by a six-run second inning, the Reds claimed a 9-4 victory over the Padres on Thursday afternoon and three of four games in the series. First-place Cincinnati has won 13 of its last 14 games and 20 of its last 23 to improve its Major League-best record to 64-41. The Reds also opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the National League Central over the idle second-place Pirates, who come to Great American Ball Park... read more Schaffer brings new style to Greenville, By George Starks GREENVILLE - When conditioning started, Greenville football coach Aaron Schaffer started teaching his kids as soon as possible. “We got the basic stuff in,” Schaffer said. “Now that the actual practices have started (three-a-days) we are working on making sure the kids are sharp with the new system. We are reviewing everything right now. Things are going to be a little bit different.” In the past... read more Cincinnati Bengals... Marvin Lewis Extension Proves Bengals’ Desire for Change Doesn’t Extend to Coach - CINCINNATI- Not long ago, it seemed as though the Cincinnati Bengals may have been ready to move on from head coach Marvin Lewis at the end of the 2012 season. Neither the front office nor Lewis himself had much to say about potentially getting an extension, and all signs pointed to him at least heading into a lame-duck year. Apparently, though, the two sides came to an agreement, and the club announced on Tuesday that Lewis would be with the Bengals at least through... read more Cincinnati Reds… Reds bolster pitching staff in acquisition of Broxton CINCINNATI- The Reds made efforts to swing deals up until to Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET non-waiver Trade Deadline, especially for a leadoff hitter. In the end, general manager Walt Jocketty made just one move, and it was a deal that no one predicted. Cincinnati acquired Kansas City closer Jonathan Broxton for Minor League pitchers Donnie Joseph and J.C. Sulbaran. “We have several deals for position players that we looked at. In the end, we just felt we liked what we had,” Jocketty said just after... read more VHS Scholarship Fundraiser… Versailles’ 3rd Annual Alumni Softball Tournament This weekend the Versailles Alumni Association will host their third annual softball tournament.   Thirty two teams will take their turn on the two K of C ball diamonds starting 6pm on Friday, August 3 and continuing Saturday, August 4th and finishing Sunday, August 5th.   It is a double elimination tournament, which guarantees each team will play at least two games. The first games begin at 6:00... read more Schaffer positive about 2012 Wave football season... New concept: three-a-days, by George Starks GREENVILLE- With the prep football season just a mere 24 days away, local high schools are scrambling to see who are players and who are just playing. In the case of first year Greenville head coach Aaron Schaffer, it is full steam ahead as he starts three-a-days. Not two-a-days. A different approach to the dog days of August. “The three-a-day thing allows the kids to go out, one and a half hours at a time with a break between... read more Cincinnati Reds… Reds sweep Rockies with 10th consecutive win DENVER- Reds broadcasting legend Marty Brennaman’s look has gone relatively unchanged for decades. But now because of a pledge he made, Brennaman’s hair is collateral damage from the Reds’ winning ways. A while back, Brennaman vowed to shave his head if the Reds won 10 games in a row. Players in the clubhouse who remembered that statement were buzzing about it pregame. After a 7-2 Reds win over the Rockies on Sunday that completed a three-game sweep, a 6-0 road trip and a... read more Nascar.com... Johnson matches Gordon with fourth win at Indy INDIANAPOLIS- Team owner Rick Hendrick may have had better days... but not many. Hendrick joined his No. 48 team in kissing the bricks at the finish line after driver Jimmie Johnson won Sunday’s Crown Royal presents the Curtiss Shaver 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, taking the checkered flag 4.758 seconds ahead of runner-up Kyle Busch and tying teammate Jeff Gordon for the most... read more Eldora Speedway... Darland takes $10,500 USAC Sprint Win Stewart and Craig complete NAPA Auto Parts Tripleheader - ROSSBURG, OH (July 28) – A late race caution may have unnerved him a little, but Dave Darland held off Bryan Clauson for the final four laps to capture Saturday’s 50-lap 50th Anniversary USAC (United States Auto Club) Sprint Car race and $10,500.00 Saturday night at Eldora Speedway.   Three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart flew... read more Great Darke County Fair... $10,000 Gene Riegle Memorial Open Race Racing returns to Greenville, Ohio on Friday night, August 17 for the Great Darke County Fair’s annual week long race meet. Racing also takes place on Saturday, August 18, afternoon and night, and on Thursday, August 23 and Friday, August 24 in the afternoon and night. Afternoon post times are 1 pm with evening post times at 7 pm. Friday and Saturday night will feature the Ohio Colt Racing Association events. Friday... read more Cincinnati Reds… Arroyo sharp as Reds extend win streak to eight DENVER -- The Reds’ season-high winning streak has covered eight games vs. four different teams and has lasted across three time zones. It’s a second-half surge that had yet to end as of Friday, when the Reds took a smooth 3-0 win over the struggling Rockies on the strength of pitcher Bronson Arroyo’s strong performance. Now 59-40, Cincinnati is tied with the Nationals for the best record in the NL. The Reds have not been 19 games over .500 since they ended 2010 as NL Central champions... read more Cincinnati Reds... Baker positive about Drew Stubbs HOUSTON- Despite Drew Stubbs’ struggles at the plate in 2012, Reds manager Dusty Baker still considers the center fielder a potential leadoff man if he can cut down on his strikeouts and continue to hit balls hard. “He’s still learning, more than anything, about how to be consistent,” Baker said of Stubbs, who hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the ninth inning of Tuesday night’s 4-2 win over the Astros. “His upside is still great.” Stubbs has batted first 14 times and batted second 52 times this... read more The Bleacher Report... Bengals Sign 3rd-Round Rookie Brandon Thompson Cincinnati also Extends Mike Zimmer - According to Bryan McIntyre of NFL.com, the Cincinnati Bengals have extended the contract of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. The news comes on the same day the team announced the signing of third-round draft choice Brandon Thompson, reported by Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. Resolving Zimmer’s future and having Thompson available for the start of training camp is welcome news for the Bengals defense. The unit was rocked... read more Lady Wave camp a huge deal for new coach, By George Starks GREENVILLE - Bump... set... kill! Three terms volleyball players know well, and on the last day of her camp Friday at Greenville High School, first year head coach Lori Davis got a long, hard look at her new team. With 27 high schoolers attending and 24 finishing with three having injuries, Davis had a lot of positive things about a team that’s a work in progress. “This camp was kind of an introductory moment... read more Cincinnati Reds: Stubbs does it again… Reds sweep Astros HOUSTON -- Drew Stubbs bailed the Reds out for the second straight night. With Cincinnati trailing by a run in the ninth and facing Astros closer Francisco Cordero, Stubbs drove in Xavier Paul and Brandon Phillips with a two-out double to give the Reds a one-run lead. Jay Bruce brought Stubbs home with a single and Aroldis Chapman finished off a 5-3 victory, the Reds’ seventh in a row. “It just feels like everything’s clicking for us,” Stubbs said. “If we get down, we come back. If we get out to a... read more Major League Baseball Standings, July 26, 2012 American League: East – New York; Central – Chicago; West – Texas. National League: East - Washington; Central – Cincinnati; West – San Francisco... read more CNO Fall Sports Schedules… Patriots hope to march in 2012 Tri-Village will look to get back on track with its volleyball and soccer teams. The Patriots fell short in many areas a year ago on the court as head coach Jackie Barnes will look to get the Lady Patriots marching in the right direction in the Darke County Invitational. The Patriots regular season will begin August 30 at Covington. The 2012 Patriot soccer season will kick off August 24 at Sidney Christian. A year ago, the Pats... read more What did I tell you? By George Starks Very seldom do I ever get to blow my own horn but today is one of those days. Have you looked at the baseball standings as of Wednesday, July 26? If not, take a look. On May 7, 2012, the Reds were sitting in second place, 2.5 games behind St. Louis. Yes, those rotten Cardinals! At that point, many of you were ready to jump head first off the top of the county courthouse because the Reds weren’t playing up to their... read more Cincinnati Reds… Stubbs steps up as Reds win sixth straight HOUSTON- For more than two years, Drew Stubbs stood in the outfield and watched Francisco Cordero, then with the Reds, try to finish off ballgames. Watching the closer pitch in all those games definitely helped Stubbs on Tuesday. The center fielder hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the ninth inning off Cordero, the new Astros closer, to give the Reds their first lead. Xavier Paul, making his first start for the Reds, then added a run with an RBI single and closer Aroldis Chapman shut the door on a... read more Espn Sports... Lewis fires back on Joseph BENGALS: Head coach Marvin Lewis (photo) was unapologetic in addressing the comments of former cornerback Johnathan Joseph, who took shots at how Cincinnati handles players which includes limiting the number of Gatorades that they can take home. “It’s my fault that I feel that a player doesn’t need to take a dozen Gatorades home in his backpack each night and that we are paying him a salary,” Lewis said in a Cincinnati Enquirer online chat. “I’m sure that Johnathan would not have... read more Cincinnati Reds… Larkin has memorable day COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. - During his remarkable 19-season career as the Reds’ shortstop, and even throughout Hall of Fame weekend leading up to his induction, Barry Larkin was often the epitome of cool, calm and collected. But for one moment on Sunday afternoon as he took to the podium and had the magnitude of the moment wash over him, Larkin could not help himself. “I’m going to tell you guys... read more Davidson Competes in 2012 Junior Gold Championships Local bowler makes first cut against 2,000 bowlers - With a record number of participants, huge scholarships on the line and a new format, the 2012 North Pointe Junior Gold Championships presented by Brunswick was poised to become the most memorable in the event’s 15-year history. Youth participants are from all around the USA, Canada and Europe. Automatic Junior Team USA spots will be awarded to the top... read more The Bleacher Report... Reds mourn loss of part-owner Nippert Louise Nippert, an owner of the Reds since 1966, passed away Monday morning. She was 100. Louis and Louise Nippert bought the Reds in December 1966, along with 12 other Cincinnati investors, starting a 46-year ownership interest -- the longest in franchise history. “The Nippert family has been a proud steward of this great franchise for decades, and its influence is woven into the fabric of our long and storied history,” Reds president and CEO Bob Castellini... read more Cincinnati Reds...Reds train keeps rolling HOUSTON -- Behind 17 hits, which matched a season high, and another solid performance from the pitching staff, the Reds continued their winning ways on Monday. After an 8-3 victory over the Astros at Minute Maid Park, first baseman Todd Frazier said the clubhouse energy hasn’t changed during the Reds’ recent hot streak. “We come in every day and do the same thing ... it just seems like everybody goes about their business the right way and that’s just the way we are,” Frazier said.... read more CNO Fall Sports Schedule... FM ready to kick off 2012-13 sports season Franklin Monroe soccer will once again take center stage in the fall sports scene in Jets Nation as the Blue and White will again look to reign supreme in soccer not only in the Cross County Conference but in Darke County. The Jet boys will take the field against Newton on August 30 in a home match in a boys/girls twin bill. The ladies will open up at Stebbins on August 21. Franklin Monrore volleyball will begin play in the Darke County Tournament in... read more Dayton Business Journal... Bengals, Browns among top 50 valuable sports franchises Tuesday, July 17, 2012 - The Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns both are among the 50 most valuable sports franchises in the world. That’s according to Forbes magazine, which released its annual rankings Monday afternoon. The Browns rank No. 30 on the list with a value of $977 million. And the Bengals rank No. 37 with a value of $875 million. The magazine’s list includes franchises from North America’s major team sports, as well as soccer and auto-racing teams from around... read more NAPA Auto Parts Sponsored July 28 Event at Eldora Speedway USAC Spring 50-Lap Chase worth $10,000 - ROSSBURG, OH (July 19) – With $10,000 to win, a unique racing format, an increase in Feature Race laps and a bonus for the winner determined by their starting row, the ingredients are present for a United States Auto Club (USAC) non-winged Sprint Car event indicative of its title – the July 28 Summer Sprint Car Shootout, presented by NAPA Auto Parts at Eldora Speedway.  The benchmark occasion will celebrate the 50th anniversary of USAC Sprint... read more Yahoo Sports... Penn State football slammed with NCAA sanctions INDIANAPOLIS- No death penalty. More like slow death. Wiped out in the record book. Wiped out in the wallet. Wiped out in the ability to recruit, and keep what it already has. Penn State got slammed by the NCAA on Monday in every way. The governing body of college sports took away 14 years of coach Joe Paterno’s victories and imposed a mountain of fines and penalties, crippling a... read more Cincinnati Reds... Reds complete yet another sweep CINCINNATI -- The Reds did just enough on Sunday to grind out a 2-1 win against the Brewers at Great American Ball Park, completing the three-game sweep of their National League Central rivals. Johnny Cueto’s seven solid innings led the first-place Reds to their fourth straight win, and Cincinnati held Milwaukee to two runs or fewer in all three games of the series. While Cueto’s line looks dominant -- one run on eight hits with a season-high nine strikeouts -- the Reds’ ace had to pitch... read more Sources: NCAA president to hit Penn State with ‘staggering’ penalties from Sandusky scandal Yahoo Sports - The NCAA is set to levy the first presidential sanctioning in the association’s history on Monday when it will impose what one source termed “significant” and “staggering” penalties against the Nittany Lions’ football program in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, Yahoo! Sports has learned. Two sources with knowledge of the Penn State penalties said NCAA president Mark Emmert will announce Monday that he is personally sanctioning Penn State after receiving approval from the... read more Major League Baseball Standings, July 22, 2012 National League: East – Washington; Central – Cincinnati; West – San Francisco. American League: East – New York; Central – Detroit; West – Texas... read more goroaders.com... Bradford football team excels in lift-a-thon BRADFORD- Each year in the Curtis Enis era the Bradford football team has made strides in the weight room and the results are showing by the numbers put up in the annual Lift-A-Thon. The players showcased their strength in three lifts – squat, bench, deadlift – and the combined weight was tallied to determine winners in each weight and age group. The event is also a fundraiser for the... read more CNO Fall Sports… 2012 starts a new season for Greenville After a year that witnessed one disaster after another for Wave Nation sports, the 2012-13 season brings on new hope for Greenville High School and its fan base. Aaron Schaffer will start the 2012 season off as Greenville’s new head football coach and will look to get thin gs going in the right direction with a win over Eaton on the road on opening night. The Wave home opener will follow a week later with... read more Fox Sports... Students guard Joe Paterno statue July 18, 2012 - Some within in the Penn State community are going to some incredible efforts to ensure that Joe Paterno’s legacy isn’t torn down any more than it already has been. The Daily Collegian, the Penn State student newspaper, shared a photo on Twitter Wednesday morning of Nittany Lions fans camping outside of Beaver Stadium in an effort to protect the late head coach’s statue. There have been calls to take the statue down — including a plane carrying a banner on Tuesday... read more Cincinnati Reds… Reds play long ball in victory over Brewers CINCINNATI- Friday night was all about the homers. The Reds cranked three solo home runs, and starting pitcher Homer Bailey earned his ninth win of the season en route to Cincinnati’s 3-1 win over Milwaukee at Great American Ball Park. It was the first time the 26-year-old righty beat the Brewers, and he did it in terrific fashion, tossing eight stellar innings, allowing one run on a scattered six hits while fanning... read more CNO Prep Sports… Arcanum Football Coach TJ Powers makes debut 2012-13 Arcanum Sports Schedule - Former Greenville footbal coach TJ Powers will make his Arcanum coaching debut August 24 at Preble Shawnee and his home debut a week later against Tri-County North, while the Lady Trojans will open in the County Invitational at Bradford. The Trojans cross country team will run in the Tri County North Invitational on August 23, while the boys golf team will tee... read more Cincinnati Reds... Reds come back in late inning surge Phillips drives in five - CINCINNATI -- Even though the Reds seemingly showed no pulse, and looked like they had no chance to beat the D-backs on Thursday, Brandon Phillips had a stern message of rebuke for some of the fans. Don’t write off the Reds, ever. A thrilling 7-6 win over the D-backs came after scoring seven unanswered runs over the sixth and seventh innings, aided mostly by five RBIs from Phillips and the go-ahead RBI single by Todd Frazier in the seventh. As Arizona pummeled... read more ESPN.com… Matt Light joins ESPN Former Patriots offensive lineman Matt Light, who retired this offseason after 11 seasons in the NFL, will be joining ESPN as an NFL analyst. Here’s the release from ESPN PR: Three-time Super Bowl champion and former New England Patriots offensive tackle Matt Light is joining ESPN’s NFL analyst team. A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Light will appear on NFL Live, NFL32 and SportsCenter. He will... read more CNO Sports… Ansonia Football, V-Ball open seasons at Bradford Complete fall sports schedule for Ansonia High School - With the 2012-13 school year approaching us quickly, several Darke County Schools have released their 2012 Fall Sports Schedules. Starting with Ansonia, CNO sports will post the schedules of each school as they are made available. The 2012 Ansonia Tiger football team will open the 2012 season at Bradford on Aug. 24. A year ago... read more Buckeye Grove.com… Miller added to OSU O’Brien watch list for top QB’s Ohio State coach Urban Meyer thinks he has a star in the making in Braxton Miller. Apparently the Davey O’Brien Foundation agrees. The Buckeyes’ sophomore quarterback was one of 34 players to be named to the watch list for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award on Wednesday. The award is presented each year to college football’s best quarterback.  Since its inception in 1981, only Troy Smith (2006)... read more Yahoo Sports... Bengals training camp preview BENGALS TRAINING CAMP GOALS - 1. Find a second receiver. We all know what A.J. Green can do after his outstanding rookie season, but if the Bengals are going to take that next step as an offense, they need someone opposite him to emerge. Most have third-round pick Mohamed Sanu as the favorite because he is a physical receiver that the Bengals are lacking and can open up the short- to medium-passing game that was missing last season. Former University of Cincinnati standout... read more Buckeye Grove.com… Miller added to OSU O’Brien watch list for top QB’s Ohio State coach Urban Meyer thinks he has a star in the making in Braxton Miller. Apparently the Davey O’Brien Foundation agrees. The Buckeyes’ sophomore quarterback was one of 34 players to be named to the watch list for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award on Wednesday. The award is presented each year to college football’s best quarterback.  Since its inception in 1981, only Troy Smith (2006)... read more Cincinnati Reds... Cueto’s start, Ludwick’s homer top D-backs CINCINNATI -- When a final is 4-0, like the win the Reds achieved over the D-Backs on Tuesday, the line score doesn’t always equate to a crisp, smooth evening for the victor. No, the Reds had to fight their way through this one to notch their seventh win in the last eight games -- and their second game without the injured Joey Votto. “It felt like a 1-0 game instead of a 4-0 game because we were in trouble all the time,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “I imagine quite a few of these games now are... read more Harness horse racing gaining momentum, By George Starks GREENVILLE- In an exclusive interview with Tim Harless at the 2011 Great Darke County Fair, he stated that the emergence of casinos in Ohio would help bail out the harness horse racing industry. Harless also said that it would take close to five years for the casinos to really make a huge impact on the sport. In a recent interview with trainer/driver Tom Hope, Hope said the... read more Passing the torch: Tom and Chris Hope, By George Starks DARKE COUNTY- When it comes to a family tradition in the Hope family, horses are exactly that. A tradition. Tom Hope is a third generation driver and trainer and it was all started by his grandpa, Virgil Carpenter. “I have no idea what made grandpa want to get into this business,” said Tom. “ All I know is that after a period of time, he passed it down to my uncle, his son, Perry Carpenter and it... Read More. Cincinnati Reds… Reds complete sweep of Cardinals Rolen delivers clutch hit - CINCINNATI -- Crucial game situations are nothing new to Scott Rolen. The 17-year veteran has seen his fair share of tight contests and close calls, and Sunday night was no different as he stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the eighth. With the score tied at 2, Rolen sent a liner just inches above a leaping Skip Schumaker at second to drive in two... read more Eldora Speedway… Saldana captures Knight before the Kings Royal Hannagan takes Jimmy Johnston Classic Win - ROSSBURG, OH (July 13)-- By his own admission, World of Outlaws (WoO) sprint car driver Joey Saldana has had his share of struggles and bad luck since his last win in May.  Perhaps it’s fitting then that Saldana found some good luck on Friday the 13th. Saldana held off a hard-charging Greg Wilson to capture the Knight Before the Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway. The victory was Saldana’s fourth WoO victory this season and first since May 25... read more Cincinnati Reds... Reds win on walk-off homer in the tenth CINCINNATI -- It’s a cliché, but Ryan Ludwick proved on Saturday that baseball truly is a game of inches. He lined a 3-2 slider 346 feet to left field, clearing the wall with just inches to spare to give the Reds a 3-2 walk-off win against the Cardinals in the 10th inning at Great American Ball Park. “That thing got over by about a half-inch. So, I’ll take it,” said Ludwick, who was 0-for-4 prior to the home run. “I knew I hit... read more Eldora Speedway… King Swindell captures $50,000 Kings Royal Randy Hannagan Repeats NRA Sprint Invader Win - ROSSBURG, OH (July 14) --  All hail King Sammy XXIX. And IX. And XVI.  Sammy Swindell, the veteran driver from Germantown, Tenn., held off a spirited challenge from Kerry Madsen over the final five laps Saturday night to win his third Kings Royal victory at Eldora Speedway. He wasn’t the only one celebrating. Randy Hannagan swept the National... read more Basketball camp proves big in Arcanum... 48 future Lady Trojans participate, By George Starks ARCANUM- “The future of Lady Trojan basketball starts here with our youth. You have to build your youth program and when you do that, you’re going to have success.” Those were the words of Arcanum Lady Trojan basketball coach Rachel Fearon as the 2012 Lady Trojan basketball camp came to an end Thursday. With 48 in camp, it was not only a successful camp but an exciting one... read more Yahoo Sports… Army to leave NASCAR next season CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The U.S. Army will not return to Stewart-Haas Racing next season, effectively ending its sponsorship in NASCAR altogether after a decade. SHR said Tuesday it is pursuing a new sponsor. ‘’The U.S. Army has been a great partner of Stewart-Haas Racing since the team’s inception,’’ said Brett Frood, executive vice president of SHR. ‘’It has been a mutually beneficial relationship, with the U.S... read more Passing the torch: Kent and Kerby Wilcox, By George Starks Harness horse racing now in the hands of the next generation - DARKE COUNTY- At a very young age, Hollansburg native, Kent Wilcox learned the value of horses from the late Marion and Todd Stevens. With over 30 years under his belt as a trainer, Wilcox started training his son Kerby when he was young. Today, at the age of 32, Kerby has become a figurehead in the Harness Horseman’s... read more Yahoo Sports… Giant blowout: NL routs AL 8-0 in All-Star game KANSAS CITY, Mo.- Melky Cabrera, Pablo Sandoval and Matt Cain helped the National League to a Giant blowout in the All-Star game. After all the talk about AL dominance during an offseason when Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder switched leagues, the NL romped to an 8-0 victory over the American League on Tuesday night. The World Series will start in the city of the NL champion for the third straight year. ‘’It’s a nice edge,’’ the NL’s Tony La Russa said after his final game as a manager... read more Yahoo... Ohio man finds rare treasure in attic DEFIANCE— Karl Kissner picked up a soot-covered cardboard box that had been under a wooden dollhouse in his grandfather’s attic. Taking a look inside, he saw hundreds of baseball cards bundled with twine. They were smaller than the ones he was used to seeing. But some of the names were familiar: Hall of Famers Ty Cobb, Cy Young and Honus Wagner. Then he put the box on a dresser and went back to digging through the attic. It wasn’t until two weeks later that he learned that his family... read more Passing the torch: Brian and Mandy Jones, By George Starks Harness horse racing now in the hands of the next generation - DARKE COUNTY - Unlike many who were born into the horse racing business, Brian Jones, owner of the Snack Shop in New Madison, had no connection at birth to horses. In fact, Jones hooked up with long time owner/trainer/driver Tom Hope about 30 years ago as the two combined to purchase a horse. “It was actually 35... read more Major League Baseball Standings, July 9, 2012 American League: East – New York; Central – Chicago; West – Texas. National League: East – Washington; Central – Pittsburgh; Los Angeles... read more Cleveland Indians… All-Stars’ rare mistakes prove costly for Tribe CLEVELAND -- In the final game before the All-Star break, the Indians’ two All-Stars did what they’ve rarely done this season -- they made mistakes. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera committed an error at a critical moment in the sixth inning on Sunday afternoon against the Rays, and closer Chris Perez blew his first save since Opening Day. Those mistakes proved costly as the Indians blew an early five-run lead and suffered a 7-6 loss to Tampa Bay in the final game of a four-game series at Progressive... read more Yahoo Sports… Reds farmhand Billy Hamilton might be the fastest player ever 104 stolen bases this year - KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Now it all makes sense. There had to be something that goads Billy Hamilton into doing everything fast. He talks quicker than John Moschitta Jr.. He eats with breeziness that would make Joey Chestnut blush. And when he runs – well, let’s just say Billy Hamilton may run the bases faster than any baseball player in history, Bo Jackson and Deion... read more Cincinnati Reds… Reds take three of four from Padres SAN DIEGO -- A grueling West Coast road trip -- 11 games in 11 days -- to close the first half was fraught with some perilous moments for the Reds. Just getting home with a winning record on the trip is a worthy achievement. That happened on Sunday when the Reds took a 4-2 victory over the Padres to take the final three games of the four-game series and finish with a 6-5 record at San Francisco... read more Bolts win district title in Acme tourney Northmont proves to be the cream of the crop - GREENVILLE- When a team stays in the winners bracket in a double-elimination tournament, thing are made to be much easier. One loss for any team can be devastating. Just ask the team from Troy. With the temperatures soaring over 100 degrees, Troy was forced to play two games Saturday. In the opener, the Trojans got out to an 8-1 lead over Vandalia-Butler and... read more Eldora Speedway... Wolfgang named Sovereign King for 29th Royal July 14 Historic Moment Will Reunite ‘the Big Three’ of Sprint Car Racing - ROSSBURG, OH (July 3) – Thirty-five years ago the formation of the World of Outlaws (WoO) Sprint Car Series catapulted three names into the weekly headlines.  The, then young, drivers fought intensely week in and week out, back and forth across the country, for supremacy.  Two of them remain active as drivers, and amazingly are waging yet another dogfight for the WoO championship title, while the third driver... read more County News Online Sports Shorts…Horner awarded OHSAA scholorship Power Team coming to Greenville; GTI I thumps Sidney - DAYTON –  Franklin Monroe graduate Jaden Horner was recently awarded a schoaorship from the OHSAA as one of the state’s top scholar athletes. Horner was recognized at the Marriott along with several others from the state in June, representing the southwest district. Horner was a four-year starter for the Jets’ soccer program and was... read more Ohio State’s 2012 Football Schedule The Ohio State 2012 football schedule has four out of conference games listed starting with Miami of Ohio at home as are games with UCF, Cal and UAB. The Buckeyes season opener will be Saturday, Sept. 1 and the Big 10 schedule will open at East Lansing against Michigan State. Big 10 home games will... read more Northmont puts on late rally to defeat Versailles, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Versailles coach Max Kindell had a very sound game plan going into Tuesday’s game with Northmont. Throw the best pitcher he had, score early and keep the lead to the end. Kindell hit two of the three. Playing an all freshman team, Kindell threw his best, Jarred Neikamp. Versailles built a 5-0 lead and kept the advantage through four innings, holding a 5-2 lead after four. The fifth and sixth... read more Major League Baseball Standings, July 2, 2012 American League: East – New York; Central – Chicago; West – Texas. National League: East – Washington; Central – Cincinnati; West – San Francisco. (Read More…)... read more Cincinnati Reds... Mesoraco and Frazier lift Reds past Dogers LOS ANGELES -- It was Star Wars Night at Dodger Stadium on Monday, but many of the stars on both the Reds and Dodgers were unable to do battle. The Reds’ infield was particularly ransacked with injuries, as first baseman Joey Votto (left knee inflammation) and third baseman Scott Rolen (back spasms) couldn’t play. And in a scary moment during the fifth inning, shortstop Zack Cozart exited after being beaned by a pitch. Fortunately for Cincinnati, others moved at warp speed to pick up the.... read more Mistakes prove costly... Slow start costs GTI2 in tournament loss GREENVILLE- “We waited four innings too late to get going,” said GTI2 coach Mat Netzley. Through the first four innings against Troy, GTI had more errors, three, than hits, zero. By the end of the fourth frame, Troy had built a 7-0 lead and was up 8-0 going into the bottom of the fifth. Like General George Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn, GTI would mount a charge in the end, only to fall short 9-7. “We just didn’t get out of the gat at all,”... read more Eldora Chevy Performance Night... Three drivers claim initial victories Jonathan Davenport, Rob Williams and Paul Pardo Take Checkered Flags -ROSSBURG, OH (June 30) --  Saturday’s Chevrolet Performance night victory lane celebrations were emotional at Eldora Speedway as three first-time winners claimed triumphs.  Jonathan Davenport, Rob Williams and Paul Pardo captured the FASTRAK Pro Late Model, UMP DIRTcar Modified and Eldora Stock Car feature events respectively, in a fast-paced program. It took a pair of starts to get the FASTRAK 40-lap... read more Bleacher Report... Jones says he will work with rookies After Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones spoke at the rookie symposium, he said he doesn’t think it will be the last time he gives advice to young NFL players. Bengals.com reports that Jones and some of the rookies in attendance traded phone numbers, and that Jones is willing to talk to any player in the league who wants his help. “There are privacy reasons I don’t want to say who I talked to,” Jones said. “But there were some guys that were asking me about situations... read more Yahoo sports... Paterno’s role in covering up Jerry Sandusky’s child molestations grows The Penn State administration had finally hatched a plan. It was too kind, backward and included possibly tampering with a criminal investigation. Still, it was enough of a plan that it could’ve stopped Jerry Sandusky, child molester, back in 2001. Just a couple weeks earlier, a football graduate assistant, Mike McQueary, had witnessed Sandusky abusing a boy in a Penn State locker room shower. He told coach Joe Paterno. He told vice president Gary Schultz and athletic director Tim Curley... read more Nascar... Yahoo Sports: Keselowski wins third race of the season SPARTA, Ky.- For a track already infamous for concrete-thick gridlock outside the grandstands, Kentucky gave us a race on Saturday night as wide open as rush hour on a holiday. Brad Keselowski proved he’s not just a legit Chase contender but a potential championship one, winning his third race of the year while driving a backup car and manipulating his fuel situation. With big guns like Kyle Busch, Jimmie ... read more Summer league sets out on tournament trail, By George Starks GREENVILLE- Summer league baseball teams will start their second season today as the summer league teams begin their tournament runs. GTI will play Versailles today at 5:30. GTI is coming off a 9-5 loss to Piqua on Thursday, after posting a 16-13 win over the same team the night before in Piqua. Now, GTI coach Trey Wolter and his team will eye the bunch from Tiger Town, Versailles. “I really don’t... read more 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 To see Archives for the Previous Month's Sports... click here   County News Online is a Fundraiser for the Senior Scribes Scholarship Committee. All net profits go into a fund for Darke County Senior Scholarships contact Copyright © 2011 and design by cigs.kometweb.com