Dramatic win for Avon Little Leaguers

AVON — Will Heilman stopped almost halfway between third base and home plate, seeming to dare Hudson’s first baseman, holding the ball, to throw it.

He threw it, to home. Heilman broke for the plate. The throw was a bit off line and Heilman scored the winning run in the last of the sixth inning of an improbable 4-3 victory for Avon in a Little League Minors losers bracket district tournament game Wednesday at Veterans Park.

Improbable because the Eagles went to the sixth with a 3-0 lead and, after playing flawlessly in the field until then, melted down in that inning and allowed Hudson to tie the score. Avon came back in the bottom of the inning and scored without a hit and after seeing the first two batters retired.

Heilman drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch to keep the inning alive. Josh Chokan followed with a grounder to short that the shortstop fielded cleanly but threw way to the right side of first base.
continue reading "Little League baseball: Avon pulls out a dramatic win"

AUSTINTOWN — Sunday was a day junior Joe Sas, head coach Frank Kotas and the rest of the North Ridgeville boys bowling team will cherish for a long time.
Why? The Rangers rallied to qualify for the Division I state bowling tournament this Saturday at Lancaster’s Tiki Lanes.
It was a sweet, sweet moment for the Rangers, who overcame a 10-pin deficit after two of six Baker games to finish third at the Northeast district tournament at Wedgewood Lanes. Ridgeville vaulted from seventh and finished with 4,232 pins, one pin better than fourth-place Struthers (4,231). Cuyahoga Falls won the team title with 4,341 pins as it outdistanced Austintown Fitch (4,281).
continue reading "Prep bowling: North Ridgeville boys stage rally to make state tournament; Vermilion qualifies for second time in three years"

WRESTLERS TO WATCH

Collin Palmer, sr., St. Edward
A Columbia Station resident and the younger brother of four-time state champion Lance Palmer. Has nearly matched Lance’s feat, winning the Division I 112-pound state title as a freshman, taking gold at 125 pounds as a sophomore and capturing the 135-pound championship last season. Ranked No. 1 in the nation at 140 pounds.

Nick Lawrence, jr., Westlake
Steamrolled his way to the state tournament and placed fifth at 103 pounds as a freshman, then bettered that performance last season with a state runner-up finish at 119. Has shown time and again he is one of the top wrestlers in Ohio.
continue reading "Prep wrestling preview: Top players, top teams, area capsules"

COLLINS — Keystone’s girls outscored Western Reserve
15-6 in the fourth quarter  Tuesday to ensure themselves  a
58-41 non-conference victory.
Chloe Irish scored a game-high 22 points for the Wildcats (2-1). Teammates Taylor Bell and Erin Gallagher joined Irish in double figures with 11 and 10, respectively, as Keystone won its second straight game.
continue reading "Prep roundup: Keystone girls beat Western Reserve"