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Front L-R: Tyler Philo, Brian Ditmer, JT Allen, Ben Scott, Sam Wright, Chris Soward, Matt Vail, Josh Parrish. Back L-R: Coach Bill Stump, Tony Lamb, Bob Morgan, Mitch Jones, Ben Wallace, Andrew Carpenter, Jesse Kell, Greg Ambrose, Chris Hardy, Andy Ely, Sam Payne, Patrick Murphy, Coach Eric Oberding.
The Oakwood High School varsity baseball team has returned from their second annual spring break trip to Florida. Fourth year Coach Eric Oberding arranged the 7-day road trip to the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. At the start of every season several questions need to be answered, and a trip like this gave the coach a chance to try lots of combinations. The Jacks had time for a full practice Saturday, 3 batting practices during the week and 5 games including Sunday in the Braves AAA Stadium (very comparable to Fifth/Third Field) and a 9 p.m. game under the lights Wednesday.
This turned out to be a high scoring trip. On the good side the Jacks showed they could chalk up runs in bunches, averaging 9.6 tallies per game. Defensively however, the Jacks had a few lapses and gave up three unearned runs per game, really taxing the pitching staff at times.
Game one against Center HS (PA) was Oakwood’s showcase game in the stadium. The Jacks fell behind early, but junior right fielder JT Allen singled, knocked in a run and scored to get the Jacks untracked. Soon after, junior shortstop Andrew Carpenter’s bases loaded sacrifice fly was so deep that two runs scored, and junior center fielder Chris Hardy’s fifth inning grand slam home run pulled Oakwood even at 8. Unfortunately tentative defense allowed seven late runs as Oakwood fell 15-8.
Monday the Jacks put it all together for a 7-2 win over Iola-Scandinavia (WI). Senior Jesse Kell starred on the mound, allowing only one earned run on two hits over 5 1/3
innings while Carpenter came on to strike out two with the bases loaded in the sixth and sophomore Tyler Philo picked up his first save with an uneventful seventh. Offensive punch was provided by Hardy and junior outfielder Josh Parrish who both doubled and scored, as well as senior designated hitter Brian Ditmer who doubled, scored and knocked in two runs.
Game three unraveled early as Hiram HS’s (GA) first nine batters of the second inning scored. It could have become a rout, but the Jacks didn’t prepare all winter to give up so easily. Oberding called on freshman Greg Ambrose to relieve in the 2nd and he slammed the door, allowing only five hits and three runs over the next five innings while his teammates went to work at the plate. Junior Sam Wright had come in to play second base and walked and scored in the big sixth inning rally, and senior Andy Ely who had come in at first base had moved Wright into scoring position to sustain the big inning. Chris Hardy singled, tripled twice and scored four runs, senior cleanup hitter Matt Vail drove in three with a bases loaded double and sophomore catcher Tony Lamb cracked a three-run homer. Unfortunately weak base running had eliminated three Lumberjack runners at key times and Hiram prevailed to hand our Jacks the 12-10 loss.
Wednesday Senior Chris Soward took the mound in game four against Johnstown HS (PA). The Jacks continued the hit parade with seven first inning markers and supported Soward’s three hit complete game effort with error free defense en route
to a nice 12-2 run rule win under the lights. The balanced attack was led by three RBI’s from Hardy and two each by Ditmer and Parrish. Highlights also included Liza Ambrose and Patrick Murphy’s all Spanish interview of the games official scorer, Dominican baseball player Carlos Ramirez. “Charlie” played six years in the KC Royals system and he was delighted to talk about his career in his native language.
Oakwood’s last game was it’s most exciting. Oakwood jumped to 3-0 lead in the first, led 5-3 in the second then 8-5 in the fourth, but each time Harrison HS (NY) rallied to tie the Lumberjacks. Strong relief pitching saved the day as Parrish yielded only 1 run in 2 2/3 innings and Carpenter pitched brilliantly in the eighth and ninth, yielding only one runner and garnering the win. The Jack’s finally sealed the 11-9 win when senior outfielder Mitch Jones walked and Vail, Parrish and junior Ben Scott all doubled for three ninth inning runs. Senior first baseman Sam Payne sparked the defense with 12 assists (quite possibly an OHS record). The defensive play of the game occurred in the bottom of the seventh when junior catcher Ben Wallace cut down a Harrison runner trying to steal second, thus saving the tie to send the game into extra innings.
Oakwood resumes play this Tuesday at 5 p.m. vs. Alter at UD’s stadium on Edwin Moses Blvd. (by the UD Arena), then hosts Valley View this Friday at 5 p.m/ and Belmont in a double header beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday.
By Ted Coyle
The Oakwood Junior Jills girls select basketball teams completed their inaugural seasons this past March. The Junior Jills were formed last summer to continue to provide Oakwood girls in grades 4-6 the opportunity to play basketball against similar organizations in the Dayton area, in a fun and competitive environment. The Junior Jills played as a member of the Dayton Metro Youth Basketball Program. The program had 35 girls teams this year in three different divisions. The Junior Jills competed in Division II, but also played teams from Division I and Division III. The Junior Jills played anywhere from 20-25 games this past season, which included a double elimination tournament at the end of the season.
The fourth grade Jills season was highlighted by them peaking at the end of the year and upsetting one of the seeded teams in their tournament. The highlight for the fifth grade Jills was beating both the Division I and III Bellbrook teams. The sixth grade Jills season was highlighted by three new girls coming into the program and working well with the nine veteran girls who had played three years together in the select programs.
The ultimate goal of the Oakwood Junior Jills Select basketball program is to provide elementary age girls the basic skills and concepts of competitive basketball, so that when they move up to the junior high and senior high they can continue to
have the same successes those teams have enjoyed over the years.
The 2006-2007 Oakwood Junior Jills were:
Fourth grade: Emily Ackerman, Courtney Eggleston, Daisy Flotron, Kacey Greer, Caroline Haley, Taylor Jervis, Anna Lauterbach, Zoe Papadis, Ellie Randall, Caroline Rubino, Madison Teeters, Claire Wooten, Head Coach Bruce Teeters, Assistant Coach John Jervis.
Fifth grade: Kinsey Barhorst, Abby Coyle, Josie Dayspring, Madison Dunker, Shannon Greer, Jamie Lauterbach, Georgie Murdock, Kathleen Rieger, Elizabeth Rogers, Anne Whalen, Head Coach Jeff Snyder, Assistant Coach Ted Coyle.
Sixth grade: Chloe Bolger, Rebecca Deitz, Kim Eldridge, Elizabeth Haley, Olivia Ireland, Taylor Macaulay, Emily Murphy, Ashley Nolan, Jackie Paulofsky, Maggie Smith, Nakita Stropki, Emily Wooten, Head Coach Dan Nolan, Assistant coaches Tony Wooten and Carrie Haley.
The Oakwood Junior Jills would like to thank the following people for helping make our inaugural season a success: School Superintendant Dr. Mary Jo Scalzo, School Treasurer Kevin Philo, Athletic Director Mark Hughes, and girls Head Coach Aaron Oakes.
If you have a daughter living in Oakwood and would like more information about the program please call Ted Coyle at 293-1935.
By H.W. Sizek
An Oakwood High School team reduced in numbers by spring break, braved the cold and windy conditions to run in the Justin Brittain Invitational at Lemon-Monroe High School. In the field events for the Jills, Joy Belser and Kaitlynn Trent threw the shot and discus, while Laura German long jumped to a fourth place finish. Katie Blossom, K. Trent, Brooke Achterman and Viktoria Harlan ran the 4x200 and 4x100 relays, finishing sixth in the latter. German and Harlan also ran the 100m and 200m
sprints with German finishing third in the 200. Julia Sizek, the lone distance runner for the Jills, finished first in the 1600m, the 800m and 3200m runs and was named the Outstanding Female Runner of the meet.
Matt Money and Michael Baumgartner threw the discus. Money also threw the shot put for a fourth place finish. In the 4x800 relay, Liam Jackson, Chris Wolcott, Marc Skill and Jason Hewer ran to a fifth place finish. Skill and Hewer finished the 3200m run in second and third respectively. Jackson and Wolcott were fifth and sixth in the 1600m run. Hewer and Wolcott also ran the 800. In the sprint relays, Brad Achterman, Ben Hogan, Matt Blossom and Nathan Thomas finished the 4x100 in fourth. Tory Tomlinson, Chris Hawkins, M. Blossom and Billy Rodgers ran the 4x200. Rodgers and Tomlinson ran the 100m dash. Hawkins and Hogan ran the 200m dash for the Jacks. Kevin Sharkey ran the 300m hurdles. The 4x400 team of Thomas, Rodgers, Blossom and Achterman finished sixth.
Boys Basketball Camp Info
June 11-14: 9-11 a.m. incoming 4th, 5th, & 6th graders
The Pit: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. incoming 7th & 8th graders
Football Camp Info
June 18-21: 9-11 a.m. incoming 4th-8th graders
You can pick up a brochure at the high school athletic office or download the basketball brochure by going to www.oakwoodbasketball.tk
Any questions please call Paul Stone at 307-5818.
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