Not off the Press: A wild first week of spring sports 
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
What a wild week it has been. From covering games wearing four layers of clothing, watching the Reds win in walk-off fashion to open the season or covering a softball game on a Saturday, the first week of spring sports has been interesting, to say the least.
Speaking of softball on a Saturday, the hit of the day had to be when Shelby Smithson of the Fairfield Lady Lions hit a home run over the centerfield, putting a dent into a van. I'm pretty sure that's one I've never seen before, but once I did see a foul ball shatter a back window of a car at the old Lynchburg-Clay baseball field.
Either way you look at it, the week was still a good way to start the season, except for the snow-rain postponement on Wednesday.
• A look at the some of the games
The most exciting high school game I watched took place on the first day, last Monday, when the softball game between McClain and West Union went into extra innings.
There is nothing more fun to watch than an extra-inning game, so that was a good way, at least for me, to start a season. A base hit by Frankie Wise gave MHS the win in the ninth inning.
Here is the link for the game story: http://bit.ly/fIlhKg
The next day, I had the opportunity to watch a good Highland County rivalry baseball game between the Fairfield Lions and Whiteoak Wildcats.
That was a fun game to watch because if you know anything about what makes me enjoy a baseball game, then you know I love good pitching. I will take a good pitchers' duel over a bunch of home runs any day of the week.
Well, that game had a lot of wacky stats, including Gage Carraher, the WHS starting pitcher, tossing a one-hitter and gaining the loss. Gage is one of my favorite players to watch pitch in a game in the county. For a sophomore, he can really throw the baseball. Not to mention he had 10 strikeouts in the loss.
On the other hand, FHS senior Nathaniel Miller tossed a four-hitter and gained the win. The biggest difference in the game was walks and errors, plus the performance Miller had on the hill was very good. He got ahead of batters and did what he needed to do with nine strikeouts. He also had some good defense behind him, and if a team can do that … that can help off-set the early season hitting woes. Miller is one of the most improved players so far this year.
Wednesday took away a possible day for baseball and softball, but after the first two days' worth of games, it was OK to take a deep breath and reflect on the first two days of the spring season.
Thursday, I moonlighted as a MLB reporter and covered Opening Day. That is always a good time. Following the game on the radio, people were ranking the best Opening Days in Reds history.
I am lucky enough to say I witnessed two of the top three in person. I went to the 2005 season opener when Adam Dunn and Joe Randa hit back-to-back home runs against the Mets in the ninth. Then the game on Thursday with Ramon Hernandez's 3-run, two-out walk-off opposite field home run (on a 0-1 count) to win the game. I can say for someone who loves the game of baseball like I do, I have been very fortunate with the games I've had the opportunity to witness.
The day after the Opening Day experience, I went to the MHS and Eastern Brown baseball and softball games. Again, the softball team didn't disappoint with a two-home run day from Megan Dettwiller. The MHS softball team has a 3-1 record headed into week two of the season.
On Saturday, I covered most of the Fairfield-Westfall softball game. Saw a home run hit a van, as I said before, that was different.
I also want to thank all the coaches who have sent me information so far this spring.
For anyone who wants to send me information on games I'm not at, feel free to email information and results to: sforsha@gmail.com.
(By the way, I never received All-SCOL information from the winter sports season … too late now.)
• Facts from the week
- Cierra Landrum went 2-1 in three games pitching for MHS in the first weeks of games.
- Lauren Larrick is 4-0 in the first four FHS softball games with 42 strikeouts.
- Speaking of the FHS softball team, here is their stats for the week: .316 batting average, 34 runs, 37 hits (12 doubles, one triple and four home runs).
- Kyle Flora and Ryan Case have pitching wins for the Tigers baseball team.
- The LC baseball team is 2-0 in the early stages of Southern Hills League play. They have won their last 15 SHL games, I think.
- The HHS middle school softball team won a double header over the weekend.
- HHS graduate and NKU sophomore Blake Bagshaw gained his first win of the season for the Norse. He pitched five innings, striking out two.
- Whiteoak's Todd Ridener earned his first varsity win against Williamsburg, Saturday. He allowed two runs on two hits and six walks, finishing with three strikeouts in his first varsity start. In the first game of the double header, Nathan Hauke was the winning pitcher for WHS. Hauke went 6 1-3 innings with four strikeouts.
• A look at the Cincinnati Reds
Travis Wood pitched a gem on Saturday night in his first start of the season. The left-hander pitched seven innings of four-hit baseball, with seven strikeouts. Wood, who retired the first 11 batters, allowed one earned run off a home run by Erick Almonte. Wood threw 83 pitches, 66 for strikes, in his win over the Milwaukee Brewers.
Then on Sunday, well, it was all Reds, sweeping the Brewers with a 12-3 win. A good start by the Reds by winning their first three games. Now they have the Houston Astros for three games, starting Tuesday.
• Quote of the Week
"I told the team after the Logan Elm game that we have to get better every day, and we have gotten better every day, we really have. We've just got to clean up some things defensively." - MHS softball coach Jarrod Haines following the Lady Tigers' win Friday against Eastern Brown.
• Another Quote of the Week
"Last year, there was a lot of unknown on Opening Day. Our goal isn't to break a sub .500 streak or just to make the playoffs … our goal is to win the World Series." - Cincinnati Reds first baseman and reigning NL MVP Joey Votto before the Reds' season opener.
• A Third and Final Quote of the Week
"Dustin (Taylor) pitched a great game. He had good control, he was pretty consistent for us. We just had that one bad inning in the sixth. All three runs that inning were unearned … Dustin pitched well." - MHS baseball coach Brandon Streitenberger.
• An (EXTRA) Quote of the Week
"This was a hard-fought game. Any time you play Whiteoak, it is going to be a battle. It is tough to face them early in the season, your first league game … a rival you usually battle for a league title, so it is tough to start out with them in these type of cold conditions." - FHS baseball coach Jeff Miller following the Fairfield win over rival Whiteoak.
• Stat of the Week
Lauren Larrick and her 42 strikeouts in four games.
• Non-high school sports thought of the week
While watching the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox play Sunday on TV, I kept my cool when the Indians perfected a rare triple play. I have to be honest … it was a nice play. It was the first triple play on the White Sox since 1978.
• One last item of business
I can't pick a winner for Monday's national championship game between the Butler Bulldogs and the UConn Huskies. Never would have thought these would be the two teams in the game, but that is what makes the NCAA tournament so great. Teams getting the opportunity to earn the championship, instead of a computer telling us who should play for a national title. Hopefully, the people in charge of college football will get the idea and get rid of the BCS one day. Just think of what could have happened if TCU and Auburn would have played for a title.
Anything could have happened … honestly, how many picked UConn and Butler in the NCAA men's basketball championship?
I sure didn't.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com.[[In-content Ad]]
Speaking of softball on a Saturday, the hit of the day had to be when Shelby Smithson of the Fairfield Lady Lions hit a home run over the centerfield, putting a dent into a van. I'm pretty sure that's one I've never seen before, but once I did see a foul ball shatter a back window of a car at the old Lynchburg-Clay baseball field.
Either way you look at it, the week was still a good way to start the season, except for the snow-rain postponement on Wednesday.
• A look at the some of the games
The most exciting high school game I watched took place on the first day, last Monday, when the softball game between McClain and West Union went into extra innings.
There is nothing more fun to watch than an extra-inning game, so that was a good way, at least for me, to start a season. A base hit by Frankie Wise gave MHS the win in the ninth inning.
Here is the link for the game story: http://bit.ly/fIlhKg
The next day, I had the opportunity to watch a good Highland County rivalry baseball game between the Fairfield Lions and Whiteoak Wildcats.
That was a fun game to watch because if you know anything about what makes me enjoy a baseball game, then you know I love good pitching. I will take a good pitchers' duel over a bunch of home runs any day of the week.
Well, that game had a lot of wacky stats, including Gage Carraher, the WHS starting pitcher, tossing a one-hitter and gaining the loss. Gage is one of my favorite players to watch pitch in a game in the county. For a sophomore, he can really throw the baseball. Not to mention he had 10 strikeouts in the loss.
On the other hand, FHS senior Nathaniel Miller tossed a four-hitter and gained the win. The biggest difference in the game was walks and errors, plus the performance Miller had on the hill was very good. He got ahead of batters and did what he needed to do with nine strikeouts. He also had some good defense behind him, and if a team can do that … that can help off-set the early season hitting woes. Miller is one of the most improved players so far this year.
Wednesday took away a possible day for baseball and softball, but after the first two days' worth of games, it was OK to take a deep breath and reflect on the first two days of the spring season.
Thursday, I moonlighted as a MLB reporter and covered Opening Day. That is always a good time. Following the game on the radio, people were ranking the best Opening Days in Reds history.
I am lucky enough to say I witnessed two of the top three in person. I went to the 2005 season opener when Adam Dunn and Joe Randa hit back-to-back home runs against the Mets in the ninth. Then the game on Thursday with Ramon Hernandez's 3-run, two-out walk-off opposite field home run (on a 0-1 count) to win the game. I can say for someone who loves the game of baseball like I do, I have been very fortunate with the games I've had the opportunity to witness.
The day after the Opening Day experience, I went to the MHS and Eastern Brown baseball and softball games. Again, the softball team didn't disappoint with a two-home run day from Megan Dettwiller. The MHS softball team has a 3-1 record headed into week two of the season.
On Saturday, I covered most of the Fairfield-Westfall softball game. Saw a home run hit a van, as I said before, that was different.
I also want to thank all the coaches who have sent me information so far this spring.
For anyone who wants to send me information on games I'm not at, feel free to email information and results to: sforsha@gmail.com.
(By the way, I never received All-SCOL information from the winter sports season … too late now.)
• Facts from the week
- Cierra Landrum went 2-1 in three games pitching for MHS in the first weeks of games.
- Lauren Larrick is 4-0 in the first four FHS softball games with 42 strikeouts.
- Speaking of the FHS softball team, here is their stats for the week: .316 batting average, 34 runs, 37 hits (12 doubles, one triple and four home runs).
- Kyle Flora and Ryan Case have pitching wins for the Tigers baseball team.
- The LC baseball team is 2-0 in the early stages of Southern Hills League play. They have won their last 15 SHL games, I think.
- The HHS middle school softball team won a double header over the weekend.
- HHS graduate and NKU sophomore Blake Bagshaw gained his first win of the season for the Norse. He pitched five innings, striking out two.
- Whiteoak's Todd Ridener earned his first varsity win against Williamsburg, Saturday. He allowed two runs on two hits and six walks, finishing with three strikeouts in his first varsity start. In the first game of the double header, Nathan Hauke was the winning pitcher for WHS. Hauke went 6 1-3 innings with four strikeouts.
• A look at the Cincinnati Reds
Travis Wood pitched a gem on Saturday night in his first start of the season. The left-hander pitched seven innings of four-hit baseball, with seven strikeouts. Wood, who retired the first 11 batters, allowed one earned run off a home run by Erick Almonte. Wood threw 83 pitches, 66 for strikes, in his win over the Milwaukee Brewers.
Then on Sunday, well, it was all Reds, sweeping the Brewers with a 12-3 win. A good start by the Reds by winning their first three games. Now they have the Houston Astros for three games, starting Tuesday.
• Quote of the Week
"I told the team after the Logan Elm game that we have to get better every day, and we have gotten better every day, we really have. We've just got to clean up some things defensively." - MHS softball coach Jarrod Haines following the Lady Tigers' win Friday against Eastern Brown.
• Another Quote of the Week
"Last year, there was a lot of unknown on Opening Day. Our goal isn't to break a sub .500 streak or just to make the playoffs … our goal is to win the World Series." - Cincinnati Reds first baseman and reigning NL MVP Joey Votto before the Reds' season opener.
• A Third and Final Quote of the Week
"Dustin (Taylor) pitched a great game. He had good control, he was pretty consistent for us. We just had that one bad inning in the sixth. All three runs that inning were unearned … Dustin pitched well." - MHS baseball coach Brandon Streitenberger.
• An (EXTRA) Quote of the Week
"This was a hard-fought game. Any time you play Whiteoak, it is going to be a battle. It is tough to face them early in the season, your first league game … a rival you usually battle for a league title, so it is tough to start out with them in these type of cold conditions." - FHS baseball coach Jeff Miller following the Fairfield win over rival Whiteoak.
• Stat of the Week
Lauren Larrick and her 42 strikeouts in four games.
• Non-high school sports thought of the week
While watching the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox play Sunday on TV, I kept my cool when the Indians perfected a rare triple play. I have to be honest … it was a nice play. It was the first triple play on the White Sox since 1978.
• One last item of business
I can't pick a winner for Monday's national championship game between the Butler Bulldogs and the UConn Huskies. Never would have thought these would be the two teams in the game, but that is what makes the NCAA tournament so great. Teams getting the opportunity to earn the championship, instead of a computer telling us who should play for a national title. Hopefully, the people in charge of college football will get the idea and get rid of the BCS one day. Just think of what could have happened if TCU and Auburn would have played for a title.
Anything could have happened … honestly, how many picked UConn and Butler in the NCAA men's basketball championship?
I sure didn't.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com.[[In-content Ad]]