Baseball is a funny game. How many of you were watching the Reds-Braves game Thursday night when Atlanta broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the eighth inning by putting eight runs on the scoreboard to take a commanding11-3 lead and, like me, turned off the television or changed channels? I guess we never dreamed that Cincinnati would answer with eight runs of their own in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 11-11, only the third time in the history of Major League Baseball that two teams both scored eight runs in the same inning!
Baseball also is an unfair game. Reds reliever Emilio Pagan suffered the loss in the contest despite recording three straight outs of the three men he faced. With the infamous “ghost runner” on second to start the tenth inning, Pagan gave up a fly ball out, which moved the runner to third, then a sacrifice fly, which scored the go-ahead run, before retiring his third consecutive batter to end the tenth. As the Reds didn’t score in the bottom of the inning and lost 12-11, Pagan was saddled with the loss!
Things tend to even out in the “National Pastime,” however. In Friday’s game, Pagan was called on to preserve a 3-0 lead in the ninth inning. This time, he gave up two runs, put the tying run on base, and finally recorded the final out on a grounder to second to earn a save despite a shaky performance!
After Saturday’s game in the converted infield of historic Bristol Motor Speedway was “red flagged” due to continuing rainfall (much to the dismay of Major League Baseball and Fox Sports) the Braves took the “checkered flag” in a 4-2 nail biter Sunday. Played in front of over 85,000 fans, a MLB record, the blending of NASCAR and MLB at “Thunder Valley” was interesting, to say the least, and very well done, with batting helmets and uniforms sporting racing-style decals, etc. The entire grass field will be removed as the NASCAR Round of Sixteen will be held in September at the hallowed 0.533-mile track and transplanted at East Tennessee State University. Here’s an interesting side note—if the game hadn’t been suspended, both teams would have had Sunday off, a first for the Reds since the summer of 1933!!
I had the chance to catch some of the 29th Annual Greenville Invitational boys golf tournament Thursday at Turtle Creek Golf Course. Following a downpour earlier in the morning, the start was delayed by an hour as the course was soaked with water, standing in several fairways and on a few greens. However, the good folks on the grounds crew worked hard to make conditions at least playable, and the 16-team field was able to tee off.
Lots of local teams participated as Turtle Creek will be the site of state sectional play later this fall—included was one of last year’s state D-III team qualifiers in the Blazers of National Trail. Trail finished sixth behind four MVL schools and GWOC power Beavercreek, while the host Green Wave were a stroke behind in seventh. In talking with some of the Blazer fans, the team is expected to make a strong bid to return to the state tournament, which will be held in the Columbus area at NorthStar Golf Club on October 13th and 14th. Boys’ golf will have three divisions again this year, while the girls will be divided into two classes. It’s interesting to see the progress of young golfers as they go through their high school years—a lot of talent that makes old duffers proud to watch!
As mentioned in last week’s SHOTS, high school teams started practice Friday for the fall campaigns. Less than three weeks remain before the first Friday Night Lights are turned on, with all football squads entering the season undefeated! All of the other sports will have their first games or meets earlier this month, so make sure to get out and support your local favorites!
It had been a long time since I last attended the Ohio State Fair (since 1972!), and Kathy had never been there, so we accepted the invitation of our nephew Wade Moore to meet him and a guest there Tuesday evening. Have to say that the Dairy Council’s Butter Display was a highlight, with 2,000 pounds of butter having been sculpted over 400 hours into an impressive set of figures that was displayed through windows of a set kept cool at 40 degrees.
One of the main reasons we made the drive over to Columbus was having tickets to see comedienne Leanne Morgan in person at the Fair. One of the funniest people around, she delighted a crowd of over 7,000 with her down-home humor. If you get a chance, check out her new show on Netflix! Another reason we attended was to grab a Bahama Mama sausage sandwich with sauerkraut from Schmidt’s Sausage Haus and a ribeye steak sandwich from the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association. Have to admit, maybe I was the only one of our group who had that as a priority!!
Our son-in-law, Matt Miller, who’s married to our older daughter, Alison, has deep Darke County roots, as the son of longtime New Madison residents, Don and Nancy Miller. A standout athlete at Tri-Village (Class of 1996), Matt was a first team Cross County Conference selection in basketball his junior and senior years, plus baseball and golf as a senior. After graduating from the University of Akron and achieving his CPA certification, he became involved in the banking profession and was just named CEO of Park National Corporation and Park National Bank, effective January 1, 2026. He’s come a long way for a boy growing up on New Madison Coletown Road, and we couldn’t be any prouder of him!
There was a great turnout in downtown Greenville for the First Friday event, with the sidewalks full of people browsing the shops and participating in street vendors. Along with the musical talent from the traffic circle to the YOLO Park, it was just a gathering of folks enjoying the weather and a chance to socialize and support the community businesses. Like other West Central Ohio communities and the many and various events that occur, it’s part of what makes living in smaller cities, towns, and villages in this part of the country so special!!
