The Reds continue to frustrate their fans through the first quarter of the MLB season, bringing to mind the famous Forrest Gump quote from the movie of the same name: “Life’s like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get”!
A team that just two weeks ago looked like a legitimate playoff threat, leading the National League Central division with a 20-11 record, has suddenly crashed to earth, going 4-12 over the last sixteen games and becoming more of a “pretender than contender”. Various reasons can be considered, among them terrible relief pitching and inconsistent hitting.
After getting off to a strong start, the pitching staff has staggered, particularly the bullpen, as the team has walked more opposing batters than any team in the majors other than the Astros. Meanwhile, the team batting average of .226 ranks 29th out of the 30 franchises in MLB. Throw in injuries to a few starting pitchers and a constant turnover in the outfield positions, and you have a recipe for disaster.
Tossing in my two cents’ worth, the early schedule was about as easy as could be, as opponents weren’t among the league’s better teams. Now the Reds are starting to hit the strength of the National League with the red-hot Phillies, the Cardinals (two series), the Braves (who have an MLB-best 32 wins), the Padres, and, crossing over to the American League, the Yankees, all on tap in the next five weeks. I’m not real optimistic about Terry Francona’s ball club over the next 30 games!
High school tournaments are underway in softball, baseball, boys tennis, and track and field. In the MVL track and field league meet, Troy’s boys and girls both claimed titles. Greenville’s girls placed fourth of ten squads being paced by sophomore Lucy Gettinger’s championship in the discus with a throw of 118’ while the Wave boys finished eighth.
It’s been a standout school year for the athletic programs of Troy, Tippecanoe, and Butler as they finished 1-2-3 in the race for the MVL All-Sports trophy with Greenville coming in fourth.
Meanwhile congratulations are in order for Arcanum’s girls and Ansonia’s boys as they took home WOAC track and field honors. District meets will be held this week with Greenville participating in D-II at Trotwood-Madison High School Wednesday and Friday; Arcanum, Milton-Union, and Versailles among others in D-IV at Troy’s Memorial Stadium on Wednesday and Friday; and Piqua’s Alexander Stadium hosting D-V Thursday and Saturday with Ansonia, Bradford, Covington, Franklin-Monroe, Mississinawa Valley, National Trail, and Tri-Village along with others participating.
High school girls flag football held the first ever OHSAA sanctioned championship this past weekend in Canton with Nordonia from northeast Ohio ousting Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame 20-19 to claim the title. Over 160 teams were fielded this year around the Buckeye state as this rapidly growing sport inspires interest among female athletes.
Coming soon to more schools around the area most likely will be a surge in boys volleyball. I saw an example of boys play over in Upper Arlington last week and trust me when I say it’s exciting and on its way! Here’s today’s trivia question—how high are the nets in boys and girls volleyball at the high school level?
Two items of sad note—
Blair Irvin, a former Covington and Greenville High School football coach, passed away last month at the age of 96. Coach Irvin helmed the Buccaneers from 1958-1960 before assuming the head position at Greenville from 1961 through 1966. His ‘64 squad was one of the best in GHS history, compiling an 8-2 mark spoiled only by two-point losses to Piqua and Dayton Fairview. After the ‘66-‘67 school year, he relinquished his role as coach as well as Dean of Boys and returned to Miami University as a graduate assistant to the football team while obtaining his Master’s Degree in Educational Administration.
Irving later returned to Covington as high school principal and then became involved with the OHSAA, retiring after twenty-two years as Assistant Commissioner from 1981 to 2002. Elected to the Ohio High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1987 he is survived by his wife Patricia and daughters Holly and Shannon and their families. Truly a class individual!!
And longtime Greenville coach and teacher Jim Koontz passed away this past weekend following a lengthy illness at age 76. Jim and I played a lot of high school basketball together and many years afterward in various leagues and competitions. The leading scorer on the ‘67-‘68 Wave team that went 16-5, Jim was the kind of guy who you loved to have on your team but hated to play against. He was an earlier, smaller version of Larry Bird, without, of course, nearly the talent—he’d tell a defender what he was going to do, then go and do it and chuckle about it to their face.
Jim coached both the boys’ and girls’ tennis teams at GHS (he played first singles his senior year in high school) as well as boys’ basketball at the high school level (he was Bradford’s varsity coach for a few years). An astute observer of how a game was being played, he and I shared many moments both on and off the court. He was a familiar figure in the Greenville City Park at the tennis courts and jogging around the area. He touched the lives of many of his students and players, and I will miss him greatly. He is survived by his wife, Cindy, and sons Jimmy and Mark, and their families.
Finally, the nets in girls’ high school volleyball are set at 7’4 1/8” while the boys’ nets are higher at 7’11 5/8”. Don’t ask me why the odd heights, just know that boys’ volleyball is the “hot” sport about to become even more popular!! Have a great week, stay healthy and active!
