A host of quick topics to cover today as warm weather starts to become more pronounced here in the Miami Valley. Let’s begin with the Arcanum Trojans baseball team wrapping up the WOAC championship by virtue of a 3-1 win over Newton, ending the league campaign with a 10-1 record. Junior Regan Crist hurled a 2-hit, 12-strikeout complete game in vanquishing the previously unbeaten (in the WOAC) Indians on the Trojans’ home turf.
Newton struggled down the home stretch by also losing to Tri-County North Saturday and seeing their league mark fall to 7-2 with Ansonia and Preble Shawnee still remaining on the schedule. Tournament draws will be announced tomorrow for all divisions in Ohio baseball.
Vandalia-Butler took two from Tippecanoe en route to the MVL Miami crown while Fairborn took home Valley laurels. Coldwater holds a one-game lead over Versailles in the MAC with a week to go, and Bethel has clinched the Three Rivers Conference.
Meanwhile, Greenville’s Lady Wave claimed yet another MVL softball title, Tri-Village’s Lady Patriots the WOAC crown, the Lady Panthers of Parkway the MAC championship, and Miami East Three Rivers Conference honors. Girls tournament play in all seven divisions begins this week, with district finals next week.
Happy Mother’s Day to all!! Even with the cost of flowers going up with tariffs, etc. the annual appreciation expressed through florist shops around the country remained high, boxes of candy flew off the shelves, and plenty of moms were treated to a meal out!
Mississinawa Valley will be looking for a new girls basketball coach as Michael Paige is departing to take over the reins at Northmont. Paige was highly successful as the head of the Lady Blackhawks, his teams capturing back-to-back district titles with a 21-6 mark in ‘24 followed by a 21-5 record and a share of the WOAC crown in ‘25. Speaking of head coaches, Greenville has still to replace veteran coach Rachel Kerns at the helm of the Lady Wave program.
Always glad to see area athletes signing letters of commitment to further their careers at various colleges and universities. The step up in competition will test the best of their abilities and we can only wish them success as they don different uniforms next year!
Kathy and I drove over to Columbus Saturday to watch our grandson Bennett play 13-U baseball at the Lou Berliner Sports Park just south of downtown, the nation’s largest ball diamond complex with 31 permanently fenced, turf infield diamonds. Teams from a four-state region participated in the weekend-long festivities that featured several different age groupings.
After the game, our two daughters accompanied us to The Walrus restaurant in downtown Columbus on East Main Street. Located in an up-and-coming area of refurbished apartments, shops, and eateries, it’s worth a drive to the capital city.
On the way over, we made a quick stop in West Jefferson, but not before being reminded that speed limits might just need to be observed upon occasion! Evidently, Route 40 doesn’t have a 70-mph limit like neighboring I-70!! Red and blue flashing lights in my rear-view mirror brought a chuckle from my wife as I pulled over on the roadside just west of town. Honestly, I thought I “might have been going 60 in a 50” but the officer said it was more like 72! Anyhow, it was early on a Saturday morning, the road was basically deserted, and he took pity on an old guy who should have known better, as I got off with only a warning! Gotta love an understanding officer of the law!
NBA playoff action continues to confound me. The road teams seem to be winning most of the games, the games are either nailbiters or blowouts, and three-point shots are taken in abundance. I’m not sure who’s going to advance to the conference finals!
Sign of the week as seen on a street corner in Columbus. “Need Money, Not Homeless, Wife Keeps Buying Plants”!
Darke County Engineer Jim Surber, beginning his 49th year on the job, was the guest on the latest episode of the Round Table here on MyCountyLink. If you get the chance, be sure to watch the award-winner, as we covered all aspects of roads, bridges, projects, etc., in Darke County. If you like interesting facts and figures (such as $100,000 to repave a mile of county road), this program is for you, just a lot of good information to let you know how your tax dollars are being used. We’re very fortunate to have Jim and his department at our service!!
One last thought—when Jim first started in the late ‘70s, the road sign (of the 1,326 found on county and township roads) most often needing replacing was from down in Harrison Township in the southwest corner of the county. Evidently, Love Road was a much-desired piece of signage for home decor! Nowadays, Jackson Township holds the honor as Stoner Road seems to be the object of many. From Love to Stoner, must be a “sign” of the times!!
