With the start of my favorite season of the year it’s time for a sports enthusiast to turn to— the NHL and the NBA? Hard to believe with all of the excitement of high school, college, and professional football and the baseball playoffs that the hockey and basketball campaigns are already underway. It seems like it was just yesterday that the Florida Panthers and Boston Celtics wrapped up the Stanley Cup and NBA titles, respectively, doesn’t it? Oh wait, it was just the end of June wasn’t it?
Let’s have a brief update on the MLB playoffs, as the league championship series stage has been reached. The two teams with the highest payrolls, the Dodgers and Yankees, have arrived, along with the Mets and the Guardians. All four teams have strengths and weaknesses, and those will show up over the course of a best-of-seven challenge.
What I don’t understand, and you’ve already seen it several times in the past week or two, is how teams reaching this level are still using “bullpen” days, throwing six or seven pitchers out on the mound in a predetermined order rather than use established starters. Aren’t there any hurlers who can go at least six innings anymore? I’m not confident in any of the remaining four teams to walk through the rest of the playoffs but will have to silently pull for the Boys on the Lake.
THE suffered a tough loss in Oregon the other day, continuing a trend of “close but no cigar” defeats over the past few years against equally talented teams. Still plenty of football to be played in the Big Ten and with the 12-team playoff looming don’t give up on any teams that have only one loss at this point.
It sure is nice to see both Army and Navy undefeated as of now isn’t it? Throw in a few other teams like Indiana, Pittsburgh, Iowa State, and BYU and we’ll soon find out if some form of parity has arrived or if it is just based on strength of schedule so far. As always the cream will rise to the top!
As we enter week nine of the high school football season let’s take a look at the current standings of local leagues as well as some outstanding individual performances. In the MVL, Tipp and Xenia have already wrapped up the Miami and Valley divisions already, with the two meeting the last week of the schedule down in Greene County. The Red Devils’ passing duo of quarterback Larkin Thomas and Jackson Davis has proven almost impossible to stop while the Buccaneers’ Deaunte White has pounded out 1,521 yards on the ground. Sidney leads the league offensively, while Xenia ranks first defensively.
In the WOAC, Ansonia and Preble Shawnee are on track for a league title clash this weekend in northern Darke County. Zane Henderson of the Tigers leads the conference with 1,390 yards rushing while the Arrows’ Brody Morton and Isaac Blankenship have formed a serious connection via the air game. Tri-Village’s Trey Sagester heads league passing stats, having thrown for 1,854 yards and 22 touchdowns as the Patriots have won six of eight.
Valley View and Waynesville are tied for the Buckeye division lead in the SWBL as they match up on the 25th at Germantown. Should be quite a contest as the Spartans host the Spartans! But first Waynesville has to get past the 7-1 Eaton Eagles this weekend.
In the Southwestern division of the SWBL Bellbrook stands alone at the top with a 3-0 league mark and will be a heavy favorite in the last two games with Oakwood and Ross.
Meanwhile, two huge games of consequence this weekend in the MAC as Minster visits Marion Local trying to end the Flyers’ 56 game winning streak while Coldwater makes the trek to Versailles. As usual, expect hard fought contests as this group gets together!
In the Three Rivers Conference Lehman Catholic and Northridge are a perfect 5-0 in league play with Milton-Union at 4-1 while in the GWOC Fairmont, Centerville, and Springfield all stand at 4-1 in one of the toughest “big school” affiliations in Ohio.
Finally, a word of praise for the good folks at Wilson Hospital in Sidney. Once again it’s been proven that “Father Time” is impossible to beat as I underwent left hip replacement surgery last Thursday. 22 years after tearing an Achilles tendon in my left heel and the associated resulting improper body mechanics, it was time to repair the femoral head and acetabulum (commonly called the ball and socket joint). A big thank you to Dr. Matthew Heckler, the surgeon; Dr. Lamont, the anesthesiologist; Matthew, the nurse anesthetist; the OR staff of Sarah, Susan, Natalie, and Claudia; and especially nurse Tiffany Hoying, who was with me throughout my time at Wilson.
Always good to have caring and professional people around you anytime you undergo any type of surgical procedure! And I was able to count backwards from 100 to 97 before the “lights went out”—usually I can only get to 98! Now the rehab begins but knowing my wife is supervising my home portion makes it a much easier 4-6 week program (plus there are the baseball playoffs and football games to be seen every day!)
