Major League Baseball has announced that baseball will return to Field of Dreams next season, with the Reds hosting the Cubs in Dyersville, Iowa on Thursday, August 11, 2022.
“Being part of the ‘MLB at Field of Dreams‘ game in 2022 is an honor that we share with all of Reds Country,” said Phil Castellini, Reds President & Chief Operating officer. “That storied setting was brought to life so unforgettably in last week’s inaugural game, and we can’t wait to experience that excitement when we play the Cubs there next August.”
The Reds will be the home team in Iowa and the 2022 schedule will now include 80 games at Great American Ball Park. “MLB at Field of Dreams” will also be presented for a second time by GEICO and be part of the GEICO Summer Series. Ticket information will be announced at a later date.
Reds Announce 6:40 p.m. Night Games at Great American Ball Park in 2022 The Reds also announced home game times for the 2022 regular season at Great American Ball Park. Monday-Saturday nightgames will start at 6:40 p.m.
“In recent years, we have surveyed thousands of Reds fans for their feedback on topics related to the ballpark experience, including game times,” said Aaron Eisel, Reds Vice President of Ticketing and Business Development. “Reds Country has spoken loud and clear that they are in favor of earlier start times for evening games.”
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The Logan Elm Braves treated their fans and seniors to a thrilling season-opening 28-27 overtime victory over Zane Trace Friday, to kickoff high school football season for 2021.
The Pioneers got on the scoreboard first, scoring on a Daniel Barnhart 2 yard TD run, after he had a big run to set up the score. The PAT kick was good and ZT took a 7-0 lead at 6:20 of the first quarter.
Blayton Reid got the Braves in the scoring column as he dashed down the right sideline after breaking several tackles for a long TD run. The PAT attempt failed, leaving Zane Trace with a 7-6 lead with :24 left in the first quarter.
The Zane Trace Pioneers offense is set to run a play
It didn’t take long for the Braves to grab their first lead as Logan Elm’s R.J. Weber had a career first pick-six TD return for a score. The Braves two point conversion was good for a 14-7 lead with 7:27 remaining, in the first half. That score would hold as the halftime score.
In the third quarter, Pioneers’ running back Blake Phillips broke through the Logan Elm defense for a 40 yard TD run with 6:35 left in the third quarter, tying the game at 14-14.
Logan Elm QB Garrett Summers scored on a 3 yard TD run at the 4:48 mark of the third period with the PAT also good, handing the Braves a 21-14 advantage.
The Pioneers drew even at 21-21 as Ben Nichols’ QB keeper up the middle for a long TD run with :16 left in third quarter. The PAT conversion tied the game at 21-21, which is how regulation play would end as both teams were scoreless in the fourth period.
In the overtime, Zane Trace had the ball first. The Pioneers drive nearly stalled, before Ben Nichols connected on a pass play for a first down. Nichols then scored on a 7 yard run for a 27-21 lead. The PAT attempt was foiled, when the snap for the extra point kick was too high for the holder to handle.
That then gave Logan Elm their possession, which saw Blayton Reid score his second touchdown of the game, tying the score 27-27 in OT. It was then place-kicker Jude Braun’s turn as he connected on the PAT kick for the 28-27 OT win.
(0-1) Zane Trace hosts Madison Plains next Friday while (1-0) Logan Elm travels to Westfall.
The Litter Media Game of the Week for August 27th is Amanda Clearcreek at Unioto, followed by the Litter Media Live GOTW Post Game Show, featuring video highlights, coaches and player interviews from that game.
Unioto slipped past Piketon via the best 5th player score to win SVC Golf Match #1 of the season. Both teams fired a 167, but the Shermans won the match on the tie-break.
Piketon’s Logan Cummins was the match medalist with a score of 38.
The team order of finish was as follows: Unioto- 167 *Best fifth score* Piketon- 167 Westfall- 189 Zane Trace- 188 Southeastern- 192 Adena- 196 Paint Valley- 212 Huntington- 239
(Top 20 Individual Scorers) 1 Logan Cummins 38 (Piketon) 2 Jace Tucker 40 (Unioto) 3 Charlie Lewis 40 (Unioto) 4 Owen Armstrong 41 (Piketon) 5 Keegan Snyder 43 (Unioto) 6 Sydney Ater 43 (Adena) 7 Braxton Platt 44 (Unioto) 8 Gavin Howard 44 (Piketon) 9 Gabe Dettwiller 44 (Piketon) 10 Dominick Bush 44 (Westfall) 11 Jacob Hicks 45 (Westfall) 12 Jon Grondolsky Jr 45 (Zane Trace) 13 Josh Delong 45 (Zane Trace) 14 Aaron Evans 45 (Southeastern) 15 Brayden Popp 45 (Southeastern) 16 Brian Schobeloch 46 (Westfall) 17 Davis Kerns 46 (Adena) 18 Quade Kaltenbach 47 (Unioto) 19 Emma Winland 47 (Paint Valley) 20 Brevin Wooldridge 48 (Piketon)
SOC Golf Minford 175 Waverly 204 West 217 Oak Hill 227 Northwest 231
Many area high school cross country teams will be participating in the 2021 OHSAA Cross Country Invitational Saturday, August 21st at Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park.
Schedule of races: Section A Girls Scored 5K Team Race Division 1 Schools 10am Section B Boys Scored 5K Team Race Division 1 Schools 10:35am Section C Girls Open 5K Race Division 1 & 2 Schools 11:10am Section D Boys Open 5K Race Division 1 & 2 Schools 11:45am Section E Girls Open 2.5 Mile Race All School Divisions 12:20pm Section F Boys Open 2.5 Mile Race All School Divisions 12:40pm Section G Girls Scored 5K Team & Division 3 Open Runners Division 2 and 3 Schools 1pm
Section H Boys Scored 5K Team & Division 3 Open Runners Division 2 and 3 Schools 1:35pm
Each school is limited to a maximum of 50 boys and 50 girls entrant participants throughout the entire day. Schools with less than 5 competitors may enter the team scored races (running as individual competitors)
Division 1 Schools participating in Sections A & B races are limited to 10 participants per school
Division 2 Schools participating in Sections G & H races are limited to 10 participants per school
Division 3 Schools participating in Sections G & H races are not unlimited in number of participants
Sections G & H will be separately team scored between Division 2 and Division 3 teams
Sections C & D are limited to a maximum of 10 runners per school Sections E & F are limited to a maximum of 30 runners per school
(Columbus) –- Several more state tournament venues have now been set by the Ohio High School Athletic Association for the 2021-22 school year and beyond. During the 2020-21 school year, the COVID-19 pandemic forced changes to several traditional state tournament venues.
“We are very excited to announce these state tournament venues because of the experience they will give our student-athletes, schools and communities,” said Doug Ute, OHSAA Executive Director. “We would like to thank all those who operate these venues and have an important part in these partnerships and support of high school sports in Ohio.”
The volleyball state tournament will return to the Nutter Center at Wright State University in Dayton. The 11,200-seat venue has hosted the volleyball state tournament since 1991, except for last year due to the pandemic. The OHSAA thanks Vandalia Butler High School for hosting the 2020 state tournament.
The OHSAA individual wrestling state tournament will return to the Schottenstein Center at The Ohio State University for the next three years, with an option for a two-year extension. That event utilizes many areas of the arena, including the large warm-up gymnasium, and is one of the few venues in Ohio that is able to accommodate nine mats on the arena floor, which led to the expansion of the state tournament in 2000. More than 15,000 fans have regularly attended the semifinals and championships sessions. The OHSAA thanks Marengo Highland, Marion Harding and Hilliard Darby high schools for hosting the 2021 state tournament last March.
The wrestling state tournament will start on Friday, March 11, 2022, and conclude that Sunday evening.
The state tournament agreements with the Ohio State University Golf Club in Columbus and NorthStar Golf Club in Sunbury have been extended for the next two years, while the agreement with the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, home of the prestigious Western and Southern Open, has been extended for the next three years to host the OHSAA girls and boys tennis state tournaments.
The 2021 OHSAA field hockey state tournament will remain at Thomas Worthington High School, where it was held in 2020. The OHSAA would like to thank Upper Arlington High School for hosting the event since 2002.
All OHSAA sports and confirmed state tournament venues are listed below. OHSAA State Tournament Venues Fall Sports Golf – The Ohio State University Golf Club and NorthStar Golf Club Volleyball – Wright State University, Dayton Football – Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton Girls Tennis – Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason Field Hockey – Thomas Worthington High School Cross Country – Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park, Columbus Soccer – Announcement Coming Soon
Winter Sports Girls and Boys Basketball – University of Dayton Arena Swimming & Diving – Branin Natatorium, Canton Gymnastics – Hilliard Bradley High School Bowling – Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl Ice Hockey – Nationwide Arena, Columbus Wrestling – Schottenstein Center, The Ohio State University
Spring Sports Softball – Firestone Stadium, Akron Baseball – TBA Track & Field – TBA Boys Tennis – Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason Lacrosse – TBA
The Scioto Valley Conference and Southern Ohio Conference have set dates for the fall sports previews they offer.
For the SVC, that involves only Volleyball at Southeastern High School. This exhibition, involving four abbreviated matches, will be held Saturday, August 14th beginning at 2pm.
The SOC will conduct Boys Soccer at New Boston High School on Friday, August 13th. The Girls Soccer Preview will not be held, due to host site Portsmouth West still in the process of installing their new artificial turf. That according SOC Secretary/Treasurer Dave Stamm.
The SOC Volleyball Preview will be Saturday, August 14th at South Webster High School.
There’s truth to the saying “Once a Cavalier, Always a Cavalier”.
Pat Beard was hired as Boys Basketball Head Coach Monday morning at a special meeting of the Chillicothe City School Board, filling the vacancy left when Eric Huffer stepped down July 1st.
Beard’s walked the sidelines of The Hatt before, first as the Girls Head Basketball Coach, then as an assistant for Huffer until departing for his alma mater Zane Trace last season.
Beard told Litter Media Monday there had been inquiries if he was interested in the vacancy. “Up until a few weeks ago, I kept telling people ‘No, I was in a good spot at ZT’. The kids were very easy to coach and there was a connection.” He followed Gary Kellough back home where he played for him as a Pioneer. It was expected Beard was being groomed to replace Coach K.
“As time went by, all the conversations that I was having regarding the job… the more I began to really entertain the thought (of returning to Chillicothe.”
Over the last 16 years, Beard has been intertwined with Cavalier Athletics. He was part of Coach Kellough’s staff during the Cavs big tourney runs after 2005 and on to winning the D2 state championship in 2008. His son Trey had been in the Little Cavs programs and played four years at the varsity level before graduation in 2020.
Beard always dreamed of being a boys head coach, but the opportunity to coach the Lady Cavs came open first and he spent four seasons at the helm. He took Chillicothe to the D2 Regional in 2016 before becoming an assistant to Huffer in the boys program. “Coaching the girls allowed me to grow as a person and as a coach. It was the right thing to do and awe were able to have great success in those four years”
Now, the chore is implementing his system in a short window. The Cavs open the 2021-22 campaign in late November at Fairfield Union and the home opener is December 3rd in a Frontier Athletic Conference battle with McClain.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what the coaching staff can get out of these kids” said Beard. “We have a bunch of hard working kids that I feel can put a pretty good product on the floor this year.”
Pat Beard gets a kiss from his wife Robin after his Lady Cavs won a D2 District Championship in 2016. Photo from the Dan Ramey Cavalier ArchivesCoach Pat Beard and his Lady Cavs after winning the D2 District Championship in 2016. Photo from the Dan Ramey Cavalier Archives
In spring of 2020, Atomic Speedway Chad Walters was introduced as a new partner in ownership of the track located in the Huntington Hills on Blain Highway.
Just a few weeks later, Atomic Speedway became the first sporting venue to hold an event once Ohio was given the all clear to re-open in May of 2020 following the shutdown due to the pandemic.
Walters’ arrival gave Brad McCown the opportunity to make some much needed improvements to the 3/8ths mile high-banked dirt track. Wednesday, Walters confirmed he had bought out his partner of more than a year.
In a post on Facebook, McCown announced “It is with great sadness that, effective immediately, I am no longer a part of Atomic Speedway.” The post began with “One last trip around the ole girl” referring to a video taking a final lap on the dirt.
“The last 8 years have been quite a ride and Atomic Speedway will always hold a special place in my life. Hopefully over this time people have seen my passion for the rebirth and success of the speedway. I appreciate all the great people who I have met during this time and I hope that as future racing endeavors pop up that those relationships continue.”
Walters told Litter Media he agreed with McCown’s assessment of his passion and rebirth. Walters hope is to take the track to the next level. In so doing, the track will have new ownership with a group led by veteran sprint car driver Charlie Vest.
“Everybody included hopes the very best for Brad in his future endeavors” Vest told Litter Media. He’s done some good things in the track’s revival and we hope to take it to the next level.”
Vest says he was interested in purchasing the track a couple of years ago. “I really love the track. The staff’s going to stay and we’re gonna lean on their experience to finish out the 2021 season. We hope to take the track to the next level.” That level Vest says is as a more diverse entertainment venue. “We hope to diversify the track with other events (such as concerts) like the bigger tracks do.”
Vest also brings some NASCAR experience with him from his days driving in the Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series. “Brad did a great job, and we need to build on it and bring Atomic back to its hey day of the 70s and 80s.”
The next big night for racing is August 21st with Atomic Speedway’s Hall of Fame Night presented by Herrnstein Auto Group. Vest recently flipped his sprint car and desired making an entry into the race, but with the ownership change, he may have to strap in to a different kind of driver’s seat on race night.
“I’ll have some duties to be focused on rather than racing my car that night.”
Coach Heath Hinton’s Pioneers finish up their final day of summer camp in the foreground of the new Zane Trace scoreboard. Dan Ramey/Litter MediaA look at the scoreboard from the Litter Media Drone. Dan Ramey/Litter Media
When the Zane Trace football and Soccer teams hit the field this season, fans will see a new scoreboard.
“It’s something we needed and we knew it could only be done by booster and sponsorship support” Rod Detillion told Litter Media.
The scoreboard was purchased with private dollars through sponsorship support and no school funds were used.
Detillion and David Zeigler, who have worked together in the Zane Trace press box for years got the ball in motion, drumming up sponsorship.
“A big selling point was, the sponsors were assured they’d be a part of the board for its lifetime” said Detillion, as opposed to a three or five year commitment.
“It’s a great addition to our complex” said Athletic Director Andy Merriman. “We’re celebrating 50 years of varsity football at Zane Trace and the scoreboard make it look really nice.”
Merriman says the previous scoreboard was ready for replacement. “We’d bought it used and come Friday night, we’d keep our fingers crossed that it wouldn’t shut down on us.” Detillion agreed “There were times it was right up to game time whether we knew it would light up. I really want to thanks our sponsors for stepping up and helping make this happen.”
A tribute to a longtime Pioneer is emblazened in the middle of the scoreboard reading “In Memory of: James L. “Pete” Dunkle” who passed away last school year. Dunkle was a former Zane Trace Principal and Superintendent and supporter of Pioneer Athletics.
The Pioneers will host Alexander for their 2021 Foundation Game August 13th. The regular season begins on the road at Logan Elm August 20th with the home opener set for week later with Madison Plains.
The new scoreboard pays tribute to former educator and longtime Pioneers supporter Pete Dunkle. Dan Ramey/Litter Media
