News

Lander Shives earns WOAC win for Ansonia over Tri-Village. 

Story & Photos by Gaylen Blosser

NEW MADISON – The Ansonia Tigers made six, second inning runs hold up for a 6-4 win over the Tri-Village Patriots in varsity WOAC baseball action.

The teams played to a scoreless first inning before the Tigers exploded to a six-run second inning, taking advantage of several Tri-Village miscues.


Ansonia’s Caleb Eubank slams a triple for the Tigers in conference win over Patriots. 

“We have been preaching to them when they’re throwing strikes early, we need to jump on them early and get things moving instead of sitting back and trying to take it a little bit slower,” said Ansonia coach Dustin Hecht. “We’ve been doing that pretty well the last couple of games.”

“We got off to a sluggish start, booted a couple of balls here and there, and then once we lost one of our seniors to an injury, it took our guys a little bit of time to calm down,” Tri-Village coach Josh Davies, “and then we did but just a little bit too late.”

The Patriots battled back plating runs in three consecutive innings, one in the third, two in the fourth, and one in the fifth to trail 6-4 after five complete.

Lane Bierly steps in to collect one of his three hits in WOAC matchup with Ansonia. 

“It got a little rough there, we got a little bobbly, we got a little lackadaisical in that little set,” Hecht said of the Patriots’ middle innings production. “We had to remind them you have to flip your mind, and we have to get back into this. We can’t just let them chip away and get back into it. We have to do it ourselves.”

Neither team would dent the plate in the sixth and seventh innings, giving the visiting Tigers a two-run conference win.

“We were able to take advantage of a couple of their mistakes, and that was big for us,” Coach Hecht noted. “We’ve been struggling with that over the last couple of games, so to put all that together and put six up and then be able to hold on was what we needed.”

“We have been playing some pretty good baseball,” said Coach Davies. “We just haven’t been able to complete the task towards the end of the game. We’ve had three games that have gone into extra innings. Tonight, just a little sluggish; it happens in baseball.”

Asher Shives knocks one of his two hits for Ansonia in road win over Tri-Village. 

Ansonia banged out eight hits on the night and committed one error; Tri-Village was good for seven hits and three errors.

Lander Shives earned the win for Ansonia, tossing 6.2 innings, allowing three earned runs, three walks while striking out eight. Cainan Robinson got the final Ansonia out in relief to preserve the win.

“Lander Shives threw a gem tonight,” said Hecht. “He was great out there, kept them on their toes, so I couldn’t ask for a better outing.”

Ansonia sophomore Caleb Eubank paced the Tigers at the plate, going 2-4 with a double and a triple, and a run scored, and Asher Shives also was 2-4 with a run. Kam Ingle went 1-4 with a run; Cainan Robinson went 1-4, 1 RBI, one run; L. Shives 1-4, 2 RBIs; Austin Singer 1-3.

Mason Stansberry threw 5.1 innings in relief, allowing no runs, one hit, no walks, and four strikeouts for the Patriots.

Tri-Village senior Lane Bierly led the Patriots, going 3-4, including a double and a run; Lucas Brown 1-4, 1 RBI; Evan Duncan 1-3; Grant Howell 1-3; Mason Stansberry 1-3, 1 run.

BOX SCORE:

123 456 7   R   H   E
060 000 0   6   8   1   Ansonia
001 210 0   4   7   3   Tri-Village

Tri-Village’s Mason Stansberry throws 5.1 innings of scoreless ball in WOAC game with Ansonia. The Tigers won 6-4 and improved to 2-3 in the WOAC.  TV fell to 0-4.

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Emma Greer crushes one of her two home runs to lead off the bottom of Tri-Village first in WOAC win over Ansonia.

Story & Photos by Gaylen Blosser

NEW MADISON – The Tri-Village Lady Patriots defeated the visiting Ansonia Lady Tigers 10-0 in five innings, keeping their perfect (12-0, 5-0) record intact with the WOAC win.

Lady Patriots sophomore Emma Greer cranked out two home runs, including leading off the Patriots with a solo homer, giving the home team a 1-0 lead. Hailey Burk also drilled a first-inning home run for Tri-Village, with the Lady Patriots putting five runs on the first-inning board.

Hailey Burke slams a first-inning Tri-Village home run in conference win over Ansonia Lady Tigers. 

“We came off a big win yesterday (5-4 vs Arcanum), so we were ready to play and came out with the bats ready to go,” said Tri-Village coach Emily Osborne. “It was nice to get that first lead and get on the board first.”

“We can’t spot them five in the first inning,” said Ansonia Coach David Fisherback. “Our pitchers have to make sure we hit our spots. Tri-Village is a very good hitting team. They are very talented, and I wish them nothing but success.”


Ansonia’s Addison Geyer takes a turn at the plate in game at Tri-Village.

Tri-Village added single runs in the bottom of the second and fourth innings and notched three in the bottom of the fifth, giving the Lady Patriots their 12th victory overall and 5-0 in conference play.

“We didn’t have a bunch of strikeouts,” Fisherback noted. “We were hitting the ball right at them, we hit the ball right back up the middle four or five times to their pitcher, and she made every play.”

Tri-Village junior Elizabeth Poling went the distance on the mound, allowing no runs on two hits, one walk, while striking out six.

Elizabeth Poling goes the distance for Tri-Village in Lady Patriots win over Ansonia. 

“Liz has done excellently on the mound for us,” said Coach Osborne. “She has done excellent for us.”

The Lady Patriots were good for nine hits, three home runs, and two doubles in five innings at the plate.

“The girls that are hitting it well, being leaders, Emma Greer hit well today with two home runs, Hailey Burk did well and put one over the fence today too, and found gaps after that,” said Coach Osborne. “She did an excellent job today for us.”

Aereonna Baker drills a double for the Lady Patriots in WOAC win over Ansonia. 

Greer paced the Lady Patriots at the plate, going 2-3 with two home runs, 3 RBIs, and two runs scored. Burk went 2-3, including a home run, a walk, 2 RBIs, and two runs. Aereonna Baker was 2-2 including a double, a HBP, 2 RBIs, one run; Mckenzie Besecker a walk, one run; Emma Cantrell 1-1; Caley McCaroll 1-2, a walk, one run; Kash Mead 2 walks, two runs; Rai Mize 1 walk, 1 RBI; Camryn Osborne 1-4, 1 RBI; Claire Royer 1 walk.

“One game at a time,” Osborne stated. “We have big games still to come. Monday (11-2 Miami East) is a big game for us.”

“I was proud of our kids,” Coach Fisherback said. “They stayed positive, they kept talking, but they’re No. 3 in the state for a reason.”

BOX SCORE:

123 456 7   R   H   E
000 00X X   0   2   1   Ansonia
510 13X X   10 9   2   Tri-Village

Ansonia’s Shyanna KcKenna takes turn at the plate in Lady Tigers game with Tri-Village. 
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Sophomore Lily Canan went 3-for-3 with a triple, double, single & two RBI's for Bradford in their 13-2 win over Fairborn. 

(Story and Photos by Dale Barger)

BRADFORD – The Lady Railroaders softball team picked up a big 13-2 win over Fairborn on Saturday by playing fast on offense, solid on defense and good pitching. 

Bradford softball started the season with big wins over Jackson Center (12-6) and Coldwater (17-9) …  then they dropped their next four games against quality opponents: Vandalia Butler, Milton Union, Fort Recovery and Tecumseh.

Since then, they have gone on a five-game win streak with wins over Newton (10-5), Union City (12-2), National Trail 13-0, New Bremen (9-6) and Fairborn.

The Skyhawks would strike first in the game plating two runs in the first inning.  Bradford got half of that back in the bottom half of inning.

Casey Bolen overcame a 2-run 1st inning by Fairborn shutting them out the rest of the way to pick up the win for Bradford.

Starting pitcher Casey Bolen would settle in for the next 5 innings to pick up the win for the Roaders.  She threw five innings gave up 6 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks and 3 strikeouts.

Bolen’s team brought the lumber in the second, third and fourth innings plating 12 more runs to build a 13-2 lead and eventual run rule win over Fairborn.

Freshman Hayven Edwards rips a double picking up an RBI in game with Fairborn.

In the bottom of the 2^nd inning freshman Hayven Evans drove in two runs on a double.

In the 3^rd Kendall Weldy singled to center to score a run.

In the 4^th inning Lily Canan and Vivian Harleman both doubled each with two rbi’s and Casey Bolen’ single sent home the 5^th and final run of the game.

Lily Canan led the way at the plate going 3-for-3 including a triple and double with two rbi’s and a scored three runs.

Vivien Harleman had a good day with 3 rbi's and two hits in game with the Skyhawks.

Vivien Harleman was 2-for-3 with a double, had three rbi’s and scored twice.

Lexi Clark (triple, 3 runs) and Chloe Hocker (double) each went 2-for-3 and had an RBI.

Hayven Evans was 1-for-3 (double) with a rbi and run scored.

Casey Bolen was 1-for-3 with a rbi, and Kasey Weldy was 1-for-2, a rbi and 3 runs.

Chloe Hocker connects for a double, she was 2-for-3 and had two rbi's in game.

Bradford coach Shon Schaffer talked about the win over Fairborn and the current five game win streak by the Lady Railroaders.

“I thought the girls played really fast. It was good to see the speed of play. In order to beat good teams, you got to play fast. And the girls are getting there, and they're turning the corner,’ Schaffer commented.

Coach Shon Schaffer congratulates Lily Canan after hitting a triple in game with Fairborn.

“It is very nice, (five game win streak) I don't put a lot of emphasis on how many wins we have in a row, but we are playing much better and with more confidence. It's good to see smiles and good feelings all around,” Schaffer concluded.

Bradford improves to 6-4 overall and is 2-0 in the Western Ohio Athletic Conference.  They will host backyard rival Covington on Monday and then a tough game with league foe Tri-County North on Tuesday.


Bradford was all smiles after turning a double play in the 3rd inning.  The smiles and good feelings from the team pleases coach Shon Schaffer.  

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Mississinawa Valley pitcher Ella Godfrey sets new school record with 16 strikeouts in a game as the Hawks defeated National Trail 9-5 in softball action.

Story and Photos by Dale Barger

NEW PARIS – National Trail baseball and softball hosted Mississinawa Valley Thursday night in WOAC play.  The Blazers baseball team came from behind snatching an 8-7 win over the Hawks.  Mississinawa Softball jumped on top of National Trail and would leave town with an 9-5 victory.

The Lady Hawks road the arm of sophomore pitcher Ella Godfrey who picked up the win going the distance and in the process she would set a new school record by sitting down 16 hitters via strikeout in the game.  Godfrey would also pick up two rbi’s on a hit as well.

Mississinawa got some timely hitting from senior Stephany De La Torre who drove in four runs on two hits. Emma Brock and Trinity Reichard both went 2-for-3.  Reichard also had 1 rbi and scored 3 runs.  Brock scored twice for the Blackhawks.

Senior Stephany De La Torre drove in four runs on two hits to lead the Hawks.

The Hawks got on the scoreboard first scoring one run at the top of the 3^rd inning, four runs in the 4^th and another 4 runs at the top of the 6^th inning and they would need them.

National Trail plated a run in the bottom of the 5^th inning and then added 4 more in the bottom of the 6^thinning close the gap to 9-5. 

Carley Ham went 2-for-3 and banged home four runs for the Blazers who came up short to MV 9-5.

National Trail’s Carley Hamm led the Blazers going 2-for-3 from the plate with four runs batted in.  She had help from a pair of freshman Taylor Reynolds and Katie Wyatt who both slapped hits in the game as well.

Ella Godfrey was able to finish the game out in the final inning including striking out the last hitter to set the record for the Hawks.

With the 9-5 loss National Trail falls to 1-5 overall and 0-3 in the WOAC.  They will host Carroll high school in a double-header on Saturday.

Summer Martin pitched in relief for the Blazers and gets a solid hit at this at bat.

Mississinawa Valley improved to 3-4 overall and after dropping their first league game to Tri-Village they have picked up WOAC wins over Franklin Monroe and Trail and 2-1 in the league.  They will play Russia at Newton Friday night.
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The National Trail baseball team hung around long enough to make a comeback rallying for an 8-7 win with two outs in the bottom of the 7th inning.

Story & Photos by Dale Barger

The National Trail baseball team came from behind and earned the comeback win on a bases loaded walk to Mason Cordle to register an 8-7 win.

Mississinawa took advantage of slow start on the mound from Nick Clark who walked 4 in the first inning giving up a run, then a single by Elliott Spradling and a fielder’s choice from Caden Hanes was good for two more runs giving the Hawks a 3-0 lead.

Nick Clark struggled early to find the narrow strike zone in the game but was able to throw 5 good innings and keep the Blazers close.

National Trail plated two runs in the bottom of the inning on a single from Mason Leal scoring Cooper Smith, then a double by Braylon Coffey scored Leal to close the gap to 3-2.

Mississinawa Valley added two runs at the top of the 4^th inning when Caden Hanes advanced to 3^rd on an error and then home for a score.  Cole McGlothlin then singled in Cooper Nieport to go up 5-2.

Mississinawa Valley's Caleb Spradling threw well enough to win but the Hawks let one slip away late to National Trail.

National Trail came back in the bottom half of the inning when Westin Lipps started with a double. Mississinawa pitcher Caleb Spradling got the next two outs but then struck a batter to put runners on 1^st and 3^rd.   He then walked the next hitter to load the bases.

Grady Ott then doubled to right center field scoring clearing the bases with Lipps, Smith and Leal all scoring tying the game at 5-5.

Grady Ott had a big day at the plate with a double and single driving home some valuable runs.

Neither team scored in the 5^th inning.  The Blackhawks would generate a one run in the 6^th inning on a ground ball from Nieport that scored Hanes to give MV a 6-5 lead.

The Blazers coaxed a walk to start the bottom half of the inning.  Seth Kiser on in relief would get a strikeout to the next batter and then got a ground ball to shortstop Mcglothlin who turned a double play with the flip to Hanes and relay to Colton Hiestand.

Mississinawa added a run at the top of the 7^th when Caleb Spradling doubled to left field and was driven home on a single from Elliott Spradling to go up 7-5.

National Trail had one more at bat and they would make it count.  Leal led off with a single and advanced to 2^nd base on a balk.  Ott then brought Leal home on a base hit, Ott advanced to 2^nd on a passed ball, he would then score on a drive from Coffey to tie the game at 7-7.

Laid reached base on a pop-fly error and then a walk to Carson Laubenstein put runners on 1^st and 2^nd.  Kiser struck out the next hitter for two outs … but then walked Andrew Hamm to load the bases.

Seth Kiser fields ball to get an out, he came in late in the game to relieve Spradling.

Bases loaded, two outs and the game at hand freshman Mason Cordle drew a walk and the game winning run was scored by Laird to give the Blazers a dramatic come from behind win.

National Trail was led by Grady Ott going 2-for-4 with two doubles and four rbi’s.  Braylon Coffey was 2-for-3 with two rbi’s, Mason Leal 2-for-3 and rbi. 

The Blazers Nick Clark pitched five innings, five strikeouts gave up six runs with just two earned.  Mason Leal threw 1.2 innings with a strikeout and gave up two runs.  Kellen Laird who threw to just one batter that resulted in a strikeout picked up the easiest win in his career. 

Mississinawa Valley’s Caleb Spradling threw five innings, had four strikeouts, gave up five hits and five runs.  Seth Kiser came on in relief and had two strikeouts, gave up three hits and three runs and picked up the loss.

2nd baseman Braylon Coffey of Trail keeps his concentration with Cole McGlothlin running in the base path and turned a double play.

Offensively Elliott Spradling led the Hawks with two RBI’s going 2-for-4.  Caden Hanes, Caleb Spradling, Cooper Nieport and Cole McGlothlin each had one rbi.

National Trail improved to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the WOAC.  The Blazers will play at Tri-County North Friday night.

Mississinawa Valley falls to 1-6 overall and 0-2 in the league.  The Hawks will host Newton on Saturday.

Cooper Smith drives a double to right center and gets an rbi in win over Hawks.
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Ansonia sophomore Lilly Perry was hot at the plate going 3-for-3 with an inside the park grand slam and 9 rbi's in the Tigers WOAC win over Dixie.

Story & Photos by Dale Barger

ANSONIA – The Lady Tigers softball team opened up WOAC league play with a 26-2 win over the Lady Greyhounds of Dixie.

Ansonia started the season with two tough losses at Eaton and Covington and is now on a 3-game win streak with a good win over Russia 5-4, Versailles 11-10 and now Dixie.  The Tigers are now 3-2 in the year and 1-0 in WOAC play.

Dixie dropped their first two games of the year and then split with East Clinton before playing their first league game at Ansonia.  The Greyhounds are 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the league.

Ansonia put a lot of runs up on a windy, chilly afternoon of softball.  They chased off Dixie junior starting pitcher Beth Himan by scoring 7 runs in the first inning. 

The Ansonia bats were hot and Kaylie McConnell of Dixie came in to relieve Beth Himan in the 2nd inning but it didn't slow down the Tigers.

Dixie sent in junior Kaylie McConnell in the 2^nd inning and the beat went on for the Tigers as they added 9 runs to go up 16-0 after two innings

Sophomore Bre’ ana Walker was in the circle for Ansonia and after two scoreless innings she would get touched up for two runs at the top of the 3^rd inning.

Freshman catcher Ella Kreitzer led off the inning with a base hit … but Walker would retire the next two batters.  She then gave up a walk and the Hounds had runners on 1^st and 2^nd.   Beth Himan would rap a double into right center going to the fence that would bring home two runs for Dixie … but they would end being their only runs in the game.


Dixie junior Beth Himan connects for a double to drive home the only two runs the Hounds would score in game with Ansonia.

The Tigers dented the plate again in the bottom of the 3^rd with seven more runs and then added three more in the bottom of the 4^th inning. 

Walker would finish out the game for Ansonia to record the win by throwing 5 innings, giving up 5 hits, 2 unearned runs, 1 walk and 6 strikeouts.

Ansonia would get a big game from sophomore Lilly Perry.  She had an in the park grand slam in the 1^stinning and went 3-for-3 with 9 rbi’s in the game to lead the Tigers offensively.  Junior Kylie Caldwell had 2 rbi’s and Shyann McKenna (2-2, 3 runs), Jayda Mangen, Lydia Klingshirn (2-2, 3 runs), Ava Thatcher (4-4, 5 runs), Addison Geyer, Miley Walls (2-2, 2 runs), Dani Gibbs, Lillian Kaiser (3-4. 3 runs), and Ava Erwin all contributed with rbi’s as well.

Junior Lillian Kaiser would go 3-for-4, scored 3 runs in win over Dixie.

The Tigers return to action at Greenville while Dixie travels to Arcanum on Thursday 4/10/25.

Bre'ana Walker picked up the win for Ansonia in the circle.  She went 5 innings & had 6 strikeouts in the game.
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