NEWTON FALLS — The West Branch girls track and field team has long been one of the more successful programs in the area. In their first meet of the spring outdoor season, the Warriors kicked things off with a bang, capturing the team title Saturday at the Newton Falls Tiger Invitational. The team tallied 162 total points to beat out Mogadore Field, which had 124 points. “That was just the goal ...
CANFIELD — Canfield is coming off a special season — one that few expected. Last year, the Cardinals opened the season on a tear, going 10-0 before dropping their first game at a spring break tournament in Myrtle Beach. By year’s end, Canfield was one of the best teams in the state, as the Cardinals then marched through the Division II postseason tournament all the way to the state championship game. ...
YOUNGSTOWN — Former Youngstown State star running back Jaleel McLaughlin established the blueprint last year. Now with the NFL Draft coming up, this year’s class of draft-eligible Penguins are trying to follow it. McLaughlin, who played at Notre Dame College in 2018 and 2019 before transferring to YSU from 2020 to 2022, broke the NCAA’s all-time career rushing record in his final season with the ...
AUSTINTOWN — Austintown Fitch kicked off its state title defense in style in Monday’s season opener. Behind some explosive hits in the fourth and sixth innings, the Falcons blanked defending Division II state runner-up Canfield 5-0. “I thought we took a great step forward with our program and our team,” Fitch coach Steve Ward said. “(Our hitters) talked through their at bats with us, and we talked ...
DAYTON — For Keith Gunther, Ursuline’s state semifinal run this season has been all about family. After the Irish captured their first regional championship in 30 years last week, Gunther celebrated the team’s success with those that mean the most to him. “(That night), I allowed myself to enjoy it,” Gunther said earlier this week. “I had a blast with my family. … I took some time to ...
DAYTON — For the first time all season, the lights were too bright for Ursuline. A slow start doomed the Irish, as Ursuline’s season-long run finally came to an end Saturday in a 73-37 defeat to Kettering Archbishop Alter in the Division II state semifinal at UD Arena in Dayton. “I felt like all season long, in big games, we were composed and we were able to follow the gameplan,” Irish head coach ...