Sidney Daily News 2018 SHELBY COUNTY SPRING SPORTS Thursday, March 29, 2018 1 2018 Spring Sports Many area squads looking for continued success Minster and Russia played for D-IV state title last year, others team had success By Bryant Billing a big push also. [email protected] “We have to make sure to and Rob Kiser hang in these games, and [email protected] maybe pull off one of these games as an upset. As a team Last year was a remark- we will have to pitch well and ably successful season for play defense. I feel that our area baseball teams. Min- pitching should be able to ster captured the Division keep us in ball games. We are IV state title — by beating not going to win too many Russia, which racked up 24 games 10-8, but feel we can wins. win the 3-2 ball games.” Anna and Fort Loramie tied with the Raiders for ANNA the Shelby County Athletic Kristian Althauser returns Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News League title, as all three for his fourth season at the Minster players form a pile after defeating Russia 2-1 in the Division IV state championship at Huntington Park on June 3 last year. The had 10-2 league records. helm of the Rockets, which Wildcats are looking for another deep postseason run this season. The Rockets amassed 19 were 19-10 overall and tied wins, while Fort Loramie for the Shelby County Ath- had 20. letic League title. expects Iler to add depth be looked upon to provide compete, and if we can year and I think it will pay While last year’s season “We have a lot to replace to the team’s pitching rota- meaningful varsity innings execute for seven innings off this year,” Martin said. may be hard to top, area from last year’s team,” tion. Other key newcomers on the mound this year. every night, will determine “Our pitching will be better teams have plenty of return- Althauser said. “Last year’s include juniors Bayden Brayden Collier, Andrew our success for the season.” as well as our fi elding. I also ing players and are looking senior class collected 92 Collier and Andrew Scully Scully, and Brandon Althauser said he thinks believe we will have hitters for success. wins in their four years at and sophomores Wil Luth- Shannon all look to compete the Rockets, Russia and Fort 1-9 this year, so with all of Anna and three district titles man, Cole Maurer and Bran- for time in either the infi eld Loramie will again be the that were looking to take a SIDNEY and one district runner- don Shannon. or outfi eld. With young top teams fi ghting for the big jump this year. We don’t Sidney’s baseball team up. Replacing players like “We have a lot of players guys coming in, we have SCAL title. have a quantity of kids, just fi nished 7-21 last season and Nathan Frilling, Colin Wueb- returning with meaning- to be open to movement 11, but we do have quality will look for improvement ker, Mitchell Lindsey, Zach ful varsity experience,” from positions that we may BOTKINS in that our kids work hard this year. Watren, and Joey Cummings Althauser said. “Aidan have been at last year, to a Dennis Martin returns for every day.” Thomas Goffena returns will be really tough. All of Endsley, Derek Coverstone, new one this year because his second year at the helm for his third season as the those guys had been named and Zach White all return it helps the team more. We of Botkins. FAIRLAWN program’s coach. all-SCAL or all-MVBCA at as 3-year letter winners, have to have a team fi rst The Trojans were 5-17 Adam Lessing returns Returning letterwinners one point or another in their with all three starting since mentality to continue to overall last year and 3-9 in as the Jets’ coach. Fairlawn include seniors Zane Walker, careers.” day one of their freshman have the successes we have the SCAL. fi nished 1-17 last year and Dylan Smith, Kyle Noble, Seniors Aidan Endsley, year. Seth Stiefel, Caleb enjoyed the last several Returning letterwin- 0-12 in the Shelby County AJ Brussel, Ryan Heins and Derek Coverstone, Zach Kauffman, Carter Elliott years.” ners include seniors Nick Athletic League. juniors Caleb Harris and White, Caleb Kauffman and Jarred Seigle are also Althauser said the team’s Buettner, juniors Bryce Kayden Walker. Harris had a and Seth Stiefel and juniors returning starters from last goals for the last several Metz, Spencer Heuker, Jack FORT LORAMIE .375 on-base percentage last Carter Elliott and Jarred season. White will be behind years have been to compete Liesner and Anthony Opper- Jeff Sanders takes over year, and Smith had a 3.44 Seigle are returning letter the plate again this year. to win 20 games, a league man and sophomore Tristen for longtime Fort Loramie ERA in over 20 innings on winners. Endsley is a four- Endsley and Seigle will be in title and a district title, Burns and Elliott Goubeaux. coach Bill Sturwold. the mound. year starter and had a .363 the infi eld. Coverstone and and he thinks the team can Buettner is a 3-year letter The Redskins were 20-11 Key newcomers include average last year with 25 Kauffman will be in the out- achieve them this year. winner and batted .356 last last season and tied for sophomores Mitch Larger, RBIs. Stiefel batted .351 fi eld again this year. Stiefel, “It all comes down year with 16 runs scored fi rst in the Shelby County Trey Werntz, Christian with 25 RBIs, and Seigle who is coming off an injury to how our leadership and 16 stolen bases. Heuker Athletic League with a 10-2 Townsend, Lathan Jones, had a .433 on-base percent- from the football season, will develops,” Althauser said. (.300, 5 RBIs), Metz (.255, record. They won a district Branden Rose and Clay age with 23 runs. look to hold down the DH “Are we willing to put 14 SBs) and Liesner (.240) title and lost to Russia in a Carter. Endsley had a 2.94 ERA spot and compete for either team importance above all are two-year letterwinners. regional semifi nal. “The GWOC North will and 5-1 record in 33 1/3 an infi eld or outfi eld spot individual thought? Our Top newcomers include Fort Loramie returns six be tough once again with innings of work, while when he is ready. returning lettermen need sophomore Arron Hindall and letterwinners in Eli Rosen- Butler always real strong Elliott had a 4-0 record and “Elliott will be counted to lead and carry on the freshman Parker Geis, Ethan garten, CJ Billing, Jared and Tipp City right behind 2.63 ERA in 24 innings. on to lead the pitching staff. tradition that they have been Motter and Joe Schipper. Middendorf, Dylan Albers, them,” Goffena said. “I feel Key newcomers include Wil Luthman will look to be a part of and not be content “Heading into our second Ben Barhorst and that with everyone Troy has senior Noah Iler, who was one of the corner infi elders and rest on what past teams season, we got a chance to coming back they will make injured last season. Althauser this year. Cole Maurer will have done. How well we play a lot of young kids last See BASEBALL | 3 Russia Raiders looking for another SCAL title Taylor Muter, Bailey Luthman, others that we are a better team Minster and New Bremen Olivia Place, Elaina Crosson and and a better program.” looking for continued Taylor Spence. Key newcomers include Carey HOUSTON success in MAC White, Brandi Weber, Ashley Fer- Brent New returns for his 21st guson and Addie Skidmore. season and has a record of 334-213. “We need to be consistent in The Wildcats were 14-12 overall By Bryant Billing all phases of the game,” Place and year ago and 9-3 in the Shelby [email protected] said. “Our pitching and hitting County Athletic League. and Rob Kiser should be stronger this year. We Graduating off that team were [email protected] have a great group of girls that Kaytlyn Riffell and Jenna Jarrett. has worked hard in the offseason Returning lettermen include Several area teams are looking to get better. I’m excited to watch seniors Sarah Monnier, Rebekah for improvement this season, while them play.” New and Brooklyn Felver. Russia, Minster and New Bremen Monnier, the catcher, batted .425 are hoping top successful seasons BOTKINS last season; while New batted .324 last year. Bryan Trego returns to lead the from her second base position. Among area softball storylines to Trojans this season. Felver had a 7-5 record on the watch this season is Sidney, which Botkins fi nished 1-19 overall mound with a 3.07 ERA and .275 is getting an infl ux of young tal- last year and tied with Fairlawn batting average. Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News ent off last year’s 19-1 junior high for sixth in the Shelby County Ath- The returning juniors include Russia’s Grace Saunders heads back to third base as Jackson Center’s Conor team. letic League. third baseman Olivia Browser, Pipke waits for the throw from home during a game at Russia last season. pitcher Emilee Foster, centerfi elder Saunders is one of eight returning letterwinners for the Raiders. SIDNEY FAIRLAWN Addie White and fi rst baseman Wade New returns for his 15th Dominic Lehman takes over as Jess Monnier.