WEOL Forecast Mag.Qxd
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
News.News. Sports.Sports. Talk.Talk. Proud to be part of your community. At University Hospitals, our mission is you. 440-329-7500 UHhospitals.org/Elyria 630 East River Street Elyria, Ohio 44035 LORAIN COUNTY SOFTBALL PREVIEW . .pg. 3 WEOL FORECAST MAGAZINE FEEDING THE SUCCESS SPRING 2014 PREVIEW Tim Alcorn describes the delicate balancing act that A Publication of AM 930 WEOL makes for a successful feeder program . .pg. 5 Volume 15 Issue 3 VP/GENERAL MANAGER LORAIN COUNTY BASEBALL PREVIEW . .pg. 6 Lonnie Gronek LAKE ERIE CRUSHERS PREVIEW LOCAL SALES MANAGER Tim Alcorn Andy “Bull” Barch explains why 2014 is another EDITOR season of exciting change . .pg. 8 Katie M. Loftis ASSISTANT EDITORS CLEVELAND INDIANS PREVIEW Craig Adams Suzy Peters Jim Rosenhaus shares the Indians plan for taking care Tim Alcorn Bruce VanDyke Tom Hutchison of “Unfinished Business” . .pg. 12 FEATURE WRITERS Tim Alcorn Jim Rosenhaus BASEBALL SCHEDULES Andy Barch Todd Shapiro James Brady LAKE ERIE CRUSHERS . .pg. 9 CLEVELAND INDIANS . .pg. 15 COVER DESIGN BozCorn Productions PUBLISHER WEOL BROADCAST SCHEDULES Douthit Communications KOLCZUN & KOLCZUN DIAMOND DUELS . .pg. 2 THE CRUSHERS ON WEOL . .pg. 8 FROM THE DUGOUT . .pg.13 ABOUT THE COVER: Midview’s Eric Lauer had a dream senior season for the Middies before being named the 2013 Mr. Baseball award winner. The left han- der compiled a perfect 7-0 record with an ERA of 0.15 with 96 strike- outs. Opposing teams hit a meager .077 against him. Eric was select- ed in the Major League draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, but opted to accept a full scholarship to Kent State and pitch for the Golden Flashes. Elyria’s Caitlyn Minney is the 6th Lady Pioneer to capture the Miss Softball award. She was dominant her senior year, compiling a 22-4 record, with 1.02 ERA. She fanned 129 and opposing teams hit a paltry .139 against her. Caitlyn is continuing her softball playing at the colle- News.News. Sports.Sports. Talk.Talk. giate level at Youngstown State. Spring 2014 FORECAST Magazine 1 "In our sundown perambulations of late, through the outer parts of Brooklyn, we have observed several parties of youngsters playing 'base', a form of ‘ball’. Let us go forth for awhile and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms. The game of 'ball' is glorious." -Walt Whitman I can't recall how many years I've opened the spring edition of FORECAST from AM930 WEOL with these words of wisdom from Walt Whitman, but something tells me to use it again and again. Perhaps it reflects a time gone by; perhaps its signals a new time, a fresh start...time to get outdoors after this brutally cold and snowy win- ter. This year, there is plenty of excitement and anticipation to go around. The Cleveland Indians, led by American League Manager of the Year Terry Francona, hope to improve upon last year’s Wild Card Playoff appearance. The Lake Erie Crushers hope to return to the playoffs under new manager Chris Mongiardo and new hitting coach, the Indians’ American League 1980 Rookie of the Year, Joe Charboneau. And of course, young men and women across Lorain County have been eager to return to the diamonds to show what they can do. Special thanks go to the outstanding advertisers who are supporting this magazine and our incomparable broad- cast schedule of high school baseball and high school softball. Thanks also go to the athletic directors, man- agers and coaches for their support. It is indeed time to, "Play Ball!" Craig R. Adams Operations Manager AM930 WEOL 2 Spring 2014 FORECAST Magazine 2014 LORAIN COUNTY SOFTBALL PREVIEW By: Todd Shapiro Bishop Ready 3-1 in the state veteran coaches Norm Frindt semifinals. Bloom-Carroll, (North Ridgeville) and Bill Year after year Lorain led by sophomore pitcher and Matthews (Amherst), both County produces some of the University of Washington members of the Ohio High best softball talent in Ohio recruit Taran Alvelo, bested School Fastpitch Softball and 2013 was no exception. Columbia, 3-2, in the state Coaches Association Hall of Two of the eight teams play- championship game. Fame, retired after the 2013 ing on the final day of the The Raiders were a veteran season. Former Brooklyn season – Elyria in Division I team in 2013 but coach Ken assistant Mike Mease will and Columbia in Division III Lugo will return pitcher take over at North Ridgeville –came from the county. Kailey Minarchik as they while Amherst elevated one Although the Pioneers and look to repeat as Patriot of its own assistants, Lacey Raiders both left Akron’s Athletic Conference Stripes Reichert to head coach. Firestone Stadium with a run- Division and regional cham- After leading Firelands to ner-up trophy their successes pions. its first district championship and their tournament runs left Columbia’s biggest chal- in school history Falcons area sports waiting to see lenge in the Stripes Division coach Judy Dostall also what 2014 has in store. Steve Manheim/The Chronicle-Telegram this year will come from retired at the end of the 2013 Behind the sensational Slugger/preseason Sarah Kaya and the season so she could watch pitching of senior Caitlyn Clearview Clippers. Kaya her daughter Samantha con- favorite Wildcat Minney, Elyria won its ninth enters her senior season with tinue her softball career at straight district title and made Carleigh Herrington is 814 career strikeouts, needing Baldwin Wallace University. its third consecutive trip to ready for her senior 339 more strikeouts this sea- The Falcons also hired from the state tournament. For her year. son to surpass Miss Softball within elevating junior varsity efforts Minney won the both a 7-0 win but with coach Ken 2001, Vermilion’s Megan coach Phil Rawlings to the Lorain County Miss Softball Fenik back at the helm for his Meyer, as Lorain County’s head coaching position. and coaches association play- 20th season and sophomore all-time strikeout queen. Last Last season the Falcons did er of the year awards. Carly Bachna poised to fol- season Kaya averaged nearly the (almost) impossible, Anyone who was in atten- low in the tradition of great two strikeouts per inning, knocking off defending state dance at the state semifinals Elyria players no one would fanning 340 batters in 174 and national champions will never forget how the be surprised to see the innings. She also threw a Keystone in the Division II Pioneers overcame a nearly Pioneers in Akron again this pair of no-hitters against district semifinal by a score nine hour rain delay to defeat year on the first weekend of Lutheran West and of 1-0. It was the first time Mason 5-0 thereby earning June. Brookside. since 2000 that the Wildcats the right to face North Columbia defeated One of the biggest changes did not win a district champi- Canton Hoover in the state Leavittsburg LaBrae in the in Lorain County softball this onship. finals. regional finals to earn its first spring won’t be seen between However, veteran Keystone Hoover denied Elyria a trip to Akron. The Raiders the lines but instead in the third state championship with See Softball on page 4 then went on beat Columbus third-base coaches’ box. Two Spring 2014 FORECAST Magazine 3 SOFTBALL be the only event to feature Last season was an unchar- area teams this spring. After a acteristic down year for from page 3 one-year hiatus the JB Amherst but they should coach Jim Piazza should have Firestone, hosted by Black bounce back quickly this fall his team back on top in 2014. River, is back on the schedule with pitcher Zoe Beetler lead- Wildcats first basemen this year. Columbia and ing a group of five returning Carleigh Herrington earned Elyria will also be going starters and one of area’s top third-team all-American hon- down to Ashland the week- freshman in second base- ors last season after in a jun- end of April 11-12 for the man/centerfielder Madison ior year in which she hit .474 20th Annual Wendy’s Cruzado. with 37 hits, six home runs Softball Classic. Lorain coach Pam Jackson and 27 RBIs. Herrington, an Throughout the season a always has the Titans in the Eastern Michigan recruit, is a number of local team led by thick of the Lake Erie league pre-season favorite to become Avon Lake and Firelands will title hunt and this year should the 11th Miss Softball in the play in events hosted by the be no exception. illustrious history of the Akron Racers at Firestone Keystone returns both of Keystone softball program. Stadium. its top pitchers from 2013. Keystone’s annual Prebis If you prefer a sudden blast Senior Emily Cornish, who Memorial Softball Classic of power as opposed to a signed a National Letter of will take place on April 25 long day of softball check out Intent with Cedarville and 26 in LaGrange and Midview and its power hit- University, had a 12-4 record Wellington. This year the ting shortstop Amanda last year while Sara Lowman event has grown to 54 games Beursken. Beursken, the West burst on the scene with an 8- over two days with 36 teams Shore Conference player of Steve Manheim/The Chronicle-Telegram 1 freshman season that from Ohio and New York the year and a honorable included wins over North taking part, including seven mention Division I all-Ohio Clearview’s Sarah Royalton and Twinsburg in teams who played in the Ohio honoree, tied a Lorain County Kaya will try to over- the 2013 Prebis.