OHSAA Assistant Commissioner Roxanne Price
By John Gillis, National Federation of State High School Associations
Under the expert administration of the Ohio High School Athletic Association “In addition to back-to-back Governors' Cup and back-to-back Triple-A (OHSAA), the state of Ohio offers outstanding spring state tournaments in ' [ unique venues in both the sports of baseball and softball. Huntington Park is proud to host many other non-Clippers events and the OHSAA baseball state tournament is not only one of the best, but it is certainly one of our favorite events to have here. It is indeed a pleasure and an honor to be able to give the state’s best high school baseball teams the opportunity to in Akron. play for their state championships in our beautiful ballpark. It seems as almost Class # !!! [ # $ % $ # % 8 & ' * * partners for many, many years.” !!! [ % “It is such a blessing to be able to play our baseball state tournament in +--/ # one of the most prestigious facilities in the country,” said OHSAA Assistant +-0-% ! Commissioner and baseball state tournament administrator Jerry Snodgrass. [ 00 ---% “It’s an absolute thrill for the student-athletes, schools and communities to In addition to hosting the OHSAA baseball state tournament, Huntington Park # 9 1 year and hosting the state tournament.” # 2 3 % ! Cincinnati Elder has both the most OHSAA baseball state tournament 3 !! 0-4 5 +- 0/:; +-0- 0+ 3 !! 0/:; +--<% = ' ! 2 currently has in place. As such, the OHSAA plans to hold its state tournament 5 % > ?0/<@ 0/B-D at Huntington Park for many years to come. With those long-term thoughts ' ?+--+ +--:D 3 [ consecutive baseball state titles. # 3 !! Among the standout OHSAA state tournament individual performances, Joe state baseball tournament. 5 According to Columbus Clippers President and General Manager Ken +-00 [ Schnacke, Huntington Park and the OHSAA have enjoyed an outstanding [ [ F L professional relationship over the years. of Reading hit a home run in four consecutive tournament games spanning “Huntington Park is very proud to host the OHSAA baseball state tournament,” +-0- +-00 F ' 8 1 Schnacke said. “Huntington Park has become a destination stop for people N = 0- +-00 # Q # $V [ % = +40 00 % % The Ohio state record for attendance at a baseball game occurred 5 @ --- +-0- 3 !! Q # $$ OHSAA Assistant Commissioner Jerry Snodgrass
\ ! softball state tournament in Firestone Stadium creates an unforgettable 8 \ ;4+% experience for the schools and fans.” # “In the summer of 0/+<, Harvey Firestone opened a ballpark in Akron, Ohio. and the surrounding communities to attend the game. More than 80 years later, its rich history and prestigious heritage are timeless,” ? [ ! 2 Q w % O> 0- --- [ # D +-0- 0] B;+ 9 0B [ % 4 0< /;: representing four divisions throughout Ohio. We are proud to support a high 2012, also in Huntington Park. school sporting event of this magnitude.” On the other end of the historical spectrum, Firestone Stadium dates back With nine titles from 0/]@ +--< ! [ 0/;- OHSAA softball state championships, and also holds the record for most # % ! 4 # # 0//+ 0//<% some of the grandstand, its fans often feel like they’ve been transported back 0: % Q # % [ is still in good shape. # 0//+ 0//<% Among the luminaries ' * The state tournament ? [ * 1 = % [ # D 0- +@: +--/ has a series of photographs of Ruth in its Hall of Fame area that is located % $ / +:B # behind the third base-side seating. same site. In addition to holding one of the OHSAA regional tournaments and its state “Our baseball and softball state tournaments have so much history and ! = ? 4 # softball team) play in Firestone Stadium, and the Mid-American Conference like Huntington Park and Firestone Stadium adds even more magnitude to also conducts its softball tournament there. # P 3 !! Q % Q = % O1 facilities and the cities of Columbus and Akron do a great job hosting those Firestone Stadium is named after the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, 1 %P % ! 0/-- w [ % John Gillis is the associate director of publications and communications of the ' % $ # “I have to believe that there aren’t many high school softball state tournament Gillis at [email protected] venues in the United States that match Firestone Stadium in Akron,” said OHSAA Assistant Commissioner and softball state tournament administrator 9 | OHSAA % % Roxanne Price. “While all of our state tournaments are special, having our