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July 21, 2011
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Defections leave MSL alignment unclear for 2013 Return of Licking County League also affects OCC By SCOTT HENNEN ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The Mid-State League likely is headed for realignment, but interim commissioner Jim Hayes doesn’t know what the conference will look like after the 2012-13 school year. Hayes, who is the athletics director at Teays Valley and chair of the MSL’s realignment and expansion committee,
believes the league likely will have to add schools. “We have six schools leaving after the 2012-13 school year and that leaves 18 in the league,” said Hayes, who took over on an interim basis after Frank Pergolizzi resigned as MSL commissioner in the spring. “Right now, I wish I knew what we are going to do. There is no clear direction on what we will do.” In the spring, MSL-Ohio Division members Granville, Heath, Lakewood, Licking Valley and Newark Catholic announced they would be leaving to join a re-established Licking County League (LCL). Licking Heights of the MSL-Cardinal also will be leaving for the LCL.
“We could have three six-team divisions (with the 18 remaining schools) or two nine-school divisions, but neither of those has very much support,” Hayes said. “A lot of schools are worried about increased travel and competing against new schools that they don’t have a history with and they don’t know a lot about them. They want competitive balance and they are not sure about new schools.” Schools showing interest in joining the MSL include Chillicothe, Fairfield Christian, Grove City Christian, Logan and Worthington Christian. Another potential problem comes from the OCC looking to replace Watkins
Memorial, which will be joining the six MSL schools in the LCL. OCC commissioner Dave Cecutti said MSL schools looking to fill that void include Bexley, Canal Winchester, Grandview, Hamilton Township, Teays Valley and Whitehall. Chillicothe, Logan and Marion Harding also applied for the OCC as well as Jonathan Alder, which has since joined the Marion County-based Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference (MOAC). Cecutti said he expects the 32-school OCC to find a replacement for Watkins Memorial in the next few weeks, but there also is a possibility that the conference could expand. “The one-for-one swap (of a new
school to replace Watkins Memorial) is there, but we’re also looking into adding another (eight-team) division,” Cecutti said. “If it’s in our best interest to add a fifth division then it’s something we will do. “I really don’t know for sure what direction we will be going, but we are looking into all available options.” Hayes expects the MSL to remain in three divisions, even if only five teams join the conference. That will mean two eight-team divisions and one with seven teams. “We are staying with the possibilSee MSL, page B2
Commentary
Athletes learn to deal with adversity The achievements of the high school student-athletes writing in my summer series are notable and numerous. They have won state championships in bowling, football, golf, wrestling and track and field. They have achieved great individual and team success. But along the way there LARRY have been defeats and disLARSON appointments. Each of these seniors-to-be explains how he or she has learned to handle adversity. Michela Paradiso, Upper Arlington, soccer and basketball: “I have a picture of myself after losing to Dublin Coffman in the regional Division I championship game my sophomore year on my bedroom wall. I see it every morning when I wake up. I think it is important to remember what defeat feels like as it creates motivation to improve and the desire and drive to never feel like that again.” Faith Washington, Reynoldsburg, track: “Disappointment is the goal that you failed to accomplish. Defeat is when you fail to try again. Never give up.” Napoleon Bell, Hartley, football and wrestling: “To be the best, one must experience defeat. One must know his mistakes and know where he does not want to be again.” Morgan Ransom, Columbus Academy, golf: “No matter how good you are there will always be disappointments. My advice is to move on and learn from your mistakes because defeat will make you stronger.” Austin Cuervo, St. Charles, golf: “I handle defeat and disappointment as fuel to go out and work even harder to be more prepared.” Chase Delande, Hilliard Davidson, football and wrestling: “Just tell yourself that you don’t ever want to feel that pain of losing again and that you need to work much harder to be successful.” Jimmy Gammill, New Albany, football: “Use defeat and disappointment as a means to grow and work harder. Then simply move on and do better next time.” Jake Blankenship, Gahanna, pole vault: “Don’t let disappointment and defeat get to you because everyone has down days and if you worry a lot about it then things will continue to go down and will do more harm than good.” Mary Wells, Westerville Central, bowling: “Defeat and disappointment are part of any game you play. What is important is that you are gracious in both victory and defeat.” Speaking of being gracious, win or lose, the student-athletes next week will discuss how they view respect and sportsmanship in competition. I’ll see you at a game.
By Adam Cairns/The Columbus Dispatch
Davidson pitcher Courtney Smith struck out 29 batters and hit the game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the 22nd inning in a 2006 Division I district final.
Top Individual Performances: No. 4
Smith shined in 22-inning game By SCOTT HENNEN ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Courtney Smith remembers it like it was yesterday, even though it was more than five years ago. The emotion. The excitement. The exhaustion. The strikeouts. The grand slam. Especially the grand slam. In May 2006, Smith, a standout senior pitcher for the Hilliard Davidson High School softball team, went head-to-head with Sarah Phillips of Olentangy Liberty for 22 innings in a Division I district final at Pickerington Central. The three-day marathon wasn’t decided until Smith hit a grand slam in the bottom of the 22nd for a 4-1 victory. Smith also had 29 strikeouts, the 11th highest total in state history for an extrainning game, according to the Ohio High School Athletic Association. In 2010,
Hayley Flynn of Duncan Falls Philo set the state record with 55 strikeouts in 24 innings against Thornville Sheridan. “The biggest thing I remember is this wave of emotion,” Smith said. “I was exhausted and excited both at the same time. It was amazing.” It remains the longest OHSAA softball tournament game. Liberty and Davidson played seven scoreless innings on May 17, were rained out and never took the field on May 18 and played 15 innings on May 19. “The first day (the teams) were neck and neck and I don’t think anyone had a hit,” Smith said. “I remember it rained for like three or four hours (on May 17) and there were no lights (at Pickerington Central). “When we got rain the second day (May 18), I was really nervous because we had been playing well before the rain
came. We were all really anxious to get out there and didn’t want to wait another day.” Smith’s counterpart also had an impressive performance. Phillips struck out 30, which ties her for ninth in the state record book with Medina’s Jessica Miller in 1999, but she also surrendered Smith’s district-title winning home run. “I think she said it was a riseball, but I don’t think so because I wouldn’t have hit it if it was (a riseball),” Smith said. “Maybe I got out ahead of the pitch before it started to move or maybe it didn’t move. I knew it was high and I was able to make contact and get it over the fence.” It was the first home run Smith had hit at any level. She played one season at the University of Indianapolis and never hit another homer. “I would have to say the grand slam
was better (than the 29 strikeouts),” said Smith, who had 77 wins at Davidson. “It was my first homer ever and just to be able to finally end that game.” Liberty took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 22nd. Rebecca Adam hit a two-out double and moved to third on a single by Phillips. Emily Capretta followed with a liner that went off the glove of shortstop Cassady Busellato, scoring Adam. “It was a pitchers’ battle the whole time and we both gave up runs in the 22nd inning,” Smith said. “We went into the last inning with clear heads and ready to finish it.” Erin Roberts led off the bottom of the 22nd with a single before Lauren Espe and Meredith Parish followed with bunt singles to load the bases. Smith didn’t waste time, sending the first offering See SMITH, page B3
College Signings
Hartley track trio set to run on next level
By Eric George/ThisWeek Larry Larson is a former athletics director at Grandview High Hartley coach Richard Jones talks about then-seniors Aisha Cavin (left), Maya Pedersen and Chelsea Scott during a signing ceremony May 11 at the school. School.
By JARROD ULREY ThisWeek Community Newspapers
During the past four seasons, the Hartley High School girls track and field team became one of the state’s elite sprinting factories. Athletes such as 2009 graduate Ashlee Hoffman and 2010 graduates CharAnna Dixon and Chesna Sykes got things rolling at the 2008 Division II state meet when the Hawks turned in a fourth-place team finish. That trio led Hartley to a share of the 2009 state championship and to a runner-up finish in 2010, and Sykes (Ohio State) and Dixon (Cincinnati) both now run in college. Another trio that made a significant mark during that stretch, which included another state championship this year, will be joining Sykes and Dixon at the collegiate level next spring. After helping the Hawks score
47 points to capture the state title June 3-4 at Ohio State ahead of runner-up Toledo Rogers (30), Aisha Cavin, Maya Pedersen and Chelsea Scott each will be competing in college. Cavin signed in May to compete for Ohio State, while Pedersen and Scott signed with Dayton and Pittsburgh, respectively, in February. Cavin verbally committed to the Buckeyes in April after also considering Oregon. In the 2011 state meet, Cavin finished third in the 100 meters (12.49 seconds) and ninth in the 400 (63.36). She also ran on the 800 relay (1:40.72) and 1,600 relay (3:50.13), both of which finished first. Cavin will join an Ohio State program that had its 400 relay finish ninth (42.94) to earn second-team All-America honors at the NCAA outdoor champiSee HAWKS, page B2