ThisWeek Community Newspapers Worthington
July 21, 2011
CALL 740-888-6054
Page C1
WEB www.ThisWeekSPORTS.com
FAX 740-888-6006
Top Individual Performances: No. 4
Wildcats’ Smith shined in 22-inning marathon 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 headto-head with Sarah Phillips of Olentangy Liberty for 22 innings in a Di-
vision 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 extra-inning 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 See SMITH, page C2
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.
Courtesy of Ronnie Bianco/The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State’s Kendyl Reed, a 2009 Kilbourne graduate, goes up for a header during a game against Minnesota last season. After scoring 36 goals in her final three seasons in high school, Reed has one goal and two assists in her first two seasons at Ohio State. She might move from midfield to defense in the coming season.
Women’s Soccer
Reed accepts new role at OSU By PAUL BATTERSON ThisWeek Community Newspapers Kendyl Reed and Liz Sullivan met long before they helped the Ohio State women’s soccer team advance to its first College Cup. The thought of playing for the Buckeyes never entered their minds, Reed said. They were 7 years old. “I never really thought about that kind of stuff,” said Reed, a 2009 Worthington Kilbourne High School graduate. “I never thought Liz and I would be together for so long or be this successful.” Reed and Sullivan, a 2008 Olentangy Liberty graduate, were part of unprecedented success for the Buckeyes last year.
Not only did Ohio State reach the Final Four, where it lost a national semifinal to Notre Dame 1-0 on Dec. 3 in Cary, N.C., it matched the program-record for wins with a 17-5-2 record and earned a share of its first Big Ten Conference title by tying Penn State with an 8-2 league mark. In the postseason, Ohio State defeated St. Francis (Pa.) 1-0, Dayton (4-2 in penalty kicks after a scoreless tie), Virginia 3-2 and Georgetown 2-0 to reach the College Cup. “It was kind of surreal. We didn’t really feel nervous because we had never been that far,” Reed said. “I was just kind of taking it all in and just enjoying the moment.” Reed said a 1-0 loss to Michigan State in the 2009 regular-season finale served
as motivation for last year. The loss cost the Buckeyes a chance to win the Big Ten title. “Being so close to that Big Ten championship was really frustrating, but at the same time it sparked a fire in us,” Reed said. “We wanted to at least win the Big Ten last year. That continuous drive was the main thing that kept us going all year.” Reed has been working to adapt to the college game. She scored 36 goals in her final three years at Kilbourne, including 12 with 15 assists as a senior to earn OCC-Central Division Player of the Year honors. But in her first two seasons with the Buckeyes, Reed had one goal and two assists.
“It’s a completely different level,” said Reed, who played in every game last season with one start. “The speed of play is 10 times faster. “In high school I was able to get by on just my physical abilities. In college everyone is at the same level of athleticism. In order to stand out you have to have that special skill and be smart on the field. You can’t rely on your natural talent. You have to keep working on your skills.” Sullivan, who has been named captain for the 2011 season, said she has seen Reed’s game evolve. “Kendyl is the one I have played with the longest on the team and I always See REED, page C3
Legion Baseball
Post 239 repeats as District 12 champion By FRANK DiRENNA
to seeing in the tournaments
ThisWeek Community Newspapers that we’ve been to during the
By Paul Vernon/ThisWeek
Larry Larson is a former athlet- Dan Eurich (with helmet) of Worthington Post 239 celebrates with his teammates after hitting a ics director at Grandview High grand slam in the fourth inning during a 16-4 drubbing of Gahanna Post 797G in the District 12 championship game July 16 at Thomas Worthington. School.
The Worthington Post 239 baseball team turned in a dominating performance in winning its second consecutive American Legion District 12 tournament. Post 239 won three games convincingly, capped by a 16-4 victory in seven innings over Gahanna Post 797G on July 16 at Thomas Worthington High School. Post 239, which improved to 24-9, begins state tournament play Monday, July 25, at Beavers Field in Lancaster. The tournament draw takes place Sunday, July 24. Post 239, which finished 2-2 in last season’s state tournament and 30-6 overall, is seeking its first state championship since 1993. “It will be an eye-opener a little bit when they go down to Lancaster and play,” Post 239 coach Jim Townsend said. “We were there last year and we won two and lost two. It’s good competition. It’s what we’re used
season. We’re going to have to play our best baseball to win down there.” After receiving a first-round bye, top-seeded Post 239 defeated Don Gentile Post 532W (Westland) 11-1 in seven innings on July 13 and Post 797G 9-3 on July 14. Post 797G earned another chance to face Post 239 in the double-elimination tournament by beating Columbus (Hartley) Post 430 8-1 earlier on July 16. Post 797G needed a win against Post 239 to force another game July 17. Instead, Post 239 broke open a close game with four runs in the fourth inning and six in the sixth. Leading 5-4 in the fourth, center fielder Dan Eurich, who is in his first season with Post 239, delivered the big hit — a towering grand slam to left field. “It definitely got all the momentum back,” Eurich said. See POST 239, page C2