Sports
RIPON
RECAP RiponPress.com Sports Poll
Thursday, June 14, 2012 - Page 21
Dust settles on Tigers’ season
Last week’s sports question on RiponPress. com asked readers what the most impressive individual accomplishment was during the week of May 31 to June 5. Here are the results: ‰ Joe Ott finishing sixth at state track meet 28% ‰ Ryonen Faris placing 12th at state golf meet 51% ‰ Ashley Graff winning her 20th game 21% This week’s question: Do you plan on running in any of the local races this summer? ‰ Yes, the Doug Lyke 5k Sunrise or Twilight Run ‰ Yes, the Green Lake Area Half Marathon ‰ Yes, but the race isn’t listed above ‰ No, training and running is too much work To vote, log on to www. riponpress.com and click on Sports. The poll is located on the right side of the page. Poll results will be published in the following week’s Commonwealth.
LOCAL
SPOTLIGHT ABOVE AND INSET, seniors Lily Jorgensen, left, and Ashley Graff embrace following a 4-3 sectional final loss to West De Pere in 11 innings last week Thursday at Little Chute High School. In the main photo, juniors Jordan Krentz (14) and Alyssa Lind (16) walk off the field. Jonathan Bailey photos
Extra-inning loss prevents Ripon from first-ever state berth by Jonathan Bailey jonathanb@riponprinters.com
Harvey Koentopp Usually “choke up” in baseball means grasping the bat higher to the hitting surface. But Saturday morning it referred to long-time Ripon umpire Harvey Koentopp getting emotional while being honored for 36 and 25 years of umpiring youth baseball and softball, respectively. Every March to August, he umpires from 125 to 130 games. Koentopp has no regrets about missed or bad calls during his career behind the plate, but notes that “Once in awhile the parents get on the umpire’s nerves because they don’t know the rules.” Still, he umps “not for myself, but for the love of the game.” For more on Ripon Youth Baseball and Softball, see page 23.
INSIDE
SPORTS ‰ Faris gets off to good
start at Junior PGA’s first tournament see page 22
‰ Ripon High School
athletes earn all-conference see page 24 honors
BY THE
NUMBERS 32 The number of Ripon High School athletes that earned all-conference recognition for the spring season. Among them are eight players from the softball team and 14 track and field athletes. In addition, two Tigers were named the player of the year in their respective sports. To find out who was recognized and what teams they were selected to, see the graphic on page 24.
FROM LEFT, ABY Grasee, Erin Carley, Taylor Vander Plas, Brooke Brewer, Kallin Splittgaber, Ana Sparks and Kayla Putzer Jonathan Bailey photo react to the loss during a team meeting.
Registration for Green Lake soccer camp underway
Ashley Graff and the Ripon High School softball team made a habit of getting out of jams last week Thursday. So when the Tigers threw out the potential winning run at the plate for the second out in the bottom of the 11th inning, the epic battle looked like it might continue for a while longer. But West De Pere had other ideas. MacKenzie Dorow doubled to the right centerfield fence on a two-strike count to snap a 0-for-5 day at the plate and give the Phantoms a 4-3 sectional final victory over Ripon at Little Chute High School. The loss marks a heartbreaking end to Ripon’s pursuit of its first-ever trip to the state tournament. The squad finished the
Her double came shortly after year with a record of 24-3. “It’s not the ending you want, Kayla Putzer was called out on a but I’m proud of the kids,” Ripon close play that could have gone head coach Jeff Krentz said. either way at first base. Lily Jor“They played their hearts out and gensen, who started the inning never gave up. Unfortunately, we with a single, scored the run. In the bottom of the inning, didn’t get the key hit and they West De Pere’s did. I’ve never Heidi Van Sisbeen prouder of t’s not the ending you t i n e h i t t h e a group of kids. “It’s a tough want, but I’m proud first pitch over the centerfield way to lose, but they’ve done a of the kids. They played their fence to tie the lot this year: 24 hearts out and never gave up.” game and take some of the air wins, regional Jeff Krentz out of Ripon championship, Ripon head softball coach sails. sectional final. “ We ’v e I’m proud as hell of them. I love every one been getting Van Sistine [out] with a curveball outside all day of them.” Making the loss even tougher and I don’t know if we didn’t to swallow is the fact the Ti- get it out far enough or what, gers were three outs away from but she’s a great hitter and tied punching their ticket to the state it up,” Krentz said. “It went back after a Taylor Vander Plas twoout RBI double in the ninth. See SETTLES/ page 28
“I
Charging into a new season
by Andrea Lyke alyke92@gmail.com
When the last school bell has rung, many area youth look to their parents with boredom in their eyes. The fourth-annual Tom Jones Memorial Green Lake Soccer Camp offers a fix. The four-day camp will run from June 25 to 28 at Green Lake High School, 612 Mill St., Green Lake. Girls and boys ages 4 to 18 are eligible to participate. Children ages 4 to 7 attend camp from 9 to 10:30 a.m. each day, while youth ages 8 to 18 meet from 9 to 11 a.m. All skill levels are welcome. Players need to bring only shin guards and their soccer enthusiasm. Water, juice and fruit will be provided. Green Lake Bank will sponsor a free family picnic on the last day of camp after practice. The picnic is for participants as
See UNDERWAY/ page 24
ISAAC STOLLFUS RUNS onto the field with his older sister, Amber Sandstrom, and other members of the Girls’ Senior Black Team during last week Saturday’s Diamond Day, which kicked off the new season of Ripon Youth Baseball and Softball. Team members running on are, from left, Amber Sandstrom, Kendra Oskola and Amber Taylor. For more photos from the event, turn to page 23. Ian Stepleton photo