Huskies relish a most unexpected journey to state finals

By Dave Mast

Runs like the one the Harrison Central Huskies went on at the end of their 2023 baseball season don’t happen very often, but when they do, those involved tend to bask in the afterglow of a series of moments that draw teammates and coaching staff together like nothing else.

While the Huskies’ season ended on a down note in the Div. III state championship game loss to defending state champion Waynedale Saturday, June 10, at Canal Park in Akron, it didn’t diminish everything this unlikely crew went through to become the first Huskies team to play in the state final since 1982.

A 10-1 loss to the Golden Bears left the players, coaching staff and fans subdued, even as they accepted their state runner-up trophy, but the way this team responded to adversity, meeting every challenge headon, led to a wild ride through tournament play that one day each member will look back on and remember fondly.

“This is something these guys will remember forever,” said HC Head Coach Mike Valesko. “I think sometimes we take it for granted how difficult it is to get to this point.

To put seven wins together and put yourself in position to play for a state championship doesn’t come along too often, and to do it in the fashion that we did, with all of these close games and injuries, it says a lot about this group of young men. These guys simply were not going to quit. They played until the final out every night out and that’s how you create something special like this.”

Usually, teams reaching the state finals aren’t even challenged in the sectional portion of tournament play, but the Huskies had to fight just to get out of sectionals, earning a 1-0 win over a stingy Ridgewood team and a 4-3 win over Martins Ferry, one that came in walk-off fashion.

Districts included a tight 6-4 win over Buckeye Trail, a game that saw the Huskies respond from a 4-1 deficit, before HC demolished Fort Frye 10-0 to move to regionals.

The Huskies then had to battle past Winchester Eastern 8-5, setting up a date with state powerhouse Wheelersburg. After falling behind in the regional final 6-0 after one inning, the Huskies dug deep, somehow finding a way to revive their season by rallying for a 7-6 victory.

The mood after the game was pure elation, and the Huskies wore smiles that Mona Lisa herself would have cherished.

Those who dream big and play even bigger don’t give up easily, and this Huskies team exhibited every characteristic of a winner. Valesko certainly wasn’t about to complain about the tremendous character of this crew.

“We have said for several years now that this group is filled with some really talented baseball players, but it’s so much more than that,” Valesko said. “These are great kids who come from great families, and the moments that we were able to spend together as a team and as a community will be what in the end we will remember the most.”

He said every win brought higher stakes, but each victory also created more opportunities for this close-knit team to bond.

The state tournament appearance, HC’s fourth, saw star Treston Nemeth take the mound. His team spotted him to a 2-0 lead in the third inning and he made it stand up. Once again, the Huskies escaped with the narrowest of winning margins, a 2-1 victory.

The dream continued, the magic was still present.

Maddy Butler recognized as All-Times Leader

By Ed Banks

Harrison News-Herald Sports Writer

CADIZ — Harrison Central’s third-baseman Maddy Butler has spent the last four years proving that basketball, volleyball, and softball are sports that she mastered even before junior-high school.

She is a very gifted athlete, and her absence next year will be abundantly felt. In her personal repute, Butler holds the ability to make the best defenders in any sport to at one time or the other to ask themselves “what just happened?”. That would be after a speedy Butler had dribbled by for a shot, dug-out a would be kill on the volleyball floor, or turned a single into a stand-up double … or even maybe a triple.

The recipient of many inside and outside accolades, Butler has now been named to the 2023 AllTimes Leader Softball Squad.

On the diamond for Harrison, Butler is not only one of the leading hitters from around the valley, but has a defensive glove that seems to be laced with stickem. Of all the talents she holds in softball, Butler has the ability to remember where each hitter has hit in previous trips to the plate. That too makes her a very special player.

On a more recent front, she contributed one of the most significant hits of the OVAC 2023 All-Star Game. She would drive in one of the five scores for Ohio off a triple. Ohio went on to defeat the Mountaineers by a score of 5 to 4.

During her final season as a Husky, Butler earned a batting average of .486, and has hit safely 35 times. Those hits came in the form of eight two-baggers, five three-baggers, and two homers. Attached to those hits were 16 runs that she drove in, and 30 times she crossed the plate herself to score. In addition to that performance, her base percentage was .543. Among all of her softball accolades that she earned, she was named All-Buckeye 8 and All-OVAC.

“Maddie was a four-year starter and was our speedy lead-off hitter,” said Harrison Central Head Softball Coach Darren Young. “We knew that if Maddie got on base there was a good chance she was scoring.”

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR AUTHORITY TO INCREASE RATES FOR ITS GAS DISTRIBUTION SERVICE AND FOR APPROVAL OF AN ALTERNATIVE RATE PLAN NORTHEAST OHIO NATURAL GAS CORP., PUCO CASE NOS. 23-0154-GA-AIR, 23-0155- GA-ATA & 23-0156-GA-ALT

In accordance with Section 4909.19, Revised Code, Northeast Ohio Natural Gas Corp. (“NEO”) hereby gives notice that on March 31, 2023, it filed an Application with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (“Commission”) requesting authority to increase the rates and charges for natural gas distribution services to its customers. NEO has also applied, under Section 4929.05, Revised Code, for approval of an alternative rate plan including two elements.

This notice describes the substance of the Application. Any interested party desiring complete, detailed information with respect to any affected rates, charges, regulations, and practices may inspect a copy of the Application and supporting schedules at the offices of the Commission at 180 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, or at the business office of NEO at 5640 Lancaster- Newark Rd NE, Pleasantville, OH 43148, during normal business hours. The Application and supporting documents may also be viewed by visiting the Commission’s website at http://www.puco.ohio.gov, selecting DIS, inputting 23-0154 in the case lookup box, and selecting the date the Application was filed.

A notice of intent to file this Application to increase rates and a copy of the proposed rates were filed with the Commission and also mailed to the mayors and legislative authorities of the communities located within the areas served by NEO on March 1, 2023. The Application, which contains proposed revisions to NEO’s Tariff for Gas Service, affects the rates and charges for, and various terms and conditions applicable to, natural gas service to all customers of NEO. The Application states that the current rates and charges do not provide a just and reasonable rate of return on NEO’s used and useful property as of December 31, 2022, the date certain in this case. The Application states that NEO requires the proposed revenue increase to provide an opportunity to earn a fair return on its assets and to recover its costs of operation. Any person, firm, corporation, or association may file, pursuant to Section 4909.19 of the Revised Code, an objection to such proposed increased rates by alleging that such proposals are unjust and discriminatory or unreasonable. Recommendations that differ from the Application may be made by the Staff of the Commission or by intervening parties and may be adopted by the Commission.

NEO is also proposing various revisions to non-rate terms and conditions contained in its Tariff for Gas Service, including modifications to the terms and conditions applicable to all customers.The increase in the operating revenue (inclusive of gas costs) requested by NEO for its various rate schedules is as follows:

The team that entered tournament play at 13-12 had somehow shocked the OHSAA baseball world and found its way to the Div. III title game, and Valesko said they did it as a cohesive unit, a group of young men willing to put individual egos aside and play for one another.

Valesko said they talked periodically about reaching this pinnacle, about being the best team in the state of Ohio, but once it happened, they realized how hard that is to do and how rewarding the accomplishment is to play in a championship game.

Valesko said this group talked at length about the last HC team to reach state in 2013, and about how they wanted to repeat that performance. They did so, taking it one step further, and now the memories of this incredible dream trek will provide plenty of golden memories.

“It was a dream-like run, an amazing run, but it was one that these kids made happen through their commitment and hard work,” Valesko said. Those characteristics aren’t dreams, but reality, and the Huskies built their own fortunes in an unexpected tourney run for the ages.

Clellend and Butler are softball all-stars

By Sharon Dalton Harrison News-Herald Sports Writer

CADIZ — Harrison Central hosted the East District Senior All-Star Softball Game on June 4.

Representing Harrison Central were seniors Maddy Butler and Lizzy Clelland. The team consisted of 40 All-Stars. Other local talent included Conotton Valley’s Chloe Stuberand Daphne Stuber; Claymont’s Meadow Duvall; Indian Creek’s Abby Starkey and Alexis Dawson; St. Clairsville’s Abby Salisbury; Union Local’s Emily Kellaway; and Bellaire’s Sophie Porter. Clelland and Butler also had the opportunity to play in the OVAC I470 game against West Virginia. Conotton Valley standout Daphne Stuber scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning as Ohio held on to win, 5-4. Harrison Central’s Maddy Butler was a leader for the Ohio offense with a single, a triple, an RBI and a run scored. Conotton Val - ley’s Madison Kelley was presented a plaque naming her OVAC Class One A Player of the Year.