By Dean Eversole
MaxPreps.com
Football: Saine Sprints to the Buckeyes
Brandon Saine is a junior speedster from Piqua, and although his name is pronounced SANE, the speed he possesses is nothing short of being insane.
Saine, a running back for the Piqua Indians and a star sprinter on the track team, has decided that the Ohio State football program is the best stage for his talents. The junior gave his verbal commitment to the Buckeyes earlier this month and will provide Jim Tressel with yet another multi-talented star. Saine's football status began rising this past summer and it rocketed after his 2005 football campaign.
Saine was named the Great Western Ohio Conference (West Division) player of the year, beating out another OSU recruit, Kurt Coleman of Northmont, for the honor. He tallied nearly 2,000 yards from the line of scrimmage and scored 21 touchdowns. Saine's stable of skills and ability to score from any point on the field has brought comparisons to a current Buckeye star; Ted Ginn, Jr. Like Ginn, his role at OSU will be that of a big play threat from multiple positions.
The Piqua senior-to-be broke the state record in the 100 meter this spring with a time of 10.38, and has run a 46.80 in the 400.
Baseball: Versailles Zac Richard Big On and Off the Field
He is a big star, literally, on the baseball diamond. At 6-5 and 250 pounds, Versailles' Zac Richard is tearing the cover off the baseball and mowing down hitters. The Xavier-bound Richard is batting .500 at the plate, with 12 home runs and 41 runs batted in. Needless to say, Richard is one of most prolific hitters in the state.
He is also 8-0 as the Tigers No. 1 starter and ranks in the top 10 in nearly every offensive and pitching category in the Dayton area. In three tournament games, Richard has allowed one run and struck out 28 hitters in 21 innings pitched.
Baseball: Panthers On the Prowl
Cincinnati Elder. Just the name alone instantly means state titles to those in the baseball world. Elder has tallied a total of 12 state titles, including the 2005 Division I title. Over the last two years Elder is a stunning a 51-4, and after a 24-3 regular season, the Panthers are in the Regionals yet again this year.
The engine turning the Panther machine is pitching and the numbers speak loudly. As a team, they allowed just 24 earned runs during the regular season, less than one per game. If teams are going to score against this Purple pitching giant, they are going to need help.
The best of the best is sophomore Mike Nastold. Nastold completed the year at 5-0 and surrendered one earned run in 35 innings pitched, for a nearly non-existent 0.20 earned run average. Joining Nastold is Matt Klausing, who was 4-0 with an ERA of 1.20.
The stable is full and the Panthers are on the prowl again. Their prey? Consecutive state titles.
Baseball: Nothing But Zeroes for Brunswick's Glad
According to the web blog "The Principal's Office", Brunswick High School pitcher Ryan Glad put his name in the OHSAA record book recently. The senior righty tossed 31 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings, putting him third on the all-time list. Glad tossed five shutouts during the streak.
Track and Field: Oard Soars
Columbus Grove's Jenna Oard bested her own state record in the girls pole vault, becoming the first ever female to reach the 12' mark at the Division III level. Oard won her conference meet with a vault of 12' 1" at the Northwest Conference meet.