While graduation ceremonies still have yet to happen across Southwest Ohio this spring, area high school football fans are already turning their attention to August – when the football season and the new school year begins.
The annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown will undoubtedly whet the appetite for that high school football craving this week. Event organizers will hold a news conference Tuesday afternoon at the University of Cincinnati to announce the highly anticipated schedule of games.
While organizers have declined to reveal the lineups until Tuesday, several fans have posted speculation on various online message boards in anticipation of the announcement. The local media also has a unique interest in the event since the Showdown annually features several area teams across a couple of days during Week 1.
Caleb Watkins, Middletown
File photo by Todd Shurtleff
On Friday, Middletown coach Jason Krause reportedly told the Middletown Journal that his team will play in the Showdown, but the publication didn’t reveal the opponent. Maybe the most anticipated day of the event will be Sunday in late August when Wayne (Huber Heights) will play Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati) in a nationally televised cable game at St. Xavier, according to the Dayton Daily News.
Wayne features standout quarterback Braxton Miller, who is one of the nation’s top recruits in the 2011 class. He has offers from the likes of Ohio State, Alabama, Florida and Southern California, among others. Moeller features defensive end Jesse Hayes, who has 17 scholarship offers, including Cincinnati, Tennessee and several others.
2. Coldwater football coach dies: Coldwater football coach John Reed died early Friday morning after battling cancer, according to the Dayton Daily News. Reed, who was 64 years old, coached at Coldwater from 1995-2009 and had a 168-31 record, according to the publication. Coldwater won state titles in 2005 and ’07 and was state runner-up in 1998, 2000 and ’09. Reed had a 283-126-1 record – ranking him No. 11 in all-time for wins in the state, according to the Dayton Daily News.
3. Postseason baseball, softball: The playoffs begin this week across Southwest Ohio for baseball and softball teams, as well as various tennis players. The state baseball tournament is June 3-5 in Columbus while the state softball tournament is in Akron the same weekend. The state tennis tournament is May 28-29 at Ohio State University. The track and field postseason begins May 17 with district meets. The state meet is June 4-5 at Ohio State.
4. Hamilton Ross enjoys success: The Ross (Hamilton) baseball and softball teams have high expectations for this postseason after very strong regular seasons for each program. The baseball team is No. 5 in the Division III state coaches poll and the Rams are No. 1 in the Cincinnati Enquirer area coaches poll. The Rams (20-4) won the Fort Ancient Valley Conference Scarlet division. Casey Vatter is hitting .474 with two home runs, 11 doubles and 33 RBI to lead the Rams at the start of this week. The pitching staff had more than 127 strikeouts. The softball team, which is the reigning Division II state champions, is No. 1 in the Enquirer poll. Senior pitcher Brittany Fernandez is hitting .541 with nine doubles, four triples and 25 RBI. She is 15-3 with 141 strikeouts and a 1.82 ERA for the Rams.
5. Monroe names football coach: Brett Stubbs is expected to be the new head football coach at Monroe, pending Board of Education approval today. Stubbs would replace Ken Meibers III, who recently stepped down to take the same position at Norwood. Stubbs was a defensive coordinator at Middletown since July 2008. He coached at Monroe from 2004 to ’08. "I’m very excited," Stubbs told the Middletown Journal. "I feel like I’m coming home." Monroe reached the Division III playoffs last season.
Among the outstanding efforts this week
Chase Stevens, Harrison: The senior threw five scoreless innings and didn’t allow a hit as Harrison defeated Western Hills 13-0 on Wednesday, according to the Enquirer. Stevens improved to 9-0 after that game.
Lauren Collier, Kings Mills Kings: The senior had 17 strikeouts in a 2-0 win over Milford on Wednesday, according to the Enquirer. Colliers earned her 13th shutout of the season.
Ronnie Burns, Dayton Carroll: The senior pitcher had 19 strikeouts in seven innings as the Patriots defeated Dayton Stivers 9-1, according to the Dayton Daily News. He allowed just one hit.
Looking ahead
Wyoming (Cincinnati) at Finneytown (Cincinnati) baseball, 5 p.m. Tuesday: These Cincinnati Hills League rivals play in the first round of the Division II sectional tournament in what will be one of the more intriguing matchups this postseason. The winner plays No. 2 seed New Richmond on Thursday.
Glen Este (Cincinnati) vs. Western Brown (Mt. Orab) softball, 5 p.m. Wednesday: Glen Este, the No. 2 seed in the Cincinnati Division I sectional, was one of the best teams in Southwest Ohio all season. Glen Este (20-4) has won five consecutive games. Kayla Steinmetz has a league-leading seven home runs. Glen Este is a favorite to reach the sectional final at Mason on May 17.
Wilmington vs. Oakwood (Dayton) softball, 5 p.m. Thursday: Wilmington, the No. 1 seed in the Dayton Division II sectional plays a home game on Thursday in the sectional semifinal. Wilmington pitcher Stephanie Byrne is among the best in the area. She has 15 wins and more than 200 strikeouts.
Recruiting news
Fairfield junior linebacker Marquise Vann (6-2, 215) recently added offers from Akron and Central Michigan. He also has offers from Minnesota, Michigan State and others. … Westerville Central junior tight end Nick Vannett (6-6, 235) has reportedly added offers from Iowa and South Florida, according to ScoutingOhio.com. He also reportedly has offers from Indiana, Ohio State , West Virginia, Kentucky, Notre Dame, Arizona, Boston College and several others. … Hamilton senior shooting guard Scott Purcell has committed to play college basketball at Wooster, according to the Enquirer. Purcell is seventh on Badin’s all-time scoring list with 856 points.
Random thoughts
West Chester Lakota West junior offensive lineman Ryan Kelly (6-5, 282) has been nominated for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, which will be played in January 2011 in San Antonio. … Michael Arlinghaus will be the new Talawanda (Oxford) boys basketball coach, pending Board of Education approval. … Cincinnati St. Xavier was No. 1 in the Division I state boys tennis coaches poll for the second consecutive week. The Bombers are the reigning state champions.
