One final look at 2010
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Since this is the last edition of The Highland County Press for the 2010 calendar year, I thought it would be a good time to turn back the clock and look back at some of the top games I had the opportunity to attend this year. My journey back in time starts on Jan. 1 and ends on Dec. 22, 2010.
This is not a Top 10 or 20 list, but a look back at games I attended and memories I made as the year comes to an end.
The first one on my list occurred early last basketball season (Jan. 3) at the Patriot Center in the inaugural SHL-SCOL Challenge. The game involved the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs and McClain Tigers. It was the second game of the three-game event at SSCC.
Mentioned in the story was how Jorden DeHaas put the game in his hands by making the eventual shots that led to a LC 54-53 overtime win over the Tigers.
There is nothing like overtime to start off a sports calendar year, and if I knew what waited ahead for the rest of the year, and what sporting events I’d have the privilege and opportunity to cover, I wouldn’t have believed you.
Then came a game, I believe on Jan. 23, involving the Hillsboro Indians and the previously-mentioned Tiger team. Again, the Tigers came out on the losing end in OT. Hillsboro won the game 55-52 at MHS. HHS gained the win with a one-handed falling jumper by Aric Steagall with 33.3 seconds left, adding to what already is one of the best rivalries around.
Another game I want to mention involves, yet again, McClain High School, but this time the Lady Tigers basketball team, facing off with the Miami Trace Lady Panthers.
I described this contest as a game that shifted the balance of power in the South Central Ohio League. Let me set the stage for you. MT came in as the six-time defending SCOL champions in girls basketball, and well, they were on their way to a seventh straight title, but for one night, it was MHS who were the victors, defeating MT, 54-49 at MHS. This game was the girls sporting event where there were cheerleaders making a rare appearance. Plus, this game had everything, including a 1,000-point achievement by Kate Hammond, becoming only the fourth Lady Tiger to achieve the feat.
Feb. 11 proved to be an “electric” night for the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs as they won the Division I SHL title in what was Linda Hatten’s final home game as coach of LC. What made this game fun to watch was LC had defeated the Division II SHL champs (Fayetteville), sending Coach Hatten out a winner.
Also in February, the Lady Tigers defeated Unioto in the postseason tournament for the second straight year, and that night the boys Tiger team had a second-half rally that can only be described as amazing. MHS rallied from down 21 points in the second half for a 61-60 win over Miami Trace at MTHS.
Near the end of the boys basketball regular season of 2009-10, the Peebles Indians defeated Lynchburg-Clay on the game’s final shot. If that wasn’t the game of the year, or at least finish of the year in the SHL, I’d sure like to know what was.
Then came spring sports, with many great games that I don’t have the space to put into full detail.
There were the McClain Tigers who were the kings of comeback wins, the three-day, 14-inning baseball game between MHS and HHS, with HHS finally winning at Shaffer Park. The game-winning RBI came off the bat of Garrett Bell.
The Wildcats and Lions had an extra-inning battle that was decided on a hit-by-pitch. Whiteoak won at FHS.
HHS softball defeated their rival McClain, though MHS had a six-run, two-out rally, which made the game interesting. HHS softball made it interesting on April 14 with a four-run, seventh-inning rally to defeat the Fairfield Lady Lions, 6-5.
The HHS baseball team had a nine-run inning against MT for a 10-4 win. HHS trailed by three runs with six outs when they gained the needed win to stay alive in the SCOL hunt. MHS and HHS eventually shared the title.
Watching good sports didn’t stop once the high school season ended for the summer. This was the first year I covered the Cincinnati Reds on a semi-regular basis (I went when I had the time.) I should start gambling more because I picked out some fun baseball games to cover.
Thanks to Rob Butcher and his staff in Cincinnati, I was able to attend what turned out to be the best Reds moment of the year, with them winning the NL Central title. Then later in October, I covered the NLDS Game 3, and just being able to cover an MLB Playoff game was enough for me to realize maybe hard work does pay off.
Speaking of hard work, the Post 129 American Legion baseball team was probably the most fun I’ve had covering a single team for a regular basis. That team’s success took me to uncharted territory in covering a team at a state tournament.
Their run in the district tournament was amazing, as they just kept winning and winning in different ways. Like I’ve said before, they were the real “Boys of Summer.”
Once I finally had all the baseball out of my system, football season came and went, but not without its moments. The McClain Tigers won the Rotary Bowl and had a winning season at 6-4, its first winning season in a number of years.
Also in fall sports, I got to watch Jon McDonald run in Columbus in the State Cross Country Meet. That was a cool event for the fact I had never seen that many people at a cross county event. And I can’t forget covering the MHS Tigers winning their second straight SCOL championship in boys soccer.
There were events I didn’t get to see, like the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs clinching a perfect SHL season in baseball. WHS won Division II of the SHL, and I was actually there for that game. They defeated FHS for the second time; this time the score was 11-9. Highland County had two wrestlers (Andrew Goolsby and Caleb Cooper) make the state tournament. There were athletes who threw no-hitters in baseball/softball, as well.
I know I am forgetting some games I attended, but that is what archives are for. The deadline for my column is nearing, so my final comments for this calendar year are: Thank you athletes of Highland County for allowing me to do what I love to do each and every day.
Again, thanks for making this all worthwhile. Congrats to all the athletes (mentioned and not mentioned) for their accomplishments in 2010.
I can’t wait for 2011.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
This is not a Top 10 or 20 list, but a look back at games I attended and memories I made as the year comes to an end.
The first one on my list occurred early last basketball season (Jan. 3) at the Patriot Center in the inaugural SHL-SCOL Challenge. The game involved the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs and McClain Tigers. It was the second game of the three-game event at SSCC.
Mentioned in the story was how Jorden DeHaas put the game in his hands by making the eventual shots that led to a LC 54-53 overtime win over the Tigers.
There is nothing like overtime to start off a sports calendar year, and if I knew what waited ahead for the rest of the year, and what sporting events I’d have the privilege and opportunity to cover, I wouldn’t have believed you.
Then came a game, I believe on Jan. 23, involving the Hillsboro Indians and the previously-mentioned Tiger team. Again, the Tigers came out on the losing end in OT. Hillsboro won the game 55-52 at MHS. HHS gained the win with a one-handed falling jumper by Aric Steagall with 33.3 seconds left, adding to what already is one of the best rivalries around.
Another game I want to mention involves, yet again, McClain High School, but this time the Lady Tigers basketball team, facing off with the Miami Trace Lady Panthers.
I described this contest as a game that shifted the balance of power in the South Central Ohio League. Let me set the stage for you. MT came in as the six-time defending SCOL champions in girls basketball, and well, they were on their way to a seventh straight title, but for one night, it was MHS who were the victors, defeating MT, 54-49 at MHS. This game was the girls sporting event where there were cheerleaders making a rare appearance. Plus, this game had everything, including a 1,000-point achievement by Kate Hammond, becoming only the fourth Lady Tiger to achieve the feat.
Feb. 11 proved to be an “electric” night for the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs as they won the Division I SHL title in what was Linda Hatten’s final home game as coach of LC. What made this game fun to watch was LC had defeated the Division II SHL champs (Fayetteville), sending Coach Hatten out a winner.
Also in February, the Lady Tigers defeated Unioto in the postseason tournament for the second straight year, and that night the boys Tiger team had a second-half rally that can only be described as amazing. MHS rallied from down 21 points in the second half for a 61-60 win over Miami Trace at MTHS.
Near the end of the boys basketball regular season of 2009-10, the Peebles Indians defeated Lynchburg-Clay on the game’s final shot. If that wasn’t the game of the year, or at least finish of the year in the SHL, I’d sure like to know what was.
Then came spring sports, with many great games that I don’t have the space to put into full detail.
There were the McClain Tigers who were the kings of comeback wins, the three-day, 14-inning baseball game between MHS and HHS, with HHS finally winning at Shaffer Park. The game-winning RBI came off the bat of Garrett Bell.
The Wildcats and Lions had an extra-inning battle that was decided on a hit-by-pitch. Whiteoak won at FHS.
HHS softball defeated their rival McClain, though MHS had a six-run, two-out rally, which made the game interesting. HHS softball made it interesting on April 14 with a four-run, seventh-inning rally to defeat the Fairfield Lady Lions, 6-5.
The HHS baseball team had a nine-run inning against MT for a 10-4 win. HHS trailed by three runs with six outs when they gained the needed win to stay alive in the SCOL hunt. MHS and HHS eventually shared the title.
Watching good sports didn’t stop once the high school season ended for the summer. This was the first year I covered the Cincinnati Reds on a semi-regular basis (I went when I had the time.) I should start gambling more because I picked out some fun baseball games to cover.
Thanks to Rob Butcher and his staff in Cincinnati, I was able to attend what turned out to be the best Reds moment of the year, with them winning the NL Central title. Then later in October, I covered the NLDS Game 3, and just being able to cover an MLB Playoff game was enough for me to realize maybe hard work does pay off.
Speaking of hard work, the Post 129 American Legion baseball team was probably the most fun I’ve had covering a single team for a regular basis. That team’s success took me to uncharted territory in covering a team at a state tournament.
Their run in the district tournament was amazing, as they just kept winning and winning in different ways. Like I’ve said before, they were the real “Boys of Summer.”
Once I finally had all the baseball out of my system, football season came and went, but not without its moments. The McClain Tigers won the Rotary Bowl and had a winning season at 6-4, its first winning season in a number of years.
Also in fall sports, I got to watch Jon McDonald run in Columbus in the State Cross Country Meet. That was a cool event for the fact I had never seen that many people at a cross county event. And I can’t forget covering the MHS Tigers winning their second straight SCOL championship in boys soccer.
There were events I didn’t get to see, like the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs clinching a perfect SHL season in baseball. WHS won Division II of the SHL, and I was actually there for that game. They defeated FHS for the second time; this time the score was 11-9. Highland County had two wrestlers (Andrew Goolsby and Caleb Cooper) make the state tournament. There were athletes who threw no-hitters in baseball/softball, as well.
I know I am forgetting some games I attended, but that is what archives are for. The deadline for my column is nearing, so my final comments for this calendar year are: Thank you athletes of Highland County for allowing me to do what I love to do each and every day.
Again, thanks for making this all worthwhile. Congrats to all the athletes (mentioned and not mentioned) for their accomplishments in 2010.
I can’t wait for 2011.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]