Not off the Press: Basketball in June and Wooden Bat Baseball 
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
What a two days of covering wooden bat baseball at Shaffer Park, and in between there was girls high school basketball in June.
Yes, you read that right, high school basketball in June. (I must be confused, because I talked about high school football in April).
There was a five-team Highland County Girls Basketball Shootout, the first of its kind, held Saturday at the Hillsboro High School and Middle School gyms.
I didn't see every game, but I did get to see all five Highland County teams play, and well, the top two teams in June are McClain and Lynchburg-Clay.
Though it is early, all five teams looked different for the simple fact there were new faces on the court.
You could tell teaching was being done during timeouts and while the games were taking place on the court. At times, it seemed like an actual regular-season game was going on. Still, it was enjoyable to watch, and this is a good thing for the girls basketball programs of Highland County.
Still, I was surprised for the fact, even though these games are in June and they don't count in the standings come the end of November, they were played at a high level, especially the game I watched with McClain and Lynchburg-Clay playing each other. That game was played as physical as it probably will be at the start of January.
In all honestly, walking into the gym Saturday morning, I didn't think these games would be as intense as they were.
Once it gets time for the actual basketball season to get here this November, there should be a lot of interesting things to look forward to come this winter.
This was a good event for the sports writer and sports fan in me for the fact it was a nice diversion from baseball season. Fall sports season will be here soon enough, so since I haven't seen any high school basketball since the tournament runs of the Whiteoak and Fairfield ended this past March, it is a good thing the NBA Playoffs kept me in basketball mode for a few months longer, just in time for these summer basketball events.
Speaking of high school basketball, the boys shootout will be this coming Saturday at Fairfield High School. The games will be two 20-minute halves (running clock except for the final minute of each half). If games are ties after 2nd half, there will be a two-minute overtime. After that, there is a sudden death.
Here is the schedule:
Fairfield High School Gym
9 a.m. — Whiteoak vs. Fairfield
10 a.m. — Hillsboro vs. Lynchburg-Clay
11 a. m. — McClain vs. Hillsboro
12 p.m. — Fairfield vs. McClain
1 p.m. — Whiteoak vs. Lynchburg-Clay
Fairfield Middle School Gym
9 a.m. — McClain vs. Lynchburg-Clay
10 a.m. — Whiteoak vs. McClain
11 a.m. — Fairfield vs. Lynchburg-Clay
12 p.m. — Hillsboro vs. Whiteoak
1 p.m. — Hillsboro vs. Fairfield
• More Basketball
Again, I can't talk about the intensity of these games. It was somewhat like watching a regular-season game, but in June. I think it was a good event, and maybe next year more people will take advantage of attending the event, as it was free for everyone to attend.
• Legion Baseball
OK, enough about basketball until next week.
There were four games at Shaffer Park this past weekend involving the Post 129 club. They were holding their annual Wooden Bat Tournament, and though the host team went 0-4 in their two days on the diamond, it was still a relaxing event to attend.
Post 129 was in the thick of things Friday night, leading in both games against Washington C.H. Post 25 and Madison County Post 105, but like I said in the article, the home team just couldn't hold on.
Saturday was a different story, with Post 129 gaining just two hits combined in their two games.
The good thing is there are still plenty of games left for Post 129 to get things going on the right track. If they can get a few more hits, cut down some fielding miscues and cut down issuing walks to their opponents, they still have a good chance of making a run at things this summer.
For example on Friday night in their second game, Post 129 was leading after the sixth inning, and though they lost by three runs, they were still in the game.
Perfecting the basics of baseball can go a long way on the scoreboard.
• Thoughts on state and national sports
1. Rory Mcllroy put on a show at the U.S. Open, but I think it is too soon to call him the next Tiger Woods, as its says on ESPN.com. I'm tired of all the comparisons to athletes who haven't accomplished anything near to the people who they are being compared to.
2. It was a rare day on Sunday to see Jimmie Johnson get down a couple laps and not make a full comeback.
3. Have you seen the upcoming schedule for the Reds? Could be rough since they have just one win in interleague play this season.
4. If I were the Cleveland Cavaliers, I'd draft Derrick Williams from Arizona with my No. 1 pick.
5. Finally got the chance to read the book by Michael Waltrip titled: "In the Blink of an Eye." I liked some of the stories, just didn't have enough in it for me to love the book, but still it is worth reading even if you aren't a fan of NASCAR.
6. The college football preview magazines with Terrelle Pryor on the cover make me laugh. Plus, with the NFL ones, I'm not buying until I know there is a season going to be played.
7. Anyone else read the ESPN list where the Cincinnati Bengals were ranked No. 122 out of 122 for professional sports teams? How awful do you have to be to be ranked not only last, but worse than the L.A. Clippers? No team should be ranked worse than the L.A. Clippers.
8. I wonder when Zack Cozart will get the call to join the Reds this season?
9. My goal by the end of the summer is to find a professional soccer team to at least keep track of. Once I find a team, I'll go from there. Any suggestions?
10. About the Reds, they need to play at least .500 baseball in their upcoming series with
the Yankees, Orioles, Rays and Indians. Being that they only trail the Cardinals and Brewers by two games in the standings, I feel at least .500 baseball will keep them in the mix when the interleague schedule is finished for the season.
• Stat of the Week
I'm going to have to go with the Madison County and Hillsboro Legion game where there were a combined 24 walks between both teams, Friday night.
• One last item of business
Once we get more local sports for NOTP … watch out. But in all honestly, I hope everyone enjoys (or at least tolerates) reading this Monday column, and like always, I'm open to any suggestions that anyone may have.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com.[[In-content Ad]]
Yes, you read that right, high school basketball in June. (I must be confused, because I talked about high school football in April).
There was a five-team Highland County Girls Basketball Shootout, the first of its kind, held Saturday at the Hillsboro High School and Middle School gyms.
I didn't see every game, but I did get to see all five Highland County teams play, and well, the top two teams in June are McClain and Lynchburg-Clay.
Though it is early, all five teams looked different for the simple fact there were new faces on the court.
You could tell teaching was being done during timeouts and while the games were taking place on the court. At times, it seemed like an actual regular-season game was going on. Still, it was enjoyable to watch, and this is a good thing for the girls basketball programs of Highland County.
Still, I was surprised for the fact, even though these games are in June and they don't count in the standings come the end of November, they were played at a high level, especially the game I watched with McClain and Lynchburg-Clay playing each other. That game was played as physical as it probably will be at the start of January.
In all honestly, walking into the gym Saturday morning, I didn't think these games would be as intense as they were.
Once it gets time for the actual basketball season to get here this November, there should be a lot of interesting things to look forward to come this winter.
This was a good event for the sports writer and sports fan in me for the fact it was a nice diversion from baseball season. Fall sports season will be here soon enough, so since I haven't seen any high school basketball since the tournament runs of the Whiteoak and Fairfield ended this past March, it is a good thing the NBA Playoffs kept me in basketball mode for a few months longer, just in time for these summer basketball events.
Speaking of high school basketball, the boys shootout will be this coming Saturday at Fairfield High School. The games will be two 20-minute halves (running clock except for the final minute of each half). If games are ties after 2nd half, there will be a two-minute overtime. After that, there is a sudden death.
Here is the schedule:
Fairfield High School Gym
9 a.m. — Whiteoak vs. Fairfield
10 a.m. — Hillsboro vs. Lynchburg-Clay
11 a. m. — McClain vs. Hillsboro
12 p.m. — Fairfield vs. McClain
1 p.m. — Whiteoak vs. Lynchburg-Clay
Fairfield Middle School Gym
9 a.m. — McClain vs. Lynchburg-Clay
10 a.m. — Whiteoak vs. McClain
11 a.m. — Fairfield vs. Lynchburg-Clay
12 p.m. — Hillsboro vs. Whiteoak
1 p.m. — Hillsboro vs. Fairfield
• More Basketball
Again, I can't talk about the intensity of these games. It was somewhat like watching a regular-season game, but in June. I think it was a good event, and maybe next year more people will take advantage of attending the event, as it was free for everyone to attend.
• Legion Baseball
OK, enough about basketball until next week.
There were four games at Shaffer Park this past weekend involving the Post 129 club. They were holding their annual Wooden Bat Tournament, and though the host team went 0-4 in their two days on the diamond, it was still a relaxing event to attend.
Post 129 was in the thick of things Friday night, leading in both games against Washington C.H. Post 25 and Madison County Post 105, but like I said in the article, the home team just couldn't hold on.
Saturday was a different story, with Post 129 gaining just two hits combined in their two games.
The good thing is there are still plenty of games left for Post 129 to get things going on the right track. If they can get a few more hits, cut down some fielding miscues and cut down issuing walks to their opponents, they still have a good chance of making a run at things this summer.
For example on Friday night in their second game, Post 129 was leading after the sixth inning, and though they lost by three runs, they were still in the game.
Perfecting the basics of baseball can go a long way on the scoreboard.
• Thoughts on state and national sports
1. Rory Mcllroy put on a show at the U.S. Open, but I think it is too soon to call him the next Tiger Woods, as its says on ESPN.com. I'm tired of all the comparisons to athletes who haven't accomplished anything near to the people who they are being compared to.
2. It was a rare day on Sunday to see Jimmie Johnson get down a couple laps and not make a full comeback.
3. Have you seen the upcoming schedule for the Reds? Could be rough since they have just one win in interleague play this season.
4. If I were the Cleveland Cavaliers, I'd draft Derrick Williams from Arizona with my No. 1 pick.
5. Finally got the chance to read the book by Michael Waltrip titled: "In the Blink of an Eye." I liked some of the stories, just didn't have enough in it for me to love the book, but still it is worth reading even if you aren't a fan of NASCAR.
6. The college football preview magazines with Terrelle Pryor on the cover make me laugh. Plus, with the NFL ones, I'm not buying until I know there is a season going to be played.
7. Anyone else read the ESPN list where the Cincinnati Bengals were ranked No. 122 out of 122 for professional sports teams? How awful do you have to be to be ranked not only last, but worse than the L.A. Clippers? No team should be ranked worse than the L.A. Clippers.
8. I wonder when Zack Cozart will get the call to join the Reds this season?
9. My goal by the end of the summer is to find a professional soccer team to at least keep track of. Once I find a team, I'll go from there. Any suggestions?
10. About the Reds, they need to play at least .500 baseball in their upcoming series with
the Yankees, Orioles, Rays and Indians. Being that they only trail the Cardinals and Brewers by two games in the standings, I feel at least .500 baseball will keep them in the mix when the interleague schedule is finished for the season.
• Stat of the Week
I'm going to have to go with the Madison County and Hillsboro Legion game where there were a combined 24 walks between both teams, Friday night.
• One last item of business
Once we get more local sports for NOTP … watch out. But in all honestly, I hope everyone enjoys (or at least tolerates) reading this Monday column, and like always, I'm open to any suggestions that anyone may have.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com.[[In-content Ad]]