SPORTSINK.COM PHOTO
Crestwood's Steve Green (left, 1,600) and Nick Chambers (3,200) are among the local athletes competing in the Ravenna Division II Regional track meet at Gilcrest Field at Ravenna Stadium.
Following the crowning of the Kent Roosevelt girls and Southeast boys track teams as Portage Trail Conference Metro Division champions, another title race was decided last weekend. The Ravenna Ravens baseball team closed out its conference schedule in one of the most unusual spring seasons in recent memory with a sweep of Southeast on Saturday.
That allowed Ravenna to finish off its first PTC conference championship in baseball since the league formed for the 2005-06 school year. Behind the pitching of Kyle Gillespie, Lee Lovejoy and Dillon Gillespie, the Ravens went wire-to-wire in first place in what wound up as a tight race, with Kent Roosevelt and Crestwood just one and two games back, respectively.
Also of note, the games against the Pirates ended a streak of four games in three days for Ravenna after being eliminated from the tournament in the district championship game by Canfield, 5-4.
Softball: Down to the final game
With the championship in baseball decided, only the title in softball remains. Springfield and Field are locked in a battle that has lasted all season, starting with the Spartans sweeping the Falcons in both teams’ first conference series.
Springfield is the PTC’s most successful team on a broad level with nine state championships and 11 final four appearances, while Field has dominated the Metro Division in recent years with four straight division championships, making those two teams perfectly suited to go after the PTC crown this year.
Springfield still has a contest with Norton to make up, and the Falcons will meet Crestwood one more time before the champion can be named.
Boys track: Back to Ravenna
Two weeks removed from the PTC Meet, the Southeast, Field and Crestwood’s boys track teams are back at Gilchrist Stadium in Ravenna for the Division II regional meet.
The Pirates lead the charge with 12 athletes competing for a chance to make it to Columbus for the state championships. Relays have proven a strong point for Southeast, as the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x800 teams all made it out of district week.
In addition to being part of the 4x100 relay, Ravonne Lawrence made it in both the 110 and 300 hurdles to lead the individual qualifiers. Sean Stone made it to Ravenna to compete in both the discus and the shot put, while Eric Stone advanced in the discus. Finally, Damian Pennington will compete in the long jump.
The Falcons advanced their 4x400 relay team of Jake Kruse, Billy Darmon, Kyle Stahl and Christian Bochkor. Kruse (300 hurdles) and Darmon (800-meter run) both also qualified in a second individual event. Justin Hammond will be in the high jump as well.
Finally, the Red Devils advanced five individual athletes to Ravenna. Thrower Matt Monroe has made it to regionals in both the shot put and discus, while distance runners Nick Chambers (1,600) and Steve Green (3,200) also advanced. Middle distance runner Justin Spurlock (400) and hurdler Mark Ferry (110 hurdles) are competing this weekend as well
The final competitor from the Metro Division to make the regional round is Coventry’s Kelan Siner-Jacobs in the 400 meters at the Lexington Regional.
Girls track: Regional update
On the girls’ side of the track, Crestwood has placed seven athletes at Ravenna, including six in multiple events. Senior Sammi Vaughan leads the way as a four-event qualifier in the 1,600 and 3,200 and on the 4x400 relay and 4x800 relay teams. Tori Chiller and Karlie Lieberth will join Vaughan on both relay teams, while Chiller will compete in 400 and Lieberth in the 800. Olivia Phillips (shot put and discus) and Courtney Berish (discus) are also looking to continue their success they found at the district meet. Rounding out Crestwood’s regional competitors are Abby Soltisz (3,200, 4x800) and Tyler Mae Hunter (800, 4x400).
Like the boys team, the Southeast girls qualified three relay teams, the 4x100, 4x400 and 4x800. Katelyn McCullough (100) is the only Pirate to qualify in an individual event.
Finally, Field’s Savannah Gearhart (100), Abby Chasar (800) and Katelyn Schoebeck (shot put) join the Falcons' 4x200 team in Ravenna. And the Ravens’ own Brenna Pooler will be competing on her home track in the 100.