April 6, 2017 Bulldog Sports Round-up
- Published: April 6, 2017
TENNIS
The Bulldogs got off to a brisk 3–0 start in their season opening week versus Beavercreek, Cedarville and Xenia high schools. Dominating the courts in the opening Beavercreek match were singles players Augie Knemeyer (6–1, 6–0), Forrest Rowe (6–3, 6–2) and Peter Day (6–4, 6–7 (3), 7–6 (2)). Moving up to first doubles this year, Kasey Linkhart and Dylan Dietrich easily took the win as well (6–2, 6–3).
The Thursday match versus Cedarville left the Indians stunned with an 8–0 sweep!. The Bulldogs won every varsity court, and every reserve match. The highlight of the day was Rowe’s convincing beat down, with a 6–3, 6–2 win against the Indian he lost to last year (4, 4). Rowe’s ability to play within himself, not getting rattled in the big points, and mixing up his shots, left his opponent stunned.
Another highlight of the match, continuing to baffle players, is the crafty formula developed by Linkhart and Dietrich on the 1st doubles court (6–2, 6–3). The combination of lobs by Linkhart, with the finish by Dietrich at the net, left Cedarville without a chance. To further confuse the Indians, Linkhart mixed in net play, an uncharacteristic move. Augie Knemeyer played with controlled aggression on the first singles court, doing what he had to do to secure the win (6–0, 6–1).
And without question, the highlight of the Xenia match was Peter Day’s statement win on the third singles court (6–3, 6–1). Though on serve until the middle of the first set, Day quickly took charge. Repeatedly breaking serve, hustling down balls, moving his opponent around and clutch serving, Day claimed the win, clinching the match for the Bulldogs to end the week victorious.
The future of Bulldog tennis also looks bright with rookie players Abby McAnerney, William Gregor, Jane Meister, Olivia Snoddy, Riley Duncan and Cassie Kludt, each quickly learning and improving their tennis skills.
“It’s a coach’s dream,” Coach Stacey Knemeyer said.
SOFTBALL
The weatherman was predicting rain but in the end the rains stayed away as the Bulldogs played their home opener against Stivers High School. Stivers, which won their league last year and also ruled Yellow Springs when the two teams played last season, came to Gaunt Park expecting a victory. Yellow Springs had other ideas.
After falling behind 2–0 in the first inning, the Bulldogs scored six runs in the second inning when Kallyn Buckenmyer, Kadie Lafferty, Hannah Morrison, Gracie Price and Elly Kumbusky all had two-out hits to give the Bulldogs a 6–2 lead. Yellow Springs held the lead most of the game, but Stivers proved to be a worthy opponent, scoring three runs in the top of the 6th inning to win by a final score of 7–6.
“I knew Stivers would give us a good game, as they beat us last year 14–3,” Coach Jim DeLong commented. I’m proud of how our team bounced back from an early two run deficit to take the lead.”
Offensive leaders for the Bulldogs were Lafferty with two hits and a run scored; Price with three hits and two RBIs and a run scored; Kumbusky with two hits and a run scored; Kelsie Lemons with two hits; and Kallyn Buckenmyer with a hit, a RBI and a run scored.
Pitcher Hannah Morrison pitched a complete game for the Bulldogs and had eight strikeouts in seven innings pitched while only giving up three earned runs.
BASEBALL
With a Saturday double-header rained out, the Bulldogs played two games in their first week. The opener, against Central Catholic, was a tough game for the Yellow Springs boys. Solid pitching and hitting on the part of Central Catholic resulted in an 11–0 loss for the Bulldogs.
But they turned it around in their second game, against Stivers High School, with a 3–1 win. Pitcher Aakeem Truss pitched all seven innings, with Stivers’ only hit in the sixth inning. Truss had 15 strike outs and 1 walk. Offensively, Dylan Rainey was the standout as a hitter, with two stolen bases and two runs. Tony Marinelli knocked Rainey into play, with an RBI in the first inning.
Coach Brandon Bresler said he expected a core group of players returned from last year to lead the team. But the Bulldogs also have a couple of freshman newcomers, as well as three newcomer upperclassmen: senior Hayden Orme; senior Roger Mejia-Rivas, an exchange student from Mexico,; and junior James Browning.
TRACK & FIELD
The track team had its first quad meet at Springfield Shawnee last week, against three Division I schools.The girls finished in second place, after Dayton Ponitz.
Amani Wagner set a new school record in the discus with a toss of 111´0. She also earend a first place in the shot put with a throw of 32´7. Julie Roberts was a part of three first place finishes: 100 hurdles (17.98) and 300 hurdles (48.70). Roberts was also part of the first-place 1600 meters with teammates Ayanna Madison, Olivia Brintlinger-Conn and True Hall.
Also earning first place finishes were Jude Meekin in the 3200 meters (14:16.31) and Ivy Tebbe, who, competing for the first time ever, ran to a first-place finish in the 1600 meters (6:50.71). Bulldogs who achieved second place finishes were Brintlinger-Conn in the 300 hurdles (53.64), and Christina Banks, Hall, Brintlnger-Conn and Roberts in the 400 hurdles. Bulldogs finishing in third place were Jasmine Davidson, with a 28´6 in shot put, and Madison, Hall, Stacia Strodes and Kayla Brown in the 800 relay.
Bulldog boys placed fourth, and were led by Levi Brown’s first place in the 1600 Meters (5:10). Sam Wildenhaus ran to second place in the 3200 (11:34). The 3200 relay team of Wildenhaus, Brown, Raven Campbell and Elijah Naziri also placed third.
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