October 9, 2003

SPORTS

Boys soccer seeded first

The YSHS boys soccer team won two more games this past week to improve to 13–1, and assuring the team’s second straight championship in the Metro Buckeye Conference.

Ranked first in the Miami Valley in Division III and seventh in the state, the Bulldogs traveled to Xenia to challenge conference-foe Xenia Christian last Thursday.

A scoreless first half was averted just two minutes before halftime when Rory Hotaling sent a free-kick near the Xenia Christian goal and Ryan Silvert’s pressure on the loose ball caused Xenia Christian to score on itself.

Two minutes into the second half the Bulldogs got on the scoreboard again when Duncan Silvert-Noftle collected a loose ball in Xenia’s penalty box and sent the shot across the grain into the far-post netting. The Bulldogs held Xenia scoreless to win, 2–0.

With the win YSHS locked up the MBC championship.

Two days later, the Bulldogs hosted the West Liberty-Salem Tigers and, despite missing five injured players, still came away with a victory, 1–0.

The lone goal in the match came midway through the first half when YSHS defenseman Michael Hosket dribbled down right field into the corner and launched a cross into a crowded goal mouth. With Anthony Brandon and Cody Johnson fighting for the ball, a Tiger defender misplayed the ball into his own net.

The Bulldog defense, led by Hosket, sweeper Nic Huneck, leftback David Suzel and goalkeeper Matt Phillips, held up the margin.

The defense now has 10 shutouts this season, and has given up just 5 goals in 14 games.

The Bulldogs are nowhere near full strength, head coach Jim Hardman said, with key players sidelined by injuries that have forced others to cover positions through unfamiliar combinations.

“We’ve come through a grueling stretch of our season, and we’re not moving the ball like we’re used to,” he said. “But we’re still getting the results that we need, and we’re trying to get everyone healthy for a deep run into the postseason tournament.”

The Bulldogs will start that run next Thursday, Oct. 17, when they host the Franklin-Monroe Jets in the first round of the Division III district tournament. Kickoff starts at 7 p.m.

YSHS is seeded first in their district, Dayton 2, an honor that the Bulldogs have not received for over 20 years.

The YSHS girls soccer begins its run through the Division II Dayton 2 district tournament when it hosts National Trail on Monday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m.

Season passes are not valid for tournament matches.

Harriers earn 10th

The YSHS boys cross country team finished 10th at the Anna Invitational last Saturday, Oct. 4.

Both Carey Dixon and Samuel Borchers smashed their personal bests. Dixon ran his first mile in 5:14, cruised through his second mile in 5:41, and made a huge final sprint to finish in 17:22, placing 7th out of 176 runners. Borchers ran a fast first mile and a strong second to move up through the pack and finish 12th overall.

David Warren finished 24th, while Matthew Marretta finished 146th with a lifetime best 22:15. Zach Reichert finished 166th.

For the YSHS girls, Tina Peters and Hillary Livingston both ran their best races of the year. Peters finished 21st in 22:01. Livingston finished 71st overall.

Volleyball loses; now 9–7

The YSHS girls volleyball team made several great saves and volleys during last Thursday’s home game against Troy Christian before succumbing in straight sets, 15–8, 15–11.

In the first game, the Lady ’Dogs served hard but inconsistently, and Jannell Martin and Sarah Finn each had three spikes.

With YSHS down 11–5, Evin Wimberly scored after she hit the ball to the Eagles’ far back corner. But Troy Christian increased its lead 14–7, as the teams served back and forth.

Trisha McLinden finally scored one point for the Lady Bulldogs on an unreturnable serve, before the Eagles took the set.

The Lady Bulldogs dug their heels in and played a strong defensive game in the second set, with Wimberly and Heather Wagers making several nice diving saves. Wimberly also blocked the Eagles’ lead spiker. She also continued to delicately tip the ball over the net.

With a record of 9–7, YSHS travels to Ridgeville Christian tonight (Thursday) for its last game of the regular season.

Two golfers fail to pass districts

The two seniors from the YSHS boys golf team who advanced to the district tournament last week had high hopes of continuing on to state. Though Rory Hotaling and Francis Gayek played well last Thursday, only the top two schools and the top two individual scorers go on to the next round. Neither player advanced to state.

Hotaling finished in the top seven out of nearly 80 players, by shooting an 83. Hotaling played a steady round, and birdied on two par fives on the back nine. On both holes, his third shot landed close to the pin, allowing him to putt for birdie.

Gayek struggled on his tee shots for most of the day but was able to chip and putt well enough to rebound on the front nine. He shot a birdie at the seventh hole of the back nine, but couldn’t recover and finished with a score of 90.

Coach Seth Bothwell was proud of his team and of the way that his players improved throughout the season. “Gerry [Simms, assistant coach] and I had a great time with a good group of kids,” Bothwell said. “It was a privilege to be a part of this team.”

Watch Bulldogs football for free, with donation

Yellow Springs football fans can watch the YSHS football team play at Fairbanks tomorrow (Friday) for free by donating two or more nonperishable food items to the Fairbanks High School’s food drive for the Union County Food Pantry.