Tag Archive for: Blue Devils

MCDONALD VOLLEYBALL COACH’S CORNER (EP 1) WITH MIKE KLOCKNER

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Rolling into the start of fall sports for the 2022 campaign, and The McDonald Blue Devils will once again have a volleyball team! A team that is now past its infancy and has moved into a solid position that has them competing for the top spot in their conference. The Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference’s Scarlet Tier could be described as a who’s who of volleyball competition in the county. Highlighted by teams such as Western Reserve, Mineral Ridge and Jackson Milton, The MVAC looks to be a gauntlet for the conference crown.

McDonald is a team going into year four of their volleyball program, looking to continue the trend they have set of getting more wins every season. After the 2021 campaign, The Blue Devils saw themselves fall just short in the conference race to another set of Blue Devils in Western Reserve. Coming in second is a language that McDonald athletes and fans alike do not understand, as the village is ready to get rowdy in hopes of the teams first conference championship this year!  Catch McDonald as they will be in action for their first game of the season, Saturday, August 20th against The Columbiana Clippers!

*Contributed By YSN’s Ty Bartell.

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HIPPLE BECOMES MCDONALD’S LATEST STATE CHAMPION

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MCDONALD OH- McDonald Track & Field has been the definition of sustained success through the years.  Before Saturday, McDonald has seen 70 athletes in its history win a state championship.  Megan Hipple would make the number 71 on Saturday as she stepped on the top of the podium in the 3200 m race.

Hipple hasn’t spent her whole life as a runner. She started her journey into track in field in Jr High.  It hasn’t been long, but she has made quick strides all the way to a state champion. Her growth has been short and quick, but her racing is paced out and long. That’s the nature of running long distance. Learning the rhythm of the race and when and where to make her moves has been so important to her success.  She has had tremendous coaches along the way, and in this interview she shouts them all out.

Hipple took the time to come on YSN’s Running Point to talk about her state championship moment. She talks with Anthony Hartwig and DJ Yokley about the work put in to get to this point, the emotions that she went through on the podium, and so much more. Check out this exclusive interview with McDonald’s newest state champion only on YSN.

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EAGLES LOOK COMFORTABLE IN THE POSTSEASON

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STRUTHERS OH-

Freddy Bolchalk didn’t allow a single run as JFK defeated Lisbon 8-0 on Tuesday to advance to the district championship. Bolchalk allowed just two hits on his way to victory

JFK fired up the offense in the first inning, when Gavin Shrum singled on a 2-1 count, scoring one run.

The Eagles scored three runs in the third inning. Their batters contributing to the big inning included Shrum, Jake Hettrick, and Michael Mauro, all driving in runs in the inning.

One bright spot for Lisbon was a single by Ryan Reckner in the fourth inning.

Bolchalk was credited with the victory for the Eagles. The righthander lasted seven innings, allowing two hits and zero runs while striking out 11 and walking zero.

Daimen McCormick took the loss for the Blue Devils. The righty went five and two-thirds innings, allowing eight runs on nine hits, striking out four and walking zero.

JFK racked up ten hits on the day. Aidan Rossi, Shrum, and Caleb Hadley each racked up multiple hits. Rossi led with three hits in four at bats.

The Eagles advance to the district championship where they’ll meet up with Lake Center Christian.  First pitch from Cene Park is set for Thursday at 5:00.

LISBON REIGNS AS TOP DEVIL IN SECTIONALS

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LISBON OH-  Western Reserve scored three runs in the first inning, but Lisbon still won 5-4 on Thursday in the sectional final. Western Reserve’s big inning was driven by a single by Parker Reed, a groundout by Jack Darney, and a fielder’s choice by Matthew Farelli.

Western Reserve got things moving in the first inning, when Darney grounded out, scoring one run.

The Blue Devils pulled away for good with three runs in the third inning. In the third Gabe Platt induced Ryan Reckner to hit into a fielder’s choice, but one run scored and Brayden Flory singled on a 3-2 count, scoring two runs.

Reckner took the win for Lisbon. Reckner allowed two hits and one run over six and two-thirds innings, striking out nine.

Platt took the loss for Western Reserve. The pitcher went three innings, allowing five runs on five hits and striking out six.

Daimen McCormick started the game for the Blue Devils. The pitcher went one-third of an inning, allowing three runs on one hit

Lisbon totaled six hits. McCormick and Flory all collected multiple hits. Flory and McCormick each collected two hits to lead. Lisbon didn’t commit a single error in the field. Flory had nine chances in the field, the most on the team.

Platt led Western Reserve with two hits in three at bats. Western Reserve was sure-handed and didn’t commit a single error. Jake Buchmann made the most plays with ten.

Lisbon advances to the district semifinal to play Warren JFK. That game will take place at Cene Park on Tuesday and get started at 5:00.

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LIONS ROAR ON TO DISTRICTS

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MCDONALD, OH – For the second year in a row, the Heartland Christian Lions edged the McDonald Blue Devils in a Division 4 Sectional Final. They used a three-run fourth inning to hold off the Blue Devils 4-2 on the road.

It was a defensive slugfest throughout the first half as both defenses were tight and the game was scoreless after three innings. In the top of the fourth, however, Heartland Christian’s Drew Walker opened up the scoring with an RBI single as the Lions took a 1-0 lead. Two more runners then scored off of another base hit, this time by Brett Walker, to make it a 3-0 ball game.

In the top of the fifth inning, an extra run was added off of another RBI single as Jake Walker hustled to first base and was just barely called safe. McDonald did their best to go on a rally as runs were cashed in in the fifth and sixth respectively to bring it to 4-2. Heartland, however, thanks to the excellent pitching and strikeouts of their senior Nate Garzanich and freshman reliever Seth Walker, was able to hold it off as the #8 seed Lions pulled off the upset over the #2 seed Blue Devils.

The Lions improve to 11-9 with the victory. They will win Sectionals for the second year in a row as they will take on Lake Center Christian in a district semifinal on Tuesday. That game is slated for an 5:00 P.M. tip down at Cene Park.

McDonald ends their tournament run at 16-6 with the loss. The Blue Devils will lose to Heartland Christian in the Sectional Final for the second year in a row as coach Andy Timko and crew look to use this defeat as motivation for next season.

YSN’s Noah Ricks got a chance to talk to winning coach Mark Franken following tonight’s victory. You can watch the full interview below.

 

*Contributed By YSN’s Noah Ricks

 

MCDONALD COMES UP JUST SHORT

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NORTH JACKSON OH-  Bristol defeated McDonald 2-1 on Thursday after taking the lead late in the game. The game was tied at one with Bristol batting in the bottom of the sixth when Skylar Gibson singled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring one run. The win gave Bristol the district championship.

The pitching was strong on both sides. Jaylyn Mullenax struck out 11, while Bri McCombs sat down six.

Mullenax pitched Bristol to victory. The pitcher allowed five hits and one run over seven innings, striking out 11 and walking zero.

McCombs took the loss for McDonald. She allowed seven hits and two runs over six innings, striking out six and walking zero.

Bristol saw the ball well today, racking up seven hits in the game. Gibson and Billie Miller each racked up multiple hits for Bristol Panthers Varsity. Miller and Gibson each collected two hits to lead Bristol Panthers Varsity.

Chelsea Sudol led McDonald with two hits in three at bats. The Blue Devils was sure-handed and didn’t commit a single error. McCombs made the most plays with four.

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MCCOMBS TOSSES NO NO TO PUT MCDONALD IN TITLE GAME

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NORTH JACKSON OH- McDonald’s offense was relentless Tuesday night, and Bri McCombs threw a no hitter as the Blue Devils worked their way to a 9-0 victory in the district semifinals over Lisbon.

Lucia Wolford was a problem all night going 4-4 with 2 RBI. She also scored 3 of McDonald’s runs.  Alivia Morrison also managed multiple hits for the Blue Devils going 2-4 with 2 runs scored.  Bri McCombs went 1-3 on the day with a pair of RBI.  Chelsea Sudol went 1-3 with a RBI too.

McCombs was masterful in the circle throwing a no hitter. She struck out 7 and walked a pair.  She was efficient only taking 97 pitches to complete the game.

McDonald will advance to the Jackson Milton district championship game on Wednesday as they’ll play Bristol.  First pitch from Jackson Milton is slated for 5:00.

CLIPPERS LAY DOWN THE BOOM

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NILES OH-  Columbiana defeated Western Reserve 14-0 on Saturday as two pitchers combined to throw a shutout. Alex Eusebio collected a strike out to finish off the game.

Zachary Pleska led Columbiana to victory by driving in four runs. Pleska went 2-for-2 at the plate. Pleska drove in runs on a sacrifice fly in the second, a single in the third, and a double in the fourth.

Columbiana got things started in the first inning when a wild pitch allowed one run.

Columbiana scored six runs in the third inning. Colin Keleman, Brady Kridler, Pleska, Seth Spooner, and Eddie Clancy powered the big inning with RBIs.

A single by Vance Story in the third inning was a positive for Western Reserve.

Pleska was the winning pitcher for Columbiana. Pleska lasted four innings, allowing one hit and zero runs while striking out five and walking zero. Eusebio threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen.

Parker Reed took the loss for Western Reserve. The pitcher lasted two innings, allowing two hits and five runs while striking out three.

Pleska went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead the Clippers. Columbiana stole 11 bases during the game as three players stole more than one. Devin Daugherty led the way with three. Columbiana was sure-handed in the field and didn’t commit a single error. Keleman had the most chances in the field with six.

Story led Western Reserve with one hit in one at bats.

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LISBON PUNCHES TICKET TO DISTRICTS

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LISBON OH- Lisbon nabbed the lead late in the game in a 5-1 victory over Southern on Wednesday. The game was tied at one with the Blue Devils batting in the bottom of the fifth when Parker Henthorne grounded out, scoring one run.

Lisbon knotted the game up at one in the bottom of the third inning, when Henthorne singled on a 1-1 count, scoring one run.

Mya Emmerling earned the win for Lisbon. Emmerling allowed three hits and one run over seven innings, striking out 13 and walking one.

Lisbon totaled 12 hits. Kyrstin Reckner, Mickenzie Shaffer, Mckenna Dailey, Emmerling, and Justyce Vrable each collected multiple hits. Vrable, Emmerling, Dailey, Shaffer, and Reckner each managed two hits to lead.

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MCDONALD RALLIES TO BEAT BLUE JAYS FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS SEASON

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MCDONALD OH- Jackson-Milton stayed in it until the end, but McDonald pulled away late in an 8-5 victory on Wednesday. McDonald was down 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning when an error scored two runs.

McDonald took an early lead in the second inning when Bella Chepke grounded out, scoring one run.

In the top of the third inning, Jackson tied things up at three. They scored two runs when Kylie Wilson doubled.

After the Blue Jays scored one run in the top of the fifth, McDonald answered with one of their own. Jackson-Milton scored when Macayle Thornhill lined out, driving in a run. McDonald then answered when Lucia Wolford doubled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring one run.

Jackson-Milton tallied three runs in the third inning. Wilson and Emily Fultz powered the big inning with RBIs.

Bri McCombs led the McDonald to victory in the circle. The ace went seven innings, allowing five runs on eight hits, striking out six and walking one.

Thornhill took the loss for Jackson-Milton. The righty allowed ten hits and eight runs over six innings, striking out five and walking one.

Jackson-Milton tallied eight hits. Chelsea Williams and Fultz all collected multiple hits. Fultz and Williams each collected two hits to lead.

McDonald racked up ten hits on the day. Wolford, Gianna Mancini, and McCombs all managed multiple hits.

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