BELOIT OH- West Branch got back to work on Sunday annd easily dispatched Ursuline on Sunday, 10-1. A single by Katie Koulianos put Ursuline on the board in the top of the first West Branch captured the lead, 3-1, in the bottom of the first when Mati Hawk singled, scoring two runs, and a wild pitch scored one run.
West Branch added to their early lead in the bottom of the second inning after Josie Milliken scored after tagging up, and Sara Schmidt doubled, each scoring one run.
Ellie Tucker earned the win for West Branch. They surrendered seven hits and one run over seven innings, striking out three and walking one. Bella Zamaria took the loss for Ursuline. The right-handed pitcher went three innings, surrendering five runs on five hits, striking out four and walking none. Lilly Ditz started in the circle for the Irish. The right-handed pitcher gave up nine hits and five runs over three innings, striking out two and walking one.
The Warriors tallied 14 hits in the game. Schmidt and Milliken each collected three hits. Schmidt and Addi Craven were tough to handle back-to-back in the lineup, as each drove in three runs. Hawk and Tucker each collected multiple hits. Tucker stole two bases. West Branch turned one double play in the game.
Koulianos went 2-for-3 at the plate as the 3-hole hitter led the team with one run batted in. The Irish turned one double play in the game.
https://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2E3D8B95-3CE6-44FA-99E6-3EC96D392734-scaled.jpeg11692560Anthony Hartwighttps://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Default-Email-Signature-2673571-300x70.pngAnthony Hartwig2024-04-07 22:59:172024-04-07 22:59:17WEST BRANCH TAKES THE LUCK OUT OF THE IRISH
WESTERVILLE OH- Gia Schiavone drove in four runs on three hits to lead Ursuline past Westerville South 15-4 on Saturday. Schiavone hit a home run to left field in the sixth scoring two, singled in the third scoring one, and doubled in the fourth scoring one.
The Irish got on the board in the top of the first inning after Katie Koulianos hit a sacrifice fly, Mackenzie Smith doubled, and Brooke Burton doubled, each scoring one run. They extended their early lead with two runs in the top of the second thanks to RBI singles by Brooke Opalick and Savannah Patrone.
Ursuline then added to their early lead in the top of the third inning when Bella Zamaria doubled, scoring two runs, and Schiavone singled, scoring one run. They added three more runs in the top of the sixth inning on five hits. Schiavone homered to left field, scoring two runs, and Smith doubled, scoring one run.
Zamaria earned the win for the Irish. The right-handed pitcher allowed four hits and four runs over five and two-thirds innings, striking out three and walking five. Lilly Ditz appeared in relief.
Ursuline amassed 22 hits in the game. Patrone and O’palick each collected four hits. Zamaria, Smith, Arianna Schiavone, and Burton each collected multiple hits. Ursuline turned one double play in the game.
https://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DD6A4B37-5D57-4BB1-8FF2-9439A854A232-scaled.jpeg11402560Anthony Hartwighttps://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Default-Email-Signature-2673571-300x70.pngAnthony Hartwig2024-04-06 21:21:132024-04-06 21:22:04URSULINE PICKS UP MAJOR MOMENTUM
CHAMPION, OH – Winning may not be everything but it certainly feels good when you do it a lot and for Coach Weaver it seems to come naturally. After her team dominated Ursuline in a 14-4 run rule game, Coach Weaver got to celebrate her 500th career win with her team on Thursday evening! “I’m on cloud 9, I’m telling Ya” said Weaver when asked to describe how she felt after the huge achievement. While the coach’s achievement is nothing short of amazing, what her team did to earn the win was as well.
The top of the first inning saw Gabby Gradishar show some elite pitching. Out of the 4 batters she faced, 3 struck out swinging and the other was left stranded on first after finding a bloop single into right field. The Golden Flashes found a pair of base runners in the bottom but couldn’t get past Lilly Ditz in the circle for Ursuline.
Gradishar continued to dominate with yet another 3 swinging strikeouts and another hit that never left first base. Once Gradishar finished her work in the top half, it was on for Champion in the bottom. 7 runs, Champion scored an impressive 7 runs with 5 straight hits until a runner was finally caught out trying to overextend herself to grab an extra base. Bella Weber, Gradishar and Addie Warzala all batted in the first 4 runs but then Bella Meyer stepped up to the plate, with 1 hit in her back pocket she had confidence brewing and found a hard hit 2-run homer to dead center that blew the doors wide open. Grace Hadley would find the 7th RBI in her second time at bat in the inning.
Gradishar found 2 more strikeouts in the 3rd, with her K of Adyson Wendt being her first strikeout looking. Champion continued to press for offense and in the 2-hole Gradishar stepped up with 1 away and smashed the ball clear over the fence leaving no doubt that she was the MVP for this game. Sam Strock would try to 1-up Gradishar 3 batters later with a 2-run home run bringing in Meyer and herself.
Gradishar found 2 more K’s in the 4th to continue to add to her impressive outing. The Flashes found 3 more runs thanks to a 3-run bomb courtesy of Gradishar again! Ditz did have some better luck though because before the homer, she was able to strike out Mia Nadaud who stepped in for relief of Weber.
The 5th inning proved to be beneficial for Ursuline as they earned 4 runs to erase the double digit lead from Champion and bring it back within 9 runs. Ursuline started by filling the bases off of 2 singles and a walk and then Brooke O’Palick stepped up and drilled a shot into right-center field and doubled to score 2 runs. Next Katie Kouianos hit into a 6-3 groundout that allowed Gia Schiavone to score from third. The final run came from MacKenzie Smith who hit a single right down the third base line and scored O’Palick. Gradishar struck out 1 more Irish batter giving her 11 K’s on the day.
Champion needed just 1 run to go up by 10 and trigger the mercy rule and with Strock on 2nd thanks to a double and Haley on 1st thanks to a walk, it was Householder who would bunt the ball well between the plate and the pitcher, hustle to 1sta nd just beat the tag while Strock came in to score. After some discussion and debate the umpires stuck with their original call of safe at first and Champion not only won the game but earned their veteran Head Coach her 500th career win as well!
Champion stayed true to their towns name and got a very well earned win over Ursuline to propel themselves to 2-0 on the season while Ursuline moved to 1-2. The Player of the game was Gabby Gradishar who threw 5 IP, 11Ks, 7 H and 1 BB while also going 3-4 at the plate with 2 HR, 2B, and 5 RBI. Ursuline will be back in action on April 1st when they host Chaney at 5:00PM while Champion heads out to Geneva on March 30th for a 12:00PM game.
https://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/19154D56-8319-428C-90AF-DD862493A568.jpeg399965Anthony Hartwighttps://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Default-Email-Signature-2673571-300x70.pngAnthony Hartwig2024-03-28 22:57:522024-03-28 22:57:52FLASHES GET WEAVER TO 500 CAREER WINS
Ursuline won big over Chaney 14-4 on Monday in their season, and conference opener. The Irish got on the board in the first inning after Savannah Patrone doubled, scoring one run. A sacrifice fly by Gia Schiavone, a walk by Kayla Sztary, and a triple by Katie Koulianos helped extend their early lead in the second. A walk by Erika Peart extended the lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the third inning.
Ursuline scored seven runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. Arri Wend drew a walk, scoring one run, Mackenzie Smith doubled, scoring one run, Bella Zamaria hit a sacrifice fly, scoring one run, an error scored one run, Schiavone tripled, scoring one run, and Sztary singled, scoring one run.
Lilly Ditz earned the win for the Irish. The righty allowed two hits and zero runs over three innings, striking out three and walking none.
Ursuline tallied 14 hits in the game. Patrone and Smith each collected three hits for Ursuline Varsity Irish. Schiavone and Smith each drove in two runs.
Koulianos collected two hits for Ursuline in three at bats. Sztary led with two walks. Overall, the team had a strong eye at the plate, tallying five walks for the game. Sztary and Peart each stole multiple bases for Ursuline.
Ursuline will return to action on Wednesday hosting Girard.
https://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/D3CF097E-5D69-4CC0-8A45-F18611A0A7E4-scaled.jpeg10292560Anthony Hartwighttps://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Default-Email-Signature-2673571-300x70.pngAnthony Hartwig2024-03-26 11:55:342024-03-26 11:55:34IRISH OPEN STEEL VALLEY PLAY WITH A BANG
CANTON OH- Hop in the delorean and send that baby back 30 years because The Ursuline Fighting-Irish boys basketball team is in the state final four for the first time since 1994! Following a convincing, 60-35 regional final win in a regular season rematch against The Canfield Cardinals! The Irish will now head to Dayton for the first time under 21-year head coach Keith Gunther.
The first quarter started off with Ursuline’s freshman Jaylen Gunther blowing the roof off The Canton-Memorial Fieldhouse with his 3-point shooting in the first quarter, knocking down four shots from distance, Gunther helped lead Ursuline to a 20-10 lead after the first quarter. Ursuline kept momentum into the second, as the tempo of the game changed, different players stepped up for The Fighting Irish and in the second quarter it was Jayden Payne! Grabbing a total of four offensive rebounds in the quarter, Payne also managed eight second chance points in the second quarter alone, enabling Ursuline to hold a 32-16 edge over Canfield at the halftime buzzer.
Out of the half, Ursuline continued to pile it on, increasing the lead to as much as 24 points in the third! Off the bench, The Irish got big contributions from Myles Miller who locked things down defensively and found his shot more than once offensively. Senior Jayden Payne brought the pain in the fourth quarter, opening up with the first seven points scored in the frame, Payne helped push Ursuline past the markers and book The Irish’s ticket to the state final four for the first time in 30 Years!
Jaylen Gunther and Jayden Payne earned Players of the Game honors with Gunther scoring 16 points and Payne scoring 15 points in the win. Beyond that, Ursuline had a key 12 points off the bench from Myles Miller while Geno Lucente did all the little things right to helpt the Ursuline machine run! Through adversity in the last two decades, Ursuline Head Coach Keith Gunther finally realizes a dream of a lifetime, getting his Ursuline Irish team to the state final four! Although some tough times in the past with plenty of heartbreaks and questioning of oneself in the last 21 years, Coach Gunther can finally say what he and The Fighting Irish basketball community have longed for. The Ursuline Fighting Irish are going to Dayton!
Ursuline (24-3) has now won 12 consecutive ball games this season as they will match up with The Kettering Archbishop Alter Knights (21-7) on Saturday, March 23rd with a 10:45 a.m. tip-off at The University of Dayton. Meanwhile, Canfield ends the season 23-5 as their 14 game win streak was snapped; however, a memorable and successful season nonetheless for The Cards! With legendary Cardinals Head Coach John Cullen electing to hang up the boots after this season, a decision made in the regular season, Coach Cullen coached The Cardinals from 1982-2010 and this latest stint from 2022-2024, capturing six district championships in his time with Canfield and 11 as a head coach, overall.
Thank you for keeping up with Canfield and Ursuline basketball all season long and stay tuned for continued high school athletics with live games, scores, stats, stories and more on YSN!
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CANTON OH- In a dominating performance, Ursuline’s offense unleashed its fury on Thursday night, powering the team to a resounding 85-44 victory over VASJ in the regional semifinals. From the opening tip, the Irish seized control and never looked back, establishing a commanding 21-9 lead after the first quarter and extending their advantage with each passing minute.
Leading the charge for Ursuline was Jaylen Gunther, who erupted for 24 points, showcasing his scoring prowess with a stellar performance. Joining Gunther in the scoring barrage were Jayden Payne with 14 points and DaShaun Will with 12 points, further fueling Ursuline’s offensive onslaught.
With the emphatic win, Ursuline secures a spot in the Regional Finals, set to take place on Saturday at 7:00 PM against Canfield. The highly anticipated matchup will unfold at the Canton Memorial Fieldhouse, promising another thrilling showdown as Ursuline continues its quest for a trip to Dayton.
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WARREN OH- In a showcase of their strength and skill, Ursuline dominated the Division 2 district championship game against NDCL, emerging victorious in commanding fashion with a convincing 61-44 win. The Irish left no doubt about their superiority on the court, delivering a performance that underscored their merit as champions.
Leading the charge for Ursuline was Geno Lucente, whose stellar performance saw him pour in an impressive 22 points, showcasing his scoring prowess and ability to take over a game. Jayden Payne also made significant contributions with 18 points, while Jaylen Gunther added 10 points to the scoreboard, highlighting the Irish’s balanced offensive attack.
With this emphatic victory, Ursuline secures their spot in the Regional Semifinal, where they are set to face off against Villa Angela St. Joseph. Scheduled for Thursday at 6:00 at the Canton Memorial Fieldhouse, the matchup promises to be another thrilling contest as Ursuline looks to continue their postseason journey and advance further in the playoffs.
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WARREN OH- Ursuline rolled past Streetsboro 64-35 Wednesday night.
The Irish were looking to advance to the district title game for the second consecutive year with a win over the Rockets, and they did just that.
After the first basket of the game was scored by Streetsboro’s Jack Batten, Ursuline controlled the rest of the first quarter, outscoring the Rockets by 12 to finish the first frame up 16-6.
When it came down to it, Coach Gunther’s halftime adjustments put the nail in the coffin pushing his squad’s lead to 23.
Eight of those 23 points came from Senior Jayden Payne, who finished with a game-high 26 points.
Three more players finished in double figures for the Irish.
Geno Lucente had 13 points, while Jaylen Gunther and Noah Bell added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
The Irish’s lead grew each quarter and resulted in them playing for its first district title since 2017.
Streetsboro was led by Jackson Gula with 8 points. Michael Berry and Jack Batten both added 6.
Ursuline (21-3) will play the winner of Edgewood and Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin on Saturday 3/9.
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YOUNGSTOWN, OH – The Howland Tigers and Ursuline Fighting Irish boys’ basketball teams put on a thrilling finish to the regular season in a game that would take an extra period to complete. The Irish did the right things at the right time as they would defeat the Tigers in overtime 62-53.
Howland gave the red hot Fighting Irish all they could ask for in a non-conference classic. They would take control of the game in the first half thanks in part to senior Alex Henry, who would pick up 9 first-quarter points, en route to a 21-point performance. The Tigers were able to take a 23-21 advantage heading into the locker room as senior John Perry tagged along his teammate Henry with 13 tallies.
Despite first half struggles, Ursuline would make huge adjustments in the second half, which revolved mainly around coach Keith Gunther’s son Jaylen. The true freshman Gunther exploded for 21 points in the second half and overtime, ending the contest leading all scorers with 23. He would also connect on back-to-back threes to give his team a 46-43 advantage in the fourth.
Henry would come up clutch, however, for Howland, as he would drain a tray near the end of regulation to tie up the scoring at 48-48. With a chance to win the game, the Tiger heroics came up just short as the Irish defense blocked Steven Bubon’s layup at the buzzer to keep the tie, sending Howland into their third overtime game of the season. Ursuline used the momentum to fire away with a 14-5 overtime period. Overall, between the fourth quarter and overtime, the Irish outscored the Tigers 27-17.
Ursuline ends their regular season with an 18-3 mark as they start their tournament run in the Sectional Semifinal against Cleveland Collinwood. Howland, with the hard-fought overtime defeat, will finish the regular season 11-11 with a home Sectional Semifinal game coming up against Painesville Harvey. Both games will tip-off at 7:00 P.M. this upcoming Tuesday.
You can watch interviews with Ursuline head coach Keith Gunther and Howland head coach Dan Bubon below.
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YOUNGSTOWN, OH – Some nights are just your night and the fighting Irish came out and brought the pain against a tough Bombers team who, at times, looked very similar in play style and skill to Ursuline but those few glimpses weren’t enough for Kenston to overcome to giant that is Ursuline and the Irish found themselves with a massive 48-29 victory in round 1 of the OHSAA playoffs!
Ursuline came out with a fast start in the first and used that momentum to carry them toa 12-7 lead after the frame. The Bombers had two players score in this frame but the one who stood out the most was Morgan Cicero who found 3 points including a made free throw and a gritty 2 through a lot of traffic, she would be the main playmaker for her team as well and showed good ball movement throughout the game. Kennedy Carpenter led by example in this game, with 4 first quarter points she was on her way to a dominant night. Carly Casey found the first triple of the night while Lily Scott went 1-for-2 from the stripe and found 2 more points in the paint.
The Bombers played a much more locked down defensive 2nd quarter and ended up outscoring Ursuline 5-4 and only trailed at halftime by 4 points. Cicek added her team’s first three of the night and led her team with 6 points at halftime. Nia Burney and Brooklyn Brown combined for the 4 points for Ursuline both with 2 points within the arc. Ursuline was contributing from all parts of the court and had done a good job of defending against some quick attacks from Kenston, the Irish would also be the benefactors of several turnovers that helped them maintain possession.
Ursuline came out off the break energized and ready to rumble and their 13-8 3rd quarter proved that their offense was rejuvenated but their defense still needed some tweaks. Cicek would add 2 more points to her team leading total but couldn’t get past the long arms of Ursuline which was a common theme throughout the night. Carpenter found 5 huge points for her team with two 2’s and 1-of-2 made free throws while Lily Scott smashed a long 3 right through the basket.
Ursuline went into the 4th quarter wanting to leave no doubt that they belong in this playoff tournament and with 8 minutes to prove that they were the better team the Irish pulled together their best offensive frame of the night with 19 points and held Kenston to just 9. Cicek would add another 2 pointer and would finish as the only Bomber in double digits with 10 points. Kennedy Carpenter was pure magic with an impressive 10 points in the quarter she would be the sole leader in points scored with 19 on the night! Meredith Gray found her first 4 points of the tournament while Carly Casey added 3 more points with a double and 1-of-2 made free throws.
Ursuline showed some fantastic bouts of offense throughout the night and used Kennedy Carpenter’s fantastic night to propel them past the Bombers and move on to the next round. Kenston showed good offensive possessions but left many empty due to either overshooting the ball or the Irish defense getting in the way and to be fair Ursuline also had some trouble shooting the ball in this game too but found ways to tighten up their offense and get the job done. The Bombers finish their season in Youngstown with a 8-15 overall record while Ursuline improves to 13-10 overall and gets ready for a huge showdown up in Ashtabula on Saturday when they take on the 3rd seed Edgewood at 7:00PM.
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