STRUTHERS, OH- The Waterloo Vikings needed extra baseball but stole the lead late in the game in a 5-4 victory over McDonald on Wednesday. The game was tied at four after the Blue Devils stormed back with 4 runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Waterloo built a four-run lead in the seventh inning and then held off McDonald’s charge. McDonald scored four runs in the seventh on a single by A Mayle, an error, and a single by Nolan Aglen.
Waterloo got things started in the first inning. Evan Kugler singled on the first pitch of the at-bat, scoring one run.
McDonald evened things up at four in the bottom of the seventh inning when Aglen singled on a 2-1 count, scoring two runs.
Aric May got the win for Waterloo Vikings Varsity. May allowed zero hits and zero runs over one-third of an inning, striking out one and walking zero. Mason Hakin threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen to earn the save.
Drew Cupone took the loss for McDonald. The hurler allowed one hit and one run over one inning, striking out one and walking zero.
Logan Presco started the game for McDonald. Presco lasted four and a third innings, allowing six hits and two runs while striking out two. Noah Hughes started the game for Waterloo. The lefty lasted six and two-thirds innings, allowing four hits and four runs while striking out four
The Vikings totaled nine hits. Hughes, Luke Simons, and Drew Flarida all had multiple hits for Waterloo. Hughes led Waterloo Vikings Varsity with three hits in four at-bats.
https://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Waterloo-baseball.png720960YSN Staffhttps://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Default-Email-Signature-2673571-300x70.pngYSN Staff2022-04-21 12:58:402022-04-21 12:58:40VIKINGS STORM MCDONALD IN EXTRAS
STRUTHERS OH- Varsity baseball traveled to Cene Park Tuesday evening to take on McDonald in a MVAC matchup.
After trailing McDonald 2-0 in the 5th inning the Blue Jays got timely hitting and erupted for 5 runs to take the lead. That was all the runs needed as two BlueJays pitchers shut the door on McDonald.
Billy Sloan was the starter, he allowed 2 runs (1 earned) over 5 innings while striking out seven hitters and only surrendering four singles. Junior Aaren Romigh came in relief pitching the final two inning striking out five hitters to pick up the save.
Offensively the BlueJays were led by Romigh and Owen McDevitt. Romigh had 2 hits and McDevitt had the timely hit in the fifth inning that resulted in 3 RBI’s.
We return to action tomorrow as we welcome Southeast for a non league matchup. Fingers crossed for dry weather.
*Contributed By Matt Ruby at jacksonmiltonathletics.org
https://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/8769DAFD-1512-41AE-896C-B985E5AEB432.jpeg12782219Anthony Hartwighttps://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Default-Email-Signature-2673571-300x70.pngAnthony Hartwig2022-04-06 05:12:542022-04-06 05:12:54BLUE JAYS SHINE BRIGHT UNDER THE LIGHTS
GRAND VALLEY OH- For the fourth consecutive season, Western Reserve and McDonald met up in the tournament. McDonald came into to Wednesday’s district semifinal against rival Reserve winning the last two tournament matchups. That trend continued on Wednesday as McDonald put down Reserve 48-39 to advance to their 4th straight district championship game.
McDonald was led by Lucia Wolford who scored 15 points. She wasn’t the only contributor though, McDonald had two other players in double figures. Alicia Morrison added 13 points, and Lea Gabrelcik put in 12.
Western Reserve was paced by Brooke Schantz who finished with 17 points.
McDonald advances to the Grand Valley district championship on Saturday. They will matchup with top seeded Bristol to decide who gets crowned. The tip of the title is set for 7:00.
https://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/94B9BFF3-454B-469B-A669-82F4258D9008.jpeg12282033Anthony Hartwighttps://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Default-Email-Signature-2673571-300x70.pngAnthony Hartwig2022-02-24 19:31:212023-07-15 00:11:17MCDONALD ENDS RESERVES SEASON YET AGAIN
MCDONALD OH- Waterloo was on the tail end of a very emotionally, and physically draining week coming in to Saturday’s game against McDonald. Not only was McDonald the third game of the week against teams in the top half of the week, the last two wins for the Vikings gave them the outright MVAC Scarlett championship. However, they couldn’t afford to get too high coming into their third contest of the week. This was a McDonald team that wanted to prove they were better than the blowout showed in their first matchup with the Vikings.
After Waterloo set the tone early, with a 10-2 run to open the 1st quarter, McDonald never stopped pushing back. Waterloo’s six girl rotation was fighting against fatigue by the 4th quarter, but never gave up the lead they ran out to in the first. Waterloo escaped with a 45-39 win.
Rose Couts scored 17 points in the Vikings 25 point first frame, she’d finish with 21 to lead. Kaira English continues to score at a high clip as well as she chipped in 18.
McDonald was able to find ways to score tonight, and spread the wealth around. Four Devil scorers had at least six points. They were led by Alivia Morrison with 14. Gianna Constantino competed down low all night, and finished with a solid 9. Lea Gsbrelcik finished with 8.
Waterloo will try to complete the undefeated MVAC record on Monday traveling to Mineral Ridge. McDonald has one more tournament tune up as they make their way to Southeast on Monday.
Postgame Interview With Kevin Longanecker:
Postgame Interview With Rose Couts:
https://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/3BE184BB-DC0B-487E-A2C7-187E8A5D482C-scaled.jpeg14632560Anthony Hartwighttps://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Default-Email-Signature-2673571-300x70.pngAnthony Hartwig2022-02-12 21:13:542023-07-14 23:55:06WATERLOO GRINDS OUT THIRD WIN OF THE WEEK
NEW MIDDLETOWN OH- Springfield has had its troubles with McDonald in the past. This has been a huge rivalry in the MVAC for years. This time around the Tigers fresh off their MVAC championship victory on Tuesday dominated McDonald 65-17.
Beau Brungard went off with a stellar 26 point performance. Jake Joyce has put together back to back impressive nights with a 14 point effort. Alex Rothwell was also in double figures with 12.
Springfield is still undefeated on the season. The win completes an unbeaten season inside the MVAC. The Tigers will play Girard on Tuesday on the road.
https://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/E0280451-9D23-4DA6-8071-994DB0579123-scaled.jpeg16772560Anthony Hartwighttps://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Default-Email-Signature-2673571-300x70.pngAnthony Hartwig2022-02-12 17:09:182023-07-14 23:54:25TIGERS TAKE A BIG BITE OUT OF MCDONALD
MCDONALD OH- McDonald quickly found themselves in a thriller on Friday night. In their return to the floor they battled another Blue Devil team from Western Reserve. After Reserve came back from what was once a twelve point deficit, McDonald would eventually hold on to win 57-54.
It was a tale of two halves for McDonald. In the first, it was Gregory Constantino that rocked the gym. He scored 15 of his total 17 points in the first two quarters. He was a big reason McDonald ended the first half on an 8-0 run and led by 11 at the break 31-20. While Reserve clamped down on Constantino in the second half, it was Michael Porter that erupted. He’d finish with 27. Mathew Porter contributed 8 to the cause.
David Altiere led a monster second half comeback for Western Reserve. They trailed by as much as twelve in the third quarter, and eventually took the lead late in the fourth. Hayden Fellows was also a big contributor to the Blue Devils scoring 14. Both him and Altiere led with that total.
McDonald will stay home on Tuesday as they host Sebring in another MVAC battle. Western Reserve will try to battle back and take on Jackson Milton on the road on Tuesday.
Postgame Interview With James Franceschelli:
Postgame Interview With Michael Porter:
https://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/22BE600C-B69B-4D5C-B4AB-A21C78A7A27A-scaled.jpeg15772560Anthony Hartwighttps://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Default-Email-Signature-2673571-300x70.pngAnthony Hartwig2022-01-09 05:27:572023-07-14 23:25:01MCDONALD BENDS BUT DOESN’T BREAK AGAINST RESERVE
NORTH JACKSON OH- Jackson Milton came in to Monday night in a three way tie with Springfield, and Waterloo at the top of the MVAC. McDonald came in trying to forget their game on Thursday against Waterloo which ended up being 40-13 Vikings. The Blue Devils made quick adjustments and looked like a completely different team as they beat the Blue Jays 51-40.
Alivia Morrison lead the Blue Devils with 18 points on the night. She was one of three players in double figures. Lea Gabrelcik chipped in a solid 13, while Gianna Constantino contributed 12 points to the balanced offense.
Jackson Milton was led by Chelsea Williams, and Kylie Wilson who both scored 15 points. Ava Darney had 6.
McDonald will be back in action Monday December 27th as part of a boy/girl double header against Girard. Girls tip off at 5:30 in McDonald. Jackson Milton has another game before Christmas as they travel to Leetonia on Thursday.
Postgame Interview With Tony Matisi:
Postgame Interview With Alivia Morrison:
https://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/1A21B06A-F9BF-407E-9320-2A9331B8DB86.jpeg15902251Anthony Hartwighttps://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Default-Email-Signature-2673571-300x70.pngAnthony Hartwig2021-12-21 15:39:572023-07-14 23:13:08MCDONALD PUSHES JAYS OFF THEIR PERCH
McDonald- OH One of the biggest rivalries in the Mahoning Valley Scarlet Division has been the Mineral Ridge Rams and the McDonald Blue Devils. The last time the Rams got a victory was back on December 21 2018. This time, the Rams were not only looking to end a drought, but to get their first win of the season under coach Pugh. Meanwhile for coach James Franceschelli, he looked to get his Blue Devils their second win of the season after a few close and disappointing losses.
Wyatt Wolford led the pack in the first quarter going up 11-10 along with Michael Porter with a three pointer. On the Rams side, it was a three by both Zach James and Elias Clark along with a two point bucket from Peyton Zupko. A big defensive matchup would turn offensive real quick however in the second with two threes by Gregory Constantino who also made two free throws and Wolford with four free throws. The second quarter was the Zupko show for the Rams where he scored seven and a three by Trey Rigley with it once again being a close one point 26 to 25 game and what’s expected from a conference rivalry.
However, the lead would soon turn from a 50/50 matchup to a one sided second half with Wolford leading the Blue Devils who were fiery after being down the last half. Wolford in the second half dropped 17 points along with Michael Porter with a big fourth quarter performance after being shut out the last two quarters. Porter would score nine in the fourth alone. Zupko still led the Rams in the second half with 13 points and Ian Erb making a three, but foul limits were not to their advantage as the Rams were now over the limit. In the end, the free throws became the key in the game and some late turnovers went the way of the Blue Devils as McDonald, with a young squad, returned to their winning ways as they pulled away from their conference rivals in the end 61 to 51.
Stats
Mineral Ridge:
Payton Zupko: 22pts
Julian Rozzi: 3pts
Elias Clarke: 5pts
Ian Erb: 5pts
Zach James: 15pts
Nate Rohrman: 1pt
McDonald:
Wyatt Wolford: 26pts
Gregory Constantino: 16pts
Matthew Porter: 5pts
Michael Porter: 14pts
Up Next:
McDonald (2-4) will host Waterloo. Mineral Ridge (0-4) will host Springfield. Both games will be Friday at 7pm on YSN!!
*Contributed by YSNs Ian O’Brien*
https://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/9556DDC6-8A8C-4E68-97C6-0DDFE6DF7A9B-scaled.jpeg16452560Anthony Hartwighttps://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Default-Email-Signature-2673571-300x70.pngAnthony Hartwig2021-12-16 00:27:362023-07-14 23:09:41MCDONALD PUSHES THROUGH TO VICTORY
MCDONALD OH- It was a magical time to be a Blue Devil during the basketball season last year. Both the girls, and boys teams were rolling on all cylinders and extremely fun to watch. While both teams lose some key pieces of those teams to graduation, that shouldn’t stifle the Devils faithful’s enthusiasm. When talking about the boys program, they will always have a team that makes their opponent play faster than they want, and get plenty of points off of turnovers. Their shooting will still be as electric as always, and when you add those two things together you get a dangerous team.
We had the opportunity to get McDonald head coach Jimmy Franceschelli on YSN’s Running Point to help us preview the season. He talks with Ty Bartell, and Anthony Hartwig about coaching in this school system, the schedule the Devils have in front of them, and much more. Episode 1 of Coach’s Corner with Jimmy Framceschelli is live.
Presented By:
https://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/McDonald-Boys.png21602160Anthony Hartwighttps://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Default-Email-Signature-2673571-300x70.pngAnthony Hartwig2021-11-04 02:28:462023-07-14 22:07:56MCDONALD BOYS BASKETBALL COACH’S CORNER (EP 1) WITH JIMMY FRANCESCHELLI
NORTH JACKSON, OH – Despite giving up 19 unanswered points after a 28-7 lead, the McDonald Blue Devils held off a ferocious fourth-quarter rally by rival Jackson-Milton en route to a season-ending 28-26 victory on the road.
After both teams traded punts to start off, the Blue Devils were lined up in the shadow of their own goal post at the 4. Nathan Gilligan then took a carry to the outside, evaded a Milton defender, and burst into the open green with no one to beat for a 96-yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Blue Devils. After McDonald’s defense forced another Milton punt, Gilligan found a hole again, this time for a 54-yard touchdown as it was 13-0 at the end of the first quarter with the blocked extra point. Gilligan was already at 150 rushing yards in the first quarter and helped fill the void of senior Logan Hawk who was carried off the field in a heartbreaking fashion in his last game as a Blue Devil.
Jackson-Milton, however, would not go down without a fight on their senior night as they were graduating six seniors. The Blue Jays used a nice, methodical ground attack on their next drive as junior Tanner Butler took it in from a few yards out to bring it within 13-7 Blue Devils still on top. It was McDonald, though, that would win the time of possession for the majority of the game as the utilization of Gilligan helped set the Devils up with a 1st & Goal on the 9. They would take advantage with a touchdown pass from Nathan Sierra to Danny Gray. The successful two-point attempt made it 21-7 at halftime.
The Devils then came out in the second half with another long drive that ended with an 11-yard touchdown run by Gilligan, his third score of the night. They were leading 28-7 with 4:52 left in the third, and it appeared that they would run away with the contest. The Blue Jays, though, had a ferocious comeback in them as fifth-year coach Nathan Brode decided to open up the passing game with his quarterback Owen McDevitt. The junior launched a long pass that was hauled in by Billy Sloan for 26 yards. The Blue Jays then got into a goal-to-go situation as time expired in the third quarter.
The Jays would use this situation to their advantage to start the fourth as senior Eythan Evans took a QB sneak in for a touchdown. After the extra point was blocked to keep it at 28-13, McDonald was called for four penalties on their next drive to bring them back to a 3rd & 36 situation. They would then be forced to punt as the Blue Jays were ready to bring the game within one score. McDevitt sold McDonald on a play fake and threw a completion to Tanner Butler, who then scampered for a 64-yard touchdown pass to make it 28-20.
The defense was then asked to step up and contain Gilligan on their most important drive of the game. They lived up to the task as they stopped Gilligan on a third-down jet sweep in what was the best quarter of the season for the Blue Jays. The offense started at their own 49 as Gavin White took a 2nd down carry, bursted down the sideline and was brought down at the 10 for a 41-yard pickup. Milton would then score an 11-yard touchdown pass to bring the score within two at 28-26. The two-point conversion would be crucial for the Blue Jays, but it was McDonald’s Nathan Sierra who would intercept the pass in the endzone. The Blue Devils then recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock to spoil Senior Night in North Jackson.
The win for McDonald ends their season at 3-6 overall and 3-2 in the MVAC Scarlet Tier. They end their road campaign with a 2-2 mark. This is also the thirteenth-straight time that the Blue Devils have defeated the Blue Jays. The last time that the Jays defeated the Devils was in 2006 when they won a hard fought four-overtime battle 14-6. Coach Dan Williams ends his 22nd season with a 156-77 record overall and an 82-39 record away from home. He is officially 17-3 against rival Jackson-Milton in his career.
The heartbreaking loss for Jackson-Milton ends their season at 2-7 overall and 1-5 in the MVAC Scarlet Tier. They finish their home campaign with an 0-4 mark. Coach Nathan Brode ends his fifth-year as the head coach in North Jackson losing six seniors, four of which he had coached for five years, including their seventh grade year in 2016 when the junior high team went undefeated.
Nathan Gilligan’s three rushing touchdowns with total touchdown yardage of 161 yards was enough for him to be earned our YSN Player of the Game. YSN’s Noah Ricks talked with winning coach Dan Williams following tonight’s contest. Watch below for the post-game interview.
