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SOUTHEAST BASEBALL COACH’S CORNER WITH JOHN KINSEY 3-11-25

RAVENNA OH- For Southeast Pirates head baseball coach John Kinsey, the love of the game has always been about more than just wins and losses. It’s about shaping young athletes into leaders both on and off the field.

Kinsey, who has been at the helm of the Pirates’ baseball program for multiple seasons, continues to instill a culture built on discipline, hard work, and passion for the game. Under his leadership, Southeast has developed a reputation for playing fundamentally sound baseball while emphasizing the importance of team cohesion.

“Our goal is to get better every day,” Kinsey said. “We want our guys to come in, work hard, and build something special together.” One of the biggest challenges Kinsey has faced in recent years is the ever-changing landscape of high school athletics, where multi-sport athletes balance commitments and roster depth fluctuates each season. Despite these hurdles, Kinsey remains steadfast in his approach, focusing on fundamentals and instilling a competitive mindset in his players.

“We emphasize the little things,” Kinsey noted. “Situational awareness, being mentally tough, and understanding how to execute in key moments—that’s what wins games.” As the Pirates head into the new season, Kinsey is excited about the potential of his squad. With a mix of experienced upperclassmen and promising young talent, Southeast is aiming to compete at a high level in its conference.“These guys have been putting in the work,” Kinsey said. “We have a group that’s hungry to prove themselves, and as a coach, that’s all you can ask for.”

Beyond the X’s and O’s, Kinsey takes pride in developing players who will succeed beyond their high school careers. Whether they continue playing baseball at the next level or transition into other fields, he hopes the lessons learned under his leadership will stay with them for years to come.

“At the end of the day, baseball is about more than just the game,” Kinsey said. “It’s about learning how to handle adversity, how to be accountable, and how to work together toward a common goal. If our guys leave here with those values, then we’ve done our job.” Southeast opens the season on Saturday, March 22nd on the road against The Marlington Dukes with a 1 p.m. first pitch.

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PERRY HITS REGIONAL ROAD BLOCK

CANTON OH- Perry ran into a tough test in the regional round Monday night, squaring off against a stacked Laurel squad at Canton Memorial Fieldhouse. The Pirates battled from start to finish but couldn’t get over the hump, falling 59-43.

Victoria Lynch led the charge with 16 points, while Emily Mechenbier dropped 11. Mia Lynch added 9, and Audrey Austin chipped in 7, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with Laurel’s firepower.

The Pirates close out their season with 18 wins, a CVC title, and a district championship to their name—a run to be proud of.

PIRATES SAILING TO THE NEXT CHALLENGE

PERRY OH- Perry kept their season rolling Tuesday night, powering past Keystone 50-38 to move on in the district tournament. The Pirates took control early and never looked back, locking in defensively and spreading the scoring around.

Audrey Austin led the way with 12 points, while Rosalyn Tharp added 10. Victoria Lynch chipped in 9, with Mia Lynch and Emily Mechenbiar each dropping 5 to keep Perry in command.

Next up, the Pirates head to Akron North on Saturday for a district title showdown with West Branch. Tip-off set for 7:00.

CRESTVIEW STREAKING AT THE RIGHT TIME

RAVENNA OH-  Crestview wrapped up the regular season in style Friday night, taking down conference foe Southeast 67-46.

Senior Jameson English was locked in, dropping 28 points and swiping 4 steals to lead the charge. Jonathan Best wasn’t far behind, putting up 23 and coming through in big moments.

The Rebels head into the postseason riding a three-game win streak. They’ll open tournament play on Saturday, February 22, with a road test at South Range at 1:00.

SOUTHEAST SAILS PAST CHAMPION

By Ty Bartell 

RAVENNA, OH – The Southeast Pirates girls basketball team claimed their 13th win of the season with a decisive 48-27 victory over the Champion Golden Flashes on Monday night. 

 

Southeast (13-6, 8-3 Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference) set the tone early, edging Champion 13-10 in the first quarter before extending their lead to 25-16 by halftime. The Pirates held a commanding 35-23 advantage after three quarters and sealed the game with a strong defensive effort in the fourth, allowing just four points. 

 

Kayla Grope led Southeast with a game-high 17 points, while Kristen Campbell added 13 and Bailey Morris contributed 11. 

 

Champion (6-12, 4-7 MVAC) was paced by MacKenzie Braham’s seven points and Kennedy McKee’s six. 

 

Southeast will look to keep their momentum rolling as they travel to Brookfield (2-14, 1-9 MVAC) on Thursday, January 30, for a 6:15 p.m. tip-off. Champion will return to action the same evening, hosting league-leading Crestview (16-3, 11-0 MVAC) at 7 p.m

CRESTIVEW PLAYS SPOILER AGAINST PIRATES

COLUMBIANA — Crestview came out strong with a 13-2 run in the first quarter and held on to defeat Ravenna Southeast, 51-45, in Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Gray Tier action on Wednesday night.

Jonathan Best led the charge for the Rebels, scoring 17 points while adding four assists and five steals. Evan Neff recorded a double-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks, making his presence felt in the paint. Tanner Guy contributed with 10 points, seven rebounds, and two steals, playing a key role in the win.

The victory moves Crestview to 4-10 overall and 2-4 in conference play, while Southeast falls to 8-6 overall and 3-4 in the league. Crestview’s strong start gave them a comfortable lead early, and despite a second-half push from Southeast, the Rebels held firm to close out the game.

Both teams return to action on Friday. Crestview will take on Brookfield at home, while Southeast travels to face Garrettsville Garfield.

CRESTVIEW DOMINATES BEHIND RHODES’ HISTORIC NIGHT

COLUMBIANA, OH- The Crestview Rebels put on a clinic against the Southeast Pirates, cruising to a 71-35 win to remain undefeated in MVAC play. It was a night to remember for Addison Rhodes, who lit up the scoreboard and tied the school record for three-pointers in a season with 49 (previously held by Haley Eskra), draining six from deep on her way to a commanding 34-point performance.

Rhodes was unstoppable, finding her rhythm early and maintaining it throughout the game, keeping the Rebels in complete control. Her dominance wasn’t the only highlight for Crestview, as Luvrain Gaskins showed her versatility, controlling the boards while dropping 18 points to further solidify the Rebels’ hold on the game.

The Rebels spread the wealth offensively as well. Ava Bucey, Lexi Blower, and Breanna Baker each chipped in two points, while Bri DiCross added four. Myer Miller rounded out the effort with nine points, showing Crestview’s depth and team-oriented approach.

For Southeast, Kayla Grope was the Pirates’ standout, leading her team with 15 points. Jenna Canale contributed eight, while Alex Hrkach and Bailey Morris each added five. Alaina Hutson chipped in two points to complete the Pirates’ scoring.

Crestview’s defense stifled Southeast (10-6, 6-3), forcing tough shots and capitalizing on turnovers. The Rebels’ offensive firepower and defensive pressure were too much for the Pirates to handle, as Crestview took control early and never looked back.

With the win, the Rebels continue their dominant run through the MVAC, 913-3, 8-0) proving they’re a force to be reckoned with this season. Their sights are set on even bigger goals, with Rhodes leading the charge and rewriting the record books along the way.

The Lady Rebs will host Liberty as part of a girl/boy doubleheader on Wednesday in the Rebedome, while the Lady Pirates will visit Garfield on Thursday.

PURCHASE GAME PHOTOS HERE

VIKINGS STRONG FINISH KEEPS THEM PERFECT IN THE MVAC

RAVENNA OH- LaBrae had to dig deep Friday night, but the Vikings found a way to stay unbeaten in the MVAC with a nail-biting 45-44 win over Southeast. It was a back-and-forth battle, but LaBrae held their ground when it mattered most.

Marissa Levensky led the charge with 16 points, while Riley Rowe added 11, and Angel Scruggs chipped in 10 to keep the Vikings rolling.

Southeast put up a fight with Jenna Canale and Bailey Morris each dropping 14 points, while Kristen Campbell added 9, but they fell just short in the end.

Next up, LaBrae (5-0 in the MVAC) hosts Crestview on Tuesday, while Southeast hits the road the same night to face Liberty.

LIONS LEAVE THE PIRATES SHIPWRECKED

By Noah Ricks

PEPPER PIKE, OH – Coach Marvin Rashad and his Orange Lions were looking to rebound after a tough going Tuesday night against Hawken. They did just that on Thursday evening as they used a 19-6 third quarter to push themselves against conference foe Perry 61-50.

 

After a back-and-forth opening period that saw the Lions leading 12-8 after eight minutes, the Pirates of Perry responded by outscoring Orange 21-12 in the second quarter. Perry’s Vince Tomasic picked 11 points in the frame, as he ended the night with a game-high 21. Josh Zentgraf also contributed in a big way, draining four trays on his way to a 13-point outing.

 

Trailing 29-24 at the break, Orange roared away with 16 of their 19 third-quarter points coming from Alex McCulloch and Jonah Marderstein, both of them picking up eight in the period. McCulloch led his team with 14 tallies, while Marderstein finished with a total of 9. Nine players were able to get on the board overall for the Lions as Major Calhoun tagged along at 9 points, with 7 of them coming in the first half. Luke Oblaczynski and Jean-Marie Morris-Barrie also picked up 8 apiece.

 

Orange (6-6, 2-4 CVC Chagrin) will hit the road on Tuesday when they head out to DI Euclid. The Lions look to take on a tough matchup against the Panthers, who currently sit with a 4-7 mark. Perry (6-2, 2-2 CVC Chagrin) has their four-game winning streak snapped as they will look to get back in the win column at home on Tuesday against Edgewood.

 

You can watch interviews with Orange head coach Marvin Rashad and YSN Live Player of the Game Alex McCulloch below.

PIRATES PLANT THEIR FLAG ON OVERTIME WIN

MADISON OH- Perry pulled off a nail-biter on Saturday, edging Madison 49-47 in overtime in a game that had fans on the edge of their seats. The Pirates fought off a relentless Madison squad to secure the win in clutch fashion.

The game was tight from the tip. One of Perry’s early highlights came when Victoria Lynch dished a slick pass to Audrey Austin to tie it at 6. That score held through the end of the first quarter. Madison’s Zoey Deligianis was a problem for Perry’s defense all game and opened the second quarter with a bucket. But the Pirates started finding their rhythm. Jaidyn Newsome knocked down a three from the wing, giving Perry an 18-12 lead, and they took a 19-12 advantage into halftime.

Madison came out firing in the second half. Buckets from Deligianis and Kaylee LeMarco fired up the home crowd and cut into Perry’s lead. With the Pirates up 27-23 in the third, Lynch drained a clutch three to push the lead back to 7. She struck again in the fourth, putting Perry up 34-27. But Madison wasn’t done. LeMarco hit a long two to make it 40-37 with 32 seconds left, and Deligianis buried a deep three with 16 seconds on the clock to send the game to overtime.

In the extra frame, Perry found balanced offense, with Emily Mechenbier and Audrey Austin coming up with key buckets. The Pirates held on for the 49-47 win in a thriller.

Perry showed grit, and Madison proved they’re a team that won’t back down. Both squads gave fans a game to remember.