Tag Archive for: Red Dragons

WARRIORS OUTLAST RED DRAGONS ON SENIOR NIGHT

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Story by: Larry Jennings

East Ashtabula, OH — The Niles Red Dragons stormed into Edgewood Gymnasium looking to end their regular season on a high note, but the Warriors had other plans, holding off a late comeback attempt to secure a hard-fought 59-54 victory.

The Warriors (7-14) jumped out to an early lead thanks to a hot start from Logan Mezak, who drained a three-pointer from the corner off the opening tip. Edgewood dominated the first quarter, closing with a commanding 14-4 advantage.

The Red Dragons (8-13) responded in the second quarter, clawing back into the game by outscoring the Warriors 15-9. At one point, Niles briefly held the lead, but Edgewood managed to regroup and took a narrow 23-21 lead into halftime.

Both teams came out firing in the third quarter, trading baskets in an aggressive, fast-paced battle. The Warriors managed to widen their lead, finishing the quarter ahead 38-29.

Niles made one final push in the fourth, cutting the deficit to just four points. However, in their attempt to regain possession, the Red Dragons repeatedly sent Mezak to the free-throw line, where he delivered under pressure. Mezak converted seven crucial points from the stripe to seal the Warriors’ victory.

Mason Thorr led Edgewood with 14 points, while Mezak and Dallas Patterson each added 13. Devin Christine also contributed with 11 points. Niles was paced by Izaiah Redd’s 13 points, followed by A’Von Fryer and True Carey-Hardin, who both scored 12.
Coach Jay Bowler stated after the game that he got more players involved in the game, as some of the younger JV players had been proving themselves on the court, and he’s looking forward to the sectional game that is coming up.
With the regular season now complete, Edgewood will travel to Pepper Pike Orange for their sectional playoff game on February 21. The Red Dragons will also be in action that night, facing Jefferson on the road.

HOWLAND FINDS FOOTING AGAINST NILES

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By Ty Bartell 

HOWLAND, OH— The Howland Tigers boys basketball team ended their six-game losing streak in commanding fashion on Wednesday night, cruising to a 61-38 victory over the Niles McKinley Red Dragons. The win brings Howland back to .500 on the season at 8-8. 

The Tigers started strong, building a 10-6 lead in the first quarter and extending their advantage to 23-18 at halftime. A dominant third quarter saw Howland outscore Niles 17-8, pulling away with a 40-26 lead before sealing the win with a 21-point final period. 

Anthony Chieffo and Darren Douglas each scored 12 points to pace the Tigers, while Frank Hoso added 9 and Luca Naples contributed 7. Niles was led by True Carry-Hardin, who finished with a game-high 17 points in the loss. 

Howland (8-8, 0-6 AAC) will look to build momentum as they travel to Austintown-Fitch (7-10, 1-4 AAC) on Friday, January 31, for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off. Niles (6-10, 3-5 NE8) will aim to rebound at home on Saturday, February 1, against Lakeview (7-9, 3-4 NE8) at 7 p.m.

 

NILES WINS THE DRAGON WAR AGAINST LAKESIDE

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Photo Credit: CM Photography

Ashtabula, OH- In a hard-fought Week 3 contest, the Niles Red Dragons earned their first win of the season, defeating the Lakeside Dragons 26-6. Both teams entered the game looking to rebound from early-season struggles, but Niles controlled the tempo with key plays on both sides of the ball to secure the victory.

Niles struck first in the second quarter with 11:50 on the clock, as Vinnie Broll broke free for a 35-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 6-0. Niles extended their lead midway through the quarter when Germaine Dean powered through the defense for a 23-yard touchdown run. A missed extra point kept the score at 12-0 heading into halftime.

The third quarter started explosively for Niles, with Avon Fryer returning the opening kickoff 73 yards for a touchdown, making it 18-0 after another missed extra point. Lakeside answered late in the third, as Omar Ambriz connected with Zion Thomas for a 15-yard touchdown pass, but a failed extra point left them trailing 18-6.

Niles sealed the win in the fourth quarter when Joey Lehman found Avon Fryer for a 24-yard touchdown pass. Although the two-point conversion attempt was no good, the Red Dragons added to their lead when Lakeside was tackled in their own end zone for a safety, bringing the final score to 26-6.

Niles (1-2) will look to build momentum in Week 4 at home against the undefeated Hubbard Eagles (3-0), while Lakeside (1-2) will aim to bounce back at home against the West Geauga Wolverines.

TIGERS CLAW TO VICTORY OVER NILES

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HOWLAND, OH- Monday saw the Howland Tigers claw their way to a 6-4 victory over the Niles McKinley Red Dragons.

Niles struck first in the second inning with Nick Clark grounding out to bring one home and Brady Court knocking a single to tally another run. But Howland wasn’t about to let them keep the lead for long. Come the third inning, the Tigers unleashed a barrage, scoring five runs off five hits, capitalizing on a critical error that sent two runners home.

Sully O’Donnell kicked things off on the mound for Howland, tossing over three innings, giving up two hits and a couple of runs while fanning three. On the flip side, Landon Turner toed the rubber for Niles, enduring three rough innings where he yielded seven hits and five runs, though only one was earned.

Howland’s bats were lively, racking up 10 hits. Dominic Santee, batting cleanup, delivered big time with two RBIs, going 2-for-4. Luca Fronzaglio and Richie Ansel also had notable performances with a pair of hits each. Fronzaglio wasn’t just a threat at the plate; he swiped two bases, contributing to Howland’s total of seven steals on the day.

For Niles, Court was clutch from the seven-hole, driving in two runs on a 2-for-3 day at the plate. Tyler Williams matched Court’s two-hit output as the Red Dragons turned a double play to tighten up their defense.

Next up, the Howland Tigers hit the road to face Alliance on Tuesday, looking to keep their momentum rolling.

BRIONES LEADS DRAGONS TO FIRST VICTORY OVER NILES

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Niles, OH- Rosario Briones drove in four runs on one hit to lead Lakeside Dragons past Niles Red Dragons 19-10 on Wednesday.

Both offenses were strong at the plate as Lakeside Dragons collected 11 hits and Niles Red Dragons 10 in the high-scoring affair.

A single by Jada Lavender put Lakeside Dragons on the board in the top of the first. Niles Red Dragons jumped back into the lead in the bottom of the first inning after Lakeside Dragons committed an error, and Madison Sullivan lined out, each scoring one run.

Lakeside Dragons flipped the game on its head in the top of the second, scoring seven runs on four hits to take an 8-2 lead. The biggest blow in the inning was an error that drove in two. Lakeside Dragons added to their early lead in the top of the third inning after Niles Red Dragons committed an error, Lavender grounded out, and Ryleigh Chatman singled, each scoring one run.

Lyla Hamilton earned the win for Lakeside Dragons. They gave up one hit and five runs (zero earned) over two innings, striking out none and walking four. Jules Lavender pitched five innings in relief for Lakeside Dragons. The righty surrendered nine hits and five runs while striking out seven and walking eight. Ariana Jones began the game for Niles Red Dragons. They surrendered 11 hits and 19 runs (six earned) over seven innings, striking out eight and walking eight.

Lakeside Dragons piled up 11 hits in the game. Mariah Gildersleeve led Lakeside Dragons with three hits in five at-bats. Hamilton collected two hits for Lakeside Dragons in five at-bats. Lakeside Dragons had a strong eye at the plate, accumulating eight walks for the game. Sophia Matriciano and Lucie Cole led the team with two walks each.

Niles Red Dragons piled up 10 hits in the game. Kennedy Barrell drove the middle of the lineup, leading Niles Red Dragons with two runs batted in. The shortstop went 1-for-2 on the day. Abigail Noland went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead Niles Red Dragons in hits. Lucia DeLuca and Jones each collected multiple hits for Niles Red Dragons. Zoey Beck paced Niles Red Dragons with four walks. Overall, the team had patience at the plate, tallying 12 walks for the game.

Next up for Lakeside Dragons is a game at Grand Valley on Wednesday.

SONGER STRIKES OUT 14; EAGLES BLOW PAST NILES

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NILES, OH- Braydon Songer was the star on the mound Tuesday, racking up 14 strikeouts and giving up just one hit as Hubbard shut down Niles  8-0.

Songer dominated all seven innings, keeping the runs off the board and issuing four walks.

The scoring started early for Hubbard when Johnny Reyes knocked a single to bring in the first run. The action heated up in the second with Noah Adamson ripping a triple to pad the lead.

Geno Leshnack chipped in with a single in the third, bumping the lead to three. Then just one day after throwing a no-hitter,  Tyler Wright cranked a two-run homer to right field in the fourth, really opening up the game for Hubbard.

Niles McKinley’s starter Brixton Gilmour faced a tough outing, surrendering six runs on 11 hits through five innings.

Hubbard’s bats were hot, racking up 13 hits. Songer and Leshnack both bagged a pair of hits, contributing big to the team’s offensive firepower.

Adamson and Wright both plated two runs each, adding to the day’s haul. Defensively, Hubbard was flawless, with Reyes getting his hands on the most chances with 11 plays.

Landon Turner managed the only hit for Niles McKinley, finding some space in his three trips to the plate.

Hubbard’s next challenge is a road game against LaBrae this Thursday. They’ll be looking to carry this momentum forward.

NILES PLAYS HEARTBREAKER AGAINST RAMS

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NILES, OH- The Mineral Ridge Rams just missed clinching a win against Niles, falling 4-3 on a last-gasp single by Nick Clark in the bottom of the seventh, breaking a 3-3 deadlock, and walking off winners in Dragon Country.

Niles struck first in the second inning with Aj Yost driving in a run with a single. Mineral Ridge responded in the fourth, taking a 2-1 lead thanks to Ethan Vestorsky’s sacrifice fly and a timely single by Jack Gillie.

The game was knotted again at two-all when Kris Rosar lifted a sac fly for Niles in the same frame. The Rams edged ahead in the seventh on an unfortunate error by Niles, making it 3-2, but their joy was short-lived. Niles rallied back in the bottom half with Tyler Williams and Nick Clark each knocking in a run to snatch the victory.

B Gilmour was solid on the mound for Niles, tossing a complete game, yielding three runs (two earned) and fanning five. Nick Anderson shouldered the loss for Mineral Ridge, allowing four runs (three earned) over six-plus innings.

Mineral Ridge’s lineup saw Gino Novello, Jackson Geddes, and Gillie each snagging hits, with Gillie and Vestorsky notching RBIs. Aj Sandy showed speed on the bases, nabbing two steals as part of the Rams’ five stolen bases on the night.

Niles had a balanced offensive contribution with Yost, Brady Court, Landon Turner, Williams, Clark, and Anthony Mymo each logging hits. Key RBIs came from Rosar, Yost, Williams, and the game-winner from Clark.

Mineral Ridge aims to bounce back in their next outing, bringing that same aggressive base-running and looking for tighter game-closing execution.

NILES UNLOADS ON CHANEY PITCHING

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NILES, OH- The Niles McKinley Red Dragons unleashed an offensive onslaught, pouring in eight runs on six hits in a decisive fifth inning rally against the Chaney Cowboys. The inning was highlighted by key hits from Clark and Court, each driving in a run, while a costly error allowed two more runs to score. Brixton Gilmour took one for the team, getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Landon Turner delivered a big two-run single. Williams capped off the scoring with another RBI single.

Williams also shined on the mound, earning the win for the Red Dragons by limiting the Cowboys to just two runs (none earned) and three hits over nearly four innings of work, with three strikeouts. Pagan, the Cowboys’ starter, had a rough outing, surrendering a staggering 22 runs (nine earned) on 21 hits through five innings.

Niles McKinley’s bats were hot, racking up a total of 21 hits. Kris Hrosar, Turner, Court, and Anthony Mymo each had a three-hit day. Williams, Gilmour, and Brian Parsons also had multiple hits, making it a tough day for Chaney’s pitchers.

The Red Dragons didn’t just rely on their hitting; they were aggressive on the bases, swiping eight bags over the course of the game. Hrosar contributed two of those steals, adding to the team’s dynamic performance.

For the Chaney Cowboys, Pagan, A Rinehart, B Polk, Johnson, and T Allison each managed a hit, with Moon and Johnson each knocking in a run. The Cowboys were also active on the base paths, stealing six bases, with Pagan grabbing two.

This high-scoring affair was a showcase of Niles McKinley’s potent offense and speed, setting a high bar for their next opponents as they continue their season.

LAKEVIEW HANGS ON TO WIN OVER NILES

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NILES, OH- Nathan Paolucci was a hit machine, snagging three hits in four at-bats, as Lakeview Bulldogs edged out McKinley 7-6 on Friday. Paolucci was everywhere, with a single in the fourth, a double in the first, and another single in the third.

Niles wasn’t going down without a fight, though. After falling behind by four runs in the fourth inning, they rallied back, stringing together a couple of singles and a double to close the gap.

Lakeview first got on the scoreboard with Nolan Toth’s single in the second inning. They added another run in the third when Andrew Brown grounded out.

Jackson Uphoff claimed the win for Lakeview, navigating through five and two-thirds innings while giving up six runs on seven hits. Brixton Gilmour was saddled with the loss for McKinley, despite pitching a complete game, where he allowed seven runs (five earned) on 11 hits. Brown secured the save for Lakeview.

Lakeview tallied 11 hits in total, with Brown and Toth both having multi-hit games. The Bulldogs were aggressive on the bases, stealing seven bags in total, with Paolucci and Hayden Newton each swiping more than one.

McKinley put up a good fight at the plate too, with nine hits. Kristopher Hrosar, Tyler Williams, and Nick Clark led the charge, each grabbing two hits. Hrosar and Clark also each drove in two runs.

Next up, Lakeview will host Struthers on Monday.

RED DRAGONS BOUNCE BACK AGAINST STRUTHERS

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NILES, OH- Tuesday’s game at Waddell Park was a close-fought affair, with the Niles Red Dragons just edging out the Struthers Wildcats 5-4 in a contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the last out.

The Red Dragons struck first, lighting up the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning. AJ Yost kicked things off with a single and then took matters into his own hands by stealing home, showcasing both speed and daring.

Struthers responded in the top of the third when JR Hovanec delivered a timely single that brought in two runs, nudging the Wildcats ahead 3-2. But their lead was short-lived as Niles McKinley rallied back in the fourth inning. Brian Parsons’ well-placed sacrifice bunt, followed by hits from Brixton Gilmour and Landon Turner, each drove in a run, flipping the game back in favor of the Red Dragons.

On the mound, Gilmour was solid for Niles McKinley, scattering six hits across a complete game and allowing four runs while striking out six. His counterpart, Jordan Becker of Struthers, struggled a bit more, surrendering five runs over just three and two-thirds innings.

Hovanec was a bright spot for Struthers, batting in two runs, while Caleb Sakara, Josh Robison, Michael Scavnicky, Anthony Pastella, and Travis McMurray each contributed hits.

For the Red Dragons, Yost, Turner, and Gilmour not only led with their bats—each recording two hits and an RBI—but also with aggressive baserunning, contributing to a total of four stolen bases for the team. Yost alone swiped two bases, adding pressure on Struthers’ defense.

Defensively, Niles was flawless, not committing a single error throughout the game, with Andrew Strader making the most plays in the field with seven.

As Struthers prepares for their next challenge against Hubbard on Wednesday, they’ll be looking to tighten up their game and convert more of their opportunities into runs. Meanwhile, the Red Dragons will be riding high on their victory, hoping to carry this momentum forward against Lakeview.