Tag Archive for: Warren Harding

STRUTHERS GIRLS BASKETBALL COACH’S CORNER (EP 1) WITH HALLE MINCHIN-SKOOK

 

STRUTHERS, OH—In an enlightening Coach’s Corner Anthony Hartwig sat down with Halle Minchin-Skook, the newly appointed head coach of Struthers Girls Basketball. Minchin-Skook, a Struthers alumnus, brings both passion and experience to the program she once graced as a player.

The interview opened with Hartwig’s warm introduction, celebrating Minchin-Skook’s return to her roots. Reflecting on her journey, Minchin-Skook shared, “It was a no-brainer that I wanted to take over the program. It means everything to me to give back to a community that gave so much to me.” The new head coach discussed her aspirations to instill a gritty, hard-working culture in the team, reminiscent of her days under Coach Grandy, emphasizing the significance of a robust coaching staff. She praised key members, including JV coach Kara Bornamus, seasoned scout and film specialist Coach Jack Berman, and Varsity Assistant Erica Wilson, whose extensive coaching experience provides invaluable support.

Minchin-Skook highlighted several standout players set to make an impact this season, from senior leaders Ava Croyle and Caitlin Kimball to up-and-coming talents such as freshman Mylea Law. “I can’t speak enough about just the character of all the athletes on my team,” she said. The coach didn’t shy away from addressing the competitive landscape of the NE8 conference and their rigorous non-conference schedule, which includes powerhouses like Warren Harding, West Branch, and Ursuline. “Playing tougher teams only makes you better for tournament time,” she noted. Significantly, Minchin-Skook acknowledged the expanded tournament format’s potential for fairer competition, expressing optimism about Struthers’ prospects in the new structure. The nterview concluded with heartfelt gratitude towards the supporting staff and administration, who play an essential role in the program’s success. For community members eager to support the team, the episode was a rallying cry to fill the field house for the Wildcats’ season opener on November 27th against Mineral Ridge.

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FALCONS GET SWEET REVENGE ON RAIDERS

By Ty Bartell

 

AUSTINTOWN, OH — Austintown Fitch’s dynamic rushing attack led the Falcons to a decisive 42-21 victory over the Warren Harding Raiders at Falcon Stadium. Avenging their Week 10 loss at home just a few weeks ago.

Fitch quickly established control, scoring twice in the first quarter with Deon’Dray Richard powering his way to touchdowns from three and sixteen yards. Warren Harding responded in the second quarter with a 22-yard touchdown pass from James Jones to Tyler Smith, but Fitch answered as Junie Higgs broke free for a 48-yard rushing touchdown, extending the Falcons’ lead.

Though Harding closed the gap to 21-14 in the second quarter with a 50-yard strike from Chaz Coleman to Stephen Sims, Fitch pulled away in the second half. Higgs added another short touchdown run in the third, and Richard added a fourth-quarter score to seal the game.

The Falcons relied heavily on their ground game, racking up 371 rushing yards on 40 carries. Richard led with 221 yards and three touchdowns, while Higgs added 122 yards and three touchdowns. Harding struggled to match that pace, despite 165 rushing yards and 161 passing yards.

The Falcons’ defense was crucial, limiting Harding’s offense to 50 total plays, forcing punts, and containing The Raiders key player Chaz Coleman. Falcons are now 20-18 all-time in 38 meetings with Warren G. Harding, with Fitch also carrying the 2-1 edge in playoff games since the 2020 playoff expansion.

#4 Fitch (9-3) will now battle #1 Walsh Jesuit (12-0) on Friday, November 15th with a 7 p.m. kickoff. The game will be played at a neutral site which will be announced later in the week.

CANFIELD DOMINANT AGAINST HARDING

CANFIELD, OH- The Canfield Cardinals cruised to a dominant 10-0 victory over Harding on Tuesday, thanks largely to a powerful fourth inning where they put up six runs. Ryan Weibling, David Murphy, and Jake Dovich each delivered big hits, driving in two runs apiece to seal the deal for Canfield.

The Cardinals started their scoring spree in the second inning after capitalizing on a Harding error for the first run. Tanner Stricko then stepped up to the plate and smacked a single that brought in two more runs, giving Canfield an early lead. The momentum continued with another run in the third, again following a Harding mishap.

On the mound, Anthony Groner was nearly untouchable, throwing five innings of one-hit ball. He struck out eight and walked none, earning a well-deserved win. On the other side, Harding’s Freeman struggled through four innings, surrendering 10 runs, though only three were earned, on eight hits.

Murphy was a standout at the plate, notching three RBIs on a 1-for-3 hitting performance, providing the critical firepower in the lineup. Zain Jadallah also had a solid day with the bat, going 2-for-3 to lead the team in hits. Defensively, the Cardinals were sharp, turning a crucial double play to keep Harding at bay.

Freeman managed Harding’s only hit of the game in his two at-bats.

Looking ahead, the Cardinals aim to carry their momentum into their next game against Boardman on Wednesday, hoping to replicate their strong performance both on the mound and at the plate and to stay in contention for the AAC crown.

TATAR SHINES ON MILESTONE DAY

HOWLAND, OH-Brooke Tatar was absolutely electric yesterday, knocking two homers and driving in seven runs to lead the Howland Tigers to a dominating 16-1 victory over the Warren G. Harding Raiders. The game, held at Warren G. Harding, was also a milestone event as Tatar reached her 300th career strikeout—a testament to her prowess in the circle- but she also would dazzle with her bat on this career day.

Right from the first inning, the Tigers were all over the scoreboard. Tatar set the tone with a clutch single that brought in two runs. Maya Kubancsek kept the momentum going with a double that added another run to the tally. The relentless attack continued into the second inning with Madison Schmitz’s double scoring another run, followed by Tatar smashing another two-run single.

The fourth inning turned into a showcase of power with the Tigers plating six runs off six hits. Alyssa Massucci started with a solo homer, followed by Tatar’s commanding two-run shot to center, and Brianna Deeter added a solo homer of her own. Sydney VanNess chipped in with a triple that scored another run, and an error brought in yet another run. The fifth inning saw no let-up as Tatar launched another solo home run to center, part of a four-run inning that stretched the lead to 16-1.

In the circle, Tatar was just as formidable. Over three and a third innings, she gave up just one hit and an unearned run while striking out nine. This performance brought her to a career milestone of 300 strikeouts. Meanwhile, Karly Trisler faced a rough outing for the Raiders, surrendering 15 earned runs over five innings.

The Tigers’ lineup showed depth and ferocity, accumulating a total of 20 hits. Key players like Massucci, Kubancsek, Luman, Schmitz, and Deeter each collected multiple hits, demonstrating the team’s offensive strength.

Despite the tough day, Azarriah Phillips managed a hit for the Raiders, and Chayse Powell stole two bases. They also turned a double play, showcasing some solid defensive moments in a challenging game.

The Tigers are now gearing up to take on the Lakeview Varsity Bulldogs this Thursday. With the momentum from this game and Tatar’s historic performance, it’s shaping up to be another thrilling matchup!

BOARDMAN PICKING UP THE PACE

WARREN, OH- At Warren G. Harding High School this Tuesday, the Boardman Spartans baseball team put on a show, steamrolling over the opposition in a dominant 11-0 win. The victory evens their league record to 2-2, a much-needed boost as they hit the midpoint of the season.

From the first pitch, it was clear the Spartans were there to play hard. They exploded out of the gates with a massive six-run first inning that set the tone for the rest of the game. Kaden Mayhew and Grayson Eicher were in fine form, each knocking out two hits and driving in a pair of runs. Their bats were hot, and Warren G. Harding just couldn’t find an answer to slow them down.

But the standout performance of the day came from Tyler Kirlik, who was simply unstoppable on the mound. Kirlik pitched a complete game shutout, a feat that’s as demanding as it is impressive. He scattered just five hits across the game and racked up four strikeouts, keeping the Harding batters guessing all day long. And as if his pitching prowess wasn’t enough, Kirlik also chipped in with two RBIs, showing he’s just as handy with a bat as he is with a baseball.

Despite several opportunities, Harding couldn’t capitalize, partly due to their own missteps—three errors on the day didn’t help their cause. Meanwhile, Boardman played some clean and sharp baseball, not giving anything away.

Looking ahead, the Spartans are set to carry this momentum into Thursday’s game, which promises to be a special one. It’s Senior Night against Lakeview, and the team will be looking to make it memorable for all the right reasons. With a 5 p.m. start, it’s shaping up to be an exciting evening.

SPARTAN ARMS COME OUT TO PLAY; WIPE OUT HARDING

BOARDMAN, OH- The Spartans edged out Harding in a nail-biter on Monday, winning 2-1 thanks to some stellar pitching and timely hitting.

Collin Resetar took the mound for the Spartans and was a force, handling the Harding lineup with ease. He chalked up 16 outs, held them hitless through over five innings, and allowed just one run while striking out seven.

The Spartans struck first in the second inning when Charlie Young knocked a single to bring in two runs, giving his team the early lead they needed.

Resetar snagged the win for his efforts, while Harding’s starter, who went six innings and surrendered two unearned runs on four hits, took the tough loss. Ryan Neifer also stepped up for the Spartans, throwing one and two-thirds scoreless innings in relief, allowing just one hit and striking out three.

Young, batting ninth, didn’t let his spot in the lineup hold him back, driving in both of the Spartans’ runs on a 1-for-2 day at the plate. He, along with Grayson Eicher, Marty Stachowicz, and Tyler Kirlik, each managed to pick up a hit. Landon Whippo was a threat on the bases, snagging two steals as part of the Spartans’ four total on the day.

The Spartans are back at it against Harding again on Tuesday to decide the season series.

HARDING SNEAKS UP ON THE CARDINALS IN THE END

MINERAL RIDGE OH- In a hard-fought matchup, Cardinal Mooney went head-to-head with Warren Harding in a thrilling contest that ultimately ended in a heartbreaking 24-21 loss for Mooney.

The first quarter set the tone for an exciting game as Harding’s Chaz Coleman connected with Ryan Powell on a 47-yard pass, resulting in a touchdown at the 10:27 mark. The extra point attempt failed, but Harding took an early 6-0 lead.

Mooney quickly responded when Adyn Paige broke through Harding’s defense with a 4-yard rushing touchdown at 6:12. With the successful extra point, Mooney took a 7-6 lead.

Later in the first quarter, Jake Daugherty of Harding made a 27-yard field goal, helping his team regain the lead at 9-7 with 1:34 left in the quarter.

The third quarter saw Mooney reclaiming the momentum. Ashton O’Brien connected with Jon Brenner for a 19-yard touchdown pass at the 3:04 mark, extending Mooney’s lead to 14-9. O’Brien continued to shine, throwing a 32-yard touchdown pass to Carlos Gomez at 1:54, further extending Mooney’s lead to 21-9.

However, Warren Harding wasn’t ready to concede the game. Chaz Coleman had an impressive 23-yard rushing touchdown at just 14 seconds left in the third quarter, narrowing the score to 21-16.

As the game entered the decisive fourth quarter, Harding managed to complete a comeback. Coleman orchestrated a 2-yard rushing touchdown at 0:38, putting Harding ahead 24-21. To secure the win, Coleman successfully converted a 2-point conversion with a pass to Khamari Adams, solidifying the 24-21 victory for Warren Harding.

BOARDMAN FOOTBALL COACH’S CORNER (EP 6) WITH DJ DOTA

BOARDMAN, OH-  In this episode of “Boardman Football Coach’s Corner,” we have a special guest joining us – DJ Dota, the head coach of the Boardman Spartan football team. Coach Dota reflects on a tough week for the team, with both wins and losses on the depth chart, as well as some key injuries. He discusses the importance of building depth and preparing the players for any situation.

The conversation also delves into the difference between being injured and being hurt, and how the team works to keep players healthy and in optimal condition. Coach Dota highlights the role of their athletic trainer in ensuring the well-being of the players.

Additionally, they touch on the challenges of getting enough reps for the second-string players and the difficulty of simulating game-like conditions.

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CANFIELD NOT PHASED BY DAY LONG DELAY

By Michael Wolfgang

 

CANFIELD, OHIO – After taking an extra day to complete, the Canfield Cardinals finally finished their game from Wednesday night, knocking off Warren Harding 8-2. In the first inning on Wednesday, Canfield jumped on Harding right away as they put up a four spot.

Ben Slanker drove in two runs on an RBI double. Canfield then put up for more runs in the third inning where Scottie Eaton, Stephen Maszczak, Jameson Beck, and AJ Havrilla all produced RBI’s in the inning. Michael Patellis started the game on the hill for the Cardinals, going on and two-thirds innings giving up two runs on one hit and fanning two Raiders batters.

The winning pitcher was Eaton as his stat line reads four hits given up, no runs allowed, striking out two, and two walks. Noah Anzevino got two innings of work out of the bullpen.

Canfield will return to the diamond on Friday at 5:00 p.m. to pay a visit to the Lakeview Bulldogs.

CANFIELD RUSHES PAST THE RAIDERS

By Michael Wolfgang

WARREN, OHIO – Canfield baseball opened up their season looking sharp as they shut out Warren Harding by way of a comfortable 7-0 final score.

The pitching really set the tone the entire game for Canfield as they got a combined shutout from pitchers Ben Slanker and Jameson Beck. Beck got the win for the Cardinals with his final stat line reading one hit allowed, zero runs given up, and striking out seven batters through the five inning outing.

The big scoring inning for Canfield came in the top of the seventh after Jack Davis and Logan Cayavec and a Michael Patellis double drove the runners in. Cayavec led the team in hits going three for four on the night.

Canfield and Warren Harding will face off again on Wednesday night at 4:30 p.m. This time the Cardinals will be the home team.