My weekly column in the Holmes County Journal shares the same title as this entry, but I wanted to explain why I use that header to describe what I do.
I am a sports writer. I get paid to go out and watch kids play ball. It's a pretty amazing thing that I get paid to do something I love to do. I don't get paid much, but it is what's called a labor of love, a lot like teaching. Many teachers teach because they love reaching young minds and sharing knowledge and experience with youngsters. It doesn't hurt that teachers get June, July and August off to recharge their batteries.
As a sports writer, I'm supposed to go watch a game, take some pictures and re-tell what happened in a few, well-structured paragraphs. After more than 20 years of tackling this task, I still get a thrill out of the fact that I'm paid to be sitting on the hillside at West Holmes High School on a sunny 70-degree day watching a baseball game or having to rough it at a basketball game at Hiland, where the athletic booster club provides a sumptuous meal for the media and officials before every game.
Not every game is held on a 70-degree day, and I've frozen my canoles off a few time, but it's my own fault if I go to a game and don't have proper attire stashed in the van. I've got a couple hoodies, and two raincoats for days when it less than perfect outside.
Thursday afternoon was one of those days where it wasn't exactly balmy outside; but after about a week straight of rain, the high 50s and sunshine felt like a trip to the dessert. And I was 'forced' to watch a baseball game and a tennis match. Darn.
My son plays on the tennis team, so having to watch him play really bumbs me out.
So, not only am I paid to watch strangers play, I'm paid to watch my own kids play. That is why I refer to my column as a tough day at the office.
There are days when I'm stuck in the office, staring at my computer for hours on end. Those days are easily erased from memory when I have to end my day by taking in a baseball game, or tennis match or whatever other game is on the calendar that particular day. Some days, I can get photos of a tennis match, baseball, softball and track meet all going on at one locale, giving the appearance that I worked really hard that day. I guess to someone who doesn't like sports, a day like that would be hard to take. For me, on the other hand, it's another tough day at the office.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
baseball cards
It's been a few weeks since I've written anything new, but now that we're into my favorite season of the year, I will be more diligent in my writing.
Reading a friend’s blog where he shared a baseball card story reminded me of my first trip to Cooperstown with a group of guys from my previous fantasy baseball league.
We did it right when we went to Cooperstown. We went to a game in Pittsburgh first, then Philadelphia before heading to upstate New York, where we spent two glorious days.
Getting upstairs at the Hall of Fame and seeing that room full of baseball cards... it felt like my old bedroom. As a kid in the late 1960s and early ‘70s, collecting cards was an awesome experience, and I had thousands of them.
I remember going up to Willard’s Grocery Store at the corner of Wyandotte and Madison in Lakewood. My friends and I would collect pop bottles in the neighborhood, then turn in the eight-pack of pop bottles we collected, and we’d each get a pack of cards in exchange. I can still smell the gum!
And, I can still see all those greats of the ‘60s: Frank and Brooks Robinson, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Pete Rose, Mickey Mantle, Denny McClain, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Indians aces Luis Tiant and Sam McDowell, as well as many lesser stars, like Larry Brown and Chuck Hinton of the Indians.
Most of the cards I had from 1966-69 were bent and ruined from using them as clickers in our bike spokes and from trading them with the kids up and down the street.
By the 1970s, cards went up from a nickle a pack to a dime, and then to a quarter, but it was the best money I ever spent. I think I recouped most of that money when I sold my cards to various collectors when I was in college.
My collection was mostly baseball cards, but there were some memorable NFL cards and NBA cards (the long, tall ones from the early ‘70s were really cool).
My dad moonlighted as a cab driver, and on every other Thursday night when he got his paycheck, he’d take my brother and I to Spartan Atlantic, the old dime store by the cab company on Brookpark Road in Cleveland, neither of which are there any more.
For 99 cents I’d get a package of about 100 cards and a small plastic football. I’ll never forget when I got a Jim Brown. He graced my bulletin board for years. Unfortunately, the pin hole that held the card in place ruined any cash value the card may have had.
That Brown card resided right next to the autographed Paul Warfield card I had, two of the greatest players to ever wear Cleveland Browns uniforms.
By 1975 at 14, I was too cool to collect cards anymore and found other things to waste my money on.
Today, you can get a pack of 10 cards for about $5. It’s almost as big a rip-off as buying tickets to a professional sporting event.
And few, if any of the players of today can carry the equipment of the players of the past.
Reading a friend’s blog where he shared a baseball card story reminded me of my first trip to Cooperstown with a group of guys from my previous fantasy baseball league.
We did it right when we went to Cooperstown. We went to a game in Pittsburgh first, then Philadelphia before heading to upstate New York, where we spent two glorious days.
Getting upstairs at the Hall of Fame and seeing that room full of baseball cards... it felt like my old bedroom. As a kid in the late 1960s and early ‘70s, collecting cards was an awesome experience, and I had thousands of them.
I remember going up to Willard’s Grocery Store at the corner of Wyandotte and Madison in Lakewood. My friends and I would collect pop bottles in the neighborhood, then turn in the eight-pack of pop bottles we collected, and we’d each get a pack of cards in exchange. I can still smell the gum!
And, I can still see all those greats of the ‘60s: Frank and Brooks Robinson, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Pete Rose, Mickey Mantle, Denny McClain, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Indians aces Luis Tiant and Sam McDowell, as well as many lesser stars, like Larry Brown and Chuck Hinton of the Indians.
Most of the cards I had from 1966-69 were bent and ruined from using them as clickers in our bike spokes and from trading them with the kids up and down the street.
By the 1970s, cards went up from a nickle a pack to a dime, and then to a quarter, but it was the best money I ever spent. I think I recouped most of that money when I sold my cards to various collectors when I was in college.
My collection was mostly baseball cards, but there were some memorable NFL cards and NBA cards (the long, tall ones from the early ‘70s were really cool).
My dad moonlighted as a cab driver, and on every other Thursday night when he got his paycheck, he’d take my brother and I to Spartan Atlantic, the old dime store by the cab company on Brookpark Road in Cleveland, neither of which are there any more.
For 99 cents I’d get a package of about 100 cards and a small plastic football. I’ll never forget when I got a Jim Brown. He graced my bulletin board for years. Unfortunately, the pin hole that held the card in place ruined any cash value the card may have had.
That Brown card resided right next to the autographed Paul Warfield card I had, two of the greatest players to ever wear Cleveland Browns uniforms.
By 1975 at 14, I was too cool to collect cards anymore and found other things to waste my money on.
Today, you can get a pack of 10 cards for about $5. It’s almost as big a rip-off as buying tickets to a professional sporting event.
And few, if any of the players of today can carry the equipment of the players of the past.
Monday, March 2, 2009
copying an idea
While talking with a friend the other day, he brought up an interesting proposal.
He said that ESPN has been doing a feature looking for the Mount Rushmore of sports. I had seen the feature and felt it was pretty cheesy, especially since Ohio was snubbed as one of the five finalists. And when you consider Ohio has such incredibly wonderful sports figures who would deserve to grace a Mount Rushmore of sports: Newcomerstown natives Cy Young and Woody Hayes are two that immediately come to mind; as well as Paul Brown, Jim Thorpe and Jack Nicklaus, not to mention Jesse Owens and Pete Rose. Ohio is the birthplace of pro football, for crying out loud, how could it not be one of the top five in the country!?
Anyway, that’s a different story.
My friend suggested I do a Holmes County Mount Rushmore of sports, which at first sounded like a great idea.
But if I can get as hacked off as I did about Ohio being snubbed, I could only imagine how upset locals would get if I forgot to include so-and-so or what’s his name.
So, in the interest of conflict avoidance, I have chosen to do two Holmes County Mount Rushmores: One east and one west, a 7-Lick Hill for the east and Mast Hill for the west, if you will.
I figured it was easier to do two than one anyhow, since there were four easy choices for each end of the county.
At Rushmore West, the quartet would be: Jack Van Reeth, Lisa Cline, Joe Norman and Colt Sponseller.
Rushmore East would consist of: Dave Schlabach, Perry Reese Jr., Jr. Raber and Jena Stutzman.
Eight more accomplished coaches/athletes you will never find, no matter how hard you look.
So, there you have it. Let the debating begin.
He said that ESPN has been doing a feature looking for the Mount Rushmore of sports. I had seen the feature and felt it was pretty cheesy, especially since Ohio was snubbed as one of the five finalists. And when you consider Ohio has such incredibly wonderful sports figures who would deserve to grace a Mount Rushmore of sports: Newcomerstown natives Cy Young and Woody Hayes are two that immediately come to mind; as well as Paul Brown, Jim Thorpe and Jack Nicklaus, not to mention Jesse Owens and Pete Rose. Ohio is the birthplace of pro football, for crying out loud, how could it not be one of the top five in the country!?
Anyway, that’s a different story.
My friend suggested I do a Holmes County Mount Rushmore of sports, which at first sounded like a great idea.
But if I can get as hacked off as I did about Ohio being snubbed, I could only imagine how upset locals would get if I forgot to include so-and-so or what’s his name.
So, in the interest of conflict avoidance, I have chosen to do two Holmes County Mount Rushmores: One east and one west, a 7-Lick Hill for the east and Mast Hill for the west, if you will.
I figured it was easier to do two than one anyhow, since there were four easy choices for each end of the county.
At Rushmore West, the quartet would be: Jack Van Reeth, Lisa Cline, Joe Norman and Colt Sponseller.
Rushmore East would consist of: Dave Schlabach, Perry Reese Jr., Jr. Raber and Jena Stutzman.
Eight more accomplished coaches/athletes you will never find, no matter how hard you look.
So, there you have it. Let the debating begin.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
jensen lewis, an ace in the hole (take 2)
The Cleveland Indians Press Tour brought a bit of sunshine and blue skies to Strasburg on Tuesday, Jan. 20, brightening up an otherwise dreary winter day in east central Ohio.
Tribe pitching coach Carl Willis, relief pitcher Jensen Lewis and utility infielder Jamey Carroll delighted the Tribe faithful at the Manor Restaurant in Strasburg.
Lewis finished the 2008 season as Cleveland’s closer, going 13-for-13 in save opportunities.
Instead of coming to camp this year as the closer, Cleveland signed free agent Kerry Wood, bumping Lewis back to a late-inning setup role.
“When you look at the great closers over the years, guys like Mariano Rivera, Jonathon Papelbon and Francisco Rodriguez, they all had to pay their dues a little bit,” said Lewis. “It’s kind of like the final grooming process.
“I take this as a unique opportunity to learn from a guy like Kerry Wood,” Lewis continued. “I see nothing but positives that can come out of this. It’s not every day that a team has two closers. If he needs a night off, I can jump in there and help him out.
“I’m thankful for the experience I got last year, so the transition time, whenever they do need me to close full time, I’ll be ready to go,” he added. “You never hope anything bad will happen, but you have to be prepared for the worst. I’m just going to continue to learn from being in those late-inning situations.”
Lewis said being sent to the minor early last season helped him get some mechanical things straightened out.
“I knew I wasn’t myself and just needed to correct a few things,” Lewis said. “I just had to get my mind back to how I got there. I was trying to do some things that weren’t right. At the end of the day, when I came back up, I had re-centered and was back to where I was in 2007. I think every young player goes through it. Fortunately, it happened to me early in my career and I had a chance to make it back. And when I did make it back up, I was able to finish with a lot of success in a pretty high profile role.
“Now I feel pretty well armed to deal with anything and everything that comes at me,” Lewis added. “To be 24 and to already have a year-and-a-half’s experience in the Major Leagues is so rare. When I got sent down, they told me I’m still here and I’ll be back before I know it. I was fortunate that they cared enough about me to want to get me right so I can help the team over the long term.”
Lewis credits pitching coach Carl Willis for much of the success the team has enjoyed.
“Carl has been great. He is a great communicator,” Lewis said. “He’s here to help. If there’s something I feel I need to talk about, he’s always there. He does a great job of keeping us loose. And he’s on top of everything we need to know. We go into every series prepared.”
The pitching coach’s message to his staff is simple.
“Believe in your stuff and believe in your ability,” Lewis said. “You look at our staff, and it’s a really talented staff. Up and down, we really feel confident with anybody out there.”
Lewis says he hasn’t changed since getting to the Major Leagues. Success hasn’t altered his life style.
“I played college ball in the Southeast Conference (Vanderbilt), so I was used to a lot of media coverage and great fans,” Lewis said. “The biggest thing I’ve learned is to be yourself. I’ve got a great support system. My family raised me right. I’ve got a unique opportunity and I want to do everything I can to stay here for a long time. I never take anything for granted.
Lewis finished last year with an 0-4 record with a 3.82 ERA. He had 13 saves, striking out 52 in 66 innings pitched. He was the 105th player chosen in the 2005 draft, being taken by the Tribe in the third round out of Vanderbilt. He rose quickly through the minor league system, beginning in Mahoning Valley in ‘05. He pitched in Kinston and Akron in 2006 and Buffalo and Akron in ‘07, before getting the call to Cleveland in July. He walked three and struck out two in his debut against the White Sox, an inning and a third of scoreless relief.
Tribe pitching coach Carl Willis, relief pitcher Jensen Lewis and utility infielder Jamey Carroll delighted the Tribe faithful at the Manor Restaurant in Strasburg.
Lewis finished the 2008 season as Cleveland’s closer, going 13-for-13 in save opportunities.
Instead of coming to camp this year as the closer, Cleveland signed free agent Kerry Wood, bumping Lewis back to a late-inning setup role.
“When you look at the great closers over the years, guys like Mariano Rivera, Jonathon Papelbon and Francisco Rodriguez, they all had to pay their dues a little bit,” said Lewis. “It’s kind of like the final grooming process.
“I take this as a unique opportunity to learn from a guy like Kerry Wood,” Lewis continued. “I see nothing but positives that can come out of this. It’s not every day that a team has two closers. If he needs a night off, I can jump in there and help him out.
“I’m thankful for the experience I got last year, so the transition time, whenever they do need me to close full time, I’ll be ready to go,” he added. “You never hope anything bad will happen, but you have to be prepared for the worst. I’m just going to continue to learn from being in those late-inning situations.”
Lewis said being sent to the minor early last season helped him get some mechanical things straightened out.
“I knew I wasn’t myself and just needed to correct a few things,” Lewis said. “I just had to get my mind back to how I got there. I was trying to do some things that weren’t right. At the end of the day, when I came back up, I had re-centered and was back to where I was in 2007. I think every young player goes through it. Fortunately, it happened to me early in my career and I had a chance to make it back. And when I did make it back up, I was able to finish with a lot of success in a pretty high profile role.
“Now I feel pretty well armed to deal with anything and everything that comes at me,” Lewis added. “To be 24 and to already have a year-and-a-half’s experience in the Major Leagues is so rare. When I got sent down, they told me I’m still here and I’ll be back before I know it. I was fortunate that they cared enough about me to want to get me right so I can help the team over the long term.”
Lewis credits pitching coach Carl Willis for much of the success the team has enjoyed.
“Carl has been great. He is a great communicator,” Lewis said. “He’s here to help. If there’s something I feel I need to talk about, he’s always there. He does a great job of keeping us loose. And he’s on top of everything we need to know. We go into every series prepared.”
The pitching coach’s message to his staff is simple.
“Believe in your stuff and believe in your ability,” Lewis said. “You look at our staff, and it’s a really talented staff. Up and down, we really feel confident with anybody out there.”
Lewis says he hasn’t changed since getting to the Major Leagues. Success hasn’t altered his life style.
“I played college ball in the Southeast Conference (Vanderbilt), so I was used to a lot of media coverage and great fans,” Lewis said. “The biggest thing I’ve learned is to be yourself. I’ve got a great support system. My family raised me right. I’ve got a unique opportunity and I want to do everything I can to stay here for a long time. I never take anything for granted.
Lewis finished last year with an 0-4 record with a 3.82 ERA. He had 13 saves, striking out 52 in 66 innings pitched. He was the 105th player chosen in the 2005 draft, being taken by the Tribe in the third round out of Vanderbilt. He rose quickly through the minor league system, beginning in Mahoning Valley in ‘05. He pitched in Kinston and Akron in 2006 and Buffalo and Akron in ‘07, before getting the call to Cleveland in July. He walked three and struck out two in his debut against the White Sox, an inning and a third of scoreless relief.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Remembering
Welcome to the Tribe, Mark DeRosa.
The new third baseman blasted a three-run homer in his second at-bat with the Indians in their first exhibition game at the new park in Goodyear, Ariz., Wednesday afternoon.
It was a wonderful sight to see, as I spent my off day watching the first few innings of the Indians’ spring training opener. It was 80 degrees and sunny at the Tribe’s new spring training facility in Arizona. I was hoping to shake some of these winter blues that have settled in. When my son came home from school and we played some tennis, taking advantage of the plus-50-degree temperatures, it helped even more. It didn’t matter to me that I lost two sets to none. I felt as if I was cheating Mother Nature by playing tennis outside in February… in Ohio.
I was tempted to take a trip out west for some spring training, as Southwest had some incredible offers to Phoenix, but they still haven’t refunded my tickets for our ill-fated attempt to go to California over Christmas break, but that’s another story.
The last time I went to spring training was the first year the Indians moved to Florida from Tucson, back in 1993.That was the year the new stadium complex the Indians were supposed to move into in Homestead, Fla., was ruined by a hurricane, and they wound up in Winter Haven. The day I left Florida to return was the day of the boat crash that killed Indians pitchers Steve Olin and Tim Crews. It was so bizarre getting into the office at the Coshocton Tribune the next morning and finding out about the accident. I had just interviewed Olin two days earlier and the closer was looking forward building on his 29-save season of 1992.
My fantasy league had a poll asking if we could name the 16 guys who led the Indians in saves since 1980. More recent closers, such as Jensen Lewis, Joe Borowski, Jose Mesa and Bob Wickman were easy. But that stretch between Olin and Mesa was tough to recall. That’s probably because the trio of Eric Plunk, Paul Shuey and Jeff Russell combined to save fewer games in 1993 and ‘94, than Olin did in ‘92 and Mesa did in ‘95. Russell and Shuey led the team with five saves apiece in ‘94 and Plunk saved 15 in ‘93.
I remembered Doug Jones, who closed from’87 to ‘90, and Ernie Camacho, who led the team in saves in ‘84 and ‘86. But somehow I forgot Tom Waddell, who saved nine whole game in ‘85, and Dan Spillner’s stellar seven save season of 1981.
Spillner did settle into the closer’s role and saved 21 games in ‘82 and eight in ‘83 before being shipped off to Chicago.
I surprisingly could recall Phil Hennigan, the closer of the 1971 Indians, and Tom Hilgendorf, who closed in ‘73. I also remembered Dave LaRoche, Jim Kern and Sid Monge, the closers from ‘75-80, but somehow I forgot Steve Mingori (‘72) and Tom Buskey (‘74).
It was the group of closers after Mesa in ‘98 and before Wickman in 2001 that stumped me. But when I saw the names, it all came back to me quickly: “Thriller” Mike Jackson saved 79 games in 1998 and ‘99, and Steve Karsay saved 20 in his season as closer of 2000.
I also forgot about Danys Baez, who closed the year Wickman was injured (2003), before getting traded to Tampa Bay.
It’s funny how a silly question like “How many of the Tribe’s 16 saves leaders from 1980 to present can you name?” can set your mind a-wandering.
Thanks Mike Miller for sending me on a trip down Nostalgia Lane.
Oh, and the Tribe wound up losing their game today 10-7. And new closer Kerry Wood didn't pitch because he was nursing a sore back.
The new third baseman blasted a three-run homer in his second at-bat with the Indians in their first exhibition game at the new park in Goodyear, Ariz., Wednesday afternoon.
It was a wonderful sight to see, as I spent my off day watching the first few innings of the Indians’ spring training opener. It was 80 degrees and sunny at the Tribe’s new spring training facility in Arizona. I was hoping to shake some of these winter blues that have settled in. When my son came home from school and we played some tennis, taking advantage of the plus-50-degree temperatures, it helped even more. It didn’t matter to me that I lost two sets to none. I felt as if I was cheating Mother Nature by playing tennis outside in February… in Ohio.
I was tempted to take a trip out west for some spring training, as Southwest had some incredible offers to Phoenix, but they still haven’t refunded my tickets for our ill-fated attempt to go to California over Christmas break, but that’s another story.
The last time I went to spring training was the first year the Indians moved to Florida from Tucson, back in 1993.That was the year the new stadium complex the Indians were supposed to move into in Homestead, Fla., was ruined by a hurricane, and they wound up in Winter Haven. The day I left Florida to return was the day of the boat crash that killed Indians pitchers Steve Olin and Tim Crews. It was so bizarre getting into the office at the Coshocton Tribune the next morning and finding out about the accident. I had just interviewed Olin two days earlier and the closer was looking forward building on his 29-save season of 1992.
My fantasy league had a poll asking if we could name the 16 guys who led the Indians in saves since 1980. More recent closers, such as Jensen Lewis, Joe Borowski, Jose Mesa and Bob Wickman were easy. But that stretch between Olin and Mesa was tough to recall. That’s probably because the trio of Eric Plunk, Paul Shuey and Jeff Russell combined to save fewer games in 1993 and ‘94, than Olin did in ‘92 and Mesa did in ‘95. Russell and Shuey led the team with five saves apiece in ‘94 and Plunk saved 15 in ‘93.
I remembered Doug Jones, who closed from’87 to ‘90, and Ernie Camacho, who led the team in saves in ‘84 and ‘86. But somehow I forgot Tom Waddell, who saved nine whole game in ‘85, and Dan Spillner’s stellar seven save season of 1981.
Spillner did settle into the closer’s role and saved 21 games in ‘82 and eight in ‘83 before being shipped off to Chicago.
I surprisingly could recall Phil Hennigan, the closer of the 1971 Indians, and Tom Hilgendorf, who closed in ‘73. I also remembered Dave LaRoche, Jim Kern and Sid Monge, the closers from ‘75-80, but somehow I forgot Steve Mingori (‘72) and Tom Buskey (‘74).
It was the group of closers after Mesa in ‘98 and before Wickman in 2001 that stumped me. But when I saw the names, it all came back to me quickly: “Thriller” Mike Jackson saved 79 games in 1998 and ‘99, and Steve Karsay saved 20 in his season as closer of 2000.
I also forgot about Danys Baez, who closed the year Wickman was injured (2003), before getting traded to Tampa Bay.
It’s funny how a silly question like “How many of the Tribe’s 16 saves leaders from 1980 to present can you name?” can set your mind a-wandering.
Thanks Mike Miller for sending me on a trip down Nostalgia Lane.
Oh, and the Tribe wound up losing their game today 10-7. And new closer Kerry Wood didn't pitch because he was nursing a sore back.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Hail the Hawks and their first 20-0
All hail the mighty Hiland Hawks. The team completed its first-ever 20-0 season Saturday night with a resounding win over Ridgewood. The amazing thing about this year's team going 20-0 is the fact that their leading scorer is a freshman and a sophomore is another major offensive threat. Of course, it helps that the freshman is a 6-4 kid who is extremely gifted with a great group of team players around him. Dylan Kaufman has wowed crowds in just about every gym the Hawks have played this year with his assortment of shots, including some eye-popping dunks. His two-handed jam against neighboring rival Garaway last weekend gave the Hawks their first lead of a hard-fought backyard brawl and brought the crowd roar to a deafening din. Hiland had rallied from a double-digit deficit to turn back the Pirates and set the stage for the final three games of the season, which the Hawks won handily.
My son Ian was a baby in his mother's arms sitting in St. John Arena at Ohio State when the Hiland Hawks won their first and only State championship in 1992, thanks to an incredible comeback in the final 10 seconds and a foul on Jr. Raber as he tried a desparation shot from just inside the halfcourt line in the semifinal game. Now a senior, Ian's got a few friends on this year's Hawks team, as he went to kindergarten at Walnut Creek with several of the Hiland kids.
The Hawks made their first trip to State back in 1962 and returned 30 years later to win it. They made it to Columbus in 1986 but came up short, and they also made three straight appearances from 1998 to 2000, legendary coach Perry Reese's swan song. He died in November of 2000 after a brief battle with cancer.
One of Reese's former players, Mark Schlabach, took over the Hawks four years ago and promptly led Hiland back to State in his second year as coach. Looking back at the great tradition of teams Hiland has had over the years, it is quite an accomplishment for this year's team to do something none of the other great teams that have played could ever do, and that is win all 20 regular season games.
Of course, as Coach Schlabach points out, people around here remember you more for what you do in the tournament much more than for what you did in the regular season. I don't care what coach says, these kids have done something special, and they deserve a lot of credit for their hallmark season, no matter how well they do in the tournament.
The Hiland boys and their coach Mark Schlabach, and the Hiland girls, and their coach Dave Schlabach (Mark's big brother), are two of the very best teams in the state of Ohio, and much of the credit for the success of these teams is due to the Schlabachs and their tremendous dedication to their kids and the fundamentals they preach, coach and teach.
Earlier this year, Dave Schlabach was honored as National High School coach of the year for his accomplishments over the past 17 years at Hiland.
My son Ian was a baby in his mother's arms sitting in St. John Arena at Ohio State when the Hiland Hawks won their first and only State championship in 1992, thanks to an incredible comeback in the final 10 seconds and a foul on Jr. Raber as he tried a desparation shot from just inside the halfcourt line in the semifinal game. Now a senior, Ian's got a few friends on this year's Hawks team, as he went to kindergarten at Walnut Creek with several of the Hiland kids.
The Hawks made their first trip to State back in 1962 and returned 30 years later to win it. They made it to Columbus in 1986 but came up short, and they also made three straight appearances from 1998 to 2000, legendary coach Perry Reese's swan song. He died in November of 2000 after a brief battle with cancer.
One of Reese's former players, Mark Schlabach, took over the Hawks four years ago and promptly led Hiland back to State in his second year as coach. Looking back at the great tradition of teams Hiland has had over the years, it is quite an accomplishment for this year's team to do something none of the other great teams that have played could ever do, and that is win all 20 regular season games.
Of course, as Coach Schlabach points out, people around here remember you more for what you do in the tournament much more than for what you did in the regular season. I don't care what coach says, these kids have done something special, and they deserve a lot of credit for their hallmark season, no matter how well they do in the tournament.
The Hiland boys and their coach Mark Schlabach, and the Hiland girls, and their coach Dave Schlabach (Mark's big brother), are two of the very best teams in the state of Ohio, and much of the credit for the success of these teams is due to the Schlabachs and their tremendous dedication to their kids and the fundamentals they preach, coach and teach.
Earlier this year, Dave Schlabach was honored as National High School coach of the year for his accomplishments over the past 17 years at Hiland.
Friday, February 20, 2009
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