THE FUTURE OF LOCAL SPORTS

The gap between the East Knox Bulldogs (12-4, 7-1 KMAC) and the rest in the league standings is slowly shrinking thanks to a hot run of form by the Northmor Golden Knights (11-4, 6-3 KMAC)! Can Caleb & Colton Armstrong and the Bulldogs weather the storm after a Game 1 loss to the Knights on Tuesday? Or will Jack Bowdre's bat stay hot and lead Northmor to a sweep that would make it anyone's crown to take! Jonathon Langdon and Travis Berardi are on the mic from Howard to take in the action, thanks to the following sponsors! North Central State College Web: www.ncstatecollege.edu FB: www.facebook.com/ncstatecollege Killbuck Savings Bank Web: www.killbuckbank.com FB: www.facebook.com/killbuckbank Northmor Athletic Boosters Email: northmorathleticboosters@gmail.com FB: www.facebook.com/northmorathleticboosters Strategic Outdoor Solutions Web: www.strategiclawn.com FB: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573019657596 Avita Home Health & Hospice Web: www.avitahomehealth.org FB: www.facebook.com/CaringServicesYouCanTrust Pioneer Career & Technology Center Web: www.pctc.k12.oh.us FB: www.facebook.com/pioneercareerandtechnologycenter Knox Community Hospital Web: www.kch.org FB: www.facebook.com/KnoxCommHosp

The home stretch of the high school softball season begins as the Hillsdale Falcons (12-2, 6-1 WCAL) look to remain in the championship race as they start a two game set against the Smithville Smithies (6-9, 4-4 WCAL). Join Travis Berardi & Brian Skowronski LIVE & FREE from Jeromesville thanks to our amazing sponsors who you can support in the links below: 89 Homes And Building Improvements 89homes.com facebook.com/89Homes Simonson Construction Services Inc simonsonconstruction.com facebook.com/simonsonconstructionservices Hayesville AMVETS Post 1969 facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560317984362 ohamvets.org/post-1969 Sutton Bank suttonbank.com facebook.com/suttonbankohio Fickes Furniture fickesfurniture.com facebook.com/FickesFurniture

Maleah Blevins is the shining star of the Northmor Lady Golden Knights, leading them to an impressive 18-0 victory over East Knox. It was a no-hitter game for Maleah, racking up an astounding 15 strikeouts in just five innings! After such a dominant performance, she couldn't help but crack a smile and thank her teammates, coaches, and family. "My team made me feel so comfortable out there," Maleah said with a grin. "And my catcher was calling great pitches, which helped a lot." With three hits of her own, including a double and a triple, Maleah added four RBI to the mix, solidifying her MVP status for this game. Strategic Outdoor Solutions strategiclawn.com facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573019657596

Our Sutton Bank MVP had one of the best offensive games of her career as Hillsdale leadoff hitter Emily Smith went a perfect 5-for-5 from the plate with a double, home run, 4 RBI and 3 runs scored as the Falcons blanked Smithville 15-0 in five innings.

Kelsi Clark was so ready for her MVP shoutouts that she did not even wait for the interview to officially begin. Before the first question landed, Clark was already making sure her infielders, catcher, and center fielder got their flowers — and honestly, after the way Mapleton’s defense backed her up, she had a point. Clark handled business in the circle and at the plate for the Mounties, throwing six innings while allowing just two hits, lowering her ERA in the process. She also helped herself offensively with two hits and three RBIs, matching the same number of hits she gave up from the pitching circle. Clark said her outside pitches were working, her curveball was sharp, and the inside fastball by the hands was getting the job done. But even after that kind of individual performance, Clark kept turning the spotlight back toward her teammates. She credited her catcher for saving her, her center fielder for tracking everything down, and the defense behind her for giving her the confidence to attack hitters. Mapleton also came up big in two-out situations, something Clark said the Mounties practice often. A complete-game arm, a productive bat, and a teammate who opened the interview with shoutouts before anyone could even ask — that is a pretty strong MVP résumé. Presented by Studio 42 Hair & Nails (419) 281-2324 facebook.com/studio42hairandnails

The best Division 4 - Division 7 high school football players in the state gathered at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon for the OHSFCA North-South game. 8 players from the area participated and played a part in the 14-14 overtime tie. Hear from Crestview's Karter Goon, Monroeville's Bryce Dunlap, Clear Fork's Evan Hamilton, Shelby's Sam Gwirtz, Mount Gilead's Cody Meimer and North Defensive MVP Payne DeGray after the game. Crawford's Connor McMichael and Crestview's Max Durbin also played in the game.

We dare Mother Nature to try and ruin this beautiful day! Ontario Warriors travel down Martin Luther King Jr highway into Ashland county to take on Kale Lewis, Knox Lewis and Aiden Hoffman and the Hillsdale Falcons, but Kasen Pittman Jaren Holden and the Warriors didnt make the drive just to watch Hillsdale hit dingers. Join Caden Schmid on the call from Jeromesville on this gorgeous 80+ degree day! Presented by LIVE & FREE thanks to: 89 Homes and Building Improvements Web: www.89homes.com FB: www.facebook.com/89Homes Simonson Construction Services Inc Web: www.simonsonconstruction.com FB: www.facebook.com/simonsonconstructionservices Hayesville AMVETS Post 1969 Web: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560317984362 FB: www.ohamvets.org/post-1969 Sutton Bank Web: www.suttonbank.com FB: www.facebook.com/suttonbankohio 89 Homes and Building Improvements Web: www.89homes.com FB: www.facebook.com/89Homes Fickes Furniture Web: www.fickesfurniture.com FB: www.facebook.com/FickesFurniture Simonson Construction Services Inc Web: www.simonsonconstruction.com FB: www.facebook.com/simonsonconstructionservices

Our Sutton Bank MVP was a busy one on the field in Jeromesville as Ontario SP Morgan Pearson threw 5+ innings while striking out 9, but she wasn't done there. She went 3-for-4 from the plate with a home run, 4 RBI & 2 runs scored as the Lady Warriors hold off Hillsdale 8-6 for a ranked victory.

Jaren Holden had been waiting all game to make his presence known and this wicked chopper finds a gap, and younger brother, Liam Holden takes his opportunity to score in a close play at the plate, but after some confusion, Guy Tracker said, what the heck why not, and crosses home plate while Jaren finds himself on 3rd by the end of it all!

Guy Trader did a little bit of everything for Ontario, and he picked a pretty good night to throw the first complete game of his career. On the road against a strong Hillsdale team, Trader battled through traffic, worked out of tough spots with runners in scoring position, and helped the Warriors finish off a non-conference win before the rain could become a factor. He wasn’t just locked in on the mound, either. Trader added two hits, an RBI, and a walk, then showed off the instincts by scoring all the way from second on a passed-ball/error sequence after noticing Hillsdale wasn’t quick to the ball. Pitching, hitting, base running — Trader kept his mind on whatever job was in front of him. Presented by: Sutton Bank suttonbank.com facebook.com/suttonbankohio

The #1 team in Division 5 baseball looks to inch closer to another WCAL championship as the Waynedale Golden Bears (11-2, 6-1 WCAL) hosts the Dalton Bulldogs (4-6, 3-4 WCAL) for a hump day showdown in Apple Creek. Join Travis Berardi LIVE & FREE from Waynedale high school thanks to our generous sponsors who you can support in the links below: Hummel Group Web: www.hummelgrp.com FB: www.facebook.com/HummelGroup 89 Homes and Building Improvements Web: www.89homes.com FB: www.facebook.com/89Homes Sutton Bank Web: www.suttonbank.com FB: www.facebook.com/suttonbankohio Country Roofing & Exteriors Web: www.countryroofingllc.com FB: www.facebook.com/CountryRoofingandExteriors North Central State College Web: www.ncstatecollege.edu FB: www.facebook.com/ncstatecollege

Northmor centerfielder Kallie Wright tracks down a hard-hit ball and hustles it back into the infield, and the relay throw is on time to catcher Zariah Blevins, who applies the tag at the plate to prevent the diving Charlie Brannon from scoring for Mount Gilead in the top of the 5th inning. With the threat vanquished, the Golden Knights' three-run lead held up through the 7th to secure the 4-1 victory!

Our 89 Homes and Building Improvements MVP Saleen Miller belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the 3rd inning to lead Northmor in a 4-1 victory over Mount Gilead to win the regular-season series versus the Indians, and in the process, the team improved to 9-8 overall, with the Golden Knights going above .500 for the first time this season! Miller noted that the players have been working on mental toughness while uplifting one another and that the approach is resulting in improved play. The next game for the Golden Knights is scheduled for outside of the KMAC with a Friday night visit to Buckeye Central of the N10. 89 Homes and Building Improvements Web: www.89homes.com FB: www.facebook.com/89Homes

Our Country Roofing & Exteriors LLC MVP was dominant on the bump for the Waynedale Golden Bears as SP Cameron Miller earned the win pitching 6 shutout innings on three hits while striking out six. He added a 2 RBI single to aid the squads 4-0 blanking of Dalton.

Three hits for Jacob Brokaw earned him MVP honors presented by Mechanics Bank in their 8-1 win over Shelby. The senior's 2-RBI double kept the Colts rolling, scoring all eight runs in the first four innings. Mechanics Bank Web: www.mymechanics.com FB: www.facebook.com/MyMechanics

Shelby plated 5 runs on a pair of 3rd Inning 💣's from Braylee Sturts & Elise Mullins to pull off a season sweep of Clear Fork. Feast your eyes on these two sluggers feasting from the dish in an 8-3 victory in the valley 😮

The highest-scoring team in the MOAC put together another impressive offensive performance in an 8-3 victory over Clear Fork, as Shelby swept the Lady Colts behind 15 hits in the valley. Senior slugger Elise Mullins contributed 3 of those hits, including a monster 2-run bomb to help unleash the Whippets' offense after a slow start to the night. Mullins finished the night a perfect 3-3 from the dish, driving in 3 runs while scoring twice and drawing a walk. The Shelby 1st Baseman was our selection for Mechanics Bank Player of the Game, and Elise stopped by to talk about her big night, the team's crazy firepower, and what she expects from the squad moving forward. This MVP conversation is presented by Mechanics Bank Web: www.mymechanics.com FB: www.facebook.com/MyMechanics

The top two teams in the Northern 10 conference meet with the top spot on the line at the mid-way point of the regular season as the Colonel Crawford Eagles (13-5, 5-1 N-10) travel to Upper Sandusky to take on the league-leading Rams (9-2, 4-0 N-10). Join Travis Berardi LIVE & FREE from Upper Sandusky thanks to our generous sponsors who you can support in the links below: Quest Federal Credit Union Web: www.questfcu.com FB: www.facebook.com/Questfederalcu Wyandot County Prevention Web: https://co.wyandot.oh.us/315/Prevention FB: www.facebook.com/WyCoPrevention/ Swavel Family Farms Proud Supporter of Upper Sandusky Softball Saull Law Offices LLC FB: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080061328000 Web: www.saull-law.com 89 Homes and Building Improvements Web: www.89homes.com FB: www.facebook.com/89Homes North Central State College Web: www.ncstatecollege.edu FB: www.facebook.com/ncstatecollege