http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/section/SPORTS jacksonnewspapers.com delivers up-to-the-minute news and information on the latest top stories, weather, entertainment, politics and more. Wed, 22 May 2013 6:19:25 +0000 http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130520/SPORTS/130529989/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Tue, 21 May 2013 9:30:00 +0000 PHIL PERRY http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130520/SPORTS/130529989/1020/SPORTS RIPLEY - The Ripley High softball team have proven to be a quite obstinate lot. The squad has fought through injuries, inexperience and one tough pitching duel after another. After the smoke has cleared, coach Swisher's crew finds themselves within striking distance of their second Class AAA State Championship in four years as they enter the West Virginia State Softball Tournament on Wednesday.

"We are a young team but we don't use that as a crutch. Our girls know that [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130520/SPORTS/130529988/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Tue, 21 May 2013 9:15:00 +0000 MARK MARTIN http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130520/SPORTS/130529988/1020/SPORTS RIPLEY – The last time Ripley reached the West Virginia Girls State High School Softball Tournament it turned out to be historic. The Lady Vikings captured the 2009 Class AAA state championship, marking the first-ever for Ripley High in a girls varsity sport.

The title was the third team championship for the school being added to a pair of baseball crowns that were won in 1997 and 2004. Lady Viking head coach Kenny Swisher would love to see that number jump to four. [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130520/SPORTS/130529990/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Tue, 21 May 2013 9:00:00 +0000 Mark Martin http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130520/SPORTS/130529990/1020/SPORTS CHARLESTON – "In the money"

When it comes to horse racing terms that means a top three finish.

On the day of the Preakness – the second leg of horse racing's triple crown – Ravenswood High's Hailey Miller was indeed "In the money."

In what was the 39th edition of the West Virginia State High School Track and Field Meet for girls, Miller, just a sophomore, finished third in the grueling 400 meters for Class AA.

She [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130520/SPORTS/130529991/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Tue, 21 May 2013 9:00:00 +0000 MARK MARTIN http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130520/SPORTS/130529991/1020/SPORTS CHARLESTON – With a still growing track and field program, Jason Ward was certainly happy with the eight points his Ripley Vikings put on the board over the weekend at the 99th Annual West Virginia Boys State Track and Field Meet inside UC Stadium.

Those points were produced both on the track and in the field.

Freshman Zane Griffith was responsible for half of Ripley's eight, thanks to a fourth place finish in the pole vault. Griffith's best height was 12- [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130520/SPORTS/130529986/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Mon, 20 May 2013 19:01:20 PHIL PERRY http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130520/SPORTS/130529986/1020/SPORTS RAVENSWOOD - The 2013 Ravenswood Red Devil baseball team took tremendous strides. In fact, no other team in the state of West Virginia in any class can boast the turnaround of the Red Devils.
In 20012, the Ravenswood posted a (3-22) record and were "mercy ruled" 18 times. This season, first year head coach Wes Swain led the red and black to a (19-16) overall record and an (8-6) mark in the Little Kanawha Conference.
The team returned six players from 2012.

The [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130520/SPORTS/130529987/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Mon, 20 May 2013 18:56:24 PHIL PERRY http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130520/SPORTS/130529987/1020/SPORTS RIPLEY - After losing eight seniors last season and returning three seniors this year, only one of which was a returning starter, it was evident that Ripley High's baseball team would be a little inexperienced around the edges this season.
Last year's squad finished (14-18) and was knocked out in sectional play to Parkersburg High and Parkersburg South.
With post season realignment came the optimism of a less daunting road to the State Tournament.

The Viking [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130517/NEWS/130519935/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Fri, 17 May 2013 11:35:47 Greg Matics http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130517/NEWS/130519935/1020/SPORTS http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130517/SPORTS/130519937/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Fri, 17 May 2013 11:31:39 http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130517/SPORTS/130519937/1020/SPORTS http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130517/SPORTS/130519938/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Fri, 17 May 2013 0:37:00 PHIL PERRY http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130517/SPORTS/130519938/1020/SPORTS RIPLEY - It's not that Chelsey Hager needed much run support on this night, but her teammates had her back. Big time.
Once again, Hager was sensational on the mound. The junior allowed just three hits in disposing of Shady Spring in a 8-0, Region 3 championship game.

The "mercy rule" shortened contest went six innings and Hager was excited for her team.
"We just want to keep getting better, it's the right time of year to be playing well," said Hager after the [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130513/SPORTS/130519974/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Tue, 14 May 2013 17:47:00 MARK MARTIN http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130513/SPORTS/130519974/1020/SPORTS CHARLESTON - It isn't everyday an individual gets a shot at making history.
Ripley High sophomore Arin Shatto did just that on Saturday in Charleston at the West Virginia High School State Tennis Tournament.

Shatto became the first player in the school's tennis program (girls or boys) to compete for a state title.

And even though she lost in her championship match, it was a proud moment for all blue and white athletic followers.
"She played extremely [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130513/SPORTS/130519973/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Tue, 14 May 2013 17:45:45 GREG MATICS http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130513/SPORTS/130519973/1020/SPORTS KANAWHA CITY - Ravenswood seniors Taylor Youell and Alex McNabb and junior Bess McNabb saved the best for last this tennis season, making a three-girl run to a West Virginia State AA-A Girls' Tennis Tournament Team Runner-Up finish Saturday at Schoenbaum Tennis Center.

The trio gift-wrapped the state runner-up trophy as a retirement gift for their coaches Butch Varney and Jim Frazier who are calling it a career.

Youell scored half of Ravenswood's second-best [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130513/SPORTS/130519972/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Tue, 14 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000 GREG MATICS http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130513/SPORTS/130519972/1020/SPORTS ELLENBORO – Ravenswood's Red Devils saw their baseball season come to a screeching halt last weeK with a pair of sectional tournament losses to Ritchie County on the Rebels' home field.

The Devils lost 10-3 on Wednesday, when the Rebels scored seven runs over the final two innings.

D.J. Burgess got the pitching win for Ritchie, fanning two and walking one over six innings. Austin Weekley tossed one inning, walking two. The Rebel tandem allowed just four [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130513/SPORTS/130519970/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Tue, 14 May 2013 9:00:00 +0000 MARK MARTIN http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130513/SPORTS/130519970/1020/SPORTS CHARLESTON – Thanks to some solid performances in the Class AAA Region 3 competition last Wednesday at UC Stadium in Charleston, several Ripley Vikings and Lady Vikings will be returning to that same venue this Friday and Saturday for the annual West Virginia State High School Track and Field Meet.

"We're taking a lot of kids down there," said Coach Jason Ward. "We're getting a lot of kids out and it (track and field) has become a legitimate sport at Ripley. It's [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130513/SPORTS/130519971/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Tue, 14 May 2013 9:00:00 +0000 MARK MARTIN http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130513/SPORTS/130519971/1020/SPORTS ELLENBORO – While all 12 of the regional track and field meets in West Virginia were scheduled to be completed by late Friday night, the Class AA Region 1 affair didn’t finish up until Saturday. It was a meet that included both the Ravenswood High School girls and boys teams.

The meet was halted at Chuck Schofield Memorial Stadium on the Ritchie County High campus due to a downed power line in the area. Repairs could not be done in time to continue the meet [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130513/SPORTS/130519975/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Tue, 14 May 2013 9:00:00 +0000 PHIL PERRY http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130513/SPORTS/130519975/1020/SPORTS RIPLEY - "The kids played their guts out. They left it on the field," said Ripley's third year coach Shane Casto after Ripley's heartbreaking 6-4 loss on Saturday in the Region 3 Section 4 matchup that ended Ripley's season and propelled the Warriors to Regional play.
After defeating Capital to open sectional play, Ripley fell twice to the Warriors on consecutive nights. Ripley dropped a 4-0 decision on Friday, a game in which the Vikings mustered just five hits. Trevor Tucker [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130510/SPORTS/130519989/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Fri, 10 May 2013 21:14:47 Greg Matics http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130510/SPORTS/130519989/1020/SPORTS http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130509/SPORTS/130509909/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Fri, 10 May 2013 6:55:25 Greg Matics http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130509/SPORTS/130509909/1020/SPORTS http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130509/SPORTS/130509899/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Thu, 9 May 2013 23:33:47 PHIL PERRY http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130509/SPORTS/130509899/1020/SPORTS SOUTH CHARLESTON - Chelsey Hager shot down more birds than Ted Nugent on a hunting trip.
In the Region 3 semifinals on Thursday night, the junior hurler whiffed 22 Lady Black Eagles en-route to an 11 inning, 4-1 victory which catapults the Lady Vikings into the Region 3 Championship May 16 at 6 p.m. at Lady Viking Park.
Shady Spring eliminated Greenbrier East on Thursday to earn the shot at Ripley to advance to [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130509/SPORTS/130509914/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Thu, 9 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000 GREG MATICS http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130509/SPORTS/130509914/1020/SPORTS RAVENSWOOD - Coach Wes Swain's Ravenswood Red Devils spotted visiting Roane County a 3-0 lead, but then roared back to dismiss the Raiders from the postseason, 6-3, Tuesday at soggy Wright Field. Roane lost to Ritchie County Monday in the double-elimination Class AA Region I, Section 2 Tournament's opening game.

Starting Ravenswood pitcher Isaac Crow suffered through a rough first inning, allowing two run to the Raiders who took advantage of miscues and the soggy infield. [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130509/SPORTS/130509913/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Thu, 9 May 2013 9:00:00 +0000 PHIL PERRY http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130509/SPORTS/130509913/1020/SPORTS RIPLEY - It was a perfect day for baseball as an enthusiastic crowd cheered on Jackson County’s Middle School baseball programs in a battle to move on in the MVAC Tournament.
Mike Ruben was in "Rube’s Roost" and his golden voice gave the matchup a varsity atmosphere at Ray Swisher Field at Viking Park.
While the scoreboard posted big hitting numbers, Lakin Tucker was able to get a big win for his [...]]]>