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. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:56:35 +0000 http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130617/SPORTS/130619910/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000 PHIL PERRY http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130617/SPORTS/130619910/1020/SPORTS RIPLEY - Ripley High School senior Tyler Pittenger garnered a Special Honorable Mention recognition as a Class AAA All State Baseball player and frosh Christopher Jordan plated Honorable Mention status as the West Virginia Sports Writers Association released the team info late last week.

Pittenger finished with a team leading (.388) average, was second on the team in runs (27), tied for second in RBIs (21) and had 12 doubles to lead the team with two triples.

http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130617/SPORTS/130619911/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000 Phil Perry http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130617/SPORTS/130619911/1020/SPORTS RIPLEY - Early last week the West Virginia Sports Writers Association released the Class AA All State squad and two Ravenswood High sluggers garnered recognition.

Junior Devon Crews was named to the second team. Crews hit (.487) with four homeruns while driving in 38 RBIs and scoring 31 runs.

Sophomore Thomas Sturm was given Special Honorable Mention recognition for his fine play on the diamond.
Sturm hit .414 and knocked in 20 runs while scoring 30.
http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130612/SPORTS/130619947/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:15:00 +0000 PHIL PERRY http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130612/SPORTS/130619947/1020/SPORTS RIPLEY - The Ripley high School Viking football team has now had a little time to get to know their new head coach, David Tennant.

Ripley’s 22nd head coach comes to the Vikings via two seasons at Eastern High (OH) and a short stint as an assistant at Ripley prior to that position.

The Vikings are coming off of a (5-5) season in the Class AAA Mountain State Athletic Conference and look to improve on their past fortunes in 2013.
"My first impression of [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130612/SPORTS/130619946/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000 MARK MARTIN http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130612/SPORTS/130619946/1020/SPORTS VIENNA – Among the Mid Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame's Class of '13, three were women. All three are linked to Jackson County and were honored Saturday night at the Grand Pointe Conference and Reception Center during the induction banquet.

One-time Ripley High Lady Viking softball and basketball great Ashli White (now Childers) was the first to be inducted.
While at RpHS, she was both a Class AAA First Team All-State softball and basketball player. She was [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130612/SPORTS/130619948/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000 MARK MARTIN http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130612/SPORTS/130619948/1020/SPORTS MARIETTA – For Brad Titus and Quaseem Fields, it was a tune-up for the next level.
For Dillon Gandee and Ryan Whytsell, it signaled the end.
Those were the story lines for Jackson County’s four partipants in the 20th Annual Battle Against Cystic Fibrosis Ohio-West Virginia All-Star Football Classic played Friday night at Don Drumm Stadium in Marietta.

The four were a part of the winning West Virginia squad. The Mountain State crew, guided by [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130612/SPORTS/130619949/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000 PHIL PERRY http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130612/SPORTS/130619949/1020/SPORTS RAVENSWOOD - Good players show up in big games. Kendall Bowen did just that for her First Federal Wildcat team as they beat Lloyds Electronics in the 2013 (9-12) Ravenswood Little League Softball Championship on May 31.
Bowen wasn't alone in her actions. She had help from her teammates. Mykayla Smith led off the bottom of the first inning with a walk and later in that inning stole home to give the Wildcats a 1-0 advantage.

In the bottom of the fourth, Bowen led off [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130610/SPORTS/130619979/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000 PHIL PERRY http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130610/SPORTS/130619979/1020/SPORTS RIPLEY – The Ripley High School baseball team was victorious in an 8-2 romp over Marietta High at Ray Swisher Field at Viking Park on Friday night. The scrimmage game brought the Vikes record to (1-1).

Sophomore-to-be lefty Logan McCoy was particularly stingy on this night as he has been in his young Viking pitching career. The young ace hurled a complete game while giving up 2 earned runs and striking out nine Marietta hitters. As has been McCoy's mode of operation, [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130610/SPORTS/130619980/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000 MARK MARTIN http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130610/SPORTS/130619980/1020/SPORTS INSTITUTE – When Daryl Hicks suits up for the South Cardinals on Saturday night in the annual WCHS-TV/FOX 11 North-South All-Star Football Classic, he will be playing for not only himself, but more importantly his older brother, David.

A year ago, David Hicks had been chosen for the annual contest that brings together 74 of the top high school football players in the state of West Virginia. Unfortunately in early May, Hicks was diagnosed with AVM (Arteriovenous [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130610/SPORTS/130619978/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Tue, 11 Jun 2013 9:00:00 +0000 PHIL PERRY http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130610/SPORTS/130619978/1020/SPORTS RIPLEY - The season began with a positive energy and an infectious enthusiasm earlier this spring for the Ripley High Softball team. The squad was coming off of a 17 win season a year ago and while the team lost four seniors from last season, there was an abundance of talent in the middle school pipeline to help ease that burden for coach Kenny Swisher.
Make no mistake about it, the team would need a boost from their talented freshman right out of the gate but the team would [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130605/SPORTS/130609952/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Thu, 6 Jun 2013 10:15:00 +0000 PHIL PERRY http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130605/SPORTS/130609952/1020/SPORTS MARIETTA - Quaseem Fields is feeling quite nostalgic as he walks onto the gridiron for the last time Friday night as a high school player.
Fields is participating in the annual Battle Against Cystic Fibrosis West Virginia-Ohio Football Classic at Marietta's Don Drumm Stadium.
Jackson County will send four players. Ravenswood linebacker Brad Titus and linemen Dillon Gandee and Ryan Whytsell have been chosen for the West Virginia team that will be coached by Doddridge [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130605/SPORTS/130609949/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Thu, 6 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000 Phil Perry http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130605/SPORTS/130609949/1020/SPORTS RAVENSWOOD – Ravenswood High's Dillon Gandee will take the field on Friday night for the last time as he and three fellow Jackson County gridders will participate in the annual Battle Against Cystic Fibrosis West Virginia-Ohio Football Classic at Marietta's Don Drumm Stadium.

Jackson County produced four players. Ravenswood linebacker Brad Titus, Gandee and fellow lineman Ryan Whytsell have been chosen for the West Virginia team that will be coached by Doddridge [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130605/SPORTS/130609954/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Thu, 6 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000 PHIL PERRY http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130605/SPORTS/130609954/1020/SPORTS RIPLEY - The Mountain State Athletic Conference released its 2013  All MSAC squad this week and five Ripley Vikings garnered recognition.

Freshman shortstop Christopher Jordan took top honors. Jordan hit (.341) and was second on the team with (18) walks. He led Ripley with 30 runs scored while notching 11 doubles, three triples and he led the team with (27) stolen bases.

Senior Tyler Pittenger took second team honors as an outfielder. "Pitt" came on strong [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130605/SPORTS/130609957/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Thu, 6 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000 GREG MATICS http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130605/SPORTS/130609957/1020/SPORTS RAVENSWOOD – Four members of Coach Cindy Carmichael's Ravenswood Red Devilette softball team (9-13) have been selected for Class AA All-State honors for 2013.

Juniors Katie Buckbee and Sidnee Morgan were named to the Class AA All-State Second Team.
Buckbee was named as one of three Second Team Utility players.

The junior shortstop boasted a .829 fielding percentage and hit at a .575 clip with a .950 slugging percentage and a .653 on-base percentage. [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130603/SPORTS/130609989/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Tue, 4 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000 PHIL PERRY http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130603/SPORTS/130609989/1020/SPORTS RIPLEY - Ripley High School had four softball players recognized by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association as the Class AAA squad was released last week.

Earning First Team honors was junior pitcher Chelsey Hager. Hager ended her season with a "sub one" earned run average on the hill while batting (.378) for the blue and white. She struck out 22 batters in a sectional victory over South Charleston.

Senior centerfielder Ali Cunningham took Special [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130603/SPORTS/130609990/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Tue, 4 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000 GREG MATICS http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130603/SPORTS/130609990/1020/SPORTS EASTWOOD – Coach Cindy Carmichael's Ravenswood Red Devilettes made strides in the right direction on the softball diamond in 2013 and will return their entire team with the exception of senior first baseman/pitcher Holly Chiles for 2014. That coupled with an expected influx of freshman talent should bode well.

The Devilettes finished the 2013 season with a 9-13 record.

Sophomore Savana Casto led the Devilettes on the mound with a 7-11 record, striking [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130603/SPORTS/130609991/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Tue, 4 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000 PHIL PERRY http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130603/SPORTS/130609991/1020/SPORTS RIPLEY - Former Ripley High 3-time State Wrestling champion and 2-time collegiate All American (West Liberty) Mitch Smith will host the first annual Alderson Broaddus College Commuter Wrestling Camp from June 17-21 in the Ripley High auxiliary gym.

Smith, who was named the head coach at AB in 2012 will send his first squad to the mats for the 2013-'14 season for the Philippi West Virginia based Division II program.

Smith's brother Matt, a former 1-time State [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130603/SPORTS/130609992/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Tue, 4 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000 MARK MARTIN http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130603/SPORTS/130609992/1020/SPORTS RAVENSWOOD – Brad Titus views Friday night's Battle Against Cystic Fibrosis West Virginia-Ohio Football Classic as a great way to get in the football frame of mind before he heads off to Glenville State College this August.

The standout linebacker can also get accustomed to wearing blue after many, many years of red and black football uniforms. The West Virginia team will be donned in blue Friday night at Don Drumm Stadium in Marietta. This year's game marks the [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130529/SPORTS/130529922/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Wed, 29 May 2013 19:53:38 PHIL PERRY http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130529/SPORTS/130529922/1020/SPORTS VIENNA - For a team that overcame so many speed bumps along the way it was a disappointing ride back to Jackson County for blue and white faithful as Ripley was bounced from the Class AAA State Softball Tournament on Wednesday.
Ripley fell to Jefferson in game one, 3-2 and suffered an 8-3 setback to Wheeling Park in game two that sent the girls home with nothing but valuable experience that they can learn from and apply in the future.

The Lady Vikings (24-12) have [...]]]> http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130529/SPORTS/130529923/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Wed, 29 May 2013 19:43:47 PHIL PERRY http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130529/SPORTS/130529923/1020/SPORTS CINCINNATI, OH - As local high schools have ended their play on the baseball diamond, summer league play is just getting underway for Jackson County based baseball and softball players.

One team, The West Virginia Swarm, includes six 14U Ripley area sluggers on its roster and is coached by Jon Casto and Kenny Swisher.

The team traveled to Cincinnati Ohio last weekend to compete in the Memorial Day Showdown. The tourney consisted of 22 teams from the region.
http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130529/SPORTS/130529924/1020/SPORTS?rssfeed=true Wed, 29 May 2013 19:38:20 PHIL PERRY http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/article/20130529/SPORTS/130529924/1020/SPORTS MARIETTA, OH – Marietta’s Don Drumm Stadium will serve as the venue for a second straight year when the annual Battle Against Cystic Fibrosis West Virginia-Ohio Football Classic takes place on June 7. This year’s game will be the 20th BACF Classic which features some of the top senior football players from the Mid-Ohio Valley.

 At the moment, Jackson County is slated to be represented by four players. Ravenswood linebacker Brad Titus, lineman Dillon [...]]]>