Maumee Little League Team Advances
To Final Game Of State Tournament
Maumee Little League’s 15-16-year-old national team recently came up a win short of a state championship in Dayton.
The team spent the weekend on the verge of elimination after losing a tough first game. Facing Miami Little League from Oxford, it fell 7-3 despite a home run from David McCrum.
The next day, the boys woke up refreshed and played a solid game to defeat Morain West Carrolton. A strong pitching performance by Bernie Stuard earned the win.
They continued their way through the losers’ bracket with a hard-fought win against Elyria East. Allen Brown started the game on the mound and pitched a fantastic game to keep Maumee in the game.
Coming off the bench, Tommy Henry proved to be a great asset. He had some big hits and was instrumental running the bases. The game was tied into the seventh inning and with the bases loaded, a balk was called to score the winning run for Maumee.
There wasn’t much time to celebrate, though, as the kids faced their toughest game yet against Rock Hill immediately following the win. Sean Kane got the ball on the mound for Maumee and went two solid innings.
They then went to their ace, Alan Rombkowski, in a back-and-forth affair. Trailing in the sixth, they came roaring back, scoring three runs to take a lead into the last inning.
Rock Hill didn’t give up, though. Scoring two runs in the top of the seventh, it took a one-run lead. With Billy Laranga and Henry on base, however, Stuard looped a ball to left field. Both runners scored and the celebration began.
Maumee won three straight games to make it to the championship game. Unfortunately, the good fortune ran out the next day, when the boys ran into an East Holmes team that was 35-0. Maumee fell behind early and could never recover.
After losing that first game, not many people believed that Maumee could rally back, but led by manager Bob Strack and coaches Jordan Strack and Jeff Utz, the kids made a great run
Maumee Tennis Team Off To 2-1 Start
BY ANDREW ROWER — MIRROR SPORTS
A veteran Maumee girls tennis team is off to a quick 2-1 start this year after early-season non-league matches with Start, Bowsher and Central Catholic.
MHS 5, Central 0
The latest Panthers win came in a shutout over visiting Central Catholic last Thursday.
Maumee swept the singles matches when senior Allison Erford defeated Sarah Klein (6-1, 6-0), senior Chelsea Dagg beat Sarah Hunter (6-4, 6-1) and senior Lizzy Hall topped Lilly Martis (6-2, 6-3).
In doubles action, senior Amanda Foley and Sarah Hall got the better of the Fighting Irish’s Kelsey Delinski and Vanessa Voguel (6-1, 6-1), and seniors Frances Bradford and Diana Rapp outlasted Tyler Joles and Amaris Rodgers in three sets (4-6, 6-1, 6-1).
MHS 5, Bowsher 0
Two days earlier, the Panthers recorded another shutout over visiting Bowsher.
Erford, Dagg and Hall breezed through the singles matches with wins over Kristen Tiell (6-0, 6-0), Maddison Peace (6-0, 6-1) and Courtney Shriver (6-0, 6-0).
Maumee’s doubles teams were equally successful, as Foley and Sarah Hall defeated Michelle Sharlow and Julie Gruber (6-0, 6-0) and Rapp and Bradford bettered Sammie Shively and Megan Cook (6-0, 6-1).
Start 4, MHS 1
The Panthers’ lone loss of the year came in their season opener at Jermain Park on August 16.
Maumee’s first doubles team of Sarah Hall and Foley recorded the team’s lone win on the day after playing to a 6-3, 6-3 win over the Spartans’ Cassie Dreslinski and Briana Lancaster.
Lizzy Hall also came close at third singles but was eventually defeated by Bree Clark, 4-6, 3-6.
In other action, Erford and Dagg dropped the first and second singles matches to Thea Avery (1-6, 2-6) and Breanna Sims (2-6, 2-6) and Start’s Ashley Bricker and Sarah Segura beat Bradford and Rapp 6-0, 6-4.
Becki Hayes Leads Maumee’s Lady Golfers To Nine Early Winst
BY ANDREW ROWER — MIRROR SPORTS
Maumee’s girls golf team recorded its ninth win of the season last Wednesday with a 23-stroke win over Elmwood at Heather Downs Country Club.
“After underachieving at the first three matches, the team has finally started to play well together,” said Maumee girls golf coach Pam Reese.
“The Elmwood match was by far our best effort so far this season. It was nice to get a win at Heather Downs Country Club, our home course.”
MHS 213, Elmwood 235
Senior captain Becki Hayes led the Panthers while achieving medalist status with a low score of 45.
Sophomore Emily Long followed with a 54 and both senior captain Kayla Uscilowski and junior Bre Forkapa rounded out team scoring with identical 57s.
Sophomore Kendall Murphy and freshman Courtney McIntire also competed for Maumee on the day, finishing with scores of 63 and 64, respectively.
“Courtney and Kendall are improving quickly,” Reese said. “This is the first season for both of them.”
Elmwood Invitational
Two days earlier, the Panthers narrowly missed a first-place finish at Birch Run Golf Club while competing in the Elmwood Invitational.
Hayes tied for medalist status on the day with a team-leading score of 46.
Long and Forkapa next turned in twin 59s and Uscilowski shot a 62.
Otsego ended up edging Maumee 218-222.
Van Buren 415,
MHS 424
The Panthers suffered their only dual match loss of the season to Van Buren at Heather Downs on August 12.
Hayes again led the team with an 18-hole score of 88.
Long and Uscilowski next came through with a pair of 104s and Forkapa finished with a 125.
“Bre Forkapa returns this year with varsity experience,” Reese said.
Murphy and McIntire rounded things out with scores of 137 and 139.
Perrysburg Invitational
Maumee bettered four teams at the Perrysburg Invitational back on August 10, shooting a 417 at White Pines Golf Course.
Hayes again led the way with an 89 and Uscilowski and Long took the team’s second and third positions with a 106 and a 109.
“Our seniors, Becki and Kayla, provide excellent leadership for the younger players,” Reese said. “I couldn’t ask for two better role models.”
Forkapa then contributed a 113 and Murphy and McIntire came in at 116 and 123.
The Panthers bettered fellow Northern Lakes Leaguers Springfield (431) on the day, but finished behind Anthony Wayne (378), Northview (370) and Perrysburg (321).
Sylvania Invitational
A day earlier, Maumee opened its season by finishing fifth at the Sylvania Invitational after combining for a score of 438 at Highland Meadows Golf Club.
Hayes paced the Panthers with a 96 and Long followed six strokes behind at 102.
“Emily Long is going to make a big difference on our team this year,” Reese said. “She worked on her golf game all summer and it really shows.”
Additionally, Forkapa shot a 117, Uscilowski came through with a 123 and Murphy and McIntire closed things out with a 126 and a 134.
This time around, Maumee bettered Anthony Wayne (446) but finished behind Northview (374), Southview (355) and Perrysburg (341).
“Our team grew from four members last year to six this year,” Reese said. “This allows us to throw out two low scores at matches, which we couldn’t do last year.
“Comparing this year’s stats to last year’s, we are scoring 10-15 strokes lower in all of our matches,” Reese said. “This is especially encouraging since we feel like we can go lower.
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