Bellaire softball expects to be competitive

March 30, 2022

By KIM NORTH Times Leader Sports Writer BELLAIRE -- Dave Menendez enters his third season as the Bellaire softball team with optimism. The Big Reds went 14-11 last year and have eight returning letterwinners, while only losing two starters. However, of the 17 players on the roster, just two are seniors. “Despite being a young team, we should be competitive. We only lost two every day starters to graduation," Menendez said. “Overall, we have pretty good team speed. Our pitchers are young, like the rest of the team, but I think they are up for the challenge.” Senior Taylor ...

Barnesville baseball set to make up for lost time

March 31, 2021

By SETH STASKEY Times Leader Sports Editor BARNESVILLE -- All teams were disappointed with how the 2020 season ended. But, that’s especially true at Barnesville where the Shamrocks were set to trot out a senior-laden squad. Unfortunately, head coach D.J. Butler, who is entering his 14th season at the Shamrocks help, bid farewell to the likes of Jared Kernen, Jagger Jefferis, Alex Meade, Zach Thompson, Luke Eddy, Uryan Meade and Riley Tubaugh. “It was one of the most disheartening things I’ve ever dealt with as a coach,” Butler said of the 2020 cancellation due to ...

Hanlon set for her debut with ’Rocks softball

March 31, 2021

By KIM NORTH Times Leader Sports Writer BARNESVILLE — Kelley Hanlon was to begin her Barnesville softball coaching career last year, but COVID-19 caused the season to be canceled. The Shamrocks also lost half-a-dozen seniors for various reasons, leaving them with just three returning letterwinners — all 2-year veterans. “We had one girls transfer to another school, and two transfers that came in last year had to move away this year,” Hanlon explained. The returning letterwinners are led by senior starter Shayla Hunter (C). Juniors Tessa Johnston (P/2B) and Savanna ...

Barnesville track teams lack varsity experience

March 31, 2021

By SETH STASKEY Times Leader Sports Editor BARNESVILLE -- It’s a similar story everywhere. Both Mark Brown and Dylan Rogers like the make up of their girls and boys track teams. But, both also realize that basically half of their rosters have never taken part in a varsity track meet after the 2020 season was wiped out due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We have 20 of our 26 kids who have never been in a high school track meet,” Brown said of the Shamrock girls. “It will be interesting to see how the year off affects performances.” Rogers, meanwhile, ...

Beallsville softball has 11 players

March 31, 2021

By KIM NORTH Times Leader Sports Writer BEALLSVILLE — Rhea Pittman has 11 players out for softball at Beallsville. Seven of those are returning letterwinners from the 2019 season. Nearly half of the roster is seniors as five return for another campaign. “I’m very optimistic about the upcoming season,” Pittman said. “We have five seniors back and we are looking forward to tapping into the underclassmen’s abilities.” Trinity Abbott (P/SS), Harley Nalley (CF), Makenna Phillips (3B), Terra Shriver (P/1B) and Sidney VanHorn (OF/2B) comprise the senior class and five of ...

Beallsville track seeks improvement

March 31, 2021

By SETH STASKEY Times Leader Sports Editor BEALLSVILLE — Tori Lang won’t dwell on the missed season. It’s in the past and can’t be changed. That’s similar to how she wants her athletes focusing on their seasons. “Our goal is to be better than we were yesterday,” Lang said. “We have some kids returning who did quite well in (2019).” That is where the Blue Devils’ boys and girls — all 11 of them — will put their focus. The girls roster includes: seniors Cheyenne Riley (hurdles, sprints), Sheyanna Osborne (throws), Sydney VanHorn ...