MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Opening Weekend of High School Games at Fifth Third

Published on April 13, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, Ohio- Fifth Third Field and the Dayton Dragons will host high school baseball for the seventh straight season in 2012. Overall this spring, 20 high schools will play regular season games at the home of the Dragons.

All games are sponsored by MAC Athletics, experts in athletic facility planning, design, construction, and equipment acquisition. Go to macathletix.com for more information on their services.

This weekend's schedule of high school games at Fifth Third Field starts on Friday, April 13th with two games. At 4:30 p.m., Tippecanoe High School faces Ben Logan High School and at 7 p.m. Marion Local High School plays St. Henry High School. Saturday's two games feature Wayne High School vs. Greenville High School on Saturday, April 14th at 4 p.m. Covington High School will play against Riverside High School at 7 p.m. on Saturday. On Sunday, April 15th, Bradford High School is scheduled to face Minster High School at 4 p.m.

Wayne High School vs. Greenville High School

The Great Western Ohio Conference will be well represented when the Wayne Warriors host the Greenville Green Wave on Saturday at 4 p.m. It's the first of two games that day. The Warriors (GWOC Central Division) have played a game at Fifth Third Field for each of the past three years. This will be the fourth scheduled game for the Green Wave (GWOC North Division), who in the past played at the home of the Dragons in 2007 and the last three years.

Wayne High School features 2011 First Team All-GWOC Catcher Cody Morris. He signed with Davenport University (Mich.), and currently leads the team with a .700 batting average. Though the Warriors have played to a 1-10 record so far this season, Head Coach Jason Stringfield expects some positive momentum in the second half of the season.

"We've played a difficult schedule to this point and have yet to be at full strength so far this season," Stringfield said.

Still, Stringfield's players highlight their game at Fifth Third Field before each season.

"It's something the guys very much look forward to," he said. "We've played here every year since I started coaching and it's an awesome experience for the coaches, players, and parents."

First-year Head Coach Eric Blumenstock leads the Green Wave into this cross-division battle. From a team that was one win away from the state tournament last year, Blumenstock returns 10 seniors. Six of those seniors start for the 5-4 Green Wave, a team that has faced a difficult early schedule, losing to Vandalia-Butler twice and once each to Celina and Wapakoneta. The Greenville lineup, though, is led by sophomore second baseman Colton Mealeigh (pronounced "ME-lee"). He anchors the lineup, hitting third, and has amassed a .438 batting average with three doubles and three triples.

Riverside High School vs. Covington High School

Saturday's second game of the doubleheader features Riverside High School against Covington High School at 7 p.m. The Riverside Pirates bring back six players from last year's team, including a potential college prospect in catcher Dalton Bollinger. He's only a sophomore, but Head Coach Scott Mann said he is a very good hitter with power to all fields. Bollinger is one of six returning starters on a team that is very excited to play at Fifth Third Field again.

"Our players are really looking forward to it," Mann said. "We had a tremendous experience in our game last season at Fifth Third Field and we're excited about another opportunity to play there."

Covington has gotten out to a slow start, but is made up of a very young team. Head Coach Mitch Hirsch starts only one senior, third baseman Steven Blei (rhymes with "play"), who has a batting average in excess of .500. Though the team is 2-8, Hirsch said he likes how his players are working hard through the struggles.

Minster High School vs. Bradford High School

The defending Division IV Ohio State Champions return to Fifth Third Field when the Minster Wildcats face the Bradford Railroaders on Sunday at 4 p.m. Minster ran the table in the Final 16 last year, defeating Springfield High School in the championship game. Five starters returned for the Wildcats, who boast an 8-2 record through their first 10 games of the 2012 season.

Youth is the theme of this year's Bradford High School team. The Railroaders return every player from last year's team, and only have one senior on the roster in first baseman Riley Hart. Junior second baseman and team captain Bryce Arnett, along with sophomore shortstop and pitcher Brandon Wysong both earned All-Cross County Conference honors last year. Head Coach Shane Snyder said his team is thrilled to play at Fifth Third Field on Sunday.

"For this group of guys it's all about the experience," Snyder said. "They realize that the chances of playing at a big time stadium do not come very often. We're going to give every guy the opportunity to get out there and have some fun."

Having young players is something that Snyder is used to. Before this year, Bradford High School didn't have enough players to field a reserve program. For the first time in several years, the Railroaders now have that option.

"Many guys in previous years have been thrown into varsity baseball without any experience," Snyder said. "It would be unrealistic to have high expectations from them. But the future of the program now is exciting just because more guys are getting the opportunity to play ball."

The Railroaders also have a new pitching coach this season. Patrick McKee joined the team from Defiance College. He took the place of former assistant Curtis Enis, also a former NFL running back. Enis stepped down from his position with the baseball team in order to prepare for his third season of coaching the Bradford football team.

The Dayton Dragons have been hosting the Miami Valley's best baseball teams since 2006 and are proud to continue the tradition for a seventh year. A complete list of high school baseball games scheduled to be played at Fifth Third Field can be found at daytondragons.com.

All games are free to attend and the media are invited to cover them. Gates will open one hour prior to the first game played that day. High schools may provide their own PA announcers, cheer squads, and national anthem singers. Some even bring their own radio broadcasters to the ballpark. Participating high schools sell Dragons tickets to help raise money for their programs.

2012 High School Baseball at Fifth Third Field Schedule

Day Date Time Teams (Home team is listed second)

Friday 04/13/12 4:30 p.m. Tippecanoe High School vs. Ben Logan High School

Friday 04/13/12 7:30 p.m. Marion Local High School vs. St. Henry High School

Saturday 04/14/12 4:00 p.m. Greenville High School vs. Wayne High School

Saturday 04/14/12 7:00 p.m. Riverside High School vs. Covington High School

Sunday 04/15/12 4:00 p.m. Minster High School vs. Bradford High School

Friday 04/27/12 4:30 p.m. Chaminade Julienne High School vs. Bishop Fenwick High School

Friday 04/27/12 7:30 p.m. Vandalia-Butler High School vs. Northmont High School

Saturday 04/28/12 1:00 p.m. Wayne High School vs. Oak Hills High School

Saturday 04/28/12 4:00 p.m. Preble Shawnee High School vs. Twin Valley South High School

Sunday 04/29/12 7:00 p.m. Fairfield High School vs. Troy High School

Monday 04/30/12 6:00 p.m. Carroll High School vs. Chaminade Julienne High School

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Midwest League Stories from April 13, 2012


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