MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Busy Week of Prep Action Concludes Friday

April 21, 2016 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, Ohio - The Dayton Dragons are hosting high school baseball at Fifth Third Field for the 11th straight season in 2016. Friday, April 21 will mark the end of the first of two jam-packed weeks of prep games at the home ballpark of the Dragons. This spring, 32 high schools will play regular season games at the home of the Dragons.

High school baseball at Fifth Third Field also serves as a fundraiser for those participating. This year's series of games will raise approximately $30,000 for the schools to help with the cost of uniforms, equipment, and bus transportation.

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

The first game of a doubleheader begins at 4:30 p.m. and will pit Cross County Conference rivals Newton and Covington against one another. Newton returns three all-conference selections from the 2015 season, including first team choice junior Rhett Gipe. The Indians opened the season with six wins in their first seven games and currently hold a 6-4 overall record.

Covington also returned three postseason all-conference selections including second teamers James Grilliot and Levi Winn. The Buccaneers were 4-7 overall and 2-1 in conference as of earlier this week.

After the first game wraps up, Beavercreek and Fairborn will meet in a game between Greater Western Ohio Conference foes at 7:00 p.m. Beavercreek is off to a fast 10-2 start and sits in a tie for first place in the Central Division with Fairmont at 5-1. The Beavers have a pair of collegiate bound left-handed pitchers in Jackson Tedder and Jackson Back. Tedder, who is committed to ACC-power Virginia, is tied for the GWOC lead in wins (4) and strikeouts (42). He has a 0.27 earned run average in 26.0 innings. The Coker College bound Back is 3-1 with a 1.27 ERA in 22.0 frames. He is also the team's top offensive weapon to this point, batting for a .472 average with a squad-best 11 RBI.

Fairborn is 9-7 to open the season and 2-4 in conference which places them in a fourth place tie in the South Division. Slugging senior Andy Gilbert has enjoyed a big start to the season, leading the GWOC in home runs with three and driving in the third most runs with 16. Leighton Moore has pitched in with his team-high .429 batting average and 13 runs scored. Junior Jacob Webb has been unkind to the opposition's hitters on his way to a 3-1 record and 39 strikeouts through 29.2 innings. His ERA stands at a paltry 0.71.

Fifth Third Field will also be busy on Thursday night as Lebanon and Springfield play at 4:30 p.m. and Springboro meets Lakota East at 7:00.

The Dayton Dragons have been hosting the Miami Valley's best baseball teams since 2006 and are proud to continue the tradition for an 11th year. A complete list of high school baseball games scheduled to be played at Fifth Third Field can be found below.

All games are free to attend and the media are invited to cover them. Gates will open 30 minutes prior to the first game played that day. High schools may provide their own PA announcers, broadcasters, cheer squads, and national anthem singers. Participating schools sell Dragons tickets to help raise money for their programs.

Below is the remaining schedule for 2016:

Thursday April 21st, 2016 4:30 PM Lebanon Springfield

Thursday April 21st, 2016 7:00 PM Springboro Lakota East

Friday April 22nd, 2016 4:30 PM Newton Covington

Friday April 22nd, 2016 7:00 PM Fairborn Beavercreek

Tuesday May 3rd, 2016 4:30 PM West Liberty Cedarville

Tuesday May 3rd, 2016 7:00 PM Russia Allen East

Wednesday May 4th, 2016 4:30 PM Greenon Tippecanoe

Wednesday May 4th, 2016 7:00 PM Summit Country Day Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy

Thursday May 5th, 2016 4:30 PM Oakwood Waynesville

Thursday May 5th, 2016 7:00 PM Lehman Catholic Fort Loramie

Friday May 6th, 2016 4:30 PM Greenville Northmont

Friday May 6th, 2016 7:00 PM St. Henry Covington

Check out the Dayton Dragons Statistics



Midwest League Stories from April 21, 2016


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