Book of Mike

  I came back across this blog I had sort of terribly written once upon a time and stopped when life had picked up and thought maybe I can be better at it.  NOTE: Not near as good as my buddy Rob Adams and his blog Exit 55  that is updated every night in an impressive feat I'm told some nights as part of a huge streak featuring great reads.  What is this going to be about you ask? Who knows.....please stick with this work in progress when it actually happens as a way to clear my head at times or just to show off something I think is cool. The biggest changes since I last wrote this in 2016 have been losing some amazing people in my life who showed me how to be a better man and the addition of my favorite little human.....and that whole pandemic thing but who the hell wants to read any more about that? I look in this little girls eyes and I see hope, I see an amazing way to look at the world and everything for the first time and I can instantly snap out of whatever is my stupid issu

  OTTAWA - For the ninth straight season Ottawa Glandorf earned themselves a sectional title as they defeated Coldwater 52-22 on Saturday evening.  Unlike the previous eight wins under head coach Troy Yant the Titans earned this victory on their home floor at the Supreme Court due to changes in this seasons tournament schedule that sees the better seasons hosting games in the opening round before heading to a neutral venue for their remaining games. Coldwater jumped out to a 3-0 lead a minute and a half into the contest on a three point goal by senior Courtney May but would find themselves in control of the scoreboard for just a brief period of time before the Titans snagged the advantage.  Chloee Glenn started the scoring for OG and helped to give the Titans the lead on the next time down the floor on a fast break basket by senior teammate Kelsey Erford at 4-3 with 5:38 remaining in the opening period.  Ottawa Glandorf continued to utilize their frantic pressure defense through the re

  ST. MARYS - While they may not be traditional rivals the rivalry between traditional WBL powers St. Marys and Ottawa Glandorf added another classic finish to their history on Friday night as the Titans emerged victorious in 2 OT 27-20 over the Roughriders.  Trailing 6-0 in the third quarter St. Marys marched down the field to tie the game on a ten play drive over nearly four minutes that was capped off by a Dylan Trogdlon 14 yard score but were unable to take the lead as the ensuing extra point was stuffed before it could begin by the Titans.  OG responded on their next offensive possession with a five plus minute drive of their own just moments later that was highlighted by a 44 yard third down run by Ian Fenbert and finished with a Fenbert reception for a seven yard score from QB Jacob Balbaugh to take a 13-7 lead.  Despite being held scoreless in the first half for the third time this season, the Roughriders raced 58 yards to tie the game at 13-13 with 1:23 to go in regulation on

  SPENCERVILLE - Spencerville's Will Gallaspie accounted for a trio of goals on Thursday evening as his Bearcats picked up their second victory of the week, a 5-2 win over WOSL rival New Knoxville.  Gallaspie was credited for the opening goal of the contest at 37:45 as he was the last player for the Bearcats deemed to have touched a bouncing ball off of the turf that was sent into the goal by a New Knoxville player.  With 26:37 remaining in the first half the visiting Rangers were whistled for a foul inside the box on and found themselves just moments later staring at a 2-0 hole on the scoreboard after Gallaspie was able to send a ball past New Knoxville keeper Josh Deitsch on the awarded penalty kick.  "Giving up the own goal hurt us at first, but I thought the penalty call in the box by the official really took the wind out of our sails for the rest of the first half" opined New Knoxville coach Matthew Stetler after the contest.  The Bearcats added one more score by Gal

  SPENCERVILLE – Though Spencerville began the day by celebrating their senior class it was visiting Columbus Grove who celebrated last as they topped the Bearcats 2-1 on Tuesday evening. Before the contest the home team celebrated the careers and accomplishments of senior class members Ariana McMichael, Gillian Goecke, Raigan Staup, and Audrey Sherer with a pregame ceremony. “Three of our seniors are state track qualifers (McMichael, Goecke, Staup) and are our speed. That trio has scored all of our goals this season. Our fourth senior (Sherer) was added as a starting outside back two years ago as the only starting defender we have that has played high school soccer before, she is picking things up very well after a year off” spoke Kathy Goecke of her senior class. Once the game got started it was clear that it would be the team to establish their style of game that would come away with the victory and that as it turned out was the Bulldogs. Last season the Bearcats reached the

SPENCERVILLE - Lincolnview scored off of the opening kickoff but would find themselves unable to do so for the rest of the game thanks to a brilliant performance in goal by Spencerville goal keeper Dominic Adkins on the way to a 3-1 Bearcat victory. With only :41 seconds gone in the fifth all-time meeting between the two schools on the pitch, Lincolnview senior Clayton Leeth sliced his way through the Spencerville defense and fired a ball past Adkins to put the visitors on top 1-0. Spencerville responded at 36:16 on a lead to sophomore forward Will Gallaspie to tie up the contest that triggered an eruption of applause from the Bearcat fans at Memorial Field on Tuesday evening. Nearly eight minutes after his first goal tied things up, Gallaspie struck again this time as he redirected a shot from teammate Joel Van Gorder past Lancer keeper Davis Schwartz for a lead the Bearcats would never lose. “We fought a much more experienced Lincolnview team tonight. I am immensely proud of