Random Thoughts: new season, more

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

The latest installment of Random Thoughts includes the start of the new fall sports season, questions WBL football teams face, the grass isn’t always greener, LeBron James and perhaps the best time of the year.

It’s starting

The 2026 OHSAA fall sports season begins on Wednesday. Yes, that’s correct, the fall sports season officially begins July 29. That’s the first day boys golf practice starts and it’s the day the season can begin. Teams are able to hit the ground running if they want to.

Questions

Within the next few days, I’ll be gathering preseason information from NWC and WBL football coaches then sometime early next month, I’ll make my annual preseason predictions.

Here are some early questions among potential WBL title contenders:

• Wapakoneta: the Redskins have more graduation losses than anyone else in the league. Can they continue to plug and play?
• Bath: many significant graduation losses, especially on offense. Can the Wildcats still plug along?
• Van Wert: can the Cougars step up defensively?
• Shawnee: how fast can the Indians get the hang of Bob Olwin’s wide open offense?
• Defiance: How will the Bulldogs deal with lots of graduation losses, including eight starters on offense?
• Celina: can the Bulldogs take another step to the upper half of the WBL?
• St. Marys Memorial: can two new starting running backs step up immediately?

It should be an interesting season, no doubt.

The grass isn’t always greener…

Here’s a prime example of how the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

Shortstop Fransisco Lindor was beloved in Cleveland. He played for the Indians/Guardians between 2015-2020. He finished second in the race for AL Rookie of the Year in 2015. He was a key part of the 2016 team that made it to the World Series. He was on the cover of a video game in 2017 and he rang up big numbers in 2018 and 2019. He was a four time All-Star in Cleveland.

Friday Flashback: VW wins nail-biter

Editor’s note: The Friday Flashback has returned for the summer season and will continue until the start of the 2026 fall sports season. This week’s Friday Flashback takes us back to February of 2014, when the Van Wert boys basketball team won a nail-biter over visiting Coldwater. Below is the story as it appeared on the VW independent Sports page.

Dave Mosier/independent editor

The Van Wert Cougars won another two-point contest on Monday, defeating the Coldwater Cavaliers 48-46 in a non-conference boys’ basketball battle in the Cougar’s Den.

The Cougars were ice cold offensively in the first quarter and it looked as if Van Wert would be on the losing end of another blowout when they got behind by 10, 12-2, at the end of the first quarter. But the Cougars battled back, outscoring Coldwater 15-12 in the second quarter to trail by eight, 24-17, at the half.

The third quarter was huge for Van Wert, as the Cougars went on a 15-8 run to tie the Cavaliers at 39-all heading into the final quarter of play.

The fourth-quarter seesawed a bit, but Van Wert did just enough offensively to earn a hard-fought victory.

With the win, the Cougars hit .500 for the year at 8-8 overall. Coldwater is now 6-8 on the season.

Drew Myers was the only Van Wert player in double figures, with 11 points, although Nathan Stoller and Connor Holliday each added 9 points and seven players overall scored for the Cougars. Coldwater had three players in double figures, led by Brady Hoying’s 14 points. Brandon Wolters scored 12 points for the Cavs, while Garrett Thobe added 11 points.

Van Wert was a bit shaky from two-point range, hitting just 6 of 16 attempts (37.5 percent), but the Cougars were better from behind the arc, canning 8 of 18 three-pointers (44.4 percent). The Cavaliers were 15 of 32 from two-point range (46.9 percent), but hit just 4 of 16 three-point attempts (25 percent).

Van Wert won the game on its free-throw shooting abilities, hitting 12 of 14 at the line (85.7 percent), while the Cavaliers made just 4 of 11 free throw attempts (36.4 percent).

Coldwater used its height to advantage on the boards, bringing down 31 rebounds to 18 for the Cougars, while both teams had 12 turnovers in the game.

Random Thoughts: hodge-podge edition

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

The latest installment of Random Thoughts centers around next year’s Major League Baseball season, favorite sports, a resignation, NIL in Ohio, preseason picks and the World Cup.

2027 baseball

Major League Baseball announced its 2027 schedule last week. Hopefully I’m wrong but like many others, I have serious doubts the 2027 Major League Baseball season will begin on time, if at all. A lockout is almost certainly on the horizon and a big part of it is owners’ proposal for a salary cap. Obviously it’s something the owners have wanted for a long time, while the players union is against it.

Both sides appear ready to dig in. I’m just hoping the entire season isn’t wiped out.

Surprising stat

I’m not quite sure I’m buying this but apparently it’s true. According to a new study, soccer has overtaken baseball to become America’s third-favorite sport. American football is No. 1 by a big margin, followed by basketball, soccer, baseball and hockey.

No disrespect to soccer players or fans. I would think football would be No. 1, baseball second, basketball third, then soccer and hockey. Apparently not.

He’s out

This doesn’t come as a surprise – Michigan AD Warde Manuel is out, effective at the end of this year. The announcement was made yesterday. After the things that have gone on in Ann Arbor – Connor Stallions, the Sherrone Moore situation – someone was going to go down.

NIL in Ohio

Last last year, OHSAA member schools passed an emergency NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) referendum. The vote wasn’t close, with nearly 80 percent of schools that cast ballots voting in favor. It should be noted that 30 percent of member schools didn’t cast a ballot for or against it.

While it’s still relatively knew in Ohio, high school NIL deals are pretty rare. Approximately 50 NIL deals have been registered with the OHSAA, a requirement according to the rules. Of those, most are very small deals valued at $1,000 or less. Just a handful are considered top-tier deals.

Radio stations set broadcast schedules

VW independent sports

Local radio stations 99.7FM WKSD and WERT 1220AM/104.3FM have announced their broadcast schedules for the rapidly approaching 2026 high school football season. WKSD will offer a variety of games featuring teams from the Green Meadows Conference and Northwest Conference, while WERT will continue on as “The Voice of the Van Wert Cougars.”

On WKSD, the season opener will feature a pair of former NWC foes, as the Crestview Knights welcome in the Paulding Panthers. Paulding left the NWC in 2021 to join the Green Meadows Conference. On WERT, the traditional opener between Van Wert and Bryan will kickoff the new season.

All games will air live, with pregame coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m., followed by kickoff at 7 p.m. each Friday night. Games are subject to change. Coverage of local teams will continue into the OHSAA football playoffs.

WKSD

• August 21: Paulding at Crestview
• August 28: Spencerville at Wayne Trace
• September 4: Wayne Trace at Crestview
• September 11: Paulding at Antwerp
• September 18: Wayne Trace at Paulding
• September 25: Hicksville at Antwerp
• October 2: Paulding at Fairview
• October 9: Bluffton at Crestview
• October 16: Antwerp at Wayne Trace
• October 23: Tinora at Paulding

WERT

• August 21: Bryan at Van Wert
• August 28: Elida at Van Wert
• September 4: Van Wert at Bath
• September 11: Van Wert at Celina
• September 18: Defiance at Van Wert
• September 25: Van Wert at Wapakoneta
• October 2: St. Marys Memorial at Van Wert
• October 9: Van Wert at Ottawa-Glandorf
• October 16: Shawnee at Van Wert
• October 23: Van Wert at Kenton

Friday Flashback: Van Wert gets road win

Editor’s note: The Friday Flashback has returned for the summer season and will continue until the start of the 2026 fall sports season. This week’s Friday Flashback takes us back to December of 2013, when Van Wert traveled to Allen County and came back with a WBL victory over Shawnee. Below is the story as it appeared on the VW independent Sports page.

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

FORT SHAWNEE — It was an ugly win, but a “W” is still a “W” as the Van Wert Lady Cougars edged Shawnee 67-63 in a Western Buckeye League girls’ basketball thriller played Thursday at Shawnee.

With the win, the Lady Cougars are now 6-2 overall and 2-1 in the WBL, while Shawnee drops to 3-5 overall and 1-2 in league play.

The Lady Indians led by a basket, 14-12, after one period of play, but Van Wert came roaring back in the second stanza, going on a 20-6 run to lead by 12, 32-20, at the half. Shawnee then outscored the Cougars 24-16 in the third quarter to cut that lead to just four points, 48-44, heading into the final period of play.

It looked like the Indians wanted the game more than Van Wert early in the fourth quarter, as Shawnee took a 53-50 lead early on and led 58-54 with a little more than 3½ minutes to play in the game. But the momentum shifted back to the Cougars’ favor as Van Wert converted Shawnee turnovers into points and hit just enough free throws to ice the game at the end.

Van Wert had balanced scoring in the game, with four players in double figures. Riley Jones led the Cougars with 19 points, while Erin Morrow added 18 points and Alexis Dowdy and Emily Bair both scored 10 points for Van Wert.

Shawnee’s Clair Dahlke led all scorers with 21 points, while Rachel Evans added 16 for the Lady Indians.

The Cougars hit 18 of 25 from the free-throw line (72 percent), with Morrow making 10 of 12, including some clutch shots down the stretch. Shawnee made 4 of 7 (57.1 percent) from the line. Van Wert was 22 of 52 from the field (42.3 percent), while the Indians made 26 of 68 field goal attempts (38.2 percent).

The Cougars junior varsity team also won, 52-47, over Shawnee. Ally Jackson led the Van Wert JVs with 22 points, while Cassidy Sinning added 11 points. The Indians were led by Dionna Lewis’ 14 points.

Lancers celebrate season!

After a long and very successful season, plus summer ball, volleyball, basketball and travel softball, Lincolnview was finally able to hold its annual softball banquet earlier this week. The Lancers had 16 NWC Scholar- Athletes, three All-Ohio Academic Athletes, seven All-NWC selections, four All-Northwest District selections, two All-Ohio selections and set six new school records. Lincolnview also won the NWC championship, along with sectional, district and regional championships and qualified for the Division VI state semifinals. Photo submitted

Important rule change for HS softball

Submitted information

Pitchers will now join catchers as the only players in high school softball permitted to receive one-way electronic communication from the dugout, effective with the 2027 season.

This change was one of four recommendations by the NFHS Softball Rules Committee during its June 14-16 meeting in Indianapolis. All recommendations were later approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

“Deliberations by the NFHS Softball Rules Committee were spirited and robust,” said Sandy Searcy, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Softball Rules Committee. “Approval of these four rules proposals was the result of data collected form the membership, and specifically state association administrators. The committee is to be commended for its attention to detail, and thorough analysis of information available.”

Updated language now includes pitchers among the players permitted to receive one-way electronic communication from the dugout during games, allowing for faster delivery of information. The use of all other electronic devices to transmit or record information remains prohibited on the field of play, and players are still prohibited from transmitting or recording audio or video from the playing surface.

The committee also simplified language regarding whether a pitcher and catcher must face the first batter on defense in relation to courtesy runners. In its comments, the committee said the change eliminates the requirement — or perceived requirement — that the pitcher and catcher listed on the starting lineup card must face the first batter on defense.

“Previously, there was a misconception that the pitcher and catcher listed on the lineup card were always required to face the first batter (one pitch), which was never the intent of the rule,” the committee noted. “This change simplifies the administration of the courtesy runner rule and eliminates a provision that applied only during the transition between the top and bottom halves of the first inning. By removing a unique scenario that applied only to the bottom of the first inning, the rule becomes easier for umpires, coaches, scorekeepers and players to administer and understand.”

Additional changes allow state associations to determine umpire uniforms and clarify the definition of an initial play to better align with other areas of the rules book.

New option allowed in HS baseball

Submitted information

Beginning next year, high school baseball teams will be given the option to use an 18-inch first base or the double first base. The larger base is presented as an alternative to the previously mandated double first base, which goes into effect in 2027.

The larger first base option was one of seven rules changes recommended by the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee at its meeting last month in Indianapolis and which were subsequently approved by the NFHS Rules Review Committee and NFHS Board of Directors.

In conjunction with the double first base, allowing a larger first base has proven to be effective in reducing player collisions and enhancing player safety.

“The NFHS Baseball Rules Committee believes that providing schools with the option of using either an 18-inch first base or a double first base gives administrators the flexibility to enhance player safety while recognizing the varying needs and resources of member schools,” said Elliot Hopkins, director of sports and liaison to the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee. “Both options are designed to reduce the potential for collisions at first base and support a reduced risk playing environment without changing the fundamental nature of the game.”

One-way electronic communication will now be allowed from the coach to the pitcher and/or the catcher for the purposes of calling pitches. Prior, the catcher was the only defensive player allowed to receive communication from the coach. While the coach must still be located in the dugout/bench area, the committee believes this change responsibly integrates electronic communication that enhances game management.

Bat certification was addressed with USA Baseball assuming bat-testing standards. Effective in 2028, there will be an additional class of permitted non-wood bats. Bats that are not made of a single piece of wood shall meet either the USA Baseball Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (USA Baseball BBCOR) of .50 or the USA Baseball Bat Performance Standard (-4, -5, -6). Bats must be labeled with a silkscreen or other permanent certification mark.

“In addition, the NFHS remains committed to fostering the growth and development of high school baseball players,” Hopkins said. “As the game continues to evolve with the adoption of the USA Baseball BBCOR standard, expanding the available drop-weight options provides younger and developing players with additional opportunities to build proper mechanics, confidence and skills while maintaining the safety and performance standards expected in education-based athletics.”

Wiffleball sign-up set for August 1

Submitted information

WREN — Wrenway Park wiffleball tournament officials will be accepting the first 15 teams with their $100 entry fee at sign-up, scheduled for 5 p.m.  Saturday, August 1. The sign-up event will be held at Wren Restaurant.
 
The 15 teams will play the 34th Wrenway Park Wiffleball tournament August 21-22 at Wrenway Park in downtown Wren.
 
Anyone with questions should call Jeff Davis at 419.203.6745.

Friday Flashback: Knights tame Bulldogs

Editor’s note: The Friday Flashback has returned for the summer season and will continue until the start of the 2026 fall sports season. This week’s Friday Flashback takes us back to October of 2013, when Crestview rolled by Ada for a homecoming victory. Below is the story as it appeared on the VW independent Sports page.

Van Wert independent sports

CONVOY — The Crestview Knights took little time in dictating how its homecoming game with the Ada Bulldogs would go. The Knights scored on their first possession and never looked back in a dominating 63-12 Northwest Conference victory over Ada, which came into the game with just one loss overall and a perfect 4-0 record in the NWC.

Crestview compiled 543 yards of total offense – 396 of that on the ground – while limiting the Bulldogs to 241 yards of offense, nearly all of that through the air. The Knights had 21 first downs to just 11 for Ada.

Quarterback Preston Zaleski found Nate Owens in the open for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 7:25 ticks left on the first-quarter clock. Kameron Grubaugh kicked the extra point and the Knights took a lead they would never relinquish.

Crestview also scored the next touchdown on a 4-yard run by Justin Overmeyer with 2:57 left in the first quarter. Grubaugh again kicked the PAT and it was 14-0, Knights. Ada then scored one of its two touchdowns on a 24-yard pass from Matt Wilcox to Spencer Archer. The point-after was no good and Crestview led 14-6 with 23 seconds left in the quarter.

The second quarter was the Knights’ big quarter, with four scores in the quarter. The first came on a 34-yard run by Malcolm Oliver with 10:42 left in the quarter. Grubaugh ran the ball in for two points on the PAT attempt and it was 22-6, Crestview.

The Knights scored just over 2 ½ minutes later when Jake Lippi ran the ball in from Ada 2-yard-line to make it 28-6. Grubaugh kicked the extra point to make it 29-6 with 8 minutes even left in the second quarter.

Lippi scored again on an 81-yard run with 3:12 remaining in the quarter. Grubaugh kicked the PAT and Crestview led 36-6.

The Knights’ final score of the first half came with 23 seconds remaining in the half when Zaleski found Oliver for a 29-yard aerial scoring strike. Grubaugh again kicked the point-after (he made six on the night) for a halftime score of 43-6.

Ada scored in the third quarter on a 16-yard pass from Wilcox to Archer with 9:05 remaining in the quarter. The PAT was no good and it was 43-12, Knights.