Friday’s Games (all take place at 7:30 p.m.)

Division II, Region V

Kent Roosevelt at Tallmadge

Warren Howland at Copley

Aurora at Ashland

Division II, Region VII

Columbus St. Charles at Lake

Division IV, Region XIII

Perry at Manchester

Garrettsville at Chagrin Falls

Division IV, Region XIIII

Triway at Orrville

Division VI, Region XXI

Dalton at Bucyrus Wynford

New Washington Buckeye Central at Mogadore

Saturday’s Games (all take place at 7 p.m.)

Division I, Region II

Medina at Canton McKinley

Massillon at Toledo Whitmer

Twinsburg at Sylvania Southview

Division III, Region IX

St. Vincent-St. Mary at Hubbard

Youngstown Cardinal Mooney at Field

Poland Seminary at Buchtel

Division III, Region XI

Minerva at Marlington

Division V, Region XVII

Norwayne at Crestview

Division V, Region XVIII

Hillsdale at Collins Western Reserve

Hey everyone! This is my column that’s running in the Akron Beacon Journal Friday, but it’s posted on Ohio.com now, as you can see. Thanks to everyone who submitted votes for their favorite high school nicknames. If there are other crazy nicknames from out of state, post them so we can all get some laughs. Thanks again!

Manchester High School junior Ashley Harbarger pitched a perfect game Friday and led the Panthers to a 1-0 softball victory over Dalton in the Champions Challenge at Loudonville.

Harbarger recorded seven strikeouts and also contributed as a hitter by getting a single. She improved her season record to 8-4 and the perfect game was her first in her high school career.

Harbarger’s performance outshined a solid effort by Dalton senior Andrea Arney, a University of Akron softball recruit. Arney, the Bulldogs top pitcher and hitter, struck out five batters and her record this season is also 8-4. Dalton has won the past two Division IV state championships.

When it comes to track, it’s always about who ran the fastest, jumped the highest or threw the shot or the discus the farthest. But sometimes there are stories, GREAT, INSPRATIONAL STORIES, that don’t have to do with who won.

For instance, I remember watching the local news in the fall, I think it was, and there was an amazing story about a young lady (she may have been from the Youngstown area), who was competing in the state high school cross country meet and was almost near the finish line. Then came a gruesome sight. She broke her leg on the course and fell to the ground.

But this young lady had the courage and fortitude to crawl and limp her way to the finish line, despite being in obvious pain.

It was a story of incredible self-will. This young lady needed medical help, but she didn’t want it. She was withering with pain but she wanted to finish that race, and if you watched the video, you couldn’t help but get a little emotional, knowing she was in a world of pain. But watching her will her way to that finish line, regardless of the pain she was experiencing, was breathtaking and moving.

The yound lady gave a great television interview a few days later and it was great to see she was doing well and was in good spirts. I think she even joked that all she was thinking about, when she went down, was that she wasn’t going to be able to dance at her sister’s wedding later that night.

I witnessed another incredible story, but it didn’t involve injury. A few years ago I was covering a regional track meet at Ravenna and the Copley girls were favored in this particular relay event. As the race began, Copley was right there, as expected. But during one of the exchanges, the baton was dropped and the team was out of the race.

The young lady who dropped the baton was devasted. I mean, I had never seen an athlete more distraught. What I found out later was that the young lady was only a sophomore and there were two seniors on that relay team. The sophomore felt she had blown it for the seniors because it was their last chance to make it to state.

She was on the infield of the track, as the race was still going, slumped over an emotional ball.

She just shuddered and shook as she cried.

Then, former Copley standout Carrie Dyer, who was a senior and on that relay team, ran to the young runner to comfort her.

Then the rest of the realy team followed.

To me, that was one of the most inspirational stories I had ever witnessed.

The sophomore was heartbroken. But she was heartbroken because she cared about her teammates and wanted to perform at her best so that it would help the seniors.

It didn’t happen. But when it didn’t happen, the seniors weren’t mad, bitter or upset. They showed support for their younger teammate because they loved her. And in the end, winning didn’t matter.

So, with that, I’m asking readers to post any inspirational stories you witnessed, in track or any other sport, that didn’t involve someone winning.

A story where someone overcame odds to get where they are. Or a story about teammates helping one another.

Those are the most compelling stories.

Here is a preseason look at Wayne County Athletic League football for the 2007 season. In this post, you will find players (and any all-star recognition they received in the league last season) to watch from each team and my predictions for the upcoming season.

NORTHWESTERN (10-1 overall, 7-0 in the WCAL last season; WCAL champs)

Top players: Senior RB-LB Travis Morris (second-team WCAL), senior RB-LB Matt Redick (second-team), senior OL-DL Jake Ewing (second-team).

SMITHVILLE (9-2, 6-1)

Top player: Senior RB-LB Bryce Indermuhle (second-team WCAL).

NORWAYNE (8-2, 5-2)

Top players: Senior OL Jeremy Oller (first-team WCAL, second-team All-Ohio and first-team all-district in Division V), junior OL Zach Murray (second-team), junior LB-RB Tyler Robinson (second-team).

WAYNEDALE (7-3, 4-3)

Top players: Senior LB-RB Jared Neff (first-team), senior WR-DB Ross Shoup (second-team), junior RB-DL Sean Rutt (second-team).

DALTON (4-6, 3-4)

Top players: Senior RB-LB Derek Troyer, senior WR-RB Josh Neuenschwander, junior RB-LB Travis Moyer.

HILLSDALE (4-6, 2-5)

Top players: Senior DB-RB Clay Nelson (first-team), senior LB-RB Trent Kimball (second-team).

CHIPPEWA (2-8, 1-6)

Top player: Senior WR-DB Jed Busson (second-team).

RITTMAN (1-9, 1-7)

Top player:Nick Jones LB-RB.

Here is my predicted finish for the WCAL:

1. Norwayne

2. Northwestern

3. Smithville

4. Waynedale

5. Dalton

6. Hillsdale

7. Chippewa

8. Rittman

Here is an explanation for my predicitons: I think tradition will take a back seat to a rising team this season in the WCAL. Northwestern is the defending champion, and Smithville is the perennial powerhouse. But Norwayne has the momentum. The Bobcats tied a school record for wins last season by going 8-2 and finishing third in the WCAL. The Bobcats return nine starters on offense and nine starters on defense. They also have five-of-six starters, inlcuding standout tackle Jeremy Oller, returning to the offensive line. Those same lineman paved the way for an offense that rushed for more than 3,000 yards last season. It won’t be easy, but I think this is Norwayne’s year. Norwayne played Smithville close last year (the Smithies won 35-24 after trailing in the third quarter). But Northwestern destroyed Norwayne 35-0 last year. However, Northwestern lost an amazing senior class to graduation, and I think it will show this season. No matter what happens, the WCAL should be interesting and highly competitve.

What do you think of these predictions?

The Dalton softball team won it’s second consecutive Division IV state championship Saturday by defeating North Lewisburg Traid 3-1.

It was the second season in the row the Bulldogs (27-4) beat the Cardinals (23-8) in the title game at Brookside Park in Ashland.

Varsity Letters Player of the Game: Dalton senior Jessi Carmichael.

Carmichael led Dalton to a win by pitching a one-hitter and struck out 15 batters, which tied a Division IV record in a state tournament game. The lone run Triad scored was unearned and Carmichael delivered a two-run double to break a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning.

“This was her last game as a senior for Dalton, and she was going out there and she was pitching her whole heart out,” Dalton coach Jessica Miller said.

This marked the second season in a row that Carmichael has pitched the Bulldogs to victory in a state title game.

“Going into this game, I knew they had improved,” Carmichael said. “I knew this game would be tough. For me to come out and perform the way I did, I am pretty proud.”

Five softball teams from the Beacon Journal’s five-county coverage area have won regional titles and advanced to the state final four in their respective divisions.

Here are the teams:

Division I—Hudson

Division II—Archbishop Hoban

Division III—Fairless and Hillsdale

Division IV—Dalton