The Malone College baseball team seems to be peaking at the right time. With just six games left on the season, the Pioneers are riding a 13-game winning streak and look to wrap up the American Mideast Conference this weekend in a doubleheader at Mount Vernon Nazarene.

The Pioneers are 33-9 and ranked No. 20 in the latest NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. They won the National Christian College Athletic Association Division I Championship in 2006.

The roster is peppered with plenty of local players like Chris Mandeville (Tuslaw), Zach Winkhart (Canton Central Catholic), Ryan Baechel (Glen  Oak), Adam Boudler (louisville) and Zac Barson (Canton South) just to name a few. Here is the complete roster and here is complete statistics for the season.

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.

The Louisville football team had the most successful 2007 season among area high schools.

The Leopards lost to Cincinnati Anderson 31-25 in the Division II state final and finished with a record of 12-3. No other area team advanced to a state championship game. Brunswick made it to the Division I state semifinal but lost to Mentor.

I was looking at Louisville’s roster recently, and I it made me think that the Leopards are going to have what it takes to make another long playoff run next season.

Junior quarterback Neal Seaman and his favorite target, junior receiver Brandon Mathie, will be back. Junior defensive back Bob Swigert will also return.

Don’t get me wrong, though. The Leopards will need some younger players to step up and fill in for some defensive standouts who will be graduating, including defensive end Matt Schooley and linebackers Clay Swigert, Marcus Poyser and J.D. Whaley.

I think Louisville coach Paul Farrah will find the players to fill those holes, and the Leopards will be among the best area teams again in 2008.

The Louisville football team will advance to its first state championship game.

The Leopards defeated Mayfield 41-13 in a Division II state semifinal Friday night at Bearcat Stadium in Bedford.

Louisville (12-2) will play Cincinnati Anderson (12-2) in next Friday’s title game at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Only two area high school football teams won regional titles and remain alive after Week 3 of the state playoffs.

Brunswick defeated North Canton Hoover 24-17 on Saturday to win a Division I regional title. The Blue Devils (13-0) will advance to play Mentor (10-2) in a state semifinal Nov. 24. Hoover ended its season with a record of 10-3. Click here for a Brunswick vs. Hoover game story.

Louisville (11-2) defeated previously unbeated and top-seeded Columbus St. Francis DeSales 25-20 on Friday night. The Leopards will advance to play Cincinnati Anderson (11-2) in a Division II state semifinal Nov. 23. Click here for a Louisville vs. DeSales game story.

Northwest was the only other area team that survived the first two rounds of the postseason and played for a regional title this weekend. The Indians lost to Newark Licking Valley 21-17 and finished their season with a record of 12-1. Click here for a Northwest vs. Newark Licking Valley game story.

Who do you think has the best chance to win a state title. Will it be Brunswick, Louisville or neither one?

As much as I respect Brunswick, I think Louisville has a better chance to win a state title. Louisville already knocked off DeSales and appears to have an easier path in Division II than Brunswick has in Division I. If the Blue Devils can eliminate a powerful Mentor team, they will likely face Cincinnati St. Xavier, which is one of the top-ranked high school football programs in the country, in a state championship game.

GAVIN JACKSON/Akron Beacon Journal

Brunswick senior quarterback Sean Bedevelsky avoids a North Canton Hoover defender during the Blue Devils’ 24-17 victory over North Canton Hoover in a Division I regional final Saturday night.

High School Football Playoff Schedule

Note: These are probable playoff matchups according to www.joeeitel.com and the matchups have changed several times on Saturday, which means they might be different on the website on Sunday. Official OHSAA playoff pairings will be released Monday.

Friday’s Games
(All games 7:30 p.m., unless noted)

Division II, Region 5
Firestone (7-3) at Tallmadge (9-1)

Division II, Region 7
Lake (7-3) at Louisville (8-2)

Division III, Region 9
Field (9-1) at Walsh Jesuit (8-1)
Cortland Lakeview (8-2) at Aurora (9-1)
Ravenna (8-2) at Mentor Lake Catholic (6-3)

Divison III, Region 11
Poland Seminary (7-3) at Northwest (10-0)
New Concord John Glenn (8-2) at West Branch (8-2)
Canton South (6-4) at Dover (7-3)

Divison V, Region 17
Northwestern (9-1) at Waynedale (8-2)

Saturday’s Games
(All games 7 p.m., unless noted)

Division I, Region 2
GlenOak (6-4) at Brunswick (10-0)
Toledo St. John’s Jesuit (6-4) at North Canton Hoover (8-2)
Perrysburg (8-2) at Nordonia (9-1)
Wadsworth (9-1) at Toledo Whitmer (8-2)

Division IV, Region 13
CVCA (9-1) at Stuebenville (10-0)
Tusky Valley (8-2) at Canton Central Catholic (9-1)
Lake Co. Perry (9-1) at St. Vincent-St. Mary (8-2)

Division VI, Region 21
Columbiana (7-3) at Mogadore (9-1)

Here is some cross country analysis as leagues/conferences hold their championship meets and the state championships approach.

Louisville senior Kyle Kling and Medina junior Donny Roys have each been impressive runners this season, but there are still several teams that have a good collection of talent and other individuals that are having success.

The cross country teams at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy and Woodridge are two examples of squads that have consistently fared well at invitationals this season, in addition to Louisville, Medina, North Canton Hoover Green, Jackson, Louisville, Hudson, Crestwood, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Vincent-St. Mary and Walsh Jesuit.

CVCA and Woodridge have front-end talent and depth that make them a contender at each meet.

CVCA has been led by juniors Katie Gillespie and Kyle Sullinger. The girls and boys teams each placed first recently at the Legends Meet at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds.

Gillespie and junior Carolyn Case have paced the Royals girls squad with freshmen Joy Talbott, Irene Frangos and Hannah Lyons also being key contributors. The girls team placed first in September at the Division II Boardman Spartan Invitational.

Sullinger and sophomores Ross Crocker and Mark Talbott have paced the Royals boys squad.

The Woodridge girls’ squad was second to CVCA at Boardman. The Bulldogs have been led by juniors Emily Sabo, Erin Mercer and sophomore Becca Howdyshell.

The Woodridge boys’ team won the Division II Boardman Spartan Invitational in September behind senior Brian Himelright, who placed first. The Bulldogs have also received significant contributions from juniors Michael Rhodes and Joe White, seniors Tony Marette and Matthew Weiss and freshmen Jimmy Charles and Vibus Sivakumaran.

This Saturday several leagues will be holding their championship. The City Series and Suburban League will be running at Goodyear Metro Park in Akron.

The Firestone boys will look to defend their title after winning the past four titles and five out of the past six. The Ellet girls will look to win the title for a sixth season in a row.

Posted by Michael Beaven for the Beacon Journal

The Canton South and Minerva baseball teams each won Division II district semifinal games Thursday at GlenOak High School.

The teams advance to a 4 p.m. final at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium on Friday.

South defeated Northeastern Buckeye Conference rival Alliance 3-2. The Wildcats (20-7) earned redemption after losing to the Aviators (24-5) twice in the regular season.  South senior pitcher Justin Gill pitched a complete-game and struck out eight to earn the win. Gill now has 27 career victories, most in school history.

Joe Dubina paced the South offense with a home run and double. Dan Hoffman hit a two-run single in the sixth to score Devon Torrence and pinch-runner Jared Grigsby.

Minerva beat Louisville 2-0 behind pitcher Richie Walter’s complete-game and timely hitting.

Scott Shields hit an RBI double and Zack Bowman had an RBI single to give Minerva a 2-0 lead after one inning.

The Lions (8-21) are an example of a team that got hot at towards the end of the season after a miserable start. The Leopards are now 16-13.