Tallmadge coach Joe Vassalotti said Blue Devils senior running back Tyrin Williams will continue his academic and football careers at Baldwin-Wallace.

• Farmington (Mich.) running back Bryan Green has committed to the University of Akron, according to Scout.com.

• Hudson senior offensive lineman Quaison Osborne has reportedly made a verbal commitment to play at Akron, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

Osborne, who is 6 feet 4 and 308 pounds, also had offers from Ball State, Youngstown State and Lake Erie College.

• Hudson junior linebacker Ben Gedeon has reportedly added offers from Duke and Virginia, according to 247sports.com.

Gedeon, all-Beacon Journal selection this past season, also reportedly has offers from Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee, Boston College Michigan State, Purdue and Stanford, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

• Northwest senior quarterback Nick Riley recently added offers from Mount Union and Baldwin-Wallace, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

Riley, who is 6 feet 5 and 211 pounds, also has an offer from Marietta.

• Tallmadge senior tackle Jon Cipa has made a verbal commitment to play football at Ashland, according to Tallmadge coach Joe Vassalotti.

Cipa, who is 6 feet 5 and 290 pounds, also reportedly had offers from Akron, Lake Erie College, Tiffin, Robert Morris, Gannon, Findlay and Notre Dame College of Ohio, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

“He had offers from Akron, Robert Morris, and several other D-II schools but received virtually a full ride from Ashland and decided it was the best academic fit and the best chance for playing time right away,” Vassalotti said.

Tallmadge senior tackle Jon Cipa has made a verbal commitment to play football at Ashland University, according to Tallmadge coach Joe Vassalotti.

Cipa, who is 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds, also reportedly had offers from the University of Akron, Lake Erie College, Tiffin, Robert Morris, Gannon, Findlay and Notre Dame College of Ohio, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

“He had offers from Akron, Robert Morris, and several other D-II schools but received virtually a full ride from Ashland and decided it was the best academic fit and the best chance for playing time right away,” Vassalotti said.

Tallmadge senior offensive lineman Jon Cipa has reportedly been offered by Robert Morris, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

Cipa has also had offers from Akron, Notre Dame College of Ohio, Lake Erie, Ashland and Tiffin.

Tallmadge football coach Joe Vassalotti will look on the 2011 season as one that saw his team overcome an 0-2 start and win a league championship outright before making it to Week 12.

Tallmadge (9-3) lost to Aurora 34-14 in the Division II regional semifinals Nov. 11 at Solon. But, Vassalotti said Tallmadge gave a strong effort. Aurora defeated Walsh Jesuit 21-4 in the regional final to advance to the state semifinals.

“We graduate 22 seniors and are certainly proud of their leadership and perseverance this season,” Vassalotti said. “Aurora is a fast and physical team; they controlled the line of scrimmage better and deserved to win. Nonetheless, advancing to Week 12, winning our league outright and overcoming an 0-2 start are all worthy accomplishments for our 2011 team.”

Tucker Linder, a right handed pitcher and corner infielder, will sign to attend Kent State University and play baseball for Head Coach Scott Stricklin and the Golden Flashes.  Linder had offers from Arizona, Kentucky,Georgia Tech, Ohio State and Ohio.  Following a 7-1 junior campaign on the mound for the Division II District Champion Blue Devils that included a 0.95 ERA and 70 strikeouts, Linder was named 2nd Team All-Ohio.
In his career the right hander boasts a 17-5 record, 159 strikeouts, two no hitters and a 1.79 ERA while opponents are batting just .189 against the 6-foot-5,  215 lb. starting pitcher.

Game: Garfield Rams (0-2) at the Tallmadge Blue Devils (0-2)
Time:  7 p.m.
What to look for:  You can expect two desperate teams scrounging to get back into the race for the playoffs.
So far this season:  The Garfield Rams are still gelling as a team, but they need to get to it quick.  You have to wonder if coach Bob Sax’s team will be able to given that his team’s defensive unit has given up better than 40 points in their first two games.
Fate has victimized coach Joe Vassalotti’s Blue Devils in two close losses.  You can overcome one of those, but what about two?  Which is most devastating?  My guess is we’ll find out tonight.  Last week they lost to Ellet on a last-second reception at the end of the game.  Beat Garfield and they right the ship.  Fall and there’s something deeper going on with the Blue Devils.

Tallmadge High School senior right-handed pitcher Tucker Linder is staying close to home.

Linder orally committed Tuesday to continue his baseball and academic careers at Kent State University. His decision is not shocking considering the respect and admiration he has for KSU head coach Scott Stricklin and associate head coach-pitching coach Mike Birkbeck.

“I decided on Kent State at about noon,” Linder said. “It was between them, Arizona and Auburn. It was coming down to the fall and I wanted to make a decision.

“I always wanted to go to Kent State, but I wanted to see what else was out there. [Tuesday] morning I woke up and just felt that I wanted to make it official. It is the right place and right fit for me to work with coach Birkbeck.

Ultimately, I want to get drafted in the first three rounds [in the Major League Baseball Draft]. Coach Birkbeck does a great job working with right-handed pitchers.”

Linder, 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, has a 17-5 pitching record in three varsity seasons. Last season, he went 7-1 with a 0.95 ERA in 11 appearances (nine starts). He worked 51 2/3 innings, tossed five complete games, struck out 70 and walked 21.

“Kent State is where he wants to be at,” Tallmadge coach Kenny Linn said. “The biggest thing with Tuck is that Birkbeck is the top pitching coach in the country.

“Everywhere he went, he would compare these other pitching coaches to Birkbeck.”

Linder, 17, said KSU recruited him to pitch and hit. He batted .378 as a junior with 26 hits in 74 at bats, 24 runs scored, two home runs and 14 RBI.

Linder also had scholarship offers from Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Ohio State and Ohio. Closeness to his parents Karen and Tom, and 19-year-old brother Thomas also played into his decision.

“Tuck is a very special kid, and a very skilled kid,” Linn said. “His work ethic has improved a lot. He understands the importance of the weight room, the running and taking care of his body.”

The Tallmadge Blue Devils are on alert as one of their primary offensive weapons, senior running back, Tyrin Williams will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery by the end of the week

Williams didn’t participate in any of team’s camp this week and is expected to undergo surgery before the end of the week.

Coach Joe Vassalotti said he’s expected to miss three weeks if the doctors find nothing else wrong.

The Tallmadge Blue Devils only needed the home half of the first inning to score enough runs to put the Marlington Dukes away in the Division II District Baseball Tournament at Munson Stadium Thursday afternoon.

The Blue Devils beat the Dukes 9-3 behind the pitching of junior Tucker Linder and 10 hits from its lineup.

‘’Tucks, he’s tough. We felt good with him having the ball,’’ head coach Kenny Linn said. ‘’He was even better when we got up right away.’’

Indeed, Lindner was able to pitch with a comfortable lead for the entire game. His team opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when senior outfilelder Andrew Bonnette singled to right center.   Marlington’s pitcher walked the next batter and gave up a hit to senior first baseman Derek Frye.  That’s when junior Matt Shomo stepped up and delivered a two-run single.

 In all Tallmadge scored four runs to open the game.  They added another four in the bottom of the second with Lindner slapping a single to knock in two more runs.

‘’We felt he’s be better if we got up right away,’’ Linn said. ‘’It took pressure off everybody.  We’d been playing that way all season.’’

 The 6-foot-5, 220 lb.Linder pitched a complete game to earn the win and helped his cause by going 1-for-3 with three runs batted in and a sacrifice fly.

‘’That’s something that means a lot to him,’’ Linn said, ‘’he works really hard on his offense too.’’

Tallmadge also received help from the Dukes who committed two errors that led to four runs for the Blue Devils, who will face Canton South Friday at 5 p.m. to advance to the regionals.