See page B-2
Brooke Gallaher
P
The
Ohio State QB issue
April 23, 2018
R E S Sports S
Samantha Shirling
Sydnee Behlmer
Cards have their reasons See page B-4
Shylee Schmeltz
Foursome key in helping Lourdes become contender By Mark Griffin Press Contributing Writer sports@presspublications.com JoAnn Gordon was charged with the task of starting up a softball program at Lourdes University back in 2011. Seven years later, Gordon is still the head coach of the Gray Wolves, an NAIA program, and for the first time ever her squad has a .500 record after its first 22 games. Four local players – seniors Brooke Gallaher from Clay and Samantha Shirling from Eastwood, and freshmen Syd Behlmer from Lake and Shylee Schmeltz from Gibsonburg – have been big contributors this season. The Wolves, who compete in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, had an 11-11 record through Tuesday, including a 3-1 mark in the WHAC. “They have great attitudes,” Gordon said of this year’s team. “They work extremely hard and they are focused day in and day out. This is the best start we’ve ever had, but we’ve only played four conference games and we have 16 left in the next two weeks. We have a long way to go. I definitely think we have a shot to make the WHAC tournament.” Gallaher was twice named the Pitcher of the Year in the Three Rivers Athletic Conference during her four years at Clay. She was also a two-time second-team AllOhio pick. She wanted to go into nursing and play softball in college, so she picked Lourdes. “She’s had a solid, consistent career,” Gordon said. “This is her best season yet. She is definitely known as a power pitcher, like she was in high school, but her nem-
esis has been that she’s a little wild. That’s been helpful for her as well, because you can’t predict what she’s going to throw, so you have to be ready for anything.” Gallaher is 4-5 with a 5.03 ERA in 55.2 innings this season. She has pitched in 12 games, starting 11, and said this team is “small, but mighty” and added that her time at Lourdes has been “a really good experience.” “I definitely got pushed by my coaches,” she said. “I’ve been a pretty good student overall. I have over a 3.0 overall (GPA) and athletics have been fun. We went to nationals my sophomore year. Sometimes it’s been more of a struggle, balancing school and softball, but I have to forget about school when I’m on the diamond. I feel like I’ve been pretty consistent.” Gallaher will graduate with a nursing degree on May 12. She said she has a job lined up at Toledo Hospital, starting in August. “It was a good ride,” Gallaher said of her Lourdes career, “but I’m looking forward to seeing what opportunities come my way. I’m excited to be a nurse. I don’t think there’s anything I’d rather do.” ‘Heart and soul’ Like Gallaher, Shirling is set to graduate with her nursing degree on May 12. Gordon said that Shirling, who was named Eastwood’s most valuable player as a senior, “has been the heart and soul and workhorse of this team.” Shirling mainly pitches in relief for the Wolves. She is 2-3 with a 6.16 ERA in 30.2 innings this season and has made 13 appearances on the mound, including two starts. “Sam is probably one of hardest work-
ers I’ve ever had, as far as work ethic,” Gordon said. “She wasn’t highly recruited out of high school, but we saw value with her work ethic. She’s set a great example for our younger kids. She could throw probably 200 pitches a day and that wouldn’t even phase her.” Shirling said she will begin work as an RN at St. Charles Hospital in June. She said playing softball and studying nursing at Lourdes “has been a good experience.” “Lourdes taught me so much, and it’s cool to see that change and be a part of that,” she said. “With the softball team, things have grown over the past few years. The school in general has more athletic programs, and our program has had some (assistant) coaching changes. This team has great chemistry. We work well together and we support each other on and off the field.” Heard ‘good things’ Behlmer, a second baseman, has a 3.5 GPA and said she picked Lourdes University “because I heard nothing but good things about coach Gordon when I was in high school.” “I’m a big family person and I only live 20 minutes away,” Behlmer said. “I go home about twice a week, and this was a good fit for me.” Behlmer has started 18 games and is hitting .236 with eight runs and four RBI. She started five games at third base, and the rest have been at second base. “Syd is having a great season as a freshman,” Gordon said. “She’s getting more confident and comfortable at the plate. Stepping up from high school is an adjustment.” Behlmer said the biggest adjustment to playing in college is learning how to make
the best use of her time. “College softball is a commitment,” she said. “We have to do six hours of study table outside of softball. Softball and school take a big amount of time. It’s different thinking about that (in high school) and doing it in college. We had 6 a.m. practices for a month and a half before we went to (Florida for) spring break. We also practiced from 3-6 p.m. after those 6 a.m. practices.” Behlmer is studying early childhood education and she wants to teach kindergarten after she graduates. “That’s where my main focus is,” Behlmer said. “Since my freshman year of high school, it’s always been something I wanted to do.” ‘Shown composure’ Schmeltz, who holds Gibsonburg school records for single-season (7) and career (17) home runs, has started all 22 games during her freshman season at Lourdes. She is primarily a shortstop, where she said she is more comfortable, but she has also started at second base. She is batting .296 with 13 runs and 11 RBI. “Shylee’s done a nice job,” Gordon said. “She’s been in the nine (batting) spot all year and done a consistent job. She has shown a lot of composure for us.” Schmeltz said competing at the NAIA level has been much more challenging than it was in high school. “You have more competition,” she said. “Here, there is a lot more movement in the pitches. And, you have the pitching changes — fastball, curve, drop balls. In Florida it took me a little time to get used to
(Continued on page B-5)
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B-2
THE PRESS
APRIL 23, 2018
Freshman quarterback Tate Martell
Senior quarterback Joe Burrow
Sophomore quarterback Dwayne Haskins
Senior wide receiver Parris Campbell
So, just who will Urban Meyer choose for quarterback? In My Opinion by Harold Hamilton slight lead over Martell. Burrow played well in the spring game with most of his passes right on target and for one play he became a pass receiver as well as a passer when he alertly caught one of his own passes that bounced off a lineman’s helmet. If Burrow isn’t selected or he fears that he may not, it could lead to his transferring to another school to use his one year of eligibility and immediately play for whatever team he chooses. After Saturdays game, Burrow reportedly said to various media sources that he came to OSU to play, not sit on the bench for four years, but it would be very hard to leave because he has put so much into football at Ohio State. Tuesday after the spring game, Meyer was asked about Burrow’s potential transfer, and the coach said we will watch the situation very closely and try to give him an answer by the end of the spring semester. Several years ago when Meyer had a similar quarterback situation he basically
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stated that he would wait and see how committed the candidates remained over the summer before making a decision. You can read that as their staying in shape and out of trouble. What a tremendous club to hold over the heads of these young studs. I am not saying that any of these guys have a self-control problem, but remember, they are still young and potentially easily-influenced young men. How good will the Buckeyes be this fall? Here’s my take — First, the old nemesis of poor pass coverage is back. It may have been due to the inexperience of some of the defensive backs, but the coverage was not as good and many times the backs let the receivers get behind them which resulted in several long completions and a few touchdowns. The offensive line looks very good, maybe one of the best in years. On Mike Weber’s 65-yard TD the hole was so big that he, literally, was not touched. Wide receiver Parris Campbell, a fifthyear senior, looks fantastic. Meyer says he is an “elite” player. The Bucks should be in excellent shape with running backs Master Teague, a true freshman, Antonio Williams and Weber. You may remember Weber — he was one of the best high school running backs in the state of Michigan and he decided to go
“
For those who thought the Ohio State spring football game would result in Urban Meyer’s selection of his starting quarterback, you don’t know Coach Meyer. Several years ago he said, “If you want to be a quarterback for the Buckeyes you must be capable of being a ‘Heisman candidate.’” For fall 2018, Meyer has three candidates who probably will eventually fit that standard. All played in the spring game Saturday, but they were strictly off limits as far as hard contact as identified by their black jerseys. First is fourth year senior Joe Burrow, whose Athens High School team lost to Central Catholic in a state championship football game his senior year. Burrow was the son of an Ohio University assistant football coach. Burrow will graduate from OSU in May but has one year of eligibility remaining. Burrow spent much of his OSU career as No. 2 behind J.T. Barrett, but last year Burrow broke a bone in his throwing hand during training camp and Dwayne Haskins moved into that second spot on the depth chart. Haskins played in several games, including doing well against Michigan when Barrett was injured in the second half. Burrow, the popular choice of southern and eastern Ohio media, only played in four games in 2017. The third candidate is Tate Martell, a second-year redshirt freshman. Coach Meyer said Haskins has the arm, Martell has the legs and Burrow is a blend of the two, but Burrow has an inclination for more explosive plays. Meyer added that between Haskins and Burrow there’s no separation and they have a
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to Ohio State. Some say he was the second best thing ever to come out of Michigan. I say the first best is U.S. Rte. 23 that runs from Ann Arbor to Columbus. So who will be the quarterback this fall? Meyer has a “what have you done for me lately” approach. Remember how he choose Cardale Jones over J.T. Barrett after Jones played so well filling in for the injured Barrett to win a national championship? Then, how he went back to Barrett after a few games the next year? If he follows the same pattern, Haskins will get the job because he played so well against Michigan last year. I disagree with that logic, however. I would give the job to Joe Burrow and tell him of the decision soon. Of course, Meyer has the privilege of seeing both contenders for a month straight in spring practice and may disagree. Interestingly, the last play of the game Burrow threw a dead-on pass to Demario McCall for a TD. I hope it is not the last one he throws in The Shoe. One note — Ryan Shazier, a former Ohio State linebacker who was a first round NFL pick in 2014 and drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, was the honorary coach for the Scarlet team. Shazier was severely injured near the end of last year’s NFL season, but says he now feels a thousand times better and was walking around Ohio Stadium, albeit gingerly. Press photos by Harold Hamilton/ HEHphotos.smugmug.com. Hamilton, a Northwood resident, is a freelance photographer who was provided press credentials to the Ohio State spring football game through The Press. He can be reached at 419-509-6883 or HEHphotos@bext.net.
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THE PRESS
APRIL 23, 2018
B-3
Talk about veteran baseball players — Eastwood has them By Mark Griffin Press Contributing Writer sports@presspublications.com Eastwood’s baseball team got a dose of reality in its Northern Buckeye Conference opener Monday afternoon at Woodmore. The Eagles walked three batters and hit five hitters and the host Wildcats did the rest, handing coach Kevin Leady’s veteran squad a 6-2 defeat. Eastwood, which reached the Division III regional finals last season, often start as many as nine seniors at a time, including four four-year starters. “Woodmore deserved to win and they wanted it more,” Leady said. “You learn the most from failure and adversity. This (loss to the ‘Cats) was good for us. Their pitcher threw better, they played better and they deserved to win.” Eastwood bounced back on Wednesday, beating Fostoria, 17-2. Eastwood has now won six of seven games, including 15-6 over Ottawa Hills as senior Cade Boos had a six RBI day, and 2-1 over league foe Rossford as the Eagles took the lead in the fifth inning in the rain Wednesday. It has been a busy spring for the Eagles (9-2, 2-1 NBC), who played five games in Cocoa Beach, Fla., from April 26-29. “We wanted the kids to have the team bonding early,” Leady said. “We wanted to get them going down there. The weather here was terrible, and we got to play five games down there. It was just a real cool experience.” Eastwood beat Oak Harbor and Northwood after returning from Florida. Sophomore pitcher Justin Pickerel did not allow a hit in the Eagles’ 13-0, five-inning win against Northwood. Pickerel is on the same pitching staff with seniors Tyler Haas, Jake Pickerel and Brendan Halko. “We are a very veteran group,” Leady said. “With the experience we’ve had in some of the games throughout the years, these kids have been in a lot of big-time games.” Haas is the Eagles’ No. 1 pitcher. He improved to 2-0 in the five-inning win over Fostoria. He is also in his fourth season as the starting catcher, and he will play baseball at Bowling Green State University next
Bowling Green State University-bound Eastwood senior Tyler Haas. (Press photo by Lee Welch/FamilyPhotoGroup.com) year. “He runs the show for us behind the plate,” Leady said. “We’re very fortunate we can bounce some pitches in the dirt when we get ahead in the count, and he can keep the ball in front of him.” Jake Pickerel is 2-1 with a 3.50 ERA in 16 innings this season. He is in his fourth season as Eastwood’s starting third baseman and will play at Owens Community College next year. “He has some big-game experience for us,” Leady said. “He won the district final game as sophomore and junior. He also won the regional semifinal last year. He has thrown in as big of games as we’ve had as a program.” Halko has an 8-0 career record on the mound, and he’s also a three-year starter in right field. “He’s a guy who comes out and lets our defense play,” Leady said. “He’s not overpowering, but he’s going to throw a lot of
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strikes. He throws ahead in the count and gives us a lot when he’s on the mound.” In addition to pitching, Justin Pickerel returns with experience playing catcher, third base, second base and in the outfield a year ago. He went 5-for-5 with three RBI and three runs against Fostoria. “Justin was our true utility guy last year,” Leady said. “He has a ton of experience in the field. We’re going to need him in the future, and he’s a competitor.” Senior Tyler Schmeltz returns at first base, and three-year starter Jake Zatko is back at second base. “Tyler is having a nice year so far,” Leady said. “He has played travel ball with a lot of our kids for a long time. He was a starting middle linebacker for football and he’s a tough kid.” Senior Grant Hirzel is a four-year starter at shortstop. “When we put him in his first game his freshman year, he went to the hole and
backhanded a (ground) ball and threw the kid out,” Leady said. “We knew from that point that shortstop was his spot. He will be difficult to replace next year.” Senior designated hitter Hunter Slattman is batting .375 this season after going 3-for-4 with a double, triple and six RBIs against Fostoria. Senior Alex Ross is in his second season in left field, and senior Cade Boos is a four-year starter in center. “Alex has improved immensely since last year,” Leady said. “We put him in the nine-hole and he swung the bat really well down in Florida. I look at him like a second leadoff guy. When he gets on, we can score quickly.” Boos had 33 steals last season and is the school’s all-time leader in stolen bases (84 heading into the Ottawa Hills game). He will also play at Owens next season. “From the beginning, it was evident we had to get Cade in the lineup and on the field for us,” Leady said.
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B-4
THE PRESS
APRIL 23, 2018
Coach, seniors have reasons to see Stritch succeed By Mark Griffin Press Contributing Writer sports@presspublications.com Cardinal Stritch softball seniors Erika Berg, Jen Crosley and Lexi Hood have one thing in common. They’ve all played in a program that is currently on its fourth head varsity coach in four years. New coach Tony Esposito, however, said he doesn’t plan on going anywhere after just one season. He is, after all, sort of a Stritch lifer. His wife and their four kids all attended Cardinal Stritch, and one of his daughters, Rachel, is his assistant coach. Esposito has been charged with turning around a program that once used to be a dominant force in the Toledo Area Athletic Conference. Esposito coached the Cardinals’ junior varsity team for six years, and he coached the jayvee baseball squad for two years. As of Wednesday, the Cardinals were 0-5 and 0-1 in the TAAC, with five games rescheduled due to poor weather. “Our team is extremely young,” Esposito said. “We have five upperclassmen out of a 15-person team. It’s tough to get freshmen and sophomores acclimated to the varsity style and to what we’re learning to do. It’s a learning curve and we’re doing the best we can. We’ve had very limited time outside, but we’ll continue to work and do the best we can.” Stritch returns four letter winners in Berg, Crosley, Hood and junior Cora Radtke. Esposito said the team has shown signs of working together. “I’ve coached 30 years at all different levels, and it’s nice to see how they’ve come together as a team,” Esposito said. “They realized the team is their identity and not themselves. When you get that working, that’s when positive things happen. They’ve been sacrificing for each other in addition to being the best of themselves to help the team out. They’re picking up on that quicker than I anticipated.” Stritch’s top pitchers are Berg, who also plays center field, and sophomore Abby Martin, who can play several other positions. “Abby goes anywhere we need her,” Esposito said. “Finding a position for her
Cardinal Stritch senior catcher Jen Crosley stares down a runner looking to potentially steal a base. (Press photo by Doug Karns/www.CardinalStritch.org) to play is not a difficult task. When she’s not pitching, she goes to shortstop. She’s developing. She is throwing strikes and making them hit the ball and put it in play. She hasn’t walked too many this year. She’s letting the defense do what it needs to.” Berg is a co-captain along with Hood. Esposito said he saw potential in Berg when he coached her during her freshman year. “She’s lived up to the potential and she’s definitely a leader,” Esposito said.
“Her job on the mound is to throw strikes, and she does. I rely on Abby on the mound, mostly, but Erika is a fill-in pitcher. She knows her role and she adapts to anything I ask her to do to the best of her ability.” Crosley is the starting catcher, while Radtke returns at first base. “Jen has spunk and attitude,” Esposito said. “She will give you everything she has in her tank. She is physically active on defense and tells people where they need to be and what they’re supposed to do. She
leads by example and she’s very talented. She has a presence when she walks on the field. “Cora wants to learn the game and wants to improve her fielding and batting. She always wants to know more. I like people who want to know more about their position, and she works hard to get better at it, in practices and games.” Sophomore Hannah Crosely starts at second base and is learning how to bat left-handed this season because of what Esposito called “a nagging injury.” “She’s coming along with that,” Esposito said. “She has nagging injury that swinging right-handed causes. She’s trying very hard and getting the hang of it. She wants to learn and it’s taking her a while to get into the rhythm of what we want from her at second base, but she’s coming along.” Hood starts at third base and also played for Esposito when she was a freshman. The coach praised Hood’s leadership qualities. “She’s like a mama bear looking after her cubs, making sure they’re all in line,” Esposito said. “She does everything she can to help, and she understands the team concept.” Sophomore Lydia Rodriguez plays shortstop, while freshman Jocelyn Ahumada and junior Emily Naugle can both play in right field or in center. Berg also sees time in center field, and freshman Alli St. Claire can play first baseman and in the outfield. The rest of the roster includes senior first-year player Shelby Ferrell, sophomores Amber Daly, Ashley Dunnigan and Brianna Jagodzinski, and freshman Melanie Kralovic. Daly, a transfer from Clay, has to sit out the first 13 games because of the transfer rule. “She’s highly aggressive and talented,” said Esposito, who added that the team sat down as a group before the season to map out its goals. “We want to get 10 wins on the season,” Esposito said. “We want to get the program back on track. Softball has had the most TAAC champions (at Stritch). We want to get the popularity back and support from the school and be a name to be reckoned with in the conference.”
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THE PRESS
APRIL 23, 2018
B-5
Bears want to leave league with memories
Lourdes softball
By Mark Griffin Press Contributing Writer sports@presspublications.com
it, but now I think I’m in rhythm. I just had to get in a rhythm.” Schmeltz is majoring in middle childhood education and said her goal is to teach fifth-grade math and science. She said her freshman season with the Gray Wolves has been fulfilling. “The team bond we have here is unbreakable,” Schmeltz said. “Everyone gets along. I’m happy I came here.” (Photos of four players courtesy Lourdes University Athletics)
Gibsonburg’s baseball team wants to make its mark in its last season as a member of the Toledo Area Athletic Conference. The Golden Bears, who have one senior, finished 9-5 in the TAAC last season, but Gibsonburg’s athletic programs will compete in the Sandusky Bay Conference beginning next fall. Coach Kyle Rase’s team returns four starters and six lettermen, but the Bears must replace three three-year starters due to graduation. “I just want to be improving every day and be competitive in all of our league games,” Rase said. “We have 75 percent of our pitching innings back from last year. If we get pitching, timely hitting and play defense, we can be in some games.” Through Tuesday, the Bears were 4-1 and 2-0 in the TAAC, with conference wins over Danbury and Emmanuel Christian. Gibsonburg’s top pitcher, junior Fred Sisco, threw a five-inning no-hitter in the Bears’ 11-0 win over Emmanuel Baptist. Sisco was a second-team All-TAAC selection last season. “Fred has experience,” Rase said. “He’s been pitching since his freshman year. He plays in the summer and he has good control and confidence. He has a good demeanor on the mound.” Gibsonburg’s other two top pitchers are senior Moses Sanson and sophomore left-hander Luke Roberts. Sanson was an honorable mention All-TAAC pick as a junior. “This is his third year being full-time on varsity, and he’s pitched a lot of games,” Rase said. “He’s a good senior leader.” Roberts pitched all five innings in the Bears’ 11-0 win over Danbury on Tuesday. “He’s tall and lanky,” Rase said. “I think he’s got a lot of potential as he gets older and stronger. He had good control (Tuesday) night.” Two sophomores, Gabe Mendoza and Brenton Kolkemeyer, will rotate at catcher. Rase said Kolkemeyer will also play third base and in the outfield. “They’re both growing each day, and
(continued from page B-1)
$47,000 point fund
Gibsonburg junior Tyler Pelish getting a hit. (Photo by Jeff Holcomb) that’s all we can ask for,” Rase said. “They are improving every day, so we’re happy with that.” Junior Luke Morgan, who lettered last season, starts at third base and sophomore Nate Reyes starts at second. Sanson and Kolkemeyer will take turns at third base. Sanson bats cleanup and is second on the team in RBIs behind Cisco, who plays center field when he’s not pitching. Sophomore shortstop Austin Biddle, who started half of last season, bats leadoff and can also pitch in relief. “Austin is very athletic,” Rase said. “He’s a good leader and a smart player. He’s a baseball player. He plays a lot and he understands the game.”
Cisco and Sanson are Gibsonburg’s top two returning hitters from last season. Roberts will play in right and left field, while junior Tyler Pelish will also see action in right field. Rase said he likes what he’s seen of his young group this season. The Bears have seven sophomores and six juniors. “We got behind against Margaretta, down five runs, and came back and tied it up,” the coach said. “We’re not going to quit. We stay in the game, and that’s one thing I like. That’s a good trait to have, that we won’t give up. There are going to be some growing pains as we go, but if we stay positive, we have some good kids. Its been a nice group.”
Despite the cancellation of the first four events, Attica Raceway Park promoter John Bores is committed to rewarding loyal race teams with a great point fund and strong weekly payout. To celebrate the track’s 30th anniversary season, the total point fund for the three divisions will remain at $47,000. The teams in the Callies Performance Products 410 Sprints will battle for a total point fund for the top 10 of $22,000 with the champion taking home $8,000. The Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Model champion will pocket $5,000 with a total of $15,000 going to the top 10 in points. The champion of the Fremont Fence 305 Sprints will once again collect $3,000 with a total of $10,000 being divided up among the top 10 in points. Also the top 10 in points in all three divisions will receive gift cards from Summit Racing Equipment and product/gift certificates from Ultra Shield Race Products. The “mulligan” rule will once again be in effect in 2018. If a driver misses one night of competition he/she will receive 75 points one time only providing they did not compete at another race on that night. “We wanted to let our teams know how much we appreciate them. Just because the weather hasn’t cooperated early on doesn’t mean we won’t reward them with a great point fund for 2018,” said Bores.
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B-6
THE PRESS
APRIL 23, 2018
Gibsonburg’s Brubaker bests stout field in Attica opener By Brian Liskai Special to The Press Liskai2x@roadrunner.com Stuart Brubaker showed a stout field of 410 c.i. sprint cars even teams with very little funding can win. The Gibsonburg driver took the lead on lap 11 of the 30-lap feature and powered to the victory on opening night at Attica Raceway Park Friday on Whiteford Kenworth, Construction Equipment & Supply, Merrill Lynch Night. Brubaker, a former 305 c.i. sprint track champion at Attica and the track’s 410 rookie of the year in 2012, got close to a win a few weeks ago at Atomic Speedway in Chillicothe, Ohio before settling for second. Friday at Attica he used a restart on lap 11, executing a perfect slider to take the lead and then picked his way through lapped traffic late for his sixth career Callie’s Performance Products 410 Sprints Division win at “Ohio’s Finest Racing” venue. “I knew I had to get him on that restart. It was kind of follow the leader down in three and four. I found some stuff in the middle and I felt him tap me so I knew it was kind of close but I had to do what I had to do. I have to thank the guys that worked all winter...Ron, Josh, Gressman Powersports, Dave Story Equipment, KS Sales and Service, Pit Stop, Finish Line Fuels....if it wasn’t for those guys we couldn’t be here,” Brubaker said. “I slowed up a little when we got to lapped cars and I didn’t hear anyone. I had a couple of opportunities in traffic I had to take but I didn’t want to push the issue too much and tear up a new car,” he added. McClure, Ohio’s Rusty Schlenk has committed to running for rookie of the year honors with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series but when their race in Illinois rained out Friday afternoon, the crew hurried to Attica to compete with the Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Models and it paid off. In a thrilling battle throughout the 25 lap affair, Schlenk took the lead on lap 13 and held off Eric Spangler and Ryan Markham for his 24th career win at Attica, leading all drivers in the division.
Gibsonburg driver Stuart Brubaker. (Photo by Mark J. Snider/Action Photos)
Attica Raceway Park fans line up at the gate to see action on opening day at the track. (Photo by Mark J. Snider/Action Photos/www.fremontohspeedway.com/photos)
“We definitely found out how fast the rig would go today. They cancelled at two o’clock and we left at 2:15 and we got here right around eight. I was nervous we weren’t going to make the heat but we made it in time,” said Schlenk, a two time and defending national UMP champion. “This CJ Rayburn car is awesome and I have to thank Buckeye Concrete Coatings, Tyler Bork for sticking behind me and giving me a great race car. Schlenk, who picked up an open win a few weeks ago in Mississippi, nearly gave
the race away a few times, jumping the cushion in turns three and four. “There was a huge hole getting into three and I couldn’t figure out how to get around it the first few laps of the race. When you’re running three wide for the lead you’re kind of stuck where you’re at. I got pushed up high there and that’s where I was stuck. I about lost it in front of the field. I got hit trying to avoid a spinning car and I think we have a bent right front spindle because the car didn’t handle well after that. For everything that happened....it was
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a heck of a day...I’ll take it,” he added. When Cody Bova struggled with a lapped car at the half way point of the 25 lap Fremont Fence 305 Sprint feature, veteran Bobby Clark aboard his Fremont Fence, Kear’s Speed Shop, B&L Plumbing, Shelluke’s Bar, Nagy’s Equipment, Miller Rigging, Big D’s Pizza, Schiets Motorsports, Willey’s Towing backed machine was there to pounce. Clark celebrated his 54th birthday, claiming his 22nd career 305 sprint victory at Attica, placing him third on the track’s all-time division win list.
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THE PRESS
APRIL 23, 2018
B-7
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The organizers of the
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~Despite the stormy weather~ Our sincere gratitude to all of you for another successful tournament! Hope to see everyone again next year!
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B-8
THE PRESS
APRIL 23, 2018
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