Rec Sports

Maroons win eight events at Dillon track meet

Published

2 weeks ago

May 4, 2025

DILLON – The Butte Central boys won eight events and placed second in the team standings Friday at the Dillon Invitational high school track meet held at Vigilante Field.
The host Dillon program won both team championships with the Beaver boys scoring 138.40 points and the girls totaling 284.
With two wins each by Danny McCarthy and Keefer McGree and wins also by the relay teams, Will McGree and Justus McGee, the Butte Central boys stacked 127.20 points for second place in the team standings. Whitehall was third in the nine-school meet with 78.33.
The McGrees are first cousins.
The girls’ team competition saw Leadore, Idaho, scored 47 points to finish as distant runnersup to Dillon. Whitehall was third with 41 and Butte Central was next with 34.
McCarthy won the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes in 11.4 and 24.0 seconds, respectively. Keefer McGree came in first in both hurdles events, clocking 16.0 seconds in the 110-meter highs and 42.5 in the 300-meter intermediates. Will McGree sprang a 35-foot, 9-inch landing to take the triple jump and Justus McGee marked 19-7 ¼ for first place in the long jump. The 400-meter relay team won in 45.3 seconds and was made up of Keefer McGree, Patrick Stimatz, Palmer Kellicut and McGee. The 1,600-meter quartet of Will McGree, Grady Button, Burkley Lakkala and Teghan Sparks clocked 3:55.2 in its win.
Stimatz was a close second to McCarthy in the 100, Ayden Abraham placed sixth in the 200, Kellicut placed second to McGree in the intermediate hurdles and third in the highs. Michael Peck threw to fourth-place finishes in both the shot put and the discus. Will McGree was fourth in the javelin and McGee placed third in the high jump.
Eighth-grader Evyn Tippett placed in the sprints for the Butte Central girls, taking second in the 200 and third in the 100. Morgan Hardy placed sixth in the 800-meter run. Two Maroons placed in the girls’ 1,600-meter run as Lexa Thompson came in fourth and Nicolina Galindo fifth. Galindo was also fifth in the 800. Their 400-meter relay squad placed fifth. Caden Tippett was the runnerup in the girls’ shot put and Molly Peck was sixth for Butte Central in the discus.
Place-winners follow:
Boys
Team scores – Dillon 138.40, Butte Central 127.20, Whitehall 78.33, Twin Bridges 41.20, Townsend 33, West Yellowstone 24.20, Leadore, Idaho 16.33, Manhattan 15, Sheridan 11.33, Lima 11.
100 – 1, Danny McCarthy, Butte Central, 11.4. 2, Patrick Stimatz, Butte Central, 11.6. 3, Brooks Ressler, Whitehall, 11.9. 4, Canin Christiansen, Dillon, 12.0. 5, Jrney Mataafa, Dillon, 12.1. 6, Iverson Wiggins, Dillon, 12.2.
200 – 1, Danny McCarthy, Butte Central, 24.0. 2, Levi Maunu, Dillon, 24.9. 3, Noah Flores, West Yellowstone, 25.4. 4, Tripp Lefdahl, Dillon, 25.5. 5, Mason Reynolds, Manhattan, 25.6. 6, Ayden Abraham, Butte Central, 25.9.
400 – 1, Kalen Martinell, Lima, 58.1. 2, Abrams Clark, West Yellowstone, 58.9. 3, Gavin Greene, Townsend, 1:01.8. 4, Morgan Andren, Whitehall, 1:03.4. 5, Briggs Munns, Sheridan, 1:04.1. 6, Keaton Cavasos, Townsend, 1:04.6.
800 – 1, Mateus Brown, Leadore, 2:15.3. 2, Gabriel Huber, Dillon, 2:19.5. 3, Alex McElderry, Whitehall, 2:25.1. 4, Gavin Greene, Townsend, 2:27.8. 5, Avery Charlton, West Yellowstone, 2:31.6. 6, Hunter Grimm, Twin Bridges, 2:37.5.
1,600 – 1, Gabriel Huber, Dillon, 5:06.2. 2, Gavin Greene, Townsend, 5:20.4. 3, Avery Charlton, West Yellowstone, 5:27.6. 4, Alex McElderry, Whitehall, 5:31.6. 5, Porter Hopman, Dillon, 5:32.1. 6, Remi Jorgensen, Twin Bridges, 5:35.5.
3,200 – 1, Porter Hopman, Dillon, 12:27.5.
110 hurdles – 1, Keefer McGree, Butte Central, 16.0. 2, Cody Hopper, Dillon, 16.6. 3, Palmer Kellicut, Butte Central, 16.8. 4, RJ Aragon, Whitehall, 16.9. 5, Ty Wellman, Twin Bridges, 18.4. 6, Simon Powner, Manhattan, 21.0.
300 hurdles – 1, Keefer McGree, Butte Central, 42.5. 2, Palmer Kellicut, Butte Central, 45.8. 3, Flint Janzen, Twin Bridges, 47.7. 4, Ty Wellman, Twin Bridges, 48.7. 5, Mateus Brown, Leadore, 50.4.
400 relay – 1, Butte Central (Keefer McGree, Patrick Stimatz, Palmer Kellicut, Justus McGee), 45.3. 2, Dillon 46.5. 3, Butte Central “B” 47.9. 4, Dillon “B” 48.5. 5, Twin Bridges 49.5. 6, Townsend 52.3.
1,600 relay – 1 Butte Central (Will McGree, Grady Button, Burkley Lakkala, Teghan Sparks) 3:55.2. 2, Twin Bridges 4:01.4. 3, Dillon 4:04.2.
Shot put – 1, RJ Aragon, Whitehall, 39-8. 2, Trace Giomi, Townsend, 39-4. 3, Landen Miotke, Whitehall, 39-1. 4, Michael Peck, Butte Central,, 38-3. 5, Jared Ramsey, Leadore, 37-7. 6, Ethan Babcock, Twin Bridges, 37-5.
Discus – 1, Landen Miotke, Whitehall, 128-6. 2, Canin Christiansen, Dillon, 117-11. 3, Trace Giomi, Townsend, 113-9. 4, Michael Peck, Butte Central, 107-4. 5, Braxton Marxer, Leadore, 107-0. 6, Kalen Martinell, Lima, 106-10.
Javelin – 1, Flint Janzen, Twin Bridges, 137-0. 2, Kyler Theis, Sheridan, 135-6. 3, Cooper Abbey, Dillon, 134-0. 4, Will McGree, Butte Central, 130-2. 5, Brooks Ressler, Whitehall, 119-4. 6, Charles Larsen, Sheridan, 117-2.
High jump – 1, Cody Hopper, Dillon, 5-10. 2, Tucker Huckaba, Whitehall, 5-8. 3, Justus McGee, Butte Central, 5-6. 4, Joseph Dzenga, Dillon, 5-4. 5, Abrams Clark, West Yellowstone, 5-4. 6 (tie), Kyler Theis, Sheridan; Wyatt Foster, Leadore; and Lain Radliffe, Whitehall, 5-2.
Pole vault – 1, Cody Hopper, Dillon, 11-6. 2, Mason Reynolds, Manhattan, 11-0. 3, Canin Christiansen, Dillon, 10-0. 4, Kiowa Haynes, Manhattan, 10-0. 5, Levi Maunu, Dillon, 9-6. 6, Lain Radcliffe, Whitehall, 9-0.
Long jump – 1, Justus McGee, Butte Central, 19-7 ¼. 2, Canin Christiansen, Dillon, 19-5 ½. 3, Tucker Huckaba, Whitehall, 19-4. 4, Levi Maunu, Dillon, 18-7. 5, Cody Hopper, Dillon, 18-5 ¾. 6, Brooks Ressler, Whitehall, 17-8. Also, 7, Keefer McGree, Butte Central, 17-5. 8, Will McGree, Butte Central, 16-9.
Triple jump – 1, Will McGree, Butte Central, 35-9. 2, Jax Schuller, Whitehall, 35-6 ½. 3, Jay Mullaney, Twin Bridges, 35-4 ½. 4, Tripp Lefdahl, Dillon, 35-3 ¼. 5, Reece Hofer, Whitehall, 32-7 ¼.
Girls
Team scores – Dillon 284, Leadore, Idaho 47, Whitehall 42, Butte Central 34, Twin Bridges 29, Lima 14, West Yellowstone 14, Sheridan 10, Manhattan 8, Townsend 2.
100 – 1, Tatum Nagle, Dillon, 13.5. 2, Juliet Baker, Dillon, 13.9. 3, Evyn Tippett, Butte Central, 14.2. 4, Emma Bray, Whitehall, 14.3. 5, Tycie Davis, Sheridan, 14.4. 6, Kembri Schmidt, Manhattan, 14.5. Also, 7, Isla Bengston, Butte Central, 14.9.
200 – 1, Fayth Clarno, Dillon, 27.6. 2, Evyn Tippett, Butte Central, 30.2. 3, Tess Tash, Dillon, 30.8. 4, Jentry Dorvall, Whitehall, 31.6. 5, Alethia Martin, Whitehall, 31.7. 6, Sophia Boyd, Manhattan, 33.0.
400 – 1, Faye Holland, Dillon, 1:03.6. 2, Ava Graham, Dillon, 1:05.5. 3, Jentry Dorvall, Whitehall, 1:12.5. 4, Ashlynn Gray, Whitehall, 1:16.4. 5, Sierra Sherrard, Townsend, 1:22.2.e
800 – 1 Faye Holland, Dillon, 2:36.0. 2, Natalie Salinas, West Yellowstone, 2:58.0. 3, Kiersten Bernard, Lima, 3:17.8. 4, Gwen Kruse, Manhattan, 3:25.0. 5, Nicolina Galindo, Butte Central, 3:32.0. 6, Morgan Hardy, Butte Central, 3:56.2.
1,600 – 1, Azelynn Jones, Leadore, 5:41.3. 2, Ashlynn Gray, Whitehall, 6:15.8. 3, Natalie Salinas, West Yellowstone, 7:05.1. 4, Lexa Thompson, Butte Central, 7:06.2. 5, Nicolina Galindo, Butte Central, 7:50.6.
3,200 – 1, Azelynn Jones, Leadore, 12:34.0. 2, Elisa Roden, Lima, 18:10.6.
100 hurdles – 1, Riley McCoy, Dillon, 16.2. 2, Fayth Clarno, Dillon, 16.4. 3 (tie) Reine McCoy, Dillon, and Ava Graham, Dillon, 16.5. 5, Yeraldin Walton, Twin Bridges, 17.1. 6, Carli Wood, Twin Bridges, 18.8.
300 hurdles – 1, Reine McCoy, Dillon, 49.3. 2, Carli Wood, Twin Bridges, 51.9. 3, Yeraldin Walter, Twin Bridges, 52.0. 4, Valerie Smith, Dillon, 53.7. 5, Azelynn Jones, Leadore, 54.1. 6, Chapin Graham, Manhattan, 1:00.4.
400 relay – 1, Dillon (Fayth Clarno, Riley McCoy, Tatum Nagle, Reine McCoy) 51.0. 2, Dillon “B” 55.7. 3, Whitehall 56.2. 4, Twin Bridges 57.3. 5, Butte Central 59.4. 6, Manhattan 59.5.
1,600 relay – 1, Dillon (Juliet Baker, Ava Graham, Valerie Smith, Kenleigh Graham) 4:36.6. 2, Twin Bridges 4:46.9.
Shot put – 1, Olivia Maunu, Dillon, 31-8. 2, Caden Tippett, Butte Central, 31-3. 3, Shior Mataafa, Dillon, 30-8. 4, Lexi Bird, Leadore, 29-9. 5, Kenleigh Graham, Dillon, 29-2. 6, Haylee Bird, Leadore, 27-9.
Discus – 1, Haylee Bird, Leadore, 102-7 ½. 2, Kenleigh Graham, Dillon, 97-7. 3, Lexi Bird, Leadore, 91-8. 4, Clara Nittinger, Dillon, 90-3. 5, Shior Mataafa, Dillon, 77-1 ½. 6, Molly Peck, Butte Central, 75-7 ½.
Javelin – 1, Olivia Maunu, Dillon, 101-7 ½. 2, Tycie Davis, Sheridan, 98-1. 3, Juliet Baker, Dillon, 94-4 ½. 4, Brynna Gibson, Dillon, 91-8. 5, Lexi Bird, Leadore, 86-2. 6, Tess Tash, Dillon, 83-1.
High jump – 1, Amber Santos, Dillon, 4-6. 2, Violet Rhodes, Dillon, 4-4.
Pole vault – 1, Riley McCoy, Dillon, 10-7. 2, Amber Santos, Dillon, 9-6. 3, Kira Kemph, Dillon, 9-0. 4, Reine McCoy, Dillon, 7-6. 5, Juliet Baker, Dillon, 7-6. 6, Violet Rhodes, Dillon, 7-0. Also, 7, Brynna Gibson, Dillon, 6-6.
Long jump – 1, Reine McCoy, Dillon, 15-8 ½. 2, Tess Tash, Dillon, 15-2. 3, Amber Santos, Dillon, 14-11 ½. 4, Emma Bray, Whitehall, 14-9. 5, Ava Graham, Dillon, 14-7. 6, Kembri Schmidt, Dillon, 14-1. Also, 7, Meika Boyer, Butte Central, 14-0.
Triple jump – 1, Tess Tash, Dillon, 31-10. 2, Kira Kemph, Dillon, 31-1 ½. 3, Scarlett Garrison, Dillon, 30-10 ½. 4, Alethia Martin, Whitehall, 29-9. 5, Azelynn Jones, Leadore, 29-3.

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‘PLAAAY BAAALL’ – Weston hits it out of the park with revival of community’s youth ball program – BG Independent News

By JAN McLAUGHLIN BG Independent News The ballplayers, dressed in their crisp clean uniforms, were bundles of energy. This was opening day at the Weston ballpark – and their town was celebrating the beginning of a summer spent watching their kids play ball. The revival of the Weston youth baseball, softball and T-ball has been […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

By JAN McLAUGHLIN

BG Independent News

The ballplayers, dressed in their crisp clean uniforms, were bundles of energy. This was opening day at the Weston ballpark – and their town was celebrating the beginning of a summer spent watching their kids play ball.

The revival of the Weston youth baseball, softball and T-ball has been led by a group of parents and grandparents committed to resurrecting the program that over the years had lost its spirit.

And on Saturday afternoon, the group hit a home run on opening day.

**T-ball batter prepares to take a swing at home plate.**

The festivities began with a parade of the ball teams, starting at the library downtown and traveling through neighborhoods to the ballpark. The young ballplayers cheered and chanted, as townspeople stood on their porches and front yards to celebrate the teams and the beginning of a new season.

A siren from the Wood County Sheriff’s vehicle leading the route announced the arrival of the antsy young players, and a Weston fire truck followed at the rear of the parade.

**Muddy and Madonna from the MudHens greet children at the ballpark.**

When the teams arrived at the ballpark, they were greeted by more townspeople ready to watch them do the ceremonial run around the bases, get team photos taken, and devour their first ballpark food of the season.

Jeanettie Zamarripa was one of the Weston residents determined to bring back the summer ball season. She coached her granddaughter’s team last year, and this year found herself as president of the Weston Sports Initiative Association.

“The program just needed to be picked up by people who cared about it,” Zamarripa said. The non-profit organization, run by passionate board members and volunteers, has seven teams this year. They compete against other community teams in the Otsego School District – Grand Rapids, Haskins and Tontogany.

The Village of Weston stepped up on the upkeep of the ballpark, Zamarripa said.

And after opening day Saturday, Zamarripa and others plan to spend much of their summer at the park – cheering from bleachers, coaching in the fields, monitoring kids in the dugouts.

**People line up at ballpark concession stand.**

Saturday saw a steady line of fans and families at the concession stand, behind home plate. The big sellers on the first day of the season were typical ballpark foods – hotdogs, popcorn and pretzels.

Jessica Susor, a concession stand volunteer, said the familiar smells draw in customers.

“Everybody is always waiting for the hot buttered popcorn,” Susor said.

Along the third base line, the Kosicki T-ball team in their bright yellow uniforms, gathered around a picnic table. The players, just 4 to 6 years old, weren’t talking game strategy – they were wandering off to get snow cones, chasing each other, shrieking in delight at visits by the costumed Muddy and Madonna Mudhen and from Freddy and Frieda Falcon.

**Kosicki T-ball team waits for their game.**

Their coaches took it all in stride. One parent described coaching a T-ball team like herding cats, but with a smile, coach Ashley Kosicki said it was more like “feral squirrels.”

Kosicki and parent Cheyenne Cheatwood talked about the importance of a summer ball program – even for kids too young to pick up many skills.

“It’s important to keep it alive for the small community,” Cheatwood said. “The kids get really excited.”

With a heavy dose of patience, Kosicki talked about the youngest players developing skills not necessary in the batter’s box or in the outfield.

“The mental health aspect is the most important thing for this age,” she said.

Before the games began, each team took a ceremonial run around the bases. James and Christina Fox sat on the bleachers and watched as their two sons, Colton and Wyatt, joined in the opening day tradition.

James Fox pointed out the more experienced players who faked falls as they came into home.

“They get a little dirt on them for the pictures,” he said, as one player rolled around in the gravel.

The Fox parents are thrilled their sons are outside playing ball, rather than inside playing video games, on their phones or their tablets.

“Our kids are all sports, sports, sports,” James Fox said.

Consequently, the parents will be spending many evenings at the ballpark. This coming week, that means rooting from the bleachers on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. “That’s the schedule this week for us,” the father said.

**Players and coaches line up for team photos.**

On the sidelines behind first base, players and coaches were lining up for team photos. The photographer repeated the instructions, “Hands down. Eyes up. Big smiles,” – hoping one of the shots would be good.

Meanwhile, girls with hair ribbons matching their uniforms, sat on the ground, drawing pictures in the gravel. Another player teetered on the edge of the dugout wall. “Dare me to jump down?” she asked a boy.

“No, don’t climb the fences. Get down,” a parent insisted.

A couple of the older players were relishing this day focused on them. Camden Tyree and Jayse Michalski, both 13, said he has been playing ball for nine years.

“Because it’s fun. I like the competition,” Camden said of his dedication to the game. “Yeah,” said Jayse, who was more of the quiet type. “Baseball is good.”

Both boys are versatile on the field. Camden plays shortstop, pitcher and catcher, while Jayse plays those plus second and third base.

Jocelyn Zamarripa, 9, admitted to being “kinda” nervous on Saturday’s opening day. “What positions do I play?” she asked her grandma.

After the singing of the National Anthem and several high-fives for good luck, the magic words rang out, “Play ball.”

**Kosicki T-ball team in the dugout prior to their game time.**

The Kosicki T-ball team loaded into one dugout, with the adults trying to keep the youngsters matched with their hats and gloves, and away from the bats. “Stop hitting things with the bat,” one adult said.

“This is part of it – how we act in the dugout matters,” a coach said to the players bubbling over with energy.

Once on the field, many of the lessons were forgotten. One player threw the bat with every swing at the ball. Other players forgot to run to base once they made contact with the ball. And infielders en masse immediately swarmed and smothered any ball hit in their direction.

By the end of the season, the games will most likely look different as the players perfect some skills. But some things won’t change. The fans will still cheer from the bleachers. The concession stand will still crank out buttered popcorn. And the children will remember another summer spent at the ballfield.

**Otsego T-ball player swings at ball.**

Posted by: Jan Larson McLaughlin on May 18, 2025.

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Florida Minority Baseball Clinic to host free clinic for youth | News

Young high school baseball players are shown during a past Sunshine Classic Show- case, which is put on by the Florida Minority Baseball Alliance. The Florida Minority Baseball Alliance is hosting a free baseball clinic for youth ages 5 to 12 years old at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Saturday, June 7 at 8 a.m. The […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Florida Minority Baseball Clinic to host free clinic for youth — Young high school baseball players are shown during a past Sunshine Classic Show- case, which is put on by the Florida Minority Baseball Alliance.

The Florida Minority Baseball Alliance is hosting a free baseball clinic for youth ages 5 to 12 years old at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Saturday, June 7 at 8 a.m.

The clinic is part of the Florida Minority Baseball Alliance’s Florida Sunshine Classic, which is a three-day event that promotes minority baseball players and baseball in minority communities.

The event will be at Jackie Robinson Ball- park from Thursday, June 5 to Saturday, June 7. The clinic is on the third and final day of the three-day event.

The Sunshine Classic Game is at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Saturday, June 7 at 10 a.m.

Kids that attend the clinic can go to the game for free.

Also, during the three-day event there will be a parents’ conference, meet and greet, luncheon, players showcase and a college fair.

For more information, the complete schedule, registration and more, visit https://www.thefmba.org.

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Sycamore folk dancers celebrate culture | News, Sports, Jobs

SPIRIT OF POLAND — More than 50 young dancers took to the stage at the Sycamore Youth Center May 6 to perform the “Spirit of Poland” folk dance celebration. — Contributed STEUBENVILLE — The Sycamore Youth Center was alive with color, movement and music on the evening of May 6, as […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

SPIRIT OF POLAND — More than 50 young dancers took to the stage at the Sycamore Youth Center May 6 to perform the “Spirit of Poland” folk dance celebration.
— Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — The Sycamore Youth Center was alive with color, movement and music on the evening of May 6, as more than 50 young dancers took the stage for the highly-anticipated “Spirit of Poland” folk dance celebration.

Hosted by the Sycamore Folk Dancers and led by directors Zac Gordon and Jariel Henthorn, the event drew a packed house of parents, community members and cultural enthusiasts.

The performance began at 7 p.m. and featured traditional Polish folk dancing and singing, showcasing the beauty and vibrancy of Polish culture.

Dressed in festive costumes and dancing with enthusiasm, students brought to life songs and traditions that spanned generations.

“This was truly one of the most moving and joyful events we’ve ever had at the Sycamore Youth Center,” said Bobbyjon Bauman, executive director of the center and president of the Ohio Valley Youth Network. “To see these young people celebrate faith, culture and community with such heart, was nothing short of inspiring.”

The “Spirit of Poland” event was the culmination of months of dedicated rehearsals under the guidance of Gordon and Henthorn, who have poured their time and passion into mentoring the young performers.

The Sycamore Youth Center continues to be a hub for arts, faith and youth development in the Ohio Valley.

The “Spirit of Poland” was just one example of what can happen when tradition meets passion in the hearts of the next generation.

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Six local athletes earned NJCAA All-American honors and Angel Addleman and Devyn Netz earned collegiate honors

Share Tweet Share Share Email Six local athletes earned All-American status at the NJCAA Division I Outdoor National Championships held in Hutchinson, Kansas: Morgan Pepe (Ironwood Ridge: Fifth place in Pole Vault), Hannah Droeg (Ironwood Ridge: Sixth place in Heptathlon), Ella Allred (Benson: Seventh place […]

Published

3 hours ago

May 19, 2025

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