Rec Sports
‘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 […]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

Rec Sports
Video: Class of 2026 IU basketball recruiting target Ethan Taylor highlights at Augusta EYBL and Peach Jam – Inside the Hall
Ethan Taylor, a 7-foot center in the class of 2026, earned a scholarship offer from IU basketball on May 8. Taylor plays at Shawnee Mission Northwest in Shawnee, Kansas and for Mokan Elite on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) circuit. IU assistant coach Rod Clark has strong ties to the Mokan Elite program. […]

Ethan Taylor, a 7-foot center in the class of 2026, earned a scholarship offer from IU basketball on May 8.
Taylor plays at Shawnee Mission Northwest in Shawnee, Kansas and for Mokan Elite on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) circuit.
IU assistant coach Rod Clark has strong ties to the Mokan Elite program. The Hoosier staff is working to get Taylor, the No. 33 prospect nationally according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, on campus this fall for an official visit.
Watch extensive highlights of Taylor from the final EYBL session in Augusta as well as the Peach Jam below:
Category: Video
Filed to: Ethan Taylor
Rec Sports
Carla D. Johnson 1946-2025 | News, Sports, Jobs
AUSTINTOWN — Carla Diane Fitzler Johnson, 78, passed away peacefully, Saturday, July 19, 2025. She was born Sept. 6, 1946, in Glendale, California, and grew up in Collinsville, Illinois, the daughter of the late Frank and Audrey Witte Fitzler. She married Robert Johnson on June 4, 1966, in Collinsville. Carla was a devoted mother, grandmother […]

AUSTINTOWN — Carla Diane Fitzler Johnson, 78, passed away peacefully, Saturday, July 19, 2025.
She was born Sept. 6, 1946, in Glendale, California, and grew up in Collinsville, Illinois, the daughter of the late Frank and Audrey Witte Fitzler.
She married Robert Johnson on June 4, 1966, in Collinsville.
Carla was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother whose life was defined by service, kindness and unwavering dedication to her family and community.
She was a longtime member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Liberty. Her faith was incredibly important to her and was reflected in her life every single day.
In the course of her life, Carla proudly served as a Girl Scout leader, instilling values and confidence in a generation of young girls. She also volunteered in several of Austintown’s youth sports leagues and various other youth activities, supporting not just her children, but many others as well. Her compassionate spirit extended to her work with the American Red Cross, where she volunteered alongside her husband. Most importantly, she was lovingly regarded as the matriarch of her family – always present, always supportive and always putting others first.
Carla is survived by her husband, Robert Allen Johnson; children, Lisa (Alberto) Johnson Polo, C. Scott Johnson (Ronit Kirchman) and Krista Beeler; her beloved grandchildren, Robert (Shelby Boyer) Polo, Rory Polo, Caleb Beeler, Micaela (Sam) Forsey, Kaj Beeler, Mairen Polo, Alexander Kirchman-Johnson and Theodore Kirchman-Johnson; and her two cherished great-grandchildren, Ophelia Beeler and Penelope Boyer-Polo. Additionally, she is survived by many nieces and nephews, with an extra acknowledgement to Erin Fitzler. Erin’s help and support in the last weeks of her life were invaluable.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Walter Lee “Corky” Fitzler.
Family and friends may call 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 26, 2025, followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m., at Lane Funeral Home in Austintown, followed by internment in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Boardman.
The family would like to thank the staff and residents of Aventura at Humility House in Austintown for their exceptional kindness and love.
Carla leaves behind a legacy of love, service and strength. She touched the lives of everyone she met, and we are all better for it. She will be missed more than we can possibly say.
(special notice)
Rec Sports
Mallards Use Late-Inning Power to Stun Rockers 6–2
If you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at Send us your privacy questions. At the Northwoods League we consider the privacy of our visitors to be extremely important. This privacy policy document describes in detail the types of personal information is […]

If you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at Send us your privacy questions.
At the Northwoods League we consider the privacy of our visitors to be extremely important. This privacy policy document describes in detail the types of personal information is collected and recorded by northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App and how we use it.
Log Files
Like many other Web sites and mobile apps, northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App make use of log files. These files merely logs visitors to the site – usually a standard procedure for hosting companies and a part of hosting services’s analytics. The information inside the log files includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, Internet Service Provider (ISP), date/time stamp, referring/exit pages, and possibly the number of clicks. This information is used to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement around the site, and gather demographic information. IP addresses, and other such information are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable.
Cookies and Web Beacons
northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App use cookies to store information about visitors’ preferences, to record user-specific information on which pages the site visitor accesses or visits, for analytics and marketing, and to personalize or customize our web page content based upon visitors’ browser type or other information that the visitor sends via their browser. We use cookies from third-party partners such as Google for marketing purposes. Google offers an Opt-Out Browser Add-On to provide website visitors the ability to prevent their data from being used by Google Analytics.
DoubleClick DART Cookie
→ Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App.
→ Google’s use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to our site’s visitors based upon their visit to northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App and other sites on the Internet.
→ Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy at the following URL – http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html
Our Advertising Partners
Some of our advertising partners may use cookies and web beacons on our site. Our advertising partners include …….
- Google Ads
- AdMob (including use of the Android advertising identifier and Apple advertising identifier)
While each of these advertising partners has their own Privacy Policy for their site, an updated and hyperlinked resource is maintained here: Privacy Policies.
You may consult this listing to find the privacy policy for each of the advertising partners of northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App.
These third-party ad servers or ad networks use technology in their respective advertisements and links that appear on northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App and which are sent directly to your browser. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. Other technologies (such as cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons) may also be used by our site’s third-party ad networks to measure the effectiveness of their advertising campaigns and/or to personalize the advertising content that you see on the site.
northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers.
Third Party Privacy Policies
You should consult the respective privacy policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information on their practices as well as for instructions about how to opt-out of certain practices. northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App privacy policy does not apply to, and we cannot control the activities of, such other advertisers or web sites. You may find a comprehensive listing of these privacy policies and their links here: Privacy Policy Links.
If you wish to disable cookies, you may do so through your individual browser options. More detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers can be found at the browsers’ respective websites. What Are Cookies?
Children’s Information
We believe it is important to provide added protection for children online. We encourage parents and guardians to spend time online with their children to observe, participate in and/or monitor and guide their online activity.
northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App do not knowingly collect any personally identifiable information from children under the age of 13. If a parent or guardian believes that northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App has in its database the personally-identifiable information of a child under the age of 13, please contact us immediately (using the contact in the first paragraph) and we will use our best efforts to promptly remove such information from our records.
Online Privacy Policy Only
This privacy policy applies only to our online activities and is valid for visitors to our website and regarding information shared and/or collected there.
This policy does not apply to any information collected offline or via channels other than this website.
Consent
By using our website, you hereby consent to our privacy policy and agree to its terms.
Personal Information We Collect
You may access many elements of northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App without disclosing any personal information about yourself. However, should you choose to engage with certain advanced features (e.g. submit a form, make a purchase, take a survey) available on the northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App, you may be asked to share certain personal information so those elements function properly. The personal information we collect may include, but is not limited to:
- Full name
- Email address
- Password
- Street address
- Telephone number(s)
- Payment card information
If we collect your information, in most instances, the applicable page(s) within the northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App will include statements regarding what information is required and functionality for you to submit the required or requested information.
Update
This Privacy Policy was last updated on: Friday, December 7, 2018.
Should we update, amend or make any changes to our privacy policy, those changes will be posted here.
Rec Sports
Mountain Recreation hosts Sports Gear Swap to support youth scholarships
Mountain Recreation will host the return of its Sports Gear Swap from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15, at the Eagle Pool & Ice Rink. This community-focused event helps local families find affordable sports gear while supporting youth access to recreation through the Mountain Recreation Foundation Youth Scholarship Fund. Community members are invited […]

Mountain Recreation will host the return of its Sports Gear Swap from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15, at the Eagle Pool & Ice Rink. This community-focused event helps local families find affordable sports gear while supporting youth access to recreation through the Mountain Recreation Foundation Youth Scholarship Fund.
Community members are invited to donate new or gently used sports equipment at any Mountain Rec location (Edwards Field House, Gypsum Recreation Center or Eagle Pool and Ice Rink) through Aug. 13. For those unable to drop off items, donation pickups can be arranged by calling 970-328-5277.
The gear swap offers a wide range of equipment for various sports, including soccer, hockey, swimming, skiing, biking, camping, climbing and more. To keep items accessible to everyone, no set prices will be charged; instead, attendees are encouraged to donate at checkout based on their means and appreciation. You do not need to donate an item to attend the gear swap.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the Mountain Recreation Foundation Youth Scholarship Fund, ensuring that children in the community have access to sports and recreation programs regardless of financial barriers.
For full donation guidelines and a list of accepted items, visit http://www.mountainrec.org/swap.
Rec Sports
20 people inside when roof collapses at Florida community center
More than a dozen people were inside a community center in Brevard County on Tuesday afternoon when the roof collapsed during heavy rain. It happened at the Joseph N. Davis Community Center in Melbourne just after 2:30 p.m. A Melbourne Fire spokesperson told WESH 2 that 20 people were evacuated. No injuries were reported. Eleven-year-old […]

More than a dozen people were inside a community center in Brevard County on Tuesday afternoon when the roof collapsed during heavy rain. It happened at the Joseph N. Davis Community Center in Melbourne just after 2:30 p.m. A Melbourne Fire spokesperson told WESH 2 that 20 people were evacuated. No injuries were reported. Eleven-year-old Romello Lakes told WESH 2 he was inside the building when it happened. “I heard thunder and I heard a big boom and then the thing just started coming down slowly,” Lakes said. He got out of there, saying, “I started looking and I just ran. Ran out the room and I ran inside the gym.”The community center hosts youth sports, among other things. It remains closed until further notice. The city said it is putting up tarps to prevent further damage. The parking lot is also closed.More than 4 inches of rain fell in the county on Tuesday afternoon. The City’s Parks and Recreation Department posted on social media Tuesday that the center would be closed until further notice due to weather damage. >> This is a developing story and will be updated.
More than a dozen people were inside a community center in Brevard County on Tuesday afternoon when the roof collapsed during heavy rain.
It happened at the Joseph N. Davis Community Center in Melbourne just after 2:30 p.m.
A Melbourne Fire spokesperson told WESH 2 that 20 people were evacuated. No injuries were reported.
Eleven-year-old Romello Lakes told WESH 2 he was inside the building when it happened.
“I heard thunder and I heard a big boom and then the thing just started coming down slowly,” Lakes said.
He got out of there, saying, “I started looking and I just ran. Ran out the room and I ran inside the gym.”
The community center hosts youth sports, among other things. It remains closed until further notice.
The city said it is putting up tarps to prevent further damage.
The parking lot is also closed.
More than 4 inches of rain fell in the county on Tuesday afternoon. The City’s Parks and Recreation Department posted on social media Tuesday that the center would be closed until further notice due to weather damage.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
>> This is a developing story and will be updated.
Rec Sports
Zambito Flooring Finds Temporary Home in South Wheeling After Flood | News, Sports, Jobs
photo by: Emma Delk Zambito Flooring America owner Ricci Zambito shows flooring samples at the business’s temporary 3150 Jacob St. home in Wheeling after the June 14 flash flood severely damaged the business’s Triadelphia location. WHEELING — Zambito Flooring America has opened its doors at a temporary location at 3150 Jacob St., following the June […]


photo by: Emma Delk
Zambito Flooring America owner Ricci Zambito shows flooring samples at the business’s temporary 3150 Jacob St. home in Wheeling after the June 14 flash flood severely damaged the business’s Triadelphia location.
WHEELING — Zambito Flooring America has opened its doors at a temporary location at 3150 Jacob St., following the June flash flooding that destroyed all of the inventory at its Triadelphia location.
Owner Ricci Zambito said the business is back to regular operations at the temporary location, with customers welcome to visit the building to view samples and displays. The company is also taking orders and performing flooring installations.
“If anyone calls us, we’ll come right to their front door with samples,” Zambito said. “I’ve got all my crews out installing, and we’ve been working for the past three to four weeks.”
Zambito witnessed the “tidal wave” of 8 to 10 feet of water that hit the business’s Triadelphia location the night of June 14. He recalled the water rising to 14 to 15 feet within 15 minutes and added there “was not much you could do” to prepare for the damage the water would cause.
“Nothing was running through my mind at that point except, ‘I have to get the heck out of here,’” Zambito said.
“I did run inside the building to move some stuff up to chest level, and when I got back outside the store, the water was already just below my knees.
“Within four to five minutes, the water was consuming Route 40, so I just got in my Jeep, put it in mud mode and drove.”
Zambito returned to the building the next morning and saw the “war zone” the flooding had caused.
“That morning, before anything was touched, it was disheartening to see people’s homes completely ripped away,” Zambito said. “Everything that people worked for, their homes and their belongings, was lost.”
Zambito Flooring, which has operated in the valley for more than 40 years, lost all of its stock, sold goods, displays and computers in the flooding. Zambito estimated that the business incurred a loss of over $500,000 due to the flooding.
Further repairs were needed for the building, as another house that came loose from its foundation during the flooding struck the side of the building. Zambito added that the business’s warehouse was “blown out” by the water and also required repairs.
The first two weeks after the flooding were spent removing more than 6,000 gallons of mud and water from the business. Zambito said that more than 60 volunteers assisted employees in cleaning up the building daily during the first week after the flooding.
“It’s been cool to see people in the valley just taking care of our own and coming together,” Zambito said. “I’ve tried to be a firm believer that we should try to support as many programs as we can as sponsors, whether that be youth sports or local events, so it was cool to see all those people that we’ve given to in the past to come show up for us after the flooding.”
Zambito thanked the generosity of 3150 Jacob Street owners Nick Sparachane, Bruce Wilson and Mike Baker for being “guardian angels” and providing the business a place to operate until it gets back on its feet. Zambito hopes to return to the Triadelphia location by the end of August.
Zambito estimated that the Triadelphia building was at 60% in its recovery progress, with the building in its “final phase” of dry out. Rewiring is currently being performed on the building, as well as masonry work on the side of the building that was hit by the home.
“It’s a slower process than I expected, but we’ve been getting things fixed up,” Zambito said. “I need to get drywall and paint work done, and then get displays back in there. We also need to put flooding down, but I think that’s one thing we can do quickly.”
Zambito Flooring is also lending assistance to any flood victims by providing special discounted pricing for floor installations and products. Zambito said donors to the business helped provide the funding to do this, as well as the store, “wanting to give back to the community.”
“We put aside money for flood victims because there were people hit by the flooding in Triadelphia, Valley Grove and Woodsdale that don’t have flood insurance, so we want to do what we can to give back,” Zambito said. “Even though we’re treading water right now and aren’t completely back on our feet, we want to help out the best we can.”
Zambito encourages customers to contact the company at 305-547-1800. He added that the business can still do “anything that’s needed” for customers.
“We just want to let people know that we are here, and we’re OK,” Zambito said. “We want to keep helping people in the meantime. We’re stoked to be a part of the community, and we just want to get back up on our feet as quickly as possible.”
-
College Sports2 weeks ago
Why a rising mid-major power with an NCAA Tournament team opted out of revenue-sharing — and advertised it
-
Motorsports3 weeks ago
Team Penske names new leadership
-
Sports2 weeks ago
New 'Bosch' spin
-
Fashion1 week ago
EA Sports College Football 26 review – They got us in the first half, not gonna lie
-
Sports7 days ago
Volleyball Releases 2025 Schedule – Niagara University Athletics
-
College Sports3 weeks ago
MSU Hockey News – The Only Colors
-
Sports2 weeks ago
E.l.f Cosmetics Builds Sports Marketing Game Plan Toward Bigger Goals
-
Health1 week ago
CAREGD Trademark Hits the Streets for Mental Health Month
-
College Sports1 week ago
Buford DB Tyriq Green Commits to Georgia
-
Youtube2 weeks ago
Will LeBron James request a trade? 🤔 Windy says MULTIPLE TEAMS would make offers 👀 | NBA Today