Dave Weidig

4 days ago | newarkadvocate.com | Dave Weidig

New service flags are flying above the Veterans Memorial at Cedar Hill Cemetery, thanks to Newark High School's Air Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps. The new flags, which students installed in time for a Memorial Day ceremony to announce that parts of State Route 161 will be renamed Veterans Memorial Highway, were the result of students seeing an issue and devising a plan to address it, said Master Sgt. Robert Barnette, a main instructor for the Air Force JROTC.

6 days ago | newarkadvocate.com | Dave Weidig

MASON ― Licking Valley's softball team made historic strides this season, and top-ranked, unbeaten Kenton Ridge showed what it will take to make a final leap. The Cougars (30-0) used a late burst to end the Panthers' best season in 11 years with a six-inning, 11-1 victory in a Division IV regional final on May 31 at Mason High School.

1 week ago | newarkadvocate.com | Dave Weidig

LANCASTER ― Any time Licking Valley can give stellar left hander Evan Lichtenauer an early lead, it's like money in the bank. With a chance to win their first district championship since 2019, the second-seeded Panthers left nothing to chance on May 29 against fourth seed Bishop Hartley in a Division III final. They kept adding on, scoring in their first five at bats, and backed Lichtenauer's four-hit, nine-strikeout pitching with a dominant 7-1 win at Beavers Field.

1 week ago | newarkadvocate.com | Dave Weidig

LANCASTER ― Granville came out swinging against top-seeded Bishop Watterson in their Division III district title game. But it was one mighty cut by the Eagles that sent the Blue Aces home with heartache. Nate Henderson, one of the top sophomore prospects in the state and Watterson's ace, isn't able to pitch due to injury. However, he's able to hit, and he unloaded a two-run homer in the sixth inning, completing the Eagles' comeback from a 4-2 deficit for a 6-4 victory on May 29 at Beavers Field.

1 week ago | newarkadvocate.com | Dave Weidig

LANCASTER ― To end defending state champion Heath's two-year run on state tournament trips, top-ranked Jonathan Alder turned to a longtime staple of Bulldogs' success: small ball. It's no coincidence that the Pioneers (23-2), coached by former Heath star and assistant coach Craig Kyle, squeezed home two runs and forced an error on another bunt during their 5-2 Division IV district final win May 28 at Lancaster's Beavers Field.