Jeff Gilbert

Ohio

Freelance Sports Writer at Freelance

OSU Football and HS writer @pressprosmag ~ Dragons/HS writer @daytonsports ~ JOUR prof @cedarville ~ Ephesians 2:1-10

Articles

Dayton Dragons beat Fort Wayne 12-11 in biggest comeback in franchise history

5 days ago | daytondailynews.com | Jeff Gilbert

When the Dragons, who lost 10-0 on a one-hitter Saturday, faced a 10-2 deficit, they could have disregarded Gingrich’s study guide. But that’s when his tips kicked in. It didn’t matter what pitcher Fort Wayne put on the mound — there were seven of them — the Dragons stuck to Gingrich’s plan and started hitting and scoring at record pace. A pace propelled by hit after hit, simply putting the ball in play, a tying three-run homer by Anthony Stephan and a lockdown finish by reliever Trey Braithwaite.
Dragons held to one hit in shutout loss

6 days ago | daytondailynews.com | Jeff Gilbert

Fort Wayne, however, answered just about every opportunity it got. The TinCaps collected 17 hits, like gathering shells on a seashore, limited the Dragons to one hit and won 10-0 on the second night of the second half of the Midwest League season. The Dragons finished the first half 23 games out of first place. They were counting on the reset of the standings to 0-0 to be a boost. So far, not so good. The Dragons are 0-2 with a final game against Fort Wayne at 1:05 p.m. Sunday.
In second-half season opener, Dayton Dragons allow 3 homers

1 week ago | daytondailynews.com | Jeff Gilbert

But the recurring result was all too familiar, the same stranding of runners that plagued the Dragons in their first-half last-place finish. On Friday night at Day Air Ballpark, the Dragons left eight men on base, including six in scoring position, in a 3-2 loss to the Fort Wayne TinCaps. “We didn’t get the hit, we took strike three a couple times with runners in scoring position on pitches to hit,” manager Vince Harrison Jr. said.
First half of season for Dayton Dragons ends in 12-1 loss to TinCaps

1 week ago | daytondailynews.com | Jeff Gilbert

As difficult as this half has been for the Dragons, Dayton has seen worse. The Dragons lost 49 games in the second half of 2004 and 49 in the first half of 2016. The numbers don’t lie. The Dragons were last in the league in hitting (.209), slugging (.316), on-base percentage (.312) and runs scored. The pitching staff, which started the season strong, finished next-to-last in ERA (5.03) and allowed the most runs and earned runs. Fortunately, the Dragons get to hit the reset button.
Dayton Dragons open final first-half series with 6-4 victory

1 week ago | daytondailynews.com | Jeff Gilbert

The Dragons were in last place — a spot they still occupy — 20 games out of first place, and they had nine games left in the first half. “A freedom for their mind to play with some freedom to find ways to start connecting and just paying way more attention to the to the small details,” Harrison Jr. said.
Lake County’s Rosario hits late-inning home run to beat Dragons 4-3

2 weeks ago | daytondailynews.com | Jeff Gilbert

The Dragons were victimized by several defensive miscues, committing four errors on the day leading to a pair of early runs for the Captains. The Dragons scored their first run in the top of the second when Ariel Almonte doubled off the center field fence to drive in Yerlin Confidan from first base to tie the game at 1-1. Lake County scored an unearned run in the bottom of the second to go back in front, 2-1. The Dragons scored two runs in the fourth inning to take the lead.
High school softball: Lebanon beats Centerville 3-1 in D-I state title game

2 weeks ago | daytondailynews.com | Jeff Gilbert

Wendell Hutchinson, the softball coach who guided the program to its first state tournament, noticed. And near the end of the session, he looked to his left and saw why their season-long grind was important to them. “You look at these kids up here and you see that they’ve been crying and it matters,” he said. “And last year, when we lost our regional final, we remembered that score for a very long time.
High school softball: Unbeaten Tri-Village beats Sugarcreek Garaway 6-0 to claim program’s first state championship

2 weeks ago | daytondailynews.com | Jeff Gilbert

“Having the zero in the loss column was something we all earned,” junior second baseman Tai Mize said. “It was something we wanted for each other. We didn’t want that one loss or two losses. We all came together and said we’re Tri-Village and we’re going to win.”ExploreGaraway’s Audrey Miller struck out nine, but the Patriots used six hits and two walks to gain and maintain control. Emma Greer and Aereonna Baker batted in two runs apiece to lead the offense.
High school softball: Centerville beats Jackson 8-4 to clinch first state final berth

2 weeks ago | daytondailynews.com | Jeff Gilbert

The Elks, with freshman pitcher Caitlyn Belcher also wielding the biggest bat with five RBIs, defeated Massillon Jackson 8-4 in Saturday’s Division I state semifinal. They are, at no shock to themselves, a night’s sleep from playing in the state championship game at 4 p.m. Sunday at Firestone Stadium. “This has been our goal all along, ever since Wendell came to the program,” said sophomore shortstop Natalie Carr. “It’s amazing that we’re all getting to do it with these seniors.
Akron bound: Springboro baseball beats Mason for berth in D-I state tournament

3 weeks ago | daytondailynews.com | Jeff Gilbert

Jacob Cane, Nick Hutchinson, and Colten Muhlenkamp each had two hits and drove in two runs to lead the Panthers. Jacob Rhinehart came on in relief after the two-hour delay and shut down Mason until the seventh. Blake Patterson got the final two outs with the tying run at first base. The Panthers (24-8) advance to play at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium in Canton at 7 p.m. next Saturday against the winner of today’s regional final between Medina and Perrysburg.