Mark Perez-Krywany

6 days ago | morningjournal.com | Mark Perez-Krywany

Wellington needed boys and girls basketball coaches, and the Dukes found both — each with over 30 years of experience. On June 19, Wellington announced and approved the hiring of Jim Baker for the boys team and John McDermott for girls. “I am excited to welcome Coach Jim Baker back to Wellington boys basketball coaching staff,” Wellington athletic director Jonathan Bowman said. “He brings a wealth of knowledge to the program and will be a great asset for us.”Baker graduated from Wellington in 1975.

1 week ago | morningjournal.com | Mark Perez-Krywany

Starting next season, making the state football playoffs will have a steeper climb. For the most part, area coaches thought the change from 16 teams making the playoffs in each region to 12 was for the better. As the Ohio High School Athletic Association made numerous changes in the playoff format on June 12, several area coaches weighed their opinions. High school football: OHSAA trims playoff format to 12 teams per regionIn addition, the top four seeds were awarded first round bye weeks.

1 week ago | mahoningmatters.com | Mark Perez-Krywany

PITCHER OF THE YEARNaomi BottomleeNorth Ridgeville, seniorLike Bottomlee did as Southwestern Conference Most Valuable Player, she repeated as The Morning Journal Pitcher of the Year. Bottomlee also one-upped herself by winning the 2025 Lorain County Ms. Softball award. The Youngstown State commit led the SWC in batting average (.565, 31 RBI, four home runs), and can hit for power and lead off. Recorded back-to-back no-hitters against Elyria Catholic and a playoff game against Cuyahoga Falls.

1 week ago | morningjournal.com | Mark Perez-Krywany

PITCHER OF THE YEARNaomi BottomleeNorth Ridgeville, seniorLike Bottomlee did as Southwestern Conference Most Valuable Player, she repeated as The Morning Journal Pitcher of the Year. Bottomlee also one-upped herself by winning the 2025 Lorain County Ms. Softball award. The Youngstown State commit led the SWC in batting average (.565, 31 RBI, four home runs), and can hit for power and lead off. Recorded back-to-back no-hitters against Elyria Catholic and a playoff game against Cuyahoga Falls.

1 week ago | morningjournal.com | Mark Perez-Krywany

After 40 years of honoring the best athletes in the country, Gatorade announced Bay’s state champion forward Tessa Knapp as Ohio’s best soccer player. On June 18, the winner of Ohio Ms. Soccer was awarded with the 2024-25 Gatorade Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Bay girls soccer: Tessa Knapp caps off historic career with Ms. Ohio Soccer awardKnapp was a first-team All-Ohioan who became the OHSAA’s all-time leading scorer with 212 career goals. She scored 64 in her senior season.