Tim Stephens

Ohio

Sports Writer at The Herald Dispatch

pastor, sports writer The Herald-Dispatch.

Articles

Prep softball: Knights thankful for hard-fought-for day of rest

6 days ago | herald-dispatch.com | Tim Stephens

HURRICANE, W.Va. — Cabell Midland’s softball team is happy to be out from behind the eight-ball. For the first time since 2021, the Knights earned a day off in the sectional tournament by avoiding the losers’ bracket. They won a state championship that season and would love for history to repeat itself. Earn the break Cabell Midland (20-3) did, prevailing 2-0 over Hurricane (20-5) on the road on Wednesday in the Class AAAA Region 4 Section 2 tournament.
Prep volleyball: Dunn-Martin signs with Georgetown College

6 days ago | herald-dispatch.com | Tim Stephens

HUNTINGTON — Mallori Dunn-Martin had her choice of colleges and pick of sports. The Huntington High School senior signed April 30 to play volleyball for Georgetown College. She chose from among several offers, including some in track and field. “It’s been a dream of mine since I started playing volleyball in middle school,” she said. “I can’t wait.”Dunn-Martin packages surprising power in her 5-foot-7 frame.
Prep softball: Knights top Redskins 2-0 in eight innings

1 week ago | herald-dispatch.com | Tim Stephens

HURRICANE, W.Va. -- Watts was electric. Drea Watts, that is. The Cabell Midland junior right-hander came within a leadoff double of a no-hitter and struck out 15 on Wednesday to lead the visiting Knights to a 2-0 victory over Hurricane in an eight-inning winner's bracket game in the Class AAAA Region 4 Section 1 high school softball tournament.
Marshall women's basketball: Herd lands high-scoring transfer from Tusculum

1 week ago | herald-dispatch.com | Tim Stephens

Marshall University women’s basketball just graduated a star from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and hopes it added another. Ni’Kiah Chesterfield has joined the Thundering Herd from NCAA Division II Tusculum University, where she averaged 18.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. She made 51% of her shots — 36% from 2-point range and 76% from the free throw line. The 6-foot rising junior center/forward is from the same hometown as recently graduated MU star Aislynn Hayes.
Prep baseball: Midland's Nida signs with University of Charleston

1 week ago | herald-dispatch.com | Tim Stephens

ONA — Landon Nida likes throwing strikes as much as hitting them. Yes, the Cabell Midland High School senior is a standout at the plate and on the mound in baseball. The strikes he’s most adept at, though, are on the bowling lanes. “I love to bowl,” Nida said. “I love bowling. I’m pretty good. I usually break 200.”Nida breaks much more than that when batting. He hits well over .300. That ability to swing the bat attracted several college coaches offering scholarships.
Prep softball: Injured Harris, Knights put hurt on Spring Valley, 11-1

1 week ago | herald-dispatch.com | Tim Stephens

ONA -- Nicole Harris turned in an impressive performance, especially for a player who 24 hours earlier didn't think she'd play. The Cabell Midland third baseman hit a home run, scored twice, walked once and reached on an error Tuesday in an 11-1 victory over Spring Valley in a Class AAAA Region 4 Section 1 high school softball tournament opener at Paul Adams Field. She did so despite suffering from an inflamed spleen that had her flat on her back Monday.
Prep softball: Conrad filling Ballengee's cleats

1 week ago | herald-dispatch.com | Tim Stephens

ONA — A look at Becca Conrad’s statistics might draw a response of “nah, that can’t be right.”Those who’ve seen the Cabell Midland High School shortstop play, though, understand just how talented a player she is. Entering Tuesday’s postseason opener, the junior leads the Knights (21-3) in batting average at .662 and has six home runs, 11 doubles, seven triples, six stolen bases and 38 runs batted in. Conrad also stars defensively, with a .939 fielding percentage.
Milum not surprised to be drafted by Jaguars

1 week ago | waynecountynews.com | Zack Klemme |Tim Stephens

Wyatt Milum suspected he might wind up with the Jacksonville Jaguars. “I was just sitting around with my family and friends waiting,” said Milum, a former Spring Valley High School and West Virginia University star selected by Jacksonville in the fourth round of the NFL Draft last week. “I had talked to Jacksonville at the Senior Bowl. I really didn’t know, but I can’t think of a better place than Jacksonville.
Prep notebook: River Valley moves down in football

1 week ago | herald-dispatch.com | Tim Stephens

A couple of Valleys are going different directions but arriving in the same place. River Valley moved down from Division IV to Division V, and Lucasville Valley transitioned up from Division VI to Division V, in the Ohio High School Athletic Association alignments for the 2025 football season. No other local programs changed divisions. Gallia Academy stayed in Division IV. Remaining in Division V were Coal Grove, Fairland, Ironton, Meigs, Portsmouth, South Point and Wheelersburg.
Prep sports: South Point sophomore making the right calls

1 week ago | herald-dispatch.com | Tim Stephens

SOUTH POINT, Ohio — Behind the mask, umpires appear mostly the same. When Jackson Higgins removes his, however, the difference is stark. Higgins is 16. The average age of a high school official is 56.68, according to the National Association of Sports Officials. The South Point High School sophomore has worked baseball and basketball games. This fall, he plans to add football games to his portfolio. “Seventh and eighth grade is all I’ve done so far,” Higgins said.