Fulton County Ohio Media

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In the final game of the season, Swanton Bulldog ace, Adam Lemon, shut down the Northwood Rangers, allowing no runs on two hits, one walk and an incredible 17 strikeouts in a 4-0 complete game victory in 87+-degree temperatures yesterday afternoon at Fifth Third Field in downtown Toledo.  Playing as the “Home” team on the jumbo scoreboard in the pristine stadium of the Toledo Mud Hens, the Bulldogs scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning without the benefit of a hit.

Isaiha Bolyard reached on an error by Ranger third baseman Kyle Lewandowski, stole second and came home on another throwing error that also put Brady O’Shea on the basepaths.  O’Shea scored later in the inning on a sacrifice fly to right field by Drake Harris to give Lemon all the help he needed.  Swanton scored twice more in the sixth inning on singles by Trent Eitniear and Carson Lemons and two more errors by the Northwood defense.

“It’s fun.  It’s fun to embrace it all.  I really enjoyed it” said Lemon commenting on being able to pitch on the same mound as professional baseball players, many of who went on to pitch in the Majors.  He also thanked his defense which played an errorless game with the few chances they were given.  With the 17 strikeouts, Lemon bested his career high of nine and was just one short of the school record of 18, needing approximately 90 pitches

“It’s always great to play here,” said Swanton Head Coach and 2024 NWOAL Coach of the Year, Josh Siewert although he was hoping for more offensive production given how well his Bulldogs hit the ball.  “A ‘W’ is a ‘W’.  That’s what I always tell the kids.  Northwood played really good defense.  I tip my hat to them.  They played really well.  They kept us in check so we had to squeak a couple out.”

Coach Siewert was just mildly surprised at the effort of his star pitcher.  “Great day on the mound.  He went home sick from practice yesterday so we weren’t even sure he was going to play today.  He wasn’t 100%.” 

The Bulldogs ended the season with an overall record of 12-9.  They finished in a tie for second place in the NWOAL with the Bryan Golden Bears at 5-2, one game behind the 6-1 Archbold Blue Streaks.

Click on the link above to access photos from the game. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

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The OHSAA DIII Softball District Semi-Final game held last night at Springfield High School between the fifth-seeded Swanton Lady Bulldogs (14-10) and the First-Seeded Tinora Lady Rams (20-3) matched one fireball pitcher against another and played out almost exactly as you would expect.  Swanton’s Taylor Forrest surrendered three hits and one earned run while striking out 10 batters, while Tinora’s Scylea Zolman gave up only two hits and zero runs and striking out nine hitters in the Lady Rams’ 2-0 victory.  The real difference in the game was a solo home run by Tinora’s Paige Gamby leading off the bottom of the second inning. 

“We did about as well as we could.  We hung right with them as a #5 Seed.  They’re a great team,” said Swanton head coach Lauren Yoder.  “But we’re also a great team.”  Swanton’s best opportunity to score came in the top of the third when they loaded the bases with two outs but could not bring home what would have been the tying run at that point.  “We had the heart of the order up.  That was our best chance but we just couldn’t get it done,” said Coach Yoder.  In addition to the great pitching, both teams played a tight and excellent defense.

If there was any consolation for Forrest in the loss, it was breaking the school record for strikeouts in a single season about halfway through the contest.  Both pitchers in the game are headed to play at the next level.  Zolman at Tiffin University and Forrest at, ironically, right across town at Heidelberg University. There is a chance they may face each other again. 

Click on the link above to access photos from the game. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and an be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Taylor Forrest

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Alexa Faber went 3 for 3 in four trips to the plate including a walk, a single, a double off the centerfield fence and a home run to left field to help power the Swanton Lady Bulldogs to a 7-3 victory over the Genoa Lady Comets in the DIII Sectional Championship game at Genoa High School Friday night.  Swanton pounded out nine hits, drew two base-on-balls and were aided by a couple of Genoa errors and never trailed in the game after taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Not only did the Bulldogs defeat the higher seeded Comets on their own field but they also were facing one of the best pitchers in Northwest Ohio in Kaylin Shields, Genoa’s all-time career strikeout leader with over 800 Ks and committed to play softball next year at Wheeling University in West Virginia. Shields managed to add eight more strikeouts to her school record but was hit hard overall by the Swanton lineup.

“She did a great job.  She threw hard, she did everything right.  We just came ready to go and really hit the ball,” said Lady Bulldog Head Coach Lauren Yoder explaining her team’s success at the plate against the Genoa ace.  “All the credit to her but we had a really great day today.”

It appeared that the Swanton hitters were not at all intimidated by Shields’ press clippings and a first-inning leadoff double by Payton DeTray helped set the tone and gave her teammates, including Faber, confidence.  “It felt really good.  I wasn’t sure how I was going to be against her but when I saw her, I got really excited,” commented Faber on her performance against Shields.  “She hit one to the moon.  She had a killer day today,” added Coach Yoder.

For the most part, the game was very close.  After the Bulldogs went up 2-0, the Comets scored to pull within one.  Swanton opened their lead to 4-1 with two runs in the third inning only to see Genoa answer with two of their own in the bottom half.  In the top of the fifth, Jordyn Rameriz stroked a clutch two-strike single to right field, giving the Bulldogs a three-run cushion again.  Taylor Forrest shut down the Comets’ bats from there and Faber launched her “moon shot” in the top of the sixth inning for the 7-3 final.

An interesting side story to the game was the pitchers that faced each other, Genoa’s Shields and Swanton’s Forrest. Both pitchers are seniors, both are their school’s career leader in strikeouts and they became friendly over the past few summers competing against each other in travel softball.  “It’s like a travel rivalry.  All good blood, nothing bad,” said Forrest who will be taking her softball talents to Heidelberg University in Tiffin the Fall.  In this game, they both had two hits and drew one walk, basically breaking even in the head-to-head matchup, except for the final score.

Swanton, now with a 13-10 record on the season, moves on to the DIII District Semi-Finals to be played on Wednesday, May 15^th at 6:00 PM at Springfield High School.  Their opponent will be the Tinora Lady Rams, the 2024 Green Meadows Conference Champions, who improved to 20-3 after a 4-0 Sectional win over Archbold..

Click on the link above to access photos from the game. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: 2024 DIII Softball Sectional Champions

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Yesterday morning, in front of family, friends, coaches and teammates, Swanton Lady Bulldog Alexia Ostrander signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her education and soccer career at Lourdes University in Sylvania.  Alexia, a multi-sport athlete who also played golf, basketball and softball, spent her last two years of high school at Swanton after two years at St. Ursula Academy of Toledo, where she also played varsity soccer.

Lourdes was an easy choice for Alexia after she visited the university.  “Lourdes was my first ever visit and once I stepped on campus, I knew instantly it was going to be my home for the next four years,” shed said.  “When I practiced with the girls, they were so welcoming and had so many kind words to say (about the school).”

In addition to her four years of soccer/football experience in high school, Alexia honed her skills in the “off” season playing for teams in the highly competitive Greater Toledo Football Club (GTFC) based in the Rossford Dome. 

On May 19^th, she will be receiving her high school diploma and will have a short time off before she begins practice with the Lady Grey Wolves.  In the classroom, Alexia plans to major in Criminal Justice.

Click on the link above to access photos from the signing. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Alexia signs with parents Brooke Ostrander and Greg DeTray

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The Archbold Blue Streaks jumped out to a 5-1 lead after two innings on their way to an easy 16-6 road victory over the Pettisville Blackbirds in a non-league baseball game. Click on the link above to access photos from the game. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Broden Piercefield fires to the plate.

After being encouraged by several faculty members and witnessing the Swanton Middle School’s Amazing Shake program, then in its fifth year, first hand, Evergreen Middle School (EMS) principal Lucas Burkholder introduced a version of the program at his school. Developed at the nationally renowned Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, “the Amazing Shake is a competition that places emphasis on teaching students manners, discipline, respect, and professional conduct.  Prior to the competition, students learn the nuances of professional human interaction as they are taught skills such as how to give a proper handshake, how to “work a room,” how to give a successful interview, and how to remain composed under pressure.  The goal is to prepare our students so that they are able to present themselves exceptionally well for opportunities today as well as those that will come in the future.”

When Mr. Burkholder visited Swanton Middle School (SMS) after being invited to observe the competition by then SMS principal Matt Smith, he came away very impressed.  “Right away I saw eight-graders dressed professionally and introducing themselves.  Not only are they shaking your hand when you walk in that building, as they’re walking to the (competition) area they’re talking your ear off.  They’re having a conversation like an adult,” said Mr. Burkholder explaining his first impression of the event.

The competition that day involved the entire seventh-grade class going through a “gauntlet” of 25 stations where they were tasked with displaying their skills on being interviewed for a job, selling a product or service, business dinner etiquette, tying a tie or having a telephone conversation, among others.  At each station the student would introduce themselves and shake the interviewer/judge’s hand.

Mr. Burkholder, a former high school athlete and coach, used a sports-related analogy to describe what he saw.  “There’s something about high school kids when they go out to play a football game, in which there is a level of excitement but also a level of nervousness.  You can sense both in the kids.  They know what they are doing is about to be a big deal, but yet, they’re very focused on what they are doing,” he said.  “This is the first academic thing I’ve ever been around, when I saw those seventh-graders, they meant business.  They were there to win, but they were having fun.  It was a cool combination of the two.  I was blown away by the whole process.”

Last August, after soliciting for volunteers from the faculty to form a committee, Mr. Burkholder and team began the process of creating the Amazing Shake, Evergreen Style.  Every month, the students were taught a skill and a week or so later, they would hold a practice session.  The first skill taught was the handshake while looking at the person in the eye, a seemingly simple skill, but one that even adults sometimes struggle with.  The school eventually brought in volunteers/judges from the community, separated the students by grade, 6^th, 7^th and 8^th, and had each student introduce themselves 10 times for a score.

After five months of different lessons, EMS held their first “Gauntlet.”  “We had 82 seventh-graders compete and 54 community/business members come in and run all our stations (21) and got them all through in two rounds.  They gave us the scorecards back, we tallied them up and we took the top 11 kids,” said Mr. Burkholder.  The top students were Daniel Hernandez, Matthew Jenkins, Lucia Abec, Karlee Hyatt, Maya Vance, Zachary Leininger, Bradley Bauman, Emma Dye, Callen Willey , Kane Montgomery and Aiden Hudik. 

In April, the 11 students traveled to Worthington Steel in Delta to give charity presentations to a board of Worthington staff members.  “The kids had to go in and explain their charity, why it’s a good charity, how it’s connected to them, a five-to-ten-minute presentation and they received a score from each of the Worthington employees. We were all given a tour of the facility followed by a catered lunch,” recounted Mr. Burkholder.  After lunch, the EMS contingent returned to the school, an assembly was organized and the top the top three students were named.  The overall winner was Zachary Leininger.

The faculty and staff of Evergreen Middle School has made great strides in just their first year of the Amazing Shake.  “I am so impressed at how much our kids have grown in just one year,” said Mr. Burkholder.  There is a major change coming to EMS next school year.  The fifth-grade class will become part of EMS and will be incorporated into the Amazing Shake program.  One of the best attributes of the Amazing Shake is that every school can customize the program to its needs to better educate the students. Mr. Burkholder confirmed there will be an expansion of the program that will build on their very successful first year.

Amazing Shake Finalists:

(Back Row L to R) Daniel Hernandez, Matthew Jenkins, Lucia Abec, Karlee Hyatt, Maya Vance, Zachary Leininger

(Front Row L to R) Bradley Bauman, Emma Dye, Callen Willey (Kneeling), Kane Montgomery, Aiden Hudik. 

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Even before the first pitch of the game between the visiting Evergreen Lady Vikings and the host Archbold Lady Blue Streaks, everyone in attendance knew the strategy Archbold coach Sarah Dominique would employ to limit any potential damage that could be caused by two-time NWOAL Player of the Year, Evergreen’s Macy Chamberlain.  As soon as Chamberlain stepped into the batter’s box to lead off the contest, she was told to take first base with an intentional walk.  Chamberlain, the Penn State commit, was intentionally walked three more times, including once with score tied at 0-0 and the bases loaded, in Archbold’s come-from-behind 4-3 victory Thursday afternoon.

The two-out bases loaded walk led to three runs for the Vikings in the top of the second inning.  The Streaks responded with a run in the bottom of the inning the scored single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth while holding Evergreen scoreless the rest of the way for the win

Tess Ames and Kalen Behnfeldt each had a hit and a run scored to lead the Archbold offense.  Makena Thiel took the win in the circle, giving up three earned runs on five hits, six walks and eight strikeouts in pitching a complete game.  In addition to Chamberlain’s four walks with an RBI, Avah Vaculik had a hit and an RBI and Kira Keller had two hits and an RBI.  Keller took the loss giving up three earned runs on five hits, one walk and four strikeouts in five innings of work.

The win moves Archbold’s record to 4-2 in the NWOAL and 13-6 overall.  Evergreen drops to 2-4 in the league and 7-11 on the season.  Both teams begin OHSAA State Tournament play on Tuesday afternoon at 5:00 PM.  Archbold will play host to fellow NWOAL school Delta while Evergreen will travel to Northwood.

Click on the link above to access photos from the game. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can b downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Tess Ames slides into home ahead of the tag by Macy Chamberlain

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On Friday evening, April 25^th, the Fulton County Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC) held its 10^th Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet at the Birchwood Meadow Wedding and Event Barn in Swanton.  Matt Gilroy, FCEDC Executive Director, served as the emcee and welcomed the approximately 250 guests. 

Special guests included Lu Cooke, Regional Representative for Lt. Governor John Husted, Roy Palmer, Representing Senator J.D. Vance, Kim Priestap, Regional Representative for Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Representative Jim Hoops, Ohio House of Representatives, RJ Mancini, Manager of Government Affairs, JobsOhio, and Jeff Rupp, Fulton County Commissioner.  Also from Fulton County in attendance were mayors, council members, township trustees, school board members and other various elected officials.

“Established in May 2014, the Fulton County Economic Development Corporation marks its ten-year anniversary tonight.  Over the past decade, we’ve celebrated numerous milestones and spearheaded various initiatives.  More than 70 development endeavors undertaken by Fulton County businesses have resulted in over $1.5 billion in capital investments, generating over 1,200 jobs across our communities.  From our humble beginnings with 62 Charter Members, we now boast over 100 member businesses and organizations contributing to our collective achievements,” said Mr. Gilroy addressing the guests.

“The outlook for Fulton County and Northwest Ohio remains promising.  Our business community is actively engaged in fostering economic growth.  Challenges such as residential development and workforce skills are being met with innovative solutions, and the FCEDC continues to cultivate a robust pipeline of prospective development projects poised to bolster tax revenues, employment opportunities, and economic prosperity in Fulton County,” he added.

In the business portion of the event, the FCEDC Nominating Committee recommended the following Slate of Candidates for the organization’s Executive Committee and all were approved.

Serving a one-year term ending June 30, 2025:  Sommer Vriezelaar – Nooter LLC

Serving a two-year term ending June 30, 2026:  Scott Anair – Wauseon Machine & Manufacturing, Josh Rupli & Dan Silvers – Hylant, Chris Gohr – Sauder, Kathy Shaw – Triangular Processing, Keith Torbet – City of Wauseon, Seth Thomas – Thomas Construction & Remodeling

Following dinner, the 2024 FCDEC Awards were announced.

The 2024 Business Awards:  Business of the Year – Anderzack-Pitzen Construction (APC), Inc.   Community Leadership – Dental Excellence of Delta   Excellence in Retail – Aquatek Water Conditioning   Excellence in Industry – Shaw’s Clothing

The 2024 Community Involvement Awards:  Volunteer of the Year – Kimberly Smallman   Excellence in Public Service – Jim Wyse   The Robert Fulton Award – Gary Loar

Click on the link above to access photos from the event. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Robert Fulton Award recipient Gary Loar, Mrs. Loar, RJ Lumbrezer and Patti Finn

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The Wauseon Lady Indians spotted the visiting Delta Lady Panthers a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning and still trailed 5-3 after Delta’s MacKenzie Clapp belted a solo home run in the top of the second.  However, in the bottom half of that inning, with two runners on base, Ava Kovar drove a pitch over the left-center field wall, giving Wauseon a 6-5 lead, and paved the way to a 14-8 NWOAL softball victory.

The Wauseon win places their league record at 5-2 and are currently at 11-8 on the season.  Delta falls to 1-5 in the NWOAL and 3-13 overall.

Click on the link above to access photos from the game. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Ava Kovar goes deep for a three-run shot