Written by Chris Coopersmith on 15 August 2017
After winning its league-leading 14th North Coast football title last fall, Wittenberg has been tabbed to repeat as conference champions in 2017 based on preseason balloting by the 10 league coaches.
The Tigers, who held off a trio of 7-2 squads last fall to top the NCAC standings with an 8-1 mark, collected six of the 10 possible first-place votes cast by the coaches for 95 total points. Wabash, which owns seven NCAC football titles, picked up three of the remaining first place votes to finish second in the poll with 91 points, while Denison secured the final first-place vote and finished third overall with 81 points. DePauw, which joined Denison and Wabash with 7-2 league records last fall, checked in at fourth with 70 points, followed by Ohio Wesleyan (60), Wooster (47), Hiram (39), Kenyon (32), Allegheny (25) and Oberlin (10).
Wittenberg, which enters the season ranked 16th in the D3football.com preseason poll, returns five All-NCAC players and 40 lettermen from its 2016 squad, led by a duo of first-team All-NCAC selections in senior linebacker Jack Kayser (Portsmouth, OH/Notre Dame) and senior return specialist Jeff Tiffner (Springfield, OH/Kenton Ridge). In addition, junior running back DeShawn Sarley (Cincinnati, OH/Colerain), junior linebacker Terrance Crowe (Springfield, OH/Springfield) and senior defensive lineman Chandler Ferko (Plain City, OH/Jonathan Alder) also return to the fold after collecting second-team honors in the NCAC last fall. Despite not receiving All-conference accolades last year, junior quarterback Jake Kennedy (Bellefontaine, OH/Bellefontaine) returns as the signal-caller for the Tigers after logging 2,388 passing yards and 19 touchdowns in 2016. Leading the way for the Tigers in 2017 for the 21st season in a row will be head coach Joe Fincham with a career record of 191-43 in Springfield. He enters the season with the fourth highest winning percentage among active Div. III head coaches at .816 and ninth among active Div. III coaches with the 191 total wins. He needs just nine wins this season to become the 25th coach in Div. III history to amass 200 or more victories.
The 2017 NCAC football campaign kicks off with eight non-conference games in week one, while the first conference games of the season are set for week two with Oberlin hosting Kenyon and Wooster traveling to Allegheny.
2017 North Coast Athletic Conference Football Preseason Coaches’ Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses, followed by total points) |
| 1. |
Wittenberg (6) |
95 |
| 2. |
Wabash (3) |
91 |
| 3. |
Denison (1) |
81 |
| 4. |
DePauw |
70 |
| 5. |
Ohio Wesleyan |
60 |
| 6. |
Wooster |
47 |
| 7. |
Hiram |
39 |
| 8. |
Kenyon |
32 |
| 9. |
Allegheny |
25 |
| 10. |
Oberlin |
10 |
PRESS RELEASE WRITTEN BY & COURTESY OF NORTH COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE INFORMATION
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Written by Bane Rossi on 15 August 2017
Jay Bruce 2016 By Editosaurus - Own work, CC0, https commons.wikimedia.org
CLEVELAND, OH – The Cleveland Indians tonight announced the acquisition of OF JAY BRUCE from the New York Mets in exchange for RHP RYDER RYAN. Bruce will report to the club this weekend in Tampa.
Bruce, 30, has appeared in 102 games for New York-NL this season, batting .256 (104-406) with 20 doubles, 29 home runs, 75 RBI and 61 runs scored. The three-time National League All-Star (2011-12, 2016) and two-time N.L. Silver Slugger Award winner entered today’s slate of games tied for the 4th-most home runs in the Senior Circuit with Bryce Harper, while sitting tied for 11th in RBI and 10th in total bases (211). He has appeared in 91 games in right field and 11 games at first base.
The Beaumont, Texas native owns a ten-year Major League batting average of .249 (1257-5056) with 263 doubles, 27 triples, 270 home runs and 812 RBI in 1373 games with the Cincinnati Reds (2008-16) and New York Mets (2016-17). He has a Major League-high seven different seasons with 25-or-more home runs since 2010 (7 of 8 years) to go along with his three All-Star appearances and two Silver Slugger Awards.
Ryan, 22, has spent the entire 2017 campaign at Class-A Lake County, going 3-4 with a 4.79 ERA and 6 saves across 33 relief appearances (41.1IP, 44H, 28R-22ER, 4HR, 17BB, 49SO, .267AVG).
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Written by Bane Rossi on 15 August 2017
Erik González 2017 By Keith Allison - Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, https commons.wikimedia.org
The Cleveland Indians recently announced the following roster moves relative to the 2017 Major League roster:
- Recalled INF ERIK GONZÁLEZ from Triple-A Columbus.
- Placed OF MICHAEL BRANTLEY on the 10-day Disabled List with a right ankle sprain.
González begins his second stint with Cleveland this season, having spent over two months with the club from May 14 until his option on Sunday, August 6 when Jason Kipnis was removed from the disabled list. With Cleveland this year he is batting .263 (21-80) with 11 runs, 5 2B, 2 HR & 6 RBI in 39 games. He has appeared in 24 games (14 starts) at second base, 6 games (2GS) at short stop, 4 games (2GS) at third base and 1 start in left field at the Major League level. He has batted .270 (37-137) at the Triple-A level this season and went 1-for-3 with a run scored last night at Rochester in his first game back with the Clippers since May 12.
Brantley begins his second stint on the disabled list this season, the fifth time of his career. He was injured in the fifth inning of last night’s 4-1 win over Colorado. So far this season he is batting .299 (100-335) with 20 2B, 9 HR & 52 RBI in 88 games and entered today 15th in the American League in batting average.
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Written by Dan Hock on 15 August 2017
Reds fans can show their school pride by purchasing a special ticket package to celebrate College Weekend on August 25-27 at Great American Ball Park.
Each package includes an exclusive Reds cap branded with the school colors and logo of the fan’s choice. This year’s participating schools are:
• University of Cincinnati
• Xavier University
• Thomas More College
• University of Dayton
• University of Kentucky
• Northern Kentucky University (SOLD OUT)
Packages start as low as $15. A portion of each ticket sold will benefit a scholarship fund of the chosen school.
Tickets available now at reds.com/college, while supplies last.
College Weekend Highlights
Friday, Aug. 25 – Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 7:10 p.m.
• Post-Game Fireworks presented by Great American Insurance Group
Saturday, Aug. 26 – Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 6:40 p.m.
• Homer Bailey Bobblehead presented by Coca-Cola
• The Ohio Lottery Post-Game Concert Series featuring The Avett Brothers
Sunday, Aug. 27 – Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 1:10 p.m.
• Kids Scott Schebler Fathead® Wall Decal presented by Kahn’s
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Written by Dan Hock on 15 August 2017
The annual “Sliding into Om” one-hour yoga session on the outfield grass at Great American Ball Park will be held Saturday, Aug. 26 at 8:30 a.m..
Sliding into Om presented by St. Elizabeth Healthcare features instructors from The Yoga Bar and fans have two packages to choose from:
• $15 – Includes yoga on the field and a View Level ticket to the Aug. 27 Reds vs. Pirates game (1:10 p.m.) with a special recognition to all yogis during the seventh inning stretch
• $25 – Includes an exclusive Reds yoga mat plus all of the above
Registration and check-in will start at 7:45 a.m. with the yoga session beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Ages 12 and younger may participate in the yoga event for free if accompanied by a paying adult.
Tickets available at reds.com/yoga.
All participants must sign a waiver to participate. Waivers can be found on the event page at reds.com/yoga or on the confirmation email sent upon registration.
Parking is not included.
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