Category: Sports

On Sunday, May 17, 2009, 15 year-old Cole Schlesner was pitching at a baseball field in Loveland and was struck in the head by a line drive hit from an aluminum bat. He was air-lifted to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and immediately had surgery to relieve the increased pressure from his skull. Cole spent forty-seven days in the hospital after his traumatic brain injury

Cole attended his Freshman year at Loveland High School that Fall, however it was a long, slow progression to health and graduation in 2013. Cole has now completed his second year at University of Cincinnati Clermont College.

Cole recently said on his Facebook page, “Clayton Kershaw is just another example of why there needs to be protection for pitchers in baseball. I don’t want anyone to ever go through what I’ve gone through. I just don’t get what’s so bad about wearing a helmet or something protective that could save your life….”

Because of Cole’s injuries, a movement started here in Loveland, joining a nation-wide movement to get protective helmets on infielders playing little league and high school baseball and concern over high-performing, aluminum and composite bats. The nonprofit donated more than 1,000 batting helmets for pitchers to wear in youth leagues across four states.

Cole returned to play baseball his Freshman year at Cincinnati Clermont.

The video below is Cole and his mother, Wendy speaking to Good Morning America.

Scary MLB Moment Raises Concern for Little League Sluggers

Some are pushing to make more helmets available on Little League pitching mounds.

Below is a video that WKRC TV produced in 2012

Teen Nearly Killed During A Game Is Ready To Play Again – Cole Schlesner shares his story

by Dan Timmerman and Tom Sackett,

Game 15 – Thursday April 23 Loveland at Hamilton HS

The Loveland Tigers traveled to Hamilton Thursday to play a non-league game against the Big Blue after a week of rainouts and reschedules which have apparently resulted in the forfeiture by Withrow- unable to field a team- of the 2 conference games which were to be played this week.

The Big Blue got off to a quick start in the 1^st on two hits after runners reached on a HPB and an error.  The Tigers got one of those runs back in their next turn when Adam Beran reached base on an infield single and was brought home on a triple by Josh Meszaros. Loveland took their first lead in the 4^th with a 2 out rally beginning with a single by Chris Sackett followed by back to back RBI doubles from Beran and Meszaros to go up 3-2. Hamilton answered in their half of the inning knotting the contest at 3 on 2 doubles of their own. Hamilton retook the lead in the 5^th on a BB followed by a double and a single to go up 4-3.

The Tigers came storming back in the 6^th putting runners at 1^st and 2^nd on a HBP to Jay Wilson and a single by Colton Lakes.  Sackett put down a perfect sacrifice bunt to put runners at 2^nd and 3^rd. After Beran walked to load the bases Meszaros hit a sacrifice fly to score Wilson. Pinch hitter Cade Woolston then delivered with a sharp single to left to score Lakes for a 5-4 lead. In the 7^th Loveland finished the scoring when Luke Waddell walked and then stole 2^nd and 3^rd and was brought home on a sacrifice fly by Lakes.

Drew Steinbrunner was the starting pitcher going 4 innings followed by Chris Dombroski, Jake Albin (W, 1-1) and Jacob Timmerman, with Trent Spikes getting the last 2 outs for a save.

With the win at Hamilton and the 2 forfeits by Withrow, Loveland’s record improves to 11-4 overall, 5-3 in the ECC.

Pitching: Steinbrunner 4 IP, Dombroski 1/3 IP, Albin (W, 1-1) 2/3 IP, Timmerman 1-1/3 IP, Spikes (SV, 1) 2/3 IP. Hitting: Meszaros 2-2, 2B, 3B, SF, 3 RBI; Lakes 2-3, 3B, R, RBI; Beran 2-3, 2B, 2 R; Sackett 1-2, BB, SB, R; Woolston 1-1, RBI; Waddell R; Wilson R.

Game 16 – Friday April 24 Loveland at Kings HS
The Loveland Tigers played at Kings Friday and came home with a 5-1 victory over the Knights.

Loveland got going in the 2nd scoring 2 runs on a single by Chris Sackett and a single Josh Meszaros. Drew Steinbrunner then reached on an error to load the bases and Cade Woolston singled scoring Sackett and Meszaros.

In the 3rd Kings scored their run on a lead-off double which went through the infield and down the right field line. A sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly later and Kings had narrowed the score to 2-1.

In the 4th Colton Lakes led off the inning with a double, advancing to 3rd on an error when the incoming throw got away from the covering infielder at second. Sackett then hit a fly ball which scored the tagging Lakes. In the 5th the Tigers completed the scoring on a walk to Steinbrunner and a Woolston single followed by an RBI single by Luke Waddell scoring Steinbrunner. Cal Conley then hit a sacrifice fly to score Woolston.
Jay Wilson(W) pitched a complete game for the Tigers yielding only 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 4.

Loveland is now 6-3 in the ECC, 12-4 overall.

Pitching: Wilson W, 2-1. Hitting: Woolston 2-3, R, 2 RBI; Lakes 2B; Meszaros 1-3, R; Sackett 1-2, R, RBI; Waddell 1-4, RBI; Conley SF, RBI.

by Dan Timmerman,

Game 9 – Tuesday April 14 vs. Walnut Hills at Roselawn Park Sports Complex

The Loveland Tigers got back on track Tuesday with a 5-3 win over Walnut Hills at the beautiful Roselawn Park Sports Complex.

The Tigers took a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the 1^st beginning with a lead-off double by Luke Waddell and a walk to Jay Wilson. After a wild pitch advanced both into scoring position, Colton Lakes drove them both in to score with a single.

The Eagles fought back in the bottom of the 3^rd on back to back singles, followed by 3 walks and an infield single to take a 3-2 lead.  But that lead was short lived as the Tigers tied the game in their next at bat on an RBI fielder’s choice by Cal Conley after Drew Steinbrunner walked, Cade Woolston was hit by a pitch and both advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Luke Waddell.  In the 6^th Loveland took the lead for good beginning with a walk to Woolston and a 2 run double into the left-center field fence by Conley.

After struggling in the 3^rd inning Drew Steinbrunner (W, 3-0) bounced back shutting out the Eagles from that point on into the 7^th to get the win before giving way to Chris Dombroski (SV, 2) who got the final 2 outs of the game to pick a save.

Loveland’s record improves to 2-1 in the ECC, 7-2 overall.

Pitching: WP- Steinbrunner 3-0, SV- Dombroski 1. Hitting: Waddell 2-4, 2B, 2 R; Conley 2B, 3 RBI; Lakes 1-2, 2 BB, 2 RBI; Steinbrunner 1-3, R.

Game 10 – Wednesday April 15 vs. Turpin at Dave Evans Field, LHS

The Loveland Tigers hosted Turpin Wednesday and won in a romp, 17-4.

Turpin got off to a fast start scoring 3 runs off Loveland’s Mitch Robinson (W, 2-1) in the top of the first inning.  But from that point on the sophomore pitcher settled in yielding only one unearned run in the 3^rd for a fine performance and earning his 2^nd win of the season.

Loveland got a run in the 1^st on a single by Jay Wilson, a wild pitch and an RBI single by Colton Lakes.  In the 3^rd the Tigers broke the game open sending 17 batters to the plate and scoring 11 runs. Singles by Luke Waddell, Cal Conley were followed by RBI singles by Lakes and Josh Meszaros.  Adam Beran singled. Chris Sackett brought Lakes home with a sacrifice fly.  Cade Woolston continued the hit parade with an RBI single plating Meszaros. Waddell walked in his second at bat of the inning scoring Beran. Conley followed with his second hit of the inning driving in Steinbrunner, Woolston and Waddell. Wilson knocked Conley in with a hit, Lakes and Meszaros were each hit by pitches. Wilson and Lakes scored on an error by the SS on a ball hit by Beran.

In the 4^th the Tigers put up 5 more runs beginning with a walk to Steinbrunner, a hit by Woolston and a single by Waddell. Conley singled again scoring Steinbrunner and Woolston.  Wilson doubled scoring Waddell and Conley.  Wilson advanced to 3^rd on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Meszaros.

Loveland’s record improves to 3-1 in the ECC, 8-2 overall.

Pitching: WP- Robinson 2-1. Hitting: Conley 3-4, 3 R, 5 RBI; Waddell 2-3, 3 R; Wilson 3-4, 3 R, 2 RBI; Lakes 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI; Woolston 2-3, 2 R, RBI; Beran 1-2, R, RBI; Meszaros R, RBI; Sackett RBI; Steinbrunner 2 R.

Game 11 – Thursday April 16 Loveland at Milford

The Milford Eagles continued their mastery over the Tigers with a 7-1 victory Thursday afternoon at Milford High School to sweep the season series. The Eagle offense scored a single run in every inning except the 2^nd, when they didn’t score, and the 3^rd when they scored 3.

The Tigers offense looked sharper against the than they did earlier in the week but were unable to string hits together and often saw hard hit balls go directly at a Milford fielder.  Loveland finally pushed their single run across the plate, down 6-0, in the 5^th on

Loveland’s record goes to 3-2 in the ECC, 8-3 overall.

Hitting:

Conley 3-4, 3 R, 5 RBI; Waddell 2-3, 3 R; Wilson 3-4, 3 R, 2 RBI; Lakes 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI; Woolston 2-3, 2 R, RBI; Beran 1-2, R, RBI; Meszaros R, RBI; Sackett RBI; Steinbrunner 2 R.

Game 12 – Friday April 17 Loveland at Turpin

The Loveland Tigers traveled to Turpin Friday for a game which went back and forth before losing to the Spartans, 6-5.

As happened on Wednesday Turpin once again got off to a quick start scoring 3 runs in the 1^st inning.  The Tigers got 1 of those back in the 2^nd when Colton Lakes doubled high off of the extended fence in left-center and then advanced to 3^rd on a wild pitch. A ground out by Josh Meszaros brought Lakes home.  In the 4^th Loveland scored another run when Jay Wilson crushed a Spartan offering over the right-center field fence for a home run to make the score 3-2. The Tigers took the lead in the 5^th beginning with a single by Chris Sackett and a sacrifice by Drew Steinbrunner moving Blake Schlesner, running for Sackett, to 2^nd.  Luke Waddell hit a clutch 2 out single to bring in Schlesner and tie the game at 3-3. Waddell then stole 2^nd and a pitch later 3^rd, coming home to score on a bad throw to 3^rd, to take a 4-3 lead.  Turpin tied the game in the bottom of the 5^th on a base hit after hit by pitch.  Loveland went up again in the top of the 6^th on an RBI double by Chris Sackett, after a HBP to Lakes and a walk to Adam Beran, scoring Lakes but with Beran getting thrown out at the plate. The Spartans tied the score at 6 with 2 doubles, then puched across the winning run in the 7^th on a clean single to left after the bases were loaded on 2 fielding errors and a walk.

Loveland’s record in the ECC evens at 3-3, 8-4 overall.

Hitting: Waddell 2-4, R, RBI; Wilson 1-4, HR, R, RBI; Lakes 1-2,2B, 2 R; Sackett 2-3, 2B, RBI; Steinbrunner 1-2, S: Schlesner R (PR for Sackett).

Loveland (3-2, 8-3) is now #7 in Division I in the Enquirer Coaches Poll and will play at Turpin today at 4:30 PM and then Monday at home against Withrow. You can see all the stats HERE at ECC Sports.

by Dan Timmerman,

Game 6– Monday to Tuesday, April 6-7 vs.  Walnut Hills HS at Dave Evans Field, Loveland

The Loveland Tigers defeated the Walnut Hills Eagles 5-1 in their first ECC game of the 2015 season.  The teams struggled with the rainy weather as much as they did with each other with 3 rain delays over 2 innings on Monday, the last of which pushing the contest to Tuesday, where it was concluded as a rain shortened complete game after 5-1/3 innings.  Monday saw Walnut Hills pitcher Cole Murphy (UC commit) with an early 1-0 lead and striking out all 6 of the Tigers batters he had faced.

When play resumed the next day Murphy was gone and the Tigers tied the game in the 3^rd when Cade Woolston reached first base on a dropped 3^rd strike and came all the way around to score on a double by Luke Waddell.  In the 4^th the Tigers took the lead when Chris Sackett reached on an error and then scored on another error during a rundown after being advanced past third base, but not quite to home plate, on a clutch 2 out double to right by Adam Beran.

In the 5^th inning the scoring concluded, as did the game a third of an inning later with the return of the rain.  Cal Conley reached base on an error followed by walks to Waddell and Jay Wilson. Colton Lakes then fought off a tough pitch muscling it into short right field scoring Conley and Waddell. After Sackett walked Beran followed with another base hit bringing in Wilson.

Drew Steinbrenner (W, 2-0) picked up his 2^nd straight win pitching all of the 3-1/3 innings on Wednesday limiting the Eagles to no runs and only 1hit while striking out 6.

WP:  Steinbrunner (2-0, 6 K’s).  Hitting:  Beran 2-3, 2B, RBI; Lakes 1-3, 2 RBI; Waddell 1-2, 2B, RBI.

Game 7– Saturday April 11 vs. Badin HS at Alumni Field, Hamilton

The Loveland Tigers suffered their first loss of the season in a non-league game on the road against Badin, 3-2.

Badin scored a run in the first on a couple of walks and a throwing error in the 1^st inning to take a 1-0 lead. Loveland took the lead in the top of the 3^rd on walks to Cal Conley and Luke Waddell followed by a double steal by those two. Conley them scored on a wild pitch to tie the score and Josh Meszaros knocked in Waddell with a double to take a 2-1 lead.

The score remained tied until the 6^th when Badin scored the decisive run on a walk and 2 singles, with the lead runner scoring, for a 3-2 lead and win.

Loveland’s record goes to 6-1 (1-0 ECC).

Hitting:  Meszaros 2-4, 2B, RBI; Conley 1-1, 2 BB, R; Waddell 2 BB, R.

Game 8 – Monday April 13 vs. Milford HS at Dave Evans Field, Loveland

The Loveland Tigers suffered their second consecutive loss of the season Monday and their first conference loss at the hands of the Loveland Eagles, 6-1.

Milford scored 3 runs in the 2^nd inning beginning with a homerun by Brad Hall to straightaway center.  A walk followed with that runner later advancing to third.  A fielder’s choice on a high chopper in the infield scored the runner and had the batter safe at first.  A double scored the 3^rd run of the inning for the Eagles. In the 4^th Milford added another run on a double, with the runner later advancing to third, and a sacrifice fly. In the 5^th the Eagles completed their scoring with a triple, double and single to take a 6-0 lead.

The Tigers mounted a rally in the 6^th loading the bases on a double by Luke Waddell, a single by Cal Conley and a walk to Jay Wilson.  Unfortunately a lighting alert delayed the game for 45 minutes slowing the Tiger’s momentum and when play resumed a sacrifice fly plating Waddell was the only run the rally would yield.

 Loveland’s record goes to 1-1 in the ECC, 6-2 overall.

Hitting: Waddell 2-4, 2B, R; Lakes RBI