Saturday, April 11th, 2009

Tie game kicks off 1959 season

By Robb Hemmelgarn
Talk about a bummer of a way to kick off the baseball season.
After waiting nearly a year since the final pitch in 1958, the 1959 season finally opened this week for the St. Henry Redskins and Celina Bulldogs at Mercelina Park in Celina.
The initial start date was booted back a few extra days to accommodate Mother Nature's wrath, and when it finally commenced, the teams battled for four hours before ending in a tie. Celina lefty Bruce VanTilburg opened the season on the mound for the Bulldogs, as he squared off against St. Henry hurler Linus Hartings.
The Redskins took early advantage of VanTilburg's wild arm, as they jumped in front 2-0 through two innings of action. The Bulldogs managed to score their first run in the bottom of the third and tied things up at two runs in the fourth inning before pulling ahead with two more scores in the fifth inning.
St. Henry answered with two runs in the sixth to knot the game at four, but prior to the start of the seventh inning, coaches Dick Volk and Joe Zigovits agreed to call it a draw.
• This week in 1984, the area opened up Midwest Athletic Conference baseball action, with the favored teams of the season all nabbing victories. The Coldwater Cavaliers, Parkway Panthers, and St. Henry Redskins were all victorious on the afternoon, while the Marion Local Flyers, Minster Wildcats, Mendon-Union Pirates, and Celina Bulldogs all slipped. Left-hander Mike Wolters helped the Cavaliers move to 5-0 on the year as he held Marion Local scoreless in his team's 8-0 win. In Minster, Parkway's Kerry Roehm slammed three base hits as the Panthers downed Minster 9-3 for their third straight win. At Mendon, St. Henry picked up their first win of the young season with 12-hit, 25-0 shutout over the Pirates, while Celina suffered their first loss in four games after falling to the Elida Bulldogs by a final of 10-3.
• Ten years ago this week, the executive board of the Midwest Athletic Conference, consisting of commissioner Phil Schumann and each of the schools athletic directors and administrators, met to discuss to possibilities of the league expanding by two teams. Sidney Lehman and Lima Central Catholic each made inquiries in February requesting possible admission into the conference, but the issue was tabled indefinitely after those in attendance decided that they were not going to support any additions at this time. Within the next two years, the issue resurfaced and the entry of the Versailles Tigers was approved for all sports, while Sidney Lehman and Lima Central Catholic were once again denied.
---
If anyone has any story ideas for thePassport to History series, please contact Robb Hemmelgarn at robb_hemmelgarn@yahoo.com.
Additional online story on this date
Show continues today at America's Best Value Inn
It's hard to separate the boys from their toys, and childhood memories flooded Rich Phillips' mind as he spread out a display of several large metal construction toys on a table at the Antique Toy Roadshow. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
The total net assets of Celina City Schools increased 21 percent from fiscal year 2007 to 2008, according to the state audit released this week.
Th
The county is seeking a $50,000 federal grant to help a local agency provide job transportation for low-income and welfare residents.
Mercer County
$575,000 project involves numerous streets in the village
CHICKASAW - Road work will resume following Easter according to reports presented during Tuesday night's Chickasaw Village Council meeting.
The wo
Distinguished developer awards were presented during the annual Marion Community Development Organization annual meeting. The event was held Sunday at the Maria Stein American Legion hall.
ST. MARYS - Kayla Thornsberry will take her strong pitching game to Cedarville University next season as the St. Marys senior pitching ace signed with the NAIA school based in Greene County east of Dayton.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
The Celina track squad swept the team titles at the Kenton Relays on Thursday at Robinson Field in Hardin County.