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Kevin Kelly reports:

Chuck Harlow was going to allow himself and his players from Clayton Northmont until 2 p.m. Friday to savor what they accomplished Thursday.

“Until 2 o’clock, it’s a party going on,” the Thunderbolts coach said.

Northmont pulled off what few anticipated Thursday, handing top-ranked Mason a 6-1 loss in a Division I regional semifinal that will stand as the Comets’ first and final defeat of the season.

The Thunderbolts (23-7) advance to the regional final where they will play Moeller at 5 p.m. Friday at Marge Schott Stadium.

The defending Division I state champion Crusaders defeated Lakota East in Thursday’s early game.

“Moeller’s been there many times and we’re Cinderella,” Harlow said. “But we’re a Cinderella that’s working pretty hard. We’re going to show up tomorrow, I can tell you that.”

Mason’s undoing was four-run top of the first by Northmont. In an uncharacteristic display from a team that had allowed just four runs combined over its previous seven games, the Comets (26-1) made three errors, issued two walks and hit a batter.

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Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: baseball, clayton northmont, comets, mason, mason high school, moeller, regional semifinal, thunderbolts, undefeated

Kevin Kelly reports:The Enquirer

Mason, the No. 1 team in the state according to the Ohio baseball coaches’ poll, remains undefeated (26-0) and captured its first district title since 2010 in a 3-1 win over Milford on Saturday afternoon at Centerville.

The Comets were impressive again behind the pitching of senior T.J. Zeuch (Pittsburgh signee) who threw a complete game three-hitter with 11 strikeouts.

Junior left fielder T.J. Dunn and junior third baseman Connor Bryan made the difference offensively. Both went 2-for-3 and Dunn belted his second home run of the season while Bryan added a two-run single in the fourth.

Mason will meet Northmont in a regional semifinal on Thursday at the University of Cincinnati.

The Comets haven’t won a regional title since 1987, according to coach Ken Gray.

“We feel confident in our chances every game,” said Gray. “Now everyone’s 0-0 on the season and they’ve bought into it and put the work in.”

Softball

Mason 8, Fairfield 3, Division I district final: Mason won its second consecutive district title behind junior pitcher Tory Stewart’s complete game with eight strikeouts. Senior shortstop Samantha Hayner and sophomore third baseman Gabby LaSala each went 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Mason will play Northmont in a regional semifinal on Thursday at 5 p.m. at a location to be determined.

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: baseball, Connor Bryan, district title, gabby lasala, ken gray, mason, mason high school, milford, softball, sports, tj dunn, tj zeuch, undefeated

Kevin Kelly reports:

The baseball season isn’t over, but Mason has finished as the state No. 1 in Division I.

The Comets received 23 first-place votes in the final Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association state poll released Monday. Moeller was No. 2 and Lakota East was No. 6.

“It’s an excellent honor for our student athletes,” Mason coach Ken Gray said. “They deserve the credit. They’ve really worked hard.

“As a coaching staff we kind of figure we’re just going along for the ride with them. Those guys have gone out and worked their tail ends off and they’ve had some success because of that.”

The Comets (24-0) finished the regular season undefeated for the first time and became the first Greater Miami Conference team to go 18-0 in conference play. Ranked No. 19 nationally by the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 rankings, they also won The Enquirer Division I area baseball coaches’ poll.

Mason plays Ross in a district semifinal at 5 p.m. Thursday at Harrison and Gray said he’s leaning toward starting senior right-hander Andrew McDonald, who is 6-0 with a 1.06 ERA this season. Mason was scheduled to scrimmage Harrison on Monday.

In the Division III state poll, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (CHCA) finished No. 3 behind Ontario and Carlisle. Badin was No. 11 and Madeira was No. 17. Cincinnati Christian finished No. 8 in the Division IV state poll.

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: baseball, comets, ken gray, mason, mason high school, ohio high school baseball coahes association, state poll

Mason Drew Johnson (2) congratulated by teammates after scoring on Rodney Hutchison single up second base against Princeton in the first inning on April 25, 2013. The Enquirer/ Joseph Fuqua II

Mike Dyer reports:

Longtime Mason baseball coach Ken Gray knew the Comets would have a special team this spring but he didn’t believe it would be undefeated going into its sectional opener earlier this month

Mason (24-0) is the only undefeated team in the state coaches’ association poll regardless of division. The Comets won their second straight Greater Miami Conference title this spring.

Mason defeated Northwest 11-1 in the Division I sectional Thursday.  The Comets face off at 5 p.m. Thursday against Ross at Harrison.

Mason is not only ranked No. 1 in the Division I state coaches’ poll, but the Comets are No. 19 nationally by the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 rankings.

The Comets are hitting .371 as a team and have a 1.38 ERA as a pitching staff. Besides McDonald, pitchers TJ Zeuch (Pittsburgh), Rodney Hutchison and Seth Bowles (Ohio Dominican) have been very efficient. Zeuch is 6-0 with a 0.80 ERA. Bowles leads the GMC with seven wins. He has a 1.10 ERA.

“We just got to keep playing efficient baseball,” said Gray, who has over 760 career wins. “…They are great kids to work with.”

Offensively, Mason has been led by several players including RJ Thompson (.500 batting average), Lee Sponseller (.431), Drew Johnson (.431) and Connor Bryan (.404).

Senior Connor McVey, the 2012 GMC player of the year, has also been the “glue that holds us together,” according to Gray.

“He has made numerous great defensive plays at opportune times, at shortstop to get big outs in critical innings,” Gray said. “He also has had several key hits for us.”

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: baseball, coach, Connor Bryan, connor mcvey, drew jackson, ken gray, lee sponseller, mason, mason high school, northwest, RJ Thompson, Rodney Hutchison, ross, Seth Bowles, sports, tj zeuch, undefeated

The Enquirer

Oak Hills, ranked No. 2 in The Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll, beat No. 3 Mason 1-0 in a softball game Thursday evening.

The Highlanders captured their first Greater Miami Conference title in school history.

Oak Hills senior Lauren Slatten (Texas signee) had 15 strikeouts and recorded her 12th shutout of the season. Slatten leads the GMC with 273 strikeouts this season.

Senior second baseman Sam Sager drove in the game’s only run in the bottom of the fifth inning for the Highlanders.

In baseball news, Mason clinched the GMC with a perfect 22-0 record. Senior TJ Zeuch struck out nine to improve to 6-0.

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: baseball, comets, lady comets, mason high school, oak hills, softball

Mason Connor Mcvey (4) scored on Drew Johnson single to center field against Princeton in the first inning. Mason High School battles Princeton High School in a baseball game Gower park Thursday April 25, 2013 in Sharonville. The Enquirer/ Joseph Fuqua II

Kevin Kelly reports:

In his postgame remarks to his players Thursday, Princeton baseball coach Rick Wilson used Mason as an example of what the Vikings are striving to become.

Mason breezed to an 11-1 victory in five innings against Princeton at Gower Park and remains undefeated this season.

“They don’t look like a super overpowering team, but they’re not going to beat themselves,” Wilson said. “They’re going to hit one through nine. They’re going to have solid pitching, solid defense, and I think they’ve got a legitimate chance to bang heads with Moeller.

• Photos: Mason defeats Princeton

“Moeller is the defending state champs, so they’re the big dog until you knock them off. But these guys, they’ve got a legitimate chance to make a good tournament run, if not win a state title.”

Ranked No. 1 in The Enquirer’s Division I area baseball coaches’ poll, Mason improved to 15-0 with the victory. Princeton dropped to 4-12.

The Comets were led by senior shortstop Connor McVey, who went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI, and senior pitcher Seth Bowles. The right-hander (5-0) allowed one run on four hits over four innings.

“I think people are starting to take notice,” said McVey, who will play college ball at UC. “But we’re still playing with that chip on our shoulder. We still have to prove ourselves. We haven’t won anything.”

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Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: andrew mcdonald, baseball, chris martin, comets, connor mcvey, drew johnson, ken grey, lee sponseller, mason, mason high school, princeton, sports, tj zeuch, vikings

The new Reds Hall of Fame Grille at Kings Island. The Enquirer/Tony Jones

Kings Island is hoping to hit a homerun with its new Reds Hall of Game Grille opening this season.

The Reds-themed restaurant — located in the former Rivertown Junction buffet restaurant — features Hall of Fame memorabilia, framed jerseys and photos and other bits of Reds history, dating back to the 1880s, while video highlights from World Series, playoffs and other games play on TVs through the restaurant.

On the menu: burgers, wings, Montgomery Inn pulled pork, baby back ribs, Saratoga chips, wraps, salads, desserts, draft beer and wine.  Full restaurant?  No worries.  Leave a cell phone number and you’ll be sent a text when your table is ready.

• Photos & Video: Inside KI’s Reds Hall of Fame Grille

“One of the things our guests have been asking for for a number of years is a full-service, sit-down restaurant,” said Don Helbig, park spokesman.  ”No matter where you sit, you’re  going to see something different.”

Community reporter Rachel Richardson, Butler/Warren Editor Bill Cieslewicz, photographer Tony Jones, freelance photographer Tony Tribble and entertainment reporter Shauna Steigerwald got a first taste of the grille.

Click through to see what we sampled:

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Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Kings Island |

Tags: Tags: amusement park, baseball, cincinnati reds, dining, food, ki, kings island, mason, new, reds, reds hall of fame grille, restaurant, review, theme park

The second annual Reds Futures High School Showcase continues through Monday.

The showcase features 64 of the top high school baseball teams from Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana playing 32 games from March 25 to April 15 at area ballparks.

This weekend’s line up features LaSalle against Moeller at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, followed by Elder against St. Xavier at 7 p.m.

On Friday, Lakota West will battle Princeton at 5 p.m., followed by Lakota East against Mason at 7 p.m. and Fairfield versus Middletown at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday’s and Friday’s game will be held at Prasco Park. The 550-seat stadium is on the corporate campus of Prasco Laboratories at 6125 Commerce Ct., Mason.

On Monday, Kings will face off against Loveland at 4:30 p.m. at Kings High School, while Harrison plays Talawanda at 4:30 p.m. at Harrison High School.

Prasco Park admission is free and open to the public. Tickets for Monday’s games are $5 and include all games on that day, along with a voucher for a ticket to a future Reds’ game and a coupon for a free Skyline cheese coney.

Posted in: Events, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: baseball, harrison high school, kings high school, lakota, mason, prasco park, reds futures high school showcase, sports

Mike Dyer reports:

Mason senior shortstop Connor McVey committed to the UC baseball program today, according to Mason coach Ken Gray.

McVey, the GMC player of the year in 2012, was an Enquirer Division I all-area selection. He helped lead the Comets to a GMC title.

“I have been coaching for 40 years,” Gray said. “He’s as good of a position player that I have ever coached.”

McVey also had offers from NKU and Western Illinois. McVey hit .393 with 27 runs scored, 33 hits, six doubles, a home run, 16 RBI and 13 stolen bases last season for the Comets.

Mason is considered one of the area’s top teams entering this spring led by McVey and others including three standout pitchers TJ Zeuch (Pittsburgh), Andrew McDonald (Virginia Tech) and Seth Bowles (Ohio Dominican). The baseball season starts March 30 in Ohio with practice allowed to begin officially on Feb. 25.

Posted in: Sports |

Tags: Tags: baseball, comets, commits, connor mcvey, ken gray, mason, mason high school, university of cincinnati

Catch up on the latest recruiting news from Mason High School.

• Mason senior pitcher Seth Bowles has offers from Centre College and Thomas More, according to Mason baseball coach Ken Gray.  Bowles also has interest from Mount Vernon and Bellarmine.
• Mason junior pitcher Chris Martin was offered by Kent State and Miami University last week, according to Gray.  Martin was offered by UC earlier this year, Gray said.
• Mason senior defensive back Corey Quallen is expected to visit UC in the next couple of weeks, according to Mason coach Brian Castner.  Quallen has an offer from the Bearcats and collected offers from Mid-American Conference schools this summer.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: baseball, chris martin, comets, corey quallen, football, ken gray, mason, mason high school, offer, pitcher, Seth Bowles, sports, uc