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Mason sisters Ally and Maggie King, who are with the Elevation Volleyball Club, Todd Rogers, who won the 2008 gold medalist and the Cincinnati Open on three occasions, Mason Mayor David Nichols and AVP owner Donald Sun visited the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason Wednesday to announce that the AVP is returning to the venue for the first time since 2009. The Enquirer/Adam Kiefaber

Adam Kiefaber reports:

Posted in: News, Sports |

Tags: Tags: association of volleyball professionals, avp, david nichols, donald sun, labor day, lindner family tennis center, mason, sports, todd rogers, volleyball

Tom Lichtenberg at the 50th anniversary-reunion of Mason High’s first football team, which he started from scratch and coached when he was 22 years old, just out of the University of Louisville. / Photo courtesy of Terry Lichtenberg, Tom’s brother

John Erardi reports:

Posted in: Community, News, Sports |

Tags: Tags: coach, comets, death, died, football, mason, mason high school, obituary, sports, tom lichtenberg

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

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

Mason girls’ lacrosse. Photo provided

Mike Dyer reports:

The Mason girls lacrosse team completed its regular season with a 15-0 record Monday night in a win over visiting St. Ursula.

Mason won the game 17-6 on Senior Night.

The South Region final will be at Sycamore May 23 and could be Mason vs. Sycamore, according to Mason coach Paul Limpert. That winner goes to the state final four.

Mason defeated Sycamore in the regular season for only the second time in program history, Limpert said.

“Sycamore is Mason’s main rival and both teams fully expect to be in the regionals on the 23rd, any other outcome would involve a major upset,” Limpert said.

From Mason sports information director Dan Hilen:

Possession was once again the key from the start of play at the draw where Jackie Leitch led the way with 4 draw controls followed closely by Lindsey Zeltwanger, Casey Lawson, Allie Specht and Emily Ketron with 3 each, and Monica Vermillion kept the carpet clean with a season high 6 ground balls.

Scoring was co-led by Lindsey Zeltwanger (5 goals) and Brianna Manns (3 goals, 2 assists) with 5 points each, followed closely by Allie Specht with 4 points on 3 goals and 1 assist. The Lady Comets start tournament play on May 15th at home against the winner of the Walnut Hills vs Lakota East first round game.

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: allie specht, brianna manns, casey lawson, comets, emily ketron, girls lacrosse, jackie leitch, lacrosse, lady comets, lindsey zeltwanger, mason, mason high school, monica vermillion, paul limpert, sports, undefeated

Kevin Kelly reports:

When the Mason boys’ lacrosse team traveled to top-ranked Upper Arlington to play the defending state champions on Friday, coach Randy Hubbard’s players were determined to return home with a signature victory.

The Comets improved to 9-0 this season with a 6-5 victory.

“It’s a great one considering how long Upper Arlington has had lacrosse and how many state championships they have won,” Hubbard said. “It really has kind of boosted our kids’ confidence a little bit that we can go up there and do that.”

The Comets are now ranked No. 1 in the state by LaxPower.com and play Mariemont on Wednesday before facing a pair of Indiana powerhouses in Carmel and Culver Academies on Friday and Saturday. Culver Academies is ranked No. 1 in Indiana by LaxPower.com and Carmel is No. 3.

Mason has reached the state semifinals twice in the past three seasons. Its success this season isn’t attributable to one player, Hubbard said.

Seniors Tom Hirsch (attack), Adam Osika (midfield) and DeClan O’Grady (attack) are leading the way on offense while seniors Joey Leitch and Luke Biggers and junior Ben Randall have anchored the defense. In goal, junior Steven Glandorf finished with 12 saves against Upper Arlington.

The girls’ lacrosse team from Mason is enjoying an equally stellar season.

Led by coach Paul Limpert, the Comets are 13-0 and ranked No. 2 in the state by LaxPower.com with two regular season games remaining against Ursuline on Thursday and St. Ursula on Monday.

“There’s a lot more work to do,” he said. “Our goal is to get beyond regionals and get up to state this year. I think we have a team that can do that.”

The Comets have five players with 20 or more points this season led by juniors Tori Blakeman (36 goals, 19 assists), Allie Specht (37 goals, 14 assists) and Lindsey Zeltwanger (33 goals, 16 assists). Limpert said the team is doing a better job gaining control of the ball at the draw circle.

“A lot of different people are stepping up there,” Limpert said. “Jackie Leitch has really done well in that department and she’s helped us maintain over 60 percent of the draws, which has always been our goal but we’ve never been able to do that….We’re really taking care of the ball where it matters, and I think it has a lot to do with the maturity of this team.”

Posted in: Uncategorized |

Tags: Tags: Adam Osika, allie specht, ben randall, boys lacrosse, comets, declan o'grady, jackie leitch, joey leitch, lacrosse, laxpower.com, lindsey zeltwanger, luke biggers, mariemont, mason, mason high school, paul limpert, randy hubbard, sports, steven glandorf, tom hirsch, tori blakeman

Mike Dyer reports:

Mason junior forward Jack Clark verbally committed to UC, according to Mason soccer coach Paul Reedy.

Clark, The Enquirer Division I player of the year last season, had 20 goals and nine assists for the Comets.

He was first-team all-Greater Miami Conference, the conference’s player of the year, first-team all-district and first-team all-state. Clark also had interest from Kentucky, Dayton and Lehigh, according to Reedy.

Mason junior guard Jenna Gunn verbally committed to play at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, according to Mason coach Rob Matula.

Gunn was a District 15 Coaches’ Association underclassmen selection, first-team all-Greater Miami Conference and Associated Press Division I special mention all-district. She averaged 12.9 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Comets last season.

Posted in: Sports |

Tags: Tags: basketball, comets, jack clark, jenna gunn, mason, mason high school, soccer, sports

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.”

(more…)

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

Mason teammates wait at home plate to congratulated Tory Stewart (12) after Stewart hit a two run home run to left field against Oak Hills in the 6th inning. Mason won 3-0 over Oak Hills. The Enquirer/ Joseph Fuqua II

The Enquirer

Macy Hubbard walked and stole a base to lead off the sixth inning before coming around to score on Meg Warren’s RBI single to break a scoreless tie and help Mason’s softball team knock off Oak Hills 3-0.

• Photos from the game

Tory Stewart struck out nine batters over seven innings to earn the victory and moved to 8-3 on the year, while also drilling a two-run home run to extend the Mason lead to 3-0 in the sixth.

Stewart outdueled Lauren Slatten, who finished with 11 strikeouts, to help third-ranked Mason move to 9-3 on the year.

Oak Hills, ranked No. 2 in the Enquirer coaches’ poll, falls to 8-2 with the loss.

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: comets, girls softball, macy hubbard, mason, mason high school, meg warren, oak hills, softball, sports

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