Not many high school campuses could do what Oil City did Tuesday. They held four separate home events. On the diamonds, the Oilers had a rough day. The baseball team fell to Greenville, who put up a couple big innings in between a solid pitching effort. Up the hill the softball team was routed, but went seven innings against Grove City. One the tennis court the Oilers had a easy go of it against a near non-existent Rocky Grove tennis team. And on the track Oil City handled their Route 8 neighbors to the north - Titusville. |
Oil City's sports complex was a hotbed of competition
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By Lisa Renwick Rocky Grove, like many teams last year, was young. The Orioles started six freshmen in 2021 and finished the season at 7-12-1. Needless to say, head coach Kylie Allen is excited about the team’s potential with some experience now under its belt. “I am very excited about this year,” Allen said. “We had a young team last year with six freshmen starting and only lost two seniors. Now that they have a year under their belt, I am eager to see how their confidence and knowledge of the game have improved on the field.”
Lisa Renwick was a long-time sports reporter and sports editor for The Meadville Tribune. She recently took another job in order to spend time with her family and especially her daughter Brynlee who is entering kindergarten. Lisa loves softball and her coverage over the years has taken her all over the east coast. She has covered state champions and gone to the softball World Series. She has agreed to help us out Eight & 322 by keeping an eye on this spring season for us. We are thrilled to have her. By Lisa Renwick Michelle Hoovler’s expectations are fairly simple of her Oil City softball team. “My expectations for this year is for each girl to grow and improve,” said Hoovler, who has been with the Oilers since 2016. “I expect them to give it all they’ve got and leave it all on the field. If they can do that, we will win some games; and if they do that, win or lose I’ll be happy.” The Oilers do have some room to grow. Oil City is coming off an 0-18 campaign, scoring just 64 runs (3.6 per game) along the way. But the Oilers were also dealing with a very young team that consisted of two seniors. Hoovler and Co. have three seniors and five juniors this season, but are still heavy on underclassmen with nine freshmen and one sophomore.
Hoovler’s probable starters are as follows: Shalyn Whittemore (pitcher), Maddie Wenner (catcher), Maddy Marczak (first base), Payton Burk (second base), Abby Foley (third base), Libbie Arnink (shortstop), Mara Martinec (left field), Nyssa Hanlon (center field) and Ainslee Hulver (right field).
Lisa Renwick was a long-time sports reporter and sports editor for The Meadville Tribune. She recently took another job in order to spend time with her family and especially her daughter Brynlee who is entering kindergarten. Lisa loves softball and her coverage over the years has taken her all over the east coast. She has covered state champions and gone to the softball World Series. She has agreed to help us out Eight & 322 by keeping an eye on this spring season for us. We are thrilled to have her. Edited: Part of this story was inadvertently cutoff in an earlier post. By Lisa Renwick Twenty hits and 26 runs over just eight innings. Not a bad way for the Franklin Lady Knights to start defense of a District 10 championship. “Our expectations are to pick up where we left off last season,” said first-year head coach Chad Hoobler. “We have been preparing for another run at a region crown, district title and a state playoff berth.” Though new to the varsity head coaching position, Hoobler has an extensive coaching background. In fact, this is his 12th season coaching fastpitch softball. He coached Little League for five years and has spent the past seven years coaching club or travel ball as well as serving as the junior high assistant coach and head junior varsity coach at Franklin. Needless to say, Hoobler is no stranger to this Lady Knights squad and the talent it brings back from last year’s 17-6 squad. Among those back for the Knights, who beat Villa Maria 3-0 for the D-10 Class 4A title last year, are two players who batted over .400 and led all but one batting category for their team last year. Sydni Hoobler is back at shortstop after leading the Knights with a .481 batting average a year ago. She also had a team-best eight doubles, 41 runs and 26 stolen bases. She was also second on the team with two home runs. Ace Trinity Edge is also back. She hit .457 last season with team-bests in slugging percentage (.886) and home runs (five). Edge is also quite the pitcher. She was 13-5 last season with a 1.89 ERA. She struck out 164 batters in 111 innings of work. Also back is second baseman Brandy Atwell. The Knights do have some holes to fill following the graduation of all-region catcher ChristaRose Hawke, who hit .576 through 10 games before suffering an injury, third baseman Kayln Fry (.392, 25 RBIs) and center fielder Erin Janidlo (.320, 26 RBIs. But Hoobler is excited about the newcomers he has to fill those spots in Gabriella Laderer (CF) and Abigal Boland (3B/C). Those two are already figuring into the mix joining Edge (pitcher), Kristen Hicks (catcher), Gabriella Wimer (first base), Atwell (second base), Hoobler (shortstop), Rilee Hanna (left field) and Autumn Fitzgerald (right field) in the Knights’ probable starting lineup. Experience is just a part of the Knights’ strengths. “Some of our strengths will be our team speed and aggressiveness, potent offense, stingy defense and our experience,” Hoobler said. As far as obstacles? “Strong region and district competition are just a couple of obstacles that stand in our way,” Hoobler said. Franklin is once again Class 4A and will play in Region 4 with Oil City, Sharon, Jamestown, Titusville, Slippery Rock, Corry, Hickory and Grove City. The Knights have a big matchup on Saturday at Jamestown - the defending Class 3A champion. The Knights already have a 10-0 five inning win over Corry and a 16-1 three-inning win over Mercyhurst Prep. Note: Kirsten Hicks took over at catcher last year down the stretch as a freshman. She really stepped up filling in for their injured catcher and was rock-solid in the playoffs for the Knights.
Lisa Renwick was a long-time sports reporter and sports editor for The Meadville Tribune. She recently took another job in order to spend time with her family and especially her daughter Brynlee who is entering kindergarten. Lisa loves softball and her coverage over the years has taken her all over the east coast. She has covered state champions and gone to the softball World Series. She has agreed to help us out Eight & 322 by keeping an eye on this spring season for us. We are thrilled to have her.
Moreland was mowing the Maplewood Tigers down efficiently and with very few pitches. A little while later a weak bloop toward first base had Reese Henderson all outstretched to make a catch. The defense had the senior picher's back. It wasn't until the top of the fifth that a wicked grounder to third was gloved but just enough of a bobble to not be able to catch the runner at first. Moreland's perfect game was over. But his dominance in the Oriole shutout was not. The Orioles went on to win the ballgame 6-0 This team, that only lost one starter from last year, is looking like they are ready for this season.
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For a very comprehensive look ate Venango Sports visit our friend's website: yardsandpoints.com is a website dedicated the long history of the Oil City and Franklin football rivalry by former sports editor Penny Weichel. It is an amazing labor of love and valuable resource for history. It is our go-to here at 8and322.com. Categories |