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Bibler Steps Down At Valley

AKRON - Scott Bibler resigned as Tippecanoe Valley's head football coach today, citing his family as the reason. Bibler, a 1982 Valley grad and a 1986 graduate of Taylor University where he played baseball for two years and football for four, was 98-68 in 16 years as the Vikings' head coach.He led Valley to a sectional championship in 1992. "It was a tough decision," said Bibler."But I had to put my family first and they're getting older and involved in more things that I want to be around for. Bibler and his wife Stephanie, have two daughters, Chelsea and Megan, who are involved in numerous extracurricular activates. "Maybe in the future I can come back and get involved in coaching again but you can't go back and be a dad again," said Bibler.
DANIEL RIORDAN, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Plymouth Track Team Ends Warsaw's NLC Streak

When Warsaw girls track and field coach Paul Boyd looks at Plymouth in 2001, he sees Warsaw in 2000. "Plymouth," he said, "is having the kind of year we had last year." Last year Warsaw went 6-0 and won the Northern Lakes Conference title.After winning a three-way Wednesday meet with Goshen and Warsaw, Plymouth is halfway to this year's NLC title. Plymouth scored 80, Warsaw 55 and Goshen 21.Plymouth finished 6-0 in the NLC, but the NLC Tournament takes place next week, and the tournament figures into the final standings as well. One streak continued and one ended last night.Plymouth moved its overall record to 11-0, while Warsaw's 14-meet NLC win streak dating back to 1999 ended.Warsaw fell to 8-6 overall and 5-1 in the NLC. Should Plymouth perform well at the tournament and win the NLC title, it will be the first NLC girls track and field title in school history.
Jeff Holsinger, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Tigers Stop Plymouth's Streak

Craig Helfrich opened a newspaper and read the story, the one about Plymouth's 29 straight wins in the Northern Lakes Conference. The Warsaw coach had one message for his softball team before Tuesday's home game against Plymouth: End the streak and show people our program is good, too. The Tigers did, edging the Pilgrims 2-1.Plymouth last lost a Northern Lakes Conference game in 1997.One girl, pitcher Lisa Mattke, provided 26 of the wins, but she now starts at third base for Indiana University. "We came into the season feeling as if we were still the team to beat because we won the conference last year," Plymouth coach Kevin Gardner said. "It was quite a streak.All these kids weren't even here when it started." Warsaw improved to 9-4 overall and 6-0 in the NLC, while Plymouth fell to 6-5 overall and 3-1 in the conference.
Jeff Holsinger, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Curse On The Cubs Feeling Real

I really do feel a bit of sympathy for Cubs fans. I am a Cardinals fan, so I guess I am not shedding tears over my divisional rivals Cubs' collapse in the National League Championship Series. And frankly, I can't count myself as a huge baseball fan. I rarely, if ever, watch a game from beginning to end. I look at box scores once in a while and the standings once a week or so. But when the playoffs come around, I find it a little more interesting and actually start watching a little more. It was painful to watch the Cubs.That's saying quite a lot coming from a Cardinals fan. I really am beginning to believe the Cubs are cursed, although I am not taken to believing in curses, spells, incantations and such things. But come on. How can you lose three games in a row with two of them on your home field? On top of that, the Cubs were throwing Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, who are inarguably two of the best pitchers on the planet.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Squires 'Ring' In New Season With Sweep

SYRACUSE - The sting of last year's 3-20 season for Manchester was erased with one swing of Derek Ring's bat Saturday. With the Squires trailing Wawasee (a sectional champion last year) 3-0 in the third inning, Ring unloaded a three-run home run to right field against Warrior starter Farhan Haq to tie the score at 3-3. Manchester (2-0) went on to outscore Wawasee 17-1 to sweep a doubleheader from the Warriors (1-2) 8-4 and 12-0. "I think more than anything, our mental approach was right there," Manchester coach Ron Eberly said."We got down in the first game and then came right back.You can't measure the importance of Derek's first one (home run).We are down three, he ties it and everybody is lifted.The momentum was big." After that big home run, Ring continued to be a thorn in Wawasee's side, adding another home run in the second game.On the day, Ring was 4 for 5 with eight runs batted in.
Greg Jones, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Wrestler Kevin Carr Wins State Title

INDIANAPOLIS - Wawasee's Kevin Carr wrestled his way to the 160-pound state championship at Market Square Arena Saturday to conclude his high school career and bring a second state championship to the Carr family. Carr's brother, Jason, won a state title last year.Kevin is Wawasee's fifth state champion. Teammate Chet Wortinger placed third at 119 pounds, and Jamie Salazar finished in seventh place at 275 pounds. For Warsaw, Matt Zellers took fifth place at 152 pounds while his teammates, Adam Harter (112) and Joey Navarro (275), were each eliminated after first-round losses. Kevin Carr. Kevin Carr reached the finals by winning his first match Friday in a 9-3 decision over Chad Wilkerson of Whiteland.Ê Carr's next opponent was Justin Benge of Calumet, who had a record of 35-4.Carr took it to Benge, scoring a convincing 10-1 major decision to advance to the semifinal round.
Jim Brenneman, Times-Union Sports Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Leesburg's Craig Justice Bowls 300 -ÊAgain

LEESBURG -ÊFor the second time in just over four months, Leesburg's Craig Justice bowled a 300 game. Justice, who bowled a 300 back on Nov.15, bowled his second YABA-sanctioned 300 game at Warsaw Bowl last Saturday in his junior league. Justice backed up his 300 game with a 279 and 210 for a 789 series to just miss his first 800 series. "I got to the center late and only got to throw two shadow balls but was able to string the next 16 in a row before a nine-pin leave broke my run," he said."I was happy to get my second 300 but also disappointed for not shooting my first 800 series." Justice has been on a roll the last 1-1/2 months, winning his first Kegler Open in division one in Kokomo on March 15.He led the field from start to finish, shooting a 1,411 scratch for the first six games and 216 in the final match to take home first place.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

College Roundup

The Grace College golf team hosted the Mid-Central Conference Golf match Saturday at Rozella Ford Golf Course and finihed with a seventh-place finish. Jon Nixon led the Lancers with an 80, and Blake Shook had an 83.Cory Monesmith finished the day with an 84. INDIANA WESLEYAN 298, MARIAN 306, GOSHEN 312, TAYLOR 315, ST.FRANCIS 315, BETHEL 318, GRACE 332, HUNTINGTON 375 Medalists - 1.Kyle Chin (Indiana Wesleyan) 68, 2.Chad Speer (Marian) 74, 3.Bobby Spoonster (Indiana Wesleyan) 75 Indiana Wesleyan -ÊKyle Chin 34-34 68, Ryan Atayworth 39-42 81, Bobby Spoonster 36-39 75, Rob Angle 36-39 75, Adam Renbarger 39-42 81, Josh Millspaugh 42-38 80. Grace College results -ÊJon Nixon 40-40 80, Darren Parker 43-42 85, Blake Shook 42-41 83, Matt Stoltzfus 45-41 86, Pete Gross 43-46 89, Cory Monesmith 47-37 84.
Times-Union Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Careful What You Ask For

The old adage "Be careful what you ask for, you may get it" comes to mind as I listen to the ululations of the GOP over the line-item veto. Most GOP lawmakers favored giving the president the power of the pen.But now, since the president has wielded the pen, things are different. Take Sen.Robert Bennett, R-Utah.He campaigned for passage of the line-item veto, but now he's saying that maybe it was a bad idea.He is reported to have said he is "prepared to reconsider" his position. Why? Well, a $12.7 million Army Reserve project in his district was one of the projects that got the ax. Sen.Ted Stevens, R-Ala., termed Clinton's veto an "arrogant use of power" and says he may back a line-item repeal. At least Stevens didn't lose any appropriations from his district.Makes him sound a little more sincere. In the House, the wailing and gnashing of teeth wasn't quite as pronounced, but it was still heard.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

KOUTS - The chant from the student section reverberated throughout the cracker box gym, a gym with a low ceiling and 11 rows of seating on each side of the basketball floor.

No, Triton couldn't stop Ricky Hise, and 11 times the student section let the Trojans know it.Hise scored 30 points on 11-of-22 shooting as Kouts (18-5) ended Triton's season 72-43 at Wednesday's Kouts Regional. Not a bad night for a 6-foot-2 sophomore. "He averages 21," Triton boys basketball coach Joe Bennett said."He's legitimate offensively.He's only a sophomore, but he doesn't play like one.He has very good offensive skills." And not a bad night for a 6-2 sophomore who wasn't healthy. "Rick was questionable coming into tonight," 18th-year Kouts coach Marty Gaff said."He hurt his back Monday and didn't practice [Tuesday].He was slow getting started, but once he got started, he went.He took the game over offensively in the third quarter." Hise, whose name rhymes with nice, got off to a rocky start as he hit just 3 of 11 field goals for eight first-half points.When the half ended, Kouts held a 32-23 lead.
"You can't stop him," the Kouts students chanted after each made field goal.- | July 28, 2016

Everyone, Now: Will Maris' Record Fall?

OK, let's get this one out of the way: Will anyone hit 62 home runs to pass Roger Maris' record of 61 in 1961? Yes, it will happen.The only question left is, when? 1998 seems as good as any.Maris hit 61 in an expansion year.1998 is an expansion year.The Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays start play this year. Some records are untouchable: Cy Young's 511 wins and Cal Ripken's 2,478 consecutive-games played (and counting) are two that come to mind. Sixty-one home runs is not untouchable.Too many players have threatened deep into the season.Cincinnati's George Foster hit 52 home runs in 1977.The next player to reach 50? That happened 13 years later, Cecil Fielder with 51 in 1990. Now it's nothing for guys to hit 45 or 50 home runs. Two players are always popular candidates in the will-anyone-break-Roger Maris'-record poll: Seattle center fielder Ken Griffey Jr.and St.Louis first baseman Mark McGwire.
Jeff Holsinger, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Playing The Politics Of Vilification

You know, if everything political candidates say is true, we are in some serious trouble. I mean, really, each and every one of them tells horror stories about their opponents. Has anybody been watching those Jill Long Thompson and Chris Chocola ads? My word. I am waiting for the "My opponent kicks dogs, slaps small children and trips little old ladies at the bus stop" ads to come out. It's gone from bizarre to ridiculous to absurd. If these people were really as bad as they make each other out to be, there would be no one capable of holding office. It seems Third District candidates Rigdon and Souder have kept it a little more civil than lots of other House and Senate races.I have actually read about some issues in the faxes they send. But those guys are the exception.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Area Softball Teams Trying To Reverse Fortunes

The Whitko Wildcats enter the 2005 softball season as the only area team with a winning record from last year.The Wildcats, led by head coach Marla Burkhart, went 21-8 and advanced to the regional final before falling to a tough Bellmont squad, 6-0. Whitko loses its top two hitters in Dana Sellers and Stacy Socha to graduation.Sellers led the team with 38 hits while driving in 24 RBI.Socha had the team's only home run last year and batted a whopping .434 while driving in a team-high 28 RBI. Leah Winger and Hannah VanHoozen will be looked upon to take over the brunt of the offensive production.Winger, a senior shortstop, hit .319 and was second on the team in runs with 30.VanHoozen racked up 16 RBI last year and will be looked upon to drive in Winger and her fellow Wildcats.
Daniel Riordan, Times-Union- | July 28, 2016

Tiger Boys Win Sectional Opener

WATERLOO - A team short on sectional experience, Warsaw's varsity boys basketball team cashed in at the charity stripe Wednesday evening and now has its longest winning streak of the season. Only senior Michael Wienhorst had any major postseason experience prior to last night, but the Tigers used clutch free throw shooting in the fourth quarter and downed East Noble 70-55 in the opening round of the Class 4A DeKalb Sectional. Warsaw hit 18 of 22 free throws in the fourth quarter and finished the game 25 of 33 at the stripe. "We've been a pretty good free throw shooting team," said third-year Warsaw coach Doug Ogle."We were 5 of 9 at one point.To finish at the free throw line like we did is pretty good." Junior Colin Clemens was 10 of 10 at the charity stripe, all of which came in the fourth quarter, while Wienhorst was 7 of 9 from the line.
Dale Hubler, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Grace Pounds Goshen In Baseball

WINONA LAKE - The Grace College baseball team pounded out 26 hits in two games and held Goshen College to just 12 hits as the Lancers swept a doubleheader with the Maple Leafs 16-3 and 5-3, extending their winning streak to four games. Chad Newhard, Greg Hannah and John Kessinger all hit home runs in the opener as the Lancers scored 16 runs in four innings.Hannah's blast was a grand slam in the middle of an eight-run fourth that gave the Lancers a five-inning 10-run rule victory. Hannah drove in five runs in the game, while Newhard and Mike Cox each drove home three runs.John Edwards threw all five innings to get the complete game victory for the Lancers. In game two, Mike Cox hit a bases loaded triple in the first inning as the Lancers went ahead 3-0.Andy Manes hit a solo homer in the third and Cox scored on a single by Edwards in the same inning to give Grace a 5-0 lead.
Jason Knavel, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Bethel Outlasts Lancers

WINONA LAKE - The Grace College baseball team dropped two games to Bethel Wednesday afternoon at Miller Field.In both games, the Pilots broke away in the sixth inning with a combined 10 runs in those two frames for 9-3 and 14-9 victories. In the first game, Bethel scored two in the second and two in the third to open up a 4-0 lead.But Grace fought back against the best pitcher in the Mid-Central Conference, John Urbanski.Lincoln Howard singled to start the third and came around to score on a base hit by Chad Newhard. An inning later, Terry Aukeman walked, Chris Bates doubled and Howard smacked another single to score a run while the other scored on a grounder by Newhard, pulling the Lancers within one at 4-3.Bethel answered with a run in the fifth on a walk and a sacrifice fly before the Pilots broke the game open with four in the sixth inning.Chad Hundall and Allen Hodge delivered run-scoring doubles for the Pilots in that inning.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw Collector New Owner Of Jim Brown Football Helmet

Its orange painted surface was taped, scratched and visibly worn - much like the Corvettes he used to restore. Nonetheless, for 40-year-old Warsaw resident Curtis Worrell this was the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Worrell and friend Jim Parker, North Carolina, are avid collectors of football helmets.After a recent purchase on eBay, an internet auction site, the duo now owns one of the most sought after pieces - Hall of Famer Jim Brown's helmet from his 1956 senior season at Syracuse University. "There's no player greater than Jim Brown, in my opinion," Worrell said.
DALE HUBLER, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Big Second Inning Lifts Oregon-Davis Past Triton

BOURBON - The Oregon-Davis Bobcats scored nine runs in the second inning and never looked back as they defeated host Trtion 9-0 in baseball action Wednesday.James Gunnels falls to 0-1 with the loss for Triton while Ryne Sweeney picked up the win after striking out seven and walking just one. The Trojans managed just three hits and committed four errors in the games.Andrew Jensen hit a triple for Oregon-Davis while Devin Akers had a double. Brandon Anthony and AJ Fleagle also pitched for the Trojans. The game was Triton's season opener. OREGON-DAVIS 9, TRITON 0 T 000 000 0 - 0 3 4 OD 090 000 0 - 9 9 4 WP - Ryne Sweeney (1-0, 7 K, 1 BB), LP - James Gunnels (0-1).
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Get Involved, Get Informed, Then Vote

There is a very important election coming up on Nov.7. And not just because it happens to be a presidential election year. There are several local races to be determined in this year's election. And voting in those races is very important.Many times, those races are decided by just a handful of votes. Sometimes those races are decided by one or two votes. So the old "what difference can one vote make" excuse just doesn't hold water. Your vote counts. If you're not registered, it's too late for this election, so make sure you get registered for the next election. If you are registered, get to the polls and vote.It really is important.It's important at all levels - local, state and national.But it is especially important at the local level.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Craig Justice: Tenpin Prodigy

Craig Justice: Tenpin Prodigy One shot after another, the clatter of pins fills the air, the only sounds that cut through The Masters golf tournament playing loudly on the TV in the background. It is here, in the dimly lit bowling alley, where the smell of cigarette smoke mixes with the stuff they spray in the shoes, where pins clatter and fall, that Craig Justice bowls. This is the guy, right here at Warsaw Bowl, who, like parents Marty and Cindi Justice, talks openly of the goal: competing in the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. Craig's bowled four 300 games and two 299 games. He's 17. He is easy to spot, because he is the only person bowling.He is 5-foot-7 and weighs 130 pounds.He wears a blue shirt that reads Zone with a big orange Z.He wears white pants and gold shoes.He bowls right-handed and uses two lanes, going from one to the other.
Jeff Holsinger, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016
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