Auroraadvocate.com - Sports Wire: Baechle all-academic; Aughinbaugh eyes soccer

by Advocate Staffers

Aurora High School graduate Jake Baechle, a sophomore at University of Redlands, was named to the 2008 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division III All-Academic track and field team.

To be named, students-athletes must have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 and have earned at least one provisional or automatic qualifying mark in his or her respective event.

As a business major, Baechle put together a 3.393 cumulative GPA to compliment his breakout year in the 800-meter run.

He qualified for the NCAA Championships with a time of 1:51.76 and also ran on a 4x400 relay team that provisionally qualified for the national meet.

The University of Redlands is in Redlands, Calif.

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Kelly Aughinbaugh, a recent graduate of Aurora High School and daughter of Steve and Maureen Aughinbaugh, will attend Mount Union College in Alliance, where she plans to play girls soccer.

She was a four-year varsity starter and was named the Chagrin Valley Conference most valuable player in 2005.

She was named to the CVC's first team for three years, Cleveland district first team for two years and was AHS's MVP for three years and its all-time leading girls soccer scorer.

She earned a Heritage Award to attend Mount Union, which is based on a review of academic credentials and is renewable for four years.

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Although the first couple of days provided fine weather, rain fell for part of the last two and was enough to cause Aurora Baseball League officials to cancel their annual tournament.

"Our city grounds crew was up for the challenge of getting fields ready on Sunday afternoon, but we just didn't have enough time to get all the games in," said travel and tournament director Jeff Rhoads.

The Advocate will publish some photos taken during tournament action over the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, the 2009 ABL travel team tryouts are scheduled for Aug. 9, with a rain date of Aug. 16, at Harmon School's fields.

There will be a second tryout date Aug. 23. Players need only attend one tryout.

Times are: 9U and 10U from 8:30 to 11 a.m.; 11U and 12U from noon to 2 p.m.; and 13U and 14U from 2:30 to 4 p.m. A player's age as of April 30, 2009 will determine which age group he should try out for.

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According to the HMA Promotions Web site, results of the 3K run in the Kathleen Nietert race For Hope on July 13 at Sunny Lake Park in Aurora are:

Steve Myers, 11:06; Ken Dombroski, 12:25; Kyle Nietert, 13:30; Sharon Seitz, 15:43; Stephanie Johnston, 15:45; Valissa Bell, 15:53; Michelle Meade, 16:23; Mark Muroski, 16:26.

Laura Hernert, 17:50; Jen Setera, 21:14; Sharon Franek, 21:15; Marcie Harvey, 25:24; Kim Allen, 26:31; Clarrisa Ladner, 27:55; Sally McCarthy, 31:14; William McCartney, 31:16; and Lynn Hubach, 31:17.

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Three Aurorans participated in a Kenny Novak qualifier July 11 at Manakiki Golf Club. In the boys 13-15 division, Bud Radis tied for 10th at 13-over-par 85, Brandon Towers was 12th at 86 and Scott Schroeder was 27th at 110.

A number of Aurorans also participated in the Novak qualifier at Raccoon Hills. In the boys 13-15 division, David Hinton placed second with a 4-over-par 37-38-75.

Other scores in that division were Andrew Hinton, tied for 29th at 90; Mitchell Johnson, tied for 35th at 94; Scott Schroeder, tied for 43rd at 99; and Marcus Payden, tied for 48th at 101.

In girls 16-19, Brittany Towers placed 18th with 54-58-112. In boys 12, Tommy Riedy was eighth with 46-53-99, and in boys 16-19, Nick Staargaard tied for ninth at 79 and Jason Pavlick tied for 26th at 84.

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The third annual Mud March 1-mile and 5K trail run will be July 26 at 5 and 5:30 p.m., respectively, at Shadow Wood Circle in Chagrin Falls. Race day entry fees are $15 and $20, respectively.

Also coming up July 26 is the Joseph C. Monastra Refuse to Lose Race, which includes a 1-miler and 5K starting at 8:30 and 9 a.m., respectively. Race day registration fees are $10 for youth 14 and younger and $20 for adults.

For details on these runs, visit www.hermescleveland.com or call 216-623-9933.

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Aurora's Martin Ober took first place in a Southwest Junior Tour tournament last week at Blackbrook Country Club.

He shot 35-32-67 in the boys 16-19 division. In the boys 14-15 division, Wesley Dombeck shot 39-37-76 and Trey Payden shot 38-41-79. In the boys 12-13 division, Andrew Hinton shot 37-41-78.

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Several Aurorans ran in the Winking Lizard's Shot in the Dark 4-mile event July 19 in Cleveland.

Sue DeMay placed second in the women 50-54 division in 37:35.27, while her daughter, Katie, took 20th in the women 20-24 division in 37:26.03.

Other local finishers were: Women -- Cari Strickler, 16th in 30-34 in 33:09.34; Laura Harkness, 14th in 40-44 in 35:57.8; Debby Wilkerson, fourth in 45:12.73; men -- Ryan Samodell, 41st in 35-39 in 34:11.32; and Rudy Schonitzer, 18th in 50-54 in 41:52.62.

In two-person team results, Jeff White of Aurora teamed with Grant MacKoy of Cleveland to finish 16th among men in a combined time of 1:12:15.51.

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In the Northern Ohio PGA's Cub Car Pro-Assistants tournament July 14, Auroran Mike Ritchey teamed with Deon Good to tie for the top spot with a 5-under-part 66 and split $1,183.

Results of other local players are: Barrington's David Engram and Mark Sierak, tied for 14th at 69 ($87); Todd Lancaster and John Sico, tied for 45th at 74; and Engram and Chris Sturgess, tied for 49th at 76.