The schools have announced a friendly “Battle for the Troops” competition between students to send non-perishable items, particularly toiletries, to the soldiers battling in the Middle East. This is the second year for this friendly competition. Last year, approximately 5,500 items were collected.
Student Council is spearheading the effort at Ross, while the Athletes Making Progress organization is handling things at Badin.
Besides toiletries, single-powdered fruit drink mixes that can go with water, combs, playing cards and similar small games are welcome.
Adults are encouraged to bring items to the gate tonight as well. An area troop-support organization will handle shipping the items in a timely fashion.
Reserved seats available at HHS
Season reserved seats for Hamilton High School’s home football games are still available and can be purchased in the main office at the high school.
Ticket price is $25 per seat for the four remaining home games.
Berkemeier to be inducted by Miami
OXFORD — Danielle Berkemeier, of Fairfield, is among six men and women who will be inducted into Miami University’s Athletic Hall of Fame during halftime of the football game against Ohio on Oct. 23.
Berkemeier, a 2003 graduate and third-team All-American on the women’s soccer team in 2002, is the Mid-American Conference co-record holder for single-season goals.
Also to be inducted are Andrea Cunningham (2003, women’s soccer), Walt Podgurski (1969, wrestlng), Buddy Schultz (1973, baseball), Becca Williams (1997, women’s track & field) and Mack Yoho (1958, football).
Schultz, who pitched for the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, holds the NCAA record for most strikeouts in a nine-inning game (26).
Yoho, an All-MAC defensive end for Miami in 1957, played with the Buffalo Bills from 1960-63.
Uncertain status for injured Cook
DENVER — Colorado Rockies manager Jim Tracy says he’s not sure whether injured Aaron Cook will be able to pitch again this season.
Cook, a Hamilton native, sustained a fracture in his lower right leg when he was hit by a line drive off the bat of Cincinnati’s Joey Votto on Wednesday, Sept. 8.
It is a non-displaced fracture, and Tracy says that Cook is not necessarily done for the year.
RedHawk spikers win home opener
OXFORD — The Miami University volleyball team won its home opener on Wednesday, Sept. 8, beating Wright State 25-18, 19-25, 2 5-21, 18-25, 15-9 at Millett Hall.
Michele Metzler led the RedHawks (2-5) with 15 kills and Amy Raseman had 13. Jackie Lang recorded 15 digs and a career-high five aces, and Amy Kendall had four aces and a career-high 49 assists.
MU will travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the Michigan/adidas Invitational today and Saturday.
Miami athletes earn MAC honors
OXFORD — Miami University senior Rachel Patterson (women’s cross country), sophomore Jarrod Eick (men’s cross country) and junior Kylie Landeros (field hockey) earned Mid-American Conference athlete of the week honors.
NCAA picks UD for 4 play-in games
DAYTON — All four opening-round games in the expanded 2011 NCAA men’s basketball tournament will be coming to the University of Dayton Arena, it was announced Thursday, Sept. 9.
By expanding the field from 65 to 68 teams, the NCAA created three more “play-in” games. The final four at-large teams in the tournament — last year, that likely would have meant Florida, Minnesota, Virginia Tech and Illinois — will play each other to advance against a higher-seeded team. And the final four No. 16 seeds will clash to move on to the next round against No. 1 seeds.
The nationally televised doubleheaders — dubbed the “First Four” — will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, March 15-16, and one game between at-large teams will be played each day. The NCAA hasn’t made a decision about a site for the games beyond 2011.
— Staff and wire reports