by Julie Ann Madden

“Close your eyes for a second and visualize the sounds of feet marching,” said Auxiliary National Junior President Lindsay Dolan as she addressed the crowd gathered at the Akron City Park for the Memorial Day Program. “Can you hear them? Surely, you must. It is the sound of soldiers answering their country’s call -- answering the call of the flag, Old Glory, as their country asks them to support and defend something rather unique in the history of the world -- something called America.” “Today is a special day, not just for those of us who have worn our country’s uniform,” she said, “but for All Americans. We have set aside this day to honor all Americans who have given their lives to protect and defend our most cherished beliefs: freedom and democracy.” “We live in a nation that has more rights and freedoms than any other on the face of the earth,” said Dolan. “But those rights and freedoms, reflected in 13 red and white stripes, and 50 white stars on a field of blue, have been protected and defended by Americans time and time again...the acts of these patriots changed the face of the Earth and the profile of our nation.” “Let us remember that one life lost in this battle is one too many,” said Dolan. “It was a long journey from World War I to the present Iraq,” she said. “Let us remember that we cannot bring these sons, daughters, husbands and wives back. No matter where they fell, they are gone forever. Only their memory remains.” “It is through the tributes we pay to those who have fallen on this Memorial Day in Akron and around the world that we are reminded of the gift that we have been given: the gift of freedom,” said Dolan. “A gift purchased by blood, and remembered in ceremonies such as this.”

Baseball 2008 preview

by Hank Krause

Coach Gordy Johnson starts the 2008 baseball season with an extremely young team. Sixteen young men have started to get themselves into baseball condition. The 2008 Westerners have one senior, Justin Koch, one junior, Fernando Beeck, followed by four sophomores, six freshmen and four eighth graders. Coach Johnson said, “They are all working very hard and hopefully will play hard.” The lilacs were in bloom and the A-W baseball field looked absolutely beautiful. Sargent Field went from the worst looking to one of the best looking. The park board and Gordy Johnson are to be commended. It has been brought to my attention of a very sad, disgusting happening. It seems as though at the Akron-Westfield - Westwood game, some so-called A-W fans in the outfield were making fun of and made terrible remarks to their own A-W players, who are also classmates. You can make fun of the players, but yet do not have the intestinal fortitude to put on a glove or grab a bat to see your capability.

Softball 2008 preview

by Hank Krause

The Akron-Westfield girls who have battled their way to the state meet for five consecutive years is saying, “Why not make it six years!” First of all, the girls, school, park board, and city would like to thank the “lowlifes” who cut a two foot square of sod out of one of the new terraces. Plus, taking five rolls of sod out of another terrace. The terraces were cut into the side hill on the first base side so people could sit level and not be in fear of rolling down hill. Nice people, you have to be proud. The A-W girls are somewhat rebuilding, but have a terrific group to work behind. The mainstays are Kayla Smith, pitcher; Shelby Johnson, catcher; Ambra Coon in center; Jessica Horton in left; plus Alison Kusler at short and Haley Banks at first base. A pretty solid group to start with. Help must come from Karly Groon, Caitlin Heyl, Jordan Harris, Charlene Martin, Jordan Dirks and Tasha DeRocher. Coach Todd Colt is very capable of developing players as he has done over the last number of years. Over the years A-W has lost Tarah Colt, Stephanie Eekhoff, Andrea Parkinson, Kristin Dirks, and Kayla McCrill in 2005. In 2006 Kashe Manley and Natasia Eastman graduated. In 2007 Tana Colt, Rachel Harris, Holly Borchers all moved on and Sarah Parkinson moved away. Colt has always lost good players but developed new players. Nine players went on to play college softball. How good will A-W be? Who knows! But they’ll be very competitive!

The Akron-Westfield girls, playing in the Sioux City North showcase in an early morning game, started a little slow but again came on strong to beat the Raiders, 8-2 on Saturday, May 24. Shelby Johnson started the scoring for A-W as she smashed a home run in the second frame. Johnson walked in the fourth inning and Ambra Coon drove her home. A-W led 2-0 until the seventh when they sent 10 hitters to the plate to score six times. Karly Groon started things off with a hit. Caitlin Heyl laid down a bunt with two strikes on her and beat it out. Jordan Harris singled and Tasha DeRocher also bunted for a hit. Kayla Smith walked to set up Jessica Horton’s double. Allison Kusler singled and Groon followed suit. A-W bunched seven hits in the inning to score six runs and put A-W up after East scored two runs in the sixth to knot it up 2-2. A-W’s hitters are coming alive. Led by Shelby Johnson’s homer, Jordan Harris had two hits, while Karly Groon went three for four. Kayla Smith tossed a neat fi ve hitter for A-W as she also fanned 12. A-W SC East Harris 4-2 Michaelson 3-1 Coon 3-1 Mozer 3-0 DeRocher 1-1 Vanderloo 3-1 Smith 3-0 Nugent 2-0 Horton 4-1 Keilman 3-1 S Johnson 3-2 Lanning 3-0 T Johnson 0-0 B Mozer 3-1 Kusler 4-1 Weaver 3-1 Groon 4-3 Pollson 3-0 Banks 3-0 Heyl 3-1 Scoring A-W: 0-1-0-1-0-0-6=8-12-0 SCE: 0-0-0-0-0-2-0= 2- 5- 0

A-W drops one to Sioux City North

by Hank Krause

Akron-Westfield traveled to Sioux City to play in the North showcase on Saturday, May 24. A-W suffered its first loss of the year as North won 4-1. Jordan Harris, a sophomore, started for A-W and pitched fairly well. However, she did give up four runs in the fourth inning. Kayla Smith relieved Harris in the fourth while North pushed across four runs. North used four hits and an error to get their runs. Smith struck out five of the seven hitters she faced in the last two innings. Offensively, A-W had some problems as Denny, North’s hurler, spaced three Westerner hits. A-W scored in the sixth as Ambra Coon walked, stole second, then scored on Shelby Johnson’s double. North, a 4A school, is a pretty good team, but A-W is just as good. It was a good start for Harris who needed to get her feet wet as a varsity pitcher. You certainly got your feet wet in the North parking lot! A-W North Harris 3-0 Dicus 4-2 Coon 0-0 Kneypen 3-1 Smith 3-0 Ruden 2-1 Horton 3-0 Denny 3-0 S Johnson 3-1 Zeimet 3-2 Kusler 3-0 Remein 3-1 Groon 3-1 Charter 3-0 Banks 3-0 VanderWilt 3-1 Heyl 3-1 Landis 3-1 T Johnson 0-0 Scoring A-W: 0-0-0-0-0-1-0=1-3-1 North: 0-0-0-4-0-0-X=4-9-0

The Akron-Westfield girls traveled to Granville on Friday, May 23 to tangle with the Granville- Spalding Spartans. It was a game in which A-W won easily, but not without a slight struggle. The Westerners shut-out the Spartans 11-0. Kayla Smith handled the pitching chores for A-W as she allowed only two base runners, both by errors as she had a no-hitter plus striking out 12. A-W scored single runs in the first three innings to lead 3-0. A-W then scored two times in the fourth to have a commanding lead of 5-0. In the sixth A-W broke things open as Smith hit her second home run of the season to start things off. A-W then scored five consecutive hitters as they built the lead to 11-0. Spalding’s fans were quite excited when they got a runner on base, even if it was by an error. A-W G-S Harris 2-1 Plathe 3-0 DeRocher 2-1 Schroeder 3-0 Coon 4-2 Stoll 2-0 Smith 4-4 Hansen 2-0 T Johnson 0-0 Full 2-0 Horton 4-1 K Hunt 2-0 S Johnson 3-1 Fischer 2-0 Davis 0-0 H Hunt 2-0 Kusler 3-1 M Hunt 2-0 Groon 4-2 Banks 4-2 Kroksh 0-0 Heyl 2-1 Scoring A-W: 1-1-1-2-0-6=11-15-2 G-S: 0-0-0-0-0-0= 0- 0- 2 Kayla Smith (#24) heads for home plate after hitting a home run against Remsen St. Mary’s at home May 22.

What a beautiful night for softball May 22 - the wind blowing at hurricane force, fans setting around huddled in parkas, blankets, and winter coats. It was absolutely wonderful! The A-W girls got things going early against Remsen St. Mary’s at home and finished it off early, winning 12-0 in three innings. Kayla Smith pitched a perfect game although it only lasted three innings! To start off, Alison Kusler hit a single followed by Ambra Coon bringing up Smith who lofted a high fly over the left field fence, and A-W was up 3-0. I think Shelby Johnson had something sadistic in mind as she hit a foul line drive that just about did poor old Coach Todd Colt in. Only his light feet and gymnastic moves kept him from great bodily harm!

The Westerners dropped the season opener to Westwood of Sloan, 12-2, at home May 22. Westwood scored one run in the first inning as they opened with a couple of hits and a hit batter to score one run. In the third WW used a hit batter plus two misjudged fl y balls as they sent 10 batters to the plate to score four runs to make it 5-0. The Rebels added to their total in the fourth and fifth innings as they

scored six more runs. A-W scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth as Mike Harris and Tanner Bundy hit back to back doubles. Cale Banks led A-W with two hits in three trips to the plate and singled to score two Westerner runners. A-W had seven hits for the game but gave up 11 hits plus had four fielding errors. Really not too bad for as young as they are.