we were all expecting.” Senior Jerry
Schwartz echoes the same message.
“We’ve had some strong performances
The young guys are playing rethis year so far. But it’s hard for our
ally well but they aren’t the only ones
team to score enough to win in small
making an impact. The team is very
meets because of our lack of depth.
experienced and it shows. Senior
Austin Schlabach has been a key player However, we made a solid showing at
the Goshen relays and hopefully the
for Westview this year as his batting
best is yet to come.”
average continues to flirt with a .500
Injuries have not been as big of a
mark. He has hit a homerun and even
had a ten game hitting streak. Another concern as they have been for the girls.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to avoid
senior, Luke Miller, is also doing well.
any serious injuries so far, but we’ve
He has had some arm issues but is
had a few people miss some races that
playing through them. Brant Yoder
could have made a difference. It’s been
has also been doing really well this
mostly just sore or strained muscles up
season. He is hitting with the second
to this point,” said Schwartz.
highest average on the team, sitting
The teams distance events have
at about .450. “We’ve had great senior
been the strongest for the team this
leadership so far. Brant (Yoder), Luke
season. According to Hunter, the 800,
(Miller), and Austin (Schlabach), have
1,600, and 3,200 meter races have been
all led by example as you can see how
key. Along with the 3,200 relay. “We
well they’re doing,” said Stillson.
have been really preparing our 4X8
The team has had some pretty big
relay team for the end of the season so
wins recently and are looking to keep
look for that group to make an impact,”
it rolling. The Warriors beat Lakeland
11-1 in their match-up. Junior pitcher, said Schwartz. Another strong point
for the team has been their pole vaultDamon Miller picked up the win in
ing. Trey Kennedy and Nate Raber have
that victory pitching the entire game.
done outstanding jobs. Kennedy broke
Another significant win came against
West Noble in an eight inning game in his father’s record for pole vaulting by
which they won 3-2. “It was nice to win soaring over the bar at fifteen feet and
one inch.
that close game against West Noble
The preparing can be credited to
because we’ve had some issues closing
out games. I think we will take care of Head Coach, Paul Baker as well as his
assistants. “Coach Baker has done all
those now that we have this to back
he can to keep our team motivated
us up,” said Stillson. Another game
that should have impact on the rest of and focused. Our new distance coach,
(Don) Williams, has really impacted
the season is their win against Centhe distance program and we are altral Noble. They faced a pitcher, Nick
ready seeing results. When we have his
McCoy, who is going to a division one
college to continue his baseball career. help, it takes a lot off of Baker’s shoulders,” said Schwartz. “With Williams
They hit the cover off of the ball. The
Warriors don’t seem to get intimidated coaching the distance team this year, it
gives Baker new time to focus on helpvery easily.
Westview is performing well right ing the other events,” said Hunter.
As well as Baker and Williams
now and hopefully will keep it going.
leading the team, so have the se“We hope to continue our hot streak
and hopefully it will carry us deep into niors. “We have made sure everyone
does what they are supposed to do in
the state tournament,” said Stillson.
practice and is focused on our events
when it comes to competing in meets,”
Warrior Boys Track
said Hunter. “As seniors, we try to set
On the boy’s side of the lane,
examples for the younger athletes,
optimism is the word that stands out
most. “We’ve done pretty well this sea- whether it comes to working hard in
practice or staying focused on a race,”
son,” said senior Dom Hunter. “We’ve
said Schwartz.
done as well, if not better, than what
Sports Scoop ... cont. from 51
Ahead for the Warriors include the
Central Noble Invite, the Blackford Invite, the NECC Conference tourney and
then the sectional tourney. After that,
hopefully some of the guys will advance
into the regional and state meets.
The team has the talent to advance
but it may come down to the bigger
teams having more athletes to compete. However, every Westview athlete
knows our small school can accomplish
great things. “If everyone performs
to their absolute best then we have a
chance at winning sectionals and going
beyond,” said Hunter. The absolute best
is what it’s going to take.
Warrior Girls Track
The girls track team has all the talent to make a great run into the state
tournament and they’re doing everything they can to make that happen.
However, some injuries have plagued
the team. Currently Shannon Thornburg, Cynthia Yoder, Kaitlyn Warren
are sidelined with injuries. Earlier in
the season, Jeslyn Zimmerly, Mandy
Jones, and Skyle r Carpenter were
injured as well. “I feel that our track
team has performed great despite all of
our injured girls,” said Skyler Carpenter. If there are no setbacks, the team
is expected to be back to full health
by the time conference and sectionals
rolls around.
Just how great are the girls doing
while being hampered with injuries?
They got second place at the extremely
tough Churubusco Invite. “We have
performed exceptionally well for being
a small team with limited depth. The
performance for us at the Churubusco
Invite was big because we were the only
small school in a division made up of
much larger schools,” said senior Janell
Bender.
With some of the more experienced members at less than one
hundred percent health wise, some
younger girls have done nicely in their
absence. “We’ve had JV runners step
up to help and they’ve done their jobs
well. Once everyone heals up, we will
have more of our depth back,” said
Carpenter.
continued on next page
The Hometown Treasure · May ‘12 · pg 53