MLB: - Christian

This year’s World Series is set, as the American League Champion Philadelphia Phillies will play for the prize with the first game being Wednesday, October 22nd. No one expected the Devil Rays to make the playoffs coming into this season let alone represent the American League in this year’s fall classic. Tampa won the American League East Division to make their first post-season birth, beating out perennial powerhouses Boston and New York, who play in the same division. The team was led by first baseman Carlos Pena (31 HR, 102 R.B.I), centerfielder B.J Upton (.383 O.B.P), third baseman Evan Longoria (27 HR, 85 R.B.I) and catcher Dave Navarro, who led the team with a .295 batting average. Tampa’s starting rotation all had eleven plus wins in the regular season led by James Shields (14-8, 3.56 E.R.A), Scott Kazmir (12-8, 3.49 E.R.A, 166 S.O), and Matt Garza who pitched them to the W.S in game seven. The Devil Rays beat the Central Division Champion Chicago White Sox three games to one in the Division Series and the Wild Card Champion Boston Red Sox in seven games to advance to the World Series. The Philadelphia Phillies won the National League East Champion to advance to the playoffs. Their team was led in the regular season by first baseman Ryan Howard whose 48 home runs and 146 R.B.I led the major league. Pitcher Cole Hamels (14 wins, 3.09 E.R.A, 196 SO) will pitch in Game One of the World Series. Jamie Moyer, one of the best stories of the year, also leads the Phillies pitching rotation. At 46, Moyer is the oldest player in the major league, but still went 16-7 in the regular season with a 3.71 E.R.A. Tampa-Philly should be a fun match-up to watch. I’m taking the Phillies in six games to win this year’s World Series.

N.F.L- Christian

After beating the 5-0 defending Super Bowl Champs New York Giants in the Monday 13th Monday Night game to breathe fresh hope into the Browns season, Cleveland lost to the Washington Redskins Oct.19 14-11 to drop the team’s record to 2-4. The offense was mostly stagnant throughout the game, a complete turnaround from the Monday Night Game in which Derek Anderson broke out of his slump and threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns and two touchdowns, connecting to Braylon Edwards on throws of 49 and 70 yards. It was a different story against Washington as the Browns trailed 14-3 with eight minutes left until Anderson threw a touchdown pass to Josh Cribbs and then threw a pass to Edwards for a two-point conversion on the ensuing play. This put them down three but Phil Dawson missed a 54-yard field goal with 27 seconds left that would have tied the game.

RHS WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL: - Jen

This year the girl’s volleyball team welcomed a new head varsity coach Kasey Staib. This year the volleyball team all had individual goals to make the most of their season. The court Capitan Morgan Shriver, and fellow co-captains Kelsey Goodman, Hailey Dukes, and Katelyn Onusic led varsity. The girl’s volleyball team was able to finish the season with a 500 record. JV Captains Felicia Kasburg and Kaitlyn Barker have also done a fantastic job of leading the JV girls to a winning season as well. Highlights this year came during games against Coventry and Springfield whom they were able to beat in less than an hour.

RHS FIELD HOCKEY: - Jen

“Heart, Hustle, Win,” is the motto of the girl’s field hockey team this season. They have worked well together this year, and defeated tough teams like Stow and Laurel. Senior Varsity captains Ashley Deighan, Allyssa Manning, Tara Thompson, and Kristin Willson have led the field hockey team to success this year. Junior Katherine Finley says, “We are really compatible as a team, and we have fun playing together!” This year the field hockey goals were to have a winning record, and to do well during play offs. With leadership and drive coming from each of the players it is obvious that these goals will be achieved.

RHS CROSS COUNTRY: -Jen

Junior cross-country team member Ryan Beckwith once said, “I just like to run. I don’t know why.” This sums up exactly what the cross-country team is all about…running for no purpose. All kidding aside, the members of the Roosevelt cross-country team are some of the most dedicated and fit students here at Roosevelt. This year the cross-country team is well on it’s way to finishing their goals of winning the PTC, and getting everyone down to their fastest times. In fact, during their match against Wadsworth 29 runners had personal records. The boys are led this year by senior captains Sean Hoover and Justin Spicer, and Kait Briggs and Candice Allen lead the girls. Stand out runners this year: Sean Hoover, John Robison, George Curtis, Kait Briggs, Sam Livingood and Haylea Wykoff.

RHS MEN’S SOCCER: -Jen

Watching the boys soccer team running over to the track to complete their 2 mile fitness test every morning during two-a-days I couldn’t help but be a little bit more thankful that I was not one of them. Coming into this year the men’s soccer goals were to get a 10 goal-winning streak, and win the PTC. Through hard work and dedication both of these goals were met. Leading the JV are captains Chris Tuck and Collin Robinson and freshman James Breiding and James Parrish. Leading Varsity are captains Mike Needing and Justin Orashan, and key player Kyle Long.