51 - Right Down The Line

Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio


THE CLASS B TEAMS, the Strasburg Tigers (17-6), Midvale Blue Devils (18-5), Dennison Railroaders (13-4), Dover St. Joseph Ramblers (13-6), Dennison St. Mary Blue Waves (9-10) and the Dundee Bulldogs (15-10), meet rugged competition at Memorial Hall in the Class B Sectional Tournament.  Strasburg, the county tournament Champ, must clash with the powerized Walnut Creek Cardinals. the first time out.

The high-geared Cardinals already hold a 65-57 overtime decision over the Bengals and do not figure to be any weaker now that they have Ike Hostetler, former Sugarcreek-Shanesville star, in their lineup.  Head Coach Don Martin's Tigers; however, have a habit of making it rough on the favorites.  They upset the unbeaten Scio Panthers (24-1) 66-59 last spring in the District Tournament meet.  Strasburg; however, will be forced to fight an uphill battle against the Creekers who are gunning for a District title with a powerfully-balanced, fluid, smooth quintet.

Strictly on the basis of records again, the Ramblers should ride into the qualifying round in the top bracket.  Head Coach Joe Drotovick's Dover St. Joseph team play the Millersburg Knights on Wednesday and if victorious, Dennison St. Mary on Friday.  The Ramblers hold decisions over both teams this year.

The Railroaders and Blue Devils are the top teams in the lower bracket; however, and have met once this year with the Dennison grinding out a 51-47 win at Midvale.  The Railroaders play a predominately Class A schedule with all 4 of its losses coming in that division to the New Philadelphia Quakers, Dover Tornadoes, Uhrichsville Tigers and the Carrollton Warriors.  Dennison; however, has been battling a "jinx" at Memorial Hall for years and it may stop them again this year.

NOTE:  WALNUT CREEK MEN DENY CHARGE IN IKE HOSTETLER CONTROVERSY

DOVER - Four Walnut Creek men, allegedly involved in the controversy over the transfer of Richard (Ike) Hostetler (shown above) from Sugarcreek-Shanesville High School to Walnut Creek High School, emphatically denied today that they had anything to do with Hostetler's transfer.  The men making the denial include Tom Miller, Dutch Horrisberger, Herman Mast and Moses Hostetler.

The four men were involved in the controversy last week when Ohio High School Athletic Commissioner H. W. Emswiler made public a letter he had allegedly received from Charles Voltz of Berlin.  In his letter to the Tuscarawas County Coaches Association, which made a mass protest, Emswiler wrote:  "A Charles Voltz of Berlin states that it has been reported that Mr. Moses Hostetler, Tom Miller, Dutch Horrisberger and a Mr. Mr. Mast made a special trip to Ike's and stayed 2 hours, according to neighbors.  Shortly after that, Hostetler pulled out for Walnut Creek."

All four men denied today that they had ever talked to Hostetler as alleged in Voltz' report to Emswiler.  Hostetler has been ruled eligible by Emswiler.