43 - RIGHT DOWN THE LINE

Friday, March 12, 1948
Dover, Ohio


IT PROBABLY SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, but it did and the reign of the Strasburg Tigers is at an end, putting the burden of carrying the Tuscarawas County colors into the Regionals on the Midvale Blue Devils who engaged the giant-killing Dillonvale Night Riders Saturday night.

Strasburg's defeat cannot be explained by any one factor.  First and foremost they were toppled by a team which, Thursday night, was able to keep a step ahead of the Bengals almost everywhere on the court.  The Night Rider's pressing defense throttled the effectiveness of All-County Senior center Clarence Yackey and Senior guard Tom Haswell and it also worried the other Tigers to a point where they were uncertain at times.

Probably Strasburg has had nights when they hit a greater percentage of their shots and repeated misses took their toll of Tiger confidence.  Yackey's misfortune (he had 3 personals midway in the 2nd period) helped mold the disaster.  Also, when he left the game with 4 minutes remaining, it would still have been very possible for the team to have pulled the battle out of the fire.  You must give the big boy credit for a grand job of sportsmanship.  His last 2 fouls drew raised eyebrows and protests from the Tiger fans, but Yackey shook hands with the Night Riders' captain and calmly walked off the court.

No matter what the reason for the defeat, it is final and Strasburg now joins Newark, Akron Garfield, New Knoxville and others who had title aspirations and were thwarted in the stretch.  The old adage "watch our strides in March," applies particularly to tournament play.  They are all blazing hot for these events.  That's why they hold them in March.

A PROGRAM giving all Tuscarawas County teenage boys through 18 years of age an opportunity to, participate in the Junior American Legion baseball setup, which will soon be launched.

The program, headed by Babe Ruth in conjunction with the Ford Motor Company and the American Legion, will get underway next week when the American Legion will contact all posts in Tuscarawas County, urging them to boost a team in their town.  The city of Coshocton will be included in the setup with this county under present plans.

It is the plan of the recreation department, American Legion and Fred P. Potachner, Dover Ford dealer, to have every town in the county entered in the Junior American Legion League.  League play will start as soon as the schools dismiss this Spring and the program will include high school baseballers if they meet the age requirements.  Following the completion of League play, the loop will hold playoffs with the winners advancing to a District Tournament.  Once by the District meet, the victors go to a State tournament and on to the National joust.  Plans have been made to hold a meeting for the organization of the League in this county in the near future.

Ford Motor Company dealers will supply the uniforms for the various teams, while the manager, coach and transportation facilities will be taken care of by the American Legion posts.  Trophies will be awarded to the winners following the playoffs.

THREE STRASBURG REGULARS, Seniors Clarence Yackey, Tom Haswell and Roland Malcuit, ended their high school basketball careers last night when the Dillonvale Night Riders ended the Tiger hopes for a Championship.