59 - Inside Sports

Sports Editor
Wednesday, December 31, 1958
The Daily Times
New Philadelphia, Ohio



MCMLVIII

The above year has no need to feel slighted.  He can take his bow, beard and all, with downright proudness.  For the 1-year-old grandaddy brought us many great and entertaining moments in the world of sports.  Recapitulating the year was fun.  Thumbing through the over 300 publications of the sports pages brought back fond memories.

And, in looking back, it is this writer's opinion that the golfing talents of one Dick Besst of New Philadelphia was perhaps the most astounding, taking nothing away from the great exploits of Dennison, Tuscarawas and St. Mary's in football; Midvale on the hardwood; Gnadenhutten's great diamond performances; the birth of 36 bowling alleys and a huge coaching shuffle in Tuscarawas County.  Another thrilling year of basketball was capped last spring with Midvale, Gnadenhutten and Dennison St. Mary's snagging the lions share of honors.

The Blue Devils of Midvale, the only team to earn a berth in the State Tournament in recent years, making the trip 2 seasons before, wrapped up the County League and Tournament togas last spring.  In so doing the Devils halted the long string of League Championships of the Strasburg Tigers who had copped the title 5 years in a row.  In addition, Midvale tied a school mark in its 105-59 win over the Augusta Blue Devils, while posting a 19-3 season mark.

GNADEN STOPS STRASBURG SKEIN

The Gnadenhutten Indians, finishing with a 20-7 mark, won a Sectional slot and advanced to the Brilliant District with Midvale.  After losing 2 games in regular season and the tournament finals to the League Champs, Gnaden KO's Midvale in the District before being eliminated by the Powhatan Indians.  In other distinctions, Gnaden dropped the Strasburg Tigers for its 1st loss after 51 straight League triumphs as well as the 1st setback on its home floor in 44 contests.

The Dennison St. Mary Wave posted a 15-3 record on the hardwood for the school's best in history, bypassing the previous record of 17-5 established in 1954.  The Wave lost out in their only Sectional Tournament.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

The Stone Creek Golden Panthers (13-9) set a new school record in a 105-59 triumph over the Augusta Blue Devils; the Garaway Pirates were 12-11 in their 1st year as a consolidated school (Sugarcreek-Shanesville-Dundee).  But, all was not rosy during the 1957-58 cage campaign as witness:  The Port Washington Purple Riders had one of the schools poorest records with only one win in 19 contests; the Strasburg Tigers (11-8) reign as County Champs came to an end after 5 straight years in command and the Dennison Railroaders had their poorest mark (2-17) in over a decade.

Other cage records:  Baltic 12-9, Tuscarawas 7-11, Tuscarawas Valley 11-6 and Dover St. Joseph's was 3-15.

EARLY 1958-59 HIGHLIGHTS

Although the 1958-59 season is barely underway, early season developments have been seen:  Gnaden took the County League lead with 5 straight wins, while the Tuscarawas Valley Trojans are still unbeaten in 7 starts and the Dover St. Joseph Ramblers has still yet to taste victory.  Then, there is Midvale and Tusky Valley who have yet to be beaten in League play.