High school softball is exciting...

If I ever had any doubts about high school girls softball being exciting, they were erased last night watching the Russia-Loramie girls game at Russia Park.  The game had a little hype before the first pitch.  For starters, it's an annual rivalry, and to top it off both teams were unbeaten in the early SCL schedule. Russia pitcher Katelyn Herron and Loramie pitcher Paige Ordean were brilliant, both pitching shutouts through 6 innings.  You might think a scoreless game couldn't be that exciting, but as the innings progressed, the drama intensified and you just knew the first team to get a break was probably going to win.  It happened for Loramie in the last inning.  After a Darian Rose double and Katelyn Turner walk, Pam Meyer hit a heroic two-run single that scored the only runs of the game.  Russia's Jessie Zumberger singled in the bottom of the 7th getting my hopes up the Raiders might hit a bomb and tie it up, but the rally stalled and the Redskins won Round 1.  I'm positive I'll be attending a few more softball games before the season it over.

Catching up with Russia Raider alum Brent Pleiman...

Fish Report recently caught up with Russia alum Brent Pleiman!  Brent played for the Raiders basketball team from 2002-2006.  Among his many high school accomplishments, he was a two-time Shelby County League Player of the Year, 1st Team All-Ohio, and still holds the Russia record for points in a single game with 46!  Brent went on to play college basketball and finished his successful career at Ohio Wesleyan in 2010. Fish Report got a chance to ask Brent five questions and here's what he had to say:

F.R.  Thanks for taking the time to talk to us Brent.  So tell us what you've been up to since you hung up the laces?

B.P.  Hey Fish Report, thanks for having me on and for the great coverage.  Currently, I live in Worthington, Ohio on the north side of Columbus with some friends from college.  I work in audit and tax for GBQ, which is regional accounting firm serving businesses all over Ohio.  My girlfriend, Shannon, is in college at OWU and will graduate in 2012.

F.R.  Since you finished your playing days at Ohio Wesleyan, do you play competitively or recreationally anymore?

B.P.  Yes, I am playing in a couple of Recreational Leagues with some college teammates.  We are currently 3-0 in the spring league.  It is pretty competitive as there are a lot of former basketball players along with some former Buckeye football players that make appearances from time to time.

F.R.  Living over in Columbus, do you get a chance to keep up with the program at Russia anymore or get to any of the games?

B.P.  Yes, I always follow them online to check out the score and try to make it back for a game or two when I can, but the college basketball schedule and studies kept me very busy.  I plan to make it to more games in the future since Jacob (brother) enters high school next year.

F.R.  Looking back at your years with the Raiders, what stands out as one of your best memories?

B.P.  There were a lot of good memories.  I always remember the fun we had playing in games but also the good times we had off the court.  I would have to say the best memories are playing in the regional’s at Oxford my senior year and winning the outright league title my Junior and Senior years as those titles came down to the last weekend of the season.

F.R.  Finally, do you have any advice for any of the younger players learning the game and trying to succeed?

B.P.  I think it is important to always be working on your fundamentals.  It is great to play a pickup game or open gym and that is very important to check your improvement, but working on individual fundamentals really makes the difference.  Be a student of the game as there is always more to learn.  For those who watched Butler play in the recent NCAA’s, they play hard nose solid defense and have role players and therefore, everyone is pulling together for one common goal...To win.  And always remember, whether you win or lose; you need to always go back to practice and work hard to get better.

Great advice Brent!  Thanks again for taking the time to talk to Fish Report and we hope to see you around Russia!

Tiger Woods watching...

I have never claimed to be a golf-watching fan and I've never thought I was a Tiger Woods fan.  For whatever reason though, whenever Tiger is in contention for a win on Sunday, I watch.  I don't really root for him or against him, but he's really the only reason I will watch a PGA event.  What's that all about?  I was the same before all of his personal problems and I'm the same afterward.  Call me crazy, but I'm certainly not alone.  During Masters weekend I heard friends talking about Tiger, Facebook and Twitter was buzzing about him, and Augusta sounded like a rock concert on TV whenever Tiger hit a nice shot.  Love him, hate him or even if you're impartial like me, people watch, no doubt about it.  I just wonder if those sponsors that cut ties with Tiger like AT&T, Accenture, Gillette and Gatorade are lining back up to put their name on his golf bag.