WESTERVILLE — Otterbein University pitcher Caleb Norton, a Bath graduate, has been named to the Academic All-America Division III Baseball Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Norton, a first-team selection, was one of just two pitchers voted to the highest list/
Overall, 35 student-athletes were recognized across the country.
Norton set a NCAA Division III single-season record with 34 relief appearances this past season. He compiled a 1.88 E.R.A., ranked top-10 nationally in saves (9) and also held a 2-0 record. Norton limited the opposition to a .207 batting average and departs as the Otterbein’s all-time leader in saves (22) and appearances (79).
Norton maintained a perfect 4.00 grade-point average in allied health and was named Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) three times. He was a recipient of the OAC Clyde Lamb award, presented annually to the top male and female senior student-athlete at each of the 10 league institutions.
Hall class includes
Allen East alum
TIFFIN — Allen East graduate Nate Cole has been named a Hall of Fame honoree for his time spent as Tiffin University’s (TU) head football coach. Cole along with four former athletes compose the 2017 class.
“I am very humbled to receive this honor,” said Cole, who is Edison State Community College’s athletic director. “Tiffin University is a very special place to me.”
A 1991 Allen East graduate, Cole earned All-Northwest Conference (NWC) honors under Ohio High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame member Bill Goodwin. He is the son of Rex and Sharon Cole.
Following high school, Cole became a four-year football letter recipient, playing tight end on two of TU’s playoff teams. After graduating from TU, Cole served as an assistant coach before gaining the role of head coach.
As TU’s head football coach from 2003-07, Cole had winning percentage mark of .655, going 36-19. He was named three-time Coach of the Year, earning NCAA National Independent Coach of the Year in 2004, D2Football.com Independent Coach of the Year in 2006, and Great Lake Football Conference (GLFC) Coach of the Year in 2007.
Cole was responsible for leading the Dragon football team to two GLFC titles (2006, 2007) including a school-record 10-1 season in 2006. He coached players garnering two All-American and 10 NCAA All-Region picks, including NFL standout Nate Washington.
Held in conjunction with homecoming weekend, the 2017 Hall of Fame Class will be honored Sept. 29 at Tiffin University’s Heminger Center.
Women’s track & field
Richards recognized
ADA — Ohio Northern’s Emily Richards has been named to the District 7 CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District team for the 2017 season.
The junior biochemistry major is a five-time national champion and seven-time All-American, and earned the honor for the first time in her career.
Richards won national titles in the 800 and 1,500-meter runs last weekend at the D-III national championships.
High Schools
Volleyball
Cosart picks
Baldwin Wallace
Bath High School’s Abby Cosart has signed a letter of intent to play volleyball for Baldwin Wallace University in the fall. Cosart plans on majoring in marketing and minoring in broadcast communication.
Cosart was a four-year letter winner in volleyball and softball at Bath, earning All-Western Buckeye League honors in both sports her junior and senior years. She was named to the District 8 All-star volleyball team as a senior. Cosart holds Bath’s volleyball career record for sets with 1,904 and is second in school assists with 523. She was Bath’s recipient of the 2017 Vicki Mauk Scholarship and is the daughter of Dennis and Barb Cosart.
ACME baseball
Elida 16, Perry 0
PERRY TOWNSHIP — Winning pitcher Josh Howard threw seven innings, striking out 11. Justin Moore, Noah Bowman and TJ Whipple each doubled for Elida, which finished with 12 hits.
