2007 ONPA Pictures of the Year

First Place, Sports Feature - Chris Parker / This Week Newspapers

Second Place, Sports Feature - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Akron Buchtel's Tiffany Tucker (center) hugs teammate Kachay Hullum (left) after winning the Division II 4X400 meter relay. Teammate Chelsea James is also in on the celebration. Buchtel won the girls Division II team title.

Third Place, Sports Feature - Chuck Crow / The Plain Dealer

Cleveland Indians 3rd base coach Joel Skinner shows how easy it is to toss a baseball and blow a bubble at the same time during batting practice.

Award of Excellence, Sports Feature - Andrew Dolph / Medina Gazette

A Cleveland Indians fan is escorted off Jacobs Field after attempting to make snow-angels in right field during the third weather delay of the Tribe's home-opener against Seattle, April 6, 2007. The game was finally called after the fourth weather delay by crew chief Rick Reed, just one pitch away from being legal.

Award of Excellence, Sports Feature - Chuck Crow / The Plain Dealer

Cleveland Indians right fielder Trot Nixon waits for a single by Seattle Mariners Adrain Beltre to emerge from a flock of seagulls during the third inning in this June game at Jacobs Field.

Award of Excellence, Sports Feature - David Foster / Kent State University

A junior league hockey player skates across the ice with the puck at the Dispatch Ice Haus in Columbus, Septmeber 23, 2007.

Award of Excellence, Sports Feature - Scott Heckel / The Repository

New York's Alex Rodriguez sprays bug repellant on Robinson Cano in the eighth inning of game 2 of the American League Championship Series at Jacobs Field in Cleveland,. Millions of gnat-like bugs, called midges, descended on the field disrupting the late innings of the Indians 2-1 victory.

Award of Excellence, Sports Feature - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Memphis player Antonio Anderson hits the floor after taking a hit on the forehead that drew blood from a fight for a rebound with an Ohio State University player in the first half during the NCAA's South Regional championship game at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Ohio State advanced to the Final Four in Atlanta.

Award of Excellence, Sports Feature - Kyle Robertson / The Columbus Dispatch

Trulanie Hardgrow shows off a rag-ball to his father after hitting the ball off the tee and chasing it down during his first ever practice. Trulanie was already lectured by his father not to chasing down his ball after hitting the ball off the tee. Turlanie proceeded to chase down his ball again and then turned to his father and said, "Dad I got it!"

Award of Excellence, Sports Feature - Lonnie Timmons III / The Plain Dealer

University of Akron's Romeo Travis falls hard after taking a shot during the second half of their game against Kent State University at Rhodes Arena in Akron.