First Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark Advocate
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateIn the beginning weeks of summer little leaguers in the farm and varsity division battle it out at Mound City Ball Park for the coveted Shrine Tournament Championship title. The teams come from all over Licking County and play on the same ball field where their fathers and often grandfather played. Tensions and expectations run high as the teams get narrowed down to the final game.Players and parents stand for the playing of the National Anthem before the start of the Shrine Tournament quarterfinals.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateFamily members and friends decoded Pappy's Grill's dugout before the start of the championship game. Pappy's lost to J & D Storage.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateLane Allen's helmut flies off as he is tagged by 3rd baseman, Brody White of Pappy's. Pappy's beat the Meyers team 11-10 in the farm division quarterfinals at the Shrine Tournament Saturday.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateMeyers Dental players watch their quarterfinal game against Pappy's Grill. Teams throughout Licking County gathered at Mound City baseball fields Saturday to play in the Shrine Tournament quarter finals.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateTwo players from Newark Optometry's farm division team collide as they both run in to catch a pop ball during the highly anticipated Shrine Tournament that takes place at Mound City Ball Park in Newark every summer.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocatePappy's Grill team members sign the baseball Braylon Bates hit out of the park in the shrine tournament quarterfinals. The Shrine tournament is steeped in tradition, one of them being anytime a kid hits the ball out of the park, the ball will be collected for that player and signed by teammates.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateSiblings of players from the LMH team play around with balloons while their parents decorate the dugouts and fences for the championship game. LMH lost the final game to Newark Optometry.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateTerrie Hill, the man in charge of running the Shrine Tournament, comforts his grandson, while the rest of his team take the field. The team, Subway, lost in the quarterfinals of the farm division.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateDan's Family Pizza celebrates after beating Edward Jones in the consolation game. Dan's came back from a 6-1 lead to tie up the game in the sixth inning, taking the game to the seventh where they scored the last run needed for victory.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateWith the weight of the world on his shoulders, Anthony Bottomley, takes a moment before stepping onto the pitchers mound to try and turn the game around for his team. Bottomley was put in as relief pitcher in the final game of the tournament, but it just wasn't enough for his team, LMH, to overcome Newark Optometry.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateThe Newark Optometry team is embraced by head coach Scott McLaughlin. The team finally won the Shrine Championship title after falling short in the finals the past two years.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocatePlayers from J & D Storage struggle to carry their trophy after beating Pappy's Grill to earn the Shrine Tournament Championship. J & D allowed two hits and struck out 12 in five innings in a 10-0 victory J & D had an almost perfect season, 37-1.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerTwo years ago Lebron James said he was coming home to Cleveland. His hope was to deliver a championship to a city starved for a championship. In James' second season with the Cavaliers he delivered on that promise. Surviving a 3-1 deficit, James willed a Cavs team on the brink of extinction to a 93-89 Game 7 championship and the first NBA championship in team history. Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James flexes his muscle after being fouled on a drive to the basket in the fourth quarter.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerCleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James looks to pass while guarded by Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerToronto Raptors center Bismack Biyombo goes high to foul Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerCleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith jumps in the arms of LeBron James after the Cavs defeated the Toronto Raptors 113-87 in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerToronto Raptors center Bismack Biyombo congratulates Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James after the Cavs defeated the Toronto Raptors 113-87 in the Eastern Conference finals.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerGolden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry falls as he tries to draw a charge from Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerGolden State Warriors forward Draymond Green separates guard Stephen Curry from Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James after James blocked Curry's shot.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerGolden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is called for his second foul in the second quarter in Game 7 of the NBA finals.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerTears flow as Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James holds the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy after the Cavaliers defeated the Golden State Warrors 93-89.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerHolding a victory cigar in hand, LeBron James raises his arms to acknowledge the crowd while riding on Ontario St. during the Cleveland Cavaliers victory parade.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerFans line windows in a parking garage outside of Quicken Loans Arena during the Cleveland Cavaliers victory parade.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerStreamers rain down as Cleveland Cavaliers forwards Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love celebrate their NBA Finals championship at a rally on Mall B.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Joshua A. Bickel / ThisWeek Community News
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Joshua A. Bickel / ThisWeek Community NewsA competitor heads back to shore after warming up in the water before starting the Ironman 70.3 Ohio triathlon on Sunday, August 21, 2016 at Delaware State Park in Delaware, Ohio.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Joshua A. Bickel / ThisWeek Community NewsMatthew Bowen, of Louisville, Kentucky, stretches out his arms and shoulders before starting a 1.2-mile swim during the Ironman 70.3 Ohio triathlon on Sunday, August 21, 2016 at Delaware State Park in Delaware, Ohio.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Joshua A. Bickel / ThisWeek Community NewsAthletes in the men's 40-44 age group compete in a 1.2-mile swim during the Ironman 70.3 Ohio triathlon on Sunday, August 21, 2016 at Delaware State Park in Delaware, Ohio.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Joshua A. Bickel / ThisWeek Community NewsEd Nydegger, of Hilliard, Ohio, exhales as he exits the water following a 1.2-mile swim during the Ironman 70.3 Ohio triathlon on Sunday, August 21, 2016 at Delaware State Park in Delaware, Ohio.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Joshua A. Bickel / ThisWeek Community NewsJoe Reiss, right, of Beavercreek, Ohio, dries off his feet as he prepares for a 56-mile bike ride during the Ironman 70.3 Ohio triathlon on Sunday, August 21, 2016 at Delaware State Park in Delaware, Ohio.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Joshua A. Bickel / ThisWeek Community NewsChris Schmauder, of North Olmstead, Ohio, races during a 56-mile bike ride during the Ironman 70.3 Ohio triathlon on Sunday, August 21, 2016 at Delaware State Park in Delaware, Ohio.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Joshua A. Bickel / ThisWeek Community NewsSteven Anderson, of Verona, Wisconsin, races barefoot toward the transition station after finishing a 56-mile bike ride during the Ironman 70.3 Ohio triathlon on Sunday, August 21, 2016 in Delaware, Ohio.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Joshua A. Bickel / ThisWeek Community NewsAthletes race past Selby Stadium as they near the end of their 13.1-mile run during the Ironman 70.3 Ohio triathlon on Sunday, August 21, 2016 in Delaware, Ohio.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Joshua A. Bickel / ThisWeek Community NewsMike Vulanich, center, of San Francisco, waits to get a bottle of water after finishing the Ironman 70.3 Ohio triathlon on Sunday, August 21, 2016 at Selby Stadium in Delaware, Ohio. Vulanich finished a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run in 4 hours, 12 minutes and 53 seconds for first overall.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Joshua A. Bickel / ThisWeek Community NewsJorge Urruta, of New York City, celebrates as he nears the finish line during the Ironman 70.3 Ohio triathlon on Sunday, August 21, 2016 at Selby Stadium in Delaware, Ohio. Urruta finished a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run in 4 hours, 59 minutes and 56 seconds.
