It was a spring season that began with some extended wintry weather and plenty of postponements. But once the fields dried up it was another stellar few months of athletics around the region with plenty of worthwhile performances on the baseball and softball diamonds, as well as on the track.

Here are some highlights of the last couple of months in the spring sports circuit:

Another OV run: Brad Buchholz and his Green Wave players have created quite the baseball dynasty in District 9. After a season-opening loss to Coudersport, the Green Wave won their remaining 17 regular season contests and carried that over to a first round win in the D-9 playoffs. OV lost to DuBois CC in the D-9 title game, but quickly rebounded with a win in the opening round of the state playoffs before ultimately falling to Vincentian Academy, which is playing in Friday’s championship game.

The Green Wave were once again led by last year’s Big 30 Player of the Year Garren Black, who started three consecutive playoffs games on the mound for OV, including two shutouts. Black joined fellow seniors Gage Babcock, Jacob Karr, Ryan Graves and Theo Henry who have enjoyed one of the most successful runs in area sports history over the last four seasons. The Green Wave won over 80 games during that span, have appeared in four straight district championships (two victories) and have picked up two PIAA state wins along the way. Buchholz has set the standard for other area teams on how to build a successful high school sports program and it’s been all the more impressive that he’s been able to do it in the tiny town of Shinglehouse.

Eakin makes history: John Eakin continued his incredible track and field career at Bradford High School with some new accolades in 2018. The senior took care of business in the winter by winning the PA Indoor State Title and carried it into the spring. He set a new district record in shot put with a distance of 61-6.75, which broke the district record that had been held since 1969. He didn’t stop there, however, capping off his high school career at the PA State Championships with a first-place winning throw of 58-10.75. He became the first boy in Bradford history to capture both the indoor and outdoor state championships. Eakin, who also dominated as a running back for Bradford, is committed to playing football at Slippery Rock University this fall.

Bradford track repeats: Led by Eakin on the boys side, the Bradford track and field teams once again cleaned up at the district championships. The boys won their fourth straight title and and the 19th win over the last 20 seasons. The senior group of Eakin, Ryan Whittemore, Logan Caruso and Cade Hayden didn’t lose a single dual meet in their four years of competition. The girls, led by state meet participants Ashton McGriff, Emily Bosworth and Abby Coffman, repeated as district champions for the second consecutive year. McGriff took home her third James Manners Award for top performer in districts and represented the Owls in three state events.

Coudy’s run to states: The Lady Falcons entered the D-9 softball playoffs as Class A’s sixth seed, but were able to upset Clarion and A-C Valley to make it to the Class A Championship.

The Falcons were led by a league-high five Northern Allegany League All-Stars (Chelsey Streich, Joplin Osgood, Shaelyn Black,Emma Powell, Madison Smith) that scored 22 runs combined in their three District games.

Coudersport ultimately fell to Elk County Catholic and then in its first round matchup in the PIAA tournament, but the softball campaign capped off another successful year in Coudersport athletics that also included district titles in girls and boys basketball.

Smethport’s regular season: The Lady Hubbers captured the Northern Allegany small school league title with a 15-2 mark in the regular season, before falling to A-C Valley in the first round of the district playoffs. The Hubbers were led by nine seniors that included starting catcher and Northern Allegany Player of the Year Abbey Woodard, who provided the offense. Woodard, who also finished as the school’s all-time leader in basketball scoring, has committed to play softball at Mansfield University next year. Fellow senior Emily Treat started most of Smethport’s games in the circle. The Hubbers have gone 29-9 over the past two seasons.

The Big 30 All-Stars for baseball and softball will be selected next Monday. The awards include player and coach of the year as well as a first, second and third team selections.