By Kaleb Roedel DAYTON -- After opening the season on the wrong foot, stumbling to a 48-13 loss to Spring Creek, Sparks football coach Robb Kittrell said the coaching staff would “make sure everyone got pointed in the right direction.” Consider the Railroaders on the right track. Fueled by an offense that erupted for 400 yards and a defense that allowed a mere 51, … [Read more...]
Sparks girls settle for draw in opener
By Shyene Joubert, reporting intern The Railroaders opened their season Thursday afternoon with a 1-1 tie at Wooster. The Colts’ Vanessa Saldana scored the first game goal in the 32nd minute. The Railroaders’ Angelica Hurtado tied the game four minutes later. The score held until the final whistle. “This game was not what we expected,” Wooster coach Rene Flores said. … [Read more...]
Rail City Boys Soccer Preview
Railroaders on the road to repeat If you asked Sparks boys soccer coach Frank Avilla if his squad was rebuilding this year, he would likely give you a confused a look. “Sparks doesn’t rebuild,” the Railroaders’ tenured coach said. “It reloads.” If the program were to rebuild in 2015, it would be understandable. Sparks went 22-3-2 last season on its way to the DI-A … [Read more...]
Sparks thumped 47-13 at Spring Creek
By Kaleb Roedel SPRING CREEK -- Going for it on fourth-and-six on its opening drive, the Sparks football team, planted inside Spring Creek’s 10-yard line, was seeking a tone-setting first down or, even better, touchdown. One snap later, the tone was set -- just not in the Railroaders’ favor. Spring Creek stuffed Sparks at the 2-yard line -- half a yard shy of the … [Read more...]
Sparks goes 3-1 in Galena preseason tournament
By Tribune Staff Sparks started its DI-A North title defense with a 3-1 weekend at Galena’s preseason tournament. On Friday, Sparks topped Elko and Bishop Manogue. In the first contest, Alexis Medina’s 28-yard unassisted blast held in a 1-0 victory of Elko—the team that took the regular-season league title away from the Railroaders last fall with a late-season … [Read more...]
Sparks boys soccer starts season 2-0
By Tribune Staff Sparks started its DI-A North title defense with a pair of non-league victories Friday afternoon at a non-league tournament in Galena. In the first contest, Alexis Medina’s 28-yard unassisted blast held in a 1-0 victory of Elko—the team that took the regular-season league title away from the Railroaders last fall with a late-season upset. The … [Read more...]
Chasing one for the thumb
It's a different year but it appears to be the same story for the Reed Raiders. Coach Ernie Howren leads another talented squad into another fall season with another target on its back after winning another regional title (fourth-straight) last fall. Howren said although it's a familiar spot for his program to be in, the team can't sit on the last half decade of … [Read more...]
Strong senior class leads Railroaders
Sparks had eight seniors on its roster in last season's 1-8 campaign. This year, it has 22 athletes in their final year at Sparks High. Dominated by youth and inexperience a season ago, the Railroaders had trouble closing games in the fourth quarter. Despite owning a losing streak that dated back to 2011 for much of the season, coach Rob Kittrell's bunch was in its share of … [Read more...]