There was no bigger Wittenberg fan than Joe Clayton. The Catholic Central graduate and Springfield resident took stats at football and basketball games for almost three decades.

He never got paid. He was always a volunteer. He just loved the Tigers — maybe as much as his beloved Columbus Clippers.

Clayton, also a longtime member of the News-Sun sports staff, died Monday night, March 16, at 47.

This was released by Ryan Maurer in the University Communications office:

Dear Wittenberg community members,

For most of you, the name Joe Clayton may not mean much - if you ever heard it all. But without him and the more than 25 years of dedicated service he gave his hometown university, your experience following Wittenberg athletics might have been something a little less. I know mine would have been, which is why I was so sad to hear the news of his passing last night at the age of 47.

Joe was a Wittenberg Tiger to the core, and he earned his stripes with dedicated service as a statistician for a variety of the university’s athletics teams. As far as I know, he didn’t miss a home Wittenberg football game for nearly 30 years - not sitting in the stands as a fan, but sitting in the pressbox as the lead scorekeeper. In recent years, he volunteered to be our sports information representative at road games as well, tracking participation, pitching in to help with statistics and delivering stats to our coaches at halftime and the end of games. He was a walking encyclopedia of Wittenberg football knowledge, a memory bank I never could quite tap enough.

He was almost as consistent in his attendance of Wittenberg basketball games, both men and women. Despite missing three years while working in Dayton, I would estimate that Joe tracked statistics at about 600 home basketball games over the years. In recent years, he also helped with stats when we hosted NCAC and NCAA volleyball tournaments and had even offered his services at men’s and women’s soccer games. And there was a baseball season when we didn’t have anyone to keep the scorebook, so he pinch-hit at the last minute. Ably, I might add.

Finally, last year he joined the Athletics Hall of Honor committee. He saw it as an honor, and he took his responsibilities very seriously.

He did all of these things, outside of his full-time jobs and dedication to the local Catholic church…FOR FREE. I insisted that we arrange payment for a few things, like his help with the volleyball tournaments and the chilly nights in the baseball dugout. But it was never anything he asked for, or expected. He just loved sports, and he loved Wittenberg.

It’s people like Joe - unsung heroes - who make Wittenberg special. I just felt that he should be saluted.

The first baseball broadcast is slated for Wednesday, March 18th vs. UC-Clermont.

The women’s tournament was claimed by Ohio Wesleyan with a 73-65 win over Allegheny. It’s the Bishops first NCAA trip since 2002.

The spring sports broadcasting schedule begins on Wednesday: Men’s Lacrosse vs. Mount St. Joseph.
Ben Bradley will call the action starting at 4:00pm.

Bill Brown’s team finished 13-13, 9-7 NCAC and lost for the second straight season in the Quarterfinals. Prior to last season, the Tigers had never failed to reached the semifinals. It is also the first non-winning season since 1967-68.

Sarah Jurewicz’s squad had a 17 point lead at half, but Ohio Weslyean stormed back to beat the Tigers in Delware. The women finish 14-12, 9-7 NCAC.

Men
#1 Wooster vs. #8 Denison
#4 Wittenberg vs. #5 Kenyon
#2 Ohio Wesleyan vs. #7 Allegheny
#3 Hiram vs. #6 Wabash

Women
#1 Denison vs. #8 Oberlin
#4 Ohio Wesleyan vs. #5 Wittenberg
#2 Kenyon vs. #7 Hiram
#3 Allegheny vs. #6 Wooster

Both Wittenberg games will be broadcast on WUSO (89.1 FM) and on the web. The men’s game will include live internet video: Women’s game - 6:00pm, Men’s game - 7:30pm

Wednesday’s NCAC Scoreboard
Wabash 68, Wittenberg 43
Kenyon 75, Hiram 74 OT
Wooster 52, Allegheny 39
Ohio Wesleyan 64, Oberlin 61

NCAC Standings (Top 5) and remaining games:
1.  Wooster 13-2, 18-6 - vs. Earlham
1.  Ohio Wesleyan 13-2, 17-6 - vs. Allegheny
3.  Hiram 10-5, 15-9 - vs. Oberlin
4.  Kenyon 9-6, 15-9 - at Wittenberg
5.  Wittenberg 8-7, 12-12 - vs. Kenton

Saturday: Wittenberg vs. Kenyon (3:00pm)
The Tiger Sports Network will provide live audio and video

Game story from Springfield News-Sun

The Tigers were led by 20 points from Sophomore transfer Chris Sullivan.

Wednesday- Wittenberg (12-11, 8-6) at Wabash (10-12, 5-9)

7:30pm tip-off, pre-game show starts at 7:15pm

NCAC Standings (top 6) and remaining games (as of 2-18-09)
1.  Wooster 12-2, 17-6 - at Allegheny, vs. Earlham
1.  Ohio Wesleyan 12-2, 16-6 - at Oberlin, vs. Allegheny
3.  Hiram 10-4, 15-8 - at Kenyon, vs. Oberlin
4.  Kenyon 8-6, 14-9 - vs. Hiram, at Wittenberg
4.  Wittenberg 8-6, 11-11 - at Wabash, vs. Kenyon
6.  Allegheny 6-8, 10-13 vs. Wooster, at Ohio Wesleyan

The Tigers are currently 11-11, 8-6 in the NCAC.

Games this week: Monday- vs. IU-East, Wednesday- at Wabash, Saturday- vs. Kenyon

What’s at stake:

* The Tigers are playing for the #4 seed in the NCAC Tournament. The top four seeds host in the Quarterfinals (Feb. 24th)

* Wittenberg hasn’t had a losing season since 1955-56 (8-12) and hasn’t finished .500 since 1967-68 (13-13)

If Witt can win all three games this week then none of the above is a concern. However, IU-East has 22 wins as a second year NAIA program, Wabash is ALWAYS tougher in Crawfordsville, and Kenyon could playing for the #4 seed just like the Tigers this weekend.

So even if it hasn’t been the season the Tigers (and their fans) have hoped for, there is still plenty of intrigue down the stretch.

Monday night’s broadcast begins at 5:15pm with the tip-off slated for 5:30pm. See you at Pam Evans Smith Arena!

* The Tiger men beat Allegheny on Saturday 68-58, improving to 11-9, 8-4 in the NCAC. Senior Kevin Murray was named NCAC Player of the Week (41 points in two games). Hard to believe, but it’s Murray’s first such honor.

This will be a HUGE week to determine the seeding for the conference tourney with just four games left:

Wooster 10-2 (vs. Denison; at Wittenberg)
Ohio Wesleyan 10-2 (vs. Wittenberg; vs. Earlham)
Hiram 9-3 (vs. Allegheny; at Denison)
Wittenberg 8-4 (at Ohio Wesleyan; vs. Wooster)
Kenyon 8-4 (vs. Oberlin; at Allegheny)

* The NCAC Swimming and Diving Championships will be held this weekend in Canton. The NCAC will be offering pay-per-view streaming video ($15/day; $45/meet): http://www.northcoast.org/mw/swimchampionships.html

* Baseball season is right around the corner! Pitchers and Catchers are reporting to Major League spring training camps and the Wittenberg Tigers are gearing up as well. We’ve posted a season preview interview with Head Coach Jay Lewis. The spring sports broadcasting schedule will be finalized soon and I’ll post it here.

Wooster 9-2
Hiram 9-2
Ohio Wesleyan 9-2
Wittenberg 7-4
Kenyon 7-4

Of course, the top four finishers will host in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.  The Tigers travel to Allegheny Saturday (2:00pm) and Ohio Wesleyan visits Hiram.

Ticket information for Wooster game on February 14th

The Wittenberg vs. Wooster men’s basketball game will be played at home on Saturday, February 14, 2009. This is always a very well attended and much anticipated contest. Because we are expecting a large and enthusiastic crowd, it is necessary that we make several changes to our standard ticket policy.

Please note that all seating will be reserved seating. There will be no general admission for this game. All faculty and staff planning to attend the game must pick-up your tickets in advance of game day. For your convenience, we have scheduled several days and times you may come to the HPERC, show your Wittenberg ID and pick up your tickets. You will be entitled to (2) tickets per ID.  The days and times for advance tickets are as follows:

·         Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday -11:30am – 1:30pm & 3:30pm – 6:00pm

·         Wednesday - 11:30am – 1:30pm & 4:00pm - 7:00pm

There will be no advance sales on Friday, February 13^th.

After Thursday evening, tickets can be purchased at a cost of $8.00 each. We will no longer be issuing complimentary tickets after Thursday.  

Also, the Wittenberg Cheerleaders will be sponsoring a Red-Out. T-shirts will be available in the Student Center beginning next week at a cost of $7.00 per shirt  if you would like to participate.