Baseball History at MHS
The first baseball team was formed during the 1923 - 1924 school year. There is a mention of it in the 1924 - 1925 yearbook. There was a note in the 1924 - 1925 yearbook regarding the 2nd Baseball team at MHS.
"Baseball has been but a minor activity of the Minford High School, due to the fact that we have no convenient lot to play upon except while we may use Mr. Samson's lost near the creek. But last fall showed a great improvement over the preceding season, due to the interest and spirit added to the team by Mr. Wood, our coach."
The photo below is the 1924 - 1925 Baseball team:
Back row: Purdy, Moore, Shuter, Newman, Downey, Kayser, Oberley, Coach Wood
Front row: Rice, Snyder, McGlone, Kuhns, Helt, Carr
An article in The Portsmouth Times dated April 12, 1936, p. 50 mistakenly identifies the first baseball team as 1936:
MINFORD TO HAVE BASEBALL SCHEDULE - School Takes to Game First Time in History
For the first time in its history, Minford High School is to have a baseball team this season. Coach Ed Duncan is in charge of the squad of 20 candidates.
Nelson and Jones are the two outstanding pitchers and Evans and Bentley the catchers.
A nine-game schedule is to be started next Saturday when Jackson appears at Minford.
Following are the other dates on the schedule:
April 21 - New Boston at New Boston
April 24 - McDermott at Minford
May 1 - Protsmouth at Minford
May 4 - McDermott at McDermott
May 7 & 8 - District tournament at Athens
May 12 - Jackson at Jackson
May 15 - Portsmouth at Portsmouth
May 19 - New Boston at Minford
1936 - 1937 
Above picture from: The Portsmouth Times, May 24, 1937, p. 23.
The Portsmouth Times, April 7, 1937, p. 11
MINFORD OPEN SEASON FRIDAY - Coach Ed Duncan To Place Strong Baseball Club on Field
Twenty-four boys reported for baseball practice at Minford High school. Nine won letters last year including two pitchers and two catchers with experience. These are Nelson and Hackworth, pitchers, and Evans and Garrett, catchers. R. Garrett the elongated basketball center and Shumway a rugged left-hander have been showing up well in the box. Promising new-comers to the squad are C. McLaughlin, A. Pfleger, M. Lykins, C. Ison and C. Sparks.
This year a six team league was organized in the county including Wheelersburg, Lucasville, McDermott, Green Township, South Webster and Minford. This league race promised to be hotly contested and a trophy is to be awarded the winner.
Minford opens the season Friday at the Long Run diamond with the strong Jackson outfit offering the opposition. Sciotoville and New Boston also will be played outside of the league. Coach Ed Duncan expects to place a strong club on the field. Following is the Minford schedule:
April 9, Jackson, here.
April 13, Sciotoville, there.
April 16, Wheelersburg, there.
April 20, Lucasville, here.
April 23, McDermott, here.
April 26, South Webster, there.
April 28, New Boston, here (tentative).
April 29, Jackson, there.
April 30, Green Township, there.
May 3, Green Township, here.
May 5, South Webster, here.
May 7, McDermott, there.
May 11, Lucasville, here.
May 17, Wheelersburg, here.
May 19, Sciotoville, here.
May 21, New Boston, there (tentative)Their championship trophy is on display in the school's athletic trophy case.
Apparently there was a lag in the baseball program at Minford because the 1946 Falcon yearbook has a notation that says: "Although this is the first regular baseball season for several years, the prospects for the team seems very good. Whether an undefeated season is in store cannot be forseen. The team last year played a few non-league games but in those they did very well."
The notation continues:"The team is handicapped for lack of a field, but Clay has been very gracious in letting us use theirs."
A photo of the 1946 team is below:
Front Row: Robert Walters, Manager; Harold Cole, Outfielder; Jay Pinson, Catcher; Paul McGraw, Third Base; Connie Scott, Short Stop; Lyle Shoemaker, Second Base; Howard Foster, Manager
Back Row: Mr. Pfleger, Coach; William Walters, First Base; Paul Sparks, Pitcher; Kenneth Kayser, Right Field; Gilbert Henson, Outfielder; Sam Melvin, Infielder; Stanley Bender, Center Field; Richard Eckhart, Left Field; Mr. Duncan
Minford joined the SOC in 1947. They were required to have teams from two different sports in order to be eigible to join. Minford High School at that time decided to have an SOC Basketball team and and SOC Baseball team.
Research by R. Lavender
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