Doing what he loves
Tribune Chronicle / R. Michael Semple
Jim Devine, right, works with Ronnie Dillon, 7, of Newton Falls on his batting technique. To view or purchase copies of this photo or others, visit cu.tribtoday.com
NILES — Jim Devine must feel like the proverbial kid on Christmas morning every time he crawls out of bed. As the head of player development for the One Through Nine (OTN) performance baseball center near the Eastwood Mall, Devine gets to do what he loves — teach young people of varying ages how to improve their baseball and fastpitch softball skills. “I’m lucky,” Devine said. “You’ll never hear me complain about work. We put in a lot of hours and hard work, and a lot of energy is paid to each kid. I couldn’t go back to normal. I couldn’t go back to 9 to 5. I would have a hard time trying to go back.” Devine, a 1985 Warren John F. Kennedy High School graduate, held other jobs before deciding to make baseball his career. He ran the Swing Lab in downtown Warren for eight years and then formed an association with two investors to open their business in the bubble behind the mall one year ago.
» Full StoryLowellville blows past McDonald in?ITCL?battle
McDONALD — It was the perfect opportunity for the McDonald Blue Devils to take the first step in a possible run for an Inter Tri-County League, Lower Tier, title.
» Full StoryHorne is MAC?bound
LaBrae senior Allorian Horne doesn’t leave much to doubt every time she runs the 200-meter dash.
“I think the distance is better for me,” she said. “I’m more of, not like a long distance runner, but just more than the 100.
Southington downs Mustangs
ORWELL — It hasn’t been a season to remember for the Grand Valley girls.
» Full StoryROUNDUP
? MAPLEWOOD 55, BADGER 43: MECCA — Badger’s Sarah Bonar might have beat Maplewood’s Melissa Sloan in the battle between two of the area’s scoring leaders, but Sloan and the Rockets won the war, defeating the Braves in their Northeastern Athletic...
» Full StoryYocum sisters stick together
WARREN — Lakeview senior swimmer Caitlin Yocum felt as she was swimming alone the past couple of years.
She wasn’t completely alone.
Local Sports Poll
Which story do you think was the local story of the decade?










