Bootin' the Pigskin

The annual kicking camp at Denison University.

Photos © Jason Lenhart

Learning to Lose

It's a hard thing to do.

But eventually we all learn how, one way or another.

But honestly, after photographing the semifinal round of the Licking County Shriner Tournament (A little league baseball tourney), I was happy to see losers. I don't mean social outcast, but legitimate winners and losers. So often I hear "Everybody is a winner" when it comes to sports. Youth baseball and basketball games being played with no score being kept, and everybody receiving a trophy.

Sorry to say it, but that's not life. You WILL lose at one point or another, sometime in your life. Hell, chances are you'll lose a lot more than you'll win.

So while yes it sucks to lose. Learn to lose when you are young, like these kids.

Learn to lose when, despite the incredibly emotional fans (read; parents), it doesn't really matter.

Photo © Jason Lenhart

Steeple vs Spire

What exactly is the difference? I called it a steeple, but apparently it's a spire....

Either way, the Granville St. Luke's Episcopal Church had their entire tower thingy renovated, and today they put it all back together.

Photos © Jason Lenhart

Rugby - IN THE FACE

Not a very popular sport, and a tough one to shoot. It's especially tough to shoot when 75% of the teams are inexperienced (less than a year old) and resort to gang-tackle football tactics.

Still, the 7-on-7 14 minute games, as opposed to 15-on-15 80 minute standard matches, lent themselves to some serious action, and serious scores. Licking Valley defeated Lancaster 71-0 (In 14 minutes!!)

Oh, and I hear Rugby is coming to the Olympics in 2016...?

Photos © Jason Lenhart

American Legion Baseball

Legion Baseball is something new to me. Either it doesn't really exist in upstate New York, or I just never paid attention to it when I was growing up. If anybody else is like me, Legion Baseball is what every kid plays after school lets out for the summer. It's basically a way for them to keep playing baseball. The large majority of teams are high school level, but there are a few younger leagues too. All teams are sponsored by an American Legion Post # and the teams encompass larger regions, so often times they are composed of kids from several school districts.

Anywho, shot one on Tuesday.

I can't count on both hands and both feet how many sporting events have been canceled due to rain since I started at the Advocate nearly two months ago. This was one of them. Tried to include the weather into a photo. It required some less-than-perfect selective toning, but I like it.

Photos © Jason Lenhart

Fire + Sports

= Awesomeness

So last week finished up the week of "Sportraits". Most decent sized newspapers will name athletes of the year in different sports as well as various "All-Advocate Teams" etc. etc. I was given the portrait assignment for the softball player of the year, baseball player of the year, and both male/female athlete of the year.

(Favorite Shot) Softball player of the year, Courtney Kidwell

Baseball player of the year, Matt Smith



Male Athlete of the year, Travis Drumm


Female Athlete of the year, Courtney Kidwell

Photos © Jason Lenhart