The Aurora baseball mound design was part of the memorial for former coach George Snider last Saturday.

By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

The impact that George Snider has had on the Aurora baseball program is felt every day.

Now, there is a visual reminder of Snider’s presence.

Last Saturday, the Greenmen held a memorial celebration for Snider, who died on Nov. 5, 2024, at the age of 73.

The remembrance event coordinated by Aurora baseball head coach Trent Dalton included the planting of a tree and the placement of a memorial rock at the base of the tree for Snider, who was Aurora’s baseball coach from 2000-2013.

Many former players and friends attended and fond stories of their friend and mentor.

“I had a personal connection to Coach Snider,” Dalton said. “He was always supportive of me, and we shared many long conversations about baseball — a passion we both deeply valued. I also work alongside his wife, Kathy, who is truly one of the kindest individuals you could ever meet. Her dedication to her students is remarkable, and in turn, her students care deeply for her.

“The Snider family is phenomenal and consistently supports our school and community in countless ways,” Dalton added.

Snider spent 36 years as a teacher and 42 years as a coach. In addition to being the baseball head coach at Aurora , he also spent time as the boys golf assistant, girls golf head coach, girls basketball assistant coach. Snider also spent time as the baseball head coach at Bedford Chanel and Woodridge.

Snider played baseball at the University of Akron, was married for 47 years to Kathy Snider, was a father of two and grandfather of two.

“What truly motivated me, and so many others, to organize the memorial was the profound and lasting impact Coach Snider had on our community,” Dalton said.

“His influence extends far beyond the baseball field, touching the lives of players, coaches, students and everyone he encountered. Coach Snider had a remarkable ability to light up any room he entered, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, leadership and inspiration.”

The Aurora baseball team “proudly wears” GS decals on the side of their batting helmets as a tribute to Snider.

“He will forever be a part of the Aurora Greenmen family,” Dalton said.

MORE FROM AURORA

There is a lot of activity in Aurora this spring.

Aurora’s record-setting 4×800 relay team.

Last weekend, The Aurora 4×800 relay team of Amelia Kilway, Ella Cicero, Izzy Leindecker and Abby Rogonjic set a new school record on Saturday at the Comet Relays.

The group ran a new school-best time of 13:14.21 (the previous record was 13:17.34).

Three days later, it was quite the special night for the Aurora softball program.

The Greenmen had not one, not two, but three players all reached the 100-hit milestone in the same game — a dominating 17-0 win at Barberton.

Sophie Schechterman, Lailah Bohanan and Rayna Unverferth all celebrated the achievement together.

That makes FIVE who have collected 100 career hits in the current Aurora lineup, with Monday’s milestone trio joining Sophie Petrash, who set her mark earlier this year, and Sophie Retton, whose milestone was achieved last spring.

LONG, LONG JUMPS

Kent Roosevelt junior Kaidyn Harris and Ravenna senior Taylor Brown are now the new proud owners of school records at their respective schools.

Both achieved the feat as long jumpers.

For Harris, she broke her own school record, landing 17 feet, 10 inches, besting her previous mark by three inches.

For Brown, she leapt a new program-best 17 feet, 6.5 inches.

Kent Roosevelt’s Kaidyn Harris recently set a new school record in the long jump.
Robin Golden/Special to Portage Sports

MOGADORE’S BANNER NIGHT

When the Mogadore girls basketball team held their end-of-season banquet last week, they still had some work to do.

Raise a banner.

As part of the night that celebrated the greatest single season in Wildcats program history, the group hung a State Final Four banner in the gymnasium to forever stamp themselves in school history.

Mogadore advanced to the Division VII Final Four in March, becoming the first girls basketball team in school history to win a regional championship.