LSJ Blogs: Get Prepped

High School Sports: Prep Rally 4/25-5/1

This week, Prep Sports Editor Geoff Kimmerly and reporter Sean Merriman discuss the area's top lacrosse and water polo teams, as well as some fantastic early finishes for mid-Michigan's top tennis and golf standouts.

Remember to also follow us on Twitter @lsj_hssports.

 

4/28/11: Wednesday in Review

April in the MM (as in mid-Michigan) is only three game days from done. Here are the best from last night's performances, plus state rankings for baseball and softball and our first area track honor roll.

FOUR STARS

4. Leslie soccer's Kelsey Carroll -- Junior midfielder scored twice as Leslie beat Albion 4-0 to improve to 7-2, only two wins shy of last season's total.

3. Ovid-Elsie track's Rachelle Sandbrook -- Also a junior, high-jumped 5-2 in a three-team meet with Shepherd and Saginaw Swan Valley, a height good for a tie for second-best in the area for this week's honor roll.

2. Dansville track's Nick Moon -- A senior, won the 1,600 in 4:41 (which would've been second on this week's honor roll) as the Aggies doubled up state power Potterville and also defeated Carson City-Crystal.

1. Morrice baseball's Ryan Watz -- One of the area's top three-sport seniors, Watz hit a game-winning homer as the Orioles edged Webberville 9-8 (teammate Josh Stambaugh was 3 for 3 with a triple and a home run).

SCOREBOARD
BASEBALL
EAST LANSING 7, IONIA 3
East Lansing    001        102        3–7 7 2
Ionia    120        000        0–3 8 4
WP–Averill (1-1). LP–Ketchum. Highlights–East Lansing: Ripley 2-3, Herstein 2-4 2 RBI, Ionia: Schanski 2-3
EAST LANSING 9, IONIA 6
East Lansing    001        602    –9 11 3
Ionia    200        022    –6   7 6
WP–Ripley (2-1). LP–Maynard. Highlights–East Lansing: Cole 2-4, Beckett 3-4, Pendred 3-4 2 RBI, Ionia: Hoppe 2-4. Record–East Lansing 4-4

4/27/11: Tuesday in Review

The CAAC Blue took advantage Tuesday of the rare nice day this month with championship-impacting competitions in just about every sport. Check out our four most impacting performances of the day, along with all the reported results.

FOUR STARS

4. Laingsburg golf's Tyler Coss -- Shot a first-place 36 at Pine Hills to lead the Wolfpack to a two-stroke win over Fowler in a CMAC jamboree. Coss finished a stroke ahead of Portland St. Patrick's Ryan Wilcox.

3. Grand Ledge golf's Tyler DeGood -- He also shot a 36, at Chisolm Hills, to give the Comets a CAAC Blue jamboree win by eight over Holt and 10 over Okemos. DeGood edged Holt's Brian Burt by two strokes.

2. East Lansing track's Gavin Midlam -- The Trojans senior won both hurdles races, including the 300 in a fast 40.3 seconds, as East Lansing held off Grand Ledge 126-43 and Holt 129-37 to take a nice advantage against its toughest Blue competition. 

1. Okemos soccer's Sarah Kovan -- She had an assist, and also saved a goal with a header in front of her net off a corner kick, as the Chieftains asserted themselves as the area's top team with a 3-0 win over Grand Ledge.

SCOREBOARD
BASEBALL
WILLIAMSTON 12, HOLT 10 (9 Inn.)
Holt    130    201    201–10 11 1
Williamston    000    531    003–12 14 2
WP–Monette (1-2). LP–Fabroski. Highlights–Visitor: Mata 2-4, Myers 3-4 4RBI, Home:  Jump 3-5 4RBI, Fortin 3-4 3 RBI, Monette hit a three-run HR in the bottom of the 9th to win the game. Records–Williamston 5-4, Holt 8-2.

BOYS GOLF
WAVERLY 172, SEXTON 199
(at Royal Scot)
Waverly–Garrison 39, Greely 41, Deatsman 44, Corbat 48, Durand 48
Sexton–Bates 46, Barber-Braun 49, Davis 52, Volker 52.
Records–Waverly 1-0, Sexton 0-1.

Wrestling Watch

The National Federation of State High School Associations has approved an upward shift in most wrestling weight classes starting next season. The Michigan High School Athletic Association will decide if this state will follow suit during its representative council meeting Sunday and Monday.

In changing the majority of weights for the first time in 23 years, the NFHS would establish the following classes: 106 (pounds), 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195, 220 and 285. Currently, 103 in the lightest weight. The four holdovers are 145, 152, 160 and 285. The shift adds one more weight at the top end of the spectrum, taking one away from the lower weights.

4/26/11: Monday in Review

Rain or shine, softball, baseball and golf found a way to play through some tough weather conditions on the first day of the week. There's a 100 percent chance of more showers today, but here are our shining stars from the games mid-Michigan teams were able to get in Monday.

FOUR STARS

4. Dansville softball's Bekah Guy -- Although her Aggies split with Pewamo-Westphalia, Guy got the pitching win in a 13-3 victory while also going 4 for 4 with a double, home run and three RBI.

3. Okemos softball's Rebecca Garza -- The Chieftains posted an impressive sweep of St. Johns, and Garza hung through an eight-inning, 8-7 win during which she threw a complete game and struck out 10. She also was 2 for 2 in the 5-2 victory to finish the night.

2. Bath softball's Taylor Toune -- Saranac was off to a nice 5-1 start, but Toune kept the Bees undefeated with pitching wins in the 10-1 and 5-1 sweep. She also was 4 for 4 with a double in the first game.

1. DeWitt golf's Alex Jones -- The Panthers senior is showing up on this list quite a bit lately, and this time after shooting a 70 to win the prestigious East Lansing Invitational at Walnut Hills.

SCOREBOARD
BASEBALL
ST. JOHNS 4, HOLLY 3
St. Johns    002        011        0–4 7 2
Holly    300        000        0–3 5 2
WP–Pearsall (1-2) 5.1 IP, 5 H, 7 K, 3 ER. LP–Thomas 5 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 3 ER. Highlights–St. Johns: Pung 1-2 2 runs, LaBar 2-4 RBI, Nurenberg 1-3 RBI. Holly: McNeely 1-3 HR, 3 RBI
ST. JOHNS 4, HOLLY 1
St. Johns    200        002        0–4 6 1
Holly    001        000        0–1 3 2
WP–Mikula (1-2) 5 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 K, 1ER. LP–Scanlon 4IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 ER. Highlights–St. Johns: Lawless 2-3 RBI, R, LaBar 1-3 2B, R, Ballinger 2-3. Holly: Smiles 2-2 2B, run. Records–St. Johns 2-10, Holly 6-4

4/25/11: Weekend in Review

It's invitational season. And finally mid-Michigan got nice enough weather for some big events this past weekend, and some especially fine performances in tennis at golf.

FOUR STARS

4. Eaton Rapids softball's Erin Binkowski -- Got the pitching win in a 4-1 victory over No. 2 Mount Pleasant, and stuck out 11 in a 3-2 loss to No. 6 Livonia Ladywood at the Greyhounds' home invite. The stellar sophomore also drove in five runs over three games, with a homer against Ladywood.

3. Holt golf's Brian Burt -- Shot a 71 to take medalist honors at the Mason Invitational on the home course the Bulldogs share with the Rams, El Dorado.

2. DeWitt golf's Alex Jones -- Shot a 73 to be named medalist at the Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central Invitational at Grand Valley State, a frequent site for a state final.

1. Mason tennis' Abby Perkins -- The Bulldogs freshman became the latest phenom to hit the area scene, and knocked off reigning LSJ Player of the Year Hailey Barrett from Grand Ledge 10-6 in a tie-break after they split two sets in the No. 1 singles final at the Mason Invitational.

SCOREBOARD
Baseball
CHARLOTTE 10, LAKEWOOD 0
Lakewood    000    00–0   9 4
Charlotte    203    14–10 4 2
WP–Thomas. LP–S. Schuiling. Highlights–Lakewood: Salazar 2B; Charlotte: Rankin 1-2 3 runs, Parrish 2B 2 RBI, Whitely 1-2 2 RBI
LAKEWOOD 9, CHARLOTTE 5
Lakewood    240    003–9 8 1
Charlotte    100    031–5 9 1
WP–Shattuck. LP–Rankin. Highlights–Lakewood: Salazar 2-2, Innes 2-4; Charlotte: Trezciak 2-2, Rankin 2-4, McClintock 2-3

Friday Flashback: Softball Classic 1981-95

As I close the door on our major Softball Classic package that ran Sunday, here are some of the old LSJ pages I pulled off the microfilm to assist me in my research. Even if you don't have much interest in the Classic, there's some fun about the Tigers' Lance Parrish and others.

1981

4/22/11: Thursday in Review

Spring finally returned Thursday. Here are the results, along with our top four performances, from the busiest night of the spring so far.

FOUR STARS

4. Carson City-Crystal baseball's Mike Grimwood: It's a little tragic, but Grimwood threw a one-hitter with a school-record 18 strikeouts -- but had to take the loss, 1-0, to Fowler when that lone run crossed on an error in the seventh inning.

3. Fulton softball's Brianna Fuller: What a reversal; after getting mercied by annual power Bath in the first game, Fuller pitched the Pirates to a 3-0 shutout in the second. (Bath's Taylor Toune threw a five-inning no-hitter in the opener).

2. Haslett/Williamston lacrosse's Nick Mowid: Maybe it'll be the Viking/Hornets that challenge Holt for area supremacy, with Mowid tossing in four goals in a 13-4 win over East Lansing on Thursday.

1. Okemos tennis' Emily Doster: In a matchup of arguably the two top teams in mid-Michigan this season, Doster got perhaps the key win in a 4-4 tie with Mason. She beat Bulldogs standout Emily Hall 6-3, 7-5 at No. 2 singles.

SCOREBOARD
Baseball
EASTERN 20, SEXTON 5 (4 innings)
Sexton    101    3-5 2 6
Eastern    082    (10)-20 8 5
WP-Manns (1-1). LP-McCullough. Highlights-Sexton: McCullough 1-2, Alverez 1-2. Eastern:  Mendez 2-4 2 RBI 3 runs, Waters, 2-3 2B 3 runs, Hernandez 1-2 3 RBI 2 runs, M. Garcia 1-2 2 RBI run.
EASTERN 11, SEXTON 1 (5 innings)
Sexton    100    00-1 6 3
Eastern    211    43-11 7 1
WP-R. Garcia (2-0). LP-Rodriquez. Highlights-Sexton: McCullough 2-3 2B run , Wallace 2-3 2B, Rivera 2-2. Eastern:  Manns 1-1 3B run, M. Garcia 2-3 2B 2 runs, Anderson 1-3 2B RBI.  Record- Eastern 7-3.

4/21/11: Wednesday in Review

Rain, rain, finally went away. But still only a few more events from last night to talk about today. But look for a lot more on Friday.

FOUR STARS

4. Lansing Christian soccer's Elizabeth Perkins -- Knocked in five goals in the Pilgrims' 9-0 win over Potterville.

3. Charlotte soccer's Sierra Cisco -- Orioles freshman scored a hat trick in a 5-0 win over Corunna.

2. Fowlerville track's Adam Coon -- Looks like we've got an overall LSJ Athlete of the Year candidate for 2013 in Coon, an all-state football player, wrestling state champion, and top track thrower who won both discus and shot put in a dual against Ionia.

1. Ithaca track's Brittany Bentley -- Won the 400 and 200 and was on two first-place relays as the Yellowjackets edged rival St. Louis 68-60 in the TVC West.

Soccer
LANSING CHRISTIAN 9, POTTERVILLE 0
Goals–Perkins 5, Hagy 2, Gomez, Garner. Assists–Gomez 2, Hagy, Mal. Pauley, Mad. Pauley, Lowe. In goal–Bytwerk (LC) 0 saves. Records–Lansing Christian 4-0, Potterville 0-3
LESLIE 2, STOCKBRIDGE 1
Leslie goals–Bennett, Ramsay. Assist–Collins. In goal–Wilson (L) 2 saves, Rogers (S) 8 saves. Record–Leslie 4-2

4/20/11: Tuesday in Review

The rain keeps falling on mid-Michigan spring sports this week. But here's what we got from last night with another quick set of area standouts from the evening, plus this week's softball and soccer state rankings. 

FOUR STARS

4. Mason soccer's Emily Bartlett -- Made seven saves as the No. 10-ranked Bulldogs shut out Dexter 2-0.

3. Haslett/Williamston girls lacrosse's Kaliegh O’Brien -- Tallied a goal and two assists as her team edged Waverly/Lansing Catholic/Grand Ledge 7-6 in what might be one of the best wins in H/W's short history.

2. DeWitt golf's Alex Jones -- Shot a 37 at Charlotte Country Club to lead the top-ranked Panthers to a five-stroke win over Haslett in a CAAC Gold jamboree.

1. East Lansing boys lacrosse's Alex Carlson -- The Trojans continued their rise with a 12-11 win over Okemos, and Carlson had three goals and three assists.

SCOREBOARD
Golf
GREENVILLE INVITATIONAL
(at Ferris State University)
Team scores– 1. Muskegon Mona Shores 295, 2. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 296, 3. Grand Ledge ‘A’ 302, 4. Traverse City West ‘Gold’ 323, 4. Greenville ‘A’ 323, 6. Ithica 326, 7. Jenison 329, 8. Traverse City West ‘Green’ 336, 9. Central Montcalm 347, 10. Grand Ledge ‘B’ 348, 11. Cadillac 360, 12. Traverse City Central ‘A’ 363, 13. Greenville ‘B’ 380, 14. Montabella 419, 15. Traverse City Central ‘B’ 420.
Grand Ledge A– 6. Matt Benson 74, 7. Tyler Degood 75, 8. Kyle Sawyer 76.
Grand Ledge B– 12. Dylan Freeman 77, 24. Brad Karzynowski 24, 53. Ryan Murray 91.
Ithaca– 21. Daniel Brown 80, 21. Lucas Slater 80, 24. Gerritt Miniard 81.
GOLD DIVISION JAMBOREE
(at Charlotte Country Club)
Team scores– Dewitt 165, Haslett 170, Charlotte 179, Eaton Rapids 180, Ionia 218, Fowlerville 222.
Medalist–Alex Jones (Dewitt) 37.
Dewitt–Alex Jones 37, Ryan Carey 40, Paul Vonstreeken 43,  Brandon Ward 45.
Haslett–Chris Beltzer 41, Zach Rapson 42, Tommy Gut 43, Chase Applegate 44.
Charlotte– Joe Daly 42, Tyler Allen 42, Kevin Monaghan 46, Tory Brown 49.
Eaton Rapids–Matt Krakowiak 43, Ryan Tomlinson 43, Gavin Crawford 47, Jim Malcongi 47.
Ionia–Luke Braun 52, Tyler Dawson 52, Jordan Braun 56, Mitch Simmons 58.
Fowlerville–Adam Brownlee 49, Nate Hughes 56, Ricky Young 58, Mike Leach 59.