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Scoreboard: AAGR wins at Williamston

May 3, 2012

Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard emerged from a exceptional field including some of the highest-ranked soccer teams from Division 2 and 3 on Saturday at the Williamston Invitational.

The Fighting Irish, ranked No. 6 in Division 3, beat the No. 3 Hornets in a shootout in the championship game after advancing with a 1-0 win over No. 8 Detroit Country Day and a shootout victory over top-ranked Flint Powers Catholic. 

Williamston downed honorable mention Frankenmuth 2-0 and then Division 2 No. 5 Plainwell 4-0 to advance to the final. Plainwell was No. 1 in its division in last week's state coaches poll.

Powers also beat Plainwell during the tournament, 4-2.

Click here for Second Half's preview of the event, which focused on the host Hornets' loaded schedule this spring. Below are the scores of all nine games from the event:

Championship game: Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard 0, Williamston 0; AAGR wins in shootout
Williamston 2, Frankenmuth 0
Williamston 4, Plainwell 0
AAGR 0, Flint Powers, 0; AAGR wins in shootout
AAGR 1, Detroit Country Day 0
Flint Powers 3, Detroit Country Day 1
Flint Powers 4, Plainwell 2
Plainwell 4, Frankenmuth 0
Frankenmuth 0, DCD 0; Frankenmuth wins in shootout

PHOTO: Gabriel Richard's Alexis Warner (23) works for possession against Williamston's Amanda Dimmer (12) during Saturday's Williamston Invitational championship game. (Photo courtesy of Bonnie Putnam and Williamston soccer.)

High 5s: 6/12/12

June 14, 2012

A few thousand teams began this spring on MHSAA fields and courts. Heading into the final weekend of the 2011-12 school year, that number is down to 100 and change.

Each week, Second Half gives "High 5s" to athletes and a team based on their accomplishments the previous week or throughout the season. Below are an athlete and team who will be looking to finish this season with one last win.

Josh Vyletel
Howell senior
Pitcher

Vyletel threw a complete-game no-hitter as Howell beat rival Brighton 4-3 in a Division 1 Quarterfinal on Tuesday to advance to the MHSAA Semifinals for the first time. Vyletel improved to 15-2 this spring, which ties him for 10th in the MHSAA record book for most wins in one season. He’ll take the ball again Friday for the Highlanders against Warren DeLaSalle at Battle Creek’s Bailey Park.

My kind of pitcher: “I want to be a pitcher that’s a go-to guy. I always want to be consistent. I know how to throw strikes; I don’t walk too many batters. I know if I get it over the plate, good things will happen. I’m not really the kind of pitcher that will blow it by you. My game is hitting the corners and such, and when I do it pretty well and locate my pitches, I believe in myself.”

He winds up and delivers: “My fastball moves by itself, and I usually keep them off-balance with the curve. My fastball and curveball I can locate the best.”

No. 1 highlight: “Against Brighton, the last game we played. It was crazy. There was a big crowd, and every pitch the parents and students were just going out cheering. It got my adrenaline going.”

I learned the most about baseball from: “My dad (John) has always been there for me. He’s always backing me up on baseball. He was never a great baseball player, but he says if you believe in yourself you can go far in life. He taught me to believe in myself.”

Up next: Vyletel will attend Lansing Community College beginning this fall and join the Stars’ baseball team. 

Grandville Calvin Christian girls soccer

Calvin Christian will play for its first MHSAA championship Saturday at Michigan State University. Last weekend, the Squires (24-2-1) knocked out two ranked teams in last week’s Division 4 Regional – first No. 8 St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic 7-0 and then No. 2 Kalamazoo Christian 7-2. The Squires entered the postseason ranked No. 4.

This spring's previous honorees