Highlight Reel: Thursday Baseball/Softball Semis
June 16, 2016
By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director
The first day of the MHSAA Baseball/Softball Semifinals at Michigan State University’s Old College Field began under rainy conditions Thursday, but finished under a flourish of sunshine as four teams punched their tickets into Saturday’s Finals.
Below are links to video highlights from Saturday’s games. Click on the final scores to watch games in their entirety and purchase DVDs.
Baseball
Division 1
Warren DeLaSalle 3, Traverse City West 1
West Scores First - In the third inning, Traverse City West gets on the board with an RBI single by Gavin Gamhausen to score Nick Brzezinski.
Eagles Take The Lead - Hartland scored twice in the fifth inning to take a 3-2 lead, with John Baker delivering an RBI single.
Hovde Delivers - With the score tied at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth, Saline's Richard Hovde delivers a two-out bases-loaded single to drive in two runs, which proved to be the winning margin.
Division 2
DeWitt Goes On Top - DeWitt took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth when Donovan Tarn doubled into the gap to score Michael Stygles.
Schut Scores Game Winner - In the seventh inning, Holland Christian's Cam Schut scores from third on a sacrifice fly by Josh Sterenberg.
Linden 5, Dearborn Divine Child 2
Chalk Chaser - Ryker Rivera hits the third base line with this run scoring single in the fourth inning to give Linden a 4-1 lead.
Koan Drives Two Home - Linden gets on the board in the third inning with this two-out, bases loaded single by Nick Koan.
Softball
Division 1
Dakota Double - The big hit in the Division 1 Semifinal between Macomb Dakota and Midland was this two-run double by Dakota's Julia Salisbury in the third inning to give the Cougars a 4-0 lead.
Gross Triples & Scores - Midland countered with two runs in the top of the fourth on this triple by Julia Gross to plate one run, and Gross then scored on a throwing error.
Farmington Hills Mercy 9, Mattawan 6
Swinehart Has A Big Game - Mackenzie Swinehart of Mattawan went 3 for 4 against Farmington Hills Mercy, scoring twice and driving in a run with this third-inning triple.
Three-Run Double For Padula - Farmington Hills Mercy scored five times in the second inning against Mattawan, the big hit this bases-clearing double by Cari Padula.
Division 2
Vicksburg 7, Livonia Ladywood 5
Helping With A Homer - Livonia Ladywood starting pitcher Rozlyn Price helped her own cause in the third inning with a two-run home run to center field against Vicksburg.
Bulldogs Begin Their Rally - Vicksburg started its rally back with two runs in the third inning. Alicia Cagney singles home the first run.
Eskymos Take Advantage - Escanaba tied the game at 2-2 in the second inning when Kathleen Ross scored on a Richmond error.
Richmond Tacks One On - Rachel Leach finishes the scoring for Richmond against Escanaba with a run-scoring single in the seventh inning, one of her two hits in the game.
PHOTO: An Escanaba runner tries to beat a throw to second base during her team’s Semifinal against Richmond.
Highlight Reel: Soccer, Baseball/Softball Finals
June 18, 2016
By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director
The 2015-16 high school sports year concluded early Saturday evening at Old College Field on the Michigan State University campus, as the last champions of MHSAA Tournaments were crowned in Baseball, Softball and Girls Soccer.
Below are links to video highlights from Saturday’s games. Click on the final scores to watch them in their entirety and purchase DVDs.
Baseball
Division 1
O’Keefe Goes Yard - The first home run hit in baseball at McLane Stadium since the MHSAA Finals returned to East Lansing two years ago came off the bat of Saline's Sean O'Keefe in the fifth inning against Warren DeLaSalle; it tied the game at the time.
Bush Drives In Two - Warren DeLaSalle took the lead in the sixth inning on a one-out single by Bryce Bush, which drove in two runs.
Game-Ending Double Play - With the bases loaded and one out, Warren DeLaSalle ends the Division 1 Final with a double play.
Division 2
No Missing Link Here - Linden scored five times in the fourth inning to take the lead. Catcher Jamon Link delivers a bases-loaded single to drive in the first run.
The Big Hit For The Maroons - Holland Christian scored three times in the bottom of the sixth inning against Linden, the last two runs on this drive down the left field line by pitcher Mike Mokma, who also threw a complete game, striking out 14.
Division 3
Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett 12, New Lothrop 0 (5 innings)
Two-Run Single For Fannon - The third inning saw Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett score four times, with two of those runs coming in on this single by Sean Fannon.
Division 4
Sterling Heights Parkway Christian 10, Portland St. Patrick 3
Riley Hits A Rope - Parkway Christian starting pitcher Riley McManus helped his own cause in the second inning with this two-run single, which was part of a five-run at-bat.
Shamrocks Score In Seventh - Portland St. Patrick got some offense in the final inning, resulting in this RBI single by Travis Moyer.
Softball
Division 1
Farmington Hills Mercy 4, Macomb Dakota 0
Around The Horn Double Play - Here's a defensive gem by Macomb Dakota - a double play in the sixth inning against Farmington Hills Mercy. Mercy broke the Division 1 Final open in the next inning to win, 4-0.
Belans’ Blast - Nicole Belans took the first pitch in the top of the seventh inning over the left field fence for Farmington Hills Mercy to ignite a three-run uprising against Macomb Dakota.
Division 2
Kudary Makes The Catch - A great defensive play in the Richmond-Vicksburg game came in the fifth inning when Vicksburg's Carlie Kudary ran down a Amy Thueme fly ball.
Caught At Third - An alert defensive play by Vicksburg catches two Richmond runners at third base to thwart a seventh inning threat.
Division 3
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 6, Grandville Calvin Christian 0
Grace Drives Two Home - Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central added to its lead against Grandville Calvin Christian with three runs in the fifth inning, two coming on this two-out single by Grace Mikesell.
Preserving The Perfect Game - It took a great defensive play by Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central second baseman Peyton Bollenberg in the seventh inning to preserve the perfect game for pitcher Meghan Beaubien.
Division 4
Unionville-Sebewaing 1, Indian River Inland Lakes 0
Patriots Successfully Squeeze It - The only run of the Division 4 Final came in the sixth inning when Unionville Sebewaing's Marisa Morton bunted Kayla Gremel home.
Soccer
Division 2
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 2, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern 1 (OT-Shootout)
Huskies Go Long Ball - Forest Hills Northern used this goal by Natalie Belsito off a long free kick to take a 1-0 lead.
Irish Tie It Up - With time winding down in regulation, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep scored on a free kick by Payton Williams to force overtime.
There’s Your Game Winner - Things went to the eighth round of penalty kicks before Rosella LoChirco came through to give Pontiac Notre Dame the Division 2 title.
Division 3
Hudsonville Unity Christian 2, Flint Powers Catholic 0
VanZalen Scores - Hudsonville Unity Christian took a 1-0 lead on Flint Powers Catholic in the first half when Alaina VanZalen goes to the near side for the goal.
One-V-One Insurance - Alexis Ponstein goes on a long run and ends up one on one with the goalkeeper to get an insurance goal for Hudsonville Unity Christian in the second half.
PHOTO: A Holland Christian batter connects with a pitch during the Division 2 Baseball Final.