Did You See That? (April 8-14)

April 15, 2013

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Near-constant rain – and for our northern schools, plenty of snow – has stalled many teams during this spring season.

But there still were plenty of notable performances as most schools returned last week from spring break and battled the elements to get back into the swing. 

Below is a look, with links to coverage, of some of news and results that stuck out most:

Softball

Lake Orion mourns longtime coach: Former Lake Orion softball coach Denny Davis, who retired in 2009 with 503 wins and more than 30 seasons in the dugout, died after a heart attack on April 7. His funeral was Thursday. (Oakland Press)

Strong start: Sturgis opened its season with a no-hitter by pitcher Dominique Beach over Three Rivers in a 7-0 win. (Sturgis Journal)

Girls Tennis

Strong start II: Traverse City Central – a top team in Division 2 last season – beat Division 1 powers Midland Dow and Saline on Thursday at the Midland Tennis Center. Traverse City Central will play in Division 1 this spring. (Traverse City Record-Eagle)

Golf

Rockford rules Winding Creek: Through snow, wind and freezing temperatures, Rockford went low against 16 other teams to win Saturday’s Zeeland East Invitational with a score of 314. Junior A.J. Varekois shot a one-under 70 to finish as medalist. (Grand Rapids Press)

Soccer

Gull Lake golden: The Blue Devils beat rival Plainwell 2-1 on Friday in a game that likely gave Gull Lake some added push for the first Division 2 state rankings released today. Gull Lake is ranked No. 5 and Plainwell sits No. 6. (Kalamazoo Gazette

MHSAA

Minter honored with Norris Award: Longtime MHSAA official and former assistant to the director Tom Minter has been named the Vern L. Norris Award winner for this year and will be honored at the MHSAA’s Officials’ Awards & Alumni Banquet on May 4 in East Lansing. Minter has officiated MHSAA games for 48 years and continues to serve as a clinician at training sessions all over the state. (Second Half)

Football

Mifsud heads to Parma Western: After 16 seasons leading a strong Dearborn program, coach Dave Mifsud was hired as the new leader of Parma Western’s last week. He led Dearborn to eight playoff berths over the last nine seasons – with 11-win finishes in 2004 and 2006. He is taking over a program seeking its first playoff appearance and coming off a 1-8 finish. (Jackson Citizen Patriot)

Monroe Jefferson’s Cisco steps down: After 47 seasons and more than 400 games leading Jefferson’s program, coach Marc Cisco announced his retirement last week. Including three more seasons as an assistant, he coached in the program for a half century. (Monroe Daily News)

Boys Track and Field

Northern wins Port Huron matchup: The boys track meet between Port Huron and Port Huron Northern came down to the day’s final event, the 1,600-meter relay. Northern finished seven seconds faster and a little more than four points better. (Port Huron Times-Herald)

Girls Lacrosse

Chargers survive Saline: Flint Powers Catholic, which missed last season’s Division 2 Semifinals via a one-goal loss to eventual runner-up Okemos, held off a comeback attempt by Saline to earn a 15-14 win Saturday. (Mlive.com)

Boys Lacrosse

Defining win: That’s how the Grand Haven Tribune defined the Buccaneers’ 12-7 victory over three-time Division 2 champion East Grand Rapids – which also has finished MHSAA runner-up in its division three times. (Grand Haven Tribune)

Today In The MHSAA: 4/22/22

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

April 22, 2022

1. SOFTBALL Division 2 No. 5 Essexville Garber earned a titanic sweep of Division 4 top-ranked Unionville-Sebewaing, handing the Patriots their first loss in more than a year – Bay City Times

2. BASEBALL Unranked Freeland came back twice to sweep Division 2 No. 5 Frankenmuth – Saginaw News

3. BOYS LACROSSE East Grand Rapids came back from an early deficit to get past Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern 13-5; they entered the week ranked Nos. 4 and 5 in Division 2, respectively – FOX 17

4. BASEBALL Division 4 No. 19 Kalamazoo Christian got past No. 4 Hackett Catholic Prep 8-7 in eight innings – WWMT

5. SOFTBALL Division 1 No. 7 Brownstown Woodhaven handed Division 2 honorable mention Trenton its first defeat, 5-4 – Southgate News-Herald

6. TRACK & FIELD Katie Carothers’ 1,600 win highlighted Brighton’s sweep of Howell – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

7. GIRLS SOCCER Division 2 No. 13 Petoskey ran its shutout streak to four with a 1-0 win over Division 3 No. 14 Elk Rapids – Petoskey News-Review

8. GIRLS SOCCER All-stater Hannah Kastamo returned from injury with both goals in Division 1 No. 5 Hartland’s 2-0 win over Canton – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

9. BASEBALL Central Montcalm edged Belding 9-8 in 11 innings on a walk-off bunt – Greenville Daily News

10. BASEBALL Division 2 top-ranked New Boston Huron improved to 7-1 with a sweep of Dearborn Divine Child – Southgate News-Herald

Also of note …

GIRLS BASKETBALL Imlay City coach Heather Lauwers resigned after six seasons, having led the Spartans to three straight league and District titles – Port Huron Times-Herald

BOYS BASKETBALL Steve Windemuller retired as Holland West Ottawa coach after 36 years total guiding high school teams, first at Holland High and then West Ottawa for the last nine – Holland Sentinel

GIRLS BASKETBALL Detroit Country Day has hired former standout Amber Deane as its next coach – Oakland Press