Today In The MHSAA: 4/20/21
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
April 20, 2021
Soccer, softball and baseball provided the stars as teams across the state braved cooler temperatures of an April spring sports Monday.
1. Girls Soccer: Boyne City ran its shutout streak to three with a 3-0 win over Traverse City St. Francis – Petoskey News-Review
2. Softball: Bailey Belinger hit a home run and threw a five-inning no-hitter during a sweep of Mason County Central – Local Sports Journal
3. Baseball: Division 1 No. 17 Grand Blanc swept Bay City Western in a matchup of Saginaw Valley League contenders – WJRT
4. Softball: Rapid River improved to 14-2 with a sweep of Bark River-Harris – Escanaba Daily Press
5. Baseball: Division 4 No. 4 Beal City improved to 7-0 with a sweep of Fowler – MI Sports Now
6. Baseball: Reed City launched three home runs in an 8-2 win over Cadillac – Big Rapids News
7. Girls Soccer: Utica’s first goal came 19 seconds into an eventual 5-1 win over Clinton Township Chippewa Valley – Macomb Daily
8. Baseball: Bear Lake pitchers dominated in a win and tie against Mesick – Manistee News Advocate
9. Softball: Bloomfield Hills earned its first wins of the spring with a sweep of Birmingham Seaholm – Oakland Press
10. Track & Field: Ludington swept Muskegon Orchard View in girls and boys duals – Ludington Daily News
Also of note …
Baseball: Flat Rock was scheduled to close its schools today in honor of teacher and coach Chris Elliott, who died Monday and in 2001 led the baseball team to the Division 3 title – Southgate News-Herald
Holland West Ottawa Athletics Complex Recognized with National Award
December 12, 2023
Holland West Ottawa Public Schools’ new athletics complex, with architectural firm GMB, has been recognized as the top multi-field facility nationally by the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), the national organization for builders and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities.
West Ottawa’s new stadium consists of two turf playing fields. The west field was designed deliberately without a surrounding track to bring the stands and field closer together with a central tunnel beneath the grandstands for the home team to enter onto the field. The same synthetic turf, light posts, and state-of-the-art audio/video systems are utilized on both fields for an equitable experience for all users.
Multiple ground-level entry points with access to the fields, barrier-free locker rooms and multiple seating options with elevator access also create accessibility for spectators, players, coaches, and support staff.
“This facility allows our students the opportunity to play in one of the premier complexes in the state of Michigan,” said Jeff Malloch, assistant superintendent of business services at West Ottawa Public Schools. “We have seen continued interest in lacrosse, football, and soccer, and this complex will be utilized by our community youth from elementary age to high school student-athletes.”
Adding elevated fan experiences, such as a concourse level between the upper and lower sections of the home stands, bigger bleachers, and updated concession stands and restrooms establish a venue for multiple sports and attract the entire community to utilize the facility.
“This is a one-of-a-kind facility for West Michigan, and it’s been wonderful to see student-athletes from across the state enjoy the complex’s unique amenities,” said Nate Bosch, a landscape architect with GMB. “The collaboration needed to make this project come to life was an inspiring process to be a part of, and we are so pleased to celebrate this accomplishment with West Ottawa.”
This is the first time a GMB project has been awarded a multi-field facility of the year honor by the ASBA. GMB also has received four Project of the Year honors in the outdoor tennis category and 20 distinguished awards from ASBA for other athletic facility projects over the past 12 years.
(Photos by M-Buck Studio.)