Today in the MHSAA: 4/20/23
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
April 20, 2023
1. BASEBALL Division 1 top-ranked Orchard Lake St. Mary’s extended its record winning streak by taking the first game against No. 3 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, but the second was suspended with the score tied – Oakland Press
2. GIRLS SOCCER Mattawan continued its impressive April with a 2-1 win over Division 1 No. 3 Portage Central – Kalamazoo Gazette
3. SOFTBALL Division 3 No. 2 Evart swept No. 9 Traverse City St. Francis thanks in part to Ally Theunick’s hitting – Big Rapids Pioneer
4. SOFTBALL Aubrey Hensley became Temperance Bedford’s all-time home runs leader with her 19th in a win over Adrian – Monroe News
5. SOFTBALL A pair of Hamilton pitchers combined to no-hit Coopersville during the opener of a doubleheader matchup of Division 2 honorable mentions – Holland Sentinel
6. BOYS GOLF Pentwater shot a 339 to win the Shelby Invitational – Ludington Daily News
7. GIRLS SOCCER Nora Proos scored all four goals in St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lakes’ 4-3 win over St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
8. SOFTBALL Midland earned a split with Davison with an eighth-inning walk-off single in the second game – Midland Daily News
9. BASEBALL Mackinaw City edged Pickford 12-11 on a walk-off double – Cheboygan Daily Tribune
10. BOYS GOLF Quincy edged Jonesville by two strokes to win the first Big 8 Conference jamboree – Coldwater Daily Reporter
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.)