Today In The MHSAA: 5/6/21
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 6, 2021
1. Baseball: Brighton earned an impressive split with top-ranked Howell, taking the day’s second game – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
2. Baseball: Allen Park also avenged an earlier loss in upsetting Division 1 No. 2 Brownstown Woodhaven 4-3 – Southgate News-Herald
3. Boys Golf: Portage Northern locked up the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West championship with a jamboree win – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
4. Girls Soccer: Division 2 No. 18 Plainwell moved to the front of the Wolverine Conference with a 1-0 win over former co-leader Allegan – Kalamazoo Gazette
5. Baseball: Reese earned coach Dave Elliott his 500th career victory, downing Saginaw Valley Lutheran 5-4 – Saginaw News
6. Girls Lacrosse: Lilly Graham scored seven goals in leading Grand Blanc past Flint Powers Catholic – WJRT
7. Baseball: Future Division I college teammates pitched Division 1 No. 16 Traverse City Central and West to a split – Traverse City Record-Eagle
8. Softball: Pinconning scored nine runs in the sixth inning to come back and defeat Bay City John Glenn – Bay City Times
9. Boys Lacrosse: Division 1 No. 7 Saline took off in the third quarter on the way to downing Ann Arbor Pioneer 13-7 – Saline Post
10. Softball: Rapid River moved to 27-0 with a sweep of Munising – Escanaba Daily Press
Also of note …
Wyoming: Senior Taejah Cross is into the final weeks of a high school career that will have seen her net 16 varsity letters – FOX 17
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.)