Today in the MHSAA: 6/11/18
June 11, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media. Today’s list does not include the Boys Golf or Lacrosse Finals played Saturday; they are reported in their entirety elsewhere on Second Half.
1. Softball: Honorable mention South Haven claimed its first Regional title in softball since 1982 with an upset of top-ranked Stevensville Lakeshore in Division 2 – WWMT
2. Baseball: No. 6 Gladstone got past top-ranked Traverse City St. Francis 8-4 in 10 innings to clinch a Division 3 Regional title – Escanaba Daily Press
3. Softball: No. 3 Clinton claimed its Regional title, ending the seasons for reigning Division 3 champion and current No. 5 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central and also reigning runner-up and current honorable mention Napoleon – Adrian Daily Telegram
4. Softball: Top-ranked Rogers City eliminated reigning Division 4 champion and current No. 7 Indian River Inland Lakes with a 4-2 Regional Final win – Alpena News
5. Baseball: No. 9 Brownstown Woodhaven continued its historic run with a first Regional title, downing reigning Division 1 champion and current No. 10 Saline 3-2 to advance – Southgate News Herald
6. Softball: No. 2 Spring Lake improved to 40-0 with wins over No. 6 Wayland and Holland Christian to claim a Division 2 Regional title – Grand Haven Tribune
7. Girls Soccer: No. 8 Midland won its first Regional title in 31 years in this sport with a 3-2 victory over No. 16 Grandville in Division 1 – Midland Daily News
8. Softball: No. 7 Richmond earned a return to the Quarterfinals with a 3-1 win over No. 4 St. Clair in Division 2 – Port Huron Times Herald
9. Softball: Negaunee followed its first District title in this sport with its first Regional championship, downing Traverse City St. Francis and No. 8 Gladstone in Division 3 – Marquette Mining Journal
10. Softball: No. 5 Frankfort held on for a Division 4 Regional title win over No. 4 Holton – Traverse City Record-Eagle
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.)