Brothers Shine as Baseball Aces

April 2, 2014

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Remus Chippewa Hills baseball was in good hands over the last six seasons – those of brothers Erik and Jake Tarbell.

The pair combined to go 76-15 on the mound with 774 strikeouts from the start of Erik’s career in 2008 to the close of Jake’s last spring.

Total, Erik Tarbell finished 37-7 with a 1.68 ERA and 371 strikeouts from 2008-11, while Jake Tarbell finished 39-8 with a 1.61 ERA and 403 strikeouts from 2010-13. Erik now plays for NAIA Union College in Kentucky, while Jake is beginning his first season with Delta College.

Their career marks plus a pair of individual accomplishments were among those added to MHSAA record book listings Wednesday. Read on for more, including some top softball hitters, a 2,000-point basketball scorer, and another who frequently found the goal – with a soccer ball.  

Baseball

  • Saline’s three straight Division 1 runner-up seasons from 2008-10 included a number of strong performances from three-year varsity players Mark Weist and Al Zeiher. Weist in 2010 tied for the second-most hits in one season, with 78, and eighth-most doubles with 22. He also hit eight triples and .595 for the spring, finishing his career with a .492 average – to make record listings for all five categories. Zeiher pitched to a 0.45 ERA that season and 1.01 ERA over his three – his career ERA ranks ninth on that list. Saline as a team hit 93 doubles (tied for sixth), 22 triples (second) and carried a .385 average. Also, Gage Hammond was added to the record book for his nine triples in 2012.
  • A trio of Gobles standouts finished their careers in 2013 with totals that made the MHSAA record lists. Seth Johnson finished his four-year varsity run with a .488 career average, 164 runs, 45 doubles, 25 home runs and 167 RBI. Teammate Cam Hansen also made the career runs list with 167, and Ty Rock made the career shutouts list with 10.

Girls Basketball

  • Alissa Herlan finished a four-year varsity career at Coldwater in 2012 with 173 3-pointers – good for 16th on the career list. She connected on 67 as a senior to make the single-season list as well.

Boys Basketball

  • There have been 35 players who have scored at least 2,000 points during their careers, and Spencer Krannitz is the latest to be added to the list. The 2012 North Muskegon graduate scored 2,008 points from 2009-12. He now plays at Central Michigan University.
  • The Dec. 4, 2012, game between East Jordan and Mancelona was one for the record books – literally – as the teams combined for 21 3-pointers and East Jordan alone made 17 in an 82-70 victory. East Jordan’s Joe Manville was the game’s top sharp-shooter with six 3-pointers, all coming over the final three quarters.
  • Chesaning’s Josh Kunik found the basket frequently from all over the floor during his high school career that ended in 2013. But he was especially dangerous from the free-throw line as a senior, making 89 of 98 attempts from the stripe for a .908 percentage – good for sixth all-time for a single season.

Boys Soccer

  • Leland’s Dylan Jolliffe led his team on its second trip to the MHSAA Division 4 Semifinals in 2012, scoring 65 goals that season – good for fourth-most in MHSAA history. He scored 40 as a junior, also making that single-season list, and finished his career with 145 to tie for sixth on the career list. He currently plays at Kalamazoo College.

Softball

  • Tawas’ Ivy Schaaf finished her varsity career in 2013 with 34 doubles, 20 home runs and 197 runs scored during her four seasons, including 10 home runs as a junior. All made MHSAA record listings, with the 197 runs ranking 18th. Teammates Jordyn Look and Amber Yates also made the lists with 18 doubles in a season and 39 career doubles, respectively. Tawas as a team was added for 385 hits, 80 doubles and 250 RBI, all from last spring. Schaaf is playing at Western Michigan University this season.
  • Swartz Creek’s Hayley Cruthers finished her career last season with a number of season and career totals ranking among the top 20 in MHSAA history in their respective categories. Among them was a 35-game hitting streak that tied for second longest, 256 career hits (fifth), 212 career runs (11th), 72 career doubles (tied for second) and 31 career home runs (11th). She’s playing at Ball State University this season. Swartz Creek as a team hit 77 doubles last season to make that list.

PHOTO: Remus Chippewa Hills' Jake Tarbell prepares to unleash a pitch during his team's Quarterfinal game against Mount Pleasant in 2013. (Click to see more from High School Sports Scene.)

Powerful Pair Tie for Home Run Record

August 3, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A pair of sluggers who have flexed their power strokes on the west and east coasts of the Lower Peninsula now anchor the MHSAA single-season record book list for home runs.

Muskegon Mona Shores junior Taylor Dew and Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse sophomore Brooke Nadolny both smacked 22 home runs this spring, both breaking the previous MHSAA record for homers in one season by two. 

Dew, already in the record book for 19 doubles as a sophomore in 2015-16, also earned entries for 72 RBI this spring and has 38 career home runs while also qualifying for career lists in doubles and RBI. Nadolny also joined the career home run list with 28 over her first two seasons, and she's listed for three home runs in a May 10 game against Macomb L’Anse Creuse North, home runs in three straight at bats (over two games) on May 27 against Richmond, and with five more entries for home runs or RBI in one game.

Both star hitters also had teammates make the record book for accomplishments this spring. Mona Shores junior Veronica Kastelic made the listings with six RBI in a game against Holland on May 18 and 70 hits total, while junior Sammi Mills had 20 doubles this season and six RBI in L’Anse Creuse’s May 24 game against L’Anse Creuse North.

Click the softball heading below to see that sport's record book in full, and also read on for additional recent record book entries in that sport, boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse and girls soccer.

Boys Lacrosse

Grandville junior goalie Zachary Tykocki added 10 entries this season, including nine for saves in a game – with a high of 21 against Caledonia on April 11. He finished this season with 265 saves – second-most in MHSAA history – over 18 games, only three saves from tying the record. He previously was listed for 26 saves in a game during his sophomore season.

Hartland finished 21-1 this spring, setting an MHSAA boys lacrosse record with 337 goals. The Eagles won their first 21 games before falling to eventual Division 1 runner-up Detroit Catholic Central 12-11 in overtime in a Semifinal on June 7.

Girls Lacrosse

Four Troy standouts were added for their accomplishments over the last two seasons, led by sophomore Morgan MacDonald – she was added five times for goals in a game this spring, once for 12 points in a game (second most all-time), for 76 goals as a freshman and 88 goals, 43 assists and 131 points (seventh most) this past season. Senior goalie Molly Crusse was added for single-game saves three times (with a high of 23, third all-time), 151 saves as a junior and 171 total (seventh most) this season. Senior Michelle Cappetto also was added for goals (66) and points (89) this season, and junior Lindsey Davis made the single-game saves list with 15 against Novi on April 28.

Girls Soccer

Livonia Clarenceville’s Michelle Marzolo scored all seven of her team’s goals in a 7-4 win over Lutheran Westland on May 15. Marzolo was a sophomore this spring.

Newaygo goalkeeper Jenna Janke pushed to the MHSAA record for saves in a season with a pair of busy performances during the final week of her high school career. Janke, a senior, had 36 saves in a 2-1 shootout win over Muskegon Oakridge on May 31, then 32 saves in a 2-0 loss to Howard City Tri-County in a Division 3 District Semifinal on June 2. She finished this spring with 373 saves and will continue her career at Muskegon Community College. 

Owosso keeper Elizabeth Hood also earned a spot on the single-game saves list with 38 against Mason on May 2, 2016. Hood graduated this spring.

Softball

Traverse City Central freshman Olivia Fiebing kicked off her high school career well this spring smacking 13 home runs. She also made the records for hitting two home runs during a win over Williamston on April 21.

A pair of Jackson Northwest standouts graduated this spring with their names cemented in state softball history. Mallory West earned entries for 13 triples this past season, 31 over her four-year career (tied for 11th most) and 36 career doubles as well. Four-year teammate Nicole Keeder made the career doubles list with 46. Keeder will continue at Jackson College, and West will play at Huntington University in Indiana.

PHOTOS: Muskegon Mona Shores' Taylor Dew (left) drives a pitch this spring; Harrison Township L'Anse Creuse's Brooke Nadolny settles into her stance. (Photos courtesy of the respective athletic departments.)