Hartland Star's Career Stands Among Best

July 16, 2014

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Amber Crouse finished her girls lacrosse career by helping Hartland to its third straight MHSAA Semifinal this spring after also playing a big part in her team’s run to a Division 1 runner-up finish in 2012.

Along the way this spring, Crouse set a single-game record with 14 assists, against Walled Lake Northern/Western, and had the second-most single-game assists in MHSAA history three days later against Waterford Kettering/Mott. Her 70 assists this season rank fifth on that list, with her 117 career assists also fifth on that list.

Teammate Amy Longe added the scoring punch to this season’s Semifinal run, scoring seven goals three times and 95 goals total – tying for seventh on the single-season goals list. Goalie Brooke Eicher had the fourth and fifth-most saves for one game, 21 and 19, respectively, both against Brighton, and finished with 176 saves to rank fourth on that single-season list.

Click to view the full girls lacrosse record book, and read on for more recent additions to the MHSAA’s listings.

Boys Basketball

  • Owendale-Gagetown’s Brett Stockton was one of the state’s top scorers during the final two years of his high school career that finished in 2013. One of his most special nights came on Feb. 1 of that year, when Stockton tied the MHSAA record with 25 free throws (in 29 attempts) in an 84-69 win over Kingston. Stockton finished that game with 50 points – including 24 with 20 free throws during the fourth quarter.

  • Mackinaw City’s Noah Morse capped his three-year varsity career this winter among MHSAA leaders in single-game, single-season and career steals. He twice had 12 steals in a game to tie for third-most, with his 115 steals this season tied for 10th on the single-season list and his 258 career steals – again, in only three seasons – ranking 11th.

Boys Lacrosse

  • Andrew Kransberger ended his career at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central this spring as one of the leading scorers in the MHSAA’s decade-long history in this sport. His 211 career goals, 156 career assists and 367 career points all rank second on those respective lists, although Kransberger didn’t join the starting lineup until his sophomore season. He also made the single-season lists for goals, assists or points a combined eight times.

  • Temperance Bedford goalie Alex Wallace saw his share of shots during the 2014 season, finishing with the second-most saves on record, 231. That included 23 (tied for fourth-most) in an April 17 loss to Ann Arbor Skyline.

Girls Soccer

  • Riverview’s Kirsten Chambers made the single-season assists list twice with 33 as a junior and 26 this spring as a senior, ranks third on the career list with 100 and also made the career goals (71), single-season points (54) and career points lists (171) during her outstanding four-year run. Her career points rank 15th.

  • Brooklyn Columbia Central’s Danielle Eastman capped her career with 54 points including 42 goals this spring, with both totals making MHSAA lists. She also made the career goals list with 104 over the last three seasons.

  • Frankenmuth keeper Claire Carter added to her 17 shutouts in 2012 with 17 more this season and finished her four-year varsity career with 54 – good for seventh-most on that list. She also had 14 shutouts as a junior in 2013.

Softball

  • Beaverton’s Alix Price finished her career in 2013 as a finalist for the statewide Miss Softball Award – and with a number of high-ranking career stat totals. Her 41 triples over four seasons rank second, with her career average of .537 ranking 10th and her 261 hits fourth. She also made career lists with 56 doubles and 211 runs.

  • Howard City Tri-County’s Brooke Dillon tied for 11th on the single-season triples list with 13 this spring, and also joined a large group with back-to-back home runs accomplishing that feat April 26 against Holland. Teammate Alexis Holappa made the single-game RBI list with six May 28 against Wyoming Godwin Heights.

PHOTO: Hartland’s Amber Crouse (right) finished her high school career among MHSAA leaders in assists and total points (Photo courtesy of Hartland High School.).

Records Report: Pioneer 1st in Lacrosse

December 7, 2012

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

While we try to keep up with record book submissions all year long, the month of December is a key time for catch-up as fall sports are recently done and spring sports are just getting going before schools take a few weeks off.

Here are some of our most recent submissions, with plenty more updates to come over the next few weeks. Click on each sport to go to that MHSAA record book. 

Boys Lacrosse

  • The boys lacrosse record book is in its infancy. But Ann Arbor Pioneer is the early leader for most goals scored and fewest given up during one season. The Pioneers outscored opponents 213-67 on the way to finishing Division 1 runner-up this spring. They twice scored 20 or more goals, and also shut out two opponents.
  • Two Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central teammates are listed for single-game accomplishments from last season: Jeffrey Osment scored eight goals during an 18-6 win over Romulus on May 5, and Brandon Tata made 20 saves during a 14-4 win over Ypsilanti Lincoln on May 14.

Football

  • J.J. McGrath has built a career comparable to those of the best kickers in MHSAA history. He’s now listed in the record book for three field goals of longer than 50 yards – a 52 yarder last season as a junior, a 57-yarder this season on opening night and a 54-yarder a week later in Macomb Lutheran North’s second game.
  • Greenville kicker Caleb Wolfe registered on the career list with 95 extra points over his four-year varsity career. He made 31 straight at one point, and with a season-high of 47 as a sophomore.
  • Warren Michigan Collegiate’s 2011 team made the team record listings in two categories, including setting the record with 33 interceptions over 12 games. Nine players contributed to that total. The Cougars also scored 532 points while finishing 11-1. 

Softball

  • Beth Michalski drove in seven runs in Warren Fitzgerald’s 29-5 win over Southfield Lathrup on March 28 of this spring. She was 3 for 4 with all three hits being doubles, and scored four runs herself.
  • Lowell’s Morgan Groom struck out the first 10 batters she faced on the way to 17 total in a six-inning game against Hudsonville Unity Christian on April 12, 2011. She also struck out 20 twice in seven-inning games this spring.

Soccer

  • While younger brother Aaron Chatfield broke the MHSAA career goals record this season, older brother Paul also finished his Burt Lake Northern Michigan Christian career with some impressive numbers – 109 goals, 82 assists and 191 points – which all rank in the MHSAA record book. He graduated this spring.

Wrestling

  • Dearborn Heights Annapolis grad Justis Cummins has been added to the 200-win club with a record of 207-30 during his career from 2006-10.

Baseball

  • On May 6, 1999, Owosso senior Andrew Brooks hit two home runs against Durand – both in the seventh inning. He joins a list of 24 who have hit two round-trippers in an inning. 

PHOTO: Ann Arbor Pioneer attack Eric Loveless (right) and midfielder Erik Barroso (22) celebrate a goal during last season's Division 1 Final at Birmingham Seaholm.