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April 9, 2012

Check out our must-know scores and news from April 2-7.

(Click on links for coverage.)

Girls Soccer

It starts with one: Hart and Mason County Central played more than an hour before Hart scored the game's first goal with 15 minutes remaining Wednesday. Hart then scored six more to claim a 7-0 win in a game that was much closer for most of it. (Muskegon Chronicle)

Baseball

Rice takes early edge: Some of the state's best baseball is played in the Detroit Catholic League, and Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice took an early edge among conference favorites. On the arms of brothers Matt and Mike Ruppenthal, the Warriors -- ranked No. 6 in the Division 1 state poll -- swept Dearborn Divine Child, which is ranked No. 4 in Division 2. (MLive Detroit)

Another big start for Blissfield: The Royals won their own Farm Bureau Invitational, capping the effort with a 9-6 win over Temperance Bedford in the championship game. Blissfield is No. 10 in Division 3 and Bedford is No. 7 in Division 1. (Adrian Daily Telegram)

Early look at the top: Gobles and Decatur, Nos. 2 and 3 in the first state Division 4 poll, split a doubleheader. Neither will see many opponents as tough before they potentially meet again in the District. Notable: Gobles was Division 3 last season. (Kalamazoo Gazette)

Boys Golf

Rankings posted: Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central in Divsion 1, DeWitt in Division 2, Jackson Lumen Christi in Division 3 and Auburn Hills Oakland Christian in Division 4 top the first polls of the year by the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association. (Click for full rankings)

Editor's note: Did we miss something? Comment below and tell us about it. Is there an event coming up that we should make sure to note? Comment or e-mail [email protected].

McCarthy Makes Good in Finals Return with 2nd Championship

By Nick Cooper
Special for MHSAA.com

March 1, 2025

MUSKEGON – On Saturday at Northway Lanes, Alex McCarthy’s performance seemed to indicate that March madness has already begun.

McCarthy emerged as the six seed to win the Division 4 Singles Finals championship, after previously winning the 2023 title as the 10th seed.

“I believed in myself and just had to execute, and I did,” said the Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central standout.

After winning it all in 2023, McCarthy did not reach the Finals as a junior – which he used as motivation entering this season.

“I wanted to redeem myself, and I did. It feels pretty good,” said McCarthy.

The senior collected 1,815 pins in the tournament including 499 in the final round against Houghton Lake’s Maison Christian, who tallied 351 pins.

“He's done fantastic, and this year it’s very special because obviously it’s the 100th MHSAA championship plus he was the conference champion, plus Regional champion, now state champion,” said Saginaw Nouvel head coach Brian Montini.

Exceptional bowling from Le’Veon Greewade of Taylor Trillium Academy and Jonesville’s Andrew Sackett led them to the semifinals as well.

McCarthy’s championship run was aided by an unconventional strategy that ended up paying off.

“I made a switch on the fly to the gem, and it worked out. I found a groove,” said McCarthy.

McCarthy’s growth since his first championship as a sophomore was evident when looking at the pin differential that he produced this year. The 1,815 pins he knocked down were 198 more than during his 2023 championship run.

As McCarthy’s career came to a close, the two-time champion reflected upon his career and offered words of advice to incoming freshmen.

“Never lose faith and just keep grinding,” he said. “Keep working, and you never know what could happen.”

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