Did you see that? (9/10-9/16)
September 18, 2012
One of the state's premier regular-season cross country events plus some big-time volleyball in the Upper Peninsula highlight the non-football highlights from the week that was Sept. 10-16.
(Click for the Drive for Detroit football report.)
Cross country
Elite meet at MSU: The Spartan Invitational, run at Michigan State's Forest Akers East Golf Course, is arguably the most competitive regular season event in this sport and draws a number of top teams from all over the state for a series of races. Champions on Friday were the Waterford Mott boys and Grosse Pointe South girls in the Elite races, the Ithaca boys and North Muskegon girls in the White division, the Haslett boys and the Spring Lake girls in the Bronze division, and Bloomfield Hills Lahser boys and Jenison girls in the Green division. Click the "Playmakers" link for results and the others for coverage. (Playmakers.com) (Grand Haven Tribune) (Lansing State Journal)
Volleyball
Capital of UP volleyball: Calumet, ranked fourth in Class C this week. defended its title at the Articatz Invitational Autumn Classic in Marquette by winning all 12 of its games. The field also included Marquette, Houghton and Escanaba among others. (Marquette Mining Journal)
Trojans at home above the net: More of the Upper Peninsula's top teams met nearer the Wisconsin border. Crystal Falls Forest Park, ranked No. 6 in Class D, defended its home tournament title with a 2-1 win over No. 10 Lake Linden-Hubbell in the final. (Iron Mountain Daily News)
Golf
Lakeview owns Battle Creek: Lakeview continues to rank among the state's best teams in Division 2, at No. 3 this week. And there's no question it's the best in Battle Creek, as evidenced by a sixth-straight All-City championship won with a score of 176 -- 45 strokes better than runner-up Harper Creek. (Battle Creek Enquirer)
Recognition
Clawson names Judy Hacker Field: Hacker, who died in 2011, was a pioneer of girls sports in the southeastern corner of the state during her time at the school from 1963-95. She coached basketball, volleyball, softball, track and field and field hockey at the school. The school dedicated its softball diamond in her name Saturday. (Oakland Press)
Moment: Sophomore Scores for Seniors
April 30, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Few upperclassmen receive the opportunity to make the memories Luke McLean made as a sophomore on the Rockford baseball team last season.
But at the end, he was just hoping to do his part to make more for the seniors who led the Rams to the Division 1 Baseball Semifinals at McLane Stadium.
McLean, batting fifth and playing third base, helped Rockford deadlock Macomb Dakota 2-2 after six innings on June 13. McLean then moved to the mound, where he threw two scoreless innings – and received the win after also sprinting home to score the winning run in the bottom of the eighth.
The run, making the final score 3-2, was the second scored by McLean on the day. He also struck out two and allowed just one hit over his two innings throwing in relief as Rockford moved on to the Division 1 Final.
McLean reached base in the eighth with his lone hit on the day. After advancing to second on a fielder’s choice, he took off for third on teammate Owen Cairns’ hopper through the grass in front of third base. McLean circled around the bag and took off for home on the throw trying to get Cairns at first, and slid safely ahead of the throw attempting to beat him to the plate.
“All that was going through my mind was my seniors,” McLean said moments after his winning sprint. “I was playing for them. I really wanted to play for them in the state championship, and I was just busting my tail down that line to score.”
Although Rockford went on to fall in the Final to Portage Northern, it was the Rams’ second championship game appearance and first since 2011.
Check out coverage of the Semifinal from Second Half and see below for Rockford’s winning score from the NFHS Network.