Highlight Reel: Soccer, Baseball/Softball Finals
June 18, 2016
By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director
The 2015-16 high school sports year concluded early Saturday evening at Old College Field on the Michigan State University campus, as the last champions of MHSAA Tournaments were crowned in Baseball, Softball and Girls Soccer.
Below are links to video highlights from Saturday’s games. Click on the final scores to watch them in their entirety and purchase DVDs.
Baseball
Division 1
O’Keefe Goes Yard - The first home run hit in baseball at McLane Stadium since the MHSAA Finals returned to East Lansing two years ago came off the bat of Saline's Sean O'Keefe in the fifth inning against Warren DeLaSalle; it tied the game at the time.
Bush Drives In Two - Warren DeLaSalle took the lead in the sixth inning on a one-out single by Bryce Bush, which drove in two runs.
Game-Ending Double Play - With the bases loaded and one out, Warren DeLaSalle ends the Division 1 Final with a double play.
Division 2
No Missing Link Here - Linden scored five times in the fourth inning to take the lead. Catcher Jamon Link delivers a bases-loaded single to drive in the first run.
The Big Hit For The Maroons - Holland Christian scored three times in the bottom of the sixth inning against Linden, the last two runs on this drive down the left field line by pitcher Mike Mokma, who also threw a complete game, striking out 14.
Division 3
Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett 12, New Lothrop 0 (5 innings)
Two-Run Single For Fannon - The third inning saw Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett score four times, with two of those runs coming in on this single by Sean Fannon.
Division 4
Sterling Heights Parkway Christian 10, Portland St. Patrick 3
Riley Hits A Rope - Parkway Christian starting pitcher Riley McManus helped his own cause in the second inning with this two-run single, which was part of a five-run at-bat.
Shamrocks Score In Seventh - Portland St. Patrick got some offense in the final inning, resulting in this RBI single by Travis Moyer.
Softball
Division 1
Farmington Hills Mercy 4, Macomb Dakota 0
Around The Horn Double Play - Here's a defensive gem by Macomb Dakota - a double play in the sixth inning against Farmington Hills Mercy. Mercy broke the Division 1 Final open in the next inning to win, 4-0.
Belans’ Blast - Nicole Belans took the first pitch in the top of the seventh inning over the left field fence for Farmington Hills Mercy to ignite a three-run uprising against Macomb Dakota.
Division 2
Kudary Makes The Catch - A great defensive play in the Richmond-Vicksburg game came in the fifth inning when Vicksburg's Carlie Kudary ran down a Amy Thueme fly ball.
Caught At Third - An alert defensive play by Vicksburg catches two Richmond runners at third base to thwart a seventh inning threat.
Division 3
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 6, Grandville Calvin Christian 0
Grace Drives Two Home - Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central added to its lead against Grandville Calvin Christian with three runs in the fifth inning, two coming on this two-out single by Grace Mikesell.
Preserving The Perfect Game - It took a great defensive play by Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central second baseman Peyton Bollenberg in the seventh inning to preserve the perfect game for pitcher Meghan Beaubien.
Division 4
Unionville-Sebewaing 1, Indian River Inland Lakes 0
Patriots Successfully Squeeze It - The only run of the Division 4 Final came in the sixth inning when Unionville Sebewaing's Marisa Morton bunted Kayla Gremel home.
Soccer
Division 2
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 2, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern 1 (OT-Shootout)
Huskies Go Long Ball - Forest Hills Northern used this goal by Natalie Belsito off a long free kick to take a 1-0 lead.
Irish Tie It Up - With time winding down in regulation, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep scored on a free kick by Payton Williams to force overtime.
There’s Your Game Winner - Things went to the eighth round of penalty kicks before Rosella LoChirco came through to give Pontiac Notre Dame the Division 2 title.
Division 3
Hudsonville Unity Christian 2, Flint Powers Catholic 0
VanZalen Scores - Hudsonville Unity Christian took a 1-0 lead on Flint Powers Catholic in the first half when Alaina VanZalen goes to the near side for the goal.
One-V-One Insurance - Alexis Ponstein goes on a long run and ends up one on one with the goalkeeper to get an insurance goal for Hudsonville Unity Christian in the second half.
PHOTO: A Holland Christian batter connects with a pitch during the Division 2 Baseball Final.
Highlight Reel: Boys & Girls Lacrosse Finals
June 11, 2016
By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director
Three teams maintained their winning ways at the MHSAA Lacrosse Finals on June 11, as Birmingham Brother Rice, East Grand Rapids and Rockford all successfully defended their titles in games played in Brighton and Howell.
Below are links to video highlights from Saturday’s games. Click on the final scores to watch games in their entirety and purchase DVDs.
Boys Finals
Division 1: Birmingham Brother Rice 10, Detroit Catholic Central 8
Great Scott - Birmingham Brother Rice and Detroit Catholic Central traded goals for most of the first half of the Division 1 Final, but Brother Rice took a 5-4 halftime lead on a goal off a restart by Ryan Scott.
Shamrocks Keep It Close - Detroit Catholic Central pulls closer in the fourth period against Brother Rice on this goal from Brennan Kamish.
Division 2: Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 10, East Grand Rapids 6
Hallock Hammers It - Tanner Hallock of Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central scored the first two goals of the Division 2 championship game against East Grand Rapids, the first coming on this blast with 8:31 remaining in the first period.
Pretty Play For Pioneers - In transition, East Grand Rapids gets its first goal against Forest Hills Central. Ben Keller finishes the play.
Girls Finals
Division 1: Rockford 12, Birmingham United 9
Stachler Steals One - Birmingham United jumped out to a 4-0 lead on Rockford midway through the first half of the Division 1 title game. The fourth goal came when Jena Bazil steals the ball from Rockford's goalkeeper, and Anna Stachler converts on the turnover.
Mac Attack - Rockford scored the last four goals of the game against Birmingham United; the second off a restart by Mekenzie Vander Molen proved to be the game winner.
Houle Stones Waechter - In the final minute of the Division 1 Final, Birmingham United's Abbie Waechter breaks loose for a 1 v. 1 on Rockford goalie Briana Houle, who makes the big save to preserve the lead.
Division 2: East Grand Rapids 13, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood 11
Cranes Start Hot - Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood started off the Division 2 Final against East Grand Rapids with three unanswered goals in less than four minutes. Here's some nifty work by Isabelle Scane on the second goal.
Elliott to Duca - East Grand Rapids opened up a six-goal lead in the second half. The goal that proved to be the game winner came from Auden Elliott with the assist by Lindsay Duca, who had eight assists on the day, one short of a Finals game record.
PHOTO: Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood and East Grand Rapids face off during the Division 2 girls championship game.