Today in the MHSAA: 2/2/16

February 2, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Statewide sports action Monday was light, so we’ll focus on a series of stories published today that should pull at your heart strings and put life’s little obstacles in proper perspective.

Good Reads

Mason’s Brendan Brown is fighting for his life, against a form of cancer that has led to the amputation of a leg and soon will mean the removal of parts of his lungs. The Bulldogs junior is fighting, and also continuing a high school bowling career that is inspiring opponents and those in his community – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Also at Mason, Storm Miller might be the strongest athlete at his high school and finished third in a national weight-lifting competition last summer. He’s relying on strength now to fight a rare form of cancer that also initially was found in a leg – Lansing State Journal

Molly Holmes hasn't joined her siblings on the Leroy Pine River wrestling team yet – wait until next year – but she plays junior varsity basketball and is one of 13 kids in a family that loves sports – a family that adopted her after five foster placements and a fight to survive no child should experience – Cadillac News

Today in the MHSAA: 4/20/16

April 20, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Tuesday’s statewide action was highlighted by a number of swing-and-miss baseball pitching performances, including some perfection for the second day in a row.

Baseball

Holland Christian senior Mike Mokma threw a perfect game in beating Holland 3-0, striking out 15 batters – Grand Rapids Press

Battle Creek Lakeview dominated in sweeping Division 1 No. 3 Portage Northern 12-2 and 10-1 – Battle Creek Enquirer

Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart’s Matt Kornexl struck out 19 in shutting out Blanchard Montabella 5-0 – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Traverse City West swept rival Traverse City Central 2-1 and 2-0 with a walk-off win in the opener – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Coldwater’s Nick Shaw threw a five-inning no-hitter as his team swept Battle Creek Pennfield 11-7 and 5-0 – Coldwater Daily Reporter

Holland Black River’s JP Fowler also tossed a no-hitter, striking out 12 in a 4-1 win over Byron Center Zion Christian – Holland Sentinel

From Monday, Norway’s Dan VandenHeuvel reached perfection as well in a 4-0 win over Eben Junction Superior Central – Iron Mountain Daily News

Boys Golf

From Monday, Onsted’s Josh Jeffords shot a 1-under 70 to win the Maple Invitational at Lenawee Country Club, coming off a 3-under 33 in a match the week before – Adrian Daily Telegram

Boys Lacrosse

Rochester Hills Stoney Creek downed Royal Oak 12-7 to move to 7-0 and equal its win total from three of the last four seasons – Oakland Press

Softball

Marysville edged Port Huron 4-3, thanks in large part to 15 strikeouts by pitcher Paige Ameel – Port Huron Times Herald