Today in the MHSAA: 4/12/19

April 12, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Another colossal Grand Rapids-area lacrosse matchup, this time between boys contenders, tops our list of Thursday’s most exciting results just ahead of the best from girls soccer and softball.

1. Boys Lacrosse: In a rematch of the last three Division 2 championship games, reigning runner-up Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central defeated two-time reigning champion East Grand Rapids 17-5 – FOX 17

2. Girls Soccer: Richland Gull Lake won a matchup of annual MHSAA title contenders 3-0 over Forest Hills Central – Kalamazoo Gazette

3. Softball: Schoolcraft put up a pair of impressive wins over Division 4 No. 2 Kalamazoo Christian – JoeInsider.com

4. Softball: Division 1 No. 3 Clarkston swept No. 5 South Lyon with a pair of one-run wins – State Champs Sports Network

5. Baseball: Division 1 No. 13 Rochester continued its strong start with a 7-2 win over Division 2 No. 10 Detroit Country Day – Detroit News

6. Girls Soccer: Quincy repeated as winner of the “Battle of the Birds” game against Coldwater, 2-1 – Coldwater Daily Reporter

7. Girls Soccer: Hartland continued its early surge with a 5-3 win over Canton – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

8. Softball: Birmingham Seaholm swept Bloomfield Hills Marian, winning the second game on a single in the bottom of the seventh inning – Observer & Eccentric

9. Girls Soccer: Jackson Christian scored three goals over the final 13 minutes to get past Hillsdale 5-3 – Hillsdale Daily News

10. Baseball: Division 1 No. 7 Lake Orion downed formerly-ranked Pontiac Notre Dame Prep – Oakland Press

Also of note …

Baseball: From Tuesday, Niles Brandywine swept Constantine to reach 900 wins since the program started in 1962 – Niles Daily Star

Noel Dean on Parental Expectations

July 9, 2012

At Lowell High, football parents who think their child should be playing more get an opportunity to convince coach Noel Dean of the same -- but must do so in a meeting with the parents of the player who would lose time in the process. 

Dean, who has led the Red Arrows to three MHSAA titles, recently spoke with the America Football Coaches Association about managing parental expectations and providing a wider view of his program and the decisions that must be made to parents who often see through a more narrow scope.

Click on the link below, and especially pay attention at the 2:30 mark as Dean talks about his strategy for discussing playing time.

AFCA Two Minute Warning