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

Stripes Worn Well (Muskegon Chronicle)

March 1, 2012

Tim Flahive has battled diabetes for all but a few years of his life. But he's also filled half of those years with high school sports as a longtime official based in the Muskegon area.

The Muskegon Chronicle's Mark Opfermann tells the story of Flahive's final basketball game last week -- and makes us appreciate even more the significant role our officials fill to no fanfare.

A powerful excerpt:

He left the court with no fanfare, took off his whistle and shed a few tears.

But Flahive's story isn’t just about sports and an official leaving the hobby he loves. It’s about courage, getting back up and pressing on.

So, I guess it’s a lot like sports after all. But it’s a whole lot more about life.

That’s because when Flahive took the court last week, he did it with half of his left foot missing.

Click to read on.