Today in the MHSAA: 4/20/17

April 20, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A few track & field school records were broken across the middle of the Lower Peninsula over the last few days, but pay special attention to a pair of stories of courage in our “Good Reads” section at the bottom of this report.

Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.

Baseball

From Monday, Portage Northern downed reigning Division 1 champion and top-ranked Warren DeLaSalle 12-2 – Kalamazoo Gazette

Track & Field

Midland Bullock Creek sophomore sprinter Samantha Chew broke a school record and tied another in her team’s double-dual sweep of Saginaw Swan Valley and Chesaning – Midland Daily News

From Tuesday, Shepherd’s girls swept Alma and Standish-Sterling as Amber Gall broke a school record held since 1980 – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Good Reads

Noah Kole finished third in Gaylord St. Mary’s golf match Tuesday – two months after not being able to walk while fighting for his life – Gaylord Herald-Times

Ashley Danilowicz is a top hitter and outfielder for a Saginaw Swan Valley team considered one of the best in the state. And she’s playing this season motivated by the memories of her dad Jim, who died in November in a car crash – Saginaw News

Today in the MHSAA: 6/7/16

June 7, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Action was light as the second-to-last week of 2015-16 began Monday. But that allowed us the opportunity to catch up on some of the incredible District title streaks extended or ended over the weekend, including one stretching three decades.

Baseball

Holt continued to ride its wave after beating rival Grand Ledge in their Division 1 District by beating Mason in a Capital Area Diamond Classic semifinal to earn a championship game matchup with the Comets on Wednesday – Lansing State Journal

From Saturday, Rudyard clinched its seventh straight District title with a 7-1 win over St. Ignace in Division 4 – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

Girls Soccer

From Saturday, Pinconning won its first District title, downing Roscommon 2-1 in Division 3 – Bay City Times

From Saturday, Montrose, in Division 4, won its first District title since 2001 and in doing so ended Saginaw Nouvel’s 18-year run of District championships – Saginaw News

Softball

From Friday, Custer Mason County Eastern nearly saw a 30-season District streak end while trailing Brethren in the seventh inning of the championship game, but won 5-4 in eight innings to extend the streak to 31 – Ludington Daily News

Gladstone extended its streak of District titles to 14 with a win over Ishpeming Westwood in their championship game – Escanaba Daily Press

Good Read

It’s hard to tell what’s most intriguing about Monroe baseball standout Naruki Okamoto; that’s he’s moved back and forth between Japan and the U.S. three times, that he’ll graduate this week as a junior because he has that many credits, or that he almost didn’t make the team but has hit .343 as the starting second baseman – Monroe Evening News