Today in the MHSAA: 5/17/16
May 17, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
League and area supremacy was on the line Monday, especially in our diamond sports – where Detroit’s best in baseball extended a title streak to nearly a decade.
Baseball
Detroit Western International claimed its ninth straight Detroit Public School League title, downing Detroit Renaissance in the Mega final 8-6; Detroit Osborn also won its first PSL title in 27 years – Detroit News
Howell edged White Lake Lakeland 4-2 to win the Kensington Lakes Activities Association Lakes title for the first time – Livingston Daily
Girls Soccer
McBain Northern Michigan Christian might be cruising under the radar while unranked this week, but NMC moved to 14-0 with a 3-1 win over Boyne City – Cadillac News
Softball
Walled Lake Northern homered in the sixth inning to take a lead, but Koryn Pennebaker singled home the tying and winning runs in the seventh to lead Milford to a 5-4 win and its first league title, in the KLAA Lakes division – Oakland Press
Surging DeWitt downed Eaton Rapids 7-0 on Monday in the first round of the Lansing Softball Classic; Eaton Rapids has won the title five of the last seven years – Lansing State Journal
Grand Ledge remained undefeated at 22-0 with a 12-7 win over Mason in the second game of Monday’s Softball Classic openers – Lansing State Journal
Holland West Ottawa Athletics Complex Recognized with National Award
December 12, 2023
Holland West Ottawa Public Schools’ new athletics complex, with architectural firm GMB, has been recognized as the top multi-field facility nationally by the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), the national organization for builders and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities.
West Ottawa’s new stadium consists of two turf playing fields. The west field was designed deliberately without a surrounding track to bring the stands and field closer together with a central tunnel beneath the grandstands for the home team to enter onto the field. The same synthetic turf, light posts, and state-of-the-art audio/video systems are utilized on both fields for an equitable experience for all users.
Multiple ground-level entry points with access to the fields, barrier-free locker rooms and multiple seating options with elevator access also create accessibility for spectators, players, coaches, and support staff.
“This facility allows our students the opportunity to play in one of the premier complexes in the state of Michigan,” said Jeff Malloch, assistant superintendent of business services at West Ottawa Public Schools. “We have seen continued interest in lacrosse, football, and soccer, and this complex will be utilized by our community youth from elementary age to high school student-athletes.”
Adding elevated fan experiences, such as a concourse level between the upper and lower sections of the home stands, bigger bleachers, and updated concession stands and restrooms establish a venue for multiple sports and attract the entire community to utilize the facility.
“This is a one-of-a-kind facility for West Michigan, and it’s been wonderful to see student-athletes from across the state enjoy the complex’s unique amenities,” said Nate Bosch, a landscape architect with GMB. “The collaboration needed to make this project come to life was an inspiring process to be a part of, and we are so pleased to celebrate this accomplishment with West Ottawa.”
This is the first time a GMB project has been awarded a multi-field facility of the year honor by the ASBA. GMB also has received four Project of the Year honors in the outdoor tennis category and 20 distinguished awards from ASBA for other athletic facility projects over the past 12 years.
(Photos by M-Buck Studio.)