Today in the MHSAA: 5/2/19

May 2, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Wednesday’s most newsworthy action came on the tennis courts, where ranked teams clashed and a league champion was crowned.

1. Girls Tennis: Chesaning claimed what might be the first league title awarded this spring, closing out the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference championship – Owosso Argus-Press

2. Girls Tennis: Bloomfield Hills, No. 2 in Lower Peninsula Division 1, handed No. 7 Midland Dow its first loss, 5-3 – Midland Daily News

3. Girls Tennis: LPD4 No. 6 North Muskegon also won a matchup of ranked teams, downing No. 8 Grant 5-3 in a meeting of two of the best in Division 4 – Local Sports Journal

4. Girls Soccer: Bridgman handed Division 4 No. 8 St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic its first loss this season, 4-2 – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

5. Baseball: Birmingham Brother Rice scored on a walk-off walk to defeat rival and Division 1 No. 17 Detroit Catholic Central 7-6 – State Champs Sports Network

6. Boys Lacrosse: Detroit Country Day, No. 10 in Division 2 entering the week, came back to edge Flint Powers Catholic 12-11 with the game-winner coming during the final minute – WJRT

7. Softball: Bronson earned an important league sweep of Jonesville, with Lynsey Smith tossing a no-hitter in the doubleheader’s first game – Coldwater Daily Reporter

8. Girls Lacrosse: Lowell held off Spring Lake’s comeback attempt, 9-8 – Grand Haven Tribune

9. Girls Soccer: Portage Central improved to 7-2-2 with a big win over rival Portage Northern – JoeInsider.com

10. Girls Soccer: Division 1 No. 2 Grand Blanc also added to its impressive start with a shutout of Lapeer – WJRT

Also of note …

Saginaw Heritage: Athletic director and MHSAA Representative Council member Pete Ryan announced he will retire at the end of this school year – Saginaw News

O-K Conference: The Ottawa-Kent Conference realignment plan announced last week actually fell short by a vote based on a league bylaw, so leadership will continue to work on a new plan – Grand Rapids Press

Today in the MHSAA: Soccer Semifinals

June 13, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The MHSAA Girls Soccer Finals will be played Friday and Saturday at Michigan State University’s DeMartin Stadium. Below is a sampling of coverage of how all eight finalists advanced.

Division 1: Top-ranked and reigning champion Novi will play for a repeat after getting past Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central in a shootout – Observer & Eccentric 

Division 1: No. 5 Plymouth also advanced with a shootout after a late comeback to take No. 13 Troy to overtime – Observer & Eccentric 

Division 2: No. 6 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern will play in its fourth straight Final thanks to a shootout win over No. 9 Marshall – FOX 17

Division 2: No. 2 Bloomfield Hills Marian is headed to the championship game for the third straight season after a 3-1 win over No. 11 Flint Powers Catholic – Observer & Eccentric

Division 3: No. 7 Essexville Garber will play in the championship game for the first time thanks to a 1-0 win over No. 2 Warren Regina – Bay City Times

Division 3: No. 5 Grand Rapids South Christian will play for its first title since 2013 after a 2-0 win over No. 8 Boyne City – Grand Rapids Press

Division 4: No. 2 Royal Oak Shrine continued its dominating run with a 6-0 win over No. 9 Saginaw Nouvel – State Champs Sports Network 

Division 4: No. 3 Kalamazoo Christian upended top-ranked North Muskegon 1-0 – WWMT

Also of note …

Girls Soccer: Richland Gull Lake coach Jeff Corstange has stepped down after eight seasons, having led the team to three Division 2 championships – WWMT