Why be an Official? (Grand Rapids Press)

January 25, 2012

The Grand Rapids Press' Jane Bos tells the story of some of the most valuable, yet often-criticized people who help make our games go -- the officials enforcing the rules. 

Consider this interesting point: On a Tuesday or Friday, the O-K Conference must come up with 150 officials to work its basketball games. And it, like most if not all leagues, always is looking for more.

She also explains how another former Press sportswriter, Howie Beardsley, got into the reffing game.

Check it out:

"Why West Michigan high school referees say you should consider wearing stripes"

Today In The MHSAA: 4/21/21

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

April 21, 2021

Every day we play produces a story or a few, and Tuesday’s included a pair of coaching milestones and some regular-season matchups that may have been previews of postseason rematches in June.

1. Baseball: Bay City John Glenn coach Jeff Hartt reached 800 wins with his Division 2 No. 10-ranked team’s sweep of Birch Run – Bay City Times

2. Girls Soccer: Division 1 powers Brighton and Novi finished in a 1-1 draw as the Bulldogs scored with less than a minute to play – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

3. Baseball: Division 2 No. 11 Frankenmuth swept No. 7 Saginaw Swan Valley 5-0 and 9-5, with the first game featuring a pitching matchup of future college teammates – Saginaw News

4. Softball: Division 2 contenders Frankenmuth and Swan Valley split, the Eagles winning the first game 4-0 and the Vikings the second 8-2 – Saginaw News

5. Softball: Frankfort coach Michael Thompson reached 450 career wins with his team’s sweep of Buckley – Up North Live

6. Track & Field: The Salem boys and Northville girls were victorious in snowy duals pitting top teams – Observer & Eccentric

7. Boys Lacrosse: Portage Central scored seven straight goals to come back and defeat Battle Creek Pennfield 9-7 – WWMT

8. Softball: Muskegon Mona Shores shut out Reeths-Puffer 4-0, but Reeths-Puffer came back with an 11-4 win in the second game of the doubleheader – Local Sports Journal

9. Girls Soccer: Laila Sharlow scored four of Waterford Kettering’s goals in a 5-0 win over Walled Lake Western – Oakland Press

10. Boys Lacrosse: Six Troy Athens players scored as the Red Hawks downed rival Troy 16-9 – Oakland Press