Article - High School Sports Scene

By JOHN RAFFEL

Coach Jeremiah Jewell had an excellent team at Charlotte this season.
Jewell has been coach for five varsity, and 11 middle school campaigns.
Charlotte had a record of 6-1 in league duals and were CAAC Conference Championship Meet Champions and finished in a tie for first in the CAAC White with Olivet.
“It was another great season,back-to-back league champions,” Jewell said. “Before last season the last league championship was in 1981. There were four runner-up trophies on the season and one champion in invitationals. The team exceeded expectations and showed up huge in the league championship and did everything they needed to in order to win a share of the title.
“It was a very young team again this year, only graduating four seniors this year. The freshman and sophomore classes are very large and very athletic. We lost a very talented sophomore distance/mid-distance runner before the first meet to a surgery and a lengthy rehab, she wasn’t able to run most of the season and never really got all the way back before the season ended.”
There were many top athletes:
Kayla Ewing – Senior Captain – Hurdler, qualified for states in 100H and 300H. Also part of the 4X100M Relay Team. “Kayla was all conference in all three events,” Jewell noted.
Kallie Nichols – Sophomore high jumper/sprinter/relays. She qualified for states in high jump with a Jump of 5-1. All conference in 4×100 meter and 4×400 meter relays as well as high jump and the 400 meter dash.
McKenna Nichols – Sophomore long jumper/sprinter/relays. Qualified for states in Long Jump with a Jump of 16-6.5. All-conference in 4×100 meter and 4×400 meter relays as well as long jump and the 400-meter dash.
Avery Silvas – Freshman high jumper/800 meter/1600 meter/relays. All conference in high jump, 800 meter, 1600 meters and the 4X400-meter relay.
Elina Byers – Junior sprinter/relays. All-conference in 100-meter dash, 4×100 meter and 4×200 meter Relay. Honorable mention in the 200-meter dash. “Elina came back strong after missing last season with a shoulder injury/surgery that ended her season before it started,” Jewell said.
Helena Goodrich – Freshman distance runner. All conference in the 3,200 meter and honorable mention in the 800 meter and 1600 meter. “Helena is an absolute work horse, and multiple times this season she would PR in the 800, 1600 and 3200 meter races all in the same day while many times running in the 4X800M relay.
There will be some key graduates.
“We’re losing Kayla Ewing in the hurdles, no other hurdlers are close to her times yet but they are young and getting better,” Jewell said. “There are a lot of the freshman/sophomores returning that are going to help out next year. Kallie and McKenna Nichols, Avery Silvas, Helena Goodrich, Baylee Moore and Avari Montgomery.
“Next year looks like another strong year with such a large number of underclassmen and only losing a couple seniors. If all goes well we should be in the hunt for a third straight conference championship. We are a young team and continue to improve every day, this group is fun to coach. The core group of kids show up everyday work hard.”

Back

By JOHN RAFFEL

Cameron Morgan’s golf season was a record-breaking All-State performance for the Chippewa Hills sports program.
Morgan became the school’s first All-Stater in golf when he placed eighth with rounds of 78 and 80. He was six strokes away from medalist David Ansley of Traverse City St. Francis with a 152.
Chippewa Hills was seventh overall as a team. Behind Morgan in scoring was Brandon Slasor 170. Dylan Boerma with 170, Marcus Barnes with 190 and Bode McArthur with 196.
Morgan shot an 80 on Saturday and coupled with his 78 from Friday he had a 158 to take eighth. He was only six strokes behind medalist David Ansley of Traverse City St. Francis.
“He had a couple of bad breaks but he bounced back. I’m pretty proud of the guy,” Starck said. “He’s first one placing in the top 10 at the state finals.”
“Conditions were hard but ending up in the top 10 I was pretty happy,” Morgan said. “I don’t think the rain cost me any strokes. It was the mental errors. The rain can have an effect. Everyone is playing under the same conditions.”
Morgan was the individual champion for the Central State Activities Association.
He had a best round of 71 during the season.
“I got the ball on the green and I was making putts,” he recalled. “I was playing good golf.”
Morgan has had offers for college golf but said he has not yet made a decision.

Back

By JOHN RAFFEL
Clare’s baseball team had a season for the ages as a district and regional
championship.
Clare’s championship baseball season came to an end on June 8 at
Rockford with a 10-1 loss in the state quarterfinals to Lumen Christi.
Earlier in the day, both teams won their respective regional titles.
Miles Haggart was the starting pitcher for Clare, giving up seven hits and
six runs in 5.1 innings, striking out three.
Carter Smedley, Shane Warner and Ryan Louch each had a hit for Clare.
The biggest win for Clare came earlier in the day on June 8 with a 4-3
regional championship victory over Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian.
Clare built a 4-0 lead and hung on for the title. Clare opened the scoring
in the first inning after Chase Randall drove in three runs.
Randall was the starter allowed one hit and three runs over 0.2 innings
striking out five and walking three. Jayden Arthur appeared in relief.
Westyn Bryant, Randall. Miles Haggart and Shane Warner had one hit
apiece. Arthur had two walks.
Clare posted another district baseball title on June 1 at Chippewa Hills
with wins of 4-2 over Lakeview in the semifinals and 12-2 in five innings
over Chippewa Hills.
“It was a great day; to come out on top and be district champions you
can’t beat that,” Clare coach Dave Gould said. “Lately we’ve been hitting the
ball well. Today it was a matter of time. We didn’t hit that well in the first
game; we didn’t get it going but it was a matter of time.”

Back

By JOHN RAFFEL

Clare’s softball squad ended its season
with a 36-6 record in a 1-0 loss to Ottawa
Lake Whiteford on June 14 at Michigan State
University.
Whiteford got the game’s only run with three
hits in the first inning.
Clare got hits from Morgan Campbell,
Madison Jones and Breez Yarger.
Jones went the distance as pitcher, allowing
one run on six hits in six innings, striking out
five and walking two.
Unity Nelson struck out 11 Clare batters and
walked two.
“We had our opportunities and they had their
opportunities,” Coach Shane Kelley said. “We’ve
been in a lot of games like that this year. We play
a tough schedule. Today was not our day. We
had some small ball stuff we tried to do. We just
couldn’t compete with them. We hit some balls
and they made great catches. We made great
catches.
“It was two great pitchers out there dueling,
That’s why we play the competition we play so
we can get ready for these days. We came out on
the wrong end. The girls know what it takes to
be here. I’m super proud of our girls. They never
gave up. Madison believes in our defense. We
came up one game short.”
Clare only graduates two players and everyone
else returns. Getting to the semifinals was
significant.
“The girls have been playing extraordinary,”
Kelly said. “They’ve believing in each they’ll.
be helping each other accountable; they’ve
been putting in a lot of hard work. Everything
they’ve worked for all year is finally paying off.
Madison Jones is pitching extraordinary for us.
Our defense has bene phenomenal. We’ve been
advancing runners and doing what we needed to
do all year, playing solid softball. It’s exciting.”

Back

DIVISION 1
First Team
Grace Schloop, p, Midland
Ella Stoney, 2b, Midland Dow
Honorable Mention
Dani Anzaldua, 3b, Lansing Waverly
Delaney Belding, p, Midland Dow
Lakyn Karr, ss, Mt. Pleasant
Jade Queen, of, Grand Ledge
DIVISION 2
First Team
Natalie Donaldson, ss, DeWitt
Lily Federau, c, Lakewood-Lake Odessa
Jaiden Griffith, utl, Williamston
Cailin Knoop, p, Big Rapids
Payton Schafsnitz, ss, Frankenmuth
Jayden Townsend, 2b, Portland
Honorable Mention
Pharis Carroll, 2b, Big Rapids
Chloe Compau, p, Frankenmuth
Ady Freeman, c, Owosso
Lexi Hemker, 3b, Owosso
Jenna Kowalski, c, Freeland
Hailey Kruizenga, ss, Mason
Addie Taylor, p, Clio
Kendall Thompson, 1b, Frankenmuth
Marissa Warren, c, Big Rapids
DIVISION 3
First Team
Ashley Bila, ss, Laingsburg
Brynne Birchmeier, 2b, New Lothrop
Ada Bradford, p, Leslie
Grace Chinavare, of, Sanford-Meridian
Kaitlyn Dickey, 1b, Bath
Jalen Fossitt, ss, Leslie
Kyrah Gray, p, Evart
Delaney Gross, of, New Lothrop
Madison Jones, p, Clare
Lyndsey Lyscas, 1b, Hemlock
Lillian Martinez, utl, Hemlock
Marissa Rombach, ss, New Lothrop
Allyson Theunick, c, Evart
Gabrielle Waldofsky, of, Leslie
Honorable Mention
Addyson Buchin, p, Laingsburg
Emmah Hanson, of, Bullock Creek
Kendal Holzinger, c, Sanford-Meridian
Tessa Kelly, ss, Clare
Izabella Latuszek, sb, Laingsburg
Morgan Matusik, p, Millington
MaKenna Matzke, 2b, Sanford-Meridian
Kayla Newman, 3b, Beaverton
Brooke Spitzley, of, Pewamo-Westphalia
Mattisen Tiedt, 1b, Evart
DIVISION 4
First Team
Arryana Brown, 3b, Beal City
Ellery Garver, ss, Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart
Macy Johnston, p, Beal City
Mikayla LaBounty, 3b, Michigan Lutheran Seminary
Madison Miller, utl, Coleman
Saige Miller, ss, Fowler
Rylee Scheurer, of, Portland St. Patrick
Kallie Smith, 1b, Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart
Emily Taylor, ss, Beal City
Mairin Wheaton, 3b, Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart
Honorable Mention
Kylie Fiting, 2b, St. Charles
Ava Gross, of, Coleman
Paisely Hansen, 1b, Fowler
Jordan Huhn, utl, Byron
Savannah Jones, p, Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart

Back

By JOHN RAFFEL
Evart’s softball team won the Division 3 state title on June 15 at Michigan State University when the Wildcats defeated Ottawa Lake Whiteford 1-0 in the championship game.
Sophomore Kyrah Gray threw the shutout for Evart and struck out the last two batters with runners on second and third to give Evart its first ever MHSAA state crown.
Evart sophomore Mattie Tiedt in the bottom of the sixth had her team’s only hit, an RBI single to drive home Ally Theunick with the only run of the game. Theunick had reached base after being it by the pitch by Whiteford ace Unity Nelson.
Kyrah Gray had a flyout to the fence in left field during the game but wasn’t able to get a hit against Nelson.
“There was another pitcher we saw who might be a little faster than her,” Kyrah Gray said. “But her offspeed stuff was pretty nasty.”
“It was probably the first game in our Division all year where she was probably the second best pitcher on the field,” Shaun Gray said of Kyrah. “I thought she answered the call pretty darn good. In one inning, they hit a double into the gap and I thought our center fielder Emily Miller did a great job of getting the ball back in holding her to a double. There was a little blooper over the third baseman’s head, but Jillian Decker, our shortstop, made a heckuva play to not let that run score.”
Evart had won the semifinal game 8-3 on Friday over Buchanan. Gray was again the winning pitcher while she and Theunick also had solo home runs. Gostlin had a three-run home run. Addy Gray played a huge role two seasons ago when, as a junior, she was the No. 1 pitcher for a Evart girls softball team which went to the state title game and lost a 3-2 heartbreaker to Millington in eight innings for the state title.
Gray was in the dugout supporting her former team. Gray watched her young sister, Kyrah Gray, pitch the Wildcats to seven straight playoff wins.

Back

DIVISION 1
First Team
Charlie Baker, of, East Lansing, sr.
Caleb Bonemer, inf, Okemos, sr.
Luke Lacourse, p, Bay City Western, jr.
Bryce Neitzel, c, Bay City Western, sr.
Second Team
Logan Borodychuk, inf, Mt. Pleasant, sr.
Mikey Deluca, inf, Bay City Western, jr.
Andrew Landis, inf, Rockford, sr.
Payton Skarda, of, Rockford, sr.
Luke Smith, of, Flushing, jr.
DIVISION 2
First Team
Grant Garman, p, Flint Powers, sr.
Logan Kellen, c, St. Johns, sr.
Connor Kelly, inf, Flint Powers, sr.
Dylan Ruhstorfer, 1b, Flint Kearsley, sr.
Isaac Sturgess, of, Flint Powers, sr.
Second Team
Alex Barr, inf, Ionia, sr.
Carter Castillo, inf, Ionia, sr.
JJ Lavelier, inf, Lake Fenton, sr.
Landon Mackley, 1b, Lakewood-Lake
Odessa, sr.
Max McCarty, of, Belding, sr.
Marky Meyers, c, Portland, sr.
DIVISION 3
First Team
Chad Brown, p, Hemlock, jr.
Austin Humphrey, of, Chippewa Hills, jr.
Ryan Louch, inf, Clare, jr.
Wyatt Mosley, p, Dansville, jr.
Ty Randall, inf, Laingsburg, jr.
Second Team
Michael Clare, inf, Saginaw Valley
Lutheran, sr.
Dawson Doan, of, Hemlock, jr.
Brady Sager, inf, Chesaning, jr.
Nash Wendling, 1b, Chesaning, sr.
DIVISION 4
First Team
Jack Fussman, of, Beal City, sr.
Aiden Halliday, 1b, Mt. Pleasant Sacred
Heart, sr.
Carter Lance, of, Fowler, sr.
Cayden Smith, p, Beal City, sr.
Grady Pieratt, inf, Mt. Pleasant Sacred
Heart, jr.
Jerryd Scheurer, inf, Portland St. Patrick,
fr.
Connor Stempky, c, Mt. Pleasant Sacred
Hert, sr.
Sam Vanneste, p, Fowler, jr.
Grant Vederode, utl, Merrill, sr.
Josh Wilson, 1b, Beal City, sr.
Second Team
Brady Davis, p, Mt. Pleasant Sacred
Heart, so.
Micah Herbst, of, Michigan Lutheran
Seminary, jr.
Callan Hoefler, p, Vermontville Maple
Valley, sr.
Charlie Thelen, c, Portland St. Patrick, so.
Ayden Wilkes, of, Vermontville Maple
Valley, sr.

Back

By JOHN RAFFEL
Beal City Aggies, Division 4 baseball state champions.
It has a ring to it.
Beal City claimed the school’s sixth career state baseball, championship on June 15 at Michigan State University.
It was the fourth state title for coach Brad Antcliff.
The Aggies ended up as champs with a 10-0 five-inning win over Norway from the Upper Peninsula. The Aggies had single runs in the first and second innings and four runs apiece in the third and fifth inning.
Centerfielder Jack Fussman had two hits and four RBIs. Cayden Smith had a hit and two RBIs.
Cayden Smith pitched five innings of no-hit ball striking out eight batters in a perfect game. He threw 64 pitches.
Beal City had defeated Vermontville Maple Valley 5-1 on June 14 in the semifinal game.
The Aggies opened up with three runs in the fourth and one in fourth and fifth innings. Cayden Smith had a hit and run scored. Owen Mckenny had two walks and two runs scored. Jack Fussman had a hit, run scored and RBI. Josh Wilson had a hit and two RBIs. Jake Gauthier had a hit and run scored. Lane Gross, Bennett Gilde and Blake Walcutt had a hit and RBI.
Wilson went seven strong innings on the mound and allowed one run on three hits and struck out eight while walking two.
Beal City ended the state championship season at 34-6.

Back

The Alma Boys Basketball Program is excited to announce that Cade Sutherland has been selected to compete in the 11th Annual Capital Area All-Star Game on the campus of Lansing Community College on Monday, June 17th at 7:00 pm.

Back

EAST LANSING, Mich. – June 17 – The Michigan High School Athletic Association is accepting registrations online or by mail for game officials for the 2024-25 school year.

The MHSAA registered approximately 8,700 officials for the 2023-24 school year, an increase of nearly five percent over 2022-23 as the ranks continue to build back toward pre-COVID totals.

All officials who register may sign up for up to two sports as part of their registration. Officials also will receive membership in the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO), which comes with a variety of educational and training resources and the NASO’s Shield liability insurance that will provide $6 million in coverage for officials while they are working both MHSAA and non-MHSAA events.

For new and returning officials, a $70 fee covers registration for up to two sports. Officials may register for additional sports at $16 per sport.

To avoid a $30 late fee, all fall sport registration applications must be received by Aug. 19, 2024. Winter sports registrations must be received by Nov. 18 to avoid the late fee, and spring sports registrations must be received by March 24, 2025.

Online registration can be accessed by clicking “Officials” on the home page of the MHSAA Website at https://www.mhsaa.com. More information about officials registration may be obtained by contacting the MHSAA by phone at (517) 332-5046 or by e-mail at register@mhsaa.com.

There is an officials’ registration test for first-time officials and officials who were not registered during the past school year, derived from the MHSAA Officials Guidebook. New officials and those who didn’t officiate during 2023-24 also must complete the online MHSAA Principles of Officiating course. Additional exams must be taken by those registering for football or basketball for the first time or those who were not registered for those sports during the previous school year. Links to the Officials Guidebook, Principles of Officiating presentation and the football and basketball mechanics manuals can be found by following the “New Officials” link on the Officials page of the MHSAA Website.

There also are opportunities to officiate for students at least 14 years old and in grades 9-12 through the MHSAA Legacy Program. Juniors and seniors may officiate subvarsity contests, while freshmen and sophomores may officiate contests at the middle school/junior high levels. Mentor officials will work events with Legacy participants to provide guidance and support. Find information on the Legacy Program by clicking “Officials Registration” on the Officials page of the MHSAA Website and following the “Legacy Program” link.MSAA

Back

Charlotte Girls Celebrate Championship Season

Morgan An All-State Golfer For Chippewa Hills

Clare Is A Regional Champion

Clare Girls Fall In State Semifinals

Area all-state softball players

Evart Softball Team Claims Division 3 State Trophy

Area all-state baseball players

Beal City Baseball Team Captures Another State Title

Alma player competes in All-Star game

MHSAA accepting registrations for game officials