 L-R Booster VP John Reeves, Emmerson Goodin, Jaxi Long, Lily Swinehart, Booster President Karen Mortensen Trio of scholar/athletes set a high bar
The Newaygo Athletic Boosters are pleased to announce that they have awarded three $500.00 Scholarships for 2022. The awards go to Emmerson Goodin, Jaxi Long and Lily Swinehart. These three athletes are National Honors Society members two years running, and have accumulated a wide range of accolades for their accomplishments both in athletics and scholastics. They are academic All State honorees and have supported and volunteered for a variety of summer youth camps covering a wide range of athletics including, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, and Softball. They exemplify what a scholar-athlete is and does. They have set the bar high for those that come after them! In their applications, all three reflected on how important their athletic pursuits have been to them in meeting new people and establishing lifelong friendships. They talked about how their attitudes shifted from doing well and winning to that of savoring the journey and friends along the way. They exemplify what it means to carry “Lion Pride” Emmerson will be attending Muskegon Community College pursing a degree in Exercise Science. Jaxi will be attending Cornerstone University. Lily will be attending the University of Michigan, pursuing a degree in Pediatric Health. Congratulations and well done! -Newaygo Athletic Boosters Club
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 Back Row (L-R): Blake Daggy (Reed City), Dylan Schebil (Reed City), Conner Roesler (Fremont), Knai Noordyk (Fremont), Gary Springstead (Fremont), Gabe White (Fremont), Michael Romero (Fremont), Conor Somers (Fremont), Taden Gleason (TC) Front Row (L-R): Anthony Kiaunis (Reed City), _______, Owen Westerkamp (Big Rapids), Ryan Ososki (Big Rapids), Not Pictured: Aiden Mieras (Reed City)  Back Row (L-R): Kate Langworthy (Big Rapids), Remington Arney (Newaygo), Samara Turner (Big Rapids), Sophia Blackwell (Big Rapids), Makenna Rautio (Big Rapids), Maia Sexton (Central Montcalm), Kyla McKeown (Central Montcalm), Alexis Curry (Central Montcalm), Adrianna Radilla (Central Montcalm) Front Row (L-R): Tea Hoffman (Central Montcalm), Maria Riddering (Newaygo), Victoria Ekkel (Fremont), Avery Christoffersen (Fremont), Kennedy Christoffersen (Fremont), Kyah Hoffman (Central Montcalm), Hannah Abbott (Chippewa Hills), Ashley Choponis (Central Montcalm) Not Pictured: Olivia Malloy (Big Rapids), Laney Jorgensen (Big Rapids) Girls All Conference 100 Meter Hurdles Kennedy Christoffersen Fremont Sr Additional 1st Team All-Conference Qualifiers 100 M, 200 M, 4x100 M Relay, 4x200 M Relay Victoria Ekkel, Fremont, So 100 M Hurdles, 300 M Hurdles, 4x100 M Relay, Long Jump Avery Christoffersen, Fremont, So 4x400 M Relay, 300 M Hurdles, 100 M Hurdles Lauren O'Malley, Fremont, So 1600 M, 4x400 M Relay, 4x800 Relay, HIgh Jump Remington Arney Newaygo So 4x800 M Relay, 4x400 M Relay, 800 M Maria Riddering, Newaygo, So Honorable Mention All-Conference 4x800 M Relay Elizabeth Chaffee, Newaygo, Jr 4x800 M Relay Iris Herrera, Newaygo, Jr High Jump Erica Maddox, Fremon, Sr Boys All Conference 100 Meter Conner Roesler, Fremont, Sr 200 Meter Conner Roesler, Fremont, Sr 800 Meter Conor Somers, Fremont, Sr 1600 Meter Conor Somers, Fremont, Sr 300 Meter Hurdles Daniel Romero, Fremont, So 4x100 Meter Relay Tim Dosch,Newaygo, Jr Mallaci Mayle, Newaygo, Sr Chad Saucier, Newaygo, Jr Tommaso Isello, Newaygo, Jr 4x200 Meter Relay Conner Roesler, Fremont, Sr Gabe Whittle, Fremont, Sr Khai Noordyk, Fremont, Fr Connor Pettis, Fremont, So 4x400 Meter Relay Gabe Whittle, Fremont, Sr Conor Somers, Fremont, Sr Daniel Romero, Fremont, So Gary Springstead, Fremont, Jr 4x800 Meter Relay Gary Springstead, Fremont, Jr John Christensen, Fremont, So Sean Pettis, Fremont, So Gavin Shuler, Fremont, Sr Long Jump Gabe Whittle, Fremont, Sr Additional 1st Team All-Conference Qualifiers Discus, 300 M Hurdles, 110 M Hurdles, Michael Romero, Fremont, Jr Honorable Mention Long Jump Blake Kerr, Newaygo, Fr  Back Row (L-R): Isabella Max (Kent City), Alyeska LInsley (Kent City), Mickenzie Brancheau (Kent City), Kylie Brown (Kent City), Hailey Kamphuis (Kent City), Lila Volkers (Kent City), Irelyn Sullivan (Kent City), Kierra Flegel (Kent City), Taryn Preston (Kent City), Gaby Reeve (White Cloud) Ryleigh Balke (White Cloud), Annie Feldpausch (White Cloud), Shantel Palmer (White Cloud), Braelyn Berry (Morley Stanwood, Joslyn Nelson (Morley Stanwood) Front Row (L-R): MIranda McNeil (Morley Stanwood), Carsyn Scarlavai (White Cloud) Kennedy May (Hesperia), Ava Crowell (Holton), Emma Kosinski (Lakeview), Jayna Scheuneman (Lakeview), Jaden Gomez (White Cloud), Mariah Edwards (White Cloud) Not Pictured: Molly Willison (Lakeview), Sarah Kozal (Kent City)  Back Row (L-R): Samuel Martini (Kent City), Christian Brown (Kent City), Grant Wheaton (Lakview), Jace Silverthorn (White Cloud), Romeo Johnson (White Cloud), Joel Bradley (White Cloud), Thomas Swanson (Kent City), David Higgs (White Cloud), Nikolas Parks-Josephson (White Cloud) Front Row (L-R): Carter Magoon (Kent City) Nathan Ciolk (White Cloud), Lloyd Sebright (White Cloud), Vincent Ockert (White Cloud), Carson Foondle (White Cloud), Shelby Hopkins (Morley Stanwood), Jaren Vogel (Kent City) Not Pictured: Isaac Wright (Kent City), Tyson Vanderlind (Kent City), Carson Gorton (Kent City), Kodee Engstrom (Morley Stanwood), James Hunter (Holton), Cooper Rusco (Holton) Girls All Conference 100 Meter Hurdles Ryleigh Balke White Cloud, So 4x100 Meter Relay Carsyn Scarlavai White Cloud, Sr Mariah Edwards White Cloud, Fr Shantel Palmer White Cloud, Jr Jaden Gomez White Cloud, So 4x400 Meter Relay- Carsyn Scarlavai White Cloud, Sr Mariah Edwards White Clou, Fr Grace Richards White Cloud, Jr Jaden Gomez White Cloud, So Shot Put- Gaby Reeve White Cloud, Jr Discus- Gaby Reeve White Cloud, Jr Additional 1st Team All-Conference Qualifiers Long Jump, HIgh Jump, 3200 M, 1600 M Andrea Feldpausch White Cloud Boys All Conference 4x100 Meter Relay- Lloyd Sebright-Johnson White Cloud, So Vincent Ockert White Cloud, Jr Jace Silverthorn White Cloud, Jr David Higgs White Cloud, Fr Shot Put- Joel Bradley White Cloud, Sr Discus- Joel Bradley White Cloud, Sr Additional 1st Team All-Conference Qualifiers Pole Vault, 800 M, 4x800 M Relay, 4x400 M Relay Nathan Ciolk White Cloud 11 Long Jump, 4x200 M Relay, 110 M Hurdles, 300 M Hurdles Nikolas Parks-Josephson White Cloud, Sr 4x800 M Relay, 3200 M, & 1600 M Carson Foondle White Cloud, So Long Jump & High Jump Romeo Johnson White Cloud Honorable Mention 4x200 M Relay Ashton Byle White Cloud, Sr 4x800 M Relay Joshua Brown White Cloud, Jr 4x800 M Relay Kobe Canning White Cloud, Sr    Back Row L-R: Kaylin Goodman (Reed City), Rylie Haist (Big Rapids), Marissa Warren (Big Rapids), Josie Cornell (Big Rapids), Emily Throop (Central Montcalm), Delanie Shaffer (Central Montcalm), Zoey Bacon (Central Montcalm), Lauren Alexander (Central Montcalm), Savannah Keur (Fremont), Jaycee Rider (Grant), Olivia DeJohn (Newaygo) Front Row L-R: Isabell Guy (Reed CIty), Rylie Shafer (Reed City), Jayci Hance (Grant), Brynn McArthur (Chippewa Hills), Pharis Carroll (Big Rapids), Hanna Smith (Big Rapids),Haley Zerlaut (Fremont)  Back Row L-R: Gabe VanVleet (Fremont),Logan Nelson (Fremont), Ben Knuth (Big Rapids), Brody Sleeper (Big Rapids), Grant Kidder (Big Rapids), Isaiah Moore (Reed CIty), Trevor Conklin (Reed City) Front Row L-R: Tyler Tompkins (Tri County), Glenn Toth (Newaygo), Josiah Long (Newaygo), Chase Geers (Grant), Tyler Geer (Chippewa Hills), Xavier Allen (Reed City), Max Hammond (Reed City) Not Pictured: Seth McGowen (Newaygo), Jayden Byle (Grant), Nate Lovell (Tri County) Rider Hance, DeJohn repeat in softball; Nelson & Toth named again in baseball Gold Baseball All Conference Josiah Long Newaygo 10 Seth McGowen Newaygo 12 Glen Toth Newaygo 12 Logan Nelson Fremont 12 Gabe VanVleet Fremont 11 Jayden Byle Grant 12 Chase Geers Grant 11 Honorable Mention Russell Toth Newaygo 9 Brandon Gates Grant 11 Brenden Maka Fremont 11 Gold Softball All Conference Jayci Hance Grant 11 Jaycee Rider Grant 12 Haley Zerlaut Fremont 12 Savannah Keur Fremont 10 Olivia DeJohn Newaygo 10 Honorable Mention Emma Bliss Grant 11 Sydney Dunbar Fremont 12 Sydnee Kirk Newaygo 10  Back Row L-R: Peyton Krantz (Lakeview), Bodie Bigler (Lakeview), Kyler Larson (Kent CIty), Webb Longcore (Kent City), Rice Robins (Holton), Austin Fowler (Holton), Zade Garrett (Morley Stanwood), Aaron Moore (Morley Stanwood) Front Row L-R: Ryan Darling (Kent City), Josh Anderson (Kent City), Hunter Billman (Hesperia), Travis Kurtz (Hesperia), Taylor Bode (White Cloud), Alex Cruzan (White Cloud), Landyn McGowen (White Cloud) White Cloud finished second in the Silver and placed 3 on the All Conference baseball team as senior Taylor Bode, junior Alex Cruzan and sophomore Landyn McGowen were each chosen to the elite squad of ballplayers. Mason Cruzan, another sophomore on coach Kelly Mahn’s team earned Honorable Mention. Junior Travis Kurtz was the lone Panther on the squad and senior Hunter Billman received Honorable Mention In Silver softball WC senior Ceara Bode represented her squad on the All Conference team while freshman teammate Miyah Wolters got Honorable Mention. Hesperia’s Emmet Tinkham and Ali Thompson each were named All Conference  Back Row L-R: Ceara Bode (White Cloud), Lexie Bowers (Kent City), Makenna Martin (Morley Stanwood), Natalie Parsons (Lakeview), Emmet Tinkham (Hesperia), Gianna Reed (Holton), Kaila Krueger (Kent City), Ali Townsend (Hesperia) Front Row L-R: Samara Kolehouse (Kent City), Jacee Hoffman (Kent City), Brooke Edgerly (Morley Stanwood), Jaidyn Hill (Lakeview), Grace Thompsen (Holton), Abbie Fowler (Holton), Kenzie Greene (Holton)  Back Row L-R: Connelly Hefferan-Nordlund (Newaygo), Sofia Briggs (Newaygo), Jaxi Long (Newaygo), Grace Painter (Newaygo), Courtney Grant (Lakeview), Karley Densmore (Chippewa Hills), Kyra Couch (Big Rapids), Melinda Burgess (Chippewa Hills), Claire Snyder (Kent City), Mia White (Fremont), Mia Clemence (Fremont), Katie Williams (Big Rapids), Julia Waltz (Big Rapids), Paige Lofquist (Reed City) Front Row L-R: Lynnea Briones (Newaygo), Hailey Holmberg (Grant), May Shepard (Tri County), Grace Erdman (Tri County), Allison Johnson (Tri County), Delani Gould (Tri County), Leah Sieffert (Tri County), Ella Tucci (Big Rapids), Rebecca Allers (Big Rapids) Not Pictured: Sydney Higgins (Grant), Addie Shields(Fremont) Packers place 3 and Tigers post a pair Newaygo had a pretty remarkable season on the soccer field coming a goal short of a conference title and collecting the school’s first ever District title while composing a 16-4-1 record that included 11 shutout wins and outsourcing their opponents 67-20. Fremont finished the season 10-9, including a 5 game win streak that finished the regular season and included a game in the conference tourney. Grant shook off a rough April to go on a 4-2-3 streak before falling in their District opener. Post season honors came out last week and we asked the coaches to share a few words about the young women whose play on the field proved to be exceptional. Newaygo - Coach Matt Painter Connelly Hefferan-Nordlund, Jr.-Connelly played center midfield for us all year long. Connelly helped to control the midfield and is a great passer. Throughout the year she passed very well with both Lynnea and Jaxi as they worked to advance the ball to our forwards. Connelly ended the year with 7 goals and 14 assists and was honored with All Conference and All District awards. Sofia Briggs, Jr.- Sofia is a Captain who anchors our backline as our center back. I believe that she is one of the best center backs in the area and is a major reason why we had 11 shut-outs on the season. Sofia rarely makes mistakes, reads the opponent's attack, and has an uncanny ability to know just when to make a tackle to take away the ball. She not only tackles well, but keeps her head up to make excellent passes to our midfield which allows us to maintain possession and begin our own attack. Due to her outstanding play this season, Sofia earned not only All Conference and All District awards, but she also earned All Region honors and All State Honorable Mention. Jaxi Long, Sr.Jaxi Long is a Captain who has played on the varsity soccer team all 4 years of her high school career. Jaxi controls the midfield and has developed a great connection with both Connelly and Lynnea as they work together to pass around the opponents. Jaxi ended the season with 15 goals and 18 assists. Whoever we find next year to take over her center mid position will have very large shoes to fill. While she will be missed greatly by our team, we have been blessed to have her! She was a major piece of the success of our program this season! Jaxi earned All Conference and All District honors this season. Grace Painter, Jr. Grace is a Junior Captain who primarily played as forward for us this season. While Sofia took care of business for the team on the back line, Grace ensured that our attack was successful as well. Grace ended the season with 34 goals and 14 assists. Grace is an aggressive player who is not afraid of contact and who is willing to fill any role on the team. She connected passes very well with both Jaxi and Connelly as they worked together to build attacks. Grace earned All Conference and All District honors as well as All Region and All State Honorable Mention. Lynnea Briones, Jr.Lynnea is a Junior who played a holding midfielder for us almost all year long. Lynnea is a natural defender but is also adept at passing. Lynnea was essential for our team in terms of connecting our backline with our midfield. While she only had 4 assists on the year, her foot was probably on the ball at some point in the vast majority of our attacks. Lynnea earned All Conference and All District awards due to her play this season. Honorable Mention Barbara Toth Jr. Barbara is a Junior who played goalkeeper for us all season long. Barbara's confidence has steadily grown each season and she aggressively defended her net this year! She helped us secure 11 shut-outs and had 193 saves on the season. In the past, Barbara has also wanted to play on the field. However, this year, Barbara really embraced the fact that she is a great keeper who has become an essential part of our team's success this year! While Barbara was an honorable mention All Conference player, she also earned All District and All Region honors as well as All State Honorable Mention. Fremont - Coach Steven Vissia Mia White, Sr. Mia was a team captain and played center midfield. She finished with 10 goals including 3 game-winning goals while adding 3 assists Mia Clemence, Fr. Mia played forward and was our leading scorer netting 17 goals including a pair of game winners. She also tallied 9 assists. Addie Shields, Jr. Addie was one of our center backs. Her speed, physical play, and ability to communicate effectively really stabilized our back. (1 assist, Junior/Captain). Honorable Mention Riley Chase, Fr. Riley played forward and was our 3rd leading scorer with 13 goals (2 game-winning goals) and 4 assists. Grant - Coach Daisy Gomez de Leon They are all GREAT players that pushed this team forward. They all bring a different strength to the team and were key players to the development of the team as a whole. Hailey Holmberg, Jr. Hailey is extremely fast, intelligent, and differs from most center backs because she looks to play out instead of constantly clearing the ball. Sydney Higgins, Sr. Sydney simply owns midfield in every way. She will win 50/50 balls all day, neutralize other players, and start plays. Honorable Mention Carli Fryling, Sr. Carli is such a skilled player both offensively and defensively. She will try to take on an entire backline and isn't scared of taking a shot and for that reason she is dangerous anywhere on the field.   The Lions ready themselves to defend a corner kick Historic Run Ends At Regionals Story and photos by Tara Hefferan The Newaygo Lions Soccer season has come to an end, following a 4-0 loss to Elk Rapids Tuesday night in the Region 12 semi-final match at Big Rapids. As the underdogs, the Lions battled mightily against the state-ranked Elks, putting in a full effort despite the unfavorable odds. As Captain Grace Painter said, “Elk Rapids was a very good team, all the way, even into their bench. We gave it our all. I was proud of us.” The Elks controlled the ball for most of the match, putting the Lions into a primarily defensive posture. Their attack was relentless, with three goals scored in the first seventeen minutes. Over the match, Lion Keeper Barbara Toth had 28 shots against her. Said Captain Sofia Briggs, “Elk Rapids was a very skilled team.” In post-game analysis, Coach Matt Painter said, “Elk Rapids was by far the best team we have seen all season! It was a great opportunity for our girls to play against one of the best teams in the state for our division. I think we were a little shell shocked by their speed and skill level at the beginning of the game. We made some adjustments to our formation knowing that our scoring chances would be few! I was so proud of how our girls never gave up and how they continued to fight and defend and do their absolute best against a great team. Our girls’ grit and determination prevented Elk Rapids from scoring for over three quarters of the game. So, when the final whistle blew, they jogged off the field holding their heads high. They knew they had given everything they had! A coach can’t ask for anything better than that!”  Keeper Toth was put to the test, facing down 28 shots on goal While the match challenged the Lions and ended their state-run, the players relished their history-making season and the deep friendships the season offered. Keeper Barbara Toth reflected, “We all played well, despite losing. We all stuck with it. We didn’t get mad at each other. We are a great team. We like to have fun. All the girls are really nice, and we all are friends” Indeed, the Lions had a remarkable season, winning the district title for the first time in program history. They also played for the conference championship, being narrowly edged out by rival Big Rapids. With a schedule record of 16-4-1, the Lions were a threat every time they stepped on the field. This is in marked contrast to previous seasons, where the Lions lost far more often than they won, including a season where they lost all 17 of their matches. What accounts for this dramatic turn around? Captain Briggs said, “Our season was so successful because of our hard work and dedication to the team.” Coach Painter agreed, extending the lens a bit farther back. “I really believe that this season’s success started two years ago. Yes, I mean our success started the season we were shut down for COVID! When other teams just canceled their season, our girls put in hours upon hours of practice competing against each other and in virtual groups to complete challenges and rack up hours of training! That persistence led to a successful season last year. And then this season we just picked up and improved on what we did last year! Our girls just want to win and they have learned that working together makes winning happen!”  The defensive line of Welch, Briggs, Briones, and Couch anticipates a return to battle In today’s sports environment, having players with club soccer experience is also important to success. As a rural school, Newaygo has been historically disadvantaged compared to neighboring teams when it comes to club soccer opportunities. The current team, however, has a number of players who have at least some experience playing competitively in the club system. Friendship, hard-work, a culture of winning, and some club experience are characteristics that will carry forward into next spring season, which promises to be competitive too. The Lions are losing just one senior, Captain Jaxi Long, this year. The team will return largely in its current form next year, with the addition of at least a couple in-coming freshmen players with some club experience. Coach Painter, “After coming off a 16-4-1 season where we won districts for the first time in school history, it is hard to think about topping this season! For us, it has never been about winning games. That’s certainly nice, but our main goal has always been to live into our team values. We believe that if we live out our values then we will be successful regardless of what the scoreboard says. So for next year, I hope we continue to buy into the idea that we just need ONE WIN…that we Only Need Everybody to commit to What’s Important Now. This, along with our other team values will drive us to great things!”  Coach Painter talking strategy at halftime Until next season arrives, the Lions will spend some time relishing their memories of the 2022 season. Captain Painter said, “My favorite memory was definitely winning districts. It was a long time in coming, and it was very rewarding.” Keeper Toth said her favorite memory is “the fact that not a single person made a penalty kick shot on me!” Coach Painter said, “I have so many memories that it is hard to pick just one! The obvious choice would be winning the District Title. While that was amazing, I think the smaller, seemingly insignificant things really stick with me! Things like: The girls ‘sneaking’ seconds and thirds from the cooler full of ice cream treats on the way home from away games. The girls on the bench cheering. The laughing and occasionally raucous game playing on the bus. Talking me out of extra running because they are superstitious of changing the routine for fearing of ending the winning streak. I think that all of these (and so many more) memories are part of what makes this such a great team to coach!” Building on this season’s many successes, the Lions spring 2023 season promises to be one more friendships, more fun, and more wins, of many kinds.  Congratulating the Elks on their well-earned victory  The final stroll to the locker room in the 2022 season     Extra Inning Thriller Ends Newaygo's Season Story by Hudson Harkness, photos by Alexis Mercer Newaygo lost their lead late in an 8-7 defeat to Tri-County on Saturday in the District Semi-finals. The game was tied at seven when an error in the 9th inning allowed the Vikings to push one across. Newaygo did collect nine hits in the high-scoring affair. But Tri-County was able to reach 11 in their victory. The scoring started for the Vikings with a sac fly by Aiden Plotts to get TC on the board. The Lions put up two in the bottom half of the first after the ground ball by Seth McGowen scores Wells and G. Toth. Tri-County's bats came alive in the 4th inning, scoring five runs. The big inning came thanks to hits from Plotts and Lovell. Newaygo took back the lead in the 5th inning after the balk from TC allowed Russell Toth to score, giving the Lions a slight 7-6 advantage. TC had a late score in the 7th inning to even it back up, sending it to extra innings. When the free baseball started, the 8th inning was clean by both teams. Then in the 9th, the Vikings score the go-ahead run after the Newaygo error. Newaygo would be unable to even the game back up. Hornbacher led Tri-County to the victory on the mound. He went six innings, allowing three runs on five hits, and striking out three. Josiah Long took the loss for Newaygo. Long went five innings, allowing two runs on four hits and striking out seven. Long ends his season with a 7-3 record. On the offense side of the ball, Grant Harkness, Glenn Toth, and Remy Wells led Newaygo, who each managed to get multiple hits. Harkness and Wells each collected an RBI as well. Nate Lovell and Trent Behrenwald picked up multiple knocks to lead the Vikings. Lovell went 3-4 at the dish. Tri-County was also able to pick up seven steals on the base paths. That loss ends Newaygo's season with a 19-13 record. The Vikings went on to win the District Championship with a 4-1 win over Alma.  .Grant goes extra innings twice in dramatic tourney sweep.
Grant 7 Whitehall 5 The Tiger softball team brought home a District title Saturday. But it didn’t come easy. In a semi-final matchup with tournament host Whitehall the game went far into overtime. So far, in fact, that the Vikes and Tigers finished ten innings still knotted in a tie game meaning, per MHSAA tournament rules, the international tie breaker was brought into play. This means each team would begin with a player on second base and no outs. Grant began the inning with Madison Thompson on second base. A Makayla Zerlaut sac bunt moved Thompson to third. Emma Bradley then bunted to the pitcher who checked the runner at third but failed to make the play at first giving the Tigers runners at the corners with one out. Laney Shears looped a single to right scoring Thompson and Grace Scott followed with a sac bunt that put runners at second and third. Jaycee Hance then came through with a 2 out single plating both runners and giving the Tigers a 3 run edge in the game. But then came the Vikings turn at the plate as Emma Bliss returned to the slab With Evelyn Darke on second, a passed ball moved her to 3rd. A walk gave the hosts 2 on base with nobody out. Hailey Carnes popped out then a Fagen ground out to first sent home a run and Whitehall was within 2 with the tying run at the plate. Onnyka Dempsey sent a fly ball to right that Allie Nobe tucked into her glove for the third out and a Tiger win. "It was an incredibly crazy game,” said Head Coach Shelley Hance. “I cannot remember if I have ever coached a team into 11 innings in my 31 years. The emotions throughout the campus were exhilarating. Our entire team was supporting each other in every facet of the game. It was a dogfight and I am so proud!" Bliss struck out 6 and earned the win. Jayci Hance led the Tigers going 4 for 6 with 3 RBI and one run. Jaycee Rider was 3 for 6 with one run and Taylee Self was 1 for 4 crushing a bases loaded triple to collect 3 RBI’s. Grant 3 Ludington 2 Next up was the final against Ludington who had dispatched Tri County 15-0 in their semi final game. Oriole ace Lilli Goodrich toed the slab and despite sending 15 Tiger players back to the dugout on strikes the teams battled to a tie after 7 giving Grant their second overtime game of the day. Here’s Coach Hance’s take on the final frame: “Bottom of the 8th, Goodrich earned two more strikeouts, Allie Noble reached first base on an error by the second baseman, Allie steals second base, Jayci Hance fake bunts earning strike one but it allows Allie to steal third. Jayci Hance puts the ball in play and reaches first base on an error by first baseman and scores Allie. Jaycee Rider comes to the plate, taking strike one, swings and misses on strike two, next pitch ball one, Jayci Hance steals second, the count is 1-2, Jaycee Rider swings - foul ball, and then it happens, Jaycee Rider delivers a base hit into left field scoring Jayci Hance from second base for the win!! "I can't explain the overwhelming emotion!! The girls were crying, the coaches were crying, the fans were crying. This is why we tell kids to never give up. I am so happy for this group of girls, they have endured a lot this season and they deserve it. Their school and their community will be so proud of them! Go Tigers!!" Bliss once again picked up the win for the Tigers Grant earned a trip to the Gaylord Regional where they will face the Escanaba Eskimos on Saturday. Game time is scheduled for 11:00am
Photos and story by Joan Ludtke
White Cloud girls’ track team finished the 2022 season on Saturday at the MHSAA D4 State Finals in Hudsonville. All 5 athletes who qualified were named to the All State Team. The 400 meter relay placed 7th with their fastest time of the year - 52.69. Members of the team were Carsyn Scarlavai, who recently committed to run for Ferris State University, led off the relay with freshman Mariah Edwards running second. Shantel Palmer, a junior, ran third followed by relay anchor, sophomore Jaden Gomez. Junior Gaby Reeve threw 120’ 6” in the discus, finishing 3rd, in a close battle for the championship. Gaby had a 20 foot improvement from last years 6th place finish. Jaden Gomez also competed in the long jump with a mark of 14’11” for 17th place. Congratulations ladies! |
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