A look at the prospects for Oakland County’s football teams in the Flint Metro, KLAA, MAC, CSC and Independents for the 2025 season:

FLINT METRO

Stripes Division

HOLLY BRONCHOS

Coach: Billy Keenist Jr. (4th year)

Division: 3

Last Year’s Record: 1-8, 0-5

Key Returners on Offense: Hunter Bishop (TE, Sr.), Noah Mathis (RB, Sr.), Macklin O’Neal (OL, Sr.), Colton Swartz (WR, Sr.), Andre Givens (OL, Jr.), Blake Goin (RB, Sr.)

Key Returners on Defense: Hunter Bishop (LB, Sr.), Noah Mathis (LB, Sr.), Macklin O’Neal (DL, Sr.), Colton Swartz (DB, Sr.)

Strengths: Senior leadership, LB core

Areas to Improve: Replacing key players on O-line, offensive production

Outlook: The Bronchos not only failed to make the playoffs for the first time under Keenist, but took a major step back. The defense kept Holly in games last season, but failing to score seven points in a game until Week 6 is all that needs pointing to in regards to why the team fell short on that side of the ball. There’s a belief that mentally the players who are seniors listed above will help right the ship.

Stars Division

ORTONVILLE BRANDON BLACKHAWKS

Coach: Brad Zube (10th year)

Division: 4

Last Year’s Record: 6-4, 2-3

Key Returners on Offense: Albert Rowe (QB, Sr.), Luke Hanson (WR, Sr.), Demetri McNeir (WR, Sr.), Damian Watton (RB, Sr.), Gavin Rochester (OL, Sr.), Evan Smith (OL, Sr.)

Key Returners on Defense: Luke Hanson (DB, Sr.), Albert Rowe (DL, Sr.), Kurt Briolat (LB, Jr.), Demetri McNair (DB, Sr.), Darrin Linenger (DL, Sr.), Jacob Dubiel (LB, Jr.)

Strengths: Starters returning among receiving core, defense

Areas to Improve: Replacing Lance Briolat at QB

Outlook: It was a solid year for Brandon, who continued to be an offensive threat with Briolat under center. HIs graduation leaves a void, but the good news is that Watton returns to tote the rock and players like Hanson and McNeir provide production in the receiving game. There are some key pieces back on defense in Briolat and McNeir. Winning the Stars Division has proved difficult in recent seasons, but if the Blackhawks can even admirably replace Briolat, they should give teams like Corunna and Goodrich a run for their money.

——————————

INDEPENDENTS

DETROIT COUNTRY DAY YELLOWJACKETS

Coach: Dan MacLean (28th year)

Division: 5

Last Year’s Record: 3-5

Key Returners on Offense: Anthony Cartwright (TE, Jr.), Jre Jackson (OL, Sr.), Derrick Williams (RB, Sr.), Jaidyn Martin (WR, Jr.), Connor Dienes (OL, Jr.)

Key Returners on Defense: Jre Jackson (DL, Sr.), Derrick Williams (DB, Sr.), Jaidyn Martin (CB, Jr.), Connor Dienes (DL, Jr.)

Strengths: Big senior class, star talent

Areas to Improve: Staying in games

Outlook: The Yellowjackets had the misfortunate of making it back-to-back seasons that they missed the playoffs and only scored a combined 35 points in their last six games, which never equates to much success. Looking back, though, that stretch in which they went 1-5 saw Country Day lose to a pair of eventual state champs (Notre Dame Prep, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s) and another team (Monroe St. Mary CC) that reached a final. DCD has had some good players the past few years like Gabe Winowich and Cade Wilhelmi, but the skill/speed spots seem to be the strength of these upperclassmen, led by Cartwright and Williams (Princeton). The schedule is almost identical to last fall, but a deeper crop of talent should offer a better chance at returning to the postseason.

PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP FIGHTING IRISH

Coach: Pat Fox (12th year)

Division: 5

Last Year’s Record: 12-1 (D5 state champs)

Key Returners on Offense: Brody Sink (WR, Sr.), Sam Stowe (QB, Sr.), Jack Williams (OL, Sr.), Logan Tuttle (OL, Sr.), Henry Ewels (OL, Sr.)

Key Returners on Defense: Brody Sink (LB, Sr.), Lucas Kattula (DE, Sr.), Drake Roa (DB, Sr.), Henry Ewles (DL, Sr.), Jack Williams (DL, Sr.)

Strengths: Returning QB and linemen

Areas to Improve: Replacing the rushing and receiving production

Outlook: Notre Dame Prep had it going on for a second consecutive season, but this time kept it going in the postseason all the way to glory at Ford Field. Fox’s team returns half of its starters from last year’s championship side, including All-Staters in QB Stowe (2,751 yards, 37 TDs) and ILB Brody Sink (133 tackles, eight sacks). Kattula is an impact player on the defensive line, and the offensive line returns all but one that started double-digit games in ’24. The toughest parts of the schedule include back-to-back games in Weeks 2 and 3 (Jackson Lumen Christi, Gibraltar Carlton) and Weeks 8 and 9 (Marine City, Unity Christian).

Football 2025: Schedules for Oakland County’s teams in the CSC, FML, KLAA, MAC and MIAC

——————————

KENSINGTON LAKES ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION

West Division

NOVI WILDCATS

Coach: Jim Sparks (5th year)

Division: 1

Last Year’s Record: 5-5, 5-2

Key Returners on Offense: Anthony Madafferi (RB, Sr.), Cooper Koceski (WR, Sr.), Reece Pippin (TE, Sr.),

Key Returners on Defense: Anthony Madafferi (RB, Sr.), Reece Pippin (LB, Sr.), Colin Edwards (LB, Sr.), Ty Anderson (DB, Sr.), Emilio Acosta (DB, Sr.)

Strengths: Majority of defense returns

Area to Improve: Replacing starting QB, featured receivers

Outlook: Following another solid showing in the KLAA West, the Wildcats have to replace a majority of production on the offense, including QB Johnny Aurilia and his top trio of favored targets. Sparks believes that the sophomore class is going to produce and that there's depth to be had. Couple that with some healthy returners on defense, where the Wildcats have six starters back (including key guys in the secondary), and Novi should compete for a playoff spot once again.

Novi counting on depth, youth to replace playmakers this season

——————————

MACOMB AREA CONFERENCE

Bronze Division

CLAWSON TROJANS

Coach: Steve Haney (5th year)

Division: 6

Last Year’s Record: 6-3, 4-1 (MAC Bronze co-champs)

Key Returners on Offense: Jordan Davenport (WR, Sr.), Hunter Garrison (RB, Jr.), Graysen Carroll (TE, Jr.), Da'Shawn Williams (OL, Sr.)

Key Returners on Defense: Graysen Carroll (LB, Jr.), Hunter Garrison (LB, Jr.), Shane Dunlap (LB, Sr.), Da'Shawn Williams (DL, Sr.), Wyatt Roth (DL, Sr.), Davion Hall (DB, Soph.)

Strengths: Number of returning starters, depth

Areas to Improve: Special teams

Outlook: The Trojans were just one of two 6-3 teams in D6 to not make the playoffs, thwarted by rival Royal Oak in a road loss that turned up ending their season. It was a disappointing end after a four-game winning streak helped clinch a share of the Bronze league title. Participation continues to be good, which matters for a school of Clawson's size, and the depth that includes a number of returning starters bodes well for the usual goal of winning the division and pairing it with a playoff run.

HAZEL PARK

Coach: John Callahan (4th year)

Division: 5

Last Year’s Record: 7-4, 4-1 (MAC Bronze co-champs)

Key Returners on Offense: Eli Cobb (QB, Jr.), Lathan Chambers (WR, Sr.), Will Eddy (WR, Sr.), Montrell Parker (RB, Sr.)

Key Returners on Defense: Will Eddy (DB, Sr.), Montrell Parker (DB, Sr.)

Strengths: Skill position returners

Areas to Improve: Replacing key players in the trenches

Outlook: Hazel Park stepped up and took care of business in the league. It beat Clawson but lost to Clintondale, leading the Vikings to split the Bronze with those teams. They also beat South Lake in their playoff opener. Cobb threw for 13 touchdowns and also ran for 550 yards with seven rushing scores and is back with Parker (1,664 rushing yards, 18 TDs), forming a powerful tandem that should continue to produce offense. Especially when coupled with every single one of Cobb's receivers returning. It should mean that Hazel Park holds up its end of making the division competitive once again.

MADISON HEIGHTS MADISON

Coach: Kyle Gary (2nd year)

Division: 8

Last Year’s Record: 3-6, 2-3

Key Returners on Offense: Nehemiah Patman (QB, Soph.), Arsenio Washington (RB/WR, Soph.), Lawrence Coleman (OL/K, Soph.), Antionio Lewis (OL, Soph.), Raymond Williams (WR, Soph.)

Key Returners on Defense: Gavyn Neal (DL, Soph.), Demarkus Parker (DL, Soph.), Zachary Marshall (DL, Soph.), Terrell Heard (LB, Sr.), Tristin Wallace (DB, Jr.), Raymond Williams (DB, Soph.)

Strengths: Young, talented core returns

Areas to Improve: Closing out games defensively

Outlook: A young Eagles team was better than its record appeared as they forfeited their first two games and still improved after being previously winless in 2023. The sophomore class was expected to make an instant impact and delivered, and now returns to set the standard under Gary, who won MAC Bronze Coach of the Year in his first season. After losing three of five games by single digits, new defensive coordinator Dayvon Anderson is seeking to implement a faster, more physical defense to create more turnovers as the Eagles hope to continue the upward trend and return the program to its glory days.

Gold Division

MADISON HEIGHTS LAMPHERE RAMS

Coach: Ray Ostrowski (5th year)

Division: 4

Last Year’s Record: 8-2, 4-1 (MAC Gold co-champs)

Key Returners on Offense: Mason Maczuga (WR, Sr.), Peyton Archer (RB, Jr.), Austin Maczuga (WR, Sr.), Landyn Sanborn (OL, Sr.), Logan Henkel (OL, Sr)

Key Returners on Defense: Mason Maczuga (LB, Sr.), Austin Dort (LB, Jr.), Jerry Taylor (LB, Sr.), Austin Maczuga (DB, Sr.), Logan Henkel (DL, Sr.), Devin Gardner, Jr. (DB, Jr.),Braylon Cox (DB, Jr.)

Strengths: Hard working, well-rounded with solid experience

Areas to Improve: Consistency, avoiding self-inflicted errors

Outlook: Only an 18-7 loss at Warren Fitzgerald denied the Rams an outright division title last fall. The only other team to give them a run for their money was Grosse Pointe North, who Lamphere beat 27-24 in the league opener. Ostrowski's expectation is to compete for a title in what he feels is one of the most difficult districts in the state. They've made the playoffs every year under his leadership.

———————————

CHARTER SCHOOL CONFERENCE

Silver Division

ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY OF PONTIAC

Coach: N/A

Division: 8

Last Year’s Record: 3-6, 3-4

Key Returners: Charlie Newman (TE/DE, Sr.), Kabari Fair (LT/DT, Sr.)

Strengths: Defensive line

Areas to Improve: Closing the season strong

Outlook: ATAP took a step back in 2024 after making waves by qualifying for the playoffs the previous season, an impressive feat considering the program's infancy. Newman and Fair are back as multi-year starters, but the Lions, who forfeited several games last season, will hope to get back on the right side of .500 yet again. It'll begin with a battle for Pontiac bragging rights against the Phoenix.

SOUTHFIELD BRADFORD ACADEMY

Coach: Terrance Sims (1st year)

Division: 8

Last Year’s Record: 0-9, 0-7

Key Returners on Offense: Carri Galloway (WR, Sr.), Keishaun Chambers (WR, Sr.), Frank Williams (OL, Jr.), Elijohn Bass (OL, Jr.)

Key Returners on Defense: Carri Galloway (DB, Sr.), Keishaun Chambers (DB, Sr.), Frank Williams (LB, Sr.)

Strengths: Line play, skill position talent

Areas to Improve: Offensive production

Outlook: Sims arrives from Detroit Loyola and is carrying over the showing from there he put together, aiming to get a little bit better every day. He has some good two-way players in the secondary and along the line, but now needs to pair that and good team camradarie into a couple victories to build momentum.

Charter School Conference football media day: Warren Michigan Collegiate seeks to maintain supremacy

Football preview: 2025 Oakland Activities Association team capsules

Football preview: 2025 Catholic High School League team capsules

Football preview: 2025 Lakes Valley Conference team capsules

Despite graduating a majority of its skill position talent from last season, Novi head coach Jim Sparks spoke at KLAA football media day on Thursday afternoon in Northville about his enthusiasm for depth at those positions and others.

That ties into his anticipation that the Wildcats could get more out of their underclassmen than before, also.

“In my four previous years at Novi, we haven’t had any sophomores really play on the varsity level, but this year we’ve got some talented guys down there, and I think we’re gonna see some of those guys on the field,” Sparks told those in attendance.

“We’re going to have a lot of competition at some key positions. I think there’s a lot of talent there, so it’s nice to not have anything slotted, have the guys have to compete.”

That’s important for the Wildcats going into Sparks’ fifth year with the program. The team’s top receiver, Jaden Vondrasek (874 yards, nine touchdowns), graduated, as did Sele Cox and Logan Ellison, who combined for 364 yards and three scores through the air. Add in the transfer of Christian Gillings (512 yards, four TDs), who was to be a junior, and that could be a real cause for concern for some staffs.

Instead, Sparks is nothing but positive about the depth chart at the position. “The past four years at this point, we already kind of knew the depth chart,” he said. “Those kids (previous years) worked hard, but human nature, if you’re being chased, you run a little faster. This is the first time we’ve had six guys competing for four spots. That’s gonna raise the level of everybody, which I’m very excited about. If we didn’t have those young guys that devoted time in the offseason, we’d be relying on four guys to govern themselves to work hard. I think those six guys pushing each other can only be good for us.”

Cooper Koceski, who had three receptions for 44 yards as a junior in 2024, is one of those guys who will move from the slot and compete for a lead role. As for who they’ll be getting the ball from, the Wildcats have a role to fill there, too. Johnny Aurilia threw for 1,372 yards and a dozen TDs as a senior, and also added 496 yards rushing while finding the end zone three times with his legs. Sparks said to expect a pair of guys getting equal reps in camp, but although he won’t appoint the starting role to senior Christian Vitale, “it’s his job to lose.”

Anthony Madafferi, who saw a split of carries with (now graduated) Logan Ellison last year, is a leader in the weight room and should assume the featured role carrying the rock in his senior season.

The last couple years, the Wildcats have had to replace a majority of their defense every fall. Six starters back on that side of the ball makes it a strength of this year’s team.

Along with the team’s two leading tacklers returning in Reece Pippin and Colin Edwards, look out for the secondary tandem of Ty Anderson and Emilio Acosta (55 tackles, two interceptions in ’24).

“I think those guys are gonna have tremendous seasons,” Sparks said. “Emilio and Anthony (Madafferi) didn’t play the last couple weeks (of last season). It’ll be good to have those guys back out there.”

‘Words can’t describe what it meant’: Novi coach Jim Sparks honored with MHSFCA Hall of Fame induction

The aim is to replicate last year's strong start that saw the Wildcats win five of their first six contests. They'll open at home against Traverse City Central – Sparks is already looking forward to the away trip to TC next season, saying when he took Clawson to play Kingsley in 2004 it was "one of the greatest experiences we'd ever had."

The Wildcats, who finished on a four-game slide to end last season, were picked to finish fourth in the KLAA West (behind Howell, Brighton and Northville), but Sparks says it's better to be the hunter than the hunted. He's not worried about the end to last year, either, rather focused on what's ahead.

"We just set our goals every year, kind of flush last year realizing that we get an opportunity to create our own identity, our own path. We aspire to win Week 1, that's our first goal. Then we went to compete for the KLAA West and go to the playoffs. That's our focus. Obviously, (last year) didn't end the way anyone of us wanted to with as well as we started. Hopefully the kids on this team learned it's a long season and you can't take anything for granted."

Following the start of practice, Novi will host a scrimmage with Birmingham Groves, Grosse Pointe South, Westland John Glenn and Brighton on Aug. 21 to gear up for the regular season opener.

As the Royal Oak Leprechauns fight for a playoff spot, a collective of former Catholic League stars have played integral roles in the team’s success this summer.

Some, like Aidan Schuck, a Detroit Catholic Central grad who just finished his freshman year at Oakland University, are done for the summer — in his case, his last game with the Leprechauns came last weekend — but have left their mark.

Schuck batted .337 this summer for the team, with 23 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. But he hit his stride as his time with the team wore on, and began to put together a hitting streak that eventually reached double-digits.

“I didn’t even have an idea the streak was going on until I think it was the 15th game,” Schuck said. “I was told by one of our interns who does the stats and he said you’re two away from the franchise record.”

It ended up as a 19-game hitting streak before it was snapped, and at one point included a span of five games where he had 13 base knocks. “You can tell when you’re doing well, seeing it well, but yeah, I had no idea there was a streak going on. It’s kinda harder once you know about it, because then self-consciously you’re trying to continue it.”

In his first year as a Golden Grizzly, Shamrock batted .279 with 10 RBIs in 18 games, but he believes he’ll be returning to OU as a better player after this summer. “I’d say I had a good year, but there were times where I struggled seeing spin,” he said. “I feel like this summer, I made a big jump and I was able to hit off-speed pitches and drive them the other way. Obviously, this was my freshman season of college and I saw new to seeing a lot of the pitching, but playing (as many games as I did this summer) against college pitching, , that’s the best way to get better, seeing arms like that every day. Overall, I developed as a hitter.”

From Brother Rice, Tristan Crane (Eastern Michigan) played 39 games for the team, batting .305 with a .378 on-base percentage and drove in 29 runs. Fellow Warrior Owen Turner (Yale) drove in 21 runs while stealing eight bags in 40 appearances.

The Leprechauns’ all-star representative this season, infielder Ryan Tyranski (Cincinnati), another one-time staple in the Brother Rice lineup, has been a fine example of the difference a year makes. He played 31 games in Royal Oak in 2024 and batted .262 with 12 RBIs and six stolen bases in 31 games. This summer, he’s hitting at a .296 clip in 54 games, has hit a pair of home runs (along with four triples), driven in 33 runs and swiped 19 bags.

On the mound, another Warriors’ alum, Wyatt Ruppenthal (Kalamazoo College), has been one of the Leprechauns’ best arms. In 14 appearances, the 6-foot-2 righty has sported a 3.58 ERA over 27 2/3 innings, striking out 29 with a solid 1.30 WHIP.

For some, it’s a chance to thrive while getting to know ex-rivals even better, and also forge new bonds.

“It’s awesome playing with all the Catholic League guys the whole summer,” Schuck said. “There’s time we’ve had debates in the dugout about who was better in high school. It’s fun getting to know those guys you somewhat knew (when) playing against them, but were never on the same team. Then they’ve got new guys who’ve come in towards the second half of the season, guys like Danny Cook from Pepperdine, a couple guys from Colorado, and it’s good getting to know those guys from all across the country as well as ones we already know.”

With just single-digit games remaining, the Leprechauns have a string of games at home coming up that includes Military Appreciation Night Sunday afternoon against the Kenosha Kingfish and Fan Appreciation Night on Tuesday evening against the Kalamazoo Growlers.

Skating Club of Novi coach Julie Mitts saw opportunity for her students when U.S. Figure Skating launched its Excel Series to pair with its longstanding Championship tier.

“Prior to (the Excel Series), we just entered competitions, went, competed, won or cried and went home,” said Mitts, a Crestwood High School grad who competed herself for over 15 years and has been coaching in Novi for at least that long. “At that point, the Excel Series was only two or three years old, and not many people understood what it was or how it gave purpose. Once I learned (about it), I started talking to skaters more, convincing them to enter the series. It gives you something to fight for.”

Last year, several of her skaters entered, and one, Tessa Meadows of Northville, qualified for nationals in the Novice Division.

Efforts to push more skaters toward the series again paid dividends when Mitts went with a trio to the Excel National Festival held several weeks ago in Colorado Springs.

Abby Yin, who will enter her sophomore year this fall at Novi High School, was the standout, capturing first place in the Intermediate Division.

Competition for each year in that division begins in January and runs through early June as skaters at their respective levels can enter up to four different competitions that are Excel certified anywhere in the country, which is split into three regions that send six qualifiers each to the nationwide festival. There, skaters have a camp where they partake in the ranked competition, and also perform in an exhibition to add some enjoyment to the experience.

Mitts complimented Yin’s mindset over the course of the year, saying, “Abby was very driven. She held the No. 1 spot at the Intermediate Level, but she wanted to skip one competition the other girls were going to because she wanted time to improve on things she didn’t like. I asked her and said that’s kind of strange, because the judges were applauding (her). But she wanted to work on her speed, polishes, finishes. She did that, and I think it paid off (even though) I don’t think she had or needed to. That’s just the kind of kid she is.”

Also competing from the club were Aubrey Tieu of Northville and Naomi Jude of Northville, who will each be freshmen this year at their respective high schools. Tieu placed 11th in her Division, while Jude took 16th.

“All three had almost flawless practices, and all three it was their first time skating at nationals,” Mitts said. “They were a little intimidated I think at first when they saw the stadium and started to ease into it. They did altitude training at home and wore masks as they did their programs trying to prepare, so they definitely worked their tails off leading into leaving for Colorado.”

For anyone who might consider Skating Club of Novi on just a “recreational” level, the organization is proving it is a step or two higher on the ladder with multiple competitors in the past several years earning national plaudits.

As Mitts put it, “We’re starting to get girls who are doing big things.”

The club is based out of Novi Ice Arena, which just underwent significant renovations over the summer that lasted nearly a month. Those upgrades included a new dehumidifier to improve ice quality, sand floor replacement on both ice sheets, and upgraded heaters that make for a more comfortable experience.

Adding to the atmosphere, banners recognizing the accomplishments by those from Skating Club of Novi are planned to be raised this week. That includes several banners with Yin’s name on it for her achievements in ice dancing. Yin is looking to add another as she and several others from the club are competing at the end of this month in the Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships, part of part of US Figure Skating’s National Qualifying Series and Solo Dance Series.

Like other sports dominated by the travel scene, there’s no true offseason in figure skating. That means Yin and others will hit the reset button and soon begin preparation for next year’s competitions.

“We’re in the process of looking for new music and gonna start a new program,” Mitts said. “Abby’s taking the next step and moving up to the Novice Division. We’re probably tracking to where she’ll go Senior (Division) her senior year depending on the elements and what she’s able to do, but I think this year she’ll go Novice, and I think she has a chance to do pretty well.”

The Royal Oak Leprechauns beat the Kalamazoo Growlers 11-1 on Bill Freehan Night on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at Memorial Park in Royal Oak.

ROYAL OAK – The Royal Oak Leprechauns honored hometown native Bill Freehan, catcher for the 1968 Detroit Tigers’ World Series championship team, as part of Tuesday night’s 11-1 home victory over the Kalamazoo Growlers.

Multiple members of the family were on hand to pay homage to the late Freehan, an 11-time all-star and five-time Gold Glove catcher, whose legend grew at Memorial Park.

Originally a Little League shortstop, Freehan’s transition behind the plate began one day when his team’s catcher was absent, the start of a storied career.

Part of that early lore came with him playing as a teenager in the city’s Joe DiMaggio League, when he creamed a 402-foot home run. Stories have been told through the grapevine over the years about that bomb by Freehan.

“Anytime me or my dad came over here, someone would tell us about the home run,” said Blaise Salter, Freehan’s grandson.

John Salter, Freehan’s son-in-law, set the facts straight when he gave Tuesday’s crowd a first-hand recount of the tale.

“I grew up in Royal Oak, when to Shrine schools, and everyone heard about Bill as a legend,” John said. “When we would play games, we would line up for frozen cokes and everyone would talk about the home run, this guy Bill Freehand. Parents knew who he was and they would say he hit the ball over the concession stand and it rolled out to the street and went into the Jack in the Box parking lot.

“When I first started dating my wife, literally the first question I asked (Bill) was (about the home run) I had heard about forever. And he had never boasted about anything. But he said he had a couple of things to correct. There was no concession stand, no Jack in the Box, but he said that it did roll across 13 Mile Road.”

Still, a legendary bomb by Freehan, whose family relocated to Florida before he returned as two-sport athlete at University of MIchigan, playing catcher and linebacker. He signed with the Tigers in 1961, then got his call-up to the majors two years later and grabbed the starting job in 1964 when he hit .300 with 18 home runs and 80 RBIs, the start of a 10-year run of consecutive All-Star selections.

Freehan played his entire career with the Tigers and still ranks 11th all-time in team history for games played (1,774). He held the major league record career fielding percentage as well until 2002. After retiring, he sat in the broadcasting seat for the Seattle Mariners and the Tigers boefre returning to the dugout as head coach of the Wolverines’ baseball team from 1989 to 1995.

Freehan, whose wife Patte (married in 1963) was also present Tuesday, passed away in 2021. It remains clear that his influence and love of the game was clearly passed on throughout his family.

“Huge,” John said. “I played in college at Bowling green, all three of my sons played (collegiate ball) and all of them were catchers. Usually when you go to your grandparents house you don’t work on blocking (balls), but when they went to papa’s house, they’d grab a bag of plastic balls and they’d be blocking pitches all that time, and they loved that time with him.”

Added Blaise, who along with his brothers went to Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, “It was everything. From an early age, baseball was something that was very important to our family. Growing up when I was young, he was a coach at Michigan, and going to those games, being a bat boy, all that instilled in me my love of the sport.”

He continued, “It’s awesome just to be able to continue on his legacy and honor him. He meant so much to Detroit, but specifically this city here. It’s great to be here, and (he was) obviously a great player, but even more a better person.”

In the same vein, John called him a “mountain of a main.”

“(Bill) was Royal Oak,” John said. “Even though we lived in Bloomfield Hills, now, I think the kids realize the impact he had on (Royal Oak). It means the world to me, my wife and my mother-in-law. I’m thankful to the Leprechauns, and the city. He’d be very proud to see any kind of recognition.”

Photo gallery of Royal Oak Leprechauns vs. Kalamazoo Growlers in Northwoods League baseball action

After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first, the Leprechauns' relief efforts by Trey Acker and Nick Brady helped hold Kalamazoo scoreless for the win.

Owen Turner (Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice) and Aiden Schuck (Detroit Catholic Central), with Turner driving in a team-high three RBIs. Ryan Tyranski, who also played at Brother Rice, and Parker Brzustewicz (Orchard Lake St. Mary's) each scored three times.

After Tuesday's win, their second in a row, the Leprechauns sit fourth place in the Great Lakes East Division at 7-10 in the second half of the season and 24-29 overall. They'll play three games on the road before returning home to take on Kalamazoo again on Saturday night.

PONTIAC – Following repeated chants of “We want JaMo,” the boys and girls planted near the 50-yard line at Notre Dame Prep High School were greeted by not one, but two Detroit Lions players.

Somewhere around 300 participants from ages 6 to 16 showed up for the youth football camp Sunday afternoon featuring Lions receiver Jameson Williams, who was joined by teammate Kerby Joseph.

All campers got a photo with Williams — and a few did as well with Joseph, who even signed one participants’ shoes — and a couple of lucky ones were able to haul in a deep pass from the four-year pro.

“I do it just to see the smiles on the kids’ faces, you know, bring joy to them,” Williams said. “They might not ever get to see a person in my position because (some of them), they stay to themselves, don’t get out in the community. I want to be a face in the community, help the kids, give some motivation.”

Kids were split into age groups and rotated through a number of stations at the camp, presented by, FlexWork Sports Management, a company that teams up with college and pro athletes throughout the US and Canada. Stations included a variety of exercises, including back pedal and ladder drills.

When asked if any campers have tried to race him, Williams laughed. “Nobody, but they always ask me about whether I’m faster than another player, and I always yes,” he said.

Due to injury, Williams never ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, leading to questions over what his time would be, only amplified by his claims he could run a 4.1 in the dash. Williams said on Sunday that he may not do a 40, but that he would probably run a 100-meter dash at some point in the future for fun.

When asked about the first player he was wowed by at a camp when he was younger, Williams named fellow St. Louis native and former New England Patriots running back Laurence Maroney.

Campers weren’t the only ones getting face time with the Lions’ speedy target. Irish football players who were scattered throughout the stations as volunteers also got to meet and greet with Williams before things got underway.

“This is awesome,” said Josh Laura, a defensive back who will be a senior this fall for the defending D5 state champs. “Just being out here with the guys, showing the little kids what football’s like, it’s just a great experience for everyone and great for all us to be out here.”

ND Prep head coach Pat Fox was present, too, and talked about the benefit of opportunities like Sunday to expose so many kids to the campus.

“It’s a fantastic thing,” Fox said. “We’ve got beautiful facilities, and I think that’s tremendous. But more importantly, I think it perpetuates the game of football. It gives young kids a chance to enjoy playing this great game with some new kids, gives our kids a chance to work with them, show a little patience, giggle and laugh. And we got a chance to meet Mr. Williams and meet Kerby Joseph, and what a nice couple of young men they are. So yeah, we’re really excited, and we’re happy to have kids on our campus whenever we can.”

For the Irish players, getting out on the field on a hot, sunny afternoon was a reminder that practices are just on the horizon.

“Oh, absolutely,” Laura responded when asked if it gets the juices flowing. “We’ve got a strong squad coming back on offense and defense, bringing back our quarterback, linebackers on the squad. I’m so excited for this year and the team.”

Hundreds of kids showed up at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep High School for a youth football camp featuring Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams on Sunday, July 13, 2025.

Utica Ford head coach Matt Joseph will have a trio of his own players under his wing on the Red Team for Tuesday’s Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association Division 1 all-star game at Davenport University Softball Stadium.

The Falcons, who won 32 games this season, including a regional championship, have the most players from any program for the D1 game. They’ll be represented by catcher Sam Norrito, outfielder Brooke Williams and pitcher Jenna Walters.

“It is special to be able to coach these three players in their last official high school softball game,” Joseph said. “I was probably more excited than the kids when I got the text asking me to coach. “They have all given so much to our program. They all compete as hard as any I have coached and more importantly they are great people. I am very blessed and lucky to have been able to coach them these last four years.”

Dakota outfielder Jenna Higgins joins those three as the other Macomb County rep on the Red team.

From Oakland County, Stoney Creek third baseman Danielle Bryant and Walled Lake Northern first baseman Katelyn Stallings will also team up with the Macomb quartet for Joseph and Saline coach Rebecca Suiter.

Stallings’ inclusion comes after the Knights had a trio of their own (Lauren Fox, Patelyn Gribben, Kayle Turmell) picked to play in last year’s D1 game.

South Lyon head coach Jerry Shippe will be one of the skippers in the opposite dugout for the White Team. It features Lake Orion second baseman Addy Dukus and Lakeland’s Brynn Taliercio, selected as a utility player. Like Stallings, Dukus reps a Dragons’ program that had a trio (Grace Luby, Sydney Bell, Anna Gardner) selected to last year’s festivities.

State champion Richmond will be represented by a pair of players in the D2 game. Catcher Ashley Stafford and pitcher Katie Shuboy will lace up for the Red Team.

In the Division 3 game, Clawson pitcher Sarah McLeod was selected from a Trojans team that won 23 games and reached a regional final.

Games begin at the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex on Tuesday with the D1 matchup, set for 10 a.m. The D2 game is scheduled for noon, followed by the Division 3 contest at 2:30 p.m. and the D4 game at 4:30 p.m.

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP – Several years ago, there was uncertainty within the Syron family as to who might be around for another year of the golf tournament that its name sports.

Fast forward to this year’s Syron Memorial Tournament, the 57th edition, and everyone is celebrating good health that was far from a given not long ago.

“It’s been fantastic,” Shawn Syron said following the conclusion of Friday’s opening round. “The family’s really come together. It’s been so fun to just celebrating positive things. This tournament is always a celebration of the past, but for us, of going forward to. The next generation, having Kyle out there, it’s so much fun.”

Two years ago, the feel-good story was that Kyle became the fourth generation in the family to take part in the tournament at Pontiac Country Club.

On Friday, Mike drove the cart as Kyle got his first 18 holes in of the three-day tournament, a reality that couldn’t be taken for granted after a life-threatening health scare for Mike within the past several years put everything in doubt.

“A year-and-a-half ago, they gave me less than a month to live,” Mike said. “Luckily, I got a transplant. Now, I get to watch my son golf. It’s very heartwarming.”

Speaking beyond the green of the 18th hole as the group that included the family and members of the Country Club’s staff wrapped up, Mike talked about what it meant to be present and watch his son carry on the legacy. “It’s one of the best feelings I’ve had,” he said. “Watching Kyle, he’s really progressed the last three years, and it warms my heart, and our family’s. With all the tragedy we’ve had the last few years and what I went through the past two.

“It’s really nice, especially in this tournament, where, it’s named after my grandpa, then my dad and uncle ran it, and now, my brother and I, my cousin, basically took it over, so it’s a very special tournament for us, and something special for Oakland County and the state of Michigan to have this tradition keep going.”

Photos from Round 1 of the 57th Annual Syron Memorial Tournament

After scores that he only defined as "a lot worse" -- Kyle only began golfing a few years ago -- his first several years participating, Kyle carded an 84 on the first round. "I play probably four times a week here, play with my friends, just trying to practice."

In regards to his aim of continuing to improve his showing, he added, "Hopefully, I get a tee time assigned (at the tournament) one day."

Speaking about what it means to have his dad healthy and watching on, Kyle added, "It's a lot of fun. I didn't know if I'd have him out here again, so it means everything to be able to play with him."

Golden Tee

The shot of the opening day came from Josh Bauer of West Bloomfield, who grew up just a hop and a step away from Pontiac Country Club. He had a hole-in-one on the 16th hole during Friday's opening round.

Mike noted that Mark, the son of Lloyd Syron and the Country Club's longtime manager who won the tourney back in 1990, had achieved the feat on several occasions.

Return of the Kings

According to the clubhouse scorecards, four previous winners returned to take part in this year's Syron Memorial.

That includes last year's victor, Sean Friel, along with John Quigley (2023), AJ Johnson (2010), and three-time champion Anthony Sorentino (2012, 2020, 2022)

Chad Gehres was leading after Friday's first round with a 65, but Quigley was tied with Jerred Barley just a stroke behind him, while Sorentino and Friel (67) are also both in the mix.

Eleven golfers scored under 70 and one managed a hole-in-one on the back nine during the opening round of the 57th Annual Syron Memorial Tournament on Friday, July 4, 2025 at Pontiac Country Club.

Eight players from Oakland County, including two each from Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, were named to this year’s Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Dream Team.

A Division 1 regional finalist, Brother Rice’s Dream Team pair are senior infielder Cole Van Ameyde and sophomore catcher Broder Katke.

Van Ameyde, off to Michigan State in the fall, batted .398 for Rice, led the team with a .547 on-base percentage and had a team-high 10 home runs while tying for the team lead of 40 RBIs.

Katke hit .374 on the year, leading the Warriors in doubles with 17 while driving in 39 runs and swiping 16 bags, all while serving as a fixture behind the plate.

The Eaglets were repped by the tandem of Luke Crighton and Hudson Brzustewicz.

Committed to Indiana, Crighton started his spring with a no-hitter, and finished it nearly just as strong, tossing a complete-game shutout in the Eaglets’ district championship win.

A Notre Dame commit, Brzustewicz was just as integral to the Eaglets’ postseason success. He hit a grand slam in the district semifinal win against Detroit Country Day, drove in a pair of runs in the regional championship against Lake Shore and had four RBIs in the D2 quarterfinal victory over Yale.

Novi southpaw Uli Fernsler (TCU), also in the top-tier of the state’s talented senior pitching crop, drew in scouts thanks to a 0.33 ERA with 89 strikeouts in 42 2/3 IP.

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep Drake Roa was selected as an infielder but also dealt it on the hill for one of the top D2 programs in the state. In addition to batting a team-high .464 average, Roa homered three times, drove in 24 runs and nabbed 30 bags. On the bump, he pitched 19 frames, converting all seven of his save opportunities with just a 0.37 ERA.

An all-LVC, all-district, and all-region pick, senior catcher Kaiden Kapa made the Dream Team from Waterford Kettering. He ended the year with 19 RBIs and posted six three-hit performances over the course of the year for the Captains.

Rochester Adams outfielder Koltyn “Flip” Watters was the lone freshman to make the Dream Team. He led the Highlanders in both batting average (.469) and OBP (.545), along with a handful of doubles, 21 RBIs and 22 stolen bases.

Bay City Western’s Luke LaCourse was selected as the 2025 Mr. Baseball.

DIVISION 1

Joining Van Ameyde and Katke from Brother Rice (both first-team), senior pitcher Blake Ilitch and freshman outfielder Maksim Neshov from the Warriors made the D1 team as second-team selections.

Neshov made an immediate impact, as Katke did last year, with a team-high .417 BA. He accrued eight doubles, homered three times and tied for the team lead in stolen bases with 28.

Ilitch, part of the team’s formidable two-ace staff along with Cole Duhaime, pitched 51 2/3 innings and enjoyed a team-best 1.63 ERA with a 1.03 WHIP. The Ole Miss commit had just a .132 batting average against and struck out 90 on the year.

In addition to Dream Team picks Fernsler, Kapa and Watters, Rochester Adams junior outfielder Matt Toepper was also a first-team selection. He finished with a .436 average, and led the Highlanders in doubles (seven), triples (three), RBIs (25) and stolen bases (30).

West Bloomfield senior Slade Moore and Walled Lake Northern senior infielder Carson Beattie each received second-team nods, also.

When he wasn’t making plays with his glove in center field for the Lakers, Moore, committed to Michigan, made his mark as another of the state’s best left-handers on the mound. He had a pair of five-inning postseason outings in which he struck out eight batters both times and wasn’t charged with any earned runs in either, including West Bloomfield’s 2-0 regional semifinal victory over Lakeland.

Beattie was an on-base machine for the Knights, and along with a slew of walks, he finished with three home runs and 36 RBIs on the season.

DIVISION 2

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s each placed a pair of players — all juniors — on the first-team D2 squad.

From a 29-win Irish team were Roa, also from the Dream Team, and Henry Ewles, selected as a utility player.

Ewles tossed a team-high 65 1/3 innings for Notre Dame Prep and went 7-4 in 11 starts. He had phenomenal metrics with just a 1.29 ERA and 0.80 WHIP, striking out 49 with only 10 walks allowed. At the plate, Ewles batted .420, homering three times while driving in 37 runs, best on the Irish.

Also from the Dream Team for St. Mary’s were Crighton and Brzustewicz.

DIVISION 4

A pair of Novi Christian Academy seniors, infielder Tyler Brown and outfielder Luke Gallagher, were each second-team selections, as well as Royal Oak Shrine senior first baseman Jackson Poulton.

In a sweep of Allen Park Inter-City Baptist, two of the Warriors’ best wins of the season, Gallagher combined to go 5-for-8, while Brown went 5-for-5 with nine RBIs, including a double short of the cycle in a 16-5 victory on April 29.

Poulton singled in the go-ahead run and drove in a pair for the Knights in their 3-1 win over Our Lady of the Lakes for Shrine’s district championship.

High school sports seasons are like a roller coaster.

Teams ride the ups and downs of run-of-the-mill games, holiday tournaments and rivalry matchups – a variety of mini-loops and corkscrews – before the big drop that is the postseason.

Typically, throughout those parts of the regular season, a series of league matchups means I wouldn’t run into my Macomb counterpart in Brady McAtamney too often. But when the playoffs roll around, Oakland and Macomb County teams inevitably face each other for the right to advance.

Brady talked about what a frenetic run-up it was for him to the state finals in East Lansing several weekends ago. I joked that mine across the county border wasn’t nearly so, a sign of the see-saw nature in which any given season, it’s either him or I. But we chatted briefly at McLane Stadium when Dakota was playing in the D1 baseball final, then parted ways.

These OAA vs. MAC all-star games at season’s end are another chance for us to intersect when the real ride of the spring is over. Last year, I spent a majority of the game hovering around the OAA dugout, and I assume Brady did something similar.

Last week, for this year’s baseball game between the two counties’ all-stars, Brady and his girlfriend were sitting at a table behind the plate. I hadn’t met her, and we’d spent so little time throughout the spring at the same place at the same time, and so rather than wandering back to the dugout, I pulled up a seat.

We chatted about work. We shared stories about coaches, players. The three of us shared our joy and disdain for pop stars.

Over the past few weeks, Brady and I had talked about anything from video games we had played or planned to play to dealing with seizures, which have been affecting an immediate family member of mine.

I’ve spent most of the week in a hospital watching over that family member, including Tuesday when I got the news that Brady had passed away over the weekend. As it does when you get any kind of text, email or call of that nature, my heart sank.

Just trying to work through the challenges of that, it didn’t really hit me until sometime Wednesday afternoon as I looked out the fifth-floor window of the hospital.

There won’t be any more ribbing each other in our group chat over Troy vs. Athens outcomes, the rival high schools we each went to. No more texting about games we wish we’d gotten to. No more commiserating about the busy season we can relate to.

Brady McAtamney, sports coordinator for Macomb Daily, dies at age 28

There’s no silver lining to the death of someone so young, but I’m dealing with it by finding joy in that decision to sit and chat with Brady one last time watching some baseball together, something he loved, too.

When the softball game between the OAA and MAC rolls around in the next several weeks, there will still be stories to celebrate of players and coaches. But whoever bats, pitches or wins, there’ll be a hole in the lineup without Brady there also. He will be missed.

South Lyon may have come up short to Saline in the Division 1 softball championship game last weekend, but fans in East Lansing witnessed all the same reasons first-year head coach Jerry Shippe has to be excited about his team next spring and beyond.

“Strong, strong,” Shippe responded when asked about the future of his team. “We’re going to be back again. We’ve got a lot of kids in our JV program, a lot of kids coming in, and the tradition’s just going to continue. I’m very excited about the future.”

Yes, three of the Lions’ handful of seniors were starters, but that leaves a number of key cogs who will keep the gears churning.

Included is the entirety of South Lyon’s pitching staff. Along with sophomore Emma Meyn and freshman Madison Rushlow, junior Havanna Bissett will be back to anchor the rotation after doing a more-than-admirable job of filling the shoes of Ava Bradshaw.

Bissett, who fanned 114 batters in her 104 frames of regular season work, only got better when the postseason hit. In 47 innings of playoff ball, she sported a 1.72 ERA and struck out 37 batters.

Shippe credited her for battling through some injuries, too, and expects her to be even better in her final season as a Lion.

“(Havanna’s) the MVP of this team,” Shippe said following the state final. “We gave her the ball from day one and said, ‘This is your circle, you go out there and take care of it.’ And she has. And she’s a competitor, too. She’s got an edge to her out there in the circle that you’re looking for as a coach.

“She’s kept us in and won more games for us than we probably even expected going into the season. I’m excited to see her in her senior year to see what she can do.”

Otherwise, first baseman Rylee Miller provided the most firepower for South Lyon in the title game, smashing three hits from the leadoff spot.

Oh, and she was just a freshman.

“I’ve known what she can do,” Shippe said of Miller, who is an outfielder first. “Once she got the opportunity and she was comfortable at first, we knew this was where we were going to go with it because we knew what kind of bat she had and what kind of athlete she is as a freshman. She’s resilient. Nothing phases that kid, which is unbelievable as a ninth-grader, and that’s what’s going to make her successful here for the next three years.”

Including the game against Saline, Miller batted .500 in 28 at-bats in South Lyon’s playoff run.

Asked what allowed her to perform on the state’s biggest stage, Miller replied, “I just think I’ve led off like my whole life with travel ball, so it’s just nothing new to me. I just wanted to make a statement because I didn’t really play much early in the season, so to leadoff in the more important games, it meant a lot to me and I just wanted to make a mark.”

Wherever she plays for South Lyon next year, she’ll be joined by several other hitters in the heart of the order, including Ella Glowacki, who will be a senior, and Isabella Bracali, another infielder, who has two years remaining.

Bracali and others also spoke about the importance of Shippe, promoted from his position as an assistant, and how the team’s familiarity with him helped the Lions return to Michigan State for another year.

“It was super important,” South Lyon senior Izzy Nooe said of the continuity it provided. “We knew the year was going to be a little bit different, but it wasn’t just going to be a ‘have fun’ year, and we meant business. I think we showed that by going even further than we did last year, and we had a coach that believed in us and all the girls. We rallied around him, and (the coaches) lifted us up.”

Added Bracali, “(It) was very important. He was a very big aspect of how we got as far as we did. He’s just been there for us all season and been our biggest supporter throughout everything, the wins and the losses.”

Nooe echoed Shippe’s excitement about the talent that will remain after she and her classmates have graduated.

“I think this program is going to be great for a while, and there’s no stopping these girls,” Nooe said. “The energy, the passion that they have and the practice that they put into it, you can really see it, and I’m so excited to see them keeping the program alive.”

BIRMINGHAM – North Farmington’s boys hoops team began its summer with a similar end-of-game scenario to many of the ones that defined its record last winter.

The Raiders played their first game together at Groves High School on Monday evening and defended on the final possession to pick up a 31-29 win over River Rouge.

“We were a lot better defensively the second half,” said North Farmington JV head coach Pete Mantyla, who has been with the school in some capacity for over three decades.

Mantyla was pleased with the way his team — which, sans a player missing with an injury, featured a majority of guys who played big roles last year and will do so again going forward — locked it down in man-to-man as the game wore on.

From a results standpoint, the Raiders early on this past year looked the part of a team that had lost a majority of their talent from the one prior when they ran to the D1 title game against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.

But the reality was better than the standings indicated. Their first four losses were all by one possession, not a big surprise from a team that lacked the on-court reps.

“We weren’t finishing out games,” said Raiders forward Connor Brown, who was a sophomore last year. “We were practicing as much as we could. We just weren’t prepared for those scenarios. When we got to them we didn’t know what to do.

“The more we played in games through the season and saw the ending of games, we learned and adapted and were able to finish them out.”

Though he made note of a disappointing loss to rival Farmington in districts, North Farmington went 7-3 in its final 10 games of the regular season, including wins over Clarkston, Avondale and Rochester Adams. Its three losses over that span, including a 55-54 defeat at Groves, came by a combined six points. But three of the victories in the final stretch were secured by a single point, too, indicating the team had show an ability to pull out some of the close ones as well.

Brown, a 6-foot-5 forward who plays his AAU ball with D Rice Elite, is a key piece for the Raiders going forward along with sophomore TJ Wauldron, who has played a lot off-ball but should be a primary ball-handler looking ahead, pairing with seniors Quran Creary and Brendyn Favors.

Beyond them, “It’s a matter of getting the young guys some experience this summer so they’re ready to contribute and fill out those next three or four spots,” Mantyla said.

Games like Monday’s and Wednesday’s game at Groves against Warren Lincoln will prepare North Farmington to better handle pressure next season, when the Raiders will be a little more tested and experienced in their chase for an OAA Red league title. If that late push last year that allowed them to finish third was any indication, they’ll be in the hunt.

“I’m really excited,” Brown said. “I feel like we’re gonna be really good this (coming) year. We’re putting in the work and building experience and coaching up the younger guys to come up and be ready.”

Referencing himself and his three aforementioned returning teammates, Brown added, “I think we’re all gonna have really good summers. We’ve been in the gym together all the time and we’ve got a core group just like two years ago where it’s the four of us. Nothing can break us. We’ll be ready.”

EAST LANSING – The hits were there for South Lyon, but Saline’s Abigail Curtis scattered the damage well enough to deny the Lions on Saturday afternoon as the Hornets claimed the D1 state championship with a 5-2 win at Secchi Stadium.

South Lyon junior Havanna Bissett allowed just three more hits than her counterpart, but Curtis paired 13 strikeouts with her seven hits allowed to give the Hornets their first state title in program history.

“There’s so many great softball teams in the state of Michigan, oh my gosh, softball is so strong,” said Saline head coach Becca Suiter, who talked about going next door with her team afterward to support the Hornets’ girls soccer team that was also playing for a D1 title Saturday. “For our community, we’re so happy to be able to do this … It’s just outstanding for female athletics for Saline, and just our community, so we’re really happy we could do this today.”

Shortstop Casey Griffin, who finished 3-for-3, started the game for Saline with a single, and two batters later catcher Sydney Hastings also singled before Gracelyn Waldrop drove in Griffin to immediately put Saline up, 1-0.

That initial lead was short-lived. Also a force from the leadoff spot, Rylee Miller got it kicked off at the plate for the Lions with a single, then Avery Bourlier singled up the right side to put runners at the corners until Isabella Bracali’s bouncer to third allowed Miller to beat a throw to home, as well as the tag, tying the game.

Unfortunately for South Lyon, Saline would pull back ahead in the top of the second when Ava Stripp sent one over the fence in left field by several yards for a solo shot, beginning a chase by the Lions to tie it again or take a lead that didn’t cease until the final out.

There was no big inning for the Hornets, rather just adding to the lead one run at a time. Waldrop’s sacrifice allowed Hastings to score and make it 3-1 in the third, then the Hornets extended the lead to three in the top of the fifth when a two-out single by Madison Bellus into left scored Hastings.

Saline tacked on its final run of the day when Griffin’s single was shot over the glove of a leaping Izzy Nooe at shortstop to score Elizabeth Onyskin in the top of the sixth.

Bracali sent one into the gap in left-center field for a double in the bottom of the sixth, then Glowacki doubled up the middle to drive her in for the Lions’ final run.

Glowacki would advance to third on a wild pitch in the sixth. It was one of four innings that ended with a runner a base short of home for the Lions.

“We just couldn’t take advantage of the runners in scoring position and cash them in,” South Lyon head coach Jerry Shippe said. “We’ve worked on it a lot, we just couldn’t get the clutch hit when we needed to. Hats off to Saline. They hit the ball hard. They’re a really good team. They deserve it. We just couldn’t get that timely hit when we needed to and sometimes it catches up to you.”

A portion of the success for Curtis in limiting South Lyon and the teams that came before — the Hornets (40-3-2) allowed 10 runs over their seven playoff games — can be attributed to an increased reliance on her changeup.

“I kind of picked up that I think they were prepared for her rise ball when we were watching film,” Suiter said. “So I told (Abigail) today, ‘Okay, let’s try a different pitch.’ And she has really great off-speed a lot of people don’t know about, so after that first inning I had a good feeling if we could mix speeds and keep them off-balance, we’re going to be in good shape.”

Photos of South Lyon vs. Saline in a D1 softball state championship

Most wouldn't have picked South Lyon to get a stage past their semifinal finish last spring after graduating Ava Bradshaw, but Bissett's ability to help fill into her shoes and the effort of her teammates allowed the Lions to get out of a region that included top-ranked Mercy and beat a pair of top-10 teams in Northville and Walled Lake Northern to reach Saturday's final.

"I mean, I'm proud," said Shippe, an assistant coach for last year's side. "I'm sitting here, I'm emotional, choked up. I love these kids. It means a lot for the kids who have been here four years, the ones who are still in the program, and it means a lot to everybody who's going to be in this program to see the work they put in and the never-give-up attitude."

Miller, a freshman, finished 3-for-4 to lead South Lyon (33-8) at the plate in the loss. The Lions will graduate a handful from this year's team, but return Miller and Bissett, among others.

Asked how it felt to return to East Lansing again this spring, Nooe, one of those seniors, responded, "It means a lot, especially with this team. We didn't really have any expectations this year and we were just playing for each other. To make it this far, it just feels good knowing that you went as far as you could in your last year, and playing with these girls, it means everything to me."

NOVI – Calling South Lyon starting pitcher Havanna Bissett’s circumstances in the fifth inning of Saturday’s regional championship against Northville a high-leverage situation might have been an understatement.

An error coupled with several singles put the go-ahead runner on first for the Mustangs, who trailed just 2-0 at the time, and getting out of it all unscathed at the time seemed like a dream scenario.

But that dream became a reality. Bissett, aided by a few spectacular plays throughout by her teammates, never allowed a run, and the Lions dispatched Northville 3-0 to claim the regional title at Novi High School.

The Lions were already fortunate to get the first out of that fifth inning when a Northville player advanced too far past second and couldn’t make it back in time, but a single after that followed by a laser hit by Kennedi Adams that clipped off South Lyon shortstop Izzy Nooe’s glove juiced the bases for the Mustangs.

It’s no wonder then with jams like those that Bissett, who got a line out followed by a strikeout swinging to escape that particular one, was “very relieved” when her duties in the circle for the day had concluded. 

“I’m just saying to throw strikes,” Bissett said of her thoughts going back to that fifth frame. “I have to trust my defense. I really couldn’t do it without them, and my catcher (Mady Ferstenau) really helped me out.”

Make no mistake, Bissett helped herself, too, allowing six hits in the seven-inning effort — her second of the afternoon — but the Lions’ defensive effort was integral to keeping their hopes of returning to East Lansing alive.

There were several nice highlights, among them Furstenau gunning a runner out at second in the third inning, or Maggie Badrak backtracking to make a catch in center the play after that. The clear one, though, was a diving effort by Nooe on a ball hit by Jocelyn Burns to shallow left where the ball popped out of Nooe’s glove as she hit the ground, but she was able to trap the ball with her right arm as her body nearly folded over itself to secure the out for what would be another scoreless Northville inning.

“That was insane,” said Nooe, who had an inside-the-park home run the second at-bat of the game and finished 4-for-4 at the plate. “I didn’t know where my left fielder was, but I was feeling it out. I just went for it, then I had to transfer it to my other hand to keep it up. It was crazy.”

South Lyon’s collective heart rate elevated again when, after Bissett recorded consecutive outs to begin the bottom of the seventh, Adams singled between a pair of walks that gave Northville a chance to win it with one swing, but a hard one-hopper back to Bissett and a throw over to first triggered the Lions’ victory and celebration around the circle.

The celebration would be short-lived: South Lyon’s seniors had another hats-off celebration to attend — their graduation — at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, which was slated to begin at 4 p.m., or exactly 30 minutes before the final out.

“It happened last year, too, but with a little different situation,” Lions head coach Jerry Shippe said. “Graduation was in the middle of the regional and we had the early game, so the girls left to graduate, then came back for the regional. It was a little different this year where they had to get out of here real quick, but it makes it more satisfying when you can bring a trophy to graduation ceremony.”

Following Nooe’s four-bagger in the first, the Lions (30-7) had to wait until the top of the fifth before adding to their lead. Ryle Miller doubled, then Nooe dropped a bunt to put runners at the corners, and a sacrifice grounder by Avery Bourlier scored Miller. Despite back-to-back bunt singles by Miller and Nooe that led off the top of the seventh, the Lions’ only run to came out of that inning was from an RBI double by Isabella Bracali.

Bissett spun a two-hitter and struck out nine in South Lyon’s regional semifinal just before that, a 6-1 victory over Bloomfield Hills. Nooe finished 2-for-3 in that one and the tandem of Bracali and Ella Glowacki both drove in a pair of runs.

Anna Carlson and Caroline King had the hits in the loss for the Black Hawks (23-15), who beat Groves 14-6 in a district championship that included a three-run homer by Avery Howland.

“Last year we had four senior graduate, and this year we have six, and all six made all-district,” Bloomfield Hills head coach Phil Appel said. “Like I just said to them, I’m like, all you guys have to do is watch how (the seniors) played this year and we’ll be fine next year. Because if they learned anything from them, it’ll be a great shot. They were amazing seniors.”

Like Bissett, Northville’s Mary Gugala also tossed two complete games on Saturday. The first resulted in the Mustangs’ 1-0 upset of top-ranked Farmington Hills Mercy.

Photo gallery of South Lyon vs. Northville in a D1 softball regional championship

McKenzie Stevens tripled to lead off the third against the Marlins (28-3) and later was walked in to score the lone run, which in itself has been a rare occurrence all year with Kaitlyn Pallozzi on the hill. Gugala allowed two hits and struck out six in the win, while Pallozzi's ended as she fanned a dozen.

"Going against No. 1 Mercy, and their pitcher, obviously, we felt we had to come in here and do things a little bit differently and try to get her and their whole team off-balance," Northville head coach Scott DeBoer said. "We did a lot of looking at things, studying of things, spent a lot of time on the machines and working on bunting and just trying to distract and make (Mercy) try to make some plays.

"(Pallozzi's) going to strike out 12, 14, I mean, she strikes out over 70% of the batters she faces, so we knew we had to do something different. And Mary, a junior, went toe-to-toe with her. She's not gonna throw 65 (mph) right now, but what she can do is spin it in multiple pitches keep multiple people off-balance, and to throw a two-hitter against them, in that game, was phenomenal."

DeBoer did confess his believe that the discrepancy in speed between Pallozzi and Bissett probably negatively effected the Mustangs' performance at the plate in the final and led to being out front and lots of fly balls. Still, he said "to go 35-7 after 34-8 (last year), while starting four freshmen, if you had told me that at the start of the year, I would have signed up for that in a heartbeat ... I'm really proud of this team. There's no losers in a game like that. There's no losers when you get to play in this atmosphere."

South Lyon will see a familiar opponent in Walled Lake Northern in Tuesday's quarterfinal that will be hosted by Northville. The Knights beat Grand Blanc and Lake Orion in their own regional on Saturday. Northern won the only meeting between the teams 5-1 on May 20.

"(Northern is) a very good team, always are, and the girls will be ready for it," Shippe said. "We'll be ready to go on Tuesday."

After beating Bloomfield Hills in a semifinal earlier in the day, South Lyon blanked Northville 3-0 to claim a D1 regional championship Saturday, June 7, 2025 at Novi High School.

PONTIAC – Orchard Lake St. Mary’s got seven stellar innings out of its starter on Saturday afternoon, and a few good at-bats, too.

Junior Luke Crighton pitched a complete game shutout and was also responsible for two of his team’s runs as the Eaglets defeated Notre Dame Prep 3-0 for a D2 district title.

“He’s the definition of a complete player,” Eaglets head coach Nick Di Ponio said. We needed him to step up in that game and he did so. That’s a really, really good team that we played, and especially in that last inning, we didn’t want to get back to the top of their lineup. Those guys can swing it. We know them well, they did a great job, and it was a really good game all-around.”

Crighton and St. Mary’s (23-12) cruised through the seventh other than a leadoff single to Jack Fallon, but it was the sixth that looked like the one where the Irish might finally chase the Indiana commit.

Notre Dame Prep led off that inning with back-to-back singles by juniors Tomassino Offer and Derek Roa, then had the bases loaded with one out when Owen Fulsher walked. But Crighton induced a grounder to third for a force out at home, then a strikeout swinging to keep the shutout intact.

“About the fifth inning I said to our pitching coach that this was his game,” Di Ponio said. “He was around the zone with all his pitches and give us the best chance, and with that team, we wanted him out there as long as we could have him. He did a really good job being efficient.”

The final line for Crighton included six hits, two walks and seven strikeouts. “My fastball, I was throwing it whatever I wanted; inside-out, I like to do that a lot,” he said. “Then I was just working the curveball and slider off of that.”

There were several other frames where the Irish, who came into the final having won 21 of their last 22 had runners in scoring position — seniors Michael Wiebelhaus and Ethan Janssen each had doubles — but the clutch hits never materialized.

“Going into it, we legitimately knew we had to score three or four runs to win the game,” Irish head coach Jason Gendreau said. “That was the talk before the game.”

He continued, “There were three goals, and the first, the only one we didn’t meet, was that we had to figure out how to get to (that many) runs. The second goal was to not let (Andrew) Tribul or (Hudson) Brzustewicz beat us, and we didn’t allow that to happen. And the last goal was, could we be within three runs in the seventh if we don’t have the lead? They did that. We had some opportunities offensively, but when you’re facing a kid that’s throwing 89, 90 (mph), a Division 1 athlete, it’s going to be hard at times, and you really have to buckle down and execute in those situations. Credit Orchard Lake for cashing in on their opportunities a little bit more than we did.”

St. Mary’s broke the scoreless deadlock in the bottom of the third when Crighton’s ball hit to left field scored Preston Duff. Crighton doubled off the fence in deep center to score Anthony Elezaj in the fifth, making it 2-0, then Nate Bauman followed it up with a knock into right that fell just fair of the first-base line and scored Crighton.

Junior Henry Ewles pitched well enough to give the Irish a chance, going all six innings of the defeat. ND Prep also had it working on the mound in its district semifinal earlier in the day, an 8-1 victory over Lamphere. Fulsher threw six innings of four-hit ball — two of those hits were by Aidan Grzeskowski — then Roa came in to seal the deal.

Janssen had three hits in the win over the Rams, while Offer went 4-for-4 and scored three times.

“Fulsher did what he’s been doing all year,” Gendreau said. “He finished 8-0 on the season. Henry ends up finishing 7-4, but he also threw against the majority of the big dogs. I have a lot of respect for both of the young men. They had outstanding years. And give a lot of credit to Owen (today) for throwing almost 80 pitches, then going back and catching a great game.”

Photos from Orchard Lake St. Mary’s vs. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep in a D2 baseball district final

The 29 wins this season marked a program-best for Notre Dame Prep.

"It beat the 2018 team's record, and we just came up one short of 30," Gendreau said.

Cade Wilhelmi and Kyler Marvin both drove in a pair of runs for Country Day in the other semifinal, but the Yellowjackets' sixth inning in which they scored all their runs was sandwiched by a pair of four-run frames at the plate by the Eaglets, who beat Country Day 12-5.

Gendreau's aforementioned goal of slowing two of St. Mary's top hitters was something Country Day couldn't hold to. Tribul had a pair of doubles and drove in two runs, while Brzustewicz hit a grand slam in the seventh that effectively sealed the Eaglets' place in the final.

The championship marked just another victory over a top program by the Eaglets this season. They came in ranked sixth in D2, two spots ahead of ND Prep, and started the year 10-8, but had a pair of wins each against Rochester Adams (No. 3 in D1) and Brother Rice (ranked 10th in D1) in the month of May.

"Within our league, we know we're going to see top-level competition every single time," Di Ponio. "There was a point in early April (against De La Salle), I think an umpire looked and me and said it kind of felt like a playoff game. So our team has been accustomed to these situations all year and knew that this was going to be another one. We feel like we're prepared for anything."

The Eaglets will now prepare for Dearborn Divine Child, ranked No. 11 in D2, in a regional semifinal that will also be played at Notre Dame Prep.