Childress helps student-athletes earn college exposure DETROIT — Although Childress Sports Consulting is based out of Detroit, Ira Childress has long been an advocate for the west side of the state and the areas that go unnoticed in the high school recruiting process. Childress, a native of Baldwin and a former Division I athlete at [...]
Allan looks back on 17 years of ‘the best job in the world’ It’s been a wonderful run. Seventeen years of countless games, great performances and thousands of miles traveled. But as one wise man once said, “all good things must come to an end.” So after 17 years of covering everything from high school [...]
Big Rapids softball returns several key players to this year’s team BIG RAPIDS — First-year softball coach Darcy Balahoski feels pretty good about her team, she just wishes she could get outside to make sure. The Big Rapids coach returns several players from last season’s team, including pitchers Cara Jensen and Kailey Hunt. The team [...]
Dear Nathan and Bailey, Despite being just 10 and 7 years old, you guys have more influence than you might realize. It isn’t by accident that mom and I ask you for input. We want your advice, it does count for something, though we might not always take it. We want you to come up [...]
Ten returning starters come back for CCA girls soccer team BIG RAPIDS — Crossroads Charter Academy girls soccer coach Ross Meads admits he has had several returning players coming back in years past — but perhaps not like this. The Cougars return 10 players who either started or saw significant playing time from a team [...]
Morley Stanwood baseball returns four pitchers with experience to the diamond MORLEY — Josh Bull is hoping pitching and defense will give the Morley Stanwood baseball team a chance in the league race this season. The Mohawks baseball coach returns four pitchers who threw at least 50 innings — a bonus for a team that has [...]
CCA baseball looks to build program through team chemistry BIG RAPIDS — There has been a great deal of time spent on gelling, Crossroads Charter Academy baseball coach Ed Milam said. The first-year coach has worked on the fundamentals, essential when having a young squad that features only two seniors. But hanging out together and [...]
First-year coach will rely on scoring by committee this season BIG RAPIDS — Curt Ray is not trying to reinvent the wheel. He is just trying to get his girls to look at soccer a different way. The Big Rapids girls soccer coach enters his first season with 11 seniors, but without leading goal scorer [...]
Chippewa Hills senior to pitch and catch for the Pioneers next season REMUS — The route to the top has many roads. For Chippewa Hills senior Jake Tarbell, he is going the community college way. Tarbell signed his letter of intent with Delta College to play baseball, with the hopes of finding a four-year school [...]
Big Rapids baseball to blend youth with experience this spring BIG RAPIDS — Ben Oleson can divide his team into the known and unknown. The Big Rapids baseball coach, who is entering his sixth season at the helm, has four returning players from a year ago, plus a transfer. Most of the other players that [...]