Welcome to Week 1 of the CatchMark Catch-Up for the 2023 spring sports season in the West Michigan Conference.
It’s Monday, April 10, and we’re recapping conference highlights spanning April 3-8, 2023.
BASEBALL
Shelby’s Lalo Garcia tosses 15-strikeout no-hitter
Shelby’s baseball team opened its season with a couple of big wins over visiting Brethren on Thursday, April 6.
In a 10-0 victory in Game 1, Lalo Garcia tossed a no-hitter with 15 strikeouts and two walks. He helped his own cause with two hits. Trey Waller, Travis Boughan and Chase Simon also had a pair of hits for the Tigers with Boughan and Simon delivering two RBIs each.
In a 20-0 win in Game 2, winning pitcher Waller and Dayday Garcia combined on a one-hitter. Waller and Dayday Garcia led Shelby’s 15-hit attack with three hits apiece. Lalo Garcia, Wyatt Dickman and Boughan had two hits each.
“It was a nice way to start out the season on a cold, windy day,” said Shelby coach Brian Wright, who opened his 42nd season at the Tigers’ helm. “The pitchers threw strikes and we had some timely hitting.”
BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
Hart boys track off to solid start
Hart’s boys track and field team is setting its sights on winning a state championship to match the one that was captured by the Pirates’ cross country squad in the fall.
They got off to a solid start by winning the Hart & Sole Music Invite on Saturday, April 8.
Hart totaled 136 points, finishing ahead of runner-up Reed City (98) and third-place Ludington (94) in the eight-team invite.
Multiple winners in individual events from the meet included Hart’s Kellen Kimes in shot put (50 feet, 5 inches) and discus (148-6) and Ludington’s Lucas Peterson in the 110-meter hurdles (16.39 seconds) and 300 hurdles (44.05).
GIRLS SOCCER
Manistee uses team effort in season-opening rout
Manistee’s girls soccer team started its season on the right foot with an 8-1 nonleague victory over Kingsley on Thursday, April 6.
Seven different players scored goals for the Chippewas, led by Jayna Edmondson with two. Emily Rabeler had a goal and three assists, while Allison Kelley delivered a goal and two assists. Piper Eskridge made five saves in goal for Manistee.
Hart’s Salgado nets hat trick
Sandy Salgado was a bright spot in Hart’s 6-3 season-opening home loss to Reed City on Thursday, April 6, by scoring a hat trick for the Pirates.
GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD
Hart girls dominate Hart & Sole Music Invite
Hart’s girls track and field team ran away with the title of the Hart & Sole Music Invite on Saturday, April 8.
The Division 3 defending state champion Pirates piled up 173 points to easily beat the rest of the field. LeRoy Pine River was second (66), followed by Ludington third (64).
Multiple winners in individual events from the meet included Hart’s Addi Hovey in the 100 meters (13.26 seconds), 200 meters (27.95) and high jump (5 feet, 3.25 inches), and Hart’s Jessica Jazwinski in the 800 meters (2:18.82) and 3200 meters (10:47.47).
SOFTBALL
Hart’s Abby Hicks just shy of cycle
Hart’s Abby Hicks was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle in the Pirates’ 8-7 victory over visiting Onekama in Game 1 of a nonleague doubleheader on Thursday, April 6. Gabby Schmieding picked up the pitching win, striking out 11 and walking four in six innings.
In Game 2, the teams settled for a 12-12 tie with the contest called because of darkness after five innings. Schmieding, Makayla Rockwell and Kelsey Copenhaver had two hits apiece to lead Hart. Hicks scored three runs.
