This is Week 4 of the CatchMark Catch-Up for the 2023 spring sports season in the West Michigan Conference.
It’s Monday, May 1, and we’re hitting some of the highlights from last week.
Before we get into those things, it bears repeating yet again:
- Coaches: It’s very important that you submit your game scores and recaps/details/stats to us. We use that info in a variety of content at CatchMark SportsNet, including but not limited to our Scoreboard, Player of the Week fan polls, and the Catch-Up that you’re reading now. We are not receiving scores and info from a number of coaches across the league. Please help us out, which in turn will help your athletes get exposure.
- Coaches: Please email those game scores, recaps/details/stats in a timely fashion. We are asking you submit them the day/night of the game or event. And that info should be emailed to sports@catchmarkit.com. Multiple people at CatchMark SportsNet have access to the sports@catchmarkit.com email address as we all produce varying content from it.
BASEBALL
North Muskegon hit parade vs. Whitehall
North Muskegon pounded out 16 hits in a 16-1, four-inning victory over host Whitehall in a round-robin baseball event Saturday (April 29).
In the second game, North Muskegon fell 5-3 to Division 2 powerhouse Bay City John Glenn. In the third game, Whitehall lost to John Glenn, 7-4.
CLICK HERE for complete coverage of the round-robin event.
Whitehall, Montague split key WMC Lakes doubleheader
Whitehall and Montague split a key WMC Lakes Division doubleheader last Tuesday (April 25) with host Whitehall taking the first game in walk-off fashion (4-3) and Montague rebounding to claim the nightcap (3-2).
CLICK HERE for complete coverage of the matchups, which were the “CatchMark SportsNet Game of the Week.”
Watch a replay of the Game 1 livestream here:
BOYS GOLF
Manistee leads WMC contingent at Ludington invite
Manistee’s boys golf team is enjoying a solid season. On Friday in the Ludington Invitational, the Chippewas paced the West Michigan Conference contingent with a fifth-place finish.
Traverse City Central was first with a team score of 317, followed by Alma (330), Grand Rapids Northview (338), Grandville (341) and Manistee (355). Whitehall placed eighth (371), while Montague was 10th (382), Ludington 11th (383), North Muskegon 15th (432) and Hart 18th (546).
Manistee junior Jacob Scharp cracked the top 10 individually, tying for seventh with an 81. Alma’s Jeffrey Sager was medalist with a 70.
BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
Hart fares well in state finals sneak peek
For a boys track and field team like Hart, Friday’s 8th annual Kent City Elite Invitational was a great event because it served as a state finals preview of sorts since the MHSAA Division 3 championships will again be held at the very same venue.
That could bode well for the Pirates, who set records and finished as the top point-scorers overall. Seniors Clayton Ackley and Kellen Kimes performed particularly well for Hart.
CLICK HERE for complete coverage from the Kent City Elite Invite.
Whitehall relays set school and meet records
Whitehall’s Trannon Aylor, Malcolm Earvin, Lukas Palmer and Nate Bolley are getting pretty good at breaking records.
A few more fell over the weekend, as the quartet established school and meet records in the 4×100-meter relay with a time of 43.34 seconds Friday in the Kent City Elite Invite. That same day, Bolley broke a meet record in long jump with an effort of 21-0.75.
On Saturday in the Grand Rapids Elite Challenge at Houseman Field, the Vikings foursome was at it again. This time, they broke their own school record in the 4×200 with a time of 1:29.61. That same team initially broke the school record en route to winning the MHSAA Division 2 state title in the event last year in 1:29.73.
CLICK HERE for more details.
GIRLS SOCCER
North Muskegon now sits atop WMC standings
North Muskegon’s girls soccer team made some moves in the West Michigan Conference standings last week.
After an 8-0 victory at Whitehall on Wednesday and a 1-0 home win over Montague Friday, the Norse now sit alone atop the league standings with a 3-0-0 record. They are 4-3-1 overall. Entering play this week, Fremont and Whitehall were tied for second in the WMC at 3-1-0.
North Muskegon is ranked No. 3 in the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association Division 4 poll.
GIRLS TENNIS
North Muskegon enjoys a strong week
North Muskegon’s girls tennis team appears to be playing well at the right time — as the Norse are getting prepared to defend their Greater Muskegon Athletic Association tournament title.
Last Wednesday (April 26), North Muskegon went on the road and earned a 5-3 win over a solid Ludington squad. The Norse won matches at Nos. 2-4 singles and Nos. 1-2 doubles.
On Saturday, North Muskegon traveled to Traverse City for the Battle of the Bay hosted by St. Francis. In a four-team event featuring four squads ranked in the top 10 of Division 4, the Norse finished third with 11 points. Traverse City St. Francis was first (18 points), followed by Jackson Lumen Christi (13) and rounded up by Elk Rapids (6).
North Muskegon is ranked No. 9 in the state.
GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD
Whitehall’s Maelie Hope continues to put up big marks
Whitehall senior Maelie Hope continues to shine in track and field in the rare combination as a thrower and sprinter.
In Friday’s 8th annual Kent City Elite Invitational, Hope broke meet records in winning the shot put and discus. Her heave of 42-3.75 in shot put was actually a personal record. In discus, she went 144-10 to win going away. She also took first place in the 100-meter dash with a PR time of 12.58.
In Saturday’s Grand Rapids Elite Challenge at Houseman Field, Hope won the shot put (39-10) and discus (136-8).
T&M Outdoor Services
July 7, 2023 at 3:29 pm
heir performance was commendable. Whitehall also faced John Glenn, falling 7-4. It was an eventful day of baseball with thrilling moments.