Twice as nice: Springfield Christian downs Lake Orion Baptist for second straight MACS-II soccer title

Heads up: Clarkston Springfield Christian senior froward Kevin Bettinger had a foot in every goal, scoring five times with an assists in the Eagles' 6-2 victory over Lake Orion Baptist in the MACS Division II state finals. Staff Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com

Upfield: Lake Orion Baptist's Ben Case brings dribbles the ball during the MACS Division II state title game at Clarkston Springfield Christian. Staff Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

CLARKSTON — Kevin Bettinger played through some nagging injuries during his junior soccer season at Clarkston Springfield Christian. Now a senior and healthy, the forward departs the high school ranks in style.

Bettinger had a foot in all six goals Saturday, scoring five goals with an assist, as his Eagles capped the 2010 season with their second straight Michigan Association of Christian Schools Division II state championship. Springfield Christian defeated league rival Lake Orion Baptist 6-2 for the crown, the school’s fifth all-time.

The Eagles accomplished a pair of hard feats in sports, repeating as state champions and beating a team three times in once season.

“It’s awesome, but we were really nervous,” admitted Bettinger about playing a team three times in a season. “Our coach talked to us before about what happened to (Auburn Hills) Oakland Christian and Southfield (Christian). It got us thinking that we weren’t about ready to let that happen to us, too.”

Oakland Christian was the top-ranked team the whole season in Division 4, but was upset by Southfield Christian 2-0 in the regional semifinals. Bettinger and his teammates learned from another Oakland County school’s mishap, and made sure the Eagles did not suffer the same fate.

“We had to beat these guys three times,” said Springfield Christian coach James Day. “That’s never easy to do. Not just repeat, but beating a team three times. It doesn’t always happen.”

Springfield Christian played Lake Orion Baptist twice in the regular season, both times recording a w 3-1 win. The third game wasn’t as close, even the two teams battled to a 2-2 tie in the first half.

Lake Orion Baptist (13-8-1) scored first on a 30-yard laser off a free kick from senior Nathan Shefcyk. After senior Alex Trull and Bettinger scored for Springfield Christian (8-5-1) to make it 2-1, the Lions tied it up 2-2 before the half on a goal from sophomore Ben Case.

That was the last ray of hope for Lake Orion Baptist.

Springfield Christian, with the wind at its backs, scored four goals in the final 40 minutes, all from Bettinger, who finished with 11 postseason goals to cap his high school career.

“To be able to do it (repeat as state champs) is amazing for us,” said Bettinger, who also plays club ball with the Michigan Wolves. “It was our day.”

Day thought his team, which featured five seniors, peaked at the right time. The Eagles outscored its tournament opponents 21-2. Last season’s run was not expected, but this year’s team was the favored in Division II.

“It was good. We played well and I thought we controlled the game in the second half,” said Day. “We did what we were supposed to do.

“To win it back-to-back is really nice. It’s special for these kids,” continued Day. “Last year, we hadn’t been there since the 80s. To come back here and do it again, it really means a lot to this ministry. Of course, we praise the Lord for it, definitely. He’s the reason why we’re here.”

Lake Orion Baptist, which finished as the state runner-up in 2007, wasn’t expected to make a run this season, as the Lions feature only two seniors and one junior on their roster.

“We were tied 2-2 at the half, but they just wore us down in the second half. We just got a little tired,” said Lake Orion Baptist coach Mike French. “(Springfield) is an older team than us. They played a great second half.

“(What’s) nice (for us). We have lots of young kids. The nice part of it is we are only losing three kids over the next two years,” added French. “So we’ve have probably eight or nine starters back the next two years. It will be a fun season coming up.”

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Category: Clarkston Springfield Christian, Lake Orion Baptist, Lake Orion Shalom Baptist, Prep Wraps