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Stymied: Merrill ousts Lutheran Northwest in quarterfinals pitcher’s duel

Stymied: Merrill ousts Lutheran Northwest in quarterfinals pitcher’s duel

June 14, 2011 | Comments (1)

BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com SAGINAW — Eric Mischley stood in the on deck circle nearly four minutes after the conclusion of Tuesday’s Division 4 baseball state quarterfinal, his batting helmet still neatly tucked on his head in disbelief. The senior from Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest saved his best for last, firing a three-hitter […]

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WOLL wins first softball regional since 2006

WOLL wins first softball regional since 2006

June 14, 2011 | Comments (0)

—  STAFF REPORTS WATERFORD — Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes is back on the rise to glory. The Lakers’ softball team took the nest step by claiming its first regional championship Saturday in five years on its home field. The Lakers defeated Portland St. Patrick, 12-4, for the title. WOLL advances to the state […]

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Regional hex: Third-ranked Hartland stymies Clarkston for title

Regional hex: Third-ranked Hartland stymies Clarkston for title

June 12, 2011 | Comments (0)

BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com OXFORD — A big pot of stew is not full of flavor without a lot of vegetables and spices, much like a baseball team looking to make a long postseason run trying to do so without deep pitching as one of its key ingredients. Hartland is such a ballclub […]

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Northwest claims first regional title since 2006

Northwest claims first regional title since 2006

June 11, 2011 | Comments (0)

BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com WATERFORD — Even with only three seniors and a record barley above five-hundred, Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest is proving to be a formidable opponent in the postseason. The Crusaders captured their fourth Division 4 regional championship Saturday, all within the past eight years, at Waterford Our Lady of the […]

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Unbelievable: Troy stuns No. 6 Romeo for regional crown

Unbelievable: Troy stuns No. 6 Romeo for regional crown

June 11, 2011 | Comments (0)

BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com OXFORD — Winning regional championships has become old hat for Troy’s softball team. But even the Colts’ latest title was a little unexpected. Despite being a third-place finisher in its league, the OAA Red Division, and losing four all-state players from last year’s team, Troy has put together one […]

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AOTW: Clarkston standout is ‘Chase’ing down his baseball dreams

AOTW: Clarkston standout is ‘Chase’ing down his baseball dreams

June 11, 2011 | Comments (1)

BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com CLARKSTON — In a conversation with his dad last July, Chase Toth asked a question: “Why am I even thinking about this?” Precisely, Toth was wondering why there was even a debate where he wanted to play baseball in college. A lifelong fan of Michigan State, Toth decided that […]

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Tournament tested: Colts continue stampede into Final Four

Tournament tested: Colts continue stampede into Final Four

June 11, 2011 | Comments (0)

BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com LAKE ORION — Troy has many elements on its girls soccer team that any coach can’t teach: speed, size and postseason experience. The Colts have a bevy of each and that has helped carry them back to the Final Four. Troy outshot Grand Blanc 18-8, including 10-6 with shots […]

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Wolves ready to take bite of regional glory

Wolves ready to take bite of regional glory

June 11, 2011 | Comments (0)

BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com CLARKSTON — A year ago Clarkston got a taste or regional play. Now, the Wolves are chomping at the bit to go a step further. The Wolves (22-7) will face MAC Red champion Utica Eisenhower at 11 a.m. Saturday at Oxford High School for a Division 1 baseball regional […]

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Controversy hits high school golf community

Controversy hits high school golf community

June 10, 2011 | Comments (0)

BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Controversy has swirled over the sport of high school boys golf and its epicenter sits right in one of the communities in this area of the state. Oxford finished third at Thursday’s Division 1 regional at Flushing Valley Golf Course, but several other schools in the Wildcats’ district, regional […]

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Oakland Christian wins first golf regional since 1993

Oakland Christian wins first golf regional since 1993

June 10, 2011 | Comments (1)

BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — Everything has been nothing short of a perfect storm for Auburn Hills Oakland Christian’s boys golf team this season. The championship strong continued. The Lancers, the top-ranked team in Division 4, moved yet another step close to its ultimate goal of a state title by claiming […]

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Oxford, Lake Orion’s Waelchli make cut for D-1 golf finals

Oxford, Lake Orion’s Waelchli make cut for D-1 golf finals

June 10, 2011 | Comments (0)

BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com FLUSHING — A collective bad round of golf more than fueled a fire for members of Oxford’s boys golf team. Finishing in the bottom of the pack at last year’s Division 1 regional at Flushing Valley, the performance served as motivation for this year. The Wildcats continued one of […]

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Peak performance: Troy golfers post season low to win regional title

Peak performance: Troy golfers post season low to win regional title

June 10, 2011 | Comments (0)

BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP — As any coach will tell you, the goal is to always peak during the final weeks of the season. Troy’s boys golf team is doing just that. One week after winning a district championship with a season-low score of 307, Troy posted a play-five, count-four team […]

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Avondale links up for first regional golf title

Avondale links up for first regional golf title

June 9, 2011 | Comments (0)

BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com HOLLY — One week after winning its first-ever district, Auburn Hills Avondale made another huge chip shot. The unranked Yellowjackets captured their first-ever Division 2 boys golf regional title, and with that, are making their first-ever trip to the state finals. Avondale put together a play-five, count-four team score […]

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Simply dominant: Top-ranked Brother Rice rolls over Troy Athens to advance to title game

Simply dominant: Top-ranked Brother Rice rolls over Troy Athens to advance to title game

June 9, 2011 | Comments (0)

BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com NOVI — Rob Ambrose thoroughly believes that Birmingham Brother Rice does not take anything for granted. The Warriors are all business when out on the field. Brother Rice has not lost in an in-state school in boys lacrosse since 2002 and is one win away from yet another state […]

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AOTW:  The unstoppable: Athens’ Kemp is one of state’s most lethal snipers

AOTW: The unstoppable: Athens’ Kemp is one of state’s most lethal snipers

June 8, 2011 | Comments (0)

BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com TROY — Joe Kemp retrieves the ball from Dan Kreza, spins around races down the central part of the field before he unleashes a vicious shot. As it often does, the ball ended up in the back of the lacrosse net. Kemp, a senior midfielder from Troy Athens, has […]

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TRACK: Division 2 State Finals Results

TRACK: Division 2 State Finals Results

June 8, 2011 | Comments (0)

Boys Track MHSAA L.P. DIVISION 2 STATE FINALS (June 4 at Houseman Field, Grand Rapids) TEAM SCORES — 1. East Lansing, 56; 2. Chelsea, 48; 3. (tie) Birmingham Detroit Country Day, 40; Auburn Hills Avondale, 40; 5. Byron Center, 36; 6. Cedar Springs, 33; 7. Mason, 27; 8. Grand Rapids Christian, 26; 9. Adrian, 24; […]

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Eisenhower rallies for shootout win over Athens

Eisenhower rallies for shootout win over Athens

June 8, 2011 | Comments (0)

(Editor’s note: Jay Stephens is part of the www.northoaklandsports.com Student Correspondence Program, open to all future journalism students at the high school or collegiate level. Interested, contact Senior Editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com or Sales/Marketing Manager Dennis VanWingerden at dennis@northoaklandsports.com) JAY STEPHENS STUDENT CORRESPONDENT TROY — Soccer games, like most other sports, are games of […]

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Troy uses percentages to oust Adams in regional semis

Troy uses percentages to oust Adams in regional semis

June 8, 2011 | Comments (0)

BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com LAKE ORION — When two teams are somewhat even in talent, a soccer game can be decided on finishing scoring chances, making adjustments and suffering only a few mistakes. Troy, ranked fourth heading into the postseason, was able to use all three to its advantage Tuesday at Lake Orion […]

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