BREAKING NEWS: Greenhills downs Lakers in Semifinals

The Laker soccer team put in a galiant effort and actually dominated much of the first half, but allowed a late goal with around 2:59 left in the first half to Ann Arbor Greenhill's Carly Topper, which proved to be the difference at this Semifinal match-up at Troy Athens.

It was a very even game throughout and until that late score by AAH, I thought this one looked like a possible 0-0 tie that would be decided by a shootout.

EPBP coach Mark Weidman is confident this taste of playoff sucess will only serve to motivate his players to work harder. He mentoned that he knows the girls need to have some fun this summer, but joked that he just hopes they bring their soccer balls with them when they go to the beach.

Congratulations to the Lakers on an amazing season. The Thumb is proud of the effort you put in this season and how far you got.

For the complete story on the game, check out your local publication this Wednesday.

Caseville looking for coaches

Got a phone call from Caseville Athletic Director Ken Ewald this morning and he wanted me to let everyone in the area know he is looking for coaches for boys' and girls' basketball.
Those interested in applying for the position can get more information by calling Ewald at the school at (989) 856-2311 or via e-mail at kewald@caseville.k12.mi.us.

USA photo gallery

Unprecedent, unheard of, unbelievable...

In what has been the craziest two days in my five years of covering area sports, the Thumb area crowned two more Regional champs on Saturday in baseball and softball after the Laker soccer team advanced to the semis with a 1-0 over Valley Lutheran last night.
Today the USA softball team knocked off Frankenmuth 4-0 in the finals, while the baseball team were 5-1 victors over Mayville.
There had been some fake reports that Harbor Beach won their Regional as well, but it turns out their run ended with a 10-0 loss in the Regional finals to Coleman.
Freelancer Mark Havens will have a story and pic from the Harbor Beach game, while I will have stories on the area's three Regional champs in our papers on Wednesday.

The Lakers won their first Regional since 2001 with a 1-0 win over Valley Lutheran. They advance to the State Semi-finals where they will compete on Wednesday at Troy Athens High School at 6p.m.

EPBP got it lone goal from Sam Krueger with 7:51 to go in the first half, but it easily could have been more. With 20:47 left in the first, a Laker play fired a shot at the goal which hit the bottom of the cross bar and when the goalie caught it and pulled it in, it appeared to have crossed the goal line.

However, the officials ruled otherwise and the score remained 0-0. With 19:50 reamining, Lakers appeared to get on the board on a header off of a corner kick, but the ball went out of bounds before reenterring the pkaying field, which is considered out of bounds and the goal did not count.

One player I specifically asked coach Mark Weidman about was goalie Beth Ritter. In most games throughout the regualr season, she faced roughly three shots per game.

Tonight against SVL, she likely faced (we'll find out when the stats come in) mpre shots then she did the entire playoffs.

Weidman pointed out she hasn't been tested like throughout most of the season, but was impressed with how well she played.

He also felt that a tough game like this, would only make them tougher in the final game or possibly two of the season. So far my prediction of a title run for the Lakers holds true.

Lakers heading to Regional Finals

Well the Laker soccer team made easy work of Byron with an 8-0 mercy last night. With a flurry of scoring in the last 20 minutes of the half (three goals), I thought they might have just ended it there.

But credit should go to the Byron goalie who made some tough stops.

Just call it a vibe, but I think the way the Lakers are playing this team is finals bound. I'll take it a step further and an add that we just had our first (in at least modern times) back-to-back state champions in any sport... Ubly in girls' track. My prediction: USA softballalso repeats and Lakers win their title,too. Three State Champions in one season... could it be possible?

Ubly wins State Title...AGAIN

Just got back a few minutes ago from the Division Four track finals and let me offer my congratulations to the Ubly girls' on winning their second straight State Title.

It was something to witness, as the Lady Cats set three, that's right three finals records in the 3,200 relay (Kayla Kubacki, Cheklsey Kubacki, Jennifer White & Kylee Kubacki with a time of 9:28.88), Jade Kaufman in the 200 (25.44) and the 1,600 realy team of Kayla Kubacki, Lyndsay White, Andrea Hill & Kaufman (4:04.48).

The 3,200 relay time cut off 13 seconds from the the meet record, which they set last year (9:41.18) and around seven seconds from their time at Regionals.

Let's just add that efforts of the whole team where amazing, especially when you consider the heat. It was 80 degrees on the track at 9:30 a.m. and as the day progressed it was much hotter (you could see steam rising from the track).

Although it has been a twenty hour day so far(started at 5:15 a.m. and am still at it at 1:15 a.m.), it was well worth, and I would do it again if given the chance... not just for Ubly but any area team that was mnaking a post season run.

With that in mind congratulations to USA who swept the baseball/softball Districts atg Reese on Friday, while the Harbor Beach baseball team won in Port Hope.

Congratulations to all area teams in the post-season, those who are left (to keep playing )and those who left their mark today.