Not my typical Monday/Tuesday post

Usually at around this time on Tuesday, if you head over to the blog there is generally an update on last night's games. Usually I put up a picture from one of the games I was at, usually one I'm pretty proud of.

Today is going to be a little different.

So why the change? Well I was looking in my e-mail today and I saw that Brennan Pitcher's CarePage had been updated. His sight is usually updated several times a week so I see that type of messsage often.

But lately, I've noticed myself just glancing past those messages. It wasn't that I didn't care how "Pitch" was doing, it is actually the exact opposite. I knew if I hoped over to the sight, I could sit there for an hour or two catching up on how he is doing and reading all the special messages people have sent him.

I guess I was trying to stay detached from it all, which is kind of sad in a way. But I think we all do that to an extent; try to keep an emotional distance from things especially when we are busy.

Well I'm still busy, but today I decided to make the time to check this update out and it is great news. Here is what the update said:

May 14, 2007 at 11:23 PM EDT
We got "the call" this afternoon, Brennan's ANC is finally high enough! We will be admitted tomorrow. PLEASE pray for Brennan (he will have a spinal tap and chemo tomorrow), pray for me as I will be staying wih him in the hospital and pray for John and the girls who will be back at home. I'll update more tomorrow. Keep the faith & "B" strong! God Bless! Angie

So as we speak right now, Brennan is likely going through the procedure of already has. So I'm saying, let's take a break from sports for a few minutes today and instead say a prayer for Brennan and his family. Then say another or e-mail some one and ask them to say a prayer as well.

Or better yet, take that few minutes to head over to his CarePage and leave him a message. I'm sure him and his family will appreciate it. Then ask someone else to do it, too.

In fact here is my challenge to all of my blog readers. Let's fill up Brennan's box full of our thoughts and well wishes so when he is well enough to read them, he knows we were all there thinking of him on this important day.

The web address is: http://www.carepages.com/UpdateListing?seed=269028&ClusterNodeID=jb06&tlcx1=umich&tlcx2=1772320

Cutline: In the pictue above, Brennan (left) is seen handing off to Matt Niziolek (right) in the 3,200 relay.

Hatchet Invitational photos

Today was arguably the biggest track meet of the regular season, the Hatchet Invitational. I don't have results at this point, but thought you might enjoy some of these pics from the event.
Results will be published in our Wednesday papers.

Harbor Beachs wins Huron County Tourney

In what seemed like an improbable upset last night, the Harbor Beach softball team won the Innaugral Huron County Softball Torunament.
The Lady Pirates were 1-0 winners over North Huron in the finale. Brittany Braun, who won MVP honors, struck out 10 and allowed a pair of hits in the championship game.
What makes the win so amazing is how much it meant to the girls. while taking some pictures, I could here the players in the Harbor Beach dugout talk about how bad they wanted to win this won. To paraphrase, they said that they wanted to win this one and didn't care what happened the rest of the way as long as they did.
As coach Dick Gorney put it, "You could tell just watching the girls how happy they were. They've never won anything."
Perhaps the win will be the catalyst for a second half turnaround for Harbor Beach. But if it isn't, at least they will have a great memory to look back upon when the season is over.

Tuesday scores...

Just a few scores in from last night so far, so here we go...
Caseville swept Akron-Fairgrove 15-0, 18-9 in softball action. Brittany Meissner won both games.

In the opener, Amber Bieri went 2-for-3 and drove in three runs, while Beth Grates was 2-for-2 with one RBI.

Meaghan Fortsch was the spark in game two as she reached base five times. She went 2-for-2 at the plate with three walks, while adding four stolen bases. Shana Kretzschmer added three walks, one hit and two RBI's.

In tennis, Bad Axe was an 8-0 winner over Sandusky. Singles winners were: Stefan Odabasic in no. 1 singles (6-3, 6-3), Charlie Herrington in no. 2 singles (7-5, 7-5), Nolan Barsaleau in no. 3 singles (6-2, 7-5), and Daniel Stipanovich in no. 4 singles (6-2, 0-6, 7-5).

Doubles winners included: Darin Howard-Anton Rosenberg in no. 1 doubles (6-0, 6-1), Alec Lerash-Cody Eskau in no. 2 doubles (6-2, 6-1), Josh Simon-Adam Teasdle in no. 3 doubles (6-0, 6-0) and Nick Wolak-Derek Sugden in no. 4 doubles (6-0, 6-0).

The Hatchets are 7-1-1 overall this year, with the only blemishes on their record coming from Lakers. Those two teams tied in their first meeting, but Bad Axe lost 6-2 in the rematch.They were hurt by the loss of Scott Hewens, their no. 2 singles, who broke his foot.

With that having been said, the league tournament, which is scheduled for this Friday at 9 a.m. at Harbor Beach, should be pretty interesting.

Some scores from Monday that came in late include the Laker soccer team shuting out Cass City 11-0. EPBP got three goals each from Stephanie Maxwell and Amanda Dubey, while Brittany Albrecht and Sam Krueger added two scores each. Kaycee Damm added the other Laker score.
Krueger and Natasha Sears had two helps each, while Albrecht , Shania Damm, Kate Beachy and Megan Yoder added one assist each.

Beth Ritter earned the shutout in net for EPBP, who is 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the GTC.

In softball, USA swept Cass City 13-3, 13-2.

In game one, Marissa Lemere struck out four to earn the win. At the plate, Carly Treiber led the attack with a home run and a single, while Minda Martinez added four hits. Lemere chipped in three singles, while Dani Gremel and Mercy Martinez had two hits each.

In the nightcap, Treiber had two more knocks, once again hitting a home run and a single. Katie Rayl was a homer away from the cycle as her three hits included a single, double and triple.
Minda Martinez had three more hits (she was a combined 7-for-7 against Cass City), while Katie Schaus chipped in a pair of knocks.

Monday Madness

It was a full slate of games on Monday and here are the results I have so far:

The USA baseball team swept Cass City 5-1, 10-3 to improve to 12-6 overall and more importantly 6-0 in the GTW.

In the opener, Matias Kraynak struck out six and scattered four hits to earn the win. Offensively, Mitch Keyes led the team with two hits, while Kelson Gettel, Kraynak, Shane Schmidt and Heath Schmidt had one hit each.

In game two, Jordan Bolzman racked up seven K's en route to the win. At the plate, Tyson Valentine and Heath Schmidt had two knocks apiece, while Tim Holland and Caleb Brow each singled.

Here's my impression of the Patriots... this team is heating up. I saw them just two weeks ago against Ubly and they weren't that impressive. Well, they are definitely kicking things into high gear at this point.

The guy who deserves a lot of credit for the turn around is Mitch Keyes. Heading into yesterday's games against the Red Hawks, Keyes had 12 hits in the last four games and was hitting .447 for the season with 13 RBIs. Needless to say, he has been a big spark for the Patriot's offense.

Could a league championship be in the future for USA? I sure think so.

In other baseball action, Bad Axe split with Reese. The Hatchets won the opener 6-4 and lost the nightcap 5-1.

In game one, Jason Brown allowed one run in 3 1/3 innings and struck out four to earn the "W". Tim Rader picked up the save with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Things did get a little dicey, as he walked three and allowed a hit.

At the plate, Nathan Janik had two singles and a double, while Rob Watkins and Brown chipped in two singles each. Eric Moore added a two run homer in the fifth.

In game two, Pete Salens took the loss, allowing four runs and two walks in six innings. Salens did strike out seven. Offensively, no Hatchet player had more than one hit in the nightcap.

Bad Axe is 4-2 in league play and 11-9 overall.

EPBP split its league match up with BCAS, winning game one 6-3 and dropping game two 11-1.

In the opener, Kyle Dubs pitched a complete game, five hitter to earn the win. Chris Rowe led the offense with a double, while Mark Feger, Shawn Wise and Adam Chiotti each added singles.

In the nightcap (a five inning game), Logan Tibbits, Feger and Rowe had singles for Lakers. EPBP is 7-8 overall and 2-4 in the GTW.

The Lady Laker softball team was swept by BCAS, losing 2-1, 9-1.

In the opener, Erica King tossed a three hitter, but allowed a two-run homer in the fifth which proved to be the difference. Melissa Fritch led the offense with a double, while Haley Schulz and Whitney Damrow added a pair of singles each.

King had the team's lone hit in the game two loss.

In soccer, Bad Axe defeated Sandusky 8-0.

The Hatchets got three goals from Mary Mc Cracken, while Shayna Polega add two scores. Sara Schnorack, Sara Thoms and Jackie Rochefort also scored.

The team got two assists from Rochefort, as well as one help each from Chelsea Grifka, Amanda Wehner, Katie Essian and Polega.

Coach David DeCourval complimented his team's defense, pointing out that they allowed just one shot on goal. Thoms and Rochefort shared the win in goal.

In other soccer action, Harbor Beach was an overtime winner over Marlette. Kara Hess had the game winning goal to give the Pirates a 1-0 victory.

In the extra session, Moriah Kish powered past several defenders and took a sharp shot on the goal. The Marlette keeper partially deflected the ball, which then hit the post and bounced in
front of the goal.

Hess ran through the loose ball knocking it into the goal with her body to score the game winner.

In track, both the Ubly boys' and girls' teams won a tri-meet at Lakers, which also included Bad Axe.

So that's it for now.

Remember, take the time to vote on this week's poll on potential State Champions in the Thumb area this spring.

Wednesday results...

Hot off the presses...

EPBP beat Bad Axe 5-0 earlier today.

Also:

Harbor Beach 8, Cass City 0

Goals for the Pirates: Stef Gainor two, Heidi Grekowicz two, Missy Peterson two, and Moriah Kish two.

Assists: Christijana Bender, Kara Hess, and Jillian Roggenbuck.

The Pirates are 3-2 overall.

In tennis action, the Hatchets were 7-1 winners over BCAS. Winners included:

no. 1 singles Stefan Odabasic 6-0, 6-1

no. 2 singles Chris Paganini 6-2, 6-1

no. 3 singles Josh Simon 6-1, 6-2

no. 1 doubles Darin Howard-Anton Rosenberg 6-1, 6-0

no. 2 doubles Nolan Barsaleau-Daniel Stipanovich 6-0, 6-0

no. 3 doubles Cody Eskau-Charlie Herrington 6-0, 6-1

no. 4 doubles Nick Wolak-Curtis Brown 6-0, 6-0

In baseball: Bad Axe was swept by Pinconning 5-1, 18-5.

Kaycee Damm is on the mend

One of our posters ask how Kaycee Damm is doing on her road to recovery from a serious car accident at the beginning of the school year. With that in mind, I happened to see her play today in a soccer match-up against Bad Axe and thought I would share a couple of the pictures.
I remember early after her accident there was speculation as to whether or not she would play sports again and the general thought was she might return in the spring. She exceeded those expectations by playing in the winter in volleyball as a valuable part of a very successful Laker team.
Now she is actively competing in soccer and track. All I can say is that has to be a good sign.
Let me just say after everything she's been through, I think it is great to be covering a game she's competing.
Congratulations on the progress of your comeback Kaycee. We're all rooting for you!