Ben Sanders

3 weeks ago | heraldpalladium.com | Ben Sanders

BATTLE CREEK — Lakeshore had a great girls soccer season end Thursday against a state powerhouse. Hudsonville Unity Christian defeated the Lancers 5-0 in a Division 2 regional final at Battle Creek Harper Creek. Unity Christian won the last two Division 3 state titles, and the move up to Division 2 hasn’t slowed the Crusaders down. kAm“(6 ;FDE C2? :?E@ 2 3FKKD2H[” {2<6D9@C6 4@249 qC:2? $2>F6= D2:5] “x E9@F89E H6 4@F=5’G6 D6E 2 36EE6C E@?6 E@ 368:?

3 weeks ago | heraldpalladium.com | Ben Sanders

BANGOR — Watervliet keeps finding ways to win postseason baseball games. The Panthers rallied to defeat Grandville Calvin Christian 7-6 in Wednesday's Division 3 regional semifinal, scoring the winning run when Cayden Ryan was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. kAmQxVG6 366? 4@249:?8 32D632== 7@C 2 =@?8 E:>6[ 2?5 E92EVD AC@323=J @?6 @7 E96 >@C6 25G6?EFC@FD[ 7F? H:?D E92E xVG6 6G6C 366? 2 A2CE @7[Q (2E6CG=:6E 4@249 y@D9 %C6>3=2J D2:5]k^AmkAm(2E6CG=:6E Waa\eX 25G2?46D E@ A=2J |FD<68@? (6DE6C? |:49:82?

3 weeks ago | heraldpalladium.com | Ben Sanders

BATTLE CREEK — Lakeshore’s Megan Wurster scored on a long-range shot with two minutes left in the second overtime of Tuesday’s Division 2 girls soccer regional semifinal against Otsego, and the drama was just beginning. Wurster’s goal held up to give Lakeshore a 1-0 victory after Otsego’s last-ditch header off a corner kick was ruled to have come after the clock ran out. kAm“rC2KJ 7:?:D9[” {2<6D9@C6 4@249 qC:2?

3 weeks ago | heraldpalladium.com | Ben Sanders

St. Joseph is Michigan’s first-ever girls high school flag football state champion. The Bears defeated Brighton 21-20 on Sunday at Ford Field to win the inaugural Michigan High School Flag Football League state tournament, organized by the Detroit Lions. kAm“xE’D ;FDE 2? 23D@=FE6 DFCC62= >@>6?E[ ;FDE D66:?8 E96 A=2J6CD D@ 92AAJ[” $E] y@D6A9 4@249 |2EE z@49 D2:5] “q6:?8 E96 7:CDE 6G6C 2E 2?JE9:?8 :?

3 weeks ago | heraldpalladium.com | Ben Sanders

SOUTH HAVEN — Grace Strebeck's game-winning home run surprised even her. The South Haven senior hit a walk-off 3-run blast to center field to give the Rams a stunning 7-5 comeback win over Lakeshore in their Division 2 softball district championship game Saturday. kAmQxE H2D ;FDE C62==J 4C2KJ[Q $EC6364< D2:5] Qx E9@F89E :E H2D 2 A@AFA E@ 46?E6C 7:6=5] %96? x D2H WE96 46?E6C 7:6=56CX CF??:?8 324< 2?5 x <?6H :E H2D @G6C] x 2> DE:== :? D9@4<[ x 42?VE 36=:6G6 :E]Qk^AmkAm$@FE9 w2G6?