Scott Bolsby

By Scott Bolsby | Sports Editor
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The chances came and went for Millington’s softball team in Saturday’s regional final loss to Division 3 No. 2 Richmond.
The Blue Devils took advantage of a late opportunity to knock off the No. 1 ranked Cardinals 2-1 in nine innings.
“I think we had our opportunities to get the win,” said Millington coach Greg Hudie. “It wasn’t a game where we walked away from thinking ‘Man, we just never had our shots.’ It takes luck, skill and everything to align to win.
“I think the girls played absolutely amazing softball, especially with the way it started out.”
The game started with both teams scoring in exact fashion.

By Scott Bolsby | Sports Editor
[email protected]

CLARE — Marlette’s baseball team made history twice Saturday.
The Red Raiders won their first regional title, defeating Muskegon Catholic Central 5-4.
Its first regional crown wasn’t good enough.
Marlette then defeated Michigan Lutheran Seminary 7-6 in the quarterfinals.
The Red Raiders now advance to the Division 4 semifinals for the first time in school history. “It’s just special,” said Marlette coach Dave Hayden. “I’ve got a special group of guys and they earned it all today. They fought right to the end. Seminary never went away.

The Reese baseball team is hitting its stride at the right time.
The Rockets, who are finally at full strength, rolled to a 9-3 regional semifinal win against Cass City here Wednesday.
Reese advances to the Saginaw Valley State University regional final today at 10 a.m. against New Lothrop. The winner of that game will play the winner of the Richmond and Hemlock regional tilt.
The quarterfinal game is slated for 3:30 p.m. at SVSU.

The Thumb area had a great showing at the Michigan High School Athletic Association track and field finals Saturday. Frankenmuth’s boys’ team captured the Division 2 state championship in Zeeland. The title is the first for the Eagles since 2011.
The Eagles earned the title with a score of 45.8 points, edging Flint Powers Catholic (42 points).
“It came down to the mile relay,” said Frankenmuth coach Luke Sheppard. “We knew we had to outscore Flint Powers by four points. We had calculated the numbers, gone over every possibility, but now it was up to the boys to bring it home.
“This team ran the perfect race, finished second, and outscored Powers by seven points to allow us to hoist the Division 2 trophy.”

HUDSONVILLE  — Unionville-Sebewaing Area track-and-field runner Bentley Alderson had to pinch himself standing as the champion on the podium Saturday.

The senior won the 1,600-meter run with a personal-best time of 4:23.75 at the Division 4 track and field state finals at Baldwin Middle School in Hudsonville.

“It was my dream to become number one,” he said. “The season got canceled last year, so I had one opportunity to do it and I didn’t want to mess it up. I wanted to capture this dream.