The Cardinal lineup was unable to get a hit until the top of the 5th inning and were baffled by Keller all night long. That 5th inning was the only speed bump Keller had after the first inning on his way to a dominating 126 pitch win to kick off the double header. OV countered rather nicely actually with their own Keller on the hill as Shawn Keller pitched a great game as well. The first inning was also the trouble spot for S. Keller however after recording two quick outs he walked Ryan Walling on 5 pitches. A Texas league single over the shortstops head by Michael Dillingham moved Walling up to second and then JP Batts crushed a single through the hole between third and short to drive in Walling and give the Lakers all the run support they would need.

A Logan Pellegrom rocked an RBI tripple off the wall in left to give the Lakers the insurance run that ended up being icing on the cake as this night was all about Nick Keller and his dominating performance.

Read the full story with The Muskegon Chronicle: “Buzzer beater leads Orchard View over…”

DIVISIONS 1-4

1. Grand Haven 6-1
2. Muskegon 5-2
3. Fruitport 6-1
4. Spring Lake 6-1
5. Orchard View 3-4

DIVISIONS 5-8

1. Oakridge 5-2
2. Shelby 6-1
3. Muskegon Heights 3-4
4. Grant 6-1
5. Montague 5-2

Read the full story with The Muskegon Chronicle: “Mike Mattson’s rankings…”

Read the full story with The Muskegon Chronicle: “Oakridge, Orchard View plan second annual…”

1. North Muskegon beats Tri-unity Christian 10-6 in pre-district baseball -The Muskegon Chronicle
2. Spring Lake edges Orchard View in Division 2 softball pre-district thriller -The Muskegon Chronicle
3. Grand Rapids South Christian rolls past Parchment in Division 3 girls soccer opener -Kalamazoo Gazette 
4. Forest Hills Northern knows it won’t be easy to win another girls tennis state title -The Grand Rapid Press
5. Lauren Baguley looks to lead Hudsonville to water polo state championship -The Grand Rapids Press
6. Gull Lake baseball slips past Plainwell in districts -Kalamazoo Gazette
7. Mattawan baseball cruises by Benton Harbor in D1 districts -Kalamazoo Gazette
8. Kalamazoo Central girls soccer team picks up district opening win over Jackson -Kalamazoo Gazette
9. Allegan girls soccer team takes early lead, rolls past Wayland in Division 2 district tournament opener -Kalamazoo Gazette
10. Kenowa Hills’ Ryan Versen among athletes tuning up for track state finals at John Bos meet -The Grand Rapids Press 
11. Climax-Scotts baseball team downs Portage Northern in in state tourney tuneup -Kalamazoo Gazette
12. Cody Cramer shuts down Coloma, leads Otsego baseball team to Division 2 district-opening victory -Kalamazoo Gazette

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1. East Kentwood shuts out West Ottawa in OK Red girls soccer tourney finals -The Grand Rapids Press
2. Matt Hoff, Javonte Lipsey shine as Portage Northern boys, girls track teams fnish runner-up -Kalamazoo Gazette
3. Caledonia soccer standout Hailey Yondo recovery in hospital after ATV accident -The Grand Rapids Press
4. Grand Rapids Central selling off uniforms, other equipment as athletic programs comes to an end -The Grand Rapids Press
5. Portage Central boys lacrosse team shapes up, ships Mattawan out in Division 2 Regional Quarterfinals -Kalamazoo Gazette
6. Kentwood wins rain shortened game with Grandville -The Grand Rapids Press
7. Portage Central freshman Elle Humphries scores go-ahead goal to lift the Mustangs over Portage Northern in SMAC Tournament Final -Kalamazoo Gazette
8. Western Michigan Christian nips Orchard View 4-3 in baseball -The Muskegon Chronicle
9. Five Mattawan players score as Wildcats girls lacrosse team advances in regional tournament -Kalamazoo Gazette
10. Ravenna’s Kailey Hanson’s Hat Trick Beats Out Rival North Muskegon In Overtime -The Muskegon Chronicle
11. Jesse Storey’s turnaround helps Vicksburg boys to a Wolverine track and field title; Three Rivers girls end drought -Kalamazoo Gazette
12. Hamilton holds off late Chix push Tourney win -The Grand Rapids Press

Keep up with the latest action and analysis by becoming a WMA fan on Facebook, or join the conversation by following WMA on Twitter. Heck, even start your own topic over at Allstars Among Us.

1. Monty Porter’s dominating pitching performance lifts No. 3 Portage Central to 3-0 win over top-ranked Portage Northern -Kalamazoo Gazette 
2. Holland Christian hires Katie Corbett as new volleyball coach -The Grand Rapids Press
3. Portage Central athletic director Larry Edlund set to retire at end of school year -Kalamazoo Gazette
4. No. 3 Portage Central sweeps No. 1 Portage Northern in showdown of Division 1-ranked baseball teams -Kalamazoo Gazette
5. Cody Jonas steals home to highlight Muskegon Orchard View’s sweep over Spring Lake in baseball -The Muskegon Chronicle
6. Calvin Christian baseball team prepares for postseason with rugged schedule -The Grand Rapids Press
7. Portage Central’s Ali Herbert, Becca Shemberger team up, shut down Portage Nortern softball team -Kalamazoo Gazette
8. Freshman Angela Stuvvesant leads Unity Christian past Holland Christian for OK Green soccer title -The Grand Rapids Press
9. Oakridge all-around athlete Michael Shoop nears end of storied prep career at Meijer West Michigan Invitational track meet -The Musegon Chronicle
10. Injuries can’t derail Wayand’s run to anther OK Gold softball title -The Grand Rapids Press

Keep up with the latest action and analysis by becoming a WMA fan on Facebook, or join the conversation by following WMA on Twitter. Heck, even start your own topic over at Allstars Among Us.

1. Forest Hills Northern’s Caroline Aleck is tennis team’s No. 1, with a bullet   -The Grand Rapids Press
2. Jon Henry blazing a trail for East Kentwood track stars -The Grand Rapids Press
3. Big Ten-bound Forest Hills pitchers give new meaning to ‘friendly rivalry’ -The Grand Rapids Press
4. Chelsea VanderMolen’s big splash has optimism high for Hudsonville water polo -The Grand Rapids Press
5. Catholic Central’s Annalise Pickrel leads local girls named to all-state basketball teams -The Grand Rapids Press
6. Michigan-bound Alex Lakatos throws no-hitter in Forest Hills Central’s win against Grand Haven -The Grand Rapids Press
7. Jenison girls top shorthanded Grandville in water polo –The Grand Rapids Press
8. Orchard View’s Cody Jonas brings bulldog mentality to the mound for Cardinals -The Muskegon Chronicle
9.  Forest Hills Central girls soccer team beats Unity Christian in battle of youth -The Grand Rapids Press
10. Forest Hills Eastern boys lacrosse team hangs on to beat East Grand Rapids -The Grand Rapids Press
11. Spring Lake guns down Grand Haven 8-2 in girls soccer -The Muskegon Chronicle

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Bad news for Orchard View: Spring Lake superfans travel well (Kristin Eberts | Muskegon Chronicle)

Just about at the halfway point of the 2009 football season, and things are certainly cooking along nicely.  So far AGF’s ESP is a bit on the fuzzy side, as evidenced by the moderately successful 9-4 prediction record (3-0 for week-4).  But his prescience is there, I think, as 9-4 ain’t no slouch.  And as an eternal optimist, I know we’re on the uptrend.

Last week saw the mighty and the weak switch places, somebody finally get into the endzone against Lowell’s vicious defense, and my cuticles bared just a bit more after yet another nailbiter on the lakeshore.  It was a great week in West Michigan high school football, but is now relegated merely to preparatory work in looking ahead to week-5.

Speaking of looking ahead to week-5, that’s exactly what we’re going to do.  Here are the top games of week-5.  The ones for which you hereby have moral permission to skip weddings, funerals, bar mitzvahs and baby showers.  Bachelor parties, however, remain sacred at least until the playoffs.

Hamilton (4-0) @ Byron Center (4-0)
Things look good for the 4-0 Bulldogs (and their new coaching staff, who have already earned themselves year-2).  They’re clicking both offensively and defensively, and have yet to be challenged significantly.  But they’ll be fighting against history this week, as Hamilton has had their way with Byron Center in recent years, beating them in their previous four meetings.  Additionally, the vaunted Bulldog running game might find yards hard to come by against a Hawkeye defense giving up under 6-points per game.
Prediction: Hamilton continues their streak, but it’s closer than usual
Score: Hamilton-28, Byron Center-14

Grand Haven (4-0) @ Rockford (4-0)
Can things get any more exciting for Grand Haven fans?  Not likely.  It’s tough to top two consecutive 1-point victories.  Three consecutive might just do it, but let’s not forget that Rockford has owned Grand Haven in the past, having won their previous four meetings by an average 29-point margin.  Let’s also keep 2007 in the back of our minds, as that year was the last time the Buc’s started a season 4-0, and they finished at 5-4 (although two of the four losses in 2007 were to Holland West Ottawa and Muskegon, and Grand Haven has already overcome those hurdles this year).  If Grand Haven is to make it to 5-0, their formidable defense will have to carry them once again.
Prediction: Rockford confirms their dominance of the OK Red
Score: Rockford-24, Grand Haven-14

Spring Lake (3-1) @ Muskegon Orchard View (3-1)
Is this the year the Lakers finally get over the Orchard View hurdle?  Orchard View’s loss to Montague back in week one is a little more understandable now than it was then, now that Montague’s awesomeness has become apparent.  The Cardinals will enter this game confident, due to a seven-game winning streak against the Lakers. Spring Lake, on the other hand, will be motivated with the knowledge that a victory over the Cardinals wins them the Lakes Eight Championship.  Spring Lake playing against the T Offense the last two weeks will help, and the Lakers ability to pass and play solid Defense should be the difference makers in the game.
Prediction: Lakers take round 1
Score: Spring Lake-24, Orchard View-20

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Eagles will try to keep their momentum rolling straight over the Tigers in week-1

Finally, at long last, football is here!  Week one should be chock full of great matchups, and may have more than a few surprises in store.  One thing’s for sure: when the dust settles after Friday’s matchups, we’ll certainly have a much clearer picture.

Now then, let’s talk about what you need to watch in Week-1

Muskegon Heights @ Muskegon Oakridge

The story for Muskegon Heights is their new head coach, Willie Snead III. Snead Coached Holland Christian to a 14-0 season last year, his spread offense scoring an average of 46 points a game.  Snead’s  son, Willie Snead IV, will be starting at QB for the Tigers, and will be surrounded on all sides by talented athletes.  There’s no doubt that the Tigers will be improved this year, but they’ll have to wait until week-2 to start their winning streak. Defending Division-5 Champion Oakridge is just too tough.

Prediction: In a game that might be closer than some think, the Oakridge Eagles take round one.

Score: Heights-28, Oakridge-34

Orchard View @ Montague

Was it Montague’s new spread offense that got them the win at Orchard View last year?  Or did Montague just play knockout defense? In their previous three meetings Orchard View averaged just shy of 41-points per game, while in 2008 the Cardinals managed a relatively paltry 21-points.  The hype says that Orchard View will be down this year, but I wouldn’t bet on it.  Which is bad news for Montague.  The good news for Montague is that, whether their spread offense clicks again or not, the Wildcat defense should be a strong unit again in 09.

Prediction: Montague will come out on top in a tight contest that goes the distance.

Score: Montague-34, Orchard View– 28

Grand Rapids West Catholic @ Grand Rapids Catholic Central

Entering the third year of their rivalry, the coaches’ series is split, each of them having won one.  Recently West Catholic has started slowly out of the gate, and they will be looking to avoid that this year.  But to win in week one they will have to shut down Catholic Central’s Division-1 recruit, Nick Ens, who will be returning at QB.

Prediction: West Catholic won’t go down easy, but in the end Ens and the Cougars will prove to have too much firepower.

Score: GRCC-28, GRWC-20

Zeeland West @ Comstock Park

Is Zeeland West back? The Dux offensive production dropped considerably last year, down to just below 22-points a game (their previous two seasons having been closer to 40 points per game). Getting their offense rolling again will be their top priority, and will be key to the Dux’ success. Comstock Park comes into the game with a decent amount of returning talent, including a level of depth that few teams can match.  Each of these teams could legitimately claim this victory, so look for this game to go the distance.

Prediction: The Dux will defeat the Colts in a close contest to start their season off on the right track.

Score: Zeeland West-30, Comstock Park-24

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