SAGINAW SPORTS

Latest High School & College Sports News, Saginaw Spirit, Great Lakes Loons, Saginaw Sting & More

Paul Neumeyer: ... for the Lions, who give us so much to talk about during this dreary time of year.
... for Division 1 college presidents who still think we buy their claim that academics still drives athletics.
... for team general managers like Joe Dumars of the Pistons and Ken Holland of the Wings who not only know what they are doing but have an uncanny eye for talent and vision for the future.
... for youth sports volunteers who are in it for the right reason instead of for their own glory or to get "Johnny" a scholarship.
... for the simple love of the game, which remains after all of the trappings ruining the sanctity of sports are removed.

SUDBURY, Ontario -- The frustration level continued to mount for the Saginaw Spirit Friday night in the Sudbury Community Arena.

That's because the Spirit's goal total didn't climb thanks to the goaltending of Sudbury Wolves' goalie Andrew Loverock.

But in the end Saginaw continued to fight and eventually came away with 3-2 win in a shootout.

ALLENDALE -- Playing in its first NCAA post-season volleyball match on Friday, Saginaw Valley State University never faltered.

The second-seeded Cardinals defeated No. 7 seed Michigan Tech 25-17, 25-23 and 25-20 to advance to today's NCAA regional semifinal against Northern Kentucky at host Grand Valley State University.

Ceciel Reed used to be a once every two-weeks bowler now she is a bowling fanatic.

"I love to bowl," Reed said. "I was always very active but I can't play softball anymore and I was never really any good in basketball.

"Bowling is something that I can do and be competitive," she added.

Reed, 60, started bowling with her husband Norwaine when they were first married.

"He went out and got a ball and shoes," Reed said. "He tried ... he really tried but it wasn't for him. Basketball was his game."

But Ceciel Reed had to put the bowling ball away when her daughter Erinn got into sports.

Bowlers of the Week

Amy Henze, 42, James Township
A set of new fingertip grips for Amy Henze's bowling ball was just the ticket to win this week's Bowler of the Week honors.

Henze rolled games of 235, 208 and 181 for a 624 series. Henze was 162 pins above her 154 average in the State Lanes Prince and Princess mixed doubles league.

"I wasn't getting any lift on the ball so I went to see Tom at Ideal (Bowling Equipment). He set me up with new grips. They made a big difference. But by the time I got to the last game my hands started to hurt. I wasn't used to them."

Pat Davy, 56, Saginaw Township
The secret to Pat Davy's success was a trip to the eye doctor -- only because his eyes were still dilated when he bowled in the LeFevre's Family Bowl Westside Businessmen League.

Davy, who carries a 143 average in that league, almost connected on his first 600 series on games of 213, 214 and 170 for a 597 series. He was 168 pins above his average.

"My eyes were still dilated when I went there (bowling). I bowled a couple of practice games and I didn't even see the rack come down in one of the frames."
This is Davy's first league since he was 18.

"A friend needed a low handicapper for his team and talked me into bowling. This is the first time I have had my own ball and shoes. I told the guys not to expect that (score) every week."

When Standish-Sterling walks into Midland Community Stadium for its Division 5 semifinal game with Ovid-Elsie on Saturday afternoon, Paul Walderzak may feel like he's been there before.

Well, he was, albeit a long time ago.

    BATTLE CREEK - Unionville-Sebewaing Area needed an outstanding effort against a very good Schoolcraft team here Thursday afternoon, but instead seemed to check its ‘A' game at the door.

    Two hours later, the Patriots were checking out of Kellogg Arena.

MOUNT PLEASANT -- Destiny no longer belongs to Central Michigan University. And that hurts CMU coach Butch Jones.

The Chippewas lost control of their own conference fate when they lost a 31-24 Mid-American Conference decision Wednesday to 14th-ranked and undefeated Ball State.

"When you're playing late in November, you want to control your own fate, your own destiny," Jones said. "We lost that. Our kids hurt. It should hurt."

Chris Chappell is becoming a man among boys this season.

The Saginaw Spirit captain actually is a man at 20 years of age, playing against teenagers as young as 16. The Pickering, Ontario, native's performance, however, has as much to do with him as it does those he's playing against.

Something has clicked in his head and the overager is dominating opponents this year, when he was average at best in previous years. The 6-foot-4, 212-pound left winger leads the team in scoring with 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points.