- Schoolcraft’s Lauren Evans hits a pitch during a softball game against Three Rivers on Tuesday, June 1 at Three Rivers High School. Patrick Nothaft | MLive.comPatrick Nothaft | MLive.com
KALAMAZOO, MI – It might not feel much like springtime in the state of Michigan, but many Kalamazoo-area high school athletes haven’t let a little cold weather get in their way in the early part of the prep sports season.
With that in mind, we’re taking a look at the local athletes that spent last week excelling on the diamond, the pitch and the track for our first installment of the Kalamazoo-area Athlete of the Week series.
Among those that stood out between April 11-16 were a flame-throwing softball pitcher from Mendon, a freshman softball slugger from South Haven and a future Michigan Wolverine baseball player from Portage Northern.
Follow along to see who else made the cut and cast your vote for the athlete that impressed the most.
Readers have unlimited voting until 9 a.m. Friday, April 22, and we’ll publish the winner later that day. Voting has no bearing on postseason honors, such as the all-conference or all-state teams.
The senior slugger was dialed in during Tuesday’s doubleheader sweep against Fennville, when she combined to go 6 for 7 with three doubles, seven RBIs and three runs scored.
The senior hurler was hammering the strike zone during a pair of outings last week, beginning with Tuesday’s win over Benton Harbor, in which Belmares struck out eight and allowed two hits and two runs in three innings. He also fanned seven Eau Claire hitters and allowed one hit in three innings to pick up his second win of the season.
Mya Brickley, Delton Kellogg softball
Delton Kellogg hit the cover off the ball during its season-opening series against Galesburg-Augusta, and Brickley was a big part of that success, as the junior slugger combined to go 6 for 7 at the plate with two doubles, a triple, six RBIs and five runs scored during the 19-1 and 20-0 victories.
The multitalented junior led G-A to three wins over Delton Kellogg last week by combining to go 1 for 5 with a double, six walks, three RBIs and five runs scored, while picking up a win on the mound in Game 2 of Tuesday’s doubleheader, in which he struck out 11 and allowed five hits and two earned runs across six innings.
Alanna Brockman, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix softball
The freshman handled the opening week of the season like a savvy veteran and consistently got on base from the top of the order, combining to go 8 for 12 with two walks, six runs scored and two RBIs during a pair of losses to Kalamazoo Central and wins over Addison and Hanover-Horton.
The senior slugger mashed the ball during Climax-Scotts’ sweep over North Adams-Jerome, combining to go 8 for 8 with two doubles, a home run, seven RBIs and six runs scored in a pair of three-inning wins.
Mattawan’s Carson Byers (7) pitches at the Mattawan vs. Portage Central baseball game in Mattawan, Michigan on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Rodney Coleman-Robinson | MLive.com) Rodney Coleman-Robinson | MLive.com
The future Miami Redhawk enjoyed a strong start to his senior season on the mound, where he struck out nine Portage Central batters in five innings, while allowing one hit, three walks and one run in his team’s 15-4 victory. Byers also helped his cause at the plate by belting a triple and a home run and finishing with three RBIs and three runs scored last week.
Kalamazoo Hackett's Brenden Collins (24) throws a pitch during their 2021 MHSAA Division 4 baseball state championship game against Marine City Cardinal Mooney at McLane Baseball Stadium on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing, on Saturday, June 19, 2021. Kalamazoo Hackett won the game, 9-2. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)Mike Mulholland | MLive.com
Brenden Collins, Kalamazoo Hackett baseball
The senior outfielder is a big reason why Hackett is a strong contender for a second consecutive state title, and he’s off to a strong start for the 5-0 Irish after going 9 for 14 at the plate with two doubles, two triples, a home run, eight RBIs and eight runs scored in a pair of wins over Lawton and single-game victories over Hartford and Three Oaks River Valley. Collins also picked up a win on the mound against River Valley by striking out nine, while allowing four hits and two runs in five innings.
The junior pitcher helped Vicksburg open its season with four wins last week, as she went 2-0 in the circle with victories over Portage Central and Paw Paw, in which she combined to strike out nine batters and allow six hits, six walks and four runs in nine innings. At the plate, she went 4 for 11 with a double, a home run, six RBIs and four runs scored.
The junior leadoff hitter was an extra-base machine during a busy opening week of the season, as Deckard combined to go 14 for 21 with five doubles, two triples, a home run, 12 runs scored and six RBIs, which helped Hartford post a 3-4 record.
Alex Dolislager, Kalamazoo Central baseball
The senior second baseman played a big part in K-Central posting a 3-0 record in the season’s opening week by combining to go 9 for 10 at the plate with two doubles, 10 RBIs and four runs scored in a doubleheader sweep over Kalamazoo Loy Norrix and a single-game victory over Coldwater.
Madi Dotson, South Haven softball
It’s hard to imagine starting your high school softball career than Dotson, who belted a grand slam in the season opener against Niles Brandywine and added another four-run dinger in Friday’s win over Saugatuck. The freshman catcher finished the week going 9 for 14 with two doubles, two home runs, 18 RBIs and five runs scored to help the Rams get off to a 5-1 start.
The Battle Creek St. Philip product represented her school well as part of Climax-Scotts’ co-op team by going 7 for 8 with three doubles, two triples, 11 RBIs and six runs scored in a season-opening doubleheader sweep over North Adams-Jerome. Dzwik also struck out six in three scoreless innings to pick up the Game 1 win.
Tiara Ellis, Lawton girls soccer
The freshman standout netted four goals to lead Lawton to a 6-0 win over New Buffalo in the season opener on Thursday.
- Schoolcraft’s Lauren Evans stands in the on-deck circle during a softball game against Three Rivers on Tuesday, June 1 at Three Rivers High School. Patrick Nothaft | MLive.comPatrick Nothaft | MLive.com
The sophomore slugger continued her strong start in last week’s doubleheader sweep over Parchment and single-game loss to Bronson, in which Evans combined to go 6 for 10 with a double, two home runs, eight RBIs and five runs scored for the 4-1 Eagles.
Caden Ferris, Delton Kellogg boys track
The two-time state champion wrestler and future Central Michigan grappler is proving he’s also pretty good at launching a 1.6-kilogram disc, after Ferris took first place at Friday’s Gull Lake Invitational, where he logged a personal-best throw of 126 feet, 3 inches with the discus, which is currently the longest distance in Delton Kellogg’s region.
Michael Griffey, Plainwell boys track
The junior thrower’s discus toss of 142 feet, 11.5 inches not only took first place during last week’s meet against Edwardsburg, it shattered his previous personal best by more than 24 feet and is currently the longest in Plainwell’s region. Griffey also placed first in the shot put with a throw of 44 feet, 6.25 inches.
Kylin Griffin, Three Rivers girls track
The junior sprinter captured five first-place finishes last week – one in the 100-meter dash, one in the 200 dash, two in the 800 relay and one in the 1,600 relay – but it was her second-place time in the 100 dash at Friday’s Gull Lake Invitational that was perhaps her best performance, as Griffin ran a personal-best time of 12.62 seconds, which is tops in Three Rivers’ region.
Anna Griffioen, Portage Northern softball
The junior hurler went 1-1 with two strong performances in the circle last week, beginning with Tuesday’s 8-0 win over Three Rivers, in which she struck out seven and allowed four hits in seven shutout innings. In Thursday’s 4-3 walk-off loss to Battle Creek Lakeview, Griffioen fanned seven and allowed four hits and four runs in 6.2 innings.
At the plate, she combined to go 5 for 13 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored in the doubleheaders against the Wildcats and Spartans.
The junior played a big role in Bloomingdale’s doubleheader sweep over Allegan by combining to go 3 for 8 at the plate with a double, four RBIs and four runs scored, while also picking up the win from the circle in Game 2, when Hegelman struck out three and allowed just three hits and two runs in five innings of work.
Hull was a perfect 6 for 6 at the plate last week with three triples, nine runs scored and four RBIs, all of which helped Bangor claim a doubleheader sweep against Wyoming Lee and a single-game victory against Benton Harbor.
- Kalamazoo Christian's Taylor Leonard scans the field during a soccer game against Schoolcraft on Wednesday, April 28 at Roy Davis Field in Schoolcraft. Patrick Nothaft | MLive.comPatrick Nothaft | MLive.com
Taylor Leonard, Kalamazoo Christian girls soccer
K-Christian has played a grueling early season schedule, and the Comets’ junior forward is a big reason they’re 3-2. Leonard was especially impressive last week, when she netted three goals in a 4-2 win over Otsego, then scored another in a 5-1 victory over Fennville.
Adalyn Liang, Portage Central girls track
The freshman sprinter was a three-time winner in last week’s meet against Battle Creek Lakeview, including personal-best times in the 100-meter dash (13.2) and 200 dash (27.02), the latter of which is currently her region’s fastest time. Liang also ran the third leg of Central’s winning 400 relay team against the Spartans.
- Kalamazoo Christian’s J.J. Manion squares up a bunt during a baseball game against Centreville on Tuesday, May 25 at Kalamazoo Christian High School. Patrick Nothaft | MLive.comPatrick Nothaft | MLive.com
J.J. Manion, Kalamazoo Christian baseball
The junior pitcher was on point in last week’s start against Constantine, in which he struck out 14 batters and allowed two hits, two walks and one run across five innings in the 14-1 victory. At the plate, Manion helped the Comets sweep the doubleheader against Constantine, then defeat the Falcons in a one-off game by combining to go 3 for 8 at the plate with two doubles, four walks, three runs scored and two RBIs.
After opening the season on April 5 with a 6-3 loss to defending state champ Kalamazoo Hackett, Climax-Scotts bounced back in a big way last week, as the Panthers swept North Adams-Jerome thanks to a big day from Matrau, who combined to go 4 for 6 with a double, a triple, eight RBIs and two runs scored, while also striking out six in two no-hit innings in Game 2.
Kalamazoo Christian freshman Maegen Meldrum poses for a photo during the MHSAA softball Division 4 state championship game between Kalamazoo Christian and Unionville-Sebewaing at Secchia Stadium at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan on Saturday, June 15, 2019.Emil Lippe | MLive.com
Maegan Meldrum, Kalamazoo Christian softball
The senior catcher has had a hot bat in the early season, and her success continued last week, when she combined to go 7 for 12 with two doubles, a triple, seven RBIs and six runs scored in a pair of doubleheader sweeps against Constantine.
The sophomore swung a hot bat to start the season and led Lawton to a pair of wins over Kalamazoo Hackett by combining to go 6 for 7 with two triples, five runs scored and two RBIs for the 2-0 Blue Devils.
Tyler Roberts, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix
The speedy senior did a great job of getting on base to open the season, combining to go 7 for 9 with a triple, a walk, three RBIs, five runs scored and three stolen bases during a win over Potterville and a pair of losses to rival Kalamazoo Central.
The junior pitcher was lights-out during the first week of Mendon’s softball season and is a big reason why the Hornets are 3-0. Schabes opened the week with a 19-strikeout no-hitter, finishing two walks shy of a perfect game in a 1-0 win over Athens, and she followed that up with a 15-strikeout performance in a 4-0 win over Burr Oak, in which she allowed two hits and three walks across seven innings. Offensively, Schabes combined to go 2 for 7 with five walks, five runs scored and one RBI.
Mendon outscored its opponents 66-0 during doubleheader sweeps over Burr Oak and Athens, so plenty of Hornet players enjoyed strong opening weeks, but Schinker stood out with his play at the plate, where he combined to go 6 for 8 with two doubles, a home run, six walks, eight RBIs and 11 runs scored. On the mound, he pitched two no-hit innings and struck out five, while allowing one walk.
Lilah Smith, Richland Gull Lake girls soccer
The freshman phenom has the potential to finish her career among the best to ever play for a Gull Lake program that has won four state titles and produced stars such as Reagan Wisser, Kirsten Taylor and Carly Rice. Smith showcased her talents last week with two goals in a 5-0 win over a tough Mattawan team to help the Blue Devils improve to 3-0 on the year.
Zachary Spence, Otsego boys track
The sophomore thrower is looking for his first trip to the state meet, and if last week’s performance is any indication, he’s a good bet to reach the big stage. Spence won both the shot put (47 feet) and discus (127 feet, 7 inches) events at a dual meet against Vicksburg with personal bests in each one, and his shot put toss is currently the longest in Otsego’s region.
Portage Northern's Ty Tomlinson waits for a pitch during a high school baseball game from the 2021 season. (Photo by Jack Mills, used with permission)
Ty Tomlinson, Portage Northern baseball
The University of Michigan commit continued his strong sophomore season last week by going 6 for 9 at the plate with two doubles, a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored to help the Huskies sweep Three Rivers in a doubleheader, before falling to Battle Creek Lakeview, which ran their record to 6-2.
Bennett VandenBerg, Constantine boys track
The sophomore thrower just missed out on qualifying for last year’s state meet in the discus, but he’s on track to change that this year, after shattering his personal-best distance by 25 feet with a first-place throw of 135 feet, 1 inch at Saturday’s Hartford Freshman-Sophomore Invite. VandenBerg also won the shot put with another personal best of 34 feet, 9 inches.
The junior pitcher went 2-0 last week, picking up his first win with two perfect innings against Bloomingdale, in which he struck out four batters, then adding his second victory during a 1-0 shutout against Sturgis, where he fanned eight and allowed five hits in six innings. At the plate, Wendt went 5 for 13 with a double, five RBIs and three runs scored to help the Tigers finish 3-1.
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