Andy Hawley

BROOKLYN, Mich. (Aug. 16, 2016) – Detroit Red Wings Head Coach Jeff Blashill will serve as the grand marshal for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 on August 28 at Michigan International Speedway. Blashill will give the command of “Start your engines!” when the Pure Michigan 400 gets underway at 2 p.m. The Pure Michigan 400 will be broadcast live on NBCSports on August 28. “It’s an honor to serve as grand marshal for the Pure Michigan 400,” Blashill said. “I was born and raised in Michigan and have had the opportunity to spend most of my coaching career here, so I know how passionate the fans are for all sports. I’m thrilled for the opportunity to meet the drivers, take part in the pre-race activities and soak in the atmosphere on race day.” Blashill is entering his second season as head coach for the Red Wings after being named to the position on June 9, 2015 and leading the Red Wings to their 25th consecutive playoff berth in 2015-16. The 42-year-old is the 27th coach in franchise history, the first American to lead the Red Wings and just the third Michigan native to coach any major Detroit…

The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football coaches anticipate a season where any of four teams could hoist the championship trophy in November.   The result of the coaches preseason poll, released Monday by league Director of Media Relations Sheila Blackman, reports defending champion Albion College will face challenges from Adrian College, Olivet College and Trine University this fall.   Adrian, 4-2 against league rivals to finish in a tie with Trine for third place last year, was installed as the league favorite after receiving one vote to finish first, four to finish second and one to finish third for a total of 12 points.   Albion and Olivet, which shared the league title last year with 5-1 records, collected 13 points apiece. Albion received more votes to finish as the champion – three – than any other team. Olivet was tabbed as the favorite by one of its league rivals.   Trine, picked as the league favorite by two coaches, rounds out the top four with 17 points.   Alma College (27 points), Hope College (30) and Kalamazoo College (35) came in at fifth through seventh, respectively.   Albion’s schedule is favorable, playing two of the anticipated top teams at…

The Jackson Speedway will be hosting the 10th Annual Two Day Micro Sprint Dirt Oval Races on August 19th and 20th. There will be over $3,750 in prize money and an additional $7,000 in prizes. John Lefere of Jackson Speedway, stated, “We are very proud and excited to host the 10th Annual Jackson Speedway Two Day Dirt Races. This is a great weekend event for all the race fans in a three state area. There will be competitors from Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. All competing in back to back nights for some big money, prizes and bragging rights.” Lefere continued, “In addition to the micro sprints on the dirt oval, we will have for the first time go karts on the dirt Saturday afternoon. Various classes of go karts will take to the 18 degree dirt track banking from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m.” General Admission is just $5 and children under 12 are free.  It’s a great family event! Plus, Sparky’s Fireworks Outlet will end both evenings with a spectacular fireworks show. “We have many area companies involved, plus our major sponsors Alro Metals Outlet, Bailey Sand & Gravel, Kelly Express Mobil, Larry’s RV Center, Monster Motors, Pendergrass Concrete…

BROOKLYN, Mich. (Aug. 12, 2016) —The action and the strategy in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Careers for Veterans 200 race is getting more intense in 2016. In a race that already features high-energy action all over the track, the truck series event on August 27 will feature more drama when the series visits Michigan International Speedway. NASCAR instituted a 20-minute caution clock this year and it will be the first time featured at MIS. The clock will be set to 20 minutes and triggered at the start of each green-flag run during race events. When the clock counts down to zero, a caution flag then will be displayed and no beneficiary will be awarded. A caution occurring before time expires resets the clock when the subsequent green flag is displayed and the first truck a lap down will be the beneficiary. “The caution clock is going to add to the race,” NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Timothy Peters said. “You are going to see a lot more strategy played. Strategy was played pretty big at Michigan before the 20-minute caution clock. Now you will see it played even more. “Do you hit pit road under green?” Peters…

Men's Green Division Broken Yoke 17  Rives 5.  Al Edwards went 4 for 4 and Sean Burbo went 3 for 3 with with 2 triples and 4 RBIs to lead Broken Yoke.  T.J. Powell went 3 for 3 for Rives.   Murph's Pumps 13  Dekes Uptown Tire & Auto 11.  David Davis and Jason Freeman each went 3 for 4 with a double and 2 RBIs to lead Murph's Pumps.  Nick Wickzicz went 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs for Dekes Uptown Tire & Auto.   JVB/Brass Rail  17  Arbor Woods 16.  Greg Vineau went 4 for 5 with a triple and Eric Stuard went 3 for 4 with a triple and a double to lead JVB/Brass Rail.  Chris Dibasso went 4 for 5 with 2 doubles for Arbor Woods.   Brass Rail 18  The Stein's 6.  Logan Nabozny and Kris Gunterman each went 3 for 4 with a home run and 5 RBIs to lead Brass Rail to the 2nd Round Championship in the Green Division 1.  Kenny Sanford went 2 for 3 with a double for The Stein's.   Broken Yoke 15  Murph's Pumps 14.  Nick Thomas went 4 for 4 and Dustin Switzerberg went 3 for 4…

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Spring Arbor University Director of Golf Programs Jacob Leyrer announced Thursday the hiring of Erik Baum as the new head coach of the SAU women’s golf program.   “Erik will be a great asset for this program and I’m looking forward to working with him,” said Leyrer. “He brings an excitement to his coaching approach and is looking to help build this program to national championship contenders!”   A Jackson native, Baum has been in education for the last nine years, working as a special education teacher in Jackson County. He has also been involved with athletics and coaching for more than a decade, including serving as the assistant varsity golf coach at Western High School for the last four seasons.   Baum has dedicated much of his time to crafting his golf expertise over the last seven years, providing group and personal lessons, as well as working with various youth and adult entities to further grow the game.   “I am genuinely thrilled to continue my coaching career with the women’s golf team here at Spring Arbor University,” said Baum. “I would like to sincerely thank Spring Arbor University, the athletic department staff, and Coach…

Tuesday Green Division The Stein's 13  Broken Yoke 8.  Albert Bonney III went 4 for 4 with a triple and a double while Dunlan Harbottle went 2 for 4 with a double to lead The Stein's.  Mike Wells went 3 for 4 with a triple and a double and Al Edwards also went 3 for 4 with a double for Broken Yoke.   Brass Rail 8  JVB/Brass Rail 5.  Kris Gunterman went 3 for 3 with a triple and Mike French went 2 for 3 with a double to win the Battle of the Brass Rail. Eric Job smashed out 3 hits in 4 at bats in the loss.   Murph's Pumps 18  Rives 1.  Scott Reese went 4 for 4 with a triple and 2 doubles with 5 RBIs while Jack Henry went 3 for 4 with a double for Murph's Pumps.  TJ Powell went 3 for 3 with a double for Rives.   Arbor Woods 16  Dekes Uptown Tire and Auto 15.  Dominic Gigerio drove in Kory Burkholder with the winning run in the bottom of the 7th.  Dom Warner went 4 for 4 with 4 RBIs and Kory Burkholder went 3 for 4 with a double to…

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University volleyball team has been honored with the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2015-16 season, the AVCA announced Monday, July 25.   The award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale.   The AVCA recorded its highest-ever total number of recipients, honoring 762 programs teams nationwide this year.   Spring Arbor boasted a 3.60 team GPA – the 10th-best mark among NAIA programs. The Cougars had nine players maintain at least a 3.5 GPA, while three of those were recognized as NAIA Scholar-Athletes (junior or above with at least a 3.5 GPA).   Spring Arbor opens its 2016 season Aug. 26 when it travels to Dearborn, Michigan for the University of Michigan-Dearborn Early Bird Challenge.

2016 Jackson County Open Final Results Player Round 1 Round 2 Total Championship Flight Cody Lysher 67 70 137 Matthew Farhat 70 70 140 Pete Walz 72 71 143 Noah Schneider 70 75 145 Patrick Campbell 74 71 145 Greg Zeller 70 76 146 Josh Dirlam 75 71 146 Steve Maddalena 73 74 147 Joey Badall 74 73 147 Mike Brockie 76 71 147 Rusty Whisman 73 76 149 Tim Pickering 74 76 150 William Double 76 75 151 Henry Hitt 73 79 152 Scott Denig 73 80 153 Brent Marshall 74 79 153 Mike Raymond 74 79 153 Johnny Brockie 75 78 153 John Tarpley 76 77 153 Jake Butterfield 74 80 154 Nicholas Huff 75 80 155 Chris Chaney 73 83 156 David Mickle 81 75 156 Jim Coutu 76 81 157 Tom Raymond 76 81 157 Dan Eddy 72 87 159 Troy Allen 78 83 161 Bryan Marvin 88 79 167 John Duffy 84 85 169 Lance Schnitkey 77 WD WD First Flight Brian Carney 78 74 152 Luke Girodat 77 76 153 Larry Sexton 78 79 157 Dan Taylor 78 80 158 Chris Vanderveen 82 77 159 Roger Kuhl 83 76 159 Justin Dods 82 78…