RD Sports Photo Blog

Taking a break from blog posts

2013-09-24T23:05:00.002-04:00

I have kept up with this blog for a number of years, but just seems like to much duplication with Facebook, where there are a number of fans that follow RD Sports Photo. I would add the blog here, then paste it into Facebook, but never seemed to be to many clicks on the game story, so I am trying posting a direct link to the photos from games and a quick story line in Facebook. I like it, because it lessens my workload, which is very nice. We shall see how it goes. If you stop by, this is the reason there have been no updates. Please visit my Facebook page at;

www.facebook.com/rdsportsphoto

Thanks for your support as always :)

Rob DeForge

Gaylord vs Cheboygan Jv and Frosh football

2013-08-29T13:22:00.000-04:00

#13 Justin Fessler on a punt return for Gaylord in the frosh game

click here for freshman game photos

click here for JV game photos (first half only)

The opening of the 2013 football season began Thursday night for Gaylord and Cheboygan with a pair of games, Freshman and Junior Varsity. The frosh game was a wild affair as Gaylord controlled the game early off of the legs on Nathan Boswood, who would score 5-td's and rush for int he ara of 170-yards as Gaylord built a 40-19 lead at the start of the 4th quarter. In the blistering heat, the Cheboygan line took over, and I believe Gaylord had negative yardage and 0 first downs in the quarter, as Cheboygan scored 22-points, the last ones coming with 20-seconds left on a 8-yard TD pass to win a wild game 41-40. In the soph game, Gaylord scored the only TD in the first half to lead 8-0, and tacked on 22-more points to white-wash the Chiefs 30-0. The Varsity battle is in Gaylord tonight to wrap up the 2013 edition of Gaylord-Cheboygan football.

Cheboygan back breaks off a TD run in the frosh game.

The winning extra-point for the final 41-40 margin in a Cheboygan comeback win.

Jacob Freeman for Gaylord in the JV game.

#49 Joseph Miller of Gaylord, with a reception for a 2-point conversion in the JV game.

Tawas Area 3 - Gaylord 1 - boys high school soccer

2013-08-24T00:00:00.000-04:00

Gaylord's #9 Austin Kirby

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The opening night of the high school 2013-14 sports season took place for me tonight in Gaylord, as the Blue Devils hosted Tawas area in a boys high school soccer match, with the Braves from Tawas taking a 3-1 victory. Tawas scored first in this game right near the end of the first half after many great saves by the goalies from both teams. Gaylord would even it up about halfway through the 2nd half when a corner kick found it's way into the net off a Tawas defender. Gaylord would play a ball with the hand in the penalty box a few moments later, and would bury the penalty kick for a 2-1 lead, then add an insurance goal with a couple of minutes remaining to open up the season with a win. Tawas took the JV game as well, by a 2-1 score.

Battle for the ball at midfield

Gaylord goalie Ben Fry grabs a corner kick as Tawas #20 Jacob Carroll could not make a play.

The Gaylord goal off of the Jordan Monarch corner kick.

Gaylord's #10 Matt Coger

Gaylord goalie Ben Fry

3 Little League baseball games to end the season for RD Sports Photo

2013-07-21T20:55:00.002-04:00

Gaylord 9-10 baseball

Click here for Hillman/West Branch 9-10 softball District Final

Click here for Gaylord/West Branch 9-10 baseball District Final

Click here for TC West/Byron Center 10-11 baseball sectional

2 games Saturday, and 1 on Sunday wraps up the photography for Little League baseball in 2013. On Saturday, a pair of games in East Jordan for District 8, as the finals for the 9-10 year olds in softball and baseball were played. In the softball final, Hillman started strong with 8 runs in the first inning, and cruised to a 15-6 win over West Branch, and will play on in the State Tourney in Escanaba, while on the baseball side, West Branch used a 9-run 3rd inning to put the game out of reach, beating Gaylord 13-1 in 4 innings to earn a trip to the Sate Final Tourney in Muskegon. Sunday was another 10-11 sectional baseball game between TC West and Byron Center played at Hutchinson Field in Gaylord. West would force a 1-game winner take all game on Monday, as they beat Byron Center 9-3 in 6-innings. The winner on Monday between these 2 teams will head to the State Tournament in the 10-11 year old bracket. Time for a 3-week or so break for RD Sports Photo, and then it is here....the 2013 football season :)

West Branch 9-10 softball

Hillman 9-10 softball

Gaylord 9-10 baseball

West Branch 9-10 baseball

Byron Center 10-11 baseball

TC West & Byron Center 9-10 baseball

TC West vs Muskegon Reeths Puffer 10-11 baseball

2013-07-19T22:27:00.001-04:00

The game winning run scored in the 3rd inning by Reeth Puffer in a tight 1-run game.

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3 District winners in the 10-11 year old division of Little League baseball are meeting in a sectional double elimination tournament over the weekend in Gaylord, and the first game Friday night between TC West and Muskegon Reeths Puffer was a good one, with Muskegon coming out on top by a 2-1 score. With the score tied at 1-1 and a Reeths runner on 2nd base with 1-out, a grounder was hit to the infield, and TC West made the play at first, but the throw across to 3rd base got by the TC West player, and Muskegon was able to score what would be the winning run. I believe this was the bottom of the 3rd inning. TC in the top of the 6th, had the first 2 batters make an out, but a base hit, and a couple of walks, and the bases were loaded with 2-out, but a ground ball to shortstop, where the Muskegon player gobbled it up and stepped on 2nd base to close out this game. The other team is Bryon Center. They play 2 games tomorrow, and 1-2 on Sunday. Hopefully will make it back out for Sundays games.

This Muskegon shortstop has great range to his left or right.

TC Runner is stranded at 3rd base after this 3rd out play at first in a 1-run game.

TC West pitcher delivers to the plate

Last out of the game with bases loaded in a 1-run game.....not an easy play with the runner in front of you!!

Solid swing from the Muskegon player.

TC East vs Gaylord District 8 Championship baseball

2013-07-14T13:00:00.003-04:00

TC East poses in front of the scoreboard with the District 8 flag

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A great Little League baseball game Saturday in Boyne City as Traverse City East avenged 2+ years of frustration by finally beating Gaylord in the District 8 Championship game by a 7-5 score, earning a berth in the state final tournament in Ispheming in the near future. Gaylord, who has beaten TCE in the district final the past 3-years, and who I believe has not lost a district tournament game in that time, started out with a quick 5-0 lead highlighted by a Parker Rey home run, and looked to be on their way, but the 3rd inning of this game turned out to be the crucial moment for both of these teams. In the top of the 3rd, the TCE shortstop made a great play on a ball up the middle, and almost turned a double play, but his pick-up of that ground ball saved a run and allowed TCE to make it out of the inning putting a zero on the board for Gaylord for the first time. In the bottom of the inning, TCE would hit a solo homerun to make it 5-1, and then the steady Gaylord defense would make 3 critical defensive errors, a misplay on a flyball to centerfield, an over throw by the pitcher to 1st base, and a ground ball to 1st base in which a wrong decision was made...all of these occurring I believe with 2-outs in the inning. When the smoke cleared, Gaylord still held a 5-4 lead after 3 innings, but you could feel the difference in each of the teams.......mainly TCE believing they could win this game. TCE would add 3 more in the bottom of the 4th inning as the Gaylord pitchers had a hard time throwing strikes, and that was your ball game, a 7-5 win for East, that set off a great celebration by the players, parents and family. The TCE left handed pitcher did a great job in shutting Gaylord down, as they went scoreless the last 4-innings of the game. This game was just another reason why Little League baseball is such a great sport.

TCE shortstops great play in the top of the 3rd inning.

Matt Wilson grabs this groundball at 3rd base for Gaylord.

A tag out at 2nd base that finally ended the TC East 3rd inning in which they scored 4-runs.

The Gaylord centerfielder cannot make a play on this flyball in the TC East 3rd inning.

The final out as Traverse City East claimed the District 8 Championship.

TC East celebration by the players after the final out.

Posing for photos with the District 8 flag.

Gaylord vs TC West Major baseball semi-Final

2013-07-10T21:15:00.002-04:00

Click here for game photos

4 teams were left in the Little League Major tournament in District 8 heading into Tuesday's semi-final games, which I was able to attend the Gaylord vs TC West side of the bracket. This group of Gaylord players have been unbeaten in tourney play the last 3-years, and TC West put a scare into them, before the Gaylord bats got hot, and they won going away in 4-innings by a 18-8 score to earn a berth in the District 8 Final Saturday in Boyne City vs TC East. TC West held an early 2-1 lead in the 1st inning, and down 7-3, they were able to tie the game at 7-7. Gaylord would take a 10-7 lead into the bottom of the 3rd inning, and the key play of the game was made at home plate by Gaylord. Gaylord's centerfielder picked up a base hit and threw the TC West runner out at home plate, with a great play made by Gaylord catcher Parker Rey (more on him later) who had to turn to tag the TC West runner just before he reached the plate, ending the inning with West not getting a run. Gaylord would out an 8-spot on the board in the top of the 4th inning to then take control of the game and close it out. TC West's big 1st basemen Rutwouski (sp) had 2 big home runs in the game, along with another player for West hitting 1. The big star of this game was Parker Rey of Gaylord, who went 4-4 at the plate, with 3 doubles and 1 single, picking up 7 RBI's in the game. Each one of his at bats he just stung the ball,,,,could be the best I have seen a player dialed into the baseball in my 8-years of photographing Little League baseball.

Rutouwski watches his first of 2 home runs in the game for TC West

Gaylord pitcher Mitch Wilson

Parker Rey with the play of the game, as he tags out the TC West runner at the plate ending the inning.

TC West home run ball, as Wilson in the foreground can only watch it go out.

Junior softball East Jordan vs Gaylord

2013-07-01T21:50:00.002-04:00

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Pool play action in District 8 Sunday in Boyne City, as East Jordan and Gaylord met in a Junior softball game. East Jordan would start strong with a 5-1 first inning and cruise from there to a very big win in this pool play game. I believe Roscommon dropped out of this Division, so may be just these 2 teams and Boyne City to play for the District title. Hopefully I can get out for a few more games...but looks like it will be less than in previous years.

Gaylord vs Joburg 12-year old baseball

2013-06-27T22:23:00.002-04:00

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Tonight, a first round District 8 pool play game between Gaylord and Joburg, went the way of the Gaylord All-Stars by a 33-5 score, or some where in that area, in 4-innings. Johannesburg would jump out to a 1-0 lead after the 1st inning, but the Gaylord team got the bats cranking, lead by a Parker Rey grand slam in the 2nd inning, as Gaylord never looked back winning this game on the heels of their 17-2 win over Hillman, which will ensure them a upcoming Quarterfinal game, as this group looks to claim their 3rd District 8 Championship in-a-row.

Gaylord 10 - Joburg 8 travel baseball 9-10 year olds

2013-06-17T21:58:00.002-04:00

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One game of the Gaylord hosted 9-10 travel baseball tournament was all I photographed this weekend, but was lucky enough to capture both Joburg and Gaylord, who played in this early Sunday game, with Gaylord winning by a 10-8 score. My plan was to catch more of the games, but other plans cropped up, so I was glad I was able to see both of these teams at the same time. Some good baseball players on these teams :)

12U baseball at Gaylord

2013-06-10T22:22:00.000-04:00

Click here to view tourney photos

Well youth baseball season is in full swing, with travel baseball and the Little League tournaments a few weeks away, and I just love taking photos of these athletes in action in a great sport. This past weekend I was at Hutchinson Field in Gaylord for a 12U baseball tournament. Gaylord's 12 U team beat TC Power in the final by a 805 score to go unbeaten over the 2-days. I was able to capture all of the teams but one, which was West Branch, as I was not there for each session of games, and focused mainly on the Gaylord and Joburg teams, (Gaylord having an 11U team as well). Next weekend a 9/10 tournament which I will be able to capture the Sunday games, and the following weekend an 11U tourney will then lead into the LL districts....so plenty of youth baseball/softball for the next month to keep me busy :)

Gaylord 2 - Petoskey 1 OT girls District soccer

2013-05-28T22:47:00.002-04:00

#13 Jill Antonishen makes a move on #19 Missy Hartmann

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Gaylord and Petoskey renewed their girls soccer rivalry tonight in the first district game of the playoffs, with the Blue Devils coming out on top 2-1 in OT. These 2 teams split their regular season games each winning by a 1-0 score, so you know this game was up for grabs tonight. Gaylord put a marker on the board first as Taylor Kaiser found the net from the left side. Petoskey would tie it up before the first half ended, as #13 Jill Antonishen grabbed a rebound off of Gaylord netminder Alex Simmons, and knocked it into the open net to make it 1-1, which is where the first half ended. The second half would have no scoring, so the teams moved on to overtime, which started with a pair of 10-minute sessions. Gaylord would score in the 1st session, as Maddie Hamilla was tripped up in the box, and Gaylord was awarded a penalty shot, which freshman Brandi Wagner buried in the right side of the net for a Blue Devil 2-1 lead. A couple of close calls for the Northmen, but they were unable to find the net, and Gaylord will now move on to the next game of districts, as they face Cadillac Thursday night in Cadillac.

#10 Brandi Wagner just misses this ball early in the first half for Gaylord

Gaylord celebrates the 1st half goal by Taylor Kaiser.

Petoskey celebrates their 1st half goal by Jill Antonishen.

Brandi Wagner with the penalty shot goal in overtime for the Blue Devils.

Joburg vs Gaylord JV baseball

2013-05-19T23:27:00.002-04:00

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A trip to Joburg Friday night for a JV baseball game between Gaylord and Johannesburg-Lewiston. They split the double header........that's it.......a few photos :)

Gaylord Blue Devil baseball & softball vs Alpena Wildcats

2013-05-07T22:59:00.000-04:00

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The Gaylord Blue Devil varsity baseball and softball teams hosted doubleheaders today vs the Alpena Wildcats in Big North Conference action. In baseball, the Blue Devils dropped the 1st game by a 11-4 score, and the 2nd game was a 15-0 washout after 4-innings, as the Blue Devils remain winless on the season. The Lady Devils lost the 2nd game of their double header 13-3, and I am unsure how the first game finished. I believe Gaylord is scheduled to play next vs. Grayling at home on Thursday.

Gaylord JV softball vs Traverse City Central

2013-05-01T23:13:00.003-04:00

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The Gaylord Blue Devil jv girls softball team hosted the Traverse City Central Trojans for a pair of games Wednesday night at Gaylord High School, and the visiting Trojans took both ends of the double header on a beautiful evening for softball. The Trojans took the first game by a 13-1 score in 5-innings, and lead 16-5 in the 2nd game in the 4th inning, the point where I left the game. The Gaylord girls struggled at times in these games, but learning on the fly as most of the practice time has been indoors until this past week. Another month to go int he season to improve each time they take the field :)

Gaylord Blue Devil baseball & softball

2013-04-27T22:54:00.003-04:00

Click here to view softball photos

Click here to view baseball photos

The Gaylord Blue Devil varsity baseball and softball teams traveled to Boyne City for Saturday tournaments, with mixed results. The girls softball team finished in 2nd place, while the boys team dropped a 7-3 decision to Cheboygan and a 3-2 loss to Central Lake in extra-innings. I only saw the girls first game, a 9-8 win over Boyne City in a exciting game. Snapped a few photos, but spent more time watching on this day, so I will capture these teams a bit more in the future....weather permitting :)

Gaylord 1 Alpena 0 girls High School soccer

2013-04-26T22:54:00.003-04:00

#11 Madison Hamila reacts after scoring the only goal in Gaylord's 1-0 win over Alpena.

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The Gaylord Blue Devil girls varsity soccer team hosted the Alpena Wildcats Friday night at the Gaylord Intermediate School, and it took about 71-minutes to score the 1st and only goal of the game in a 1-0 Big North Conference win over the Wildcats. Gaylord dominated play the whole game, with the action tilted towards the Alpena goal, but were unable to take control of this game until #11 Madison Hamilla was able to head a ball in off a kick by #13 Sarah Polena past the Wildcat netminder, and the Blue Devils killed off the last minutes to win this game. It has been about a 5-week break between seasons for me, as Mother Nature has been unkind to the spring sports, but felt good to get back out to photograph the action.

#2 Megan Martin waits for a Gaylord corner kick.

Gaylord's #8 Brooke Stier

Blue Devil #21 Kaylor Mikolowski

Gaylord's #13 Sarah Polena

Blue Devil #22 Rebecca Pensyl

Negaunee 56 - Glen Lake 55 boys Quarterfinal basketball

2013-03-19T22:59:00.001-04:00

Miner #14 Tyler Jandron

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A Class C Quarterfinal basketball game took place at the Jim Mongeau Gym Tuesday night at Gaylord High School, as the Negaunee Miners squeaked by the Glen Lake Lakers, 56-55 to earn a berth in the Class C final four at Breslin Arena on the campus of Michigan State University. What a great basketball game this was, as the gym was packed with very loud fan bases, and this game would give everyone the worth of the $6 ticket, and more as it came right down to the wire with the last shot being taken with 0.7 seconds remaining. This was close at each quarter break, 15-15 at the end of the 1st. 28-26 at the half in favor of Negaunee. 40-39 at the end of the 3rd with the Miners up by the 1-point, and the 56-55 final. The crazy gap came in the 3rd quarter, as the Miners broke out early going on a run, and a 38-27 11-point lead, but at the end of the quarter, the Lakers would outscore Negaunee 12-2 to close the gap to 1-point. Down by 3 with 15-seconds remaining, the Lakers got a good 3-point look, but missed the shot, grabbed the rebound and score 2-points with 2 seconds remaining. The Miners missed both free throws on the next possession, and the Lakers got off a 3/4 court shot with 0.7 remaining that fell short, along with their dreams of reaching the final four. This was another game that makes high school sports a great event.

#30 Laker Mike O'Brien with a rebound

A contested Laker shot by the Miner defense

The Glen Lake 3-point attempt from #32 Carter Lee that did not hit its mark
with about 7-seconds left, but he would get the rebound to score a basket
cutting the Miner lead to 1-point with 2 seconds to play.

#32 Laker Carter Lee during starter introductions

Miner Tyler Jandron caught under the basket looking to pass

Cadillac 60 - Grayling 41 boys basketball Regional FInal

2013-03-13T23:13:00.002-04:00

Batle for a rebound in the Cadillac/Grayling Regional Final game.

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A Class B Regional Final basketball game was played in Grayling on Wednesday night between the Vikings, both Cadillac and Grayling, The Grayling Vikings had the fortune to have a home court advantage, but it was the Vikings from the south who pulled away late in the 4th-Quarter for a 60-41 win to advance to next weeks Quarterfinal game at Houghton Lake. Grayling who was down by 16-18 points in the 3rd-quarter, went on a mini run to cut the Cadillac lead to 9-points, and had a possession to cut it to 7, but as happened all night long, they missed many close in shots. That, along with 20+ turnovers in the game spelled the end for the Grayling season at 19-6. Cadillac (20-4) will continue on with a chance to win a final four berth at the Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University next week.

Cadillac #3 Nick Paquet

Grayling's #4 Justice Junttila

Cadillac's #2 Jalen Brooks

Grayling's #1 Tyler McClanahan

Muskegon 53 - Marquette 49 boys Regional basketball

2013-03-11T22:34:00.001-04:00

Muskegon #1 Deshaun Thrower and Marquettes #42 Mark Pap

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A Class A Regional semi-final basketball game was played at the Jim Mongeau gym at Gaylord High School Monday night, as it was about the half-way point between Muskegon and Marquette, who squared off in a great game, that was won by the Big Reds of Muskegon 53-49. The 1st quarter got off to a slow start, with less than 3-minutes remaining, Muskegon held a 2-1 lead, but the quarter would finish with Marquette on top 7-4. Muskegon would dominate the 2nd quarter, outscoring the Redmen 15-6 to take a 6-point lead into the locker-room at 19-13. At the start od the 3rd quarter, Marquette would net the first 6-points to tie it up at 19-19, and the rest of the way, the lead was never more than 5-points in this contest. Late in the game, Muskegon led 48-46, and Marquette had to foul.....and Muskegon would do a nice job of hitting freethrows down the stretch. The score at 50-46, Marquette was called with the strangest foul of the game, as #42 Mark Pap had position on the block, and with the ball spun to the basket, and was called for an offensive foul, his 5th to foul out of the game with around 20-seconds left. Just a crazy call in a game where the officials let alot of hand checking, and body pushing down low the whole game, and then to call a foul at such an important stage of the game was very odd. I can only guess he called Pap for hooking, but I really did not see that at all. Muskegon would hit the free throws making it a 6-point game, pretty much ending the contest. Marquette would hit a 3-pointer with 4-seconds left, but one Big Red free throw sealed the game at 53-49. This was an entertaining game...close the whole way.

Fighting for rebounds all game long

Pap gets an over-the-back call on this one, but Big Red #0 D'Vonte Dockery
was pushing backwards as well.....tough call for officials.

Marquette #53 A.J. Grazulis with a hook over Big Reds #21 Deyonta Davis.

Muskegon #5 Joeviair Kennedy

Muskegon's #21 Davis with one of his many blocks on the evening,
here against Marquette's #20 Connor Brazeau.

Glen Lake 49 - Traverse City St. Francis 39 boys basketball District Final

2013-03-08T22:18:00.001-05:00

Glad's #2 Austin Currie and Laker #32 Carter Lee.

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A Class D District Final game took place in Boyne City Friday night, as the Glen Lake Lakers placed the 2nd loss of the season on Traverse City St. Francis to claim the district by a 49-39 score. TCSF was looking for a measure of revenge in this game as a few weeks ago they suffered their first loss of the season to the Lakers, but Glen Lake slowly pulled away in the 4th-quarter, limiting the Glads to one shot and rebounding the basketball as they finished with the 10-point victory, for their first District Final Championship since 2002. The Lakers will now play Monday in Traverse City, vs the winner of the Lincoln-Alcona/Tawas game. Another good game to closs out the boys and girls districts for the 2012-13 season.

Laker #32 Carter Lee

Gen Lake's #30 Mike O'Brien

Glad's #32 Conner Archer

Laker coach Rich Ruelas celebrates in the waning seconds of the game.

St.Ignace 74 - Posen 68 girls basketball Regional Final

2013-03-07T22:59:00.000-05:00

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A terrific girls basketball game Thursday night in Gaylord, as the undefeated St. Ignace Saints and Posen Vikings, both 23-0 on the season, played a Class D Regional FInal at the Jim Mongeanu Gymnasium at Gaylord High School, a nd the Saints will move on with a hard fought 74-68 win. AN 18-0 2nd -quarter run by the Saints really spread this game out, but Posen did not give up and outscored the Saints by 10-points in the 3rd quarter to make it a 4-point game at 58-54. It was close the rest of the way, but he Saints made the plays at the end to move on to the Quarterfinal match-up next Tuesday, which will be played against Crystal Falls Forest Park. Just a great game tonight as a fan of high school sports.

Class D Girls basketball Regional, St. Ignace, Pickford, Pellston & Posen

2013-03-05T22:44:00.001-05:00

Click here for St. Ignace vs Pickford game photos

Click here for Posen vs Pellston game photos

A Class D girls basketball Regional is being held at Gaylord High School, and 2 semi-final games tipped off Tuesday night at the 'Monge. In the first contest, the #1 rated team in Class D, the Saints of St. Ignace jumped out to a 24-0 lead over the Pickford Panthers to make a quick statement. The Panthers went on a 11-3 run of their own to cut it to a 27-11 lead, but the Saints would run off another 20-straight to run away with a 67-23 win and a date in the Regional Final Thursday night at Gaylord High School.

In the 2nd semi-final, another highly rated team in Class D, the Posen Vikings took on a Pellston Hornet team, who although won their district, had a 5-14 record I believe heading into this game. The Vikings made quick work of Pellston in the first half, leading 56-15 at the break. I left the game at the half, but with the Posen impending victory, sets up a nice Regional Final between the Vikings and the Saints.

2013 Welborn Cup ski races at Boyne Highlands

2013-03-03T23:37:00.002-05:00

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The 2013 Welborn Cup ski races were held Sunday at Boyne Highlands in Harbor Springs, MI. This race brings 6 Northern Michigan Ski Clubs together for an end of the year championship race, where the clubs send their best skiers from the 2013 season. These clubs are, Northern Michigan Ski Academy, Antrim Race Academy, Grand Traverse Ski Club, Holiday Race Team, North Coast Snowsports Club and the Northwestern Alpine Ski Academy. The conditions were perfect with highs in the upper 20's and bright sunshine. The sky was so deep blue from the reflection of of Lake Michigan....just a beautiful winter day :)

Sault 4 - Alpena 0 hockey Regional Final

2013-03-02T23:55:00.003-05:00

Sault players take the team photo with the Regional Championship trophy.

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A Division 3 Regional Final game took place at the Otsego County Sportsplex Saturday night, with the Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils coming out on top over the Alpena Wildcats by a 4-0 score. A very entertaining and fast paced game between these Northern Michigan rivals. The Soo slowly pulled away with gsingle goals in the first 2 periods, then finished it off with a pair in the 3rd and goose-egged the Wildcats, as Senior goalie Bradley Padgett posted the shutout for the Blue Devils, who now will take on Houghton next week in the Quarterfinals with a trip on the line to the Final Four for Division 3 hockey in Michigan.

Blue Devil #8 William Gauthier.

Hard hitting all game long

The bend of the stick off of this slapshot by Alpena's #13 Zachery Nash.

#12 Sault's Chase Gamelin celebrates a Blue Devil goal.

#9 Blue Devil Blake Maslaw reacts to a teammates 2nd period goal.