GRAND RAPIDS -- After being held scoreless three times in a four-game stretch this spring, Unity Christian might have been considered a soccer team facing its descent from championship form.

Consecutive 1-0 losses, one to Holland Christian that would ultimately keep the Crusaders from winning a league title, and a crushing last-second goal that left them stunned against East Grand Rapids, gave Unity four defeats and a tie in the season's first 12 games.

A 6-1 win against Zeeland East in the next match proved to be the midpoint of the Crusaders' season and the last game in which it was scored upon as Unity proved it still owns the Division 3 state tournament.

With a 1-0 victory on Saturday against Flint Powers Catholic in the championship game at Grand Rapids Christian, Unity extended its state record to five consecutive titles and 34 straight wins in postseason play.

Crusaders coach Randy Heethuis looked back at the halfway mark of the season and saw that the glass was not only half full but contained lemonade.

"This one's extra sweet. I can't say enough about how they came on this year," said the 20-year coach. "The game against East, that was the turning point. I knew the team could compete. They played with renewed passion and dimension from that point on."

Unity (20-4-2) finished with 13 successive shutouts and allowed eight goals for the season, though it was not without some threats to those numbers in Saturday's final.

Kate Howarth, who was a sophomore when Powers lost to Unity in the D 3 final in overtime two years ago, almost scored with 14:55 remaining in the first half when freshman keeper Holly Van Noord came out too late to prevent a shot that would roll wide of the open net.

"She did not get many good looks and I was extremely pleased we kept her in check," said Heethuis of Howarth. "She's one of the best out there."

Howarth had another shot that went wide left with 3:45 left in the first half, by which time Unity had taken its lead when sophomore Paige Capel passed to senior Heidi Scholten, whose a left-footed shot caromed off the right post and spun into the net with 4:51 remaining.

"When Paige got the ball on the right side, that's the spot we wanted to attack and that's when good things happen," said Heethuis.

Scholten knew how big the moment was, with Unity having won the last three of its state crowns by the margin of one goal.

"It was an awkward bounce and somebody said hand ball, but I kept playing it through, hoped for the best and it went in," said the three-year player. "It was probably the most scared I've been for 20 seconds. So many things were going through my head. It's the state championship game and I have a chance to score. It's an honor to be the one that scored, but hats off to my whole team."

Flint Powers had gone 3-4-1 in its last eight games of the regular season but defeated 2008 finalist Williamston and five-time finalist Country Day in the tournament, teams that had beaten the Chargers in the sixth and seventh games of the season.

"Our schedule is very difficult," said Powers coach Art Moody. "It definitely makes a difference how we prepare for this game. We know the Unity road is a little easier and knew automatically they would be the team you have to beat."

The Crusaders had a 15-8 advantage in shots and were credited with five corner kicks to zero for Powers (16-8-1).

"They won a lot of 50-50 balls and second balls, but we stepped up a little and had some great opportunities," said Moody, who thought there was no doubt that a hand ball preceded the score. "I knew one goal would make the difference. The ball didn't bounce our way."

Unity was able to keep the ball moving and had five shots in a seven-minute span of the second half beginning in the eighth minute of the period.

"Everybody put a stamp on what it means to be a team," said Heethuis, who said his squad benefited from having Lindsay Jipping move from forward to center-mid against East Grand Rapids.

Jipping joined Jillian Honderd, Alexis Prins and Darcy VanNoord to present a formidable midfield lineup that was further strengthened by Anna DeBoer, Elle Burman and Paige Vrieland.

"We had a lot of people doubting us," said Scholten. "Who's going to score for Unity without Laura Heyboer? Our entire team stepped up."

HUDSONVILLE - The Unity Christian girls varsity soccer team continued its dominance by dictating action from all sides of the field against Fremont last Wednesday.

The Crusaders (19-4-2) held the Packers (13-11) to zero shots on goal while attempting 22 shots in the Division 3 state semifinals, winning by a mercy-rule score of 8-0 with just over eight minutes left in the game. The win gave Unity 33 consecutive state tournament victories, not losing since 2004, and sent them on to meet Flint Powers Catholic for the championship three days later.

The Crusaders have played for the state championship seven times in the last eight years.

"We were hoping to play better than what we played, but they're hard to the ball," said Fremont coach Steve Vissia. "They knocked the ball around extremely well, and we never figured out the weak-side stick. They kept on slotting it and finished a number of balls with us being out of position."

The first score of the game came just over 11 minutes into play when junior midfielder Jenna Heethuis took a feed from her sister Kelli and sent the shot past starting sophomore keeper Kaitlyn VanBoven.

"We did a good job of passing the ball a lot," Jenna Heethuis said. "We did give and goes, and we're quick at it. We try and keep the ball on the ground and keep it outside and play the feet. Playing the ball in the air gives their team more of a chance to take it away from us."

Three minutes later, junior forward Kelli Heethuis scored the second goal for the Crusaders; the goal was unassisted. Two minutes passed by, and junior midfielder Gabby Lounsbery hit the back of the net, with an assist coming from senior midfielder Katie Brookhouse. Almost 19 minutes passed before Kelli Heethuis scored her second goal that came from a partial deflection to lead the Crusaders into the half with a 4-0 command.

"Aubrey Kloosterhouse took a shot and their goalie got a hand on it," Kelli Heethuis said. "It was lying right in front of the goal and I tapped it in."

Unity Christian has won four consecutive state championships, and having a 4-0 lead with such an experienced lineup meant their team's game design was carried out to perfection.

"Our game plan was to come out quickly; we wanted to right from the opening kickoff go after them and attack, attack, attack," said Unity Christian coach Randy Heethuis. "I thought that Fremont played very well and made it difficult for us for the first 15 minutes; they started with an extra back, but we hit a couple of nice shots early to get us going. Then the girls relaxed and found their rhythm, and then we moved the ball very well.

"We thought we would be able to come out and put a lot of pressure on them, and that's what we did. We wanted to show there was no mistake that we were the better team and that we were going to come out and play. We moved the ball, and when we do that we're pretty good. The thing that's been good for us all season is our defense; we've been rock solid all season."

It took about 15 minutes for the Crusaders to get back on track in the second half, but sophomore Elle Burman scored an unassisted goal for Unity Christian.

Shortly after, senor midfielder Meghan Brasser sent a high shot into the mesh to give Unity a 6-0 lead. With 10 minutes left senior Nikki Graasman widened the game to 7-0. The mercy rule ended the game as freshman Holly VanNoord scored the eighth goal of the night.

The Pioneers quickly regrouped as senior Liz Ellis found freshman Madi Morgan for a goal high on the right side of the net. East advanced to the state finals after the 2-1 win over Chelsea.

"I don't even remember being up there," said Morgan. "It was definitely a team effort. I couldn't have done it without Liz's great cross. We had so many shots for it not to have fallen in already. It just felt great."

East started the game with five shots on goal, before the clock hit 25:20 in the first half. Freshman Lily Clifford's cross shot made it across the goal line for a 1-0 EGR lead. East ran through the period with eight more shots on goal, before Chelsea was able to get its first.

"They had dangerous shots," said EGR coach Hollie Bonnema. "We knew that was how they were going to play. We knew they liked to counter attack. (Defensively) Liz (Ellis) did a great job on No. 22, and Sarah (DeJonge) and Taylor (Morgan) covered well."

Then in the second half, Chelsea made its shot just out of the reach of East goalkeeper Greer Bratschie who made one save on the night.

"I was hoping to score in the first five, 10 minutes of the second half," said Bonnema. "It just wouldn't go in. You could just see that Chelsea was getting a lot more confident, and then when that goal went in, it was a little disappointing. I was confident in the girls that they would finish it, and they answered."

The win put the Pioneers (20-4) in the state finals for the first time since 2002

‘It's awesome," said Bonnema. "These seniors have worked so hard for four years. I'm just so happy for them and just so proud of them."

Even though the team achieved titles in the O-K White, district, and regional tests, the Pioneers ended up one win short of a state title. They ended up losing 1-0 to Birmingham Marian on Saturday at Troy Athens.

"(Marian) definitely controlled the majority of the game," said EGR coach Hollie Bonnema. "Things just didn't go our way. Our defense really held us in the game. Greer Bratschie, Tessa Fast, Liz Ellis, Sarah DeJonge, and Taylor Morgan kept them from scoring more."

With the conclusion of their season, the Pioneers have graduated nine players from the roster. Chelsea Peterson, Katie Clarkin, Alex Pletcher, Anna Buschle, Kelly Foy, Morgan, Fast, Ellis, and Bratschie have all ended their athletic careers at East Grand Rapids.

"This group of nine seniors, I have never seen anything like them," said Bonnema. "They are such a tight-knit group. We have been building for (the state title) game for four years. They have made the program what it is today. We had great team chemistry because of their senior leadership. We are definitely going to miss the seniors."

Even though the team is losing half its roster, that doesn't mean East will not be restocked.

"We have a lot of young players," said Bonnema. "We had only one junior. This year we were able to see how the pieces of the puzzle fit together. We have a lot of talent left, and now they know what it takes."

KENTWOOD - The Crusaders fell just short in their bid to get to the state softball finals in Battle Creek. They were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Niles at East Kentwood.

Unity coach Jodi DeRoo left the field not in tears but with a sad tone to her voice.

"I really wanted to win this game," lamented DeRoo. "I played in the finals and it was such fun, and I really wanted this team to experience that feeling. This team made leaps and bounds from where we started in March. We worked hard and started to really swing the bats well all season."

The bats of the Crusaders were up against Eastern Michigan-bound senior Jenna Ignowski, who kept them off balance and not up to their explosive offense. Ignowski was able to strike out 16 Crusaders in the seven-inning game.

With the game looking like it would be going into extra innings with neither team able to mount a threat, catcher Maggie Ernsberger from Niles entered the batter's box. Her two previous at bats ended in strike outs, and she looked like she would go down again until a rise ball stayed flat and she lifted the ball over the 200-yard fence in centerfield.

Ernsberger has had 15 home runs during the season with a .550 batting average, so the flight over the fence and a single run was all the Vikings needed.

"I'm not surprised that they pitched to Maggie," said Niles head coach Gary Collins. "She really didn't look good today at the plate, but I knew she could handle the pressure if she got the right pitch."

Senior Abbie Kuzee was successful in the second inning when she was able to line a ball up the middle for a single. However, the Crusaders stranded her at first base. Junior Elliana Miedema dropped a hit to right field in the third but was again stranded on base. No other Crusaders were able to reach base in the game.

The Vikings reached base twice on walks in the first and third innings. Outside of the home run in the sixth, they were only able to reach base on hits by Nellie Coquillard's single to center in the third inning and Brittney Buti's single past second base in the fourth.

Central Michigan-bound senior pitcher Kara Dornbos finished a fine career for the Crusaders, as she allowed just three hits while striking out 11. She was calm and cool on the mound as she led her team to a successful season, finishing 25-8.

The Crusaders will miss Dornbos and their other seniors Kuzee and Denise Aukeman, who provided the leadership for the team. The remaining teammates will readjust and prepare for another run to Battle Creek.

While leaving the dugout for the last time this year, DeRoo was met by a couple of past players who provided hugs and condolences. There was also a parent who reached out his hand and just said, "Thanks for helping my daughter, and I appreciate all you have done for her."

In the end, maybe it is not always the victory that is as important as much as the appreciation that is expressed by parents for all the hard work.

BATTLE CREEK - For veteran Hudsonville softball head coach Tom Vruggink, the third time was certainly the charm.

For the third time in his 28-year career at Hudsonville, Vruggink led his Eagles to Battle Creek for the state softball finals. The two previous trips ended in the state semifinals, but Saturday at Bailey Park the third time was the charm as the Eagles defeated New Baltimore Anchor Bay 3-0 to win the Division 1 state title.

Pitching has long been a staple for the Eagles and Vruggink had one of his best combinations ever in senior Shelby Mast and sophomore Sara Driesenga. It was Driesenga who got the call in the Saturday's Division 1 title game and the hard-throwing right hander came through with a gem as she scattered four hits, walked one and recorded eight strikeouts en route to the shutout.

"That's the way it's been all year long," Vruggink said, about his team's pitching, "just another shutout. We've played 43 games and we've got 31 shutouts. Between Shelby Mast and Sara Driesenga we just assume that we are going to go out there, and if we score one or two we've got a good shot at winning. That's how it's been all year."

The game was a pitcher's dual and was scoreless up until the top of the fifth inning when the Eagles broke through with the first run of the game. That run started on a two-out rally when sophomore McKenzie Ritsema singled to left-center field. Ritsema then stole second base, and when the throw went into the outfield she quickly motored around third and beat the throw form the outfield home for what proved to be the game-winning run.

Anchor Bay put a pair of base runners on with one out in the bottom of the fifth before Driesenga extinguished the rally with a strikeout and grounder back to the mound.

Hudsonville tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, the Eagles loaded the bases on back-to-back singles by senior Nicki Vereeke and junior Samantha Gemmen, and senior Courtney Lastacy reaching on an error. Anchor Bay seemed to have escaped the jam as senior Rebecca Poel bounced to the pitcher and Vereeke was forced at home, when Anchor Bay went for the double play, the throw to first went over the first baseman's head allowing Gemmen to score. Lastacy then came in with the second run of the inning when junior Brittany Frye reached on an error.

Those insurance runs almost came into play in the bottom of the seventh inning as Anchor Bay loaded the bases with no out. Again, Driesenga bore down, and induced the next batter to hit a bouncer back to the mound. Driesenga went home to get the force and then Eagle catcher Liz Hamming made the throw to first to beat the batter and complete the 1-2-3 doubleplay. Driesenga then recorded a strikeout to get the final out and clinch the state championship.

"I knew I just had to get the ball down," Driesenga said. "Keep it down in the zone just in case they did hit it, it would be on the ground and we could get ground outs and get out of it."

Vruggink had the utmost confidence that his Eagles would escape the jam.

"A little hairy, a little hairy," Vruggink said. "You know Sara got it done. She got the one-hopper and there is just no better fielder in the circle then Sara. She fields her position so well. We turned that play perfectly. We got the throw to home and Liz made a great throw to Courtney at first base and that sealed it."

"Unbelievable," Driesenga said. "This is what we've worked for all season. We set our goal and this was our goal the whole time. Now we got it. Unbelievable."

To paraphrase from a Charles Dickens classic, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."

Facing surgery for a cancerous tumor in her left bronchial tube this week, Mast took to the mound one final time for Hudsonville in Friday's Division 1 state softball semifinal at Bailey Park.

Just as she has all year, Mast delivered another victory for the Eagles, pitching them to a 1-0 semifinal victory over Portage Central and sending them into Saturday's Division 1 state championship game against Anchor Bay.

It helped Hudsonville (40-2) attain a school record for victories and advance to the state championship game for the first time in school history.

It has been an eventful - sometimes joyous, sometimes difficult - run of events for Mast over the past two seasons. Her pitching coach, the late Alvin DeVries, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly just over a year ago. Then, at the end of her junior year, the Eagles lost in the regional championship game and failed to reach the state quarterfinals for the only time in her four-year varsity career.

"It gave me the push to go out and show what he taught me," Mast said. "I dedicate what I have been able to do to him."

With a new spring came new hope, and Hudsonville enjoyed its finest season ever in 2009, earning a No. 1 ranking in the state in Division 1.

Mast went undefeated on the mound, raising her record to an amazing 20-0 with Friday's victory.

Mast was a workhorse for the Eagles as a freshman and sophomore and pitched the Eagles to the quarterfinals each year. In 2007, the Eagles advanced to the state semifinals before losing to eventual champion Harper Woods Regina.

But over the past two seasons, Mast noticed that her stamina was limited, and her breathing became short at times. She was taken to a specialist and was diagnosed with "bronchial carcinoid." In other words, a cancerous cyst about the size of an acorn had set in her bronchial tube. Mast has been competing - and breathing - with the use of just one lung.

Mast was scheduled for a bronchialoscopy this week with laser surgery to remove the cancerous tumor scheduled one day later.

"It's been hard, but the team really pulled together to support me," Mast said. "Whatever happens, happens," Mast said. "It's in God's hands.

"My faith gives me a peace I can't describe."

Knowing the repercussions for both his senior ace and the team, Hudsonville coach Tom Vruggink had to make a decision of whether or not to pitch Mast in Friday's semifinal. The untimely cancer diagnosis and the fact that Hudsonville has another ace in the hole in sophomore Sara Driesenga, who also had 19 victories, created the decision dilemma.

In her two previous starts in the regionals and state quarterfinals, Driesenga pitched complete-game victories by going 14 and 12 innings, respectively.

"It was a great dilemma to have, because both pitchers are so good," Vruggink said. "Shelby and Sara have almost identical numbers this year."

When Hudsonville played Portage Central during the regular season, Mast was on the mound and emerged with a 1-0 victory and 15 strikeouts. Vruggink stuck with his senior Friday and advanced to the state championship game for the first time in school history.

"With Shelby being a senior and because she pitched so well the last time we played them, it was really a no-brainer," Vruggink said. "We didn't know how long she would be able to go. Then it got hot and she started gasping for breath, but we got five good innings from her and Sara came in and finished it off in the last two innings."

Hudsonville plated the only run of the game in the bottom of the first inning when Alex Snoeyink led off with a single, stole second and - after advancing to third on a ground out - scored on a wild pitch. Samantha Gemmen and ‘Kenzie Ritsema also had hits for the Eagles in the game.

"That's huge when you can score first in games like this," Vruggink said. "It sets everybody a little at ease."

Mast, who allowed one hit, walked three and struck out six during her five-inning stint in Friday's semifinal, worked out of jams with runners in scoring position in the first, third and fifth innings.

"I knew I wasn't going to finish, but it meant a lot to be part of it and give something to the team," Mast said. "I knew it was meant for me to do it. I knew I could do it. I had the determination to do it. I just had to do it."

Driesenga pitched the final two innings of one-hit relief for the save.

"That's the way we played all year," Vruggink said. "We've had 40 wins this year and 30 shutouts. It's been our pitching and defense that has carried us."

Sophomore pitcher Becca Shemberger allowed four hits, walked three and struck out eight for Portage Central, which ended the season at 32-11.

"I predicted a pitching duel or a 1-0 game," Portage Central coach Dana Grosser said. "Unfortunately, we never turned it on offensively.

"They have two very talented pitchers and I know (Mast) has been going through some health issues, but I did think that we were going to see her again."

Cut) By DON VANDERVEEN

MT. PLEASANT - Hudsonville sophomore pitcher Sara Driesenga received a little extra (inning) help from her teammates during the Eagles' postseason run to Battle Creek for the Division 1 softball Final Four.

After surviving a 2-1, 14-inning victory over Caledonia in the regional opener just four days earlier, it took the Eagles 12 innings to defeat Bay City Western 3-2 in the June 9 state quarterfinal at Central Michigan University.

The winning hits in both games came from batters who usually hit at the bottom of the batting order.

Because of it, the top-ranked Eagles raised their record to 39-2 and advanced to the semifinal round of the state tournament in Battle Creek for the second time in three years. Hudsonville also advanced to Battle Creek in 2007.

"This has been our goal all season after losing (to Rockford) in the regionals last year," said Hudsonville coach Tom Vruggink, who earned his 700th victory earlier this spring. "We've had a target on our back in every game since midseason.

"This has been an unbelievable season."

Karli Bayko provided the Eagles with the victory over Bay City Western by coming through with a pinch-hit, bases-loaded, walk-off single in the 12^th.

"Karli struggled last Saturday, so we sat her and let Samantha Ritsema hit for herself today, and that worked out pretty good for us," Vruggink said. "Our No. 5 hitter was struggling today, so we put Bako in there (to pinch hit). She stepped up and did it."

In the regionals, it was Becca Poel who delivered the game-winning hit in the 14^th inning of a 2-1 victory over Caledonia.

"They are usually our No. 8 and No. 9 hitters in the order," Vruggink said. "In the regionals, and now today, we had two different kids step up and do something they will be able to talk about for the rest of their lives."

Driesenga, who pitched both marathon games, was the beneficiary of the clutch hitting. After giving up a two-run triple to Samantha Fultz that tied the game 2-2 in the sixth, Driesenga allowed just two hits over the final six innings of the Tuesday quarterfinal for her 19^th victory of the season.

"I went into the bullpen and worked it out and came back stronger," Driesenga said. "I knew I needed to keep doing what I was doing to keep them off balance and off base, and I was able to keep the ball down."

Hudsonville sophomore Mackenzie Ritsema set the stage for the victory by going 4-for-5 and scoring the first run of the game in the first inning and the winning run in the 12^th.

"We've had a lot of close games this year," Ritsema said. "We didn't lose our composure. We held our ground and fought through it. Our pitching was good, and our defense was good. We just had to get the right connections."

Ritsema's sister, Samantha, had two hits for the Eagles in the game.

"Everybody is doing their part and stepping up," said Driesenga, who allowed seven hits, struck out 11 and hit one batter.

Driesenga and battery mate Liz "The Hammer" Hamming also supercharged the Eagles with a couple of big extra base hits against Bay City Western.

Hamming muscled up in the first inning and belted a long two-run home run to straightaway centerfield.

Driesenga's power was showcased in the 12^th when her double off the right field fence chased Mackenzie Ritsema to third base. After Hamming walked, Bayko lined her pinch-hit single to right to score Ritsema with the game-winning run.

Bay City Western pitcher Maddison Sebald settled in after giving up Hamming's first-inning blast and kept the Warriors in the game by holding the Eagles scoreless for the next 10 innings. Sebald had eight strikeouts, but she was unable to quiet the bats of the Ritsema sisters, who were a combined 6-for-9.

"She put it in places where I could hit it," Mackenzie Ritsema said. "I wanted to do the best I could for the team. We just needed to get base on for Liz, or Sara, or Bako, or whoever followed."

It marked the third quarterfinal appearance in four years for the Eagles, and seniors Alex Snoeyink and Shelby Mast played an integral role on all three of those teams. Snoeyink was Eagles' shortstop and leadoff hitter this season and Mast - who pitched complete games in the quarterfinals as both a freshman and sophomore - took a 19-0 record on the mound to Battle Creek.

One could probably lay the blame for Keegan's attention to the sport at the feet of his grandfather, Gary Biermacher. It seems that Grandpa had Keegan out on the driving range at the ripe old age of three with a set of clubs that were cut down to size. Keegan still remembers that day and keeps some photos as a reminder. Pawloski shot his first nine holes by the time he was six.

As one might expect, 11 years and a whole lot more rounds of golf later, Pawloski is an accomplished golfer. He has played varsity golf for the Wildcats since he was a freshman and has been all-conference the last two seasons. His overall average for this past season is 39.1, and in conference play he is at 39.5. He can place his drives out about 290 to 300 yards.

"The most improved aspect of his game has been his overall consistency," coach Brewer said. "His average has come down each year, and he has always been able to read the greens very well and is a good putter. That is where he has the advantage over others - his putting."

Both Keegan and his coach shared a favorite moment of the season. It happened during the 12-team Thornapple-Kellogg Invitational Tournament at Yankee Springs. Pawloski bogied on the first two holes, but he recovered and blasted through the remaining 16 holes with par on every one to finish with a 74. His two-over-par score moved him to the top, beating the closest competitor by four strokes.

His ability to keep cool and not fall apart when he makes mistakes is another remarkable trait. Pawloski related his least favorite moment on a golf course. It was on the first hole of a match he played as a sophomore at the Old Mill course in Schoolcraft. He hit the water three times and then hit one out of bounds and finished that hole with an 11.

Such a terrible start would have shaken the composure of almost any golfer. Not Pawloski. He bogied three more holes, then turned his game around and finished the first nine with 45 and then nailed the second nine holes with a 34.

One might think with those kinds of mental and physical skills that Pawloski has devoted his entire sporting life to golf, but that would be a mistake. Keegan is the eldest of three sons of Bob and Kelley Pawloski. Alec, 13, and Ethan, 11, both like to golf with their big brother, but they are both wrestlers and football players.

So was Keegan. He played football, wrestled and played baseball until a labrum tear in his shoulder in the eighth grade baseball season forced him to have surgery and to forget playing contact sports in high school.

When we spoke with Keegan he had just played 18 holes after school at Yankee Springs, where he has been a member for four years. His idea of a good time is to play 72 holes in a weekend, and his mom said, "We can't keep him off the course."

In spite of his love of the game, Pawloski is by no means a one-dimensional person. He has a lot friends and likes to spend time with them and his brothers at the lakeside home of his grandparents Gary and Lynn Biermacher. We have it on good authority that Lynn is a fantastic cook who even bakes homemade bread for Keegan and his crew.

The Pawloski family are members of St Cyril's Catholic Church, but Keegan has a great relationship with the youth group at Gun Lake Community Church. One can find him there most Friday and Sunday nights when it isn't golf season. He enjoys helping out with the younger kids at the church and has taken several small trips with the group.

Keegan does well with his school work with a GPA in the neighborhood of 3.2. He enjoys history and really liked his CSI-type criminalistics science class. He has not nailed down his post-high school plans completely, but he does know he wants to study business in college. Several colleges in the area have been scouting his golf game, so there could be scholarship offers in his future.

When asked what he enjoys most about golf, Keegan could not point to just one part of the game. He did say that he likes getting better at it.

"It is sweet," Pawloski concluded. "The harder you work and the more practice you put in the better you get."

No doubt those words combined with his proven work ethic are good news for coach Brewer and the Wildcats' 2010 varsity golf season.