Zeeland West senior Karissa Oetman fires a pitch to the plate during the second game of the Dux doubleheader with Spring Lake May 19. Oetman no-hit the Lakers, striking out seven in West’s 7-0 victory.
Photo courtesy Shelly Hendricks
Zeeland West softball senior Karissa Oetman fired a no-hitter for the Dux May 19 to complete a doubleheader sweep of Spring Lake.
Oetman’s gem was in the second game of the twinbill, which West won 7-0. The Dux won the opener, 11-1.
West finished second in the O-K Black Conference with a 10-2 record, one game behind conference champion Unity Christian, who clinched the title with a split against Zeeland East May 19.
Oetman needed only 97 pitches over her seven innings in throwing the no-no. She struck out seven, walked three and hit one batter.
Meanwhile, West gave Oetman plenty of offensive support. Megan Strabbing went 4-for-4, including a first-inning triple that staked Oetman to a 1-0 lead, and an RBI double during a three-run third.
Sadie Kragt drove in two runs and leadoff hitter Jenna Hendricks went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base.
Oetman got Spring Lake’s Abby Guyer to fly out to right fielder Taylor Michmerhuizen for the final out of her no-hitter.
In the opener, West blew the game open with a six-run burst in the fourth inning. Kragt supplied the big blow with a bases-loaded triple, scoring three runs, and then scored herself on a subsequent error.
Then in the fifth, Kragt was at it again, delivering an RBI single, stealing second and third and then scoring the clinching run on an error as West won by the run rule.
Kragt, Hendricks and Bri Kamer had two hits apiece to lead the offense, while Kragt allowed just two hits and an unearned run while striking out eight in the circle.
The Dux face a stern test in district play this Saturday as they take on Hudsonville, the No. 1-ranked team in the state, in a 10 a.m. contest at Grandville High School.
Oetman’s gem was in the second game of the twinbill, which West won 7-0. The Dux won the opener, 11-1.
West finished second in the O-K Black Conference with a 10-2 record, one game behind conference champion Unity Christian, who clinched the title with a split against Zeeland East May 19.
Oetman needed only 97 pitches over her seven innings in throwing the no-no. She struck out seven, walked three and hit one batter.
Meanwhile, West gave Oetman plenty of offensive support. Megan Strabbing went 4-for-4, including a first-inning triple that staked Oetman to a 1-0 lead, and an RBI double during a three-run third.
Sadie Kragt drove in two runs and leadoff hitter Jenna Hendricks went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base.
Oetman got Spring Lake’s Abby Guyer to fly out to right fielder Taylor Michmerhuizen for the final out of her no-hitter.
In the opener, West blew the game open with a six-run burst in the fourth inning. Kragt supplied the big blow with a bases-loaded triple, scoring three runs, and then scored herself on a subsequent error.
Then in the fifth, Kragt was at it again, delivering an RBI single, stealing second and third and then scoring the clinching run on an error as West won by the run rule.
Kragt, Hendricks and Bri Kamer had two hits apiece to lead the offense, while Kragt allowed just two hits and an unearned run while striking out eight in the circle.
The Dux face a stern test in district play this Saturday as they take on Hudsonville, the No. 1-ranked team in the state, in a 10 a.m. contest at Grandville High School.
East Softball Splits With Unity Christian
Unity Christian clinched the O-K Black Conference softball championship May 19 in Zeeland, but the Chix of Zeeland East denied the Crusaders a perfect conference record.
Unity won the first game of the doubleheader to clinch the league title, holding off a late East rally for a 7-5 win. The Chix bounced back in the nightcap for a 15-9 win to hand the Crusaders, ranked eighth in the state in Division 2, their first conference loss in 12 games. East finished 6-6 in O-K Black play.
In the opener, Unity put together a pair of three-run innings – in the first and fourth – to take a 7-0 lead. The Chix got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Summer Chatman singled, stole second and scored on an outfield error.
East then erupted for four runs in the sixth to get back in the game. Megan Kuzma blasted a two-run homer, then the Chix loaded the bases with one out to bring the tying run to the plate. Skylar Van Dam hit a sacrifice fly for a run, and another run scored on an error to cut the Crusaders’ lead to 7-5.
However, East went down 1-2-3 in the seventh as Unity preserved the title-clinching win.
Cora Ter Haar took the pitching loss for the Chix, while Bella Urivez had two hits to lead the offense.
In the second game, Kuzma got things started for East with a two-run homer in the first. The Chix then exploded for six runs in the second and three more in the third to build an 11-0 lead. Unity battled back to cut the lead to 13-9 in the sixth, but East sealed the win with a pair of runs in the seventh.
Kuzma drove in five runs with a homer, double and a groundout. Leah Keur went 4-for-5 with three runs scored. Keur also picked up the pitching victory, hurling the first four innings.
Ter Haar reached base in all five of her plate appearances – three walks, a triple and a single – and scored three runs. Urivez knocked in three runs.
The Chix were to host Jenison Tuesday in a Division 1 district opener. The winner of that game would play Grandville on Saturday on the Bulldogs’ home field.
Unity won the first game of the doubleheader to clinch the league title, holding off a late East rally for a 7-5 win. The Chix bounced back in the nightcap for a 15-9 win to hand the Crusaders, ranked eighth in the state in Division 2, their first conference loss in 12 games. East finished 6-6 in O-K Black play.
In the opener, Unity put together a pair of three-run innings – in the first and fourth – to take a 7-0 lead. The Chix got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Summer Chatman singled, stole second and scored on an outfield error.
East then erupted for four runs in the sixth to get back in the game. Megan Kuzma blasted a two-run homer, then the Chix loaded the bases with one out to bring the tying run to the plate. Skylar Van Dam hit a sacrifice fly for a run, and another run scored on an error to cut the Crusaders’ lead to 7-5.
However, East went down 1-2-3 in the seventh as Unity preserved the title-clinching win.
Cora Ter Haar took the pitching loss for the Chix, while Bella Urivez had two hits to lead the offense.
In the second game, Kuzma got things started for East with a two-run homer in the first. The Chix then exploded for six runs in the second and three more in the third to build an 11-0 lead. Unity battled back to cut the lead to 13-9 in the sixth, but East sealed the win with a pair of runs in the seventh.
Kuzma drove in five runs with a homer, double and a groundout. Leah Keur went 4-for-5 with three runs scored. Keur also picked up the pitching victory, hurling the first four innings.
Ter Haar reached base in all five of her plate appearances – three walks, a triple and a single – and scored three runs. Urivez knocked in three runs.
The Chix were to host Jenison Tuesday in a Division 1 district opener. The winner of that game would play Grandville on Saturday on the Bulldogs’ home field.
East Baseball Title Bid Falls Short
The Zeeland East varsity baseball team’s hopes for an O-K Black Conference championship faded away last week as the Chix dropped two out of three to Unity Christian in the final conference series of the season.
Meanwhile, Spring Lake swept a three-game series from Zeeland West to pull out the championship by one game over the Chix and Crusaders.
The Lakers won the title with a 15-3 record in conference play, while East and Unity each finished 14-4.
East entered the week with a one-game lead over Unity and Spring Lake, needing to win at least two games in the series with the Crusaders. But Unity came up big in a doubleheader May 19 on the Chix home field, coming from behind in both games to sweep East, 9-5 and 4-3.
In the opener, the Chix jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning as Zeek Ramadhani hit a sacrifice fly and Cam Jaworowski grounded out to drive in another run. East added another run in the third and seemed to be in control behind junior ace Ethan Campbell.
But in the fifth, everything fell apart for East. A walk, a pop fly that fell safely in the infield and a high chopper that resulted in a single and throwing error, and the floodgates opened for Unity. When it was all over, the Crusaders scored seven runs to flip the game in their favor. Unity added two insurance runs in the sixth.
In game two, East led 2-0 through four innings. Unity tied the game with two runs in the fifth, but the Chix went back ahead in the bottom of the inning on a Ryan Kuzma sacrifice fly.
However, the Crusaders scored twice in the sixth to take the lead and held on for the win.
East salvaged the series last Thursday at Unity, winning a 12-8 slugfest. Kuzma led the way for the Chix, belting a two-run homer in the first and a two-run double in the second. He finished the game 3-for-4 with five RBIs.
Gavin Weighmink drove in two runs and scored three for East, while Tyler Chandler also had a pair of RBIs.
Meanwhile, very little went right for West in its three-game series with Spring Lake. After the Lakers won the series opener at home May 18, 9-0, Spring Lake swept a doubleheader on the Dux home field the following day, 14-2 and 10-0, to win the conference championship.
West finished 8-10 in the O-K Black.
East was to face Jenison in a Division 1 district opener on Tuesday, while West will take on Hudsonville this Saturday in a semifinal game at 10 a.m. at West Ottawa.
Meanwhile, Spring Lake swept a three-game series from Zeeland West to pull out the championship by one game over the Chix and Crusaders.
The Lakers won the title with a 15-3 record in conference play, while East and Unity each finished 14-4.
East entered the week with a one-game lead over Unity and Spring Lake, needing to win at least two games in the series with the Crusaders. But Unity came up big in a doubleheader May 19 on the Chix home field, coming from behind in both games to sweep East, 9-5 and 4-3.
In the opener, the Chix jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning as Zeek Ramadhani hit a sacrifice fly and Cam Jaworowski grounded out to drive in another run. East added another run in the third and seemed to be in control behind junior ace Ethan Campbell.
But in the fifth, everything fell apart for East. A walk, a pop fly that fell safely in the infield and a high chopper that resulted in a single and throwing error, and the floodgates opened for Unity. When it was all over, the Crusaders scored seven runs to flip the game in their favor. Unity added two insurance runs in the sixth.
In game two, East led 2-0 through four innings. Unity tied the game with two runs in the fifth, but the Chix went back ahead in the bottom of the inning on a Ryan Kuzma sacrifice fly.
However, the Crusaders scored twice in the sixth to take the lead and held on for the win.
East salvaged the series last Thursday at Unity, winning a 12-8 slugfest. Kuzma led the way for the Chix, belting a two-run homer in the first and a two-run double in the second. He finished the game 3-for-4 with five RBIs.
Gavin Weighmink drove in two runs and scored three for East, while Tyler Chandler also had a pair of RBIs.
Meanwhile, very little went right for West in its three-game series with Spring Lake. After the Lakers won the series opener at home May 18, 9-0, Spring Lake swept a doubleheader on the Dux home field the following day, 14-2 and 10-0, to win the conference championship.
West finished 8-10 in the O-K Black.
East was to face Jenison in a Division 1 district opener on Tuesday, while West will take on Hudsonville this Saturday in a semifinal game at 10 a.m. at West Ottawa.
Sleeman Named All-SEC, All-Region at Kentucky
Zeeland West graduate Carly Sleeman has received a pair of softball postseason honors after her first season at the University of Kentucky.
Sleeman was named to the All-Southeastern Conference second team in a vote of the league’s coaches, and was voted third team All-Mid-Atlantic Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
Sleeman, a junior who transferred to UK last spring after two seasons at Central Michigan University, had an outstanding season for the Wildcats, playing catcher and third base. She hit .346 this season with 14 home runs and 37 RBIs. She had a slugging percentage of .667 and an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 1.033 while playing in 54 games for Kentucky.
Season highlights for Sleeman included a two-homer game April 7 against Eastern Kentucky, a four-RBI game March 4 against Indiana University-Indianapolis and a three-RBI performance March 7 against SEC rival Auburn.
Sleeman was named to the All-Southeastern Conference second team in a vote of the league’s coaches, and was voted third team All-Mid-Atlantic Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
Sleeman, a junior who transferred to UK last spring after two seasons at Central Michigan University, had an outstanding season for the Wildcats, playing catcher and third base. She hit .346 this season with 14 home runs and 37 RBIs. She had a slugging percentage of .667 and an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 1.033 while playing in 54 games for Kentucky.
Season highlights for Sleeman included a two-homer game April 7 against Eastern Kentucky, a four-RBI game March 4 against Indiana University-Indianapolis and a three-RBI performance March 7 against SEC rival Auburn.
Kuzma Wins Another NCAA Track Title
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Allison Kuzma has done it again.
The Hillsdale College sophomore and 2024 Zeeland East graduate won her second national championship of the year last Thursday, winning the women’s 10,000-meter run in dominating fashion at the NCAA Division II outdoor track and field national championships in Emporia, Kan.
Kuzma, the top seed going into the event, won the race by nearly 38 seconds in a time of 33 minutes, 43.7 seconds, more than a minute and 20 seconds faster than she ran in the same event last year, when she finished third at nationals.
In March, Kuzma won the women’s 5,000-meter run at the Division II indoor track championships in Virginia Beach, Va., winning that race by almost 19 seconds.
Last Thursday, Kuzma hung with the lead pack for the first two-thirds of the race, then began her surge at the 6,200-meter mark. Over the next lap and a half, she broke out to a 10-second lead over her nearest competitor and pulled away from there to her impressive victory.
Kuzma became the fifth Hillsdale female track athlete to win multiple national championships. Her performance helped the Chargers finish eighth at the national meet.
Another East grad, Grand Valley State University senior Shelby Ulven, earned All-American honors for the fifth time in her final meet as a collegian, finishing third in the hammer throw with a toss of 60.71 meters (199 feet, 2 inches). Ulven, who graduated from East in 2021, finished second in the hammer throw a year ago at the D2 national meet.
Another East grad, GVSU sophomore Paige Westra, just missed out on All-America honors in the shot put, finishing ninth with a toss of 14.97 meters (49-1 ½).
GVSU won the men’s national title with 66 points, while West Texas A&M claimed the women’s title with 64 points.
Zeeland Record
Allison Kuzma has done it again.
The Hillsdale College sophomore and 2024 Zeeland East graduate won her second national championship of the year last Thursday, winning the women’s 10,000-meter run in dominating fashion at the NCAA Division II outdoor track and field national championships in Emporia, Kan.
Kuzma, the top seed going into the event, won the race by nearly 38 seconds in a time of 33 minutes, 43.7 seconds, more than a minute and 20 seconds faster than she ran in the same event last year, when she finished third at nationals.
In March, Kuzma won the women’s 5,000-meter run at the Division II indoor track championships in Virginia Beach, Va., winning that race by almost 19 seconds.
Last Thursday, Kuzma hung with the lead pack for the first two-thirds of the race, then began her surge at the 6,200-meter mark. Over the next lap and a half, she broke out to a 10-second lead over her nearest competitor and pulled away from there to her impressive victory.
Kuzma became the fifth Hillsdale female track athlete to win multiple national championships. Her performance helped the Chargers finish eighth at the national meet.
Another East grad, Grand Valley State University senior Shelby Ulven, earned All-American honors for the fifth time in her final meet as a collegian, finishing third in the hammer throw with a toss of 60.71 meters (199 feet, 2 inches). Ulven, who graduated from East in 2021, finished second in the hammer throw a year ago at the D2 national meet.
Another East grad, GVSU sophomore Paige Westra, just missed out on All-America honors in the shot put, finishing ninth with a toss of 14.97 meters (49-1 ½).
GVSU won the men’s national title with 66 points, while West Texas A&M claimed the women’s title with 64 points.
Former East Football Coach to be Inducted into High School Hall of Fame
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Former Zeeland East varsity football coach Derek Pennington will be inducted into the Michigan High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame this summer.
Pennington, who coached the Chix from 2008 to 2020, will be honored at an induction ceremony June 19 at the Westin Hotel in Southfield.
Pennington led East to 10 state playoff appearances during his 13-year run, won four O-K Conference titles (2010, 2012, 2017, 2018) and had only one losing season. His record with the Chix was 88-43.
Pennington’s most successful teams were the 2010 Chix that went 11-1 and advanced to the Division 3 regional, losing to East Grand Rapids 17-13 when a potential game-winning catch on the game’s final play was ruled incomplete, and the 2018 team that posted an 11-2 record and reached the D3 semifinals before falling to Muskegon, 45-22.
Pennington coached 33 seasons in Michigan, posting an overall record of 200-122. He also coached at Grand Haven, Kalamazoo Central, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, and finally at Caledonia, where he led the Fighting Scots to the Division 1 championship game in 2022. He retired from Caledonia after the 2024 season, but was then quickly hired as the head varsity coach at Clay High School in Oregon, Ohio, near Toledo, where he recently completed his first season.
Zeeland Record
Former Zeeland East varsity football coach Derek Pennington will be inducted into the Michigan High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame this summer.
Pennington, who coached the Chix from 2008 to 2020, will be honored at an induction ceremony June 19 at the Westin Hotel in Southfield.
Pennington led East to 10 state playoff appearances during his 13-year run, won four O-K Conference titles (2010, 2012, 2017, 2018) and had only one losing season. His record with the Chix was 88-43.
Pennington’s most successful teams were the 2010 Chix that went 11-1 and advanced to the Division 3 regional, losing to East Grand Rapids 17-13 when a potential game-winning catch on the game’s final play was ruled incomplete, and the 2018 team that posted an 11-2 record and reached the D3 semifinals before falling to Muskegon, 45-22.
Pennington coached 33 seasons in Michigan, posting an overall record of 200-122. He also coached at Grand Haven, Kalamazoo Central, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, and finally at Caledonia, where he led the Fighting Scots to the Division 1 championship game in 2022. He retired from Caledonia after the 2024 season, but was then quickly hired as the head varsity coach at Clay High School in Oregon, Ohio, near Toledo, where he recently completed his first season.
West Boys and East Girls Fourth at MITCA Meet
The Zeeland West boys and Zeeland East girls track teams posted fourth-place finishes last Friday at the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association Division 1 meet in Davison, the final meet for this Saturday’s Michigan High School Athletic Association state finals.
In the boys meet, the Dux finished with a team score of 1,156 points, while Zeeland East finished ninth with 798.5 points. East Kentwood won the meet with 1,432.5 points.
The East girls had a team score of 1,169.5 points, while West placed eighth with 756 points. Rockford took first place with 1,387 points.
The MITCA meet uses a “True Team” scoring format that is different than that at most other meets, emphasizing team depth.
East sophomore Adalyn Raab was a double winner, tying her own school record in the girls 1,600-meter run in 4:55.66 and winning the girls 3,200-meter run in 11:27.69.
The Chix went 1-2 in the girls shot put, as Lily Huizenga won with a toss of 42 feet, 4-1/2 inches and Laura Maartense was runnerup with a throw of 37-7. Libby Post won the discus for East with a heave of 112-3, nosing out Rockford’s Kate Higgins by one inch. Huizenga was fourth in the discus (112-3).
Meredith Cook finished second for East in the girls 400-meter dash (58.86). Terra Schuberg set a school record in the 200-meter dash, finishing fourth in 25.80. East also got a school record performance in the girls 4x100-meter relay (Bri Cole, Kamilla Munoz, Skyla Kuras, Schuberg, 49.58). CC Kuras had a pair of top-three finishes, taking second in the high jump (5-2) and third in the 300-meter hurdles (46.09).
West’s Clayton Ramsdell won the boys high jump with a leap of 6-7, five inches higher than his nearest competition. East’s Bennett Bing took third (6-2). The Dux 4x800 relay team of Reid Cousins, Keagan Smith, Jack Gruppen and Rob Dodd finished second in 8:00.38. East’s Sam Sietsema had a pair of top-three finishes in the throws, taking second in the discus (155-10) and third in the shot put (47 10-1/4).
In the boys meet, the Dux finished with a team score of 1,156 points, while Zeeland East finished ninth with 798.5 points. East Kentwood won the meet with 1,432.5 points.
The East girls had a team score of 1,169.5 points, while West placed eighth with 756 points. Rockford took first place with 1,387 points.
The MITCA meet uses a “True Team” scoring format that is different than that at most other meets, emphasizing team depth.
East sophomore Adalyn Raab was a double winner, tying her own school record in the girls 1,600-meter run in 4:55.66 and winning the girls 3,200-meter run in 11:27.69.
The Chix went 1-2 in the girls shot put, as Lily Huizenga won with a toss of 42 feet, 4-1/2 inches and Laura Maartense was runnerup with a throw of 37-7. Libby Post won the discus for East with a heave of 112-3, nosing out Rockford’s Kate Higgins by one inch. Huizenga was fourth in the discus (112-3).
Meredith Cook finished second for East in the girls 400-meter dash (58.86). Terra Schuberg set a school record in the 200-meter dash, finishing fourth in 25.80. East also got a school record performance in the girls 4x100-meter relay (Bri Cole, Kamilla Munoz, Skyla Kuras, Schuberg, 49.58). CC Kuras had a pair of top-three finishes, taking second in the high jump (5-2) and third in the 300-meter hurdles (46.09).
West’s Clayton Ramsdell won the boys high jump with a leap of 6-7, five inches higher than his nearest competition. East’s Bennett Bing took third (6-2). The Dux 4x800 relay team of Reid Cousins, Keagan Smith, Jack Gruppen and Rob Dodd finished second in 8:00.38. East’s Sam Sietsema had a pair of top-three finishes in the throws, taking second in the discus (155-10) and third in the shot put (47 10-1/4).
