Detroit Free Press du lieu suivant : Detroit, Michigan • Page 47

TRACK FINALS Web meister keeps track of Michigan Division I draw not pretty picture for some How Hollobaugh TENNIS FINALS BY SCOTT TALLEY Free Press Sports Writer If you're a top high school track athlete in Michigan, Jeff Hollobaugh probably knows your name. Through the Internet he makes Michigan track information available to fans and coaches across the country. "Track has been very, very good to me," said Hollobaugh, an Ann Arbor resident and former managing editor of Track fSsaTl and Field News. I 1 1 if I wante( to 8ive llgffigsy'J something back to the sport and I always have been crazy about Michigan high school track." Hollobaugh's track and field Web site lists more than 2,400 top performances this season, including the top 50 times and distances in all events. The statistician in me wants my list to be 100 percent accurate; right now I think it's about 95 percent," said Hollobaugh, who collects information from virtually anyone involved with track meets, including coaches, officials and athletes.

Hollobaugh began recording high school track data in the early 1980s, after a six-day stint on the Western Michigan University track team. While still a college student, he began compiling yearly and all-time state lists. "I still had the track bug, so I became a professional track junkie," said Hollobaugh, who writes a column for the ESPN Web site and covers meets across the country. He launched his Web site in 1996 and averages 180 viewers daily during the season. In addition to satisfying the needs of track fans, Hollo- i ui UdUgll wcuiis iu uiucasc suiuiiuauip opportunities for deserving athletes.

"Michigan has an awful lot of talent but it's under-recruited by college coaches," said Hollobaugh, who says he receives E-mail inquiries from 20 states. 1 "Recruiters generally seek the sees key events been dominant with several jumps of more than 19 feet. Williams also will compete in the high jump and both hurdles events. CLASS A GIRLS SPRINT RELAYS: Detroit Cass Tech could seriously challenge heavy favorite Ann Arbor Pioneer for the team title with victories in the three sprint relays. If Tiarra Jones (100) and Tracey Ball (200 and 400) also win, the Technicians could be within striking distance of the much deeper Pioneer team.

CLASS A BOYS 3,200 METERS: Jason Hartmann (Rockford) could run under nine minutes if conditions are right. Nick Brockway (Richland Gull Lake) is a threat to do the same in the Class race. CLASS GIRLS DISCUS: Alana Robinson (Grosse lie) set a state meet record for all classes last year with a throw of 155 feet, 6 inches. Defending state shot-put champion Makeba Batten (Detroit Renaissance) also is a former champion in this event. Robinson has signed with the University of South Carolina, and Batten is bound for Florida State.

CLASS GIRLS DISTANCE EVENTS: Bethany Brewster (Saginaw Valley Lutheran) is the defending champion in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. She could claim the distance trifecta by adding an 800 title. Brewster has been the state's top girl distance runner this season. going places where they will get good coaching." Hollobaugh's final objective is to educate. "Kids need role models," said Hollobaugh, who has reported on Olym JL.

'1 ((, i i I Veteran track columnist and statistician Jeff Hollobaugh previews a few of the top races at Saturday's Lower Peninsula finals. CLASS A BOYS 100 METERS: Defending champion Lamar Courtney (Muskegon Mona Shores), Detroit Public School League champion Joe Binion (Detroit King) and sophomore sensation Charles Rogers (Saginaw) are expected to duel it out to determine the fastest boy in the state. Manny Johnson (River Rouge) could be the elite sprinter in Michigan, but may not have enough competition in the Class race to produce the day's fastest time. CLASS A BOYS 800 METERS: Ian Searcy (Plymouth Salem) is having an outstanding season and could challenge the state meet record (1:50.63) held by Rick Gledhill (Mt. Clemens Chippewa Valley).

A tough field featuring defending champion Nick Gow (White Lake Lakeland), Brandon Jiles (Detroit Mumford) and Brent Erickson (Muskegon Reeths-Puffer) should push Searcy throughout the race. CLASS A GIRLS 200 400 METERS: Two of the finest sprinters in the Midwest are poised for a showdown Michelle Davis (Lansing Sexton), the defending champion in both races, and Detroit PSL champion Tracey Ball (Detroit Cass Tech). CLASS A GIRLS LONG JUMP: Tanisha Williams (Ypsilanti) has path of least resistance, so a college coach isn't going to recruit a kid from Michigan if he doesn't know anything about the area. Once or twice a week I hear from college coaches, and it's really gratifying to see kids and 11 hitters have contributed to the Falcons' total of 31 home runs. Bennion leads the hitting brigade with a ,511 average and recently set a school record with his 116th career hit There's no shortage of confidence among the Falcons, which could propel them into tournament history.

"We have to keep the motivation going," Frankhouse said. "Last year we came out wanting to win every game. Now we have to get motivated like we did. I think we're as hungry to repeat and as the playoffs continue we'll be a lot hungrier, because it's certainly been a lot tougher this year." Dieters has had excellent teams throughout his 12 seasons at Rochester, but says this team is superior. "I certainly enjoy watching good baseball players play," Dieters said.

"You can play the game the right way, and these kids certainly are capable of doing it and that's always rewarding as a coach." BLOOP HITS: The state tournament is under way, with district finals scheduled at 128 sites this week. Here's a peek at the tourney. Division The most anticipated tournament of the season is the Brighton regional, June 6. The four teams could be Brighton, North Farmington, Walled Lake Western and Troy. Expect each game to be a battle.

-A dream matchup between No. 3 Rochester and second-ranked Brighton wouldn't happen until the state semifinals. Division II: Can this be the year DeWitt wins the crown? The Panthers lost in the final each of the last two seasons. The toughest district Rochester has talent to make state history WHAT: MHSAA track and field finals. WHEN: Saturday; preliminaries begin at 10 a.m.

LOWER PENINSULA SITES: Class Bay City Western; Class Saginaw; Class Midland; Class Frankenmuth. UPPER PENINSULA SITE: Marquette. TICKETS: $4. pic and world championship competitions. "They know Magic Johnson, but they don't necessarily see the great track athletes.

They don't know about people like Marshall Dill and others who have gone on and received college educations and been to NCAA championships and the Olympics." Dill, a 1971 graduate of Detroit Northern, was an all-state sprinter and later an All-America at Michigan State. Background on other past standouts, including former Olympians Henry Carr, Eddie Tolan and Kim Turner, can be found at the Web site's hall of fame section. The site also includes meet results, all-time top performer lists and college sign-ings. "The great thing about the Internet is that the kids have access," said Hollobaugh, a 1979 graduate of Allen Park High. "It's a great tool to teach them about the sport and the history of the sport." Hollobaugh has written about track and field for 15 years.

He said Michigan high school athletes compare favorably with competitors in other regions despite the short warm-wealher season and a lack of notoriety. "On the high school level Michigan produces with the top 15 states in the country, and among the northern states I think we're doing fantastically, but there still is a lot of room for improvement," Hollobaugh said. "We need to place more emphasis on the fans and what fans want to see." Jeff Hollobaugh's Web site can be found at members.aol.commichtrack .7 "i.i WILLIAM ARCHIEDetroit Free Press No. 7 Irish have compiled a 124-20 record during the last four years and have appeared in the final four each of the last three, including two title games and one championship. But the Irish must first get through No.

5 Marion at 10 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart. Rankings By the coaches association Division 1: 1, Jenison; 2, Brighton; 3, Rochester; 4, Portage Northern; 5, Grand Ledge; 6, Troy; 7, Redford Catholic Central; 8. North Farmington; 9, Walled Lake Western; 10, Birmingham Groves. Division II: 1, Sturgis; 2, St.

Clair Shores Lakeview; 3, Alma; 4, Farmington Hills Harrison; 5, Orchard Lake St. Mary's; 6, Carleton Airport; 7, Birmingham Detroit Country Day; 8, St. Joseph; 9, Oxford; 10, Marysville. Division III: 1, Midland Bullock Creek; 2, Quincy; 3, Blissfield; 4, Sanford Meridian; 5, Elk Rapids; 6, Berrien Springs; 7, Bad Axe; 8, Mason County Central; 9, Ithaca; 10, Rogers City. Division IV: 1, Southgate Anderson; 2, Marion; 3, Decatur; 4, Johannesburg-Lewlston; 5, VanderCook Lake; 6, Indian River Inland Lakes; 7, Mt.

Pleasant Sacred Heart; 8, Homer; 9, Battle Creek St. Philip; 10, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes. the most who ever tried out for his golf team until 56 came out this season 15 more than for the football program. "I think Tiger Woods and all the other young players on lour are having a great effect on golf across the country, but especially in our neck of the woods," Mayhew said. With more interest in golf and an extended season draped in ideal weather, UP teams are enjoying this spring more than last.

On May 12, 1997, Ontonagon was hit with 16 inches of snow overnight. Normally the school has 10 golf dates. Ist year, it had four, including the girls' 14th state title. "We didn't win it there for a while," Morin said, referring to a six-year drought in 1988-93 that included two runner-up finishes. "But I think it's just all of a sudden we've got some new young people who have BY GEORGE SlPPLE Free lress Sports Writer On the surface, getting a lot of seeded players in the state tournament seems like a great accomplishment for a team.

That's not necessarily true. Three teams No. 2-ranked Ann Arbor Huron, No. 3 Midland Dow and No. 5 Ann Arbor Pioneer received seeds in five of the seven flights for the Division I championships Friday and Saturday at Midland Community Tennis Center.

Top-ranked Grosse Pointe South and No. 4 Birmingham Brother Rice each received seeds in four flights. But all five teams will have trouble keeping players alive until Saturday. Because of the change from a three- class system to a 111. more evenly di vided four divisions this sea son, the draws have become smaller and fewer seeds awarded, giving way to more first-round byes and ensuing opening matches worth two points instead of one.

For example, Nick Iodzinski, unseeded for Grosse Pointe South at No. 4 singles, will face No. 5 seed Dan Pasick of Pioneer in the second round in the opening match for both. Three coaches agreed that if anyone deserved a sixth seed, it should have been Lodzinski, but only five were awarded. Instead he and Pasick received first-round byes and will meet in a match that will decide two points for the winner.

"That's the state championship for either one of us," Pioneer coach Tom Pullen said. "That'll sure as hell hurt South if we knock them off. The draws are what are crucial, We got great seeds, but it's to no advantage when the sixth seed faces you in the first round. "You don't put two equal kids in the same quarter." Meanwhile, without a sixth seed to go against him, No. 3 seed Jim Sayed of Huron can rack up three points before he plays a seeded player in a semifinal.

In another example of how getting seeded doesn't guarantee an easy path, Grosse Pointe South coach Tom Berschback pointed to fourth seed Preston Gaspar at No. 1 singles, who the coach said "got a very difficult draw. He's going to probably play John Efros from West Bloom-field and then Chris Rolf of Midland, so that's not an easy way to go. "We don't play any of the weaker teams in the early matches. We still can win it we just have to win those matches right away." Berschback said he'd be "very surprised if it isn't very close, with at least two or three teams within two points of each other." Division II: In the first week of the season, Okemos scored a 4-3 dual meet victory over East Lansing.

Two weeks ago, East Lansing beat Okemos, 4-3, at the regional meet as the two teams met in the finals of all seven flights. The rubber match will come at the state finals. "We only beat them by one point in the regions, so anything can happen," East Lansing coach Regan Kania said. "Okemos is a well-balanced team." That was evident when the seeding committee awarded Okemos seeds in all seven flights for the state tournament. East Lansing's entire singles lineup received No.

1 seeds. Chris Schultz, a Class A runner-up last year at No. 1 singles, is favored to win, as is teammate Todd Townsend, the No. 2 singles champ last year. Steve Srivastava looks to cap a successful freshman season with a title, as does sophomore Mike Par-nello, who moved from doubles to GOLF FINALS Lower Peninsula WHAT: Class A and B-C-D girls golf finals.

WHEN: 9:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday. WHERE: Forest Akers Golf Course, East Lansing. ADMISSION: $3 per car, Saturday only. Upper Peninsula WHAT: Boys and girls golf finals.

WHEN: 9 a.m. today (boys Class C) and Friday. WHERE: Class A-B at Escanaba, girls Class at Norway, boys Class at Iron Mountain, Class at Iron River. ADMISSION: Free moms and dads picking up the game and getting the kids involved. "We have a good tradition, and a good tradition generates more interest" WHAT: MHSAA Lower Peninsula tennis championships.

WHEN: Friday and Saturday beginning at 8:30 a.m. WHERE: Divisions I and II at Midland Community Tennis Center; Division III at Okemos High; Division IV at Kalamazoo's Stowe Stadium. ADMISSION: Free. Rankings DMtloft 1: 1, Grosse Pointe South; 2, Ann Arbor Huron; 3, Midland Dow; 4, Birmingham Brother Rice; 5, Ann Arbor Pioneer; 6, Port Huron Northern; 7, West Bloomfield; 8, Rochester; 9, Traverse City Central; 10 (tie), Lansing Catholic Central, Rochester Adams, Redford Catholic Central. DMtion II: 1, Okemos; 2, North Farmington; 3, East Lansing; 4, Battle Creek Lakeview; 5, Bloomfield Hills Lahser; 6, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central; 7.

Grand Rapids Northvlew; 8, Birmingham Seaholm; 9, Muskegon Mona Shores; 10 (tie), Kalamazoo Loy Norrix. Saline. Division III: 1, Bloomfield Hills Andover; 2, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kings-wood; 3, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern; 4, Holland Christian; 5, St. Joseph. 6 East Grand Rapids; 7, Sturgis; 8, Fremont; 9, Grosse lie; 10 (tie), Allegan, Petoskey.

DrvWon IV: 1, Birmingham Detroit Country Day; 2, Ann Arbor Greenhills; 3, Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett; 4, Spring Lake; Whitehall; 6, Buchanan; 7, Lake Michigan Catholic; 8, Kalamazoo Christian; 9, Hemlock; 10, Al-mont. Super 10: 1, Grosse Pointe South; 2, Ann Arbor Huron; 3, Midland Dow; 4, Birmingham Detroit Country Day; 5, Birmingham Brother Rice; 6, Ann Arbor Pioneer; 7, Bloomfield Hills Andover; 8, Okemos; 9, North Farmington; 10, Port Huron Northern. the fourth singles spot. Although the doubles teams for East Lansing didn't get seeds, Kania remains confident that they can pick up points. "We have good, competitive doubles teams," he said.

"I think we might pull some upsets in doubles. A lot of unpredictable things happen." Division III: Bloomfield Hills Andover is such a heavy favorite to win, it received all seven No. 1 seeds in the draws. Andover swept its regional against No. 2-ranked Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, setting up the impressive seeding assignments.

"The bottom line is we did a great job at regionals, so I guess we deserve to be seeded No. 1 at every flight," coach Steve Kirschbaum said. "Our kids still have to go out there and do the job. Obviously anything other than sweeping the tournament would be a disappointment," on paper. It's still a tournament.

Anything can happen." One key match will come at No. 1 singles. If the seeds hold, Andover's Brad Adams will meet Allen Park's Rocky Giorgi in the semifinals. "Rocky beat Brad during USTA tournaments last summer," Kirschbaum said. "I think that's a very tough semifinal." Kirschbaum runs the junior program at the Franklin Racquet Club, where Giorgi comes for lessons.

Division IV: Birmingham Detroit Country Day received No. 1 seeds in all three doubles flights, in addition to a top seed at No. 3 singles (Preston Lehman); No. 2 seeds at No. 2 singles (Sumit Singla) and No.

4 singles (Albert Han); and a fourth seed at No, 1 singles (Jonathon Thomas). "We should be seeded No. 1 at the doubles," Country Day coach George Russell said. "Between the strength in the doubles and the strength at three singles and fourth singles, that should help propel us through." The lop two singles championships are favored to go to Spring Lake's Ben Cox at No. 1 and defending champion Patrick Eagan at No.

2. In Wednesday's 1998 Michigan Scholar Athletes section, the wrong photo appeared with the information ofNavin Antony of Warren Mott. The correct photo and a complete biography follow: Warren Mott Who: Navin Antony. Parents: Alukal and Jolly Antony. CPA: 4.37.

Academic: Kalamazoo College Honors scholarship; Macomb Community College Scholastic Award; Phi Beta Kappa; Tandy Technology Scholar; U.S. National Mathematics Award; Channel 7 'Brightest National Honor Society and student government treasurer; four-year school honor roll; environmental awareness award; National Youth Leadership Forum participant. Athletic: Four-year cross-country letter winner; four-year track team member; played tennis. College: Kalamazoo. Rochester shortstop Tim Frankhouse, who has signed with Toledo, steals second base under the tag of Lake Orion's Ed Garcia (12).

Rochester, from Page 1 ID beginning of the season wouldn't really help us now. Actually I think it's kind of good that we lost." The Falcons haven't forgotten how to win with style and class. They're confident, but don't talk trash. They make tough plays look simple, but don't brag. Lake Orion coach Dave Collins, who spent 16 years in the major leagues with eight teams, including the Tigers, likes what he sees in the Falcons.

They're strong at every position and they all can hit and they have a strong pitching staff," Collins said. They have no weakness. They know they're good and they play with a lot of confidence. You have to do that to play this game. That's the advantage Rochester has over other teams.

"I don't think pressure will get to them, because they have the experience of coming back after winning it last year. Somebody has to come in and knock them off." The Falcons have drawn the attention of plenty of major college coaches and pro scouts. Good (Arizona State), Squires (Michigan State), Frankhouse (Toledo) and Bennion (Oakland have accepted Division eVinlat-cViino Wattloc a iliniAf at OVIlUllUOUIJJill IIU11ILJ, JUIUUI) HI ready has committed to MSU. Good will have to choose between turning pro or going to college, as hell likely be selected in next week's major league draft The trio of Good (8-1, 1.43 ERA), Bennion (6-2, 2.62) and Squires (60, 1.47) has limited the opposition to 42 runs, 36 earned. Good, the staff ace, has struck out 72 in 49 innings.

Rochester has scored 305 runs, Sun shines on BYTOMLANG Free Press Special Writer The girls golf finals that take place Friday and Saturday in East Lansing will crown two state champions but let's not forget they won't be the only state champions. As Grosse He goes for a third straight Class B-C-D title and Grand-ville shoots for a repeat in Class A at Forest Akers, a longer-running dynasty will be on display Friday in the Upper Peninsula finals. Ontonagon's girls will be trying for their fifth straight Class championship. And the Ontonagon boys will be shooting for a third straight The Lower Peninsula champions might have defeated more competitors, but as Ontonagon coach Dennis Morin said, "If you look into the eyes of all those kids that were part of those winning teams, you'd find out how important those wins were to in the state is at Birmingham Detroit Country Day, where the Yellowjack-els are hosting Birmingham Sea-holm, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, Oak Park, Royal Oak Dondero and Farmington Hills Harrison. All but Oak Park have 20-plus victories.

Division III: None of the top 10 ranked teams will face one another in the districts. The first of the ranked teams to face off could be No. 5 Elk Rapids against No. 10 Rogers City in the regional semis at LeRoy-Pine River. Looking for a dark horse? Try No.

3 Blissfield, which is led by two fine pitchers 6-foot-4 Nick Bates and 6-5 Kyle Knoblauch. The Royals have to get through their own district and regional and the Saline quarterfinal before they'd face a ranked team in the semifinals. Then it could be No. 1 Midland Bullock Creek, No. 9 Ithaca or No.

7 Bad Axe. Division IV: Despite its slow start, Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart (24-5) should not be taken lightly. The This week, the UP will contest six titles boys and girls Class A-B, Class and Class D. The Lower Peninsula boys play golf in the fall.

"The good thing about our boys playing spring golf instead of fall is that we have our best weather at the end of the season, compared to the fall when it deteriorates," Menominee boys coach Pete Mayhew said. "Historically, May is a very hectic month. "We usually start the season about April 20, then end it the same time in May, trying to squeeze it all in. But the weather this year been atypical sunny and in the 60s and 70s for every match. And this year the athletic directors added another week to extend the schedule." Mayhew said 30-some boys were MfMfjjjliiiift UP as Ontonagon shoots to extend dynasty them.

"Considering the short season all the teams in the UP work with, we've put out some great golfers from up here." Morin said that at least six of his former players have earned PGA card-carrying status as club pros and that the UP has ties to players and management officials on all three major pro tours PGA, LPGA and Senior PGA, Morin agreed that Ontonagon's success could be comparable to a Lower Peninsula school'swinning regional titles year after year. Not many do. In Morin's 22 years as coach, the Ontonagon girls have won 14 UP tides and the boys eight an average of one a year. The championships have come even as the school district has shrunk from about 1,600 students in 1972 to 700 now. The girls won 10 straight against bigger schools in 1978-87 when the finals combined classes and D..