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Sports In Review: July 2007

Bums activate Young

TRAVERSE CITY (July 1) — The Traverse City Beach Bums activated second baseman Steve Young from the injured reserve list in one of several moves made prior to the start of a series with the Central Division rival Kalamazoo Kings.

An All-Star in 2006, Young separated his shoulder during spring training and began the season on injured reserve.

In addition to activating Young, the Beach Bums traded infielder/catcher Lance Koenig and outfielder JT Thomas to Chillicothe for Tyler Meigs, a 6-7 rookie right-handed pitcher. Meigs, pitching in relief, was 1-1 with a 1.42 ERA. Opponents hit just .162 against him. TC also received a conditional pick in the 2008 draft.

The Beach Bums also signed rookie outfielder Aaron Garza out of Texas State University.

TS tackles, awareness raised

WILLIAMSBURG (July 1) — The "Coaches Tackling TS" fund-raiser at High Pointe Golf Course exceeded expectations, raising awareness and money to help children with tuberous sclerosis, a genetic disorder characterized by lesions (to the skin and central nervous system), tumor growth (on internal organs) and seizures.

Tyler Wooer, the son of Kingsley football coach Tim Wooer, has the disease. But the main local benefactor was a 10-year-old girl from Buckley.

Cheyenne Gibson will now be able to see a specialist in Maryland, where she'll have tumors removed from her face.

Tim Wooer said the initial goal was to raise $8,000. He predicted the tournament could generate $20,000.

"This is unbelievable," said Danielle Gibson, Cheyenne's mother.

Trigger Happy

TRAVERSE CITY (July 2) — Music blares, buzzers go off.

The rapid-fire sound of leather hitting leather shoots through gym as trainers shout directions to boxers throwing punches and jabs at bags big and small.

Boxing is a family affair at Trigger Boxing for owners Bill and Robbin Bustance and daughters Adanna and Dagney. All have had their rounds in the ring.

Bill, leader of what he likes to call the "First Family of Boxing," started boxing 40 years ago when he was 15. He's retired from the ring and now coaches.

Robbin Bustance's first match was in 1993 when she was 33 years.

"I have always been interested in boxing. I wanted to coach and train boxers and felt to do it properly I had to experience what they experience in the ring," Robbin said.

Adanna was 13 when she had her first of seven fights. Now 20, she attends Michigan State University on a full scholarship for rowing. Dagney, a Central Michigan University grad, grew up around the gym and has climbed in the ring for one fight. They do physical fitness coaching at the gym.

Bums snap 5-game skid, 12-4

TRAVERSE CITY (July 2) — The Traverse City Beach Bums belted three home runs in snapping a five-game losing streak with a 12-4 win over the Kalamazoo Kings.

David Nathanson earned the win in his professional debut for the Beach Bums. Nathanson went six innings, allowing four runs on five hits. Jack Nelson, Brett Bostelman and Nick Pepper all hurled an inning of shutout ball in relief.

Offensively, Curtis Ledbetter, Aaron Garza and Sam Orr supplied the power. Ledbetter smacked a two-run homer in the first; Garza belted a grand slam in the sixth; and Orr went deep with two on in the seventh.

The Beach Bums, now 14-24, pounded out 10 hits. Ledbetter, Orr and catcher Matt Rademacher paced the attack with two hits apiece.

Haske nixes new job to stay as coach

CHARLEVOIX (July 3) — Charlevoix basketball coach Keith Haske was forced to make a choice.

In the end, he chose the status quo.

Haske wrote a letter to the Charlevoix Board of Education informing them of his decision to remain as the middle school principal and boys basketball coach.

"I'm just going to keep doing what I've been doing," Haske said.

Haske, who has been coaching basketball the last 10 seasons at Charlevoix, was offered the position of high school principal following the retirement of Gary Grundman. But the board said Haske would not be able to coach for 2007-08 while holding the position of high school principal.

So in the end, Haske chose to continue in his current position as both middle school principal and boys basketball coach.

Four area teams to play in USA Cup

BLAINE, mINN. (July 3) — Four area youth soccer teams will be participating in the 23rd annual USA Cup tournament in Blaine, Minn.

The two boys and two girls teams will represent the NorthStar and North Storm select soccer programs. They'll join more than 900 teams from other clubs in the largest gathering of youth soccer teams in the Western Hemisphere.

The four area teams are the NorthStar 91 U-17 girls, NorthStar 92 U-15 girls, North Storm 92 U-15 boys and North Storm 93 U-14 boys squads. The NorthStar and North Storm teams draw players from Traverse City, Cadillac, Charlevoix, Elk Rapids, McBain and Suttons Bay.

Last year more than over 13,500 participants from 17 countries and 28 states participated in the 10-day tournament.

Benzie's Moss gets national honor

BENZONIA (July 4) — Pete Moss thought he was too old to start a coaching career when he was hired as a social studies teacher in the Benzie Central school system nearly 44 years ago.

Moss had just graduated from Michigan State. He was 35, married with three sons.

"People asked if I would ever coach," Moss said. "I said 'no'. I felt I was too old to start coaching. But here I am — I'm going to be 79 in September — and I'm still coaching. Once you get into it, it's pretty darn exciting.

"It's my hobby," he added. "I don't golf. I don't hunt. I don't fish. I coach."

Moss has been such a success in his profession that he was inducted into the National High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in Milwaukee.

Former Traverse City football coach Jim Ooley was the last area coach to be inducted. He was honored in 2002.

Two Bums named All-Stars

TRAVERSE CITY (July 4) — A pair of Traverse City Beach Bums were named to the Frontier League All-Star Game.

Traverse City shortstop Justin Holmes and catcher Curtis Ledbetter were named to the North team for the game in Florence, Ky.

The North will feature members of the Central Division as well as Washington and Slippery Rock from the East.

Holmes will make his second straight appearance in the All-Star Game. Ledbetter is in his first season with the Beach Bums.

Windy City has the most representatives on the squad with seven selections.

Windy City's Andy Haines will manage the North team. Gateway's Phil Warren will be the skipper for the South.

Stars face Alpena in home opener

TRAVERSE CITY (July 5) — The Traverse City North Stars will face the Alpena IceDiggers in their 2007-08 home opener.

The Stars open their third season in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) by competing in the North American Hockey League Showcase in suburban Minneapolis. They'll play four games, followed by a fifth road contest at Alpena, before opening at Centre ICE.

Mistake costly for the Bums

WASHINGTON, Pa. (July 5) — Tony Casoli made one mistake.

And it cost him.

Pat O'Brien belted a two-out, three-run homer over the left centerfield fence in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Washington Wild Things a 3-1 Frontier League win over the Traverse City Beach Bums at Consol Energy Park.

It was O'Brien's second home run of the season.

And it spoiled a splendid outing by Casoli (3-5), who allowed just four hits in eight innings of work.

8-year-old races to nationals

TRAVERSE CITY (July 6) — A simple stoplight can be an adventure when your family is full of drag racers.

And when one of them is 8 years old, it's always full speed ahead.

Interlochen's Hunter Acha will be going to the invitation-only NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals in Bristol, Tenn.

Even at only 8 years old, Hunter critiques others' driving.

"We'll be at a light and he'll tell me, 'You're reaction time wasn't good, mom,'" says his mother, Kelli, who joins her husband Dave to round out the family triumvirate of racers.

The three racers are regulars at Northern Michigan Dragway in Kaleva and the Mid-Michigan Motorplex in Stanton, with Hunter just starting in May after reaching the minimum age limit.

Since then, he's won an event and finished runner-up several other times, enough to earn him an invitation to the National Hot Rod Association's top gathering of young racers.

Bums get blanked by Wild Things

WASHINGTON, Pa. (July 6) — So much for showing some rust.

Newly-acquired left-hand pitcher Alan Stidfole made his first professional start and first appearance in more than a year a memorable one as the Washington Wild Things blanked the Traverse City Beach Bums 6-0.

Stidfole allowed just two hits and struck out three batters in five innings against the Beach Bums (15-27). Three relievers finished off the final four innings of the four-hit shutout after a rain delay of nearly an hour.

The Wild Things, winners of six straight, lead the Eastern Division (25-16).

One Orr Another

TRAVERSE CITY (July 7) — Kristen Orr comes from a long line of diehard baseball fans.

Her grandmother, 80-year-old Jane Clove, is the Los Angeles Angels' longest-standing season ticket holder.

And when Orr first met her husband at Biola (Calif.) University, she joked that she was secretly disappointed because he played soccer, not baseball — then she found out later that he was also a member of the baseball team.

So, even though it's frowned upon by the Traverse City Beach Bums' management, Orr can't help but sneak a peek at the diamond while she works as a server at Wuerfel Park.

She's particularly fond of the Bums' third baseman, who also happens to be her husband, Sam.

"I'm not really supposed to watch," Kristen said. "But I always watch when Sam bats."

There were no married players on Traverse City's inaugural team last summer, so the Orrs are a rarity. When Jason Wuerfel, the team's vice president/director of player personnel, first offered Sam Orr a spot on the team, he found out it was a package deal. Orr asked that the team give his wife a job, too.

"That was a first for me," Wuerfel said with a laugh.

South Korean wins AJA tournament

HARBOR SPRINGS (July 7) — Jae Han Chun of Ansung-City, South Korea, won the Boys Division of the Coca-Cola Junior Championship at Boyne Highlands, taking a sudden death playoff after finishing at 10-under-par 206.

He was tied with Aaron Fitzpatrick of Orlando.

Seo Hee Moon of Mukilteo, Wash., shot a 5-over 221 to win the Girls Division.

The American Junior Golf Association event included a 144-player field, featuring players from 24 states, South Korea, Mexico and Canada.

Volleyball tournament a big draw

TRAVERSE CITY (July 8) — After 25 years, the West End Beach volleyball tournament has developed into an epic Cherry Festival event, drawing in players from as far away as Sault Ste. Marie and Detroit to participate as both first-timers and veterans to the tournament.

"I've been playing beach volleyball for a month or so now," Reese Gallagher of Empire said. "While I was checking out tournaments online I noticed this one and thought, 'Hey, we could win that.'"

Many locals came out to the volleyball courts for the first time to compete alongside the players who travel for the event or have grown up with the tournament.

Beach Bums open with win over Sliders

TRAVERSE CITY (July 9) — The Traverse City Beach Bums opened a 13-game homestand with a 9-4 win over the Slippery Rock Sliders in front of 4,544 at Wuerfel Park.

The Beach Bums finished with 14 hits in the game and every member of the starting lineup reached base at least once.

The Beach Bums pushed across five runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 6-2 lead.

Ramsey and Sam Orr singled to start the frame. Holmes attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt but Slippery Rock pitcher Nick Tracy threw the ball away at third, allowing both Orr and Ramsey to score and give Traverse City the 3-2 lead. Zack Kalter drove in a run with a single and stole second following a Jeff Brown hit. Steve Young drove in two runs with a single up the middle and the Beach Bums were in control.

Bums bloodied but not beaten

TRAVERSE CITY (July 10) — Sam Orr got clobbered.

Seven innings later, Zack Kalter delivered an even bigger blow.

Orr, making his first start at first base for the Traverse City Beach Bums, received a deep cut to his head and had to be taken to the hospital after a collision with Slippery Rock outfielder Jon Dandridge.

Orr, who needed 10 stitches to close the cut, was on his way back to Wuerfel Park and was listening to the game on the radio when Kalter led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a walk-off home run to defeat the Sliders, 4-3.

The win completed a three-game sweep for the Bums, who enter the All-Star break with an 18-28 record.

TC resident signs deal with Detroit

TRAVERSE CITY (July 10) — Dallas Drake's son Jackson now has another reason to cheer for his father.

Drake signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings — Jackson's favorite team.

Drake, 38, spent the last six seasons playing for Central Division rival St. Louis.

The Traverse City area resident became a free agent when the Blues placed him on waivers.

Drake, who was originally drafted by the Red Wings in 1989, started talking to Detroit officials "on and off" late last week, much to the delight of his 9-year-old son.

Pollack, Harding win EZ-GO Classic

BELLAIRE (July 11) — Joe Pollack and Tom Harding shot an 11-under-par 61 in the final-round scramble at Schuss Mountain to finish 21-under par 123 and win the 28th annual E-Z-GO Shanty Creek PGA Classic.

Pollack (Boulder Creek Golf Club) and Harding (Kendall Academy of Golf) opened the 36-hole tournament with a 10-under 62 on The Legend during the better-ball tournament.

Their 11-under par 61 the following day gave them a 2-stroke victory over Shane Hollandsworth and Jerry Roman, both from Bay Harbor Golf Club.

In addition to splitting the $1,800 purse, Pollack and Harding each receive a 10-year exemption to compete in the Tournament of Champions at Boyne Mountain.

South pounds North

FLORENCE, Ky. (July 12) — Playing on his own field, Florence outfielder Reggie Watson drove in three runs to lead the South All-Stars to an 11-3 win over the North squad in the Frontier League All-Star Game.

Watson ended the game 3-for-4 with a double and two triples and scored two runs.

His first-inning triple off Washington's Aaron Ledbetter plated the game's first run. He tripled in two runs in the six-run fourth that broke the game open.

Traverse City representatives Curtis Ledbetter and Justin Holmes were a combined 1-for-4.

Holmes was 0-for-2, while Curtis Ledbetter went 1-for-2 with a double in the ninth and came in on a two-run single by Kalamazoo's Joe Ramos.

Watson was named the game's MVP.

Area pair inducted into CMU Hall of Fame

MOUNT PLEASANT (July 12) — Two area athletes were among six inducted this week into the Central Michigan University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Bill Taylor of Charlevoix and Betsy Yonkman of Kaleva were among a half dozen athletes inducted.

Taylor, who ran for the Chippewas from 1987-89, was an All-American in the 5,000-meter, still holds the school record in the event at 13:48.5 and was once ranked in the top 50 in the world in cross country.

Yonkman, who played basketball for CMU from 1983-86, is one of only three players who have been multiple first-team all-MAC selections (joining TC St. Francis coach Sue Nissen and Carla Sterk). The Brethren grad was CMU's career scoring leader at the end of her career.

Wheeler's strategy remains the same

TRAVERSE CITY (July 13) — Adam Wheeler expects to employ the same strategy that proved successful last year.

"I plan to go out hard," said Wheeler, the defending men's Cherry Festival 5K champion.

A year ago, Wheeler grabbed the early lead and then held off a late surge by former Traverse City Central teammate Eric Houghton to win the 5K in 16:02.80. Houghton was eight seconds back.

Event coordinator Bridget Svec expects 2,300-2,400 runners for the Festival of Races — if the weather holds.

"We have 1,800 registered now," Svec said. "We could register another 500 to 600. A lot of people wait until Friday and Saturday to see what the weather's going to be (before committing). I'd love to have 2,300."

Bums down, but not out

TRAVERSE CITY (July 13) — As the Traverse City Beach Bums begin the second half of their Frontier League baseball season, there's good and bad news.

First, the bad news: The Bums are 18-28 and in last place in the Central Division, 16 games behind first-place Windy City.

Now, the good news: Despite a first half filled with more than their share of bad luck — like injuries, defensive woes, an inconsistent offense and problems with the pitching rotation — the Bums are only five games out of a playoff spot.

Way Away

TRAVERSE CITY (July 14) — High school football players at Traverse City West and Glen Lake face long road trips — with out-of-state opponents — to fill their upcoming season schedules.

Kingsley nearly had to go the long route, too.

A shortage of in-state opponents prompted West to turn to a game with Indianapolis Roncalli at Jenison in Ottawa County. Glen Lake has an even longer trek and is set to face Milwaukee Marshall at Northern Michigan University's Superior Dome in Marquette.

The afternoon games were scheduled at neutral sites to help balance the schools' travel.

Big North Conference rivals Gaylord and Cadillac face similar dilemmas. Both have been unable to fill open dates during the middle of the season when most schools are locked into league games.

Beach Bums wins streak hits 4

TRAVERSE CITY (July 14) — The Traverse City Beach Bums stretched their winning streak to a season-best four games, blanking the Slippery Rock Sliders 7-0 in a Frontier League game at Wuerfel Park.

Ryan Gehring teamed with three relievers to pitch the shutout. The four allowed just six hits. Gehring went 5.2 innings to register his third win. Jeff Williams, Bryan Rembisz and Brett Bostelman protected the lead and shutout.

GVSU's Rivard finds her form

TRAVERSE CITY (July 15) — Once Susie Rivard got over her jet lag, she was able to fly past the competition.

After starting with a modest pace, the Grand Valley State University senior found her form to win the women's 15K title at the Cherry Festival.

"I just got back from Europe," the 20-year-old from Brighton said. "I've been really tired lately. I didn't know how I was going to run so I decided to start off slow."

Rivard, who was visiting her sister overseas, found her legs before long. She passed GVSU teammate Ashley Wharton of Lake Orion (1:01:38.2) and runner-up Val Thomasma of Kentwood (1:01:10.8) en route to the victory.

Franko's late surge wins 5K

TRAVERSE CITY (July 15) — From one Traverse City runner to another.

Mike Franko used a late surge to win the Cherry Festival men's 5K, unseating former Traverse City Central and Eastern Michigan University teammate Adam Wheeler as champion.

Franko, 32, was clocked in 16:00.6. Kalkaska's Paul Grieve, who will be a walk-on at Michigan State in the fall, placed second in 16:06.9. Petoskey's Ryan Newsted, the defending 15K champ, finished third in 16:10. Wheeler, 30, came in fifth in 16:18.2.

"Given the wind, that's (time) not too bad," Franko said. "I wanted to run a 15:40 or 15:45, but that would have been in perfect conditions."

Franko's victory came as no surprise to Wheeler.

"He's a competitor," Wheeler said. "I knew if he was in any kind of shape he'd challenge."

Record field set for Open

THOMPSONVILLE (July 16) — The Michigan PGA Women's Open will boast a record purse and the largest field in tournament history when it gets underway today at Crystal Mountain.

The Women's Open, hosted by Crystal for the fifth consecutive year, is 54-hole, three-day event that features professionals and amateurs from across the nation with a 15 handicap or less. The event has attracted players from 15 states and Canada, including some who have spent time on the LPGA Tour and Futures Tour.

The biggest field in the event's 13-year history will compete for a $42,500 purse. The field of 94 players surpasses the old record of 92 in 2005. It will include defending champion Kris Tamulis of Onekama, who finished in a tie for 35th in this summer's U.S. Women's Open.

TC advances to state tourney

GRAYLING (July 16) — The Traverse City 11- 12-year-old Little League team won the District 8 title.

Traverse City will now compete in the state tournament in Taylor.

The Traverse City All Star team has played six games over two weeks, beating East Jordan, Grayling, Charlevoix, Roscommon, Alpena and Manistee. The team's combined batting average is over .400.

Team members include Walter Borkovich, Collin Bush, Donny Cizek, Carter Edmondson, Ryan Ellsworth, Mitch Gamelin, Jared Gensler, Justin Hubbard, Dylan Kennedy, Trent McDougall and Will Reed. Coaches are Ron Hubbard, Tom Cizek and Eric Ellsworth.

Four tied for lead at Women's Open

THOMPSONVILLE (July 17) — A lack of playing didn't seem to hurt Elaine Crosby.

A two-time winner on the LPGA Tour, Crosby was one of four players to shoot a 1-under 71 in the opening round of the Michigan Women's Open on Crystal Mountain's Mountain Ridge course.

"This is the first tournament round I've played this year, so I haven't had a competitive round," said the 49-year-old Crosby, a Jackson resident.

Crosby, who won the tournament in 2001-02, is tied with Lisa Fernandez of Raleigh, N.C.; Lorna Miedema, a Canadian native who lives in Orlando, Fla.; and Moira Dunn of Tampa, Fla.

Defending champion Kris Tamulis, whose parents own a summer home in Onekama, opened with a 2-over 74.

Casciano, Colburn post golf victories

GAYLORD (July 17) — Two Traverse City golfers posted three-stroke victories in the Michigan PGA Junior Tour golf tournament at Treetops Resort.

TC's Tony Casciano won the boys 16-18 division with an even-par 142 after shooting 68-74 in two rounds on The Tradition.

Gaylord's Zachary Rygwelski tied for eighth at 8-over 150, while Traverse City's Andrew Walukonis tied for 17th at 15-over 157.

In the boys 13-15 division, Traverse City's Patrick Colburn won with a 1-over 143 after carding 68-75. Charlevoix's Wyatt Drost placed 11th at 24-over 166.

Beach Bums rally for the win

TRAVERSE CITY (July 18) — Brad Vericker came through in the clutch, launching a game-winning, walk-off single to halt a three-game Traverse City Beach Bums losing skid.

And it couldn't have come at a better time.

With the bases loaded and in a game the team dedicated to recently-retired reliever Jack Nelson, who left the team to be with his cancer-striken father, the Bums won 7-6 in a contest in which the Vericker capped off a 3-for-5 night with a single over the head of Rob Vernon to end the game.

Fernandes chips in for Open win

THOMPSONVILLE (July 19) — Lisa Fernandes left the door open with a three-putt bogey on No. 17.

Then she slammed it shut with a stunning 66-yard pitch-in for eagle on the 18th that sealed a victory over LeAnna Wicks in the 15th annual Michigan Women's Open golf tournament at Crystal Mountain.

"I knew I had to get it close because LeAnna had a close birdie putt," said Fernandes, who was clinging to a one-stroke lead prior to the shot. "When I hit it, the shot seemed lower than I wanted, but it took the first hop and kicked right. Then it caught the edge of the hole and went in."

Fernandes, a 30-year-old Ohio State alumnus who has conditional status on the LPGA Tour, flung her club into the air in celebration while dashing Wicks' hopes of a playoff.

Defending champion Kris Tamulis, of Onekama, was third at 6-under 210.

Bums deal Vincent to Gateway

TRAVERSE CITY (July 20) — Five days after being benched for disciplinary reasons, Jeff Vincent has been traded.

The Traverse City Beach Bums dealt the former Boston Red Sox prospect to the Gateway Grizzlies for rookie infielder Kyle Bradburry and a player to be named.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Vincent batted .295 in 48 games and was leading the Bums in runs (39), RBIs (33), steals (12) and triples (4).

Casciano, Colburn win golf tourney

GAYLORD (July 21) — A pair of Traverse City St. Francis golfers prevailed at the 36-hole Michigan PGA Junior Tour event on the Tradition course at Treetops Resort.

Tony Casciano won the boys 16-18 division with an even-par 144. He won by three shots over Bradley Hunt of Macomb Township.

Patrick Colburn won the boys 13-15 division with a 1-over 143. He also won by three shots, topping Derek Smith.

RiverHawks soar past Bums

TRAVERSE CITY (July 21) — After three straight nights of late-inning drama, this was over before the opening act.

Rockford scored five times in the first three innings to spoil the first professional start for Jeff Williams as the Beach Bums dropped a 7-3 decision at Wuerfel Park.

The win by the RiverHawks came on the heels of three straight victories by Traverse City in its final at-bat, including a 5-4 triumph over Rockford in 10 innings.

"There was a lot of drama yesterday," said a clearly-disappointed Beach Bums' manager Jon Cahill. "We just came out flat. It's hard to come out flat when you have a full house."

TC Little Leaguers win state opener

TAYLOR (July 22) — In a rematch of last year's Little League state finals, the Traverse City All-Stars defeated Ypsilanti National 11-2 in the 11-12-year-old state tournament.

Winning pitcher Trent McDougall allowed one hit in four innings for Traverse City. Donny Cizek and Justin Hubbard each hurled an inning of relief.

Hubbard went 3-for-3 at the plate, while McDougall slugged a two-run homer.

New Trojan coach lays foundation

TRAVERSE CITY (July 22) — Tom Passinault's dedication certainly can't be questioned.

The new Traverse City Central head football coach has been living in an RV behind the school for over a month now and will continue to until just before the start of classes.

It gives training camp a whole new meaning.

Since middle of June, the new Trojan mentor has been living out of his camper, conveniently located right next to the practice field, a short walk to the weight room and in the partial shade of the school's east side.

His family is still in Grand Rapids as they try to sell their house there, and one is being built here, leaving Passinault all to himself during the week.

"That's fine, just for myself," Passinault said of his temporary dwelling. "It's actually going really well, to be able to really concentrate on football."

That's dedication.

TC Little League team loses Game 2

TAYLOR (July 23) — Birmingham rallied for five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and edged the Traverse City All-Stars 11-10 in the second game of the Little League state tournament.

Traverse City, playing in the 11-12 Division, returns to action against Negaunee or St. Clair.

Ryan Ellsworth, Donny Cizek, Justin Hubbard and Walter Borkovich shared pitching duties against Birmingham.

Offensively, Trent McDougall had three hits, including a home run, while Cizek doubled and tripled and Mitch Gamelin singled and homered.

Beach Bums win a wild one

TRAVERSE CITY (July 23) — Aaron Garza's three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning put Traverse City ahead for good as the Beach Bums edged Rockford 12-9 in a rollercoaster Frontier League baseball game at Wuerfel Park.

The homer was Garza's second of the year and was the second of the game for Traverse City, which received a two-run shot from Sam Orr in the fourth.

The Beach Bums scored in each of the last five innings, and rallied from deficits of 3-0, 4-3, 7-5 and 9-8.

Nine different players had hits for the Bums (23-33), who split their four-game series with the RiverHawks and went 8-5 on their longest homestand of the season. Leading the way with two apiece were Steve Young, Brad Vericker and Brad Roblin.

TC golfers post Junior Tour wins

ANN ARBOR (July 24) — Traverse City golfers Andrew Walukonis and Chelsea Guoynes won their divisions in theNike Junior Tour event at Barton Hills Country Club.

Walukonis was the only player in the tournament to shoot under par. He fired a 1-under 71 to beat Novi's Joe Fransted by two strokes in the boys 16-18 division.

Gaylord's Andrew Borowiak tied for 18th (83).

Guoynes captured the girls 13-15 division with a 9-over 81.

In the boys 13-15 class, Charlevoix's Wyatt Drost tied for 12th (88).

Johnson, Barcky win Alpenfest 12K

GAYLORD (July 24) — Central Lake's Kari Johnson and Hale's Curtis Barcky won the 12K Alpenfest Run.

Johnson crossed the finish line in 51:50 while Barcky broke the tape in 40:27. Timothy Emmett of Royal Oak and Kaye Woodruff of Lewiston were the masters winners while the top Otsego County winners, both from Gaylord, were Mike Smith (45:14) and Jennifer Karlskin (57:24), Winning the 5K were Jim Harrington of Negaunee (16:25) and Val Thomasma of Kentwood (18:15). Masters champions were Reed Swanson of East Tawas (19:52) and Karen Hypio of Gaylord (21:18). The top Otsego County winners were Andrew Olds of Elmira (17:37) and Sloan Secord of Gaylord (19:02).

TC's Guoynes wins Junior Tour event

LANSING (July 25) — Traverse City's Chelsea Guoynes shot a 4-over to win the girls 13-15 division of a Michigan PGA Junior Tour event at the Country Club of Lansing.

Traverse City's Andrew Walukonis shot a 3-over 75 and tied for fourth in the boys 16-18 division. He was three strokes off the pace. Petoskey's Jordan Bamberg tied for 26th with an 83.

TC All-Stars fall in state tourney

TAYLOR (July 25) — The Traverse City All-Stars saw their dreams of a 11-12 Division Little League state title come to end with an 11-4 baseball loss to St. Clair.

St. Clair scored four runs in the first inning to take a 4-0 lead, then Traverse City answered with four runs on its own in the second on a pair of two-run homers by Donny Cizek and Jared Gensler.

It was all St. Clair after that.

Will Reed was a standout for Traverse City, going 3-for-3 with a diving catch in right field.

Joining Cizek, Gensler and Reed on the team were Walter Borkovich, Collin Bush, Carter Edmondson, Ryan Ellsworth, Mitch Gamelin, Justin Hubbard, Dylan Kennedy and Trent McDougall. The squad was coached by Ron Hubbard, Tom Cizek and Eric Ellsworth.

Bears ink Bazuin

TRAVERSE CITY (July 26) — He's signed, sealed and set for the Nazarene.

Defensive end Dan Bazuin, a graduate of McBain and Central Michigan University, signed a four-year contract with the Chicago Bears and will report to the team's training camp at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill.

A second-round selection in this spring's draft, Bazuin was the last of the nine picks from this year to sign with the NFC champions.

"It feels great," the 6-foot-3, 255-pound Bazuin said. "I'm on my way right now to sign it. It feels good to finally have that pressure off. It feels good to not worry about that.

"Now I can focus on football and training camp coming up."

Walukonis holds off teammate

acme (July 26) — The biggest winner in the Traverse City Junior Golf Association Match Play Championship may have been a guy who didn't even swing a club.

"I don't know if I'm the biggest winner, but I'm the one with the biggest smile," said Traverse City St. Francis coach Jim Hornyak after two of his players — Andrew Walukonis and Patrick Colburn — went head-to-head in the final match at Grand Traverse Resort.

"It was a very exciting day watching them play so well. It's good for our team and good for our school."

Walukonis, a junior, outlasted Colburn, a freshman, to win the title 1-up on a hot afternoon on The Bear. The match was so closely contested that neither player won two holes in a row.

TC takes 2 of 3 from the champs

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (July 27) — The Traverse City Beach Bums plated two runs in the eighth inning to record a 3-2 comeback win over the Evansville Otters and take two of three from the 2006 Frontier League Champions.

Phil Tognetti pitched a season-high six innings in his fifth start of the season and allowed only the one run on four hits while walking four and striking out one.

Large field, low water for Au Sable

GRAYLING (July 28) — The field is high and the water level is low.

It's all part of the challenge this year for the 77 two-person teams competing in the 60th annual Weyerhauser Au Sable River Canoe Marathon.

The race — billed as the longest, richest and toughest canoe marathon in North America — begins in Grayling and ends in Oscoda. The winning team will complete the twisting, strength-sapping 120-mile course somewhere between 14 and 15 hours.

"The water level is about 3 to 4 inches lower than normal and that will play a factor, especially in the first four hours of the race," said race committee co-chairman Joe Wakeley. "The shallow water in the upper end means having to be very careful where you paddle. You have to stay in the deepest part to avoid hitting the gravel and possibly getting stuck on a sandbar."

The field of entrants, by far the biggest ever for the marathon, will also be a factor, Wakeley noted.

Back in the swing

TRAVERSE CITY (July 29) — The one place Jason Cairns didn't think he'd be this season is the exact place he ended up: Davenport, Iowa.

After one full season and part of another with the Swing of the Quad Cities in the Class A Midwest League, the Traverse City Central graduate is back in the team's bullpen.

Of course, the eighth-round pick in the 2005 MLB draft is working his way back from a pair of knee surgeries in the offseason and needed to see action.

And it's not like he had much say in the matter anyway. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander goes where the St. Louis Cardinals want him, even if it's back with the Swing.

"You've got to go back," Cairns said.

Activated from the disabled list, Cairns has a 3.46 ERA in 13 innings at Quad Cities. He's pitched in nine games.

"They wanted me to get some innings, throw some game stuff and see where it goes from there," Cairns said.

Schiemann, Kirt capture Alden 10K

ALDEN (July 29) — Karen Kirt of Lake Leelanau and Chris Schiemann of Jackson took first place overall at the Alden 10K run.

Kirt crossed the finish line in 42:05 and Schiemann in 36:50. The male and female masters winners were Andrew Thurstone of Rapid City (40:52) and Linda Borck of Grand Rapids (47:32).

Male and female champions in the 5K were Paul Grieve of Alden (16:24) and Danielle Stein of Fife Lake (20:33). Masters champions were Kenneth Flannery of Williamsburg (17:52) and Debbie Kendregan of Bellaire (21:46).

Tisone is tough on Traverse City

MARION, Ill. (July 30) — Aaron Garza and a broken-bat blooper was all that stood between Nick Tisone and history.

Tisone tossed a one-hitter — missing out on his perfect game bid with two outs in the eighth inning — as Southern Illinois completed a three-game sweep of Traverse City with a 2-0 triumph.

The no-hit bid by Tisone, who faced one batter over the minimum 27, was the longest this season by a Frontier League pitcher. The last Frontier League no-hitter came on Aug. 5, 2004 and there have been 11 in the history of the league.

Garza's broken-bat single to left field was the only blemish for Tisone, who struck out just one batter and didn't walk any.

Nathanson, Bums dunk Otters, 3-1

TRAVERSE CITY (July 31) — David Nathanson probably wishes the schedule included a few more games against Evansville.

His Traverse City Beach Bums teammates wouldn't mind, either.

Nathanson, a right-handed rookie pitcher, allowed one run in seven innings to beat the Otters for the second time in five days, 3-1 on a hot evening at Wuerfel Park. Nathanson (3-1) hurled a complete-game shutout to beat Evansville in a prior match.

The Bums, who play the Otters only six times this summer, have won three of the four games played so far.

The victory snapped a three-game losing streak by the Bums (26-37), who got off to a quick lead and never trailed.

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