by orionontv | Jun 5, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Saturday June 3rd at 9:52 PM
Here is my State Semifinal Preview for Lacrosse.
Boys Lacrosse State Semifinal Preview
CLARKSTON vs Birmingham Brother Rice @ TBA
The Wolves are riding into the Division One State Semifinals with confidence after destroying Lake Orion at Troy Athens on Saturday afternoon. They will have a much tougher task with Birmingham Brother Rice. The Warriors are motivated after losing in the State finals last season. Clarkston has a shot to make history and prevent Birmingham Brother Rice from making the State Finals but they need a lot to go right to make it a reality.
Girls Lacrosse State Semifinal Preview
BLOOMFIELD HILLS vs Brighton @ Fenton
These are two teams that are very familiar with each other in the Blackhawks and the Bulldogs. Brighton beat Bloomfield Hills last season and they two are back in the same spot. It should be a very interesting matchup to say the least between these two teams.
by orionontv | Jun 5, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Saturday June 3rd at 9:52 PM
Here is my insight of the regional for girls soccer.
Region 4 @ Rochester
TROY ATHENS vs New Baltimore Anchor Bay
These are two teams that are very familiar with one another. The Red Hawks have owned the Tars in their history. Troy Athens is on a mission after their district final win. It should be a very interesting matchup between these two teams.
BLOOMFIELD HILLS vs STONEY CREEK
This is a rematch of a 3-0 Cougars win over the Blackhawks during the regular season. Stoney Creek is coming into this game ranked third in the State and won the “group of death” district after stunning top ranked Rochester 3-1 on Friday night. Bloomfield Hills won 1-0 over Troy on Friday night. They are the defending Division One State Champs. It should be a very interesting game to say the least.
by orionontv | Jun 5, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Saturday June 3rd at 9:20 PM
The Knights used their relays and hurdle events to dominate the girls side in Division One at Rockford scoring 80 points on Saturday at Rockford.
Oak Park has been near the top of the State in the last decade especially with their sprint relays and hurdles have been dominant which was where they were critical in getting points.
Detroit Renaissance whom Oak Park lost to in the regional and in the State meet last season was second with 58 points and Ann Arbor Pioneer was third with 56 points.
Kylie King went second in the 800 meters which also was crucial for the Knights.
Oak Park has another solid class coming in the pipeline. Oak Park Academy which is the Knights feeder system won the Girls Oakland County Middle School meet on Thursday.
West Bloomfield took 6th with 24 points, Groves was 13th with 15 points, Rochester was 18th with 11 points, Royal Oak was 22nd with eight points, Farmington was 30th with six points, Clarkston was 41st with three and a half points, Bloomfield Hills was 42nd with three points, and Berkley was 47th with two points.
On the boys side, Adams was 6th with 28 points, Oak Park was 15th with 17 points, Troy was 19th with 10 points, Berkley was 31st with six points, Avondale was 36th with five points, Royal Oak was 44th with four points, West Bloomfield was 49th with three points, Clarkston was 54th with two points, and Oxford was 65th with .75 points.
OAA Track should be back stronger next season, congrats Knights on your State Crown.
by orionontv | Jun 5, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Saturday June 3rd at 9:20 PM
The Maples earned their first State title since 2018 in girls tennis when they captured the Division Two crown on a hot Saturday afternoon at Midland.
Seaholm scored 32 points and also snapped Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern’s three year reign on the Division Two State crown. The Huskies had 27 points as did Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern’s arch rivals Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central did as well.
The Maples used their double teams to their advantage which proved to be a difference in the matches. They won three of the four matches in doubles action against Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern.
All three teams entered day two with 22 points each.
North Farmington was 7th with 11 points and Berkley was 11th with nine points.
In Division One, Ann Arbor Pioneer won it with 32 points. Troy was second with 25 points, Clarkston was third with 18 points, Bloomfield Hills was fifth with 17 points, Adams was eighth with 12 points, Stoney Creek was 14th with seven points, and Troy Athens was 17th with five points.
The OAA should be back in the mix next season in Girls Tennis, congrats Maples on your State Crown.
by orionontv | May 31, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Friday May 26th at 8:05 AM
Here is my insight and thoughts heading into the baseball districts.
District 16 at Livonia Stevenson
FARMINGTON vs. Novi Detroit Catholic Central
FARMINGTON/Novi Detroit Catholic Central vs. NORTH FARMINGTON
Novi vs. Livonia Stevenson
EARLY PICKS: This district looks like it could be the Shamrocks vs the Spartans. The Wildcats are the sleeper in this district. I like Novi Detroit Catholic Central to move on.
District 20 at Grosse Pointe South
Grosse Pointe South vs. St. Clair Shores Lakeview
Grosse Pointe North vs. HARPER WOODS
EARLY PICKS: The battle of Grosse Pointe could be on again between the Blue Devils and the Norsemen. I like Grosse Pointe North to move on.
District 22 at Royal Oak
ROYAL OAK vs. Sterling Heights
ROYAL OAK/Sterling Heights vs. BERKLEY
Warren Cousino vs. Warren Mott
EARLY PICKS: The Ravens and Bears would be a fun district semifinals, whoever wins that game wins the district. With apologies to the school on Lexington Blvd, the team from Catalpa should move on.
District 24 at Birmingham Brother Rice
SEAHOLM vs. SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH
GROVES vs. Birmingham Brother Rice
EARLY PICKS: This has the makings of a Warriors vs Maples district finals. Too much pitching leads Seaholm to a major upset.
District 27 at Romeo
Romeo vs. ROCHESTER
Romeo/ROCHESTER vs. ADAMS
STONEY CREEK vs. Utica Eisenhower
EARLY PICKS: This is a very tough district. The Eagles are solid as is the Bulldogs but the Highlanders senior class has another deep run in them.
District 28 at Avondale
AVONDALE vs. TROY ATHENS
AVONDALE/TROY ATHENS vs. TROY
BLOOMFIELD HILLS vs. Utica
EARLY PICKS: This is a pick me district. There is a lot of good teams in this district. If I had to pick one to win this district, it’s the Blackhawks.
District 29 at West Bloomfield
Waterford Mott vs. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
Waterford Mott/Orchard Lake St. Mary’s vs. Waterford Kettering
WEST BLOOMFIELD vs. LAKE ORION
EARLY PICKS: This is a very tough district. The Eaglets got a great draw while the Dragons and Lakers have to go through each other. Orchard Lake St. Marys is the best team in this district but they have been vulnerable lately. I think Lake Orion or West Bloomfield has a chance to upset them.
District 31 at Oxford
Fenton vs. Holly
Fenton/Holly vs. OXFORD
CLARKSTON vs. Grand Blanc
EARLY PICKS: Clarkston vs Grand Blanc should be a doozy. Oxford got a great draw. I see a Wildcats vs Bobcats district final with Grand Blanc moving on.
by orionontv | May 31, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Friday May 26th at 8:05 AM
Here is my insight and thoughts for the softball districts.
District 20 at Farmington Hills Mercy
NORTH FARMINGTON vs. Farmington Hills Mercy
FARMINGTON vs. WEST BLOOMFIELD
EARLY PICKS: Can’t go against the Marlins in this district.
District 22 at Royal Oak
ROYAL OAK vs. SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH
BERKLEY vs. GROVES
EARLY PICKS: Berkley vs Groves should be a very interesting matchup. The Falcons won the Blue. I see the Battle of Woodward in the district finals with the Bears moving on.
District 23 at Ferndale
FERNDALE vs. OAK PARK
Detroit Mumford vs. Detroit Renaissance
EARLY PICKS: This is not a strong district but the Eagles should move on with ease.
District 24 at Grosse Pointe North
Detroit Cass Tech vs. Detroit Western
Detroit Cass Tech/Detroit Western vs. Grosse Pointe South
Grosse Pointe North vs. HARPER WOODS
EARLY PICKS: I can see a battle of Grosse Pointe in the district finals. I like the Norsemen to win this district.
District 25 at Avondale
SEAHOLM vs. BLOOMFIELD HILLS
AVONDALE vs. TROY
EARLY PICKS: This is a very interesting district. The Blackhawks have a high octane offense and are very prone to shootouts. The Colts are solid as is the Maples. The Yellow Jackets are the wildcard. Bloomfield Hills is the early favorite but something tells me Troy could off a stunner.
District 26 at Utica
Utica Ford II vs. Sterling Heights Stevenson
TROY ATHENS vs. Utica
EARLY PICKS: The Chieftains have been solid all season. I think the Red Hawks are a sleeper but end of the day I like Utica over the Falcons in this district.
District 29 at Oxford
Davison vs. OXFORD
Davison/OXFORD vs. Lapeer
Port Huron vs. Port Huron Northern
EARLY PICKS: It’s hard to go against the Cardinals in this district but the Wildcats could give them some fits. I like Davison to move on in this district.
District 30 at Lake Orion
CLARKSTON vs. Waterford Mott
CLARKSTON/Waterford Mott vs. ADAMS
LAKE ORION vs. Waterford Kettering
EARLY PICKS: The Dragons got a great draw and should get to the district finals. The Wolves have a tough draw especially if they play the Highlanders in the district semifinals. I think Lake Orion gets by this district with their high octane offense but if they run into a good starting pitcher then it could be trouble.
District 31 at Romeo
Utica Eisenhower vs. Romeo
ROCHESTER vs. STONEY CREEK
EARLY PICKS: It would be very hard to go against the Cougars but Macomb County has been solid all year long. Erin Flynn should leave her mark in this district.
