Volume 102, Number 3    Cass City, Michigan - Wednesday, April 9, 2008

The 
Cass City Chronicle is published every Wednesday.
John Haire, Publisher






















Rawson 
Memorial 
District 
Library

(These are in pdf format)

SHARKS around the pool (table). The Ladies Thumbs Up Pool League champion is the Cass Tavern team. Team members are: (front, l-r) Kris Roth, Nikki Palmateer, (back) Angie Gruber, Donna Zagorski, Kim Wark, and Sherry Miller. Missing is Crystal Quinn. 

Lady Hawks
drop opener

The Cass City Lady Red Hawks opened their 2008 soccer season on a sour note Wednesday as visiting Millington posted a 6-0 victory in non-conference play.
The hosts held their Tri-Valley East guests scoreless over the opening half, only to see the Cardinals explode for 6 goals in the final half, including 3 by Alissa Kroll.
The visitors also had Alisha Piper, Ruby Griggs and Tegan Damm record solo goals. 
Cass City's efforts were hampered in the early going as Krysta Timko left the game with a leg injury. 
The Red Hawks open Greater Thumb Conference play April 14th against visiting Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port.

RED HAWK Amanda Stevens makes a play for the ball Thursday in non-conference action against Millington. The Cardinals handed host Cass City a 6-0 defeat to open play in 2008.

Lady Red Hawks
trade decisions in
twin bill with Caro  

It took Cass City 9 innings to figure out Caro ace Courtney Ellis Thursday, but in the process the Red Hawks earned a season opening split in non-conference play against the Tigers.
In game one, Ellis held the hosts to an Emily Martin hit in the second inning while striking out 11 in 6 innings of work. She walked 4 in earning the 5-0 decision.
Carly Rabideau was the victim of little offensive support and suffered the loss for Cass City. She fanned 4, issued 2 free passes and yielded 5 hits.
Hannah Dillon paced the winners with 2 hits, 2 walks, 2 runs scored and 3 stolen bases, while Katie Bertrand added a double and single. Adding to the Caro attack were Amanda Ellis and Bethany Erbacher who each collected singles and recorded one RBI.
In game 2, the Red Hawks broke open a scoreless outing with 3 runs in the third en route to a 5-3 victory.
Freshman McKenzie Parrish was the pitcher of record for Cass City, striking out 5, walking 3 and scattering 4 hits over 6 innings. 
At the plate, Cass City's Lauren Dillon was 2-3 with an RBI and 2 runs scored while Maddie Dooley was 1-1 with an RBI and one run scored. For Caro, Bertrand doubled while Ellis and Haley Gage had singles. 
Following a week in Florida, the Hawks will take on visiting Brown City on Monday.

Hawks open play in
Recreational Park

  Cass City launched its 2008 baseball campaign Thursday with a non-conference affair against visiting Tri-Valley East foe Caro.
  It was a typical season opener for both schools, played on a chilly day, facing a strong wind and with limited practice time to prepare. The contest was also moved to the Recreational Park diamond, as the hosts' customary field, located behind the high school, was deemed unplayable.
  In the opener, the Tigers took a 6-0 lead after 2 innings and held on for a 9-6 decision.
  Shane Kelley started on the mound for the Tigers and was credited with the win. The southpaw worked 4 innings, allowing 4 runs, while besting Cass City's Chris Zawilinski, who surrendered 4 runs in 3 innings of work. He walked 5.
  Trailing 7-0, the Hawks' offense came to life in the 5th inning where they tallied 5 markers. Cole Miller, Zawilinski, Steven Schotter and Trevor Phillips all slapped singles to start the frame, while Brent Doerr and Lukas Varney provided a pair of RBI doubles during the rally.
  The Tigers, however, outscored their host 2-1 in the 6th inning to supply the final outcome as they added a pair of insurance markers off reliever Trent Vatter.
  Caleb Livacoli collected 3 hits and Kelley added 2 safeties to top the Tiger hitters.
  Phillips, Varney and Doerr split 6 hits for the Red Hawks. 
In the nightcap, the Hawks squeezed out a 2-2 tie, scoring the tying run in their last at bats of a contest called due to darkness after 5 innings.
  Austin Babich went the distance for Cass City on the rubber. He walked 5, but didn't allow an earned run.
  At the plate, Mile Greene and Jarred Vinson were perfect in 2 trips for the visitors, while Doerr and Zawilinski were both 2-3 for the Red Hawks.
  Cass City (0-1) is scheduled next to face visiting Brown City on April 14th. 

COLE MILLER slides safely into home plate to tally Cass City’s opening score against visiting Caro. Miller came home on a double by Brent Doerr in the 5th inning.

THE 2008 Cass City baseball team members are: (front, l-r) Steven Schotter, Bradley Haag, Trent Vatter, Trevor Phillips, Christopher Childs, Cole Miller, Clinton Ellis (back) Coach Nathan Haag, Alex Hoyt, Chris Zawilinski, Zach Abell, Brent Doerr, Luke Newton, Austin Babich, Lukas Varney and Asst. Coach Bob Sweeney.

THE 2008 Cass City junior varsity baseball team members are: (front, l-r) Channing Langenburg, Steven Rychlewski, Kyle Pine, Dylan Miller, Austin Deering, Gregg Fearson, Jeff Bliss, Geoffory Fearson (back) Thomas LeValley, Dylan Murphy, Mason Doerr, Steffin Bader, Alex Varney, Jeff Leslie, Rob VanAuken and Robby Simpson.

Owen-Gage ready
to lift curtain on
2008 season

Third-year coach Ricky Behm has several holes to fill for Owen-Gage to be successful in the 2008 North Central Thumb League - North baseball battles.
Gone from last year's squad are Grant Champagne, Eric Zaleski, Kenny Brown and Jim Hard. Champagne and Zaleski were voted to the NCTL-N All-Conference First Team as infielders in 

their final seasons, while Brown was selected to the NCTL-N Second Team as an outfielder in his senior year. Hard was an honorable mention infield selection in 2007. 
Despite the losses, Behm does have a number of returnees from last year's squad who are expected to help offset the team's graduation toll. Two of the best are Ryan Francis and Brent Reil. Francis was a NCTL-N All-Conference Second Team performer as a player-at-large in 2007, while Reil is expected to give the Bulldogs some leadership at the plate both offensively and defensively. His speed around the bases should see him spending time as the team's leadoff hitter, and when the Bulldogs are on the field, look for Reil to be calling the signals from behind the plate at catcher.
Back with another year of experience under their belts are Justin Trupe, Nathan Minkler, Devin  Prich and Nick Zaleski. 
Trupe and Minkler will give the Bulldogs some tested players

 roaming the outfield, while Prich and Zaleski will see double time on the pitching hill and in the infield in 2008. 
Bulldogs James Harris, Branden Edler and Clyde Rhodes also return for the Bulldogs. Harris is capable of providing the long ball and will give the Bulldogs power at the clean-up position in their lineup.  
  New to this year's team ares Brandon Dubs, Bryan Buschlen, Hunter Champagne, Brian Binder and Steve Roemer. Dubs, making his rookie début as a senior, is expected to spend time in the outfield, while Champagne will spend time on the right side of the infield. Roemer is expected to help with the team's pitching duties and carries a big bat.

THE OWEN-GAGE 2008 varsity baseball team members are: (front, l-r) Hunter Champagne, Clyde Rhodes, Brandon Dubs, Devin Prich, Bryan Buschlen (middle) Brian Binder, Steve Roemer, Nick Zaleski, Justin Trupe, Nathan Minkler (back) Coach Ricky Behm, James Harris, Branden Edler, Ryan Francis and Brent Reil.