04/15/2007

Roundup

Trojans open up undefeated

FROM STAFF REPORTS

PORTAGE — Like many teams, Traverse City Central's season started a little late.

Unlike about half the teams after their first competition, the Trojans started off undefeated.

Central went 1-0-1 in the Portage Invitational on Saturday, opening the day with a 1-1 tie against the host squad. Katie Clayton scored a goal and Jen Peirek made 10 saves.

The Trojans then went to Portage Northern and won 2-0, with Kari Buckel and Clayton providing the goals. Alyssa Budros made 7 saves for the shutout.

The Central JV Black team went 1-1, falling to Portage Central 3-0 before shutting out Portage Northern 1-0. Miki Smith scored a goal and Liz Reinke made 6 saves.

BASEBALL

TC West splits pair at Saginaw Heritage

Corey Keaton went 3-for-3 with a solo home run and Chad Braun had two hits and two RBI to lift Traverse City West past Madison Heights Bishop Foley 7-6 in the first game of Saturday's Saginaw Heritage baseball tournament.

Luke McPhall was the winning pitcher in relief.

The Titans (5-1) lost 7-4 to the host team in the title game.

TC West JV 9 11
Sag. Heritage JV 5 3

Winning pitchers Britton Shink and Grant Durga each struck out 7 batters as the Traverse City West junior varsity swept a doubleheader from Saginaw Heritage, 9-5 and 11-3.

Shink also went 3-for-4 at the plate in the opener, while Durga and Brandon Delzell added 2 hits each. David Coors and Shink had 2 hits each in the second game and David Lash batted in 5 runs for West (5-1).

TENNIS

Moving up: TC Central 4th in Holland Invite

Traverse City Central moved up 3 spots from last year's finish in the Holland Invitational, coming in a close fourth. Last year's team was seventh in the eight-team field.

The Trojans had four flights in the finals, but fell in each, sliding down to fourth place after an opening-round lead.

Instead, No. 6-ranked Allegan won with 42 points, followed by No. 8 Holland Christian (40), Holly (36) and TC Central (34).

Central's four finalists were Doug Burke (No. 1 singles), Harry Malone (No. 3 singles), Jamie Olson/Spencer Powell (No. 1 doubles) and Jack Milliken/Ben Watts (No. 2 doubles). Each was 2-1.