04/17/2007

Gordon registers team-high 12 tackles

Shearer earns Player of the Year honors in GLVC

By MARK URBAN

murban@record-eagle.com

Photo courtesy of MSU Sports Information
Eric Gordon played with the first- and second-team units.

TRAVERSE CITY — A young linebacker continues to make a big impact for the green-clad defensive unit at Michigan State University.

Red-shirt freshman linebacker Eric Gordon of Traverse City West had a team-high 12 tackles during a three-hour scrimmage in Spartan Stadium on Saturday.

Two of Gordon's tackles were for losses of eight yards. The 6-foot, 225-pound linebacker saw action with both the first- and second-team units.

In the Spartans' first scrimmage on April 1, Gordon had 10 tackles, including a 6-yard sack.

Michigan State, under the direction of first-year coach Mark Dantonio, concludes workouts on Saturday with its annual spring game at 1:30 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Tim Downer/ Northern Kentucky Sports Information
Dave Shearer led Northern Kentucky to a league title.

• Northern Kentucky University junior golfer David Shearer (Charlevoix) continues to clip the field in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Shearer shot a 1-under 71 on Tuesday to finish the three-round league tournament in first overall with a 3-over 219. Shearer was named GLVC Player of the Year for the third straight season.

Northern Kentucky also won the team title with an 886, eight strokes ahead of runner-up Southern Illinois at Edwardsville.

The Norse, ranked first in the region, move on to the Great Lakes Regional Invitational Friday through Sunday in Rend Lake, Ill.

• The Northern Michigan University women's track team won a meet at Saginaw Valley State thanks to a pair of victories from area athletes.

Sophomore Danielle DeJonge (Petoskey) won the 10,000 (39:36) while freshman Karin Diebold (Ellsworth) captured the pole vault (10') for Northern. Also for the Wildcats, junior Danielle Stein (Kalkaska) was fourth in the 10,000 (44:51.09) and freshman Amanda Boersema (Johannesburg-Lewiston) was seventh in the javelin (27.62 meters), 10th in the shot put (30'6”) and 11th in the 100 (13.96). Freshman Melissa Schultz (Manistee) added a 14th in the 800 (2:32.78) for NMU.

Lake Superior State freshman Jill Walton (Kingsley) was second in the discus (116'7”), sixth in the shot put (38'2”) and on the Lakers' fourth-place 1600 relay team (4:29.2). Saginaw Valley State freshman Emily Nugent (Benzie Central) was third in the discus (105'), fourth in the shot put (38'8¼”), fourth in the hammer throw (31'7¾”) and ninth in the javelin (26.3 meters).

Ferris State University senior Margot McGlothlin (Suttons Bay) was fourth in the 800 (2:22.69) and Lake Superior freshman Amanda Schroeder (Cadillac) 14th in the 200 (30.12).

Saginaw Valley won the men's title thanks to junior Cullen Jamison (TC West), who took second in the discus (47'8¾”) and the hammer throw (52.58 meters). In the 1,500, Lake Superior State junior Chris Olds (Gaylord) was fifth (4:08.6) while sophomore teammate Luke Allen (Manistee) was eighth in 4:11.11.

• Cornerstone University senior Abby Benthem (McBain Northern Christian) had a hit in each of four games last week.

Benthem scored twice and had two RBIs in an 11-0 triumph and scored a run in a 7-4 loss to Siena Heights on Saturday.

In Tuesday's split with Aquinas, Benthem had two hits, two runs and drove in one in a 6-5 win and added a RBI in a 7-2 loss.

Benthem has started all 24 games this season for the Eagles (11-13, 4-4 Wolverine-Hoosier). She's batting .301 with 11 RBIs.

• The defense dominated at Army's annual spring game and that suited linebacker John Plumstead (Benzie Central).

Plumstead, who will be a junior this fall, had one solo tackle and three assists at the team's annual Black-Gold Game Saturday. He was also credited with a half of a tackle for a loss for the Knights.

• The University of Michigan set a school, meet and track record in winning the women's distance medley on Saturday at the Sea Ray Invitational at the University of Tennessee.

Senior co-captain Katie Erdman (Cadillac) ran the third leg of the relay, clocking a 2:05.5 in her split for 800 meters. The team crossed the line in 10:57.39.

Central Michigan was 13th with a time of 12:09.1. Senior Amanda Lyon (Mesick) ran the first leg for the Chippewas.

• Grand Valley State University concluded its spring drills on Saturday with a game at Lubbers Stadium.

Even though the offense stole the show, red-shirt freshman defensive back Tony Thompson (TC West) had an interception.

• A pair of area athletes posted top 15 finishes in the 1,500 for the Michigan State University men's track team at Saturday's Spartan Invitational.

MSU sophomore Stephan Shay (Central Lake) was second in 3:54.6 while freshman Josh Hofbauer (Harbor Springs) was 13th in 3:59.6.

In the women's portion of the meet, Cornerstone University freshman Kasi Hency (Kingsley) took 14th in the 400 hurdles (1:10.).

• The Alma College men's tennis team doubled up Adrian 6-3 on Thursday. Freshman Tom Hardin (TC Central) won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 5 doubles for the Scots and posted an 8-0 triumph with Josh Sanders at No. 2 doubles.

• Hamilton College scored five times in the top of the ninth inning to beat Wesleyan (Conn.) University 7-5 in the second game of a baseball doubleheader on Saturday.

Junior Kit Tholen (TC Central) took the loss for the Cardinals. He scattered eight hits in 8&2/3 innings for the Cardinals (10-14). Just five of the seven runs Tholen allowed were earned.

Tholen's season pitching record fell to 1-5 despite a 4.22 ERA.

• The Saginaw Valley State University golf team finished third in the Ashland University Invitational on Saturday.

Senior Adam Miller (Gaylord) tied for 20th overall with a two-round total of 155, which included a 76 on Friday. Sophomore Kasey Hocquard (Cheboyan) tied for 24th with a 156.

• Albion College swept a softball doubleheader from Kalamazoo on Saturday, 12-0 and 3-2.

Sophomore Lisa Anderson (Cadillac) was 1 for 3 with a RBI and scored three runs in game one. Anderson was 3 for 6 with a RBI as the Britons (9-17, 2-4 MIAA) lost 8-0 and 11-3 to Tri-State University on Tuesday.

• Five area athletes were named to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference winter all-academic teams.

Ferris State University sophomore Justin Paquette (Manton), Lake Superior State University sophomore Luke Allen (Onekama) and Saginaw Valley State junior Eric LaCross (Cheboygan) earned the honor for indoor track while Grand Valley State junior Courtney Hammond (East Jordan) and Wayne State senior Bethany Mesko (TC Central) earned the award in women's basketball.

• Northwood University split a baseball doubleheaders against Hillsdale on Saturday and Sunday.

Northwood sophomore Brett Rohn (Cadillac) went 2 for 4 in Sunday's 10-0 victory in Game 2. Rohn scored twice and drove in one for the Timberwolves (13-16, 3-10 GLIAC).

• The Adrian College softball team swept Bluffton on Friday, 7-1 and 7-6.

Sophomore Emily McLane (Adrian) was 2 for 3 with a RBI in the first game on Friday.

• The Alma College women's tennis team lost 8-1 to Saint Mary's on Saturday. Sophomore Emily Noss (TC Central) teamed with Laura Kendrick to win No. 2 doubles 9-7 and give the Scots their only triumph.

• The University of Michigan golf team tied for eighth at the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate at Ohio State University.

The tournament was shortened to 36 holes by inclement weather.

Sophomore Bill Rankin (TC Central) tied for 61st with a two-round total of 162 (82-80).

• Hillsdale College freshman Katie Christiansen (Glen Lake) ran the third leg of the Chargers' 1600 relay team that placed fourth (4:05.57) at Saturday's Miami (Ohio) University Team Challenge.