Bay City fall sports roundup: A good team won’t stay down for long

BAY CITY, MI – A look at the high school sports scene in the Bay City area for Aug. 26-28, 2024. Bay City area coaches are asked to submit results, highlights and comments the night of each event by emailing lthomps2@mlive.com.

SOCCER: WESTERN REBOUNDS WITH WIN

Bay City Western didn’t let a bump in the road sidetrack it for long.

The Warriors saw their five-game winning streak halted with a loss to John Glenn in the title game of the Bay County Championship but shook it off for a 5-3 victory over Saginaw Valley Lutheran.

Western (6-2) kept the goals coming to stay a step ahead of the Chargers in the non-league match. Luke Arnold led the attack with a three-goal outburst, his first career hat trick. His final goal came on a penalty kick with 4:50 to play that helped secure the victory.

Blake Wrzesinski scored on a header off a corner kick and added three assists in the win while Blake Dore notched a goal and an assist. Keeper Logan Courier made a crucial save on a penalty kick in the final minute of the first half for the Warriors.

SOCCER: GLENN KEEPS IT ROLLING

John Glenn continues to dominate on defense.

But the offense also had its day.

The Bobcats erupted for an 8-0 victory over Alpena, their seventh shutout in seven tries this season. But the attack was equally impressive at the other end, fronted by Asher Clark’s three-goal, three-assist performance.

“He was on fire today, just smoking through the back line,” coach Brian Scherzer said.

Dylan DelAmo also came up big with two goals and two assists while Carter Glaza, Paul Nori and Ben Cleland each punched in one goal. Landon Kogelman, Landen Beson Montoya and Dylan Wood notched assists.

Drew Bailey registered another shutout in goal for the Bobcats.

“The guys came out with a ton of energy,” Scherzer said. “Once they got going, they were scoring pretty quick. I’m really impressed with the play of these guys and excited to see what they have in store.”

SOCCER: LATE GOAL STINGS STANDISH

To defensive connoisseurs, it was a thing of beauty.

Standish-Sterling played Gladwin to a scoreless standoff for the first 77 minutes before Gladwin got the breakthrough goal for a 1-0 victory in Jack Pine Conference play.

“It was painful to lose in the last few minutes given the effort the boys put forth,”Standish coach Doug Dahn said. “I was proud of the improvement by our squad tonight.Defensively, we were well-structured and cohesive and that is a testament to the players’ hard work and focus on the practice field and in the film room.”

Gladwin’s Andrew VonMatt delivered the game’s only score with about three minutes left in regulation, finally snapping the 0-0 deadlock. Gladwin’s Seth Mead and Standish’s Zack Bell waged a back-and-forth keeper duel to keep the game tight.

GOLF: BREAKTHROUGH ROUND FOR GLENN

The scores were falling and John Glenn’s place in the standings was rising.

It was a good day for the Bobcats on Crooked Creek Golf Course in the Tri-Valley Conference Jamboree.

Glenn was led by Alli Caldwell at 103, Lauren Atkins 104, Noelle Pobanz 114 and Sydnie Barron 119. Atkins enjoyed a breakthrough with her best round as a first-year player.

“I could tell from our first range sessions that it would be just a matter of time before she found a score that would make her smile,” coach Pete Remington said.

Glenn came in at 440, good for fourth place in the nine-team event.

VOLLEYBALL: ALL SAINTS PLAYS THRILLER

Bay City All Saints went 0-3 in the Carrollton Quad but closed it out with a nailbiting, three-setter.

The Cougars went the distance with Merrill in a 25-16, 22-25, 16-14 setback. All Saints lost to Bullock Creek 25-14, 25-14 and to Carrollton 25-9, 25-20 before finishing with its best match.

Galilea Costilla led the Cougars with 26 digs and seven aces.

GOLF: WESTERN ACE ON NEW PACE

Kayla Montcalm is setting the pace for Bay City Western, and it’s a hot one.

The sophomore fired a career-best round of 45 to lead the Warriors (214) past Essexville Garber (228) at Bay County Golf Course. Montcalm is averaging 47.8 in the early season, more than four strokes per nine better than a year ago.

Western was bolstered by Natalie List at 54, Sarah Luptowski 57, Grace Navelgas 58 and Julia Budzinski 59. Garber featured Jaelynn Shooltz at 53, Marissa Espinoza 54, Gracie Socier 57, Marlee Garwick 64 and Aubree Gross 65.

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