Michigan

Michigan softball raises more than $100k for breast cancer

Published

4 weeks ago

April 25, 2025

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Michigan softball raises more than 0k for breast cancer

Michigan basketball coach Dusty May participated in a home run derby for charity.
The event raised over $100,000 for the American Cancer Society.
The annual event has raised over $2 million since its inception.
A silent auction featuring Michigan-related items is open until April 28.

As it turns out, Dusty May has a little pop in his bat.

The Michigan basketball coach spent his April 24 evening on Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium, participating as the celebrity in a home run derby. It was the 16th annual partnership between Michigan Softball Academy and the Michigan softball team, with proceeds from the event going to raise money toward fighting breast cancer. As of earlier this week, the charity work had raised more than $100,000 for the American Cancer Society.

Former Michigan softball coach Carol Hutchins came up with the idea in 2010, and it is something that she and current coach Bonnie Tholl have continued since.

The event began at 5 p.m. with members of the U-M softball squad leading preregistered participants, some of whom were breast cancer survivors themselves, through various drills and stations. After two hours of that, the derby began with a few select individuals — including May.

The coach attempted to downplay expectations — uttering a “don’t judge me” before he stepped to the plate — then belted a deep home run to the pull side, high off the wall behind the left field fence on his fourth swing. That was his big hit, though, with the rest resembling line drives.

“It was great to be a part of,” May said afterward.

Over the years, this fundraiser has generated more than $2 million for the American Cancer Society, according to Hutchins, who got the idea for it from former U-M football coach Lloyd Carr’s women’s football academy decades ago. If football could work, so could softball, Hutchins thought, so she contacted the ACS.

“I never thought it would be going for 16 years though or raise $2 million,” Hutchins said. “From what I understand, there’s no other college team that’s raised this type of money for the American Cancer Society.”

This year’s event is well over $100,000 through sponsorships alone. And it’s still going, with a silent auction for several Michigan-related items remaining open through April 28 — the final home U-M softball game of the regular season.

Some of the items in the silent auction:

A Detroit Tigers on-field game experience.

A Megan Rapinoe autographed jersey.

Two tickets to see Zach Bryan at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 27.

A round of pickleball with Tholl.

Michigan football tickets and access to the football alumni tailgate this fall.

Other notable U-M dignitaries were on hand as well, including College Basketball Hall of Fame coach John Beilein and Jill Martin of NBC’s “Today Show.”

“Yeah, it’s special,” Hutchins said. “It’s developed into a life of its own. It’s special to the community, so many season-ticket holders, our fanbase looks forward to it every year. … It means a lot that they donate their time.

“That’s the thing about Michigan, we have tremendous people who support us and we need to support them back.”

Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.

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Michigan

80-year-old Michigan woman wins $100K in random lottery drawing

Published

14 hours ago

May 20, 2025

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80-year-old Michigan woman wins 0K in random lottery drawing

BARRY COUNTY, Mich. – A Michigan woman’s non-winning ticket led her to a $100,000 lottery prize.

The 80-year-old Barry County woman, who decided to stay anonymous, won $100,000 after being selected in a random drawing on Tuesday, May 6, according to Michigan Lottery officials.

She earned entries into the drawing by scanning her non-winning $300,000,000 Extraordinaire tickets on the Michigan Lottery app.

“I scanned all of my non-winning $300,000,000 Extraordinaire tickets for second chance entries, but I never expected to win,” the player told Michigan Lottery officials. “When I got a call from the Lottery telling me I won a $100,000 prize, I thought it was a scam. Later that day, I saw an email from the Lottery regarding the prize and knew it must be real. Winning is a blessing and will provide a nice financial cushion.”

The 80-year-old woman plans to save her winnings.

The drawing on May 6 was the tenth and final $300,000,000 Extraordinaire second chance drawing, according to lottery officials. Two $100,000 prizes were given away during each of these drawings.

Even though this promotion is over, Michigan lottery players still have the chance to win up to $50,000 by scanning non-winning $6,000,000 Wealth tickets on the lottery app.

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Michigan

Spring Sports Stars: Who is Michigan’s top junior in girls tennis?

Published

1 day ago

May 19, 2025

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Spring Sports Stars: Who is Michigan’s top junior in girls tennis?

It’s time to highlight some of the best of the best in girls tennis from across Michigan. MLive has compiled a list of some of the top junior girls tennis players from across the state, but we’re giving the readers the chance to crown the state’s top standout.

Readers will have until 9 a.m. on Monday, May 26, to cast their votes and the winner will be announced the following day.

Check out the candidates below and cast your vote below.

JUNIOR GIRLS TENNIS STARS

Daniella Ajao, North Farmington

Leslie Bahk, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek

Helen Benjamin, Detroit Country Day

Samantha Bieber, Chelsea

Hailey Burd, Otsego

Sophie Burns, Rockford girls

Adelie Chen, Portage Central

Ana Cheng, Mattawan

Chloe Cox, Forest Hills Central

Sophia DiPilla, Northville

Alison Doka, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek

Savannah Edwards, Swartz Creek

Addy Fales, Allegan

Alexis Gabriel, Utica Eisenhower

Ginger Golombisky, Owosso

Jiaqi Huang, Ann Arbor Huron

Julia Ivezaj, Wixom St. Catherine

Nainika Jasti, Troy

Jada Josifovski, Birmingham Seaholm

Emma Keeping, Imlay City

Elizabeth Kennamer, Clio

Keira Kirkland, Farmington Hills Mercy

Lauren Klawon, Bay City Central

Ellisen LaFay, Powers Catholic

Ashlee Michelson, Fenton

Harriet Ogilvie, Forest Hills Northern

Danica Rakic-Dennis, Ann Arbor Greenhills

Libby Reese, Lumen Christi Becca Brushaber Parma Western

Gabby Sadowski, Utica Eisenhower

Avery Taylor, Durand

Lucy Taylor, Chelsea

Caroline Torok, Bloomfield Hills Marian

Kenna Trost, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard

Ally Tunnicliff, Flushing

Brynlee Williams, Dexter

Lolyana Yapchai, Powers Catholic

Lauren Ye, Ann Arbor Greenhills

Audrey Yu, Ann Arbor Pioneer

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Michigan

Michigan college student Connor Lotterman killed at house party in ‘intentional’ shooting

Published

2 days ago

May 19, 2025

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Michigan college student Connor Lotterman killed at house party in ‘intentional’ shooting

A Michigan college student was killed when multiple gunshots were fired through the floor at a house party in an “intentional” shooting, according to reports.

Connor Lotterman, a 19-year-old engineering student at Grand Valley State University, was struck in the head by a recklessly shot bullet fired from an upstairs bedroom during the May 9 party, WOOD-TV reported.

The tragic scene unfolded just after 11 p.m. in Tallmadge Township, MI, 6 miles east of the school’s campus.

Officials say a 20-year-old suspected gunman unloaded several rounds from his own gun into the floorboards as 10-20 people were partying inside.

“The shooting was quite intentional,” Ottowa County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Jake Sparks told the outlet. “Multiple rounds were fired. It wasn’t like as if it were a one-shot accidental discharge. This was numerous rounds discharged. Although the result of the shooting led to an accidental death, this shooting was intentional.”

Lotterman was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition but died on May 10, three days shy of his 20th birthday.

The coroner’s officer ruled Lotterman’s death an accident, with alcohol suspected of playing a role.

“Encourage people to be smart, firearms and alcohol don’t mix that’s for sure,” Sparks said. “I think this situation could’ve been avoided without those things mixing.”

The suspected gunman has not been publicly identified as police and prosecutors are considering criminal charges in the fatal shooting.

Lotterman was the youngest of five and is survived by his parents, siblings, grandparents and nieces and nephews, according to an online obituary.

His sister mourned her younger brother in a touching birthday message posted to social media.

“Thank you for being the best little brother a girl could ask for,” Marielle Lotterman wrote in the tribute. “I am so thankful to God for the 20 amazing years you had on this earth.”

Lotterman was completing his second year at GVSU when he was killed.

“The Grand Valley community is saddened by Connor’s tragic death,” Dean of Students Aaron Haight said in a statement obtained by WOOD-TV. “On behalf of President Mantella, the Laker community extends our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.”

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