Michigan
Spring Sports Stars: Who is Michigan’s top underclassman on the 2025 baseball scene
MLive player polls are designed for discussion.
And what’s a better topic than “Who is the best?”
MLive has launched a project to help identify the top player in each class in each spring sport.
We’ve collected a list of 50 sophomore and freshman candidates and now ask for your input to name the Top Underclassman on the high school baseball scene across Michigan for 2025.
Cast your vote as often as you’d like until 8 a.m. Monday, June 2. There is no voting by email.
2025 TOP UNDERCLASSMEN: BASEBALL
*Anderson Adams, Lake Orion
*Blake Badal, Flushing
*Colin Bennett, Novi
*Abram Coffey, Marcellus
*Ryder Concannon, Saline
*Trace Dennis, Imlay City
*Sawyer Eager, Bay City All Saints
*Hunter Engberg, Otisville-Lakeville
*Logan Exner, Southgate Anderson
*Jackson Fossitt, Leslie
*Tyler Gardner, Macomb Dakota
*Benny Gaston, Jackson Lumen Christi
*Jaxon Gatt, Detroit Catholic Central
*Caden Gawkowski, Livonia Stevenson
*Jackson Haefner, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice
*Andrew Hoffman, Ann Arbor Huron
*Jakob Huber, Marcellus
*Dakota Inda, Essexville Garber
*Jaylen Johnson, Livonia Churchill
*Broder Katke, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice
*Ryley Krepps, Ravenna
*Alex Krugh, Galesburg-Augusta
*Josh Leonard, Sterling Heights Stevenson
*Dexter Lillmars, Fruitport
*Landon Mattis, Burton Bendle
*Jaret McCoy, Bangor
*Brady Messenger, Flint Kearsley
*Cash Moczydlowsky, New Boston Huron
*Cooper O’Keefe, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
*Preston Paoletti, Chelsea
*Paulino Perez, Bay City Central
*Akhil Pilla, Rochester Adams
*Cal Plarske, Bay City Western
*Colton Rich, Davison
*Alex Rivard, Pinconning
*Gavin Schmidt, Hemlock
*Jimmey Sequin, Bay City Western
*Trent Smith, Hopkins
*Tristan Spencer, Brownstown Woodhaven
*Eli Sturgess, Flint Powers
*Cameron Thorning, Brownstown Woodhaven
*Owen Tornga, Muskegon Mona Shores
*Keaton VanKampen, Byron Center
*Cavion Wade, Hazel Park
*Vincent Walbridge, Kalamazoo Hackett
*Koltyn Watters, Rochester Adams
*Davin Wilcrynski, Mt. Morris
MLive player polls are non-scientific ventures, designed to promote fun, fandom and discussion. The winners receive no prize and the results have no bearing on postseason awards.
Use of any form of automated voting is contrary to the intent and is not allowed.
Votes are not always tabulated immediately. If you receive a “Thank you for voting” message, your vote will be counted.
There is no voting by email!
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Michigan
Michigan groom sentenced for killing his best friend on his wedding night
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — A man in Michigan who got married and then ran over his best friend that same day, killing him, after an alcohol-fueled argument was sentenced Monday to least 30 years in prison.
“The only thing I can do for the rest of my life is express my apology and remorse. … I will forever be sorry,” James Shirah said in Genesee County court.
Shirah, 24, was driving when his vehicle struck Terry Taylor Jr. in Flint, about an hour’s drive northwest of Detroit, on Aug. 30, 2024. He and Savanah Collier were married earlier that day and the celebration had moved to a house.
Shirah’s attorney had argued that the crash was not intentional. Prosecutors, however, said Shirah had left the scene and had time to reflect before returning and striking Taylor, MLive.com reported.
“Mr. Shirah, I believe that you are not a criminal. You are, however, a killer,” Judge Khary Hanible said.
In April, Shirah pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and other offenses. He will be eligible for parole after 30 years.
“I hope that they throw the book at you,” Taylor’s cousin, Eren Taylor, said before Shirah received his sentence.
Shirah’s wife will be sentenced later in May for being an accessory.
Michigan
SW Michigan show returns as growing destination for vinyl collectors
BENTON HARBOR — Vinyl collectors and music fans are invited to dig through thousands of records and music collectibles at the Southwest Michigan Record Show.
The event is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 16 at Grand Upton Hall inside Lake Michigan College’s Mendel Center in Benton Harbor, according to a press release.
Now in its fourth season, the show features 25 vendors from five states, offering 70 tables filled with vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, record supplies and music memorabilia.
Free admission begins at 10 a.m.
General admission is free starting at 10 a.m., while early entry is available at 8:30 a.m. for $5. Door prize drawings are planned for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., including $25 shopping certificates and record supplies from BCW Supplies. The first 75 attendees will receive free tote bags.
A food truck will be on site, and cash is preferred for purchases. Some vendors may accept cards, PayPal, Venmo and other payment methods, but there is no ATM on site.
Vendors from across the Midwest and beyond
The show is expected to feature a wide selection of music genres, including classic rock, pop, ’80s, metal, punk, jazz, blues, R&B, country and soundtracks.
“This show is still being discovered, and that’s part of what makes it exciting,” event organizer Jeremy D. Bonfiglio said in the release. “We’ve built a strong group of experienced vendors, so whether you’re just getting into vinyl or digging for something rare, there’s a real opportunity here to find something unexpected.”
Free parking is available near the entrance of Mendel Center, 2755 Napier Ave.
Future dates planned
The Southwest Michigan Record Show is also scheduled to return Sept. 19.
For more information, visit southwestmichiganrecordshow.com or follow the event on Facebook.
This story was created by reporter Cheryl Morey, with the assistance of artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing.
Michigan
Yes, you can play curling in West Michigan
ALGOMA TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The spirit of curling is one of friendship.
While memory of the Winter Olympics may have long melted away in the minds of many Americans, there some whose curiousness for the sport of curling has extended all the way into the springtime.
“Everybody’s having fun,” said Paul Curran, league manager for the Grand Rapids Curling Club. “It’s a really weird sport in that it’s really friendly.”
The club, which plays at the Cedar Rock Sportsplex in Algoma Township, has seen a recent spike in interest in its beginners leagues and learn to curl classes.
“We’re all here to curl and learn,” said beginner Aaron Schwieterman. “Everyone’s making mistakes, but still having a great time learning the sport and trying to mimic what the professionals do at the Olympics.”
“I recommend it to anybody who wants to try something different,” said beginner Margaret Steketee. “If I can do it, anybody can do it.”
For a period of time on the ice, these newcomers to the sport turn into competitors. Then, at the conclusions of their games, they revert to being friends.
“Largely, what you’ll find with curlers is that when they’re done curling, they want to be friendly and hang out,” Curran said. “Which is what our league is doing right now.”
As long as people are interested, Curran says the club will continue to put on beginners leagues and lessons.
“The more people we get out here curling, the better,” he said.
For more information on ways to play and learn how to curl in West Michigan, visit the Grand Rapids Curling Club’s website.
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