SPORTS SECTION ⚫ THE LATEST HEADLINES

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BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

CLAYTON TWP. (CCN) — Genesee County is getting an expansion team next season in the Michigan Independence Hockey League. Known as the MIHL, the league is a Senior A, semi-pro level league with a mix of players with experience in juniors, college and the pros. 

The newest MIHL team will be known as the Flint Shadow. This expansion brings the league to five teams, with plans for further growth in the near future.

The Flint Shadow will play out of the810 Sports Complex on Elms Road in Clayton Township which was formerly Flint Iceland Arenas. 

A press release says the team will be operated by Black Ops Consulting LLC but no such business name yet exists in Michigan corporation records and names involved in the ownership group were not identified.

MIHL Commissioner Scott Brand expressed enthusiasm about the league’s expansion, stating, "Flint has a rich hockey history, and we are confident this will be a strong addition to our league. Black Ops Consulting has demonstrated impressive expertise in player development and the sports business. Their commitment, along with their partnership with Eight Ten Sports Complex, makes this an ideal fit. We expect to add one or two more teams before next season."

The Flint Shadow will compete alongside the Muskegon Voyagers, Waterford Sharks, Detroit Warhawks and Alpena 45ers. 

A press release quoted the ownership group as saying, "Black Ops Consulting is very excited to bring the MIHL brand of hockey to the Flint area. Our goal is to provide a high level of competition for our players while also creating an affordable and successful hockey experience for the community. We are already building our team for next season and have our sights set on bringing a league championship to Flint."

The Elms Road arena played host to the old Flint Junior Generals for several seasons with crowds of about 500 fans per game until the franchise was sold when Rolf Nielson bought the old Plymouth Whalers OHL club and moved them to Dort Financial Center Arena in Flint. The Flint Firebirds have been successful at the gate since 2015 but use mostly Canadian talent.

Clayton Township Supervisor Ted Henry could not be reached for comment.

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Don't look now but the Mott Bears are suddenly serious contenders for a junior college baseball championship in the Eastern Conference of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA).

They went to Detroit's Corner Ballpark today  in a four-way tie for the Eastern Conference lead with Livonia's Schoolcraft CC, Dearborn Henry Ford CC and Macomb CC, and Coach Roger Christensen's club emerged as a first-place survivor by beating the host Ocelots 8-7 in a 10-inning thriller on the revamped site of the old Tiger Stadium now used by Schoolcraft CC for its home games.

(See Related Story in Mott Bears Section)

The victory was red hot Mott's 8th in the last 9 games after an 0-8 start to the spring.

Christensen's Bears are now 3-1 atop the MCCAA's Eastern Conference.

They return home Saturday (March 20, 2025) for another first-place showdown when hosting Henry Ford in a 1 pm showdown on the Ernie Myers Baseball Diamond at Kearsley Park across from Mott CC's Longway Blvd. entrance.

The Bears trailed most of the way Thursday before scoring four times in the 8th inning to go up 6-3. The Ocelots tied the game in the bottom of the 9th to send the contest to extra innings.

Freshman Timothy Geottes of Utica High in Shelby Township drilled a two-run single in the top of the 10th to putt Mott back ahead.

With the tying run aboard in the bottom of the 10th, a 6-4-3 double play then finished off Schoolcraft to end it. 

Geottes finished 3-for-4 along with drawing a walk. One of his other hits was for extra bases as he slugged a double to go with his three singles.

Mott hasn't put any baseball hardware in the trophy case since a 1978 MCCAA championship.

Mott's best finish in MCCAA play under Christensen was in his rookie season at the helm when the Bears were not close to a title at 18-10.

Worse yet, his first team included recruits from Joe Boulton who resigned before the 2014 season began.

.

Christen is now 120-102 all-time in MCCAA play since taking the top job a decade ago.

He's 188-170 overall to rank third on Mott's all-time career victory list — behind only legendary figures Ernie Myers and John Myers.

John Myers was an assistant coach under his brother Ernie who stepped down after the 1979 season. Ernie Myers was 359-155 after taking the job in April 1964 —winning championships when the school was known as Genesee CC in 1964, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971 and 1973. His 1971 team shared the MCCAA crown with St. Clair County CC and Macomb CC while his first team was co-champs with Grand Rapids CC in 1964.

He was inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame for his success.

Ernie Myers reached the NJCAA World Series twice. His best finish was third in 1971 when posting a 38-12 record. The Bears were fifth in their other appearance in the NJCAA World Series.

John Myers twice had teams catch fire at tournament time and just miss making it to the NJCAA World Series.

Christensen, who served as an assistant coach for one year under Boulton before taking the top job, has had Shawn Brown by his side as an assistant. Brown was head coach at Mott from 2008 until 2012 after a great playing career.

Brown was a star at Davison High School as an all-Big Nine Conference pitcher in 1993. He was all-MCCAA at Mott in 1994 as team captain and went on to pitch at Saginaw Valley State University.

 Brown owns the distinction of being Mott's last pitcher to throw a no-hitter. It was one of three no-hitters during his career.

Brown played and coached with some of the best coaches ever on the area scene over the years, including Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Famers Ernie Myers, Walt Head and Roger Foutch. Also on the list are John Myers, Dan LaNoue, Tim Weeks, Dan Shelton and Tim Rye.

He pitched for Head at Saginaw Valley where the late skipper led the program for 32 years after leading Carpets by Smith to Flint's only Connie Mack national championship in Farmington, New Mexico in 1974. He also led the 1967 Chevrolet UAW Local 659 team to Farmington. Both those teams are in the Greater Flint Sports Hall of Fame. 

Head's teams won six state championships in Connie Mack play where he compiled a 512-91 record in 17 seasons while also working as a Major League Baseball scout for the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays before taking the college job. He was was 869-648-6 at Saginaw Valley where his 462 career victories in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) remain a record. So, too, are his 20 victories during the 2020 campaign that remain a school record. He's 25th all-time on the national Division II career victory list and his teams won three GLIAC titles, two NAIA district championships and made four NCAA Division II national tournament appearances. 

Head also has the distinction of leading the only Flint team ever to reach the Mickey Mantle World Series for 15-&-under players in 2018 after he retired from SVSU and took charge of the local team to help friend Foutch begin rebuilding amateur baseball. Roger launched an indoor training facility with former college and professional players as instructors under the leadership of Foutch's long-time friend and ex-insurance executive Dave Dohrman who is General Manager at the facility and for the travel program.

It began with a single Connie Mack club at the 18-&-under division, added a Mickey Mantle club in 2018 and has grown leaps and bounds ever since then. In fact, Foutch's program now has Fotch Baseball teams in travel ball at every level in both baseball and softball as one of Michigan's top programs. His current 10u team won a 10u state championship last year as a 9u team after winning the 8u state title a year earlier when ranked No. 1 in the nation.

My advertising agency and my role as President of the Flint Area Chamber of Commerce allowed me to serve as emcee for the grand opening press conference. Roger talked about his dreams of rebuilding baseball here, and anybody who knows about his tremendous success in sports and business knew better than bet against him making it happen. 

You can bet some of that magic of Roger Foutch and Walt Head rubbed off on Coach Brown and made its way into the Mott Bears' family under Head Coach Christensen's reigns.

Brown pitched, too, for Foutch who knows a bit about baseball. His coaching resume included head coaching stints in basketball and baseball at Linden, Lake Fenton and Grand Blanc. He earned a place in the Hall of Fame as the all-time winningest coach in City Baseball League-West history with 21 titles in a row, including 16 straight during one run. He was over 1,000 victories between his 32-year CBL-West career and his prep coaching tenures. He led two of his teams to Stan Musial World Series championships which had been previously done only by Bishop Construction in 1975.

In addition to pitching for the legendaryWalt Head at SVSU, Brown also played in high school under Rye who led Davison to more than 500 victories, 13 district titles and six Big Nine Conference championships to earn induction into the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in June 2012. 

Christensen's coaching staff is rounded out by Collin Stokes and Ryan Vince.

Stokes played for Christensen and Brown at Mott after graduating from Lapeer High in 2018.

Vince followed a great prep career at Flushing by playing for Christen and Brown in 2014 and 2015.

Christensen, Brown and Vince mix their baseball coaching with other roles at Mott, too.

 Vince works in the Financial Aid office at Mott as a Financial Aid Specialist. He's in his fifth year there.

 Brown has multiple other tasks at the college. He's field manager of Kearsley Park, a fitness center tech, a bus driver, conservator of Mott sports memorabilia and he handles various PR work.  

Christensen has served as Student Success Coach in the Student Success Services Division at the college, and this year took on an interim role as Athletic Director.

Christensen's playing career was at Clio High, Mott and Tiffin University. He was named team captain both his sophomore year at Mott and senior year at Tiffin. He won the NJCAA Division II National Gold Glove Award his freshman year at Mott. 

Christensen now lives in Linden with daughters Kinsely and Wrenley, Australian Shepherd, Gryffin and wife Kacie who was a Mott softball player while he was competing in baseball at Mott.

So there's definitely something magical about Mott since he was a student there, played his college ball there, met his future wife there, got a job there after his SVSU career, became an assistant coach there and is now 10 years into his dream job at a special place for him.

Adding some hardware to the trophy case at historic Ballenger Field House would be part of the dream Roger Foutch had to rebuild Flint baseball by developing a pipeline of local talent to supply a winning brand of baseball at MCC.

Don't be surprised to someday soon see a roster full of guys sporting Fouch Baseball gear walking the hallways of the historic local college on Court Street in Flint.

A rule change by the NCAA this past winter should help places like Mott thrive, too.

Because of a lawsuit challenge in California, athletes can now play two years in junior college sports at the NJCAA level and still maintain four years of NCAA eligibility.

11Read This Week's Featured Colunn

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Mike Killbreath is an award-winning newspaper sports columnist. He appears on Metro Flint News/Talk Radio via The Daily Gazette Sports Weekend Show Sundays from 6-8 pm, The Daily Gazette Sports Night Show weekdays at 6 pm and on The Morning Gazette Radio Show weekday mornings from 8 am until 9:30 am. He's an award-winning news columnist and investigative reporter who is the former long-time owner of the local Metro Flint area chain of 14 community newspapers. This fall will be his 50th year as a journalist. He also hosts a new weekly national TV show known as The American Crusaders on cable TV and various OTT TV live streaming platforms.

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BY ERIC THOMPSON

CCN Sports Writer

PORT HURON (CCN) — Mott Community College's softball team swept both ends of a doubleheader Tuesday (April 1, 2025) in Port Huron over the St. Clair CC Lady Skippers.

The sweep gave the Lady Bears seven victories in a row overall while keeping them alone atop the Michigan Community College Athletic Association's Eastern Conference.

They are now 9-1 in conference play under third-year Coach Terry Warner, and 16-5 overall 

Warner led Mott to the MCCAA Eastern Conference title a year ago with a 25-5 record when the Lady Bears posted a 35-13 overall mark.

They were 19-11 as runner-up in the confernce action behind Oakland CC in his rookie year at the helm when going 24-22 overall.

Dropping Tuesday's twinbill at home left St. Clair 0-6 in MCCAA Eastern Conference action and a lowly 4-14 overall.

But the Lady Skippers put up a fight against the defending champs in the first game.

The Lady Bears needed to rally to win 7-3 in the opener but needed only 5 innings to dispose of the Lady Skippers in the nightcap with a 9-0 romp.

Freshman Keira McGarvie from Kingston led the way in the opener by going 4-for-4 at the plate. She drove in one run and scored twice.

One of McGavie's hits went for extra bases with a two bagger.

Sophomore Heaven Helkowski from Lapeer added offensive support for McGarvie in Game 1 with 3 hits and 2 RBI's while Linden sophomore Eva Opper and Clio sophomore Khloe Williams contributed two hits each.

Pitcher Maggie Boehm of Holly went the distance on the mound in the opener. She scattered 5 hits, walked only one batter and struck out 12.

McGavie came up big again at the plate in the nightcap. She was 4-for-4 again, including her second double of the day.

Helkowski banged out two more hits in Game 2, freshman Arika Hines of Montrose contributed two hits and sophomore Cassie Sylvester  of Linden stroked 3 hits. Sylvester had a double among her hits and drove in 2 runs.

Hines got the victory in Game 2. She went the distance, twirling a one-hitter. She walked 3 and struck out 8 batters.

PHOTO CAPTION: PIctured above this photo is Mott Bears softball boss Terry Warner who has his Lady Bears leading the MCCAA's Eastern Conference race. 

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

FLINT (CCN) — The red hot Mott Bears had a baseball player honored for the second week in a row when the Michigan Community College Athletic Association's Eastern Conference officials were handing out "Player of the Week" recognition.

Mott Community College's Michael Jockwig has been named "Pitcher of the Week" after slugger Luke Trotter was honored last week as "Player of the Week" for his performance at the plate. 

Jockwig pitched 7 shutout innings against St. Clair County CC last week. He allowed just two hits while walking 3 and striking out 4 in a 6-0 victory for the Bears. 

They went to 3-1 in MCCAA play with a 10-inning victory Thursday (March 27, 2025) in Detroit over Schoolcraft CC.

(Read Story Inside Mott Bears Section)

The Bears have now won 8-of-9 since a miserable 0-8 start this season.

The 6-foot-1 sophomore from Lake Orion has a 2-1 record in 4 appearances. In 14 innings of work so far this spring, Jockwig sports a 3.21 earned run average with 15 strikeouts.

Trotter was honored last week for leading Mott  to 5 straight victories, including a pair of sweeps over Edison State CC and Grand Rapids CC.

Trotter, a freshman from Grand Blanc, went 11-for-15 with two triples, two home runs, 13 RBI's, two walks and two steals. The clean-up hitter batted .733 during the five-game winning streak by the Bears with a 1.400 slugging percentage. In the field he added 20 put outs at first base and helped turn a pair of double plays. 

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this photo is Michael Jockwig of the Mott Bears who was named the MCCAA "Pitcher of the Week" award winner.

— Photo by Tucker Webb courtesy of Mott Athletics

BY ERIC THOMPSON

CCN Sports Writer

KITCHNER, ONTARIO (CCN) — The Flint Firebirds are returning home tonight in need of a victory to get back into their Best-of-7 series in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) playoffs with the Kitchner Rangers.

They lost the first two games in Kitchner this past weekend. They were beaten 4-3 in overtime in Friday night's opener and were then blasted 6-1 in Game 2 on Sunday afternoon.

Game 3 is tonight in Flint with a 7 pm faceoff at Dort Financial Center Arena.

Game 4 will also be at the Dort on Thursday night at 7 o'clock.

Fans can watch on OHL TV via subscription or listen on local radio via 103.1 FM.

Just beyond five minutes into the first overtime period in Friday's opener, second-year Kitchner center Luca Romano produced the game winner.

 Matthew Wang scored the only goal of the opening period to give the Firebirds an early 1-0 lead. The Rangers scored twice in the second period to take the lead before Flint's Matthew Mania tied it.

Nathan Aspinall fired in a third period goal for the Firebirds but it was deadlocked at the end of regulation — just like it was in 3-out-of-4 regular season battles between these two opponents.

Aspinall had an assist to go with his goal while Firebirds' goaltender Nathan Day was sharp with 29 saves.

 Jack Pridham scored two goals in less than a minute Sunday afternoon as Kitchner jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening period, and the Rangers cruised from there.

Flint got within 2-1 on a goal by Aspinall but the Rangers made it 3-1 by the end of the first period.

Pridham set up two Kitchner goals to finish with a 4-point night.

Here are some notes from the Flint Firebirds PR department:

LAST TIME OUT: Nathan Aspinall scored his second goal of the series but the Firebirds were beaten by the Kitchener Rangers, 6-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. Jack Pridham had two goals and two assists as the Rangers took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

ASPINALL ELEVATING: Nathan Aspinall leads the Firebirds with two goals and three points thus far in the postseason. Aspinall is the only Firebird to have scored in both games. The New York Rangers prospect recorded 17 goals and 30 assists over 62 games during the 2024-25 regular season. He now has three goals and one assist in 6 career OHL playoff games.

SEASON SERIES: The Firebirds and Rangers met a total of four times during the regular season and Flint fell in the season series, 1-1-0-2. Each of the four games were decided by just one goal and three of the four went to overtime or a shootout.

SAM McCUE led the Firebirds in the season series with 6 points on 4 goals and 2 assists. He had two goals and an assist in two games each for the Firebirds and the Owen Sound Attack.

TOUGH TO SCORE ON: Rangers goaltender Jackson Parsons stopped 21 of the 22 shots he faced on Sunday afternoon and now carries a .922 save percentage and a 1.92 goals against average in the postseason. Parsons was second in the OHL in GAA (2.24) and save percentage (.920) during the regular season. He led the league in both wins (37) and shutouts (5).

GETTING CHIPPY: Referees handed out 10 10-minute misconducts during Game 2 and one game misconduct as Kitchener’s Carson Campbell was ejected in the second period. There were 13 combined power plays: Flint was 0-for-7 and Kitchener was 2-for-6.

ODDS AND ENDS: Trent Swick leads the Rangers in the series with six points on three goals and three assists. He is tied for fifth in the OHL Playoffs…

TOP FLINT PLUS-MINUS MAN: Blake Smith leads the Firebirds in plus/minus at +2.

STINGY OPPONENT: The Rangers were second in the OHL in goals against per game during the regular season (2.69) and have held the Firebirds to four goals in two games.

FLINT (CCN) — Dean Tondreau of the Genesee County Coaches & Officials Association (GCCOA) has announced that a long-time local basketball referee from Flint is hanging up his whistle.

Latrelle Holmes revealed via a social media post on Facebook that he's done as an official after 28 years of patrolling courts around Genesee County.

Tondrea said, "Latrelle Holmes has announced he is retiring from officiating after 28 varsity years of service... I wanted to personally on behalf of the GCCOA congratulate Latrelle on his wonderful service and that he will most definitely be missed, not only by our officiating community, but by coaches and players as well. Latrelle is one of the nicest men you will ever meet. A wonderful official who gave his best each time he stepped on the court. Equally, he is a great partner. Never an unkind word to say about anyone. The years I have worked with Latrelle, I do not recall him ever raising his voice to players, coaches and definitely not his fellow officating colleagues. And he always had your back."

Holmes is Finance Director in Mount Morris Township and the former Former Senior Pastor at Greater Galilee Baptist Church in Flint

Tondrea added: "As officials, it is our goal to have a positive impact in some way, however small, to student athletes, coaches, administrators, volunteers, and fans alike each time we take the field or court. I have no doubt Latrelle accomplished that each and every time he stepped out on the court. We wish you all the best Latrelle. You will be sorely missed on the basketball court. Above all, we congratulate on your excellent years of service."

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this photo is Latrelle Holmes who has announced he's stepping away after 28 years as a basketball referee.

EAST LANSING (CCN) — Genesee Christian took a 24-1 record to East Lansing on March 20, 2025 for the Final Four in girls' basketball but didn't have enough firepower to slow down Fowler. A 25-point loss sidelined the tiny school on Belsay Road in Burton after its first trip ever to the state semifinals. Frankenmuth made it the Breslin Center in East Lansing on the campus of MSU but blew a 10-point lead midway through the third quarter and lost 52-43 to  Tecumseh. (See Stories in Prep Sports Section) 

PLYMOUTH (CCN) — Flint Powers Catholic's hockey team won its second state championship in three years by beating Livonia Stevenson 3-2 in overtime in the Division 2 state finals at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth. Ethan Haley became was the hero when scoring the dramatic game winner 1:53 into overtime on a blast from the point.  

 (See Finals Game Story in Prep Sports Section) 

Read Editor Mike Killbreath "Sports Thoughts"

Dramatic victories en route to winning it all bring back fond memories for Powers hockey fans

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

LINDEN (CCN) — Pro boxer Joey Spencer of Linden made an announcement Tuesday (Feb. 25, 2025) on social media, saying, "I’m excited to announce that I’ll be headed to New Castle, Australia to take on the former world champion, Tim Tszyu, on April 6th."

Tszyu has lost his last two fights after a 24-0 start.

Spencer is 19-1 for his career. The 24-year-old has won three straight fights since his first loss which came in Las Vegas to unbeaten Jesus Ramous after a 16-0 start. Spencer's last two fights have been his only ones in his hometown Genesee County. He won on a card with brother Michael Spencer last summer on the football field at Linden High School where the Spencers graduated. His last fight was the co-featured one on the Salita Promotions card at Flint's Dort Federal Event Center with fellow local fighter, unbeaten Ardreal "Bossman" Holmes Jr. of Flint. 

It was announced last month that Pro Box TV outbid Salita Promotions by just $5,000 to win the rights to the IBF-ordered junior middleweight title eliminator with Holmes against Erickson Lubin of Orlando, Florida. ProBox submitted a $225,000 offer.

Salita Promotions, founded by former 140-pound contender Dmitry Salita, has previously promoted all 17 fights by unbeaten Flint fighter Holmes since 2017. He's also the promoter for Flint champion Claressa Shields.

While Flint's Holmes is 17-0 with 6 KO's — Lubin, 26-2 with 18 KO's, is due $135,000 from his entitled 60% share of the purse as the higher-ranked contender. He is the IBF’s No. 3 junior middleweight. Holmes is ranked Number 7 and his 40 percent amounts to a $90,000 payday. The winner of the ordered fight will become the mandatory challenger for Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev who is 23-0 with 17 KO's.

It's not known if Spencer or Holmes will be on national TV with their next fights.

Salita Productions has regularly showcased Holmes on the company’s Big Time Boxing USA series on the DAZN streaming network, and both Holmes and Spencer appeared on national TV last time they fought from the Dort Federal in Flint. 

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

ANN ARBOR (CCN) — Grand Blanc's David Lally may pitch in Ann Arbor for the first time on Friday (March 14, 2025) as the Michigan Wolverines host USC in Big 10 Conference baseball action.

Lally led the Grand Blanc Bobcats to a Division 1 state championship in 2022, turned down an offer to go pro and signed to pitch at Notre Dame, entered the transfer portal after two seasons of limited action, signed with Michigan and pitched well in a college wooden bat league last summer with a team known as the Royal Oak Leprechauns in the Northwoods League.

A scouting service known as D1 Baseball warned UM's opponents in advance when watching Lally's dominating performances for the Leprechauns that the prospect identified by them out of high school as a "premier pitching talent" was ready to impress Wolverines' fans, saying in a tweet on X, formerly known as Twitter, as follows: "If he continues improving at Michigan baseball, watch out for a breakout season."

As the Big 10 season is now in full swing, Lally is doing exactly that so far on the young season.

Lally has so far pitched 18 1/3 innings this spring with 17 strikeouts.

He has started four games since pitching in relief in UM's opener when winning against the then No. 2 ranked team in the USA — Virginia.

Lally holds a sparkling 1.96 earned-run average and a 0.98 WHIP through his four appearances. 

His first start of the season came against Villanova when pitching 5 scoreless innings en route to a combined shutout. His next start came against Long Beach State, carrying a no-hitter through 5 innings and striking out 5. His most recent start was on Saturday (March 8, 2025) against Big 10 rival Illinois when he allowed one unearned run on one hit through 5 innings and struck out 6 with 4 Illini batters going down looking. 

The Trojans are in town for a 3-game series. Game 2 is Saturday at noon and the finale is on Sunday at noon.

All three of this weekend's games will be televised on the Big 10+ streaming network.

The Wolverines won their home opener 6-4 over Toledo a day earlier at Fisher Stadium inside the Wilpon Complex in front of 644 cold fans.

They used a four-run outburst in the the 7th inning to beat Toledo in a non-conference contest. The big blow was by junior Mitch Voit of Milwaukee with a three-run homer.

UM beat arch rival Michigan State 11-7 on Wednesday (March 12, 2025) in East Lansing to go to 2-1 in Big 10 play. They're in a six-way tie for second place behind 3-0 Oregon.

USC is so far 0-3 in the Big 10 but 9-7 overall.

UM is 10-6 overall.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Grand Blanc's David Lally who has a sparkling 1.98 ERA for the Michigan Wolverines in 4 appearances so far in 2025.

BY ERIC THOMPSON

CCN Sports Writer

DAVISON (CCN) — A long-time youth sports coach and referee at both the high school and college levels has passed away. Raymond Kubani died unexpectedly from natural causes on Monday (Feb. 10, 2025) at Hurley Medical Center in Flint. He was 59.

Dean Tondreau of the Genesee County Coaches and Officials Association made the announcement via a news release to GCCOA members.

Kubani was a star athlete at Clarkston High School. He graduated in 1983 and went on to play basketball collegiately at Kent State University.

An obituary said that in his free time, Kubani volunteered as a youth sports coach and mentor, worked as a high school and collegiate basketball referee, created and maintained a golf green in his backyard and easily made friends with anyone he met.

Kubani made his home in Davison for 30 years where he raised a family with wife Sue.

They got married after meeting at Kent State.

He is survived by his wife, formerly Sue DeLeone; sons Kent and Drew, of Seattle and Chicago, respectively; father Vic; sister Mary Pacitto (Dave); brother-in-laws Joe DeLeone (Barb), Jim DeLeone (Kathleen), Mike DeLeone (Carm); sister-in-law Lisa DeLeone; nieces and nephews Regina, Julia, Garrett and Maria Pacitto, Tony, Victor, Ben, Nick, and Lizzie DeLeone, Jeannie DeLeone Ward, and Joanna Cammel; and many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family.

Kubani worked for Independence Township Parks and Recreation, Rock Bottom Stone Supply, Michigan Electric Supply Co. and most recently, he proudly worked on the Business Development Team for The Davey Tree Expert Company.

Kubani, who was married 30 years ago after college, was was born at Holy Cross Hospital in Detroit to Victor Kubani and the late Sally (McGowan) Kubani on August 19, 1965.  

He was also preceded in death by brother Gary in 1992; mother-in-law Wilma DeLeone in 2023; and brother-in-law Tony DeLeone in 2021. His mother Sally died in 2020.

The obituary said Kubani and his wife recently "found themselves in a new phase of their lives as empty nesters, cherishing their time together as a couple." Ray enjoyed golfing, keeping up with collegiate sports, specifically Ohio State football, and he treasured his family and friends. He loved being involved in his sons’ elementary education, spending time reading to their classrooms, chaperoning field trips and attending class holiday parties. He was also an active supporter and volunteer for Special Olympics.

Friends may visit Lewis E. Wint & Son Funeral Home in Clarkston on Thursday (Feb. 20, 2025) from 3-8 pm. There will be memorial mass a day later at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in  Waterford with visitation at the church from 9:30am until the service at 10 am.

Inurnment will be at Lakeview Cemetery in Clarkston.

Memorials may be made to My Brothers Keeper of Genesee County.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Ray Kubani who passed away on Monday (Feb. 10, 2025). He was a star basketball player at Clarkston who went on to play collegiately at Kent State. He was a youth sports coach and worked as a referee at both the high school and collegiate levels.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

OWOSSO (CCN) — A Metro League Athletic Director has resigned after an incident at a volleyball game where he escorted students out of the building for what he called inappropriate behavior.

Owosso High School AD Steve Irelan resigned on Jan. 10 after negotiations between his lawyer and district officials, according to a report by WNEM CBS TV 5 on its Friday (Jan. 24, 2025) 11 o'clock newscast.

After two weeks of rumors about Irelan's absence on Owosso's campus, Superintendent Steve Brooks issued a statement to the public on the district's Facebook page after the school day on Friday. The incident at the volleyball game happened in October.

Superintendent Brooks said, "We felt it was important to set the record straight, given some of the inaccurate information being spread on social media and on other platforms."

Irelan's job as AD and assistant principal at Owosso was posted by district officials on Jan. 21.

The letter with a statement by Brooks read in part: "We received a report that Mr. Ireland had removed a group of students from a high school (girls') volleyball game at Owosso High School, and eventually from the campus entirely. The students had reportedly been obnoxiously yelling from the student section, causing a disruption. A parent of one of the students involved accused Mr. Ireland of bullying and targeting one of the students, an allegation we take seriously. Mr. Ireland declined multiple requests to meet with specific parents to discuss the incident ... Mr. Ireland’s actions concerning one of the parents of the students involved in the incident created the appearance of retaliation, and the district then sought legal counsel to adhere to our school policies and procedures. We then placed Mr. Ireland on administrative leave on October 31, 2024, while an investigation was conducted by the district legal counsel, inclusive of video footage review and detailed interviews of several students, coaches, spectators administrators including Mr. Ireland and school staff who witnessed the incident in the gym."

Irelan did not respond to our request for a comment. WNEM CBS TV 5 also reported that Irelan did not respond to its request for a comment.

Irelan has been with the Owosso district since 2015, according to his Linked-in page.

Superintendent Brooks also wrote in his letter to district residents: "The investigation found no evidence that Mr. Irelan bullied or targeted a student. However, his actions pertaining to one of the parents of the students involved in the incident created the appearance of retaliation. The appearance of retaliation toward the parent is a violation of our board policy and it was recommended Mr. Irelan receive an appropriate discipline to avoid recurrence of these actions. And no time were any criminal investigations brought forth. Mr. Irelan disagreed with the recommended discipline and appealed the proposed disciplinary action. During the appeal, Mr. Irelan‘s attorney and the district attorney negotiated the resignation agreement acceptable to Mr. Irelan and the district."

No school board members in the Owosso district have yet responded to our request for comments.

PHOTO CAPTION: Steve Irelan has resigned his position as Athletic Director at Owosso High.

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