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 News Updates |
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Monday, July 9
2007 OK White and District Champs
the 2007 TEAM accomplished a task that has eluded our great program for quite a few years.Winning both the League and the District Titles in the same year. The Ok White Championship was the programs 14th since records we keep in 1975 and even more amazing is it was the 19th District Championship in 32 years.
Lisa Mulder lead the way with her outstandign pitcher her senior year. Nicole Laasko, Becky Waldron, also led . I will ge more information on the particulars when I go back to Grand Rapids in September. My source the GR Press hasn't been working on my computer. But I will update as soon as I can get the info. Congratulations the the 2007 team and coaches..
Saturday, June 10
Great Season comes to a screeching halt
the old saying it is tough to beat a good team three times is very true. Especially in a span of less than two weeks. The many match up of Sharon Palma and Betsy Plummer have produced many outstanding games. The District Championship was no exception. The jinks is so bad we can't even get a break in the draw. We have to knock off every good team. In the past 6 draws there has not even one time been a game between our two best opponents. We draw each of them every single year. I am not making any excuses here just reporting the facts. After all it is a blind draw out of a hat. The 2006 Wildcats totally understood that you have to beat all the good teams to win and they made a valiant effort playing their best softball of the year starting with the Petoskey tourney thru the state tourney.
As soon as I get the final stats I will post the records smashed by Palma this year and there were quite a few. I think the team itself only allowed 56 runs total all year. An amazing accomplishment in itself considering the teams we play. A heart felt Congratulations to the entire squad and coaching staff for putting together another 30 win season. I was feuled of course by great pitching by Sharon and a monster hitting year by Becky Waldron, but there were many contributors. I will write more about some of the team members when I get the totals........
Saturday, July 8
Sharon Palma
Sharon Palma's growth as a softball pitcher was as quick as her fastball this year.
The recent Northview graduate had a season to remember this past spring.
Palma went 28-4, had a miniscule .32 earned run average, had 406 strikeouts, eight one-hitters, seven no-hitters and 17 shutouts. In all, Palma gave up just nine earned runs all season.
Under her strong left arm, the Wildcats won the O-K White Conference championship and advanced all the way to the Class A district championship game.
For that season, Palma earned first team all-state recognition.
"I was working for my senior year," Palma said. "My travel ball coach, Wally King, helped me a lot. We started working on other pitches and that helped me a lot for this year."
All that hard work paid off in the form of a college scholarship.
Next year Palma will be pitching for Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.
"I liked Bowling Green because of the education program," said Palma, who also was being heavily recruited by Eastern Michigan University and Saginaw Valley State. "I want to be a deaf education teacher."
Northview coach Tyler Shomin is confident that Palma could pitch at a higher level and believes Bowling Green will be an excellent fit for her.
"I think she flew under the radar as far as colleges go," Shomin said. "She didn't put up these types of numbers her junior year, and maybe coaches didn't see her potential like we did.
"Nobody took notice until this year, and by that time there weren't a lot of scholarships around. I think Bowling Green has a quality pitcher -- 6-foot lefties don't grow on trees.
"If she keeps progressing like she did in high school, they are getting a quality pitcher. She improved every year in high school."
Shomin said the main improvement Palma displayed was in her velocity.
"If you look at her from her junior to senior year, she improved 200 strikeouts," Shomin said.
"And her velocity improved five miles per hour. She went from mid-50s to a high-50 or 60-mile-per-hour pitcher.
"She's totally dedicated to this. She pitches 12 months a year."
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Saturday, May 20
Ok White Conference Champions 2006
Northview edges Lowell in battle of softball aces
Saturday, May 20, 2006
By Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
GRAND RAPIDS -- The inevitable happened when two of the area's top pitchers, Sharon Palma of Northview and Lowell's Becky Plummer, squared off in a doubleheader Friday.
The box score looked like Bill Gates' bank statement, considering all the zeroes that graced the scorebook.
Host Northview swept the Red Arrows 1-0 and 2-1, giving the Wildcats the O-K White Conference title outright. Both teams entered the twinbill 10-0 in conference play.
he last time the two seniors faced each other was in districts last year, with Plummer outdueling Palma 2-1 in 11 innings. Friday's games were equally competitive.
Northview scored a run off Plummer in the opening inning of the first game. Neither team scored again until the seventh inning of game two.
The Wildcats' Becky Waldron tripled home two runs in the top of the seventh to put the Wildcats up 2-0. Plummer should have been out of the inning, however; a two-out error with no one on base kept the Wildcats alive.
Lowell almost answered. The Red Arrows had a run in and runners on first and third and no outs in the seventh but Palma worked out of the jam. Northview coach Tyler Shomin met with Palma and the infielders on the mound during the tense seventh, and a laughing, talking, joking Palma appeared to be the most relaxed player in the park.
"That's pretty much my philosophy," Palma said. "I can't get too intense on myself, I have to keep my head clear. I have to concentrate on throwing. I usually don't even know how many runners are on."
Palma totals 26 strikeouts
Palma struck out 11 Red Arrows in the first game and 15 more in the second. She gave up a hit in the first inning of the opener and didn't give up another until 13 innings later. Palma allowed just three hits in the two games combined.
Palma also got some big help from her catcher, Nicole Laakso, who picked off a Lowell runner on third base with two outs in the top of the fourth in game two. She had her second big play in the last of the seventh.
Lowell pushed across a run to make it 2-1, and had runners on first and third with no outs. Laakso snared a popped bunt attempt, then fired down to first to double off the Lowell runner. Palma ended the game with a strikeout.
"The last time we practiced that pickoff play was in Florida," said Shomin, whose team improved to 29-4. "We called it, and Laakso knew exactly what it was."
Plummer gave up five hits and struck out 10 in the first game. She gave up seven hits and struck out six more in game two.
"This year, I think those two pitchers are the best in the area, there is no doubt about it," said Lowell coach Bob Rodenhouse, whose team dropped to 22-7. "These were two great games, and the only thing I could have asked for was if we came out on top."
Wednesday, May 17
Petoskey Invitational Champions
Using the great pitching and solid defense the team is getting used to using the Cats won the Petoskey tourney championship over a strong field this past weekend. We already know how good Petoskey is but the other teams in the tourney rank right up there also. Escanabea has been state ranked and has shown to be the best team in the UP for a number of years. It has sent several players into college softball. Dearborn Divine Child has a tradition much like ours of strong state tournament finishes to go with a state championship or two. Coach Shomin reported the "girls showed they could be comfortable playing with a small lead such as 1-0 this weekend, and that was the key." Sharon Palma threw all four games pitching outstanding just as she has for this entire season. Solid defense behind her also was the biggest factor along with a few timely hits. Hopefully this will pay off for experience going into the league DH this friday against Lowell, and also as the state tournament approaches. Congratulations Coach Shomin and his stafff along with the entire Wildcat team for a great effort.
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Wednesday, March 22
College Players 2006
As far as information we actually know of
Sarah Metiva Senior Catcher at Aquinas
Jenny Stelter Soph outfielder at GRCC
Candace VanderVeen Catcher at Lynn University Boca Raton Fl
Courtney Miles Aquinas
Kristi Cornell San Joaquin Delta CC in California
Kaitlyn Zyskowski East Tennessee State
are all playing 2006 college softball
Spring Soon 2006
the 2006 season will soon be upon us as we get thru a pretty mild winter so far. The team is hard at work with their off season weight and hitting work. Pitchers are throwing and conditioning with Crystal Laska, one of our favorites, even if she was from Hudsonville. The schedule is posted on the schedule page and it is a favorable one. I always liked playing the early league games first on the road and finishing with a nice home stand in the second half. I know Coach Shomin and I agree on this. Some different non leaguse games as well as some of our traditional opponents. The Northview Invitational is again loaded from top to bottom.
On a side note 1995 graduate and centerfield stud Sheri Hoving has taken over the E Kentwood Program from "legendary" coach Sue Barthold. We are very happy and excited for Sheri as she will make her own legend there.
More information will follow as it is sent out here for typing.......
Lowell 2 Northview 1 in 11 innings
A tough loss in a fanstastic game at Northview in the District finals ends the Wildccat season with a 25-13 recoerd under first year head coach Tyler Shomin. The Cats advanced to the finals with a 2-1 win over Rockford as Kristi Cornell opened the game with her 6th home run of the year in the first inning....Sharon Palma pitched both games and had her best outings of the year. In the final she matched pitch for pitch with Lowells Becky Plummer as the game was tied 1-1 going into the 11th...the Cats scored on a suicide squeeze bunt by Emily Van Duesen scoring Cornell for third for the CAts only run....Palma recorded 15 strikouts along the way a career best for her. "Her outstanding pitching kept us in there all day" Coach Shomin was quoted as saying. The CAts had the tying and winning runs on in the 11 but Lowell rose to the occassion by recording the final out of the game.
There will be a wrap up on the year end page as the infomation is passed on to me for typing..
Plug
Congratulations to Nikki Pluger (Northview softball 1989-90-91-92)who has been named Head Softball coach at Urbana University in Ohio. Plug has been a very successful assistant at Wright State the past 6 years and now gets to take over her first program. We send her the best wishes for a successful tenure at Urbana. Her web site is www.urbana.edu/athletics/softball.htm
her e mail is also on that introductory page if you want to send good wishes her way.
Those of you who remeber her will remember her for a tremendous work ethic along with an amazing amount of talent. One great story about the type person she is comes form the 1991 State Championship year. We were actually struggling at the beginning of the year. Plug was starting at Catcher for her third varsity year. There wasn't much doubt that she would be one of the best catchers in the state in 1991. We had a team meeting at Coach Sowders house one night after a hard loss that afternoon and it was decided by all that if we were going to be as successful as we hoped 1991 would be Plug would have to change positions from catcher to shortstop, giving up a potential all state honor along the way. She never batted an eye when we asked her to switch her only remark was ...."Coach what ever you want me to do it's fine with me."....She helped lead us to the 1991 state title along with a great group of players surrounding her on that team and made All Sate as a Shortstop....that tells you what kind of a team player she is...good luck Plug. "PMA All the Way"
wearethechampions.mid
Friday, February 4
SPRING TRIP 2005
Place: Navarre Beach, Pensecola Beach Island, Florida
When: Spring Break Week
Accommodations: Navarre Beach Palms
Gulf Blvd
Navarre Beach Florida, 32566
Two townhouses with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms
Depart: Thurs Mar 31 or Fri Apr 1
Return: Sat Apr 9
Notes: we are looking for transportation from parents who might be making the trip. If you can adopt a player/rider it would help us out a lot. You may also make arrangements to fly with your parents. Contact Coach Shomin in either case.
Cost of Spring trip: $350.00
Have a Happy New Year
There is always anxious anticipation for what the NEW YEAR will bring. As we enter 2005 here is a California wish that you all have a safe and wonderful 2005 back there in Grand Rapids or wherever you are. peace
Dec 1 News Updates
As you go thru the updates and come across anything you think is wrong or not complete e mail me and I will look at it. It has been hard to not have first hand knowledge of some of the updates so I am working from stuff sent to me. You have to remember I was an EYE WITNESS to every single entry prior to the 2004 stuff. Amazing amount of numbers. All thousands of numbers were accomplished in the first 28 years. So far the whole web set up looks good from here. I will still work on the Interesting Facts section which came about because I changed the heading Trivia. I changed it because there are now some pretty significant happenings in that section now. I will update Schedule, Roster, ETC etc as Tyler sends that out to me. I will keep up the Newsletter Page periodically.....for now...peace
Good bye for now
I didn't mean that headline to have you think I was leaving the door open to come back and coach. I just want to leave the door open to come back and visit. With Jen busy with her volleyball program I will fly back once in awhile just to keep tabs on her. I also want to spend some time in the community I lived and worked and played in the past 33 wonderful years. There are so many friends it is impossible to thank them all for their committment to Northview Softball. I will say this,we had a ball, and made memories that will last a lifetime. I love looking at the graduation books at everyones open houses because they bring back such great memories.This group of players on the 2003 team made this a special year. It is not about wins and a few losses that sums this year up. It is more than that. What a great group of players ,coaches and friends to go out with. We had about 25 of us in that dugout most games and I would not of had it any other way.I have been with so many of you for so long, it just seems like 5 or 6 years ago I had Astro Dog, Mordi and Wrong Way sitting on the gym floor from their kindergarden class. Mordi and I have worked together for over 13 years without interuption literally hundreds of hours talking and pitching. The great four years Hurt, Dino, and Mordi had on and off the softball diamond. Watching Wally and Elwood, Sundance develop into big time softball players. The addition of Smalls, ZO, Alph( I will never forget 7th grade Geo., Lurch, Trixie,Monji, Reno, Chez, Kippy, and our most recent addition Corny,to my original kindergarden group were not only very good softball players and students, but a great group of "kids" just to be with. I thank them for that. The special group of parents I have been with so fortunate to be with for such a long time. It goes way beyond parents of softball players and a coach relationship. There are so many of my very good friends in this group.
I always use the same quote of the thousands I use all the time in summing this all up. It is a quote from Elizabeth Barret Browning and it goes like this:
"They ask me why I teach and I tell them where else could I find more splendid company."........peace......pma
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OK White Champions 2003 and 2004
once agiain after a few years of league championship drought the Wildcat Team won back to back OK White Championships for the 5th time on school history. The 2004 Championship under the leadership of Coach Wally King and his staff.
wearethechampions.mid
Academic All State #15
We received notification that we will be named Academic All State Team for the 15th consecutive year in 2004. Fifteen in a row is a record number for any team in the state. Congratulations one more time, Cats
The Wildcat Way
WE ARE FLESH AND WE ARE BLOOD. WE ARE BOUND TOGETHER. IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH, IN GOOD TIMES AND IN BAD, FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE.
WE ARE THE NORTHVIEW WILDCATS
PLEASE take the time to view all our pages
Wednesday, June 6
Softball and Baseball Advance to Regionals
The Northview baseball and softball teams will be in Holland on Saturday playing for regional championships at West Ottawa High School.
It is the first time since 2001 both will play for regional titles.
The softball team earned its trip Saturday when it beat Lowell 5-1 behind the pitching of Lisa Mulder.
The baseball team stamped its trip to regionals Monday with a 6-5 come-from-behind victory over longtime nemesis Rockford in the completion of a suspended game. The baseball district final had been suspended by weather Saturday with the Wildcats trailing 2-1 after four innings.
Northview's Matt Fraser was the winning pitcher and clubbed a triple in the win.
Northview's softball team (21-11) faces Grand Haven (12-22) in a 10 a.m. regional semifinal game. The Buccaneers (12-22) struggled in the O-K Red Conference but won the Mona Shores district.
Northview's baseball team (14-19) takes on O-K Green champion Mona Shores (29-5) in a 10 a.m. semifinal game.
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