Mumford takes PSL Division 2 girls’ tennis title
Contact:
Chuck Johnson
Media Information Director
DPS Office of Athletics
chuck.johnson@detroitk12.org
313-870-5863
Mumford High took home four gold medals and two silvers to win the 2013 Detroit Public School League Division 2 girls’ tennis title Wednesday at Barcus Tennis Center.
Coach Scott Yanak’s Lady Mustangs scored 17 points to lead the field. CMA, in its first year of girls’ tennis competition, placed second with 12 points followed by Northwestern 7, DIA 4 and Cody 0.
Mumford senior Aaliyah Sadler took the gold at No. 1 singles with a 6-4, 6-1 victory against CMA junior April Smith. Mumford junior Tracey Jones defeated CMA sophomore Divine Gunn 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2 singles.
The other singles’ champs were CMA junior Deija Morton, who won by default against DIA junior Breona Mueller at No. 3, and CMA senior Sarah Spears, who came from behind to defeat Mumford senior Rebekah Hunter 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, at No. 4.
The doubles’ champs were Mumford freshmen Janette Taylor and Mejestix Gabert, who defeated CMA freshmen Erika Davis and Jakara Steward 6-3, 6-0 at No 1; Northwestern seniors Dyona Frederick and Destiny Williams, who beat Mumford freshmen Jada Riggs and Antonesha Chambers 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2; Mumford freshmen Briana Brooks and Ajanae Smith, 6-7, 6-1, 6-4 winners against Northwestern senior Lamonica Hubbard and junior Kenya Edwards at No. 3; and Northwestern juniors Glory Tremble and Alexus Holloway, who defeated Mumford freshmen Gevena Freeman and Alexis Christmas 7-5, 6-0 at No. 4.
Cass Tech extends PSL girls’ tennis reign to 17 in a row
Contact:
Chuck Johnson
Media Information Director
DPS Office of Athletics
chuck.johnson@detroitk12.org
313-870-5863
Cass Tech, on the strength of gold medalists in seven of the eight finals matches, won its 17th consecutive Detroit Public School League Division 1 girls’ tennis championship Tuesday at Barcus Tennis Center.
Coach Clarence Wynn’s Lady Technicians totaled 22 points to finish ahead of Renaissance 17, Western 7, King 3, Osborn 2 and East English Village 0.
Freshman Alayah Martin defeated Renaissance senior Cherise Strickland 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 singles to lead Cass Tech’s parade of champions.
Other singles champs were Cass Tech junior Emma Gates, who defeated Renaissance freshman Breanna Brown at No. 2, 6-0, 6-0; Cass Tech senior Jennifer Ude, who beat Renaissance sophomore Kymberli Maddox at No. 3, 6-2, 6-1; and Cass tech senior Jasmine Bell, who won at No. 4, 6-4, 6-4 against Renaissance sophomore Tierra Jones.
The Lady Technicians’ doubles champions included junior Tyra Webb and sophomore Nacala Brandon, who defeated Renaissance junior Pipier White and senior Selina Neal 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 at No. 1; senior Rekymdria Vaughan and sophomore Carlie Cooper, who beat Renaissance junior Mallory Hardaway and senior Jasmine Garrett 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2; and seniors Elayna Elliott and Essence Patterson, who defeated Renaissance senior Antoinette Wade and junior Briana Brydie 6-1, 6-4 at No. 3
Renaissance sophomore Randi Jackson and senior Christian Dowell won at No. 4 doubles 6-1, 6-1 against Western junior Seiry Morales and sophomore Vanessa Vela.
The PSL Division II championship will be contested Wednesday at Barcus.
Renaissance, Cass Tech to clash Friday in PSL girls’ softball title game; boys’ baseball semifinals also on tap
Contact:
Chuck Johnson
Media Information Director
DPS Office of Athletics
chuck.johnson@detroitk12.org
313-870-5863
Renaissance, the eight-time consecutive defending champion, takes on Cass Tech for the 2013 Detroit Public School League girls’ softball title at 3 p.m. Friday at the University of Detroit Mercy.
Western and Denby collide in the 1 p.m. consolation game. Admission is $3.
In semifinal action Monday at Maheras-Gentry Park, Cass Tech walloped Western 16-3 and Renaissance belted Denby 33-1.
Friday’s PSL slate includes the Mega Division and East-West Division boys’ baseball semifinals at three different sites.
In the Mega Division at Northwestern, King plays Cass Tech at 2 p.m., and five-time consecutive defending champion Western plays Renaissance at 4 p.m.
In the East-West Division semifinals, Ford plays Osborn at Clark Park and East English Village plays Mumford at Manz Field. Both games start at 4 p.m.
The winners advance to the PSL boys’ baseball championships Monday at Comerica Park. The East-West title game starts at 5 p.m. followed by the Mega title game at 7 p.m. Admission is just $5.
Players chosen by their coaches to the 2013 PSL All-City softball and baseball teams will be introduced on the field in between championship games.
The entire family is encouraged to come out and enjoy an evening of relaxing fun watching the PSL compete in the home of the Detroit Tigers.
PSL girls’ softball semifinals Monday at Maheras-Gentry: Renaissance vs. Denby; Cass Tech vs. Western
Contact:
Chuck Johnson
Media Information Director
DPS Office of Athletics
chuck.johnson@detroitk12.org
313-870-5863
Four teams remain in the hunt for the 2013 Detroit Public School League girls’ softball championship entering Monday’s (May 13) semifinals at Maheras-Gentry Park.
Renaissance Lady Phoenix
Cass Tech (10-0) plays Western (9-1), and Denby (9-1) plays eight-time consecutive defending league champion Renaissance (9-0). Both games are slated to start at 4 p.m.
Denby Lady Tars
The winners advance to the PSL championship game at 3 p.m. Friday (May 17) at the University of Detroit Mercy. The other two semifinalists play in the 1 p.m. consolation game. Admission is $3.
Cass Tech Lady Technicians
In quarterfinal games last Thursday at Maheras-Gentry, Renaissance romped past King 19-1, Cass Tech defeated Ford 17-2, Denby outlasted Mumford 19-14 and Western beat East English Village 26-17.
Western International Cowgirls
Denby High senior pitcher Sannia Walls named PSL Proud Strong Learner of the Week
Contact:
Chuck Johnson
Media Information Director
DPS Office of Athletics
chuck.johnson@detroitk12.org
313-870-5863
Sannia Walls, a four-year varsity starter, is leading Denby High’s pitch to contend for the Detroit Public School League girls’ softball championship.
“That’s what we’re striving for,’’ said Walls, the PSL Proud Strong Learner of the Week. “We’re looking forward to playing for the championship. But we’re taking it game by game. That’s really all you can do.”
Walls’ pitching has been the catalyst in Denby fashioning a 5-0 league record which led the PSL East Division entering Monday’s game against 3-0 Cass Tech, last year’s PSL runners-up.
Even more than her pitching, Walls said the team’s positive attitude adjustment has been responsible for Coach Ivan King’s Lady Tars’ emergence as a title contender.
“Nobody was serious last year, but that’s not the case this year,’’ she said. “I think it started with a game last year against King. We were ahead by quite a few runs, but we just fell apart and ended up losing that game even though we were the better team. I’m the captain and everybody says I’m mean now because I tell them about themselves if I see them joking around. All of our team came back this year, so I knew we would be better as long as we took every game seriously.”
In only her second year on the mound, Walls, a 5-2 senior, has successfully switched positions after starting her first two seasons at catcher.
“I enjoy pitching because I’m in control of the game now,’’ she said. “I took some pitching lessons in between school years and that has really helped me. Now that I have the experience, I feel a lot more comfortable.”
A three-sport star, Walls also started for the Lady Tars’ volleyball team and basketball team. She has a 3.1 grade point average and has been accepted at Michigan State University where she plans to major in criminal justice.”
“I want to settle down and concentrate on my studies in college, but if the chance comes to play sports on scholarship, I’ll take it,’’ she said. “I plan to be a police officer for a few years and eventually become an FBI agent.”
She’ll be leaving Denby with lasting memories and the satisfaction that she left her mark, including her All-City selection last year.
“The highlight of my career has been getting recognition,” she said. “Everybody knows that I’m part of the sports scene and that I made a difference here. I feel I’m appreciated. I’m truly going to miss this part of my life, but I’m looking forward to the future.”
The Detroit Public School League Proud Strong Learner of the Week award is representative of the league’s top boys and girls athletes. The award is presented by the DPS Office of Athletics and sponsored for the third year in a row by Detroit-area McDonald’s owner-operators
Renaissance High sweeps team honors in EAA/DPSL Track Relays Invitational Meet
Contact:
Chuck Johnson
Media Information Director
DPS Office of Athletics
chuck.johnson@detroitk12.org
313-870-5863
Renaissance’s girls won six of nine events and Renaissance’s boys won three of nine events to emerge as team champions Saturday in the first EAA/Detroit Public School League Track Relays Invitational Meet at Renaissance High School. EAADPSL Track Invitational complete results
The boys finished with Renaissance’s 83 points leading King 50, Cass Tech 44, Denby 40, Cody 33, Bradford Academy 24, Northwestern 21, Central 11, CMA 6, Henry Ford 2 and Douglass 2.
The girls were led by Renaissance’s 90 points followed by Cass Tech 65, King 31, Bradford Academy 26, Denby 19, Northwestern 16, Mumford 11, Pershing 10 and Southeastern 3.
Nico Hudson was a double winner in the 1600 (4:35.0) and 3200 (12:41.60) and he also teamed with Austin Davis, Avery Byrd and Derrick Harden on Renaissance’s victorious 4×800 relay. Eric Way and D’Kari Wilson placed second and third, respectively, in the 1600 and Wilson and Jeremiah Grant finished second and third, respectively, in the 3200 as Renaissance swept the top three spots in both events.
Cass Tech’s boys also took three firsts as Sean Perry won the 300 hurdles (44:30); Jermaine Tripp, Delano Hill, Matthew Massey and Anton Price won the 1600 sprint medley relay (3:48.36); and Hill, Damon Webb, Perry and Price won the 4×100 relay (43.34).
Cody’s boys had a pair of victories: Brandon Rutland, Eddie Fluker, Eli-Kevin Phillips and Kenyon Bell in the 4×200 relay (1:30.35); and Kajuan Ocasio, Ian Kelly, Tony Collins and Phillips in the 4×400 relay (3:37.45).
Denby’s Larry Huntley won the boys’ 110 hurdles (18.93).
Renaissance’s girls victories included the 1600 sprint medley relay team of Dajanae Dye, Kaylyn Williams, Lauren Parks and Telia Zander (4:34.74); the 4×800 relay team of Remi Murray, Peighton Childress, Dye and Clarrisa Barksdale (11:14.75); Dominique Taylor in the 300 hurdles (50.44); the 4×200 relay team of Ashlynn Terry, Asaundra Dalton, Zander and Dominique Funchess (1:45.82); Dye in the 3200 (14.17.02); and the 4×400 relay team of Daulton, Zander, Taylor and Funchess (4:13.01).
Cass Tech’s Erika Reid won the 1600 (6:16.00); King’s Kalen Glover won the 100 hurdles (15.81); and King’s K. Glover, Michelle Glover, Avan Forts and Jazmine Evans won the 4×100 relay (52.73).
Points were awarded on a 10-8-6-5-4-3 basis for the top six finishers in each event. (Names of the winning relay team members are listed as submitted prior to the meet).
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Runners ready and set to go for Saturday’s EAA/DPSL Track Relays Invitational
Contact:
Chuck Johnson
Media Information Director
DPS Office of Athetics
chuck.johnson@detroitk12.org
313-870-5863
A field of 298 Detroit Public School League boys and girls are expected to compete in Saturday’s EAA/DPSL Track Relays Invitational Meet at Renaissance High School.
The action is slated to start at 11 a.m. and conclude approximately 3 p.m. 
Admission is $5.
Teams from Cass Tech, Central, CMA, Denby, Douglass, King, Mumford, Northwestern, Pershing, Renaissance and Southeastern are slated to compete.
Individual events include the boys’ and girls’ 1600 meter run, the boys’ and girls’ 3200 meter run, the boys’ 110 high hurdles, the girls’ 100 high hurdles and the boys’ and girls’ 300 low hurdles. Boys’ and girls’ relay events include the 4×100, the 4×200, the sprint medley, the 4×400 and the 4×800.
Western High right-hander Jose Solis named PSL Proud Strong Learner of the Week
Contact:
Chuck Johnson
Media Information Director
DPS Office of Athletics
chuck.johnson@detroitk12.org
313-870-5863
After waiting his turn, Western International High right-hander Jose Santos Solis is adjusting well to being in the spotlight.
With a 2-0 record in two starts this season, Solis has been named the Detroit Public School League Proud Strong Learner of the Week.
“He’s always been a dedicated team player, but he’s had a senior playing ahead of him the last couple of years,’’ Cowboys’ coach Juan Sanchez said. “He’s a senior now and we’re looking for him to step up and be the man.”
Solis, who has a 3.8 grade point average, is doing all he can to take advantage of the opportunity.
“My goal is to win every game,’’ he said. “I’m just trying to stay strong and focused and do the best that I can do.”
Solis says his four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, curveball and changeup give him a four-pitch repertoire that enables him to keep hitters off-balanced.
“I’ve improved every year and this is finally my time to shine,” he said. “I’ve been doing well so far. Hopefully I can keep it up and finish my high school career strong.”
Solis plans to go to community college and ultimately earn his degree in nursing. “Hopefully I can play baseball during college and then get my masters and my doctorate and become a family physician,” he said.
As part of a Western program that has won five consecutive PSL championships, Solis has a chance to be on the mound at Comerica Park in this year’s championship game.
“That would be great if it happens,” he said. “The main thing is making sure we win another championship. It’s been a nice ride and we all want to keep it going.”
The Detroit Public School League Proud Strong Learner of the Week award is representative of the league’s top boys and girls athletes. The award is presented by the DPS Office of Athletics and sponsored for the third year in a row by Detroit-area McDonald’s owner-operators
Renaissance High leadoff hitter Shivonne Marshall named PSL Proud Strong Learner of the Week
Chuck Johnson
Media Information Director
DPS Office of Athletics
chuck.johnson@detroitk12.org
313-870-5863
Renaissance High’s Shivonne Marshall is hitting the ball again after she missed a season for not hitting the books.
With a 1.000 batting average (11-for-11) through the softball schedule’s first three games, Marshall, a 5-4 senior, has been named the Detroit Public School League Proud Strong Learner of Week.
“She’s probably the fastest player on the team,’’ Renaissance coach Garrard Taylor said. “Her speed and her hitting give us a piece of arsenal that we didn’t have last year.”
As the Lady Phoenix’s leadoff hitter and captain, Marshall is playing like she’s trying to make up for lost time. She was forced to sit out last season after becoming academically ineligible, a status that even now she has a difficult time explaining how she let it happen.
“My grades had slipped tremendously and I couldn’t believe it,” Marshall said. “It wasn’t even my normal. I’m used to getting 3.0s, 3.1s and 3.2s, but my grade point average slipped to a 2.1. I had gotten unfocused and I was so hurt.”
Although Renaissance managed to win its eighth consecutive PSL softball crown without her, Marshall said she was hurt not only because she couldn’t play but because she let people down.
“I wasn’t a part of it and I should have been,’’ she said. “I’m the leadoff hitter and I wasn’t there. I could have been the captain last year if I had been there because I play a very active role on the team. At first, I figured that if I still went to practice that they would let me play. But that wasn’t the case.”
Instead of wallowing in her mistake, Marshall did something to correct it. “I took the initiative to get more tutoring in the classes that I needed. I talked to my teachers and got an understanding of what was required. I took the time to get my studies together so I could pull my grades back up and be able to play again. It’s great now because this is my senior year and, of all my classes, I have nothing lower than a 3.5.”
Marshall began to flourish at the top of Renaissance’s lineup in the 10th grade after her conversion from a right-handed hitter to a left-handed slap hitter.
“It’s made a big difference,’’ she said. “When I batted right-handed, I had problems with dipping and dropping my shoulder. By converting me to a left-hander, I re-learned how to hit and it’s helped me get on base almost every time,. I either bunt, slap or sometimes I hit (the ball hard). I’ve been able to do all three and take advantage of my speed.”
Defensively, Marshall prefers to play third base but has been used in either left or right to fill the team’s need for outfield help.
Having regained her academic standing, Marshall has been accepted by a number of colleges, and says she plans to study and play softball at Alcorn State University.
“I see myself becoming a cognitive psychologist and working with the brain,” she said. “I want to study how people think with their decision-making.”
Speaking from experience, she urges other student-athletes to make the right decision with regard to putting academics first.
“I would just say to stay focused, that’s all you can do,’’ she said. “I know people always say that, but it’s true. You can’t do anything less than stay focused. Otherwise, you will end up not being able to play and not only letting your team down but you will let your parents down.
“When I became ineligible, I was so hurt by how disappointed my parents were with me. That made me know I had to straighten up. I came out of it because I knew I wanted to graduate and go to college. If you’re good at something, go for it and don’t let anybody discourage you from your dreams.”
The Detroit Public School League Proud Strong Learner of the Week award is representative of the league’s top boys and girls athletes. The award is presented by the DPS Office of Athletics and sponsored for the third year in a row by Detroit-area McDonald’s owner-operators
