Author: Doug Donnelly

Ottawa Lake native Doug Donnelly is the editor and publisher of The Advance and Overtime, the Lenawee County Sports Weekly.

TRACK: April 30, 2014, edition

Britton Deerfield and Blissfield had a busy week in track, while Whiteford was on spring break.

BD/Morenci/Clinton Men

The Britton Deerfield Patriot men’s track team split a double-dual meet April 22 at home on a windy chilly afternoon. The Patriots defeated Morenci but fell to Clinton.

BD/Clinton/Morenci Women

The temperatures may have been chilly, but the Britton Deerfield women’s track team heated up the track April 22 sweeping a double-dual meet with Clinton and Morenci. The Patriots were the overall winner in both the sprint relays. Sophomore Jaymz Gibson was a double-winner in the 400 and 200 meter dash events. Cambria Handy won the shot put and Janessa Handy the long jump. Mariah Gotz won the 100 meter dash. “We are doing really well,” BD coach Bob Beckey said, “with a little better weather we should see some peak performances in the next couple of weeks.” BD Women 75 Morenci 58

BD track at the tri-meet with Clinton and Morenci. Copyright 2014, River Raisin Publications, Inc.

The Lady Blissfield Royals were third and the Lady Britton Deerfield Patriots placed seventh at the 36th annual Addison Relays Friday. The Royal men were sixth and the Patriot men placed ninth overall. The rainy overcast day cleared off by race time giving runners calm conditions with moderate temperatures for racing. Both the men’s and women’s Royal sprint medley relay teams took first. The Lady Patriots won the long jump relay.

For the complete stories and individual results, please see the April 30, 2014, edition of The ADVANCE.

SOCCER: April 30, 2014, edition

Another home game for the Lady Royals soccer team and another game with chilly evening temperatures. But the wind and droplets of rain did not appear to faze them as they cruised to a 4-0 shut-out against the Grass Lake Warriors Wednesday at home.

For the complete story, please see the April 30, 2014, edition of The ADVANCE.

BASEBALL: April 30, 2014, edition

BLISSFIELD — The Blissfield varsity bats have been swinging non-stop in this past week of Royal baseball action. On prom day Saturday,April 26, the Royals marched onto their home diamond and let the bats fly against the University Liggett Knights. The Royals were led by sophomore Chase Lievens in the first of two against Liggett. Lievens recorded five RBIs in the first match-up en route to a high-scoring 15-10 victory.

Another victory in the second game eluded the Royals as they fell to Liggett 12-9, unable to perform the double-header sweep.

BRITTON DEERFIELD — A three-run homerun by D.J. Gotz in the double-header with Lenawee Christian April 21 put the Patriots on top of the Cougars 7-1.

The Patriots lost the first game 4-2 but came roaring back in the second game defeating Lenawee Christian 7-1.

The Whiteford Bobcats were on spring break last week. For the rest of the stories on BD and BHS baseball, please see the April 30, 2014, edition of The Advance.

Blissfield Freshman Alex Slomski delivers a good pitch against University Liggett. Copyright 2014, River Raisin Publications, Inc.

SOFTBALL: April 30, 2014 edition

BLISSFIELD

After an impressive 4-0 start to the Lady Royals’ softball season eyes were fixed on the future and how long the impressive season could continue. After dominating victories in previous games the lady Royals were squared up against Tecumseh on Monday the 21st, in a match-up that is always sure to please. The Royals, however, could not continue the early-season win streak and were dropped by the Indians of Tecumseh, 13-3.

BRITTON DEERFIELD

The Britton Deerfield Lady Patriots softball team came up big last week defeating Lenawee Christian in two games. With the two wins, the Patriots have now won three times as many games as they did during the 2013 regular season. After blanking the Cougars 4-0 in the first game, they came back to win the second game 11-10.

Whiteford Bobcats were on spring break last week. For the rest of the stories on the Royals and Patriots, please see the April 30, 2014, edition of The Advance.

Estes named BHS head basketball coach

By Brad Heineman

It was a rather somber moment when varsity football head coach Ron Estes had made it certain that he would be stepping down as head coach following the Royals’ 2012 season.

Estes had turned around a crumbling football program into one of the best and most successful in school history after taking the reins in the 2002 school year. He went on to lead the Royals to a Ford Field championship berth in the 2007 season, where the Royals would be runner-ups to the state champion Saginaw Nouvel Panthers.

A coach with such talents departing from a sport can be hard to replace. Fans, students, teachers and the community grew to appreciate Estes and his desire to get the best out of his young Royals each year.

Now, after a year designated to and focused on teaching in the high school Estes will trade in the headgear, Royal purple polo and Royals ball cap for an outfit possibly consisting of a suit and tie.

The Blissfield Athletic Department press release made his new appointment and quest official, Thursday, April 24: Ron Estes would be at the helm of the 2014-15 Royals varsity basketball team.

For the complete story, please see the Sports section of the April 30, 2014, edition of The Advance.

Britton Deerfield school voters head to polls May 6

Voters in the Britton Deerfield School District are being asked to consider a five-year one-mill sinking fund levy on May 6.

A school district is allowed to use a sinking fund for repairs, maintenance and improvements to the school. It cannot be used for things such as computers, teacher salaries or school buses.

For the complete story, please see the April 30, 2014, edition of The Advance.

Blissfield celebrates railroading

Trains were definitely the backdrop and in the forefront of activity over the weekend as Blissfield celebrated the third annual Railroad Days April 26-27.

Blissfield Main Street Manager Patricia Rayl said approximately 2000 people enjoyed the sunny weather and all the activities from train rides aboard the Adrian & Blissfield Rail Road, model train displays in several locations, a train show, a historic home and building tour, a garden train and more.

For more Railroad Days 2014

An Adrian & Blissfield Rail Road Co. locomotive chugs through the village of Blissfield during 2014 Railroad Days. (Copyright 2014, River Raisin Publications, In.

photos, please  pick up the April 30, 2014, edition of The Advance and visit our online Galleries! See button above!

Estes names Blissfield basketball coach

Ron Estes was officially named the Bissfield Royal men’s varsity basketball coach today. Estes was formerly the Blissfield Royals varsity football coach from 2002-2012, and led the Royals all the way to Ford Field where one of his teams became a state runnerup. According to Blissfield Athletic Director Steve Babbitt, Estes was the varsitiy basketball coach at Summerfield High School before continuing his teaching and coaching career at Blissfield.  Estes replaces John Vandecaveye who stepped down after after coaching varsity basketball for the last 24 years for the Royals.

Benefit to aid injured man

There will be a Benefit Pulled Pork Dinner at 4 p.m. Saturday at Ottawa Lake Sportsman’s Club for Jason “Buzz” Kleindienst, who was injured in a snowmobile accident.

The dinner is $10 per person with a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, games and cash bar.

Kleindienst, who is married and has a four-year-old daughter, was left with severed nerves in his right shoulder, causing the loss of use of his right arm.

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