>> Welcome back to an all new episode of the Grand Valley State sports report on wdvm live.

Your host Jake Lee, D tvs.

You women's golf one.

The glee actually am paean ships over the weekend GSU the crosstown their way to a regular season glee act idol as they now look ahead to the glee actor intimate GSU baseball.

1, 5, 1, last week to put them in a great position for the postseason and Etsu softball continues to dominate as they went 8 straight this week to continue to lead the cully act lock in Laker nation is the Grand Valley State sport report starts right now.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] GSU women's golf for your new Westley act champions as they hoisted the trophy this weekend for the 16th time in the last 22 years and is now to talk a better championship squad as head coach to become a new coach.

Great to have you with us for the first time this year.

Congratulations on ugly act chippy an ship.

That was the weekend for you.

>> Yeah, it was a great weekend.

The girls really stepped up to the plate this weekend and everyone just managed to play good on the same weekend for the first time this spring so that felt really nice.

>> It's an interesting way that the glee actor in a set up actually mirrors the national tournament now where you go with those couple of rounds to set up the one through 4 pairings and then play with that actual stroke play throughout the next couple of rounds.

This is the second year I believe that glee has done that.

How is that may be shifted.

Maybe some of the strategy going into the glee actor, Matt.

>> Yeah.

It's a great experience for the girls.

A lot of conferences across the nation are shifting to this format so that players can get.

And before the national championship.

You know, as far as our strategy going into the tournament.

Preparation doesn't really change a whole lot.

Obviously we try to get the girls to play a little bit more medal match format and practice.

We talk about the strategy is, you know, for a lot of them in the lineup this weekend.

It was their first experience with it tells self that was a lot of fun.

>> Yulia Sanchez certainly did not look like a freshman.

Those first couple around.

She wins the ugly act medals.

But was the key to her performance this week.

>> You know, it really has been really leading up to this performance.

All spring.

She's been our top performer this spring.

Yeah.

She's been really close a lot of times in her careers of winning.

She's had a lot of second place finishes.

And we're just super excited for her to get that win at the conference championship.

No better place than then there to get your first when cell.

She does she played amazing from start to finish.

>> Megan Mirren's got some experience for you.

Obviously in case that case as well.

But this is your first year without Katie Chipman.

A very long time since I can remember.

You don't have that go to number one, as you come into this tournament.

What was the difference may be for this team is more by committee.

That may be that in true number one, that you knew going in.

>> Yeah, this team is a lot different than any other team I've had in the past any given week someone can win a tournament are one of the 5 is switched up throughout the season and then this weekend was a testament to that depth of our program.

You know, obviously Julio went in.

But freshman Olivia stepping up to the medal match format really cut.

Not a good performance against Northwoods best player.

You know, Megan had a 68 in the final round of the medal match really stepping up to the plate and case up to the shooting of of personal record in her second round of stroke place you want to undersell every single one of them, you know, on any given day could be our number one.

And so, you know, that really comes in comes in handy in the medal match format because it makes teams hard to tear themselves against off.

>> With such a young team, how impressed free with their ability to really step up in their first championship moment.

Unclaimed Lee actually am paean ship.

>> Yeah, this team loves to compete thought I love about them.

You know, we haven't played well up until this weekend, the spring.

We've dealt with a lot.

Tough weather conditions in between tournaments preparing for events.

You know, we had a lot of tough bout with covid earn are, you know, training seasons for the first 8 weeks in the winter months.

So really we've just been waiting for everyone to click on all cylinders and it happened this weekend.

But I you know, I knew that this team when the competition was there and you got into that medal match format would really just show their talent and and rise to the top.

And that's what they did.

>> And you know, not only that your team or click.

At the same time, the weather finally cooperated for years but had to feel good to be out there.

80 degrees on Saturday.

>> Felt amazing.

Not a single one of us for complaint and that's for sure.

>> I believe it.

Will you get the glee akshay paean ship, which is an awesome testament to you and your team this year.

But now you looking forward to the nca postseason.

What's on the horizon now as you build off of this towards the regionals and eventually the National meat.

>> Yeah, we've got a quick turnaround.

Girls have a few exams the next 3 days.

So little down time to just focus on school.

Then we've got about 3 to 4 days to prepare before we head out to Kansas City for the regional championship.

A new golf course that nobody is played.

So the men played at last year.

We've got a little inside scoop from Gary vessel on that.

But other than that, not a single team.

There really has played this cough or so girls.

Looking forward to it and you know, looking forward to taking this momentum into that next step of the postseason.

>> I'm glad you mentioned that work is how does momentum play a role in the postseason and on the golf course.

>> It's huge.

You know, we really needed to have a good stroke.

Play performance for this team this weekend to have some confidence going into the postseason.

It's like I said, we really, you know, have not played up to our abilities this spring yet.

And so I think it was huge for the girls to see that to see and believe that they can play delay that, you know, they're capable of before going into that postseason South.

This weekend's performance is really important.

And, you know, just from a confidence standpoint and like you're saying just momentum is everything in the sport.

>> Well, getting hot at the right time is big for everybody, including the weather looks like it's done just that for you.

Coach congratulations on ugly act championship.

Best of luck next week.

It revealed the first have those tools do some good work on the finals.

>> Jeffrey.

She ha.

Thanks a lot.

Don't go away.

The Grand Valley facebook return in a moment.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> GSU baseball found plenty success on the Diamond this week going 5, 1, splitting with the Northwest Tuesday before sweeping sdsu over the weekend that he now sits 10 6 in conference play.

And joining us now is head coach James Italian coach.

We talked about the lofty goals for this team this year and all the expectations for the squad after splitting with the West on Tuesday felt great to go on the road this weekend.

Saginaw Valley and get that four-game sweep.

>> Yeah.

It's it's any time to sleep in conference.

Play is always a good feeling.

You know something we worked on all year long.

It's just consistency routines and just grinding through any adversity, had a little bump in the road as we did on.

Well, the Wayne state weekend and then this Tuesday just keep trying to keep this keep playing.

Well, that's all that we can control and how the past is the past.

We can't do anything about it.

All we can control their next action and how we move forward.

This is the 3rd week in a row.

We're talking about that 16 game and 16 day stretch.

It wrapped up this weekend to do so by winning 4 straight games to close out that stretch have to get your team.

Plenty of momentum.

You're going the last couple of weekends ago yet play at and we started to swing it.

Well, we started pitching well, I should say we've continue despite.

Well, we've continued to pitch it well, so definitely some good momentum.

I think I'm going to be bored with myself for a few days.

I have games.

Now since we played so many, so many so few days, but it was really good to see the progress.

The continued just just winning by love about our team.

As you said, you're with this week.

It's interesting you mention that.

Want to follow up real quick.

Is there anything you've seen from the last couple of weeks may now get a chance to place natural practiced Hayes for back to back into something you can maybe work on.

And I think the road, but the focus on this week.

Yeah, it's we've had so few practices on our field.

And then when we do, it's almost like we've got to milk it for every second that we can and get every last ounce of, you know, any type of workmanship out of it.

And we've just got a great group of guys continue to grind.

So I don't think the message is going to be a whole lot different other than give your best effort for today.

That's all that they can do Kyle not join your team late last year.

This is his first full season with you.

It seems like his speed has been.

We knew that coming in.

But things like the power starting shop is willing to listen to a bunch of different things for you out of that.

2 hole.

Yeah.

Is his.

He's going the fastest guys we've ever had here.

He's a very dynamic dynamic player and he can swing and he's got some serious pop in his bat to, you know, when to run that fast, it's almost do yourself a disservice to put the ball in the air.

However, when he hits, it goes.

When you back.

Spend some.

He's he's got a couple home runs last couple weeks.

And I would say that that's necessarily what is in the batter's box to do.

It's more create havoc and do damage when when the time calls for it.

But he's been really, really good.

>> The big fly was big for you this weekend on the road at Saginaw Valley as well.

You mentioned overcoming some adversity.

It seems like every time Saginaw made things close.

You guys found a way to scratch a couple of runs across whether was a home run or scratching a couple of hits together just every single time.

Second all got within striking distance.

You guys have the answer offensive play this week.

Yeah.

I think with our team, it's just it's just kind of how they're wired.

I guess.

I don't know.

I mean, I know we work on.

We talk about stuff in practice in, you know, if things escalate again, they've continued to this grind and have good at-bats and and compete.

And that's that's one of the you know, the primary characteristics of a championship team.

Right.

There's compete no matter what does it really feels like we're on the verge of losing a game.

It just feels like we're just going to continue to do what we do in now.

If it's close, it doesn't matter.

We're still going to win if we're up, we're just going continue to add on.

So it's definitely good.

Bye.

Have we look at the result across the glee at these last few was a really have seen the parity in this conference.

What does that do for you going forward towards postseason.

Play.

Don't look too far down the road.

But it seems like everybody in this league really have some good talent across the board.

That has to help you come down the stretch in postseason comes around.

Sure.

Playing good teams is always so is always something that's going make it better.

I look at our conference standings going into this past weekend in 6 of our 7 teams were above 500.

I looked at our standings 1012, years ago and 9 of the 12 teams are about 500.

So that just tells you how much better our conference has been sense.

There's been some movement, you know, teams leaving the conference.

It definitely adds, you know, adds to each weekend, you know that the impact and significance of playing.

Well, every weekend, not just, you know, having a weak opponent for 3 or 4 weeks and haven't won tough series.

It's it's every week and a dog fight.

>> Week in and week out.

Speaking of which this weekend.

Thank you finally get a true home series.

Let's hope the weather cooperates finally for you.

But Davenport comes to town.

The should be a really fun home series for you guys to cross town rivalry.

We know Davenport's been really good these last few years.

You guys been coming back now as well should be really fun weekend.

>> Sure.

And for us that it's just another series.

Of course it's a big series that in part has played well, but all we can control is how we play.

It doesn't really matter who's in the other dugout.

I'm who I continue to play well and went.

>> Well.

It should be a really fun weekend.

Coming up this weekend.

Any one particular thing you say have to happen for the Grand Valley.

State Lakers win the series this weekend.

>> Consistency consistency routine just like good practice habits carry over to game our guys work so hard practice.

I'm so proud of the way that they go about their day today, just the demeanor that championship attitude when that stuff is put to put that, you know, work every single day.

>> Then good things happen on game that I know you love playing games.

But enjoy a week actually get to practice with your guys and getting some reps in there before this weekend, a few days off will be nice for the bodies to recover coach great weekend.

This past weekend.

Best of luck this week.

We'll talk next week.

Secured a great thanks, Jake.

We'll be right back to the granite State's poor to poor continues on WDTN [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] number 8 ranked GSU lacrosse's.

You're ugly act regular season champions with the Lakers beating northern Michigan on Sunday on senior day.

Look ahead to the glee actor Matt later this week.

And joining us now is head coach mckenzie Lawler and coaches start with a senior day celebration yet with the trophy with the regular season championship.

Congratulations on a great Sunday.

How was it for you.

>> It was great.

Obviously very emotional to start the day.

I think this class of 6 has been through a lot with covid.

You know, the 4 who are not graduate students were the first class and I was freshman and to go into that could change change.

And it's just great to have a special day for that and obviously come away with the team.

Regular season conference championship.

>> Obviously senior day.

There's a lot of emotion, as you mentioned, that might have been the reason for a little bit of a slow start to the one you guys lead after the 1st quarter.

But you really turned it on with a 7 to one spread in the 2nd quarter.

But was the message to the team or did they need a message or was it kind of just maybe I get their feet wet and get back to playing lacrosse.

>> We talked about the roller coaster of emotions on senior day, you know, crying and some tears in the locker room before game is not usual.

That was senior day kind of been a special day that tends to happen.

I think our juniors under cost and did a great job.

You know, decorating the locker room and kind of sharing what the seniors meant to them.

But there is a lot of emotions in tears along with.

That's why we just can't talk to that quarter break of, you know, calming down playing our level of play and just being committed to the process.

And I think once our emotions come down, then we're really able to ramp up the execution of our game plan.

>> 18 to 7 was the final new northern Michigan's a very talented team.

They're missing their best player at their place.

When you went there and they still gave you a pretty good games.

You're going to be their best punch here in the last day of the regular season.

Your team handled very nicely.

>> Thank you.

Obviously with many that will back for them.

And she's a great presence on the dry.

And so that was, you know, really something that we had to figure out a mission pain got hurt early in the game.

But still I had a really good performance and continue to go out and take the drop for us and really get that chemistry at 9% year.

And so really proud of the 2 of them for that effort.

>> You mentioned Molly.

She stole the show on senior day.

The junior had 4 goals and 3 assists.

She really was the cause for your offense in the win on Sunday at.

>> She was.

And again, it was just a complete stat line from Ali.

I think she and that use of the 4 goals in 3 says she had 9 drop controls.

I think Rick, 3 groundballs and cost turnover.

So really needed impact all over the field for us.

>> And the interesting thing, you really didn't earn that many free position shots in this game.

A lot of the kind of came in the run up late with that by designers at how northern Michigan plays that maybe the luck of the draw on the way.

This one a lot.

>> I think the statute a little deceiving on that.

You know, we earned some additional preposition shots that didn't role in the statute.

We did take those shots.

You know the couple, those red yellow card situations that we want to trust our manna offense versus just taking every position shot.

And I think our team executed very well and their staff.

Sometimes I think we should have got 3 positions unit socials.

That didn't happen.

I give a lot of credit to our offensive planes through that.

And, you know, letting the play come to us.

And even if it wasn't really expected.

>> I promise you that was a strategy question and that question for you that you handled it beautifully but you get to the regular season.

Undefeated ugly act play even on such a tear as of late when now you look towards the postseason get to host the glee actor.

Matt this week.

What's been the conversation to be the last few weeks now leading up to the postseason building up on your plate week by week.

Now, have you play your best.

The cross at the right time.

>> We really talk to the turn of the top and season.

We want to play everyone, you know, the second time around of really just focusing on being a better version of ourselves ourselves each team.

I think, you know, we always can rely on our one to one lead us is offensively and defensively.

And in Clea at play.

But we really wanted to make sure that we're developing that teen take a style, especially offensive plea and so really proud of her office has really I think, bumped up our sis in these last couple games and had some different looks.

And then it's just been great for our defense to have some other place.

There's, you know, step up and get some different matchups.

I was at the sheetz trial.

You know, Carly Ross, I think Bellinger Regis is doing great.

And so it's it's a nice to kind of share that responsibility on the defensive end as well.

>> Well, you guys are playing really good lacrosse.

You have yourself in a position to make the second nca tournament in program history.

You're sitting there right near the top of the region.

So something to be very interesting.

Here is this week.

Wraps up coach, best of luck.

Here is the postseason begins to get to host ugly act.

And that this week we're looking forward to it.

Thanks as always for joining us.

Thank you.

Don't go away.

The Grand Valley.

State sports will return in just a moment.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> Though the covid pandemic has ruined or sunk many sports streams.

You won't hear any complaining from Dana Callahan's Grande Valley softball team fresh off a conference title and NCAA regional championship and a trip last spring to the division.

2 World Series.

The Lakers recently made it 30 wins in 35 tries by taking 2 games from Davenport.

>> It's a year that began with 12 straight victories and one that could continue on a good bit longer.

>> In this year's as a team.

We jumped out to a hot start.

That's just something we've been trying to keep role and make sure that we're so, you know, going into practice every single day just working hard because, you know, that's what we're going to, you know, make adjustments in Belgrade every game and just where hardest able to >> I think we are on track.

We might have had a little ups and downs this year compared to last year.

The year before that.

But I'm really excited to see what we have in store for postseason.

And I think this season with ups and downs has prepared us a little much too solid and consistent throughout the season.

>> The Keystone combination of global at shortstop and rigorous second base is once again providing run production, strong defense and leadership for a squad that didn't need much retooling this spring.

But after tearing through a winter swing.

Kelly's team has hit a few bumps like home losses to Purdue Northwest unfair state and a one nothing defeated wing state were damaged.

Only 6 hits in 10 innings and stranded 12 runners.

Those games provided a bit of a wake-up call and since and the Lakers have tightened up defensively while avoiding being too tight everywhere else.

>> And I think in those games that we're struggling.

We're just getting too stressed out.

You know, super tight not very comfortable showing, but now the pass double headers.

That's been our focus and it's been a lot more successful.

>> And a lot more enjoyable to play as well.

I mean, it's just plain the consistent law.

We've had some of our second game struggles, you know, which happens to me that this is all part of the game and just being consistent with everything up and down the lineup and from a defensive standpoint.

>> Kelly inside his written the red hot bat of Libya Goble the team's home run leader and speedy join us or in see only with 16 extra base hits including 12 doubles through the recent home games against Davenport and they found a perfect replacement for Tacoma holmen at first base and freshman Kelsey come Morris was batting averages topped the 400 Mark most of the year.

All in all, it makes for another standout team in the Midwest where teams from the glee act and rival leagues all be vying for a spot in this year's series late next month.

And then.

>> The Great Lakes Valley was down a little bit last year.

But I think they're rebounded and they've got some teams that are playing stream Lea.

Well, the G Mac us turned to, you know, expand on their competitive.

This a little bit.

And of course, our conference has always been very competitive and self.

>> Our region.

Definitely one of the tougher in the country prevail.

He caught a break last season when it was awarded the women's NCAA regional even before the Lakers had clinched their conference crown.

And while the expectation might be for a tough road trip if they get an NCAA bid.

This spring ace pitcher Hannah be honest and her experience curve.

Teammates have already served notice.

And once again among the nation's best softball sites in 2022 the Grand Valley State sports report.

I'm Tom Cleary.

[MUSIC] >> GSU softball swept their entire schedule this week winning 8 games to keep an 11 game win streak alive as we inch closer to the postseason in just a few weeks.

Joining us now is head coach Dana Callahan and coach.

It seems like ever since that one.

Nothing loss to Wayne state a few weeks ago.

This offense is just flipped a switch and start of the game.

2 of that double header.

And it's a little carried all the way through this 11 game win streak.

What a great weekend for your offense.

>> Yeah.

It was nice to see those bats come alive.

You know, we had a couple innings.

We get runners on and could get them in and they just made a made a decision to to make sure that we took care of business.

And now we talked a lot about pitch selection, that kind of thing over the last week or so.

And they've really taken that to heart.

>> Yeah.

We talked about this team building on the offense as the season goes along because of weather creating so much havoc.

This is another.

We create a play 8 games in one week.

It seem like it didn't faze her team at all.

>> No.

You know, we we just know when it's game day.

We have to show up and not other teams are going to coming after us and we just have to be ready to play and they've taken that.

>> A couple of home double headers couple of road double headers this week to start at home against Davenport.

2 really good showings again had to be out of his once again phenomenal this week she was 4 and gave up one earned run across the 4 outings.

She's now going 5 o e r a in glee actaully this season.

She's just again been incredible.

Talk about a week in week out.

>> Yeah.

You know, you think is many times the teams seen her that, you know, they'd start.

But she doesn't.

She just she takes that up on her shoulders.

And if they start getting tour, then she changes are game a little bit and I'm Morgan Wagner catcher behind the plate does all the calling of pitches in.

They just do have such a great chemistry with each other in the trust factor and it is so fun to watch.

>> Get the double header sweep over Davenport and you go on the road to Farris who split with you at your place a few weeks ago.

Of course, those pressure on your team's mind has got the big Rapids into really good winds.

You get the first one with a shutout passion behind had been in Game 2 down going into that 6th inning and a huge inning for you guys going 5 runs to up that 62 lead.

You guys want while running away with it.

>> Yeah.

Again and says the offense took that one up on their shoulders.

They were not going to let another one slip away from us and they knew what was on the line and then they just took it and ran with it.

And we did a really nice job of being disciplined at the plate.

They were changing pictures on us.

But every 2 innings, you know.

And so we made those adjustments as we needed to.

>> Yeah.

It was great to see Bailey Thatcher come through with that double that tied the game.

It seems like with this team.

Sometimes all it takes is one hit and everybody kind of follow suit.

>> Yeah.

You know, we were not want to have a ton of home runs.

You know, we just we rely on momentum.

And once we get that spark, then I kind of fires everybody else up and we get done or business speaking a spark, what a spark it has been.

We talked about this lineup change last week the Caitlin Lynch Joanna Stern tone at the top of the order has been incredible for your team came and went had 3 hits in the game to yesterday drought hit over 600 for the week.

It has been an incredible thing to see what the top of your orders able to defer your team the last couple weeks yet, you know, kalen she hadn't had a ton of playing time the last couple years.

But this year her confidence level is up and she is just putting the ball in play and finding those holes.

She's not smash and she's not hit doubles or home runs or anything like that.

But at the same time she is just finding the hole and that's what we need out of that top spot.

Somebody to get on base to set set the table for 2, 3, 4, 5, hitters.

>> And just passing the bat has been the theme this year in the game against Wednesday.

Kelsey come Morris has a big hit.

We don't really talk about her much.

She kind of gets lost in the lineup.

It is putting up great numbers as a freshman.

Certainly a candidate for glee actress one of the year and she kind of sneakily between that 4 in 5 holes, but a nice calm for your offense.

She has.

You know, she's just very disciplined honors own.

>> She's patient.

She waits for her pitch.

And then when she does, she doesn't try to do too much with it.

She just puts it in play.

And and she knows the situation that she's in and >> just wants to make sure that she gets a run scored or whatever job is and she doesn't.

Everybody doing their job because of that.

Now 4 straight seasons with 20 plus wins in the glee AK your magic number is one to win a 5th straight conference title really has been an incredible run.

As you look forward here to the final week of the regular season.

You're on the road to produce Northwest who's currently second in the conference them Parkside as well to close out the regular season yet final this week for your team to focus on.

What's your message to your team going into the last weekend of the regular season with the post season on the horizon.

>> You know, they have exams are forecasts on right now.

So that's what they're dealing with.

We're going to take a couple days off and just let them deal with that.

And then then the fun starts because we don't have Class A story about we just get to play softball.

So we'll let them do their thing in the in the classroom and take care of that business.

And then all enjoy the weekend before we start postseason.

Well, as I mentioned, one win or team a lot better West away from ugly act championship to be a great feather in your cap.

I know this team has loftier goals and that it really has been an incredible year.

An 11 game winning streak with 4 more to play in the regular season.

Coach.

Best of luck this weekend on the road going over to the Central time zone.

That is postseason time.

Thank you.

We'll be right back with more of the Grand Valley.

State sports.

Poor continues on WDTN.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> That's all the time we have this week on the Grand Valley State sports report GSU baseball host Davenport this weekend in a four-game series at home to play Friday through Sunday at the GSU baseball field in Allendale dsu softball hit the road for a couple of match-up.

The Lakers will take on Purdue Northwest in a double header on Friday.

The h#*#*#* for heading up to Kenosha, Wisconsin on Saturday for a pair of games against Parkside judicial across most ugly act.

Turn it over the weekend facing off in the first round against northern Michigan on Friday.

April 29th in Allendale.

Be sure to get out to the GSA.

The cross dating to support the Lakers as look for their first n C a a postseason berth since 2016.

>> A front coming games as well as live broadcast of every Laker athletic program, visit GSU Lakers, dot com for more of this show head to our youtube channel at youtube.

Dot com slash WGVU 35.

Make sure you hit the subscribe button to get updated video highlights all year long for the entire crew here at WGVU.

I'm Jake lead.

He had a great week Laker nation and is always a corrupt.

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