>> Welcome back to an all-new episode of the Grand Valley State Sports report right here on Wtvo.

I'm your host, Daniel both filling in for Steve Lloyd-Jones and here is what we have coming up for you tonight.

GVSU baseball hit the diamond in Allendale for the first time.

This season maker track and field compete all across the country as they continue through their season.

GVSU lacrosse dominates their glee components in suite of the week.

Bucket in Laker Nation as the Grand Valley State Sports report starts right now.

>> Grand Valley State University Baseball played 5 games this weekend grabbing 3 winds benefit 16 6 overall on the season and are 5 in 2 in conference play.

Joining us now to talk all things baseball is head coach and Jamie to tell you the coach a long time.

No.

See how you doing today, though, off to a place for having me.

Yeah, thanks as always for joining the Phil.

Appreciate it.

To a coach at this.

We've got a little weird with weather and some games got moved around.

Friday's game against Wayne State got moved to today by the time this show airs.

That game will of already been play but to happen in a couple hours.

You're out there in Allendale joining us from the field.

Thanks so much for taking the time.

Has to have the game shaping up to date?

>> Well, hopefully we get him in a looks like there's some rain forecast for later in the day.

So we had to move it today because the weather this this past weekend was a very good here.

We've got quite a bit of rain.

So we target field.

We took care of and were able to play on Sunday against Wisconsin Parkside so hopefully holds up in the rain at least hold off for a few more hours and was forecast as we get to games and today.

>> Yeah, it's just that topsy turvy weather.

You know, looking at the forecast of the good news is it seems like we're finally in the 50's to 60's range of weather.

So hopefully hopefully it's over a coach.

Let's let's go back to that.

We get 3 games last week.

We'll talk about in the early part of the week to that and Purdue and then you had a game in Grand Rapids against Davenport.

You drop one game at Purdue Northwest and what a Devon part but did win that first game of the week.

Kyle.

Not in that one.

Was a really impressive going to win 4 with an RBI 2 runs scored.

Puts you had some impact.

Moments of the other 2 games talk a little bit about tells leadership his impact and what he's meant to the team so far this season.

>> Well, Kuz a pretty athletic kid.

You know, we don't give them enough.

Always with football is a pretty good football player here, too.

And we really don't get it for half of the year.

So a lot of what he does with baseball.

It's kind of catching up on the fly.

There's a lot of good, you know, baseball skill reps that a lot of other guys get in the fall with the you know, if the few months that they're with us so that we can work on some things.

It's all kind of like, you know, want to say, you know, by the seat of our pants.

But it happens pretty quick with them.

But he's athletic that you can catch up and then adjust.

But just a really good athlete.

He's a really dynamic player.

Many can do a lot of things on the bases.

He has some power as bad.

You know, he runs really well.

So there's a fine line there.

And, you know, he's he's number one tools, speed.

So that's almost likely rather than put the ball on the ground so that he can fly, come out and, you know, turn a lot of potential out in the singles in singles and the doubles.

>> Talk a little bit about the want to talk about you split with Purdue and then 9 inning game against Davenport on Tuesday.

They got out at you pretty early to look at.

He was able to bounce back, got a number runs in the in the beginning to the game.

Talk a little bit about the game.

And when you when you get a lot like that, have the heavier Ali, the team, what do you say to the team after something like that, the the keep their eyes on the next game?

>> Well, the last thing we want to do is make an excuse that there is some rational other behind things.

You know, we we travel a lot with a swish and schedules and we're driving off with the place that we actually drove to Saginaw.

I can't you know that the film wasn't prepared.

So that wasn't ready because the weather.

So we had to come back this way.

So we actually drove 6 hours to basically drive 20 minutes over the cornerstone to play a double header sagging off.

And then the next day we drove down to produce northwest.

And though, you know, Dan, of course, local here.

But, you know, we're just got to take by the end of the weekend and you can kind of see their players just lethargic moving around pre-game, unfortunate.

I could sense it a little bit.

But you know, things we were a 10 game winning streak.

So you know what to say, like, you know, that one threat guys are just that sleepwalking and still perform of the.

But you know that it's something that I think our guys have handled really well.

This year's adversity, our schedule in Florida was growing with, you know, playing 2 double letters and waking up at 05:00AM to go play, you know, an early morning game.

It is.

It's crazy.

So something that they're not used to.

So so the guys have handled the adversity pretty well.

>> Welcome back to West Michigan.

You're finally home.

How does it feel that the plane home to play 2 games on Sunday when say get things going today?

How does it feel to be back in Allendale?

>> Was starkly.

We've always played pretty well.

So I love being at home.

You know, it have really over the last 20 some years.

We've that we've got a really good win percentage on our home field.

I wish we got a chance to use our field more because of that.

But it is it's going to be home and, you know, have guests sleep in their own bed, you know, just showing up and getting inequality routine instead of having to be on the bus schedule and and all that pree game, it allows us to get into a veteran team so that we can be better prepared for games.

>> Talk a little bit about the Curry tasking.

He continues to be impressed of a great game yesterday and Wednesday as you win, 72 looking at talk a little bit about his leadership and how he continues to be a leader in that locker room.

>> Sure.

Well, there's a reason that we put Nick on the on the mound on game one of a series that he's an absolute strike thrower.

He competes his reliable.

I keep telling our guys that's one thing that they want to be their cell to.

A coaching staff is reliable.

That just makes are they're getting more and more opportunity on the field.

And it just continues to tip on the strike zone attack hitters.

He's a really good defensive fielding this year.

He's actually a he was the Gold Glove winner for the Division 2 defensive picture Award last year.

So is a pretty good defensive pitcher, too.

So he's pretty well-rounded.

He says, really good practice habits and a lot of that carries over into how it performs and into our games.

>> Coach, want to talk to you a little bit about to people cutter Sherman and Brandon Bouchard to of leaders in that locker room there.

Beth, of come alive.

I don't think that people realize how great these players are at somebody played a high school baseball.

The jump from high school to college is is so vast and he's got the shutout and talking to us about the 2 leaders, your locker room.

>> Well, both of them in the middle of the field, you know, Connor, being the second baseman slashed shortstop in and renovated catcher.

They're both in leadership roles there.

So they both really embrace that to just are again, I keep going back to work.

And that's because I believe that that's everything.

How they perform in the game of baseball.

Both really good players.

They they show up every day ready to compete.

You know, Connor battled an illness last week, actually miss 4 games.

But he came right back yesterday and stuff just like you didn't miss a baby and perform in Brandon was they had a really good season last year.

You know, heading think 3.60, something like that.

But he's kind of back at right now to mitigate going.

He's really playing well lately.

>> Coach, I will keep getting more.

And he had a game here just a couple hours that go get it.

We'll talk again soon.

>> Great.

Thanks, grow.

>> We'll be right back as the great values it Sports report continues for Wgu Grand Valley State University's men's and women's outdoor track and field continues their season as the Lakers participated in a number of neets over the past month.

At the Midway Point, we check in now with head coach Jerry Buss and Jerry.

Welcome to the show.

Thanks so much for that.

And thanks for having me.

Mandy been busy man zigzagging all over the country.

And now you're moving from outdoor to indoor at indoor to outdoor track.

I should say as someone who is a little naive talked with for the viewers at home.

>> What's the difference between track indoor track to outdoor track?

How does that affect people's times and then the way the throw?

Can you talk a little bit out there that if you know the biggest difference indoors, you've got less variables and in the weather say he walked into the facility, not you know what you're getting in and going compete.

When you get to the outdoor season and especially in the Midwest, you just don't know what you're getting.

So that forces us their causes us to try to travel a little bit more and find warmer weather, warmer climate to the right conditions.

And each of our bank coaches, event groups are looking for something a little different from a weather perspective.

Our distance runners one and a little cooler and know when, you know, sprinters jumpers would prefer the heat.

And, you know, a little bit of a tail wind pushing down the track or the runway are throwers, of course, would like warmer weather, but they tend to get get things done no matter what the climate is.

So we've been all over the country this for so 3 weeks, the 3 weeks we've been in the we've had a Midwest, me all 3 weekends, a Miami, Ohio Eastern, Illinois and Michigan State this last weekend.

And it's been in the 40's for all 3 of those meat.

So not ideal conditions that to get stuff done.

And we took our distance athletes down the North Carolina 2 weekends ago and it was 80 some degrees.

So not ideal for them.

This past weekend we had or sprinters and jumpers and throwers down in Texas at the Texas relays.

It was solid weather but not perfect rain one day.

So I like our discus thrower is not ideal but it is what it is.

You've got to go out and compete and still try to get stuff done.

So the good thing is we get handful meets left here to continue to get things are accomplished as we look towards the championship season.

>> And it really is all about the championship season, right?

A lot of people don't fully understand that.

It's not necessarily.

I mean, of course, you'd love to win.

Meet suffers, right?

You loved one needs, but it's really about qualifying these kids for the national championships.

How's that looking in and and where you said with that right now?

>> Yeah, you know, actually pretty much during the regular season, very few meter scored.

So you're you're just going out there and trying to compete at the highest level possible and moving up the ranking list and that an N C a a national, a qualifying Weston at the end of the year.

You know, top by 18, the 20's athletes earn earned their opportunity to compete at the NC Championship.

So with what we've done, the first 3 weeks were a pretty good spot.

We've had some great performances, a couple school records Miles Kerner last weekend.

This past weekend, the Texas Relays broke his own shot, put record finished second overall, beat all the division.

One collegiate athletes and I only watched a profession real quick of the 4 shopping.

The athlete myself, that would help part of the 3 1957.

Was was his 3rd this week, any action through 1970, and or so, you know, he's made for that 20 meter mark, which is very, very far.

And then the last 2 weekends ago down in a rally, a killer father broke his own school record in the steeplechase running, running a 42.

So 2 great performances there.

But we've had a a lot of really, really good ones to this point.

You know, Putin us in a great situation now we're just going to build on that moving forward.

>> How hard is it to to stay in shape with his executive all over the country?

You know, you're running in 90 degree weather than you're running in 40 degree weather.

And you know, those muscles get to it's got to be a shot to the body.

>> Yeah, you know, I think travel just in itself as little wearing, you know, we're fortunate in doors.

We stay home or close to home pretty much every weekend.

So we don't have that stress and or so one.

We're a little fresher, I think going in that outdoor.

But we're also not ready for that.

You know, our student athletes, you know, having a a the longer plane rides and getting up early and getting back and then regroup in staying on top academics and then, you know, trying to stay ready and focused impression and bodies fresh to continue training.

So, you know, we take 2 or 3 of those big trips a season.

So you've got to balance those with, you know, hopefully, for instance, are athletes.

That competed in North Carolina last weekend didn't travel this past weekend.

So let's their bodies catch up, get some good training under their belt.

And then in 2 weeks that group will head out to California.

>> Coach events so much to transfer the over that your time as coach here.

How do you keep it all?

How do you manage what would be with you to your success will be able to keep your mind focused on that?

Where and who's doing what?

>> Well, the grand keeps you busy guys stay focused on the day-to-day process, getting up, know what you got to do and get to work and get it done.

But then I'm very, very fortunate to have great support.

Staff are around around me are assistant coaches are extraordinary.

You know, each coach overseas, they're back group and I don't have to stress or worry about that in coach Com is going to have the throw is ready to go.

Coach Luiz going to have the vaulters ready to go.

Coach teasing.

Have the jumpers ready to go?

Coach Kramer's going to have Spurs ready to go?

And coach Peter, help me with a distance group.

Now we've got another 10, 12 volunteers, the assistant coaches that show up and help.

So we have a great support staff within our coaching staff.

Then Katie Retzer, athletic trainer, her staff or administration all the way up and down the board just does a phenomenal job of working together and put in the time and energy and that that takes a toll our student athletes to be successful.

>> Speaking of student athletes been successful.

It start with the girl squad.

At the end of the day, it's it's about national championships.

It's about winning.

And who on the girl squad is looking good.

Who might have a chance at a championship this year?

>> Yeah, we've got a handful up there.

You know, our thirst squad looks really, really strong.

We actually have 4 disk of stars are ranked in the top 7.

The national championships air can buy store was the runner-up last year, Mr. Richards, a really, really strong in that area.

Judith, the SMI has won the last 2 hammer throw.

So she's ranked number one right now.

Social work to to defend those title.

So they look really, really strong.

Our distance crew is looking good.

A cloudy O'Malley just missed her lifetime.

Best buy point.

0, 1, last week.

Down in or to weaken and to go down around us that she's looking strong and graber's running strong coming off the great indoor season.

So yeah, we've got a handful of women across the board that are in a great spot to moving forward.

Yeah.

And same question on the guy's got a squad who looking at?

Yeah, we got some men ranked really, really high mention miles Kerner already one indoor shot put champion ship.

So it will look to do that outdoors as well.

Actually, Matt Thomas has been thrown really, really well had a great throwing a shot put and the hammer throw this weekend.

So he's pretty high on the list and then that Kayla fighters ranked number one in the steeplechase.

There's a couple other really, really strong athletes in that event.

The haven't completed yet, but he'll be in in that discussion 2 years ago.

He was the runner-up in the event and then our high jumpers like us, even JJ Rankins are ranked number one and 2 in the country right now with with there are a couple of competition so far.

So yeah, it we've got people across the board that we feel that as long as we get into the championships, which is a long ways to go to get there and we're ready to compete at a high level, we can score some points and put our team in a really, really good spot.

>> Trick check the weather this morning on my phone.

It looks like it's finally in the 50's 60's.

We're finally in April.

Yeah.

Give us a preview of what's what's what's next for the?

Yes.

So this weekend with just a Michigan want me to do that.

>> Over at Oakland University.

So it looks to be a partly sunny and 50.

So we're going to take advantage of that.

And then next weekend, we would splitter squads got a group across the board going out to California.

You know, there's a couple places usually you're going to get.

You can count on good weather and we'll go to la area Orange County.

There's 3 or 4 meat out there that will split up and get the best competition to put ourselves in a good position and others.

Part of our squad will go down Indiana state and compete there.

Then after that, we're we're home for a couple weeks to get back to back home meets before we head into the gliac championship.

Ce.

>> Awesome.

Out to LA.

Bring back some sunshine with a try.

Coach, thanks so much.

For the 10 years of bridges with the things is appreciate it.

We'll be right back of the Grand Valley State Sports report continues right here on WGNO.

Grand Valley State University lacrosse continues to find ways to win as they grabbed 2 wins this week.

They now sit on a 4 game winning streak as they enter the final month of the regular season.

Here now to tell us all about of his head coach, McKenzie Lawler, because you think so much for that.

I'm so appreciated as always.

Of course.

Yeah, it's so great.

This weekend, though, 4 straight wins.

You are red hot this weekend that you won one game.

I think 19 to do.

Is that all with within the keys, your success so far?

>> I think our shooting has really improved in this four-game stretch.

You know, we had a couple tough games with that early in the season, which is just a little uncharacteristic for us.

So it's great to see a shot on goal, percentage improve.

And then just all so awesome to see some of our younger players really start to get more confidence.

We have 10 different players score on Sunday and the wind.

So it's great to see, you know, that production spread throughout the team.

>> Heavy, really good chemistry.

That locker room.

If you get all those players contributing, he tells about the team chemistry this year.

>> I think it's been great, especially setting the tone with our older players.

I think Libor singer Katy Young, Maggie Hammer in a champagne have really set the standard, especially offensive Lee of, you know, they know in the big games that they need to step up and set the tone, but they're also so southwest to get those other players involved.

>> Yeah, a little bit about expectant management pay because you've been really dominant on the offense of the season to long coming, but her leadership and what he brings that locker room.

>> She's had a great stretch.

And she really I think it's her momentum on the draw the last couple games.

She's taken almost every draw for us and has been huge.

And it's really dominating that part of the game.

You know, winning 60 to 75% is a pretty high.

And so that's been awesome to have her leadership with that and really chemistry with our circle team.

And that I think she's just really stepped into a stronger offensive role.

You know, last year she battled some injuries.

And although she was playing every game wasn't 100%.

And so she's really, you know, I can play with a chip on our shoulder of something to prove.

>> Yeah, well, you know, you you can score 100 go a bit of the team's was 100 goals.

It's still a tie.

The defense has been doing great to tell me about a little bit about your defense.

>> They have, you know, we had some new roles to fill due to injury the beginning of the season.

And so again, I just think other players have really been stepping up.

Hope had a great game on Sunday.

I'm Kylie was a freshman for us, has been really strong.

And, you know, our goal is we've rotated a little bit, which is sometimes on traditional, but I think both of Audrey and Sarah did a great job in their games this weekend.

Little different style play.

So we've been trying to use that versatility to our advantage based on the matchup of our opponent.

>> You brought him up, but I want to bring these players up again.

And Kate, the Molly Burke Singer and Maggie Hammer.

Great names.

Great news.

Getting in the groove.

Offensively over the past 2 games.

I want to expound on on on what they bring to the locker room to and the leadership that they provide.

Maybe some of the freshmen sophomores coming in.

>> I think they're super pro Chubb.

All they're very sweet, like great young women.

And so I think they bring intensity to the practice.

But they're also the first to, you know, be vulnerable and explain.

You know, the tough times they've had throughout their 3 or 4 years here, you know, really be approachable to the freshman and then help take them under their wing, which has been really important with needing, you know, a lot of them to step up in bigger roles that maybe will be anticipated.

>> You know, you've seen it seems like they'll come out of a common theme, all these players that their their selfless, is that how you recruit them?

And you look at character when you look at players joining the squatters or a character profile that you try to go with.

>> For sure.

You know, the team is definitely bigger than yourself as an individual.

And I think that also plays into our offensive style.

You know, we want to have multiple different threats.

And I think our players sometimes have to sacrifice.

You know, if they are on a different team, any champagne, probably when it got to 100 career goals a little bit sooner.

But they want to be playing for one of the top teams in the country.

And I think that tradeoff is definitely worth that.

Madam Chairman 100 career goals, how hard that to get.

It's hard.

It's only been 11 players in program history to hit that mark and for her to do that halfway through her junior season, I just got really exciting with what you'll be able to finish in her next year and a half.

>> Tell us what's next.

What's what's on the agenda for this week?

>> We only play CSP this weekend.

And so that'll be the second time that we're playing them through the conference.

They're really athletic team.

They put a good run kind of towards the end of our game.

And so, you know, we're we're really focused on being sharpened, playing the full 60 minutes and then getting the weekend off.

I think we always try and plug in one of those weeks if the season is a grind.

Yes, so I think our players are looking forward to, you know, a little time at home with families and being able to recharge.

>> For that final push to the season and how do you keep them focused when it's, you know, it's kind of a grind of the season.

The weather is topsy-turvy.

How do you keep a focus of this week?

>> We've talked a lot about just one day at a time.

And there's definitely been some disappointment, I think so far this season.

And so try not to get too far ahead of, you know, looking at a conference tournament or, you know, what is the NCAA regional look like, you know, if we can get better each day in practice and just take a step forward as a team, each game, you know, when that time comes in May I think we'll be where we want to be.

And so it's been great in this four-game win streak.

I feel like to take a step for each of those games.

>> When you have all these different players contributing offensively, it's got to be hard for other opposing teams to Dan Plante is a part of the strategy.

>> Absolutely.

And you know, for us, we sometimes kind of have to wait and see.

And we've seen a lot of face cards from our opponent's defense as an every coach kind of picks, a different threat that they feel like might be the best one to take away.

And so I think it's great for those players that they understand if they are in a face guard, we might utilize them differently, you know, but the next game might be a different type of matchup.

>> What I'm talking about, your 2 goalkeepers, Audrey Baloney and fair across both.

Having impressive a games out of money, saving 6 shots.

Sarah Cross cuts a shout out to.

Is it the goal keeping my committee or can you talk to me about that with what's the strategy there?

>> It's definitely been by committee this year.

It's kind of has depended, you know, who has the hot hand, sir?

And you know who, you know is maybe best suited, but their strengths for the matchup, I'm Kalin Cater had some great games early in the season for us, especially when we're on the road traveling in Florida and in Colorado and Audrey and Sarah had been playing great.

And I think that's hard, you know, as goalkeepers to switch as often as we do.

But, you know, I think they're, you know, have a great chemistry between the 3 of them.

And they're really supportive.

Then, you know, they understand that if Friday is in their day, you know, the have another opportunity on Sunday as we're kind of rotating through.

And >> I think they've handled it really nicely.

Final question.

I hate to put you on the spot.

But when you've got these, the veteran leadership, you know, the the gold got to be the one to back championship in and they continue on maybe to a national championship.

What ugly, actually an ship mean for this one?

>> I think it would mean a lot.

You know, that's always kind of our first level goal that we want to accomplish and going back to back.

You know, we want to keep that tradition alive and hopefully get a three-peat on this event.

But just got out of it for severe team has faced this year.

I'm really proud how they've handled that, you know, never felt like they quit in a game.

And so I think if we are lucky enough to win one, you know, and that that would mean a lot to this group.

>> Concordia Saint Paul on Friday.

Go get Em.

I know you can do it.

Take a look at that.

That's appreciated.

Thanks.

We'll be right back.

I think sports report continues right here on WDVM.

>> That's all the time we have this week on the Grand Valley State Sports report GVSU the Cross will host the match in Allendale as they take on the act.

Opponent Concordia Saint Paul on Friday.

Game time is set for 04:00PM at the G D. If you look across the field, you get a few baseball hits the road for a four-game series this weekend as they take on the parkside Rangers in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The four-game series will take place Thursday to Saturday.

GDF you softball will play back to back doubleheaders this week.

The first battle Davenport and Grand Rapids on Friday, April 7th.

>> First pitch is scheduled for 03:00PM will then head to the East Side and matchup with Saginaw Valley State in University Center.

Michigan.

First pitch for the Saturday game is scheduled for 01:00PM for upcoming games as well as live broadcasts of every Laker athletic program.

The GPS you Lakers dot com for more of this show head over to our YouTube channel at YouTube Dot com Slash Wgu.

35 make sure you hit that subscribe button to get updated videos and highlights all year long and for the entire crew here.

Wgu I give you both.

Have a great week.

Laker nation that is always a corrupt