>> Hi again, everybody.

And welcome back on all new episode of the Grand Valley State Sports reporter Wgu.

I'm your host Steve Lloyd-Jones.

Here's what we have coming up for you tonight.

GV issue lacrosse wins the regular season Glee Act title.

They had been to the postseason play Laker.

Baseball had a dominant.

We come in time and across 5 games.

TV issue softball continues their hot streak as they extend their winning streak to 17 games.

We'll also take a look back at the GSU Football Spring showcase preview what we can expect in lover Stadium.

This fall Lockett in Laker Nation as the Grand Valley State Sports report starts right now.

TBS.

You lacrosse won its 3rd straight Glee act regular season title.

>> Thanks to a 23.

10 win at Northern Michigan on Sunday head coach McKenzie Lawler's team is now 12 4 overall as coach while or joins me to give us the latest coach.

Congratulations.

That's a good accomplishment right there.

Thank you.

Yeah, 3rd straight.

This was kind of a I want to call it an easy week in terms of what your opponents not easy.

Nothing is easy, but you don't have as many games to prepare for.

You have one that you focus time.

Got it done.

We'll go into detail on that.

But you're at the end of the regular season now.

So now it's finishing up your business and getting ready for postseason play.

>> Absolutely.

You know, this is the second time that we play northern Michigan this season.

So we're already familiar with them.

Yeah, they were sitting at tied with us.

I'm in first in the conference or could be first in the conference if they were to win on Sunday.

So, you know, we knew they were going have a lot of emotion and a lot to play for was also their senior day.

So we just tried to really, you know, focus on ourselves, try and clean up a couple things that we didn't think we're a strong in the first time out against them.

>> And I think we did a really good job of that on Sunday.

Yeah.

For the shots in terms of the numbers.

32 for Grande Valley.

The 21 shots by Northern Michigan draw controls your aggressiveness right here again, 23, 12 advantage.

Their turnovers were even so I guess from our our standpoint on the outside looking in, it looks like you played really well.

How did you feel?

>> We did.

We shot over 70%, which is probably a record for Grand Valley.

Haven't checked it.

But that's almost unheard of.

You know, we want to be around 50.

And so I think, you know, Maggie and Molly and Maddie really set the tone for that.

They all had hat tricks in the game, but they also really worked well together to take the right types of shots.

Northern has a strong goalie.

So that was going to be really important.

The drive unit has been so consistent all season.

And Maggie and Molly did a great job of, you know, Os winning two-thirds of the draw controls.

And then it's always a little bit hard to play in the dome.

You know, the lighting stuff that think they sometimes have a little bit of a home advantage with that.

And so there was some more turnovers than I think we may be expected that were just on characteristics that that we haven't had the last couple games.

But I thought we did a good job, capitalizing in other areas, the field to make up for that being even.

>> Yeah.

But what goals Molly or singer had 5 men to Champaign had 5.

He couldn't have 4 and Maggie Hammerhead for as well.

Talk a little bit about how that this is a really strong open and close in this game.

Opening quarter, 8, 3, outscore and in the 4th quarter 7 to one.

>> Yeah, Haley credit had I think our best game of the season and that was great for us.

You know, we've been out we haven't had KD on the last couple games with an injury.

And so she's really stepped up as a, you know, junior starting attacker for us.

So it's great to see her at such a positive game in the box score.

But I think in those 2 quarters in the middle, that's where a lot of our turnovers were.

And so, you know, we've come up with great defensive stops and then throw it away in the clear and just the ball is a little bit on our defensive end too much during those 2 quarters.

>> Well, Grande Valley wins at 23 10 over northern Michigan there on the road winning Ugly Act, regular season title for the 3rd straight year.

You know, it's always a challenge for when you go to the up the long trip because that it all in one day on Saturday.

>> But broken up a little bit at the bridge and then to Cwam and falls.

Tell us about that.

We did.

I actually have a family cabin up in the up some pretty familiar with a lot of the scenic take the spots and we try and rotate that.

You know, when the time allows with the trip up to northern, we have a lot of out of state student athletes enter team who, you know, never really would go to that part of Michigan.

Probably if it wasn't for that game.

So we stop to the bridge and had lunch but also watch around the park.

The team got pretty into the rock, skipping on the lake had a little competitions.

That was fun.

Yeah.

And then we stopped up to comment on the weather was pretty nice.

And again, just a great, you know, piece of Michigan for the team to see.

>> Well, you don't have to worry about whether for the game inside the dome.

You mentioned the lighting, which is different for those who haven't been there.

You've got this wooden structure.

That's the don't.

But the lighting is not so much above down.

It's like a circular a ribbon around the middle of the don't like halfway up.

>> Very different.

Yeah, that's definitely tough for us.

You know, in our clear, we really like to switch the fields.

And so that pass across the field is directly in the line of that lightning.

And so that catches us a little bit from time to time.

I thought on Sunday.

But overall, just very proud of the team when take a lot of people stepped up and was great to secure that regular season championship.

>> Absolutely.

So now you get the number one seed you can host the gliac tournament.

That will be on Friday and Davenport is going to be the opponent.

>> Yeah.

Same thing.

We play Davenport twice in what feels like only a couple days ago, even though about 2 weeks ago.

So very familiar with them as well.

You know, this week, as is tough for student athletes, it's finals week.

And so they have a lot else on their mind, a lot of other stressors.

So, you know, we're kind of trying to give them a little bit more time, you know, to focus on school, but also be ready to turn the page, you know, at the end of the week and be ready to get another win to get us the championship.

>> And we should say for our audience to it with a cross.

If you win the conference tournament, it's not an automatic qualifier for the national tournament.

It so set up the situation for you guys right now that way.

>> All right.

Now for division 2 ovens across, we don't have automatic qualifiers.

Just kind of with a still being a growing sport were also one of the least represented its ports in division 2 in terms of access to the tournament.

There's almost 130 teams and only 16 make it to NCAA postseason.

So it's really difficult to get in.

And obviously a regular season and conference tournament are both team goals for us.

They significantly help our chances to get in, but you have to be top 4 in the region.

>> Okay.

So Grand Valley trying to do that.

Obviously number one seed in the conference tournament.

You're trying to win that and then get some help as well from others as you go.

Best of luck here as you begin postseason play and congratulations again on that regular season Crown.

Thank you.

All right.

We'll be right back.

As the Grand Valley State Sports report continues here in Wgu Bennett.

Callahan's GVSU softball team remains red hot as the Lakers made quick work of Saginaw Valley, Davenport and Wayne State this past week and it remains perfect in the gliac it 17 to know at 35 3 overall, which Callahan is here to tell us more about those numbers in the week that have gone already.

Coach, welcome.

Thanks for having me.

And obviously a great week here.

You began things on Wednesday, a shut out against Saginaw Valley State.

This one was a game, one of a double header.

Second game would be rain to postponed as we've had some weather issues which got off to a really good start.

>> We did, you know, second of all hits bus trouble.

So that's why we only have one game in.

But we had a great crowd that that day and we played some really good ball.

So it's great to share our players come out hot.

>> Yes, 7, 0, U blank them.

They're the first game of the week and Saturday, the double header with Devon Port and this would start with a to a win in game one as obviously great pitching, you know, beyond us has been fantastic all year.

And as a Laker, the county ca Morris tribes in both of these runs for years.

You get a win in a tight game.

>> Yeah, Kelsea.

She had some injuries of the beginning of the season and so she did.

We just got her back about part way through.

She's really started to hit her stride.

Now she's really see him pitch as well.

Her swing is very comfortable for her right now.

So she's not a great job, kind of, you know, sit getting themselves back into the lineup in doing their driving in those runs.

>> Well, game 2 against Davenport.

Again, you when this 10, nothing.

So another shot out.

Excellent pitching once again as an of a Ingram here.

No-hitter second no-hitter for her this year.

>> It was great.

She did a great job.

You know, we senior day we had celebrated our graduates are seniors and stuff like that.

So they were reading fired up in a Nevada came out.

She hadn't thrown for a little while yet just because of all the rain outs and stuff like that.

But she was ready.

And she she held that important jacket was it was great to see.

>> These you guys with a sparkling record and there are a number of shutouts.

So you're getting, you know, excellent pitching, too.

But that also require some defense, certainly from time to time.

How do you keep defender sharp when it can be overpowering with that type of pitching?

>> You know, that's a great question.

The ball doesn't get put in play, maybe as much as some other teams just because we do have such good pitching.

But at the same time, that's where it's hard to stay focused.

You know, those because those pictures are the defenders might get back on their heels and things like that.

We just work a lot of fundamentals.

We work a lot of, you know, glove work, understanding how balls are going to hop things like that.

And we just got some athletes.

And, you know, they did.

We work on the the mental side where they're going to stay focused.

And, you know, Lydia Goble, Morgan Spicer, Bennett, fantastic 10 up the middle and made some really nice plays.

So it's it's fun to see the defense side of it as well.

>> Yeah, you're right.

You can get get back on your heels.

And then when it's cold, it's even harder to focus the group the ball, but doing an excellent job, right?

So that would take care of Davenport.

Those games on Saturday Sunday.

It's Wayne State seeing them lately and game on again at 10 to win here as you get it done.

Ashley Playtech with an excellent pitching job in game 2 of the double header.

91 you in that?

>> Yeah, the bats were on fire yesterday.

They they came out swinging in and put the ball in play.

Wayne State had been playing very well up to that point there fighting the, you know, to to get in the tournament for the postseason.

So we knew they were ready.

Was there senior day they were fired up.

So we just we just one in played our game.

>> Yeah, absolutely.

Great.

Pitching bats coming alive.

Defense there.

So a sparkling week.

It was it was that way and has been for a while.

Regional picture kind of shaping up here that you guys, maybe not the number one seed, but you're right there knocking on the door.

>> Yeah, we're right up there in the top.

You know, and after one into the, you know, it gets a little murky as to who's going to fall in the workplace, but well, I'm sure will be in in the top 2 for sure.

And then maybe a chance to host postseason.

That'll all be determined here in the next couple of weeks.

We just got to keep playing playing our ball game and not worry about that.

Take care one day at a time.

Yeah.

The University of Indianapolis.

>> Right now potentially that number one, see them unable to get, you know, more games and that the actual chop, too.

So you're battling with them right now for that top spot in the region.

But coming up this week as you continue with conference play going to be Friday and Saturday.

You're on the road.

Double headers at Purdue Northwest on Friday and Saturday.

It's at Parkside for to correct.

>> This will wrap up our regular season.

We're just trying to, you know, lock in the spots for the conference tournament which will take place the following weekend.

And it's it's it's always interesting when you're playing teams, the 3rd and 4th time, you know, so they know us.

We know them so things can get a little interesting.

So we definitely have to be ready.

>> Yeah, it's a little bit of travel because the Lakers are on the road for 4 games there again prove Northwest Parkside.

But then you come back and it's an emotional game.

A couple of games.

It's a rivalry.

The biggest welfare state on Sunday at home.

>> Track.

Those are those are makeup games.

Our previous double headers.

The second game didn't happen.

So we're just trying to get those in an hopefully the weather holds for us.

>> Well, there are things have been going so well.

Here is a new you guys continue to play great to throughout the pitching the hitting the defense and winding down the regular season, setting yourself up hopefully for good things after the regular season is complete.

Thank you.

Yeah, the it's been fun because everybody is contributed.

It's it's been here every every game.

And that's the part that makes it really fun.

Yeah, I'm sure his coaches that isn't that fun to see everybody contribute.

Well, good luck and thank you to the regular season.

We'll be right back.

As the Grand Valley State Sports report continues here.

WTVF to get your baseball talent.

Another great week going 4, 1, in regional play as the Lakers down Hillsdale in a single game contest before taking 3 out of 4 conference foe Purdue Northwest head coach.

Jamie, to tell you, its team is now 26 12 overall 13 in the Gliac as he joins me now.

Coach, welcome another really good week.

>> Yeah, thanks for having me.

Portland's us all week or so on any time we go for one or, you know, 100 is because pretty good winning percentage.

So if you do that every week, the big change.

And so and as I mentioned, that's in regional play.

So as not just your conference, which >> this time of year region going to be more and more important.

More on that in a moment.

But let's get started.

As you know, you begin the week 9 to 4 you down.

Hillsdale used to be a conference, the team, but now within the region, those good start.

>> Yeah, really good start.

They have they've got some some pretty good offensive players to, you know, in the mid week.

Sometimes you see the down the line pitching.

So we don't get to see the top 4 starters, but they did bring a closer who has pretty high there, some Pro scouts here to see him on Wednesday there.

But they you know, they swing it.

So it was a good went.

Certainly good one.

>> Yeah, 94 Grande Valley beginning the week.

That was on Wednesday.

So then that would set up your big series with Purdue Northwest.

He'd be on the road and well, the first one Friday, you've got things going on, good fashion, 3 to win this game.

But again, Rick Koski, the anchor that he's been all year, Kelly Act leading a twin and you get that 3 to start.

>> Yeah.

And again, he's been just, you know, unbelievably reliable this year, just the way that he attacks the strike zone attacks hitters that who runs that he gave up were actually balls that that, you know, we're kind of gray area.

They were hits, their scored hits and they certainly could have been scarce.

And, you know, I think they went down as earned runs, but certainly could not the other way he pitched outstanding.

He really should have given up any runs.

He's he's been that way for about the last 4 or 5 outings.

It's just spent lights out with command.

>> Well, you had the great pitching, which would just say, and and yeah, 114 pitches for him.

So excellent outing.

But you've got excellent offense, 2 and a lot of guys part of its 9 players with a hit in this game.

>> So there's been a lot of balance.

And we do in our guys really, really, really start to approach.

It's something that kind it fluctuates game to game.

And, you know, you see us possum, lefty or hard, throwing righty or different styles of pitchers.

There's some adjustments that need to be made in the ideas to 2 figure out those adjustments sooner than later in the game to the score.

More runs, of course.

But, you know, making sure that we move runners around, making sure that we score him, you know, you get into game one 2, they may be lower-scoring games typically because you see better pitching which the first game was and we're fortunate to come out on the top.

>> Moving runners around.

I would be a theme as we get into game 2 of the series here with produced Northwest.

So you took the opener 3 to 2 game 2 of the series.

You've got good pitching some hitting in terms of base runners couldn't get them across befall 5, 4, >> Because COVID that Kobe Phipps to a pretty good game, too.

But we just didn't back him up.

We had a handful of situations where is either second and 3rd or are bases loaded a 0 or one out.

And that's the time to especially when the infield back.

We just need to put a ball in play and unfortunately didn't execute.

You know, guys are doing their very, very best.

And it's a lot easier said than done to go in and and execute these actions.

But they're doing the best.

You know, we we need to bear down and when pressure is on or, you know, moments like that that we come through.

So they were there working at it and we got better as we can.

What along?

Yeah, so but you know, unfortunately came up short in game 2.

>> Yeah, 5 for you dropped the opener of a doubleheader but Grande Valley with some really good resolve.

You go into the second game of the doubleheader Saturday.

You win it 14, 10.

Jimmy talk about how you had to really come back here because it was 10 to 4.

You are behind kind of later in the game.

>> Yeah, we had a game against Ashland earlier in the spring.

Time to kind of has deja vu of that type of game.

It was crazy just to to be up and then were down big and then all of a sudden we're back in and things start to roll in.

You know, Kyle not hit a home run.

I think it was 10 to 4 at the time it 10 to 5.

And that must have been a spark offensively because guys were just sticking to, you know, to approach we're getting on base moving runners around the corner.

So 14 runs a pretty good offense.

And yeah, 14 10, you win it.

10 Lakers got a hit in this game.

Laker bullpen, sensational.

Let's call some of these guys out here.

>> The no parking at the jaw show will go ball.

But he came in slammed the door.

>> Yeah.

And our bullpen that those first 2 games is really, really good and actually will there.

I think he threw 3 innings might have a strikeout.

So he was just lights out.

But the other guys were were pretty effective, too.

>> So the Lakers have taken 2 out of those first 3 games of the series of Purdue Northwest that would set up Sunday.

The finale giveaway Day there.

And you Pound M 15 for about my Komorowski a 3 and o now as a starter.

Nice job on the Hill and obviously lots of guys in hats.

Yeah.

Mike's a freshman and he threw outstanding in Florida.

Yeah, we're getting contributions very nicely from.

You're pitching.

Staff hitters are coming alive.

Defense there, too big week with the 4 against Davenport.

And we wish you the best of luck in that coma in our team.

We'll be right back.

As the Grand Valley State Sports report continues here on WGN this past Saturday in Allendale GVSU football put on the spring showcase lumber stadium.

Well, it was fantastic.

New head coach Scott Rooster got a chance to see his guys go through their final spring practice.

So hot Spring football go for Grand Valley.

Well, let's ask the man himself.

Scott was jurors here in studio.

Coach, good to have you.

Thanks to her to be here.

So spring football for fans.

It's it's like okay.

What exactly goes?

I mean, we've got we've got practice.

Know you guys are trying to put a new things.

Get new players going.

Obviously key number one is to try to get out of it healthy or so.

How did you feel like the spring went over?

>> Yeah, the Steve, like you take spring Ball and obviously every years its own year, right in kind of looking at spring Ball, 2023 and what we're preparing for the fall of 23.

I think every year you're looking at one of those redshirt freshman, who are they?

Who's going to contribute the forward?

23 House that development going.

And then who's the core your team and what do we have to do to take that next step this year?

Just like every year since COVID been a little interesting, right?

Because the COVID exemption, everything else.

Our best football players didn't do much this spring there in a 6 year.

We're calling the gap semester to get that COVID exemption to play in the fall of 2023.

So the age won says okay.

Peterson's Garrett, Carol, Christian Caryl, 3 creed, a bunch of just phenomenal football players weren't out there.

So it opened the door really in this one.

There was this window of opportunity for maybe that junior group sophomore group, a lot of really good football players that have had roles in the past but haven't necessarily had to be the guy to do.

All right.

The man so like Avery Moore at quarterback had a significant role in 2022. right now, he's the guy for most of those practices.

He's, you know, you develop into a starter and open to that only player that that we know you can play all American player and he took those steps to do that to be a complete quarterback.

Anthony Cardamone at linebacker H one son.

He's been the guy at Mike linebacker.

Now Anthony Carnival comes in.

He's the starter at Mike and he's going to be the guy.

Be that that do that, Mike.

So I think that's all the way across the board.

Yeah.

Gabe Brown and Josh Martin, an offensive line open up those windows not just as players but as leaders, too, because those guys were around.

So we've got the ability to really evaluate that redshirt freshman class, which some special players and that that we found that will help us in the fall of 23, continue to develop those younger guys.

But then take the maybe those juniors were sophomores, those guys that had rules.

But now we've got 2, maybe all near her all league Mike linebackers.

We've got 2 quarterbacks playing extremely high level.

So got to those guards to those tackles because some of these guys are set now.

So the spring of 2023 was was interesting, but we took full advantage of those opportunities.

Our guys took food, binges opportunities and really couldn't be more excited about where we finish this chapter.

I'm preparing now for the summer.

>> Yeah, you know, as fans or media, you look at a showcase event.

It's like, well, it's not a game, but it's important grill work.

It's good situational set off.

And it's that's a data point along with the practices which I think that we lose track of you guys as coaches do.

There's a whole lot more to your evaluation of a player than than what happens on that Saturday.

Sure.

Sure.

And.

>> I think Steve, that the great part about especially Grand Valley State, the great part about it like a spring showcase that day.

I was joking with some of the guys before we went out there.

There's more guys that your spring showcase spring game that maybe my home coming back when I played.

But that environment, it's a game type environment.

There's people there.

The scoreboards on there's officials.

It's a little bit a little bit more like a game day rights.

Not just we're walking out were the only ones and lover Stadium where the Kelly there's other people there.

So I think there is that to say all right, how these guys going to perform when the lights are on a little bit more of a game day atmosphere, especially the younger guys, so can really reap the benefits of that opportunity.

But then yet again, it's it's practice 15 to write in his practice.

Opportunity number 30 force in the spring practice number 15 to get better at what we're we're getting better at to continue to build and grow to the best version.

Grand Valley State Football.

So you saw the red zone work.

You saw the 2 minute work.

You saw all that situational football.

I'm working in the 3rd downs working a lot of special teams getting the kickers out there, the partners other long snappers and working our special teams.

So yeah, we try to create a balance of both those things.

Steve, of especially for the younger guys, put them in a game day atmosphere and getting a taste of it.

What it's like an lovers with the music rock and some people there but also its opportunity.

3 practice 15.

Let's continue to build and grow on what we had an awesome spring.

A great trajectory.

Great course.

We we set out.

>> Yeah.

Look to have any official is there to really good element.

Wong processed throughout the year.

Lot of responsibility, players and coaches.

Scott, thanks so much for talking to get absolute big state.

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

Well, that's all the time that we have this week here in the Grand Valley State Sports report.

>> TV issue lacrosse will take on Davenport of the opening round of the react Tournament.

The teams will meet in Allendale on Friday.

April 28th.

The Lakers will host both rounds of the tournament finals taking place on Sunday.

April 30th.

The issue softball will wrap up the regular season with 3 doubleheaders this week.

First stop the team will travel to produce northwest for a double header.

>> I'm Friday, April.

28 to 02:00PM.

Then they'll head to Kenosha, Wisconsin on Saturday.

April 29th for a double header against the Parkside Rangers.

First pitch is scheduled for 2 o'clock.

We close out the regular season.

The Lakers will take on rival Ferris State in Hallandale on Sunday.

But 30 a first pitch from the GVSU softball field is slated for 02:00PM Key issue.

Baseball will see a lot of cross town rival Davenport coming up.

>> As they have 5 games straight pencil that against the Panthers this week the teams will get things started with a game on Friday at 04:00PM at passing work.

She does.

She will then return home with a double header on Saturday.

April 29 with the first pitch set for 01:00PM.

Then they'll head back over to Davenport for Sunday afternoon game before they wrap up the series on Tuesday next week in Allendale for upcoming games as well as live broadcast of every Laker athletic program.

Visit GVSU Lakers dot com for more of the show.

Head over to our YouTube channel if YouTube dot com slash wgu.

35.

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

Wgu I'm Steve Lloyd-Jones have a great week Laker Nation and as always a corrupt