84th St Sliders, Byron Center, MI (2026)

06/07/2026

84th St Sliders baseball congratulates GR West Catholic ‘24 grad Kyle O’Hearn on his commitment to Grand Valley State University. O’Hearn has been a 2 year all conference selection for the Raiders where he compiled a 12-4 win loss record along with a 2.58 ERA.

The GRCC ace will be a Laker in ‘27 where head coach Jordan Keur just finished his 3rd season in Allendale. After guiding GVSU to a 43-14 record in ‘25 Keur led them to a Super Regional this season and a 48-10 record.

06/06/2026

Congratulations to Coach Pat Mackenzie and the Byron Center Bulldogs for winning today’s Regional championship over Rockford 7-4 today. Good luck in the quarter final, go win it all!

05/30/2026

A couple of updates on collegiate players with 84th St Sliders ties…both from the highly regarded Northwoods League (College Summer League).

‘24 West Catholic and GRCC’s alum Kyle O’Hearn made is first start on Wednesday and went 7 strong innings on just 92 total pitches. He left the game with a 4-2 lead but ending with a no decision as his Kalamazoo Growlers went to extra innings before securing the win.

Last night (Friday) 2025 Byron Center grad and current University of Nevada RHP Kellen Payne made his 1st NWL relief appearance. He threw 1 inning allowing a run while striking out two Royal Oak batters. Payne pitches for the Traverse City Pit Spitters.

Byron Center’s Jack Crittendon also pitching for the Kalamazoo Growlers again this Summer.

05/25/2026

With the 84th St Sliders flagship team player updates complete one more post on this Memorial Day Weekend to remember the fallen American heroes honored by the coaching staff.

We are grateful and humbled by the enormity of sacrifice made by these true American heroes. We encourage everyone to be your most positively impactful self, chase your dreams in life and to never forget the men and women who gave it all.

Coach Santana continues to honor fallen American hero Marine Corporal Ross A Smith of Wyoming, MI

Coach Berkenpas along with Nolan Bainbridge continues to honor fallen American hero Army Corporal Nicholas R Roush of Middleville, MI.

Coach Schuelke continues to honor fallen American hero Army Pfc Holly J McGeogh of Taylor, MI

05/25/2026

It’s Memorial Day 2026 and as we draw closer to America’s 250th birthday 84th St Sliders continues to provide some life updates on past players along with remembering their chosen American hero. One of the greatest gifts in doing our part to ‘Never Forget’ those who’ve sacrificed it all is in the inspiration it’s given each of us to fearlessly chase our dreams in this lifetime. Maybe this is the finest way we can honor a gift we can never fully repay.

Our next player update is on former Sliders RHP/3B Zach Frasher. Zach played football (10-1 senior season) and baseball at Byron Center HS and went on to pitch collegiately at Lincoln Trail CC in Illinois and then at D1 Saint Peter’s University (earned bachelor’s degree) where he was named Saint Peter’s University male comeback player of the year in ‘24-‘25. Frasher just got back home last week after spending months in Australia (Sheldon) pitching for the Redland Rays Baseball Club.

Zach continues to pursue his dreams in life in part to honor the life & legacy of fallen American hero Army PFC Nicholas H Blodgett of Wyoming, MI. Blodgett was killed along with six others on July 21st, 2004 in Iraq when his patrol vehicle ran into an improvised explosive device. In HS Nicholas played in the band and took taekwondo lessons.

May we never forget American hero Nicholas Blodgett ❤️🇺🇸

05/25/2026

It’s Memorial Day 2026 and as we draw closer to America’s 250th birthday 84th St Sliders continues to provide some life updates on past players along with remembering their chosen American hero. One of the greatest gifts in doing our part to ‘Never Forget’ those who’ve sacrificed it all is in the inspiration it’s given each of us to fearlessly chase our dreams in this lifetime. Maybe this is the finest way we can honor a gift we can never fully repay.

Our next player update is on long time Sliders player Austin VanderMarkt. ‘AV’ was one of the most electrifying athletes in Byron Center HS history where he starred in both football (QB of ‘20 team that began 10-0) and baseball (3x district champ & threw perfect game in MHSAA playoffs vs Jenison at Jenison. He went on to Davenport University where he went 11-4 win/loss over his career. Austin earned his bachelors degree and is wrapping up his Master’s at DU.

Austin continues to honor the life & legacy of fallen American hero Army SSG Christopher G Smith. Smith of Grand Rapids, MI was killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom on December 24th, 2008. He was one of three soldiers who died on Christmas Eve when their vehicle crashed in Baghdad. Smith was an avid outdoorsman and University of Michigan football fan.

May we never forget American hero Christopher Smith❤️🇺🇸

05/25/2026

It’s Memorial Day 2026 and as we draw closer to America’s 250th birthday 84th St Sliders continues to provide some life updates on past players along with remembering their chosen American hero. One of the greatest gifts in doing our part to ‘Never Forget’ those who’ve sacrificed it all is in the inspiration it’s given each of us to fearlessly chase our dreams in this lifetime. Maybe this is the finest way we can honor a gift we can never fully repay.

Our next player update is on long time Sliders pitching star Jerad Berkenpas. ‘JB’ was one of the top area HS (South Christian) and travel baseball pitchers. He went on to pitch first for Grand Rapids CC where he was a two time All-American selection and wrapped up his college career at Davenport University. He also was part of 3 Northwoods League (Summer collegiate baseball) World Series championship teams, the only player in the NWL’s 30+ year history with that distinction. These days Jerad is in the home construction business building a future for him and his fiancée Miss Jada Mulder.

Since 2015 Jerad has and continues to honor the life & legacy of American hero US Army Staff Sargent 1st Class Richard J Herrema of Hudsonville, MI. The ‘97 Unity Christian graduate’s last assignment was as a team member assigned to the US Army Special Operations Command in Fort Bragg, NC. He was killed in combat operations on April 25, 2006 in Iraq. ‘Rick’ was a leader, a man of strong faith and quiet confidence.

May we never forget American hero Richard Herrema ❤️🇺🇸

05/25/2026

It’s Memorial Day 2026 and as we draw closer to America’s 250th birthday 84th St Sliders continues to provide some life updates on past players along with remembering their chosen American hero. One of the greatest gifts in doing our part to ‘Never Forget’ those who’ve sacrificed it all is in the inspiration it’s given each of us to fearlessly chase our dreams in this lifetime. Maybe this is the finest way we can honor a gift we can never fully repay.

Our next player update is on Alex Vostad. Alex was a Pitcher, 3B & 1B for the Sliders flagship team. A smooth swinging lefty who threw righty seemed to always be under control on the diamond. Those traits along with his strong work ethic helped him produce the most decorated baseball career in South Christian baseball history. Alex set school single season records for hits (50) and RBI’s (49) as he led the Sailors to their lone regional championship in 2021. He was selected 1st team All State and was a MLive Grand Rapids area Dream Team selection. Alex went on to Davenport University to play baseball and earned his degree.

Vostad is working towards his CPA and is employed by the firm Bredeweg & Zylstra. He recently became a first time uncle as his sister Abbi had a baby boy named Judah.

Alex continues to honor American hero Army SSG Robert A Masserelli who was killed June 24th, 2012 in Kandahar, Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. He completed three tours to Iraq prior to his deployment to Afghanistan. Robert was born in Hamilton, OH and moved to Grand Rapids in 1987. He graduated from East Kentwood HS in 1998. Robert was a quiet man known as fiercely loyal to family and friends.

May we never forget American hero Robert Masserelli ❤️🇺🇸

05/24/2026

As we approach our nation’s 250th birthday this Memorial Day weekend our next 84th St Sliders player update is on Nick Fedewa.

Nick played 9 years for 84th St Sliders and was one of the programs most prolific hitters. He batted top 3 in average every single season. He had a simple approach at the plate so he rarely slumped for long and had pop in his bat. He played 3B and OF over the years and was an integral part of the flagship team’s success.

Nick was the 2020 Byron Center HS valedictorian (4.36 GPA) and a multi sport (basketball and baseball) athlete. He was an all conference baseball player on a three straight district champion baseball teams.

Nick graduated from Michigan State University where he was a huge piece of a Dodgeball National championship team. Nick now lives in St Paul, MN and is an electrical systems engineer for Polaris.

Nick continues to honor the life and legacy of Walter ‘Scot’ Blakey of Eaton Rapids, MI. He was one of 47 sailors killed on the USS Iowa off of Puerto Rico when 550 lbs of gun powder exploded inside the 16” gun turret on April 19, 1989.

May we never forget the life and legacy of Walter ‘Scot’ Blakey. ❤️🇺🇸

05/24/2026

It’s Memorial Day weekend 2026 and as we draw closer to America’s 250th birthday 84th St Sliders would like to provide some life updates on past players along with remembering their chosen American hero. One of the greatest gifts in doing our part to ‘Never Forget’ those who’ve sacrificed it all is in the inspiration it’s given each of us to fearlessly chase our dreams in this lifetime. Maybe this is the finest way we can honor a gift we can never fully repay.

Our next player update is on Matt Myers one of the two longest tenured 84th St Sliders players ever. Matt was on the first ever Sliders team (2012) and played through the Summer of 2020. He played hoops and baseball at Byron Center HS and earned the reputation as one of the greatest and most trusted teammates in program history.

Matt graduated from Cornerstone University and is about a year away from earning his doctorate. Matt is a power lifter who trains others at Max Effort Performance in Caledonia. His is engaged to be married to Miss Karlyn Bailey.

Matt continues to live his best life in part to honor fallen Navy Seal David J Warsen of Kentwood, MI. Warsen was killed along with 10 others when his helicopter was shot down over Kandarhar, Afghanistan on August 16, 2012.

Warsen was a magnetic personality and natural leader. He starred on the soccer field at East Kentwood HS and played collegiately at Davenport and Aquinas. He was an absolute unit of a man who was the breacher (first in) on his Seal Team. David was a mix of fun and mischief as evidenced by his ‘short shorts’ fame but completely focused when it was go time.

May we never forget American hero David Warsen ❤️🇺🇸

84th St Sliders

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