Ogemaw County Sports Network

08/16/2026

For any baseball/softball player, coach and parent interested in a free webinar tonight with former major leaguer Brandon Guyer, here is the link to register -

https://brandonguyermlm.com/registration?utm_source=email&utm_medium=warm+list&utm_campaign=warm3&mc_cid=51d96f3949&mc_eid=8235d6f608

The 5 Steps To Raise A Confident Ballplayer is a must watch for coaches, parents and athletes alike. Brandon is a solid dude who gets it and trains the players for the mental side of sports and in life.

I spent nearly a decade in the big leagues, including a critical at-bat in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series. We came up one run short. But my road to the majors wasn't straight.

08/11/2026

24 Offensive Players to Watch from 24 football teams in the Bay City area for 2026

JAKE FERNELIUS, OGEMAW HEIGHTS

Ogemaw loves to mix it up in the trenches and Fernelius exemplifies that mindset. Standing 5-foot-10, 240 pounds, he has the ability and willingness to throw bodies around at his right guard post. “He’s the strongest player I have coached,” coach Chad Miller said. “He’s got great technique, he’s nasty, and he’s a winner.” Fernelius puts up a 700-pound deadlift, 580 on squat and 350 bench and puts that strength to proper use as a key component in the Ogemaw blocking scheme.

24 Defensive Players to Watch from 24 football teams in the Bay City area for 2026

CORBIN KANITZ, OGEMAW HEIGHTS

This year is Kanitz’s time to shine. He played a key role in Ogemaw’s state semifinal march despite battling injuries, now he takes on larger responsibilities as a senior linebacker. “He’s very quick, has excellent football intelligence and is tough,” coach Chad Miller said. Standing 5-foot-9, 200 pounds, Kanitz brings the thunder both at linebacker and fullback in his third varsity campaign.

07/14/2026

A little video for Roscommon-St. Helen Little League from their game last week versus TC in the Michigan District 8 Little League 10-12 All Star event!

07/08/2026

In case anyone missed the rocket launch out of West Branch Little League Field 1 last night, here it is!

Colton Neubecker showed the true definition of the "sweet spot" as he displayed barreling it up!

Michigan District 8 Little League

07/07/2026

A great opening night of Michigan District 8 Little League 12u action in West Branch last night!

Tonight we have:
5:30pm - Field One (broadcast on OCSN)
Traverse City Little League vs Roscommon-St. Helen Little League

5:30pm - Field Two (no broadcast)
Johannesburg-Lewiston Little League vs Ga***rd Little League

7:30pm - Field One (broadcast on OCSN)
West Branch Little League vs Alpena Huron Shore Little League

MONDAY JULY 6, 2025
In our opening game, we saw Traverse City Little League defeat Boyne City Little League 10-0 in four innings. For full video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWq_j6PmY3w&t=2844s

In the second game on OCSN last night, we saw Alpena Huron Shore Little League plate 10 runs in the top of the fourth to secure a 14-3 victory over Ga***rd Little League - for full video click here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgh3sO1KKvU

In the non-televised game last night, West Branch Little League defeated Johannesburg-Lewiston Little League 10-0.

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07/01/2026

Four regional crowns power Ogemaw Heights to Bay City area Ultimate State Champion title

WEST BRANCH, MI – It’s not just the boys and not just the girls.

It’s not just the seniors and not just the underclassmen.

Everybody has got it rolling in Ogemaw Heights athletics right now.

After a school year of success, Ogemaw can celebrate one more victory as the Ultimate State Champion in the MLive Bay City coverage area.

Ultimate State Champions is a statewide scoring system devised by late MLive sports writer Steve Kaminski, awarding points for high finishes in postseason play for every MHSAA-sponsored sport. It’s a way to recognize the top high school sports programs across Michigan each school year.

And, among the Bay City area’s 24 schools, nobody excelled better than Ogemaw Heights.

“The senior class really mixed well with the underclassmen,” Ogemaw athletic director Korey Kripli said. “The underclassmen really pushed the seniors and everyone relished the tough-nosed, hard-working atmosphere.”

Ogemaw tallied 44 points in the Ultimate State Champions system, powered by four regional championships – two in boys sports and two in girls sports.

The Falcons won their first regional title since 2009 in football then won their second straight regional crown in boys wrestling. They made history with their first regional volleyball championship then rolled all the way to the state’s final four in softball for the first time since 1982.

“It was a great year for Ogemaw sports, and there’s more to come,” Kripli said. “We’re so young, and these experiences of going far are going to help us. The younger kids now know what it takes to get to that level and what it’s like to play at these venues.

“So our biggest takeaway from this year is we’re not done.”

Ogemaw ranked No. 118 in the state for the Ultimate State Champions project. The Falcons unseat Gladwin, which tied for the top spot in the Bay City area the past two seasons.

07/01/2026

Huge thank you to Red’s Excavating for coming on board with their renewal in time for All-Star baseball and Ogemaw Browns football season!

So happy to continue to utilize our platform to elevate our area youth and to have the support of local businesses to assist!

06/24/2026

Introducing the 2026 MLive Bay City Softball Dream Team and Player of the Year

By Lee Thompson | [email protected]
BAY CITY, MI -- With a crash, boom, bam, the ball was flying all over the yard this season.

Home runs were back in fashion as power numbers soared on the local softball scene this spring.

So it’s safe to say the 2026 MLive Bay City Softball Team packs some serious clout. The 16-member squad blasted a combined 113 home runs on the season, continually clearing the bases and rallying their teams.

AUBREY EVANS, OGEMAW HEIGHTS

A sensational all-around player, she stepped forward as a driving force behind Ogemaw’s run to the state semifinals. The junior flashes an electric glove at shortstop, with great range and the arm to match. The SVSU commit proved to be a run-producing machine at the heart of the order for the Falcons, blasting the ball to the tune of 14 doubles, six triples and 14 home runs. She batted .500 on the season with 72 RBIs. Evans earned honorable mention All-State.

MLive Bay City Coach of the Year

RYAN NICHOLSON, OGEMAW HEIGHTS

For a first-year head coach, Nicholson seemed to have the job down pat. After five seasons as assistant coach, his rookie season at the helm was a wondrous one. He guided the team to a share of the Jack Pine Conference-1 crown then chased down history in the postseason. He got his Falcons to crank it up to a whole new level, capturing the program’s first district title since 2019 and first regional crown since 1994. With a quarterfinal victory, Nicholson found himself coaching on the grand stage of Michigan State University, giving Ogemaw its first final four team since 1982. A loss in the state semifinals ended the run and closed the book on Nicholson’s magical first season.

06/16/2026

BAY CITY, MI -- Next stop: The college sports scene.

After closing out stellar prep careers, more than 70 high school athletes from the MLive Bay City coverage area are heading to the next level.

Here’s a look at the Class of 2026 athletes who signed to compete in collegiate athletics.

OGEMAW HEIGHTS

Teagan Agren, Delta College volleyball

Taylor Illig, Alpena Community College softball

Eion Jones, University of Findlay football

Corie Kanitz, Saginaw Valley State University football

Elena Martinez, Alma College bowling

Kadie Pavelek, Kirtland Community College basketball