Ogemaw County Sports Network

06/12/2026

With seven underclassmen and a rookie coach, Ogemaw Heights enjoys unexpected success

By Lee Thompson | [email protected]

Everything was new to Ogemaw Heights.

This coach, this collection of players, this caliber of success.

Nobody was sure what to expect at each step of the tournament trail. So the Falcons took it as it came – and enjoyed every bit of it.

A team that nobody figured for a final-four contestant, Ogemaw found itself celebrating win after win until it stood on the grand stage of Michigan State University’s Secchia Stadium in the Division 2 softball state semifinal.

“I don’t have a single girl who had ever won a district. And I’m a first-year head coach, so we were on this journey together,” Ogemaw coach Ryan Nicholson said. “You don’t know how to win a district, but then all of a sudden you win a district, win a regional, win a quarterfinal and you’re down here.

“It’s like playing at Comerica Park, just an incredible experience.”

Ogemaw’s unexpected run came to an end with a 7-1 loss to Farmington Hills Mercy in the D2 semifinal, finally giving the Falcons time to reflect on what they had just experienced.

After battling for a share of the Jack Pine Conference-1 title, Ogemaw had high hopes of making some noise at tournament time. But few saw what was coming for a team featuring seven freshmen and sophomores.

The Falcons (28-10) captured their first district championship since 2019 then landed the program’s first regional crown since 1994. A state quarterfinal victory made them the first Ogemaw softball team to reach the final four since the state runner-up squad of 1982.

Accomplishing a feat 44 years in the making can’t be overlooked. And it just might come with long-term effects.

“A lot of youth softball players were at our game who really look up to these girls,” Nicholson said. “They saw that this can happen. Ogemaw is not known as a powerhouse, but we’ve been knocking on the door. Now the girls believe ‘This can be you. Hey, we can do this.’

“The next generation knows it’s possible for Ogemaw Heights to do this, and the players coming back next year know we can do this.”

And, now, Nicholson knows too.

The rookie head coach was as unsure as the rest of them when he made the move from five-year assistant to the top job after last season. After getting Eric Weiler to sign on as assistant coach, Nicholson’s first mission was pushing the players in the weight room, and they responded.

That would produce results as the Falcons walloped 36 home runs and belted 124 doubles and triples on the season.

Aubrey Evans led the barrage with 14 home runs to go with her .500 average while Taylor Illig and Teagan Agren – the team’s lone seniors – combined for 14 round-trippers. Freshman Addison Wenkel added a different kind of weapon by stealing a school-record 44 bases.

And, with the emergence of sophomore pitcher Kylee England and a rock-solid defense behind her, the Falcons had all the pieces for a special season.

The tournament run came with a harsh ending, as most do. The Falcons got behind early against Farmington Hills Mercy and never recovered, making their stay at MSU shorter than hoped.

“The biggest thing was the stage. The girls were a little awestruck down there,” Nicholson said. “I talked to a lot of coaches and, from what I could gather, the first time playing on a stage like that is tough. It’s tough to shake the nerves and get ready, and that was a big part of it for us.

“I really hope we can get back here. I told the girls to use this for the off season, and be ready to hit it hard.”

If all goes as planned, this magical season will be the start of great things for the Falcons. They know they have the talent, they know they have the blueprint and, now, they know they have the experience.

“It’s been wild. It’s been a crazy, fun ride,” Nicholson said. “They say you never forget your first season. It’s pretty safe to say I’ll never forget mine.”

“They knew they had the talent. They had to buy in to a new coach and new philosophy, and they bought in quick.

06/11/2026

Last Ogemaw softball team to reach final four played epic state final in 1982

By Lee Thompson | [email protected]

Every final four run is storied.

And some are epic.

This year’s Ogemaw Heights softball team already has a stack of tales to tell about its march to the state semifinals. But the program’s last trip to the final four still has ‘em talking.

Back in 1982, the Falcons played in a final unlike any seem before, creating a legacy that remains cherished 44 years later.

Upstart Ogemaw – unranked and unheard of on the statewide scene – took No. 2-ranked Chelsea the distance and beyond before settling for state runner-up honors with a 3-2 loss in a 13-inning classic.

When this year’s Ogemaw squad takes on Farmington Hills Mercy at 5:30 p.m. tonight at Michigan State University’s Secchia Stadium in the Division 2 state semifinals, it hopes to match the effort of its predecessors.

That 1982 Class B state final was the longest championship game in MHSAA history at the time and still stands as the third-longest title clash.

“I guess the people got their $2.50’s worth today,” Ogemaw coach Peg Runyan said that day.

The Falcons couldn’t quite bring home the grand prize, but they made it a fight for the ages.

Chelsea came into the contest highly favored, sporting a 33-2 record and led by Indiana University-bound pitching ace Amy Uterbrink. But, one day after a tornado wreaked havoc in Ogemaw County, the Falcons took Lansing’s Ranney Park by storm.

Ogemaw hurler Pam Czach pitched like she was the Division I ace, blanking Chelsea through six innings and finishing with eight strikeouts in the contest. Czach had a stellar resume of her own, posting a 23-2 record as a senior and going 67-18 for her career.

And when the Falcons built a 2-0 lead, a major upset was in the air.

Ogemaw’s Paula Reed blasted an RBI triple to score Betsy Miner for a 1-0 edge in the fourth inning and Sue Pauley doubled then raced home on a single by Miner to make it 2-0 in the sixth.

Ogemaw stood three outs away from the school’s first state championship in any sport when things got hairy. Chelsea got back-to-back infield singles and an intentional walk to load the bases with no outs. A sacrifice fly and another infield single tied the game, but Czach worked out of the jam from there to send the game into extra innings.

Uterbrink would live up to her billing the rest of the way, firing a no-hitter over the final seven innings of the 13-inning marathon with 14 strikeouts.

Chelsea won it in the bottom of the 13th when Amy Hume laced a two-out liner to left field. When the Ogemaw outfielder missed on a diving attempt, Chelsea runner Lisa Beeman scored all the way from first base to bring the game to a dramatic close.

That ended a day of dandy defense for the Falcons, who saw catcher Sue Pauley throw out two base stealers, center fielder Betsy Miner make a diving catch and first baseman Kris Lee made an impressive and important scoop.

Ogemaw finished with a 27-6 record that included its second straight North East Michigan Conference championship along with district and regional titles. Runyan would treat her players to a steak dinner that night.

She coached the Falcons for 11 seasons, winning six NEMC titles along the way. It would be 44 years before another Ogemaw softball team reached the final four.

But this year’s team is poised to deliver its own epic finish.

06/09/2026

Test their toughness, test their mettle, test their grit.

All of that is playing right into the strengths of the Ogemaw Heights softball team.

With another display of rugged determination – and play-through-the-pain perseverance – the Falcons scored a 6-1 victory over Sparta in the Division 2 state quarterfinal at Ferris State University.

“These girls come through, that’s all there is to say,” first-year Ogemaw coach Ryan Nicholson said.

Ogemaw (28-9) advances to the state’s final four to face Farmington Hills Mercy at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Michigan State University’s Secchia Stadium. No. 1-ranked Stevensville Lakeshore meets either No. 6 Frankenmuth or Armada in the 3 p.m. semifinal, with the winners squaring off for all the marbles at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

Ogemaw is making its second final four appearance in program history, a feat last accomplished by the 1982 state runner-up squad. The Falcons were coming off their first regional title since 1994 and kept it rolling Tuesday, showing toughness to the end.

Trying to put the finishing touches on the victory over Sparta, the Falcons got a jolt when ace pitcher Kylee England was blasted by a hot shot back through the box.

“She took a shot off her left knee, about as hard as you can get hit,” Nicholson said. “The ball flew to the first baseman and we still got the out. We all ran out to Kylee and she just said ‘I’m fine.’ She didn’t want to come out.

“So we gave her the ball and she got the last two outs.”

England spun a five-hitter that featured just one strikeout as Sparta put runners on base in every inning but one. But the sophomore made the big pitches when she had to and got dazzling defense behind her to remain in complete control. The Ogemaw defense set the tone with an inning-ending double play in the top of the first.

The offense was equally impressive, bolting to a 5-0 lead through three innings. Taylor Illig hit a sacrifice fly to score England for the 1-0 edge in the second inning. Laila Ireland, Addison Wenkel and Makenzie Benjamin each singled and Aubrey Evans ripped a two-run triple in the third and England hit the team’s second sac fly for the five-run cushion.

After Sparta scratched out a run in the fourth, Ogemaw counted in the sixth when England singled and raced all the way home on a double by Illig.

“They have a really tough pitcher with over 400 strikeouts, so our gameplan was to be aggressive and get on her early,” Nicholson said. “We got timely hits, sac bunts, sac flies… we did all the little things that you need.”

Benjamin led the Falcons with two hits while Evans and Illig each drove in two runs in the win.

06/09/2026

Bravo to the standouts on MLive Bay City Athlete of the Week for June 8

KYLEE ENGLAND, OGEMAW HEIGHTS

The Ogemaw Heights softball team came through with its first regional championship since 1994 and England was a pivotal cog. The sophomore took the ball and took charge, firing a pair of complete-game victories in a 12-2 win over Negaunee and a 2-1 nailbiter over Ga***rd. She pitched 12 innings without issuing a single walk in the regional. She also knocked three hits with two RBIs vs. Negaunee

05/18/2026

Touting top performers with Bay City Athlete of the Week for May 18

COLIN NELSON, OGEMAW HEIGHTS

Nelson carved his name in the history of Ogemaw Heights boys track and field, taking part in two school-record relays. The junior anchored the 4x100 relay that went 44.07 and the 4x200 relay that went 1:31.64 at the Shepherd Last Chance Meet. He’s also the team leader with personal-bests of 23.54 in the 200 and 5-8 in the high jump. He posted a PR of 11.63 in 100 at the Jack Pine Conference Championship.

05/15/2026

We will be live for Game 2 of the Varsity Softball Tournament at Ogemaw Heights! We will also cover the final game of OHHS softball which will be determined after pool play completes!

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Floor Coverings International

05/12/2026

To vote - https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2026/05/shout-out-to-standout-performers-with-bay-city-athlete-of-the-week-for-may-11.html

KADIE PAVELEK, OGEMAW HEIGHTS

A relative newcomer to the position, Pavelek has taken to her goalkeeper duties with the Ogemaw Heights girls soccer team like a natural. “She’s continuously giving us a chance in games with huge saves,” coach Tom Zaske said. “She possesses great footwork and hands and really reads the play well, taking away angles and challenging every loose ball that comes her way.” The senior captain has limited opponents to one or zero goals in nine of her 13 contests this season. She registered 19 saves in a recent 1-0 loss to Standish-Sterling.

05/11/2026

Good read for youth coaches and parents who stress player development over wins/losses. This is written by Eric Junge, who is the San Diego Padres Pitching Coordinator.

I just spent the weekend as the bench coach with one of the Padres minor league affiliates.

Even though I've been involved in professional baseball for 27 years, I learn something new every time I step out onto the field..... no matter what.

This time I saw a manager trying to win the game at all costs, instead of focussing on developing his players. Letting them problem solve, get out of jams... that sort of thing.

And that's because the manager wasn't a pitcher. He was a position player and doesn't understand the pitching side of things. He also got caught up in competing... when in fact his playing career ended 20 years ago.

It's hard not to compete, but that's what coaches are supposed to do....especially at the developmental levels..... like A ball or in high school and younger levels.

They're not there to compete.... they're there to teach, to mentor, and impart wisdom.

But as we've all seen a hundred times..... coaches often get caught up in the heat of the moment, simply can't help themselves, and their decision making criteria breaks down.

At the expense of development and sometimes player health.

What I saw this weekend was an 8-0 lead heading into the 9th..... lead off walk, 2nd batter HBP, and it was straight panic mode.

Get the next reliever hot.... "I ain't gonna watch this s**t anymore" type knee jerk reaction.... and next thing ya know, we burn through 3 pitchers and pull off the win 8-6

But still... the point is... in his compete mode, win now at all costs mentality, what did that first 9th inning reliever learn?

He learned that if he makes any mistake, he'll get pulled.

He certainly didn't learn how to work his way through things.

How to adjust, throw a strike, and come back from being a cornered animal.

Now, with a 1 run lead..... maybe.

But even then. This is A ball. This is a player development league.

We're trying to produce big leaguers that can cope with disaster and get stronger.

Not, get pulled after 11 pitches, up 8 in the 9th

But just like amateur ball, pro coaches make mistakes too.

They too get caught up in the emotion of it.

At the amateur levels, it happens.... even though it really shouldn't.

- Eric Junge, San Diego Padres Pitching Coordinator

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05/06/2026

Remember if you or someone you know that has a business or just wants to be a supporter of Ogemaw County Sports Network, please reach out to [email protected]. We love promoting our local sponsors and with the Little Michigan District 8 Little League having out of town teams participating with West Branch, its another way to get in front of a new audience!