Former Flyer Lauren Lind provides sparkplug for Owens

Kalamazoo Valley, 10-2, defeated Owens for the third time this season in a “hard fought five-set match,” said Owens coach Sonny Lewis, 23-25, 16-25, 26-24, 25-13, 15-6 as Lind recorded two digs.

In Owens’ second league match, the Express defeated Cuyahoga CC 25-8, 25-6, 25-8 as Maureen Kurtz (Mohawk) was named OCCAC Player of the Week. Lind had five kills, an ace, an assist, and six points.

Owens went 4-1 at the Mott Invitational in Flint, Mich., defeated Rochester 25-21, 25-16, 21-25, 25-20; Genesee CC 25-15, 25-14, 25-18; IU Northwestern 25-10, 25-19, 25-8, and Lansing CC 25-22, 25-22, 27-25, and losing to Mott CC 22-25, 25-16, 25-19, 22-25, 8-15. Lind had 23 kills, an assist, five digs, two blocks, and 24 points and LaVoy had three digs.

Owens opened its conference season at home with a 25-13, 25-10, 25-22 victory over Sinclair CC (Dayton). Lind had seven kills, three digs, and seven points.

Owens, ranked 17th early in the season, opened the month by defeating Muskegon 25-20, 25-16; Delta 25-22, 21-25, 15-13, and lost to Oakland 25-20, 25-18 to open the month. Owens was led offensively by Brooke Hearn (Erie Mason) with 25 kills and a .438 hitting efficiency and Kurtz with 16 kills. Defensively, Kurtz and Jessica Knueve (Kalida) each had four blocks and Amanda Drew (Springfield) has 23 digs.

Owens alumni game
The current Owens Community College baseball team will compete against some of the top former student-athletes in the program’s history as the Express host their annual alumni baseball game beginning at 11 a.m. on Oct. 11.

Owens baseball finished the 2009 season with a 34-10 overall record and captured its eighth regular season Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (11-4 record) title in the program’s history. The conference championship is the fifth in the last six years. Owens Express men’s baseball was ranked No. 10 in the final NJCAA Division II poll. Coached by Bob Schultz, Owens lost to Lakeland CC in the NJCAA Sub-Region XII Championships.

The Express will open its 2010 season in March with games in South Carolina. Owens baseball is still accepting registrations for those former student-athletes interested in playing in the alumni game. For more information, call 567-661-7936 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, ext. 7936.

Powell keeps winning
Lake senior Zack Powell took control of the 5-kilometer race after the one-mile mark to win in a personal best time of 16:03 at the Carfdinal Stritch Cross-Country Invitational held at Maumee Bay State Park. Zack's time erases his own top time in the Lake all-time 5K cross-country race times. Senior Louie Szilagyi placed 19th overall to medal and tied his own personal best time of 16:58.

Sophomores Nathan Scanlan (45th) and Riley Breese (91st), along with junior Steve Stanley (112th) and freshmen Drew Northcut (134th) and Trevor Walsh (137th), set personal records as the Flyer's varsity placed ninth of 21 teams in the Division I and II varsity race. The first seven places were Division I teams.

Sophomore Hunter Johnson led the Flyers' girls’ team by placing 59th overall. Junior Stormi Roelle tied her personal best time finishing 81st. Sophomore Hailee Greenlese, freshman Amber Soncrant, Samantha Curavo, and Angela Santana rounded out the varsity Flyer's effort. Freshman Brooke Davies set a personal record for the 5K distance on the course at Maumee Bay State Park.

The Clay Eagle Invitational was to be held Saturday at Pearson Park, and Lake was one of the teams participating.

Rangers get taste
The Northwood girls’ soccer team got its first taste of the Northwest Ohio Scholastic Soccer League's upper division last week, and it was a 3-0 loss to Notre Dame Academy in the league opener.

The Rangers had two shots on goal to Notre Dame’s 11, while Ranger goalie Megan Hess made 11 saves.

The Rangers went 8-0-2 and won back-to-back titles in the NWOSSL lower division in 2007 and '08, which enabled the program to move to the league's upper division this year.

“The Eagles led at the half 1-0 on a set piece play,” Northwood coach John Turkal said. “The Eagle’s second goal came from a 40-yard header from mid-field off a kick from the Rangers’ goalie. The final goal came with less than three minutes remaining. The Rangers executed their 4-5-1 offense extremely well.”

The Rangers visited Whitmer for a rematch of their earlier contest. In a tightly played game, the Panthers prevailed 2-1 on two goals by Sammy Gwinn. Sandy Koch scored for the Rangers. The Rangers were to host St. Ursula Academy on Saturday.

Rudy Ruettiger here
Two more Northwood athletic hall of fame inductees were left off the list published in The Press last week. Scott Posey, an honorable mention all-state basketball player in 1976, and Danny Marquis, a state qualifier in wrestling in 1989 and 1990, will also be inducted.

Former Notre Dame football player Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, the inspiration for the blockbuster film “Rudy,” will be the keynote speaker at the ceremony, which will take place from 2-4 p.m., and Ruettiger will speak in the high school at 5 p.m. Ruettiger is expected to speak for 45 minutes. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Call Pat McGaharan at 419-691-5254 or 419-704-2194 or e-mail patriots85@yahoo.com.

Sports Announcements
Northwood Middle School is seeking seventh and eighth grade boys’ basketball coaches. Call athletic director Reese Snyder at 419-691-4621.