Birmingham United's Adam Susalla Up for Lacrosse Player of Year

The Seaholm High School senior is focused on the end of the regular season, playing at the collegiate level.

Birmingham's Adam Susalla started the lacrosse season without putting much thought toward individual goals, other than to improve every game. Now that attitude — and his strong all-around play — has the Birmingham United captain among a handful of candidates for player of the year. State Champs Sports Network recently named the Seaholm High School senior among 10 area players in the running for the Warrior Sports High School Player of the Year contest. Fan voting for the award is currently under way online, and anyone familiar with Birmingham-area lacrosse should know a few names on that list. Also nominated are Cranbrook Kingswood Junior Matthew Giampetroni, and Brother Rice High School's Jason Alessi, JP Forester and Sergio Perkovic. As …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Decade Of Dominance: Brother Rice Lacrosse Wins 10th Straight Title

The Warriors beat Ann Arbor Pioneer 14-8 on Saturday afternoon in the Division 1 finals at Seaholm High School behind a strong performance from Riley Kennedy.

BIRMINGHAM – The streak continues. Brother Rice won its 10th straight state title on Saturday afternoon with a 14-8 win over Ann Arbor Pioneer in the Division 1 finals at Seaholm High School. “This is a great feeling,” Warriors senior attacker Riley Kennedy said. “Ten years in a row for Brother Rice, that’s huge. My last game with these guys, just great to win it out here.” Every single one of the titles has been special for Brother Rice and coach Rob Ambrose, but going an entire decade without a playoff loss gave this one a little added significance. “Winning a state championship is great period, we are very humbled by it, but a 10-year run is pretty strong without a loss,” Ambrose said. “I’m really proud of these guys.” And as the …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (9)

Brother Rice Lacrosse Headed to State Finals

Warriors advance with 17-6 win in the Division 1 semifinals over Birmingham United on Wednesday night at Catholic Central.

NOVI – The Brother Rice varsity lacrosse team holds itself to a very high standard. The Warriors are working to win their 10th straight championship. Even though they advanced to the Division 1 state finals Wednesday by beating Birmingham United 17-6 at Catholic Central High School, coach Rob Ambrose didn’t think his team played up to those standards. “I thought we didn’t quite play our game tonight,” Ambrose said. “I’m not disrespecting them at all, but I thought we were a better team than we showed.” Brother Rice (20-2) came out and scored three goals in the opening minutes, but towards the end of the first quarter it was Ambrose who called a timeout to let his team know he wasn’t happy with what he was seeing on the field. “I called the…

•  2 Comments
• Photos (9)

High School Sports Highlights

Saturday Highlights: Soccer, Baseball, Softball District Results

Ferndale soccer beats Hazel Park to win championship; Athens softball beats Troy and Adams on its way to district title; Adams baseball beat Avondale 7-3 to win district; OLSM baseball beats Andover in district finals.

* home team in all CAPS Andover over NOTRE DAME PREP 7-2  Orchard Lake St. Mary’s over Andover, 5-1 (at Notre Dame Prep) Andover (28-6) beat Notre Dame Prep 7-2 in the district semifinals, but ended up losing in the finals to Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 5-1. Marlin Pruitt pitched a complete game in the win over Notre Dame. He struck out seven and scattered three hits. The Barons put together 11 hits including a big 4-for-4 performance from Ryan Kavanagh. Todd Weiss and Alec Mares each had two hits. Mares had an RBI. In the second game, starter Gabe Berman was the victim of some poor defense behind him. The Eaglets reached base seven times on Andover infield errors despite Berman giving up only four hits in the loss. St. Mary’s advances to the …

• Photos (3)

Marian Lacrosse Shuts Down Troy’s Offense in Regional Semifinals

The Mustangs advance with a 10-5 win Wednesday night to advance to the regional finals and a game against rival Birmingham United.

TROY — Goals weren’t easy to come by against the Marian varsity girls lacrosse team Wednesday night in the Division 1 regional semifinals. The Mustangs’ defense didn’t give Troy many open looks at the net or room to run upfield. Marian would go on to poke the ball loose every which way on its  way to a 10-5 win. “Our defense played fantastic today, that was the big key in the game,” Marian coach Jamie Francek said. “(Troy wasn't) able to get momentum from their goals.” The Troy Colts (14-8) knew coming into the game that protecting the ball was going to be critical against one of the top teams in the state, but early on they struggled getting the ball past the 30-yard line. It was turnovers that helped the Mustangs grab an early lead. Troy…

• Photos (9)

Birmingham United Lacrosse Advances to Regional Semifinals

Unselfish play helps Birmingham beat Saline 16-7 on Thursday in the first round of the playoffs.

BIRMINGHAM – The Birmingham United boys lacrosse team was determined not to be one-and-done this season. Birmingham lost 16-3 to Holland West Ottawa in pre-regionals a year ago and the returning varsity players didn’t forget the early playoff exit. “The guys who came back from last year remembered how much that hurt,” senior J.D. Hess said. “We used that and we stepped up.” The whole team stepped up Thursday in the first round of regionals with a comfortable 16-7 win over Saline at at Seaholm High School. Birmingham controlled the game for long stretches and maintained a decent lead from the first quarter on. In the second half, the Hornets went nearly 25 minutes without scoring a goal. Saline defenders struggled to get possession off the …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (5)

Brother Rice Hosts Lacrosse Invitational

Elite varsity lacrosse teams from the Midwest and Canada will converge on Bloomfield Township this weekend for the North American Lacrosse Invitational.

  Some of the most talented high school lacrosse teams in the continent will compete this weekend in the second North American Lacrosse Invitational at Brother Rice High School. What will you be up to this weekend? What: Second Annual North American Lacrosse Invitational When: Saturday, May 19 Where: Brother Rice High School Why Go: Last year's inaugural event was the first international high school lacrosse invitational to take place on U.S. soil. It drew national attention, including more than 25 coaches and scouts. The same is expected this year as teams from New York, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Ontario, Canada compete. "Last year was a top event with great teams and players," said Rob Ambrose,  head coach of the top-seeded Warriors. "…

• Photos (2)

High School Sports Highlights

Friday Highlights: Andover Baseball Nearing 20 Wins

The Barons erase three-run deficit at Lakeshore on Friday; highlights and scores from around Oakland County for the week.

* home team in all CAPS Andover over ST. CLAIR LAKESHORE, 10-4 Andover rallied to beat St. Clair Lakeshore on the road Friday night 10-4. Lakeshore score all four of its runs in the bottom of the third. The Barons stormed back with three runs in the fourth, five in the sixth and two insurance runs in the seventh. Zach Wolfe struck out four batters over the first three innings. Truman Lorick pitched three scoreless innings in relieve and Gabe Berman struck out the side in the seventh. Myron Butler had two hits and two RBIs. Emerson Misch went 3-for-5 with a walk and an RBI. Gabe Berman hit a homerun. Andover's record is now 19-4-1 and it takes on Lamphere in a doubleheader on Saturday at home. BIRMINGHAM UNITED over Sacred Heart, 14-8 …

• Photos (2)

High School Sports Highlights

Friday Highlights: Seaholm Baseball Beats Up On Berkley

The Maples beat the Bears in five innings; full week of highlights from around Oakland County.

* home team in all CAPS Seaholm over BERKLEY, 14-3 (Five Innings) Spencer Eick and Josh Leitman were on fire for Birmingham Seaholm on Friday, combining for seven RBI in the Maples' 14-3 five-inning mercy-rule win over Berkley. Eick finished the game 3-for-4 with two doubles, four RBI and three runs. Leitman was also 3-for-4 with two extra base hits and three RBI. Tommy Scheidt hit a homerun. The Bears actually had an early 3-1 after the first inning, but Seaholm came roaring back with four runs in the third and fourth. Michael Levitsky was the winning pitcher giving up three runs, two earned, over five innings. He gave up six hits and two walks while striking out three. BERKLEY over West Bloomfield, 5-1 Berkley won its Oakland Activities …

• Photos (4)

High School Sports Highlights

Friday Highlights: Royal Oak Baseball Wins Pitchers’ Duel

The Ravens win 2-0 game over Troy on Friday in the rain; Berkley tennis beats Harrison 5-3; Troy boys lacrosse wins easy over Avondale.

* home team in all CAPS Royal Oak over TROY, 2-0 A little bit of rain wasn’t going to slow down Royal Oak starting pitcher Dominic Valente. Valente went the distance in a 2-0 win over the Troy High School varsity baseball team on Friday in an Oakland Activities Association Blue division game. The senior only allowed three-hits over seven shutout innings and finished the game with 10 strikeouts. Rain started coming down in the fifth inning, but the inclement weather didn’t spoil what was a terrific pitchers’ duel between Valente and Colts starter Michael Thomas. “The last two innings were difficult,” Valente said of the conditions. “I couldn’t land at all and it was tough to throw strikes with my curve ball.” Valente walked Matt Oppenlander…

• Photos (12)
• Documents (1)