Rec Sports

Early on, it was evident Emma Herremans makes a huge impact for Ravenna’s softball program

Published

6 months ago

June 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

This story was originally published in LSJ’s June magazine. To see the PDF version, click here.

By Nate Thompson
LocalSportsJournal.com

Dave Sherman had a strong inkling that Emma Herremans was going to be a special player even when she was just scratching the surface of her potential in middle school.

“I’m not going to lie, usually I don’t spend a lot of time watching or scouting kids in youth sports,” Sherman said. “But with Emma, I remember seeing her as a seventh-grader and hitting some shots at Conklin Park that hit the roof at the ice skating park. So yeah, even back then, you had an idea she had a chance to be special.”

Maybe her hitting skills were developed even years earlier when she hacked away as a kid at the training toy Better Batter Baseball with her dad, Scott Herremans.

Hey, it’s never too early to develop crucial hand-eye coordination.

Now more than a decade later, Herremans, the daughter of Scott and Marie Herremans, is in the closing stretch of a brilliant four-year career at Ravenna High School, one in which saw her hit at least .570 all four seasons. Amazingly, opposing pitchers have only been able to strike her out 15 times in four seasons.

Herremans takes a cut during the Division 3 state semifinals. Photo/Tim Reilly

More importantly to Herremans, she’s been a part of four-straight district championships and some incredible postseason runs. The Bulldogs were eliminated in the regional finals in 2022, reached the state semifinals in 2023, advanced to the quarterfinals a year ago. and made it back to Michigan State University’s Secchia Stadium on June 14 in this year’s Division 3 semifinals. The Bulldogs had to stomach another difficutl loss in the semifinals, this time a 2-1 heartbreaker to Clare.

While Herremans and her team had dreamed of a state title, the four years of achievements gave a little more a perspective to the adversity along the way. Herremans had to overcome a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her knee that cost her a good chunk of her junior season and required surgery and grueling rehab before she could return to the field.

Having the game taken away from her for several months has been the fuel to Herreman’s quest of leading the Bulldogs on another deep tournament run. But the Ravenna community has been key in carrying this team along the way too.

“With all the challenges and adversity this team has gone through, with injuries and changing positions, we’ve had so much community support these last four years, it is just so special.”

Herremans makes a throw from third base during the Division state semifinals. Photo/Jason Goorman

Ravenna took its first step in the postseason on May 29 and 31, when it got past Newaygo, 8-4, and steamrolled Kent City, 10-0, to win the district championship.

The challengers at Saturday’s regional tournament were met with more success with impressive victories over Central Montcalm and Grandville Calvin Christian. That gave the Bulldogs another regional title.

“This (district title) is the most special because it’s my last one with this team,” Herremans said. “It’s been amazing to be a part of four district championships. But this group has worked really hard in the off-season, both individually and we’d get groups of four together to do workouts.”

Herremans said before the season started, every player on the squad listed both a team and personal goal on a note card.

“Every single one said ‘Make it back to Secchia,’ Herremans recalled. “We made it to the quarterfinals last year and we all know what this team is made of and where we want to be.”

The Bulldogs were one win shy of Secchia a year ago, as they lost to Buchanan, 3-1, in the quarterfinals with Herremans stuck in the dugout. She suffered her torn ACL during the GMAA city tournament weeks prior.

Facing Reeths-Puffer ace pitcher Lainey McDaniel, Herremans pulled a ball that landed just foul in the outfield. While racing to first and keeping an eye on if the ball had landed fair or foul, Herremans accidentally locked legs with the Rockets’ first baseball, causing her knee to twist awkwardly.

“I felt a pop,” Herremans said. “And when I tried to get back up, my leg just gave out on me.”

In her true unselfish manner, Herremans said she was torn that Ravenna dedicated the rest of the season in her honor. Her teammates brought balloons to her house following her surgery on May 30, 2024.

“It was really sweet, but I also didn’t want them to think it was just about me, because it’s the whole team,” she said. “But I realized I had to step up and become more of a cheerleader. I still was at every practice and tried to help out the girls any way I could.”

Her next challenge was rehabbing the knee with physical therapist Nate Rosel at The Center for Physical Rehabilitation in Belmont. The initial two months involved mobility and strength exercises, as well as a practice called stem cell therapy, which involved injecting concentrated stem cells into the injured ligament. This process helps reduce inflammation, promotes tissue repair and blood vessel formation and overall, speeds up the recovery process.

Sure enough, after nine months of work, which included going to the rehab center twice weekly during the final stages, Herremans was cleared to get back onto the softball field a month early. She still relies on injury prevention stretches and wears a knee brace during action.

Herremans admitted that early on, the thought of re-injuring her knee crossed her mind, especially when rounding the bases, but any hesitation surely hasn’t slowed her down on the field.

Sherman admits that she rarely sees multiple good pitches to hit during her at-bats, and that might be why she’s hitting a career-low .573 batting average this spring.

“There was a doubleheader earlier this year when I walked five times,” Herremans said with a laugh. “At some point, I think I’m being too selective, and I shouldn’t be as picky. But I know I should stay patient and wait for my pitch to hit.”

But Herremans is still on pace to come close to her career-best of 73 runs batted in, which she tallied as a sophomore. Through the regular season this year, she had 53 RBIs, scored 44 runs and hit a career-best nine home runs.

Photo/Tim Reilly

“I’d label her as the best hitter in the area, not just power hitter,” Sherman said. “She was hitting .717 when she got injured last year.”

Added Bulldogs’ assistant coach and statistician Penny Sherman: “Not only that, but she’s just a great kid. She’s taken on a huge leadership role. She’s more likely to lead by example, but she’s also a positive role model. She shows the younger kids the right way to do things, but in a respective way.”

Aside from her hitting prowess, Sherman said Herremans is also outstanding with the glove. With her range and tremendous throwing arm at third base, Sherman said she eliminates the opposing team’s ability to play small ball, as she can simply mow down any hitters’ bunt or slap attempts. Combine that with Ravenna’s two outstanding pitchers in senior Addison Gillard and sophomore Natalie Rosel, and the Bulldogs are keen at keeping opposing bats silent.

Emma also was a vital part of the Bulldog bowling team that captured a state championship this past season.

When faced with the decision on which school she wanted to continue her softball career at the next level, Herremans said it was an easy choice. She’ll be joining Gillard at Ferris State University, and the duo will also rekindle with former teammate, Ravenna grad Emma Gillard, a sophomore middle infielder for Ferris.

“Ferris always felt like home to me,” Herremans said. “I was way more comfortable with the coaching staff and all of the players than any other school. Plus, it’s closer to home, so my friends and family can watch me play more often.”

Ferris State has a local feel on its coaching staff as well, as Jake Schumann and his wife Sharon, are the head coach and associate head coaches. The duo coached at Oakridge in 2020 and 2021 before longtime coach Joe Colletta returned in 2022.

That reunion in Big Rapids will cap a vision started by both the Herreman and Gillard families.

“When we were younger, this group of girls all started playing together,” Emma Herremans explained. “My dad and Coach (Mike) Gillard all got us into travel ball and I think that’s a big reason why we’ve been so successful now.”

Herremans always took it a step further, playing on regional-based teams with players often a year older than she was, such as the Rockford Crush and West Michigan Sabercats. She also traveled to tournaments nationwide with the squad OC Batbusters Michigan.

And the success shouldn’t slow down in Ravenna with Emma Herremans and Addison Gillard departing, although Sherman said they’ll be very difficult to replace.

Ravenna’s roster had nearly double-digit freshmen or sophomores, including Herreman’s younger sister Reese, a first-team all-conference selection.

“She’s better than me than when I was a sophomore,” Emma said.

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Osage Beach Responds To Outcry Over Baseball Field Demolition | Lake Of The Ozarks Politics & Government

Published

5 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. — Construction has begun, with plans for a new playground and splash pad at Osage Beach’s Peanick Park on Highway 42. However, the city’s plan to remove the small baseball field at the front of the park to make way for the playground and splash pad caught was an unpleasant surprise for some.

Exciting changes ahead for Peanick Park!

2026 is a busy year for the Parks Department! The new playground is just the first phase of coming improvements to Peanick, with more coming through the year.

This week we say goodbye to a baseball field that’s seen decades of play. So many memories were made here and we’re grateful for every practice, inning, dropped ball and home run.

We’re also very excited for what’s ahead! This space will soon become home to new park amenities that will bring our community even more ways to gather, play, and enjoy Peanick Park.

Here’s to honoring our past while building something brand new and laying the groundwork for what’s to come in Peanick Park!

The best memories are just waiting to be made!

Not everyone seemed to think the changes were exciting, and — from the reaction in the comments to that and subsequent posts — many community members were surprised and disappointed by the decision to tear-out the old ballfield.

In an interview with LakeExpo, Mayor Michael Harmison — an avid baseball fan — agreed the City could have handled communications better, pointing out what the Facebook post did not include was a rendering and explanation of the large playground and splash pad the City would be installing where the ballfield once stood.

The proposal for that playground and splash pad had been met with excitement in the community, with the City putting out a survey to the public, offering three different playground design options and opting for the one that got the most votes. However, it appears many people assumed the design could fit at Peanick Park without impacting the ball field.

Harmison says the City still plans to continue its recreational youth baseball/softball programs next year, utilizing the three fields at City Park as well as the lower field (Field 2) at Peanick Park. He says the City chose to demolish Field 1 at Peanick Park because its 200-foot fence depth made it the least useful for youth baseball, making it suitable mostly as a practice field or only for t-ball/coach pitch games. The t-ball and coach pitch programs will be moved to Field 2 in 2026, he said, with no impact to those programs.

However, some local coaches say they already have a tough time reserving one of the city’s five fields during the busy spring baseball/softball season, and they worry this will only make it worse.

Harmison says the City’s 2023 Parks Master Plan did include the demolition of Peanick. That plan was approved by the City Board of Aldermen and was based on community input.

On March 11, 2024, LakeExpo reported on the City’s plan to develop the new playground where the upper ball field currently stood. However, the community was still clearly caught off-guard.

Three longtime youth baseball coaches — Paul Dulle, Kevin Meglan, and Brock Heerdt — said they were surprised when the City began removing the fencing around Field 1 earlier this month.

“This is honestly the first I heard of this,” Dulle said.

Meglan added that he had heard of a plan to demolish one or both fields at Peanick, but he never heard that anything had been finalized.

“I think it’s an awful decision,” said Heerdt, who manages LOZ Sports Training — a youth sports training facility just a few homeruns away from Peanick Park. “It’s going to hurt a lot. Would I love to see a bigger better park for my kids somewhere? Of course! But not at the expense of a field that is in constant use.”

The work at Peanick Park is part of a three-phase plan.

Phase 1 – New Playground

• Approved & equipment arrives mid-December

• Installation begins soon after

• Park staff prepping the site now

Phase 2 – New Pavilion

• Approved & scheduled to begin in January

• Will provide shaded gathering and event space

Phase 3 – Splash Pad & Parking Expansion (2027)

• Medium-sized splash pad planned

• Additional parking

• Pending Board approval & funding

The City has given significant attention to its park and public recreation facilities this year, having made the following improvements at City Park — the other, larger park owned and operated by Osage Beach:

• Work began on the new Hatchery Ridge Trail in November (completion expected in spring 2026)

• Dragon Hatchery Disc Golf Course completed

• Sand volleyball courts reopened

• Watercraft rental & batting cages were added

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Stempien to seek opening for Branch County Circuit Court Judge | WTVB | 1590 AM · 95.5 FM

Published

6 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Stempien to seek opening for Branch County Circuit Court Judge | WTVB | 1590 AM · 95.5 FM | The Voice of Branch County

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Parks and Recreation Programs for Teens

Published

6 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

<br /> <br /> Parks and Recreation Programs for Teens | Greensboro, NC <br /> <br />

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Bellingham players reignite adult co-ed flag football action with monthly games

Published

6 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Flag football has been one of the fastest-growing youth sports in the country over the last decade. In Whatcom County, it’s played at six high schools, youth flag football leagues and intramural leagues at Western Washington University.

However, the sport has struggled to maintain its popularity with adults around the county. Some players meet through Reddit groups and play at the local fields, but the popularity has dropped since COVID-19.

When Matthew Colston, 32, moved from Oak Harbor to Bellingham in 2022, he hoped to reignite the popularity of flag football for everyone.

“I want to provide an opportunity for people who don’t want to worry about being hurt,” Colston said. “We don’t play that hard but we have a good time, and it is supposed to revolve around people’s lives.”

Matthew Colston, center, points out the field of play boundaries ahead of a flag football game. (Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)

Colston runs the Adult Co-ed Bellingham Flag Football group, which typically plays on the fourth Saturday of each month. Colston made it co-ed so it could be open for all members of the Bellingham community.

“People who are typically not represented in sports are women in men’s sports and people in the LGBTQ community,” Colston said. “Building a group that is friendly to them is a top priority to me so they can feel safe playing sports.”

Colston’s flag football members play at one of the Bellingham high schools or Civic Stadium. On Saturday, Oct. 25, 10 people gathered at Civic Stadium to play a lighthearted match — and about half of the players were women.

Two of those women were Liz O’Rourke and her daughter-in-law, Xisela O’Rourke-Guerrero.

Liz O’Rourke carries the ball as Matthew Colston tries to pull a flag. (Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)

“I’m new to the community and want to get into some activities,” O’Rouke said. “The easiest way as a newcomer is to get out of the house and meet new people.”

O’Rourke, 50, was one of the oldest members competing. Although she was outmatched at times, she still played a pivotal role during a few offensive drives.

“Everybody gave us chances to make plays,” O’Rourke said. “They didn’t make any assumptions that we couldn’t do anything. To be included feels great and everyone was extremely nice and here to have fun.”

The co-ed flag football group is a drop-in event where community members can show up and play without registering or paying anything. The group plays for about two hours when they meet up.

Players are split up evenly, the field is shortened to 40 yards long, about half of the width of a normal football field. Games consist of two 20-minute halves.

There are a few differences compared to tackle football. Instead of trying to get first downs, each team has four attempts to reach the 20-yard line and then four attempts to score. If a ball is fumbled, the play is dead, but an interception can be returned for a touchdown.

Keenan Wilkinson laughs after getting his flag pulled. (Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)

Contact or blocks from offensive players is not allowed. Instead of kicking extra points, teams can go for one point from the 3-yard line or two points from the 5-yard line.

“It was very fun, open and free flowing,” O’Rourke-Guerrero said. “Nobody is too serious about it but there is still some competition. Football is historically a male sport so I am grateful to feel welcomed here.”

As the game finished, Colston and others reflected on their time playing and the memorable moments they created with each other.

“Most people have boring days,” Colston said. “We are giving them a Saturday where they are the superstar they always wanted to be and make somebody confident in their abilities.”

The co-ed flag football group currently draws around six to 20 players each month. As the group becomes settled in the community, Colston’s next goal is to make a league of a few teams.

“It doesn’t have to be a big league, but we play a few games in a month,” Colston said. “I would like to find someone to officiate, too, so we don’t put that pressure on the players or captains.”

Until Colston gets that opportunity, he will continue to bring flags, footballs and smiles to the community each month.

“It was very cool to not have any restrictions,” O’Rourke said. “You just run around, have fun and try to get the ball. I’ll definitely be back because it was fun.”

Anyone interested in learning more or joining the Adult Coed Bellingham Flag Football group can contact Colston via text at 360-499-6140, or by email at mfcolston2224@gmail.com.

Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN’s sports editor; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.

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First responders help kids with Christmas shopping | News, Sports, Jobs

Published

6 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Photo by Deb Gau
Lyon County Sheriff Eric Wallen and Ka’Mari Deuel browse bookshelves as Deuel searched for the perfect holiday gifts for her family.

MARSHALL — Emergency responders helped make the holidays merry for area families this weekend.

On Sunday, young people teamed up with law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical responders to go shopping for gifts for their families.

“Every year, we’re excited,” Ryan Anthony said., He is one of the organizers of this year’s “Holidays with Heroes” event.

Anthony said it was good to see the response to the event each year, especially the number of emergency responders volunteering.

“They’re putting their time aside for this,” he said.

Organizers said the goal for this year’s Holidays with Heroes was to help provide gifts for about 11 to 13 families. Youth and emergency responders were given a budget, and went shopping for holiday gifts for each of their family members. Afterward, responders also lent a hand wrapping the presents.

Holidays with Heroes has been going on for about five years in Marshall. Downtown Sound Entertainment, the Marshall Walmart, and agencies like the State Patrol, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Marshall Police, Marshall Fire Department and North Memorial Ambulance all worked together to help organize the event. Support from the community is also key to making Holidays with Heroes happen, said Leah Anthony, one of the event organizers.

“The support is amazing. I think it spreads a little more each year,” she said.

The teams of kids and emergency responders each had different shopping strategies as they headed out through the aisles at Walmart. Some knew just what they were looking for, while others had to think a bit. The fun part was “figuring out what to buy,” said Kash Novelli.

Tatem Fennell said he knew what he wanted to get for each of his family members.

“I just took it off their Christmas lists,” he said.

“I knew the big presents I wanted to get for my mom and sister,” Ka’mari Deuel said.

She said she was looking forward to seeing her family unwrapping the presents.

“I just feel I’m happy to give it to them on Christmas,” she said.

In addition to spreading holiday cheer, one of the other good things about Holidays with Heroes is that it gives kids a chance to meet emergency responders in a fun and positive situation, Leah Anthony said.

“To be able to have those interactions be positive … I think it’s amazing, because it shows another side of it,” she said.

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U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Roger Marshall, John Boozman Seek to Formally Reestablish Presidential Fitness Test to Counter Childhood Obesity

Published

9 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), and John Boozman (R-Ark.) introduced the Presidential Fitness Test Act of 2025. This legislation would codify President Trump’s Executive Order by formally establishing the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition to advise the President and advance national priorities related to physical fitness, sports participation, and nutrition awareness. It is designed to reverse declining fitness trends and return national attention to measurable, achievable youth health goals.

“‘Make America Healthy Again’ starts with making sure our children are physically active and develop healthy habits early in their lives. One way to achieve this is by building on President Trump’s effort to bring back the Presidential Fitness Test in our schools so the next generation learns to love fitness and understands the countless benefits that come with leading an active lifestyle,” said Senator Britt.

The Presidential Fitness Test Act of 2025 creates and codifies the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, comprising up to 30 presidential appointees, reestablishes the Presidential Fitness Test and award, and addresses obesity and inactivity by developing school-based physical education challenges and expanded access to sports.

“For decades, the Presidential Fitness Test, enacted by Kansas’ own President Eisenhower, motivated millions of young Americans to push themselves, stay active, and take pride in their physical accomplishments,” said Senator Marshall.“That same competitive spirit is what built America, and it’s time to restore that legacy.”

The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition was first created in 1956 to promote youth health and physical activity nationwide, encouraging millions of students to pursue active lifestyles and physical achievement. In 2012, the Obama Administration’s move to replace the Presidential Fitness Test with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program disincentivized the use of established fitness tests and measurable goals. Youth fitness has declined sharply, and approximately 1 in 6 children ages 10-17 have obesity.

“It’s important to help young Arkansans build good habits including engaging in a physically active, healthy lifestyle,” said Senator Boozman. “This bill uses a proven tool to accomplish that in addition to promoting long-term benefits for public health and personal well-being that serve to strengthen our nation.”

You can read the full text of the bill here.

Senator Britt is a consistent advocate for commonsense solutions to Make America Healthy Again, seeking improved FDA oversight and reporting through the Better Food Disclosure Act and supporting efforts to remove harmful synthetic dyes from our foods.

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