Sports: Pistons Lose; Jackson out

NBA/Pistons

The Miami Heat beat the Detroit Pistons 99-93 on Tuesday night. The Pistons' loss sealed their spot as the eighth-seeded team in the Eastern Conference, setting up a matchup with top-seeded Cleveland.    Detroit Pistons were without their top scorer and point guard Reggie Jackson.  Jackson's took part in warm-ups more about an hour before the game but was scratched with an abdominal strain.  Steve Blake started in Jackson's place. Coach Stan Van Gundy says Jackson is day to day and should be ready for the playoffs.

Tonight, the Pistons will close out the regular season on the road at Cleveland in a sneak preview of round one of the playoffs.

Tigers

The Tigers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-2. Justin Upton had four hits, including a first-inning home run off a camera well above center field.  According to MLB's Statcast system, the home run would have gone 451 feet had it landed unimpeded.  J.D. Martinez had his second career four-hit game, and Ian Kinsler homered.  Anibal Sanchez gave up two runs, four hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings to raise his record to 2-0 and had some good defense help his cause. Game three shifts to Pittsburgh Wednesday, with Shane Greene on the mound for Detroit against Pirates’ ace Francisco Liriano.  Broadcast time is 6:40 on WBCK.

Paul Carey Dies

Former Detroit Tigers broadcaster Paul Carey died Tuesday night in his Rochester home. He was 88. Carey retired in 1991 after 19 years broadcasting Tigers games with Ernie Harwell.   Paul Carey had been in hospice care for about six weeks according to his wife, Nancy. He died of complications from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and heart disease.  A six-time Michigan Sportscaster of the Year, Carey was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.  The Tigers released a statement: "The Tigers organization is saddened by the loss of Paul Carey. Paul was a consummate professional who had one of the most distinctive and classic broadcast voices. Paul captivated Tigers fans for 19 seasons behind the microphone including the magical 1984 World Series Championship.  The Tigers family extends our sincere condolences to Paul's wife, Nancy, and his family."  Carey was born in Mt. Pleasant. He attended Central Michigan and graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State.

Red Wings

The Red Wings will play at Tampa Bay tonight in the first game of the playoffs.   Game two is also in Tampa on Friday.  The series will shift back to Detroit for game 3 on Sunday night.

MSU Loses Player

Another player is leaving Tom Izzo’s MSU Spartan team.  Deyonta Davis is entering the NBA draft after one season in East Lansing.  Davis, a 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward, is projected to be a first-round pick.   Davis departs with seniors Denzel Valentine, Matt Costello and Bryn Forbes along with transfers Marvin Clark and Javon Bess.  The news comes a day after highly touted recruit Josh Jackson announced he wasn't coming to Michigan State, choosing to commit to Kansas.

Girls’ Soccer

Harper Creek 8, Battle Creek Central 0.

Softball

The KCC softball team swept KVCC on Tuesday, to raise their record to 17-3.  Holly Van Tilberg was the game 1 winner, a 5-1 victory.  The Lady Bruins won the nightcap 14-1.  The team hosts a doubleheader today against Ancilla.

Lakeview swept Marshall.
Pennfield took two from Galesburg-Augusta

Olivet beat Climax-Scotts.

Homer swept Athens.

Baseball

Lakeview 7, Marshall 3 in 10 innings.   Game 2 was postponed due to darkness.

Coldwater 9, Union City 4.

Homer swept Athens, 12-2 and 15-0.

In Track…

Battle Creek Central lost to Kalamazoo Central in both the girls’ and boys’ meets.

Girls’ Tennis

Pennfield 6, Galesburg-Augusta 2.

St. Philip 6, Bronson 2.