Sports: Wings Count on Petr Mrazek

Red Wings

The Red Wings host the Boston Bruins tonight at Joe Louis Arena.  Bostonis just two points behindDetroitin the Atlantic Division standings.  Forward Drew Miller participated in practice yesterday, after he was cut in the face by an opponents skate during the game against the Senators. Miller needed 60 stitches to close the cuts above and below his right eye, but his vision was not affected by the injury. He has played in 158 consecutive games for the Wings, and says he hopes to be in the line up tonight.

Pistons

The Pistons lost 102-78 in Charlottelast night. Jodie Meeks ledDetroit with 15 points. Andre Drummond was in early foul trouble and finished with 13 points and nine rebounds.  The Pistons shot 35 percent from the field.  The loss put the Pistons playoff hopes in jeopardy, as they are 5.5 games out of the last playoff spot, with just seven games left to play.Detroit wraps up the trip with a stop in Chicago against the Bulls tomorrow.

Tigers

The Houston Astros beat the Tigers 3-2 Wednesday, as the Tiger bats were quiet.  Catcher James McCann and DH Victor Martinez each had two hits for the Tigers. Starter Kyle Ryan was roughed up, but relievers Joe Nathan, Al Albuquerque, Tom Gorzelany, and Blaine Hardy all pitched well.  Detroit will host the New York Yankees this afternoon at Joker Marchant Stadium.   The Tigers open the season on Monday against Minnesota.   Hear it Monday at 12:40 on WBCK.

Tiger Pains

Tigers reliever Bruce Rondon did not pitch as scheduled against the Astros yesterday because of soreness in his right shoulder. The outing would have had him pitching in back-to-back games for the first time this spring and manager Brad Ausmus says he needs to appear in consecutive games if he's going to head north with the team.
Ausmus also said starter Justin Verlander may not be ready for his regular-season debut next week inDetroit. Verlander has been dealing with a sore right arm and will not pitch in a Grapefruit League game before the weekend.

Battle Creek Loses Wrestling Tournament

Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena has hosted the State Team Wrestling Finals ever since they started in 1988.   Last February’s tournament will be the last one.   The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) announced Wednesday that they’re dumping Battle Creekfor Central Michigan University.   Last year, Battle Creek lost the right to host state baseball and softball tournaments to Michigan State University.    Individual wrestling moved several years ago.   Only the state volleyball tournaments are left.

Terry Newton, who works for theBattle CreekParksand Recreation department, says he’s not totally surprised at the decision.   “Even though Battle Creek’s facilities are well-maintained, it’s difficult to compete with these new multi-million dollar facilities at major Universities.  The Universities didn’t pursue these types of events until recent years, and now they look at them as an important marketing tool to attract students.”

Newton says he thinks the volleyball tournament will stay in Battle Creek for now, as the November event might conflict with College Basketball schedules, but he says he wouldn’t be shocked to see the event move eventually.

College Basketball

It’s Miami versus Stanford in tonight's NIT title game

The University of Michigan women's basketball team saw its postseason run end on last night, falling to UCLA, 69-65, in the WNIT Semifinals at Crisler Center.  UCLA will face off against West Virginia in the Finals.

Michigan State arrived in Indianapolis last night as they prepare to take on the one-seed Duke Blue Devils in the Final Four on Saturday.    Broadcast time is 4:30 on WBCK.  Kentucky will play Wisconsin following the MSU game, with the national championship game next Monday.

The women's NCAA Final Four is Sunday night inTampa.  South Carolina takes on Notre Dame on Sunday evening, followed by UCONN and Maryland.   The winners play on Tuesday.

Softball

Athens swept Bellevue 20-11 and 11-1. Kelcie Weeks earned both wins.

Lakeview 16, Otsego 15.  Kayla Calloway got the win with six strikeouts.

Kalamazoo Christian split with Pennfield.  The Panthers lost game 1, 11-2, and won game 2 11-10.  Jessica Roan going 4-for-5 with a double, a triple and two RBIs, to win game 2.

Lansing Sexton beat Battle Creek Central 11-10 and 17-13

Sturgis and Marshall split a pair, Sturgis winning 11-3, and Marshall taking the nightcap. 9-8.

Baseball

Harper Creek swept Battle Creek Central, 18-0 and 19-0.

Lakeview swept Otsego 11-1 and 19-6. Jacob Herbers had three hits and knocked in four runs in game 1.

Sturgis beat Marshall 4-1 and they tied at 2 as darkness set in.

Coloma swept Climax-Scotts.

Prairie Heights and Bronson split.

Chelsea beat Homer twice.

Girls Tennis

Lakeview 6, Harper Creek 2

Bronson 5, St. Phillip 3

Galesburg-Augusta 7, Pennfield 1

Boys Track

St. Phillip 79,Union City 63, Bellevue 3.

Girls Track

Union City 74, St. Phillip 50, Bellevue14.

Girls Soccer

Calhoun Christian/St. Phillip played the LA Dragons at Calhoun Christian, and they battled to a 4-4 tie. Megan Gordon had two goals and Emily Pearl made 9 stops in goal.

Cleaves on the Homer Broadcast on truTV.

MichiganState great Mateen Cleaves and Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski's son-in-law are among the commentators who will call the "homer" broadcasts during the Final Four.

Turner Sports and CBS are bringing back the team-centric alternative telecasts for the NCAA semifinals that debuted last season.  Cleaves, who ledMichiganStateto coach Tom Izzo's only national championship in 2000, will be the color commentator for the Spartans broadcast on truTV. Cleaves has worked as a studio analyst for CBS and Turner during the tournament.

College-Bound Game

MichiganStatebound Deyonta Davis scored 6 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the West squad in the McDonalds All-American game inChicagolast night.  The six foot ten forward from Muskegon, and Michigan's "Mister Basketball" played 15 minutes as the West squad fell to the East 111-to-91. Davis was one of 24 players from around the country selected to play in the game and the first representative ever from the Muskegon area.

Another QB in the Michigan Mix

Another name is getting put in the mix forMichigan's starting quarterback competition. Jake Rudock is transferring from Iowa to the Wolverines and will be eligible to play immediately. The fifth-year senior threw for 2,436 yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions last season.   Also competing for the job are junior Shane Morris, redshirt freshman Wilton Speight, freshman Alex Malzone and freshman Zach Gentry.Michigan holds its first spring game under new head coach Jim Harbaugh on Saturday.