7TH GRADE BASEBALL

April 21, 2026

G1: Loss 2-0

Louis Merlo started on the mound allowing just two hits and four strikeouts. 

Weston Stoneburg pitched in relief, allowing two hits and three strikeouts.

 Davison's Sawyer Travis pitched a no-hitter, recording 14 strikeouts.

G2: Tie 2-2

Beau King started on the mound and pitched three solid innings, allowing two hits and five strikeouts. Ryker Kennedy pitched two innings in relief, allowing one hit, one run and three strikeouts.

Tyson Starr, Louis Merlo, Dominic Groves and Beau King each had one hit. Weston Stoneburg and Ryker Kennedy each scored one run. 

Both games had some fine defensive plays and a great team effort by everyone.       

April 24, 2026

Score: Lapeer (Zemmer) - 9, Kearsley - 1

We played 1 2/3 innings before the game was called due to lightning.

Beau King had 2 hits, 3 RBIs

Louis Merlo had 1 hit, 2 runs scored

Dominic Groves also had 1 hit, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI

Rowdy Law had 1 hit, 2 RBIs, 1 run scored

Ryker Kennedy had 1 hit, 2 runs scored.

Weston Stoneburg and Tyson Starr each scored 1 run.

Stoneburg had a good start on the mound, allowing 1 hit and striking out 5 batters.

April 29, 2026

G1:  Won 1-0 vs. Grand Blanc West

Louis Merlo was the winning pitcher, allowing only 1 hit in 3 innings of work with 5 strikeouts and 0 walks. Beau King pitched in relief, allowing 0 runs, 5 strikeouts, and 1 walk.

It was an excellent performance by both pitchers.

Ryker Kennedy scored the Lightning's only run in the bottom of 3rd inning on a wild pitch after drawing a walk.

Louis and Beau each had 1 hit.

G2: Won 4-1 vs. Grand Blanc West

Ryker Kennedy was the winning pitcher allowing just 1 hit, 5 strikeouts and 0 walks.

Weston Stoneburg pitched 2 innings in relief allowing 0 runs, 1 hit and 5 strikeouts earning the save.

Tyson Starr had 1 hit, 1 RBI.

Louis Merlo, Dominic Groves and Rowdy Law each drove in a run.

Beau King drew 3 walks.

Defensively, we turned one double play and made some fine plays to keep the Bobcats off the bases.

May 1, 2026

Lapeer doubleheader vs. Marlette

G1:

The Lightning 7th grade boys baseball team suffered a tough loss against an unbeaten Marlette team, allowing 2 unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, losing 5-4.

Ryker Kennedy led the offense with 2 hits and scoring 2 runs.

Crosby Rhein had 1 hit and scored 1 run.

Kennedy and Weston Stonberg each stole 2 bases.

Dominic Groves drew 2 walks.

Beau King had 1 RBI

Levi Lipford also scored 1 run.

G2: 

Ended in a 0 - 0 tie after 3 innings of play. The game was called due to darkness and weather.

Beau King pitched 3 shutout innings allowing 4 hits and striking out 3.

Ryker Kennedy kept a hot bat, going 2 for 2 at the plate.

May 5, 2026

Swartz Creek doubleheader

G1:  Suffered a tough loss 5-4, allowing 4 walks and 4 runs scored in the top of the fifth inning.

Louis Merlo pitched 3 solid innings allowing 1 run, 7 strikeouts, 0 hits.

Dominic Groves and Rowdy Law each had 1 hit and scored 1 run.

Weston Stoneburg and Louis eached scored 1 run.

G2: Won 12 -2

Rowdy Law was the winning pitcher, allowing just 1 hit and striking out 7 batters.

Dominic Groves led the offense with 2 hits and scoring 2 runs.

Louis Merlo also had 2 hits.

Crosby Rhein had 1 hit and scored 2 runs.

Weston Stoneburg, Amario Diaz and Levi Lipford each scored 2 runs.

8TH GRADE BASEBALL

April 17, 2026

The 8th Grade Bolts Baseball team broke out the brooms and swept Imlay City Friday with victories of 15-3 in the first game and 9-1 in the second game.

Ben Fleming went 3 for 3 in the first game with four runs batted in. Maverick Taylor also went 3 for 3, batting in two runs. Conner Kirby had three runs batted in on two hits, while Riley Tait had two hits and two runs batted in his two at bats.

The Bolts were thieves on the bases, stealing 10 in game 1. Alex LeClaire started the first game, throwing three innings, striking out six of the nine batters he faced. 

In the nightcap, the Lightning had a SUPER-SOLID performance from Henry Franckowiak, pitching six innings and striking out 16, while only allowing three hits in the 9-1 victory. Franckowiak helped himself on the bump by going 2 for 3 at the plate, gearing a six-run rally in the third inning.

Maverick Taylor was once again a leader at the plate, going 2 for 2 with two runs batted in while Conner Kirby went 2 for 3 with three runs batted in.

Next up for our 8th grade Bolts Baseball team are the Cardinals from Davison next Tuesday at home. 

April 21, 2026

The 8th grade Bolt Baseball team split the double-header with Davison on Tuesday, losing the first game 6-2 and winning the second game 6-1.

Our Lightning were patient at the plate in the first game, tallying 13 walks, three each from Creek Johnson and Maverick Taylor while stealing six bags, four by Johnson. 

A great 4-6-3 double play in the top of the second inning immediately shut down the Cardinal threat of scoring. Alex LeClaire pitched three innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs in the loss. 

In the second game victory, Henry Franckowiak kept the Cardinals in their nest, striking out nine batters over four innings, only allowing three hits. Taylor came on in relief, striking out two of his three batters faced.

The Bolts once again showed patience, walking 11 times, while Taylor racked up three more, keeping his season on base percentage at 1.000 (not being retired to this point).

The Lightning once again blew open the base paths, stealing seven more bags. Johnson, Conner Kirby, and Sawyer Bowker each had hits, while Franckowiak also helped himself by ripping a double into left-center field. Jonathan Miller's clutch infield ground-ball drove in a run at a key moment to light the fire under the Bolts in the 6-1 nightcap win. 

April 28, 2026

Our 8th Grade Lightning came up with two more wins yesterday, beating the Cavaliers of Carman-Ainsworth 16-1 in the first game and 15-0 in the second game.

Spearheaded by Maverick Taylor's and Conner Kirby's doubles, the Bolts scored seven runs in the first inning and didn't look back.

Alex LeClaire aided in the scoring barrage in the bottom of the second inning, hitting a ground rule double into the Ozarks of left field that looked as if it was going to shatter a window in the Pines of Lapeer apartment complex (call Jake from State Farm and check your renters insurance policy, people).

Evan Groomes started the first game, allowing one run and striking out five batters. Ben Fleming came on in relief to shut down the Cavaliers fanning all three batters he faced. 

Fleming got the start in the second game, continuing a masterpiece on the mound, striking out five of the six batters he faced, allowing no runs. Sawyer Bowker came on in relief, striking out two of the three he faced.

The Lightning once again had smoke coming out of their bats in Game 2, lighting up the Cavs with 10 hits. Triples by Taylor and Henry Franckowiak paced the Bolt bats. Taylor knocked in three runs, Franckowiak went 3 for 3 knocking in two, and Jonathan Miller went 2 for 2, with a two-RBI double that sealed the deal on the scoring for our Bolts.

Just when the Cavs thought they were going to get something going in the bottom of the third inning, Charlie Leonard snapped off a hot-shot line drive at his short stop position, putting a dagger in the Cavaliers.

April 29, 2026

The 8th grade Bolts took to the field again Wednesday, beating the Grand Blanc West Bobcats 17-5 in the first game and 13-0 in the nightcap.

In the first game, Ben Fleming drove in 4 runs on 3 hits, Conner Kirby, Sawyer Bowker, and Franckowiak each had multiple hits for the Bolts, allowing for them and their teammates to steal 20 bases. Franckowiak and Creek Johnson both stole the home bag while taming the Bobcats from the mound, striking out a total of 10 batters.

In the second game, the Lightning "struck" again, with Maverick Taylor blasting 2 home runs over the center-field fence, collecting 5 RBIs, and Franckowiak hitting a dinger to left-center, scoring 2 runs.

Their counterparts continued to run wild on the bases, stealing 8 more in the game, Johnson took the mound again striking out 6 more batters, while Kirby came on in relief striking out 2 more.

Overall this season, the Lightning have amassed a .415 team batting average, 86 walks, and 76 stolen bases while outscoring their opponents 93-17, committing only 1 error on the field, and striking out a total of 75 from the mound.

Franckowiak leads the pitching staff, striking out 28 batters, while Taylor is hitting .800 from the plate to lead the Lightning, who have 7 wins and only 1 loss. 

GIRLS TRACK

April 23, 2026

The middle school track team went to Grand Blanc West on Thursday afternoon for their first track meet of the season.

The following athletes placed for Lapeer and earned points:

1st place finishes:

• Alivia Petz in the 200 meter dash 

• Maisy Schons in the 400 meter dash

• Teagan Weaver in the half mile run

• Natalie Brownfield in the mile run

• Caydince Howard in the shot put

• Mile Relay of Nevaeh Adkins, Weaver, Brownfield and Schons

• 2 Mile Relay of Brownfield, Weaver, Adrianna Rosso and Ella McCreedy

2nd place finishes included:

• McCreedy in the 2 mile run

• Howard in the 55 hurdles

• Katana Carman in the long jump

and 3rd place points were taken by:

• Petz in the 70 meter dash

• Amelia Burnaine in the half mile and mile run

• Rosso in the 2 mile

• Lacie Melone in the long jump

April 30, 2026

The girls middle school track team competed at Davison on Thursday afternoon and the girls were defeated 71-52. 

The following athletes scored for the team by placing in the top 3:

1st place finishes:

Maisy Schons in the 200 meter dash

Katana Carman in the long jump

Kaley Zelaya in the 55 and 200 hurdles

Mile relay team of Neveah Adkins, Teagan Weaver, Maisy Schons and Alivia Petz

2nd place finishes were:

Alivia Petz in the 70 meter dash

Schons in the 400

Teagan Weaver in the half mile

Lacie Melone in the long jump and 55 hurdles

Caydince Howard in the shot put

Amelia Burnaine in the mile run

3rd place honors went to:

Adkins in the 400 meter

Adrianna Rosso in the 2 mile

Lacie Melone in the shot put

May 7, 2026

The Girls Middle School Track team travelled to Flushing to take on Flushing and Linden Thursday afternoon.  Even though the team was missing many athletes on field trips, they performed well and almost beat Flushing, coming up six points short. 

Athletes that finished in the top 3 included:

In 1st place:

• Maisy Schons in the 100, 200 and 400 meter dash

• Natalie Brownfield in the mile run

• Kaley Zelaya in the 200 meter hurdles

Taking a 2nd place finish:

• Zelaya in the 55 hurdles

• Brownfield in the 2 mile run

• Amelia Burnaine in the mile run

• 800 relay of Laramei Bautista, Kalya Kurek, Emily Munoz and Mackenzie Groom

And 3rd place finishes were earned by:

• Bautista in the half mile

• Fiona Blunt in the 400 meter dash

• Katana Carman in the long jump

• Burnaine in the 2 mile run

BOYS TRACK

April 23, 2026

 The MS Boys track team opened up the season at Grand Blanc west on Thursday evening.

The boys were flying, despite battling early season soreness.

Overall they lost the meet, but several individuals earned points and some middle school records for Lapeer starting with the 4x200m relay team consisting of Cameron Pritchard, Liam Groom, Caiden Soltys, and Giovanni Simon-Malone which ran a record 1:43. 

1st place finishers

* Giovanni Simon-Malone in the 70m dash at 7.4 seconds (Lapeer Middle school record)

* Liam Fleming in the 800m running a 2:32.

* Haelyn Carter, Declan Overland, Jackson Herr, and Liam Fleming in the 4x400m relay running 4:15. 

* Carter Hartman in the Shot Put throwing 31'1"

2nd place finishers 

* Giovanni Simon-Malone in the 100m dash running an 11.8 (Lapeer Middle School record)

* Caiden Soltys in the 400m running a 58.9

* Liam Fleming in the 400m with a 1:02

* Louis Merlo in the Shot Put throwing 31'

* Cameron Pritchard in the Long Jump jumping 15'4"

3rd place finishers 

* Declan Overland in the 70m dash at 9.1 sec 

* Caiden Soltys in the 200m dash at 25.6 seconds just shy of the (Lapeer Middle School record)

* Haelyn Carter in the 800m running a 2:41.

* Lincoln Stearns in the Long Jump jumping 15'2"

April 30, 2026

The MS Boys track team lost in Davison yesterday evening.

Both teams matched up well in many events, but leading the Lightning with nice performances were the following athletes:

1st Place

* Giovanni Simon-Malone in the 70m and 100m dash

* Haelyn Carter in the 800m run

* Zavion Baker in the 3200m run

* Cameron Pritchard, Declan Overland, Caiden Soltys, and Giovanni Simon-Malone in the 4x200m relay.

* Carter Hartman in the Shot Put 

2nd Place

* Cameron Pritchard in the 70m dash 

* Caiden Soltys in the 400m dash 

* Jackson Herr in the 800m run 

* Spencer Gleason in the 3200m run 

* Louis Merlo in the Shot Put 

Taking 3rd

* Declan Overland in the 70m dash 

* Keagan Badyrka in the 3200m run

* Zae Shipp in the 200m hurdles 

* Cameron Pritchard in the Long Jump 

May 7, 2026

The MS Boys track team competed against Linden and Flushing yesterday in Flushing and lost.

The team was short many athletes due to field trips, but gave a solid effort in poor weather conditions.

Some notable performances:

1st place 

• Giovanni Simon-Malone in the 70m dash and Long Jump

• Liam Groom, Breslin King, Lincoln Stearns, and Giovanni Simon-Malone in the 4x200m relay and in

2nd place 

• Lincoln Stearns in the Long Jump 

8TH GRADE SOFTBALL

April 28, 2026

Game 1: Lapeer 15, Carman-Ainsworth 0
Alexis Newberry 3 strikeouts. Lapeer was walked 13 times with Wren Marcotte scoring 2 with her single and Newberry scoring 2 with her triple in the second inning.

Ella Harris took the mound getting her first ever strikeouts with three in the second and third innings!

Game 2: Lapeer 17, Carman Ainsworth 2
Second game started with Ella Harris back on the mound with 3 more strikeouts!

Victoria Witherspoon, Alexis Newberry, and Ella Harris all collected triples in the first inning. Cora Street with a mean double. Emily Delong reaching on a base along with Ella Smith on dropped third strikes. Newberry scored 3 with her home run in the second.

Witherspoon took the mound in the second. Olivia Husted with a huge triple play with assistance from Melody Thompson. Witherspoon closed out the game with 3 strikeouts.

Great job, ladies!

April 29, 2026

Game 1: Lapeer 21, Grand Blanc West 3
The Lady Lightning bats were completely on fire!

Wren Marcotte with a double, Lexi Coulter triple, Olivia Husted with a single scoring 3, Alexis Newberry with a single, Victoria Witherspoon with a double and an out-of-the-park home run. Alex Newberry on the mound with 11 strikeouts.

Game 2: Lapeer 17, Grand Blanc West 1
Olivia Husted with 2 singles and a double, Ella Harris with 2 singles, Melody Thompson with a single, Sidney Byrne with 2 singles, Alexis Newberry with a double, triple and an out-of-the-park home run.

Alexis Newberry back on the mound for the second game shutting it down with only 1 run scored and 6 strikeouts.

Great job, Lady Lightning! Keep up the great work!