Ogemaw County Sports Network

05/18/2026

Touting top performers with Bay City Athlete of the Week for May 18

COLIN NELSON, OGEMAW HEIGHTS

Nelson carved his name in the history of Ogemaw Heights boys track and field, taking part in two school-record relays. The junior anchored the 4x100 relay that went 44.07 and the 4x200 relay that went 1:31.64 at the Shepherd Last Chance Meet. He’s also the team leader with personal-bests of 23.54 in the 200 and 5-8 in the high jump. He posted a PR of 11.63 in 100 at the Jack Pine Conference Championship.

05/15/2026

We will be live for Game 2 of the Varsity Softball Tournament at Ogemaw Heights! We will also cover the final game of OHHS softball which will be determined after pool play completes!

Moppin’ Mama’s Cleaning Services LLC
Floor Coverings International

05/12/2026

To vote - https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2026/05/shout-out-to-standout-performers-with-bay-city-athlete-of-the-week-for-may-11.html

KADIE PAVELEK, OGEMAW HEIGHTS

A relative newcomer to the position, Pavelek has taken to her goalkeeper duties with the Ogemaw Heights girls soccer team like a natural. “She’s continuously giving us a chance in games with huge saves,” coach Tom Zaske said. “She possesses great footwork and hands and really reads the play well, taking away angles and challenging every loose ball that comes her way.” The senior captain has limited opponents to one or zero goals in nine of her 13 contests this season. She registered 19 saves in a recent 1-0 loss to Standish-Sterling.

05/11/2026

Good read for youth coaches and parents who stress player development over wins/losses. This is written by Eric Junge, who is the San Diego Padres Pitching Coordinator.

I just spent the weekend as the bench coach with one of the Padres minor league affiliates.

Even though I've been involved in professional baseball for 27 years, I learn something new every time I step out onto the field..... no matter what.

This time I saw a manager trying to win the game at all costs, instead of focussing on developing his players. Letting them problem solve, get out of jams... that sort of thing.

And that's because the manager wasn't a pitcher. He was a position player and doesn't understand the pitching side of things. He also got caught up in competing... when in fact his playing career ended 20 years ago.

It's hard not to compete, but that's what coaches are supposed to do....especially at the developmental levels..... like A ball or in high school and younger levels.

They're not there to compete.... they're there to teach, to mentor, and impart wisdom.

But as we've all seen a hundred times..... coaches often get caught up in the heat of the moment, simply can't help themselves, and their decision making criteria breaks down.

At the expense of development and sometimes player health.

What I saw this weekend was an 8-0 lead heading into the 9th..... lead off walk, 2nd batter HBP, and it was straight panic mode.

Get the next reliever hot.... "I ain't gonna watch this s**t anymore" type knee jerk reaction.... and next thing ya know, we burn through 3 pitchers and pull off the win 8-6

But still... the point is... in his compete mode, win now at all costs mentality, what did that first 9th inning reliever learn?

He learned that if he makes any mistake, he'll get pulled.

He certainly didn't learn how to work his way through things.

How to adjust, throw a strike, and come back from being a cornered animal.

Now, with a 1 run lead..... maybe.

But even then. This is A ball. This is a player development league.

We're trying to produce big leaguers that can cope with disaster and get stronger.

Not, get pulled after 11 pitches, up 8 in the 9th

But just like amateur ball, pro coaches make mistakes too.

They too get caught up in the emotion of it.

At the amateur levels, it happens.... even though it really shouldn't.

- Eric Junge, San Diego Padres Pitching Coordinator

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05/06/2026

Remember if you or someone you know that has a business or just wants to be a supporter of Ogemaw County Sports Network, please reach out to [email protected]. We love promoting our local sponsors and with the Little Michigan District 8 Little League having out of town teams participating with West Branch, its another way to get in front of a new audience!

05/02/2026

Unable to attend West Branch Little League Opening Day? Fret not, we have the entire ceremony and opening two games right here on OCSN! Michigan District 8 Little League

Had a great day chatting with sponsors during the broadcast as well as Walt Roy, local baseball fixture who spent time in the Atlanta Braves organization!

Games brought to by:
Countryside Appliance
Advanced Appliance Solutions LLC
Breck L. Gildner - Ogemaw County Clerk
With Love & Chaos
Morris Richardson Real Estate
Floor Coverings International
Legacy Handmade
Josh of All Trades
Christi Neubecker-State Farm Agent
First Fitness - West Branch
God, Country & Lemonade
Olive Rose Boutique
SRE Painting
Moppin’ Mama’s Cleaning Services LLC

1 like. "West Branch Little League Opening Day"

04/30/2026

MUST READ FOR PITCHING PARENTS

Have you ever walked straight into the gym, loaded the bench press with 225, got under the bar, and went for that 1 rep, maybe 2, or more?

I know at some point in your past you may have tried something dumb like this....I know I have! It leaves your shoulders wrecked, your joints achy and grinding. Maybe you even heard your body talking to you: "snap crackle pop" like Rice Krispies!

No warm up, just straight into the work set.

Bad plan.

No plan.

Either way.... not smart

So why then, when we go out and watch your son's throwing, does his coach give him a similar structure?

Well, maybe not No Warm Up..... but most likely something like this, jog a lap, arm circles, stretch the hamstrings, play a little catch, and then race him over to the pen to start pitching.

Thirty or so pitches when his arm isn't fully ramped, warmed, stretched?

No active warmup

No prep work

And certainly not enough time to condition his arm so that he can handle the rigors of downhill throwing.

And then we wonder why arms are hurting by mid-season.

Why velocity stalls… or disappears.
Why command comes and goes.
Why injuries keep piling up.

Let me ask you this:

If baseball is built around throwing, why is throwing treated like an afterthought? Every single play in this game starts with a throw. The pitcher initiates it… and someone finishes it.

That’s the game.

So why are we training like it’s not?

Eric Junge - San Diego Padres Pitching Coordinator