Bucs' boys cross loses tie-breaker, settles for 2nd
Mon, Sep 8, 2008 
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The Grand Haven and East Kentwood boys cross country squads showed just how closely competitive the two squads were at Saturday's Hill & Bale Invitational at Fremont.
The two O-K Red Conference rivals were deadlocked after the completion of the race, and a tiebreaker was needed to determine the Division 1 team champion at the event.
"We looked at the sixth-place runners (to break the tie)," Grand Haven coach Tom Laughlin said. "The East Kentwood runner was in 28th place and our sixth man was in 29th place, less than three seconds behind."
Despite the narrow setback, Laughlin was extremely pleased with some individual performances, including a fifth-place showing from Will Hewitt (16 minutes, 28 seconds) and a sixth-place performance from Joe Duff (16:42).
"Both times are excellent for this early in the season," Laughlin said.
Sophomore Kyle Kelley easily ran the best race of his young career, taking almost a minute off his best time from last year and finishing in 10th place with a time of 17:17. Junior Taylor Piotrzkowski also turned in a solid performance, taking 14th in 17:27, which Laughlin said was another steady improvement from a year ago.
Fruitport trailed the Falcons, Bucs and host Packers for fourth overall, thanks to outstanding races from runner-up Jake Batch (16:27) and seventh-place runner Kevin Kyle (17:04). Spring Lake was led by Blake Rottschafer's eighth-place run (17:06), helping the Lakers finish seventh overall as a team. Stephen Kramer was the next top Laker finisher, as he crossed in at 21st (17:48).
GH GIRLS 2ND
Grand Haven's Becca Addison took first place at the Hill & Bale Invitational for the third-straight season, but her Buccaneers' squad settled for runner-up to Traverse City Central.
"Becca took the lead after 600 meters and never was challenged," Grand Haven coach Greg Russick said. "It was great to see her go out and secure the lead and watch her run away from the field. Confidence is the key for her. God knows she has the ability to do this. All Becca needs to do is beleive she can take charge and control any race she enters."
Traverse City Central had four runners finish in the top 10, while Grand Haven had three, including senior Emily Thomas (seventh, 19:32), and sophomore Cristina Perez (eighth, 19:44).
Laura Addison ran over a minute faster than her time from last year at the Hill & Bale, taking 18th overall in 20:30.
Fruitport took sixth overall, while rival Spring Lake was eighth, despite a 12th-place finish by junior India Peek-Jensen (20:03). The Trojans were led by Haleigh Przybylek, who placed 15th (20:14) and Jayna Stone, who was 22nd (20:51).
