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2021 Football Volleyball Preview
August 2021
Baldwin gets ready for 8-player football season By John Raffel
team which figures on having a strong line this season.
jraffel@pioneergroup.com
McClure is an offensive tackle and guard. He mentioned a few players were in the weight room during the summer working out to get ready for the season.
BALDWIN – Football practices started for Baldwin on Monday, Aug. 9, with small numbers, but coach Bob Watkins was expecting that to increase as the week progressed.
“We will have a couple of more kids coming in when school starts (on Wednesday),” he said. “I’m a good blocker and I stick with my man pretty well.”
“On Monday we had seven, while (Tuesday) we had five,” Watkins said the week of Aug. 9. “The kids have been in contact with me and said they’re waiting until Wednesday to come out. They didn’t have transportation. The first day of school is Wednesday.”
McClure has proven to be a sure tackler and a leader on defense. He also pursues the ball very well.
Watkins said Baldwin had a scrimmage tentatively scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 19, at Bellaire against other 8-player teams. The season starts at home on Aug. 27 against Vestaburg. “We want to give the kids some action before our first contest,” Watkins said. He continues to work on a coaching staff. Rusty Fullerton is helping out, Watkins said. Fullerton is a former Baldwin coach who skippered Crossroads’ team in 2019. CCA currently doesn’t have a football team although
The season starts at home on Aug. 27 against Vestaburg.
Baldwin’s football team works on its passing game during a preseason practice. (Pioneer flle photo/John Raffel)
Fullerton is still the varsity boys basketball coach.
“School is out at 3:30 and we will start practice at 4,” Watkins said.
On Wednesday Aug 11, Baldwin students started school.
Adam McClure is among the key returning linemen for a Baldwin football
“The focus is getting in shape, this being the first week,” McClure said. “We have to get into condition right now.” McClure is also on the Baldwin bowling team and has played baseball in the past. He’s enjoying preseason this year with no masks being required as they were during the pandemic last season.
Volleyball coach remains optimistic By John Raffel
Panthers and is in her fourth year of volleyball. She helped the Panthers to a second-place finish in the West Michigan D League last fall.
jraffel@pioneergroup.com
BALDWIN – Veteran Baldwin volleyball coach Duane Roberts was a busy man this week with the opening of the preseason.
“Last year was a good year and we only lost two games,” Pieske said. “In my opinion I think we’re going to have a good team. I think I’ll be a setter and a spiker.”
Practices the first week (Aug. 9) usually begin on Wednesday but the MHSAA has changed it to Monday. “The first day I had seven girls and on Tuesday I had six,” Roberts said. “One girl had a work constraint. Quite a few more girls plan to come in on Wednesday with the start of school. It’s been promising. I have one senior, two juniors and four sophomores so far. They’re looking phenomenal.” He has Arionna Burrell, an outside and middle hitter returning along with Abby Oisten, an opposite side hitter and backup hitter. Cierra Pieske will be a senior hitter and captain
As a hitter, “wherever your eyes are at, that’s where you want to aim,” Pieske said. She figures the Panthers will be strong in all areas, especially serving. Baldwin’s volleyball coach Duane Roberts is looking for another strong team in the West Michigan D league. (Pioneer flle photo)
Serve receive will be critical, Pieske said.
“She hits from all over and is a great back row player,” Roberts said. “My returning sophomore is Naomi Marsh-Robinson who is my setter and will be my middle and outside hitter. I have four of my returning varsity and at least two or three from my JV
“I think we’ll be OK in that,” she said. “I want to work on spiking and getting it over the net and getting it down.”
program.” Baldwin may have a match on the last Saturday of August in Kingsley, followed by West Michigan D League matches. Pieske is in her senior season for the
Keeping the ball in bounds will be critical, Pieske. “I think we’re going to be good,” she added.
