84th St Sliders

A Kalamazoo Growlers update with local-84th St Sliders connections out of the Northwoods League.

Byron Center HS alum and current Northwood University RHP Jack Crittendon picked up the Save last night in a 1-0 Growlers victory over the Fond du lac Doc Sliders. It was Crittendon’s 4th appearance this Summer as he’s logged 11 innings of work and has a 3.27 ERA.

West Catholic and GRCC grad Kyle O’Hearn has made two strong starts for the Growlers thus far pitching 13 innings. He’s 1-0 with a very strong 2.08 ERA. The Grand Valley State University commit will make another start this weekend.

84th St Sliders baseball congratulates GR West Catholic ‘24 grad Kyle O’Hearn on his commitment to Grand Valley State University. O’Hearn has been a 2 year all conference selection for the Raiders where he compiled a 12-4 win loss record along with a 2.58 ERA.

The GRCC ace will be a Laker in ‘27 where head coach Jordan Keur just finished his 3rd season in Allendale. After guiding GVSU to a 43-14 record in ‘25 Keur led them to a Super Regional this season and a 48-10 record.

Congratulations to Coach Pat Mackenzie and the Byron Center Bulldogs for winning today’s Regional championship over Rockford 7-4 today. Good luck in the quarter final, go win it all!

A couple of updates on collegiate players with 84th St Sliders ties…both from the highly regarded Northwoods League (College Summer League).

‘24 West Catholic and GRCC’s alum Kyle O’Hearn made is first start on Wednesday and went 7 strong innings on just 92 total pitches. He left the game with a 4-2 lead but ending with a no decision as his Kalamazoo Growlers went to extra innings before securing the win.

Last night (Friday) 2025 Byron Center grad and current University of Nevada RHP Kellen Payne made his 1st NWL relief appearance. He threw 1 inning allowing a run while striking out two Royal Oak batters. Payne pitches for the Traverse City Pit Spitters.

Byron Center’s Jack Crittendon also pitching for the Kalamazoo Growlers again this Summer.

With the 84th St Sliders flagship team player updates complete one more post on this Memorial Day Weekend to remember the fallen American heroes honored by the coaching staff.

We are grateful and humbled by the enormity of sacrifice made by these true American heroes. We encourage everyone to be your most positively impactful self, chase your dreams in life and to never forget the men and women who gave it all.

Coach Santana continues to honor fallen American hero Marine Corporal Ross A Smith of Wyoming, MI

Coach Berkenpas along with Nolan Bainbridge continues to honor fallen American hero Army Corporal Nicholas R Roush of Middleville, MI.

Coach Schuelke continues to honor fallen American hero Army Pfc Holly J McGeogh of Taylor, MI

It’s Memorial Day 2026 and as we draw closer to America’s 250th birthday 84th St Sliders continues to provide some life updates on past players along with remembering their chosen American hero. One of the greatest gifts in doing our part to ‘Never Forget’ those who’ve sacrificed it all is in the inspiration it’s given each of us to fearlessly chase our dreams in this lifetime. Maybe this is the finest way we can honor a gift we can never fully repay.

Our next player update is on former Sliders RHP/3B Zach Frasher. Zach played football (10-1 senior season) and baseball at Byron Center HS and went on to pitch collegiately at Lincoln Trail CC in Illinois and then at D1 Saint Peter’s University (earned bachelor’s degree) where he was named Saint Peter’s University male comeback player of the year in ‘24-‘25. Frasher just got back home last week after spending months in Australia (Sheldon) pitching for the Redland Rays Baseball Club.

Zach continues to pursue his dreams in life in part to honor the life & legacy of fallen American hero Army PFC Nicholas H Blodgett of Wyoming, MI. Blodgett was killed along with six others on July 21st, 2004 in Iraq when his patrol vehicle ran into an improvised explosive device. In HS Nicholas played in the band and took taekwondo lessons.

May we never forget American hero Nicholas Blodgett ❤️🇺🇸

It’s Memorial Day 2026 and as we draw closer to America’s 250th birthday 84th St Sliders continues to provide some life updates on past players along with remembering their chosen American hero. One of the greatest gifts in doing our part to ‘Never Forget’ those who’ve sacrificed it all is in the inspiration it’s given each of us to fearlessly chase our dreams in this lifetime. Maybe this is the finest way we can honor a gift we can never fully repay.

Our next player update is on long time Sliders player Austin VanderMarkt. ‘AV’ was one of the most electrifying athletes in Byron Center HS history where he starred in both football (QB of ‘20 team that began 10-0) and baseball (3x district champ & threw perfect game in MHSAA playoffs vs Jenison at Jenison. He went on to Davenport University where he went 11-4 win/loss over his career. Austin earned his bachelors degree and is wrapping up his Master’s at DU.

Austin continues to honor the life & legacy of fallen American hero Army SSG Christopher G Smith. Smith of Grand Rapids, MI was killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom on December 24th, 2008. He was one of three soldiers who died on Christmas Eve when their vehicle crashed in Baghdad. Smith was an avid outdoorsman and University of Michigan football fan.

May we never forget American hero Christopher Smith❤️🇺🇸

It’s Memorial Day 2026 and as we draw closer to America’s 250th birthday 84th St Sliders continues to provide some life updates on past players along with remembering their chosen American hero. One of the greatest gifts in doing our part to ‘Never Forget’ those who’ve sacrificed it all is in the inspiration it’s given each of us to fearlessly chase our dreams in this lifetime. Maybe this is the finest way we can honor a gift we can never fully repay.

Our next player update is on long time Sliders pitching star Jerad Berkenpas. ‘JB’ was one of the top area HS (South Christian) and travel baseball pitchers. He went on to pitch first for Grand Rapids CC where he was a two time All-American selection and wrapped up his college career at Davenport University. He also was part of 3 Northwoods League (Summer collegiate baseball) World Series championship teams, the only player in the NWL’s 30+ year history with that distinction. These days Jerad is in the home construction business building a future for him and his fiancée Miss Jada Mulder.

Since 2015 Jerad has and continues to honor the life & legacy of American hero US Army Staff Sargent 1st Class Richard J Herrema of Hudsonville, MI. The ‘97 Unity Christian graduate’s last assignment was as a team member assigned to the US Army Special Operations Command in Fort Bragg, NC. He was killed in combat operations on April 25, 2006 in Iraq. ‘Rick’ was a leader, a man of strong faith and quiet confidence.

May we never forget American hero Richard Herrema ❤️🇺🇸

It’s Memorial Day 2026 and as we draw closer to America’s 250th birthday 84th St Sliders continues to provide some life updates on past players along with remembering their chosen American hero. One of the greatest gifts in doing our part to ‘Never Forget’ those who’ve sacrificed it all is in the inspiration it’s given each of us to fearlessly chase our dreams in this lifetime. Maybe this is the finest way we can honor a gift we can never fully repay.

Our next player update is on Alex Vostad. Alex was a Pitcher, 3B & 1B for the Sliders flagship team. A smooth swinging lefty who threw righty seemed to always be under control on the diamond. Those traits along with his strong work ethic helped him produce the most decorated baseball career in South Christian baseball history. Alex set school single season records for hits (50) and RBI’s (49) as he led the Sailors to their lone regional championship in 2021. He was selected 1st team All State and was a MLive Grand Rapids area Dream Team selection. Alex went on to Davenport University to play baseball and earned his degree.

Vostad is working towards his CPA and is employed by the firm Bredeweg & Zylstra. He recently became a first time uncle as his sister Abbi had a baby boy named Judah.

Alex continues to honor American hero Army SSG Robert A Masserelli who was killed June 24th, 2012 in Kandahar, Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. He completed three tours to Iraq prior to his deployment to Afghanistan. Robert was born in Hamilton, OH and moved to Grand Rapids in 1987. He graduated from East Kentwood HS in 1998. Robert was a quiet man known as fiercely loyal to family and friends.

May we never forget American hero Robert Masserelli ❤️🇺🇸