berryhill ballers

Larson Cronkright, left, is congratulated by Ken Babinski, making his way back to the dugout after hitting a home run and sending two other runners home in the seventh inning of Midland Berryhill's game against Mount Pleasant, battling for the Michigan Zone 4 American Legion Baseball championship Sunday at Gladwin High School.


Midland Berryhill's Larson Cronkright comes down to earth after making a catch at third base in an attempt to tag out Mount Pleasant's Tyler Sabuda Sunday during the Michigan Zone 4 American Legion Baseball Tournament at Gladwin High School.


Jake Enszer of the Midland Berryhill baseball team holds the Zone 4 American Legion Baseball Tournament trophy after Berryhill's victory over Mount Pleasant Sunday at Gladwin High School in Gladwin, Mich.


Midland Berryhill players Larson Cronkright, left, and Ken Babinski shoulder bump in the air after Berryhill's victory over Mount Pleasant to win the Michigan Zone 4 American Legion Baseball Tournament Sunday at Gladwin High School.

hanging with verve pipe..

Randall Sly, keyboardist of Verve Pipe, left, stands with Donny Brown, Verve Pipe's drummer, early Friday evening at Chippewassee Park after a sound check for the band's performance a few hours later as part of RIVERDAYS.


Lou Musa, of Verve Pipe, performs a guitar solo during Verve Pipe's performance Friday evening at Chippewassee Park as part of RIVERDAYS.


Emily Kraenzlein, 5, dances with her mother, Michelle Kraenzlein, during Verve Pipe's performance as part of RIVERDAYS in Chippewassee Park.

(photos by Libby March | for the Midland Daily News)

"we never know how much time we have"

Mount Pleasant as a general rule is sheltered from the kinds of tragedy it saw this week; I was standing in as photo editor at Central Michigan Life and covered the backlash of not one, but two, murders this week. Below are a slideshow and single image from one such occurrence. It is unreal to experience this side of life as a photographer. I struggled with the balance of empathy verses detachment, and the bleakness of understanding that making photos of people in the grips of horrible loss is part of the job.


I shot a candlelight vigil on Wednesday for "Kemp" Luchie, the young guy killed Tuesday night at The Cabin. People there were raw, fragile. They were drawn together of a kind of unity I think may only come from loss like this. Friends of Kemp and even people that didn't know him spoke about the necessity of caring for others, about making sure you appreciate them. The phrase "we don't know how much time we have," resounds still; it is not an unpopular phrase, but it's true.

I was overwhelmed. Didn't know which pictures to make or how to start with so many people in so much hurt. It was dark. Everyone was vulnerable. I wanted to reach out to everyone there, but was terrified of being presumptuous. I did my best, but came away feeling conflicted; understanding I cannot change the world with my pictures, but knowing I was there for a reason, that these things have to be documented. My best needs to be better than it is now. And I hope someday it will be - that my best will be enough to shed light, to stir compassion.


Daniel Goodar, 22, of Illinois, lays his head in his hands following a candlelight vigil in remembrance of Kim "Kemp" Luchie Wednesday night at The Cabin. Goodar knew Kemp through his brother, Nate Goodar, and has known Kemp for almost three years. "He never hurt nobody," Goodar said, "He was a good guy; got his head on straight. I just hope his family and his girl can stay strong through this."

I R combat...photographer!

IRCombat, a game created by Zach Dickerson of Mount Pleasant, was developed using laser tag technology to simulate playing a video game...in real life. In short, it's any gamer nerd or sci fi enthusiast's dream.

hands down one of my favorite things to shoot this year. looked like Star Wars weaponry set on the LOTR set. I wanted to shoot the laser guns, but instead ran around barefoot with a camera, feeling like a combat photographer, loving every minute..

optimists, softball, hugs

Alex Lauderbach, 6, looks up at his grandfather, Roger Mead, during his softball team's game at Optimist Park. Mead coaches softball for kids ages six to twelve as part of service for The Optimist Club, which is closing after 40 years, but some members will continue to coach softball this summer.


Amy Bushey leans down to hug Alex Lauderbach, 6, and A.J. Lauderbach, 8, after their softball team's game at Optimist Park. Buschey coaches softball for kids ages six to twelve as part of service for The Optimist Club, which is closing after 40 years, but some members will continue to coach softball this summer. "They're like nephews to me," said Amy fondly of Alex and A.J.

cutting weight to cage fight

I didn't know what to expect going in, but these guys're hardcore. It had to be 100 degrees in that room and they were working all the harder.

I love PJ work for a lot of reasons, but one of them is that it takes me places I'd probably never have gone otherwise.


Jody Bass, 30, of Mount Pleasant, takes a break from working on "cutting weight" while Tommy Chamberlain, 22, of Mount Pleasant, hits the punching bag repeatedly, working up a sweat to maximize loss of water weight Wednesday night at Faith Fighting's gym on Mission Street in Mount Pleasant, Mich. Bass, the manager of Faith Fighting, has practiced jujitsu for 15 years, he said, but cage fighting is newer to him. His second competitive cage fight ever will be this weekend in Midland. "The fighting aspect's nothing new to me. Different arena is all," said Bass, who dropped from 160 to 137 lbs. for the fight, needing to be 135 lbs. by weigh-in on Thursday.


Tommy Chamberlain fights to overturn Carl Deaton while grappling Wednesday night at Faith Fighting's gym on Mission Street in Mount Pleasant, Mich. Deaton is the current champion of Native American Tapout Productions' 135-weight belt, and Chamberlain will be competing in Midland this weekend in the 135 lbs. class of cage fighting. Chamberlain has been practicing Mixed Martial Arts for three or four months, and boxing for 12 years. "I just like the fight, win or lose," he said.


Jody Bass, manager of Faith Fighting, jokes with Bobby "The Bullet" Sims Wednesday night during a break from training at Faith Fighting's gym on Mission Street in Mount Pleasant, Mich. Bass will be competing in his second ever cage fight this weekend in Midland. Cage fighting incorporates the principles of vali tudo, which means "no rules," said Bass, who explained that gouging in the eyes and kicking in the groin are outlawed, but most other fighting methods are acceptable.

happy fourth!

AnneMarie Hotopp, 13, left, and her older sister, Mallory Hotopp, 21, watch Midland's fireworks display together Sunday night at Chippewassee Park. The sisters dressed head to toe in patriotic gear because they "wanted to do something fun to celebrate the Fourth," said Mallory, who just finished her junior year at Michigan State University. AnneMarie will be a seventh grader at Northeast Middle School this fall.


Deion Watkins, 1, plays with a purple glow stick and watches Midland's fireworks display Sunday night at Chippewassee Park. "I'll give them props this year definitely," said Deion's father, Milton Watkins of the fireworks.


Harmony Thornton, 5, left, Savannah Thornton, 2, their father, Jason Thornton, of Midland, and their brother Jason Thornton, 1, check out a far-off stray firework, taking a break from watching skateboarders after seeing Midland's fireworks display Sunday night at Chippewassee Park.

(photos by Libby March for the Midland Daily News)