Good morning, lakeshore. The week opens gray and wet, but don't let it fool you. By Friday the sun's back and the weekend goes full throttle, between Powerboat Weekend on the channel and Juneteenth downtown. And that's before Father's Day even shows up Sunday. First though, take a second to be proud of Ravenna, whose softball team just won the first state title in Muskegon County history.

In this week’s Lowdown:

Let’s get into it.

- The Lakeshore Lowdown

Ravenna did something Saturday that no Muskegon County softball team had ever done. The Bulldogs won a state championship.

They beat Grass Lake 4-2 in the Division 3 final at MSU's Secchia Stadium, and the dogpile near the pitcher's circle said it all. First title in school history. First in county history, period. Before this, only Muskegon Catholic Central and Holton had even reached a state final from around here.

Ravenna finished the year 40-1. Read that again. One loss, all season.
Junior ace Natalie Rosel, headed to Central Michigan, closed it out with a swinging strikeout while Grass Lake had the tying run in scoring position. She went 27-0 in the circle this spring. On Saturday she struck out 11 and went 3-for-4 at the plate for good measure.

The Bulldogs trailed 1-0 before the bottom of their lineup flipped the game. A bunt single from sophomore Addy Woodring and a hit from freshman Sophie Robinson sparked a four-run third. This team hit one through nine all year, and it showed when it counted.

Heads up, golfers. Iota Tau Alpha is hosting its Annual Golf Outing on Sunday, July 26, and you're invited, no matter how questionable your swing is. Shotgun start is 9 AM at the Meadows Golf Course on the GVSU campus in Allendale, a quick drive east from Grand Haven. The whole thing supports Athletic Training students, the people who keep athletes healthy and on the field, so you get a morning of golf and a good cause in one round. Registration is $100 per player and it's open to anyone who wants to play.

Grab a foursome and sign up here. Want to sponsor the event yourself? Reach out to [email protected].

Wet now, gorgeous later. The week opens gray and drippy, and Wednesday is a soaker with rain chances near 85%. Then it flips. By the time the powerboats hit the water Friday, the sky clears and holds clean through Father's Day.

Tuesday and Wednesday keep highs in the mid 60s. Friday through Sunday climb into the low-to-mid 70s with overnight lows near 58. Winds stay light all weekend, mostly southwest at 5 to 15 mph.

The verdict: ride out the midweek rain indoors and save the beach chairs for Friday on. That's when summer actually shows up.

7 Day Glance: Tuesday hits 67 with showers and a low of 60, then Wednesday slides to 64 and gets the worst of the rain, bottoming out around 55 overnight. Thursday starts clearing at 66 with a low of 57. Friday turns sunny and dry at 69, low 57, and the weekend is the payoff: 73 and sunny Saturday, 74 and sunny Sunday, both holding lows near 58. Monday rolls in at 74 with a mix of sun and clouds.

Sourced from the NWS day prior to this issue.

The boats take over first. Muskegon Powerboat Weekend rolls into the Mart Dock starting Friday, with a downtown street party that night and the Parade of Power roaring out the channel Saturday. Park yourself anywhere along the water and you can't miss it.

Friday is also Juneteenth, and downtown Muskegon marks it with a parade and a full day of celebration. It's free and family-friendly.

Down in Grand Haven, the Sand Sculpture Contest hits the beach Saturday. Teams turn the shoreline into temporary art, and watching it take shape is what its all about.

Looking ahead to next weekend, Lakeshore Art Festival returns to downtown Muskegon June 27 and 28 with around 250 artists. It's one of the best weekends of the whole summer, so start making plans now.

The Deck is the move this weekend. Saturday night, Kyle Brown & THC headline with Loudernow opening, right on the sand at Pere Marquette. Friday, Rick Deez warms things up. Get there before the sun drops and claim a spot near the water.

Over at BoDocks on Muskegon Lake, Plain Jane Glory plays Friday from 7 to 10. The marina setting with a specialty cocktail as the light fades is tough to beat, and the music keeps going all weekend.

Down in Grand Haven, Music on the Grand rolls on Wednesday with the Carl Webb Band on the waterfront. It's free and right on the Grand River. Bring a lawn chair and settle in from 7 to 9.

And don't sleep on Unruly Brewing downtown Muskegon. They may not post a lineup online, but there's always a killer set going all weekend. Just walk in. Half the fun is not knowing what you're walking into.

The lake is playing nice this weekend. Water temp off Pere Marquette is hovering around 63 degrees, and waves stay flat at a foot or less Friday through Sunday with light southwest wind. Cool enough to wake you up, calm enough to do just about anything.

That makes it a perfect stretch to get a paddleboard or kayak out. With glassy water and no chop, even first-timers can head out without a fight. If you'd rather stay dry, claim a patch of sand at Pere Marquette or run down to Grand Haven State Park and let the kids wear themselves out.

The real show is Saturday, when the Parade of Power rumbles out the Muskegon Channel toward the big lake. Post up along the channel walls and watch some serious horsepower roll by.

For the anglers: the salmon and trout bite is on out in the deeper water, so if you've got a boat or a charter lined up, this is your window.

Get out there early. The calm water and the crowds both build as the day rolls on.

Powerboat Weekend pulls the whole crowd downtown Friday night, and the social district is where it lands. You can carry a local pour from Pigeon Hill or Rake right out into the street while the boats and the music take over. If the street party runs like it has in past years, expect food and drink set up near the Mart Dock too.

Down in Grand Haven, New Holland's tasting room on Washington has you covered, and Pinwheel Kitchen next door slings the pepperoni pinwheels with that chipotle ranch people swear by.

Midweek, Legends keeps "Wine on Western" going every Wednesday from 4 to 9. You get a 9-ounce pour for the price of a 6, plus small plates like the charcuterie board and the ahi tuna. Not a bad way to ride out Wednesday's rain.

Summer baseball is on at Marsh Field, so pick a night this week and go. The Muskegon Clippers are back home under new manager Brian Wright, and a night at the park barely dents your wallet. Tickets stay cheap, $10 for adults and $7 for students and seniors. Kids under 5 get in free. Most evening games start around 6:35 with gates open an hour before. The ballpark has stood downtown since 1916, and Satchel Paige once pitched on that same dirt. Bring the kids and grab a hot dog while you watch college talent from around the country, including Spring Lake grad and future Michigan State pitcher Maddux Kipling.

If you've spent any time on the Grand Haven beach, you already know the Surf Shop. It's been a lakeshore fixture since 1986, back when it got its start down at Chinook Pier. Laura Girard, a local, took the reins in 2018 and moved it to 16 Washington Ave, right in the heart of downtown.

These days it's the place to grab beachwear or rent a paddleboard when the lake goes glassy, like it will this weekend. Stop in and say hi to the crew behind the counter, and you'll leave Fresh Water Spoiled.

When the Parade of Power roars out the channel Saturday, the boats pass a quiet gray hull a lot of people drive right past. That's the USS Silversides, a WWII submarine that sank 23 ships and earned 12 battle stars before settling in for good on the Muskegon Lake Channel. Today you can climb down inside and walk the narrow corridors where her crew lived. You can even book a night aboard and sleep in the same berths those sailors used. Not many towns can say a piece of the Pacific theater is tied up right next to the beach.

That's the Lowdown for this one. Get out to the channel Saturday, raise a cold one for the Ravenna Bulldogs, and call your dad on Sunday. See you Friday.

We’ll see you Friday.

-The Lakeshore Lowdown
Email: [email protected]