84th St Sliders

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.

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 ❤️🇺🇸