UNDATED (WHTC) – After violence led to “dozens” of arrests and the closing of the North Beach in South Haven on Sunday night, fireworks displays in various Lakeshore venues last evening went off without incident.
Crowds were large but well-behaved at Kollen Park, downtown Saugatuck and Grand Haven’s Waterfront Stadium. In South Haven, authorities defended their actions as state police troopers, sheriff’s deputies and tribal police joined local police in dealing with a total crowd estimated as much as 80 thousand people on Sunday afternoon.
Several people suffered minor injuries when bottles were thrown at responding officers who were attempting to break up fights, while some observers claimed that police action was too “heavy-handed.” Arrests were made on a variety of charges, and about four thousand persons were removed from the North Beach prior to the fireworks. The South Beach area was relatively quiet and remained open during Sunday’s fireworks display.
South Haven city officials said before the weekend that security would be tightened at the North Beach area due to unrest in previous years, and that a full review of what happened on Sunday will take place.
Mike Napoli’s two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning broke a 3-3 tie and enabled the Cleveland Indians to beat the visiting Tigers last night, 5-3. The series at Progressive Field continues this evening with Anibal Sanchez on the mound for Detroit. Coverage with Dan Dickerson and Jim Price begins at 6:45 PM on 1450 WHTC.
Addison Russell homered and drove in three runs as the Cubs downed the visiting Cincinnati Reds yesterday, 10-4. John Lackey takes the hill for Chicago as the series at Wrigley Field continues this afternoon.
Dioner Navarro’s two-run homer capped a three-run fifth inning for the White Sox, who went on to defeat the visiting New York Yankees yesterday, 8-2. The series at US Cellular Field resumes this evening with Carlos Rodon toeing the slab for Chicago.
RBI singles by Arvicent Perez, Derek Hill and Will Maddox capped a five-run fourth inning for the West Michigan Whitecaps, who held off the visiting Great Lakes Loons the rest of the way in an 8-5 triumph last night. The series at Fifth Third Ballpark continues this evening.
