Teams can still get in Summer Softball Leagues until mid -June and current Softball Teams can add games for $40 per game + umps
Cancellations Posted after 4:45
Sponsored by:
Clark Ver Hulst founded Rec Sports in 1984. Rec Sports began offering indoor three on three and five on five basketball tournaments in the Grand Rapids area. In 1985, Rec Sports began offering softball tournaments in Jenison at the Georgetown fields and at Jenison High School. In 1987, Rec Sports began running the softball leagues and tournaments at the Knights of Columbus fields in Wyoming. In 1992, Dome World opened an outdoor softball field and had Rec Sports run the softball program.
Clark Ver Hulst took the Rogers High School baseball team to Panama City Beach, Florida for spring break. After baseball practice each day, Clark would organize a beach volleyball tournament and a vision was born. After returning from Florida, Clark and Bill Layle set out to find a facility to offer beach volleyball.
In the spring of 1993, Rec Sports opened two beach volleyball courts at Woody’s/Spectrum Lanes located at 5656 Clyde Park in Wyoming. Within two weeks, demand was so high that lights had to be installed. In 1997, the facility was changed to a four court facility with lights on each of the courts.
Rec Sports began offering indoor volleyball leagues and tournaments in the fall of 1993.
Randy Bolitho and two other investors purchased the Westwood Ranch in 1993. Bolitho approached Clark Ver Hulst in late 1993 and asked if he would be interested in putting softball fields and beach volleyball courts behind the restaurant. Ver Hulst and Bob Staudacher put in two softball fields (Field 2 and Field 3) and Ver Hulst and Bill Layle put in four beach volleyball courts in the spring of 1994.
The third softball field (Field 1) was put into operation in 1995 and the fourth field (Field 4) opened in 2002. Growing demand led to the installation of lights on fields two and four in the spring of 2006. Flag football began in the fall of 1994 and is still played on the softball fields in the fall of each year. The hockey rink was constructed in 1995 and was used until 2006.
The Rec Sports Complex is located at 5760 West River Drive, approximately two miles northeast of Old Kent Park. This 29-acre facility borders the Grand River. The four softball fields were filled to capacity six nights per week and most Saturdays from April until October. .
There are nearly 150 league teams that play in the April to early August session. There are over 100 teams that play in the session that starts the first week of August and ends in October. There are 26 softball tournaments and three Little League baseball tournaments that are scheduled each season. There are also a number of Little League Baseball games that are played at the fields. These premier fields will host many tournaments for the National Softball Association and the United States Slow-pitch Softball Association.
Winter three-on-three basketball leagues are held on Monday and Thursday nights at Grace Bible College in Wyoming, Michigan. A brand new wood floor was constructed in 2009 at this excellent facility. Rec Sports hosts an indoor 5 on 5 basketball tournament for Gordon Foods Services each year as well as outdoor 3 on 3 tournaments for Tri-Unity Christian Schools, Walker Township, Cutlerville Days, Byron Center Township, and the City of Grandville. The Grandville tournament over the July 4th holiday has been going for over 20 years and is still the largest 3 on 3 tournament for Rec Sports. This tournament has over 100 teams starting with divisions for eight and nine year olds and having divisions for all ages and ability levels.
Clark is the owner and founder of Rec Sports. He is a Teacher, Coach/Mentor, Recreation Enthusiast, and Community Builder. His passions in life are his faith, his family and the community. One of his life verses is, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you a hope and a future” - Jeremiah 29:11.
Clark was born in Big Rapids, Michigan and he grew up in Wyoming, Michigan. He played football, basketball, and baseball at Rogers High School. His football team finished 7-2 and his basketball team made it to the state semifinals and was rated number one in the state the majority of his senior year.
Clark went on to play basketball at Hope College and Grace Bible College. A sports highlight for Clark was finishing seventh in the nation in NCCAA in free throw shooting (84.2%) while playing at Grace Bible College. He began coaching high school football and baseball and also officiating high school and collegiate games while in college. He also began working in the Zeeland and Holland Recreation Departments.
During college Clark met his wife, Meribeth, on a blind date and got married after his junior year. He started Rec Sports in 1984 to help pay for college and living expenses. Since 1984, Rec Sports has continued to grow (click here for Rec Sports History) getting into new sports and opening athletic facilities.
Clark graduated from Hope College in 1985 with a teaching certificate and degrees in business, psychology, and religion. He graduated from Grand Valley State University in 1988 with a master’s degree in business administration. He coached high school baseball for 10 years and high school football for three years. He has worked with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes since his sophomore year of high school. He taught for 33 years at Rogers High School which has since merged and become Wyoming High School.
Clark and Meribeth have three children that also have worked with Rec Sports. Meribeth spent many years working with Rec Sports and she worked as a special events coordinator at Younkers. Their oldest son, Jordan, graduated from Grand Valley State University with a degree in business administration and a sports emphasis. Jordan received his Master’s Degree in Sports Management at the University of Memphis. He has worked with the University of Memphis and Auburn basketball teams as well as Grand Valley State University and is currently an assistant coach with the Grand Rapids Drive. He is married to Julie and they have a daughters, Kynlee and Caroline and a son, Caleb. Their daughter, Ashleigh, received her teaching certificate from Hope College and her Master’s in Education from Union College. She is taught in the Memphis Public School System and currently a realtor in the Memphis area. She is married to Austin Bettis. They have two daughters, Amayah and Haddie and a son, Amari. Zack is also interested in athletics and currently works in the Rec Sports offices and umpires. Zack graudated from the University of Memphis with a degree in accounting. He is currently a Graduate Assistant with the Men's Basketball team at Eastern Michigan University.