June 14, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The area's best high school players will square off in the annual John Bos Baseball and Softball All-Star Games to benefit Grand Rapids Community College scholarships after a two-year hiatus.
Grand Rapids Community College and Davenport University are hosting the games on June 21 at Davenport University's Farmers Insurance Complex. Baseball games are scheduled for 3, 5, and 7 :30 p.m., and softball games are 5 and 7 p.m.
Admission for spectators age 8 and over is $5, with proceeds going to GRCC's John Bos Scholarship Fund.
"The John Bos games are a tradition that goes back to 1959, and we’re thrilled to bring them back after missing the last two years due to the pandemic,” GRCC Athletic Director Lauren Ferullo said. “Generations of baseball and softball players have competed in the games, and many others have benefitted from scholarships supported by the event.”
GRCC softball coach Molly McKinney participated in the John Bos game as a senior at Byron Center High School.
“It was a fun opportunity to play with all the players in your class you spent your high school career playing against,” McKinney said. “It was a wonderful experience to build connections. I am happy to hear the John Bos games have returned. It’s wonderful to think the proceeds of this event help out future GRCC student-athletes.”
Davenport head baseball coach Kevin Tidey participated in the event in 1989.
“The history of the John Bos game is amazing,” he said. “There have been a lot of great players that have played in this game. I know every senior looks forward to the opportunity. We are very honored to be hosting the Jon Bos game at Davenport University.”
Bos started as a physical education teacher at what was then Grand Rapids Junior College. By the 1920s, he coached all the men's sports teams: football, basketball, baseball, track, tennis and swimming. His teams were known as the "Bosmen" and won state championships in football (1923, 1924, 1926 and 1928), basketball (1925, 1927 and 1928), tennis (1927) and swimming (1928). He left GRJC in 1938 to head the Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department.
GRCC now competes in baseball, softball, basketball, cross country, golf and volleyball. Student-athletes receive academic counseling and advising, along with tutoring and peer academic coaching.
The proceeds from admissions benefit the Bos Scholarship, awarded to GRCC student-athletes who compete for at least one of the college’s teams and maintain Michigan Community College Athletic Association eligibility.
Donations to the Bos Scholarship can be made at grcc.edu/donate. Click “other” in the pull-down menu and write in Bos Scholarship.