'Blaine and Shane' are often confused, but help power Norse.

SHANE MacDONALD (left) and Blaine Fritz share a
love for a soccer, and have helped lead Suttons Bay
to another successful season.

For two guys who are constantly being confused with each other, Shane and Blaine have their share of differences.

Blaine Fritz, the one with curly hair, is 6-foot-1. Shane MacDonald is 5-foot-10. Blaine's the senior; Shane's the junior.

Blaine starts a sentence, and Shane finishes it. That is unless Shane starts a sentence, in which case Blaine does the honors.

Perhaps that's where the confusion lies, even more so than the obviously rhymed first names. The two players who consistently put the soccer ball in the net are always talking about the same subject — soccer.

"It's pretty much all soccer," said MacDonald about his sports priorities. "My dad's into it, too. He use to call me a baby for playing soccer instead of football. But now he's intense. You can hear him from the sidelines."

Finished Fritz: "He has one of those voices."

"Blaine and Shane" — the names seem to belong together — are the guys who all summer are calling teammates to round up a game of "World Cup." In winter, they play on the Northstorm club team.

While soccer has been a regular part of their lives, it has not been all-consuming. Both expect to study business in college. They are members of the same Business Professionals of America team.

"I'm interested in business for college," said MacDonald.

"Me, too," finishes Fritz.

MacDonald, the son of Al and Cheryl MacDonald, carries a grade point average of about 3.4; Fritz, the son of Tim and Natalie Fritz, has a perfect 4.0, but has yet to choose a college to attend.

That can wait until after soccer season, which was extended with a 1-0 win Tuesday over North Muskegon in the first round of Regional play. Fritz, clearly the fastest player on the field in the Regional, would like to play soccer for a small college.

Both recognize that soccer first and foremost is a team sport. They aren't sure who has scored the most goals (Fritz has 29, MacDonald has 27) or assists (Fritz has 15, MacDonald has 23). And both are quick to credit other players for Suttons Bay's success this season. The Norsemen are one win away from advancing to the state semifinals for the second time in three seasons, and have already captured Northwest Conference and District titles.

Junior Jason McKisson tops the list of contributors. He scored the only goal in the North Muskegon contest, and also gave Suttons Bay the lead in a critical District win over Leland.

"He gets us the ball when we need it," said MacDonald. "He's a big part of the team. He wins all the loose balls."

Seniors Ryan Gardner and Niel Bell have also come to play. "Both (Gardner) and Jason, they get us the ball," said Fritz. "And Niel has really improved — he's stepped up."

Opposing coaches are familiar with Fritz and MacDonald.

"Those are some fast boys there," said Northport coach Marshall Collins. "They have some speed."

Added Glen Lake coach Mike Hesselbeck: "They're good, very good. I think Blaine might be the best player in the area. Shane and Blaine just find each other. When they cross midfield, you have to start marking them because they'll make you pay."

Fritz and MacDonald are the latest in a long line of players who in recent years have provided Suttons Bay fans with the most consistent soccer program in Leelanau County. Remarkably, they've been successful without the benefit of a veteran coach as older players on the team accepted leadership roles.

In Fritz's freshman year, the team leader was Mike Morrison. MacDonald points to Ryan Hoensheld and other groups of seniors — and his relatives. His brother Cody MacDonald and cousin Jesse Wright were leaders in past seasons.

"They've made it a tradition," said Fritz. "It starts with the upperclassmen, like me and Shane getting everybody together in the summer."

Present coach Randy U'Ren has been at the helm for two years — a rarity for MacDonald. "Since seventh grade, I didn't have the same coach two years in a row," he said.

Now they know what they've been missing.

"It takes some time for players to get use to the coach, and for the coach to get use to the players," said Fritz.

"We know his style, and get it done," finished MacDonald.

You can see why Blaine and Shane are so good at finishing passes to each other.