1971: MHSAA Launches 'Big One' for Baseball
June 13, 2016
By Ron Pesch
Special for Second Half
“It’s a big one,” said state director of athletics Al Bush, when asked about organizing the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s inaugural baseball tournament back in January 1971. “The idea has been under study for more than three years.”
After discussions with the MHSAA Representative Council, in mid-December a committee of seven coaches from various parts of the state gathered and built the framework for the tournament, according to Associated Press reports.
Still ranked among the Top 10 all-time fall classics, the Detroit Tigers’ 1968 World Series victory over the St. Louis Cardinals meant interest in the national pastime was on the rise in Michigan.
Bush noted that about 650 Michigan high schools had sponsored baseball in 1970, and that plans for organizing the pending tournament were much like those for basketball, with Districts and Regionals. Circulars sent out by the MHSAA asking about planned participation indicated nearly 500 schools intended to play in the tournament. As in other sports, except basketball, plans were to host separate tournaments for the Upper and Lower Peninsula due to weather conditions experienced above the Mackinac Bridge.
While a number of cities in the past had hosted baseball tournaments where schools from around the state had been invited to participate, the MHSAA had never previously sponsored a statewide tournament. Perhaps the most well-known was one hosted in Battle Creek for about 10 seasons in the 1940s and 1950s.
In April 1971, Districts were announced, with qualifying round play scheduled for May 17-27 and Pre-District contests planned for May 29 that would allow the field of teams to be cut to four for the Districts. A total of 594 teams entered the Lower Peninsula tournament. The Finals for all classes were scheduled for June 19.
“I think you could draw it out of a hat and call a certain team a favorite, and you’d be correct,” said MHSAA Associate Director Vern Norris 45 years ago when discussing the uncharted territory of that first tournament. “There’s just no basis for comparison. I think we can say the teams competing Saturday are the cream of the crop, although in any tourney competition some good teams are eliminated early.”
“Overall, we’ve been very pleased,” he continued. “No. There haven’t been any major problems. The umpiring has been good and the support from the schools excellent. The person who really helped us out was the weatherman.”
All 48 Regional games were played without a hitch. In years past (and in years to come), weather had played havoc with previous tournaments.
Four sites were used for the games. Class A was played at Wyandotte Memorial Field, while Class B was hosted at Battle Creek Central. Class C contests were scheduled at Marshall High School with Class D at Central Michigan University’s Alumni Field in Mount Pleasant. Semifinal games were scheduled for 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., with finals scheduled at 3:30 p.m. at each location.
The Detroit area emerged with three of the four titles, with games played beneath hot and humid weather.
Jim Saad, recruited to Colorado State to play football, smacked a 355-foot two-run homer to left field in the opening inning of the Finals as Harper Woods Bishop Gallagher blanked Royal Oak Kimball 3-0 before 1,200 fans for the Class A crown. Greg Boos tossed a two-hitter for the Lancers, striking out 10 along the way. It was the first of three Class A baseball titles won by Gallagher and their coach Jim Bresciami, who would lead his teams to 545 wins between 1965 and 1985. The Detroit Catholic League’s First Division East champion, Gallagher finished with a 32-5 record on the year. Right-hander Boos ended the season with an 11-2 mark.
Detroit Lutheran West posted 24 wins against a single defeat, scoring a 4-1 win over Pinconning for the Class B title. A bases-loaded single by Fred Schebor in the fifth inning brought in two runs to break open a 1-1 tie. Bill Lindblom was responsible for West’s other two runs, driving in runners with a single in the second inning and a double in the sixth. Junior Leon Druckenmiller struck out six and scattered six hits for the Leopards for the win. Earlier in the day, John Paloni struck out 18 batters in West’s 3-0 Semifinal win over Wayland.
Hamtramck St. Ladislaus took advantage of a pair of third inning errors, scoring two runs in the team’s 3-0 win over Dearborn Sacred Heart. Tom Crepeau pitched a four-hitter and struck out seven, while Paul Janas led the victors with two singles and a double in the Final. The win avenged a pair of nonleague losses to Sacred Heart during the regular season. Rick Radzinski pitched a two-hitter and drove in three runs in Ladislaus’ 7-1 Semifinal win over Sanford-Meridian.
Managed by 1952 alumnus Jim Powell, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart rebounded from an early 8-1 deficit in its Semifinal game with Marion for a 16-12 win, gaining a birth in the Class D championship game against Portland St. Patrick. The Irish’s Roger Therman then pitched a four-hitter in a 5-1 win over St. Patrick.
To the north, with its later thaw, the high school baseball season continued to revolve around summer American Legion baseball but also two U.P. high school leagues: the Eastern Upper Peninsula High School Baseball League (EUP) and Western Upper Peninsula High School Baseball League (WUP). In its 14th year of operation, the WUP saw Ironwood post an 11-1 record against six league opponents to earn the 1971 league championship, while Rudyard repeated as champs with a 12-4 season in the nine-team EUP.
Today, the U.P.’s most famous baseball player remains Kevin Tapani, a 1981 graduate of Escanaba, who pitched for 13 years in the Major League. Tapani quarterbacked the Escanaba Eskymos to the MHSAA Class A football title in 1981, yet never threw a pitch for his high school because of the weather.
Forty-five years later, Mother Nature continues to influence baseball in the Upper Peninsula – although over time Upper Peninsula schools began taking part with those from the Lower Peninsula in a statewide MHSAA Tournament. The first U.P. team to make the Semifinals in baseball was Sault Ste. Marie in 1988.
This season, 21 Upper Peninsula schools sponsored varsity baseball teams, as gradually some have brought back programs long in hibernation – Gladstone, for example, made the Division 3 Semifinals in 2014 after bringing back a baseball program the year before that hadn't played since 1959.
Ron Pesch has taken an active role in researching the history of MHSAA events since 1985 and began writing for MHSAA Finals programs in 1986, adding additional features and "flashbacks" in 1992. He inherited the title of MHSAA historian from the late Dick Kishpaugh following the 1993-94 school year, and resides in Muskegon. Contact him at peschstats@comcast.net with ideas for historical articles.
PHOTOS: (Top) Detroit Lutheran West stands together for a team photo; it won the inaugural Class B title. (Middle) Champions of the first MHSAA Tournament, in 1971, included Harper Woods Bishop Gallagher, Hamtramck St. Ladislaus and Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart.
Senior-Powered Centreville Eager to Build on 2024 Regional Final Run
By
Scott Hassinger
Special for MHSAA.com
April 8, 2025
CENTREVILLE – Optimism is running high on the baseball diamond in Centreville, where eight seniors return who have unfinished business.
Dan Truckenmiller, the Bulldogs' fourth-year varsity head coach, has developed a special connection with his senior class – many of whom he has coached for the past 10 years, since they started playing the sport at the Little League level.
"I've been fortunate to be able to move up in the program, along with my group of seniors. We're looking forward to a solid season. We basically have all nine of our starters back from last year," Truckenmiller said.
The coaching continuity and the Bulldogs' experience were big reasons Centreville, 13-4 in league play and runner-up in the Southwest 10 Conference last spring, was able to put together a strong postseason run.
The Bulldogs avenged a pair of regular-season losses by knocking off No. 8-ranked and undefeated Marcellus 11-1 in their District Final. Centreville went on to post a 2-0 shutout of Byron Center Zion Christian in the Regional Semifinals before losing 6-0 to Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep in the Regional championship game to finish 21-11 overall.
Centreville won't have the opportunity to avenge its season-ending loss to Hackett in the playoffs this season after moving to Division 3 (although the two will meet again during the regular season). But with a tougher nonleague schedule, the Bulldogs are confident they will be able to compete against anyone once the postseason arrives.
Centreville opened this season last Tuesday with a nonleague doubleheader on the road against reigning Division 3 champion Watervliet. The Bulldogs also have tough nonleague games lined up against Bronson, Union City, Constantine, Hackett, Schoolcraft and Kalamazoo Christian.
A formidable foe in baseball, Centreville reached the Division 4 Semifinals twice last decade under past coach Mike Webster. The Bulldogs lost to Muskegon Catholic Central 10-8 in the 2015 Final and fell 5-1 to eventual champion Sterling Heights Parkway Christian during the 2016 Semifinals.
Three of the most notable players Centreville's program has produced are former Major League relief pitcher Matt Thornton, along with along with current Division I players Jared Spencer (Texas) and his twin brother Jacob Spencer (Indiana State University).
Thornton, who enjoyed a 12-year MLB career with the Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres, still ranks second all-time in American League history with 182 holds. Jared Spencer is in the starting pitching rotation for the Longhorns after transferring following a stellar three-year stint at Indiana State.
Truckenmiller believes his 2025 Bulldogs squad has the potential to leave a special mark of its own.
"Our main goal is to always win the conference, which we haven't been able to do yet. There's always a little hiccup here or there that's kept us from achieving that," he said.
Centreville's senior class includes Evan Blair, Matt Swanwick, Ben Truckenmiller, Kobe Carpenter, Vinny Jines, Tristan Smeltzer, Garrison Bunning and Aiden Kohlhoff.
Swanwick, Carpenter, Ben Truckenmiller and Jines are all four-year varsity players.
"My plan right away when I took over as coach was to bring the guys that had varsity potential up and get them that experience," said Dan Truckenmiller, who played high school baseball with Thornton and Matt Swanwick's father Paul Swanwick as well as his uncle Matthew Swanwick. They are all 1995 Centreville graduates.
The 6-foot-5 Matt Swanwick will be Centreville's ace pitcher after posting a 3-1 mark and 1.67 ERA as a junior with 54 strikeouts against just 16 walks over 46 innings.
"I'm looking forward to this season. Our team is one year older, and that should allow us to handle ourselves better in any situation,” said Matt Swanwick, a first-team all-league selection last season who plans to attend Michigan State University to study to become an electrician. “We are deep in our pitching staff and we can all throw strikes, plus we have guys behind us who can make plays,"
Centreville's coach is confident in Swanwick's ability to handle the No. 1 role on the staff.
"Matt excels at whatever he does. He always throws hard and can place the ball where he needs too. At the plate, he's a clutch hitter with power and is probably the fastest guy on our team," said Dan Truckenmiller, who will be assisted for a third straight season by Chad Meade.
"Chad is a great coach who has been around the game of baseball a long time and is someone who knows the Xs and Os of the game very well."
Ben Truckenmiller, son of the head coach, went 6-0 with 73 strikeouts and 19 walks and a 3.50 ERA last spring. He will be the Bulldogs' regular starting catcher when he's not scheduled to throw.
Smeltzer compiled a 4-0 mark on the mound in 2024, allowing 16 walks with 24 strikeouts and a 4.10 ERA. Evan Blair, Carpenter and Jines could all see time on the mound as well.
"Most of our senior class is extremely versatile and can play multiple positions. Ben excels at catching and has been our starter there for four years. He's also become a better pitcher and has some good pitches that throw opposing hitters off," Dan Truckenmiller said.
"Kobe has been one of the best centerfielders I've ever had. He makes remarkable catches every game and is very vocal and stays positive. Vinny is a bigger kid who can hit the crap out of the ball. He probably hits it the hardest of anyone on our team. When he's up there, he's just looking to get a base hit rather than trying to hit it out of the park."
Swanwick returns as Centreville's top hitter in the No. 3 spot in the batting order where he hit .398 as a junior with 37 hits, including nine doubles, three triples, one home run and 34 RBI.
Carpenter, the Bulldogs' starting centerfielder, returns having batted .311 with 32 hits as the team's lead-off hitter a year ago
"I love the potential of our outfield. We all communicate very well, and there's good chemistry between us. We have lot of faith in each other to make every catch, and we have a strong core of infielders as well," Carpenter said.
Jines, the Bulldogs' starting first baseman, returns to fill the clean-up spot after hitting .395 with 32 hits, including eight doubles, with 32 RBI last season.
"We have a consistent group of guys who have played together from a young age,” Jines said. “I'm looking forward to playing first base again because there is a lot of attention to detail to be good at that position. You have to know the other infielders' style with the throws they make over to you.”
Ben Truckenmiller occupies the No. 2 spot in the batting order. He hit .318 with 28 hits, including three doubles, and had 15 RBI last year.
"I love catching. I have faith in my abilities behind the dish, and I feel like I'm one of the better catchers around our area,” he said. “ We have unfinished business this year and want to win our conference and Districts and go further than last year. It will take being confident and remaining focused to achieve those goals."
Two sophomores will supply a great deal of punch again at the plate for Centreville. Second baseman Cash Dentler returns after hitting .438 with 32 hits and 20 RBI and an on-base percentage of .539, while sophomore starting shortstop Bo Riley batted .281 as a freshman with 25 hits, including seven doubles, and 21 RBI.
Smeltzer batted .293 with 17 hits and 10 RBI. Juniors Jack Bartelt, the starting left fielder, and Matt Blair will play vital roles for the Bulldogs while Bunning is pegged for heavy duty in right field.
"Garrison is a team guy who I can always put into the game to get a clutch hit or make a key play in the field for us," Dan Truckenmiller said. "Jack is a big power hitter and aggressive for his size on the basepaths. Evan is a utility guy and our secret weapon who came out of nowhere last season to pitch valuable innings for us. Aiden has one of the best attitudes of anyone on the team too."
An ability to adjust and play small ball will be critical again to Centreville's success. The Bulldogs are also a big threat on the basepaths.
Centreville stole 124 bases in 2024 as a team. Leading that effort was Matt Swanwick with 22 followed by Ben Truckenmiller (21), Carpenter (18), Dentler (14) and Jines (13).
"Our guys understand that when there are times that we aren't hitting the ball very well, we might have to be able to lay down a bunt,” Dan Truckenmiller said. “I like to be aggressive when we get guys on base. I like to challenge our kids and steal a lot of bases."
Scott Hassinger is a contributing sportswriter for Leader Publications and previously served as the sports editor for the Three Rivers Commercial-News from 1994-2022. He can be reached at hassingermitchell@gmail.com with story ideas for Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Centreville’s Ben Truckenmiller, left, beats a tag at third base during a 2024 game. (Middle) Matt Swanwick pitches for the Bulldogs last spring. (Below) Centreville’s seniors and coaches, from left: Assistant coach Chad Meade, seniors Vincent Jines, Tristan Smeltzer, Kobe Carpenter, Ben Truckenmiller, Garrison Bunning, Matt Swanwick and Aiden Kohlhoff; and Centreville head coach Dan Truckenmiller. Missing from the photo is Evan Blair. (Action photos by Brandon Watson/Sturgis Journal. Group photo by Scott Hassinger.)