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D4 Finalists Ride Pitching to Saturday
By
Tom Markowski
Special for Second Half
June 17, 2016
EAST LANSING – No one knows better how good of a pitcher Andrew Manier is than Sterling Heights Parkway Christian catcher Alex Julio.
“He was something special today,” Julio said. “He’s a good pitcher, and has been. But today he was special.”
Manier didn’t allow a hit until there was one out in the fourth inning, and the senior lefthander went the distance as Parkway Christian defeated reigning runner-up Centreville, 5-1, in a Division 4 Semifinal on Friday at McLane Stadium on Michigan State University’s campus.
The Eagles (22-11-1) will return to the Final for the first time since 2009 and play Portland St. Patrick (34-7) for the championship at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Neither school has won an MHSAA title in the sport.
Manier was never in serious trouble Friday. Parkway Christian scored four runs in the top of the first inning, and Manier did the rest. He walked two and struck out four, and the only inning he allowed two batters to reach base safely was the seventh when Centreville scored its run.
“In a big game like this you have to step up, calm your nerves,” Manier said. “I had two walks but I had great fielding behind me. The curve was working well. You have to keep the hitters off balance. I love the responsibility.”
The first inning gave Parkway Christian the 4-0 lead and momentum. Montana Essian executed a suicide squeeze that scored Manier, who doubled, for the first run. Julio followed with an RBI single and Jacob Bambrick had a two-run single.
Julio had another RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the seventh inning.
Collin Kirby had an RBI single for Centreville (28-4).
The Bulldogs started Coletin Gascho on the mound but he lasted just one inning. Coach Mike Webster went with Alex Meyer for the final six.
Webster said Manier was one of the best pitchers his team had faced this season.
“He’s definitely top three,” Webster said. “He’s a competitive kid. That was the most talented team we’ve faced all year.”
Parkway Christian coach Rick Koch said this Semifinal victory was something that had been building for the past three years. The Eagles lost in the Quarterfinals in 2014 and reached a Regional Final last season.
“We thought we had the potential all three years,” he said. “We play for one run per inning. We know our pitching is solid. It is nice to get those four (runs). It helps to get the butterflies out.”
Portland St. Patrick 2, Gaylord St. Mary 0
St. Patrick coach Bryan Scheurer went against conventional thinking and went with a freshman, and not his senior ace, in Friday’s Semifinal against Gaylord St. Mary.
Nathan Lehnert made his second cousin look like a genius, as Lehnert went six innings and allowed five hits, all singles, and walked only two.
St. Patrick will go for its first title after finishing runner-up (in Class D) in 1971, 1973 and 1993.
And Scheurer will start Travis Moyer against Parkway Christian. The Eagles are also expected to go with their ace, Riley McManus, in the final.
Moyer relieved Lehnert, walked the first batter and retired the next three in order.
“All he’s done as a freshman is to go 8-0 with an ERA of 1.00,” Scheurer said of Lehnert. “Some people say that was taking a risk. I don’t see it that way. To bring Travis back twice after three days’ rest was too much.”
Moyer went seven innings last Saturday in Regionals, then came back Tuesday and pitched seven innings in a 3-2 Quarterfinal victory over reigning Division 4 champion Muskegon Catholic Central.
“I talked to Travis and he said he was sore,” Scheurer said. “He said he’d go, but I looked at his body language.”
Dan Mackowiak’s bunt single scored Brendan Schrauben to give St. Patrick a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
St. Mary (31-6) loaded the bases with one out in the second before Lehnert struck out John Paul Zeilinski and got Ethan Szymanski to bounce into a fielder’s choice to end the threat.
The Snowbirds also loaded the bases the next inning but couldn’t come through with a two-out hit. Adam Nowicki reached base on an error to start the inning, and when Mackowiak made a diving catch of Nicholas Torsky’s line drive in the next at-bat, the momentum stayed with the Shamrocks.
St. Patrick added a run in the fifth, and St. Mary left the bases loaded again in the sixth to end Lehnert’s day.
“We just went at it as any other game,” Lehnert said. “Our game is revolved around small ball.
“Nervous? Yes. When we started to make plays, I wasn’t so nervous.”
Torsky pitched well for St. Mary as he also gave up five singles and he walked three.
“We hit some hard balls,” St. Mary coach Matt Nowicki said. “And they made some great plays. That’s baseball.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Parkway Christian’s Andrew Manier prepares to unload a pitch during Friday’s Semifinal win over Centreville. (Middle) St. Patrick’s Nathan Lehnert makes his way toward the plate while pitching the Shamrocks to the Division 4 Final.
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Preview: New Champ (at least 1) Guaranteed
June 10, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
This weekend’s MHSAA Baseball Finals at Michigan State University’s McLane Stadium are guaranteed to provide at least a few first-time thrills.
Of 16 teams playing in Semifinals starting Thursday, 11 have never played in an MHSAA baseball championship game. In fact, only seven of 15 that play in conferences won those leagues this spring.
Two of the five teams that have won MHSAA titles won theirs at least 30 years ago. And definitely keep an eye on Division 4 on Saturday; all four semifinalists are playing for their first MHSAA baseball championship.
See below for a schedule of this weekend’s games, plus glances at all 16 teams that will take the field beginning Thursday.
Semifinals – Thursday
Division 1
Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills vs. Hartland, 9 a.m.
Grosse Pointe South vs. Portage Northern, 11:30 a.m.
Division 2
Mount Pleasant vs. Adrian, 2:30 p.m.
Vicksburg vs. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 5 p.m.
Semifinals – Friday
Division 3
Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker vs. Jackson Lumen Christi, 9 a.m.
Buchanan vs. Gladstone, 11:30 a.m.
Division 4
Centreville vs. Rudyard, 2:30 p.m.
Muskegon Catholic Central vs. Ubly, 5 p.m.
Finals – Saturday
Division 1: 9 a.m.
Division 2: 11:30 a.m.
Division 3: 2:30 p.m.
Division 4: 5 p.m.
Tickets cost $8 per round and include admission to softball and girls soccer games that day also at MSU’s Old College Field. Radio broadcasts of all games can be heard online at MHSAAnetwork.com. All games will be streamed live online at MHSAA.TV and viewable on subscription basis.
All statistics below are through at least the regular season, with most through teams' Regionals. (Click for links to brackets and scores.)
DIVISION 1
GROSSE POINTE SOUTH
Record/rank: 32-11, No. 9
Coach: Dan Griesbaum, 32nd season (740-381-2)
League finish: Second in Macomb Area Conference Red.
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2001, runner-up 2014.
Players to watch: Ryan Liagre, sr. 3B (.416, 44 R, 12 2B, 4 HR, 29 RBI); James Fishback, sr. 1B (.387, 34 RBI); Andrew Fabry, sr. P (9-1, 0.45, 60 K).
Outlook: Grosse Pointe South defeated its five tournament opponents by a combined score of 48-5 after entering the postseason with four losses over its final five regular-season games. It avenged one of those losses, to Detroit U-D Jesuit, in the Regional Final. Liagre made the all-state Dream Team last season, and with Fishback provides muscle in the middle of the lineup surrounded by junior Will Poplawski (.350), sophomore Brad Thompson (.338) and senior Justin McMann (.327); all nine regulars hit at least .291. Senior Will Norris moves over from second base to follow Fabry in the rotation and is 7-1 with a 2.72 ERA.
GRAND RAPIDS KENOWA HILLS
Record/rank: 33-4, No. 8
Coach: Joe Acker, fourth season (93-34)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Black.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Christian Falicki, jr. P (.325, 9-0 pitching, 2.03 ERA); Jacob Sposaro, sr. SS/P (.448, 35 R, 12 2B, 31 RBI, 6-1 pitching, 2.15 ERA); Jace Beatty, jr. OF/P (.493, 25 R, 4-0 pitching, 2.76 ERA)
Outlook: Kenowa Hills has increased its win total each of the last three seasons under Acker, adding a third straight league and second straight District title this spring. The pitching staff is deep with junior Bennett Norry (7-1) just behind Falicki in innings pitched this spring. Six hitters bat .348 or better – the team batting average is an impressive .325 – and eight had driven in at least 12 runs through the end of the District. Sposaro also has stolen 10 bases on 11 attempts, third on a team that has swiped 74 bases in 80 tries.
HARTLAND
Record/rank: 26-16-1, unranked
Coach: Brian Morrison, 14th season (359-153-3)
League finish: Third in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Gary Turnbull, jr. 1B (.344, 30 R, 15 2B, 20 RBI); John Baker, jr. 1B/P (.328, 30 R 13 2B, 26 RBI, 8-2 pitching, 0.93 ERA, 110 K); Alex Vydick, jr. SS/P (.336, 25 R, 22 RBI, 4-1, 3.43 ERA).
Outlook: Hartland won its third Regional in five seasons and fourth in seven years, but broke through for its first Semifinal berth since 2000 and second in program history. While unranked, Hartland finished third in its KLAA division behind No. 4 Brighton and No. 12 Howell. This could be only the start of a nice run – the starting lineup includes only two seniors. Six batters are hitting .317 or better, led by freshman third baseman Max Hendricks at .419.
PORTAGE NORTHERN
Record/rank: 28-7-1, unranked
Coach: Chris Andrews, 15th season (376-160)
League finish: Second in Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Collin Hall, sr. 1B (.434, 26 R, 13 2B, 32 RBI); Max Schuemann, sr. SS (.380, 37 R, 20 RBI, 17 SB, 3-0 pitching, 1.35 ERA); Tommy Henry, jr. P/OF (.320, 25 R, 21 RBI, 16 SB, 8-1, 0.35 ERA, 112 K).
Outlook: Portage Northern has had a solid run under Andrews with at least 20 wins in 13 of his 15 seasons after he arrived from Kalamazoo Loy Norrix in 2001. This is the team’s first Semifinal appearance since 1972, the second season of the MHSAA Tournament for the sport. Portage Northern advanced in part by defeating No. 10 Taylor Kennedy in the Quarterfinal and is riding an 11-game winning streak. Eight regulars are hitting at least .300, and senior Blake Therrian (7-2, 2.80) could also see the mound this weekend.
DIVISION 2
ADRIAN
Record/rank: 27-9, unranked
Coach: Greg Jackson, 26th season (524-351)
League finish: Second in Southeastern Conference White.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Matt Clark, sr. P/IF (.489, 37 R, 15 2B, 42 RBI, 15 SB, 6-2 pitching, 1.02 ERA); Tanner Heath, jr. C (.469, 25 R, 16 2B, 31 RBI); Noah Solis, jr. SS (.414, 40 R, 15 RBI, 25 SB).
Outlook: Adrian has bounced back from two straight sub-.500 seasons to win its first Regional since 2003 and make its first Semifinal since 1979. The Maples defeated No. 6 Milan in the District Final after losing three of its final four games before the start of the postseason; Adrian was ranked as high as No. 5 this spring. Clark is the only senior in the starting lineup, and two underclassmen start including sophomore leftfielder Ty Peck (.355).
MOUNT PLEASANT
Record/rank: 26-12, unranked
Coach: Luke Epple, 24th season (646-181)
League finish: Third in Saginaw Valley Association
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2014), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Hunter Buczkowski, jr. P/OF (.380, 22 R, 23 RBI, 6-2 pitching, 1.06 ERA); Zachary Heeke, jr. 3B (.469, 42 R, 22 RBI, 17 SB); Obie Ricumstrict, soph. SS (.400, 45 R, 11 2B, 21 RBI, 16 SB).
Outlook: The Oilers are on another dominant run, outscoring their six postseason opponents by a combined score of 58-2 with five shutouts. Add in two more shutouts at the end of the regular season for seven in their last eight games. Buczkowski made the all-state second team last season and leads a staff with three starters who have each won at least four games. His sophomore brother Logan is one of them and also plays centerfield and bats clean-up, hitting .369 with 10 doubles and 35 RBI. Senior designated hitter Ryan Lucksted (.388) and junior outfielder Max Trucks (.362) are two more big bats, and senior pitcher Mitch Ridley (4-1, 1.73 ERA) could find himself in an important spot as well this weekend.
ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARY’S
Record/rank: 30-13, No. 7
Coach: Matt Petry, fifth season (104-79)
League finish: Second in Detroit Catholic League Central.
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2003), three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Mason Vaughan, jr. OF (.373, 22 R, 26 RBI); Drake Titus, jr. 2B/P (.362, 42 R, 20 RBI, 18 SB, 11-2 pitching, 0.69 ERA); Campbell Kinch, sr. OF (.359, 36 R, 20 RBI, 13 SB).
Outlook: St. Mary’s will play in its first Semifinal since 2009, when it eventually finished Division 2 runner-up. The Eaglets have the pitching to compete for the entirety, with senior Greg Loukinen (6-4, 1.38 ERA) expected to get the Semifinal start and junior Scott Grant (5-2, 1.65 ERA) another option. This could be the beginning of a solid two-year run; the team has only four seniors and only two start as part of what is otherwise a junior-dominated lineup. Sophomore designated hitter Carter Macias (.333) and junior third baseman Drew Boyd (.322) are among others who add offensive boost.
VICKSBURG
Record/rank: 27-7, unranked
Coach: Brian Deal, 17th season (record at school N/A)
League finish: First in Wolverine Conference East.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Conner Henderson, sr. CF/P (.465, 39 R, 12 2B, 26 SB, 1.00 ERA pitching, 5 Sv); Dalton Ketelaar, sr. RF/P (.435, 11 2B, 4-1 pitching, 1.27 ERA); Brenden Lovell, soph. P/UTY (.413, 25 R, 15 2B, 25 RBI, 8-0 pitching, 1.08 ERA).
Outlook: Vicksburg won its first Regional title this spring, beating No. 2 Stevensville Lakeshore 2-1 in the Final, and then advanced to its first Quarterfinal by beating No. 1 East Grand Rapids 10-0 (Vicksburg had fallen to Lakeshore 11-0 during the regular season). Seven of the team’s eight seniors start and three more hit at least .300. First baseman Patrick Callahan is among them and also could play a role on the mound, entering the week 6-1 with a 1.64 ERA. Vicksburg was ranked as high as No. 9 this season and opened 16-2.
DIVISION 3
BUCHANAN
Record/rank: 23-7, No. 3
Coach: Lonnie Hoover, third season (52-31)
League finish: First in Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph West.
Championship history: Class C champion 1985, runner-up 1982 and 1981.
Players to watch: Chad Adkerson, soph. C (.449, 26 R, 20 RBI, 13 SB), Jarrett Thomas, jr. P/SS (.271, 29 R, 13 SB, 9-1 pitching, 1.01 ERA); Dalton Riddle, soph. P/OF (.380, 29 R, 31 RBI, 5-3 pitching, 1.98 ERA).
Outlook: The Bucks will play in their first Semifinal since 1999 and have made good on their high ranking, eliminating No. 8 Lansing Catholic in the Quarterfinal. Former junior varsity coach Hoover has led the team to an increase in wins each of the last two seasons, and they should surge again in 2016 as they graduate only one regular starter. Seven hit .300 or higher this spring, with sophomores Darren Shearer (.386) and Christian Hall (.375) and junior Gavin Morris (.362) among the other toughest outs. Another sophomore, Kyle Leazenby, might be an option on the mound after entering this week 5-1 with a 2.03 ERA.
ELKTON-PIGEON-BAY PORT LAKER
Record/rank: 22-10, unranked
Coach: Adam Grybauskas, fifth season (81-74)
League finish: First in Greater Thumb Conference West.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Cody Voelker, sr. P/IF (.353, 32 R, 8-2 pitching, 0.43 ERA); Austin Parrish, sr. P/3B (.348, 21 R, 18 RBI, 2-1 pitching, 2.46 ERA); Austin McCabe, sr. 1B (.333, 17 R, 27 RBI).
Outlook: Laker has won 14 of its last 16 with lockdown pitching led by Voelker and senior Brady Post (6-2, 2.13 ERA). The Lakers have outscored five tournament opponents by a combined 43-9, allowing no more than two runs in a game until Shepherd scored three in the Quarterfinal. Grybauskas formerly coached Central Lake from 2005-10 before taking over this program. Six of the team’s eight seniors start, but junior Logan Breismiester (.344) and sophomore Seth Bowles (.333) also supply offensive help.
GLADSTONE
Record/rank: 28-9, No. 9
Coach: Don Lauscher, third season (74-24-1)
League finish: Does not play in a conference.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Hunter Garling, jr. OF/P (.442, 25 R, 27 RBI, 2-3 pitching, 2.02 ERA); Justin Jurek, sr. C (.354, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 27 R); Jake Peterson, sr. OF/P (.398, 20 RBI, 32 R, 4-2 pitching, 1.87 ERA).
Outlook: The Braves’ incredible run continues, from not having a program for more than 50 years until 2013, to making the Semifinals last season and now again. They defeated No. 4 Traverse City St. Francis in the Regional Final before advancing to this weekend with an extra-inning 6-5 win over Muskegon Oakridge in the Quarterfinal. Garling made the all-state first team as a sophomore. Junior Elliot Danhoff (5-1) and sophomore Ben Schwalbach (3-0) are among others who can be called on to take the mound.
JACKSON LUMEN CHRISTI
Record/rank: 22-16, unranked
Coach: Phil Clifford, fifth season (record at school N/A)
League finish: Fourth in Interstate 8 Athletic Conference.
Championship history: Class B champion 1978.
Players to watch: John Fleming, jr. C; Josh Iocca, sr. RF; Zach Mehelich, jr. P. (Statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: Lumen Christi has had its share of baseball success in recent history, but after a .500 regular season it’s fair to call the first Regional title and Semifinal berth since 1997 surprises. The Titans did load up on some solid competition, playing in the same league as Division 2 No. 9 Parma Western and facing Division 2 No. 10 Niles, No. 6 Milan and semifinalist Vicksburg in tournament play. Six seniors anchor the starting lineup.
DIVISION 4
CENTREVILLE
Record/rank: 28-1, unranked
Coach: Mike Webster, fourth season (79-33)
League finish: First in BCS East.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Michael Kool, jr. P/IF (.337, 29 R, 9-0 pitching, 0.70 ERA, 100 K); Nick Kelley, jr. C (.400, 32 R, 22 RBI); Jalen Brown, jr. 1B (.398, 21 R, 26 RBI).
Outlook: Centerville’s most impressive regular-season highlight might’ve been a 5-1 win over Buchanan, a semifinalist in Division 3. It clearly was a sign of what was possible; the Bulldogs’ only loss was to Mendon, which they came back to beat in the District opener, and Centreville eliminated No. 2 Decatur in the Regional Semifinal. Kool made the all-state first team last season and is one of three pitchers who combined for all of the team’s decisions heading into the week; senior Jordan Gest (10-1, 3.17 ERA) and sophomore Coletin Gascho (8-0, 1.57) had the rest. And stay tuned: only two starters are seniors.
MUSKEGON CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 37-1-1, No. 3
Coach: Steve Schuitema, seventh season (170-41-2)
League finish: First in Lakes 8 Conference.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Nicholas Holt, sr. P/1B (.450, 39 R, 48 RBI, 23 SB, 12-0 pitching, 1.03 ERA); Jacob Holt, jr. C (.412, 35 R, 38 RBI); Anthony Woodard, sr. SS/P (.459, 60 R, 14 2B, 28 RBI, 28 SB, 3-0 pitching, 0.40 ERA).
Outlook: This will be MCC’s seventh Semifinal and first since 2012. The team has increased its win total the last six seasons and won four straight league titles and five Districts in those six seasons. Nicholas Holt made the all-state first team last season and Jacob Holt made the second team, and they are among a group that has put up gaudy numbers while facing mostly larger schools from their league and area. Five pitchers are at least 3-0 with ERAs under 1.50; sophomore Devin Comes is 9-1 with a 0.87 ERA. Senior Zachary Winzer is another tough out, hitting .427 with 50 runs, 11 doubles and 38 RBI.
RUDYARD
Record/rank: 30-4, No. 8
Coach: Ron VanSloten, 22nd season (444-185-4)
League finish: First in Straits Area Conference.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: James Rosebrock, jr. CF/P (.383, 29 R, 39 RBI, 4-0 pitching, 0.94 ERA); Travis Myers, sr. P/1B (.375, 43 R, 27 RBI, 19 SB, 8-2 pitching, 0.74 ERA); Connor Myers, sr. P/1B (.319, 20 R, 19 RBI, 10-2 pitching, 0.21 ERA, 103 K).
Outlook: This is Rudyard’s third trip to the Semifinals in nine seasons, the most recent coming in 2012, and it beat No. 5 Maple City Glen Lake in the Quarterfinal to get here. Picking out the standouts is tough because there are so many who have played major roles. Connor Myers and senior third baseman Cory Gillett made the all-state second team last season, but eight regulars bat .300 or better. Senior catcher Owen Mills receives from a staff with three starters sporting ERAs less than 1.00, and he hits .373 and is 2-0 with a 1.95 ERA on the mound.
UBLY
Record/rank: 22-7, unranked
Coach: James Becker, 16th season (259-170)
League finish: Second in Greater Thumb Conference East.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Cody Hutchinson, sr. CF/P (.343, 26 R, 14 SB, 2-1 pitching, 1.09 ERA); Jeffrey Wright, jr. P/SS (.353, 26 R, 16 2B, 25 RBI, 15 SB, 7-2 pitching, 1.44 ERA, 113 K); Cole Roggenbuck, sr. SS/P (.341, 24 R, 29 RBI, 17 SB, 5-3 pitching, 1.44 ERA).
Outlook: A season after Ubly’s softball team made its first Semifinals, the baseball team has accomplished the same. The Bearcats have won six District titles under Becker, but were 5-21 only five seasons ago. The team hits .295 with four players over .300; junior second baseman Evan Block joins the three mentioned above with a team-best .361. Becker played at Saginaw Valley State University and then served as an assistant coach with the Cardinals from 1995-98.
PHOTO: Mount Pleasant’s Hunter Buczkowski pitches the Oilers to last season’s Division 2 Final; Mount Pleasant is the only returning champion back this weekend.