Glad to Bring Baseball Back to Gladstone
May 9, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Blake Ballard looked out at the snow covering Gladstone last month and figured it would never melt. When he and his teammates finally played in their first tournament of the season April 20, the temperature couldn’t have broken 30 degrees.
It’s the annual plight of a high school baseball player. And Ballard and teammates are glad to enjoy it for the first time – as members of Gladstone’s first high school baseball team since 1959.
The Braves made their re-debut last month thanks to a full community effort that included deft advising from the eventual coach, creative thinking by the administration and school board and enthusiastic fundraising by parents and supporters – none of which is lost on a group of athletes who are off to a 10-3 start heading into Thursday’s doubleheader against Escanaba.
“Once we figured out it was going to happen, we were excited. Kids started practicing a lot,” said Ballard, one of the team’s two seniors. “It’s going to be pretty sweet later on. Whoever didn’t (play) will regret it.”
Gladstone has roughly 5,000 residents, and baseball has remained a staple of the community over the last half century – just not as the high school level.
Children grow up playing in the local little league and on travel teams, and then graduate to American Legion ball when they are older. But for any number of reasons – including weather-related difficulties in scheduling, low interest or lack of facilities – only 19 Upper Peninsula MHSAA high schools offer baseball.
At Gladstone, boys instead played and can continue to choose from track and field, golf and tennis during the spring. Ballard, for example, was a golfer before getting his chance on the diamond this year.
A football and basketball player too, he often was asked why his school didn't play baseball – and really had no idea how to answer.
Community members had campaigned for baseball in the past, said athletic director Matt Houle. He’s worked at Gladstone for more than 30 years, and has seen four or five strong pushes over the last decade alone.
But those efforts faced two challenges. The first was funding – all programs at Gladstone previously were funded by the school, but baseball if added would have to raise its own money. And the school also wanted to make sure to continue complying with Title IX, which meant finding more opportunities for female students as well if a baseball team was added for the boys. (Gladstone already has a softball program, and it’s one of the state’s best of the last decade with two MHSAA titles and a runner-up finish last season in Division 3.)
Enter former Escanaba baseball coach Don Lauscher.
He and two others keyed a similar effort that led to Escanaba High School creating a baseball program in 2002, and he also assisted Marquette when it added baseball four seasons ago. He had coached Gladstone Legion teams in 2005 and 2006 and Escanaba's varsity to a 130-27 record from 2007-11, but wasn't looking to become coach of a new program – he just hoped to lend his knowledge on getting it started.
Rallying the community was the easy part. And to keep with Title IX, Gladstone added self-funded co-ed swimming and bowling programs.
Supporters convinced the school board they could fund the program – and already have the team two years ahead on its expected financial obligations thanks to special events but also additional donations from local foundations and independently by other members of the community.
“Our community has always been supportive of our athletic teams. And being a town looked upon as a strong baseball/softball program, it was inevitable it would happen,” Houle said.
“People kept coming up and saying, ‘Congratulations Coach. We’re really behind you,’” Lauscher said of a recent breakfast fundraiser. “It’s amazing.”
The community is getting its money’s worth.
Ironically, an uncle of Lauscher's wife played on that 1959 Gladstone team. That didn't play into his taking over as coach, but he had other reasons.
Perhaps most of all, Lauscher missed teaching the game. He's coached it at just about every youth level and attended clinics as far away as Georgia and Louisiana, and enjoys passing on what he's learned. And life events fell into play to allow the opportunity to be assisted by his son Kurt and nephew B.J.; both played at Grand Rapids Community College and Kurt also pitched at Central Michigan University.
Again, because of the summer programs, Lauscher didn’t start completely from scratch. A core group including Ballard, juniors Christian Groleau, Christian Tackman, Sam Pouliot and sophomore Justin Jurek gave the Braves a quality pitching staff and some high school-comparable experience. Still, the team didn't have a catcher when practice began and fundamentals have been the focus as the coaches bring everyone up to speed.
As a whole, the 14-player roster has caught on quickly.
“Seeing the things these kids didn't know to where they are now, I’m very surprised where they are now,” Don Lauscher said.
The team plays at its local Legion field, which has lights and is only about a quarter-mile from the school. The Braves hosted their first “Parents Night” last week and truly are inclusive of the full student body with Lucas LaCosse joining Ballard as the seniors, followed by five juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen.
Gladstone’s other spring sports haven’t lost out much, if at all. The track and field team has 41 athletes and the golf team has 16; the tennis team is down to 11, but graduated a large senior class last season.
More Upper Peninsula schools are talking about adding baseball and softball, Houle said; Hancock softball played its first games ever Wednesday. Schools looking to get a program together would be wise to follow Gladstone’s road map.
“There is so much enthusiasm for it right now,” Houle said. “Just being at the diamond around kids I know so well, to see in their faces the excitement ... I’m very honored. There’s a great sense of pride among these kids.”
After the team's first four dates were canceled, Ballard threw the first game of Gladstone High's modern history.
“It was weird. (But) everyone liked it," he said. "It seemed like a big difference, playing for our school now."
PHOTOS: (Top) Christian Tackman (10) prepares to throw to first base while shortstop Blake Ballard follows behind during a game this spring. (Middle) Gladstone catcher Justin Jurek looks toward the dugout for a signal. (Photos courtesy of Lori Jurek).
Preview: McLane Welcomes Major Players, Familiar & 1st-Time Title Contenders
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
June 14, 2022
The team with the second-longest winning streak in MHSAA baseball history, and the appearances of three likely high-round Major League Baseball draft picks are among several intriguing storylines as we head into this weekend’s Baseball Finals at Michigan State University’s McLane Stadium.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (42-0) has won 64 straight games, going back to last season and second only to Homer’s 75 consecutive from 2004 to 2005. Perhaps more notably, the Eaglets with two more victories this weekend can break the single-season record for wins in a baseball season of 43 shared by four teams. St. Mary’s Brock Porter is a projected first-round draft selection and likely will be joined by teammate Ike Irish and Detroit Edison’s Gregory Pace Jr. in being selected next month.
Pace’s team is among nine seeking a first MHSAA baseball championship, and one of eight looking to advance to a title game for the first time.
Division 1 – Friday
Battle Creek Lakeview vs. Grosse Pointe North, 9 a.m.
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern vs. Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 11:30 a.m.
Division 2 – Thursday
Grosse Ile vs. Grand Rapids Christian, 9 a.m.
Ada Forest Hills Eastern vs. Goodrich, 11:30 a.m.
Division 3 - Friday
Detroit Edison vs. Pewamo-Westphalia, 2:30 p.m.
Buchanan vs. Standish-Sterling, 5 p.m.
Division 4 – Thursday
Whitmore Lake vs. Beal City, 2:30 p.m.
Riverview Gabriel Richard vs. Rudyard, 5 p.m.
FINALS – Saturday
Division 1 - 2:30 p.m.
Division 2 - 9 a.m.
Division 3 - 5 p.m.
Division 4 - 11:30 a.m.
Tickets cost $11 and may be purchased online only at GoFan. One ticket is good for all baseball, softball and girls soccer games at MSU’s Old College Field that day. All Semifinals and Finals will be broadcast and available with subscription from MHSAA.tv, with free audio broadcasts on the MHSAA Network.
Below is a glance at all 16 teams taking the field (with statistics through Quarterfinals unless noted):
Division 1
BATTLE CREEK LAKEVIEW
Record/rank: 29-7, No. 15
Coach: Kyle Kracht, fifth season (98-42)
League finish: Second in Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (2006), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Kooper Etheridge, sr. OF/P (.490, 37 R, 14 2B, 38 RBI, 13 SB, 6-1 pitching, 2.39 ERA); Jake Kucharczyk, jr. OF/P (.462, 49 R, 37 RBI, 24 SB); Zach Kucharczyk, jr. C (.461, 57 R, 13 2B, 30 SB); Jackson Haywood, jr. 1B/P (.389, 33 R, 45 RBI, 5-3 pitching, 2.93 ERA).
Outlook: This will be Lakeview’s first Semifinal since 2014 and comes after a 7-2 Quarterfinal win over No. 2 Northville. The Spartans also emerged from a league that included No. 12 Portage Northern and 2021 Division 1 runner-up Portage Central, and they are a combined 61-16 overall over the last two seasons. Junior second baseman Jayden Miller (.415, 18 SB) adds another big bat in the middle of the lineup, and junior Malachi Goss (5-0, 2.31) is another contributor from a pitching staff that has nine with at least one win on the mound this spring.
GRAND RAPIDS FOREST HILLS NORTHERN
Record/rank: 24-11, unranked
Coach: John Dolce, seventh season (132-110)
League finish: Third in Ottawa-Kent Conference White
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Justin St. Antoine, fr. IF/P (.351, 27 R, 17 SB, 4-2 pitching, 2.00 ERA); Jonah St. Antoine, jr. P/IF (.388, 44 R, 12 2B, 24 SB); Jack Snow, sr. P/1B (.395, 7 HR, 39 RBI, 9-1 pitching, 1.75 ERA, 94 K); Connor Foley, sr. P/1B (.318, 6-2 pitching, 2.24 ERA).
Outlook: Dolce, who previously led Grand Rapids Catholic Central to the 1985 Class B title and is approaching 250 wins over 13 seasons total, has FHN set to play in its first Semifinal coming off its third District title in four seasons (not counting COVID-canceled 2020). The Huskies opened with a 5-1 District win over No. 11 Rockford and have won three games by one run apiece during the playoffs. Five seniors anchor a starting lineup that’s topped by the St. Antoines. Jonah St. Antoine will continue his career at Pittsburgh, while Foley will play next at Canisius (N.Y.) and Snow at Davenport.
GROSSE POINTE NORTH
Record/rank: 22-7, unranked
Coach: Kevin Shubnell, first season (22-7)
League finish: First in Macomb Area Conference White
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2006).
Players to watch: Brennan Hill, soph. OF/P (.333, 4-0 pitching, 1.06 ERA ); Drew Hill, jr. OF/P (.462, 40 R, 10 2B, 13 SB); Jake Tedesco, sr. 1B/P (.344, 29 R, 33 RBI, 12 SB, 5-1 pitching, 1.96 ERA); Jordan Arseneau, jr. P/OF (.299, 27 RBI, 7-0 pitching, 0.17 ERA).
Outlook: This will be the Norsemen’s first Semifinal appearance since that most recent championship season of 2006. North has been on an impressive roll averaging 7.3 runs per game over six playoff wins including a 9-2 District-opening victory over No. 17 Grosse Pointe South. North won three of four games total this season against South, and also two of three against Division 2 No. 7 St. Clair. Seven regulars are hitting .299 or higher, also including seniors Luke Babcock (.321), James MacAuley (.314) and Parker O’Neill (.308).
ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARY’S
Record/rank: 42-0, No. 1
Coach: Matt Petry, 12th season
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League Central
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2021 in Division 2), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Brock Porter, sr. P (8-0, 0.27 ERA, 109 K); Jake Dresselhouse, sr. OF (.409, 56 R, 10 2B, 40 RBI); Ike Irish, sr. C (.460, 45 R, 10 HR, 42 RBI); Nolan Schubart, sr. OF (.336, 47 R, 12 HR, 38 RBI), Jack Crighton, sr. IF (.435, 35 R, 27 RBI).
Outlook: Last season’s Division 2 champion brings seven starters back to MSU from last year’s Final, plus its top pitcher. Porter, Irish, Dresselhouse and Schubart all made the all-state Dream Team last season, and Crighton joined them on the Division 2 first team. The Eaglets are averaging 9.5 runs per game with Ryan McKay (.383), Jasen Oliver (.391) and Ryan Mooney also returning starters from 2021. Porter, who has hit .486 in limited at bats, is a projected first-round pick in the July Major League Baseball draft, and Irish is expected to be selected among the early rounds as well. Seniors Ciaran Caughey (9-0, 0.46 ERA) and Nolan Higgins (5-0, 1.65) and sophomore Aidan Donovan (7-0, 0.92 ERA) are three more starters among six total who have at least five wins on the mound.
Division 2
ADA FOREST HILLS EASTERN
Record/rank: 37-4, No. 1
Coach: Ian Hearn, seventh season (171-67)
League finish: First in O-K Gold
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Evan Parks, sr. IF/P (.458, 38 R, 18 2B, 50 RBI, 8-1 pitching, 0.89 ERA, 86 K); Leo Hearn, sr. C/IF (.387, 40 RBI); Jacob Pallo, jr. P/IF (.368, 34 RBI, 9-0 pitching, 0.95 ERA, 79 K); Ashton Feenstra, sr. P/1B (8-0, 0.87 ERA).
Outlook: Forest Hills Eastern’s weekend was especially eventful as the Hawks won their first Regional title and advanced to the Semifinals, and Coach Hearn went over 600 career wins – her previously led Rockford to the 2011 Division 1 title and also coached Traverse City Central and at Michigan State. Forest Hills Eastern won its first 25 games this season, and two of the losses came to Division 1 No. 5 Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills. Eight pitchers have at last one win – senior Caleb Kuiper (6-2, 2.26 ERA) is another main starter – as the team has a combined 1.57 ERA this spring. Kuiper (.337), senior Collin Fridsma (.327, 50 R), junior Mac DenBraber (.342, 38 R), senior Brian Messing (.305, 42 R) and freshman Max Ferrick (.312, 31 R) also bring .300 averages to the starting lineup.
GOODRICH
Record/rank: 37-2, No. 4
Coach: Bob Foreback, 28th season (723-278)
League finish: First in Flint Metro League Stars and overall
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final
Players to watch: Travis Liford, sr. SS (.382, 35 R, 11 2B, 36 RBI, 24 SB); Carson Raether, soph. C (.441, 35 R, 11 2B, 32 RBI, 17 SB); Brady Gauthier, sr. OF/P (.392, 8-0 pitching, 0.42 ERA); Noah Keller, sr. P (.404, 12-0 pitching, 0.10 ERA, 141 K).
Outlook: Goodrich is returning to the Semifinals for the first time since 2008, with four shutouts over five playoff games and only one run given up in the fifth. Keller made the all-state second team last season and will continue his career next season at Cornell. He tops a stellar pitching staff with a combined 1.24 ERA; Gauthier, senior Josh Denton (61, 1.59) and junior Gavin Hart (5-0, 1.09) also are standouts. The Martians hit .334 as a team with nine batting .304 or better. Junior Jack Foreback is another top contributor at .382 with 32 runs scored and 21 steals. Juniors Erik Wyczalek (.338) and Jordan Conn (.323) and seniors Bryston Hautamaki (.314) and Joey Belanger (.304) also help fill out the lineup.
GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 26-8, No. 14
Coach: Brent Gates, eighth season (second tenure, 209-67 overall at GRC)
League finish: Fourth in O-K White
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2013), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Ty Uchman, jr. 1B (.400, 35 R); Kyle Remington, jr. P (.432, 42 R, 11 2B, 15 SB, 5-3 pitching, 1.37 ERA, 77 K); Jackson Isaacs, soph. OF (.450, 37 R, 40 RBI); Cannon Paul, soph. OF (.398, 29 R, 10 2B, 10 SB).
Outlook: Grand Rapids Christian has won 17 of its last 18 games, the only defeat coming during a split with Division 1 semifinalist Forest Hills Northern. Retired pro Gates led the Eagles to back-to-back Division 2 titles in 2012 and 2013 and returned to the program in 2019 after a pair of successful seasons at Byron Center. Grand Rapids Christian is built for continued success with only two senior starters, although senior Christian Burgess (4-0, 1.55 ERA) is another top pitcher with Remington and junior Cam Seth (5-1, 1.37). Burgess also hits .317 and Seth .347 as nine hitters total are batting .297 or better. From that group, junior Josh Winkle (.356), senior Nate Hedlund (.330) and junior Alec Koval (.297) also start, and Seth and Hedlund are tied for second on the team with 30 RBI apiece.
GROSSE ILE
Record/rank: 23-6, No. 20
Coach: Mario Garza, seventh season (79-84)
League finish: Second in Huron League
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final
Players to watch: Tyler Garza, sr. IF/P (.483, 38 R, 12 2B, 32 RBI, 14 SB); Cannon Kawadri, jr. C (.412, 11 SB); Caleb Jones, fr. IF (.340, 30 R, 10 SB); Michael Madrigal, sr. IF/P (.293, 6-0 pitching, 0.51 ERA, 84 K).
Outlook: Grosse Ile’s first trip to the Semifinals has included a District Final win over No. 18 Trenton, its first Regional championship, and 13 wins over the Red Devils’ last 14 games total. Garza has brought the program from a tenure low of six wins in 2017 to more than reversing that’s season’s 6-22 record five years later. The team has only four seniors, with Will Lowery another major contributor hitting .291 with a 7-2 record and 1.98 ERA on the mound. Two of the team’s other most notable wins came in splits with Division 2 No. 2 New Boston Huron and Division 4 semifinalist Riverview Gabriel Richard.
Division 3
BUCHANAN
Record/rank: 27-4, No. 2
Coach: Jim Brawley, fourth season (85-15)
League finish: First in Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference Red
Championship history: Class C champion 1985, three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Drew Glavin, sr. OF/P (.355, 42 R, 27 RBI, 6-2 pitching, 2.35 ERA); Matthew Hoover, sr. IF/P (.511, 45 R, 12 2B, 51 RBI, 9-0 pitching, 1.21 ERA, 88 K); Murphy Wegner, sr. C (.467, 15 2B, 33 RBI); Macoy West, sr. OF/P (.463, 12 2B, 41 RBI, 7-1 pitching, 1.55 ERA, 81 K).
Outlook: Buchanan is returning to the Semifinals for the second straight season, with a lineup bolstered by six seniors including three who earned all-state recognition in 2021. The Bucks have shut out four of their six postseason opponents, including No. 11 Onsted and No. 12 Clinton in their two most recent victories. Hoover and Glavin made the all-state first team last season, and Wegner made the second team. Junior Cade Preissing is another standout, hitting .393 with a team-high 56 runs scored this spring.
DETROIT EDISON
Record/rank: 24-12, No. 16
Coach: Mark Brown, sixth season (116-62)
League finish: First in Charter School Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Gregory Pace Jr., sr. OF/P (.425, 46 R, 8 HR, 33 RBI, 44 SB); Marwynn Matthews, soph. IF/P (.387, 35 RBI, 18 SB); Keith Smith Jr., sr. OF (.360, 44 R, 36 RBI, 35 SB); Edward Gregory Jr., sr. SS/P (.318, 43 R, 11 2B, 46 SB).
Outlook: Edison is making its first trip to the Semifinals, also after winning its first Regional title, continuing a postseason run that opened with a 5-4 win over top-ranked Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett and most recently included a 9-1 Quarterfinal victory against No. 14 Algonac. Pace made the all-state first team last season and has signed with Michigan, and he’s also projected as a high-round pick in July’s Major League Baseball draft. Senior Caleb Johnson adds another .300 bat (.311) with 13 stolen bases for a team averaging more than six runs per game despite playing a schedule filled with many larger schools and a number of ranked Division 1 and 2 teams. Five losses came by just one run.
PEWAMO-WESTPHALIA
Record/rank: 23-10-2, unranked
Coach: Curt Nurenberg, second season (53-14-2)
League finish: First in Central Michigan Athletic Conference
Championship history: Class C runner-up 1991.
Players to watch: Tanner Wirth, sr. OF (.423, 11 2B, 14 SB); Nate Simon, jr. OF (.347, 31 R, 10 SB); Ashtin Wirth, sr. C (.329, 27 RBI); Brock Thelen, sr. IF (.337, 33 R, 28 2B, 36 SB).
Outlook: P-W is back at MSU for the second time in four years after also making the Semifinals in 2019, and this time with a District Semifinal upset of No. 3 Hemlock to its credit plus double-digit scoring in three of five postseason games. Saturday’s 12-8 Quarterfinal win over Lansing Catholic avenged a regular-season sweep. Wirth made the all-state first team last season, and Thelen made the second. Junior Drew Nurenberg (4-0, 0.63 ERA) and senior Austin Schafer (6-2, 1.84) lead the team in starts this spring, but sophomore Gabe Miller (7-2, 1.15 ERA) leads the team in wins despite just four starts on the mound. Senior infielder Adam Nurenberg (.333) adds another solid bat to the lineup.
STANDISH-STERLING
Record/rank: 35-6, No. 5
Coach: Ryan Raymond, fifth season (139-49-3)
League finish: Second in Tri-Valley Conference 10
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Cole Prout, sr. OF (.505, 83 R, 13 3B, 9 HR, 46 RBI, 21 SB); Charlie Kolbiaz, sr. C (.452, 12 2B, 49 RBI); Chase Raymond, sr. IF (.472, 48 R, 10 2B, 10 3B, 76 RBI); Addison Vallad, sr. IF (.358, 51 R, 32 RBI, 8-0 pitching, 2.87 ERA).
Outlook: After reaching the Quarterfinals for the third time over the last six seasons, Standish-Sterling will play in its first Semifinal since 1976 with a Regional Final win over No. 13 Houghton among highlights of this playoff run. The offense’s numbers are incredible – the Panthers have averaged 14.5 runs per game during the tournament and 10.3 per game for the entire season. Senior Brett Bartlett (.452, 41 R, 35 RBI), sophomore Cooper Prout (.429), freshman Sam Briggs (.357) and senior Matt Yealey (.356) are among others having substantial success at the plate. Five of the team’s six losses came to teams ranked among the top eight in Divisions 2, 3 or 4. Chase Raymond will continue at Saginaw Valley State.
Division 4
BEAL CITY
Record/rank: 29-2, No. 1
Coach: Steve Pickens, fifth season (131-32-1)
League finish: First in Highland Conference
Championship history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 2018), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Wade Wilson, sr. P/CF (.421, 34 R, 5-1 pitching, 1.20 ERA); Brendan Martin, sr. P/1B (.323, 11-0 pitching, 0.70 ERA, 73 K); Kaiden Andrews, sr. 2B/SS (.477, 49 R, 11 2B, 31 RBI, 12 SB); Brayden Haynes, sr. 3B (.511, 44 R, 10 2B, 63 RBI).
Outlook: Beal City has reached the season’s final week for the third time in four seasons (not counting COVID-canceled 2020), its only losses to Division 2 Gladwin and Division 3 No. 17 Hudson (the latter in a split). Wilson made the all-state first team last season, while Martin, Andrews and Haynes made the second team. Sophomore Cayden Smith is among others having a massive season, hitting .500 with 48 runs, 10 doubles, 35 RBI and 20 steals, and he’s 5-0 in the mound with a 0.96 ERA. Senior Konnor Wilson also is 5-0 and hitting .474 with 39 runs scored and 33 RBI. Seniors Hunter Miles (.494, 46 R, 43 RBI) and Josh Wilson (.494, 39 R, 40 RBI) and sophomores Jack Fussman (.376, 40 R) and Jake Gauthier (.367) also are piling up major numbers.
RIVERVIEW GABRIEL RICHARD
Record/rank: 17-12, unranked
Coach: Mike Magier, ninth season (record N/A)
League finish: Third in Detroit Catholic League AA
Championship history: Division 3 champion 2018, Class C runner-up 1994.
Players to watch: Tylor Morehouse, soph. IF; Connor Silka, sr. P/IF; Ashton Nowak, sr. P/OF, Brenden Hills, sr. IF/OF. (Statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: Richard had a rare 8-16-1 finish in 2021 but capped that season with District and Regional titles, and the Pioneers have surged over the last month again to return to the Semifinals. Four of five MHSAA Tournament games have been shutouts, including wins over No. 20 Bay City All Saints in the Regional Final and No. 9 Marine City Cardinal Mooney in the Quarterfinal. Silka, Hills, Nowak and catcher/infielder Bryan Tuttle are the only seniors.
RUDYARD
Record/rank: 28-6-1, No. 3
Coach: Billy Mitchell, third season (46-18-2)
League finish: Second in Straits Area Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: EJ Suggitt, sr. IF/P (.529, 44 R, 44 RBI, 24 SB, 10-3 pitching, 3.13 ERA, 73 K); Tate Besteman, sr. OF/P (.393, 47 R, 36 SB); Brett Mayer, sr. P/OF/IF (.367, 38 R, 38 RBI, 24 SB, 13-0 pitching, 1.46 ERA, 104 K); Cam Peterson, soph. IF/C (.366, 44 R, 20 SB).
Outlook: This will be Rudyard’s third trip to the Semifinals over the last 10 seasons (not counting canceled 2020), and first since 2015. The Bulldogs emerged from a Regional that included No. 4 Maple City Glen Lake and No. 7 Indian River Inland Lakes, and they’ve won 22 straight games. Suggitt helped lead the football team to the 8-Player Semifinals and boys basketball team to the Division 4 Quarterfinals as well this school year. Austin Warner (.358) leads the team with 39 stolen bases while Rudyard as a whole has 211 swipes in 232 attempts. Sophomores Eli Sprague (.333), Aiden Bickel (.327, 29 SB) and Landen Mayer (.308) also bolster the lineup.
WHITMORE LAKE
Record/rank: 22-9, No. 13
Coach: Hank Dreffs, second season (36-23-1)
League finish: First in Michigan Independent Athletic Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Alden Stefanovski, sr. C (.461, 20 2B, 29 RBI); Alex Di Dio, jr. IF (.442, 36 R, 30 RBI, 1.83 ERA); Hayden Collingham, sr. IF (.349, 24 RBI); Zane Gregg, jr. P/IF (.314, 0.57 ERA, 107 K).
Outlook: Whitmore Lake won its first Regional title and will make its first Semifinal appearance after avenging a late-season sweep by Britton Deerfield with an 11-5 Quarterfinal win. The Trojans also defeated No. 16 Decatur in the Regional Final. Third baseman Garrett Engstrom joins Stefanovski and Collingham as the team’s only seniors, and there are eight underclassmen on the 15-player roster. Whitmore Lake has won league titles both seasons under Dreffs and improved this spring from 14-14-1 overall a year ago. Junior Dalton Bachman (1.83 ERA) provides another valuable arm.
PHOTO Beal City's Kaiden Andrews (7) attempts to beat the tag at the plate against Clare early this spring. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)