Preview: Finals Memories Finally to be Made Again at McLane
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
June 15, 2021
The wait to return to Michigan State University and McLane Baseball Stadium for MHSAA Semifinals and Finals finally will come to an end this weekend. And what a return it will be.
The 16-team field is headlined by two of the most star-studded in recent memory in Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and Portage Central. Six contenders will be playing to reach the final day of the season for the first time. And nine teams will be pursuing their first championships – with a guaranteed first-time title winner in Division 4.
Division 1 - Thursday
Midland Dow vs. Portage Central - 9 a.m.
Grand Blanc vs. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice - 11:30 a.m.
Division 2 - Friday
New Boston Huron vs. Orchard Lake St. Mary's - 9 a.m.
Stevensville Lakeshore vs. Gladwin - 11:30 a.m.
Division 3 - Thursday
Traverse City St. Francis vs. Richmond - 2:30 p.m.
Buchanan vs. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett - 5 p.m.
Division 4 - Friday
Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep vs. Marlette - 2:30 p.m.
Maple City Glen Lake vs. Marine City Cardinal Mooney - 5 p.m.
FINALS - June 19
Division 1 - 9 a.m.
Division 2 - 2:30 p.m.
Division 3 - 11:30 a.m.
Division 4 - 5 p.m.
Tickets cost $9.40 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:
Division 1
BLOOMFIELD HILLS BROTHER RICE
Record/rank: 29-10, unranked
Coach: Bob Riker, 23rd season (633-226-4)
League finish: Second in Detroit Catholic League Central
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2008), three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Will Shannon, sr. C (.372, 14 2B, 43 RBI); Alfredo Velazquez, soph. OF (.360, 11 2B, 29 RBI, 29 R); Brayden Dowd, soph. OF (.286, 5 HR, 23 RBI, 31 R); John Locker, sr. P (2.14 ERA, 77 K/39 1/3 IP).
Outlook: This will be the team’s third-straight trip to the Semifinals. The Warriors defeated No. 5 Livonia Stevenson and No. 13 Brownstown Woodhaven during their Regional run, after finishing runner-up in their league to St. Mary’s and ahead of four more teams that won at least District titles (and U-D Jesuit reached the Quarterfinals before losing to the Warriors). Rice did so with Shannon the only senior (non-pitcher) in the starting lineup, although Locker is expected to start on the mound Thursday and senior Blaise Wilcenski (1.57 ERA, 58 K/35 2/3 IP) is another key arm.
GRAND BLANC
Record/rank: 31-11, unranked
Coach: Kevin Hubbs, fifth season (98-93)
League finish: Second in Saginaw Valley League
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Jonah Meleski, sr. OF (.435, 44 R, 34 RBI, 36 SB); David Lally, jr. P/IF (.414, 38 R, 6 HR, 47 RBI, 10-3 pitching, 0.95 ERA 78 K/57 2/3 IP); Nate Helms, jr. P/IF (.337, 6 HR, 32 RBI, 5-2 pitching, 2.20 ERA); Hunter Ames, jr. C/IF (.371, 32 R, 22 RBI).
Outlook: Grand Blanc followed up its first Regional championship by earning its first trip the Semifinals, holding its five postseason opponents to a combined three runs including a shutout of No. 15 Utica Ford. The Bobcats finished second in their league only to No. 17 Midland. The team as a whole is hitting .309 and can create havoc on the bases having stolen 136 this season while getting caught only 16 times. Senior Tim Welsh is another big bat hitting .358 over 21 games and slated to start the Semifinal at first base. Lally has committed to sign with Notre Dame.
MIDLAND DOW
Record/rank: 27-14, unranked
Coach: Rich Juday, fifth season (97-53)
League finish: Tied for fifth in Saginaw Valley League
Championship history: Class A runner-up 1983 and 1987.
Players to watch: Trent Johnson, sr. P/UTY (.344, 13 2B, 24 RBI, 9-2 pitching, 2.01 ERA 66 K/73 IP); Logan McCoy, sr. P/IF (.495, 39 R, 14 2B, 46 RBI, 4 saves pitching); Jack Bakus, soph. P/IF (.405, 31 R, 13 2B, 7 HR, 37 RBI); Daniel Kowalczyk, jr. OF (.376, 25 RBI).
Outlook: Dow also has emerged from the competitive SVL and advanced to this weekend with a one-run Quarterfinal win over No. 9 Hudsonville. The Chargers have steadily upped their wins under Juday and with one more will have their most under the former Dow and Michigan State standout – who also has coached at MSU, Northwood and in the Oakland A’s minor league system. Total, eight regulars are hitting .338 or better, with senior Riley Nelson (.368, 10 SB) and junior Bill VanSumeren (.360, 11 2B) among those also standing out in multiple offensive categories.
PORTAGE CENTRAL
Record/rank: 34-4, No. 2
Coach: Cory DeGroote, third season (55-14)
League finish: First in Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2002, Class A runner-up 1997.
Players to watch: Luke Leto, sr. IF/P (.495, 71 R, 13 2B, 10 HR, 34 RBI, 31 SB); Nick Ford, sr. IF (.411, 37 RBI, 4 saves pitching); Zach MacDonald, sr. OF (.521, 63 R, 16 2B, 15 HR, 60 RBI, 18 SB); Gavin Brasosky, sr. P/IF (.358 10 HR, 41 RBI, 9-0 pitching, 0.82 ERA, 117 K/59 2/3 IP).
Outlook: Portage Central is making its first trip to the Semifinals since 2011 led by a star-loaded lineup. Leto is slated to play next at Louisiana State, Brasosky at Tennessee and MacDonald at Miami (Ohio), and the team as a whole is hitting .353 with those three and Ford packing the first four spots in the lineup. The Mustangs have defeated top-ranked Grand Ledge and No. 14 Battle Creek Lakeview during a tournament run that has seen them outscore five opponents by a combined 51-14. Seniors Ryan Dotson (7-2, 1.95 ERA) and Cody Stewart (7-0) also are among a number of reliable arms.
Division 2
GLADWIN
Record/rank: 25-9-1, unranked
Coach: Troy Gary, ninth season (148-98-5)
League finish: Fourth in Jack Pine Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Lucas Mead, soph. OF (.457, 46 R, 31 SB); Ian Graves, sr. P (9-1, 1.84 ERA, 60 K/65 1/3 IP); Ethan Shea, sr. 1B (.333, 33 RBI, 4-3 pitching); Lincoln McKinnon, soph. 3B (.381, 11 2B, 26 RBI).
Outlook: Gladwin won its first Regional title since 2014 and second all-time, and this will be the program’s first trip to the Semifinals. The Flying G’s have won three of their five tournament games by one run, including a 4-3 Regional Semifinal victory over No. 8 Bay City John Glenn. The team has only four seniors but seven sophomores including four who start. Sophomore shortstop Connor Dee (.319, 28 RBI) and junior catcher Aaron Kozlow (.353, 14 SB) provide more offensive punch, and senior second baseman/pitcher Hunter Williams has stolen 27 bases without being caught and also has a 1.48 ERA.
NEW BOSTON HURON
Record/rank: 26-7, No. 4
Coach: Philip Yancey, sixth season (94-54)
League finish: First in Huron League
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Rickey Emelian, sr. CF/P (.340, 29 RBI, 13 SB, 3-0 pitching, 0.74 ERA, 3 saves); Mathew Williams, jr. RF (.381, 43 R, 32 SB); Chase Molnar, sr. P/SS (.375, 10 SB, 8-0 pitching, 1.67 ERA, 56 K/51 IP, 3 saves); Ethan Webb, sr. C/1B (.365, 5 HR, 39 RBI).
Outlook: This will be the program’s first appearance at the Semifinals, and Huron has been building toward a run like this over Yancey’s tenure reaching 20 wins in 2018 and winning a District title in 2019. The Chiefs downed No. 6 Trenton 7-5 in the Quarterfinal after splitting a pair with the Trojans in early April, and four of their seven losses came over two doubleheaders to ranked Division 1 teams. Eight hitters are batting .338 or better on the season, and senior Thomas McSwain (5-0, 1.46 ERA) and junior Cole Grunwald (4-0) also are undefeated on the mound.
ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARY’S
Record/rank: 41-1, No. 1
Coach: Matt Petry, 11th season (252-142-2)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League Central
Championship history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 2019), three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Alex Mooney, sr. SS (.462, 67 R, 9 HR, 54 RBI); Brock Porter, jr. P (11-0, 0.50 ERA, 115 K/55 2/3 IP); Jake Dresselhouse, jr. OF (.413, 70 R, 14 HR, 60 RBI); Ike Irish, jr. C (.432, 48 R, 12 2B, 12 HR, 53 RBI).
Outlook: St. Mary’s has been recognized all season as one of the top high school teams in the nation, with its only defeat this spring 2-1 to Division 1 No. 16 Saline. The roster is loaded with future college players who have signed or committed to do so, including Alex Mooney (Duke), Porter (Clemson), Irish (Auburn), juniors Jack Crighton and Nolan Schubart and sophomore Jasen Oliver (Michigan), junior Jake Dresselhouse (Michigan State) and sophomore Ryan Mooney (Notre Dame). Senior Tommy Allman (Jacksonville) is another top thrower at 10-0 with a 1.27 ERA, while Schubart (.416, 9 HR, 53 RBI) and Crighton (.440, 37 R, 37 RBI) are among other big bats. Alex Mooney made the all-state first team in 2019, and Schubart made the second team.
STEVENSVILLE LAKESHORE
Record/rank: 27-11, No. 16
Coach: Mark Nate, 16th season (384-177-1)
League finish: Fifth in Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference
Championship history: Division 2 champions 2017 and 2018, Class B champion 1990.
Players to watch: Ryan Kolessar, jr. OF (.383, 19 SB); Zach Warren, soph. IF/P (.345, 30 R, 22 SB, 8-1 pitching, 2.63 ERA); Trevor Griffiths, soph. OF (.385, 32 R, 28 SB); Grant Ruddell, sr. UTY (.359, 27 RBI, 17 SB).
Outlook: Lakeshore has won 18 of its last 20 games while adding a fourth-straight Regional title and earning a third Semifinals berth over those four seasons with postseason victories over No. 7 Edwardsburg and No. 9 Grand Rapids Christian. Ruddell and left fielder/pitcher Riley Adams (.349, 27 RBI, 19 SB, 3.26 ERA) are the team’s only seniors, and junior Vaughn Hurdle (5-1, 1.94) and freshman Noah Chase (8-2, 2.92 ERA) join Warren as part of a pitching staff that has gained valuable experience while shining this spring against a loaded schedule. Lakeshore has defeated three ranked Division 1 teams.
Division 3
BUCHANAN
Record/rank: 34-2, No. 1
Coach: Jim Brawley, third season (57-11)
League finish: First in Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference Red
Championship history: Class C champion 1985, three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Jack Branch, sr. P/IF/OF (.467, 40 R, 42 RBI, 11-0 pitching, 0.95 ERA, 74 K/66 1/3 IP); Matthew Hoover, jr. P/IF (.463, 44 R, 11 2B, 37 RBI, 14 SB, 9-1 pitching, 0.26 ERA, 110 K/55 IP); Drew Glavin, jr. P/IF/OF (.445, 47 R, 31 SB, 5-0 pitching, 0.75 ERA); Macoy West, jr. P/IF/OF (.390, 31 R, 13 2B, 50 RBI, 6-1 pitching, 0.36 ERA, 56 K/39 IP).
Outlook: Buchanan is headed to the Semifinals for the first time since finishing Division 3 runner-up in 2015, and after outscoring five playoff opponents by a combined 41-4. The Bucks have defeated No. 7 Pewamo-Westphalia, No. 11 North Muskegon and No. 15 Niles Brandywine during the tournament run, and their only losses this spring came by a run to Division 1 semifinalist Portage Central and during a split with Division 2 semifinalist Lakeshore. Four more regulars hit at least .311, and the team has only four seniors – including only two among its top six hitters and one among its top four pitchers.
GROSSE POINTE WOODS UNIVERSITY LIGGETT
Record/rank: 29-5, No. 2
Coach: Dan Cimini, 17th season (468-105)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League AA
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2016), three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Kurt Barr, jr. P/IF (.338, 11-1 pitching, 0.90 ERA, 110 K/69 1/3 IP); Matthew Greene, sr. CF (.400, 32 R, 10 2B, 32 RBI); Jack Jones, soph. P/OF (.365, 30 RBI, 10 SB, 8-1 pitching, 0.84 ERA, 57 K/57 IP); Jarren Purify, soph. SS (.411, 50 R, 11 2B, 34 SB).
Outlook: This will be Liggett’s eighth Semifinals appearance over the last 10 seasons, and the Knights were Division 3 runners-up in 2019. They played a loaded schedule and all five losses came to Division 1 or 2 teams including two to St. Mary’s, while the postseason has included wins over No. 3 Detroit Edison and No. 6 Blissfield. This is another team built to continue contending, with only two seniors in the starting lineup but also five sophomores and two freshmen. Sophomore Joey Randozzo (.388, 17 SB) tops four more regulars hitting at least .317, and junior Matthew Belcrest (5-0, 0.95 ERA, 54 K/36 2/3 IP) provides another solid option on the mound,
RICHMOND
Record/rank: 30-5, No. 5
Coach: Scott Evans, 10th season (237-72)
League finish: Third in Blue Water Area Conference
Championship history: Division 2 runner-up 2013 and 2014.
Players to watch: Bennett Hitzelberger, jr. P/1B (.322, 32 R, 29 RBI, 10-0 pitching, 1.28 ERA, 91 K/60 IP); Reese Rinna, sr. RF (.468, 13 2B, 34 RBI); Joe Parinello, jr. C/P (.449, 32 R, 35 RBI); Carson Gee, sr. 3B (.371, 47 R, 11 2B, 25 SB).
Outlook: Richmond is headed back to the Semifinals for the first time since its back-to-back runner-up finishes. The Blue Devils have outscored their four postseason opponents by a combined 44-8, with wins over the last two weeks over No. 8 New Lothrop and No. 10 Algonac – the latter an 8-3 victory avenging two league losses. Richmond also split in league play with Division 2 No. 20 Croswell-Lexington. Sophomore Jackson Jones (.382, 11 2B, 27 RBI), junior Denny Salagan (.366, 20 SB) and senior Mitch Dobbelaer (.346) bolster the lineup, and junior Hudson Davenport (7-3, 1.40 ERA) is another top thrower and committed to Eastern Michigan.
TRAVERSE CITY ST. FRANCIS
Record/rank: 27-9, No. 14
Coach: Tom Passinault, seventh season (196-49)
League finish: First in Lake Michigan Conference
Championship history: Class D champion 1990, Division 3 runner-up 2017.
Players to watch: Charlie Peterson, jr. P/IB (.478, 45 R 16 2B, 6 HR, 56 RBI, 9-2 pitching, 1.94 ERA, 85 K/61 1/3 IP); Cody Richards, jr. IF/P (.429, 10 2B, 29 RBI); Aidan Schmuckal, sr. C (.477, 55 R, 28 RBI); Josh Groves, jr. OF (.371, 33 R).
Outlook: St. Francis has won 13 of its last 14 games, with just a split against No. 13 Boyne City during that time. Although this is an entirely different crew of players bringing the Gladiators back to the Semifinals, there is some relatable experience on the biggest stage – Peterson, Schmuckal and Groves all scored during the Division 7 football championship game in January. Seniors Jack Hitchens (5-2, 2.75 ERA), Corbin Domres (.315) and Jimmy Muzljakovich (30 R) also are among key contributors.
Division 4
KALAMAZOO HACKETT CATHOLIC PREP
Record/rank: 29-9, No. 5
Coach: Smiley Verduzco, first season (29-9)
League finish: Second in Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Brenden Collins, jr. CF/P (.554, 35 R, 17 2B, 56 RBI, 28 SB, 4-2 pitching); Stephen Kwapis, sr. 3B (.490, 61 R, 15 2B, 11 HR, 59 RBI, 29 SB); Nick Verduzco, soph. SS (.423, 53 R, 13 2B, 36 RBI, 15 SB); Steven Widger, sr. C (.472, 45 R, 10 2B, 34 RBI, 37 SB).
Outlook: Hackett is making its first trip to the Semifinals on the strength of a lineup hitting a combined .385 and averaging 9.2 runs per game. The postseason run has included wins by scores of 9-8 (over No. 18 Kalamazoo Christian) and 8-7 as the Irish have scored 51 runs total over five playoff games. Senior Sam Shea (9-2, 2.22 ERA, 72 K/63 IP) is slated to take the mound in the Semifinal, and he’s also one of eight in the lineup hitting .300 or better. Sophomore Patrick Ogrin (.424) is among five over .400, and junior Isaac Backman (.356, 20 SB) and freshman Eli Backman (.337, 10 SB) are among seven hitters who have stolen at least 10 bases. Kwapis has signed with Notre Dame.
MAPLE CITY GLEN LAKE
Record/rank: 27-7, No. 8
Coach: Kris Herman, 17th season (392-217-6)
League finish: Second in Northwest Conference
Championship history: Class D runner-up 1984.
Players to watch: Mateo Gokey, jr. SS/P (.363, 29 R, 27 RBI, 10 SB, 4-0 pitching); Jon Popp, sr. 3B/P (.350, 26 R, 28 RBI, 11 SB, 5-1 pitching, 3.37 ERA, 75 K/43 2/3 IP); Ryan Flores, sr. 1B/P (.354, 32 R, 9-3 pitching, 3.16 ERA, 95/62 IP); Sean Galla, soph. OF/C (.382, 22 RBI).
Outlook: Glen Lake is returning to the Semifinals for the first time since 2014 and charging into the weekend having scored at least 10 runs in six of its last nine games. The team is hitting a combined .319 with seven regulars at .313 or better – seniors Drew Barber (.382) and Jackson Ciolek (.322, 30 RBI) and junior Connor Ciolek (.313, 33 R, 21 SB) also are among contributors on that list. The 15-6 Quarterfinal win over No. 17 Gaylord St. Mary avenged a regular-season defeat.
MARINE CITY CARDINAL MOONEY
Record/rank: 27-6, No. 2
Coach: Mike Rice, fourth season (83-44)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League Intersectional
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Rocco Comito, sr. IF (.459, 34 RBI, 12 SB); Thomas Gill, sr. P (9-0, 0.60 ERA, 67 K/58 2/3 IP); Trent Rice, soph. P/OF (.495, 40 R, 12 2B, 44 SB, 2-0 pitching, 0.75 ERA); Blake Lutzky, soph. P/IF (.405, 13 SB, 6-1 pitching, 0.97 ERA, 70 K/50 2/3 IP).
Outlook: Cardinal Mooney has gone from struggling to fill the roster when Mike Rice first took over the program to winning its third Regional title all-time and making the Semifinals for the first time. Cardinal Mooney has outscored is five playoff opponents by a combined 59-6. Comito made the Division 4 all-state first team in 2019, and he, Gill and leadoff hitter Anthony DiGiuseppe (.369, 10 SB) are the lone seniors. Six regulars are hitting .325 or better, also including sophomore Ryan Trombley (.325), and junior Nathan Super is a super sub at .362 and 3-0 with a 2.83 ERA on the mound.
MARLETTE
Record/rank: 22-9, No. 11
Coach: Dave Hayden, sixth season (71-75-2)
League finish: First in Greater Thumb Conference East
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Gavin Gage, sr. IF/P (.409, 29 R, 24 RBI, 2.14 ERA pitching); Travis Fuller, jr. C/P (.387, 38 R, 17 SB); Cody Hayden, sr. IF/P (.495, 33 RBI, 14 SB, 10-2 pitching, 1.21 ERA, 74 K/57 2/3 IP); Ethan Marshall, jr. IF/P (.309, 7-1 pitching, 1.13 ERA, 95 K/56 IP).
Outlook: Marlette is one of the great turnaround stories in the state over the last five seasons, with the next chapter its first Semifinal appearance. Led by also-soccer coach Dave Hayden, the Red Raiders have put together a combined 45-20-1 record with two league and two District titles over this spring and 2019 after going a combined 27-57-1 over the previous three seasons. Marlette downed No. 13 Muskegon Catholic Central for the Regional title and then defeated Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary in a second one-run win Saturday. Senior Logan Clark (.371, 21 SB) is another catalyst for a team hitting a combined .316, and junior Grant Roberson (1.40 ERA) provides another reliable arm.
PHOTO: Midland Dow’s Jack Bakus begins to step into a pitch against Bullock Creek during a game at Loons Stadium this spring. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)
Top-Ranked Saline Learns from 2015
By
Chip Mundy
Special for Second Half
May 26, 2016
By Chip Mundy
Special for Second Half
SALINE – Players and coaches on the Saline baseball team know how it feels to enter the MHSAA Tournament as the top-ranked team in the state. They did it last year and just might do it again this year.
They also know how it feels to be the top-ranked team and end up four victories short of the title. Obviously, there is no hope for a repeat there.
Saline will be at or near the top of the Division 1 rankings again this season when next week’s District tournament begins, and the memories of the bitter end last year have not been forgotten.
“There are a lot of kids who sat in that locker room last year,” Saline coach Scott Theisen said. “They realize that they don’t want to be in that spot again, and they will do anything they need to do. They will be able to live with the result if they at least know they have done everything in their powers.
“They learned last year that no matter how good you are, it’s a one-day thing. Or even a one-inning thing, and it can be over.”
Regrouping with a new group
Saline lost in the Division 1 Regional Final last year. It was a tough 1-0 loss to Taylor Kennedy that left the Hornets with a 36-3 record but without a berth in the Quarterfinals.
The Hornets lost their starting first baseman, third baseman, catcher, center fielder and three starting pitchers to graduation – but have plugged those spots nicely.
“The program is in such good shape – Scott does such a good job – that you just kind of re-energize it,” assistant coach Dave Sontag said.
The program seemingly does re-energize itself. Saline won its fifth consecutive Southeastern Conference title this season. And the Hornets were not devoid of talent from last year’s team. The starting middle infielders (shortstop Thomas Miller and second baseman Zachary Owings) are back, and starting left fielder Zach Schwartzenberger, a junior, made the switch to center field.
Among the newcomers who have helped fill the voids are senior catcher Cal Livesay, junior first baseman/pitcher Sean O’Keefe, third baseman Jake Finkbeiner, junior left fielder Ryan Foley and pitchers Cole Daniels, John Hovde and Ted Eppinga.
It all has added up to a 28-6 record – not as stunning as last year’s but quite impressive considering how much talent was lost. The team batting average is an amazing .346, a higher average than in 2015.
“It’s funny because I think maybe we had a little more talent at the plate last year,” Theisen said. “But this team has just bought into being more aggressive and trying to have better approaches at the plate. Maybe they are playing a little more to be dangerous than worrying about maybe what happens if we fail.
“I think as coaches we can learn from that. I think we had some talented kids at the plate last year who didn’t have poor years but probably didn’t achieve as well as they could have, and some of that was the pressure they put on themselves. So, we are trying to be more positive.”
Coach Sontag preaches positive.
“We lost some bullets that were pulled off of this team last year, and for guys to step right in and not create much of a void, that’s the story of the season,” he said. “And you know what? It’s not going to be much different next year, either, because the sophomores and this year’s juniors who are going to be seniors are going to do the same thing again.”
Coach T
Theisen has quite the resume as a high school baseball coach in Michigan. Last year, he became just the 22nd baseball coach to win 600 games in a career. His career record is 653-303, including 630 at Saline. He started his coaching career with a one-year stint at Walled Lake Central before going to Saline, his alma mater.
There is one glaring omission on his record, however: The lack of an MHSAA Finals championship.
“We’ve been to the Finals four times, and I’m 0 for 4 right now. I’m Marv Levy,” he said, referring to the former Buffalo Bills head coach who lost four Super Bowls in a row.
Although Theisen’s teams didn’t lose four in a row, they did lose three in a row from 2008-10 and also lost in 1998.
“It used to bother me more than it does now,” he said. “I think when you’re younger, you’re more competitive in trying to do things and try to win titles and championships. Now that I’m getting older, I get more satisfaction out of the relationships with the coaches and the growth we see in our players.
“Yes, you still have the drive that you want to get there and win it, but you know it may never happen, and if it doesn’t, I’m OK with that because of what we’ve done as a program and what we do to try to help the kids be better players and better people.
“I get more satisfaction out of that now, and maybe I didn’t see that as a younger coach.”
The players look up to him and respect his experience and knowledge – and as much as they would like to win the Division 1 championship for themselves, they also want to win one for him.
“That would mean a lot,” said Foley, a junior left fielder. “I know how much it would mean to him, and for us to get it for him would be great. He’s such a good coach.”
Nelson, the No. 1 pitcher, said, “He brings a lot of motivation and experience to the team. He has so much knowledge about the game. He knows what to do in all of the situations and how to coach somebody from their freshman year to their senior year.”
Senior shortstop Miller said, “It would feel great to win one for Coach T. It would mean the world to him, and to do it in my senior year along with the rest of the guys, it would be the best.”
Although Theisen said he could live with never winning an MHSAA championship, that doesn’t mean the desire to do so runs deep.
“If we never get it done, I would still feel really proud of everything that we’ve done,” he said, “but I sure would like to see what it feels like.”
Learning from a loss
The loss in the Regional Final last year is something the coaches and players can’t forget, and they don’t want to forget it, either. It provides motivation and a valuable lesson.
Theisen and the players made it known that they don’t want to offend anyone, but they felt they were the team that should have won Division 1 last year – and certainly should not have been stopped in the Regional Final.
“It’s a natural tendency of young kids to maybe let up, and we’ve been snake-bitten by doing that,” Theisen said. “We got beat last year in the tournament by a team that we felt – no offense to them – that we were better than. It also happened over at Ann Arbor Huron to us, so I think the kids understand that if you let your guard down, you have a good chance to get beat.
“To win the state tournament, you have to win seven in a row to do it. You can’t be up and down during those seven games, so you have to learn how to practice and play at a high level consistently or that seven-game stretch is going to be even more difficult.”
It is that lesson that Theisen turns to when he sees the team taking it a little lax.
“It isn’t over and forgotten about,” he said. “It was a tough pill to swallow. We expected to win the state title – we expected to win the last game – and that’s the same thing we expect this year.
“They’ve been reminded on multiple occasions, and it won’t be the last time we tell them. We have to be ready no matter who we are playing.”
Has the lesson been learned? The jury is still out. Has the lesson been delivered and absorbed? Well, let the players give the answer.
Foley: “Ratings mean nothing to us, and we understand that anybody can beat anybody at any time, just like last year with Taylor Kennedy. We’ll bring it up because we have to keep it in our head that anybody can beat anybody. We have to try to get over that hump because it is lingering a little bit, but we don’t try to dwell on it too much.”
Nelson: “We’re obviously thinking about that because we’re on the same level and we can do the same things that we were supposed to do last year. We just have to play better as a team every single game and keep getting better every game in the playoffs so we can avoid having that happen again.”
Livesay: “It’s definitely there for us, and coach always brings it up when it seems like we’re not motivated during practice or during games. What you are ranked before the playoffs doesn’t mean anything. The loss was definitely eye-opening for us. We weren’t expecting them to beat us.”
Miller: “You can’t overlook any team that you are playing. We saw some other teams lose ahead of us, and we got a little giddy. We have to play the game that we’re in and focus on one game at a time.”
Unexpected spark
When the final cuts were about to be announced, Foley was on the bubble, and he knew it.
“I was just doing everything I could to be on the team,” he said. “I never knew until the last day whether I was going to make it, so I just did everything I could to please the coach.”
It was enough.
“When we chose our team in March, Foley was one of the last kids chosen, and now we can’t get him out of the lineup,” Theisen said. “He’s been a sparkplug for all of us. He’s a kid who kept his mouth shut and kept saying to himself, ‘I’ll show them, I’ll get my chances,’ and when he got his chances, he capitalized.”
Foley’s chance came when O’Keefe, the starting first baseman, went down with a hamstring injury. That forced a corner outfielder to take over at first and opened a spot in the outfield. Theisen turned to Foley.
Although Foley bats ninth, he leads the team with a .423 average and 17 stolen bases. And if there were hustle stats, he’d be near or at the top there, too.
“Ryan is going to get on base and cause problems because he can run really well,” Theisen said. “He is one of the better base runners we’ve ever had, and he’s got a little bit of being a thorn in the side of the other team. He’s not disrespectful, but if you’re going to give him an inch, he’s taking a foot.”
Theisen says that sort of attitude can be the difference between a good team and a great team.
“There was a point in the season when we talked about being good,” Theisen said. “We knew we would win a lot of games because we were talented – but if you want more, you have to have some moxie in your game. Foley probably exhibits that more than anybody. He’ll take second on a bobbled ball in the outfield, and he’ll dive for a ball. He’s more aggressive in practice and gets dirty diving and just running everything out hard and playing the game the way it should be played.
“It’s fun to watch that start to spill over to other kids. He gives us energy, and it is snowballing. That’s something our talented teams in the past might not have had.”
Foley gets great satisfaction out of going from being on the bubble to being the main spark.
“It feels great to know that you’ve worked so hard and are making an impact on the team,” he said. “Coach has taught me that no matter what the talent you have, you can always make an impact on the team. He really emphasizes that. Even with the little things, it really means a lot for everybody to do a little bit.”
Theisen said he learned a lesson in the process as well.
“When you are choosing the team, you sometimes have to look at those intangibles that a kid can bring,” he said. “They might not light up the radar gun, so to speak, but what else do they bring to the team to help you become a better team? You have to look at those things, too.”
Well-rounded team
There has never been a team that can’t improve, and Saline is no different. However, the Hornets have all their bases covered. They can hit. They can field. And they can pitch.
Nelson, a senior right-hander who is headed to Wayne State, is 8-0 with a 0.61 ERA. He has allowed just 25 hits in 47 1/3 innings with 56 strikeouts.
“I never expected to come out here and dominate like I have,” he said. “I throw a fastball, slider and a change-up. My best pitch is the slider. I throw it about 30-40 percent of the time. It’s my out pitch.”
Saline is not a one-pitcher team, either. O’Keefe, who missed half the season with a hamstring injury, threw a perfect game and is 5-0 with a 2.27 ERA. Daniels, a sophomore, is 6-2 with a 0.95 ERA. Eppinga is 3-1 with a 1.72 ERA, and Hovde is 2-1 with a 0.60 ERA.
Finkbeiner, a third baseman who bats fifth, provides a lot of pop as he has a team-leading four home runs and 33 RBI to go with a .419 average. Second baseman Owings also is hitting .419, while Daniels, the sophomore pitcher, is batting .405.
Although he missed half the season with an injury, O’Keefe is at .391 with one home run and 10 RBI in just 17 games. Miller, the four-year starter at shortstop who is headed to Oakland University, is hitting .353.
“We’ve seen a lot of different ways to win, from a perfect game one day to a seventh-inning comeback at Bedford to 15 runs in four innings at Ann Arbor Huron,” Theisen said. “It’s been interesting because on many days it has been different people who get it done. It’s not just one or two guys, and sometimes it’s the guys who are not even our regular starters.
“There is a lot of depth and competition in the group.”
And quite a bit of confidence as well.
“I think we’ve played some teams that could make runs to the state title, and we’ve beaten them,” Miller said. “We came back against Bedford. We were down 4-2 in the seventh and came back and won 5-4. We just beat Northville the other day, and that’s a very good club. We just build off of that.
“We have the talent for sure to win a state title.”
Chip Mundy served as sports editor at the Brooklyn Exponent and Albion Recorder from 1980-86, and then as a reporter and later copy editor at the Jackson Citizen-Patriot from 1986-2011. He also co-authored Michigan Sports Trivia. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Saline shortstop Thomas Miller prepares to apply a tag during a game this season. (Middle top) Zachary Owings slides into the plate just ahead of a throw home. (Middle below) Senior Josh Nelson is an impressive 8-0 this spring. (Below) Jake Finkbeiner rounds third base on his way home. (Photos by Terry Owings.)