Woodhaven Adding to History-Making Spring
June 5, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Brownstown Woodhaven baseball coach Corey Farner was reading last month about Homer breaking its 2005 record for consecutive innings without giving up a run, and he had an idea.
"I started thinking to myself," Farner recalled, "'we've had quite a few shutouts in a row where we're at,' and I went back and double checked."
What he uncovered was an unknown chapter to one of the state's best high school sports stories this spring.
Homer had broken its previous record of 44 straight shutout innings with 48 consecutive during April and the first week of May. When Farner checked May 15, Woodhaven was at 43 straight shutout innings, beginning with the second of a game May 1 against Wyandotte Roosevelt.
When the Warriors gave up their next run during the fourth inning May 17 against Melvindale, the shutout streak had reached 60 – surpassing Homer’s 48, and also 45 straight Frankfort had strung together to break the original 2005 record earlier this spring.
"You would think there was some pressure on them going through the season, and there really wasn't," Farner said of his players. "I'm naïve, but I think they were completely unaware of anything going on with the 60-inning streak, and most of them didn't know we broke it until I told them after the (Melvindale) game. I didn't let them know what was going on because, frankly, I didn't know until five hours before that."
The scoreless inning streak set Woodhaven apart among candidates to be named MHSAA/Applebee’s "Team of the Month" for May. But again, that’s been but one highlight of what might already go down as the best season in program history.
The Warriors are 30-5 and won their fourth straight Downriver League title. They entered the postseason ranked No. 9 in Division 1 by the state baseball coaches association. And then they claimed their first District title in program history with a sweep of Monroe and Temperance Bedford on Saturday.
Success is nothing new to Woodhaven under Farner, who came over from Taylor Kennedy four seasons ago and has led the Warriors to a combined record of 118-24 to go with those four league titles.
He’s developed a program with impressive depth. Six pitchers took part in the scoreless streak – seniors Drew Szczepaniak, Justin Charron, Alonzo Chavez and Jacob Outland and juniors Colin Czajkowski and Kyle Ray – and all six have at least three wins on the mound, led by Szczepaniak (8-1, 0.98 ERA, 100 strikeouts) and Czajkowski (5-0, 1.23 ERA). Szczepaniak will continue his career next season at Western Michigan University, and Czajkowski has committed to sign with University of Michigan.
The offense actually jumpstarted the team’s roll this spring, and Charron leads with a .466 average followed by Czajkowski (.412), Szczepaniak (.381) and Ray (.378).
The team is led in part by seven seniors, half of whom came up to varsity as sophomores, and Farner could tell something was special with this group. The Warriors already have made a season’s worth of history for most, but have the opportunity to make more at Saturday’s Regional at Southgate Anderson, where they’ll take on Dearborn Edsel Ford and then with a win face either reigning Division 1 champion and current No. 10 Saline or Plymouth.
“This year, something was different,” Farner said. “The team chemistry is a lot better. The leadership is a ton better than it’s been in the past. It’s very difficult to try to develop leaders – it’s something they have to do and make that decision – and we have a good senior class that hold everybody accountable.
“And for them, there’s wasn’t a ton of pressure on them. They knew what they could do, and they just went out and were able to execute it.”
Past Teams of the Month, 2017-18
April: Detroit Catholic Central boys lacrosse - Report
March: Brighton hockey - Report
February: Marquette girls and boys skiing - Report
January: Sterling Heights Stevenson competitive cheer - Report
December: Cadillac boys bowling - Report
November: Ottawa Lake Whiteford football - Report
October: Beaverton volleyball - Report
September: Shepherd girls golf - Report
PHOTOS: (Top) Woodhaven's Drew Szczepaniak makes his move toward the plate this season. (Middle) The Warriors take a photo after a sweep of Taylor Kennedy on May 15. (Photos courtesy of the Woodhaven baseball program.)
Finals Preview: Making the Numbers Add Up
June 13, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
A few numbers are worth noting heading into MHSAA Baseball Finals weekend at Battle Creek's Bailey Park.
Seven of the 16 teams taking the field will be playing for their first championships. Not one of the Division 2 Semifinalists has a top-10 number attached to it; all four contenders entered the postseason unranked.
But there are plenty of coaches this weekend who know about winning; eight have led teams to at least 200 wins, and two coaches with at least 500 victories are attempting to guide their clubs to first MHSAA titles.
Below is this weekend's schedule, followed by a look at each team that will be playing.
Semifinals - Friday
Division 1
Bay City Western (40-2) vs. Sterling Heights Stevenson (28-8) - CO Brown - 11 a.m.
Birmingham Brother Rice (31-8-1) vs. Howell (33-7) - Nichols Field - 10 a.m.
Division 2
Grand Rapids Christian (17-15) vs. Remus Chippewa Hills (27-7) - Nichols Field - 1 p.m.
Richmond (33-4) vs. Milan (26-12) - Morrison Field - Noon
Division 3
Grandville Calvin Christian (23-3) vs. Whittemore-Prescott (24-5) - Morrison Field - 3 p.m.
Madison Heights Bishop Foley (33-2-1) vs. Bridgman (26-5-1) - CO Brown - 2 p.m.
Division 4
Beal City (34-2) vs. Maple City Glen Lake (28-7) - CO Brown - 5 p.m.
New Lothrop (25-5) vs. Grosse Pte. Woods U. Liggett (29-4) - Nichols Field - 4 p.m.
Finals - Saturday
Division 1: 9:30 a.m.
Division 2: 12:30 p.m.
Division 3: 3:30 p.m.
Division 4: 6:30 p.m.
Tickets cost $7 per round or $15 for an all-tournament ticket that includes admission to baseball games. Radio broadcasts of all Semifinals can be heard online at MHSAAnetwork.com. All Finals will be streamed live online at MHSAA.tv, with radio broadcasts again available on the MHSAA Network website.
All statistics below are through at least the regular season, with most through teams' Regionals or Quarterfinals. (Click for links to brackets and scores.)
Division 1
BAY CITY WESTERN
Record/rank: 40-2, No. 1
Coach: Tim McDonald, 21st season (562-198-7)
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley League North
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Connor Foley, sr. P/3B (7-0, 1.73 ERA pitching, .496, 57 R, 19 SB); Grant Miller, sr. 2B (.478, 52 R, 32 RBI); Grant Bridgewater, sr. C/3B (.416, 39 R, 38 RBI), Brett Adcock, sr. P/1B (11-0, 0.54 ERA, 119 K pitching, .361).
Outlook: The Warriors are making their third Semifinals appearance in eight seasons, this time with a lineup featuring seven seniors. Bay City Western has won 31 straight, including victories over No. 2 Brighton, No. 5 Howell and sweeps of Division 2 No. 1 Bay City John Glenn, No. 4 Mount Pleasant and No. 6 Bullock Creek. Seniors Briton Ott (7-0) and Grant Rosenbrock (6-1) also have ERAs under 1.50, and junior shortstop Seth Freed provides another big bat hitting .443.
BIRMINGHAM BROTHER RICE
Record/rank: 31-8-1, No. 6
Coach: Bob Riker, 16th season (393-156)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic High School League Central
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2008), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Dalton Greyerbiehl, sr. CF/P; Nick Plummer, soph. LF; Matt Ruppenthal, jr. IF/P; Randy Righter, jr. 1B/P; Sammy Stevens, jr. C. (Statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: This is Brother Rice’s first trip to Bailey Park since its most recent championship run, but the Warriors are used to seeing tough competition playing in one of the state’s most competitive leagues. Brother Rice also owns a split against No. 5 Howell and a sweep of Division 3 No. 1 Madison Heights Bishop Foley, and beat No. 11 Lake Orion in Tuesday’s Quarterfinal.
HOWELL
Record/rank: 33-7, No. 5
Co-coaches: Jason Ladd and Mike Weatherly, second seasons (62-17)
League finish: Second in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Tyler Bradner, sr. P/CF (.416, 28 R, 51 RBI); Cody Wiggins, sr. LF (.362, 32 R, 28 RBI); Darren Ford, jr. RF/P (.404, 32 R, 23 RBI).
Outlook: Howell is back in the Semifinals for the second straight year, and also the second time ever. And the Highlanders should be prepared after running through a loaded schedule; they went 2-1 against No. 2 Brighton and No. 4 Sterling Heights Stevenson, fell to No. 1 Bay City Western but beat reigning Division 4 champion Decatur, and then defeated No. 8 Temperance Bedford in Tuesday’s Quarterfinal.
STERLING HEIGHTS STEVENSON
Record/rank: 28-8, No. 4
Coach: Joe Emanuele, 16th season (351-182)
League finish: First in Macomb Area Conference Red
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2005.
Players to watch: Zack McGuire, jr. P/OF (5-0, 1.22 ERA pitching, .444, 16 2B, 42 RBI); Brandon Hughes, jr. OF/P (.404, 39 R, 21 SB); Dean Emanuele, jr. 2B (.388, 14 SB, 26 R), Bobby Griffin, sr. C (.370, 12 2B, 20 RBI).
Outlook: After missing last season, Stevenson is back in the Semifinals for the second time in three years with a lineup featuring as many seniors (three) as sophomores. Stevenson owns a recent win over No. 5 Howell after two losses earlier, and beat No. 7 Macomb Dakota three times including in the Regional. Senior Johno Rodriguez (7-1) and junior Joe Wolf (6-2) combine with McGuire for an accomplished pitching staff.
Division 2
GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 17-15, unranked
Coach: Brent Gates, sixth season (153-59)
League finish: Third in Ottawa-Kent Conference White
Championship history: Division 2 champion 2012, runner-up 2011 and 2005.
Players to watch: Alex VandeVusse, sr. 1B/P (.392, 22 R, 3-3 pitching); Joel Schipper, sr. SS (.384, 20 R, 19 RBI); Tyler Sigler, jr. OF (.356, 23 R, 17 SB); Austin Batka, jr. P/1B (4-5, 1.63 ERA, 88 K pitching).
Outlook: VandeVusse and Schipper were key cogs in last season’s championship team and have the Eagles back on an unexpected run after finishing the regular season 12-15. The Eagles did beat No. 2 Comstock Park 10-3 in the Regional Semifinal and also beat No. 4 Mount Pleasant just before the beginning of Districts.
MILAN
Record/rank: 26-12, unranked
Coach: Adam Gilles, 12th season (266-122-3)
League finish: Third in Huron League
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Kyle Schrader, jr. P/IF; Thomas Lindeman, soph. P/SS. (Statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: Milan has won 10 straight and is back at Bailey Park for the first time since 2009. This postseason run has included three shutouts – including one against No. 10 New Boston Huron – as the Big Reds have beaten those six teams by a combined score of 18-5.
REMUS CHIPPEWA HILLS
Record/rank: 27-7, unranked
Coach: Ben Wright, seventh season (182-64)
League finish: First in Central State Activities Association
Championship history: Class B champion 1983.
Players to watch: Jake Tarbell, sr. C/P (10-2, 2.07 ERA, 94 K pitching, .505, 31 R, 17 2B, 40 RBI); Devin Esch, sr. CF (.423, 26 R, 12 SB); Hunter Conley, soph. 2B (.403, 38 R, 27 SB); Ty Schafer, sr. SS/P (8-2, 2.62 ERA, 54 K pitching, .369, 25 R, 23 RBI.)
Outlook: Chippewa Hills has won six straight league, three straight District and two straight Regional championships. The Warriors were ranked No. 10 in Division 2 early this season, and have beaten two straight ranked opponents: No. 8 Cheboygan in the Regional Final and No. 4 Mount Pleasant in the Quarterfinal.
RICHMOND
Record/rank: 33-4, unranked
Coach: Scott Evans, second season (58-16)
League finish: First in Blue Water Area Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Evan Kratt, soph. C/P (3-0, 1.58 ERA pitching, .478, 36 R, 38 RBI, 13 2B); Austin Harvey, jr. 3B (.439, 32 R, 16 SB); Ryan Boyd, jr. SS/P (2-0, 0.49 ERA pitching, .421, 39 R, 18 SB); Mitchell Ward, sr. P/1B (5-0, 1.54 ERA pitching, .408, 27 R, 26 RBI).
Outlook: Richmond is riding a 17-game winning streak that has included a 6-1 win over No. 3 St. Clair in the Regional Semifinal. The Blue Devils have one of the deepest pitching staffs in Battle Creek this weekend, with seven throwers having won at least one game this season and the total staff ERA at 1.75. Junior Zach Leach and sophomore Dillon McInerney both have a team-high six wins on the mound.
Division 3
BRIDGMAN
Record/rank: 26-5-1, No. 7
Coach: Justin Hahaj, first season (26-5-1)
League finish: First in Lakeland Conference
Championship history: Class D champion 1987, two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Brock Belanger, sr. 1B (.430, 27 R, 37 RBI); Matt Hendricks, jr. SS (.337, 37 R, 22 SB); Tyler Gnodtke, jr. P/OF (7-1, 1.86 ERA pitching); Brady Wasko, sr. P/2B (9-1, 0.49 ERA, 74 K pitching, .328, 26 R).
Outlook: Bridgman hopes to take the next step after finishing runner-up in 2011. Gnodtke made a brief appearance in that Final and is back as one of the best of a strong pitching staff. Bridgman has won its five postseason games by a combined score of 34-4, with a 5-2 win over No. 6 Homer in Tuesday’s Quarterfinal.
GRANDVILLE CALVIN CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 23-3, unranked
Coach: Andrew Bishop, fourth season (90-27)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Silver
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 1996), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Nate VanRyn (.377, 25 R, 21 RBI); Jamie Bristol (6-1, 1.37 ERA pitching, .370); Cole Boender (5-0, 0.29 ERA pitching, .348); Josh DeYoung (9-0, 0.60 ERA, 82 K pitching, .333, 23 R, 22 RBI).
Outlook: Calvin Christian has won four league and three District titles under Bishop, and now is back in Battle Creek for the first time since 2002. The Squires eliminated No. 2 Lansing Catholic in the Regional and have won 17 of their last 18 games. Only three starters graduate, meaning Calvin Christian could be building for a run in 2014 as well.
MADISON HEIGHTS BISHOP FOLEY
Record/rank: 33-2-1, No. 1
Coach: Buster Sunde, fifth season (164-25-1)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic High School League AA
Championship history: Division 3 champion 2012 and 2011, Class B runner-up 1990.
Players to watch: Michael Murley, jr. CF/P; Chad Gravlin, sr. 1B/P; Garrett Schilling, jr. P/SS; Nathaniel Grys, soph. LF. (Statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: Despite graduating an Major League draft pick in catcher Brett Sunde, Bishop Foley hasn’t missed a beat – even with only two seniors on this season’s team. Bishop Foley earned impressive wins against bigger schools including Detroit Catholic Central and Brother Rice and didn’t give up a run in the District tournament.
WHITTEMORE-PRESCOTT
Record/rank: 24-5, unranked
Coach: Edward Mervyn, 34th season (566-385)
League finish: Second in Huron Shores Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Tyler Janish, sr. P (8-1, 0.86 ERA, 99 K pitching, .506, 61 R, 4 HR, 64 SB); Jens Gillings, jr. C (.424, 27 R, 31 RBI, 24 SB); Jordan Runyon, sr. 1B (.420, 34 RBI); Mike Arndt, soph. SS (.369, 39 R, 32 RBI, 41 SB).
Outlook: This is Whittemore-Prescott’s longest run ever and first trip to Bailey Park – and could be just the start of a two-year run with only three seniors in the lineup. The Cardinals have a supply of offense and scored at least 10 runs in 11 games this spring – with seven regulars stealing at least 10 bases and six driving in at least 20 runs. Junior Ivan Lauria joins Janish with an 8-1 pitching record.
Division 4
BEAL CITY
Record/rank: 34-2, No. 3
Coaches: Brad Antcliff, seventh season (225-39-3)
League finish: First in Highland Conference
Championship history: Three MHSAA championships (most recent 2010).
Players to watch: Ryan Marshall, sr. SS/P (8-1, 1.50 ERA pitching; .383, 34 R, 32 RBI, 23 SB); Ty Rollin, jr. SS/P (9-1, 1.22 ERA pitching, .389, 48 R, 24 SB); Joe Rau, sr. LF (.369, 35 R, 21 RBI); Chase Rollin, fr. RF (.473).
Outlook: Beal City is in the Semifinals for the fourth time in five seasons and seeking its third championship after winning back-to-back in 2009 and 2010. The slate has been impressive this spring; the Aggies own wins over Division 2 Semifinalist Remus Chippewa Hills and Division 4 No. 5 Muskegon Catholic Central and No. 7 Decatur over the last eight games. The losses came to No. 1 University Liggett and Division 2 No. 6 Bullock Creek.
GROSSE POINTE WOODS UNIVERSITY LIGGETT
Record/rank: 29-4, No. 1
Coach: Dan Cimini, 10th season (275-55)
League finish: First in Michigan Independent Athletic Conference
Championship history: Two MHSAA championships (most recent 2011), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Nathan Gaggin, sr. C/P (.507, 27 R, 6 HR, 50 RBI); Nicholas Azar, soph. SS (.416, 31 R, 6 HR, 39 RBI); Connor Fannon, sr. P/1B (10-1, 2.50 ERA, 79 K pitching, .409, 28 R, 43 RBI); Mark Evan Auk, sr. OF/P (.402, 36 R, 24 RBI).
Outlook: University Liggett was the runner-up last season and is playing for its third straight championship game appearance. The Knights are loaded with star power; Fannon was an all-stater as a sophomore and Gaggin, Azar and Auk were all-staters last season. Two of the last three postseason wins came against No. 10 Concord and No. 6 Royal Oak Shrine, and University Liggett also owns wins against No. 3 Beal City and Division 1 No. 6 Brother Rice.
MAPLE CITY GLEN LAKE
Record/rank: 28-7, No. 12
Coach: Kris Herman, 10th season (202-157-4)
League finish: Fourth in Northwest Conference
Championship history: Class D runner-up 1984.
Players to watch: Austin Odziana, soph. 1B/P (.459, 26 R, 12 2B, 23 RBI, 4-1 pitching); Thomas Waning, jr. 2B/P (8-4, 1.49 ERA, 110 K pitching, .424, 11 2B, 39 R, 33 RBI, 24 SB); Travis Moore, fr. OF/P (.422, 25 R, 34 RBI); Trevor Apsey, jr. C (.411, 40 R, 33 RBI, 20 SB),
Outlook: Glen Lake lost three of its final four regular-season games, but caught fire in the playoffs to advance to the Semifinals for the first time since 2001. The Lakers beat Suttons Bay after splitting right before the start of the postseason and beat No. 11 Frankfort in the Regional Final after being swept earlier this spring. Freshman Zach Cooper starts in right field and also is 7-1 pitching.
NEW LOTHROP
Record/rank: 25-5, unranked
Coach: Keith Villano, third season (80-18-2)
League finish: First in Genesee Area Conference Blue
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Taylor Quentin, fr. OF (.541, 15 2B, 46 RBI); Grant Steinborn, soph. 1B/P (9-0, 1.63 ERA pitching, .408, 33 RBI); Tyler Moore, sr. 2B/P (.400, 31 R); Kyle Chappelle, jr. 3B/P (.318, 22 RBI, 41 R).
Outlook: New Lothrop have built on last season’s Quarterfinal berth by returning to the Semifinals for the first time since 1998. The Hornets have outscored their postseason opponents by a combined 40-11. And the run is even more impressive considering the roster has more underclassmen (seven) than upperclassmen (six). Centerfielder Mitch Perizzolo hits .346 in joining with Moore as the team’s lone seniors.
PHOTO: Bay City Western senior Briton Ott fires a pitch during Tuesday's Division 1 Quarterfinal win over Rockford. (Click to see more at HighSchoolsSportsScene.com.)