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Western's White Enjoys 'Special' Career

By Tom Markowski
Special for Second Half

May 4, 2016

WALLED LAKE – Seeking a higher level of performance, many high school athletes have channeled their energy to one sport.

Many refer to this concentration as specialization – and Cody White, for one, isn’t buying it.

White, a junior at Walled Lake Western, is a three-sport athlete and he loves every minute of it. He plays basketball during the winter, baseball in the spring and football in the fall. During the summer he competes in AAU basketball, travel baseball, 7-on-7 football games with his Western teammates, and he participates in a few summer football camps.

White has played these same sports all throughout high school. His freshman year he competed in track and field, along with baseball. White hasn’t ruled out returning to track and field, in addition to baseball, as a senior – but this season he’s sticking with just baseball.

It’s a hectic schedule but, again, White wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I couldn’t see myself not competing in those sports,” he said. “I love them so much. I want to finish my senior year playing all three.”

White estimates that he’ll have two days off, away from sports, in June. In July he’ll take a week off, between his summer baseball team schedule ending and the start of football practice.

There’s no question White is driven, but it’s more than that. In some high schools, and with some coaches, playing multiple sports can be a challenge. There are some coaches who would prefer the students to play one sport and only one sport.

According to Western football coach Mike Zdebski, that isn’t the case at his school.

“We encourage them to play more than one sport,” Zdebski said. “For one, we want them to get their money’s worth. We have a pay-to-play policy of $425. You play one sport and it costs $425. You play three sports and it costs the same. And, two, playing other sports helps them develop other skills. In basketball you create space. In baseball you chase fly balls, and that helps with depth perception. Besides you get to work with other coaches and other teams.

“We’re lifting weights during the summer. If a kid is playing summer baseball or AAU basketball, if they have time they can come by and lift weights. And what we always tell them, if you’re tired let us know. You can take a break.”

Zdebski – whose team finished 12-1 last fall – was quick to point out some excellent athletes in the past, like former Kansas City Royals outfielder/Oakland Raiders running back Bo Jackson, who were multiple-sport athletes. And, more recently, there’s Luke Glendenning of the Detroit Red Wings. Glendenning was an all-state running back at East Grand Rapids.

When his high school career is done, White will play football in college. Two months ago he committed to sign with Michigan State this winter. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, White played receiver, defensive back and also returned kicks last fall. He played a big role in Western’s run to the Division 2 Semifinals.

During baseball season, White pitches and plays middle infield and right field. He plays the wing and shooting guard in basketball.

His interest in playing a variety of sports came at an early age and, as is the case with most children, a family member was the one who introduced White to athletics. Former NFL player and Detroit Lions executive Sheldon White is his father, but the first sport White played, at age 3, was baseball. Two years later he began playing football and basketball.

Sheldon White also played three sports at his high school in Dayton, Ohio, (Meadowdale High) and helps his son manage his busy schedule, particularly during the offseason.

“Growing up was a little different (for me) than the usual kid,” Cody White said. “Going to Lions games and just being around football all the time. I think I love the game more because I was around it so much.

“But I think playing three sports helped me, too. The twisting of your hips in baseball, when you swing the bat, you’re using different muscles. And all the jumping you do in basketball. You have to move in tight spaces.

“With football, you’re with the football guys. By doing all three you meet different people.”

Playing multiple sports has definitely been the right road for White to follow. And his busy schedule hasn’t hindered his work in the classroom.

White has a 3.54 grade-point average pending his grades for this semester.

Tom Markowski is a columnist and directs website coverage for the State Champs! Sports Network. He previously covered primarily high school sports for the The Detroit News from 1984-2014, focusing on the Detroit area and contributing to statewide coverage of football and basketball. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties.

PHOTOS: (Top) Cody White (right) runs away from a Midland Dow defender during their Regional Final this fall. (Middle) White works for a shot against Milford. (Photos by Teresa Presty.)

Novi’s Andrew Krummer takes a lead off first during his team’s Quarterfinal win Saturday over Battle Creek Lakeview.

Preview: Contenders Predicted & Unexpected to Converge at Baseball Finals

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

June 13, 2023

This weekend’s MHSAA Baseball Semifinals & Finals at Michigan State’s McLane Stadium will present the usual mix of highly-ranked contenders and a surprise or two in three of the four playoff divisions.

And then there’s the phenomenon that’s played out in Division 1 over the last two weeks.

All four remaining challengers among the state’s largest baseball schools entered the postseason unranked. They then navigated a path that saw every top-20 team eliminated on the way to the final three games of the season.  

Three more unranked teams – two in Division 4 and a third in Division 3 – also will play this weekend, while top-ranked contenders Grand Rapids Christian in Division 2 and Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett in Division 3 anchor those brackets and a pair of top-four teams fill half the remaining Division 4 field.

Division 1 – Thursday
Brownstown Woodhaven vs. Macomb Dakota, 9 a.m.
Novi vs. Mattawan, 11:30 a.m.

Division 2 – Friday
Grand Rapids Christian vs. Flint Powers Catholic, 9 a.m.
Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett vs. Ada Forest Hills Eastern, 11:30 a.m.

Division 3 – Thursday
Algonac vs. Lansing Catholic, 2:30 p.m.
Bridgman vs. Standish-Sterling, 5 p.m.

Division 4 – Friday
Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep vs. Beal City, 2:30 p.m.
Rudyard vs. Plymouth Christian Academy, 5 p.m.

FINALS – Saturday
Division 1 – 9 a.m.
Division 2 – 2:30 p.m.
Division 3 – 11:30 a.m.
Division 4 – 5 p.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:

Division 1

BROWNSTOWN WOODHAVEN
Record/rank: 31-11, unranked
Coach: Corey Farner, eighth season
League finish: Second in Downriver League
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up 2018.
Players to watch: Jacob Wright, jr. OF/P (.375, 30 R, 10 2B, 25 RBI, 13 SB, 1.76 ERA); Gary Pilgrim, jr. OF/C (.328, 40 R, 26 SB); Jace Davis, soph. IF (.322, 16 SB); Evan Langlois, sr. P/IF (.301, 26 RBI, 7-2 pitching, 0.96 ERA, 96 K/65 1/3 IP).
Outlook: Woodhaven has won 20 of its last 22 games and reached 30 victories total for the fourth time in five seasons. The latest streak has included a playoff win over No. 15 Allen Park and regular-season victory over Division 2 No. 17 Trenton – the former avenging a regular-season sweep and the latter completing one. Senior Tyler Harris (7-2, 1.45 ERA) and junior Jimmy Chwalek (3-0, 1.65) also have done good work on the mound, and senior Nick Phillips (.323) brings another potent bat slotting third in the lineup.

MACOMB DAKOTA
Record/rank: 26-12-2, unranked
Coach: Angelo Plouffe, first season
League finish: Second in Macomb Area Conference Red
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Charlie Chmielewski, sr. IF (.386, 27 RBI); Alex Kavalick, sr. C (.414, 12 2B, 37 RBI); Brendan Borowicz, sr. OF (.446, 24 SB); Will DeMasse, sr. IF/P (.397, 30 RBI, 5-2 pitching).
Outlook: Dakota nearly reached its first Final during its most recent Semifinals trip in 2019, losing in extra innings, and a senior-dominated lineup has the Cougars back riding a run that’s included wins over No. 11 Sterling Heights Stevenson, a spoiler in Lake Orion and 2021 champion Grand Blanc. The anticipated hitting lineup this weekend includes seven seniors. Junior Landon Moore adds a .375 average, team-high 33 runs and 17 stolen bases, and sophomore pitcher Brendan Przybycki is 6-0 with a 1.64 ERA this spring.

MATTAWAN
Record/rank: 25-11-1, unranked
Coach: Brett Vaughn, second season (50-24-1)
League finish: Seventh in Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Brendan Garza, jr. P/IF (.321, 26 R, 29 RBI, 18 SB, 8-2 pitching, 1.52 ERA, 91 K/60 IP); Connor Walsh, jr. SS (.379, 34 R, 17 SB); Connor Cole, sr. OF (.343, 32 R, 18 SB); Josh DeJong, jr. P (7-0 pitching, 1.10 ERA).
Outlook: Mattawan might seem like a surprise heading to East Lansing, but the Wildcats played a loaded regular-season schedule and have outscored six playoff opponents by a combined 58-7. That started with a 23-3 District win over No. 17 Portage Northern, which avenged a regular-season sweep, and included a Regional win over No. 6 Zeeland East. Mattawan also has victories over No. 11 Sterling Heights Stevenson and Division 2 No. 1 Grand Rapids Christian, No. 2 Stevensville Lakeshore and No. 8 Forest Hills Eastern. Senior Aiden Warn (.340, 30 R, 31 RBI) is another top hitter in the middle of the lineup.

NOVI
Record/rank: 30-8, unranked
Coach: Rick Green, 23rd season (513-304)
League finish: Fifth in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West
Championship history: Class C runner-up 1973.
Players to watch: Jonathan Aurilia, soph. OF/P (.446, 18 SB); Brendon Bennett, jr. P/1B (.406, 30 RBI, 6-2 pitching), Andrew Abler, sr. P/1B (.333, 7-3 pitching, 1.02 ERA); Thad Lawler, jr. OF/P (7-0 pitching, 0.74 ERA)
Outlook: Novi won its first Regional title since Green’s first season in 2000 and will play in its first Semifinal since 1973 – and despite having only three seniors toppled No. 3 Northville, No. 16 Hartland and No. 7 Battle Creek Lakeview over its last three games. The Wildcats had split with Hartland and were swept by Northville during the regular season. Sophomore Jaden Vondrasek (.327, 13 SB) and junior Boden Fernsler (.323, 16 SB) also are capable of causing some discomfort on the base paths, and senior Alex Czapski (5-1, 1.72 ERA) is another top contributor from a deep pitching staff.

Division 2

ADA FOREST HILLS EASTERN
Record/rank: 32-8, No. 8
Coach: Ian Hearn, eighth season (203-75)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold
Championship history: Division 2 champion 2022.
Players to watch: Max Ferrick, soph. OF/P (.395, 35 R, 11 2B, 37 RBI, 12 SB); Brendan Thompson, soph. IF (.362, 38 R, 31 RBI, 19 SB); Matt Stotts, jr. C/IF (.380, 37 RBI); Jacob Pallo, sr. P/IF (.339, 11 SB, 10-0 pitching, 0.49 ERA, 70 K/57 IP).
Outlook: Five starters return from last season’s championship game lineup – Thompson, Ferrick, Pallo, Stotts and senior outfielder Collin Fridsma (.300, 42 R, 25 SB). Senior Evan Tower (.365) provides another big bat, with senior Walker Brockie (8-0, 0.95 ERA) and sophomore Landen Lindley (6-2, 2.17 ERA) able to step in strongly on the mound as well. This playoff run has included a pair of 2-0 Regional shutouts of No. 5 Bay City John Glenn and No. 16 Allendale. Hearn total has won 635 games over 25 seasons and also led Rockford to the Division 1 title in 2011.

FLINT POWERS CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 33-8-2, No. 4
Coach: Tom Dutkowski, 41st season (836-530-10)
League finish: Third in Saginaw Valley League
Championship history: Class B champion 1980 and 1974.
Players to watch: Grant Garman, jr. P/1B (.450, 23 RBI, 12-1 pitching, 0.43 ERA, 116 K/65 2/3 IP); Isaac Sturgess, jr. OF/P (.402, 52 R, 11 2B, 44 RBI, 13 SB, 5-2 pitching, 1.12 ERA); Connor Kelly, jr. SS/P (.396, 34 R, 40 RBI, 5-2 pitching, 1.00 ERA); Gavin Darling, jr. 3B (.357, 12 2B, 25 RBI, 10 SB).
Outlook: Garman and Sturgess both made the all-state first team last season and headline a contender that starts only two seniors as it makes its first Semifinal trip since 1984. The Chargers put up an impressive 43 runs over their first five postseason games, with senior Jack Dawley (.398, 32 R, 26 RBI, 14 SB) and juniors Luke Dupuis (.386, 31 R) and Fischer Hendershot (.396, 25 RBI) also among team offensive leaders. Dutkowski is tied for eighth among winningest baseball coaches in state history.

GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 34-5, No. 1
Coach: Brent Gates, 11th season (296-87)
League finish: First in O-K White
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2013), three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Cam Seth, sr. IF/P (.370, 38 R, 22 SB, 4-3 pitching, 1.90 ERA); Ty Uchman, sr. IF/P (.482, 48 R, 9 3B, 52 RBI, 17 SB, 8-0 pitching, 1.50 ERA); Kyle Remington, sr. IF/P (.435, 59 R, 12 2B, 28 RBI, 26 SB, 9-0 pitching); Jackson Isaacs, jr. OF (.380, 43 R, 41 RBI, 26 SB).
Outlook: Grand Rapids Christian finished Division 2 runner-up last season and returns seven starters this weekend from that championship game lineup including pitcher Seth. Remington and Isaacs made the all-state first team last spring, the former now one of six seniors in this weekend’s anticipated starting lineup. The Eagles followed up a Regional Final win over No. 2 Stevensville Lakeshore on Saturday with a Quarterfinal victory over No. 11 Olivet, putting up double-digits in the latter – Christian’s 17th game this season scoring 10 runs or more.

GROSSE POINTE WOODS UNIVERSITY LIGGETT
Record/rank: 25-11, No. 3
Coach: Dan Cimini, 17th season (513-137)
League finish: Third in Detroit Catholic League Central
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recent 2021), three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Jarren Purify, sr. SS (.446, 43 R, 14 2B, 8 HR, 31 RBI, 24 SB); Reggie Sharpe, jr. 2B/P (.395, 32 R, 11 SB, 5-2 pitching, 2.80 ERA); Oliver Service, sr. C (.392, 38 R, 10 2B, 8 HR, 37 RBI, 12 SB); Preston Barr, jr. P (.347, 35 RBI, 5-1 pitching, 1.47 ERA).
Outlook: After winning the Division 3 championship in 2021 and losing in last year’s District to eventual runner-up Detroit Edison, Liggett made the jump to Division 2 this spring and has as much star power as any team playing this weekend. Purify made the all-state first team last season and will continue at Clemson, Service made the all-state second team and will continue at Texas, and senior Jack Jones will play next for Michigan State. Senior Jake Martin is another key bat (.320, 31 RBI), and senior Joey Randazzo (7-3, 3.00 ERA) is expected to take the hill for the Semifinal.

Division 3

ALGONAC
Record/rank: 36-3, No. 1
Coach: Scott Thaler, seventh season (142-85-6)
League finish: First in Blue Water Area Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Brandon Williams, sr. OF (.348, 34 RBI); Tyler Schultz, sr. IF/C (.397, 42 R, 30 RBI, 17 SB); Evan Saddler, jr. C/OF (.321, 48 R, 31 SB); Josh Kasner, jr. P/IF (.378, 51 R, 37 RBI, 21 SB, 10-0 pitching, 0.68 ERA, 130 K/72 IP).
Outlook: Algonac is making its first trip to the Semifinals thanks in part to a 5-3 Regional Final win over No. 4 Ecorse, and with its only losses to ranked teams in Division 2. The Muskrats have a returning all-state first-team ace in Kasner, but plenty of pitching to fill out the weekend as well with sophomore Bryce Simpson (6-0, 1.18 ERA) and seniors Andrew Thomason (8-1, 1.56) and Noah Maniaci (5-0, 1.82) also in the rotation this spring. Four players have at least 20 stolen bases, and the team has 149 total – one shy of making the MHSAA record book.

BRIDGMAN
Record/rank: 31-9, No. 16
Coach: Justin Hahaj, 11th season (218-107)
League finish: Second in Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore
Championship history: Class D champion 1987, two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Alec MacMartin, jr. P/SS (.349, 50 R, 27 RBI, 10 SB, 11-2 pitching, 1.99 ERA, 73 K/70 1/3 IP); Reid Haskins, sr. OF/P (.411, 46 R, 27 RBI, 32 SB, 5-1 pitching, 1.07 ERA); Charlie Pagel, soph. 1B/P (.398, 34 R, 15 2B, 43 RBI, 7-4 pitching, 2.42 ERA); Cooper Allwood, fr. 3B (.409, 34 R, 28 RBI).
Outlook: The Bees are a combined 84-20 over the last three seasons and making their first Semifinal trip since 2013 while on a string of 16 wins over their last 17 games. They have three one-run victories during the tournament, including 10-9 over No. 15 Niles Brandywine in the District Final. Eight of 13 players are seniors; the other five are sophomores and freshmen. Sophomore Wade Haskins (.398, 30 R, 35 RBI) and senior Tanner Peters (.347) also help fill out a potent lineup.

LANSING CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 23-5, No. 8
Coach: Randy Farlin, seventh season (95-42-1)
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference White
Championship history: Class C champion 1996, Division 3 runner-up 2012.
Players to watch: Drew Tolfre, soph. P/OF (8-0 pitching, 0.52 ERA); Daniel Shipman, sr. P/IF/OF (.458); Drew Diehl, jr. P/C (7-2 pitching, 1.11 ERA); Drew Burlingame, sr. P/C (.352).
Outlook: Lansing Catholic is making its first Semifinals trip since the runner-up season of 2012, having navigated an impressive set of playoff opponents including No. 4 North Muskegon, No. 12 Pewamo-Westphalia, No. 14 Watervliet and No. 20 Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian. The Cougars also swept No. 10 Jackson Lumen Christi during the regular season and have won 12 of their last 13 games.

STANDISH-STERLING
Record/rank: 29-14, unranked
Coach: Ryan Raymond, seventh season (169-64-3)
League finish: Second in Tri-Valley Conference Blue
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Cody Bartlett, sr. P/OF (6-1 pitching, 0.88 ERA); Brayden Schabel, sr. OF (.364); Sam Briggs, soph. P/OF (.398, 44 R, 19 2B, 62 RBI, 8-0 pitching, 1.01 ERA, 73 K/55 1/3 IP); Cooper Prout, jr. IF/P (.485, 39 RBI, 5-0 pitching, 1.17 ERA).
Outlook: In its first Semifinal last season since 1976, Standish-Sterling went to extra innings – and the Panthers will return trying to make a first championship game despite graduating three all-state first teamers from that lineup. They earned the opportunity by defeating No. 9 Charlevoix in the Regional Final and No. 13 Gladstone in the Quarterfinal, and they entered the postseason coming off a split with Division 2 No. 5 Bay City John Glenn. This team has only four seniors total, but high hopes beyond this weekend with four sophomores and two freshmen in the expected lineup.

Division 4

BEAL CITY
Record/rank: 29-8, No. 4
Coach: Brad Antcliff, 11th season (337-72-5)
League finish: First in Highland Conference
Championship history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 2018), three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Jack Fussman, sr. OF (.484, 50 R, 45 RBI, 25 SB); Blake Walcutt, fr. OF (.342, 34 R, 28 RBI, 14 SB); Cayden Smith, jr. P/SS (.400, 54, 36 SB, 5-2 pitching, 1.66 ERA); Josh Wilson, jr. P/1B (.466, 41 R, 11 2B, 48 RBI, 15 SB, 7-3 pitching, 2.01 ERA).
Outlook: Last season’s runner-up is led again by two-time championship-winning coach Antcliff, who directed the program from 2007-16 and returned this spring. The Aggies graduated five all-state honorees a year ago but did return Wilson, who joined four teammates on the first team last season. He’s second only to Fussman as Beal City has a .334 team batting average, and Aggies have put up a combined 53 runs over five postseason wins while giving up just four. That’s made more impressive given three of those wins were over No. 3 Fowler, No. 11 Maple City Glen Lake and No. 12 Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart.

KALAMAZOO HACKETT CATHOLIC PREP
Record/rank: 24-14-1, unranked
Coach: Smiley Verduzco, third season (76-34-1)
League finish: Tied for third in SAC Valley
Championship history: Division 4 champion 2021.
Players to watch: Brooks Basler, soph. P/3B (5-4 pitching, 0.88 ERA); Andrew Rann, jr. 1B (.408, 36 RBI); Nick Verduzco, sr. SS (.525, 55 R, 19 2B, 42 RBI, 48 SB); Eli Backman, jr. IF (.415, 51 R, 31 SB).
Outlook: The 2021 champion didn’t advance past its first District game a year ago but stormed back this spring with a run that’s included victories over No. 6 Decatur and No. 20 Byon Center Zion Christian. The Irish ended this regular season losing three of their final four games, but have rebounded to outscore their five postseason opponents by a combined 45-10. Nick Verduzco made the all-state first team last season and will play next at Ashland; he’s one of only three seniors in the starting lineup. The team’s 183 stolen bases – and the Irish have been caught just 13 times – rank 11th all-time.

PLYMOUTH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Record/rank: 33-7, No. 2
Coach: Joe Bottorff, 16th season (221-117-2)
League finish: First in Michigan Independent Athletic Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Noah Etnyre, sr. C/IF/P (.540, 48 R, 22 2B, 46 RBI); Tyler Scott, soph. P/OF (.388, 28 RBI, 9-0 pitching, 0.80 ERA, 70 K/52 2/3 IP); Jordan Scott, sr. P/IF/OF (.496, 37 R, 12 2B, 54 RBI, 11-2 pitching, 1.97 ERA, 100 K/64 IP); Riley Brodhagen, sr. P/OF (.252, 34 R, 6-1 pitching, 1.26 ERA).
Outlook: After winning a sixth-straight District title and second Regional title over the last five seasons, Plymouth Christian will make its first trip to the Semifinals thanks to defeating No. 16 Royal Oak Shrine Catholic in a Quarterfinal. Etnyre made the all-state second team as a catcher last season and is one of five senior starters. Sophomore Micah Lavigne (.330, 32 R) and freshman Luke Janigian (.329, 26 R) are two more key bats at the bottom of the lineup; Lavigne also is 5-0 on the mound.  

RUDYARD
Record/rank: 19-19, unranked
Coach: Billy Mitchell, third season (56-38)
League finish: Third in Straits Area Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Aiden Bickel, jr. IF/P (.458, 37 R, 32 SB, 6-2 pitching, 3.76 ERA); Kallan Lawlor, jr. OF/P (.299, 26 R, 18 SB); Cam Peterson, jr. IF/P (.450, 33 R, 29 RBI, 29 SB); Landen Mayer, jr. IF/P (.380, 31 R, 23 RBI, 24 SB).
Outlook: Rudyard is making a second-straight trip to the Semifinals, but this one was a little unexpected after graduating three all-state honorees and entering the postseason at 14-19. Nearly all of those losses came to larger schools including a handful from Divisions 1 and 2, and during the playoffs the Bulldogs have eliminated top-ranked Indian River Inland Lakes, No. 7 Painesdale Jeffers and No. 19 Mackinaw City. Peterson made the all-state second team last season and hits third in a lineup with just one senior.

PHOTO Novi’s Andrew Krummer takes a lead off first during his team’s Quarterfinal win Saturday over Battle Creek Lakeview. (Photo by Terry Lyons.)