This summary comes from NorthOaklandSports.com
Auburn Hills Oakland Christian
COACH: Brad Pyke, fifth season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 8-18, 3-11 MIAC Blue Division (sixth).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Lost in D-4 district finals to Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (13-0).
RETURNING STARTERS: Stuart Sutherland, sr. CF (committed to Kalamazoo College); Kyle Vens-LHP-INF; Jason Schomer, sr. 2B; Collin O’Connor, jr. P-INF; Jack Lee, jr. 1B; Thomas Washington, soph. P-INF.
KEY LOSSES: Collin O’Connor, INF; Chris Golus, 3B; Josh Crane, P-OF; Robby Carson, OF-INF.
NOTABLES: Seven of 12 players return from last year’s rebuilding campaign. The Lancers compete in the loaded MIAC, which has several quality teams and players in both divisions. The experience should be able to keep Oakland Christian competitive as long as the pitching holds up.
Rochester
COACH: Eric Magiera, sixth season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 14-21, 5-10 OAA Red Division (sixth).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Lost in D-1 pre-district to Romeo (10-5).
RETURNING STARTERS: Max Harper, jr. SS-2B; Jake Stout, jr. P-OF (committed to Toledo); Mike Halsey, jr. LF-P; Andrew Bauer, sr. CF-P (committed to Albion College); Connor Pacella, sr. P-2B.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Mitch Weber, jr. INF-DH; Zach Gordon, jr. INF; Joey Doneth, jr. INF-P; Randy Chuba, sr. INF-P; Tommy Smith, sr. INF-P; Joey Ianetta, sr. U; Wesley Linn, sr. P-INF; Tyler Dukart, sr. C; John Kalil, jr. C-OF.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Ryan Gladstone, fr. C; Tyler Frankhouse, fr.; INF; Anthony Cicala, jr. OF; Kyle Matynka, soph. INF-P.
KEY LOSSES: Matt Beckstrom, 1B-P; Jack Devine, P-INF; Ryan Mahan, OF; John Doroshewitz, OF.
NOTABLES: There are 13 players back, three players that have already committed to various colleges and plenty of depth at each position. The Falcons were a relatively young team each of the past two seasons, but will be one of the more veteran ballclubs in the area this spring. Whether that translates into a winning campaign behind a tough schedule remains to be seen.
Click here for original link
Rochester Adams
COACH: Jeff Hall, fourth season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 16-18, 8-7 OAA Red Division (tied-third).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Def. Auburn Hills Avondale (13-1); def. Troy (5-2, district finals); lost in D-1 regional semifinals to Rochester Stoney Creek (6-5).
RETURNING STARTERS: Jordan Wiley, jr. SS; Derek Willis, sr. OF; Andrew Lamkin, sr. OF-P; Sam Gugel, jr. INF-P; Joey Prechtel, soph. P-3B-OF.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Several newcomers.
KEY LOSSES: Ben Hart, 3B (Oakland); C.J. Borglin, LF-P; Mike Surnick, 2B-P; Jack Twitty, RF.
NOTABLES: Don’t let the two games under .500 fool you, as Adams still tied for third in the loaded OAA Red Division and won a district trophy last season. There are only five players that saw significant innings on the field back from last year and the top six hitters all graduated. But if Adams has proved anything over the past 20-plus years, there’s rarely a rebuilding season. The Highlanders usually reload.
Rochester Stoney Creek
COACH: Clint Rodger, 12th season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 21-15, 8-7 OAA Red Division (tied-third)
STATE TOURNAMENT: Def. Romeo (5-1); def. Utica Eisenhower (11-5, district finals); def. Rochester Adams (6-5); lost in D-1 regional finals to Lake Orion (10-2).
RETURNING STARTERS: Joe Cox, sr. P-INF-OF; Eric Gilgenbach, jr. P-OF; Noah Beck, sr. SS-2B; Justin Alor, sr. 1B; Nick Rangos, sr. C; Josh Niederhauser, jr. SS;
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Adam Yax, sr. 1B; Scott Reader, jr. CF; Steven Hostinsky, sr. P.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Joe Hamrick, jr. P; Brett Pokely, soph. INF.
KEY LOSSES: Jake Kruk, OF; Kyle Schweiger, OF-P (Grand Rapids CC); Kyle Walsh, P; Dane Hathaway, OF-P; Josh Hazelton, OF.
NOTABLES: Stoney Creek has won back-to-back districts and advanced further in the state tournament last season than any other team in Stoney Creek’s history, reaching the Sweet 16 (regional finals). With a pair of wins over defending league champion Lake Orin, the same team that knocked out the Cougars in the postseason a year ago, there’s every reason to believe that Stoney Creek will contend for championships this season.
Rochester Hills Christian
COACH: Jon Armitage, third season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 12-6-1, 6-4 Fundamental Baptist Athletic Conference (tied-first).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Def. Lake Orion Baptist (4-2); lost in Michigan Association of Christian Schools state finals to Davison Faith Baptist (3-0).
RETURNING STARTERS: Brandon Rodriguez, sr. P-INF (all-league); Misael Hernandez, sr. INF-P (all-league); Brandon Tuttle, jr. INF; Jesse Montgomery, sr. INF-OF; Michael Migilore, sr. OF.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Unavailable.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Unavailable.
KEY LOSSES: Jon Armitage, OF-P-C.
NOTABLES: After struggling for many years, the Eagles made an abrupt turnaround the past three years. Now with a team loaded with seniors, many who have been on the varsity since they were freshmen, and RHC might field its best team in decades.
Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest
COACH: Steve Flores, first season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: Overall record unavailable, 6-8 MIAC Blue Division (fourth).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Def. New Haven (5-1); def. Mt Clemons (1-0); lost in D-3 district finals to Madison Heights Bishop Foley (10-0).
RETURNING STARTERS: Nick Grunewald, jr. SS-P; Alex Hammett, sr. P (all-league);
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Unavailable.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Unavailable.
KEY LOSSES: Justin Novack, P-INF-OF (All-State Second Team); Matthew Mischley, sr. INF-P; Josh Morrison, OF; Ian Wellhousen, P-OF; Evan Carter, OF.
NOTABLES: Flores is the third head coach in four seasons and inherits a roster of only three returning starters.
Troy
COACH: Tim Mullen, second season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 20-10, 13-5 OAA Blue Division (tied-first).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Def. Pontiac (1-0); def. Troy Athens (13-5); lost in D-1 district finals to Rochester Adams (5-2).
RETURNING STARTERS: Alex Marshall, sr. OF (all-league); John Hunter, sr. SS-P-3B (all-league); Nick Panella, sr. 3B-P (4-0 on mound last season); Drew Majewski, sr. OF-P (1.000 fielding percentage); Erik Papandrea, jr. SS.
Clarkston
COACH: Phil Price, 16th season
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 24-6, 11-4 OAA Red Division (tied-first).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Lost in D-1 district semifinals to Oxford (13-1).
KEY RETURNEES: Ryan Rea, sr. P-1B; Alex Peck, sr. INF-P; David Steward, sr. P-INF; Jacob Armstrong, sr. OF; Adam Klebba, sr. INF; Jacob Laporte, sr. INF-OF; Nick Morey, sr. C; Blake Rehahn, sr. OF-INF; Mitch Smith, sr. C-1B; Joe Popp, jr. OF; DJ Zezula, jr. P-OF.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Nate Morris, sr. P-INF (transfer from Oxford; injured last season; signed with Michigan State).
KEY LOSSES: Ryan Slaughter, P-INF; Jordan Fox, OF; Kyle Savoie, OF-INF; Jacob Osbrey, P; Sean Martens, OF; Jacob Berry, OF; Jordan Robak, INF; Wes Sielaff, OF; Eric Tait, INF.
NOTABLES: Clarkston surprised some by sharing the OAA-Red crown with Lake Orion last season, only to collapse in the postseason with a blowout defeat. There are 11 players back that started games a year ago and the Wolves have added one of the state’s top pitching prospects in Nate Morris, who moved over from the Oxford district. Can Clarkston have similar success this season and challenge for championships? There’s enough experience and talent to think the Wolves have the right pieces to entertain those thoughts.
Clarkston Everest Collegiate-
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Unified
COACH: Marc Smith, first season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: Unavailable.
STATE TOURNAMENT: Def. Kimball Landmark Academy (15-0); def. Auburn Hills Oakland Christian (13-0, district finals); lost to New Lothrup in D-4 regional semifinals (8-5).
RETURNING STARTERS: Steven Scott, sr. P-SS; Spencer Howell, sr. OF-P; Lucas Neme, jr. OF; Adam Goeringer, sr. 1B-P; Vinny Puma, sr. P-1B; Jake Glover, jr. 2B-SS-P; Sal Mastromatteo, sr. OF-INF; Ben Bellestri, jr. P-C-2B.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Bill Mattise, sr. P-3B; Jack Safko, jr. P-OF.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Unavailable.
KEY LOSSES: Colt Moran, 3B-P; Mitch Lasceski, OF-C; Eric Suran, C-OF; Thomas Lannen, OF.
NOTABLES: The WOLL-CEC program is under its third head coach in four seasons and must adapt. The good news is that 10 players that saw significant innings last season are back in uniform from a district championship team. The Lakers should be able to challenge for league title. The cruel reality is that this team has been bumped up to Division 3 and placed in the same district as three-time defending state champion Madison Heights Bishop Foley.
About Tom and Ann Gendich