Nori Continuing Minor League Climb Boosted by World Baseball Classic Stardom
By
Steve Vedder
Special for MHSAA.com
April 20, 2026
It wasn't until Dante Nori stood star-struck in the outfield grass at Houston's rollicking Daikin Park that he fully grasped the massive leap he had just accomplished.
Less than two years after helping Northville to its first Division 1 baseball title before a crowd of hundreds at McLane Stadium, Nori last month found himself playing before a partisan crowd of 38,653 against arguably the best club the United States has fielded for the World Baseball Classic.
It's a leap that few other WBC players have made and not only humbled Nori – a member of Italy's national team – but fulfilled a lifelong dream.
"You're sitting out there in left field and you look at your (defensive) shift card and you see names like Bobby Witt or Aaron Judge or Kyle Schwarber, and I was like a little kid," said Nori, who had turned 21 just five months before the start of the tournament. "You see those guys, the crowd is chanting 'USA, USA,' and it's so cool."
Nori's rapid progression from Michigan's Mr. Baseball Award honoree in 2024 to top Philadelphia Phillies prospect to the WBC could be the stuff of which movies are made. A MaxPreps All-American at Northville, Nori was the 27th overall player taken in the 2024 MLB draft. He promptly opened his professional career with 14 games at low Class A Clearwater to finish out the summer.
He began catching the eye of places like MLB.com, where he's ranked seventh among Phillies prospects, and Baseball America, where he's sixth, by sweeping across three levels of the minors in 2025 while hitting .261 with 18 doubles, 12 triples and 52 stolen bases in 62 attempts.
By the time the Phillies opted to send Nori to the prestigious Arizona Fall League last October, representatives from the Italy team scheduled to play in March's WBC were very much interested. Italy and then the Phillies okayed his participation and left the decision to Nori, who called it a no-brainer.
"Right away I said yes," he said. "I've always dreamed of that and when that dream finally comes true, it's great."
Whether it was spearheading Northville to a 2-1 win over Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice at the MHSAA Finals or helping Italy to one of the biggest upsets in WBC history – a stunning 8-6 win over Team USA – Nori said he long ago learned to deal with the pressure of the moment.
"I've always been the kind that the more pressure there is, the more I calm down," he said. "It doesn't matter if you're playing Salem High School in 30-degree weather or whether it's the WBC, it's still baseball.
"But if you told me that I'd be playing in a high school state championship game and then would be in the WBC, I wouldn't have believed you. The WBC was just great. I enjoyed the heck out of it. It's so nice when a dream comes true."
Nori admits the only time he ever got a bit antsy on a ballfield was when he caught the eye of Northville teammate Joey Broughton, now in the Milwaukee Brewers chain, during the team's 9-2 win over Bay City Western in the 2024 Semifinals. The pair, who combined to score three runs and drive in six that day, were transfixed on what the team was on the verge of accomplishing.
"I remember it was the most I've ever been hyped up," he said, "but it still wasn't about nerves."
Help for Nori in navigating a pressure-filled WBC came from an unlikely source. Italy's roster featured two other former Michigan high school baseball stars in infielder Jon Berti and center fielder Jakob Marsee, who like Nori are both from the Metro Detroit area. Berti, from Troy High School, was a Mr. Baseball finalist and all-stater in 2008 when he batted .467 with a school record 66 hits and 66 stolen bases. Marsee earned 11 varsity letters in three sports before graduating from Allen Park High School in 2019. He was taken by San Diego in the sixth round of the 2022 draft before being traded to Miami.
Nori said the pair provided a steadying influence.
"I knew they were both from Michigan, but I had never met either one," he said. "But my mom and Jakob's mom are friends, so it was kind of cool to bond with him. I had never played left field before, and he helped me with directions in playing out there. It helped me get a feel for playing."
Italy wound up being one of the WBC's best stories, winning its bracket and making the semifinals before finishing 5-1. The team was a combination of veterans such as Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino and Aaron Nola of the Phillies, but also top prospects like Nori and infielders Andrew Fischer and Sam Antonacci.
"If you look at the roster with the prospects and major leaguers, absolutely," he said of making the semifinals. "It was a blend of everything – experience and young talent who worked so well together. We all believed the same way – that we could be in the championship game. We played with a chip on our shoulder."
Nori not only enjoyed the WBC, he excelled. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound speedster wound up leading Italy in hitting with a .400 mark while adding a pair of homers, six RBIs and two stolen bases. His tournament included going 3-for-3 with two runs, two RBIs, a double and a homer against Brazil, a pair of hits and an RBI against Great Britain, a key sacrifice fly against USA and an RBI single against eventual champion Venezuela.
But maybe the biggest honor came after Nori returned home and received a late-night phone call from his father. Nori joined USA's Roman Anthony and Fernando Tatis Jr. of the Dominican Republic on the WBC all-tournament outfield.
"I was asleep about midnight, and I was kinda groggy and the phone goes off," he said. "It's my dad and he never calls that late unless it's important. I'm half asleep and confused and my dad says, "Did you see that?' It still hasn't hit me. You look (at the outfielders), and you see names like Tatis and you're the only minor leaguer on that team. That's something."
With this WBC now in the record books, Nori can now turn his attention to playing for Double-A Reading (Pa.) this summer. He's off to a solid start through the team's first eight games with a .310 batting average, seven extra-base hits and six RBIs.
As for the prospect of playing in the next WBC, Nori finds himself in a rare position. He already has Italy qualification, but since he was born in Canada he could play for that country's national team. Or if his career blossoms, he could one day play for the United States. Actually, Nori said there is little doubt what choice he'd make.
"I thought about that, playing for one of the three," he said. "But with Italy, we created such a relationship and bond that I'm locked in for Italy. There is no way I would leave that group."
PHOTOS (Top) Dante Nori (6) stands in for the next pitch during an at bat for the Reading Fightin Phils this spring. (Middle) Nori watches the home run he’d just launched travel out of McLane Stadium during Northville’s 2024 Division 1 Semifinal win over Bay City Western. (Top photo courtesy of the Reading Fightin Phils.)
Marcellus Baseball Making History with 1st League Title, Perfect Regular-Season Record
By
Scott Hassinger
Special for MHSAA.com
May 28, 2024
MARCELLUS – Crowds have grown so big at Marcellus baseball games this spring that Don Price, the school's athletic director, had to hire extra gate help and make sure the athletic boosters had the concession stand well-stocked.
The Wildcats have put together a memorable baseball season for this community of just more than 1,000 residents located in Cass County.
Marcellus, ranked No. 8 in Division 4, ended its regular season last week at 27-0, which included capturing first place in the Southwest 10 Conference title with a 19-0 mark.
It was the first unbeaten regular season and conference title in the history of Marcellus' baseball program.
With all of that behind the team now, coach Christian Hutson is busily preparing his ballclub for Saturday's noon District Semifinal clash against Burr Oak. Marcellus, just 13-19 a year ago, features a roster that includes four seniors, a pair of juniors, one sophomore and seven freshmen.
"We're hoping to make a run, but first we have to get through a tough District at Centreville. We have to approach it one game at a time. Any team can beat you on any given day," Hutson said.
"Our seniors have gone through lots of growing pains. They've all been asked to play a huge role for us from a young age,” Hutson added. “Now it's all come to life and they are playing real baseball, making plays and picking one another up. Everything has finally come together for these kids.”
A strong pitching staff has been one of the biggest keys to the Wildcats' success. Senior Dawsen Lehew is 5-0 with one save, a 1.04 ERA and 33 strikeouts. Nathan Mihills, another senior, is also 5-0 with one save, a 2.66 ERA and 32 strikeouts and he starts at first base when freshman Cale Hackenberg takes the mound.
"Dawsen won't be outworked. He comes in day in and day out and gives his best performance," Hutson said. "Nathan is Mr. Reliable. He's the guy who stays after practice and makes sure everything is cleaned up and that the field is raked and there's no trash left in the dugout."
Mihills also fills the role of lead-off hitter and threw a no-hitter against Bangor.
"The juniors and seniors have been through the hardship of it all, but it's helped shape us to where we are now. Our freshmen are a great addition. We're all great friends. I'm not a bit scared of who the ball is hit to because I know they'll come up with a good play,” Mihills said. “I'm a lefty and I feel pretty consistent when my curveball is on. Our coaches do a great job preparing us for game situations."
Lehew agrees with his senior teammate: "Our confidence allows us to play with high energy. We've been hitting the rock very well and our pitching has been real solid. We have a new pitching coach (Ryan Coffey) who has helped me with my velocity and control. I feel like everything is flowing really well at this point."
Two freshmen have also filled big roles on the hill for Marcellus. Hackenberg has been one of the Wildcats' top aces so far with a 6-0 record, including two saves, a 1.83 ERA and 76 strikeouts. Abram Coffey is 9-0 with two saves, a 2.21 ERA and 67 strikeouts.
"On any given night, any of one of our four pitchers could be our No. 1 starter. That's what makes us so special," Hutson said.
Hackenberg has played baseball since age 9. "It took us a couple games up on varsity to settle in as freshmen, but we've done okay. I have a couple pitches that have worked well for me this season" he said.
Hackenberg is the grandson of Ron Welburn, after whom Marcellus' home field is named. Welburn, a former village president, was instrumental in the construction of the field.
"When I was on the village council our old field was on the other side of town, and that was inconvenient for the school. We got a recreational grant from the State of Michigan to build a new field. I went and spoke to the school, and they thought that would be a fantastic idea. After running into some issues with the contractor, I resigned from the council and with the help of Rock Powell and Roy Mann we worked together and finished the field," Welburn said. "It's fantastic to see these boys having some success now. It's quite an honor to be able to come out and watch them."
Marcellus' team batting average is .348, and the Wildcats have scored 326 runs – an average of 12.1 per game.
Coffey, the squad's No. 2 batter and starting shortstop when he's not pitching, is Marcellus' top hitter with a .587 average, 15 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 49 RBI, 43 stolen bases and a .712 on-base percentage. Hackenberg, the No. 3 hitter, is batting .438 with 13 doubles, 37 RBI and 25 stolen bases with an on-base percentage of .566.
Batting in the clean-up spot is senior catcher Brock Buck. Buck is hitting .339 with five doubles, one home run, 17 RBI, and he has 20 stolen bases with .565 on-base percentage.
"Brock's been our glue behind the plate the last four years," Hutson said.
Senior centerfielder Cole Thornburgh is the Wildcats' No. 5 hitter with a .390 average, including eight doubles, 28 RBI, 23 stolen bases and a .465 on-base percentage.
"Cole keeps us on our toes and always has something funny to say. We asked him to step up this year, and he's answered the bell," Hutson said.
Other starters playing critical roles for Marcellus are juniors Parker Adams at second base and right fielder Brock McWilliams, along with freshmen designated hitter Zade Tyszka and left fielder Matthew Lehew, Dawsen's younger brother.
"At the plate, it's not just one or two guys – it's our entire lineup. Everyone on this team has contributed whether it's with a hit, stolen base or scoring the go-ahead run," Hutson said.
Trust is another huge factor. "Defensively, we have a lot of versatile kids who we can shift around to different positions. I trust every kid we have out on the field," Hutson said.
Hutson points to the Wildcats' team speed as another key element. Marcellus has 229 stolen bases this season.
"We have great team speed, and we pick and choose our spots. Our kids are fast, and that translates to good things happening on the basepaths," Hutson said.
Good team chemistry has also played a vital role.
"This group is just a bunch of good ol’ country boys. They'll go out together fishing or spearing after a night of practice," Hutson said. “Our community has rallied around us, been very supportive and bring so much energy for us. That makes it a lot easier to play at such a high level. Every night feels like a homecoming.”
Marcellus' head coach also pointed out the contributions of assistant coaches Chauncey Hackenberg, Kyle Kahler and Tyler Coffey.
"My three coaches are absolutely amazing. Chauncey is our accountability guy who gets things done. Tyler has been great developing our pitchers. Kyle, my cousin, works with our infielders and is the level-headed one. I'm more of an outfield guy and work a lot with our hitters," Hutson said.
Hutson lists former Decatur head coach Ben Botti and Keith Schreiber as his biggest mentors. Botti is a member of the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Schreiber, previously the head coach at Glen Oaks Community College and now heading Dowagiac’s program, coached Hutson on the 2010 GOCC squad that won a Western Conference championship.
"I've had two really good mentors in Ben and Keith. They are amazing coaches with so much baseball knowledge. They both check in with me and are good resources," Hutson said.
For Hutson and his ballclub, the feeling of being undefeated so far hasn't quite sunk in.
"Baseball is a funny game,” Hutson said. “We've had a lot of tight and one-run games, but our kids continue to battle and scrap and get the job done."
Scott Hassinger is a contributing sportswriter for Leader Publications and previously served as the sports editor for the Three Rivers Commercial-News from 1994-2022. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Marcellus senior pitcher Dawsen Lehew makes his move toward the plate during a recent game. (Middle) Marcellus freshman pitcher/third baseman Cale Hackenberg, left, stands with grandfather Ron Welburn, for whom the team’s field is named. (Below) The Marcellus varsity baseball team and coaching staff hold up the Southwest 10 Conference championship banner last week after a doubleheader sweep of Cassopolis. (Photos by Scott Hassinger.)