Northville Slugger Makes Memorable Marks on Way to Pro Baseball Stardom
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 16, 2026
Dante’ Nori capped his high school baseball career in 2024 by leading Northville to the Division 1 championship – and cementing himself in the record book for a handful of individual accomplishments.
He finished his four seasons fourth all-time with 120 walks, fifth with 21 triples and 10th with 193 runs scored, plus is listed twice for single-season triples with a high of eight as a junior.
Nori was drafted in the first round of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft by the Philadelphia Phillies and reached Class AA last season.
See below for several recently-added listings to the baseball record book, and click the heading to see the record book in full. Several more applications have been received and are in the process of being confirmed.
Baseball
A pair of Montague standouts made the records during the 2023 season . Then-senior Nick Moss was added for hitting safely in 13 straight at bats from May 6-16, and classmate Kade Johnson made the single-season triples list with seven. Moss is slated to play next at Milligan in Tennessee.
Niles Brandywine basketball standout Jamier Palmer made the record book as a junior in 2023 with 55 stolen bases, stole 52 a year later, and finished his four-year career with 177 (tied for third-most) among four record book career listings – he also had 154 runs, 26 times hit by pitches and a .464 average over 109 games. He was joined by senior Owen Hulett, who is listed for a 1.13 career ERA over three seasons. Hulett played at Lake Michigan College, and Palmer played baseball and basketball at Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
White Cloud’s Alex Cruzan made getting hit by pitches a key way to get on base during his three-season varsity career that ended in 2023. He was twice added for the HBPs in a game as a senior and for 16 total that spring – plus 42 for his career, which ranks 12th all-time.
Alex Fenkell finished his Birmingham Groves career in 2022 on the career batting average list at .459 and also on the single-season triples list with eight as a junior. Those eight contributed to Groves making the team triples list with 20 that season, and they also stole 12 bases in a game that spring. Fenkell is continuing at Kalamazoo College.
Portage Northern was menacing on the basepaths during the 2023 season, stealing 182 bases over 32 games. That total tied for 11th-most for one season.
Thomas Fox had seven hits last season as a junior in 2023, but led Johannesburg-Lewiston with a .644 on-base percentage in part thanks to being hit by 35 pitches over 33 games. That set a single-season MHSAA record in the category, and he also was listed four times for three HBPs in one game – including in both halves of a doubleheader.
Farmington earned six total entries for stolen bases in 2024, led by then-senior Owen Matteson’s two for stealing six in one game and 56 total. Farmington also made the team record book with 16 stolen bases in a game twice and 170 for the season over 34 games. Matteson is continuing his career at Jackson College.
Algonac standout Josh Kasner finished his four-year varsity career in 2024 on the career wins list with a 33-5 record, on the career ERA list at 1.06 and on the career strikeouts list with 449 over 257 1/3 innings pitched. He appears on the single-season ERA list three times including with a career-best 0.59 as a senior, and was joined that season by teammate Bryce Simpson at 0.93. Teammate Cole Thaler also was added for being hit by three pitches in one game that spring. Kasner plays at Michigan, Simpson graduated in 2025 at plays at Wayne State and Thaler is a senior this school year. Algonac as a team also was added for a 37-4 record, 352 strikeouts and 1.47 ERA during the 2023 season.
Rudyard earned its first team record book entry on May 25, 2021, when the team stole 15 bases in a 7-4 win over Pickford. Seven players contributed to the total, which is tied for 15th all-time for a single game.
More than a half-century later, one of the most magnificent pitchers’ duels has taken its place in the record book. On June 6, 1969, Hamtramck St. Ladislaus defeated Detroit St. Hedwig 1-0 in 14 innings to decide a Catholic High School League championship at Tiger Stadium. Doug Konieczny struck out 28 for St. Ladislaus – that total ranking fourth all-time – and St. Hedwig’s Carey Wyler struck out 22. Wyler, a senior that season, also made the single-season ERA list with a 0.15 across 62 innings. Konieczny went on to play at St. Clair County Community College and was drafted by both the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros, the latter with the third overall pick in the 1971. He played four seasons with Houston.
Conor Rentfrow earned Brooklyn Columbia Central’s second baseball record book listing with 19 doubles in 2024. He’s a senior and committed to Taylor (Indiana).
Holt’s Mitchell Dubois became his program’s latest to reach the record book, pitching to a 0.69 ERA in 2024 over 61 1/3 innings. He graduated last spring and is playing at Spring Arbor.
Kingsley’s Garrett Martz found an additional way to pump up his on-base percentage as a junior in 2024. In addition to hitting .326, Martz was hit by pitches 19 times, which is tied for 15th-most for a single-season.
East Jordan’s Korbyn Russell finished his three-season varsity career this spring with six record book listings including some of the highest strikeout-per-game averages of all time. He had a 0.34 ERA as a senior and 1.14 ERA for his career, striking out 15.6 batters per game both as a junior and senior. He totaled 392 strikeouts over his three seasons and finished with an average of 13.9 strikeouts per game for his career, which ranks third all-time. He’ll continue his career at Aquinas.
Paw Paw earned its second and third listings in 2024 for being hit by pitch, on the team list with 49 over 35 games and with senior Jacob Major on the individual list with 30 over four seasons. Teammate Jake Hindenach made the single-season triples list with eight. Major is continuing at Lake Michigan College, and Hindenach at Kellogg Community College.
Frankfort’s Rylan Lewis was added for eight triples over 32 games in 2024 as a sophomore.
Millington made the team record book lists two straight seasons for stolen bases, swiping 169 over 31 games in 2024 and 170 over 40 games in 2023. Then-junior Truk Terbush made the individual list with 50 steals in 2023 and is continuing at Delta College.
Onsted’s Alex Schmidt tied for the 10th-most times being hit by a pitch last season, with 21 over 34 games as a senior in 2024.
Powers North Central’s Adrian Mercier completed a four-year varsity career in 2024 among the leaders in career batting average at .522, which ranks ninth. His .619 hit during his junior season, which continues to rank 10th all-time. He’s playing at Lakeland in Wisconsin.
Daniel Robinson had 76 hits for Grosse Pointe North in 2015, at the time ranking fifth and still tied for ninth-most all-time. A senior that season, he went on to play at Central Michigan and two seasons with Los Angeles Dodgers minor-league affiliates.
Schoolcraft’s Jacob Taylor finished sophomore year in 2024 tying for the fifth-most times hit by pitch during a season – 24 over 39 games. Now a senior, he will continue at Aquinas.
Flint Powers Catholic won the Division 2 championship in 2024 in part on the arm of Grant Garman, who capped a four-year varsity career with nine record book listings. He was 14-0 as a senior to make the single-season wins list and finished tied for fourth on the career wins list with 45. His 0.71 career ERA ranks fifth, and his 446 strikeouts over 284 innings rank 16th. He played at Oakland and will continue at Hawaii.
Fran Love earned Ann Arbor Greenhills’ first record book listing in this sport with a 0.81 ERA during the 2024 season, when he finished 7-1. He graduated last spring and plays at Alma College.
Ryan Zweng capped his four-year varsity career at Union City in 2024 on four career lists, with 175 hits, 159 runs, 131 RBI and 27 times hit by pitch over 134 games. He made the Division 3 all-state first team in 2024, his school’s first first-team all-state selection since 2000.
Bridgman’s Alec MacMartin added 26 more hit-by-pitches as a senior in 2024 for this third single-season listing in that category – and finished with a record 83 over three varsity seasons.
Ottawa Lake Whiteford ranked 13th for strikeouts as a team during the 2024 season. The Bobcats fanned 314 over 36 games.
Watervliet recent run of success has included a lot of success running the base paths, as the team was added for 222 stolen bases during its Division 3 championship season in 2024 and 208 stolen bases in 2023, with Wyatt Epple (121) and Chase Tremblay (112) both added to the individual stolen base career list for their four-year runs ending that title-winning spring. Epple also was added for 183 career hits, 182 career runs, 48 career doubles and 12 career triples. Travis Bolin was added for 13 career triples and 106 career stolen bases from 2010-13, which also included Watervliet as a team making the stolen bases list again with 214 in 2012. Epple is playing at Davenport, and Bolin played there as well.
Three Rivers’ Gabe Young made the single-game stolen bases list with five against Coldwater last April 17. He’s currently a junior. Plainwell’s Andrew Hampton also made the single-game stolen bases list, with seven against Sturgis on April 29 to tie for third-most in one game. He’s a senior. Jadn’ McGowen made the single-game stolen bases list for Wyandotte Roosevelt with six against Plymouth Christian Academy on April 4. He was a senior and is continuing at Madonna. Haslett’s Ayden Smith also was added for five stolen bases in his team’s win over Jackson Northwest on May 15. Smith has committed to continue at Henry Ford College after this upcoming season.
Stockbridge’s Jayden Pilch tied for third on the single game hit-by-pitch list, getting hit by three against Reading on May 1. The then-senior also made the single-season list with 21 HBPs over 31 games.
Richland Gull Lake ranked fourth all-time last spring in being hit by pitches 82 times. The Blue Devils finished 31-7.
Bangor’s Jaret McCoy stole 62 bases in 63 attempts in 2025 to tie for 10th-most steals. He’s a junior this school year. Wyoming’s Donnie Petree also made the single-season steals list last spring with 49 to cap his career.
Kingston’s Isaiah Helton’s dominance on the mound resulted in some of the most impressive strikeout numbers in MHSAA history. He posted 456 strikeouts in 222 1/3 innings from 2021-24, making the career total strikeouts list but also the career strikeouts per game list at 14.4. He made the single-season strikeouts per game list as both a junior (15.95) and senior (16.15).
Napoleon’s Collin Bradley completed his four-year varsity career in 2019 all over the record book on the way to finishing with a 36-6 career pitching record. He had eight shutouts over his career, including three no-hitters as a senior, and made ERA lists at 0.23 as a senior and 1.59 for his career. He also totaled 20 strikeouts in a seven-inning game, 15.8 per game as a senior, and 364 for his career. He went on to play at Grand Rapids Community College and Grand Valley State. Younger brother Grant Bradley earned seven record book listings during his career from 2021-24, including for eight shutouts, five no-hitters, a career 1.61 ERA and 845 strikeouts over 226 2/3 innings pitched. Grant Bradley is continuing at Michigan.
Hudsonville batters were hit by pitches 99 times over 41 games last spring, the second-highest total in MHSAA baseball history. Braylon Miller made the individual list with 16; he’s a senior this school year.
Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart’s Grady Pieratt earned nine record book listings over his four seasons and 149 games ending last spring, including a few of the highest in their respective categories. He finished third in career runs with 238, sixth in career hits at 210, second in career stolen bases with 178, and tied for 11th with 17 career triples, including 11 (tying for sixth-most for a season) as a senior. His 60 stolen bases as a junior tied for 12th on that list. Teammate Connor Stempky was added for 158 career runs, 140 career RBI and 98 career walks from 2021-24, and Aidan Halliday was added for 141 career RBI also from 2021-24. Pieratt is playing at Alma College, and Halliday plays football at Northwood.
Benji Allen finished his Maple City Glen Lake career last spring with 11 record book listings including for a .500 career average, 150 career runs scored, 48 times hit by pitch (ranking seventh) and a career ERA of 1.63. He was joined by teammate Cooper Bufalini, who was added for 44 times hit by pitch and a 1.10 career ERA; both played from 2022-25. Peter Gelsinger was added for being hit by pitches 33 times during the same career tenure, while Isaac Hlavka was added for a 0.99 ERA this past season. Glen Lake also was added several times for team record categories, and coach Kris Herman was added to the all-time wins list with a record of 504-242-8 since 2005. Allen is playing football at Grand Valley State.
PHOTO Northville’s Dante Nori (6) turns on a pitch during his team’s 2024 Division 1 championship game win over Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice.
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.)