Preview: Fantastic Finals Trips Await for 16 Title Contenders
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
June 10, 2026
Frequent visitors to Michigan State’s McLane Stadium for MHSAA Baseball Finals weekend know how special the experience can be. And we have a pair of those joining us over the next three days in reigning Division 3 champion Traverse City St. Francis and annual contender Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.
But we’ll also hopefully deliver some breathtaking moments to several communities for the first time – or first time in a long time.
Two teams will play in Semifinals this weekend for the first time, and a handful more for the first time in at least a decade. Six more teams are hoping to play in a championship game Saturday for the first time.
Ten of this weekend’s 16 semifinalists are seeking their first Finals championship in this sport – and three of the six teams that have won in the past are seeking their first title in at least 20 years.
This weekend's schedule is as follows:
Division 1 – Friday
Detroit Catholic Central vs. Mattawan - 2:30 p.m.
Rochester Adams vs. Brownstown Woodhaven - 5 p.m.
Division 2 – Thursday
Vicksburg vs. Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills - 9 a.m.
Orchard Lake St. Mary's vs. Dearborn Divine Child - 11:30 a.m.
Division 3 – Thursday
Detroit Edison vs. Kalamazoo Christian - 2:30 p.m.
Traverse City St. Francis vs. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest - 5 p.m.
Division 4 – Friday
Royal Oak Shrine Catholic vs. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart - 9 a.m.
Marcellus vs. Painesdale Jeffers - 11:30 a.m.
FINALS – Saturday
Division 1 – 5 p.m.
Division 2 – 9 a.m.
Division 3 – 11:30 a.m.
Division 4 – 2:30 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.
Below is a glance at all 16 teams taking the field:
Division 1
BROWNSTOWN WOODHAVEN
Record/rank: 34-5-1, No. 3
Coach: Corey Farner, 12th season (338-90-3)
League finish: First in Downriver League
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up 2018 and 2023.
Players to watch: Cameron Thorning, jr. C (.446, 13 2B, 52 RBI); Lucas Farner, jr. IF/P (.426, 55 R, 32 RBI, 20 SB, 4-1 pitching, 0.97 ERA); Dante Perry, sr. OF (.429, 47 R, 30 SB); Tristan Spencer, soph. 1B/P (.346, 10 2B, 36 RBI, 8-1 pitching, 0.98 ERA, 70 K/50 IP).
Outlook: After falling a win short of the Semifinals last season, Woodhaven is back thanks in part to defeating No. 1 Brother Rice in Saturday’s Regional Final and also league rival No. 19 Allen Park earlier in the tournament. Woodhaven with one more victory also can tie its winningest season (2019) during Farner’s highly-successful run leading the program. Senior Keden Newsted is another ace for the Warriors entering this weekend 8-1 with a 1.53 ERA, and junior Amauri Gutierrez is 4-0 with a 2.69 ERA and a pair of saves. Junior Aaron Scott (.393) can be counted on for a boost at the bottom of the lineup.
DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 27-12, No. 6
Coach: Ryan Rogowski, sixth season (138-96)
League finish: Fourth in Catholic High School League Central
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 1999), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Bennett Thompson, sr. 2B/C (.380, 27 R, 10 2B); Dylan Fairchild, sr. SS/P (.333, 32 R, 12 2B, 8 HR, 33 RBI); Andrew Mahoney, sr. P (8-1, 1.32 ERA, 81 K/53 IP); Micky Laser, sr. P/3B (8-0, 1.98 ERA).
Outlook: Detroit Catholic Central is making its first Semifinal appearance since 2004 and has defeated No. 16 Novi and No. 20 Dexter along the way after navigating a league that included top-ranked Brother Rice and Division 2 No. 1 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s. The Shamrocks have won 12 of their last 14 games. Seven regulars total are hitting at least .300, with sophomore Luke Fairchild (.357, 25 R, 16 SB) and seniors Tommy Maxwell (.357) and Owen Geisler (.351) all among the leaders right behind Thompson.
MATTAWAN
Record/rank: 29-8, No. 8
Coach: Brett Vaughn, 13th season (29-8)
League finish: First in Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Patrick Dougherty, sr. OF (.431, 46 R, 25 SB); Nolan Jominy, sr. SS (.379, 40 R, 16 2B, 30 RBI, 18 SB); John Pelak, jr. OF (.372, 10 2B); Kaden Jominy, sr. P.
Outlook: Although seeking its first championship, Mattawan was at the Semifinals in 2023 and made the Regional Finals last spring before falling short. The Wildcats haven’t given up more than a run in any of six playoff games this spring, including their 3-1 Quarterfinal victory over No. 18 Byron Center, and total they’ve won 11 of their last 12 games. Seven seniors start, including as well outfielder/pitcher Liam Walsh (.367, 28 RBI), and Kaden Jominy will play next at Cornell. Junior Coleton Strong is another big bat in the middle of the lineup, hitting .336 with a team-high 36 RBI.
ROCHESTER ADAMS
Record/rank: 28-8, No. 4
Coach: Andrew Lamkin, 13th season (277-160-3)
League finish: First in Oakland Activities Association Red
Championship history: Class A runner-up 1995 and 1996.
Players to watch: Andrew Wozniak, sr. SS (.327, 31 R, 17 SB); Matt Toeppner, sr. OF/IF (.556): Brady Lindstrom, jr. P/IF (7-0, 1.46 ERA); Koltyn Watters, soph. OF (.398, 45 R, 11 2B, 30 RBI, 38 SB).
Outlook: Adams will play in its first Semifinal since the repeat run to the Class A championship game in 1996. Lamkin actually is in his second tenure running the program, having led the Highlanders from 1994-2003, returned as an assistant in 2011 and taken it back over in 2024. Toeppner, a Michigan State recruit, has been back only three weeks after hand surgery but also has scored 13 runs and stolen nine bases over 11 games. He and Watters both made the all-state first team last season. Adams topped No. 7 Oxford in the Quarterfinal, and a 3-2 win over No. 2 Romeo in the Regional Semifinal was one of three one-run victories this playoffs.
Division 2
DEARBORN DIVINE CHILD
Record/rank: 29-6, No. 7
Coach: Jeremy Shay, fourth season (91-49)
League finish: First in Catholic High School League AA
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2010).
Players to watch: Andrew Ryan, sr. SS/P (.389, 52 R, 28 SB, 5-2 pitching, 2.25 ERA); Dallas Terski, sr. 1B/3B (.370, 34 RBI, 21 SB); Liam Gibbons, sr. P (6-1, 1.01 ERA, 62 K/48 1/3 IP); Kole Boike, soph. CF (.346, 35 R, 30 RBI).
Outlook: Divine Child has taken steps every season under Shay, finishing 15-20 his first season but then adding a District title in 2024, a league championship last spring and now a Regional Finals win and trip to the Semifinals after defeating No. 8 Williamston to advance. Seniors Ian Hall (6-1) and Mason Cubr (5-1) also have seen plenty of starts on the mound and provide the Falcons with more options this weekend. Junior Adam Garcia (.368, 27 RBI) is among five more regulars hitting at least .300. Shay played on Divine Child’s 2008 and 2010 Division 2 championship teams before starring at Bowling Green as well.
GRAND RAPIDS KENOWA HILLS
Record/rank: 35-2, No. 5
Coach: Todd VandenHeuvel, first season (35-2)
League finish: First in River Cities Alliance
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Will Fussman, jr. CF (.411, 48 R, 44 SB); Mason Peebles, sr. C/P (.423, 41 R, 14 2B, 8 3B, 56 RBI, 28 SB); Jack Stoddard, jr. 3B/P (.408, 41 RBI, 8-1 pitching, 1.97 ERA); Andrew Lake, sr. P (9-0, 0.40 ERA, 62 K/53 IP).
Outlook: Kenowa Hills is making its first Semifinals trip since 2015, continuing a tournament run that has seen wins against No. 11 East Grand Rapids, No. 20 Escanaba and No. 6 Standish-Sterling over the last three rounds. The Knights have won 19 straight games and have a solid set of impressive arms leading the staff this weekend with senior Keegan Garvin (9-0, 1.80 ERA) set to start the Semifinal. Senior shortstop Brennan Gustinis (.395, 50 R, 10 2B, 12 SB) is another dangerous bat in the leadoff spot. VandenHeuvel previously coached at Mona Shores, winning 217 games from 1995-2001.
ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARY’S
Record/rank: 32-5, No. 1
Coach: Nick Di Ponio, ninth season (234-134)
League finish: First in CHSL Central
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Luke Crighton, sr. CF/SS/P (.457, 55 R, 39 RBI, 20 SB, 9-0 pitching, 1.21 ERA, 75 K/52 IP); Andrew Tribul, sr. C/IF (.376, 43 R, 45 RBI, 18 SB); Hudson Brzustewicz, sr. SS/P (.491, 56 R, 12 2B, 34 RBI, 6-1 pitching, 1.64 ERA, 52 K/34 IP); Derick Conrad, sr. C/IF (.427, 47 RBI).
Outlook: St. Mary’s has won 25 straight games and emerged from the same CHSL Central as Division 1 finalist Detroit Catholic Central, thanks in part to playoff wins over No. 4 Richmond and No. 10 Saginaw Swan Valley. Brzustewicz and Crighton were all-state first-teamers last season and are both the team’s leading hitters and top arms from a staff that has seen eight pitchers throw at least 17 innings and win two or more games this spring. Di Ponio led the Eaglets to Division 2 runner-up finishes in 2007 and 2009 during his first tenure with the program (2005-10) and three straight Regional titles since taking it back over in 2024. Senior outfielder Zach Essig (.357) also bolsters the middle of the lineup.
VICKSBURG
Record/rank: 30-7, No. 14
Coach: Brian Deal, 28th season (487-366-4)
League finish: First in Wolverine Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Graham Kubiak, jr. IF/P (.405, 37 R, 41 RBI, 25 SB, 3-2 pitching, 1.80 ERA); Mitchell Beyer, sr. IF (.426, 46 R, 17 2B, 44 RBI, 24 SB); Maddox Rosalin, sr. IF/P (.431, 15 2B, 39 RBI, 10 SB, 9-0 pitching, 0.72 ERA); Maguire Bowles, jr. OF (.450, 59 R, 13 2B, 32 RBI, 34 SB).
Outlook: Vicksburg also is returning to the Semifinals for the first time since 2015 and has put together its winningest season during Deal’s nearly three decades leading the program. A 3-0 Regional Semifinal win over No.18 Niles followed up a regular-season split between the two, and the Bulldogs also avenged an early loss to Paw Paw in the District opener and an 11-run loss to Coldwater with a 12-1 Quarterfinal victory. Three more regulars are hitting at least .300, led by junior Spencer Spicer (.338, 31 R), and sophomore Caden Chisolm (7-0, 2.28 ERA) gives Vicksburg another ace as eight pitchers total have made at least one start.
Division 3
DETROIT EDISON
Record/rank: 23-8, No. 4
Coach: Mark Brown, 10th season (210-104)
League finish: First in Charter School Conference
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2022.
Players to watch: Jamir Campbell, sr. P/SS (.408, 30 R, 26 SB, 6-1 pitching, 1.50 ERA, 60 K/55 IP); Elijah Hines, fr. OF (.357, 16 SB); David Hemphill III, sr. P/OF (.353, 8-2 pitching, 1.75 ERA, 72 K/71 IP); JonTae Wright, sr. IF (.393, 39 RBI, 13 SB).
Outlook: Edison is back at the Semifinals for the second time in three seasons (and third over the last five) after just missing a year ago, thanks to a 7-6 Quarterfinal win over No. 5 Jackson Lumen Christi. Campbell and Wright made the all-state first team last season and lead a lineup that has scored at least seven runs in 16 games. Junior Melvin Tennyson has been another key player in several ways, going 4-2 with a 1.85 ERA and hitting .318 with 19 stolen bases while leading off and playing center field. The Pioneers’ starting nine are a combined 116 for 128 on stolen-base attempts.
KALAMAZOO CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 25-8, unranked
Coach: Russ Meyer, first season (25-8)
League finish: First in Southwest Athletic Conference Valley
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Jake Bonnema, jr. 2B (.437, 41 R, 34 SB); James Annen, jr. P/1B/OF (.370, 32 R, 5-2 pitching); Crosby Croel, jr. P/1B/3B (.411, 31 R, 13 2B, 35 RBI, 13 SB, 2-1 pitching); Jackson Herder, sr. P/OF (5-1, 2.33 ERA, .280).
Outlook: Kalamazoo Christian’s first trip to the Semifinals since 2014 will be the result of a dominating run for the unranked Comets, who have outscored their six postseason opponents by a combined score of 71-6. Meyer may be in his first season as the varsity coach but has been an assistant at Christian and K-Central and was promoted after a decade as the Comets’ junior varsity coach. Herder and third baseman Logan Bittle (.286, 4-1 pitching, 2.79 ERA) are the only seniors. Sophomore catcher Jace Rarick is another top run producer hitting .337 with 13 doubles and 31 RBI.
ROCHESTER HILLS LUTHERAN NORTHWEST
Record/rank: 28-6, No. 16
Coach: Russ Kouba, second season (53-14)
League finish: Second in Michigan Independent Athletic Conference
Championship history: Division 4 champion 2004.
Players to watch: Jacob Kouba, sr. P/1B/OF (.455, 46 R, 14 2B, 41 RBI, 23 SB, 10-2 pitching, 1.06 ERA, 94 K/59 2/3 IP); Brennan Goebbel, jr. OF (.516, 44 R, 12 2B, 41 RBI, 40 SB); Nick Oberdier, sr. P/1B/3B (.344, 46 RBI, 4-2 pitching, 2.07 ERA, 64 K/44 IP); Landon Lindhurst, jr. OF/1B (.360, 17 SB).
Outlook: Lutheran Northwest earned its first trip to the Semifinals since 2006, a strong next step after also winning a District title in Russ Kouba’s first season leading the program. This lineup has only three senior starters, but they’re major contributors with pitcher/shortstop Ethan Wilks (.291, 15 SB, 6-1 pitching, 2.17 ERA, 52 K/38 2/3 IP) joining Jacob Kouba and Oberdier noted above. Sophomore catcher Josiah Kouba (.367) is among younger players who have stepped into prominent roles, and junior Rudy Hauss is a catalyst at the top of the order hitting .302 with 44 runs scored and 25 stolen bases.
TRAVERSE CITY ST. FRANCIS
Record/rank: 32-5, No. 1
Coach: Tom Passinault, 13th season (326-96)
League finish: Does not play in a conference.
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2025), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Lanse Vos, jr. 1B/P (.438, 34 R, 7 3B, 32 RBI, 12 SB, 6-0 pitching, 1.50 ERA, 65 K/46 2/3 IP); Sam Wildfong, sr. C/P (.526, 41 R, 15 2B, 62 RBI, 14 SB, 5-1 pitching, 2.59 ERA, 69 K/43 1/3 IP); Tyler Thompson, sr. SS (.382, 51 R, 11 SB, 7-1 pitching, 1.63 ERA); Tyler Endres, sr. P/1B (.353, 9-2 pitching, 1.38 ERA, 82 K/50 2/3 IP).
Outlook: The Gladiators are pursuing a repeat with Wildfong a returning all-state first-teamer and Thompson a returning second-teamer, and total seven starters and both pitchers back from last year’s championship game. The team is anchored by eight seniors – including as well Braxton Lesinski (.326, 35 R, 36 RBI) – but sophomore Colton Peterson (.340, 41 R, 24 SB) and freshman John St. Peter (.340, 38 R, 19 SB) are also among top hitters. Endres got the pitching win and Vos closed last season’s Final after Wildfong threw a complete game in the Semifinal.
Division 4
PAINESDALE JEFFERS
Record/rank: 15-8, unranked
Coach: Joe Romano, first season (15-8)
League finish: Fourth in Western Peninsula Athletic Conference
Championship history: Has not played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Blake Heltunen, soph. 3B/P (.458, 22 SB); Brogan Turner, sr. P/CF (.424, 26 R, 31 RBI, 11 SB, 4-0 pitching, 1.66 ERA); Carson L’Esperance, fr. SS (.372); Pierce Johnson, jr. C (.326, 24 R, 17 SB, 3-1 pitching).
Outlook: Jeffers is making its first trip to the Semifinals as a talented group of athletes who have had success in other sports have brought it to the diamond as well. The Jets advanced with a 15-9 Quarterfinal win over No. 15 Norway and have scored 10 or more runs in all five of their postseason games. There are only three senior starters, but they bat among the top four – although Jeffers will play this weekend without a fourth senior, pitching ace Cameron Anderson (5-1, 1.99 ERA), a cross country Finals champion in the fall who was injured last weekend. Romano coached the Jets girls basketball team to a Class D runner-up finish in 1994.
MARCELLUS
Record/rank: 21-11, unranked
Coach: Christian Hutson, 11th season (143-138)
League finish: Second in Southwest 10 Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Seth Barrera, sr. IF/P (.392, 39 R, 14 2B, 16 SB, 6-4 pitching, 2.60 ERA, 67 K/59 1/3 IP); Eli Torres, sr. IF/P/C (.367, 31 RBI, 2-0 pitching); Abram Coffey, jr. IF/P (.684, 4-0 pitching, 1.31 ERA); Cale Hackenberg, jr. IF/P/C (.584, 44 R, 13 2B, 44 RBI, 19 SB, 7-3 pitching, 2.25 ERA, 114 K/53 IP).
Outlook: Marcellus also is making its first trip to the Semifinals, thanks to a 9-6 Quarterfinal win over No. 4 Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep and a pair of one-run Regional wins. Coffey made the all-state second team last season but has played only the last month after recovering for an injury – but he returned just in time to bolster a strong lineup that includes just two seniors. Hutson, who also coaches the girls basketball team, was a standout at Decatur and is the grandson of former softball coach Ron Swartz, who led Marcellus to a Class D title in 1986.
MOUNT PLEASANT SACRED HEART
Record/rank: 36-4, No. 2
Coach: Earl Hartman, 43rd season (944-423)
League finish: First in Mid-State Activities Conference
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 1996), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Noah Zeien, sr. 3B/P (.460, 66 R, 45 SB, 3-0 pitching, 0.54 ERA); Hank MacDonald, jr. C/1B (.442, 14 2B, 67 RBI); Brady Davis, sr. 1B/P (.536, 51 R, 14 2B, 48 RBI, 23 SB, 12-2 pitching, 0.52 ERA, 103 K/54 1/3 IP); Nate Siler, jr. SS/P (.457, 11 2B, 51 RBI, 13-1 pitching, 0.80 ERA, 134 K/70 1/3 IP).
Outlook: Sacred Heart has defeated No. 7 Fowler, No. 5 Fulton, No. 3 Beal City and No. 1 Portland St. Patrick during this first Semifinal trip since 1997, and Saturday’s 4-2 Quarterfinal win over the Shamrocks avenged a regular-season loss. Siler made the all-state first team last season and with Davis gives the Irish a powerful 1-2 punch on the mound. Senior center fielder Teegan Duffy (.422, 64 R, 37 RBI, 20 SB) is another big bat at the top of the lineup and has a team-high five triples as well.
ROYAL OAK SHRINE CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 26-8, No. 11
Coach: Dan Noble, 16th season (335-165-3)
League finish: Second in CHSL Intersectional
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up in 2003.
Players to watch: Nate Alba, sr. P/IF/OF (.286, 31 R, 31 RBI, 11-2 pitching, 1.40 ERA, 170 K/84 2/3 IP); Caydin Barbato, sr. P/IF (.444, 50 R, 21 SB); Luke Robinson, fr. P/1B/OF (.385, 35 R, 31 RBI, 21 SB, 3-1 pitching, 2.71 ERA); Sean Murphy, sr. P/C/UTY (.468, 40 R, 17 2B, 43 RBI, 17 SB, 7-3 pitching, 2.62 ERA, 85 K/58 2/3 IP).
Outlook: Shrine won its second Regional championship in four seasons over the weekend, and didn’t give up a run over its first four postseason games until edging Allen Park Cabrini 11-10 in the Quarterfinal. The Knights bounced back from a brief four-game skid midseason to win their last nine, and they’ll bring plenty of pitching to MSU including as well junior Owen Bellows (5-1, 2.91 ERA). Senior Blake Archibald (.333) is another solid bat at the top of a lineup that’s hitting .305 overall this spring.
PHOTO (Top) Traverse City’s St. Francis’ Matthew Kane (25) and Colton Peterson celebrate a moment during a Semifinal win in 2025.
Decades Later, Wernette's Wondrous 2003 Remains Nearly Unchallenged
By
Steve Vedder
Special for MHSAA.com
April 24, 2023
Nate Wernette knew his final spring at Morley Stanwood had been special, but he had no idea just how historic it was until a strange visitor showed up at the family home near Stanwood just weeks after the baseball season ended.
The man, completely unknown to the family, produced a number of framed newspaper clippings and several pages of well-documented statistical research on Wernette's recently completed senior season at Morley Stanwood. The numbers showed that Wernette, a pitcher whose skill set fell somewhere between being a hard thrower and crafty left-hander, had accomplished even more than suspected at first glance.
In fact, the research showed that Wernette's senior year arguably was the single greatest pitching season in the history of Michigan high school baseball.
"We never had any idea," said Wernette on the eve of the 20th anniversary of that historic season in 2003.
Wernette was vaguely aware that his 20 pitching wins had broken the state record of 19 wins set by Brandon LaTour of Blissfield in 1992. The pair remain among only four pitchers in state history with at least 17 wins in a single season.
But as the man's research pointed out, that feat was just the tip of the iceberg. The 20 wins pushed Wernette's career total to 56, a state record that remains seven better than Homer's Josh Collmenter's eventual total of 49 from 2001-04. What Wernette also didn't realize was his 272 season strikeouts smashed the previous record of 215 by Southgate Aquinas’ Dan Horvath from 1998 and would outlast a challenge of 223 by Collmenter in 2004, and that Wernette’s average of 15.2 strikeouts per game was at that time second (and now fourth) all-time in state history. Wernette finished his career with 583 whiffs, second in state history.
He also tossed four no-hitters that season, second on the all-time list. Three of those no-hitters, in fact, came in consecutive dominant starts from May 6-10.
While Wernette was pitching himself into the Michigan high school record book, National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) research shows where Wernette's numbers stand nationally. It turns out that only 10 pitchers in the country's history have won more than 20 games in a season. The all-time mark is 25 by Randolph Slaters of Mooreville High School in Missouri in 1985. Wernette’s 272 strikeouts is fourth all-time, with Salters also holding that record at 336. The 56 career wins is sixth all-time, with Terry Heiderscheit of Lansing Kee High School in Iowa holding the record of 69 from 1975-78.
Wernette admits it's probably best that he was unaware of the records at the time. His focus was on being the only senior on a young 10-player Morley Stanwood team that many suspected would be lucky to break .500 in 2003. But behind Wernette's sensational season, Morley Stanwood finished 41-3, with Wernette suffering his only defeat 3-1 to Blissfield in the Division 3 championship game.
"I was kind of glad I didn't know. Who knows what would have been in the back of my mind if I knew I was that close (to the records)," he said. "I never thought that much about it. I didn't know about the strikeout record, and I never looked at my (won-loss) record until someone mentioned that I was close to 50 and that I could break the state record."
Wernette remembers starting about 17 games that season as at least a couple of the wins came in relief. The success also didn't exactly come out of the blue as Wernette went 7-5 as a promising freshman, then put together 14-3 and 15-4 seasons as a sophomore and junior, respectively. The 15 wins remain tied for 10th all-time in state history.
Wernette's catcher his final season was sophomore Drew Thompson, who remembers Wernette as having a fastball that touched 90 mph at best. He never threw a curveball until making the high school team and really didn't master it until his last season and a half for Morley Stanwood. But Wernette, an all-conference football linebacker, had a relentless competitive streak, Thompson recalled.
"There was his velocity and the way he threw balls that tailed away from batters," Thompson said. "A lot of high school hitters never saw balls that would move away like that. But he was a gamer who just wanted the ball in his hand. If he got into trouble, he wanted a strikeout and he had the stuff to do it.
"Everything fit together for him that year. He had confidence we would win whether we were down 1-0 or 2-1 or we were up. I remember him always being relaxed."
Wernette agrees everything indeed did fall into place that season. One of four Mohawks pitchers who could throw at least 80 mph, Wernette's place in the rotation included starting twice during the week while occasionally relieving in a weekend tournament. By the time the team was around 16 games into the season, Wernette realized something special was happening. The team played well in the usually strong Big Rapids Tournament, where the Mohawks swept Remus Chippewa Hills and Big Rapids. Morley Stanwood split a key doubleheader with Howard City Tri County, and suddenly Wernette and a painfully young Morley Stanwood club that virtually had returned little else than its No.1 pitcher was catching fire.
Wernette's 20th win came in a 3-2 decision over Rudyard in a Quarterfinal at Gaylord. Because rain on Tuesday had pushed the game back a day to Wednesday, Wernette was unable to start the team's Semifinal on Friday. But even without Wernette, the team's No. 3 hitter and first baseman when he wasn't on the mound, Morley Stanwood beat a 35-4 Goodrich team 4-3 in the Semifinal, paving the way for Wernette to pitch the Final. But Morley Stanwood made a couple key errors in the title game, and Blissfield pitcher Jake Recker – who had only a modest 4-4 record heading into the day – was excellent in a 3-1 win. The championship was part of three Finals titles over four years for Blissfield.
Wernette said his reflections on his heavy pitching load that season haven't changed in 20 years. He would take the ball whenever coach Ron Ford asked him.
"I never told him I couldn't pitch," Wernette said. "My arm never bothered me. I'd ice it after a game, and I never had an arm issue. Looking back now I know I threw more than a lot of high school pitchers, but I was all for it. I wanted the ball every chance I could get it."
While Wernette never suffered a sore arm during four years in high school, his pitching career ended five months after graduation. After attending a Detroit Tigers tryout in Grand Rapids, Wernette was advised he needed a year in college. So he shuffled off to Muskegon Community College, where during the opening weeks of fall ball, Wernette hurt his shoulder during a long toss exercise. While medical evaluations have made great strides in the last 20 years, Wernette said the numbness he felt probably meant a torn rotator cuff. He never tried pitching again.
"I probably should have stuck with it, and that's the biggest thing with me because baseball was so special," he said. "I took the game seriously, but the rest of it – like school – I wish I would have put more into it.
Wernette's spark for pitching is reflected in his two young daughters, Brooklynn, 11, and Jaycee, 8. Both are travel softball pitchers. Wernette said the family has a pitching machine set up to hone their talent.
"They're definitely into it," he said.
The records that Wernette set are probably untouchable as high schools have instituted tight mandates on the number of pitches that can be thrown over a certain number of days. For instance, the top pitchers on last year's 16 MHSAA semifinalists averaged 10.6 starts and 57.5 innings pitched. Wernette threw 125 innings as a senior.
Wernette heartily agrees there should be definite pitch limits on youngsters whose arms are not fully developed.
"I definitely see it as a good thing," he said. "Back then you never heard much about Tommy John surgeries of rotator cuffs. I never learned about that stuff until after school. I never had any concerns; I just wanted the ball every chance I could get it."
As for Wernette's remarkable season, he spends little time thinking about the achievements unless someone mentions them. But it's hardly comparable to the Bruce Springsteen "Glory Days" song of yesterday's greatness.
"Somebody will bring it up, and I have a lot of good memories. But I wish I would have done some things differently like paying more attention to school and applying myself. There was too much of just trying to get by," he said.
"But it was an honor to accomplish what I did. I'll always think that."
PHOTOS (Top) Morley Stanwood’s Nate Wernette makes his move toward the plate during the 2003 Division 3 Final against Blissfield. (Middle) Wernette’s record-setting win made the statewide news wire, appearing in various newspapers including as this clip in the St. Joseph Herald-Palladium.