Off to Superb Start, Three Rivers Eager to Build on Program-Best Run
By
Scott Hassinger
Special for MHSAA.com
April 14, 2026
THREE RIVERS – The Three Rivers varsity baseball team reached historic heights last spring with an experienced group of seniors and talented underclassmen in Scott Muffley's return to the third-base coaching box.
Three Rivers caught fire during the 2025 postseason and finished 25-15 overall, winning Division 2 District and Regional championships before falling 10-0 in its Division 2 Quarterfinal to eventual champion Ada Forest Hills Eastern. The Regional title was the program's first.
Muffley, a Three Rivers alumnus and long-time marketing teacher at the high school, begins his second season of this second tenure after previously guiding the Wildcats to a District title in 2010. He later enjoyed a successful stint as Schoolcraft's head baseball coach before resigning to follow the careers of his daughter Josie in Division I softball at Florida State and son Jordyn in minor league baseball.
Even though he graduated eight seniors, Muffley returns six starters, including senior starting first and third baseman Mason Awe.
"We got really hot towards the end of last season. We played our hearts out with great team baseball,” Awe said. “When everyone started listening to Coach Muffley near the end of the year, that's when we began hitting and playing very well. Our pitching and hitting are really strong again.”
Hitting, speed on the basepaths and defense will be Three Rivers' biggest team strengths. Awe was selected second-team all-state as a junior after batting .462 with 12 extra-base hits, 23 RBI, 26 runs scored and 12 stolen bases.
He had multiple college baseball scholarship offers but instead will attend Kalamazoo College and play football, hoping to compete for the starting quarterback job this fall.
Other key returnees for the Wildcats this season include junior pitcher and utility player Aiden Williams, junior catcher Tate Rohrer, senior centerfielder Brady Penny, senior pitcher and third baseman Gabriel Young, junior shortstop and pitcher Drake Dibble and senior outfielder Carson Bowley.
"Mason is going to be my utility guy. He can play anywhere in the infield and has a strong stick in our lineup," Muffley said.
"Tate will have to be a strong horse for us again behind the plate," Muffley added.
Dibble, a three-sport athlete, will be counted on heavily to make a lot of plays at shortstop.
"We had great team players last year. Our goal is to win more hardware and win our (group’s) first conference title. That hasn't been done in a very long time,” Dibble said. “The biggest thing is we just have to play for one another."
Sophomores Rylan Corte and Tyson Rohrer are making a big impact. Corte is a middle infielder, while Tyson Rohrer is a left-handed pitcher and roams the outfield.
"Rylan has a phenomenal glove and is very smooth," said Muffley, who added that Corte and Dibble already have executed a half-dozen double plays.
Williams returns as Three Rivers' ace on the pitcher's mound, where he compiled a 6-2 record with a 1.69 ERA as a sophomore with 49 strikeouts over 49 2/3 innings pitched.
Corte, Dibble, Tyson Rohrer, Penny, Cole Dunmier, Nowak and Young will shoulder a few innings on the mound as well.
"It was tough as a pitcher my sophomore year in a conference as strong as ours, but I got solid experience. I took this year off from football and put 30 pounds on, and I have increased my fastball by six miles per hour," said Williams, who has verbally committed to play at Glen Oaks Community College in two years. His future plans are to study education and become a coach.
"Team chemistry is definitely a key. We had a lot of tough losses early last season, and once we came together as a team we all had one goal, to keep winning."
Despite graduating a significant class a year ago, Three Rivers hasn't missed a beat this spring getting off to an 8-0-1 start. That strong beginning includes league sweeps of Otsego and Sturgis.
The Wildcats are 4-0 in the Wolverine Conference entering today’s home doubleheader against Plainwell. They are shooting for the school's first league title since 1974.
When Muffley got an opportunity to return to the program before last season, he jumped at it.
"I had the itching to get back into coaching, When (athletic director) Matt Stofer asked me to come back, it was just perfect timing,” Muffley said. “I saw the group of individuals we had coming up. I knew there was a lot of talent there. The only thing we had to do was get them to buy into a system, and it took time.
“Things went very well for us last season once we did that. It involves not only the ability to play the game, but mental toughness, self-visualization, goal setting, positive and negative self-talk, being a good teammate and the ability to be coachable.
"What we have are a lot of good quality players who are interchangeable with plenty of arms, especially our younger kids. We just have to put everything together. Baseball is a mental game, 70 percent failure and 30 percent success. It's a learning process that many of these kids don't see until the next level. We're teaching that aspect to them now."
Penny, a four-year varsity player, serves as Three Rivers' leadoff hitter followed by Williams in the No. 2 slot, Young or Tyson Rohrer hitting third and Awe as the clean-up hitter.
Dibble, Tate Rohrer, Corte, Ethan Moreland and junior Alex Nowak also have provided plenty of punch at the plate during the early portion of the schedule. Three Rivers' goal at the plate is to hit .330. The Wildcats batted .326 a year ago, and that was a big reason for much of their success. They were a base-hitting team with just six home runs in 2025.
"Our achievements last season were big and helped put Three Rivers baseball on the map. I think we have a good squad. We want to win another District, Regional and keep working from there," said Penny, who anchors the Wildcats' starting outfield.
"Brady has blazing speed; the kid makes some unbelievable catches out there and tracks things down well. At the plate he can lay down a bunt and beat plays out," Muffley said.
When not pitching, Tyson Rohrer will play first, left field or right field. Bowley, junior Ethan Moreland and junior Lincoln Burkey also will log time in the Wildcats' outfield.
"My role as a senior is to keep everyone humble and to play for one another and be a real team, build chemistry and teach the younger guys to listen. If you can do all those things, you will succeed," Bowley said.
Sophomore JT Wilds, a pitcher and infielder, will split time between the junior varsity and varsity squads throughout the season, along with Cooper Goff (c, of).
Muffley's coaching staff consists of Derek Adams – one of Muffley's former players – along with Steve Dibble, Jerry Burgess and Chris Kearney.
"Our coaching staff is phenomenal. We all share the same philosophy and have the same level of passion for the game,” Muffley said. “They have all been a Godsend. We all get along and believe in playing the game the right way."
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) Three Rivers’ Aiden Williams delivers a pitch to the plate last season during a tournament game. (Middle) Brady Penny throws the ball back into the infield after making a catch in center field. (Photos courtesy of the Three Rivers athletic department.)
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.)