By Brad D. Bates
C & G Sports Writer

The St. Clair Shores Lake Shore baseball team can cross “facing adversity” off its state championship to-do list.

Lake Shore lost its top pitcher Kevin Vangheluwe for the season after he underwent surgery to remove a blood clot in his right arm April 21.

“He’s home now and doing OK,” coach Chris Kuppe said of his pitcher, who had his surgery at University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor.

The Shorians rebounded to win their next eight games and remained undefeated at 15-0 at press time, but perhaps more important is the way they reacted to the off-the-field loss.

“Our focus has been a lot better,“ Kuppe said of his squad, which was ranked No. 2 in the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association April 24 Division 1 poll. “As good as Kevin is, we had a very good team behind him. But I told the kids they have to pick it up now.

“People are going to think we’re vulnerable now. It’s good for them, because in the past they would look to Kevin. Now they have to do it themselves.”

The major reason Lake Shore has yet to feel the loss of Vangheluwe in the win-loss column is depth.

Kuppe admits, though, that without his No. 1 pitcher and top hitter, that depth has been taxed. Junior varsity starters Greg Fanto and Anthony Hayes, both are juniors and left-handers, are making spot starts for the varsity squad.

“We were very deep with Kevin, and we’re still a deep team,” Kuppe said. “My starters are still on their normal four- to five-day rest. Bringing up the JV pitchers may cost us a little now, but it’s going to help them in the future.”

Filling Vangheluwe’s void on the mound are the other veteran arms, like senior Vince Plouffe, junior Travis Brown and junior Cameron Walker. Senior catcher Sam Giordano has been a steadying influence behind the plate.

“All three of my starters won games last week, and we’ve got a closer in Cameron (Walker) that no one can hit,” Kuppe said.

“I told all those guys that with Kevin they were still very good, and now they just have to step it up without him.”

Another void left by the injury to Vangheluwe is in the team’s identity.

While the Shorians are no longer viewed as a team behind a potential Mr. Baseball, they’re now hoping to be the team that shrugged off the loss of a potential Mr. Baseball.

“Vinny (Plouffe) and Cameron (Walker) have been a lot of help,” Kuppe said. “Cameron has taken over (the leadership) part, keeping the guys focused.

“Cameron will get in their faces and talk to them about stuff, but Vinnie is quiet and the enforcer because he was captain of the football team.”

You can reach Sports Writer Brad D. Bates at bbates@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1029.