Starting over

By Brad D. Bates
C & G Sports Writer

Grosse Pointe South baseball takes new roster into new league

The players Grosse Pointe South baseball lost to graduation after the 2008 season could literally field a college team.

The Blue Devils graduated 16 seniors from a team that won the Macomb Area Conference White Division title, and nine of those players went on to play college baseball.

“Every day at practice is an audition,” coach Dan Griesbaum said. “We’re finding things out every day about the team we have, and by the time we play (Grosse Pointe) North (at 4 p.m. April 22 at South) in our first league game, we’ll know who our best nine or 10 is.”

Last year’s team was led and defined by a pitching staff that posted a team ERA under 2.00.

This year, with so few players having varsity experience, an identity may be something South doesn’t develop until late in the year.

“We’ve got some good kids working really hard, but our strength remains to be seen,” Griesbaum said. “We really have to make all the plays this year and play fundamentally good baseball to overcome our inexperience.”

The Blue Devils return two starters from a year ago, senior center fielder John Hackett and junior pitcher/shortstop Robert Peltz.

While South may be short on returning experience, it does have a wealth of seniors on the roster.

Along with Hackett, Griesbaum has senior Mike Cimmarrusti to move in at catcher, senior infielder Will Ferrara to play third and second base, senior outfielder Kelly O’Donnell-Daudilin and senior pitcher/first baseman Keith Skalrski on the roster.

“We want them to be senior leaders, regardless of their experience,” Griesbaum said. “Guys like Will Ferrara and Keith Skalrski, they were on the team a year ago, so they know how it’s done.”

Those seniors will be all the more valuable as the Blue Devils learn the varsity game in what may be one of the toughest leagues in the state.

South moves to the MAC Red with Grosse Pointe North to face defending champion Utica Stevenson, Utica Eisenhower, Macomb Dakota and Clinton Township Chippewa Valley.

“The only league that compares is the Catholic League (Central Division), and we play all those teams too,” Griesbaum said. “We don’t really care what our overall record is; we want to compete for a league title and then get to the final four.

“This year, it may not look realistic, but that’s our goal every year. Our motto is, ‘Tradition Never Graduates.’”

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