Eastpointe

East Detroit High baseball team ready for tough MAC Silver competition

By Jason Carmel Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « File photo by Erin Sanchez The East Detroit baseball team opens the 2013 season with a game against the Pontiac Academy for Excellence, set for 4:30 p.m. March 28 at Memorial Field in Eastpointe. Pictured is senior pitcher Jimmie Lewis during a game last season. File photo by Erin Sanchez The East Detroit baseball team opens the 2013 season with a game against the Pontiac Academy for Excellence, set for 4:30 p.m. March 28 at Memorial Field in Eastpointe. Pictured is senior pitcher Jimmie Lewis during a game last season.

EASTPOINTE — East Detroit High baseball coach Jim Brandon has the Shamrocks trending upward.

East Detroit went 12-18, 4-6 in the Macomb Area Conference Silver Division in 2012. Those 12 wins nearly matched the Shamrocks’ win total for 2010 and 2011 combined (13).

“I’m cautiously optimistic about the season,” Brandon said. “I think we have some good players with experience who are ready to win.”

Brandon, in his second year with East Detroit, is optimistic about the upcoming spring season. He said the Shamrocks should return 10 seniors with varsity experience.

Brandon added his team is up for the task of competing in what he sees as a tough MAC Silver. He said this year’s team will lean heavily on its pitching but must improve their defenseif it wants to challenge in the MAC Silver.

Brandon said he’s pleased to bring back his starting pitching rotation, led by senior Jimmie Lewis — a four-year varsity player and two-time All-MAC honoree. Other starting hurlers include John Brandon, Mark Ward and Austin Geoffrey, who missed all of last season due to injury.

At press time, Brandon was still holding tryouts to fill out his roster. He said he’s just looking to fill a couple of holes.

“I think they’re up to the challenge,” said Brandon, who, in taking the job at East Detroit last year, obtained his first head coaching position.

“We’ve got (Warren) Fitzgerald and Roseville coming in, and Lakeview won the league last year and should be good, so we’re going to have to work hard to stay in it. They’re ready. I’ve scheduled some tough games. … Their eyes lit up when I told them about some of the teams we’d be playing, but it’ll be fun.”

East Detroit will battle Jackson Lumen Christi May 25. The Shamrocks will also play in a tournament with Grosse Ile, Allen Park Cabrini and Lincoln Park. East Detroit will also play a doubleheader against Trenton.

“We’re going to play some serious competition,” Brandon said. “It’ll be a challenge, but it’ll be fun, too.”

The Shamrocks open the season with a matchup against the Pontiac Academy for Excellence. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. March 28 at Memorial Field in Eastpointe.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jason Carmel Davis at jdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1107. Follow Jason Carmel on Twitter.