Baseball

Published April 3, 2018

Troy Times

Young Troy High baseball team eyes league and district crowns

TROY — The Troy High baseball team collected a 10-0 home victory over Auburn Hills Oakland Christian March 26.

Published April 3, 2018

Rochester Post

Rochester High baseball looks to defend division and regional titles

ROCHESTER HILLS — Last year, the Rochester High baseball team won 17 of its last 22 games and reached the Division 1 state semifinals for a second straight season.

Published April 3, 2018

Woodward Talk

Berkley High baseball returns for another spring season

ley High baseball coach Matt Rawlik is in the third season of what he referred to as a dream job.

Published April 3, 2018

Grosse Pointe Times

Liggett baseball could again be among the best teams in the state

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — Entering last season, Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett’s baseball program was already a proven winner.

Published April 3, 2018

Royal Oak Review

Young mind to lead Trojans

CLAWSON — He has no prior coaching experience, and at 25 years old, he won’t be that much older than some of his eldest players.

Published April 2, 2018

Birmingham - Bloomfield Eagle

Warriors will rely on bats early on as pitching staff comes together

BIRMINGHAM — For the better part of his coaching career at Birmingham Brother Rice, manager Bob Riker has always had an ace or two on the mound. Things may be a bit different in 2018 for the Warriors, who returned almost their entire roster from last spring, but are dealing with inexperience and youth at the pitcher position.

Published March 30, 2018

West Bloomfield Beacon

Eaglets return plenty of talent as baseball season takes flight

ORCHARD LAKE — Just two years removed from a state championship, this was the official reboot.

The Ferndale High baseball team has a district title on its mind this season. The last time the Eagles won the postseason tournament was in 2011.

Published March 28, 2018

Woodward Talk

Ferndale High baseball ready to roll

dale High baseball coach Chris Bailey said his team is younger, but an experienced group.

Published March 28, 2018

Sterling Heights Sentry

Longtime Stevenson baseball coach serving as AD

Joe Emanuele has built quite the résumé in his tenure as Sterling Heights Stevenson’s baseball coach.

Published March 27, 2018

Royal Oak Review

Porter says he has contender if Royal Oak baseball finds its groove

ROYAL OAK — The weather will eventually cooperate with the spring sports schedule.

Published March 26, 2018

C&G Newspapers

USPBL preps for opening day

ROCHESTER — As the spring thaw melts the ice and snow around the metro area, countless baseball diamonds are being readied for the season.

Published March 22, 2018

West Bloomfield Beacon

Brown begins tenure as new baseball coach at West Bloomfield High

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Stepping into a school this size, with a talent pool this deep and a baseball tradition as strong as it is, there’s no wonder why new West Bloomfield High skipper Jerry Brown called his taking over of the baseball program “a dream job.”

MHSAA official Trent Anderson looks on during a wrestling match at the state finals Feb. 24 in Kalamazoo.

Published March 2, 2018

C&G Newspapers

MHSAA looks to tackle officiating shortage

METRO DETROIT — A decade ago, the Michigan High School Athletic Association enjoyed its highest-ever enrollment of officials at 12,400. Today, the number sits at just over 10,000.

Published September 29, 2017

Warren Weekly

De La Salle alum, longtime coach returns to lead baseball program

WARREN — A native son has returned.

Dave Zelmanski will be Warren De La Salle’s next baseball coach.
Zelmanski is a 1974 graduate of the school.

“De La Salle is a very special place, and it takes exceptional student-athletes to compete in the (Catholic High School League) Central Division,” said Zelmanski, who was a four-year starter for the Pilots during his time as a student, in a prepared statement. “I am truly honored and excited, yet humbled to have this opportunity at the greatest all-boys school on the planet.”

Published September 10, 2017

C&G Newspapers

Beavers top Mammoths for USPBL title

UTICA — Three months ago, Chris Newell found his club in last place. He made a vow that his squad would right the ship, win the United Shore Professional Baseball League pennant and take home the ultimate prize.

The Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers manager proved himself right Sept. 10 after his team topped the Westside Woolly Mammoths 5-2 in the USPBL title game Sept. 10 at Jimmy John's Field in Utica. A day after his birthday, Newell happily sported a freshly printed championship shirt that had been soaked through due to a Gatorade shower at the hands of his players.

Published August 23, 2017

C&G Newspapers

Pair of local prep products sign with Twins organization

UTICA — Two local prep products are one step closer to fulfilling their dreams of becoming Major League ballplayers, utilizing the United Shore Professional Baseball League as the vehicle to do so.

Kevin Marnon, a Sterling Heights Stevenson graduate, and Taylor Grzelakowski, a product of Fraser High, both signed with the Minnesota Twins organization Aug. 1. The pair reported to Minnesota’s Gulf Coast League affiliate, also named the Twins.

Published August 21, 2017

Online Only

Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores LL ends run in World Series

Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores Little League was eliminated from championship contention Aug. 19, officially ending its run in the Little League World Series.

The team, which represented the Great Lakes Region in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, fell 15-5 in four innings to Holbrook, the Mid-Atlantic representative from New Jersey, giving the squad its second loss of the tournament.

Read More

Published August 14, 2017

Grosse Pointe Times

Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores LL heading to World Series

The Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores Little League team is heading to the Little League World Series Aug. 17-27 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Representing the Great Lakes region, it’ll take on the Southwest region champion from Lufkin, Texas, at 7 p.m. Aug. 17 on ESPN2.

The squad earned its spot after beating a team from Hinsdale, Illinois, 6-3 for the regional championship Aug. 12.

Read More

Published July 17, 2017

Shelby - Utica News

Longtime Ike skipper headed to Notre Dame Prep

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Jason Gendreau has spent more than a quarter of his life leading the Utica Eisenhower baseball team.

After a bittersweet goodbye, he now leaves the program to helm Pontiac Notre Dame Prep.

“Opportunity doesn’t always have the best timing,” Gendreau said. “But this is an opportunity that I’ve always wanted to have. Notre Dame Prep is one of the few schools that I’d ever want to be at besides Eisenhower.”

Published July 13, 2017

Shelby - Utica News

USPBL utilizing space and time

UTICA — On a sunny mid-June afternoon at Jimmy John’s Field, Alex Abbott delivers a home run.

A utility man for the Westside Woolly Mammoths, Abbott’s shot over the right field fence increased his club’s lead over the Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers.

As players and coaches exited the dugout to congratulate him on the hit, the ballpark remained quiet.

The Mammoths won the United Shore Professional Baseball League contest 12-1, but not a single fan rose to their feet throughout the entire game.