Baseball Dream Team
Player of the Year
OF Nick Plummer, Brother Rice, senior
Outfielder Nick Plummer, who was named Mr. Baseball, is also Sports Scene’s Player of the Year. He was drafted in the first round by the St. Louis Cardinals, signed his contract, and has started his career in Florida.
P Drake Titus, St. Mary’s Preparatory, junior
Drake Titus, who helped his team win the Division 2 state title, finished with a 12-2 record, a 0.73 ERA, and three saves. He also hit .350.
P John Baker, Hartland , junior
John Baker led Hartland to its first-ever Division 1 state baseball championship in June. He went 10 innings, allowing one run on five hits with 11 strikeouts and three walks. Baker finshed the season 10-2 with a 0.94 ERA and 131 strikeouts.
P Luke Schilling, Notre Dame Preparatory, senior
A late bloomer, Luke Schilling has become a dominant pitcher and a professional prospect. This season as a full-time starting pitcher, the hard-throwing Shilling went 7-1 with a .70 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 49.2 innings pitched. He was drafted in the 20th round by the Texas Rangers but will likely play in college at the University of Illinois instead.
P Karl Kauffmann, Brother Rice, junior
Despite missing a few games early in the season, Karl Kauffmann ended up 10-1 with a .6 ERA and was named to the all-state Dream Team. Committed to the University of Michigan, he will be one of the state’s best next year.
INF Connor Smith, Midland Dow, senior
Connor Smith hit .463 with a .568 on-base percentage for the Chargers. A four-year member of the Dow varsity, Smith will play his college baseball at Western Michigan University.
OF Nate Grys, Bishop Foley Catholic, senior
Nate Grys finished a terrific career by being named to the all-state Dream Team. He batted .400 with four home runs, 37 RBI, and a .667 slugging percentage for the Ventures. Grys signed with Western Michigan University.
1B Austin Palo, Howell, senior
Autsin Palo was a Division 1 all-state team member. He set a school record for hits (57) while belting 19 doubles and hitting .435, all team highs. Palo was second on the Highlanders with 31 runs scored, five homeruns, and 40 RBI. On the mound, he went 7-1 with a 2.20 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 38 innings.
C Carson Eby, Bay City Western, senior
A two-time Player of the Year in hockey, Carson Eby carried a .368 average with eight doubles and 19 stolen bases this season. He drove in 33 runs and scored 31 while striking out just four times. Eby will play his college baseball at Saginaw Valley State University.
Honorable Mention Selections
Tyler Waldrop, Grand Ledge; Tyler Lowe, Northville; Jack Weisenberger, Rockford; Jason Clark, Bay City Western; Chandler Sedat, West Bloomfield; Chris Tripplett, Flushing; Matt Lerdahl, Troy Athens; Jake Ellis, Grand Ledge; Mitchell Weber, Rochester; Alex Manasa, Farmington; Chris Adsit, De La Salle Collegiate; Alex Dixon, Brighton; Malik Brown, Birmingham Groves; Jack Ferguson, Livonia Stevenson; Eric Fritz, Fowlerville; Drew Boyd, St. Mary’s Preparatory; Zach Heeke, Mt. Pleasant; Trace Woodworth, Haslett; Jonathan Lapshan, Divine Child Catholic; Mason Vaughn, St. Mary’s Preparatory; Dom Bruce, Mt. Morris; Blaine Milheim, Eaton Rapids; Connor Grice, DeWtt; Greg Loukinen, St. Mary’s Preparatory; Mackenzie McGough, North Branch; Jake Depillo, Notre Dame Preparatory; Danny Blade, Divine Child Catholic; Jake Marshall, Linden; Obie Ricumstrict, Mt. Pleasant; Jared McDaniel, Eaton Rapids; Logan Buczkowski, Mt. Pleasant; Nathan Laginess, Eaton Rapids; Monte Petre, Meridian; Riley Creamer, Lansing Catholic; Trey Bauer, Pewamo Westphalia; Gabe Denton, Clare; Zachary Booth, Pinconning; Christian Petre, Meridian; Collin Vandergrooden, Montrose; Nic Huntey, Morley Stanwood; Keagan Sutliff, Ovid-Elsie; Grant Steinborn, New Lothrop; Cam Pope, New Lothrop; Wade San Miguel, Breckenridge; Sal Mastromatteo, Everest Collegiate; Josh Parks, Lansing Christian; Owen Heyn, Michigan Lutheran Seminary