BY DAN STICKRADT
CORRESPONDENT
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
Northville and Howell have a lot in common when it comes to the sport of baseball.
Both have fielded respective ball clubs for the past two-plus decades and both are normally found in the mix of a division or conference title chase in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association.
Over the past several years, both have spent plenty of time ranked in the Division 1 coaches poll, and as of May 23, both teams were in a five-way tie for 10th in the state.
No surprise there. KLAA schools often gain state-wide respect and several league members have made deep postseason runs over the years. All-time, the members of the 24-school KLAA have a 5-1 record in Class A/Division 1 state finals games.
Northville (21-5, 13-3) won the KLAA-South and Howell (24-6, 14-1) captured the KLAA-West this season. Northville bested Plymouth Canton, 4-1, for the Kensington Conference title, while Howell edged White Lake Lakeland, 4-1, for the Lakes Conference title.
Howell topped Northville, 3-1, in the KLAA association finals May 20. Both again have the talent to make their marks in the 2016 postseason.
“One of the most difficult things to do in our area is win a district,” noted Northville coach John Kostrzewa. “In recent years, we’ve had districts where there are two, maybe three ranked teams in our district. It’s happened several times. I remember (2007) when we opened with Farmington and both of us were ranked in the top five. We had a 27-game win streak that season. Farmington beat us and reached the state finals before losing (to Lake Orion). Throw (Novi Detroit) Catholic Central in our district, and there’s another team that has fielded some really good teams over the years. It’s really hard to make a run from our area.”
In the state tournament, Northville has never advanced beyond the Class A/Division 1 regional finals. Howell has posted some long tournament runs, reaching the D-1 Final Four in both 2012 or 2013.
“We have never been to the finals,” said Howell co-coach Mike Weatherly. “We came close a couple of times. It’s just so hard in baseball, maybe harder than any other sport. All it takes is one pitcher that has a great day and it’s all over. On the other hand, if you have a lot of good arms, than you might be able to make a run. You have to have some luck, too.”
Howell graduated 10-of-20 players after last season, but are still one of state’s best with an arsenal of quality players.
Senior Brian Rindell (2B-P), who was hurt most of last season, has teamed up with seniors Spencer Ford (P-DH-INF) and Brett Chaperson (OF) to form quality leaders. Ford is hitting close to .430 and leads the team in the RBI department.
Junior shortstop Caleb Balgard has already committed to Indiana University. Junior Sam Weatherly, a 6-foot-3 left-hander who has verbaled to Clemson, has emerged as the ace of the pitching staff and quality arm in the outfield. Senior Bailey Burton (P-INF) has emerged as the team’s closer from the bump, junior right-hander Evan Maize is 5-0 on the mound, and junior Kaean Palmer is the signal caller behind the plate and has handled the staff quite well.
Last season Howell won a district before falling in the regional semifinals, while in 2014 the Highlanders captured a district title before making a run to the regional finals.
Northville finished 28-3 in 2015. The Mustangs defeated Brighton 3-2 late in the regular season, only to fall to the Bulldogs 6-0 in the pre-district contest.
Northville reached the regional finals two years ago. The Mustangs have reached that point several times in school history, but have never won a regional and made it to the Elite Eight or Final Four.
There are several holdovers at Northville that remember last year’s defeat quite well.
Senior Chris Dunn (P-OF) has became one of the team’s top pitchers, while fellow senior Zach Prystach (P-OF) has a quality arm. Senior David Dillon (P-INF), junior Kevin Morrissey (SS), junior Nate Wixom (3B), junior Aram Shahrigian (1B-P) and sophomore Jack Sargent (OF) have all had solid seasons.
Shahrigian hits in the clean-up position and has become the program’s most improved player.
“We have a core of 6-7 players that have been really solid this season, sort of carrying on our tradition,” said Kostrzewa. “We have a solid enough program to where we have new guys that step in every year and help us out.”
The idea is for another team from the KLAA to finish with some state glory in the near future.
“Brighton has had some great teams over the years. So has Hartland and they finally won it last year,” said Kostrzewa. “Maybe someone like us, or Howell, or another team from our league will finally make a run to the finals. There is plenty of talent in our league.”