Sports Scene 2013-14 Baseball Dream Team
Nick Kamrada, Grand Ledge, senior, Player of the Year, pitcher
When it comes to throwing heat, Grand Ledge’s Nick Kamrada can throw as hard as anyone at the high school level. Clocked at 93 miles per hour this spring, he consistently throws in the high 80s every time he hits the mound.
As a first team all-state performer, Kamrada finished the season 12-0 with seven shutouts, 90 strikeouts in 60 innings, a 0.81 ERA, and only 14 walks. It’s those types of numbers that have Kamrada taking home Sports Scene’s 2013-14 Baseball Player of the Year honors. He will play college baseball at Ohio University.
Kory Young, Rockford, senior, infield
Young, who was honored by the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association with Division 1 all-state first team recognition, also was named USA Today/Gatorade Michigan Player of the Year. He batted .421 for the Rams and scored 43 runs. Young has committed to play for Michigan State University.
Scott Badour, Bay City Western, senior, pitcher
Badour led the Warriors to their second straight state Division 1 championship. He was 10-2 on the season with a 0.65 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 75 innings. He capped the season with four-hitter in the semifinal win over Clarkston.
Carson Eby, Bay City Western, junior, catcher
Eby took the place of 2013 Dream Team catcher Grant Bridgewater this year, and the Warriors didn’t miss a beat. Eby batted .395 with 45 hits and 41 RBI. He stroked 28 doubles and scored 28 runs while earning first-team all-Saginaw Valley League and second-team all-state.
Tyler Gulick, East Lansing, senior, infield
Gulick excels on both the football field and on the softball diamond. He has shown that he can mix up his pitches while throwing heat and keeping batters off balance. Gulick, along wim Kamrada and Allison, made one heck of a pitching trip in the CAAC this season.
Tanner Allison, Portland, senior, pitcher
Allison was one of the leading hitters in the Lansing area this season, batting .485, with five home runs and 36 RBI. He is also an imposing left-handed presence on the mound. He has a fastball that hovers around 90 miles per hour, and that helped him to a record of 8-1 and an ERA of 0.76.
Aaron Leasher, Mt. Pleasant, senior, pitcher
Mt. Pleasant’s Aaron Leasher allowed no earned runs, four hits, and three walks, and he struck out seven in a complete-game, 7-2 win over Richmond for the state championship. He finished the season with a 10-3 record and a 0.75 earned run average. In 91 innings, Leasher struck out 131. He also hit .325 and led the team in sacrifices as the No. 2 hitter in the lineup.
Ben Finzel, Swan Valley, senior, infield
Finzel hit .477 and scored 45 runs for the Vikings. He had 18 doubles, walked 20 times, and struck out just six times. He also made two appearances on the mound and finished with a 0.70 ERA and 15 strikeouts. During his four-year career at Swan Valley, Finzel played every position.
Logan Hessbrook, Ithaca, senior, outfield
Hessbrook batted .423 with 35 hits, eight doubles, four triples, and one home run. He scored 28 runs and stole 23 bases en route to collecting all-district, all-region, and all-state accolades.
Ty Rollin, Beal City, senior pitcher
Rollin capped off his prep campaign by going 13-1 this season with a 1.22 ERA, 95 strikeouts, and 29 walks in 92 innings pitched. An all-district, all-region, all-Highland Conference, and Division 4 first team all-state honoree, Rollin batted .453 with 13 doubles, five triples, three home runs, 34 RBI, 57 runs scored, and 28 stolen bases to guide the Aggies to a Division 4 state runner-up finish.
Sports Scene 2013-14 First Team
Kyle Randick, Flushing, senior, first base
Reid Kelley, Rockford, senior, pitcher
Tyler Waldrop, Grand Ledge, junior, pitcher
Seth Freed, Bay City Western, senior, infield
John Michael Moody, DeWitt, senior, catcher
Antonio Jacobs, John Glenn, senior, pitcher
Nate Langenfeld, Grand Ledge, senior, outfield
Ryan Orr, Bath, senior, pitcher
Grant Steinborn, New Lothrop, junior, pitcher
Wade SanMiguel, Breckenridge, junior, infield
Robert Backus, Mt. Pleasant, senior, infield
Honorable Mention
Brent Showers, Rockford; Parker Groom, Lowell; Sam Smith, DeWitt; Drew Roth, Bullock Creek; Nash Irwin, Mt. Morris; Austin Brandt, Portland; Hunter Buczkowski, Mt. Pleasant; Tyler Robbins, John Glenn; Andrew Click, Portland; Matt Sahr, Reese; Damon Walter, Meridian; Mason Branigan, Shepherd; Charlie Bugbee, Clare; Austin Schertzing, Lansing Catholic; Cody Peyok, Reese; Kyle Chappelle, New Lothrop; Josh Parks, Lansing Christian; Nick Hoogerhyde, Beal City; Cameron Pope, New Lothrop