For the week of Oct. 14, 2024

DIVISION 1

1 Farmington Hills Mercy

2 Northville

3 Rockford

4 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern

5 Grand Rapids Northview

6 Jenison

7 Utica Eisenhower

8 Birmingham Marian

9 Hudsonville

10 Clarkston

HONORABLE MENTION: South Lyon East, Temperance Bedford, Caledonia, Brighton, Grand Haven, Lake Orion, Muskegon Mona Shores, South Lyon, Traverse City Central, Byron Center, Romeo, Lowell, Fenton

DIVISION 2

1 Battle Creek Harper Creek

2 Grand Rapids Christian

3 Detroit Country Day

4 Imlay City

5 North Branch

6 Grand Rapids South Christian

7 Lake Odessa Lakewood

8 Tecumseh

9 Hudsonville Unity Christian

10 Grand Rapids West Catholic

HONORABLE MENTION: Plainwell, Lake Fenton, Frankenmuth, Birch Run, Essexville Garber, Hamilton, Richmond, Otsego, Holland Christian, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern, Grand Rapids Catholic Central

DIVISION 3

1 Monroe St. Mary’s Catholic Central

2 Plymouth Christian

3 Kalamazoo Christian

4 Calumet

5 Cass City

6 Traverse City St. Francis

7 Elk Rapids

8 Shelby

9 Pewamo-Westphalia

10 Hanover-Horton

HONORABLE MENTION: Beal City, Manton, Bronson, McBain

DIVISION 4

1 Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart

2 Fowler

3 Clarkston Everest Collegiate

4 Mendon

5 Hillsdale Academy

6 Crystal Falls-Forest Park

7 Wyoming Tri-unity Christian

8 St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lakes

9 Reading

10 Ubly

HONORABLE MENTION: Onekama, Onaway

For the week of Oct. 14, 2024

(Records in parentheses are as of the start of the week)

DIVISION 1

1 Portage Central (16-0-3)

2 Northville (15-0-3)

3 Troy (11-2-0)

4 Oxford (12-1-5)

5 Rochester Adams (12-2-4)

6 Grand Blanc (16-1-2)

7 Traverse City West (15-1-2)

8 Troy Athens (12-3-2)

9 Plymouth (12-2-5)

10 Utica Eisenhower (13-1-3)

11 Saline (12-2-4)

12 Berkley (15-4-2)

13 Hudsonville (10-3-6)

14 Rockford (9-3-4)

15 Edsel Ford (16-1-2)

DIVISION 2

1 Fruitport (17-0-1)

2 Warren De La Salle (14-3-1)

3 Grand Rapids South Christian (17-1-2)

4 Allendale (17-1-0)

5 Mason (13-3-3)

6 DeWitt (15-2-2)

7 Bay City John Glenn (22-0-2)

8 Hudsonville Unity Christian (13-2-4)

9 Jackson (15-1-1)

10 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern (14-4-3)

11 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (13-4-2)

12 Melvindale (12-2-3)

13 Riverview (11-3-5)

14 Plainwell (13-3-3)

15 Zeeland East (11-5-3)

DIVISION 3

1 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (17-2-0)

2 Flint Powers (14-3-2)

3 Imlay City (18-3-0)

4 Kingsford (14-1-1)

5 Detroit Country Day (12-4-3)

6 Macomb Lutheran North (14-2-1)

7 Grosse Ile (9-4-4)

8 Milan (10-2-4)

9 Hartford (16-1-1)

10 Elk Rapids (12-6-1)

11 Alma (13-3-4)

12 Traverse City St Francis (14-5-2)

13 Williamston (8-7-2)

14 Fennville (14-4-1)

15 GR West Michigan Aviation Academy (16-2-3)

DIVISION 4

(From Week 7, Oct. 7)

1 Leland (13-1-1)

2 Royal Oak Shrine (11-0-3)

3 Clarkston Everest Collegiate (13-2-1)

4 Detroit Cristo Rey (10-0-1)

5 Lansing Christian (15-2-0)

6 North Muskegon (11-4-1)

7 Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett (9-2-2)

8 Western Michigan Christian (8-7-2)

9 Grandville Calvin Christian (9-3-3)

10 Jackson Christian (11-2-1)

11 Allen Park Inner-City Baptist (8-0-4)

12 Kalamazoo Christian (11-2-3)

13 Hillsdale Academy (8-3-3)

14 Harbor Springs (7-7-1)

15 Bloomfield Hills Roeper (11-3-1)

Both teams came in looking to change some recent fortunes as of late. Anderson had dropped each of its last five games and been held to three runs or fewer in four of those contests. Edsel meanwhile was hoping to avoid a third loss in four games this week alone after dropping games to league foes Wyandotte Roosevelt and Taylor High earlier in the week.

The offense by and large struggled again but enough production along with a strong pitching showing from Paige Kruzak led the host Titans to a 4-0 win over the visiting Thunderbirds.

PHOTO GALLERY: Softball – Dearborn Edsel Ford vs Southgate Anderson

Anderson with the win has now won two straight and five of their last seven meetings with Edsel going back to the 2021 campaign. More importantly, it gets the Titans back in the win column since defeating Grosse Ile in the first of a season-opening doubleheader back on April 5.

And Thursday’s success on the diamond for the burgundy and silver started and ended with the aforementioned Paige Kruzak. A first-team all-News-Herald honoree and all-Downriver League player a season ago, the junior allowed just five hits and struck out eight Edsel batters over her seven innings of work.

Kruzak did have to navigate some traffic and threats early from the Thunderbirds, who got runners over to second and third with two outs in the second inning but could not cash in. Then in the fourth, a one-out single eventually fell by the wayside.

At that point, it was still a scoreless game. Anderson through the first three innings had mustered just a pair of hits themselves, one of which was a one-out triple in the third off the bat of Gabriela Jones.

The Titans then finally broke through in the home half of the fourth. Kruzak helped out her own cause as her and Taylor Mydlarz led off the inning with consecutive singles. Three batters later with one out, Mydlarz and Kruzak’s courtesy runner Layla Simons scored on a base hit off the bat of Isabella Heyer to make it a 2-0 game.

The hosts capped off the scoring with two more in the fourth. A single from Jones and a double from Reese Randall set up Gabriella Hess, who dropped down a bunt that was misplayed by Edsel. That allowed for both Randall and Jones to score. Hess scooted over to second on the play but was later caught stealing third.

The four runs were the only blemish on the final line for Edsel starter Faith Douglas, who tossed all six innings and allowed just five hits while fanning four Anderson hitters.

Samantha Jamgochian was responsible for two of the Thunderbirds’ five hits in the loss. Miley Onufrak, who also had a hit in the game, was left stranded at third base in both the second and fourth innings. Those were two of four occasions in which Edsel had left a runner in scoring position.

Sidnee Szymanski and Scarlett Jeffries had the other two hits for the visitors.

UP NEXT

Anderson (2-5-1, 1-3 DRL) will look to make it two straight wins next week when they continue DRL play on Monday, April 22 against Taylor High (4:30p). That game will be played at Heritage Park in Taylor.

The Titans after that face tough tests back-to-back as they draw a pair of state-ranked conference rivals in Brownstown Woodhaven and Allen Park on Apr 24 and 25, respectively.

The next two opponents for Edsel (1-4, 1-3 DRL) are also against Woodhaven and Allen Park, those coming on Apr 22 and 24, respectively. The Thunderbirds will then tangle with former conference rival Melvindale in a matinee twin bill on the road on Saturday, Apr 27 (10:00a / 12:00p).

Taylor head coach Chris Simons said that his team simply needed to commit to all four quarters following that loss to the Bulldogs two days prior.

“We gave up in the fourth quarter (against Robichaud),” Simons said. “We were in the game and we just kind of gave it away. Our kids wanted to play their game insted of a team game and that can be a problem when you bring new kids into the program.”

That commitment was on display at various moments throughout the game for the Griffins, who had to fend out a furious rally from the host Lakers to squeeze out a hard-fought 65-59 victory.

PHOTO GALLERY: Boys Basketball – Taylor High vs Dearborn Advanced Tech

“You always have to play hard for all four quarters,” Simons said. “You try to put in a couple plays before the regular season hits. That’s when you know where you need to work the most. But our kids were strong tonight.”

It was a close game in the early parts of this one. Taylor maintained a lead throughout much of the first half and took a 29-23 lead into the halftime break.

But to Simons’ point about being more aggressive, the Griffins began to assert themselves and create some separation from Tech. A extended run upped the lead for the visitors to nearly 20 points in the later stages of the third quarter.

“They were being aggressive and trusting each other,” Simons said. “We’re trying to do this together and you can’t be selfish.”

Tech, however, was able to respond in a big way and give Taylor a taste of their own medicine. Highlighted by some pressure defense, the Lakers were able to create some turnovers and turn those into baskets on the other end.

All of a sudden, the hosts found themselves within a couple of possessions, trailing by just five heading into the final period.

“I think they just started believing in themselves,” Tech head coach Isiah Beauchamp said. “That was the guys saying, ‘we’re not going to hang our heads down, or tuck our tails in and run. We’re going to fight.’ One shot after another, the confidence started building.”

Tech continued to hang around and chip away at the Taylor lead. It eventually became a tie game with just over a minute to go and the Lakers owning possession.

But the Griffins were able to get a stop and force a turnover. That turned into Aaron Mayfield breakaway layup the other way, breaking the 59-all tie and putting Taylor in front for good.

Tech had a few chances to tie or even take the lead on their final few possessions but came up empty. Taylor meanwhile was able to cash in on two more trips down the floor, one more from Mayfield and another from Ahmad Hill.

“We’re a real young team,” Beauchamp said. “I think at the end there, it came down to experience. The game could have went either way there, we miss a layup and then we put guys in to foul and (Taylor) gets an and-one. But the guys never quit and they were scrappy.

“I was proud of what I saw.”

Adam Barnett led Taylor in scoring with 15 points with three of his five made field goals coming from behind the three-point line. The junior was one of four Griffins to reach double-figures in scoring.

MarSean Massenburg finished with 14 points, 12 of which came in the second and third quarters combined. The aforementioned Mayfield and freshman Javontay Smith each finished with 11 points, the former scoring nine of his in the fourth quarter.

Taylor certainly had chances to put away Tech sooner but left plenty of points at the free throw line. The Griffins went 14-for-38 from the stripe on Thursday, two days after going just 8-for-24 in that department in the loss to Robichaud.

Tech got a game-high 24 points from Amir McGee, who was one of just two Lakers to hit double-figures in scoring. Latrell Mason added 12 points on the night including a pair of triples in the fourth quarter to help the hosts climb back into it.

Tech as a team finised 6-for-8 in their freebie attempts.

Mason is one of nine sophomores on this year’s Tech squad for the new head coach Beauchamp, who comes over after spending the last two seasons at Garden City.

Beauchamp talked about some of the early-season adjustments and gelling that will ensue between him and what is a very young Lakers squad that at times had five sophomores on the floor on Tuesday.

“There’s been a lot thrown at them in the beginning,” Beauchamp said. “We haven’t been able to get enough reps in quite yet. So for what we saw out there (tonight) was impressive to me because they were listening and they executed.”

Taylor meanwhile has some inexperience with upside in their own ways. While they have 11 upperclassmen including five seniors, a lot of players for the Griffins are taking on new roles and workloads, if not experiencing varsity basketball for the first time altogether.

Simons pointed to two key seniors that are extensions of the staff on the floor.

“Those two guys are helping me mature these kids,” Simons said of Massenburg and Nick Clements. “They got a lot of pressure on them. They’re not only playing but they’re sort of like my assistant coaches.”

“They’re young and have a lot of immaturity still,” Simons said if his team overall. “You have to learn the game before you can play it,” Simons added. “We’re still at that learning stage.”

UP NEXT

Both teams will return to game action next week.

Taylor (1-1) has a stretch of three games in four days, starting with a home tilt against Garden City on December 4. The Griffins will then open up Downriver League play the next day when they welcome in Allen Park before continuing DRL play with a trip to Wyandotte Roosevelt on Dec 7.

Advanced Tech (0-1) meanwhile will visit Detroit Voyageur Prep on Dec 5 before beginning Detroit Metro Athletic Conference play on the road against Detroit Cesar Chavez Academy on Dec 8.

The Lakers’ next home game is tabbed for Dec 12 against another DMAC foe in Hope of Detroit Academy.

A strong fourth quarter in this one allowed the visiting Bulldogs from Robichaud to pull away for the eventual 63-46 victory over the host Griffins.

A close game early on slowly but surely became one-sided in favor of Robichaud, who was primarily led by the duo of J’von Walker and Marcus Pettway. Two of seven different Bulldogs to score in the game, that tandem combined for 38 of the Bulldogs’ points in the win.

PHOTO GALLERY: Boys Basketball – Dearborn Heights Robichaud vs Taylor High

Pettway finished with a game-high 22 points, 10 of which came in the first quarter. Walker meanwhile scored 12 of his 16 points in the second and third quarters.

It was Walker who helped Robichaud create some separation from Taylor in the second quarter, allowing the visitors to take an eight-point lead into halftime. And after both teams netted 12 points in the third, the Bulldogs went on to outscore the Griffins 22-12 in the fourth.

Daron Clay was also a key cog in that strong finish for Robichaud as he scored all six of his points in that final stanza. Clay was one of six different Bulldogs to score in the fourth.

Robichaud also got five points from Dezmond Tolliver and Malachi Moss as well as four points each from Maurice Smith and Cornelius Jenkins.

It was a bit of a slow start for Taylor, who tallied just nine points in the opening period. The end of each half was also a big difference for the Griffins, who were outscored 40-25 in the second and fourth quarters.

Nick Clements led the way for the hosts, scoring nine of his team-high 13 points after halftime. Mar’Sean Massenburg and Damari Waymer each collected 11 points, the latter doing so on a pair of made three-point baskets and 5-for-9 from the free throw line.

Taylor certainly had their opportunities to make it a closer contest early and often as they finished just 8-for-24 from the charity stripe. Robichaud meanwhile connected on seven of their 16 freebie tries.

Robichaud a season ago finished 18-7 overall, including a 11-3 mark in Western Wayne Athletic Conference, good for a second-place tie with Romulus. The Bulldogs eventually won their third straight district championship before later falling in the Division 2 regional semifinal round to Romulus Summit Academy North.

Taylor meanwhile is looking to improve on what was an up-and-down campaign a year ago when they finished 12-11 overall and tied for fourth out of nine teams in the Downriver League with an 8-8 mark. The Griffins saw their season end to DRL rival Allen Park in the D1 district semifinal round.

UP NEXT –

Taylor (0-1) now has a quick turnaround as they are scheduled to visit Dearborn Advanced Tech Academy on November 30 (7:00p). The Griffins will then host Garden City on December 4 (7:00p) before welcoming in Allen Park to open up Downriver League play on Dec 5 (7:00p).

Robichaud (1-0) meanwhile will not take the floor again for a game until Dec 5 when they hold their home opener against Detroit East English (7:00p)

Both teams came into the matchup in looking to get back into the win column after enduring recent stretches without such. It was also a prime playoff tune-up of sorts for the two squads with regionals a little more than two weeks out.

A late-season win will have to come another day for both the visiting Falcons and host Marauders after the two teams split their eight flights on Monday.

A draw is nothing new for Carlson, who coming in played to seven ties through their first 13 dual meets this fall. The Marauders were 0-4-1 in their last five meets with their last victory coming on September 9, a 5-3 win over Midland as part of a quad meet that included a 4-4 tie vs Auburn Hills Avondale and a 6-2 loss to Flushing.

Divine Child meanwhile entered Monday’s action just 2-8 on the season and having lost five straight dual meets. The four flights won on Monday vs Carlson are the Falcons’ most since collecting a 5-3 victory over Riverview Gabriel Richard in a Catholic League meet back on Sept 11.

The Monday meet between DC and Carlson was an unusual outcome that unfolded. All four singles flights went in favor of the Falcons with three of those four needing a third set to determine a winner.

And two of those three-set matches in singles were of the comeback variety.

It started in No. 1 singles when Dane Gertsen defeated Landon Angelos (5-7, 6-3, 10-8). The No. 2 singles match featured Ryan Kokkatt defeating Jase Marcott (4-6, 6-3, 10-8). Over it No. 3 singles, it was Connor Godin besting Kyle Salisbury (7-6 [3], 4-6, 10-6).

The only straight-set winner for Divine Child in the singles flights came courtesy of Greyson Nicholl, who swept his Carlson counterpart Bryce Gresham (6-3, 6-4).

Contrary to the singles portion of the meet, the doubles matches all went in favor of Carlson and all four ended in straight sets.

That success for the Marauders started in No. 1 doubles when their team of Nick Riley and Trey Fields defeated Asher Englert and Joshua Willis (6-1, 6-1). The No. 2 doubles match saw Preston Eighmey and Owen Anderson top Rhett Cicotte and Liam Fischer (6-2, 6-1).

Then it was Rory Jenson and Noaln Burgei defeating Joseph Cruciani and Finn Murray (6-3, 6-0) in No. 3 doubles. And finally over in No. 4 doubles, it was Cole Fountain and Kaidden Daddow besting Julian Richee and Peter Celani (6-0, 6-1).

UP NEXT –

Carlson is scheduled to wrap Downriver League dual meet action this week when they host Allen Park on Sept 26 before visiting Southgate Anderson on Sept 28. Both matches have a scheduled 4:00p start time.

Divine Child will hold another non-conference meet on Sept 27 when they return home to host Livonia Franklin (4:00p). The Falcons will then partake in the CHSL Championships, which take place on Sept 30 at Novi High School.

Both teams entered the matchup in need of a victory. Divine Child had dropped its last three matches while Gabriel Richard came in 0-2 on the young season.

With victories in five of the eight flights, the host Falcons were able to snap their losing skid and defeat the visiting Pioneers.

The five flight wins are the most in a dual meet for Divine Child since defeating Riverview 7-1 in their opening match of the fall season. They also improved to 1-1 in CHSL-AA Division play following a 5-3 loss to Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard last week.

The Falcons’ win on Monday came largely on the heels of their singles’ competitors, who won all four matches against their Gabriel Richard counterparts in straight sets.

It started with Dan Gertsen defeating Joey Csekei in No. 1 singles (6-1, 6-0). Then it was Ryan Kokkatt besting Sean Zaker in No. 2 singles (6-0, 6-0). The No. 3 singles flight featured Connor Godin getting the better of Austin Boggs (6-1, 6-4). And it was Greyson Nicholl topping Matt Cole (6-0, 6-1).

The only doubles match win that ultimately lifted Divine Child to an overall team victory on Monday came in the No. 2 doubles flight. That came in the form of Liam Fischer and Rhett Cicotte defeating Gabriel Richard’s Jonah Baretto and Anderson Heggie (6-3, 5-7, 10-8).

Three of the four doubles flights on Monday needed three sets to determine a winner.

The three flight wins for Gabriel Richard on Monday comes after they were shut out 8-0 in both of their first dual meets of the season, including a loss to CHSL foe West Bloomfield Frankel Jewish Academy on September 7.

Earning wins for the Pioneers included Connor Ptak and Ryan Rainey over Joshua Willis and Asher Englert in No. 1 doubles (6-3, 6-1); Brayden Woodley and Brendan Brothers over Joseph Cruciani and Brady Lipar in No. 3 doubles (0-6, 6-4, 10-7); and Sebastian deCardenas and Evan Zaker over Joseph Miller and Aidan Hass in No. 4 doubles (6-3, 4-6, 10-7).

UP NEXT –

Divine Child is scheduled to host Pontiac Notre Dame Prep on Sept 13 before resuming CHSL play on the road against Warren De La Salle on Sept 14. Both matches will begin at 4:00p.

Gabriel Richard will return to action on Sept 14 when they host Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard (4:00p).

Due to inclement weather ranging from high temperatures to excessive flooding and loss of power, some games throughout the state of Michigan this week saw their original start times pushed back on game day, if not rescheduled for the next day altogether.

Nonetheless, the local teams navigated those waters and are off and running in the 2023 season. In case you missed any of it, here is what happened with the Downriver and Dearborn area teams in Week 1:

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24 –

Southgate Anderson 29, Trenton 28 — game story / photo gallery

Brownstown Woodhaven 40, Wyandotte Roosevelt 21

Dearborn Edsel Ford 25, Lincoln Park 21 — game story / photo gallery

Carleton Airport 31, Gibraltar Carlson 10

Livonia Churchill 36, New Boston Huron 12 — photo gallery

Ida 41, Grosse Ile 7

Flat Rock 20, Dundee 19

Yale 56, Dearborn Heights Annapolis 0

Center Line 34, Melvindale 0

Dearborn Heights Robichaud 34, Detroit Old Redford 20

Macomb Dakota 42, Dearborn Fordson 13 — game story, courtesy of the Macomb Daily

Detroit Catholic Central 28, Dearborn High 7

Parma Western 21, Dearborn Divine Child 7 — photo gallery

Romulus Summit Academy 13, Saginaw Arthur Hill (United) 6 — photo gallery

FRIDAY, AUGUST 25 –

Allen Park 41, Taylor High 0 — game story / photo gallery

Belleville 35, River Rouge 28 — game gallery / photo gallery

Riverview 72, Detroit Renaissance 34

Allen Park Cabrini 28, Dearborn Advanced Tech 6 — photo gallery

Montrose 27, Riverview Gabriel Richard 15 — photo gallery

Detroit Loyola 26, Romulus 6

Detroit Comm & Media Arts 30, Melvindale Academy B&T 12

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26 –

Eastpointe 34, Dearborn Heights Crestwood 28 — photo gallery

Among those was a trio of Downriver League programs in Allen Park, Brownstown Woodhaven, and Trenton, all of whom were consistently ranked by the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association all season long. Elsewhere in the area, New Boston Huron and Dearborn Divine Child were also two season-long stalwarts in Division 2.

And despite their struggles for much of the season, Riverview Gabriel Richard battled through tough Catholic League play and remained highly regarded in Division 4 in the eyes of the coaches association.

These aforementioned programs helped make up 20 of the 21 players that were recently recognized as all-state by the MHSSCA. Two of those teams — Allen Park and Divine Child — each had five recipients.

Allen Park saw Makayla Sitarski, Kiley Carr, Avery Garden, and Molly Hool be named first-team all-state in Division 1 while Mia Hool was an honorable mention.

One would be hard-pressed to find a stronger 1-2 punch at the top of the lineup than the sophomores Carr and Sitarski, both of whom hit around .550 for a batting average. Carr out of the leadoff spot led the team with 72 hits with 32 of those going for extra bases including 21 doubles. Sitarski meanwhile racked up 66 knocks while showcasing her speed on the basepaths, stealing 30 bases.

Garden meanwhile was a steady power threat in the middle of the lineup for Allen Park, as evident by her 1.441 OPS and her team-leading 13 home runs and 33 extra-base hits. The junior also drove in 64 runs.

Sisters Molly and Mia Hool got it done with their bat and glove for Allen Park. Both posted a batting average over .400 on the season. Catcher Molly smacked 16 doubles and drove in 23 runs while the second baseman Mia had 13 extra-base hits and 37 RBI.

For Divine Child, the trio of Alexis Hansen, Katie Modrzejewski, and Jessica Nelson were named first-team all-state while Savina Olada and Isabella DePaulis were honorable mentions. All five were key cogs in leading the Falcons to their first state semifinal game appearance in five years.

Modrzejewski was for Divine Child what Carr was for Allen Park: a dynamite table-setter at the top of the order. The sophomore led the Falcons in batting average (.575), OPS (1.360), hits (65), RBI (38), runs scored (44), and stolen bases (33).

Her classmate Nelson was one of the more dynamic pitchers in the state. Nelson compiled just over 300 strikeouts and a 12-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio in 164 innings of work. Nelson oftentimes helped out her own cause too by compiling a .992 OPS.

Hansen, Olada, and DePaulis were all steady threats scattered throughout the lineup for Divine Child throughout the season.

This trio all posted an OPS around 1.000. Hansen drove in 36 runs and stole 26 bases. Olada collected 50 hits on the season and dropped down eight sacrifices. DePaulis meanwhile had 10 extra-base hits including three homers while matching Modrzejewski with 38 RBI.

Huron and Woodhaven each had three all-state representatives.

Woodhaven was ultimately led by standout pitcher Grace Usher, who helped push the Warriors to their first-ever regional championship and appearance in the state finals. The junior racked up 185 strikeouts in just over 147 innings of work, all part of a 1.42 ERA effort.

Usher was also a fixture in the Woodhaven lineup, hitting .4239 with 39 RBI.

Usher along with Grace Walker were named first-team all-state while Mia Taylor was named an honorable mention. Walker hit .548 with one home run, 16 extra-base hits, and 36 runs driven in while Taylor smacked four doubles and stolen seven bases while hitting .436 on the year.

For Huron, adding to theme of dynamic leadoff hitters is Jenna Kuzara, who is one of three honorable mention all-state recipients in D2. The junior third baseman hit over .550 at the top of the order, smacking seven homers and 21 extra-base hits while also swiping 16 bags.

Junior outfield Marissa Jackson added to that threat atop the batting order for the Chiefs. Jackson hit over .500 on the year with 12 doubles and 25 RBI.

Huron figures to be in good hands moving forward with pitcher Rylie Greggo. The sophomore hurler registered 164 strikeouts and a 1.70 ERA while holding opposing batters to a .201 batting average.

Trenton and Gabriel Richard each had two all-state recipients.

For Trenton, that comes in the form of London Williams and Gracie Rickman, two of several offensive threats for a highly-potent Trojan offense. The junior Williams hit .477 with three home runs, 30 extra-base hits, and a team-high 53 RBI while the senior Rickman hit .432 with a team-best 12 homers and 32 extra-base hits.

For Richard, it was the steady everyday production of Emerson Cinglie and Carsyn Roehrig that earned them all-state honors in D4.

Cinglie was the unquestioned leader offensively for Richard, leading the team in several categories including batting average (.405), OPS (1.049), hits (32), doubles (8), and RBI (32). The senior also shared pitching duties with the junior Roehrig as both logged just over 75 innings in the circle.

Roehrig recorded nearly two strikeouts for every inning she pitched (140 K in 75.1 IP). At the dish, Roehrig posted an .830 OPS and scored a team-high 28 runs.

Finally for Riverview, their lone all-state honoree comes in the form of Maddie Wieneke.

One of the best all-around players in the Huron League and the entire Downriver area as a whole, Wieneke helped the Pirates navigate through an always-competitive Huron League. The senior hit .500 on the year with seven homers, 40 runs batted in, and 10 stolen bases while also earning the team’s “Gold Glove” honors playing in the outfield.

A number of the teams cannabalized one another during the regular season only to see that play out in the playoffs as well. Amidst the carnage in the area and all across the state in the postseason, four local teams still managed to advance to the regional final round.

That quartet of baseball regional finalists houses five of the six area players that were recently given all-state recognition by the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association.

One school had two such recipients as Evan Langlois and Jacob Wright of Brownstown Woodhaven eached earned all-state honors in Division 1. The two were an integral part in helping the Warriors advance all the way to the D1 state championship game for the second time in program history and the first time since 2018.

Langlois was named first-team all-state. The senior and Wayne State commit was Woodhaven’s primary go-to pitcher during this season, logging 70.1 innings of work and 98 strikeouts over 14 appearances.

Langlois was also a modest threat offensively for the Warriors, hitting close to .300 with five doubles and 26 runs batted in.

Wright meanwhile was named second-team all-state by the coaches association. The primary table-setter at the top of the lineup for Woodhaven, Wright posted a .365 batting average and .966 OPS on the season, both of which paced the team. His nine doubles and 13 extra-base hits tied teammate Gary Pilgrim for the team lead.

The junior outfielder figures to be threat once more for the perennial state powers from Woodhaven in 2023. With him and Langlois earning all-state recognition, it marks the sixth straight season that a Warrior player has received such honors from the MHSBCA.

—

Half of the area all-state representatives come in Division 2 as one each from Dearborn Heights Annapolis, New Boston Huron, and Riverview.

One would be hard-pressed to be find a more important piece to a team puzzle than Annapolis’ Chad Fisher.

Fisher finished the 2023 season leading Annapolis in several offensive categories including batting average (.523), OPS (1.656), hits (45), extra-base hits (24), RBI (44), and stolen bases (18). The senior was also the Cougars’ primary hurler on the mound, tallying 99 strikeouts and an ERA just a tick over 1.00 in 55.1 innings of work.

In short, Fisher was the unquestioned catalyst in helping Annapolis earn their first district championship in baseball since 2011. Earlier this month, the standout for the Cougars signed on to play baseball at Grand Rapids Community College next year.

Elsewhere in that same region of the D2 state playoffs, Huron had another strong squad as they found themselves ranked highly by the coaches association all season long.

Helping lead the charge to the Chiefs’ third baseball district title in five seasons was Gavin ‘Muzzy’ Moczydlowsky.

One of the best arms in both the Downriver area and across the state, Muzzy went 7-1 on the season for Huron, racking up over 100 strikeouts and posting an ERA under 1.00. The senior and Michigan State signee was also a big part of a Chiefs offense that at times struggled to score with consistency.

Muzzy at the dish hit well over .400 in the batting average department, smacking 15 doubles, scoring 17 runs and drviving in 24 more. All of that on-field success led to all-conference, all-district, all-region, and all-state honors.

Muzzy and Huron seemed prime to make a deep run in the state playoffs but were ultimately halted by a Riverview team that they defeated twice during the regular season.

After securing their first district title since 2018, Riverview went on to knock off the Chiefs in the regional semifinal round and play in a regional title game for the first time since 2010. Another strong campaign for the Pirates’ program was spear-headed by senior Kolby Dorn.

A multi-sport standout at Riverview, Dorn paced the team in terms of batting average (.455) and OPS (1.137) while also tagging one home run, 11 doubles, and driving in 22 runs.

Dorn earlier this month signed on to play baseball at Concordia University in Ann Arbor next school year.

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Meanwhile in Division 3, it was another strong season for Ecorse, who captured a district title and advanced to the regional final round for the second time in as many seasons.

Headlining the Red Raiders’ resurgence on the diamond was the two-way play of Dennell Kemp Jr.

Much like Fisher was for Annapolis, Kemp was the straw that stirred the drink for Ecorse this season. The junior hit over .550 and had an OPS over 1.500 while leading the team in hits (40), runs batted in (31), and stolen bases (43).

Kemp was also part of a dynamic duo on the mound for the Raiders, nearly averaging two strikeouts per inning (65 K in 33.1 IP) while recording a 1.45 ERA.