The 2015 baseball season will go down in history for several reasons, especially with Oakland County.
This spring will forever go down as the season where an area player was drafted in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft, a team won its third state championship in school history and first since 2003, a legendary coach who retired after 46 years and a season where multiple players earned all-state recognition.
It will definitely be a hard year to top, and to finish it off we present the 2015 All-County Baseball team.
Here is the squad, starting with the first team.
Outfielders
Nick Plummer (Sr.), Birmingham Brother Rice – Plummer had a lot of attention on him all season given he was a potential first-round draft pick going into the year, and he ultimately was taken 23rd overall by the St. Louis Cardinals in June’s Major League Baseball draft. But all the attention and scouts at his games weren’t a distraction during his final season of a four-year high school career, as evidenced by the fact he hit over. 500 with a school-record 68 runs. Plummer ended up being named Mr. Baseball and to the all-state Dream Team for a second straight season. After Plummer was drafted by the Cardinals, he signed with them for the slot value of $2,124,400 and is now playing for a rookie-league team based in Tennessee.
Nate Grys (Sr.), Madison Heights Bishop Foley – A power-hitting force for the Ventures his whole high school career, Grys finished off a terrific career by being named to the all-state Dream Team. Signed with Western Michigan, Grys batted .400 with four home runs, 37 RBI and a .667 slugging percentage for the Ventures.
“He played a pivotal role in helping Foley win state championships in 2012 and 2013 and also in winning four straight Catholic League championships,” Bishop Foley head coach Justin Robinson said. “He hits for both power and average and is easily one of the fastest players in the state.”
Christian Jaworski (Sr.), Bloomfield Hills – The most potent bat in a hard-hitting Bloomfield Hills lineup, Jaworski batted .514 and ended up setting a school record with 55 hits this season. Named second team all-state in Division 1, Jaworski also had three home runs, 39 runs and 35 RBI. He will play in college at Albion.
“He was our most consistent hitter all season and was very efficient at hitting the ball to all fields,” Bloomfield Hills head coach Frank DiVito said. “Christian improved his entire skill set up to another level which will allow him to play at the next level.”
Infielders
Matt Lerdahl (Sr.), Troy Athens – A veteran leader on an experienced Athens team that reached the state quarterfinals in Division 1, Lerdahl was named second team all-state in Division 1 after he batted .562 with nine home runs and 52 RBI. Also one of the team’s top pitchers despite battling a shoulder injury, Lerdahl won two games in the playoffs, including a 5-2 win over Rochester Adams in a regional semifinal, where he went the distance. Lerdahl will play in college at Olivet.
“Matt was one of the key reasons why our team was able to advance to the quarterfinals,” Athens head coach Mike Morris said. “Matt was a leader on and off of the field as one of our team captains.”
Perry Klemanski (Sr.), Bloomfield Hills – Signed with Western Michigan, Klemanski finished off a fine high school career by batting .417 with five home runs, two of which were grand slams, 38 RBI, 21 stolen bases and 39 runs.
“Perry has been the face of our program the last four years,” DiVito said. “I don’t know too many players that took that next step to greatness like Perry did all four years. He was a great role model for our younger players on and off the field.”
Eric Gilgenbach (Sr.), Stoney Creek – A four-year standout and one of the best to ever play in the short history of Stoney Creek, the Notre Dame-bound Gilgenbach batted an even .400 with a .568 on-base percentage, three home runs, 10 doubles, 23 RBI, 25 runs and 27 walks. Gilgenbach was also the team’s ace pitcher.
First baseman
Mitch Weber (Sr.), Rochester – Somewhat unheralded to start the season, Weber was anything but at the end of the season with a historic year. Weber finished with a single-season school record 56 hits (.505 BA) to go along with four home runs and 38 RBI. Named second team all-state in Division 1, Weber was just as great defensively, committing just one error all season.
“He was arguably the best hitter in our area,” Rochester head coach Eric Magiera said.
Pitchers
Luke Shilling (Sr.), Pontiac Notre Dame Prep – It’s hard to believe Shilling didn’t pitch until last summer, because he quickly morphed into a dominant pitcher and 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. Drafted in the 20th round by the Texas Rangers, Shilling will likely play in college at Illinois instead of signing with the Rangers.
Karl Kauffmann (Jr.), Birmingham Brother Rice – Kauffmann was out for a few weeks in the middle of the season with a minor arm injury, but he was dominant when he was on the mound in helping lead the Warriors to a fourth straight Catholic League A-B championship. Kauffmann ended up 10-1 with a .6 earned-run average and was named to the all-state Dream Team. Committed to Michigan, he will be one of the state’s best next season.
Drake Titus (Jr.), Orchard Lake St. Mary’s – The best all-around player on a St. Mary’s team that won its first Division 2 state championship since 2003, Titus was named to the all-state Dream Team after a stellar all-around season, particularly on the mound. Titus finished 12-2 with a .69 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 88 1/3 innings pitched for the Eaglets. He also was a force at the plate, leading the team in hits, runs and walks from the No. 2 spot in the lineup.
“Drake was our leader both on the field and off all year for us,” OLSM head coach Matt Petry said. “On the field, he was our leader at the plate and on the mound. Off the field, he was at every workout and held the guys accountable to each other and really helped with our team dynamic.”
Greg Loukinen (Sr.), Orchard Lake St. Mary’s – One of the state’s top left-handers and pitchers overall, Loukinen threw a five-hitter in a 4-1 win over Mt. Pleasant in the Division 2 state championship game. But he did more than just that this year, finishing 8-4 with a 1.10 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 89.1 innings pitched in being named second team all-state in Division 2.
“Greg has pitched in a lot of big games for us over the last two years and did an excellent job,” Petry said. “Greg has excellent command of three pitches and controls the running game extremely well. He gave us an opportunity to win every time out with his stuff and command. If you were going to beat him, you had to earn it by hitting the ball.”
Catcher
Malik Brown (Sr.), Birmingham Groves – It’s rare for a team’s catcher to also be its lead-off hitter, but that is how special of a player Brown was for the Falcons this season. Brown batted .352 with 36 walks and a .560 on-base percentage in that lead-off spot, was stellar defensively and used his speed to wreak havoc when he got on base. Named second team all-state in Division 1, Brown will play in college at Tiffin University.
“He has improved every year and this year was an outstanding catcher, hitter and team leader,” retiring Groves head coach Jim Crosby said. “He is one of the best catchers I have seen at blocking balls in the dirt and controlling a game.”
Utility
Chandler Sedat (Sr.), West Bloomfield – Signed with Indiana, Sedat was one of the state’s best players the past three years and was rewarded by being named second team all-state in Division 1 as a pitcher. On the mound, Sedat went 8-2 with a 1.49 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings pitched. The team’s No. 3 hitter, Sedat also batted .330 with 16 RBI.
“Chandler epitomized what a high school baseball player should be,” West Bloomfield head coach Eric Pierce said. He was a four-year starter for the Lakers as both a pitcher and an outfielder and was always a presence in the middle of the lineup. Chandler was a two-time captain and his work ethic helped to establish the current culture of West Bloomfield baseball.”
David Vinsky (Jr.), Farmington Hills Harrison – Named second team all-state in Division 1, Vinsky did just about everything right wherever he was at on the field for the Hawks. At the plate, he batted .484 with a school-record 61 hits, a school-record 16 doubles, seven triples, 33 RBI, 34 runs and 18 stolen bases. He hit .583 with runners in scoring position. On the mound, he went 4-1 with a 2.16 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 32.1 innings pitched.
“David had a great season and has had a great career thus far,” Harrison head coach Pete Lamerato said. “One of the best hitters I’ve been around who plans an excellent centerfield. Pitching-wise he was very consistent and had a great year on the mound. All around David is just a great baseball player.”
Head coach
Matt Petry, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
St. Mary’s lost a ton of players to graduation last year, but Petry and his coaching staff helped mold a junior-laden team into one that not only thrived in expanded roles, but ended up winning it all in Division 2.
Lifetime achievement award
Jim Crosby, Birmingham Groves
After over 46 years and 720 wins as a head coach, Crosby retired from coaching at the end of the season, leaving a legacy that will be hard for anyone at any school to match. Crosby was a lynchpin also for the coaches association and leaves having guided Groves to 16 league and seven district titles.
Second team
OF – Robbie Jones (Sr.), West Bloomfield; Alex Manasa (Jr.), Farmington; Mason Vaughan (Jr.), Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.
INF – Drew Boyd (Jr.), Orchard Lake St. Mary’s; Jake DePillo (Sr.), Pontiac Notre Dame Prep; Parker Murdie (Sr.), Walled Lake Western
1B – Zach Allread (Sr.), West Bloomfield
P – Jake Stout (Sr.), Rochester; Cam Miller (Jr.), Lake Orion; Mitchell Tyranski (Jr.), Birmingham Brother Rice; Weylin Frisbie (Sr.), Rochester Adams
C – Harrison Salter (Jr.), Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
U – Drake Lubin (Sr.), Walled Lake Northern; John Van Hoef (Sr.), Troy Athens
Honorable mention (in alphabetical order)
Scott Beaton, Novi Jr. SS/P; Ben Bellestri, Clarkston Everest Collegiate Sr. P; Justin Campbell, Madison Heights Bishop Foley Soph. P; Jacob Christiansen, Lake Orion Jr. OF/INF; Chase Colding, Southfield-Lathrup Sr. OF; Sam Coury, Birmingham Seaholm Sr. P; Alex Darden, North Farmington Jr. P; Dylan Dzendzel, Royal Oak Jr. P; Drake Eckert, Royal Oak Shrine Sr. INF/C/P; Mike Falter, Lake Orion Jr. INF/P/C; Davis Feldman, Birmingham Brother Rice Sr. P/INF; Trevor Friday, Farmington Hills Sr. P; Devin Hager, Walled Lake Northern Jr. INF; Miles Hardy, Lake Orion Sr. OF; Grant Hartwig, Novi Detroit Catholic Central Jr. C/P; Travis Janes, Auburn Hills Avondale Jr. OF; Mark Marrone, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep Sr. P; Will Mullen, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep Sr. P; Neiko Murphy, Troy Athens Sr. OF; Preston Pilat, Birmingham Brother Rice Jr. P/OF; Brett Pokley, Stoney Creek Jr. OF; Joey Prechtel, Rochester Adams Jr. P/OF/INF; Troy Saruna, Bloomfield Hills Jr. OF; Justin Seabolm, Rochester Adams Jr. INF; Kyle Sherman, Birmingham Groves Sr. P; Jordan Skidmore, Stoney Creek Jr. C; Bay Smart, Lake Orion Jr. C; Adam Szymanski, Lakeland Sr. P; Adam Tobias, Novi Sr. OF/P; Dante Toppi, Novi Detroit Catholic Central Jr. P; Jake Velisek, Clarkston Sr. P; Joey Vyskocil, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep Sr. INF; Tommy Williams, Farmington Hills Harrison Jr. P/1B; Connor Young, Milford Sr. P; D.J. Zezula, Clarkston Sr. P; Scott Zychowski, Walled Lake Northern Sr. P/INF (MI Prep Zone, July 5, 2015)