This certainly isn’t the first time in his more than 20 years as head baseball coach at Romeo that T.J. Delamielleure has had quality pitchers at his disposal.
But this year’s pitching staff so far has stood out in one way.
“I’ve had a pretty good 1-2 punch before,” Delamielleure said. “But I have three (starters) who are pretty good.”
Indeed, Romeo has three aces who would be No. 1 starters on most teams who have helped carry the team to a 21-6 start and a No. 6 state ranking in Division 1.
Those three stalwarts on the mound have been seniors Nick Kaminski (4-0, 41 strikeouts in 25 innings, 1.40 ERA) and Anthony Gergely (4-1, 37 strikeouts in 29 innings, 1.91 ERA), and sophomore Mason Pilotto (4-0, 43 strikeouts in 25 innings, 1.91 ERA).
Senior Mitch Michalowski also has provided quality innings as a starter, while in relief, Romeo also has senior Drew Blankenship, junior Connor McGrath, senior Josh Lochbiler and sophomore Geno Bidler to come in and close games out if needed.
By season’s end, it could end up being the deepest pitching staff Delamielleure has had.
“We still have a healthy amount of the season left, but this staff ranks right up there,” he said.
Romeo isn’t a slouch when hitting, either.
Kaminski (.450 average, 10 doubles, 30 RBIs) is a four-year varsity player who is the team’s No. 4 hitter, junior center fielder Troy Smith (.400 avereage, four doubles, three triples, 25 RBIs) has been a sparkplug at the top of the order and saved runs defensively tracking balls down in the outfield, while Blankenship and fellow seniors Brody Meier (.400 average), Michalowski, Lochbiler, Sammy Nepa, Joey Nepa and Paul Cadena have made important contributions.
With such balance Romeo can certainly be a threat to be a factor in the state tournament, where it will be in a district with New Baltimore Anchor Bay, Port Huron, Port Huron Northern and Utica Eisenhower.
The farthest Romeo has gotten under Delamielleure came in 2019, when Romeo suffered a 14-inning loss to Birmingham Brother Rice.
The last two years, Romeo has taken good teams into the district round, but were stymied both times by Anchor Bay ace pitcher Tyler Finkbeiner. The good news for Romeo this year is Finkbeiner has graduated and is pitching for Michigan.
“Getting knocked out earlier than we want to adds a little fuel to the fire,” Delamielleure said. “I think this group is really motivated to make a run in the postseason.”
But before worrying about the state tournament, Romeo will gear up this week for a big series in the Macomb Area Conference Red Division.
Romeo will have a three-game series against defending Division 1 state runner-up Macomb Dakota, with single games at Dakota on Monday and Thursday and at Romeo on Tuesday.
Romeo enters with an 11-1 league record, while Dakota is 10-2.
In addition to pitching, Romeo also has been buoyed by playing home games this year on a gleaming new turf field that has allowed for fewer games than usual to be canceled.
“I thought we had a lot of talent and thought we could have a pretty good season,” Delamielleure said of expectations going into the season. “I’m happy with how hard they’ve worked and bringing it into reality.”
Baseball renaissance in Troy
Last week was a neat week for a community that’s normally a soccer hotbed, but has seen some good high school baseball this spring in Troy.
Rivals Troy and Troy Athens, who have each spent time in the Division 1 state rankings this year, played a terrific three-game series where each game was decided by a run.
For now, Troy got the bragging rights, winning two out of three and claiming the Oakland Activities Association White Division crown.
“We were able to take two out of three and they took the last game on a walk-off hit,” Troy head coach Joe D’Orazio said. “Both teams are playing well right now.”
It was the third straight league title for Troy, which finished 10-2 in the league, is 16-8 and was No. 16 in the state rankings in last week’s poll.
Each team hopes a fourth matchup is forthcoming in the state tournament, since both will be in a district hosted by Troy that will also include Auburn Hills Avondale, Utica and Utica Ford.
If Troy and Athens hook up again, it would be in the district final. Athens is 18-5 on the season.
“It would be a tough test has a rivalry game for a district championship,” D’Orazio said. “But we hope to get there. That’s the first thing.”
Troy has been led senior catcher Gabe Geisner, a four-year varsity player who has signed with Wayne State, and senior ace Jack Sobotka (0.50 ERA), a three-year varsity player.
Sophomores Henry Otterbacher and Owen Savage are each hitting .390 and have thrived in expanded roles on varsity.
While Troy has had success in the league recently, D’Orazio said it’s “been a while” since the team won a district title.
“We’re hoping to change that,” he said.
Woodhaven stays hot, avenges loss to rival Allen Park
There has been no drop-off so far this spring at Woodhaven, the Division 1 state runner-up in both 2018 and 2023, which is once again one of the state’s best.
Ranked No. 4 in the state rankings, Woodhaven is 24-3 after reeling off 11 straight wins. The biggest of those wins might have come Thursday, when Woodhaven earned a 6-5 win over No. 18 Allen Park in a Downriver League showdown.
Allen Park handed Woodhaven one of its three losses on April 16, and the two teams went back-and-forth before Woodhaven pulled out the rematch behind 3⅓ scoreless innings of relief from junior Lucas Farner, who also went 2-5 with an RBI and two runs at the plate.
Woodhaven sits atop the Downriver League with a 12-1 record.
The two teams could very well see each other again early in the state tournament, given they will be paired in the same district at Southgate Anderson.
Catholic League Central Division tournament pairings set
There has been no better league this spring than the Catholic League Central Division, which this week will play its league tournament before each team gets two weeks to transition back to full-time four-ball, three-strike play.
The quarterfinals are Tuesday, with U-D Jesuit playing at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, Warren De La Salle playing at Detroit Catholic Central, Toledo Central Catholic playing at Birmingham Brother Rice and Toledo St. Francis de Sales playing at Toledo St. John’s.
Semifinal games will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday at Detroit Catholic Central, with the final scheduled for 1 p.m. on Thursday at Catholic right after the semifinal games.
Ranked No. 2 in the state in Division 2, St. Mary’s tuned up for the league tournament on Saturday by playing a doubleheader at Rochester Adams, ranked No. 1 most of the year in Division 1.
St. Mary’s won the first game 8-3 and was leading the second game 7-1 before it was suspended by rain in the fifth inning.
St. Mary’s has won 14 consecutive games.
Keith Dunlap is a freelance writer.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Metro Detroit high school baseball notebook: Romeo deep with aces
Reporting by Keith Dunlap, Special to The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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