Orchard Lake — Orchard Lake St. Mary’s head baseball coach Nick DiPonio knows what a luxury it is to have a tandem like seniors Luke Crighton and Hudson Brzustewicz.
Not only are both returning all-state Dream Team players from last year, but both display the versatility that college coaches love with how many positions each can play.
“The high-level players in today’s game, you’re seeing more and more versatility from those guys,” DiPonio said. “They not only understand it, but they realize the value that it has for their current team and the value it has for them going forward into collegiate baseball.”
That should be on display this spring for a St. Mary’s team that should be among the best in the area and a state title contender in Division 2.
DiPonio said Crighton, an Indiana signee, has played seven different positions in his high school career. The only ones he hasn’t played are first base and catcher, but DiPonio doesn’t underestimate him with those positions either.
“I think he could play those positions if we had to,” DiPonio said. “The colleges, they want guys who can play multiple positions. It just gives them more flexibility with smaller rosters.”
Brzustewicz, who has signed with Notre Dame, also plays all over the field, whether it’s at first base, any of the infield positions, as a corner outfielder and as a pitcher.
The great thing about Crighton and Brzustewicz is that they not only can play all over the field, but produce big numbers no matter where they are playing.
The team’s ace pitcher last year, Crighton had a 1.88 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 51.1 innings pitched. Offensively, he batted .405 with 44 runs and 15 stolen bases.
Brzustewicz swings a big bat from the left side, finishing last year hitting close to .400 with nine home runs and 50 RBI. He also contributed 26 innings on the mound and will be an important part of the St. Mary’s pitching rotation this spring.
“It’s a continuation of the growth of the program in terms of getting quality kids, quality students and also really good baseball players,” DiPonio said of Crighton and Brzustewicz.
The rest of the top 20 players
3. Drake Roa, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Sr., INF/P — Might end up being the best player in school history by the time he is done. Committed to Michigan, Roa made the Dream Team last year after batting .464 with 46 runs, 30 RBI and 30 stolen bases.
4. Broder Katke, Birmingham Brother Rice, Jr., C — Committed to national powerhouse Vanderbilt, Katke is one of the country’s top high school catchers in his grade. He can also hit, being named a Dream Team player last year after batting .374 with 39 RBI.
5. Koltyn Watters, Rochester Adams, Soph., OF — Made the Dream Team last year as a freshman after batting .535. Was recently named the No. 8 high school draft prospect in the Class of 2028 by Baseball America.
6. Cole Duhaime, Birmingham Brother Rice, Sr., P — Signed with Virginia, the left-hander should be on the short list of top aces this fall. Started in the Division 1 state championship game two years ago as a sophomore.
7. Ethan Armstrong, Garden City, Sr., P — Hard-throwing righty who can touch the mid-90s with his fastball, Armstrong should help put Garden City on the state’s map this spring. He has committed to Michigan.
8. Dylan Fairchild, Detroit Catholic Central, Sr., SS — Might be the area’s best leadoff hitter. Signed with Cincinnati, Fairchild batted over .330 last year.
9. Jack Manzella, Fraser, Sr., P — Signed with Michigan State, Manzella threw two no-hitters last year and went 5-0 with a 1.42 ERA in almost 40 innings pitched.
10. Andrew Mahoney, Detroit Catholic Central, Sr., P — Entering his fourth year on varsity, Mahoney is a lefty who should be the ace for Catholic Central. He complied a 5-2 record and a 1.47 ERA last year.
11. Matt Toeppner, Rochester Adams, Sr., OF — Named first team all-state Division 1 after batting .436 with 25 RBI and 39 runs last year. He has signed with Michigan State.
12. Bennett Thompson, Detroit Catholic Central, Sr., INF/C — A switch-hitter who batted .340 a year ago, Thompson has signed with Michigan State and will be entering his fourth year on varsity.
13. Henry Ewles, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Sr., P/1B — Could be one of the better all-around players in the state this spring after being named first team all-state in Division 2 last year. Signed with Miami (Ohio), the left-hander had a 1.28 ERA on the mound and batted .420 with 40 RBI.
14. Tristan Turner, Birmingham Brother Rice, Sr., INF — Look for the Western Michigan signee to have a big senior year hitting in the top part of the order. Batted .410 with 40 RBI, 27 runs and 18 stolen bases last year.
15. Andrew Tribul, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, Sr., INF/OF — The Michigan State-signee should be one of the better hitters in the Catholic League. Batted .331 with 41 RBI last season.
16. Boden Bishop, Lakeland, Sr., OF/P — Versatile performer and a productive hitter from the left side, Bishop is a terrific athlete who had a good season for the football team in the fall. He has signed with Western Michigan.
17. Dylan Luepke, Warren De La Salle, Sr., P — A right-hander who could be one of the better arms in a competitive Catholic League Central division. Signed with Western Michigan, Luepke lost just one game last year.
18. Noah Banas, New Boston Huron, Sr., INF — Was named first team all-state in Division 2 last year after hitting .510. He should produce big numbers again in a loaded New Boston Huron lineup. He has signed with Saginaw Valley State.
19. Xan Scheinfield, Birmingham Groves, Sr., P — A left-hander who can throw in the low 90s, Scheinfeld has signed with Michigan State.
20. James Nuechterlein, Macomb Dakota, Sr., P — Dakota lost a lot to graduation, but it does return this ace who has signed with Wayne State. Went 8-0 with a .361 ERA last season.
Keith Dunlap is a freelance writer.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Top high school baseball players preview: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s duo a tough 1-2 punch
Reporting by Keith Dunlap, Special to The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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