This summer will be an exciting one for Lake Orion resident Nate Recknagel; not only is he a recently graduated Lake Orion High School senior, but he has also been chosen by the Detroit Tigers baseball organization to play in their annual high school all-star game, during the annual Negro League weekend in July.
Recknagel, son of Karen and Dennis Recknagel of Lake Orion, said he was surprised to learn he had been picked to join a group of about 30 of the top high school players from across the state.
‘I found out in May,? he said. ‘The Tigers sent a letter to school. I actually got the letter in class, I had no idea.?
Recknagel said he believed pro and college scouts had helped the Tigers make the selections. The second-annual all-star game will be on July 30 at Comerica Park. Recknagel said he already knows most of the players that will be his teammates and opponents.
‘Most of them are players from my summer team, or I’ve played against them since I was 12 or 13 years old,? he said.
Recknagel got his first introduction to the game as a young T-ball player at the age of five. He said friends and family encouraged him to start playing.
‘My dad used to play baseball in high school,? he said. ‘Most of my family plays.?
Recknagel is proud of the fact that he never missed a year of playing baseball.
‘I fell in love with it,? said Recknagel, a four-year player on the varsity baseball team at Lake Orion High School. He has also played on the varsity basketball and football teams, serving as quarterback for the Dragons.
He said he likes baseball best because of how demanding the sport is.
‘It’s very demanding physically and mentally,? he said. ‘It takes a certain type of person to play baseball.?
Recknagel watches a lot of professional baseball, but has trouble narrowing it down to a favorite team. He admires former LOHS varsity player, and now professional player, Ryan Goleski.
‘I look up to him,? he said. ‘I would like to go to the pros. I want to be the next guy like Ryan.?
Recknagel will begin that quest, post high school, as a member of the baseball team at Oakland University, where he received a scholarship. He plans to study criminal justice.
‘I’ll miss high school baseball,? he said. ‘I’ll miss all those guys. It’ll be hard to let go.?
Recknagel said he will also miss the coaching staff, in particular Lake Orion varsity head coach Andy Schramek.
‘He’s probably one of the greatest coaches in the state,? he said.