No team has ever repeated at Division 1/Class A state champions in the history of Michigan high school baseball.
Just moments after his team won the title last June, someone asked Coach Andy Schramek if his team could break that streak.
It might have been too early to ask the question at that point, but it was still a valid one.
The Dragons open the 2008 season as the team to beat, and for good reason.
‘We’ve had excellent pitching staffs over the years, but I don’t know that anybody is going to be able to throw out the consistency of arms that we have,? Schramek said. ‘There’s potentially three Division I college pitchers on our staff.?
Josh Deeg, Connor Mielock, Mike Musary, Jeff Chattaway, and Derrick Berrimann are all seniors that will see time on the mound, and the list goes on from there.
‘My biggest concern coming into the season was how we were going to make up for the middle of our diamond, losing Joe (Barnes), Ross (Tonyan) and Jake (Gaudard),? Schramek said of his graduated second baseman, shortstop and catcher. ‘I’ve been pleasantly surprised in the way we’ve had several people step up.?
Among them are Vinnie Booker and Andy Moiser, a pair of sophomores, at catcher. The middle infield positions will be anchored by a combination of Deeg, Chris Lum, Chris Baumann and Matt Fish.
‘We have lots of options, but it’s just going to make us deeper, and stronger,? Schramek said.
Eric Knoblock and Chattaway will see time at third and first base, respectively, with Moiser likely to see time at first as well.
The outfield is loaded with Mielock and Deeg set to share centerfield duties. Corner outfielders Brandon Riggsbee and Musary return from last year’s squad, with Branden Oaks and Drew Ordakowski in the mix for some time, too.
Schramek’s batting order will look similar to last year, with Deeg, Riggsbee and Mielock slated in the first three slots. Chattaway, Musary, Lum and Knoblock will typically hit in the middle of the order, with some spots still to be determined after that.
‘Baseball is a game where stats don’t lie,? Schramek said. ‘We’re going to have nine players that are going to step up and play very well. We’ll see how things play out.?
In league action, Schramek said West Bloomfield (who LO beat in the quarterfinals last season) and Rochester Adams (who moves up from the OAA II, but has a pair of strong pitchers) will be near the top of the standings.
Farmington (who lost in the state final) and Troy (the defending league champ) have both lost key pieces of their teams, but should remain formidable. Royal Oak and Clarkston round out what Schramek believes is easily the best league in the state.
The Dragons will host district action at the end of May.