Oakland County Baseball District Preview

Davison District

Winner: Davison

Explanation – Davison has the best pitching and the best hitting out of this district. Not sure if there is anything else that the Cardinal need.

U-D Jesuit District

Winner: U-D Jesuit

Explanation – It always helps to have a district on your own field, but Jesuit doesn’t need the home field advantage.  Jesuit will have no trouble here.

Warren De La Salle District

Winner: Warren Mott

Explanation – I’ve always been a believer in strong pitching is what wins in the postseason and Mott has just that in senior Lucas Ross.

Troy Athens District

Winner: Auburn Hills Avondale

Explanation – Back to the topic of pitching in the postseason, the Yellowjackets have who might be the most underrated pitcher in the state. Senior ace A.J. Susick has been dominant all season long, posting a 10-1 record and an ERA of under 1.00. It also helps that Avondale is one of the better hitting teams in the area as well.

Utica Eisenhower

Winner: Stoney Creek

Explanation – Once again, pitching wins in the postseason, and if that’s the case, the final should come down to Romeo and Stoney Creek and I’ll give the edge to Zak Northrup and Co. Nikko Gonzalez should carry the load offensively for the Cougars.

Lake Orion District

Winner: Lake Orion

Explanation – It’s been five years since the Dragons won a district and most know what else Lake Orion did in 2007, they won the state title and this year’s squad might be capable of doing just that. With Brad Schaenzer and the OC’s Randy Johnson, Nick Deeg, Lake Orion could be well on its way to a long run in the state tourney.

Lakeland District

Winner: Hartland

Explanation – It’s going to take a big time upset in this district for someone to unseat Hartland. Just too much pitching for the rest of the teams to score enough runs in order to knock off the Eagles.

Brighton District

Winner: Walled Lake Western

Explanation – Western’s Cam Vieaux has been as dominant as it gets this year, averaging almost two strikeouts per inning and holding an ERA of under 1.50. But look out for rival Walled Lake Central who has shown that it can beat the Warriors.

Southfield-Lathrup District

Winner: Birmingham Brother Rice

Explanation – The biggest argument against the Warriors this year has been their youth. So what? Talent is what wins and Brother Rice has tons of it. With Brothers Mike and Matt Ruppenthal taking care of the pitching duties, teams are going to need more than a little bit of luck to score multiple runs against the Warriors.

North Farmington District

Winner: North Farmington

Explanation – This was probably the hardest district to predict, but North Farmington looks like a team ready for a playoff run. It won’t be easy as the Raiders will take on Farmington on Tuesday, then Catholic Central and likely Novi in the final, but North Farmington might be able to squeak by in the end.

Livonia Ladywood District

Winner: Dearborn Divine Child

Explanation – The only team that might have gotten an easier draw than Divine Child might be U-D Jesuit.

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep District

Winner: Bloomfield Hills Andover

Explanation – Andover can do it all, whether it’s hitting or pitching, the Barons have one of the best squads from top to bottom. There isn’t a team in this district that can match Andover’s pitching staff and that will be the difference next week.

Warren Fitzgerald District

Winner: Ferndale

Explanation – Saturday’s district final should come down to Ferndale and Madison Heights Lamphere, and Ferndale has what Lamphere doesn’t: experience. That will be what makes the difference for Ferndale.

New Haven District

Winner: Madison Heights Bishop Foley

Explanation – Does there really need to be an explanation? The Ventures are back and better than ever in a year where many expected them to have to rebuild. Brian Bayliss has been as good of an ace as any this year and the Ventures are dominating opposing pitching this year.

Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes District

Winner: Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest

Explanation – Lutheran Northwest continues to dominate this district with some of the best pitching and hitting from top to bottom. Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes will challenge the Crusaders, but in the end, Lutheran Northwest will move on to regionals once again.

Southfield Christian District

Winner: Novi Franklin Road Christian

Explanation – Franklin Road Christian is quickly becoming of the state’s top powers in Division 4. But what separates it from the rest of the schools is the fact that this squad has a couple of eighth graders to fill out its roster. Look out for junior Nick Harris who can flat out hit, as he’s hitting over .500 this year.