Dearborn Divine Child’s Owen Avery sharp at Comerica Park, just like dad
Steve Avery took the mound more than 300 times in the majors, including Game 4 of the 1995 World Series — when he was the winning pitcher in the third of the Braves’ four wins over Cleveland . — and 11 times for his hometown Tigers at Comerica Park.
He knows about pressure.
But standing on the Comerica Park concourse moments before Dearborn Divine Child’s Catholic League semifinal Friday against Marine City Cardinal Mooney, he admitted he had butterflies.
Avery is an assistant coach for the the Falcons and his son Owen was pitching Friday afternoon.
“I’m sure I’ll be more nervous than I was when I was playing,” Steve said. “It will be fun, Owen’s been underneath (in the clubhouse) with me before, and we come to quite a few games so he should have a good idea of what it’s like out there, but it’s just a different feeling when you’re on a mound in a big field like this. ... It’s special.”
So too was Owen’s performance, as he dominated from the first pitch.
The Grand Valley State commit threw a complete-game shutout, allowing just five hits and two walks with 14 strikeouts in seven innings as Divine Child topped Cardinal Mooney, 3-0
The Falcons advance to the Catholic League title game and a Wednesday matchup with Macomb Lutheran North — a 3-0 winner over Royal Oak Shrine earlier Friday — at Birmingham Brother Rice.
“This is now No. 1, without question,” Owen said, discussing where the moment ranks in his baseball career. “It’s great to get out here. We never really were able to make it in the harder division, but this year we stuck to it and we got here, so it feels pretty good to help the team get the win.”
Friday marked a full-circle moment for the Averys.
Steve’s father, Ken, pitched in 48 games over two seasons (1962-63) in the Tigers’ farm system, going 28-11 with a 3.58 ERA. He would have been at Friday’s game, but his wife had knee surgery in the morning, so he streamed the game from her hospital room.
“I always like to check in with him after games,” Owen said. “I was worried (about my grandma) but I’m glad that went well and I could focus. But I always talk to him —grandpa was good back in the day, that’s where my dad got everything from, so I’m always going to listen to him.”
Steve starred for Taylor Kennedy, winning Michigan’s Mr. Baseball in 1988 before being drafted No. 3 overall that year. He then went 96-83 over an 11-year big league career, finishing up with the Tigers in 2003. After missing two years with injuries, Steve said, he probably would have called it quits if it wasn’t for the opportunity with his hometown team, which set an American League record for losses by going 49-113 that season.
“I always joke that I went 2-0 that year and batted 1.000, so it wasn’t my fault,” he laughed. “But Tigers baseball has always been a big part of my life and my family’s life.”
His oldest son, Evan, also pitched in relief at Comerica Park, back in 2012, though that game ended in a loss.
Friday was Owen’s turn, though; not only did he mow down the Cardinals on the mound, he had the biggest hit as well.
After the Falcons scored twice in the first — scoring the first on an error when Mooney pitcher Blake Lutzky tried to turn a 1-6-3 double play but threw the ball into centerfield and the second on a two-out single by second baseman Ben Corak — neither team scored in the second.
That brought up Owen to lead off the third. He sent a 325-foot flyball into the left-center gap for a sliding triple.
Two pitches later, he scored on a single by third baseman John Millen for the Falcons’ final run. Cardinal Mooney had just three runners reach scoring position, none on third.
Lutzky was solid for Cardinal Mooney as well. The junior gave up one earned run on four hits and four walks with eight strikeouts over six innings.
But Friday was about the Averys.
Steve said he loved his big-league career, with seven seasons as part of the Braves’ rotation that featured Hall of Famers such as Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz. But he also felt that donning the Old English D was every bit as special.
Still, he remembers are the days playing whiffle ball on the field with Evan before games. On Friday, he got to step back on his old field with his younger son.
“I feel a lot better now,” he said after the win. “That was awesome. He pitched like he has all year, and that’s all you want as a pitcher — to give your team a chance to win.
“I’m proud of him.”