OLSM beats Catholic Central in CHSL semifinals

DETROIT » A Little League grand slam in a big-league park provided all the offense.

But it was a big-time performance from a guy who looks very much like a future big-leaguer that brought it home.

Very likely a first-round pick in the upcoming Major League Baseball draft, Brock Porter tossed a no-hitter at Comerica Park on Friday, striking out 16, as No. 1-ranked Orchard Lake St. Mary’s beat Novi Detroit Catholic Central, 4-0, in the CHSL Bishop Division semifinals.

What was the first thing he did after?

Sign some autographs for a group of kids at the end of the dugout, as he’d promised them before the game.

“I think it’s just it’s pretty cool to just go out there and know they look up to me and I hope to just do my best and be the person that they look up to,” said Porter, a Clemson commit who was ranked as a top-10 pick in the latest mock draft on MLB.com. “It’s pretty amazing. You know, I’d never really thought I’d ever do this. But it’s my life. And I think it’s pretty cool that you know, kids want to share the game.”

Keeping that pregame promise is just part of what makes Porter special — over and above the talent in his right arm.

“Yeah, he’s awesome. He’s special. He comes from a great family. And, you know, he’s been a part of everything at St. Mary’s, from being a student council president, and he’s on the MHSAA Student Advisory Council,” OLSM coach Matt Petry said. “I think people recognize just the type of kid he is. Obviously, you know, if they were asking for autographs before the game, he had to prepare for a start, but him going over there afterwards, because he knows that’s the future of the game. And those kids want to be in his shoes one day, and for him to go back over there was pretty special.”

With the win, OLSM (32-0) advances to the CHSL finals at Brother Rice’s Warrior Park in Troy next Wednesday, where they’ll face the host Warriors (208), who beat Grosse Pointe Woods