Boys boast a strong list of contenders to collect a trophy
While it seems like the district lineups — which used to be so rarely changed — are constantly in flux every baseball offseason nowadays, what's been a constant has been Oakland County getting a haul of teams through to the next round, and — eventually — on to Michigan State's McLane Stadium.
Orchard Lake St. Mary's unbeaten season a year ago gave the county a 14th state title in baseball in the 24 seasons since the MHSAA went to divisions, and the Eaglets are certainly a contender to win their fourth straight state title.
There are a handful of others, too, as well as a boatload of teams that could go home with hardware next weekend, as the postseason opens with pre-district games on Tuesday, and district semifinals and finals on either Friday or Saturday.
From there, it's on to regionals and quarterfinals next week, and the culmination of the season with semifinals and finals on June 15-17.
Here's a look at how we think this week's districts might play out:
District 11
Host: Brighton
Teams: South Lyon East, Brighton, No. 18 Howell, No. 15 Hartland, South Lyon
The rundown: While the two South Lyon schools had very different seasons in the Lakes Valley Conference — with the Lions contending into the final week of the regular season, and the Cougars struggling — the Livingston County contingent from the old Kensington Valley Conference footprint were all contenders in the powerhouse KLAA West Division. Brighton was fourth, Howell third and Hartland second, making it to the KLAA title game before losing to No. 1 Northville. The Lions have had a good season, but this is a gauntlet. Pick: Hartland
District 16
Host: Livonia Stevenson Teams: Detroit Catholic Central, Farmington, North Farmington, Novi, Livonia Stevenson
The rundown: While the two Farmington schools struggled this season, Stevenson was third in the KLAA's East Division, but the odds on favorites have to be the two schools from Novi. The Wildcats have a deep pitching staff, centered around a pair of aces, and are battle-tested in the KLAA West, but it's hard to say that they've faced any tougher gauntlet than the Shamrocks from Catholic Central in the CHSL Central.
Pick: Novi
District 22
Host: Royal Oak
Teams: Royal Oak, Sterling Heights, Berkley, Warren Mott, Warren Cousino
The rundown: The Ravens already have a pre-district win over Sterling Heights, and get a rematch with Berkley in the district semifinals, pitting the two teams that finished atop the OAA Blue standings. The Bears won the regular-season series, 2-1, but all three games were competitive. The two remaining MAC Gold teams — Mott and Cousino — finished on opposite ends of the division standings, so it's likely that the Patriots will be awaiting the RO-Berkley winner in the finals.
Pick: Berkley
District 24
Host: Brother Rice (at Warrior Park)
Teams: No. 9 Birmingham Seaholm, Southfield A&T, Birmingham Groves, No. 4 Brother Rice
The rundown: The Maples have had a magical season, with a 19-game winning streak, an OAA White title and a couple of no-hitters by Nick Shenefelt, and they would be a favorite to win the vast majority of districts in the state. Most districts don't have a Brother Rice in it (playing on its home field). Seaholm adding to its list of superlatives is possible, if its ace spins another gem in the title game, but … it ain't gonna be easy.
Pick: Brother Rice
District 27
Host: Romeo
Teams: Rochester, Romeo,
No. 13 Rochester Adams, Stoney Creek, Utica Eisenhower
The rundown: It probably can't be termed the ‘Battle of Rochester Hills' if it's not played *IN* Rochester Hills, but … yeah, that's what it is. The Falcons of Rochester already got past Romeo in extra innings in the predistrict game, earning them a rematch with cross-town rival Adams in the district semifinals. While the Highlanders won the OAA Red title, they had to salvage a 7-5 win in Game 3 of their series against Rochester to avoid a sweep — and don't think the indignity of losing the season series to a rival won't be on their mind in Friday's rematch. Stoney Creek and Eisenhower both finished near the bottom of the standings in their respective divisions, but the Cougars' pitching staff kept them in games all season, and certainly could pull an upset, if someone expends all its energy in the semifinals.
Pick: Adams
District 28
Host: Auburn Hills Avondale
Teams: Avondale, Troy Athens, Troy, Bloomfield Hills, Utica
The rundown: Utica was a non-factor in the MAC White race, but all of the Oakland County teams had good-but-not-great regular seasons. Avondale was near the top of the OAA Blue standings, while its pre-district opponent, Athens, finished in a pack with Troy and Bloomfield Hills behind Seaholm in the OAA White. Troy won the season series against rival Athens, and split (1-1-1) with Bloomfield Hills, but if there's one thing that first-year coach Greg Fettes knows how to do, it's win in the postseason.
Pick: Troy
District 29
Host: West Bloomfield Teams: Waterford Mott, No. 3 Orchard Lake St. Mary's, Waterford Kettering, No. 14 West Bloomfield, Lake Orion
The rundown: The host Lakers proved they belonged after bumping up to the OAA Red, and finishing either tied for second or third (pending a makeup Tuesday against Rochester), including a series win against second-place Lake Orion. In most districts, one of those two would be the favorite, but this one includes West Bloomfield's neighbor up Orchard Lake Road, St. Mary's, the defending champ. While OLSM's state record win streak did eventually end mid-season, proving they CAN be beaten, the Eaglets are hardly a pushover, and still have to be considered the favorite in any postseason game, until someone eventually knocks them off in June.
Pick: OLSM
District 30
Host: Lakeland
Teams: Milford, Walled Lake Central, No. 8 Lakeland, Walled Lake Northern, Walled Lake Western
The rundown: While the host Eagles are still the ONLY baseball champion that the Lakes Valley Conference has ever known, winning their fifth straight LVC crown — and seventh straight conference/divisional title overall — this season, that hasn't always translated to the postseason — something that their district opponents and rivals are quick to point out, much to the chagrin of the Eagles. Each of the Walled Lake schools took at least one game from the Eagles in the regular season, as well (Western took three), but the Eagles' No. 1 and 1-A of Caden Glennie and Brandon Lengers is a tough combo to beat, and the Eagles are the defending district champs, as well.
Pick: Lakeland
District 31
Host: Oxford
Teams: Fenton, Holly, Oxford, Clarkston, Grand Blanc
The rundown: A pre-district game between backyard rivals Fenton and Holly will decide which Flint Metro League team continues on to Saturday, taking on tourney host Oxford in what feels more like a regional than they old district lineups. While Grand Blanc isn't the same squad that won the 2021 state title, the Bobcats still finished third in the Saginaw Valley League, and will take on the fourth-place team in the OAA Red, Clarkston, in the other semifinal. The Wolves led the Red at one point, after winning their first four league series, but lost their final two, and went 4-8 down the stretch, but they still have the ability to beat anyone in the field, if they get things squared around again.
Pick: Clarkston
District 57
Host: Hazel Park
Teams: Eastpointe, Center Line, Hazel Park, Warren Fitzgerald, Madison Heights Lamphere
The rundown: Eastpointe struggled, but Center Line, Fitzgerald and Hazel Park all had winning records, finishing in the middle of the pack in the MAC Silver. Lamphere, though, finished a game out in the MAC Gold, and should be capable of handing any challenge this district presents.
Pick: Lamphere
District 60
Host: Goodrich
Teams: Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, Ortonville Brandon, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Detroit Country Day, Goodrich
The rundown: The two teams in Tuesday's pre-district — Brandon and Cranbrook — struggled at times in their league races this season, while Notre Dame Prep (14-11) had a winning season against a stiff independent schedule, and Goodrich was a contender in the Flint Metro Stars Division, taking third. But the Yellowjackets of Country Day (22-5-1) have the most talent on paper in this district.
Pick: Country Day
District 92
Host: Madison Heights Bishop Foley
Teams: Clawson, Foley, Madison Heights Madison, Clinton Twp. Clintondale
The rundown: Clintondale should have no problem with Madison in Saturday's second district semifinal, advancing to the district title game, but the real championship game may be the first semi, with CHSL Intersectional co-champ Bishop Foley and MAC Silver champion Clawson facing off.
Pick: Clawson
District 125
Host: Sterling Heights
Parkway Christian
Teams: New Haven Merritt, Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest, No. 16 Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, Parkway, No. 6 Marine City Cardinal Mooney
The rundown: While the MIAC contingent in this district could certainly contend, the odds-on favorite has to be the Catholic League's Cardinal Division champion, Cardinal Mooney.
Pick: Mooney.
District 126 District 128
Host: Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes
Teams: Clarkston Everest Collegiate, No. 17 Royal Oak Shrine, Southfield Christian, Birmingham Roeper, WOLL
The rundown: Our Lady of the Lakes won a share of the CHSL's Intersectional Division, ahead of Shrine, and those two could meet again in Saturday's second semifinal, if the Knights get past a pre-district game against Everest on Tuesday. The winner of that semifinal will be the odds-on favorite to win the big trophy.
Pick: WOLL
Host: Plymouth Christian Teams: Westland Huron Valley Lutheran, Lutheran Westland, Novi Christian, Whitmore Lake, No. 2 Plymouth Christian
The rundown: Another district where the semifinal — this time MIAC rivals Whitmore Lake and Plymouth Christian — could decide the title. Plymouth Christian swept the Trojans in the regular season, relatively handily, making the Eagles the favorites.
Pick: Plymouth Christian