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 By Andy Pascoe
Michigan Scouting Director

We look to bring the state of Michigan top-notch high school coverage throughout the entire state.

We will have the 2016 Scout Blog, Spotlight Games, Inside the Recruitment Articles, Unsigned Senior Spotlights, The Recruiting Trail, All-State Selections, Full Coverage of the MHSAA State Tournament as well as numerous other articles throughout the spring.

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+ Division 1
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+ Division 3/4

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+ Division 1
+ Division 2
+ Division 3/4

To view the full list of 2016 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

For insider information and scouting notes from the PBR staff during the 2016 spring season visit the 2016 Michigan Scout Blog by clicking here.

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PBR Michigan Spotlight Game: #6 Rockford vs Holland West Ottawa

Rockford - Tuesday’s OK Red Conference doubleheader between Rockford, ranked #6 in Division 1, and Holland West Ottawa was dominated by Rockford’s pitching staff as they won 7-0 and 1-0.

Game 1

After trading shutout innings in the first that saw Rockford starter 2016 RHP/SS Jack Weisenburger, a Michigan commit, strike out 2 while stranding a runner and Holland West Ottawa starter 2017 RHP Joe Sigler strand two runners, Rockford was able to get on the board in the home half of the second inning as a leadoff error came around to score on a single by 2016 2B Nolan Bryant.

Holland West Ottawa was able to put a runner on in the third inning as 2016 MIF Trevor Fairfield singled with two outs but could not scratch a run across. Rockford came back in the bottom half of the third inning and got a leadoff walk from three-hole hitter 2016 OF/LHP Bryce Kelley, a Michigan State commit, and then a one-out walk to 2018 3B Khale Showers. 2016 1B Grant Erbes drove in Kelley from second with a single to put Rockford up 2-0.

West Ottawa was able to get a leadoff single to start the fifth inning from 2018 3B Tucker Fritz and two walks as Weisenburger struggled with his command, but the Michigan commit was able to get an inning ending flyout without giving up a run. In the bottom half of the fifth, Rockford was able to score two runs as Kelley singled with one out and scored as Weisenburger followed him up with an RBI double. After a single by Showers moved him to third, Weisenburger scampered home as Showers was picked off at first base.

Rockford tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on RBI singles by Bryant and Showers. After striking out the leadoff hitter in the top of the seventh and walking the second hitter, Weisenburger was lifted after 6.1 innings, scattering five hits, seven strikeouts and four walks. 2018 RHP Logan Lee came in relief for Rockford and after walking the first hitter he faced, he got a double play on a line drive to end the game.

Player of the Game: Nolan Bryant - 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 R

Game 2

Tuesday’s nightcap matched-up two left-handed pitchers as Rockford’s 2016 LHP Brock Weston faced off against Holland West Ottawa’s 2018 LHP/CF Tyler Bosma.

After a quick first inning, West Ottawa was able to get two runners on in the top half of the second inning but a pickoff eliminated this threat.

West Ottawa was able to get two more runners on in the top of the third, but Weston was able to strand both runners to keep the score knotted at 0-0.

After Bosma got a strikeout to end the third inning and strand a Rockford runner, West Ottawa and Rockford continued to trade shutout innings until the bottom of the fifth inning when 2016 Jacob McNamara singled and got to third base on a single by 2016 Nick Ignatoski. 2016 OF Hunter Novak proceeded to lay down an excellent suicide squeeze bunt to drive in the game’s only run.

This was all Weston needed as he stranded a runner in both the sixth and seventh inning to preserve the 1-0 victory for #6 Rockford, as he went the distance while scattering five hits and three walks while striking out one batter.

Player of the Game: Brock Weston - 7 IP, 1 K, 3 BB, 5 H, 0 R