Prep Baseball Report

2020 Scout Day Spotlight: Northern Michigan Dogmen


Bruce Hefflinger
PBR Michigan Senior Writer

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2020 Scout Day Spotlight: Northern Michigan Dogmen

This is part of a series of stories on summer baseball organizations that "partner" with Prep Baseball Report. The PBR Scout Day is scheduled for Feb. 9.

Organization Name: Northern Michigan Dogmen Baseball
Year organization started: 2015
How many current teams and what levels (15u, 16u, etc):
We have teams from 11U through 17U plus a College Summer Team that plays under the Northern Michigan Dogmen Organization.
Influential coaches past and present:
Coach John Bush Jr., Coach Joe Williams, Coach Brian Stinger, Coach Scott Hewitt, Coach Al Aown

Top Prospects 

  • Caleb Williams 2021 Cheboygan High School
  • Keegan Spomer 2020 Alpena High School
  • Jacob Stempky 2020 Cheboygan High School
  • Aaron Bess 2022 Boyne City High School
  • Jacob Bush 2022 Boyne City High School
  • Kaden Jewett 2022 Boyne City High School
  • Henry Stempky 2023 Cheboygan High School
  • Mathew Thompson 2022 Alpena High School

Notable Alumni 

  • Nick Aown - Playing for the U.S Naval Academy
  • Bruzz Copping - Playing for Delta College
  • Corbyn Wilhelm - Olivet College
  • Caleb Roberts - Muskegon C.C
  • Koby Shumaker - Alma College

Goals/Philosophy 

The Northern Michigan Dogmen Baseball coaches are committed to providing a positive environment for young men who aspire to play at the high school/collegiate level within the framework of competition and to prepare players for the future. 

Northern Michigan Dogmen Baseball’s primary role is to provide player growth, development, and to be perceived as a “premier elite” high caliber, highly competitive baseball organization that competes at the highest level possible. 

Northern Michigan Dogmen Baseball are committed to maintaining a foundation based on teamwork, goodwill, developing relations on the field and in the community, hard work, and ethics with the goal to develop the players in baseball as well as life and to prepare players for the future.

An additional concurrent goal will be to compete at showcased tournaments with PBR for collegiate baseball scouts. Our level of competition will provide for the player to obtain this goal, and to further develop the player’s skills and ability.

How has the program grown?

The Northern Michigan Dogmen baseball program continues to reach new heights each year.

The Boyne City-based baseball training and travel organization focuses on preparing athletes for the next level of their careers, whether that is moving to the high school ranks or to the collegiate level.

It’s been four years since the program began, and the growth has steadily increased each year with some participants moving on to the next level and some of the younger athletes finding their way on varsity programs across northern Michigan.

The program serves 11U through 17U along with a college summer team. The program started out with just three teams and roughly 40 kids participating, with those numbers growing to five teams and around 70 kids last year. This year the program will take on nine teams of around 150 athletes.

The program serves players from areas such as Boyne City, Charlevoix, Cadillac, Cheboygan, Petoskey and other surrounding areas, and is also an avenue to aid them in the recruiting process. It is led by John Bush Jr., a former collegiate baseball player and high level fast-pitch player.

Key accomplishments 

Northern Michigan Dogmen played in USSSA tournaments along with the collegiate tournaments in 2019. The 16U team played six tournaments making it through to the championship game at all six. The 15U team also played six tournaments with the same accomplishments. At all levels within the program, the Dogmen teams had winning records.

How has PBR been helpful?

As an organization, we are looking for better ways to help our athletes fulfill their dreams of playing collegiately. PBR has established itself as the preeminent leader in Michigan for promoting amateur baseball players. So, PBR has provided comprehensive year-round coverage and exposure for all our players and connected us to college programs across the country.

Plans ahead 

Northern Michigan Dogmen Baseball is continuously looking to innovate and provide elite instruction to all our athletes. As we look to the future, our goal is to offer the most high-end development program offered in northern Michigan. We will be playing all our tournaments with PBR this summer.