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With 2023 now in the past, PBR Michigan is eagerly anticipating bringing the state the best high school coverage that can be found anywhere in 2024. Starting in February, we began releasing team previews for squads across the state. Ahead, we will have Preseason All-State Teams as well as the Preseason State Rankings coming your way.

To view the full list of 2024 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

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2024 Spring Team Preview: Seaholm Maples

BIRMINGHAM - The entire team that defeated Brother Rice in the district finals in 2023 returns for Seaholm and head coach John Toth understands the possibilities of what lies ahead.

“This is it,” the ninth-year head coach said. “We have a shot at doing something special.”

An impressive group of pitchers returns, led by Kyle Robbins, who fanned seven in five innings of last year’s tournament upset of Brother Rice.

“We throw nothing but strikes,” Toth said of a staff that includes Nick Shenefelt, who threw four no-hitters a year ago. Granden Kinnie is the number three pitcher for the Maples with Kai McEachern the four.

Robbins, the 12th-rated senior right-handed pitcher in the state, is an Eastern Michigan commit while Shenefelt, the sixth-ranked 2024 third baseman in Michigan, is headed to Princeton as a possible two-way player.

Kinnie is the 23rd-rated senior shortstop in the state and will anchor an infield with Shenefelt at third.

In addition to McEachern, Eamonn Kernen, the 38th-ranked 2024 RHP in Michigan, and Colton Kinnie, Granden’s twin brother, add depth to a staff.

“We truly are six deep,” noted Toth, who last year led Seaholm its first district title since winning state in 1988.

Depth on the mound is key according to the mentor of Seaholm, who led the Maples to a 27-5 record last year and an Oakland Activities Association White Division title.

“Baseball is hard getting up for every game,’ Toth explained. “If you have guys you can trot out there and throw strikes it gets everyone in the flow.”

Aidan Wolfson, a .368 hitter in 2023, is back to catch with Colton Kinnie, Louis Sullivan and Shenefelt potential first basemen. The “only spot with a question” is second base where Colton Kinnie “or someone coming up the ranks” figures to see playing time according to Toth.

Jack Lewis is slated to lead off and play center field with fellow senior Logan DeVos, an Albion signee who is the 33rd-rated 2024 outfielder in Michigan, in left. Right field will be manned by one of many possible players.

Granden Kinnie led Seaholm in batting average last year at .429 while Shenefelt batted .417, with both earning all-state honors. All district recognition in 2023 went to Lewis, who hit .409, and Colton Kinnie, a .408 batter last season.

“We have three or four newcomers we’re looking at,” Toth related. “We have a transfer and two that were on JVs that could help and there could be someone that surprises us.”

The district has changed this season with Brother Rice among those no longer in the field for the tournament which will be played at Seaholm. 

“We talked after the season last year and I think we’re going to be doing the smaller things,” Toth said. “Getting the bunt down, hit and run with the bottom of the order to roll over to the top and not making errors in critical situations. All of that will be important come tournament time. The team that makes the least mistakes usually wins.”

Toth is liking what he sees out of the 2024 edition of the Maples.

“These guys play extremely hard,” Toth said. “It took two years of me riding them very hard and now we just let them go. They hustle everything out and they play super hard. That’s the best part of this team. It’s one thing to be talented, but another to play hard and I like that.”

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