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With 2024 now in the past, Prep Baseball Michigan is eagerly anticipating bringing the state the best high school coverage that can be found anywhere in 2025. 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 2025 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

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2025 Spring Team Preview: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s

ORCHARD LAKE - The second year of stint number two at the helm has Nick DiPonio excited about what is to come for Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.

“We all know each other a whole lot better,” DiPonio explained about the transition from year one to year two in charge of a program he previously coached from 2005-2010. “We have a year of stability under our staff and our style. Those things will make this year easier. It should be a smoother start to the season.”

The Eaglets finished 25-13 a year ago, with five of the losses to Brother Rice. The Catholic Central League runners-up last season have a strong core to build around this campaign.

“We’re bringing back most of our pitchers to handle the workload, plus Jaden is back,” noted DiPonio, referring to Jaden Oliver, who was out in 2024. The 40th-rated senior right-handed pitcher in Michigan will DH, play first and third along with being a key component on a pitching staff that will feature Paul Toovalian as the ace.

“Paul is our number one going into the year,” DiPonio said of the Lenoir-Rhyne commit, the 14th-rated 2025 right-handed pitcher in Michigan. “We also expect a lot out of Jaden. If he’s a starter he’s one of our top ones, but as a reliever he can be used more than once each week.”

Central Michigan recruit Zach Essig, the third-ranked junior left-hander in the state, is “expected to take a big jump” according to DiPonio, with Luke Crighton and Hudson Brzustewicz two-way players that will be given time on the mound. The seventh-rated junior in Michigan, Crighton is an Indiana commit who will be somewhere in the middle of the field at pitcher, center field or shortstop. Brzustewicz, the 74th-ranked 2026 shortstop in the nation and No. 4 junior in Michigan, will be on the mound or at short for the Eaglets.

“He’s another guy like Jaden that’s very valuable as a position player,” DiPonio said of the Notre Dame recruit.

Anthony Elezaj, the seventh-rated senior catcher in the state who will be playing at Michigan State next year, will be behind the plate with senior Derick Conrad, Anthony Abela, Cooper O’Keefe or Essig at first. Abela is the 95th-rated junior in Michigan and O’Keefe the fifth-ranked sophomore LHP, who could see time on the mound as well.

Carter Cline, the ninth-rated 2025 second baseman in Michigan, will move from part-timer last season to full-timer at second this season. Conrad and Andrew Tribul, the second-ranked junior third baseman in the state who was an outfielder last year, are vying for time at third.

“All our position players try to be as versatile as possible,” pointed out DiPonio, who makes it known to his players that versatility is now more important than ever at the collegiate level with the roster reductions.

Crighton will anchor the outfield in center when not pitching or playing short, with Tribul and senior Wyatt Borbi, who missed last year with Tommy John, among a group of players in line to play outfield.

More pitching depth comes from Abela, the 13th-rated junior left-handed pitcher in Michigan, and senior southpaw Hunter Radze.

“Our pitching and defense are the two strongest parts of our game,” DiPonio said. “More consistent hitting is the key along with cutting down on strikeouts.”

A change in the league schedule finds one more additional doubleheader against each team, with DiPonio quickly pointing to last year’s nemesis, Brother Rice, as the team to beat.

“If you win the year before you go in as the favorite, so Rice is the favorite,” DiPonio concluded. “If we want to do anything about it we have to beat them.”

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