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Division 1 Team Of The Week: Week 5 - Portage Central

PORTAGE - A 6-0 week moved Portage Central’s winning streak to 19 games and season record to 22-2. It also has the Mustangs earning recognition as the Prep Baseball Report Division 1 Team of the Week.

“I feel we have a tremendous senior class that provides a great deal of leadership, not just in statistics but in practice and off the field,” pointed out head coach Cory DeGroote, whose squad beat Battle Creek Lakeview 9-1 and 9-8, St. Joseph 8-2 and 6-0, Rockford 6-4 and Walled Lake Northern 5-4 last week. “Our pitching has been solid all year. Gavin (Brasosky) is our horse, but we have had some positive contributions from a lot of arms this year and that has been huge. This past week we had to overcome some adversity in just about every game, whether it was some bad errors that cost us or coming from behind in the last inning. But the kids didn't get rattled nor panic, they just trusted each other and the process.”

Admittedly, Degroote had high expectations heading into the year.

“I felt going into this season, if we stayed healthy we had a legitimate chance to get to East Lansing,” DeGroote pointed out. “Our conference is as tough as any and I knew there would be some great teams that we would face this year that would give us a good gauge of where we are at. That has definitely been the case. I think our conference has represented itself really well every year in the postseason and that is indicative of the coaching and the players we have in the SMAC.”

Portage Central certainly has talend led by a trio of Division I commits - Luke Leto, Zach MacDonald and Brasosky. Leto is a commit to LSU ranked 12th in the country among senior shortstops, while MacDonald is the third-rated senior outfielder in Michigan headed to play at Miami of Ohio. Brasosky, the fourth-ranked 2021 left-handed pitcher in the state, is a Tennessee commit. Those three along with Nick Ford, the sixth-rated senior first baseman in Michigan, have produced big numbers hitting one through four.

“The top of our lineup has been tremendous all season,” noted DeGroote. “Luke sets the table and is a monster for us at the top and Zach has put up some amazing numbers. His power to all fields has been a sight to see. Nick Ford in the three-hole is just a grinder and hits the ball hard everytime up. Gavin is just doing his thing in the four-hole and providing some power and RBIs for us.”

But there are others that have helped make Portage Central what it is this season.

“Catcher Kobe Mason, without him, we are not where we are at,” DeGroote said. “We had both of our catchers decide not to play this year and he stepped in and has been amazing behind the plate for us. He’s a great kid who is tough as nails. Cole Mason at second base is a kid to keep an eye on. He’s a great athlete who can play all nine positions. He runs well with a great arm.

“Will Juday has emerged as our number two arm and is getting better every outing,” DeGroote added. “He’s just learning what he can do and is really stepping up for us.”

The third-year head coach at Central is more than happy with how the team is performing.

“I wouldn't say I have been surprised by anything but more impressed by how these young men have come out and played after not having a season last year,” pointed out DeGroote. “We have a lot of kids we didn't know much about and needed to see them play. The kids have bought in and believe in each other and established their role. Our leaders are leading and the rest of the team is doing their role in helping the team be successful.”

But it does not get easier with cross-town rival Portage Northern ahead on Thursday and Coldwater Saturday.

“It’s important for our guys to stay within yourself and do your job to the best of your ability,” DeGroote explained. “Pitching and defense win the big games in the postseason. We need to follow that game plan really well.

“We've pitched it pretty darn good and our defense has made plays when we needed to. We need to execute the ‘special teams’ of baseball,” DeGroote added, referring to the bunt game, 1/3 defense and controlling the run game. “We must have productive at-bats, not give ABs away and find ways to get men on base. As Augie Garrido used to say, it’s the team who can get the most men on base that wins games, not who gets the most hits.”

Helping the cause this year is the return to the coaching staff of Paul Schneider, who led Central to the 2002 state title.

“I was able to get Paul to come out and coach with me this year and it has been tremendous,” pointed out DeGroote, who also had high praise for assistants Greg Nawrocki and Paul Laurencig. “We as a staff have the best baseball coaching chemistry I have ever had. They care so much for the kids, they are great teachers and are excellent game managers. There are no egos, just four guys wanting to give these kids the best experience they can have.”

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