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Division 4 Team Of The Week: Week 3 - Kalamazoo Christian

KALAMAZOO - Kalamazoo Christian head coach Jim Deters understands a tough schedule is beneficial in the long run.

With four wins in their last five games, the Comets now have an 8-5 record and are primed for a tournament run in another month.

“Playing these games we become a better team, rather than schedule a D-4 team we beat up pretty well,” explained Deters, whose Comets are the Prep Baseball Report Division 4 Team of the Week. “We schedule games that make us better. We either make the plays or deal with the consequences.”

Schoolcraft and Coloma are the most recent victims against a Kalamazoo Christian squad that is senior laden in 2021.

“We have eight seniors which is a big senior class for us,” Deters noted. “They’ve been solid and all get a lot of playing time.”

There is also one characteristic that has stood out thus far according to the fifth-year mentor.

“It’s a team that feels it’s never out of it,” explained Deters. “An example is Schoolcraft had us down 6-2 after a four-run third inning but we came back and scored 14 in the bottom of the inning.”

Kyle Koning, a four-year varsity player, is the leader of a team that has only two Division 4 opponents on the schedule. The Calvin commit, a first baseman and pitcher, is batting .600 with 14 RBIs at the plate while standing 2-0 with a 1.27 ERA on the mond.

“He pitched in big games for us as a freshman and hit in big spots as a sophomore,” Deters said of the 6-2 225-pound right-hander.

Wyatt Steensma, an Alma recruit, is another two-way standout hitting .419 out of the leadoff position in the order while logging 15 innings on the hill. A second baseman, the senior has six stolen bases.

Another senior producing this season is Roscoe Wallace, a right fielder averaging .429 while also seeing time as a pitcher.

Underclassmen have also contributed with junior Jake McClure second on the team in innings pitched with a 2-1 record.

“Some of the junior pitchers that didn’t get to play last year have been a pleasant surprise the way they’ve developed after not playing for two years,” Deters related. “They’ve done a nice job attacking the strike zone.”

The hope is JJ Manion might add to the pitching depth by season’s end after making major contributions to date as a middle infielder averaging .333 hitting out of the two-hole.

“He’s our best defender,” Deters pointed out about the 10th-ranked sophomore shortstop in Michigan.

Seven years ago Kalamazoo Christian made its furthest run ever in the postseason, advancing to the state semifinals in 2014. The hope is this year’s squad might be able to be another from the school to make a strong tournament showing.

“Playing team offense will be a key,” Deters explained. “We need to move guys when we can move guys. We have a lot that can hit the ball on the barrel, but we need to play team offense. We need to get a bunt down when we need a bunt down.”

There is more Deters sees as important come tourney time.

“We can’t beat ourselves with walks,” Deters said. “If our defense is solid and we don’t give up free bases and make the other teams string hits, we’ll be a tough out.”

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