PBR Michigan Division 2 Team Of The Week - Mason
May 28, 2019
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PBR Michigan Division 2 Team Of The Week - Mason
The Bulldogs are currently 24-3 on the campaign and the Michigan Prep Baseball Report Division 2 Team of the Week after run-ruling the top-ranked D-4 team in the state (Portland Saint Patrick) and advancing to the Diamond Classic semifinals in their past two games.
“Aside from talent, we hit well, field well and pitch well … all the things you need to be successful,” explained Tyrrell, who was an assistant for one year at Mason prior to taking over a program that has never won a district championship.
The rookie head coach has added his own philosophy to the program.
“I have the 15 best Mason guys based on talent, but we take time for classroom time and learn what we need to bring to be successful,” Tyrrell explained. “Beyond that, we work on building team chemistry. Last year as an assistant, I saw more team bonding and team events were needed off the field in order to build on the field.”
That has translated to success this season.
“We tell them to try and stay positive, have a plan for every at-bat, have a plan as a baseball player,” Tyrrell noted. “You can win games before a pitch is thrown by being prepared. It’s been exciting to watch.”
A trio of senior captains has led the Bulldogs in 2019. Trent Stuewe is the ace of the staff and plays shortstop when not pitching, Dylan MaGee is the second baseman and number two pitcher while Sylas Woll plays center field. Stuewe is hitting .425 with 15 doubles and 28 RBIs, MaGee .433 with 34 runs scored and Woll, an Olivet College commit, .382 with 29 runs.
Stuewe, the 146th ranked 2019 in the state and a McKendree University (Illinois) signee, also has a 6-1 record as a pitcher with a 0.81 ERA, fanning 43 in a team-high 44 innings of work. MaGee, a Kalamazoo Valley Community College recruit, is 4-0 with a 1.75 ERA in 26 innings pitched.
Junior Parker Friend has also been big on the mound throwing 29 innings with a 6-0 record and a 2.79 ERA. Ethan Burt (3-2, 2.28 ERA) and Easton Rogers (4-0, 3.66 ERA) add depth to the staff.
Rogers, a junior outfielder, also leads the team in batting average at .464 while Friend, a third baseman ranked 111th in the state’s 2020 class, is at .427. Burt, an outfielder when not on the mound, is averaging .279 while twin brother Jacob Burt, a catcher, bats .344.
Junior utility player Jadian Acevedo provides a spark in the two-hole behind McGee with a .407 average and a team-high 37 runs scored.
“When those top two in our order get on base you just sit back and watch what the rest of the order can do,” Tyrrell said of McGee (13 stolen bases) and Acevedo (26 stolen bases), who have helped the team to 85 stolen bases. “They’re just game changers.”
First baseman Jackson Marlan, a sophomore, adds to a lineup that has won without hitting a home run all year.
“We’re more of a contact team,” Tyrrell explained. “We put it in play and put it in play hard.”
The Bulldogs have lost just once in the Capital Area Activities Conference, that a 1-0 eight-inning defeat to Williamston, Saturday’s possible tournament opponent. Mason, league champs two years running, is currently ranked sixth in the state in Division 2 while Williamston is eighth.
“We just need to continue to take the same approach we have all year,” Tyrrell said. “The best thing that happened to us was losing our first game. We came back and won 19 in a row before losing again. That was good for us. We came back the next day and mercied the same team (Mount Pleasant).”