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2022 Michigan High School Team Previews

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2022 Spring Team Preview: Buchanan

BUCHANAN - The past six seasons Buchanan has won conference and district championships. The Bucks and head coach Jim Brawley are hoping to continue that trend in 2022 after losing just four seniors from a 34-3 team a year ago.

“The three teams we lost to were all in the state Final Four games,” the fourth-year head coach said in reference to Stevensville Lakeshore, Portage Central and University Liggett, teams the Bucks lost to by a combined four runs.

Two first-inning runs proved to be the downfall in the Division 3 state semifinals a year ago when Liggett defeated Buchanan 2-0 en route to a state championship. Brawley has high hopes his squad can be a contender again this time around.

“The key for us to have another good season is everyone staying healthy and executing on the small things to win close games,” noted Brawley, whose biggest concern entering the year is depth.

But the strengths far out way any weaknesses for Brawley, who points to pitching, catching and defense as the backbone of this season’s squad, which lost four seniors to graduation in pitcher Jack Branch, outfielders Deagan Hoffman and Keeghan Pelley along with first baseman Levi Zelmer.

Matthew Hoover, who pitched in the state semifinal game a year ago, is back to lead the pitching staff after earning first-team all-state recognition in 2021. A Western Michigan commit, the 19th-rated senior right-handed pitcher in the state, will also bat third and play shortstop or second base when not on the hill.

Drew Glavin gives the Bucks another first-team all-state player back from a year ago after leading Buchanan in runs scored while hitting better than .400. Last season’s leadoff hitter will play second base and outfield.

More pitching help comes from Macoy West, an honorable mention all-state selection in 2021 who is committed to Lansing Community College. The 6-4 205-pounder, who hit a team-high three home runs a year ago, will play center field in addition to pitch.

Murphy Wegner, the 38th-ranked senior catcher in Michigan, returns behind the plate this season for Buchanan. An all-regional player a year ago, the Albion College signee will bat in the middle of the lineup after starting every game in 2021.

Cade Preissing is also back to boost the Bucks even more up the middle. An all-district and all-conference player last season, the 13th-rated junior shortstop in Michigan is expected to bat first or second this year while playing short or second.

“They all get along very well,” Brawley said about what he likes with this year’s Buchanan squad. “They root for each other, they help each other, and they want to see everyone succeed. We also have strong senior leadership.”

Contributions from others are expected to come from senior Hunter Carrington (first base and pitcher) and Connor Legault (third base and pitcher). Sophomore Nick Finn and Paul VanOverberghe are also looking to help the cause in the outfield this year for a program that won the Class C state title in 1985 and was runner-up in Class C in 1981 and 1982 and in Division 3 in 2015.

“We do have an extremely difficult schedule this year (Portage Central, Detroit Catholic Central, Stevensville-Lakeshore, Mattawan, Portage Northern) in order for us to be well-tested before the tournament starts,” added Brawley, whose 2021 team outscored the opposition 41-4 in winning their first five postseason games, recording three shutouts, before falling in the state semifinals.

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