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2022 Michigan High School Team Previews

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2022 Spring Team Preview: Dexter

DEXTER - Mike Penn did not mince words when assessing the upcoming baseball season at Dexter.

“We’re going to be good,” the head coach of the Dreadnaughts said. “We’re not on many radars now, but we’re hoping to surprise people.”

With a dozen players returning, including the top three pitchers from a 25-win team a year ago, it is no wonder the confidence of Penn.

Brennan Parachek, a 6-8 230-pound Michigan State football commit as a tight end, was 4-1 with a 1.00 ERA a year ago, fanning 62 and walking 20 and is back to pitch. Another junior, Wyatt Novara, the top-rated 2023 left-handed pitcher in the state and a Michigan commit, also returns along with Cameron Rosen, a Wayne State signee and the 25th-ranked senior RHP in Michigan.

Cole Arnedt, the 53rd-rated senior shortstop in the state, also pitched some last year in addition to playing infield and brings depth on the mound as does senior right-hander Ethan Hochendoner, a Lawrence Tech recruit.

“We have some good arms that we think can get it done, that’s our highest upside,” Penn said. “I also like the way this team works. They enjoy being around each other. They like baseball, for the most it’s baseball first and other sports second. These are multi-sport athletes, but baseball means a lot to this group.

“They get there early and stay late, which is fun for me,” Penn continued. “This group is just a lot of fun to coach. They know when it’s time to grind and when to be loose to enjoy each other.”

The outfield features speed in senior center fielder Braeden Fuson and junior right fielder Joey Tessmer, who hit .350 with 13 stolen bases last season.

Sophomore Bennett Davis, who batted .317 playing second base a year ago, will play middle infield or third base.

“We have a lot of kids that are versatile in our infield,’ Penn noted.  “We have guys that can move from infield to outfield, we have athletes to do that. It’s fun, but challenging.”

Trine commit Drew Basso is the new catcher for Dexter, one of the positions that will feature a non-returning starter for a team who must also replace third baseman Kevin Krolewski, who is now playing baseball at Oakland.

“Early on we’ll shuffle our lineup and see what works best,” explained Penn, whose team a year ago finished 25-9-2. “I’m not worried about our pitching but I'm worried about consistently scoring. We need to show we can hit consistently. Whoever hits, can play.”

A switch from the White Division to Red Division in Southeastern Conference play will bring more challenges being part of the bigger-school division.

“This is our first time doing this so it will be different for us,” Penn said. “I think we’re the smallest school on that side.”

It will give Dexter an early look at what might lie ahead in tournament play with Saline, Bedford and Pioneer.

“Those are three perennial powerhouses, not only in our league but in the state,” Penn said. “Saline is always tough and we have a good tradition against them. Saline is the team to beat for us both in the league and districts.”

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