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2022 Michigan High School Team Previews

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2022 Spring Team Preview: Royal Oak Shrine

ROYAL OAK - With seven district championships in 10 years, head coach Dan Noble is looking for Royal Oak Shrine Catholic to take the next step in 2022.

“We lost two seniors who were very productive, but the bulk of last year’s team were juniors with one or two sophomores. But right now we have a few health issues.”

If that can be alleviated, the Knights could make a run at their first state berth in 20 years.

“We’ve had good success over the years, we just ran into Liggett in the regional finals a few times,” the 12th-year mentor said.

This year will be different, however, with Royal Oak Shrine dropping to Division 4.

“We were one of the smallest D-3 schools last year and now we’re one of the biggest D-4 schools,” pointed out Noble, whose 2021 team run-ruled their first three tournament opponents before losing to eventual Final Four participant Richmond in the regional semifinals. “But the team to beat in our league is Mooney. They’re one of the best in the state and we’ve developed a nice rivalry with them.”

Depth on the mound is a strength with this year’s squad, with 13 of the 14 rostered players able to pitch.

“One big question mark is the health of our top pitcher Stephen Ruhle,” Noble said about the 6-5 215-pounder senior, the 24th-ranked 2022 right-handed pitcher in the state who fanned 76 in 48.1 innings with a 1.88 ERA last season, recording a 6-5 record with one loss a 1-0 defeat against Liggett. “When he’s right, he’s really good.”

Owen Pullis, a 6-4 left-hander who was 6-0 with a 1.76 ERA, striking out 50 and walking 11 in 39 innings, is another returnee on the mound who will also play right field.

Senior Drew Comer is another two-way player who was 3-0 with a 2.74 ERA as a pitcher last season while averaging .370 with 31 RBIs and nine doubles as the cleanup hitter.

Senior Marty Hannon is back for his fourth year as the starter at shortstop and this year will hit second or third in the batting order. Hannon, a career .400-plus hitter, averaged .420 with 10 doubles and three triples while driving in 32 as a junior.

Another senior, Gus Simon, is penciled in to catch after an outstanding season a year ago when he struck out just twice while batting .423 with nine doubles and 26 stolen bases.

“He would be our best defender at seven of nine spots on the field,” Noble said of Simon, who will lead off or bat second this year. “He’s very fast and very athletic. He has some college offers.”

Noble has high hopes when it comes to following up last year’s 27-8 campaign that included a second place finish in the Catholic League Cardinal Division behind Mooney.

“There are a lot of things to like about this team,” Noble explained. “This is a team nine, 10, 11 deep and even guys after that are quality baseball players. We have a lot of three- and four-year starters so we have experience. They play throughout the summer and know what we do and expect. I really like their level of experience and baseball IQ.

“But I worry about injuries,” Noble continued. “Defense is another worry. We only lost two guys from last year but one was very versatile. We’re going to have to move guys around. I think we’re capable of that, but we have to prove it.”

So can Royal Oak Shrine make a run at state this year?

“Our expectations are pretty high,” Noble admitted. “We’ve formed a good rivalry with Mooney over the years and want to end up on top of that matchup. Our districts we could and should win, so our expectations are high. It’s a matter of going out and performing.”

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