Follow on Twitter- @PrepBaseballM
Follow on Instagram- @pbrmichigan

If you are a coach and haven't filled out your 2022 Team Preview, click here.

2022 Michigan High School Team Previews

• To view our complete list, please CLICK HERE.

2022 Spring Team Preview: Stevensville Lakeshore

STEVENSVILLE - Last season Stevensville Lakeshore advanced all the way to the Division 2 state championship game before losing to Orchard Lake St. Mary’s. With three freshmen and four sophomores in the starting lineup in 2021, the  upcoming season brings plenty of promise.

“On paper, people assume we’re going to be one of the top teams, but even though we made it to the finals we’re not to their level,” explained Lakeshore head coach Mark Nate. “There are so many pros and cons, we just have to get better. If we all can just get a little bit better every week, that’s what it’s going to take. But we still have to get out of districts and it’s a hard road.”

Still, the potential for success is strong.

“I’m happy with what we have coming back but it’s so tough in baseball,” Nate said. “You’ve got to get lucky and have some breaks. Our schedule is really strong and we could just be a .500 team, but our schedule will prepare us for the postseason.”

Junior Zach Warren, who threw a no-hitter against Gladwin in an 8-0 state semifinal victory a year ago, will be the pitching ace, bat third and play shortstop when not on the mound.

“We’ll build our team around him,”  Nate said of the 10th-rated 2023 shortstop in Michigan.

Sophomore Noah Chase will be the number two pitcher this season after getting the start in the state finals as a freshman, allowing five earned runs in 3.2 innings against one of the top teams in the country.

“We’re looking for big things out of our one-two pitchers,” Nate said.

Center fielder Trevor Griffiths returns and the left-handed hitting junior will again bat leadoff with senior two-hole batter Ryan Kolessar, the leading hitter on last year’s team, another valuable returnee.

Another key component is sophomore Alec Wojahn, the seventh-ranked 2024 catcher in the state.

“We have a lot of experience back but none are D-I (college material) yet,” Nate related.

As with any coach, there are a few concerns.

“Replacing a senior third baseman/pitcher will be tough,” Nate said. “We have one kid fighting for that spot that played part-time last season. Other than that, the biggest worries are not letting anyone sneak up on us and not taking anything for granted.”

The hope is that last year’s success proves beneficial this time around.

“The kids understand what it takes,” Nate noted. “Back in 2017 we won it and in 2018 we won it back-to back. Nerves were way down and there was no intimidation factor. I hope the same thing happens this year. If we get beat, it’s not because we’re nervous or beat ourselves.

“Hopefully last year’s run will allow us to let it all hang out and play. I hope it makes us more of a mature team.”

Nate sees a lot to like in this season’s team as the start of the season nears.

“They work hard and they don’t slack,” Nate said. “They love the weight room and the workouts. Maybe the biggest thing about this team is we’re too excited.”

Recent Articles