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PBR Michigan Division 2 Team Of The Week - Carleton-Airport

CARLETON - Three wins on Saturday capped off a perfect 4-0 week for Carleton-Airport, ranked 24th in the Team Rankings, keeping the Jets unbeaten on the season through 17 games.

The victories over Whiteford, John Glenn and Annapolis also gives Airport the honor of being the Michigan Prep Baseball Report Division 2 Team of the Week.

“We’ve had good pitching,” head coach John VanWasshenova said about what has stood out with his team so far. “We have good senior leaders, and a smaller group of juniors, that have played together for a long time.”

A run to the regionals during a 24-5 campaign in 2018 has only given motivation to the Jest this year.

“We take a next-game approach, but no doubt we want to be playing our best ball then,” VanWasshenova said about tournament time. “We’d really like to play everyone in a three- or five-game series because we do have deep pitching.”

Karter Fitzpatrick has been the ace so far with Casey Jones also standing out for Airport. Fitzpatrick, a Wayne State commit, is 6-0 with a 0.40 ERA while Jones, a Northwood signee ranked 66th in the state, is 5-0 with a 0.67 ERA.

“Both are throwing it well,” the fifth-year head coach said about the right-handers Jones and Fitzpatrick, who fired a no-hitter in the win over John Glenn.

Each is among 11 seniors on the team, with Fitzpatrick playing third base and Jones first base when not on the mound. The 6-5 180-pound left-handed hitting Jones hits in the middle of the Airport lineup.

TJ Potcova, the 122nd-rated 2019 in Michigan, is a Henry Ford commit along with senior Luke Goins. Potcova, a 6-4 200-pound first baseman and pitcher, is batting .386 with three doubles and a home run while Goins, a left-handed hitting shortstop, is averaging .425.

Catcher Colin Sparks (Video), the 26th-ranked senior in the state, is another key member of the Jets.

“Colin is very solid defensively,” VanWasshenova said of the 5-10 190-pound Olney Junior College recruit. “He solidifies our pitching staff and team.”

Cody McNett, a Lourdes signee, and Steffen Dyl, a Madonna commit, are other valuable seniors for Airport, McNett a pitcher and Dyl a center fielder.

“Hopefully, our seniors know this is their last hurrah,” VanWasshenova noted. “We have a good program with a lot of pride and these seniors want to leave their mark.”

Two juniors, Cole VanWasshenova, a second baseman and the head coach’s son, and Noah Blankenship, an outfielder, are other key contributors.

“We’re solid throughout the lineup,” VanWasshenova said. “At any time we can have one of the kids have a three-hit day.”

At 7-0 in the Huron League, Airport looks to maintain the top spot this week with games against Monroe-Jefferson, Flat Rock and Huron, the second place team in the conference. A non-league doubleheader with Allen Park looms on Saturday.

“We just need to keep competing and be able to swing the bats at the right time,” VanWasshenova explained. “We’ve been pitching well and playing good defense all year, hopefully the bats will come around.”