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 By Andy Pascoe
Michigan Scouting Director

We look to bring the state of Michigan top-notch high school coverage throughout the entire state.

We will have the 2016 Scout Blog, Spotlight Games, Inside the Recruitment Articles, Unsigned Senior Spotlights, The Recruiting Trail, All-State Selections, Full Coverage of the MHSAA State Tournament as well as numerous other articles throughout the spring.

To view the Preseason All-State Selections, click below:
+ Division 1
+ Division 2
+ Division 3/4

To view the Team Power Rankings, click below:
+ Division 1
+ Division 2
+ Division 3/4

To view the full list of 2016 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

For insider information and scouting notes from the PBR staff during the 2016 spring season visit the 2016 Michigan Scout Blog by clicking here.

Interested in attending a PBR Michigan event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

PBR Michigan Spotlight Game: Traverse City West vs Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern

Traverse CIty - Traverse City West continued it’s hot start to the season as it swept a pair of non-conference games Saturday against Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, 7-4 and 11-2.

Game 1

After a 1-2-3 inning to start off the top half of the first inning, Traverse City West got on the board in the home half after two straight hits to leadoff the inning.

2016 RHP/OF Keegan Kenny blooped a single into right then 2016 OF Nick Brzezinski laid down an excellent base hit bunt down the third base line.

Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern starter, 2017 3B/RHP James Ruotsala, got the next two hitters to fly out to centerfield before giving up an RBI single to 2016 RHP/3B Jake Newhouse, his counterpart on the mound.

TC West added another run in the bottom of the third as 2017 OF Gavin Garmhausen led the inning off with a double, and moved to third after a single by 2016 C Alex Strickland. Ruotsala loaded the bases by walking Newhouse, then induced a 4-6-3 double play to plate Garmhausen.

Forest Hills Northern got in the board in the fifth inning as 2016 OF/C Quinton O’Connor hit a homerun down the left field line on the first pitch of the inning. TC West responded in the home half with two runs highlighted by Brzezinski’s two stolen bases following a leadoff walk.

After TC West brought in 2016 SS/RHP Reid Bailey to relieve Newhouse after five strong innings, Forest Hills Northern scratched three runs across.

2017 C Michael Gumbko led-off the inning with a single, followed by a single by 2017 INF Jack Martin. A fielder’s choice followed by a passed ball and two singles, the latter being a 2 RBI single by 2016 INF Evan Macauley, led to the three runs to tie the ball game at 4-4.

TC West was able to respond with three runs in the home half of the sixth inning and Bailey was able to shut the door in the seventh inning for the victory.

Player of the Game - Jake Newhouse: 1-for-2, 1 BB, 3 RBI; 5 IP, 2 K, 1 BB, 1 R

Game 2

Forest Hills Northern came out of the gate to score two runs in the top of the first inning.

2017 Sam Schellenberg led off the inning with a walk, moved to second on a sac bunt, later scoring on a single by 2016 INF/OF Bryce Fraser.

Fraser then stole second and scored after an error by the leftfielder.

TC West responded with seven runs in the home half of the first as Kenny led off the inning by reaching on an error, Brzezinski was hit by a pitch and then West recorded five singles and a walk to help bring those runs across.

TC West starter 2019 LHP Brendan Pierce settled in after a rough first to give the Titans five strong innings, racking up three strikeouts.

TC West was able to push four runs across in the home half of the fourth inning behind a leadoff walk, three straight singles, another walk and an error.

2016 RHP Brett Hines came in for the final two innings to rack up a pair of strikeouts and shut the door on game 2 and help lead TC West to a 10-0 start to the season.

Player of the Game - Jake Newhouse: 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI