Spring has sprung, and so has the final season of Maple athletics for the school year.
The baseball team will be looking to rebound from a sub-par 16-19 record last spring, but still posted a respectable winning of 5-4 in OAA games.
Plagued by a barrage of early season struggles, including four seniors packing their bags for the season, the lack of experience may have cost the Maples in tight, hard-fought early season losses to Utica, Royal Oak, and Shrine.
Junior Bill Getschman, while noticing the impact, will not be making any excuses.
“I mean, obviously we didn’t want anyone one to quit, but after they did, we just tried to keep working hard and focus on the team that we do have.”
Well, baseball season is starting again, and there is already a noticeable absence from the roster, senior Dan Meredith.
Meredith, who was the team MVP last year, elected to play on the varsity golf team this spring instead of lacing up his cleats for another season the diamond.
The date worth noticing on the schedule is Tuesday, April 14, when juggernaut Brother Rice comes to Maple Field for a double header.
This double header will be a great indicator of whether or not this team has what it takes to hang with some of the best competition that Michigan has to offer.
The girl’s tennis team will be eyeing a high finish at States, coming off a top-4 finish just a year ago.
Girls Coach Keith Bernacki believes he has a gifted team despite some inexperience.
“I think this team is extremely talented,” said Bernacki. “That being said, we also have six freshmen this year, so there will be some adjustment for our younger players in competing at this level. Most importantly it will be about getting the girls to really buy into what we are teaching at practice.”
The boys lacrosse team started their season with a 14-3 shellacking of Clarkston.
Matt Roden was the star of the game, finding the back of the net four times, while Michael Smock nipped at Roden’s heels with three goals of his own of his own.
Unfortunately, Jeff Martin’s team was unable to sustain ant momentum from the win, following up the Clarkston game with a 12-11 loss to U of D Jesuit and a 10-6 defeat at the hands off Catholic Central.
Matt Roden, who scored four goals against Clarkston and three against U of D Jesuit, believes in his team.
“We have a really talented team,” said Roden. “I think we could go really far and have a chance of winning states, which would be sweet if we did.”
With a talented young team they will be looking to build on their daunting reputation this Spring, but with a pair of early season losses, they will have their work cut out for them.
And last but certainly not least are the two-time defending state champions, Jen Dunbar’s Birmingham Unified Girls Lacrosse team.
With a target on their backs, the Maples opened the season by routing the visiting River Rats from Huron high with a 14-4 victory.
Unable to complete an Ann Arbor sweep, BU suffered a 14-12 loss at the hands off Ann Arbor Pioneer.
This spring will be an exciting season, and I will do my best to capture that in my column, but I need your help.
If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas for the column, feel free to blast an e-mail to DForeman@ seaholmhighlander. com, and I promise to respond in my next column.
