June is nearing, which means two things for the Seaholm baseball team: Higher temperatures and higher stakes.
The baseball team, who is currently ranked #8 in Oakland County, is 12-0 in conference play and clinched a championship in the OAA South division, sitting atop the conference with a three game lead and only one more game to go.
With one title locked up, Coach Don Watchowski’s team has no time to rest on their laurels as they open MHSAA tournament play on May 26th at Southfield Lathrup high school.
Three games will be the magic number if this team, led by ace pitcher Tyler Haggerson, wants to move on to regional play and become the first Maple squad to win a district title in 9 years.
In game one, the team will need to get past a 5-5 Lathrup team that beat Seaholm and ended their season a year ago, leaving last year’s seniors with an unexpected and heartbreaking end to their high school baseball careers.
This team will be hungry for some payback, and I don’t envision Lathrup knocking out Seaholm for the second year in a row.
If the Maple’s move on, they will face a West Bloomfield team that has struggled throughout the season, holding a 5-10(3-6) record and are currently ranked seventh in the OAA South.
Once again, the Maples will be favored to advance, but this is where things get tough.
If this team makes it to the District Final, Brother Rice will await them.
The defending state-champion Warriors are led by Matt Conway, who was recently named the Michigan High School Athlete of the Year at The Dodge National Athletic Awards ceremony.
Currently ranked first in Oakland County, Coach Bob Riker’s team will be a difficult team to beat, but looking past a Maple team that is hungry and playing well could end up disasterous. But for Seaholm, this could be the biggest baseball win in nearly a decade.
It’s a safe bet to say that, in a title game, both teams will pitch their ace: That means Conway for Rice, and Haggerson for Seaholm.
In a one loss format, anything can happen, and I would project a low-scoring championship game if these teams meet.
One thing is for sure though , all the pressure would be on Rice.
Bottom line: The longer the game stays close, the more I would pick the Maples in this one. If this team can make the Warriors start to feel some heat in the late innings, then it is conceivable that this team could shock the State and crack the defending State Champions form Brother Rice.
This team has a chance to knock off a giant. And make history.
