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BASEBALL: 2013 StateChamps Diamond Prevew – Part 2: The Players (seniors edition)

By: Scott Burnstein, April 13, 2013, 10:00 am

Top seniors on the state’s high school diamond in 2013 (alphabetical order)

Keegan Akin (Bullock Creek LHP) – “Sleeper special” lefty ace. Signed with Michigan State

Brett Adcock (Bay City Western LHP) – Sensational southpaw on the mound, displays an array of baffling pitches when he takes the hill. Signed with Michigan State

Walter Borkovitch (Traverse City West RHP) – Power pitcher with few equals in the mitten. Signed with Michigan State

Carmen Benedetti (Grosse Pointe South 1B/LHP) – Pure hitter with as sweet a swing as they come, no question a Top 5 player in the state and will be a candidate for Mr. Baseball. Signed with Michigan

Colton Bradley (Gull Lake SS) – Savvy, leader-type with a stick that’s equally quick as his glove. Signed with Central Michigan

Nick Bredeson (Bloomfield Hills Andover C) – The top defensive catcher in the state’s senior class. Signed with Ohio

Jacob Britt (Tecumseh OF) – Has all the right moves in the outfield and at the dish. Signed with Toledo

B.J. Butler (Mattawan OF) – One of the most lethal outfielders in the state, no flaws in his artillery of skills. Signed with Ball State

C.J. Clouse (Grand Ledge OF) – One of the most lethal outfielders in the state, no flaws in his artillery of skills. Signed with Davenport

Nick Deeg (Lake Orion LHP) – Imposing lefty-handed fire-baller on the pitching rubber that can also do significant damage with the bat in his hands. Louisville Slugger taps him the top pitcher in the state’s senior class and the its only preseason All-American selection. Signed with Central Michigan

Connor Fannon (GPW University Liggett RHP) – Best small-school hurler in the state that helped propel his club to a state crown as a super soph in 2011, showing his poise and a penchant for delivering in the clutch. After seeing limited action last year due to health issues, Fannon is once again ready to start fanning opposing batters in 2013. Signed with Oakland University

Robert Greenman (Hudsonville C) – Stalwart behind the plate, who calls a superior game and can get the job done with the metal in his hands, too. Signed with Central Michigan

Hector Gutierrez (Detroit Western SS) – This Latino gem has ‘star’ written all over him, will be the most feared player in the PSL for the second year in a row. He is a difficult out at the plate and could be the top fielder in the state, having not committed an error in two years. Signed with Michigan

Jordan Kesson (Hartland OF/IF) – Possibly the most complete player in the state, not going top-tier D1. Signed with Toledo  

Jackson Lamb (Temperance Bedford LHP/CF) – Arguably the state’s top overall player, destroys everything in his path from both the bump and the batter’s box. Natural athlete that could be going to play high-level D1 basketball if he had so desired, finishing his prep career on the hardwood a three-year all-state selection. Signed with Michigan

Jake Lowery (Hartland RHP) – Hard-throwing, steely-eyed hurler that lives for the heat of battle. Signed with Michigan State

Dakota Mekkes (Jenison RHP) – High upside at the next level, can do a little bit of everything when throwing from the rubber. Signed with Michigan State

Grant Miller (Bay City Western SS) – Can hold down the middle of the infield with the best in this class. Signed with Western Michigan

Connor Mohr (Farmington CF) – A “five-tool” stud all the way. Mohr does everything on the baseball diamond really, really well and is gritty as they come. Signed with Michigan State

Johnny Nate (Stevensville Lakeshore SS) – Makes a strong argument for himself for being the best shortstop in the state. Signed with Michigan State

Tyler Palm (Ogemaw Heights RHP) – Big-time D1 pitching prospect that is going mid-major with a shot at being a future ace at the college level. Signed with Oakland

Andrew Sabrosky (Holt RHP/OF) – One of the Top 5 pitchers and Top 5 overall players in the state Signed with Michigan State

Cole Schaefer (Portage Central RHP) – This underrated pitcher might be the “steal” of this recruiting class. Signed with Coastal Carolina

Luke Scharich (Bay City John Glenn LHP) – Workmanlike lefty on the mound who has improved every year in high school and has the tools to exceed heavily at the next level .  Signed with Oakland

Nate Schneider (Portage Central SS/2B) – Razor-sharp glove and fundamentally-sound swing gives this hot prospect all the goods. Signed with Western Michigan

Sterling Sharp (North Farmington RHP) – Lean, mean and lanky mound presence for the Raiders, sporting a lightning bolt of an arm. Signed with Eastern Michigan

 T.J. Shook (U-D Jesuit RHP) – Crafty and cold-blooded toeing the slab, isn’t easily shaken in pressure-filled situations on the mound, despite the name.  Signed with Michigan

Sam Shutes (Three Rivers RHP) – Pitching prospect with an ironclad work ethic that is viewed with “high potential” heading towards the college mound. Signed with Toledo  

Johnny Slater (Southfield-Lathrup CF) – Athletic and smart, with a keen eye at the dish, a relentless motor in the field and running the bases and the right attitude to have a lot of success at the next level. Signed with Michigan

Mike Stafford (Canton LHP) – Bulldog southpaw that will be a “workhorse’s workhorse” this spring for his high school club, a task he will no doubt be up to. Signed with Liberty

Seth Johnson (Gobles OF/2B) – Hidden treasure, whether swinging the metal or playing multiple positions in the field. Signed with Michigan State

Harrison Wenson (U-D Jesuit C) – The top offensive catcher in the state. Signed with Michigan

Other names to watch; Tyler Bradner (Howell), Trevor Bonniver (Waterford Mott), J.T. Conti (Trenton), Jamarl Eiland (Plymouth), Matt Fish (Gull Lake), Mike Hodgins (OL St. Mary’s), Nik Heglin (Walled Lake Western), Ryan McClelland (Brighton), Jose Morales (Detroit Western), Zach Olszewski (BC John Glenn), Marlon Pruitt (BH Andover), Ryan Roman (MH Lamphere), Joel Schipper (GR Christian), Austin Shepherd (Vicksburg), Demetrius Sims (AA Huron), Liam Teevens (U-D Jesuit), Tyler Tompson (Farmington), Ethan Wiskur (Flint Powers),