MIDWEST RECRUITING: Led by ‘Baby Eaglets,’ OLSM baseball’s future is blindingly bright
The “Baby Eaglets” continue to chirp through the offseason. After helping lead Orchard Lake St. Mary’s to a Division 2 state baseball title in their first year of high school ball back in the spring, the vaunted Eaglets underclassmen are still making noise this summer.
Brock Porter and Jack Crighton committed to major universities and Nolan Schubart made Team USA. The 6-foot-2 Porter, a lefty pitcher with pinpoint accuracy, committed to Clemson in June, while Crighton, the Eaglets’ third baseman, committed to Michigan in July. The big stick-carrying Schubart was recently selected to be part of the USA Baseball’s Olympic Development Team for this fall’s Pan Am Games in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.
All three started as freshmen for St. Mary’s in 2019 and made giant impacts. Porter went 9-2 on the mound, flashing a 1.18 ERA. He tossed a beauty in the state finals, snaring the win on the hill with a five-hit, seven-strikeout outing in the Eaglets’ 8-1 victory against Grand Rapids Catholic Central.
Crighton hit .375 to add to his 23 RBI, 23 runs scored and 10 double-baggers. Schubart (6-foot-5) played right field and held down the clean-up slot in the batting order — he had a team-best 42 RBI, tied for the team-high with five homers and recorded a .400 batting average. In college, Schubart and Crighton will be teammates, as Schubart made himself a “Michigan Man” last year.
Watch out for sophomore Jack Dresselhouse in the leadoff spot in 2020, a lesser known “Baby Eaglet,” who should have a breakout season following a freshman campaign mostly tasked with backup duty.
“When our coaching staff first got a look at the Class of 2022 in our program, we knew they would have an opportunity to be very special,” St. Mary’s skipper Matt Petry said. “That group of players made huge contributions this past season. And the one people don’t really know about, Jack Dresselhouse, is probably the most athletic of the bunch. He hasn’t even scratched the surface on his potential. We’re obviously extremely excited about what’s in store for this group in these next few years.”
Asked for any final thoughts on his young-buck diamond cutters, Petry was succinct in his reply.
“At a time when most Eaglets are just learning to chirp, these guys are already flying,” he said with a smirk.
